Private To Hell and Back

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]

“It’s not hard. You can say it like everyone else, you know.” Tryana looked across at her with a frown.
Eyrecae smirked slightly. “Of this matter, I could of course follow the modern cadence. But why when presented with a method of more eloquence would one choose to have themselves commune with base comments?”
The Vashyada sighed. “So you’re doing it on purpose?”
“Come now, friend Tryana, allow me some measure of mercy! I have been so little in this time it takes time for me to learn.”
“But you will do it?”
Eyrecae gave a shrug which might mean anything. “Anyway, enough distractions. Of you, I am owed a sparring practice. Surely you would not have me wait!”
Tryana shifted. She ached from the workout so far, and of course the primeval Eldorai looked fresh and eager to go.

Suddenly, unexpectedly (she hoped), her blade flashed up and a dagger flew from her sleeve whilst her blade arced forward.
Annoyingly Eyrecae was already there, grabbing the dagger from the air and using it to parry the training blade. With only slight moves Eyrecae parried or evaded every blow. Finally, she stepped back.
“Yes, you grow better. Your skill in this increases. For whether with bow or gun you must always be ready to fight your foe in close quarters. Channel your aggression so that you might control your moves better. Come. Again.”

As their blades clashed again the door had slid open to reveal a certain very frosty elf….

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

"Training's over. Grab your gear and get ready to move. Make sure you have sealed suits, radiation deflection badges and extra air tanks," Kaida said curtly. Someone else would have bothered with pleasantries, if only for the sake of courtesy. The frost elf did not see the point. As Eyrecae and Tryana would notice, Kaida was not alone. A young, tomboyish looking elf had accompanied her. She had short dark hair and was a bit on the skinny side and had a deep scar on her face.
"By the way, I'm Telara," she spoke, since Kaida had not introduced them. Her eyes darted from the wood elf to the tall amazon.
Tryana looked a little taken aback. "I am Tryana. It is nice to meet you," she said politely. Her eyes drifted to Kaida. "We have a mission?" she asked carefully. The frost elf intimidated her a bit.
"Yes. Kaeshana."
"The Eldorai homeworld that..."
"Was abandoned by the bigwigs and occupied by imperialist pigs?" Telara finished for her. "Yes. It's a hellhole. Anyone left there has only one goal: get the hell away. Anyone who got off doesn't want to go back," she shrugged.
"Yet some are still unjustly trapped and in need of aid. Are we to aid the resistance and fight their oppressors?" Tryana asked.
"No, we are...," for just a moment, Kaida seemed to have trouble finding the right words. "The planet has moved. Some idiot seer who's had too much glitterstim thinks so at any rate. Sent a scout ship to the Asur System, and it only saw empty space and asteroids. Whatever, word is the invaders are gone."
"We picked up some refugees who ranted about how they'd gotten off the planet before it got - their words - pulled into the void," Telara threw in.
"Now it has...shown up on the other side of the Galaxy. We lost contact with our cells five days ago. This was their last transmission," at that Kaida produced a datapad.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
Eyrecae nodded to the girl who entered with Kaida. She’d seen her around.
“I am Eyrecae Alzari,” she said with a smile. She didn’t use the Paragon title, it didn’t really mean anything much anymore. Besides, there were no Qadiri here.

“The world, it has moved? That indeed sounds like a fevered dream. Of this, I would not believe it were it not for your scouting. So it is for us to investigate the truth?”
She didn’t sound too concerned about this. She clapped her hands. “To action then! For if not us, who will do so?”

