Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

Ender hadn't realised he'd be having any trouble focusing on his work as a consequence of the past week, but he was... having some.

He picked up a few kumquats and chased away one Alot that had snuck in and gotten stuck behind the 3D printer, all the while trying to condition his brain so he'd be ready to start answering his emails again. It worked, to a point - and he'd never be so far gone that he wouldn't be able to handle his responsibilities - but he was well aware his return emails weren't anywhere near as sharp as they could have been.

Oh well. He couldn't manage to get that worried, either.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

It was Monday at lunchtime, so naturally Ben was stopping by with food and coffee--and a weird case of a nervous stomach despite having followed this routine weekly since he was a freshman.

"Ho, kreetle," he said with a quick smile.

[endsthegame]

"Ho, Ben," Ender said, and shut his laptop immediately. He smiled back. "Ho, food."

[momslilassassin]

"I wonder if you like the sandwiches more than me," Ben teased, walking closer to put the food on the counter. "Anything happen in the world that I need to know about in the last week? I'm still working my way through my own email."

[endsthegame]

"Nothing big so far," Ender said, "But I'm sure some catastrophe will crop up eventually."

He reached for the sandwiches. "And that's a fine complaint, sir, coming from the bottomless stomach."

[momslilassassin]

"Not completely bottomless," Ben contested, "unless it's ice cream." He smiled a bit at Ender, "And I'm pretty sure you were their latest catastrophe."

[endsthegame]

"In that case, they need a better brand of catastrophe," Ender said, leaning back with his sandwich.

[momslilassassin]

"Mmmm," Ben replied. "I think seeing Andrew Wiggin in a hospital bed's going to be a memory that sticks with the seven or so people who knew you were there."

[endsthegame]

"For a little while, maybe," Ender said, took a bite of his sandwich, and put it back down. "But some new drama will take its place sooner rather than later, I'm sure."

[momslilassassin]

"Always does," Ben agreed, but there was something in his eyes that said he wouldn't be forgetting any time...ever.

[endsthegame]

"But no emergency calls on the comm, either?" Ender checked, sitting back. "I'm almost worried they're trying to lull us into a false sense of complacency - but that's just the paranoia talking."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah, me too," Ben admitted. "I think it might be the comm blackout in the Maw working against us right now, or another time hiccup because there's no way the Masters wouldn't have made a move by now."

[endsthegame]

"I haven't been able to reach anyone in your universe either," Ender admitted.

[momslilassassin]

Ben took a sip of his coffee and smiled. "I kind of love that you have sources in my galaxy," he replied.

[endsthegame]

Ender quirked a brief smile. "Someone's got to keep an eye on the situation," he said. "Outside of Jedi bias."

[momslilassassin]

"We aren't biased!" And four years ago, he might even have believed that.

[endsthegame]

"Oh, come on," Ender said, "You know better than that." He took another bite of his sandwich.

[momslilassassin]

"I do," Ben admitted. "I don't think anyone's aiming to actively destroy the galaxy--" he paused, "--other than whatever was locked up in the Maw."

[endsthegame]

"I don't think the government can continue the way it's going right now," Ender said, "But I'm also pretty sure someone's trying to undermine Daala, and I'm also not really looking forward to another government getting propped up or actively supported by the Jedi. It's not your job - you're not equipped for it."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "I'm not sure who, though. The Moffs are too busy trying to mess with Jag, I think, to try to take out two governments, and Daala is much more in line with their way of thinking anyway, especially the anti-Jedi stuff."

[endsthegame]

"So we have something of a mystery on our hands," Ender said. "If we ever hear back from anyone over there, anyway."

[momslilassassin]

"That is the trick," Ben agreed. "And I know you're not exactly a proponent of the 'Sith exist, therefore they are evil and bent on taking over the galaxy' concept, but it's not one to discount entirely. Just because we've only found out about them in the last few months doesn't mean they haven't been out there for a while."

[endsthegame]

"Oh, I'm not denying the 'trying to take over the galaxy' bit out of hand," Ender said, "It's the evil part I have qualms about." He reached for his coffee.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, we can't ask Granddad about them," Ben mused, "he'll froth at the mouth and it's probably better he not know there's another crop of them in the galaxy...maybe you can talk to Zayne."

[endsthegame]

"Maybe I should," Ender agreed. "He's from far enough back - his perspective might be interesting."

He took a sip of his hot beverage, and then smiled at Ben.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled back, feeling his stomach do a now-familiar little flip. "He might even be closer to when Vestara's people set up their planet."

Ben's grasp of history past the Empire takeover of the Republic was sketchy at best.