Angel, I've Got Something to Tell You [Invite]

[Natasi Fortan]

"It's good exercise," Natasi admitted, her dark eyes tracing the foliage as they rode on. The Grand Moff was fit and trim in large part thanks to her riding habit. The fact that she ate sensibly and sparingly was another large part. Her smoking habit was probably the final piece of the puzzle, but she didn't want to focus on that one too much. "The park is nothing like home," she admitted. "Galidraan," she clarified. "There are steeple-chases and point-to-points all summer. It's really quite something." She urged the horse on; her thighs and stomach were starting to burn, which said the exercise was working.

"If you like skiing, I've heard there's a new slope on Hoth. All you'll need is skiis and the ability to withstand sub-zero temperatures for hours at a time." She smirked over at [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]. The Star Tours ski resort on Hoth was something of an inside joke among the First Order. "Galidraan has some nice slopes, too, but -- well, it's out in Silver Sanctum space, so it can be dicey to get there. But maybe someday..." She sighed wistfully. "Alas."

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

"I've heard of the resort on Hoth. Coincidentally," Roderik let out an amused laugh, accompanied by a large, quite jovial smile as he continued, "I have received a notice of interest for attendees to a military cold weather training course. Something about a new training site in the works. I figured the 100th might make a request. You can never be too careful when flying around some of these ice worlds. Perhaps I could add a stay at this new lodge." His tone suggested that he'd just as soon take an inspection of a star destroyer's hull, minus the spacesuit than visit a ski resort on Hoth.

"Perhaps someday," he suggested optimistically to [member="Natasi Fortan"] in regards to visiting her home-world of Galidraan. He didn't know much of the world, just mentions from her cousin [member="Pierce Fortan III"] from time to time. Descriptions of the splendor and reminders of how it was much, much nicer than anything in the First Order.

"At least you know Galidraan is in delicate hands, for our eventual reclamation." He didn't know much of the Silver Sanctum, but he knew enough to assume they were not pillagers or spiteful in wrath - and Roderik was nothing if not an eternal optimist, truly believing that the First Order would eventually, one day, control the entirety of the galaxy, as the Galactic Empire of ancient that gave rose to their disciplined fanaticism.

Roderik knew, too, that he would be adding riding to his list of favored extracurricular activities - just as soon as he could find more time, as was always the case.

He wondered fleetingly if the pay raise to Major would allow him to afford to purchase his own personal horse, for the occasions that opportunity allowed. He probably couldn't keep Sullinosh, and didn't dare inquire, however unfortunate. He and the animal had found a real bond as mount-and-rider, he thought.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi let slip a gale of laughter, grinning widely across the gulf at [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]. "Delicate indeed," she said over a fit of giggles. It was lovely to laugh like that; she felt she didn't laugh enough these days. The cares of the First Order were on her shoulders, and the only upside to that was that it distracted her from the confusion of her personal life. Separate and apart from anything else was the problem of Decima Fortan, her half-sister -- though she would admit it to no one -- which was causing a rift in the Fortan family. Things hadn't been quite right with Pierce since he had sprung the news on her, and though she knew she couldn't really blame him, her father was dead, so her anger ended up on Pierce.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. But it was what it was.

They were heading back towards the base now, with it appearing as a bump on the horizon. "Playground rules, Major. I've shared about myself, now it's your turn." She looked over at him. "Balance knows I've got a file on you somewhere, but I'd rather hear it from the horse's mouth." She glanced at Sullinosh. "Well -- you know what I mean."

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Letting himself ponder the question for a minute, while his eyes darted from the pleasant scenery to the glimpse of the base they'd left behind, now showing up with some strain of sight, off in the distance.

His smile did not lessen, not with the sound of the Grand Moff of the First Order laughing as she did. He wasn't sure if he had ever heard the sound from [member="Natasi Fortan"], as it was now. Genuine and momentarily carefree.