Tryana though looked a little more concerned. “Is this sort of thing…normal? I thought that planets couldn’t vanish like this?”
“I’m sure that magic was involved,” Eyrecae said confidently.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

"Or the scouts were on drugs, too," Kaida muttered. She had acquired a bit of a fixation on the topic ever since taking out a drug ring operating in the nomad fleet. She'd killed the gang boss by forcing her to overdose on her own product. She'd made a recording of her death and showed it to recruits, along with holopics of drug addicts.
"Whatever, it's a dead world. Nothing but broken memories," Telara spoke. It did not sound that genuine. "Anyway, if we have to visit it, let's get going."
"You don't want to find out what happened to your homeworld?" Tryana asked gently. "Some of your people are still there. They..."
"Would you want to go back to a place after it turned into a cursed hellhole and you had to watch your people tear themselves apart? It's just the planet I happened to be born on."
"Both of you, cut it," Kaida's tone was predictably stern and abrasive. "Our orders are clear. They shall be carried out. This will be a joint operation with the Courts of War, the Reaver and the Mind," she added. "They'll be sending specialists."

"Joint operation means interservice rivalry and bickering over priorities, doesn't it? What do the bookworms even want? Study ruins and corpses? And I figure by 'Reaver' you mean the 'demons'." Telara did not use air quotes, but it was clear that she was not much of an Ashiran. Not since a priestess had told her that her mistress had every right to discipline her for being uppity. Ashira only cared for starving orphans if they paid their tithes first.

"Immaterial. And yes. Make sure the bookworm doesn't get herself killed. Assemble at the ship. We leave in thirty. We don't know what threats we might face or if anyone is even still alive, so make sure you're well-equipped." Then Kaida left.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
Most of this sailed way over Eyrecae’s head. She had no Jester in this particular race, Eyrecae was just a name to her. She had been there a long, long time ago, but those distant memories were quite unlike anything related to the present.
Instead she looked around. “More allies? Good, ‘tis always wise to be armoured in knowledge as well as arms. By your word, Kaida, I shall be there.”
With that she strolled off casually.

Tryana followed after her, trying to keep up with the taller and faster woman.
“Aren’t you worried about this mission? They’re sending us to this doomed planet with experts without knowing anything about it? What are we even doing there?”
“Worry not, Tryana, for it is in such trials that we learn of our true strengths.”
Tryana, faced with such blasé confidence, merely trailed along after her.

However confident Eyrecae seemed she still was prepared. When she arrived at the ship she was carrying an enormous pack over her shoulder which she brought down onto the ground as she reached the ship.
Inside was her armour of course, her sword, a Mk2 bolter…but also some other interesting items she’d requisitioned or acquired. There was some grenades of varying types, a sonic pistol, a pair of phrik daggers and a strange silver sphere which she had carefully wrapped in padding to prevent it jarring.

She looked around to see if Kaida was here…of course the icicle was here somewhere. But also whether Tryana and the experts were here.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

By the time Eyrecae arrived, the hangar was already being frequented by a number of people who were loading a ship with equipment or otherwise preparing for the mission. Kaida was not there, for she was going over some last-minute matters with her superior. One blonde-haired Eldorai woman stuck out in particular among the crowd. She was clearly no soldier, but was practical enough to wear a survival outfit.

Yohara Taenasi was busy commanding attention. Energy rolled off her in waves. "Ah, so you are the one known as 'Eyrecae', I presume?" she addressed the Paragon. "Taldir's companion and muscle. Good, good. Now, help Marcella take my equipment to the ship. Be careful, it is very fragile and expensive. None of this...bravura of sideshow strength though."
Her attention drifted to Tryana, who had come in shortly after Eyrecae. Unlike a number of Eldorai the wood elf ranger had encountered in nomad fleet, Yohara did not look disdainful. "And there is also a Vashyada? Ah, yes, there she is. Tryana...good. You are presumably the scout and reconnaissance expert? Excellent. I hope you are well trained in what we might face, we cannot have any liabilities on this mission."
"I am a huntress and a druidess among my people. I can fight, scout and track, without needing any of the technology you sky people cannot do without," Tryana responded, sounding a bit indignant. "I have fought many foes since leaving Yarkul. So if you think me any less capable than your people simply because..."
"You are not an Eldorai?" Yohara interrupted. "Girl, I do not care about which branch of our dysfunctional, scattered family you belong to. All have an equal chance to be ignoramuses, whether they have been raised in a forest or in the most affluent quarter of Santaissa. Not that any of the latter still exist, but I digress." That was...oddly fair.

