The mingled sounds and smells of the arena's concourse brought a frown to Pious Newelle's face as he moved through the crowd. Seldom did he go planet side of Karan III, and even less so for personal affairs.
“This is the last time I will ever have to set foot here,” he reminded himself, the thought making his surroundings less repulsive.
As he moved, the mix of the cluster's lessor races and lessor station parted to give him, and his Imperial Navy uniform, a clear path. Turning a corner and descending the stairs into the arena proper, he looked out over the gathering audience. All of them, except for he, eager to witness the spectacle of female combatants engaged in hand to hand combat. Pious walked along side the large mat which a preliminary bout was about to begin on. He took little notice of the Khanid and Jin-Mei at his sides as he sunk into one of the surprisingly comfortable V.I.P. Seats. Though his eyes were on the two women pummeling each other with martial grace, his thoughts were on the future, of what he must do, of what would be.
Soon a well built Ni-Kunni woman would take her place in the center of the arena, and he would be nothing but proud. He would make her dreams come true, this unlikely daughter of his, and in doing so would strip her of her victory she so wished for this night.
“She must leave this behind with no thoughts of returning,” he assured himself.
Yet he was troubled. He swallowed hard at the pang of selfish guilt he felt, remembering the happenings of years past that had paved this way.
* * *
“Go in there, child!” Pious commanded. The girl looked terrified, her younger sibling having come out of the room moments before, wailing as if someone had severed a limb. But Pious had no sympathy for this dirt covered, near starved, Ni-Kunni girl of about nine years. He looked down at her and with authority pointed into the med lab where a technician stood waiting. She looked back at him with wide eyes for but a moment before she obeyed.
“Standard slave screening for this one too, sir?” asked the technician.
Pious responded with a curt nod, turned away, and strode away looking over the papers that were thrust upon him earlier in the day.
“What am I going to do with two young slaves? Slaves cost money...” he muttered as he flipped through the pages, trying to come to terms with his new responsibilities. He waited for the technician to finish with the girl. The boy had been shuffled away to another room to contain his crying, though his muffled sounds still could be heard.
“I hear that you have returned with more in your troop than when you left this morning, Major Newelle.”
Pious stood quickly to attention, “Yes, sir.” He handed the papers to his superior. “I have been given two Ni-Kunni children by a desperate mother, sir. She must have been unable to care for them, I had seen them begging by one of the mines, sir. Days ago the girl had been beaten in an alley, luckily we happened upon her and scared off her attacker.”
“Hmpf. Have you any slaves back home, Major?”
“No, sir. Frankly, I'm uncertain what to do with these two. My family has but modest means. The costs to care for, train, and educate...”
“Sell one, or both if you feel the drain would still be too much. Either here or on the home-worlds, it would be a nice bonus for a man with a young family.”
“I will consider that, sir, thank you.”
Both men turned to look at the approaching technician.
“I will let you sort this out, Major.”
Pious accepted the papers back from his superior. He and the technician gave the man proper respects as he sauntered off then faced each other.
“Major Newelle, both the boy and girl check out. They are malnourished, of course, and have some parasites we will remove momentarily. Other than that, they are healthy enough. The girl had a few abnormal readings, but nothing to be concerned with.”
Pious nodded as he accepted the technician's data chip report and sat back down as the technician went off to complete his work on the two children. He plugged the data chip into his pad and began reviewing the results with a critical eye.
“If this girl is of flawed stock, I will rid myself of her here... The boy I can fetch a better price for in Amarr...” he muttered as he got to the girl's report.
A few abnormal readings, nothing to be concerned with. Pious felt a bit better having seen it himself, but something... there was something about these particular tests... what was it?
“Damn... Better to be sure she isn't going to die in transit or some such...”
He rose to his feet and found where the technician was tending to the girl.
“I want a full military diagnosis on the girl.”
* * *
The cheers of the crowd and a familiar name awoke Pious from his daydreaming.
“... and the challenger: Mitaraaaaaa Newellllllllle!!”
He looked upon the face of his daughter. The hulking Ni-Kunni stepped onto the mat and turned to each corner of the arena, giving a customary bow.
“She could win.” Pious thought to himself.
“How does she look, Father?” one of his sons, Psidias, Mitara's closest companion and training partner for the last several years called out as he arrived at the mats edge.
“I think you've both done well," Pious responded with a practiced, uncaring tone.
Psidias smiled a bit and bowed to his father.
As the announcer started the introduction of his daughters opponent, Mitara stepped off the mat as courtesy demanded.
Pious stood and met his daughter.
“Father,” she bowed with deepest respect.
“Mitara. I come with news. You will be in the Academy's next rotation.”
Mitara's face lit up and she turned to her brother with joy, he had a mixed look of sharing her happiness and confusion.
“Thank you, Father! Thank you!” She again bowed deep and smiled. Turning away from the True Amarrians she again stepped upon the mat.
Psidias looked at his father for several moments before asking quietly, “Could this have not waited until after the match?”
Pious gave his son a look, demanding to know why he was being questioned.
Psidias shifted a bit, “I know how badly she wanted to go... But we... she worked too hard for this, she needs to be here right now, not thinking about serving aboard some cruiser over Hophib!”
Pious snorted and turned his attention towards the mat, “You must learn to trust my judgment, Psidias.”
* * *
As Pious waited he rolled the possibilities over in his mind. A latent genetic defect? Bias towards anti-authority? What was it? He knew there was something, but God help him, he could not recall. As he heard the technician's footsteps he would no longer have to wait. Good.
He was handed a secured datapad and the technician went back to his duties. Only Pious' equals or superiors would be able to unlock the report. The tickle in his head that something was amiss demanded to be scratched and he wasted no time pouring over the report.
As he paged through, a chuckle escaped him upon reading a section of the report. “Hmpf, not entirely pure blooded. Not what I was worried about, and not surprising among the lowest of station here at the fringes of civilization.” He continued to page, yet he found nothing to justify his reservations.
Then he looked upon two words: Capsuleer Compatible.
“What great gift has God given unto me?” Pious sputtered out in shock and sat back, staring at the wall across from his seat.
“She is worth more than I can imagine. God.... What would someone pay?”
His mind raced pondering what this Ni-Kunni girl could bring at the slave auction.
Then revelation struck.
“A capsuleer slave will bring immediate income..... A capsuleer Newelle will elevate my House for all eternity.”
* * *
Pious closed his eyes and sighed deeply as the quick, but bruised, Khanid woman avoided a crushing front kick and swung up behind Mitara with blinding speed and wrapped her arm around his daughters neck. It was only a matter of moments before Mitara was tapping out on the mat. A victory she had worked years to attain denied her. Pious loved his daughter, and seeing her fail, even if it was the desired outcome, was difficult.
Psidias watched the scene shaking his head, finding it difficult to contain his anger, “She was not herself... distracted...”
Pious removed the regret from his voice, “She must rise above this now, Psidias. Her future lies with the Navy, with the Empire.”
“Just like you, eh, Father?” Psidias made no effort to hide his feelings about how his father had sabotaged his beloved sisters bout.
Pious looked at his son, and truth resounded in his words, “No... not like me.”
END
Showing posts with label Private. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Private. Show all posts
2011-02-20
2010-10-04
8 Months
The camera drone activates. Mitara is sitting in a simple plush chair, wearing her PIE uniform. Little else other beyond the chair can be made out in the dimly lit room. She regards the camera drone a moment before beginning...
It has been eight months since my last entry. Eight months... So many things have changed... Some have remained constant. I will attempt to chronicle them as best as I remember, lest the memories fade forever.
She takes a deep breath and speaks formally.
Aldrith has left the Praetoria and founded the Knights of the Merciful Crown. He has attracted a number of pilots to his banner, many of which I feel he could do without. First and foremost is Shalee Lianne. I once held great hope for this pilot, but... I will speak more on her later.
Mitara raises her left hand a little bit. She glances down at it and fiddles with a ring.
After nearly a year of courting, Aldrith and I have been wed. My name is now Mitara Newelle-Shutaq in the Book of Names, however CONCORD records will continue to track me under my maiden name alone.
A small smile creeps onto her face and her voice softens as she stares at the ring.
It was a marvelous day, pulled from near disaster by Lord Merdaneth. Cardinal Graelyn had originally committed to performing the service, but he was detained in null sec. Lord Merdaneth agreed to stand in his stead minutes before the service was to begin. We could not have asked for a better ceremony or more skilled officiate.
We were truly blessed.
The celebration at Mercy's Keep after the wedding is not much more than a blur to me now. The whirlwind of people and well wishers had my head spinning. Many friends and wingmen, some acquaintances, others I have never met...
She raises an eyebrow and shakes her head slowly.
Even an enemy or two...
Her voice trails off as does her gaze. After a moment she gives a short tug on her uniform and sits upright.
I have been made an Admiral of the Praetoria. With the disappearance of Grand Inquisitor Piskonit, Admiral Blake assumed the position of interim CEO until the Grand Inquisitor's return. Admirals Konstantinov and Lok'ri are both on indefinite leave. Admirals Blake and Shaikar, along with his Eminence Archbishop, saw fit to promote another Admiral given the circumstances.
I am still humbled and honored they have placed that trust in me. It has not been without its trials, however. The first being the reaction of Captain Fierach. A long time friend and wingman, I do sympathize with her to an extent... And I have forgiven her for her insubordinate outburst.
I owed her that.
Once.
The rift between us seems to have closed a bit in recent weeks. Time will tell if the wound fully heals.
Mitara leans back into the chair, taking a more comfortable posture.
The war rages on with no end in sight. For myself, I am content to keep the Tribals out of our systems. For now at least. The toll of this war has been heavy. My fellows and I are weary, though we will not admit it, even to ourselves at times. I believe our Lord will remove that weariness when He deems it time for us to press forward. I pray it will come soon, so we may be done with these heathens and the Republic will fade into nothing.
She steeples her hands in front of her and her index fingers begin tapping against one another.
Heathens, heretics, murderers, and terrorists. May we show them the way of the righteous, and may they see enlightenment through the cleansing of hard labor and Scriptural study. That is my prayer, many I am sure share it.
Others would consort with these scum, parade them around in front of loyal servants of the Empire, spitting on their toil and loss in servitude to the Empire, even going so far as to fornicate with them for all to see.
Mitara frowns, deep in thought, looking obviously pained.
She is a danger to us all, and mostly to my beloved Aldrith. She has bewitched him and poisoned his mind. And now he is gone... Gone to God knows where... While she destroys his legacy and has the audacity to place the blame on him...
While I must wait... Wait to hear when... if... my husband will return to my side...
Before it's too late...
It has been eight months since my last entry. Eight months... So many things have changed... Some have remained constant. I will attempt to chronicle them as best as I remember, lest the memories fade forever.
She takes a deep breath and speaks formally.
Aldrith has left the Praetoria and founded the Knights of the Merciful Crown. He has attracted a number of pilots to his banner, many of which I feel he could do without. First and foremost is Shalee Lianne. I once held great hope for this pilot, but... I will speak more on her later.
Mitara raises her left hand a little bit. She glances down at it and fiddles with a ring.
After nearly a year of courting, Aldrith and I have been wed. My name is now Mitara Newelle-Shutaq in the Book of Names, however CONCORD records will continue to track me under my maiden name alone.
A small smile creeps onto her face and her voice softens as she stares at the ring.
It was a marvelous day, pulled from near disaster by Lord Merdaneth. Cardinal Graelyn had originally committed to performing the service, but he was detained in null sec. Lord Merdaneth agreed to stand in his stead minutes before the service was to begin. We could not have asked for a better ceremony or more skilled officiate.
We were truly blessed.
The celebration at Mercy's Keep after the wedding is not much more than a blur to me now. The whirlwind of people and well wishers had my head spinning. Many friends and wingmen, some acquaintances, others I have never met...
She raises an eyebrow and shakes her head slowly.
Even an enemy or two...
Her voice trails off as does her gaze. After a moment she gives a short tug on her uniform and sits upright.
I have been made an Admiral of the Praetoria. With the disappearance of Grand Inquisitor Piskonit, Admiral Blake assumed the position of interim CEO until the Grand Inquisitor's return. Admirals Konstantinov and Lok'ri are both on indefinite leave. Admirals Blake and Shaikar, along with his Eminence Archbishop, saw fit to promote another Admiral given the circumstances.
I am still humbled and honored they have placed that trust in me. It has not been without its trials, however. The first being the reaction of Captain Fierach. A long time friend and wingman, I do sympathize with her to an extent... And I have forgiven her for her insubordinate outburst.
I owed her that.
Once.
The rift between us seems to have closed a bit in recent weeks. Time will tell if the wound fully heals.
Mitara leans back into the chair, taking a more comfortable posture.
The war rages on with no end in sight. For myself, I am content to keep the Tribals out of our systems. For now at least. The toll of this war has been heavy. My fellows and I are weary, though we will not admit it, even to ourselves at times. I believe our Lord will remove that weariness when He deems it time for us to press forward. I pray it will come soon, so we may be done with these heathens and the Republic will fade into nothing.
She steeples her hands in front of her and her index fingers begin tapping against one another.
Heathens, heretics, murderers, and terrorists. May we show them the way of the righteous, and may they see enlightenment through the cleansing of hard labor and Scriptural study. That is my prayer, many I am sure share it.
Others would consort with these scum, parade them around in front of loyal servants of the Empire, spitting on their toil and loss in servitude to the Empire, even going so far as to fornicate with them for all to see.
Mitara frowns, deep in thought, looking obviously pained.
She is a danger to us all, and mostly to my beloved Aldrith. She has bewitched him and poisoned his mind. And now he is gone... Gone to God knows where... While she destroys his legacy and has the audacity to place the blame on him...
While I must wait... Wait to hear when... if... my husband will return to my side...
Before it's too late...
2010-04-28
Ascension of the Amazon - Chapter 2
“C'mon, you're pushing like some kind of frumpy Caldari CEO!” Psidias snickered as he stood over his youngest sister, spotting her.
“Careful, Brother, or I may end up wrapping this barbell around your scrawny little neck,” Mitara grunted as she pressed the weighted bar over her chest. Her drenched sweat suit hid a mass of muscle, something her unusually thick frame carried with ease compared to most other teen females. It had been six years since she had come to be a Newelle, and Psidias and herself had religiously kept up their workout regiment over that time.
“Excellent!” Psidias called out with encouragement as he helped her place the bar back on it's perch above her head. He was three years her senior, but they had developed a bond early on. He would tease her ruthlessly as they would compare musculature, commenting on how all the guys wish they were built as nicely as she. It was something he could do to make light of his own body, forever riddled with sickness, he had still managed to maintain some amount of tone, though it paled compared to hers.
Mitara wiped her brow with a towel, “I'm looking forward to this weekends tourney. I think we have a very good chance of defeating the Okuden Dojo.”
“This is the last year Sensei says you can participate in mixed classes, Mitara. The other dojos don't think it is proper for you to be competing against boys still, no matter how well you carry yourself. We'll have to look a lot harder for competitions on this station. What will Mother think?” he joked as he put on the kicking and hand practice pads.
“Planet-side is where the action is at, besides, Mother is busy grooming Anna,” her smirk hiding some of the hurt she felt that her mother did not think of her as worthwhile for all the normal lessons of grace and etiquette normally required of young ladies. “It is not Mitara's lot to be a proper lady, Pious, let us concentrate our efforts on the one that actually looks and acts like a woman,” she had heard these words on more than one occasion when Pious would try and challenge his wife to no avail. She frowned and looked down for a moment at her chest that had just barely begun to bloom.
