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Post by Ylanne on Jun 11, 2020 8:09:48 GMT -6
"And to think, I had just started to get used to this place," said Qahtani, gathered with the others in the small hangar at Têmardo. "It'll be a nice change to eat something that someone else killed instead of me," she added. Grateful though she'd been for the simplicity and base physicality of the hunt, she'd been running out of creative ways to prepare oph'wii and falryth and had started to feel bad for the local wildlife populations anyhow. Between the human team, and Hope all on her own, they'd probably made a noticeable dent in the wildlife population over the last few months. And now that the Erutin Empire was starting to breathe down Terra's neck, Qahtani knew that she'd be needed at Headquarters.
Wardah, too, had joined the group at least to say goodbye, and stood slightly to the side while Jahan loaded up the bags they'd brought with them when they'd first arrived. "Tell HQ to send something else to eat out here," she said. "Or at least send little Kimmie back to conjure up something worth eating. Your mad scientist here ate all my organic groceries."
"Everyone knows, you can't have sacrificial meat without good organic veggies," said Jo, grinning as she too tossed bags one by one into the cargo hold of the lightflyer. "Besides. I haven't had anyone to try out my new concoctions on yet."
"I cannot wait to be a galaxy away from you," Taylor grumbled, climbing into the lightflyer without so much as another word to any of them.
"So, the spaceport in Wing City?" said Qahtani. "We'll... we'll make it a route with detours. Just to be safe."
"Good," said Jahan. "I like the sound of a plan that involves avoiding untimely death right after a couple months of what I maintain was essentially imprisonment."
"If the TIB wanted to imprison you, you'd be buried in a hole so deep, you wouldn't even be able to remember when the last time you saw day was," Wardah snickered.
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Post by demikara on Jun 12, 2020 11:07:06 GMT -6
"Mmm. I'll be back on nutrient bars in space. That's not nearly as good as fresh killed meat." But it provided everything she needed to not starve, so there was that at least. Hope's things were already packed and her goggles were back on her head pushed up more like a headband than actual goggles. "But I'm all healed and my new ship is waiting for me and ready to go wherever I want." And that was a thrilling situation to be in. She already had a few planets in mind to explore settling down in. Or at least declaring them to be her home port.
She didn't have plans to actually settle down on a planet any time soon. She had the ship to be her home after all. "Thanks for being such a good host while I healed up!" It had been boring as hell, but at least it hadn't been entirely on her own. Even if she hadn't seen the light of day in way too long. Or at least, been outside in way too long.
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Post by Ylanne on Jun 12, 2020 12:06:13 GMT -6
"Don't worry about it," said Wardah, waving. "It's what we're here for." That and spying on nearly every aspect of Terra's cable, fiber-optic, radio, and other signals comprising the entire planetary communications networks. But that work was far too highly classified for even half the staff actually assigned at Têmardo to know about.
"Besides, when the old woman says someone is a guest, she means it," Qahtani said. They all took that responsibility to be equally as important as their duties to defend and protect Terra. Qahtani watched as Jo and Jahan loaded their things up next. She knew Wardah would be careful to quadruple check that none of their guests had left any parting gifts - though the design of the place would go a long way in its own to prevent any interference.
Once the mercenaries were all aboard, only Qahtani and Hope were left. "You look a bit more like me, now," Qahtani remarked, comparing their skin tones with her eyes. "I like that." She waved to Wardah. "All set?" Qahtani gestured to the boarding door.
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Post by demikara on Jun 12, 2020 13:56:24 GMT -6
Hope boarded and grinned. "I figured staying pale would be a bad idea." She admitted and took her seat. "Hey can I ask something? Why's everyone so eager to still listen to the former director? She's not in charge any more, but everyone acts like she still is." It had to drive the current director insane. The former one had been able to quickly and discretely organize this entire thing and have it occur in a hidden location that she knew the TIB owned. It was, at best, peculiar and she kind of wanted to know how the old woman had all that power, even as she sat in a jail cell.
Assuming she was still in the cell and hadn't died after all. It was a hell of a place to be stuck when you still have enemies. She was damn near a sitting fuck to anyone who cared to break into the jail at all.