Before Tryana could give a response, Yohara's attention had been diverted elsewhere. "You there, do be careful with that," she admonished some of the hired help. "The Harmonic Resonator is very delicate. A lot of time and effort went into acquiring it."
"You mean stealing," an Eldorai female dressed in combat armour and with her strong arms crossed threw in. She had long red hair that reached her shoulders and tattoos on her face. Those in the know would recognise them as Illyrian religious symbols. As Tryana would sense, she was a void in the Force.
"Yes, and I would rather not expend time and resources on illicitly procuring another one," Yohara said airily. "Siona, is it? Always nice to see your...group lend a hand. I do hope you remember that this a research and, if possible, a rescue mission, not a chance to go on a detour in order to indulge in reaving and the like?"
"Not much to plunder where we're going, especially if the imperialists bailed with their plunder. Listen, lady, I'm here to find out what happened to my people who got trapped on Kaeshana, alright?" she said, sounding unimpressed. "And I suppose I am also getting paid to keep your research from making you lose your head." This was said rather dismissively. "Or spirits from driving the Sciians mad."

The Harbinger gave Eyrecae a look, as if trying to size her up. Not in a sexual way, in case anyone was wondering. "So, you're the one who just woke up after sleeping like a log for ages," she said sarcastically. Around this point in time Telara showed up in the hangar. The girl was all kitted out in a combat suit, with a blade at her side and two pistols holstered. If she felt any trepidation at the prospect of venturing into a blasted wasteland she had grown up and suffered on, she did her best to hide it. It would not do for her to show weakness, especially not when Kaida would inevitably hear about.
Telara's eyes took in the scene, then fell upon Siona.
"Claw," she said without preamble.
"Needle."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]

Eyrecae was perhaps the definition of easy-going. Very little in the galaxy fazed her, especially since she’d woken up thousands of years after she’d been put to sleep to find literally everything else different.
However, there was something about this blonde Eldorai which she did not appreciate.
“I hear you,” she said with remarkable lack of wordiness for her.

When she emerged she found new people had shown up. Surprisingly in contrast she was not fazed by Siona’s comments in the slightest. Instead she grinned.
“Aye, ‘tis me, the log lady. I am in truth the laziest of all the creatures of the galaxy.” She extended a hand. “Eyrecae. Of you, a Harbinger are you? T’will be useful for those who cannot guard their minds to have you present.”
Yohara looked up from her work for a moment. “Yes, yes, the primeval warrior shall protect us all. It is not reassuring that even in our infancy we were just as conceited as we are now. Shamble aboard, please, not all of our herd has yet arrived.”
Eyrecae sighed. “You will, perhaps, be grateful I am here to save your fragile self from the horrors we might face.”
Yohara did not look up. “Perhaps. I will be more grateful when you stop seeking attention and get on board the ship.”

A last pair of people would enter the hanger from different directions. The first of whom was a red headed Eldorai who moved quickly yet warily into the hanger. She saw Siona and headed in her direction.
“Is everyone assembled? Is it true we are returning to Kaeshana?” Ashana said.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

Telara had found herself a spot in a dark corner of the ship. From here she could observe what was going on, but was out of sight. At least that was what she thought. The Vashyada moved so quietly that Telara barely noticed her. "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you," Tryana. "Can I sit down?
Telara was not sure who she was more annoyed with. "I'm not startled," she said a bit defensively. "It's fine. Not look I own the place. You want something?"
"Not directly. But we seem to have started on the wrong foot. I did not mean to upset you."
"I'm not upset," Telara insisted. "Look, whatever. Going back to that place just is not high on my wish list."
"I understand," Tryana considered this for a moment, then amended. "Well, I cannot claim to know what you are going through or endured. But I understand it must have been hellish. You must be very strong to have survived it."
Telara looked up at her. "Just quick and lucky. Did what I had to do to keep my head on my shoulders after the pigs ran off. So why are you here? Don't you girls keep to forests and all that?"
"I'm an outlaw," she declared, mimicking the words she had told Phylis and Kaida during their first meeting.
That actually made Telara chuckle. "You don't look like one."
"If you were to tell that to the elders, they would resolutely disagree. I questioned them. I wanted to seek out and fight those who wished us harm and see the stars. Whenever I asked about the sky people, I was told they were spirits and demons."
"Sounds stupid."
"I cannot judge too harshly. All this," Tryana drew a circle with her hand, "is new to us. Many elders mean well and the Lady is wise. But I was considered too aggressive. Too passionate. Some believed I was straying from the Light."
"Where I grew up there was one choice: gangs or be at the beck and call of a mistress who cannot even make her own bed, but chastises you with a riding crop any time she feels like it."
Tryana looked equal parts shocked and disgusted. "That is appalling. What a vile woman."
"Your mistresses aren't like that?"
"No...well, we have some bad people and there is strife between clans, but nothing comparable. Did no one try to stop her?"
Telara snorted. "The law was there to serve the bigwigs. Ashira created all her daughters equal...except the poor, it would seem."