Psidias, obviously wanting his partner to attack with zeal commented, “You'll have larger bumps than those this weekend if you keep sitting on your rump, let's get to it!” Mitara flew off the bench launching a flurry of strikes trying to get inside the guard of her brother, by God's Grace his longer reach kept her at bay.
Five late teen Amarrian girls started towards the lift, one of them addressing the lady of the house.
”We are off to the atrium now, Mother, I'll be back before dinner.” Anna bowed the perfect amount in response to her Mother's nod of approval. She, along with her friends, looked as examples of all that is proper, and aesthetically pleasing in Amarrian women. Their hair done articulately, clothes and makeup modest, yet flattering enough to catch the eye. Mitara watched their slender forms flow gracefully towards the lift with a hint of envy. Anna stopped short of the lift and turned back to face her sister, an uncommon occurrence to say the least.
“Why don't you come with us for a change, Mitara?” Anna said with convincing honesty. A couple of hushed snickers from her friends were silenced by a friendly wave of her hand.
Mitara nearly dropped the Naval Operations and Procedures book that belonged to her father. Her weight shifted suddenly, unbalancing the tome on her lap at her sister's address. “Umm. I don't know, Anna, I mean...”
“Nonsense, change into something...” Anna looked at her sister up and down, not entirely confident, “...something suitable, and join us.”
Mitara feeling the pressured gazes of the elder teens upon her nodded and disappeared into her room and donned one of her best church 'suits'. It was the closest thing she had to what could be considered casual dress ware, with the added illusion of making her seem less bulky. She quickly joined the crew of girls, who all gave relatively genuine nods of approval at her selection, and they all headed out.
The atrium was an expansive green space, the only one on the station orbiting Karan VIII. It was the social hub for all residents, young and old alike. The many tree arrangements, hedge mazes, and smattering of small ponds broke the area up nicely to give privacy to those who desired it enough. The gathering of teens centered around one of the hedge mazes could have been mistaken for Court. All the subtleties and intrigue of the Holder's Court, practiced here, by the youth of Amarr.
Mitara followed a step or two behind the older girls as they wove their way through the crowd, stopping to mingle here and there. She said nothing, but listened intently to all the conversations she could hear, filing away bits of information that could someday prove useful, such is the Amarrian way. After some time, Anna and her group began to disperse, each further engaging on some rather important topic of the day, seen through a teenager's eyes anyway. Mitara began to wander through the hedge maze, enjoying the quiet of it, having concentrated so to the voices just moments before. It wasn't long before she came upon another group of wandering teens, three Amarr boys, about the same age as she.
The boy at the head of their formation smiled brightly at Mitara, “Salve, lovely and serene isn't it?”
Mitara smiled awkwardly back, “Indeed it is.”
The lead boy motioned to his friends who both bowed slightly to her, “May my friends and I accompany you, miss?” He chuckled a bit, “I tire of their same boring conversation.” The other two laughed at their friends jab.
She laughed as well, trying to cover her nervousness, “How very gentlemanly of you, I'd be honored.”
Mitara joined the boys as they meandered without a care through the maze. The boys seemed quite pleased that she seemed willing to join in their talk of sports, politics, the history of some local heredity, and the less civilized races of the cluster. She actually found herself enjoying their company, something she hadn't expected.
“I still find it fascinating that to this day there are still some Ni-Kunni enslaved”, commented Hami, the first boy that spoke to her, after some time speaking of the Minmatar.
She shrugged, “I think that is due more to low station than devotion to our Lord.”
All three boys laughed, one of the others quipped, “What lowly foul station would warrant that?”
“Some kind of gutter rat I suppose!” chuckled another.
“Yes, something that crawls out of a sewer I'd imagine,” something in Hami's tone didn't sound quite right to Mitara, but she dismissed it as nothing, until he spoke again. Now his voice was full of malice and loathing, “Something that would crawl out of a sewer and try to pretend it could be Amarr! Something like you, hmm, Mitara?” Hami stepped in front of her, his bright smile now showing underlying dark intent.
“You will not speak to me in such a manner,” she growled back.
“I will speak to you however I wish, you Ni-Kunni trash!” Hami drew his hand back, readying to backhand her across the face. Her two palm thrusts, one to his lip, bloodying it, and the other to his chest sent him reeling back instead. Mitara didn't register the roaring laughter coming from behind, her total focus now on Hami.
Hami cursed as he spit onto the path, his saliva mingled with blood. “You damned slave line bitch! You want to play with the boys do you? I'll wipe that damned smirk off you face, oh yes!”
Mitara said nothing, but smoothly fell into a 'Jigotai', a defensive stance, her eyes never leaving her opponent.
Hami chuckled to his friends who were still enjoying his misfortune, “She thinks she knows a thing or two!”, his gaze set upon her, “Let's see what you really know!” He fell into a simple forward offensive stance, or 'Mae', and did so sloppily and without discipline Mitara thought to herself.
His crude strike met with a precision hip toss, landing him on his back, with a kick to the gut for good measure. The other two Amarrian boys doubled over in laughter, slapping their knees.
Hami sprang to his feet with a new found vigor, and glared at Mitara with hate. He was so easily goaded by a simple raised eyebrow that spoke clearly, “Have you started yet?”
The one sided melee continued while the two onlookers realized their man was starting to get really hurt, at which point their laughter stopped.
Mitara had just deflected another poorly executed blow by Hami when both of her arms were caught. Not a second later did a furiously thrown right hook meet with her temple, sending her dizzily towards blackness. As the two that restrained her let her fall to the ground, she felt a splatter of spit hit her cheek and heard the laughter of all three as they walked off. “Neanderthal Ni-Kunni,” one of them said as all went silent.
She cracked her neck, letting the mouth guard settle into place. Psidias was adjusting her uniform, and shook his head at her slightly swollen left cheek.
“Are you sure you are alright to do this? I mean, it's only been a couple days.”
“I'm fine,” she nodded, slamming her gloves together. She looked past Psidias to her brothers Habib and Kaleb, then to her father Pious, who looked at her sternly and nodded his best wishes.
“Show them all that you mean business, 'Tara!” Psidias shouted as she stepped up and onto the mat.
She walked with her head down, jiggling her arms to loosen them. When she arrived at her ready position, she exhaled and assumed her preferred Jigotai. When she raised her eyes and met her opponent's, she smirked with glee.
Standing across from her was an Amarrian boy, about her age, with a recently cut lip, and sudden doubt in his eyes.
“God favors the righteous,” she thought to herself smugly.
“Careful, Brother, or I may end up wrapping this barbell around your scrawny little neck,” Mitara grunted as she pressed the weighted bar over her chest. Her drenched sweat suit hid a mass of muscle, something her unusually thick frame carried with ease compared to most other teen females. It had been six years since she had come to be a Newelle, and Psidias and herself had religiously kept up their workout regiment over that time.
“Excellent!” Psidias called out with encouragement as he helped her place the bar back on it's perch above her head. He was three years her senior, but they had developed a bond early on. He would tease her ruthlessly as they would compare musculature, commenting on how all the guys wish they were built as nicely as she. It was something he could do to make light of his own body, forever riddled with sickness, he had still managed to maintain some amount of tone, though it paled compared to hers.
Mitara wiped her brow with a towel, “I'm looking forward to this weekends tourney. I think we have a very good chance of defeating the Okuden Dojo.”
“This is the last year Sensei says you can participate in mixed classes, Mitara. The other dojos don't think it is proper for you to be competing against boys still, no matter how well you carry yourself. We'll have to look a lot harder for competitions on this station. What will Mother think?” he joked as he put on the kicking and hand practice pads.
“Planet-side is where the action is at, besides, Mother is busy grooming Anna,” her smirk hiding some of the hurt she felt that her mother did not think of her as worthwhile for all the normal lessons of grace and etiquette normally required of young ladies. “It is not Mitara's lot to be a proper lady, Pious, let us concentrate our efforts on the one that actually looks and acts like a woman,” she had heard these words on more than one occasion when Pious would try and challenge his wife to no avail. She frowned and looked down for a moment at her chest that had just barely begun to bloom.
Psidias, obviously wanting his partner to attack with zeal commented, “You'll have larger bumps than those this weekend if you keep sitting on your rump, let's get to it!” Mitara flew off the bench launching a flurry of strikes trying to get inside the guard of her brother, by God's Grace his longer reach kept her at bay.
* * *
Five late teen Amarrian girls started towards the lift, one of them addressing the lady of the house.
”We are off to the atrium now, Mother, I'll be back before dinner.” Anna bowed the perfect amount in response to her Mother's nod of approval. She, along with her friends, looked as examples of all that is proper, and aesthetically pleasing in Amarrian women. Their hair done articulately, clothes and makeup modest, yet flattering enough to catch the eye. Mitara watched their slender forms flow gracefully towards the lift with a hint of envy. Anna stopped short of the lift and turned back to face her sister, an uncommon occurrence to say the least.
“Why don't you come with us for a change, Mitara?” Anna said with convincing honesty. A couple of hushed snickers from her friends were silenced by a friendly wave of her hand.
Mitara nearly dropped the Naval Operations and Procedures book that belonged to her father. Her weight shifted suddenly, unbalancing the tome on her lap at her sister's address. “Umm. I don't know, Anna, I mean...”
“Nonsense, change into something...” Anna looked at her sister up and down, not entirely confident, “...something suitable, and join us.”
Mitara feeling the pressured gazes of the elder teens upon her nodded and disappeared into her room and donned one of her best church 'suits'. It was the closest thing she had to what could be considered casual dress ware, with the added illusion of making her seem less bulky. She quickly joined the crew of girls, who all gave relatively genuine nods of approval at her selection, and they all headed out.
The atrium was an expansive green space, the only one on the station orbiting Karan VIII. It was the social hub for all residents, young and old alike. The many tree arrangements, hedge mazes, and smattering of small ponds broke the area up nicely to give privacy to those who desired it enough. The gathering of teens centered around one of the hedge mazes could have been mistaken for Court. All the subtleties and intrigue of the Holder's Court, practiced here, by the youth of Amarr.
Mitara followed a step or two behind the older girls as they wove their way through the crowd, stopping to mingle here and there. She said nothing, but listened intently to all the conversations she could hear, filing away bits of information that could someday prove useful, such is the Amarrian way. After some time, Anna and her group began to disperse, each further engaging on some rather important topic of the day, seen through a teenager's eyes anyway. Mitara began to wander through the hedge maze, enjoying the quiet of it, having concentrated so to the voices just moments before. It wasn't long before she came upon another group of wandering teens, three Amarr boys, about the same age as she.
The boy at the head of their formation smiled brightly at Mitara, “Salve, lovely and serene isn't it?”
Mitara smiled awkwardly back, “Indeed it is.”
The lead boy motioned to his friends who both bowed slightly to her, “May my friends and I accompany you, miss?” He chuckled a bit, “I tire of their same boring conversation.” The other two laughed at their friends jab.
She laughed as well, trying to cover her nervousness, “How very gentlemanly of you, I'd be honored.”
Mitara joined the boys as they meandered without a care through the maze. The boys seemed quite pleased that she seemed willing to join in their talk of sports, politics, the history of some local heredity, and the less civilized races of the cluster. She actually found herself enjoying their company, something she hadn't expected.
“I still find it fascinating that to this day there are still some Ni-Kunni enslaved”, commented Hami, the first boy that spoke to her, after some time speaking of the Minmatar.
She shrugged, “I think that is due more to low station than devotion to our Lord.”
All three boys laughed, one of the others quipped, “What lowly foul station would warrant that?”
“Some kind of gutter rat I suppose!” chuckled another.
“Yes, something that crawls out of a sewer I'd imagine,” something in Hami's tone didn't sound quite right to Mitara, but she dismissed it as nothing, until he spoke again. Now his voice was full of malice and loathing, “Something that would crawl out of a sewer and try to pretend it could be Amarr! Something like you, hmm, Mitara?” Hami stepped in front of her, his bright smile now showing underlying dark intent.
“You will not speak to me in such a manner,” she growled back.
“I will speak to you however I wish, you Ni-Kunni trash!” Hami drew his hand back, readying to backhand her across the face. Her two palm thrusts, one to his lip, bloodying it, and the other to his chest sent him reeling back instead. Mitara didn't register the roaring laughter coming from behind, her total focus now on Hami.
Hami cursed as he spit onto the path, his saliva mingled with blood. “You damned slave line bitch! You want to play with the boys do you? I'll wipe that damned smirk off you face, oh yes!”
Mitara said nothing, but smoothly fell into a 'Jigotai', a defensive stance, her eyes never leaving her opponent.
Hami chuckled to his friends who were still enjoying his misfortune, “She thinks she knows a thing or two!”, his gaze set upon her, “Let's see what you really know!” He fell into a simple forward offensive stance, or 'Mae', and did so sloppily and without discipline Mitara thought to herself.
His crude strike met with a precision hip toss, landing him on his back, with a kick to the gut for good measure. The other two Amarrian boys doubled over in laughter, slapping their knees.
Hami sprang to his feet with a new found vigor, and glared at Mitara with hate. He was so easily goaded by a simple raised eyebrow that spoke clearly, “Have you started yet?”
The one sided melee continued while the two onlookers realized their man was starting to get really hurt, at which point their laughter stopped.
Mitara had just deflected another poorly executed blow by Hami when both of her arms were caught. Not a second later did a furiously thrown right hook meet with her temple, sending her dizzily towards blackness. As the two that restrained her let her fall to the ground, she felt a splatter of spit hit her cheek and heard the laughter of all three as they walked off. “Neanderthal Ni-Kunni,” one of them said as all went silent.
* * *
She cracked her neck, letting the mouth guard settle into place. Psidias was adjusting her uniform, and shook his head at her slightly swollen left cheek.
“Are you sure you are alright to do this? I mean, it's only been a couple days.”
“I'm fine,” she nodded, slamming her gloves together. She looked past Psidias to her brothers Habib and Kaleb, then to her father Pious, who looked at her sternly and nodded his best wishes.
“Show them all that you mean business, 'Tara!” Psidias shouted as she stepped up and onto the mat.
She walked with her head down, jiggling her arms to loosen them. When she arrived at her ready position, she exhaled and assumed her preferred Jigotai. When she raised her eyes and met her opponent's, she smirked with glee.
Standing across from her was an Amarrian boy, about her age, with a recently cut lip, and sudden doubt in his eyes.
“God favors the righteous,” she thought to herself smugly.
2010-04-20
Ascension of the Amazon - Chapter 1
"...and may our Holy Father bless this meal and all the Faithful assembled here."
Pious Newelle looks up after his prayer, a smile creeping onto his face at the sight of his assembled family, their heads bowed, each one holding the hands of two others. He takes a moment to be thankful for each one in turn as eyes move across the table.
Pious did not acknowledge the look he recieved from his wife as she once again had to remind Kaleb of proper table manners, instead he watched the young Ni-Kunni girl who had barely said a word since she arrived into his custody. As it had been since she arrived, she had all but finished before most of the family had barely started. Jessica had resisted his request to continue increasing her portions until a time was reached that she would be unable to finish her meal. Ultimately, as master over the household, his desire was obeyed. She had steadily grown healthier looking, her complexion becoming less sickly, and good dose of meat forming on the childs naturally thick frame.