"I hold a Barony on my home-world. Nothing of a grand estate, but it was home for a time." He was not being particularly modest, his estate would hardly be worth warrant on Galidraan, or even Dosuun - their shared adopted home now.

"With no intended disrespect," He looked over now, eyes glinting with good humor. "It was not the sort of life I cared for, at least -" It was apparent Roderik was attempting to navigate the pronouncement with all due tact, "On my world, it was all pretend. The wealthy, the hoarders of goods, they sought to entertain themselves above all else. That was never who I was." He was sure she would understand what he intended to express. Roderik was a man of structured order, every piece equally important to the whole. He was hardly a man of excess, ever, and fancied himself some sort of chivalrous warrior of old, upholding a code of good conduct that he in turn attempted to impart upon all his pilots. A sense of righteous conduct, spawned by the First Order and Supreme Leader's vision.

"I suppose I rebelled against the good parts of the life and culture of my youth, just the same as the bad." He reached down and patted Sullinosh as they continued to trod along the path. "Tell me about the cosmic balance." He said, almost startling himself with the abrupt change of subject into religion, of all things, that he made - albeit with genuine curiosity.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi nodded. It wasn't unusual for people of their class to decide to see how the other half lived. Not even on Galidraan. Of course, Natasi would never dream of doing it, but then she was barely noble anymore. She was a Lady -- in the literal sense, as the daughter of an earl -- but held no hereditary title of her own. But she was Grand Moff of the First Order, literally the most powerful person in that corner of the galaxy. It was a decent trade, she decided, even though the loss of Herevan still burned at her. The loss of so many things -- and people -- burned at her.

It was lucky he brought up the Cosmic Balance. It always made her smile.

"It is a religion based around the concept of equilibrium. We call ourselves Equilibriates. The idea is that for everything in this galaxy, there is an equal and opposite thing. For every act of evil, there is an act of good. For every death, a birth. Granted, perhaps not simultaneously. It is a religion that flourishes on Bakura." She paused and watched as the base creeped closer and closer in the distance. "My mother was from Bakura," she explained. "And in addition to a fortune that saved my father's family from ruin, she brought with her the Balance. My brother and I were raised in the religion, although my father refused to indulge her in the ritual of the Bowl and Feather."

Natasi smirked at this, remembering the argument over it. "In the Church, families are encouraged to have pairs of children close in time, and when they reach puberty, they are put through a series of tests. In each pair of children, there is one Child of the Feather, and one Child of the Bowl. My mother was a Child of the Feather, which meant that she was given an education and advantages in life -- a marriage to an old family, for instance -- while her sister, an aunt whose name I can't remember, was a Child of the Bowl, which meant she was bundled off to the temple to serve the Zanazi -- ahh -- those are like our priests," she explained. "It sounds very strange and perhaps it is, but that's just how it was. Anyway, my father wouldn't allow it. My brother was meant to inherit the estate and I was meant to marry the neighboring Duke. Neither one of us could afford to be a Child of the Bowl."

She smirked and glanced at [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]. "Funny how things turn out, isn't it? In a horrifyingly tragic kind of way."

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Roderik listened intently as his eyes wandered off to the distance. Partly to the base, ever-growing in the distance, and partly to the natural scenery surrounding them. The concept of equilibrium was interesting to the man, whom himself had no real sense of religion or greater place in the order of the galaxy or universe at large. Roderik was content to dedicate himself to physical acts of devotion to the law and order provided by the First Order. His faith was in service. To the Supreme Leader, to the Grand Moff before him in [member="Natasi Fortan"], to his fellow pilots and the First Order citizens they defended together.

"Funny, indeed." He replied, turning to smile back at Natasi. He supposed he believed in something after all, in a sense. Luck was a very real, very finite commodity for a starfighter pilot. Everyone knew there was a chance theirs might one day run dry. Perhaps the cosmic balance could tip the scale towards prolonged life. Do good to reset the clock for the day he wouldn't see the opponent that got him? Its always the one you don't see that will kill you, he thought - an old combat pilot's motto which reinforced the notion of alertness.