In the meantime, a last pair of people had embarked. One of the was a red-maned Eldorai female with the bearing of a warrior. By the standards of her people - and even those of humans - she was strongly-built and muscular. She moved like a predator on a leash. Some of the occupants of the vessel gave her a wide berth, as if concerned her claws might come out.

Siona showed no such fear around her. Ashana was a Sciian and thus the type of person she had become accustomed to see as a foe or a potential risk at any rate. But she had seen beyond that. They had leaned on each other to escape the dark pit. "They believe the imperialists are gone and that the planet has...shifted," she responded. Her tone was a lot softer and gentler, very unlike the one she had earlier. She touched Ashana's arm gently. "It is all so strange. It has the smell of a trick of the spirits about it. But we still have some people on Kaeshana." She looked around. "Some royalist henchwoman is supposed to join us. Sorry, ex-royalist henchwoman. Former Angelii bigshot."

At this moment the ex-royalist henchwoman in question entered the ship. "Get moving. We'll...," whatever words were on her lips died on them the moment she laid eyes upon Ashana. If possible, Kaida looked even paler than normal, which was quite a feat. She wore the expression of someone who had just seen a ghost.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
Eyrecae had been bored and so had gone to listen in to the discussion between Telara and Tryana.
“A revolution to overthrow the ladies and lords might well have been a good move a few centuries ago. In truth, the more I learn of the Eldorai the more they do fill me with horror. For what did they accomplish beside the long decay and decline of their people?”

Still, past was past and the redhead was there. Eyrecae gave her an appreciative glance. It was nice to meet one of her ‘nieces’ with a good physique.
“Good day, I am Eyrecae. You look a fine warrior.”
Ashana glanced at her warily. “Ashana. Hopefully this mission goes well. So many moving parts. Lots of people.”

And then the last person entered. Ashana looked at their shocked face. There was something…familiar…about it. However, whenever she had half remembered thoughts like this from the past she became irritable at the loss she had. She glared.
“What’s wrong, Duchess, you got a problem?” she demanded bluntly, stepping forward.

Eyrecae looked between them curiously. She glanced at Siona to see if an intervention was needed….

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

"It would have done us a whole lot of good if we'd got rid of the whole lot of them ages ago. Turn the palaces into schools, get rid of the bloody tithes and give us leaders we choose ourselves," Telara agreed. She was young, but had been forced to grow up fast. But it had also left her very cynical and damaged.
She sighed. "Too late now. Everyone's scattered. Some are faffing around on Tygara, the rest of us are slaves or cruising around in motley spaceships. Just a few days ago that some lady has declared herself the 'True Star Queen'. Word is she rules out of a freighter."
"You jest surely," Tryana said, looking perplexed. "Even my humble village has more people than her 'Matriarchy'."
"I don't," Telara insisted. "Unfortunately. I suppose it's easy to rule the population of a school bus."
Tryana looked thoughtful. "It would be a cause for levity...if it was not as well. But maybe not being under one ruler will help the Eldorai grow without being inhibited. The Vash have a king and queen, but their power is limited. The clans are very independent."
"Doesn't that make it difficult for you lot to get organised and respond to threats? And you got to have strife over resources." Telara threw in.
"It does sometimes...yes," Tryana admitted after a moment. "And we do have those. It can get bloody. But we are all so spread out that no one ruler can impose themselves on everyone and be a tyrant. I think our people both have lessons to learn - just different ones."

