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last online Nov 4, 2024 11:35:50 GMT -5
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Feb 6, 2012 4:50:19 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Feb 6, 2012 4:50:19 GMT -5
Random musing that i got whilst bored to tears during superbowl at Dalan's cousin's house
For a long few moments she managed to stand and look up at the darkened night sky, devoid of stars because of the sheer amount of light pollution from the city around. The MPs that met them on the platform certainly added a feeling of finality to the situation that the former pilot did not enjoy one bit, nor could she ignore…despite her best efforts to do so. This wasn’t at all how things were supposed to have unfolded. Even with all the preparations that had been made and the precautions that had been taken, right down to her own ‘death’, Sam was painfully aware that she had failed to keep Aunna (not to mention herself) from being caught.
What was worse…Athar was dead.
Damned nautolan had already been injured badly when he’d elected to stay behind and try to hold off as many of Vinay’s men as possible so that she and Aunna could continue on. The thought hurt her worse than just about any of the others that ran through her mind as she tried, in vain, to see the stars while they ‘unloaded’ Aunna. It was one of the regrets she had from this whole ordeal. He shouldn’t have gotten involved, she’d known it from the moment he’d demanded to be involved in this whole hare-brained scheme…but she had allowed it.
”The fewer bodies in, the fewer corpses out,” right? Ah’ll no’ be buryin’ someone who didnae need tae be in th’ fire in th’ first place.”
Turning her eyes away from the sky, Sam closed her eyes and lowered her head as she fought back…everything. Those words hadn’t been about Athar, hells they hadn’t even been for the same situation, but the truth in them had crept into her mind when her friend had made it perfectly clear he wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer before this ordeal…and they were eating away at her now. Hells, they were so clear in her mind that Sev may as well have been speaking them to her right then and there.
…Sev.
If her ‘death’ had nearly sent him over the edge, she wondered what this might do…after all, it wasn’t as if Vinay was going to go easy on her if he could possibly manage it. Aunna may not have been a traitor in normal circumstances, but these weren’t normal circumstances…and that didn’t mean that she wasn’t labeled as one. As such, Sam was not only a ‘deserter’, but also an accomplice…not exactly good things to be – ever – but especially not during a war. An accomplice to a traitor and a deserter? No, things weren’t going to end well. Once news of this reached him, the woman couldn’t help but wonder (and be slightly concerned about) what Sev might do, or think about doing…or Via knew what.
At the sound of footsteps beside her, grey eyes opened and looked around. Aunna was beside her now, the MPs barking orders for them to get a move on toward the armored prisoner transport that was awaiting them. With a sigh she started walking, ignoring the sidelong glance she could all but feel from the woman beside her, until she clambered up into the transport and was locked into the seat. There was an odd look on Aunna’s face that said she was thinking something (likely thinking about saying something), but so far they hadn’t said much to each other for the better part of their trip from Corellia. It was an uncomfortable silence between them, Aunna obviously debating the intelligence of speaking at all and Sam not knowing what to say…or even if she wanted to say anything.
”I’m sorry…for everything.”
Finally Sam looked at Aunna fully for a long moment, then shook her head.
”Don’t be.”
……this was going to be a long night.
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last online Nov 4, 2024 11:35:50 GMT -5
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Jun 1, 2012 22:48:12 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Jun 1, 2012 22:48:12 GMT -5
((part1))
She…they…didn’t have time for this. Sam understood the man with her had trouble with burn in, that something had happened in his past and he suffered some sort of consequence for it, but now wasn’t the time for it. As the hulking freighter moaned and creaked in its death around them, grey eyes caught on her former CO…her friend…someone who meant more to her than either of those combined. Sev looked like he was struggling to keep focused…at the least. ”Move your arse, Sev! This way!” She hadn’t a clue what they were going to do, but he wasn’t giving any ideas and time was something they didn’t have much of so she was about to get very creative.
The angle of decent the freighter was taking made sliding across the hangar-turned-cargo bay the primary means of movement, two sets of boots skidding and shuffling toward the wall and the piles of toppled cargo against it. Half bent back and with one hand near the floor, she glanced back toward Sev who seemed to be having a more difficult time. Dammit, I hope we make it through this…c’mon Seven’s luck. Her eyes swept the wall they were headed toward for any signs of an emergency exit…a light, a sign, some paint…”HAH! C’mon! C’mon!” The yellow and black paint on the hull was good enough for her, but just in case it hadn’t been, the odd layering of the cargo in that area was. Lower than most in some places, higher than most in others…Via please let that be a ha--
That thought cut off at the sound of a half panted grunt near by and Sev sliding further into her sight a bit too swiftly. Dropping to one knee and a hand while using the outstretched leg as a brace, she twisted and grabbed his vest roughly, working to help stabilize him. Glaring, more in determination than anger, she looked from him to the wall and set her jaw stubbornly and hefted herself up again, not once letting go of him. ”Come on Sevchenko!” He was far too heavy for her to carry, even if she had to (thankfully she didn’t…yet), but she wouldn’t be against dragging him if it came to that. Luckily some part of him was still conscious and with her so she didn’t have to do all the work.