No, it probably didn't work that way. Religion, like everything else, had a funny way of having strings attached. Like detaching children from their families - a practice more akin to the stormtrooper legions, Roderik concluded internally.

"Do you act out of balance, or do you favor one side?" He inquired, genuinely and pleasantly curious. He knew it was a matter of balance, or a striving towards order and prosperity, for Natasi. She wasn't the type to act as a conduit of disharmony.

"I myself have no proper sense of these things. Flying is where I find my clarity, I suppose." He added hastily with another short laugh, as if to beg for understanding over his questions. The admittance that he was without a serious belief system personally, was to act as a signal of interest in learning more about hers.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"When you're in a position like mine -- in a government like mine -- the balance is... difficult," Natasi said after a moment of genuine thought. "My interpretation of it is like this. The Balance demands that there is good for every bad. Bad for every good." She looked up at the sky; the sun was warm on her cheeks, and she enjoyed once again being in the out-of-doors. "I've experienced this; I know it to be true, on a personal level. But in the aggregate, things get murkier. The way I see it is... if there's going to be good happening, I want to be the one doing the good. If there's going to be bad happening, I want to make it happen to the right people." She looked over at him, half to gauge whether he was following along, half to see whether he showed any outward signs of thinking she was bonkers.

"The Balance makes no moral judgments where mere mortals are concerned. I have built an empire from almost nothing -- I've provided an infrastructure for people to flourish in what was once just a sad little galactic backwater." She inclined her head. "That was good, I think. Good for the people who now can carry on their lives without fear of marauders and pirates and other brigands and ne'er-do-wells." The Grand Moff pulled the horse's reins, pulling him back into a brisk walk. "I'd like to think that the corresponding 'bad' demanded by the Balance happened to the marauders and pirates and other brigands and ne'er-do-wells that are out of a job, or dead. To be sure, they had families, and perhaps part of the bad is their suffering."

She chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment before nodding firmly. "But that's a price I'm willing to pay. Their loved one made a choice -- a choice to do wrong in life. So maybe their loved one is the one who inflicted the 'bad' on them." She shrugged again. "I don't know, Major. Maybe I'm full of it."

[member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Roderik kept pace alongside [member="Natasi Fortan"], smiling and nodding along at her, as she gave a thoughtful response to his inquiry about the balance. He slowed Sullinosh in accordance with Natasi's diminished pace of her own horse, as she more effectively reigned in her animal.

He listened intently, careful to take in the words she spoke. The newly-minted Major appreciated the candor in which she afforded him in her answer. When it came time for him to respond, he looked back at the Grand Moff with a reassured smile.

"That is a fascinating interpretation," He started, his tone reflecting the genuine nature of his statement, rather than an ingratiating but false appreciation. "It makes more sense than most of what I have heard out there," Roderik gestured upwards with a finger, indicating the skies, space, and vast galaxy above and around them, "it sounds as though one could find some solace in being the instrument of the bad, as well as the proponent of the good."

"Hmm," He pondered for a moment, before continuing his thought vocally, "Is there a large presence of... Practitioners? Of the balance, in the First Order?" He knew little of the officially sanctioned religious sect within the First Order, the mysterious Knights of Ren, but he knew enough of First Order laws to know that outside religions were tolerated and not officially persecuted in any fashion.

"Do you have a place of worship, or is it strictly a personalized belief?" He was curious if there were any congregations of the cosmic balance in Avalonia.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"That definitely means you think I'm full of it," Natasi said on a melodious laugh. They trotted along together as she considered his questions. "There aren't a lot of us -- we're called Equilibriates. Most of us are concentrated on Bakura, though the religion started elsewhere." She looked at him self-consciously as she tried to remember where they had come from originally. "Sorry, it has been rather a while since I read the catechisms."