While Tryana and Telara had their chat, Kaida was not having a good day. The redhead's words snapped her out of her paralysis. "You're...you're d-dead," she managed to say. She was struggling to form words.
"As you can see, she is not, Angelii," Siona said coolly. This interloper was irritating her friend and this made her angry. "Is she bothering you, Ashana?" she placed a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder.
"Stay out of this," Kaida snapped caustically. She took a step closer, moving with unusual hesitation. "Lavina...what...what happened to you? Where were you?"

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]

Lavina

Ashana glared, now getting angry, partly due to uncomfortable half memories, but mostly because this woman was not giving her the respect she thought she deserved/
“Listen, Angelii, I don’t know who you are, so you can back off right now. My name is Ashana, and I think you got me confused with someone else. Where I am is right here on this ship, let’s go.”
She turned her back on Kaida, stalking past Eyrecae with Siona following.

Eyrecae was left with Kaida. She raised an eyebrow.
“A case of mistaken identity mayhap?” Eyrecae asked curiously. “Though…there was in truth a certain resemblance…”
It was unclear whether Eyrecae had been filled in about Kaida’s sister, what with the icy Eldorai being rather short on handing out personal information.

Meanwhile Yohara walked out to where the two younger members were discussing matters.
“One would hope that there is a comfortable middle ground somewhere between the stifling oppression of the Matriarchy and the benign anarchism of the Vashyada. Regardless, let us cease the chitter-chatter and get moving, people. We have a destination, and we have all our passengers. Let’s get going.”
She clearly believed she was in charge.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

"I am not mistaken. That's my sister," Kaida insisted angrily. Her hands were balled into fists. She had to force herself not to run after this 'Ashana'. "She got lost...around the time people were raptured into the Nether. Searched everywhere. Thought she was dead."

"I did not know Taldir had a sister," Tryana said quietly.
"I did not know she had emotions," Telara commented. Seeing Kaida have an emotional reaction to anything was...disconcerting. "Or family." The Vashyada gave her a look. "What? It is pretty plausible that she rose from an ice block as a fully formed Icicle."

By now Kaida had managed to regain her composure, such as it was. It was around the time Yohara showed up. "I'm in command in the field," she stated flatly. "Primary objective is to investigate Kaeshana's apparent shifting, secondary is to look for survivors. Then report back. If we meet overwhelming resistance, we pull out."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
“In this galaxy of wonders and mysteries there might be in truth many explanations…” Eyrecae began. It seemed that Kaida was having even less capacity for chatting than usual and so Eyrecae shrugged. She looked at Tryana and Telera who were sort of the Greek chorus of this display.
“’Tis very curious, think you not? Come, let us observe the festivities!”

Yohara was consulting a datapad and glanced up.
“Yes, yes, so it would seem, Taldir. I had hoped the lack of malelings on this expedition would reduce the amount of ‘authority’ measuring, but seemingly not. Whoever wishes to co-pilot with me and has the experience to do so, may join me on the bridge.”

With that she turned and headed for the cockpit before anyone could challenge her assertion of pilot status.

Eyrecae shook her head and walked over to the acceleration chairs where the others were gathered. She gave a smile to Ashana who did not look as sunnily disposed. Indeed Tryana at least shied away from the fierce Eldorai and took the chair furthest from. Eyrecae had no such qualms and sat on the other side of Ashana from Siona.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

"Let's get going," Kaida grunted. A look of profound irritation crossed her face when the bookworm usurped the pilot role. It took some effort to regain her icy composure. The ice was safe. Emotions were messy. They led to sloppiness. Sloppiness led to death. Without a further word, she headed to the cockpit and took the co-pilot seat. At least she could keep the bookworm from screwing up that way.

