pencilcase | atlas stuff

[Once everyone had been accounted for and safely strapped in, the actual take-off was easy. Between Anakin, Breq, Allura, half the crew of the SS Enterprise, and many others, there was no way they wouldn't be able to figure out how to fly this behemoth of a ship off of this dustball of a planet, even if it was alien tech and half-buried in sand. Finding the strange crystals underground that powered the ship had been the turning point to realising they really could escape.

But getting the ship flight ready? That had been an entirely different problem.

There was so much sand in the engines, so many parts to repair. And it wasn't like they could just drive down to the local store and pick up what they needed. Teams were formed to work on the ship. By consensus, some rooms and parts were cannibalized if they were deemed extraneous to survival, used instead to patch up the ship's more vital functions. But with how quickly the ship drained power from their suits, the work, it seemed, would have to be done in shifts. The pace of repairs went at a crawl.

As for Ahsoka-- the slow pace of their progress on the ship seemed to visibly chafe at her. Now that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, she wanted to get going. Her tension and impatience she channeled into organizing the camp with renewed vigor and bossiness. If there was anything that the Clone War had prepared her for, it was organising others with no prior military experience for maximum efficiency. She very suddenly had less and less time for personal one-on-one conversations, instead pouring all her energy into making sure everything ran smoothly.

When Ahsoka wasn't doing her shift working on the ship, she'd busy herself with something else. Usually hunting. (They weren't sure how long they'd be in space-- sure, they had some map data, but with no idea of how fast the ship moved, it didn't mean a great deal. The camp all comes to the consensus to start stockpiling food early on. Of course Ahsoka throws herself into that, as well.)

When she wasn't hunting or gathering, she'd be teaching someone else how. Or yelling instructions at someone else on their shift while she stands from a safe distance away from the ship, waiting for her suit to recharge. Or drawing diagrams in the sand with the other tech-heads and trying to figure out how exactly they're going to solve this or that new technical problem of the day.

As the weeks of prep wear on, Ahsoka only gets bossier and more intense, and her eyes seem to shine with a burning drive behind them-- a need to save everyone. She starts to seem permanently older than her seventeen years, and it's unclear whether she actually ever sleeps. (She can sleep when they're safe.) She and Anakin start fighting about stupid stuff every third day, like about what part to replace, or what food should be stored for the trip. It's their way of blowing off steam, but finding Ahsoka stewing and pacing around the campfire with an air of annoyance becomes increasingly commonplace.

It takes them a month, all up, to get everything ready. The actual flying is the easy part.]

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[ She's right, of course. He's just seeing a mountain ahead of him, one he knows won't possibly be pleasant to climb. Dwelling on it won't get him much farther, though. ]

What'd you learn as a Jedi that was super useful?

... Huh?

[Ahsoka blinks, surprised, casting her mind about for something to say in reply to that. Half her Jedi teachings are now fraught with bad associations, or things that aren't applicable to Lance.]

Do you mean-- in terms of practical skills?

[ He nods emphatically. ]

Yeah! Gotta start somewhere, right?

True. But-- most of the things I learned to do... well, involve use of the Force.

Like... picking locks, or... reading people, or sensing where people are. I wouldn't even know how to begin to explain that.

[ Ok, well that's one idea out the window. ]

Well, did you like--learn how to fight and stuff?

Of course.

Wait-- do you want to learn hand-to-hand?

[ !! Something usable! ]

Totally! I'm sure you'll turn me into a kung fu master in no time.

Hmmm. This sand isn't ideal to learn on... but it will cushion your falls.

All right. Stand up.

[ He rolls his eyes. She can't go very far, because their hands are still linked. ]

Nope, no way. I'm--we're--on watch, plus you're like, stupid tired. So sit down, we can do it tomorrow.

[Normally she'd protest, but-- as if on cue, she lets out a tiny yawn.]

... Ugh, you had to remind me.

All right. But don't think I'll forget.

[ He pulls her back down, gently. ]

Your brain is like some kinda steel trap. Trust me, I know you won't forget.

[ Lance, on the other hand... ]

[Ahsoka obliges, secretly glad to be sitting down again, truth be told.]

It's all that meditation. Back at the Temple, we had to do it five times a day, if you can believe it.

--You could benefit from it too, you know. It even helps with combat.

[ Five times a day--that's more meditation than eating. He's not sure he would've made much of a Jedi, to be honest. ]

You wanna teach me to meditate, too?

Well, they do go hand in hand.

It improves your reflexes, your state of mind in battle... sometimes it helps when I'm stuck on a difficult decision and I don't know what to do.

[ He guesses he's gonna have to swallow his pride. Somehow, it's a lot easier to do when it's Ahsoka offering, instead of like, Keith. ]

All right, fine. I guess I'm gonna be your like, student or whatever.

[Ahsoka nods once, apparently satisfied.]

Good. Then it's settled.

[ Lance smiles back, one brow lifting. ]

Am I supposed to call you 'Master', now?

[Jokingly:] Hmmm. I do like the sound of that...

[ He scoffs. ] Not on your life. [ WINK WONK. ] Unless you're into that kinda stuff...

[For once, Lance receives a blank look instead of an eyeroll for his trouble.]

... Huh?

[ All pretense of smoothness fades in the wake of actually having to explain. ]

Uh...you know...?

You know I never actually reached the rank of master, right?

[<--- Point, Ahsoka ---->]

[ Oh my god, he's torn between being relieved and kind of fascinated. ]

That's not--I mean. I know, but.

[Ahsoka leans in, eyes narrowed in suspicion.]

But what?

[ He shakes his head. ]

But nothing! Whatever, just forget it.

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