"You know... no one is going to take it from you, don't you?" He asked of the young girl.
She did not raise her eyes to meet his, but nodded an unconvincing nod.
"Mmmhmm" was his equally unconvinced reply.
Anna began shaking her head towards Mitara, but she quickly morphed her head shake into a scan of the room, looking for some unknown object as he shot her a scolding glance. For each of Kaleb's transgressions, lapses in manners, or other slights to the Order of Things, hers was an exact opposite. It was as if she was born Amarrian, even moreso than his birth children. All it took was one instruction on behavior, or beliefs, and it became as natural to her as breathing. This was not some mimicry either, of someone simply trying to appease, it was if all these things were already part of her, but just needed to be pointed out to be flipped on. He let the thoughts out of his mind as the dinner continued on.
"I am going to take Habib with me tonight, Father" Psidias spoke, sounding more like a question than a statement at the meals end.
"Mmmmh... You have spoken with the Sensei about bringing your brother to the dojo?"
"Yes, Father. He said he would try to arrange for an appropriate Kyu to pair Habib with." replied Psidias before covering his mouth as he coughed.
Pious felt a pang of guilt as he looked upon his middle son. He was a lean young man, but what strength he did have was etched into his body for all to see. Years of combating multitudes of sicknesses had taken its toll, but his spirit was as bright as a sun, and Psidias would not let himself be withheld from whatever athletics he set his mind to.
"What sin did I commit to force such trials on this lovely child?" Pious silently asked.
He was about to comment to Psidias about Habib's partner when something caught his eye at the end of the table. Mitara had actually looked at her new brothers with something that resembled interest.
Pious stood as he pushed his chair away from the table and started walking towards his study.
"Take Mitara with you."
He smiled to himself at the sudden silence behind him while he walked.
Pious Newelle looks up after his prayer, a smile creeping onto his face at the sight of his assembled family, their heads bowed, each one holding the hands of two others. He takes a moment to be thankful for each one in turn as eyes move across the table.
- Jessica, his wife of 17 years, mother to four of his six children
- Daniel, his eldest son, and heir to the Newelle family name.
- Psidias, the middle son
- Habib, his youngest boy.
- and Anna, his only daughter, until three months ago anyways, born between Psidias and Habib.
Pious did not acknowledge the look he recieved from his wife as she once again had to remind Kaleb of proper table manners, instead he watched the young Ni-Kunni girl who had barely said a word since she arrived into his custody. As it had been since she arrived, she had all but finished before most of the family had barely started. Jessica had resisted his request to continue increasing her portions until a time was reached that she would be unable to finish her meal. Ultimately, as master over the household, his desire was obeyed. She had steadily grown healthier looking, her complexion becoming less sickly, and good dose of meat forming on the childs naturally thick frame.
"You know... no one is going to take it from you, don't you?" He asked of the young girl.
She did not raise her eyes to meet his, but nodded an unconvincing nod.
"Mmmhmm" was his equally unconvinced reply.
Anna began shaking her head towards Mitara, but she quickly morphed her head shake into a scan of the room, looking for some unknown object as he shot her a scolding glance. For each of Kaleb's transgressions, lapses in manners, or other slights to the Order of Things, hers was an exact opposite. It was as if she was born Amarrian, even moreso than his birth children. All it took was one instruction on behavior, or beliefs, and it became as natural to her as breathing. This was not some mimicry either, of someone simply trying to appease, it was if all these things were already part of her, but just needed to be pointed out to be flipped on. He let the thoughts out of his mind as the dinner continued on.
"I am going to take Habib with me tonight, Father" Psidias spoke, sounding more like a question than a statement at the meals end.
"Mmmmh... You have spoken with the Sensei about bringing your brother to the dojo?"
"Yes, Father. He said he would try to arrange for an appropriate Kyu to pair Habib with." replied Psidias before covering his mouth as he coughed.
Pious felt a pang of guilt as he looked upon his middle son. He was a lean young man, but what strength he did have was etched into his body for all to see. Years of combating multitudes of sicknesses had taken its toll, but his spirit was as bright as a sun, and Psidias would not let himself be withheld from whatever athletics he set his mind to.
"What sin did I commit to force such trials on this lovely child?" Pious silently asked.
He was about to comment to Psidias about Habib's partner when something caught his eye at the end of the table. Mitara had actually looked at her new brothers with something that resembled interest.
Pious stood as he pushed his chair away from the table and started walking towards his study.
"Take Mitara with you."
He smiled to himself at the sudden silence behind him while he walked.
* * * * *
"Be quiet!" yelled Habib at the chuckling Psidias, covering his left eye.
"Now tell me what happened again?" a confused Pious Newelle asked of the same laughing boy.
"Well, Sensei thought since they are both the same age and neither have had any training, that they would be a good match, Father." Psidias was now fending off his younger brothers flailing fists with ease. "He was more worried about Mitara really..." Psidias's laughter stopped adruptly as he missed deflecting one of Habibs now increased flurry of blows.
"Enough."
The two boys stopped dead at the hint of command in their father's voice that was usually reserved for his Navy subordinates.
"Go."
Psidias and Habib quickly dissappeared from the study, leaving a frightened young Ni-Kunni girl trembling in the corner alone with their unhappy father.
"Come here."
Mitara obeyed immediately, but did not take her eyes off the floor.
Pious held up an open palm to the girl, "Punch me."
Her body began to shake even more, and her voice came out meek and broken, "I cannot, Sir."
"Do as I say."
She flinched at the increased command in his voice. Willing herself to obey, she took the stance the Sensei had shown her, spotted her target from the corner of her eye as she looked away, and slammed her fist at it as hard as she could. Mitara closed her stance, placed her hands before her, and planted her eyes at her feet.
The seconds passed as hours as she stood there awaiting her fate.
"Good girl."
His voice was no longer commanding, but soothing, warm.
Pious reached out, gently raising the childs chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. He held her gaze for a moment before drawing her into a fatherly embrace. She stiffened in his arms, but did not resist. "Progress," he thought, before releasing her. This time she held his gaze afterwards, "More progress."
"My subordinates call me Sir, Mitara. You are my daughter, and I am your Father." He nodded at her, willing her to comprehend. His only response from her was her level gaze. Sighing, he added, "You will go with Psidias again tomorrow."
The girl's lip quivered a moment, then one corner curled up ever so slightly. She looked back at the man with a thin lipped, smug half-smile, "Yes, Father."
2010-02-07
Paradise Lost
The camera drone activates showing Mitara dressed in a black, shoulder-less, flowing evening dress that is decorated with intricate patterns of gold. Her hair is done up in a very formal looking french braid. There is a thin gold chain around her neck with a small pendant hanging from it. Though her well toned thick frame seems a bit out of place in the dress, she almost looks elegant, save for the tear streaked makeup running down either of her cheeks.
Mitara slowly walks over to the side table of her study and gently sets a piece of paper on it. She carefully runs her hand across it, flattening it out. Her fingers rest upon the parchment as she stares down at it for a moment before raising both hands behind her neck and unclasping the necklace which she lays out over the paper with great care.
An elderly Minmatar woman steps from the shadows behind Mitara.
"I will be sparring when I am through here," Mitara says to the woman without looking away from the table or even acknowledging her presence.
The Minmatar bows, and steps back quietly, disappearing without speaking a word.
Mitara addresses the camera drone, not raising her eyes from the paper and necklace.
"Tonight was poised to be a heavenly, and needed, encounter between Mr Shutaq and I. He had this beautiful dress made for me..."
She looks down at the dress and gives it a bit of a tug, straightening it out. A smile creeps over her face as she thinks.
"We had a lovely dinner, and an even better desert. He had such a wonderful plan for the evening thus far. After dinner he took me out to a clearing in the nearby forest. I was uncomfortable, but I felt better knowing he had been there many times. He wrote the most touching poem..."
A fresh tear rolls down her cheek and her face hardens.
"Then with but a few words, our evening's focus changed drastically. Aldrith is leaving the Preatoria to make his own way, at the head of his own organization. He spoke nothing of this to me before tonight. He intends to bring the Word and the Cause to any who would show even the slightest interest in listening. Even barabarians and scum."
Mitara takes a deep breath, her muscles tensing.
"Not a single word... or hint... On this night he chooses to say something!"
She turns towards the doorway and storms out with fists clenched tight.
The camera drone stays on for several minutes before shutting down and going idle.
A new picture appears in the same room. Mitara walks through the doorway, now wearing her exercise suit. As she walks into the room towards the table and into the light, it is apparent some time has passed. There are sweat stains on her suit, and her face is stoic and red with exertion, the smeared makeup still not having been washed away. When she arrives at the table, she reaches out and takes the necklace, clasping it around her neck with bloodied hands. She looks down at the paper with the same stoic look for several moments.
"See this framed and placed in the bedroom. I will shower as well."
The same elderly Minmatar woman passes through the doorway, quickly making her way to the table She keeps her head low, avoiding any chance look by her Mistress. She picks up the paper as if she were picking up a newborn babe and backs way, then turns and starts to shuffle out of the room.
Mitara's eyes fall to the floor, her voice quiet.
"Let me know how he is doing after the physicians are through seeing him"
The slave stops and speaks, "Of course, Mistress Newelle." She quickly bows and vanishes through the doorway.
Mitara stands looking at the floor, waiting a few moments for the slave to leave before she too turns and exits the room.
After a time the camera drone goes idle and shuts down again.
Mitara slowly walks over to the side table of her study and gently sets a piece of paper on it. She carefully runs her hand across it, flattening it out. Her fingers rest upon the parchment as she stares down at it for a moment before raising both hands behind her neck and unclasping the necklace which she lays out over the paper with great care.
An elderly Minmatar woman steps from the shadows behind Mitara.
"I will be sparring when I am through here," Mitara says to the woman without looking away from the table or even acknowledging her presence.
The Minmatar bows, and steps back quietly, disappearing without speaking a word.
Mitara addresses the camera drone, not raising her eyes from the paper and necklace.
"Tonight was poised to be a heavenly, and needed, encounter between Mr Shutaq and I. He had this beautiful dress made for me..."
She looks down at the dress and gives it a bit of a tug, straightening it out. A smile creeps over her face as she thinks.
"We had a lovely dinner, and an even better desert. He had such a wonderful plan for the evening thus far. After dinner he took me out to a clearing in the nearby forest. I was uncomfortable, but I felt better knowing he had been there many times. He wrote the most touching poem..."
A fresh tear rolls down her cheek and her face hardens.
"Then with but a few words, our evening's focus changed drastically. Aldrith is leaving the Preatoria to make his own way, at the head of his own organization. He spoke nothing of this to me before tonight. He intends to bring the Word and the Cause to any who would show even the slightest interest in listening. Even barabarians and scum."
Mitara takes a deep breath, her muscles tensing.
"Not a single word... or hint... On this night he chooses to say something!"
She turns towards the doorway and storms out with fists clenched tight.
The camera drone stays on for several minutes before shutting down and going idle.
A new picture appears in the same room. Mitara walks through the doorway, now wearing her exercise suit. As she walks into the room towards the table and into the light, it is apparent some time has passed. There are sweat stains on her suit, and her face is stoic and red with exertion, the smeared makeup still not having been washed away. When she arrives at the table, she reaches out and takes the necklace, clasping it around her neck with bloodied hands. She looks down at the paper with the same stoic look for several moments.
"See this framed and placed in the bedroom. I will shower as well."
The same elderly Minmatar woman passes through the doorway, quickly making her way to the table She keeps her head low, avoiding any chance look by her Mistress. She picks up the paper as if she were picking up a newborn babe and backs way, then turns and starts to shuffle out of the room.
Mitara's eyes fall to the floor, her voice quiet.
"Let me know how he is doing after the physicians are through seeing him"
The slave stops and speaks, "Of course, Mistress Newelle." She quickly bows and vanishes through the doorway.
Mitara stands looking at the floor, waiting a few moments for the slave to leave before she too turns and exits the room.
After a time the camera drone goes idle and shuts down again.
2009-12-06
A Great Day....?
Mitara sits in her study, looking out the viewport at the blanket of stars. On the side table sits an almost empty bottle of whiskey, and a half full glass of the same. After some time she speaks, still staring into the vastness...
Mitara takes the glass from the table and drinks it down, draining it.
She shakes her head as she picks up the bottle and tops of her glass. Mitara takes a long drink before return both the bottle and glass to the table.
She picks up the glass with a look of disgust and finishes it before slamming back down onto the table.
Her beeping datapad breaks her rant.
She switches her datapad off, looking back out into space. Suddenly she grabs the bottle and hurls it against the viewport. The bottle shatters, and what little whiskey that remains slowly drips down the picture of pinpointed stars outside the viewport. She turns and starts towards the door activating her communications implant...
Today the Empire saw it's greatest gains in the war to date. Egamar, Aset, and Isbrabata are now occupied by the Imperial Navy. There is celebration among the loyalists, and our Caldari allies.
Who can blame them? Is it not a great day?
Mitara takes the glass from the table and drinks it down, draining it.
Eighteen months. Our pilots have fought tooth and nail for eighteen months. Over this time we've lost many systems. But we've always reclaimed them quickly. We've even managed to take, and hold for some time now, Siseide and Lantorn.
Our Caldari allies have been in the theatre for just a matter of weeks, and already have been able to expose three systems bunkers.
She shakes her head as she picks up the bottle and tops of her glass. Mitara takes a long drink before return both the bottle and glass to the table.
I don't understand how they were able to accomplish such a feat. I've heard rumors they have high ranking contacts within the Republic, that their Navy has orders not to fire on them. Or maybe someone in the Republic has flat out turned traitor to their cause. I do not know, nor do I care, the Empire is reclaiming it's space, that is what does matter.
But.... The Caldari... They are doing what we are supposed to be doing. What we have failed to do.
She picks up the glass with a look of disgust and finishes it before slamming back down onto the table.
This is our fight. Our war. We are the ones who are to bring Glory to God's Empire, not some godless ISK worshippers!
Her beeping datapad breaks her rant.
"CALL TO ARMS: GUKARLA VULNERABLE!"
She switches her datapad off, looking back out into space. Suddenly she grabs the bottle and hurls it against the viewport. The bottle shatters, and what little whiskey that remains slowly drips down the picture of pinpointed stars outside the viewport. She turns and starts towards the door activating her communications implant...
Ready TEIS Upholder VIII...
2009-11-22
War of Words
"I do think I am beginning to understand. that you couldn't find a man that would have you."
What kind of monster am I? I look back now as I spoke those words, it was as if I wasn't the one speaking them. It was if I was watching myself from afar, but the voice was cold and vindictive.
I had every right to be furious, I know this much. Why I gave into her verbal abuse this day I cannot say. I have suffered her remarks without so much as batting an eye in the past. I surmise that even I have limits.
"I'd never thought.. oh well, I guess its normal for such lowborn scum as you to act like this, I should never have begun trusting you like this.. you're no better than him, you're just.. scum, you Ni-Kunni are all the same."
There was nothing behind her words. They were weak, powerless. I had hardened myself to a much more furious onslaught, but it never came.
"Shut up you low born runaway, you have no idea, you hear me, no idea at all, and now get out of my eyes and wash some rags or something."
It was like something in me smelled her vulnerability and struck like a predator sensing the kill, and strike I did. I did not feel the slightest hesitation, and I savored her inability to respond.