Siona watched her pass by. Her expression showed disdainful. "Royalist lapdog," she muttered. The Angelii was not her boss. She would listen to her suggestions and take them into account in order to do what was best for the group, but that was it. If she showed signs of corruption, she would take her down. Ideally non-lethally...but that was the ideal.

She turned her gaze to Ashana. "We beat hell, Ash. We can beat whatever the homeworld throws at us. Or whatever deluded pretentions an Angelii has," she said. She did not think it would cheer her companion up, but she had to try at least! For their part, Tryana and Telaa just took their seats. They ended up seated alongside each other, which was probably deliberate. Tryana looked a bit anxious when the starship shot into space, and mumbled a quiet prayer to the spirits.

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
Eyrecae leaned across to Siona. “Now, now, she’s no Royalist lapdog anymore. If, in truth, she is any lapdog it is of the Shadow Knights.”

“She is quite convinced though you are her sister. I do see a slight resemblance, but without a genetics test it might be hard to prove one way or the other.”

She seemed happy to chat away happily. Her naturally gregarious nature contrasting with the dour older elves and more reticent younger ones.

In the cockpit meanwhile Yohara activated the controls with practiced control.
“I have entered the co-ordinates. I am having us drop out in the outer system to complete an over-disk approach of the Asur system,” she said briskly.
“I doubt there are any great perils, but I do not want any surprises as this is not a warship.”

In one sense Kaida might approve – there was no small talk or chit-chat.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

((You wanna bot Ashana since she was originally yours?))

She's a Sciian, Siona thought. And a royalist butcher. "Tell that to those of us she killed. Or our sisters and brothers in Santaissa who just wanted to live and get off Kaeshana," she responded. "But had to die because aristos and Firemane lackeys came first." Her features hardened when Eyrecae addressed Ashana. The primeval Eldorai was just being friendly, but after the earlier episode Siona did not see it that way. "Leave her. She's been through a lot, and she doesn't need some Angelii barging in."

Meanwhile, Kaida was silent in the cockpit. A thousand thoughts were running through her mind. Most of them related to the woman she just knew was Lavina. Her jaw tightened, and she concentrated on playing co-pilot. The mission took priority over personal feelings. It always did. At least Yohara stayed focused instead of indulging in small talk.

Telara had picked up on Tryana's quiet chanting. "What are you doing?"
Tryana glanced at her. "Praying," she said, as if it were obvious.
The young Eldorai scoffed. "No point in doing that. In case you haven't noticed, Ashira's not listening. Too busy enjoying the delights of her personal heaven to care about her children. If she ever existed."
"Given all the misfortune your people have endured...that seems likely," Tryana conceded. "But I do not pray to her. I pray to the spirits, the sun, the moon and the Vash for our safe deliverance."
"And what makes you think they're listening? And not just having a good laugh in the clouds about how foolish people are for thinking they give a damn."
"I just...I just do. It gives me hope when things are at their darkest. Sometimes I've struggled," she admitted. "But when many of our people were lost in the void, the Lady Tylania awoke and called upon the spirits to guide them back. And return they did. There are so many terrible and wondrous things in the universe. Things I'd have never thought possible. In a world of metal sky-ships, swords of light and weapons that can lay waste to entire worlds, it is comforting that there is something out there watching over you."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
Eyrecae seemed unruffled. “I am, in truth, no medium or clairvoyant. Merely I am curious about the fervour she ascribes to ‘Lavina’.”

“I don’t know who Lavina is. I…don’t remember…no. No, I am who I am. Let her have her delusions. I am Ashana, and I don’t want to talk about this anymore, got it?”

“I understand.” Eyrecae leaned back and started to sleep. She snored. Loudly. Despite the jostling and noise she was out like a light.

Time passed. Once they were safely in hyperspace Yohara unbuckled and stood. She glanced at Kaida, raised an eyebrow, then walked back into the main hold.

“Nine standard hours to our new destination, and then some sublight cruising. If any of you wish to make yourselves useful you can assist in the unpacking of the harmonic resonator and the other equipment. Do try not to break anything? Oh, I see our gallant champion is asleep already…good.”

