The Genesis Saga

“What’s the matter, babe?” Rann asked from the other side of the bed. Beor had come back early from the ship in a foul mood, and Rann couldn’t figure out the reason why. She was hoping that he would talk to her, but so far he’d remained silent on the matter. As the hours passed and his mood didn’t improve, Rann grew increasingly worried. “Talk to me.” She turned over to face him and placed a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it encouragingly.

Beor sighed. “I got into an argument with Jyn.” Since returning back to the house, Beor had been preoccupied replaying the argument in his mind. His thoughts spun as he wondered how it could have gone better. He hadn’t meant to sound so harsh, yet a part of him was glad that he’d said what was on his mind. Jyn needed to be put in his place after the way he’d been acting.

“What did you two argue about?” Rann asked. Beor recounted the overall gist of the argument without going into the specifics. She winced when she heard the core of it. “That’s going to need some damage control.”

“I know.” Beor turned over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. In the darkness, he was unable to make it out. Being unable to see what was right in front of him was fitting, he supposed. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. How do I fix this?”

“I don’t think that what you said was too bad. Somebody was going to have to call him out sooner or later. I’ve been putting off talking to him about his behavior while the Elders are here, so in that sense, you beat me to the punch.”

Beor was surprised. “You were going to have a talk with him?” He hadn’t been expecting that. “About what?”

“Pretty much the same thing you did. He’s been causing a lot of tension in the group lately, and it’s starting to get out of hand. Although after this, I don’t know how he’s going to react. Coming from me is one thing. I’m his second and it’s my job to put him in his place. Coming from you? That’s really going to hit home for him, since you guys have been friends for so long.”

Beor mulled over what Rann said. “I’m pretty sure you would have done a better job at talking to him than I did,” he said sullenly. “You’ve always been better at this sort of thing than I have.”

“Cut yourself some slack, you’re no slouch either. Could today have gone better? Yes, most certainly. But you got your point across and hopefully that makes him stop and think. I’m not sure how to fix this, either. I’ll have a talk with Jyn once I return from bringing the Elders back to base tomorrow and see where his head’s at. Things might be a bit awkward between the two of you until you have another talk with him, so be ready.”

“We still need to figure out what to do about Jyn and Tassie. Things are rather frigid between them and they argue more than before. I swear it’s like he’s trying to go after every person on the team. He even managed to piss off Kell.”

Rann frowned. “They’ve been at odds with each other ever since we lost Reya during the mission. I’ve tried talking to Tassie about it, but she says that Jyn is the one making an issue out of it. She’s tired of being treated the way she’s been. Frankly, I’m inclined to agree with her. The spat between them is starting to get childish and Jyn is the one pushing it.”

“In a sad way, I understand Jyn’s frustration,” Beor said. “After talking about it with him, I see where he’s coming from, but I agree that he’s being ridiculous. He doesn’t see it that way, however. In his mind, his behaviour is justified.”

“We’re going to have to sit the two down together and force them to talk it out. Things can’t continue the way they are.”

“We’ll probably have to mediate it. I can’t see it ending well when this goes down.”

“One thing at a time. First we’ll focus on you and Jyn, then we’ll worry about Tassie.”

“What about Adrian and Reya?”

Rann snorted. “Everything’s going just fine where they’re concerned. Almost a little too well. I can hardly believe it, sometimes.”

“I don’t follow. Jyn’s still upset over Adrian and Reya. Shouldn’t we address that as well?”

“Oh, that’s what you meant. That one will sort itself out eventually,” she waved off Beor’s concern. “Maybe Adrian will punch Jyn in the face or something when he finally snaps.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I’m not too optimistic. I think Adrian’s going to snap eventually as well. I would if I were him. Wait, what were you talking about before?”

“You’ve got eyes, right? Even you can tell that there’s something going on between Reya and Adrian. They spend an exorbitant amount of time together.”

“I’ve noticed. At first I thought it was because the rest of us were technically working and she needed something to do. Adrian was the only person free.”

“That’s probably how it started. I don’t think that’s quite the case anymore. Not to mention that Reya chose to share a bed with Adrian over sharing one with Tassie.”

“I thought she had no choice but to room with Adrian while the Elders are here.”

“She had the choice,” Rann confirmed. “She came up with some good excuses not to share a room with Tassie.”

“Oh,” Beor said simply. “Well then, that’s an interesting development. They do seem to be much closer lately.”

“You should have seen them after the first night they spent together. It felt like I was seeing the old Reya again, just for a moment.”

“What happened that makes you think that?”