She was starting to ache with the effort of remaining in the saddle; it was quite the workout indeed.

"There is a temple on Avalonia, but it's rather small. Actually it was built from the blueprints that my father had drawn up, to build a temple for my mother as a wedding gift. He indulged her to an extent." She smiled wistfully. "There aren't many of us, but you might say my recent ascension to the pinnacles of political power has caused some people to take an interest. There are maybe a few dozen of us on Avalonia." Her fingers clutched the reins, and urged the horse faster. They were almost back to the base by now.

"But you can practice anywhere. All it takes is a mindfulness about the ramifications of what you're doing."

[member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Smiling further upon hearing [member="Natasi Fortan"] laughing so pleasantly again, Roderik listened intently to her explanation of their name, equalibriates. It had a nice ring to it, he thought while giving the Grand Moff a look of reassurance as she struggled to recall the originating world of the religion, before he looked down at his hands - adjusting his grip on the reigns controlling Sullinosh.

He looked back up at the ever-encroaching base. The pleasant landscape had given way from scenic nature to all of the signs of technological settlement. Perimeter defenses became more apparent, with turrets filling in for trees.

"I think I may visit the temple while I'm in Avalonia. You paint an interesting picture of the balance." He smiled, though it was more measured the closer they got to the base. No longer were they secluded to a degree, and the optics of proper conduct for a subordinate officer with the chief government agent of the First Order were paramount to Major von Brinkerhoff. Nearly back to the your excellency and occasional ma'am, though Roderik was pleased with the secured knowledge that he had earned a place as her friend over the months of direct service thus far. In those sparingly few off-duty hours she was Natasi Fortan, Grand Moff and not Grand Moff, your worshipfulness.

"I know I will, in fact." He said with a tone of confidence, as if he had just played a mental pros-and-cons and weighed the pros superior. It was certainly reflected on his performance evaluations and personality profiles the Grand Moff had access to, but over their close proximity it had most undoubtedly become apparent that Roderik acted with a certain sense of idealism already, and was constantly considering the ramifications of his actions - almost detrimentally so. The notion of a religion based on tenants he subconsciously lived by already, was almost instantly appealing to the man.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Nonsense," Natasi said flatly, turning once again to study [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] with dark eyes. "I'll take you -- show you around -- introduce you to the Zanazi." She smiled fondly at the thought of taking her friend to her place of worship. Separate and apart from the idea of offering him comfort in her religion, the grounds were beautiful. "It's a lovely campus, on the edge of the city in Avalonia. It's set against the mountains in the distance, and the architecture is really something special. I can't tell you what a comfort it is to be able to walk into a building exactly like the one I went to growing up. Every worship day, we went. For holidays and thanksgiving, for christenings and -- " Her voice faltered. " -- and funerals."

Only her mother and brother's funerals had been held there; her father was not enthusiastic about the Balance and so had had a traditional service at a the town hall. In both instances, however, the rooms had been filled to capacity by the tenants of Herevan and the landed gentry around them who had known her parents and come to pay their respects when they died.

"Anyway. I'd be glad to give you a tour and introduce you to people. And -- perhaps out of deference to me and my schedule -- the services there are usually rather manageable. Forty-five minutes door to door? You simply can't beat that." She smiled and looked up towards the horizon. The base was looming, but Natasi was tempted to take the Major out for another loop. It had been nice to get away from her responsibilities for a moment, away from the gloom that seemed to follow her everywhere but which hadn't been able to track her through the trees, and was now settling around her shoulders again. But she had played truant too long, and had to get back. "At the very least, if you make it there before me, give them my name and they'll treat you right."

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Roderik nodded along with a grateful smile as [member="Natasi Fortan"] offered to take him personally during one of her visits. She spoke of the splendor of natural vista and beautiful building architecture. Human architecture. Natasi had mentioned her father had designed the specifications personally, which was an assurance to the quality of art in the design, surely.