"Hmm? No quips forthcoming? I really expected more of you, Laerise"
My victory was complete.
"I hate you."
"I no longer care what you think of me."
I meant it, at least for a time.
Now all I can think of is how horrible it was. How I let myself become so vicious, regardless of what she says. I let myself... I let Aldrith down behaving in such a manner. I'm not sorry for thinking those thoughts, I feel they are correct, but I did act out as she says... in a low born manner, like scum. Do I care what she thinks of me? God help me, but I do.
For that, I hate myself.
2009-11-18
Of Dreams and Nightmares
The evening started well enough. Small talk about the war zone, about missing him, about a future Praetorian wedding between Lianne and Saint. That last bit of information came as quite a surprise.
I was in the Basilica, sitting at the waters edge, my thoughts wandering between the war, Aldrith, and the wedding date that had just been set by my sister.
"Because I'm going to marry Raphael."
A simple statement she made to Chancellor Karvash as they walked passed, and all the feelings of initially hearing of my sister's engagement came flooding into my head. I did what I could to congratulate her, though I'm sure it came off as rushed and awkward. They have had a peculiar relationship from what I can tell. God puts together strange pairs indeed.
She chuckles and shakes her head.
So, off we went to Pax Praetoria for a nightcap. Behold, Laerise had decided to make an early morning of it. We discussed the return of Karvash to the defensive fold. She wasn't as enthused as I. Of course, Lianne and Saint was brought up. When Aldrith arrived, she couldn't help but make a comment to sour the air. Once again I tried to divert her attentions to other things, asking about her 'wife' and her own ability to sleep.
After a few stunned glances from Aldrith and I, she continued...
My first reaction was total shock that she would ask such a thing, then a great sadness took ahold of me. I simply said back that it was a little too soon for that kind of talk. Laerise responded with something I didn't quite register other than her calling Aldrith and I 'commoners.' All I could do was grunt and attempt to cover my inability to react by taking a drink of my wine. After an uncomfortable silence by all parties, Aldrith spoke up.
My God, what was this? Some kind of sick joke? Something to spark Laerise's rage? A proposal? I sputtered back with something in the affirmative, unsure if I was becoming party to Aldrith's ill conceived joke or committing myself to him forever. I shot up out of my seat, draining the last of my wine and went to refill it, which I did, then I drained that. I didn't notice Laerise had followed me until she touched my arm.
My head shook slowly, partially in response to her and partially in disbelief he would put me in such a position with my fellow Captain. A look of realization that he may of just proposed crossed her face and she covered her mouth in shock.
I just wanted to get back to my seat as I felt my legs giving way.
His words took my legs from beneath me, sending my drink spilling over the floor. It was horrible. I was furious, mortified, my look willing him to cease. My head spun around to meet Laerise's gaze questioning me if what he said was true.
With that I was broken. I remember Aldrith laughing and Laerise yelling at him. All I could think of was to flee. This I did in the most graceful way I could muster.
I fled back to my suite, praying it was all some kind of nightmare. Sitting on the couch I wept and waited to wake, but I never did.
After some time, he quietly returned, taking a seat a safe distance away. When I could compose myself to speak, I asked him...
"What in God's name were you thinking?"
"I suppose I wasn't."
"Do you know what the worst part of it is? The worst is that for just a moment I thought you were serious. God knows I don't expect that, Aldrith. But for a fleeting moment... I wanted to believe you would."
"That is why you are angry?"
"I don't know what to think. No. But that's why I'm hurt. That you would joke about something like that. Especially with Anne and now Shalee... I'm angry because you embarrassed me... us... in front of my fellow officer, my senior."
"What, you do not think I have been pondering proposing this entire time anyway?"
"No. Why would you?"
"That woman deserves no respect... you are of equal rank, how dare she take these constant shots at you? At me, fine, but I saw the hurt in your eyes."
"Yes. I cannot stand it when she starts on you."
My anger started to subside as the truth of his words rung true. I have fought to ignore Laerise's slights towards him, and indirectly, towards me.
"I have no idea... I can only think it was by my actions. God curse my lack of social graces."
"No, it was not your fault. And if that woman were at all reasonable we would have simply been able to tell her."
"Yes, yes, this is true. But Aldrith, tonight, it was too much, too much..."
"I did not think... all she was doing was rubbing it in our faces, trying to make us feel ashamed. I refuse to feel shame for her."
"As we shouldn't. Her perspective is... different. I'm sure the behaviors of the Holders are as foreign to us as we are to them."
"I know Holders! I lived with them for half of my life! Being a Holder does not excuse one from being a decent human being!"
"You would know better than I.... From us I am the least."
"What? How can you say that?"
"Come now, Aldrith. I am the Ni-Kunni daughter of an Amarrian Naval officer. You were in Court. And Laerise, well... I am what she says, a commoner, and nothing can change that. Even if I outrank her, she will always hold more social power than I ever will. Even if I had it, I wouldn't know how to use it."
And I didn't care either. I know my place. It may not be where I wish, and I may feel ashamed to come from such low stock, but it is my place. This man, who I was furious with, lifts me up...
How could I not but smile at such a loving accolade? I looked at him, praising God in my mind that he was here, that I was not alone, and that I loved him dearly.
Our conversation drifted from what was said between them after I had left, the about us, and finally what our future may hold. Neither of us can foresee that, but for now we are content, happy. The evening closes with my loves sense of humor again. This time, I could appreciate it.
He took me by the hand, leading me to the bedroom.
"What, I should hope I will at least get the privilege of keeping your bed warm whilst you sleep. These Caldari keep their stations notoriously cold..."
"Mmmhmm... quite cold."
"I assure you, my intentions are quite honorable, milady... Besides... you are sleeping for three now!"
He deserved the welt my pinch left.
I was in the Basilica, sitting at the waters edge, my thoughts wandering between the war, Aldrith, and the wedding date that had just been set by my sister.
"Because I'm going to marry Raphael."
A simple statement she made to Chancellor Karvash as they walked passed, and all the feelings of initially hearing of my sister's engagement came flooding into my head. I did what I could to congratulate her, though I'm sure it came off as rushed and awkward. They have had a peculiar relationship from what I can tell. God puts together strange pairs indeed.
She chuckles and shakes her head.
So, off we went to Pax Praetoria for a nightcap. Behold, Laerise had decided to make an early morning of it. We discussed the return of Karvash to the defensive fold. She wasn't as enthused as I. Of course, Lianne and Saint was brought up. When Aldrith arrived, she couldn't help but make a comment to sour the air. Once again I tried to divert her attentions to other things, asking about her 'wife' and her own ability to sleep.
"Come now, what about you and.. Aldrith, who would have thought."
After a few stunned glances from Aldrith and I, she continued...
"Tch, do you really think I did not know, about you two? Oh come on, I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but... I hope he's at least been enough of a gentleman to propose to you, Mitara."
My first reaction was total shock that she would ask such a thing, then a great sadness took ahold of me. I simply said back that it was a little too soon for that kind of talk. Laerise responded with something I didn't quite register other than her calling Aldrith and I 'commoners.' All I could do was grunt and attempt to cover my inability to react by taking a drink of my wine. After an uncomfortable silence by all parties, Aldrith spoke up.
"Fine, Captain if you really must know, we are going to get married as well. We have been keeping it quiet for now so as to not overshadow Raphael and Shalee's engagement. Right, Mitara?"
My God, what was this? Some kind of sick joke? Something to spark Laerise's rage? A proposal? I sputtered back with something in the affirmative, unsure if I was becoming party to Aldrith's ill conceived joke or committing myself to him forever. I shot up out of my seat, draining the last of my wine and went to refill it, which I did, then I drained that. I didn't notice Laerise had followed me until she touched my arm.
"Is he always this horrid to you? I can't believe it."
My head shook slowly, partially in response to her and partially in disbelief he would put me in such a position with my fellow Captain. A look of realization that he may of just proposed crossed her face and she covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh no. He did not just..?"
I just wanted to get back to my seat as I felt my legs giving way.
"And she's pregnant!"
His words took my legs from beneath me, sending my drink spilling over the floor. It was horrible. I was furious, mortified, my look willing him to cease. My head spun around to meet Laerise's gaze questioning me if what he said was true.
"With twins!"
With that I was broken. I remember Aldrith laughing and Laerise yelling at him. All I could think of was to flee. This I did in the most graceful way I could muster.
I fled back to my suite, praying it was all some kind of nightmare. Sitting on the couch I wept and waited to wake, but I never did.
After some time, he quietly returned, taking a seat a safe distance away. When I could compose myself to speak, I asked him...
"Do you think that was funny?"
"Now? Of course not."
"What in God's name were you thinking?"
"I suppose I wasn't."
"Do you know what the worst part of it is? The worst is that for just a moment I thought you were serious. God knows I don't expect that, Aldrith. But for a fleeting moment... I wanted to believe you would."
"That is why you are angry?"
"I don't know what to think. No. But that's why I'm hurt. That you would joke about something like that. Especially with Anne and now Shalee... I'm angry because you embarrassed me... us... in front of my fellow officer, my senior."
"What, you do not think I have been pondering proposing this entire time anyway?"
"No. Why would you?"
"That woman deserves no respect... you are of equal rank, how dare she take these constant shots at you? At me, fine, but I saw the hurt in your eyes."
"Yes. I cannot stand it when she starts on you."
My anger started to subside as the truth of his words rung true. I have fought to ignore Laerise's slights towards him, and indirectly, towards me.
"How did she find out?"
"I have no idea... I can only think it was by my actions. God curse my lack of social graces."
"No, it was not your fault. And if that woman were at all reasonable we would have simply been able to tell her."
"Yes, yes, this is true. But Aldrith, tonight, it was too much, too much..."
"I did not think... all she was doing was rubbing it in our faces, trying to make us feel ashamed. I refuse to feel shame for her."
"As we shouldn't. Her perspective is... different. I'm sure the behaviors of the Holders are as foreign to us as we are to them."
"I know Holders! I lived with them for half of my life! Being a Holder does not excuse one from being a decent human being!"
"You would know better than I.... From us I am the least."
"What? How can you say that?"
"Come now, Aldrith. I am the Ni-Kunni daughter of an Amarrian Naval officer. You were in Court. And Laerise, well... I am what she says, a commoner, and nothing can change that. Even if I outrank her, she will always hold more social power than I ever will. Even if I had it, I wouldn't know how to use it."
And I didn't care either. I know my place. It may not be where I wish, and I may feel ashamed to come from such low stock, but it is my place. This man, who I was furious with, lifts me up...
"Listen to me. You are a hundred times my better, and a thousand times Laerise's better. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Station... rank... they mean nothing in the eyes of God. He can only smile upon an angel like you."
How could I not but smile at such a loving accolade? I looked at him, praising God in my mind that he was here, that I was not alone, and that I loved him dearly.
Our conversation drifted from what was said between them after I had left, the about us, and finally what our future may hold. Neither of us can foresee that, but for now we are content, happy. The evening closes with my loves sense of humor again. This time, I could appreciate it.
"I know that this whole encounter has left me exhausted. That's about it."
He took me by the hand, leading me to the bedroom.
"Oh, you think so? After what you pulled?"
"What, I should hope I will at least get the privilege of keeping your bed warm whilst you sleep. These Caldari keep their stations notoriously cold..."
"Mmmhmm... quite cold."
"I assure you, my intentions are quite honorable, milady... Besides... you are sleeping for three now!"
He deserved the welt my pinch left.
2009-10-08
Happiness Is...
The starlight pouring through the oversized viewport illuminates the room in a soft light. Faint traditional Amarrian choir music can be heard, seeming to come from all around. Mitara sits in the usual plush chair located in her study. She is wrapped haphazardly in a thick white bathrobe, her hair looking somewhat disheveled. She smiles widely into the camera, chuckling softly.
Oh, where to start with this after so long... A verse I think.
"Surround yourself with the faithful, stand together, for there is no strength like it under the heavens"
That passage has never meant more to me than it does right now. My junior officers grow in skill and determination everyday. The precision at which they execute their patrols becomes more and more impressive. I am so proud of them all. My blessings are so many concerning my corpmates, I cannot begin to count them.
She shakes her head and chuckles louder. As if remembering something, she partially covers her mouth and quiets her laugh.
We are not without our problems and conflict, but they pale compared to what God and Her Majesty has called us to accomplish, and what we are called to be for each other.
Her laugh ceases as she turns towards the closed door, her face softens as does her voice
...Surround yourself with the faithful... stand together... for there is no strength like it under the heavens...
She stares at the door for some time, all the while smiling widely.
There lies a man beyond, sleeping soundly on the couch.
He is beautiful, in body and soul. His heart could hold the whole of the cluster. I am blessed to hold even a small place in it.
He is my friend; my council; my inspiration; my release; my folly;
* She blurts out a chuckle and regains herself *
my wingman; my trial.
He is my love.
A gift from God.
And I will cherish him.
And honor him.
Always.
She stares off at the door a bit longer before sinking back into her chair with a contented sigh.
Oh, where to start with this after so long... A verse I think.
"Surround yourself with the faithful, stand together, for there is no strength like it under the heavens"
That passage has never meant more to me than it does right now. My junior officers grow in skill and determination everyday. The precision at which they execute their patrols becomes more and more impressive. I am so proud of them all. My blessings are so many concerning my corpmates, I cannot begin to count them.
She shakes her head and chuckles louder. As if remembering something, she partially covers her mouth and quiets her laugh.
We are not without our problems and conflict, but they pale compared to what God and Her Majesty has called us to accomplish, and what we are called to be for each other.
Her laugh ceases as she turns towards the closed door, her face softens as does her voice
...Surround yourself with the faithful... stand together... for there is no strength like it under the heavens...
She stares at the door for some time, all the while smiling widely.
There lies a man beyond, sleeping soundly on the couch.
He is beautiful, in body and soul. His heart could hold the whole of the cluster. I am blessed to hold even a small place in it.
He is my friend; my council; my inspiration; my release; my folly;
* She blurts out a chuckle and regains herself *
my wingman; my trial.
He is my love.
A gift from God.
And I will cherish him.
And honor him.
Always.
She stares off at the door a bit longer before sinking back into her chair with a contented sigh.
2009-09-13
Resurrection - Chapter 3
NOTE: This story needs to be slightly retconned to take into consideration the events of YC121.03.18 that established that Ca'lik'bar is a subsurface mining colony and not an open air mining colony.
* * *
The last few days saw more food than before. One less mouth to feed helped, even though the worry of their missing mother kept her from sleeping. Her bruised cheek, and the cut across her lip probably helped with the miners sympathy too. With the sound of the shift change siren, she takes up her old violin, her muscles still sore from the encounter days before. A piece of bread crust, and a mostly eaten peach are the things she notes getting tossed into her brothers violin case, and she manages to smile a little.
"How are you feeling?" the vaguely familiar Amarr voice asks.
Startled, she looks up and over seeing the Navy officer at the front of a detachment of Imperial Marines. Looking away in embarrassment for not thanking him, she responds, "Ok, sir. Thank you... you know? The other day...?"
He smiles softly at her and then her brother, "And who is this?"
"I'm Kaleb!" her younger brother chimes in before she has a chance to respond. The young boy looks wide eyed at the Amarr officer, "Do you fly a spaceship!?" he asks excitedly.
The officer chuckles back at the inquisitive child, "I serve aboard one, yes."
"Wow!" The boy smiles broadly, enamored.