“It’s hard to say, but she had life in her eyes again. She made quips while they bantered about stuff Tassie and I couldn’t follow. Her voice didn’t sound as hollow. It was surreal.”

“Hopefully it continues that way. She’s been doing much better since she’s met Adrian.”

Rann nodded. “As much as I don’t want to admit it, you’re right. I was hoping I could be the one to do that for her, but I see now that I have a different role to play in her recovery.”

Beor smiled. “I’m glad you’re not sulking anymore over it.” He received a playful smack on his shoulder.

“I did not sulk.”

“Whatever you say, babe,” Beor said, the humour evident in his voice. “Jyn’s not taking it well,” he said, turning more serious.

“Which part?”

“Adrian and Reya growing closer.”

“That’s not our fight, babe. That something for the three of them to figure out.”

“I think it’s mostly figured out by now. Jyn’s just not taking it well.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out. We can salvage this mess.”

“I sure hope so.” Rann sidled up next to Beor and lay her head on his chest, her presence comforting him as he fretted over what tomorrow would bring.

Reya stood outside as she watched the ship take off. Or tried to, at least. It was still cloaked, so she felt, more than saw, the ship leave. Adrian walked outside to join her after they left. The Elders had spent the morning in a meeting, much like Adrian had predicted. Once they were finished, they ate a quick lunch and packed their bags. They had accomplished their goals and had no further reason to stay at the safe house.

“They’re finally gone,” Adrian said with a sigh of relief. Now that the military’s leaders were out of the house, he hoped that some of the underlying tension would calm down. He was no longer a threat to anybody, so there was no reason to lock him up anymore. The others could tone down the length and duration of their shifts as well, which would perhaps put them in a better mood.

“Is it a bad thing that I’m glad they’re finally gone?” Reya asked. She was mentally drained from having to tiptoe around the Elders. Even though they technically weren’t her bosses anymore, they still represented the highest echelons of their military, and she had been rather rude to them during their stay.

“I don’t think so. I’m not sure there was even a need for them to come visit in the first place. I could have done all the translating remotely. Why come deliver the video?”

“Maybe they wanted to see you in person?”

“And they thought locking me up in a cell was the best way to do that?”

Reya shook her head. “I’m sure they had their reasons for coming, not that they’d ever tell us what they are. We’re just civilians, remember?” she said. Adrian snorted. Normal civilians didn’t have to live in a safe house under the protection of soldiers.

“Funny,” Adrian said. “Now what do we do? There was this big hype with them coming and now that they’re gone, it feels kind of weird.”

Reya paused, stretching it into an awkward silence as she contemplated what to do next. “I guess I should take my stuff out of your room,” she said reluctantly. She had very much enjoyed her time sharing a bed with Adrian, finding it the best she’d slept since her capture. Sometimes it felt like being next to him worked better than the sleeping pills she was on.

“Oh,” Adrian said, taken aback. He hadn’t actually thought that Reya would be leaving his side. It made perfect sense. Without the Elders present, there was no need for her to stay in his room and it would probably look weird if she did. “I guess you should,” he said, shoulders drooping. There was no excuse he could use to make her stay with him, let alone one the others would accept.

Adrian looked like a beaten puppy at the news. Reya decidedly did not like seeing him like that. He seemed as reluctant to have her leave as she was. He watched Reya turn to leave before making a snap decision. “Reya?” he called out nervously, causing her to pause and turn back around. Looking at her expectant gaze, Adrian felt his stomach turn aflutter as his heart leapt into his throat.

“Yes?” she asked.

“If ever you want to share a room again, let me know,” he stammered, his heart beating a mile a minute. His mouth was dry, and he suddenly needed a glass of water. “In case the Elders come back or something,” he added lamely. Unless there was a reason for her to stay with him again, Adrian didn’t think she’d stay simply because he asked. He worried about what would happen if she didn’t want to after proposing it and how she would take the question.

Her eyes widened at the proposition and she her cheeks warmed slightly. It wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but the offer was there. The ball was in her court. “I will,” she said with a soft smile. For a moment, the pair locked gazes in silence. A beat passed. “Right,” Reya coughed, “let’s get this over with.”

Reya made short work of packing the few belongings she had laying about the room. Adrian watched as the room went from looking lived in to sterile in a matter of moments. He helped her move the boxes and left her to her own devices so that she could unpack. He returned back upstairs and looked around his room, finding it emptier than before. Staring at the part of the bed where Reya used to lay, he imagined her form resting under the covers. A complicated feeling welled up in his chest, constricting him as the realization that Reya was no longer going to be there with him finally hit home.

He didn’t like it but knew he had no choice but to accept it.