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Post by Ylanne on Jun 12, 2020 15:40:35 GMT -6
"Well, I for one trust what she has to say," said Qahtani. "And I respect her immensely. Most of us in the Bureau do. It's hard to change that overnight, and harder for people outside the Bureau to force that change and make it stick." Qahtani secured her harness, as Jahan passed back through the lightflyer, lips pressed tightly together. He grabbed the door, shutting it without further words of farewell to Wardah waiting outside, and checking the seals.
"It's probably because she'll kill anyone who says no," said Jo, bright as ever. "I bet she has special ways of ending the lives of people who betray her. I wonder how creative she's willing to get."
"Please drop me into the nearest open volcano," Taylor said to Jahan. "Preferably one already spewing lava." This time, she'd intentionally sat as far away as possible from Jo.
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Post by demikara on Jun 12, 2020 15:51:35 GMT -6
"Spy masters can get pretty creative." Hope admitted cheerfully. "It's a question of motive though. What would she get out of being creative in killing you? After so many death, satisfaction just isn't a thing." That was the simple truth. After ordering death, however reluctantly, even those who betrayed her had only been met with a grim satisfaction that the issue was over with, not that the person was dead. She made certain she was secured appropriately. She was close to freedom. She didn't want to end up in trouble this late in the game.
"I hope my agents remember me fondly at least. I tried to make sure they would be safe, when I paid for the surgery." She wasn't about to say how she had done that in front of Jo and Taylor. But she had been careful. Her agents locations would be safe, or at least the exact details of who they were. Terra probably wouldn't do more than imprison them, but she hadn't wanted to risk it too much.
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Post by Ylanne on Jun 12, 2020 16:22:14 GMT -6
"I think they'll know, and they'll appreciate it," said Qahtani. Most nearly everyone at the TIB shared that confidence, and it was to the old woman's credit that she'd been able to inspire it. Qahtani had had an inkling of what had happened over half a century ago, but she hadn't asked. Few had tried. "And we're not cruel, or at least, I don't think of anyone here that way."
"That's really a shame," said Jo, shaking her head. "Cruelty breeds creativity. Creativity is well suited for cruelty. You should have fun sometimes. I bet some of your colleagues do, and then they just don't tell you about it." She giggled. "I can bet what some of them really get up to when dealing with traitors ... or prisoners."
"I'd like to think we still have some honor," Qahtani said.
"Now that's a real laugh," said Taylor, rolling her eyes. "Honor. Among spies. Ha."
"Pfft. Honor's a silly concept," Jo said. "Most people, if they're really, truly honest with themselves, just like power. People like to have power. People like to be in power. Being powerful is fun. People are only honorable if it serves their own interests, and only temporarily even then."
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Post by demikara on Jun 15, 2020 7:41:05 GMT -6
"Terra is a softer nation than the erutin empire. It's a good thing." Even if her spies were caught, they wouldn't be tortured, not here. Their prisons, too, were gentler places. Hope wasn't too worried, if they were caught, but she still acted to shield them. That much had been necessary. Better they be free than captured after all.
She smiled at Jo. "And more than just cruelty sparks creativity." Though some especially cruel people were especially creative. That much was all too true.
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Post by Ylanne on Jun 15, 2020 8:30:16 GMT -6
"Well, I'm glad we've had the chance to get to know each other a bit," Qahtani said. "I wish you the best of luck in your new life. God knows you'll need it. And at least you'll be far from New Dev Eru." The wrath of the empire would be potent and persistent, but it seemed Hope had more than a fair chance of escaping it. Perhaps permanently.
Jahan took them through another circuitous route, the better to avoid potential detection, swooping gracefully through the valleys and mountains until eventually meandering back toward the outskirts of the city. The trip should have taken no more than an hour at maximum speed, but with the deliberate anti-surveillance route, it took them closer to three. By the time they arrived, it was nearly noon. Jahan docked in a small private hangar long rumored to belong to one of the major weapons manufacturers, the lightflyer itself entirely shielded from view. A fugitive could easily slip from the hangar into the main concourse outside it, instantly surrounded by hundreds and almost immediately anonymous. It was as good a place as any to start a new life. Jahan knew. He'd been through the process before.