”I’ve crashed once already and lived…”
The sudden loss of traction of one of her boots had her growling as the ankle of her stable leg twisted uncomfortably before she recovered. Another few sliding steps and they’d reached the wall, Sam moving to get Sev propped up against some of the crates of cargo that had stacked themselves there when their restraints had broken. Getting a grip on his vest with her other hand as well, she glared into his eyes, hoping to get him to focus in on her instead of whatever it was that had him struggling to stay conscious. ”Now focus in and stay with me, because I can’t do this without you. You hear me, Adamar? I’ll be damned if I let either of us die in this, got it?! So pull it together!”
Not once could she remember calling Sev by his first name alone…not once…but today was as good a time as any to rankle him if that’s what it did.
At least it would get some kind of reaction…and right now, any reaction (even anger) was a good one.
Turning her eyes away from him, she glanced to the cargo that stood in their way of a path out of this death trap. Steeling herself against the frightening and painful memories of her own past, she let go of her grip on Sev and moved the couple of feet to her target. Bracing herself with one foot partially against the crates, she shoved the first of the cargo crates out of the way with her shoulder. As it toppled aside, Sam hardly gave it another glance as she set to work on the rest, her thoughts running circles on the question of what would happen if they managed to get to the door. It wasn’t as if they had parachutes! Still…there was a door here…there had to be something around to make a hasty escape if there was a door to make said escape through. Maybe it was an exercise in futility but it wasn’t in her to give up.
The Corellian woman was…more than a little relieved…when her ears caught the sound of more toppling cargo and she glanced over to the sight of Sev helping shove more of the items blocking their path out of the way. With both of them working the area was cleared in…well, there was no ‘good time,’ really, since it was all borrowed time…but they weren’t flat yet, so she was pleased. What pleased her even more was what else they found besides the door.
Goddess, thank you! A parachute’s never looked so good!
((Part 2))
Somehow they had managed to survive this long…they’d somehow even managed to get Sev and those…wings…of his into the second parachute harness. Between the crippling fear she was fighting back and now this….this new…discovery…about Sev (she still couldn’t shake the angelic image off), Sam was finding her actions to be more and more reactions…actions without thought. It was the only way she could function properly right now, by trying to think as little as possible and just act.
Via help me…Sev’s a frelling angel…
The thought came even as she grunted heavily as the latch to the door started to come open…and stuck. Shoving hard downward once more her shoulder twinged painfully. A frustrated roar and a swift boot to the hull had her thinking just a bit more clearly through the pent up emotions and moving to try the latch once more. The heavy rustle of feathers had her looking up as two more hands grasped the thick metal latch with her. With a calming breath, she nodded slightly. Okay…together, then. A heavy push from both and she heard the latch grind, squeal a moment, then felt it pop open. She didn’t need to tell him that they wouldn’t have much time once they jumped…they both knew. It frightened her, jumping like this, with parachutes that were who knew how old or when they’d last been tested, but they didn’t have a choice. Even with the fear, however, she managed a flicker of a smile.
”Y’know…if I have to jump, Sev, I’m damn glad I have you jumping with me. You may not be a deity, but an angel will do just fine. Though…I may still have to shun you for not telling me back on Tatooine.”
She was razzing him again, of course…mostly.
Sam did mean her first sentence with excruciating honesty.
”Ready?”
Ready or not, she let go of the latch handle, braced herself as best as she could, and shoved against the door with a boot, allowing it to fly open and slam back against the hull. The rushing roar of the wind had her grimacing a bit, her heart rate jumping as she fought back the memories again. Half a moment she closed her eyes, shook her head sharply and opened them again before getting as close to the door as possible and glancing back up the hull so she’d be aware of how far out she had to try and jump to avoid slamming against anything. Oh I don’t like this…With a glance to Sev, she set her jaw and nodded, speaking over the wind and through her comm. to him. ”Right, let’s do this, Sev. You’re out first, no arguing.” Considering his troubles staying conscious earlier, she wasn’t about to take the chance that she’d jump and he wouldn’t be able to make it out. She wasn’t going to like this, but she sure as hell would like the consequences of staying even less, so she didn’t have to worry about herself.