"I'd like to hear you play, " says the officer turning his gaze back to her.
She nods, trying to avoid his eyes. She brings her carefully chosen stick up to the rusted strings and does her best to not offend her audiences ears.
The officer puts on a forced expression of approval, trying to hide his amusement behind his smile. She plays a bit more before her brother breaks her concentration.
"Mommy!" he shouts and drops the violin case, spilling it's little contents onto the ground. He runs up to her hugging at her leg. She barely notices and approaches the officer.
The mother thrusts some papers at the man, shaking them, "Take them! For God, take them!" Out of reflex the officer responds, accepting the papers. She drops to the ground in front of him, grasping at his boot, kissing the toe of it, "Thank you, m'Lord!. By all that is Holy, thank you! They will serve you well."
The lump in the daughters throat prevents her from speaking, her body paralyzed at the implication.
The mother stands, pushing down the young boy who is still chanting, "Mommy! Mommy!" She turns away without looking at either of the children, running off into the cross traffic of arriving and leaving workers. Her wild, unwashed hair is the last they will ever see of her.
"Umm..." The Naval officer is the first to be able to respond, and he quickly glances over the papers he realizes he now holds. "Sergeant, take them" he calls out flatly.
The marines move swiftly, one grabbing the now crying boy off the ground, another scooping up the girl. She blinks in a daze and loses grip of the violin which falls to the ground, the aged cheap wood shattering into pieces. The troop quickly moves out towards the center of the city.
*
She stands with her younger brother at her side, the Naval officer behind them. She looks at the Amarr behind the counter as he finishes reading the papers their mother had thrust upon the officer.
"Yes, this is all in order. She has relinquished any claim to them. Do you have the registration forms for your new slaves?"
The officer hands him a data tablet. The clerk begins reading it, and almost immediately looks back up at the Navy man. "Sir, but this is..."
"I know." assures the officer in a commanding voice.
The clerk looks at the two children in front of him. He shrugs and continues reading partially out loud, "... Ni-Kunni female... age nine ... height, weight appear accurate..." He looks at the officer, "Name?"
The officer looks down at the girl, smiling, "Go ahead, tell him your name."
The girl looks up at the officer a moment then at the clerk. She says softly, "Mitara Cobestes"
"Mitara..." the clerk repeats back as he keys the datapad. He scrolls and reads more, ".. Ni-Kunni male... age 5... ok.." Knowing now what the response from the officer will be, this time he looks at the boy for the response, "Name?"
"Kaleb, sir"
"Kaleb..." more keying into the datapad followed by a press of a thumb. The clerk hands the datapad back to the Navy officer, "There you are sir, all set."
The Navy man places a hand on either of the siblings shoulders and turns them to walk. As they walk he looks down at the girl, she looks back up at him. "Mitara Newelle. You are Mitara Newelle now. Understand?"
She nods to him, even though she doesn't.
* * *
Mitara leans her back against the outer wall of the mineshaft and slowly slides down until she is sitting. She pulls her knees up against her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. Her eyes close and her head lowers to rest against the top of her knees.
Emotion crashes down on her.
She sobs.
* * *
Kaleb lays curled on the bench of the transport, asleep. The young Ni-Kunni girl sits next to the Naval officer, unable to comprehend the happenings of the last several hours. The silence weighs down on her, and the fear of this unknown future scares her to her core. She tries not make any sounds as she can't help but cry. The Navy officer notices anyway.
Mitara sits straight up, sucking in a breath. Her heart races and her body trembles. She looks all around her. She is alone. What was once day has become night. There is a soft glow provided by the starlight.
A fresh stream of tears begin to fall, now tears of joy. She lifts her head to the stars, a smile slowly forms.
"Thank you."
END
* * *
The last few days saw more food than before. One less mouth to feed helped, even though the worry of their missing mother kept her from sleeping. Her bruised cheek, and the cut across her lip probably helped with the miners sympathy too. With the sound of the shift change siren, she takes up her old violin, her muscles still sore from the encounter days before. A piece of bread crust, and a mostly eaten peach are the things she notes getting tossed into her brothers violin case, and she manages to smile a little.
"How are you feeling?" the vaguely familiar Amarr voice asks.
Startled, she looks up and over seeing the Navy officer at the front of a detachment of Imperial Marines. Looking away in embarrassment for not thanking him, she responds, "Ok, sir. Thank you... you know? The other day...?"
He smiles softly at her and then her brother, "And who is this?"
"I'm Kaleb!" her younger brother chimes in before she has a chance to respond. The young boy looks wide eyed at the Amarr officer, "Do you fly a spaceship!?" he asks excitedly.
The officer chuckles back at the inquisitive child, "I serve aboard one, yes."
"Wow!" The boy smiles broadly, enamored.
"I'd like to hear you play, " says the officer turning his gaze back to her.
She nods, trying to avoid his eyes. She brings her carefully chosen stick up to the rusted strings and does her best to not offend her audiences ears.
The officer puts on a forced expression of approval, trying to hide his amusement behind his smile. She plays a bit more before her brother breaks her concentration.
"Mommy!" he shouts and drops the violin case, spilling it's little contents onto the ground. He runs up to her hugging at her leg. She barely notices and approaches the officer.
The mother thrusts some papers at the man, shaking them, "Take them! For God, take them!" Out of reflex the officer responds, accepting the papers. She drops to the ground in front of him, grasping at his boot, kissing the toe of it, "Thank you, m'Lord!. By all that is Holy, thank you! They will serve you well."
The lump in the daughters throat prevents her from speaking, her body paralyzed at the implication.
The mother stands, pushing down the young boy who is still chanting, "Mommy! Mommy!" She turns away without looking at either of the children, running off into the cross traffic of arriving and leaving workers. Her wild, unwashed hair is the last they will ever see of her.
"Umm..." The Naval officer is the first to be able to respond, and he quickly glances over the papers he realizes he now holds. "Sergeant, take them" he calls out flatly.
The marines move swiftly, one grabbing the now crying boy off the ground, another scooping up the girl. She blinks in a daze and loses grip of the violin which falls to the ground, the aged cheap wood shattering into pieces. The troop quickly moves out towards the center of the city.
*
She stands with her younger brother at her side, the Naval officer behind them. She looks at the Amarr behind the counter as he finishes reading the papers their mother had thrust upon the officer.
"Yes, this is all in order. She has relinquished any claim to them. Do you have the registration forms for your new slaves?"
The officer hands him a data tablet. The clerk begins reading it, and almost immediately looks back up at the Navy man. "Sir, but this is..."
"I know." assures the officer in a commanding voice.
The clerk looks at the two children in front of him. He shrugs and continues reading partially out loud, "... Ni-Kunni female... age nine ... height, weight appear accurate..." He looks at the officer, "Name?"
The officer looks down at the girl, smiling, "Go ahead, tell him your name."
The girl looks up at the officer a moment then at the clerk. She says softly, "Mitara Cobestes"
"Mitara..." the clerk repeats back as he keys the datapad. He scrolls and reads more, ".. Ni-Kunni male... age 5... ok.." Knowing now what the response from the officer will be, this time he looks at the boy for the response, "Name?"
"Kaleb, sir"
"Kaleb..." more keying into the datapad followed by a press of a thumb. The clerk hands the datapad back to the Navy officer, "There you are sir, all set."
The Navy man places a hand on either of the siblings shoulders and turns them to walk. As they walk he looks down at the girl, she looks back up at him. "Mitara Newelle. You are Mitara Newelle now. Understand?"
She nods to him, even though she doesn't.
* * *
Mitara leans her back against the outer wall of the mineshaft and slowly slides down until she is sitting. She pulls her knees up against her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. Her eyes close and her head lowers to rest against the top of her knees.
Emotion crashes down on her.
She sobs.
* * *
Kaleb lays curled on the bench of the transport, asleep. The young Ni-Kunni girl sits next to the Naval officer, unable to comprehend the happenings of the last several hours. The silence weighs down on her, and the fear of this unknown future scares her to her core. She tries not make any sounds as she can't help but cry. The Navy officer notices anyway.
| "Why do you cry?" asks the officer in a kind voice. | "Why do you cry?" asks a voice. | |
| "It has been so hard. I have done some bad things." the short life of the young girl plays itself back in her mind. All the worry and anguish of simply trying to survive. Visions of the places and the people from which she stole roll through her thoughts. | "It has been so hard. I have done some horrid things." the Captain thinks of the constant patrols and battles, all her duties to PIE and to the Empire. She sees the faces of her fellow pilots prominently: Shalee, Raphael, Zenton, Laerise, Aldrith; others fade quickly. Deep within her she knows she has wronged them all. | |
| "Are you not also blessed?" the Amarr next to her says, gently placing his hand atop her head. | "Are you not also blessed?" the voice asks, the hair on her neck stands on end. | |
| She had been bathed, fed, and given new cloths. Her wounds had been attended to by a physician. She was not separated from her brother. "Yes, I am blessed." | She was nearly immortal. She was Captain in the venerated Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris. Rich beyond most commoners dreams. She had a family that cared for her. She had felt the elation of giving her heart away to another. "Yes, I am blessed." | |
| The young girl looks up at the Amarr officer, "Who are you?" | The woman begins to look up, "Who are you?" | |
| "I am your father, now." replies the man next to her. | "I am your Father, always." the voice fills her head. |
Mitara sits straight up, sucking in a breath. Her heart races and her body trembles. She looks all around her. She is alone. What was once day has become night. There is a soft glow provided by the starlight.
A fresh stream of tears begin to fall, now tears of joy. She lifts her head to the stars, a smile slowly forms.
"Thank you."
END
Resurrection - Chapter 2
NOTE: This story needs to be slightly retconned to take into consideration the events of YC121.03.18 that established that Ca'lik'bar is a subsurface mining colony and not an open air mining colony.
The broken plastic lid skids to a stop, bumping into a pile of broken glass in the dimly lit alley.
“I win!” cheers the excited Ni-Kunni boy.
“Yes, you win. Now go back home and I'll be there in a while,” replies his thin... too thin, sister.
He scuttles off whence they came, giving his makeshift ball an occasional kick as he weaves between the junk and other debris littering the alley. She watches him as long as she can. Normally she would let him win, just to see his excitement. But not today. Her body ached so bad, her joints grinding like broken gears. She was certain the pain in her stomach meant that her body had begun to feed upon itself. It had been days since she allowed herself even the smallest bit of food. She made sure Kaleb got as much as she could, rationing only a tiny bit for what had once been their mother. “You git on home now before it gets too dark!” Her shout is weak and hoarse. She's not sure if her blurred vision is the reason she finally loses sight of him, or that he has rounded some corner, either way she must now focus on her task.
It had only been two weeks since they had cut back shaft R-37 to two shifts, and already there had been a few near riots that had quickly been dispersed by ever increasing Imperial patrols. They had suffered worse than she thought they might. There were more people vying for the attention of the remaining workers for starters, and what she was able to get from them was less and less as the miners started to horde what they could in anticipation of the shaft being shut down entirely. She was so tired. All she wanted was to sleep, yet she plodded on. The occasional functioning alley light helped guide her towards the center of the city. Usually a better chance to find something she could use would be had there.
“I could give you something. That is, if you have something to give me?” The Khanid accent was thick. The twenty-something man stepped down off what must have been some kind of loading dock. His dirty white shirt was not worn, or ripped at all. “I've seen you come by this way before. You need something to eat?”
She nods back to him, “I would make music for you, but...” she lifts her heavy arm, pointing far down the alley.
“S'ok, we can figure something else out.” he says as he pulls a low crate aside and sits on it. He reaches into one of the over sized leg pockets that adorn his pants and pulls out a packet of dried rations, something the miners are given when they go very deep below the surface. “I've got this for you.”
“But I don't have nothing to... “ she finds the words so hard to say, knowing the weeks worth of meals is beyond her. Her head droops and her lips involuntarily pout.
“You can dance, right?” the Khanid leans forward resting his elbows on his knees, “Let me see you dance, pretty thing.”
She bobs her head in agreement and begins swaying from side to side, trying with all her might to move her arms in a graceful motion. Tears begin to well up as she hears the sounds of his laughter.
“Ha ha! No, you silly girl, not like that!” He jumps up from his seat and moves behind her, half leaning over her, his sweaty face above her head. “I want you to do it like this.” Her puppeteer begins moving his hips against her back and she sways with him in return. She closes her eyes, focusing on the pain in her belly.. “Yeah like that, now you're getting it.” He reaches over the top of her, taking hold of her wrists. She lays her head to the side praying for sleep to take her. He guides her hands up and down her preteen body, “That's good, very good.” Tears roll down the side of her face.
“Mother and Kaleb need you” she tells herself.
* * *
“You don't like my song!” cries the young girl standing in front of her.
Mitara feels her wet cheeks and shakes her head at the distraught child. “No, no, you did fine.” She kneels down, “You did wonderfully” displaying the coin in her hand, she holds it out. Both Ni-Kunni, adult and child, smile at each other with water streaked faces.
The young child snatches the coin and runs down the street, “Thank you, thank you!”
Mitara remains kneeling a moment, watching the girl down the street turn up a flight of stairs into what passes as an apartment building. She then looks down at the rough sidewalk where a couple of tears have dropped from her face and splattered.
* * *
She falls forward, limp, as he tries to work his hand under her tattered dress.
“Don't you know anything!?” the Khanid yells at her.
Her face scrapes against the dirty concrete of the alleyway and she rolls to her side as the force of his kick connects to her lower back. Her body responds with a yelp and begins heaving with sobs. She blinks a couple times looking at the few drops of blood smeared on the pavement inches away from her mouth. A couple of his footsteps are heard before the flash of white and the sharp sting on the side of her face that immediately begins to throb.
“Now we have to start over!” He grabs her by the armpit and attempts to hoist her up, her body refuses to help and he loses his grip, “Damnit, get up!” The soft thud of his fist hitting the backside of her shoulder is easily drowned out by the cry she emits.
“Please please please” She sputters between gasping sobs.
He hovers over her and spits to the side, “You want what I got, I know you do! Now get up!” His body freezes has he begins to bend down.
“Stop!”
The voice is confident and authoritative. The sounds of many men running grow louder as the sound of his retreat grows softer. She closes her eyes and begins to tremble as the sounds become a roar closing in on her. Even as they pass, she is too terrified to move.
“Come now, it's ok, it's ok.” It's the same voice as before, now soft, gentle.
She recoils, balling up in a fetal position at the light touch.
“It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you. Come on now.”
His hands and arms are strong. They pick her up and carry her to the nearby dock, gently he sets her at it's edge, sitting her up. She opens her eyes and sees a look of concern on the Amarrians face.
“We'll have to have that tended to. Can you tell me your name?”
She stares blankly at the Imperial Navy insignia on his uniform.
“I know you are scared, but I can help you. If...”
His head quirks away listening to something only he can hear, then back in a commanding voice says to nobody she can see, “Yes, thank you, Marine.”
His voice softens, “You're ok now. I'm going to help you. I'll be right back.”
She doesn't turn her head to watch him follow the way the rest went, she just sits looking forward.
“Mother and Kaleb” she says out loud.
She slides off the dock and her body wracks with pain as she lands. She whimpers as she tries to move with haste, grabbing the ration packet and starting towards home.
Her lungs are on fire and her muscles scream at her to stop as she nears the back of the apartment building. The sounds of Kaleb crying drives her to get there faster still even as her body rebels again her.
