Ginger Gears

Loose Contact

She was tired even after her morning shower and it seemed that it showed. She stood in the middle of the mess hall, narrowing her eyes when a lean dark-skinned man and a tall olive-skinned tall woman in dark First Order uniforms waved at her. Rose blinked and finally recognized them and waved back. Sarith and Tarc had already found a table. She walked over, put her tray with the two cups of caf and the bowl with oatmeal down next to Sarith and sat down.

"Good morning. Did you pull an all-nighter because of these stupid chips? Your look half asleep!" asked Tarc. She bit a piece of bread off and chewed slowly.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," said Rose and suppressed a yawn.

"You know, for someone who wasn't raised in the Order you're quite eager," said Sarith. He stirred in his caf. "They don't pay overtime, you know."

Rose shrugged. "I know, but I'm bored out of my mind here. There isn't much else to do besides working."

Tarc smacked her lips. "Don't give me that – we invited you to Sabbacc with the other civilian workers."

Rose took a gulp of caf. "You did and I told you that I suck at it. I can't gamble with my salary."

"Do you really think a few credits matter? And besides, it's not only about the game you know." Sarith winked. "It's also about meeting people. There was this guy a couple of weeks ago-"

"Is this going to be another tale of your sexual prowess?" asked Tarc.

"Well, I wasn't going to regale you with a story that hasn't a happy ending. Besides, you are no better than me."

Tarc laughed. "Touché." She leaned over to Rose. "You should come – even if you're not into men and/or women. It's the best spot to hear juicy rumours."

"What kind of juicy rumours?" Rose shoved a spoonful of oatmeal into her mouth.

Tarc leaned even closer. "What do you think? Just the other day I heard that Captain Laurențiu and Lieutenant Gorsceu hooked up."

Rose lifted her eyebrow. "Isn't that against some First Order law or something?"

"They are stuck on space ships for years ... the Order doesn't care who bangs whom," said Sarith. "As long as they don't neglect their duty of course."

Rose emptied her first cup of caf. Gossip could be useful. The problem was of course that going on a Sabbacc night clashed with her keeping her distance from her colleagues. Poe had warned her that this was the hardest part of going undercover – making friends that she had to lie to on daily basis.

But on the other hand it was as possible source of intel ...

"Alright," she said, "when and where?"

"Bottoms up," said Tarc.

Rose shallowed the dark liquid in her glass in one go. She coughed as the Tarisian Whiskey burned in her throat.

"By the stars, that's horrible!" She croaked and looked again on the holo cards in her hand. She could feel the warmth of the alcohol spread out in her stomach.

"It's not supposed to taste good, it's supposed to help you having a good time." Tarc slapped a 9er card on the table.

Rose groaned and folded. "I lose again. That's it – I quit."

Tarc gave her a broad grin. "Too bad."

Rose pushed her chair back and got up. She felt a little light-headed. Despite having lost twenty credits she felt good. It was nice to loosen up a little.