Once Sev was out, she crouched, muscles coiling like springs, and dove out herself.
The initial feeling of utter weightlessness and rushing air stole her breath…and not in a good way. The sensation was terrible, but she worked through it, fighting the muscles of her body to take in the cold air. Her HUD visor blocked the air, making it easier to see…as well as giving her the necessary, but unwanted, information concerning her fall. Silently she counted the seconds as she reached for the ripcord, the hulking mass of the freighter passing swiftly through her peripheral vision. The air stream from it battered her at points, making it risky to open the ‘chute, but there wasn’t an easy way to get away from the turbulent air. It was a risk she’d have to take. Arching her body so as not to flip on deployment, she pulled on the ripcord and was dismayed to find the action was met with heavy resistance.
…Osik. Really?! A second hard tug and again…nothing. Ten seconds…too much time! Both hands gripped the cord and tugged…and finally the ‘chute deployed. Glancing over her shoulder when the customary pull of canopy opening slowed her descent, only one word was uttered…
”Frell.”
Her voice was remarkably calm for the situation she found herself in.
The mess of tangled lines and rolled up material was not what she wanted to see. Without thought, she worked to get hold of her breakaway handle and reserve ripcord. Grey eyes flickered to the readings along her HUD and her heart rate spiked uncomfortably. Goddess…”Mind yourself! Breaking away from primary ‘chute, don’t get tangled!” With a painful tug and extension with her right arm, the breakaway handle came off, the uselessly tangled primary coming away with a slight jolt of force. In an instant her left hand tugged the secondary ripcord as the last of the hulking ship passed through her vision.
For a moment she feared another tangled ‘chute from the last of the buffeting air…
She needn’t have.
As the cord pulled, she glanced over her shoulder to an even more frightening scene than the previous malfunction…
…Nothing.
She felt the pit of her stomach dissolve into nothingness as realization swiftly coursed through her. The ripcord was loose. The pin had been pulled and the reserve should have deployed, but it wasn’t. There was nothing left to slow her fall. In an instant a multitude of thoughts and emotions attempted to gain precedence, but over all there was one thing she could think of. ”H-hey Sev…” Futilely the stubborn woman’s mind attempted to design a way to miraculously escape death’s clutches yet again…but all she could see was the day she’d nearly died. Maybe this was how she was supposed to…No. I’m not supposed to die like this! Via, please…not like this.
”…So I…uh…I owe you a vacation, you know...”
Would it hurt?
Somehow she doubted she’d feel much after reaching terminal velocity.
Somewhere in the background she thought she caught Sev asking about her reserve…sounding anxious, worried…maybe it was just her mind. She was having difficulty discerning right now.
”The next time you have a couple days in port, I…I expect to know about it and…”
If she could just get the ‘chute out somehow…
Maybe she could pull it?
Reaching around, she attempted to get a grip on the reserve pouch.
Oh how she missed the front reserve ‘chutes of the military…
Again there was that barely registered…or was it partially imagined?...questioning from Sev. How could she honestly answer him? Real or imagined questioning, she was in denial herself and trying to keep her mind from going down a path of thought she wasn’t ready to follow. If she couldn’t admit the reality to herself, how could she admit anything to him?
”…and I expect to have a full day with you. No guys…just us…okay?”
Sam was struggling to keep calm…any kind of calm. Her voice wavered as tears were fought back and she attempted to keep a semi-steady breathing pattern. The Screaming Star impacted the ground below with an impressive amount of force, accordioning in some places, shattering in others and exploding outward around the engineering sections…sending large gouts of flame blossoming out or upward with the screeching of twisting metal. Shutting her eyes tightly, Sam forcefully bit back a whimper, sniffling once instead and taking a shaky breath.
”Promise me, alright? We both need a vacation, and I wanna make it up to you. My treat. No arguments.”
She couldn’t reach a damn thing to help get that secondary ‘chute out, so she stopped trying, instead focusing on attempting to keep control of herself. She hadn’t gone down making an emotional fool of herself in the ‘hawk and she wasn’t trying to now. Thirty seconds…not much time left now. Sniffing a time or two more, she let herself hang in the air calmly…numbly. Sure she could have told Sev what had happened, but chances were he knew already. Chances were he’d deployed and there was no way he could do anything to help, let alone reach her in time to try…and even if he had, there was always the chance that it would only result in both of them becoming jelly on the ground.
