SW: Kaira, the Helmet

Aira-ty walked onto the hangar deck with the extra helmet under one arm. She spotted the Prodigal Star resting in its berthing with the General and several troopers standing around the freighter. Hefting the bucket she moved forwards with a purposeful glare as the five members of Wild Card squad and the three ARC troopers who would be accompanying the mission listened to the General's briefing.
“I have every faith in each of your abilities.” the General was saying. “We'll be completely isolated once we're on the planet's sur—“
“I have a present for you General,” Aira-ty said as she raised the helmet up and clamped it down on his head.
Kahan jerked for a moment as the helmet locked in place and much to Aira-ty's surprise he lashed out, shoving her back and clutching at the helmet as if it were trying to take his head off. After a moment's struggle he ripped the helmet from his head and threw it across the hangar. The sound of its impact echoed amidst the cacophony of the hangar bay's activity as he whirled and glared at Aira-ty. She took a surprised step back from him. She'd meant the helmet as something of a joke, on the last mission he'd hit his head and earned himself a concussion for the trouble. She'd threatened to get him a helmet and had been doing just that. She hadn't expected him to look so...pissed. His eyes bore into hers and she felt a brief moment of terror as she felt his mind clawing at hers. She recoiled from him as she felt the growing assault. Then his eyes unclouded, no longer blazing angrily and just as the fire died so too did the impending attack.
He took a slow, deep breath, and then turned on his heel and stormed up the Star's ramp, vanishing from sight, leaving Aira-ty, Wild Card, and the ARCs all looking at one another with expressions of concern, surprise and bewilderment respectively.
“Uh, that was new.” Joker said conversationally.
“Yeah no kidding.” Jaster said with a frown. “I've never seen the General actually look that mad before.”
Lucky smirked and gave Aira-ty a thumbs up. “Way to go Commander.”
She glared at him and turned to follow Kahan up the ramp but a heavy hand fell on her shoulder. She turned to find the ARC Captain Dekar giving her a cautionary look.
“I don't think that's a good idea ma'am.”
She yanked her shoulder away from him. “He's my boss, I'll deal with it.”
Dekar frowned but nodded. “If you say so Commander, but the General looked like he was ready to commit murder.”
Aira-ty swallowed as she turned back up the ramp. She knew, that was why she was so worried. She'd only seen Kahan lose his temper that badly once and that had been when Hanabi had been kidnapped almost a year ago. The rest of the time he remained placidly in control of his emotions. The fact that he'd looked so angry and almost broken into her mind had her more than a little worried and she wanted to make sure he understood that she had not intended to hurt him with the helmet thing. She walked up the Star's ramp and looked around the cargo hold.
“General?” she called.
When there was no answer she proceeded further into the ship, going to the captain's cabin and raising her hand to knock. The door hissed open before she had a chance to touch the pad. She found herself looking into Kahan's piercing blue gaze. None of the gentleness that normally graced them was present in that moment and she had to force herself not to take a step back under the baleful gaze.
“If you've come to put another helmet on me Commander,” he snarled in irritation. “I would suggest you consider seeing one of the medics to ascertain if you have a deathwish.”
She glared right back at him. “Kriff off General, I came because I was worried about you.”
His gaze bore into her in annoyance. “Your concern is touching now get back to your duties.”
Aira-ty's anger flared as he turned away from her. “Hey!” he stopped. “What the hell was that just now? You almost attacked me down there and for what? A stupid helmet?”
He turned to look at her balefully. “You wouldn't understand,” he took a deep breath. “Don't ever do that again Commander. I almost hurt you. Badly.”
“I know, I felt it.” she said, stepping inside the cabin and letting the door close behind her. “What was that?” she asked again.
He sighed and sat down on his bunk, looking at her quietly for a moment before speaking.
“When my Master first found me I was adrift in an ancient warship of some kind. I had no memory of where I had come from, or who I was, just a bracelet with my name etched in it.” he gazed at her coldly as he continued. “All I could remember was being locked away in a stasis pod for who knew how long, trapped in my own body with no escape and no way out.”
Aira-ty looked at him in surprise. That explained a few things, like why Leeroi, the General's droid, seemed to have no idea about Kahan's past. He apparently didn't have much of one.
“How old were you when they found you?”
He shrugged. “I don't know. I don't even know how old I am now though I know that I'm roughly thirty years of age give or take a few years. At that time I was in my early or pre-teens and you can understand I trust why something as confining as a helmet causes certain,” he considered for a moment before speaking. “Issues.”
She nodded, feeling terrible suddenly. “I'm sorry, I had no idea.”
“No, it's not something I advertise.” he smiled. “If the Jedi Council knew about where I came from they'd probably think even less of me than they already do.”
She tried a smile, it didn't feel genuine. “Your secret is safe with me sir.”
He nodded. “Thank you Commander.” he sighed and stood up. “And thank you for coming to check on me, I would have sat in here and stewed in my emotions if you had not.”
“Uh, sure.” she said awkwardly, not sure how to take his thanks given what had just happened. “Anytime sir.”
He eyed her for a moment before walking towards the door. “Let's get back to the men, I need to finish the briefing.” he paused as he reached her side. “And Commander, I mean it, don't ever do that again.”
Aira-ty nodded tensely, feeling a chilling tingle of fear creep down her spine at the tone in his voice.
“No sir, I won't.” she turned to follow him, searching for something to break the awkward silence. “So...if you don't have a birthday...when do you celebrate?”
His gaze remained fixed ahead as they descended the Star's boarding ramp. “Guo-Jia gave me a birthday, though to my knowledge only she and Xiaan celebrate it.”
“When is it?” she asked as they reached the bottom of the ramp where the troopers were still waiting patiently though the Wild Cards looked like they were waiting for something to happen.
Kahan smiled. “You'll have to ask her that.”
Aira-ty winced. Great, General Guo-Jia wasn't her favorite person in the galaxy as it was. She sighed and turned her attention back to the General's briefing. She caught sight of the discarded helmet, sitting out on the hangar's deck. It seemed to be glaring at her accusingly.