Though he had to be a bit forceful and coercive, Avery managed to convince Deputy Chief Byrid to allow his team to accompany Grito to the court he would be testifying in against the Odium Syndicate.
Fortunately, the top officer of the Alliance police in the sector was able to see reason. Grito had run away once before because the organization he was supposed to give evidence against had managed to deliver death threats even while he was supposed to be under the Alliance police's protection.
However, having a group of strong rcenaries looking after him and offering added protection ant that it was far less likely that the Odium Syndicate would be able to get to Grito again. Plus, Avery and his team would be doing so for free since Grito was now officially their group's engineer.
Overall, it was a mutually beneficial deal for everyone. Except, when Avery finally received the details about where they were going and shared it with everyone, one particular mber of his crew was less than enthused.
"We're going to the Cocarro System?!" Jasmine said, her voice louder and more high-pitched than normal.
For a mont there was panic on her face, but she swiftly got herself under control and her expression beca more neutral.
Of course, everyone noticed her sudden agitation.
"Yeah, the court Grito is testifying in is on a planet called Azade. From what I've already looked up about it, it seems to be quite a beautiful and lush natural world. Do you know anything about it?"
"Nope! Nothing!" Jasmine replied far too quickly and then excused herself for a bit.
Everyone stared as she left, and if it was not obvious before that sothing was up with her, it certainly was now.
"Does anyone know what that was about?" Ezra asked, looking towards Avery and Kasandra.
Out of everyone in their group, the two of them knew Jasmine the best.
Nevertheless, they had no idea why the ntion of this system and planet had upset Jasmine so much.
"Sorry, she doesn't talk much about her past. And what she has told is mostly about her ti at one of the Alliance Police's training academies. She hasn't ntioned to anything further back than that." Avery said, shrugging his shoulders.
Kasandra on the other hand frowned, and as if searching through her mories, recalled sothing Jasmine had told only to her.
The two of them had gotten quite close during the trip from the Yuson System to the Phregon System, and they had naturally talked with each other about certain things that they had not even ntioned to Avery.
"I might have so ideas, but I don't think it would be right for to share. Jasmine will tell us if and when she is ready."
Most of them were fine with this answer, but since he was the one that brought it up, Ezra pushed for the answer he was looking for.
"We're all entitled to our privacy, but if this is sothing that could affect our mission, it's best that we need know about it."
"I get that, but I don't know much either, and it's not up to to decide if I should tell all of you." Kasandra responded, shaking her head.
Ezra still did not give up after that though, and Avery felt that he was going to need to interject, when soone else beat him to it.
"That's enough Ezra. Every woman had a few secrets that she wants to keep. It's not any of our place to force sothing about Jasmine out of Kasandra." Oliva said, speaking up for the first ti.
She was new to the group so she had kept quiet up until this point, but seeing as how Ezra was being a bit forceful about this issue, she had felt it necessary to step in.
Thankfully, her words seed to get to him better than Kasandra's and he dropped the issue imdiately.
'Whipped already." Avery thought, barely able to keep in a chuckle.
He already knew that the two of them had a bit of a history together, and since Ezra fought her and rescued her from Iniquus' clutches, the two of them had gotten much closer.
"Well, now that that matter is settled. I did want to ask you what you thought about the ship you'll be in charge of Oliva. I know it quite a bit different from what you were using before."
"Hm, there are still a few things I need to get used to, but I don't think it will be a problem. It's a good vessel despite its age. I'm just happy that you gave this chance. Also, I know I already thanked you, but truthfully, I'm grateful to all of you. Thank you for allowing to gain control of my life again."
Oliva bowed her head towards Avery, and though only briefly, a few tears did fall from her face.
She had spent a year as Iniquus' puppet. Unable to do anything but follow the man's orders. During that ti, she had been forced to commit all sorts of atrocities, and the experience had left a deep scar in her mind and heart. Frankly, she had not had any hope that she would ever be freed. So, her current situation seed like a sweet dream compared to the hell she had been living in.
"We were just doing our job. But I'm glad that we were able to help you and the others. We couldn't let him keep getting away with doing that to our peers." Avery said.
He then told her that she did not have to push herself if she did not want to. That it would be possible for Kasandra to take her role until she was ready if she needed more ti to work through the trauma that had built up during her ti working for Iniquus.
"I appreciate the sentint, but I want to get back to a normal life as soon as possible and put everything behind . Getting back to work is a good way to do so, and I'm honestly incredibly grateful that you've given this opportunity. It's not everyday that an offer to be the captain of such a vessel drops into your lap." Oliva replied, a pleased smile on her face.
"Okay, then I'll leave it to you. But if anything cos up that you need to talk about, feel free to reach out to any of us."
With that, Avery told everyone that they were free to do as they wanted for the next two days. After that, they were going to be leaving with an Alliance police escort to the Cocarro System.
"Whew. Sotis being a leader is a lot hard than I imagined it would be." Avery said, opening up a cold drink and taking a large gulp.
"That's what happens when you're so ambitious. I an you more than doubled the number of personnel our group has all at once and put a whole new ship together for the new recruits. Plus, you've been dealing with the Alliance Police regarding the situation with Grito. Honestly, I think you've been working yourself a bit too hard."
Kasandra sat right next to Avery and opened up a drink of her own as she leaned against him. For the first ti in a while, it was just the two of them.
For a bit over an hour the two of them simply relaxed and flirted with each other. Until Jasmine, who had been getting her thoughts in order, ca back.
"Sorry about running out earlier. That was unprofessional of ."
"No need to worry about that. It's just the three of us here now, so don't be so stiff. Co and take a load off with us." Avery said, a comforting smile on his face as he patted the empty seat to his left and beckoned Jasmine to sit next to him.
Her cheeks tinged a bit red, she did as Avery wanted and sat next to him.
"Avery, I'm sure that you realized that-"
"It's fine. You don't need to feel like you have to tell about it. I'm not going to push for answers just because I'm a little curious. If you want to talk about it, that's fine. But if you're just doing it out of obligation, then please don't. Obviously, I'd love to know more about you, but not if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Unless you think whatever your connection to the Cocarro System you have is going to put us in mortal danger, feel free to keep it to yourself."
Jasmine felt touched by Avery consideration. When most people saw soone trying to hold onto a secret, they naturally wanted to know and would push their target until they found out what the other person had been hiding.
"Okay. Then, I think I want to keep it to myself for a bit longer. But I promise I'll tell at least you and Kasandra soon."
After all the serious discussions were finished, Avery and his two girls spent the rest of the day simply goofing off and enjoying so leisurely ti together. At least until it was nearly ti for bed, and the three of them all went to Avery's room to indulge in passion now that they were finally the only ones on the ship.
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