The innate humanocentrism that lingered in any society built upon the standard Galactic Imperial tenants had made a lasting affect on Roderik. While he was certainly progressive, as were the First Order in general, he still found it difficult to naturally afford non-human alien civilizations the same graciousness and reverence. He did not find them inferior, so to speak, and harbored no ill will towards any particular alien species. He merely thought that humanity was the eldest and most advanced of all inter-galactic species. The irony of the belief was fully lost to him, all the same - though easily the most numerous species, humanity was far from eldest or most advanced technologically nor culturally.

Perhaps some day he would see more of the galaxy to learn the error in his beliefs, but for now he was content in his little orderly corner of the galaxy.

"A guide is always preferable." He decided to defer his attendance until their two schedules could match up - which would not be particularly difficult, with their close proximity in Avalonia while he would be attending his leadership course, per promotion regulations.

"You probably know it better than anyone else. Are the grounds the same, or just the temple itself?" Roderik inquired as he turned his head to track an anti-personnel turret they trotted along closer to base. The turrets were changing from primarily anti-armor turrets mounting heavy laser cannons to closer-in, point defense blaster repeaters. Rapid fire weapon systems meant for attacking troops and not vehicles. The two riders were within the field of the last line of defense for the base facility.

Roderik missed the forest, but he still could not complain. It was always nice to have any kind of solid ground around him.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi shrugged. "The grounds, to the extent it is possible. The terrain is quite different, so allowances must be made, and not everything that grows there will grow here -- that is, in Avalonia. But the layout of the garden is more or less the same, from what I can recall." She frowned for a moment, clearly trying to remember, before shaking her head. "Alas, I can't remember off the top of my head. But ask me again when we go, I'm sure my memory will by jogged."

By now, they had returned to the gate, and Natasi allowed herself to be helped off her horse by the groom. "Thank you," Natasi said.

"Did he ride well?" asked the groom.

"Oh, yes, surprisingly well -- but then, I could tell the moment I laid eyes on him that he was a natural," said Natasi as she peeled off her gloves, waiting for [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] to dismount from Sullinosh. She glanced over her shoulder at him and then added with a smirk: "And Equitaph, too. Thank you for joining me, Major von Brinkerhoff, I appreciate you taking the time."

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Sullinosh was taken by the reins by another waiting attendant, prompting Roderik to slip off the saddle and down onto firm ground again with the precision of a man that far too often opted for jumping halfway down his cockpit ladder. How his knees hadn't given out after all the years was a medical miracle.

"It was a pleasure, ma'am." He said back to [member="Natasi Fortan"] with a smile before turning back to the long face of Sullinosh, giving the animal a pat of his hand. "Until next time." He grinned at the animal before taking a step back and changing course to meet with Natasi.

"Perhaps the next time we ride I can give you a proper competitive challenge." He most certainly intended to ride more in the interim, to train up to her level of riding talent. Whether or not the opportunity to ride presented itself was an entirely different question.

First, Roderik thought, I have to get used to being called Major!

It hadn't quite hit until now, among witnesses to his rank, that it began to sink in. Everyone had always knew Roderik was on a trajectory to the stars, a fast mover - but, the promotion to Major all but assured the belief now. Or it would, when news spread.

"Thank you for the opportunity to remember the experience," He mentioned of riding again to Natasi, beaming with a genuinely delighted smile. "and for the conversation." Roderik had much to consider in regards to the cosmic balance, but it was an interest that the Major was too curious not to scratch.