“Where is Mother?” she pants out.
“I don't know” wails her brother.
The broken plastic lid skids to a stop, bumping into a pile of broken glass in the dimly lit alley.
“I win!” cheers the excited Ni-Kunni boy.
“Yes, you win. Now go back home and I'll be there in a while,” replies his thin... too thin, sister.
He scuttles off whence they came, giving his makeshift ball an occasional kick as he weaves between the junk and other debris littering the alley. She watches him as long as she can. Normally she would let him win, just to see his excitement. But not today. Her body ached so bad, her joints grinding like broken gears. She was certain the pain in her stomach meant that her body had begun to feed upon itself. It had been days since she allowed herself even the smallest bit of food. She made sure Kaleb got as much as she could, rationing only a tiny bit for what had once been their mother. “You git on home now before it gets too dark!” Her shout is weak and hoarse. She's not sure if her blurred vision is the reason she finally loses sight of him, or that he has rounded some corner, either way she must now focus on her task.
It had only been two weeks since they had cut back shaft R-37 to two shifts, and already there had been a few near riots that had quickly been dispersed by ever increasing Imperial patrols. They had suffered worse than she thought they might. There were more people vying for the attention of the remaining workers for starters, and what she was able to get from them was less and less as the miners started to horde what they could in anticipation of the shaft being shut down entirely. She was so tired. All she wanted was to sleep, yet she plodded on. The occasional functioning alley light helped guide her towards the center of the city. Usually a better chance to find something she could use would be had there.
“I could give you something. That is, if you have something to give me?” The Khanid accent was thick. The twenty-something man stepped down off what must have been some kind of loading dock. His dirty white shirt was not worn, or ripped at all. “I've seen you come by this way before. You need something to eat?”
She nods back to him, “I would make music for you, but...” she lifts her heavy arm, pointing far down the alley.
“S'ok, we can figure something else out.” he says as he pulls a low crate aside and sits on it. He reaches into one of the over sized leg pockets that adorn his pants and pulls out a packet of dried rations, something the miners are given when they go very deep below the surface. “I've got this for you.”
“But I don't have nothing to... “ she finds the words so hard to say, knowing the weeks worth of meals is beyond her. Her head droops and her lips involuntarily pout.
“You can dance, right?” the Khanid leans forward resting his elbows on his knees, “Let me see you dance, pretty thing.”
She bobs her head in agreement and begins swaying from side to side, trying with all her might to move her arms in a graceful motion. Tears begin to well up as she hears the sounds of his laughter.
“Ha ha! No, you silly girl, not like that!” He jumps up from his seat and moves behind her, half leaning over her, his sweaty face above her head. “I want you to do it like this.” Her puppeteer begins moving his hips against her back and she sways with him in return. She closes her eyes, focusing on the pain in her belly.. “Yeah like that, now you're getting it.” He reaches over the top of her, taking hold of her wrists. She lays her head to the side praying for sleep to take her. He guides her hands up and down her preteen body, “That's good, very good.” Tears roll down the side of her face.
“Mother and Kaleb need you” she tells herself.
* * *
“You don't like my song!” cries the young girl standing in front of her.
Mitara feels her wet cheeks and shakes her head at the distraught child. “No, no, you did fine.” She kneels down, “You did wonderfully” displaying the coin in her hand, she holds it out. Both Ni-Kunni, adult and child, smile at each other with water streaked faces.
The young child snatches the coin and runs down the street, “Thank you, thank you!”
Mitara remains kneeling a moment, watching the girl down the street turn up a flight of stairs into what passes as an apartment building. She then looks down at the rough sidewalk where a couple of tears have dropped from her face and splattered.
* * *
She falls forward, limp, as he tries to work his hand under her tattered dress.
“Don't you know anything!?” the Khanid yells at her.
Her face scrapes against the dirty concrete of the alleyway and she rolls to her side as the force of his kick connects to her lower back. Her body responds with a yelp and begins heaving with sobs. She blinks a couple times looking at the few drops of blood smeared on the pavement inches away from her mouth. A couple of his footsteps are heard before the flash of white and the sharp sting on the side of her face that immediately begins to throb.
“Now we have to start over!” He grabs her by the armpit and attempts to hoist her up, her body refuses to help and he loses his grip, “Damnit, get up!” The soft thud of his fist hitting the backside of her shoulder is easily drowned out by the cry she emits.
“Please please please” She sputters between gasping sobs.
He hovers over her and spits to the side, “You want what I got, I know you do! Now get up!” His body freezes has he begins to bend down.
“Stop!”
The voice is confident and authoritative. The sounds of many men running grow louder as the sound of his retreat grows softer. She closes her eyes and begins to tremble as the sounds become a roar closing in on her. Even as they pass, she is too terrified to move.
“Come now, it's ok, it's ok.” It's the same voice as before, now soft, gentle.
She recoils, balling up in a fetal position at the light touch.
“It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you. Come on now.”
His hands and arms are strong. They pick her up and carry her to the nearby dock, gently he sets her at it's edge, sitting her up. She opens her eyes and sees a look of concern on the Amarrians face.
“We'll have to have that tended to. Can you tell me your name?”
She stares blankly at the Imperial Navy insignia on his uniform.
“I know you are scared, but I can help you. If...”
His head quirks away listening to something only he can hear, then back in a commanding voice says to nobody she can see, “Yes, thank you, Marine.”
His voice softens, “You're ok now. I'm going to help you. I'll be right back.”
She doesn't turn her head to watch him follow the way the rest went, she just sits looking forward.
“Mother and Kaleb” she says out loud.
She slides off the dock and her body wracks with pain as she lands. She whimpers as she tries to move with haste, grabbing the ration packet and starting towards home.
Her lungs are on fire and her muscles scream at her to stop as she nears the back of the apartment building. The sounds of Kaleb crying drives her to get there faster still even as her body rebels again her.
“Where is Mother?” she pants out.
“I don't know” wails her brother.
2009-09-11
Resurrection - Chapter 1
NOTE: This story needs to be slightly retconned to take into consideration the events of YC121.03.18 that established that Ca'lik'bar is a subsurface mining colony and not an open air mining colony.
The Imperial Spaceport is an immaculate, gold and white structure, dwarfing all other buildings in the city of Ca'lik'bar on Anath II, Aridia. It is a conduit for ores and minerals extracted from below the surface of this nondescript planet to reach the greater Empire of which it belongs. The businessmen, Imperial Regulators, and Imperial Navy personnel that keep it all running also travel it's corridors. It is a shining beacon surrounded by the squalor that is the city.
Ca'lik'bar is home to mostly Ni-Kunni and Khanid miner families and to those that offer their services to them. There is little happiness there. Those families that are lucky enough to work the mines worry when their employment will be terminated, as the cheaper to operate and more efficient asteroid mining ships continue to increase in numbers. Those without, do what they can to survive. Cooking, cleaning, entertaining, begging, and even less dignified activities all are offered to the Elite of Ca'lik'bar, and to even the lowest mine worker.
Mitara Newelle, capsuleer, Captain of Preatoria Imperialis Excubitoris, waits in line to exit the Imperial Spaceport and enter the place of her birth, which she has not set foot in for over 20 years. Those next to her regard her with disdain at her less than tailored cloths, and disheveled look. She plays the part, keeping her head down, not looking any of them in the eye. Finally the guard scans her id badge. He gives her a puzzled look and opens his mouth to ask something. The glare that she gives him steals his voice, and he simply waves her though.
The assault on her senses as she steps out of the spaceport and into the huge expanse of the cities' market plaza is overbearing. The aroma of hundreds of types food, animals, and the sweat of the thousands of vendors and their patrons make her gag. She tries to block out the droning buzz of activity all around her as she moves her way through the plaza to one of the main artery streets that eventually lead to mineshaft R-37. Along the way a Khanid boy leaps in front of her offering some type soup. She smells it, fights back the urge to vomit, and pushes past the boy. As she starts down one of the many wide streetways, she stops to watch a troop of teenage Ni-Kunni perform a synchronized dance. The few people assembled watch with subtle amusement, cheering once in a while at some feat of acrobatics. After a few moments she continues on down the street.
It is less crowded now, and the smell isn't as horrible, but there are still the occasional civilians looking to earn their next meal. She walks for some time and the bustle of business gives way to the calmer and quieter atmosphere of the residential districts. She muses at the size and condition of the apartments. The amount she spends in broker fees in a month on the interstellar market could refurbish the buildings 10 times over. It isn't until she feels something tugging at her sleeve does she realize how far she has gone, and into the slums at the outskirts of the city. The sight of her childhood neighborhood stops her cold.
“Lady, some change for a song?”
Even with Mitara's low class disguise, the young Ni-Kunni girl sees someone of greater wealth than she.
Mitara looks at the child - dirty, malnourished, uneducated. “What song will you sing for me, young one?”
“I don't know the name. My mommy taught it to me. It's really old so I don't know what the words mean, but Mommy says it is about how God will provide to the faithful.”
“Very well.” Mitara produces a coin from her worn overcoat and shows it to the child, then crosses her arms expecting that services be rendered first. The girl smiles awkwardly and begins singing in undecipherable words, that may at one time have been of the oldest of language in the Scriptures, but after generations of being passed down have become nothing but nonsense. Mitara listens for a time before her mind starts to wander ever back, back to her life before being a Newelle.
***
The two siblings stood at the entrance of mine shaft R-37. The boy several years younger than the girl, barely able to hold the worn and beaten violin case. The girl held the instrument like she had seen in a picture, running a stick across the dirty and rusted strings. It had been about a year since the two discovered the treasure while scavenging through the dumpsters of an apartment building on the other side of the city. In that time she had learned a few ways to coax the thing into producing some tones that did not make ones teeth hurt. Every day, at every shift change, they would come in hopes one of the miners would toss something, anything – a coin, a piece of bread, something; into their case. If they were lucky enough, they would bring the booty to their mother, who would wait emotionless under the back alley rear stairs of a run down apartment building. Her heart and ability to provide for her children were broken several years prior, when her mate left off world as a slave. While his needs would be met, even if it was in a life time of service to another, they would have to fend for themselves. The betrayal, hurt, and fear were too much, and her mind left her.
“Look mother! Cheese! And a candy!” The young girl exclaimed as she and her brother ran to what they called home. Their mother greeted them with a blank stare. “Kaleb, divide this while I get us some water.” She takes a couple old metal cups and goes to the rail well at the corner of the building, dunking them into the barrel. Upon returning her younger brother has torn the cheese into four parts. “You take two, mother and I will have one, you need it to grow.” The daughter puts a single bit of the meal to her mothers lips, which instinctively take it. The bit of cheese is followed by a drink of water from the misshapen cup, again the mouth muscles react on their own. The two children quickly devour their scraps in silence.
“Can I go first?” Kaleb asks, as he smiles an unusually perfect smile for one of his class. His sister responds with a smile of her own, “Yes, but don't take too long.” The boy quickly picks up the piece of candy and plunks in his mouth, careful not to bite down on it. “Now me!” she says to him after a several seconds. Her brother takes the candy out of his mouth and hands it to his sister. She raises it to her full Ni-Kunni lips, eager to taste it's sweetness. They both start to giggle with glee as they take turns sucking on their deserved pay.
The Imperial Spaceport is an immaculate, gold and white structure, dwarfing all other buildings in the city of Ca'lik'bar on Anath II, Aridia. It is a conduit for ores and minerals extracted from below the surface of this nondescript planet to reach the greater Empire of which it belongs. The businessmen, Imperial Regulators, and Imperial Navy personnel that keep it all running also travel it's corridors. It is a shining beacon surrounded by the squalor that is the city.
Ca'lik'bar is home to mostly Ni-Kunni and Khanid miner families and to those that offer their services to them. There is little happiness there. Those families that are lucky enough to work the mines worry when their employment will be terminated, as the cheaper to operate and more efficient asteroid mining ships continue to increase in numbers. Those without, do what they can to survive. Cooking, cleaning, entertaining, begging, and even less dignified activities all are offered to the Elite of Ca'lik'bar, and to even the lowest mine worker.
Mitara Newelle, capsuleer, Captain of Preatoria Imperialis Excubitoris, waits in line to exit the Imperial Spaceport and enter the place of her birth, which she has not set foot in for over 20 years. Those next to her regard her with disdain at her less than tailored cloths, and disheveled look. She plays the part, keeping her head down, not looking any of them in the eye. Finally the guard scans her id badge. He gives her a puzzled look and opens his mouth to ask something. The glare that she gives him steals his voice, and he simply waves her though.
The assault on her senses as she steps out of the spaceport and into the huge expanse of the cities' market plaza is overbearing. The aroma of hundreds of types food, animals, and the sweat of the thousands of vendors and their patrons make her gag. She tries to block out the droning buzz of activity all around her as she moves her way through the plaza to one of the main artery streets that eventually lead to mineshaft R-37. Along the way a Khanid boy leaps in front of her offering some type soup. She smells it, fights back the urge to vomit, and pushes past the boy. As she starts down one of the many wide streetways, she stops to watch a troop of teenage Ni-Kunni perform a synchronized dance. The few people assembled watch with subtle amusement, cheering once in a while at some feat of acrobatics. After a few moments she continues on down the street.
It is less crowded now, and the smell isn't as horrible, but there are still the occasional civilians looking to earn their next meal. She walks for some time and the bustle of business gives way to the calmer and quieter atmosphere of the residential districts. She muses at the size and condition of the apartments. The amount she spends in broker fees in a month on the interstellar market could refurbish the buildings 10 times over. It isn't until she feels something tugging at her sleeve does she realize how far she has gone, and into the slums at the outskirts of the city. The sight of her childhood neighborhood stops her cold.
“Lady, some change for a song?”
Even with Mitara's low class disguise, the young Ni-Kunni girl sees someone of greater wealth than she.
Mitara looks at the child - dirty, malnourished, uneducated. “What song will you sing for me, young one?”
“I don't know the name. My mommy taught it to me. It's really old so I don't know what the words mean, but Mommy says it is about how God will provide to the faithful.”
“Very well.” Mitara produces a coin from her worn overcoat and shows it to the child, then crosses her arms expecting that services be rendered first. The girl smiles awkwardly and begins singing in undecipherable words, that may at one time have been of the oldest of language in the Scriptures, but after generations of being passed down have become nothing but nonsense. Mitara listens for a time before her mind starts to wander ever back, back to her life before being a Newelle.
***
The two siblings stood at the entrance of mine shaft R-37. The boy several years younger than the girl, barely able to hold the worn and beaten violin case. The girl held the instrument like she had seen in a picture, running a stick across the dirty and rusted strings. It had been about a year since the two discovered the treasure while scavenging through the dumpsters of an apartment building on the other side of the city. In that time she had learned a few ways to coax the thing into producing some tones that did not make ones teeth hurt. Every day, at every shift change, they would come in hopes one of the miners would toss something, anything – a coin, a piece of bread, something; into their case. If they were lucky enough, they would bring the booty to their mother, who would wait emotionless under the back alley rear stairs of a run down apartment building. Her heart and ability to provide for her children were broken several years prior, when her mate left off world as a slave. While his needs would be met, even if it was in a life time of service to another, they would have to fend for themselves. The betrayal, hurt, and fear were too much, and her mind left her.