And then she was gone, down into the hold.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

One by one, the various elves aboard the ship filed out to pursue whichever tasks they deemed an appropriate use of their time. The 'gallant champion' was alone. However, this state of affairs did not last for long. The same applied to her slumber and the ungodly amount of noise she was generating during it.

For she was suddenly dosed with cold water. As a matter of fact, cold was inadequate word to describe it. It was downright icy. Kaida stood above her, looking...very frosty. In other words, the usual. "Stop lazing around."

 

[Eyrecae Alzari]

[member="Kaida Taldir"]
Eyrecae jerked awake, her fists clenching. She looked at Kaida and actually seemed irritated, which was quite rare for her.
“You are, without a doubt, the most unfun person in the galaxy,” Eyrecae grumbled. She shook herself off like a dog and stood.
“’Twas having a pleasant dream too, now to return to this monotony. I dare say there will be much to do on Kaeshana’s blasted surface which we shall need rest for.”
She wandered off, pointedly away from Kaida and the rest of the crew to organise equipment…or something.

Meanwhile Yohara was finding exquisite new ways to tell people they were doing things wrong.
“No, not like that! I sometimes wish Ashira and her pantheon were real so I could implore them for people with better attention spans! Ashana, interface with the seventh pin, not the eighth! You don’t want us all to explode, do you?”
“I wish you would,” Ashana growled under her breath.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing,” the feral Eldorai growled.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Eyrecae Alzari"]

The expression on Kaida's face was predictably sympathetic. She had never been accused of being particularly empathic. She was a hard woman forged by hard, unforgiving times and sloth vexed. "We're not here for fun, we're here to do your jobs," she said flatly. Eyrecae stomped off and Kaida found herself running into Siona in what passed for the armoury of the vessel. The former Angelii suppressed a curse and started cleaning guns. For a while, there was silence, but she felt the woman's eyes were on her. After some time, she got fed up.

"Something wrong, Harbinger?"
"A few things, Angelii," Siona retorted. Coming from her, the last word sounded like an insult "Ashana's my friend. I had to show her how to function again after she went through hell - literally. Whoever she is, she doesn't need some Angelii barging in and messing up her life again."
"I find it strange that a Harbinger would call a Sciian a friend. You force the 'treatment' on your own children if they are born with Sciia," Kaida responded coldly.
"Less cruel than letting them be cursed to be slaves to the spirits. Some can resist them, many can't."
"And I suppose she's your project."
"She's my friend," Siona corrected her angrily. Putting the gun she was cleaning down, she got close to Kaida. The frosty ex-Angelii did not flinch though when the Harbinger invaded her personal space.
"And my sister. Is that what you're afraid of? That she's not just the sister to a former Angelii, but a former Angelii herself?"
"And if she is, that begs the question why you didn't search for her. Too busy putting down fellow Eldorai for nobles and medals?" Siona asked acidly. "Until they stopped throwing medals and titles at you."
Kaida's eyes narrowed. "You don't get to judge me. None of you do. I did my duty. What has your cult done? Nothing but reave and pillage those fellow Eldorai you pretend to be so worried about. You made the motherland bleed."
"The motherland cast us out for not licking the Tyrant's boots. Not that a tin soldier like you would know anything about that. We are what we are, and we were there when She needed us. Were you?"
Before Kaida could make a predictably caustic response, Tryana showed up. "Er, ma'am, could use some help with the gear," she said awkwardly. She looked between the two, feeling uncomfortable. "Unless this is a bad time."
"No, it's fine," Kaida grunted.
"We get to work together. What fun," Siona muttered sarcastically.
When the Harbinger passed her, Kaida grabbed her by the arm. "We're working together for this mission because our people's lives are at stake, but if you betray me or hurt my sister, I will end you."
Siona's eyes were cold. "Likewise, and you'd never see me coming," her claws had retracted. They were long and very sharp. She roughly removed Kaida's hand from her arm and walked past her. Without a further word, the two went to work. Presumably the moment for a time skip was coming.