"I suppose the business of running the First Order is back at hand for you?" He checked his wrist-chronometer and mentally calculated where the time would put his squadron. The mess hall or hangar bay for daily inspections, most likely.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi stretched a little, shifting a little as she got used to the burning sensation in her thighs and core. "I don't run the First Order," Natasi said gloomily. "Not as much as I'd like, anyway." She turned as they walked towards the gates, flanked by the Four Horsemen. She unpinned her hat, took it off. The breeze swept her chestnut hair, sending the jaw-length locks swinging a little as they walked. The gates opened as they approached, with the guards offering salutes. "I have a luncheon meeting with the Governor of Thakwaa to discuss his plans for development of the planet and the scientific facilities. We created a remarkable aerosol drug to pacify the natives here when we first -- ahh -- took ownership here."

She glanced to the side. "I actually oversaw the construction of this base," she added, pointing over to the administrative center. "That's the first building we laid down -- with the command center, so we could keep tabs on the rest of the operations. And then, of course, the science center." Natasi pointed across to the other side of the complex. "Anyway -- I don't mean to bore you with the boring details of ancient history."

[member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Roderik walked along side [member="Natasi Fortan"] as they entered into the base proper once more. He listened, interest piqued with raised eyebrows to show for it. Natasi had truly earned her position as Grand Moff through her hard work and disciplined approach to expanding the First Order's territorial claims. It did not surprise him she had an active hand in the establishment of this base, as well.

His gaze followed an imaginary path as he looked to where she pointed and explained the historical footnotes of founding the base with first the administrative center. His attention swung to the other side of the complex, and the science center it housed. He hadn't had any opportunity to see that side of things, nor would he, most likely. It was a trivial curiosity, and he probably wouldn't understand a tenth of what occurred in that side of the base facility anyways.

"Not at all, ma'am. History was a favorite subject of mine at the academy." Roderik responded to Natasi with a chuckle, a little self-deprecatingly. History buffs in the flight academy were generally the ones who were compensating for a lack of flying skills. But Roderik could appreciate the finer things in life, like knowledge, as much as the visceral. Perhaps another unwitting side affect of his aristocratic upbringing.

"Perhaps some time I can give you a history tour of the headquarters station." He referred to, forgetfully not referring to it as the Starfighter Corps headquarters station, though he was sure Natasi would pick up on his intentional meaning. The space station that orbited Dosuun and acted as a massive starfighter launch and repair depot as well as housed the space-borne component of the Flight Academy, was one of, if not the oldest space stations in the First Order military, and orbited Dosuun.

The historical value of the station was a minor point of pride for the Starfighter Corps, and Roderik had on time or two, in fits of fanciful dreaming, thought he could one day retire to curate the Starfighter Corps departmental museum aboard the station.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi walked along in her riding boots, carefully peeling her gloves off her fingers and then jamming them into her pockets with her hands. "Lovely," she agreed with [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]. It was difficult to get excited about anything at Dosuun, when it would be months before she was really back home again, if then. Even now, she doubted whether the reasons she had for leaving would resolve themselves when she returned, or ever. She would still have more than half a year until she would allow herself to resign from office and retire to live a quiet life -- probably alone -- on Galidraan.

Provided, of course, that the Silver Jedi didn't think to arrest her for the mere crime of existing as part of the First Order.

They walked for several minutes with Natasi not saying anything; the base had been expanded since the initial camp, and Natasi could easily spot where the walls had started, where they had been pushed out and where their original forms remained. But like everything from that period of her life, remembering the conquest of Thakwaa brought back painful memories. She tried to put it out of her mind, but it was like anything else. There was nowhere that she could look that didn't invoke a memory that made her chest ache. Normally, she would throw herself into her work, but --

"I've heard it's very... historical," Natasi finally said, her dark eyes glancing with a hint of mischief towards her companion. "I'll want it investigated by the naval corps of engineering to see that it won't fall apart the minute we dock before I'll agree," she teased.