After a moment that seemed like an eternity, she spoke up again…her voice just as calm as she’d been on Corellia. ”Y’know Sev...I think today was the first time I ever called you by your first name. Hope you didn’t mind too much…” Finally she sighed heavily across the comm…ready to face the truth of the matter fully. ”This reserve isn’t gonna pull, Sev…can’t reach it to force it either. I figure you know already but…it needed to be said.” Another half-heart beat of silence. ”Guess I’m finally past being scared…just glad you’re here.”
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last online Nov 4, 2024 11:35:50 GMT -5
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Dec 20, 2015 22:29:01 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Dec 20, 2015 22:29:01 GMT -5
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last online Nov 4, 2024 11:35:50 GMT -5
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May 10, 2018 6:36:11 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on May 10, 2018 6:36:11 GMT -5
Vex: “She is a difficult student at the best of times.”
Tal: oh? I mean yes, she is, but why do you say so THIS time? xD
Vex: “Just a general observation...such as saying the sky is blue”
Aunna: "Not all skies are blue, min larel." Aunna leaned against the wall, a quiet (girlish) snickering giggle coming from out of sight followed by a whispered boys 'cut that out!' Aun's attention turned that way and she gave a look that said 'behave'.
Vex: “It is on this planet...not that I get to see it.” Leaning over he looked out toward the hall.
Aunna: "There's not a room they can allow you into to see it and still....be restrained in the force?" she asked, watching his reaction as if trying to figure out just how curious he was. She lowered her voice a little. "Did you want to see them, larel?"
Vex: “I get some amenities as I turned myself in...and for ‘services rendered’....but that is not among them. Apparently I’m still considered a flight risk.” He scoffed. Arching a dark brow, he looked at her and spoke deadpan. “No, I’m leaning this way because I enjoy uncomfortable positions.”
Aunna: That earned a singular huffed chuckle. "You never know....maybe it's a strange new stretch you're doing...." Turning a little she looked at the two hidden just out of sight. "C'mere you two. Your father wants to meet you." There would be a little bit of shuffling around and then two little figures would come bounding into sight.
The girl was a shy looking little thing with a wave of black hair and blue eyes like her mother's, and was dressed in a blue shirt and black pants, a green coat over all of them. Her brother had sandy brown hair, cut fairly short, with dark eyes like his father. He was in brown pants with a white shirt and a blue coat that he tugged at as if uncertain. Aunna would pull them around in front of her and hold the outter most shoulders of the two. "Raelyn and Kieran, say hello."
The girl, though seeming more shy, waved excitedly for a moment then pressed back against Aunna, but said nothing. "Hello..." the boy piped up, finally stopping with his fussing and looking up at Vex.
Vex: Vex moved to his feet, looking uncharacteristically uncertain himself as he straightened the robes he wore. Finally, he resorted to clasping his hands behind his back as he heard the sound of little feet and those black eyes took them in as they appeared. That mask hid his expression as he looked upon them. The excited waving however, caused the corner of his eyes to crinkle. “Hello...Kieran.” He hesitated at the name, tasting it on his tongue for the first time before doing so with the next and giving a nod. “Raelyn.”
He decided he liked them very much.
He moved to a knee, hand coming out to press against that barrier. “I’m very pleased to meet the both of you.”
Aunna: Aunna watched, almost uncertainly as her counterpart, the other half of her behind the forcefield. Her face was a carefully arranged neutral however, vague amusement showing in her eyes as he adjusted himself and held his hands behind his back....but the hint of that smile brought one to her own lips as well, a bit of relief seeping through her muscles.
The girl looked up at her mother, then back to the man she'd only seen in memories every now and then. She was the first one to seem to pluck up some courage as she inched toward the translucent barrier and poke at it as if testing to make sure it wasn't going to hurt before putting her small hand against it. "I like Isis better," she stated matter of factly, her voice holding hints of a strange sort of accent and hints of the Corellian accent her mother had.
"That's her middle name," Aunna offered, looking down at Kieran who seemed to still be sizing up the man behind the barrier hesitantly.
"You're really our father?" Isis asked curiously, eyes taking in everything about the man curiously.
Vex: Quiet...but bold in her own way. There was no doubt in him that this was his daughter. He longed to reach out and use the Force...to touch and feel them both through it. He laughed, a simple, short sound at her words and Aunna’s clarification. “Isis it is then. Both are quite pretty.”
He left his palm against the forcefield where hers pressed before nodding. “That is why I have been told...and what I see. If I could use the Force in here, I could feel it too, no doubt. It’s as much a shock and welcome surprise to me as it is to you. At least, I hope it’s a welcome surprise.”
His gaze slid past her to Kieran. “You aren’t sure what to think of me, are you?”