“Look mother! Cheese! And a candy!” The young girl exclaimed as she and her brother ran to what they called home. Their mother greeted them with a blank stare. “Kaleb, divide this while I get us some water.” She takes a couple old metal cups and goes to the rail well at the corner of the building, dunking them into the barrel. Upon returning her younger brother has torn the cheese into four parts. “You take two, mother and I will have one, you need it to grow.” The daughter puts a single bit of the meal to her mothers lips, which instinctively take it. The bit of cheese is followed by a drink of water from the misshapen cup, again the mouth muscles react on their own. The two children quickly devour their scraps in silence.
“Can I go first?” Kaleb asks, as he smiles an unusually perfect smile for one of his class. His sister responds with a smile of her own, “Yes, but don't take too long.” The boy quickly picks up the piece of candy and plunks in his mouth, careful not to bite down on it. “Now me!” she says to him after a several seconds. Her brother takes the candy out of his mouth and hands it to his sister. She raises it to her full Ni-Kunni lips, eager to taste it's sweetness. They both start to giggle with glee as they take turns sucking on their deserved pay.
2009-08-25
The Application
It has been little over a week since Mr Shutaq applied to the Praetoria. I do not think I had slept more than a few hours in those early days. I had been keeping my normal patrols up, so by all appearances things were as they should be, except to perhaps Ensign Saint. Carelessly I fell asleep... or passed out, in his Pax Praetoria club. I found myself in that chair, my face resting on it's padded arm like a pillow. My empty glass and nearly empty bottle of wine were sitting on the nearby table. Ensign Saint didn't seem to make much of it. Either he's wise enough to keep any thoughts to himself, or he's just flat out stupid. Even though he's a rock breaker, I'd wager it's the former.
I followed up my interview with Mr Shutaq there, in Pax Praetoria. He agreed to the additional terms regarding the Basilica, and with that, he was cleared to submit his formal application. I do not remember if I said something to expose myself, or if it was just clearly written on my face...
"You don't want me to join, do you?"
"Your course is set, Mr Shutaq. I will not impede it. Nor can you now."
My Captain's duty forced me to say it, lest we lose a capable combat veteran whose loyalty to the Empire is without question. I tried to leave then, giving him some type of encouragement. I am sure the words sounded hollow and mechanical. Then of all things he could have spoke..
"Want a drink?"
His half smile and playful gesture towards the minibar caught me totally off guard... the Captain was gone.
For some time we where there. Mr Shutaq laid out his life's story between glasses of whiskey and wine. By the time he reached when he became a capsuleer, I'm not sure how much we had enjoyed. It was enough that we were impaired, that is certain. The anti-climatic manner in which he spoke of being a capsuleer after such a lavish and grand story prior, also caught me by surprise. The humor I found in it must have been great, because I was unable to contain my laughter.
I was sitting on the arm of his chair... that chair... doubled over trying to catch my breath. By proxy he was infected, and succumbed to hysterics. I was the first to recover, finally being able to sit upright. Towards the end of his throws of laughter, his head came to rest on my lap.
Finally, here I was at last, as I had wished to be those many weeks ago, at the Utopian Dream. I looked down into his dark eyes, a residual smile lighting up his face, and gave myself into the most basic of desires. As my lips were pressed against his, I fought back the waves of decorum and decency trying to stop me. I was successful, for a moment. In that moment, all things fell away, all things... until there was nothing left but a man and a woman, Aldrith and I, sharing the slightest spark of the Divine.
I will never be able to share that moment with him again.
His application was accepted hours later.
Ensign Shutaq.
I'm beginning to find sleep easier. Wine has been of some help in that regard. I have again given myself to my duties, though they are not coming as easily as in the past. I pray God will give me the strength to fully be their Captain again, as my station demands.
END
I followed up my interview with Mr Shutaq there, in Pax Praetoria. He agreed to the additional terms regarding the Basilica, and with that, he was cleared to submit his formal application. I do not remember if I said something to expose myself, or if it was just clearly written on my face...
"You don't want me to join, do you?"
"Your course is set, Mr Shutaq. I will not impede it. Nor can you now."
My Captain's duty forced me to say it, lest we lose a capable combat veteran whose loyalty to the Empire is without question. I tried to leave then, giving him some type of encouragement. I am sure the words sounded hollow and mechanical. Then of all things he could have spoke..
"Want a drink?"
His half smile and playful gesture towards the minibar caught me totally off guard... the Captain was gone.
For some time we where there. Mr Shutaq laid out his life's story between glasses of whiskey and wine. By the time he reached when he became a capsuleer, I'm not sure how much we had enjoyed. It was enough that we were impaired, that is certain. The anti-climatic manner in which he spoke of being a capsuleer after such a lavish and grand story prior, also caught me by surprise. The humor I found in it must have been great, because I was unable to contain my laughter.
I was sitting on the arm of his chair... that chair... doubled over trying to catch my breath. By proxy he was infected, and succumbed to hysterics. I was the first to recover, finally being able to sit upright. Towards the end of his throws of laughter, his head came to rest on my lap.
Finally, here I was at last, as I had wished to be those many weeks ago, at the Utopian Dream. I looked down into his dark eyes, a residual smile lighting up his face, and gave myself into the most basic of desires. As my lips were pressed against his, I fought back the waves of decorum and decency trying to stop me. I was successful, for a moment. In that moment, all things fell away, all things... until there was nothing left but a man and a woman, Aldrith and I, sharing the slightest spark of the Divine.
I will never be able to share that moment with him again.
His application was accepted hours later.
Ensign Shutaq.
I'm beginning to find sleep easier. Wine has been of some help in that regard. I have again given myself to my duties, though they are not coming as easily as in the past. I pray God will give me the strength to fully be their Captain again, as my station demands.
END
2009-08-06
Time
Mitara sits in her usual chair, scrolling through something on her datapad
Has it truly been a month since I last sat to record my thoughts? Where does the time go? Hmm, where to start... with corporate duties I suppose...
She folds her hands over her datapad and looks off through the portal window.
After the fall of Halmah, our military installation reporting system has become all the more important. The speed at which the Tribals took the system was frightening. My hope is that some pilots on the first shift after prayer time will take it upon themselves to do a full defensive sweep, so that we may have a better idea of how to plan the rest of the days patrols. Time will tell.
The corporate shop was launched to the excitement of some. There have been only minor tweaks to the systems that have been needed, so I am quite pleased with thus far. Commodore Piskonit was very unhappy with the amount of initial backing donated to seed the shop. The time line for price reductions and increasing the amount of stocked items will need to be stretched.
Her attention back to her datapad, giving it a few taps and scrolling through some type of list
I have very much out of touch with our roster. My time spent on systems work has made it difficult to keep much of a presence overseeing our junior officers or doing recruitment work. I have had opportunity to lead some small fleets, primary doing defensive and probing work.
She stops scrolling and raises an eyebrow toward the item displayed
LtJg Lianne... Though she still very much has a defiant streak in her, she has been a model Praetorian of late. She has been very dutiful in her patrols, and has volunteered readily for missions as they come up. The calm before the storm? I pray not.
Mitara places the datapad on the side table next to her. She shakes her head slightly and sighs
I ventured into the so called "PIE Peons Club" some of our junior officers have taken to hold up in during their down time. Apparently one of the Admirals former Arbitrator class vessels, it has been gutted and .... defaced. A little horrid shanty that I pray will never been seen by outside eyes.
A small smile forms on her lips and she again gazes out the portal window, looking lost in thought for a moment before again speaking
I invited Mr Shutaq to join me aboard the Utopian Dream for a change of scenery, and a chance to perhaps truly relax. We enjoyed some light lunch that I had prepared...
She smirks, "We both are alive to tell the tale..."
Good conversation was had as we snacked on the beach, looking out over the lake. I managed to convince Mr Shutaq to join me for a swim afterward. It was wonderful. Just two people sharing each others laughs and time. Not Captain nor Sephirot, nor thoughts of Tribal warships, nor stewardship duties. I would have liked it to last much longer. Alas, Mr Shutaq was the first to be brought back to our lives of servitude, and was called away.
I remained for a while, alone, recounting the day to help better remember it. Even doing so, the memory has already begun to erode... God's way of urging us to make new memories I imagine.
Has it truly been a month since I last sat to record my thoughts? Where does the time go? Hmm, where to start... with corporate duties I suppose...
She folds her hands over her datapad and looks off through the portal window.
After the fall of Halmah, our military installation reporting system has become all the more important. The speed at which the Tribals took the system was frightening. My hope is that some pilots on the first shift after prayer time will take it upon themselves to do a full defensive sweep, so that we may have a better idea of how to plan the rest of the days patrols. Time will tell.
The corporate shop was launched to the excitement of some. There have been only minor tweaks to the systems that have been needed, so I am quite pleased with thus far. Commodore Piskonit was very unhappy with the amount of initial backing donated to seed the shop. The time line for price reductions and increasing the amount of stocked items will need to be stretched.
Her attention back to her datapad, giving it a few taps and scrolling through some type of list
I have very much out of touch with our roster. My time spent on systems work has made it difficult to keep much of a presence overseeing our junior officers or doing recruitment work. I have had opportunity to lead some small fleets, primary doing defensive and probing work.
She stops scrolling and raises an eyebrow toward the item displayed
LtJg Lianne... Though she still very much has a defiant streak in her, she has been a model Praetorian of late. She has been very dutiful in her patrols, and has volunteered readily for missions as they come up. The calm before the storm? I pray not.
Mitara places the datapad on the side table next to her. She shakes her head slightly and sighs
I ventured into the so called "PIE Peons Club" some of our junior officers have taken to hold up in during their down time. Apparently one of the Admirals former Arbitrator class vessels, it has been gutted and .... defaced. A little horrid shanty that I pray will never been seen by outside eyes.
A small smile forms on her lips and she again gazes out the portal window, looking lost in thought for a moment before again speaking
I invited Mr Shutaq to join me aboard the Utopian Dream for a change of scenery, and a chance to perhaps truly relax. We enjoyed some light lunch that I had prepared...
She smirks, "We both are alive to tell the tale..."
Good conversation was had as we snacked on the beach, looking out over the lake. I managed to convince Mr Shutaq to join me for a swim afterward. It was wonderful. Just two people sharing each others laughs and time. Not Captain nor Sephirot, nor thoughts of Tribal warships, nor stewardship duties. I would have liked it to last much longer. Alas, Mr Shutaq was the first to be brought back to our lives of servitude, and was called away.
I remained for a while, alone, recounting the day to help better remember it. Even doing so, the memory has already begun to erode... God's way of urging us to make new memories I imagine.
2009-07-07
Hitting Stride
Mitara is busily working over two terminals that are set upon a large workstation table. The table itself is placed next to the huge portal window. Several open books sit next the terminals, as do many loose papers. She works for some time without speaking, occasionally whistling to herself. Eventually, she pauses, looking through the portal window into the void...
I have not been as faithful to these recordings as I would like, but, I have been very busy enjoying the life God has laid before me.
She smiles slightly, a content sigh passes her lips.
I have been making very good progress on the next phase of our software initiative. Commodore Piskonit may have been premature in his announcements, but I imagine he wants to generate some kind of excitement as well as to secure additional funding for the project. There are some quirks about the pod interface that are annoying, but they will be overcome in due time. We are ready for some systems tests which I'm sure will expose some errors.
Laerise had spoken to me of some inappropriate behavior of LtJg Lianne and LtSg Tyrell at Paradise. I happened to bump into Ms Lianne and Mr Karvash at the Basilica and made an offhand comment about it, not really thinking much about it honestly.
Mitara shakes her head and frowns
The poor lass went totally out of control. Since she insisted on discussing the subject, I had to oblige. It was a good opportunity to perhaps demonstrate the repercussions of her public face. She eventually summoned Mr Tyrell to refute Laerise's account, which he really didn't. I don't know if she understood what I was trying to convey to her or not, time will tell.
"LtSg Tyrell made it a point to tell me what I should and should not be involving myself with concerning my subornidates", she says sarcastically.
"I let him rant on and he left adruptly. " She smirks. "After I had left the Basilica I set him straight."
That man is going to learn his place, and I fear it is going to be quite a painful lession for him. Oh well, what must be done must be done.
A smile creeps back onto her face.
I went to Paradise last night, Mr Shutaq was there enjoying some tea. It seems the White Rose Society has filed articles of war with CONCORD against the Ordo. He was solmn about it, though he does welcome the chance to show the Sansha scum the folly of thier heretitical ways. If they engage in the warzone I may try to assist as I can.
Mitara leaves her workbench and moves to the large seating chair, lowering herself into it looking very relaxed.
We spoke for some time. It was a very pleasant conversation, mostly of family and our childhoods. I find myself so at ease with Ald... Mr Shutaq. Perhaps too much so. At some point we got on the subject of Ms Nurataki leaving the Preatoria, which in turn included talk of some of the other recent defectors. As I had tried with them all to show them they were making grave mistakes, only to have them still defect... I was noticeably upset. Mr Shutaq took my hand and told me it was never wasted effort in trying to help another. I don't know why I let him continue to do so...
She sighs, and turns her head to look out the portal window.
Of course I know why. The feeling I had was unmistakable. I did my best to try and hide the fact my heart was beginning to race. I don't remember what I said after that, I was lost, trying to savor the moment.
She shakes her head and looks down at the floor
I should have known better. Laerise came in as she always does at the start of her shift. I must have lost track of the time. I pulled away from him and greeted her as I heard her enter, though I think she still saw. She does not approve of the Ordo, given some incidents they were involved in during the past. It's difficult to know if my associating with him is going to be looked upon poorly or not by my comrades and superiors. I know I will not let any feelings I have jepordize my standing within the Preatoria.
My duty to them is my first and foremost path, God help me fulfill it.
I have not been as faithful to these recordings as I would like, but, I have been very busy enjoying the life God has laid before me.
She smiles slightly, a content sigh passes her lips.
I have been making very good progress on the next phase of our software initiative. Commodore Piskonit may have been premature in his announcements, but I imagine he wants to generate some kind of excitement as well as to secure additional funding for the project. There are some quirks about the pod interface that are annoying, but they will be overcome in due time. We are ready for some systems tests which I'm sure will expose some errors.
Laerise had spoken to me of some inappropriate behavior of LtJg Lianne and LtSg Tyrell at Paradise. I happened to bump into Ms Lianne and Mr Karvash at the Basilica and made an offhand comment about it, not really thinking much about it honestly.
Mitara shakes her head and frowns
The poor lass went totally out of control. Since she insisted on discussing the subject, I had to oblige. It was a good opportunity to perhaps demonstrate the repercussions of her public face. She eventually summoned Mr Tyrell to refute Laerise's account, which he really didn't. I don't know if she understood what I was trying to convey to her or not, time will tell.
"LtSg Tyrell made it a point to tell me what I should and should not be involving myself with concerning my subornidates", she says sarcastically.
"I let him rant on and he left adruptly. " She smirks. "After I had left the Basilica I set him straight."
That man is going to learn his place, and I fear it is going to be quite a painful lession for him. Oh well, what must be done must be done.
A smile creeps back onto her face.
I went to Paradise last night, Mr Shutaq was there enjoying some tea. It seems the White Rose Society has filed articles of war with CONCORD against the Ordo. He was solmn about it, though he does welcome the chance to show the Sansha scum the folly of thier heretitical ways. If they engage in the warzone I may try to assist as I can.
Mitara leaves her workbench and moves to the large seating chair, lowering herself into it looking very relaxed.