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

"Very historical, indeed." Roderik answered back with a grin tossed in [member="Natasi Fortan"]'s direction as they continued to walk despite a prolonged pause in conversation. A pause Roderik took to enjoy the scenery of the military and governmental complex. It was different than nature, but no less majestic in its own right. "Maybe this new rank will help facilitate a thorough inspection." He still couldn't quite believe it. Major von Brinkerhoff. The thought played like music in his mind. "I'm surprised Pierce has never mentioned Dagger Point before. It's site to some lively high jinx, what with the flight academy and all. We all spend our last few months of training at the station." He couldn't help but launch into a miniature spiel about the orbital installation.

"Pilot cadets with too much time and freedom on their hands, you would be amazed at what they can get up to." He looked at the Grand Moff again, shooting her an expression that read a revelatory, 'Oh wait!'. "I suppose you are quite aware of the high jinx Pierce is capable of conjuring up."

Pierce was no conjurer of cheap tricks, he was a true wizard when it came to having or creating an excessively, inappropriately good time.

"We like to say it was the first space station put in orbit of Dosuun. The documentation is a little bit fuzzy to confirm that," He admitted, "but, it makes for a good story."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Pierce's high jinks? Yes, indeed," said Natasi. "When I was in my teens -- well, first you have to know, the estate where I grew up is called Herevan, and the house, Herevan Hold, is built over the waterfall, where the river goes over the cliff. The river freezes over every year during the coldest part of the winter. And it sort of slopes down a hill until it gets to the falls. Anyway, one year Pierce had a brilliant idea to toboggan down the river, because he thought he'd go faster. I'll bet you can guess what happened."

She glanced over at [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] with a smirk. "He decided to try to rig some sort of net at the falls, under the house. And, of course, he went through the net and only managed to hang on as the toboggan went careening over the falls. We never did get it back. It was all Immy and Mathes and I could do to drag him back onto the ice and then onto the boat platform under the castle!" She laughed and clasped her hands together, then sighed sadly. "It turns out that net was for catching fish before they swam into the hydroelectric plant, Mr. Grove -- the groundskeeper -- was so cross once the river thawed. I think he suspected my brother, but we never said a thing."

Natasi frowned and looked down as they continued walking, her fingers clasping together. "I'm glad he has you to keep an eye on him. Sometimes I wonder -- " She broke off and looked away. " -- well, I wonder if he's not got some sort of subtle death wish."

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Roderik maintained his grin as he listened to Natasi regale him with a story of their youth together as members of the Fortan family. He could visualize in his mind the image of a young Pierce, as energetically reckless as he ever was, careening down the falls in a ill-conceived attempt at achieving his desired need for speed.

"That sounds like the Pierce I know," He laughed along with [member="Natasi Fortan"], before listening to her continued explanation of the events, including the groundskeeper's silence on the matter. Roderik listened with a slight sense of pride as the Grand Moff expressed her appreciation that her cousin had a loyal friend in the now-Major. The two pilots were like ying and yang, frick and frack - and almost inexorably linked at the hip, a tell-tale sign of the cumulative time they have spent together in their careers. Inseparable in the cockpit, and on the ground.

Although that pride turned to something else as she paused. Roderik looked at her as she looked away, only to ponder aloud whether or not Pierce might have a little death wish.

"That's not the Pierce I know." He said confidently, with enough humor intoned to alleviate any building tension. "The reason he makes an excellent combat pilot, well, it's the same reason he toboggans off of frozen waterfalls. He craves excitement - well, adrenaline. He feels invulnerable, which the galaxy has yet to prove him wrong on," He added a little bit of a shrug, as if to accentuate his not having quite all of the answer, just a portion of the puzzle. "Pierce has the opposite of a death wish, I'm afraid. He lives too much."

He paused as a little chuckle escaped him again, unconsciously attempting to add more levity and less concern of death, dying, and the inevitability of the stray laser blast that will do you in when you figuratively knife fight in starfighters.

"That may not sound comforting, but I assure you have nothing to worry about. He is one of the best pilots I've met, in a squadron of the best pilots I've ever met. I'm lucky to have him watching over me."