Aunna: The girl's muted expression of curiosity split into a big grin as Vex spoke. No doubt even without the force he could tell she was excited even though she hardly moved. It was as if she were biting back all the excitement that wanted to find a way out, and indeed she was! Aunna couldn't help but chuckle quietly at the girl, all the affection of a mother in her eyes, especially as the girl mutely (but quickly) nodded at that final statement, taking it more as a question than anything else.
When Kieran was addressed, he seemed to pull himself up fully....he was already fairly tall, for his age, anyway. At the question he gave a simple "yessir," and a slight nod. He didn't sound timid or uncertain about the answer, but....he still watched Vex in a way that said he was still trying to make up his mind just how he felt. Finally he seemed to find more words than just the one. "Why're you in here?"
Vex: The girl may have looked more like him, but that energy was all Aunna, especially that smile. Kieran’s demeanor was more like his own....he could see more of the way he held himself in the boy...especially how he’d held himself in the Undercity.
At the question, he nodded his head thoughtfully. “I did some bad things. Things you may have seen some news about. I did them because I believe they were right. Most of them...I still do. However, your mother was caught up in it. Worse men, cowardly men, tried to frame her for things that she hadn’t done and make her association with me seem the reason. I dealt with them...and then turned myself in so that her name could be cleared. Your mother was the only star in my sky. I couldn’t let them darken her shine.”
Aunna: Aunna couldn't help but blush a little as she listened passively to her lover and couldn't help but feel that her world was darker without him in it anyway. Gently she gave Kieran's shoulder a squeeze with her hand as the boy nodded, seeming to accept the answer as he glanced up at Aunna and then back to the man behind the barrier. Puffing up slightly with a deep breath he huffed it all out and took a step or two closer, his hands seeming to move along the open zipper of his coat as if searching for something to do with them. When nothing seemed right he stuffed them in his pockets. "Mum says she named me after you...." he offered, "that your name is Enery."
"Was, Kieran, he doesn't like to be called that any more."
Isis turned to her brother and smirked impishly. "Told you so," she stated slyly.
"Cut it out, Rae."
"Don't call me that."
"Or what?"
"Enough you two, or you're both in trouble. Behave yourselves."
Isis huffed a little and folded her arms, that smirk still on her face, but Kieran ignored it.
Vex: “Is and was.” He watched the interplay between them all with slightly bemused bewilderment. “Legally speaking, my name is Enery Winsliyn. You can’t exactly go to a magistrate and let them know that you are becoming a Dark Jedi and wish to legally change your name.”
Taking a breath after those eyes crinkled again, he continued. “I took on the name Vex...and yes, I prefer it. Who Enery was and who I am are as different as two actual people can be.”
Aunna: "Well you could...." Isis stated thoughtfully. "Just don't tell him about the dark jedi part!"
Kieran groaned at his sister and rolled his eyes. "Guerfel..." he muttered, earning a look of plain fury from the girl. "It doesn't work that way, he would know! But that doesn't make sense, how can you be two different people? Is your mind sick or something?"
"Oh you're gonna be a chicken tonight, Kieran...." the girl grumbled to herself and huffed, but seemed interested enough to at least tack on to her brother's questioning. "His mind can't be sick or broken, Kieran....that's what he uses all the time, mum says it all the time, remember?"
"Yeah to you, and normally when you're in trouble."
Aunna shifted forward and dropped a hand on each of their heads and leaned over to look at both of them. "Don't call your sister stupid, Kieran, and what did I say about toying with your brother's mind? That's dangerous to him. How would you feel if you really hurt him?"
Isis frowned deeply as she thought over the question and then huffed and gave a little 'sorry,' to her brother, trying to look like she was still angry, but the way her eyes glittered slightly made it clear that she was upset over some part of it. Kieran shifted around a moment, then sighed and gave his sister a hug before stepping back. Giving the two a nod, Aunna stepped back once more, content to watch now that the two seemed to be on decent terms once more.
Vex: Vex sighed, watching this new interplay between the three. His brows rose up as the connotation of the young girl’s words fully hit him. Clearly she’s picked up his gifts...and enough to toy with her brother’s mind. That was frightening. “Your mother is right, Isis. You mustn’t toy with the minds of the ones you love. You can hurt them...make them someone that isn’t them any more and never even mean to do it.”
Aunna: The girl, clearly chastised, nodded with her eyes on the floor.
"Oh, we've had this conversation before, believe me. Thankfully it's only ever been suggestion, but even so....she shouldn't be doing that until she's had more training." Not that Aunna was able to give that to her, and especially not now that they would have to leave the Mythics to see to duties on Corellia.
Kieran had shifted around a little, uncomfortable, and frowning at his sister's discomfort. Sidling over to her he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I'm not mad, Sis....smile!"
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