We spoke for some time. It was a very pleasant conversation, mostly of family and our childhoods. I find myself so at ease with Ald... Mr Shutaq. Perhaps too much so. At some point we got on the subject of Ms Nurataki leaving the Preatoria, which in turn included talk of some of the other recent defectors. As I had tried with them all to show them they were making grave mistakes, only to have them still defect... I was noticeably upset. Mr Shutaq took my hand and told me it was never wasted effort in trying to help another. I don't know why I let him continue to do so...
She sighs, and turns her head to look out the portal window.
Of course I know why. The feeling I had was unmistakable. I did my best to try and hide the fact my heart was beginning to race. I don't remember what I said after that, I was lost, trying to savor the moment.
She shakes her head and looks down at the floor
I should have known better. Laerise came in as she always does at the start of her shift. I must have lost track of the time. I pulled away from him and greeted her as I heard her enter, though I think she still saw. She does not approve of the Ordo, given some incidents they were involved in during the past. It's difficult to know if my associating with him is going to be looked upon poorly or not by my comrades and superiors. I know I will not let any feelings I have jepordize my standing within the Preatoria.
My duty to them is my first and foremost path, God help me fulfill it.
2009-06-25
No Title
Mitara sits in her seating chair, legs curled beneath her. She's wrapped in a white full length bath robe, her hair still damp from a shower. Her datapad and a steaming drink rest on the side table.
Well... things are not a total disaster. I spoke with Aldrith some this afternoon, I think we can be cordial, which pleases me. Laerise and I spoke of him for a time... I will have to inquire about some of the things she has said, but not now... He was busy writing in that journal of his. I told him of these video clips I've been keeping, he seemed rather surprised. I asked if he had written about me at all, he said he hasn't... yet.
She chuckles
What I wouldn't give to be looking over his sholder when he does.
She reaches out and lifts the steaming drink, blowing on it first before taking a sip
I believe we are getting close to releasing our new systems software. After some feedback and resolving some pod interface issues things are looking good. I hope it is found useful for all the effort I've put into it.
Mitara takes another sip and sets the drink back on the side table, she furrows her brow
But then we have this thing with Lt Tyrell and LtJG Karvash. From what I can tell, Zenton was overzealous when engaging a suspected pirate and an innocent suffered from it. These things can happen in the warzone, and the LtJG did the proper thing and reimbursed that pilot. Lt Tyrell... he looks to have berated and shamed Zenton so, that he had disconnected from all comms channels and had revoked his PIE access rights. Thank God Captain Laerise and myself got to him before it was too late. Such nonsense that he was turning into a pirate... not Zenton... I won't allow it.
She grabs her datapad and begins working it quickly
I'm relieved that Lt Command Priboj has returned. Though I do not dislike conducting interviews, it has given me time to work on other things, which has been a much needed distraction. With the addition of Condor Amarr and Hiigaren the load of interviews has been spread out nicely.
All in all things look well on the front lines. I have nothing of note to record there.
Mitara nods satisfied
God is with us, so we shall prevail... God is with me, so I too shall be strong for His Glory...
Well... things are not a total disaster. I spoke with Aldrith some this afternoon, I think we can be cordial, which pleases me. Laerise and I spoke of him for a time... I will have to inquire about some of the things she has said, but not now... He was busy writing in that journal of his. I told him of these video clips I've been keeping, he seemed rather surprised. I asked if he had written about me at all, he said he hasn't... yet.
She chuckles
What I wouldn't give to be looking over his sholder when he does.
She reaches out and lifts the steaming drink, blowing on it first before taking a sip
I believe we are getting close to releasing our new systems software. After some feedback and resolving some pod interface issues things are looking good. I hope it is found useful for all the effort I've put into it.
Mitara takes another sip and sets the drink back on the side table, she furrows her brow
But then we have this thing with Lt Tyrell and LtJG Karvash. From what I can tell, Zenton was overzealous when engaging a suspected pirate and an innocent suffered from it. These things can happen in the warzone, and the LtJG did the proper thing and reimbursed that pilot. Lt Tyrell... he looks to have berated and shamed Zenton so, that he had disconnected from all comms channels and had revoked his PIE access rights. Thank God Captain Laerise and myself got to him before it was too late. Such nonsense that he was turning into a pirate... not Zenton... I won't allow it.
She grabs her datapad and begins working it quickly
I'm relieved that Lt Command Priboj has returned. Though I do not dislike conducting interviews, it has given me time to work on other things, which has been a much needed distraction. With the addition of Condor Amarr and Hiigaren the load of interviews has been spread out nicely.
All in all things look well on the front lines. I have nothing of note to record there.
Mitara nods satisfied
God is with us, so we shall prevail... God is with me, so I too shall be strong for His Glory...
2009-06-17
Bittersweet anniversary
The video feed activates, Mitara stands holding a datapad, facing the camera. Her face is red, her eyes slightly swollen, tears stream from them.
She unceremoniously tosses the datapad onto the side table and throws herself into the oversized chair.
I am a fool, a God Damned fool.
Her hand covers her eyes and her body shudders and she begins to cry... again.
Why did I ask him...? What was I thinking!?
She throws her head back, lying across the chair.
He was so shocked, I thought he may never speak. I wish he hadn't. To be denied because of another would be bearable, the knowledge that someone else that may, or may not, be my better.... I can live with that... but Oaths... I was defeated before I even wished to join the fight.
She shakes her head.
Then he suggests something hidden... something secret... How could I shroud myself so? Is he even the man I thought him to be... to even think of betraying himself or his Order? Oh, let us not forget his role as proxy for that betraying, manipulative rat.
I am a fool.
More tears roll down her face
Yet I am broken... I ache as never before... My breath escapes me... What hold does he have over me still? I wanted nothing more than for him to continue to hold my hand in his... I stopped him... WHY?
Because he is not what I thought him to be, that is what I will tell myself... Will I come to believe it?
Mitara closes her eyes, she looks very tired
Why did Laerise have to be there, I just wanted to have one drink in solitude to dull the pain and shame, and instead I am shamed more because she sees me... weeping like a baby...
Oh God... Damn you Shalee... Damn you Laerise... Why did I listen you?
Her words begin to trail off...
Happy Anniversary... Happy...
A few incomprehsible mumbles escape her lips before the nights alcholol takes it's hold as she passes out.
She unceremoniously tosses the datapad onto the side table and throws herself into the oversized chair.
I am a fool, a God Damned fool.
Her hand covers her eyes and her body shudders and she begins to cry... again.
Why did I ask him...? What was I thinking!?
She throws her head back, lying across the chair.
He was so shocked, I thought he may never speak. I wish he hadn't. To be denied because of another would be bearable, the knowledge that someone else that may, or may not, be my better.... I can live with that... but Oaths... I was defeated before I even wished to join the fight.
She shakes her head.
Then he suggests something hidden... something secret... How could I shroud myself so? Is he even the man I thought him to be... to even think of betraying himself or his Order? Oh, let us not forget his role as proxy for that betraying, manipulative rat.
I am a fool.
More tears roll down her face
Yet I am broken... I ache as never before... My breath escapes me... What hold does he have over me still? I wanted nothing more than for him to continue to hold my hand in his... I stopped him... WHY?
Because he is not what I thought him to be, that is what I will tell myself... Will I come to believe it?
Mitara closes her eyes, she looks very tired
Why did Laerise have to be there, I just wanted to have one drink in solitude to dull the pain and shame, and instead I am shamed more because she sees me... weeping like a baby...
Oh God... Damn you Shalee... Damn you Laerise... Why did I listen you?
Her words begin to trail off...
Happy Anniversary... Happy...
A few incomprehsible mumbles escape her lips before the nights alcholol takes it's hold as she passes out.
2009-06-08
For a Sister
The video feed comes into focus. Mitara is paging through a book of literary works, sitting upright and proper in the familiar chair, her uniform immaculately pressed and cleaned
I spent some time at one of God's most serene places, the Amarr Legio Basilica.
Her eyes close and she drifts off in thought
You could feel a touch of the divine, the feeling of being just an inkling closer to God. It warmed my heart so.
She closes the book on her lap
I will urge Lt Cmdr Narutaki to spend as much time as she can in prayer and meditation among the Emperors of old... There she can find peace from the torment she has placed herself under. Let one of a softer heart than myself help see her through her troubles, Mr Shataq... Aldrith.
A small smile forms on her lips as she says the name. Her eyes open
He was so kind as to offer to speak with Aefee. I know if there is a chance she can reached, he could be one to do so. His calmness permeates the air about him, you can only feel at ease. His voice... the night he recited one of his poems, I didn't even hear the words, I just felt...
She trails off again in thought, and after a moment speaks again
I will leave a message for the Lt Cmdr, suggesting we meet there, so I can make the introductions.
A very strange night at Paradise, I did not stay long, just long enough to have a short conversation with Ensign Yoblleh and a pilot from the Mandate, one Katherine Dosch, "Red Katherine." The Ensign was going over the nights battles we had against the Tribals. It was good to see a pilot studying to better himself for the next fight. Ms Dosch and I made small talk, she seems a decent sort. I have not met many from the Mandate, if they are all as she, I feel safe knowing that God has at the very least begun tugging at their hearts.
Mitara drums her fingers against the book on her lap
The Lt Cmdr... I wish so much for her to feel His embrace again... I pray she finds it before it is too late.
I spent some time at one of God's most serene places, the Amarr Legio Basilica.
Her eyes close and she drifts off in thought
You could feel a touch of the divine, the feeling of being just an inkling closer to God. It warmed my heart so.
She closes the book on her lap
I will urge Lt Cmdr Narutaki to spend as much time as she can in prayer and meditation among the Emperors of old... There she can find peace from the torment she has placed herself under. Let one of a softer heart than myself help see her through her troubles, Mr Shataq... Aldrith.
A small smile forms on her lips as she says the name. Her eyes open
He was so kind as to offer to speak with Aefee. I know if there is a chance she can reached, he could be one to do so. His calmness permeates the air about him, you can only feel at ease. His voice... the night he recited one of his poems, I didn't even hear the words, I just felt...
She trails off again in thought, and after a moment speaks again
I will leave a message for the Lt Cmdr, suggesting we meet there, so I can make the introductions.
A very strange night at Paradise, I did not stay long, just long enough to have a short conversation with Ensign Yoblleh and a pilot from the Mandate, one Katherine Dosch, "Red Katherine." The Ensign was going over the nights battles we had against the Tribals. It was good to see a pilot studying to better himself for the next fight. Ms Dosch and I made small talk, she seems a decent sort. I have not met many from the Mandate, if they are all as she, I feel safe knowing that God has at the very least begun tugging at their hearts.
Mitara drums her fingers against the book on her lap
The Lt Cmdr... I wish so much for her to feel His embrace again... I pray she finds it before it is too late.
2009-06-05
Unexpected Blessings
Mitara is in her seating chair, wearing her full dress uniform. Several books are laying open next to her on the side table. She is very focused, busily working on her datapad
Admiral Lok'ri has announced this months promotions. Most were of the standard fare. It was nice to see Condor, 'Omnicide', and Saif move up. Garst Tyrell managed to still be promoted, surprising given his role during Aefee's breakdown. His hatred of the Kingdom is startling. Are we not all Amarr? Given these times of miracles and extraordinary calamaties I pray his heart softens towards the idea of better relations between us and the Kingdom.
Mitara pages through one of the open books, finding what she was looking for, she continues working
I am most proud of young Ensign Karvash, now LtJG Karvash. I do wonder if I was the only officer that submitted a recommendation to the Admiral. I somehow doubt it. He is an outstanding pilot, a fine example of a Praetorian.
The most shocking promotions were the appointment of three new mid grade Senior Officers. Captain Vaarun is no longer alone.
She smiles, looking out into space through the huge view port window.
My Sister Veshta. God's Angel of Retribution herself. A worthy and noble woman. Though I have not shared many words with her for some time, I still consider her a close friend. I look back very fondly on our friendly rivalries when we first became Praetorians. My one victory...
Mitara chuckles as she gently lifts the Sword of God medal on her uniform, looking at it and says, "Not but a day or two later did she too qualify for PIE's highest combat honor. "
In the end, she proves to be of God's divine wraith walking among us. I could never match. Her name is known and feared throughout Shakor's militia, and rightfully so.
She lets the medal fall back into place and gazes again into the void
Captain Laerise, another feared and known warrior to our enemies. These past months we have grown closer, and to be honest, I would not have expected it. Her reputation preceeded her as a hard hearted soul, much like Lt Tyrell. That assumption has proved untrue.
Her brow furrows
I still cannot comprehend, however, that she is married to that Chase Starbright.... a woman. I doubt this was God's intent on how we were to mate. When Ensign Lianne said during one of our chats, "her wife," I naturally thought I had misheard her. It does explain the odd feeling I had watching the two of them. I hope to not be in the company of both of them together again, it would be quite uncomfortable.
A slight grin appears on Mitara's face, she appears satisfied with herself, looking down at her datapad
There we have it, this archaic NeoCom interface will not defeat me.
Her gaze again goes to her uniform, this time to her rank insignia, her grin widens
How long, I wonder, will it be before I am used to hearing "Captain Newelle"
Admiral Lok'ri has announced this months promotions. Most were of the standard fare. It was nice to see Condor, 'Omnicide', and Saif move up. Garst Tyrell managed to still be promoted, surprising given his role during Aefee's breakdown. His hatred of the Kingdom is startling. Are we not all Amarr? Given these times of miracles and extraordinary calamaties I pray his heart softens towards the idea of better relations between us and the Kingdom.
Mitara pages through one of the open books, finding what she was looking for, she continues working
I am most proud of young Ensign Karvash, now LtJG Karvash. I do wonder if I was the only officer that submitted a recommendation to the Admiral. I somehow doubt it. He is an outstanding pilot, a fine example of a Praetorian.
The most shocking promotions were the appointment of three new mid grade Senior Officers. Captain Vaarun is no longer alone.
She smiles, looking out into space through the huge view port window.
My Sister Veshta. God's Angel of Retribution herself. A worthy and noble woman. Though I have not shared many words with her for some time, I still consider her a close friend. I look back very fondly on our friendly rivalries when we first became Praetorians. My one victory...
Mitara chuckles as she gently lifts the Sword of God medal on her uniform, looking at it and says, "Not but a day or two later did she too qualify for PIE's highest combat honor. "
In the end, she proves to be of God's divine wraith walking among us. I could never match. Her name is known and feared throughout Shakor's militia, and rightfully so.
She lets the medal fall back into place and gazes again into the void
Captain Laerise, another feared and known warrior to our enemies. These past months we have grown closer, and to be honest, I would not have expected it. Her reputation preceeded her as a hard hearted soul, much like Lt Tyrell. That assumption has proved untrue.
Her brow furrows
I still cannot comprehend, however, that she is married to that Chase Starbright.... a woman. I doubt this was God's intent on how we were to mate. When Ensign Lianne said during one of our chats, "her wife," I naturally thought I had misheard her. It does explain the odd feeling I had watching the two of them. I hope to not be in the company of both of them together again, it would be quite uncomfortable.
A slight grin appears on Mitara's face, she appears satisfied with herself, looking down at her datapad
There we have it, this archaic NeoCom interface will not defeat me.
Her gaze again goes to her uniform, this time to her rank insignia, her grin widens
How long, I wonder, will it be before I am used to hearing "Captain Newelle"
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