Ah, finally, a vacation.

Phineus finished shoving his belongings in his pack, his clothes, toiletries, and a blaster. He had spent the past hour or so preparing for the much needed vacation the Navy was allowed, a little rest and relaxation on the planet Dantooine. Phineus rubbed his beard with his metallic, cybernetic right hand, then zipped up his back, and strung it across his back. His eyes shifted over to TK.

“C’mon little guy, time to go,” Phin said with a smirk.

TK wheeled at his side as the two made their way through the corridor of the Atrus, heading for the hangar bay. Phineus felt a heavy weight on his shoulders, and odd weight. As if he hoisted a thousand planets with a single hand, and a thousand more were being added by the second. It was just fatigue, Typhus took a lot out of Phin, and this vacation couldn’t have come at a better time.

Hopefully I can crash at Zhar’s until I get my energy back, Phineus mused tiredly.

Phineus felt a hard slap on his back; he turned his tired head to find Ryno.

“Hey man, what do you have planned for these two days?” Ryno asked excitedly.

Phineus shook his head to get the hair from out his eyes, “Sleep.”

“You ok XO? You look like crap and sound worse,” Ryno stated with the straightest of faces.

“Phin looking like crap?” Zhar chimed in behind the two, “Why, isn’t that the norm?”

Phineus smiled widely as usual, “Ha-ha, very funny, you’re talking to your flight leader you know. Don’t-”

Ryno cut Phineus off, “Don’t give me a reason to demote you, yeah yeah. We’ve heard it a thousand times.”

Phineus couldn’t help but chuckle through his tired state, but all he could get out was a grunt.

“Let’s leave him alone, before he actually gets to the thinking stage of demoting us,” Ryno said, causing Zhar to chuckle as they moved on toward the shuttle, leaving Phineus behind with TK.

“Do I really look that bad?” Phineus asked, in a more serious tone than per his usual.

TK beeped and whistled.

“Thanks, TK,” Phin said happily, patting the droid’s cheese wheel shaped head.

-Aboard the Shuttle-

Phineus managed to secure TK in the cargo compartment in the back of the shuttle, place his pack beneath his seat, and sit down all without collapsing to the ground. He was, however, awakening from his stupor a bit thanks to the bright shuttle lights which shone overhead. He plopped down in his seat, to the left side of the shuttle, and began to relax. He had the window seat, something he thoroughly enjoyed, as his passion of gazing into night skies had yet to dwindle. Phineus loved getting lost in the stars, and equated the feeling to that of love. Love. Something Phineus hasn’t had in quite some time, but why bother? He had the stars.

Phineus jerked his head to the right, as he heard a “plop” from the seat next to him.

“Hi,” the girl said happily.

“Hey,” Phineus rebutted, barely spewing the word out.

She was beautiful, long dark hair, deep blue eyes with a black tint. It was as if Phineus’ eyes had never drifted away from the stars. Phineus had to catch himself; he had been staring into her eyes for a good five seconds or now. He smiled his trademark smile, the widest of grins, put out his left hand.

“I’m Phineus Gage, you don’t look familiar,” He said nervously, feeling his palm already beginning to sweat.

“I just got out of the academy, Kaph Squadron,” she said with a smile, slowly putting her left hand out to shake that of Phin’s.

“Oh, heh, sorry,” he lifted his right hand, show casing his cybernetic hand, “I shake with my left hand, feels more personal.”

Geez, I sound like an idiot.

“Ouch,” she said smiling, “My name’s Sage, Sage Kalas. You can call me Speed.”

Phineus couldn’t help himself from grinning like a school boy.

Calm down, he thought, this the first time you’ve met another human?

“Nice to meet you, Speed.”

The impending silence was nerve racking, Phineus began to fiddle with his fingers, and noticed Speed bouncing her left leg. He had a feeling the newest member of the Navy was nervous, though he was probably more so.

“Don’t worry; I’m a bit new myself.” Phineus said, trying to assure her.

Speed smiled back, “How long have you been here?”

“Going on seven months now, though I left for a few, personal reasons.”

You turned your back on your friends, nothing too personal. Phineus hadn’t stopped beating himself up about that.

He continued, “I’m the Executive Officer of Viper squadron, so if any of those Kaph jokers give you any problems, let me know.” Phineus spoke sarcastically.

“I will, thanks.” Speed said.

Before long, the shuttle had taken off and was now landing on Dantooine. Phineus and Speed said their goodbyes as they departed. Phineus was off to catch a few hours of sleep, but once he breathed in the Dantooine air, it was as though it filled his lungs with life, shaking him from his tired state. He felt refreshed, rejuvenated, almost as if he had been given a new body.

“TK, head on over to Zhar’s manor, I think I’ll go for a bit of a walk,” Phineus said to his T3 droid.

TK whooed as he turned away, wheeling towards Phineus’ good friend, Zhar Bacredi’s manor. Phineus hiked up the hills of Dantooine, straying from the trail laid out for tourists. He enjoyed the wilderness, it was soothing, peaceful. Growing up on Mustafar and Coruscant, there wasn’t much peace. Phineus had trekked to the highest hill he could find, over looking the main path and the beautiful ocean, which the sun gleamed off of so majestically. Phineus’ hair blew across his eyes from the east bound wind, making him wince the tiniest of bits. This was perfection, what could possibly make is better?


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Words- 1,006

OOC:

A shorter, setting things up post.