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Post by demikara on Jun 23, 2020 8:51:08 GMT -6
Hope unbuckled and exited the lightflyer, lingering just a second to say her goodbyes. "I hope you'll forgive me if I'm not in contact. I have a new life to start after all. But it was good spending time with you. Stay safe." The field could be pretty dangerous after all. With that, Hope disappeared out the hanger and into the crowd. The erutin blended in with the crowd rapidly and headed to the private shipyard section of the space port.
It was time to pick up her ship after all. She found herself in front of the hanger mentioned in the correspondence she had set up and grinned as she unlocked the door with a key pulled from her goggles. She'd have to figure out a new way to store things, wouldn't she? The goggles were a Traveler special after all. A plain black ship was waiting for her and she headed straight to it. She had time to get settled in her new home before taking off after all.
Besides, not taking off immediately would put a bit of distance if she had somehow been recognized. Hope boarded her ship and smiled, looking around it. It was small, but it was hers and it was home. Just enough room for her, some cargo, and some passengers. The Starlight was ready to go.
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Post by demikara on Aug 16, 2020 10:43:08 GMT -6
The problem with having an intelligence agency is that sometimes you had to do things yourself. The investigation into Hope’s disappearance so far led to the idea that the other had been taken when away from her home. Her constant paranoia meant she never unpacked, so the home had been its usual state of lived in but mostly tidy that Wing had been familiar with during the revolution. Despite her years living on ships of some sort or another, Hope had never managed to level of clean that Wing had come to expect from other travelers and astronauts. A definite lack of discipline, but Hope was not exactly disciplined, so the lack was almost expected.
She had been an excellent head of intelligence though. Well trained, and able to sort thorough things quickly and efficiently. They had known of the charges Drulovic had been facing long before Drulovic had. It had been viewed as an opportunity. Hope had stepped in to take advantage of it, over top agents who had less experience with Terrans and they’re tricky ways. And now she was missing and the last person of record of any sort who had seen her was Arianne Drulovic.
Wing was hardly alone when she took over Amanda’s position in the prison, this time just before lunch. She had a guard with her wherever she went. A traveler had snuck her in and would be serving as her personal guard, currently shifted to the shape of a mouse and sticking close to her, largely unnoticed. It wasn’t a perfect solution but she was sure she’d be fine here.
It was a prison. If something happened, her guard would get her to safety and that was the important part.
She found the former director first, though she consented to the gentle prod to at least grab food so it looked more like she was actually the Terran she was imitating. Terran food was delicious of course, but this was hardly what she would call Terran food. Calling it food in general was generous as far as she was concerned. She took a seat next to the director, not even bothering to try and imitate Amanda’s body language.
She sat like every inch the empress she was. There was no point in hiding. The director was meant to be a sharp woman, though right now she looked particularly frail. Still, her mind, at least, wasn’t reported as having gone so Wing would treat her like she still had a head under all those scars.
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Post by Ylanne on Aug 16, 2020 11:02:27 GMT -6
The soup, if you could call it that, was little more than thin broth minimally flavored with a few odd bits of celery and onion that probably was a day or two past its reasonably edible lifespan. A few bits of carrot, softened only due to thorough overcooking, bobbed on the surface, and what might have once been meat rested at the bottom of the bowl. Of all the items on the tray in front of the old woman, the soup was one of only two that she thought she might be able to manage. That and the two slices of overly processed white bread, flimsy and entirely unattractive. The half-baked, half-burned meat/vegetable casserole with no actually identifiable meat or vegetables was too hard, as was the barely not spoiled fruit beside it. Drulović was used to what passed for food here by now, though, and she poked at the floating carrots with her spoon.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Kampf," said Drulović mildly, with hardly a glance over at the Empress Wing. "I'd suggest you at least try the apple or perhaps the tea, though it's a pitiful excuse for anything halfway decent. It'd seem a bit suspicious if you didn't touch the tray at all." She spooned some of the soup into her mouth, her hand trembling slightly. She'd been better able to ensure she could eat without spilling or dropping too much of it the last few weeks, though much of the food was still too difficult for her to manage. She could now walk at least two rounds around the yard, slowly, and with the help of the promised cane she'd finally gotten. Any more was too tiring.
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Post by demikara on Aug 16, 2020 11:13:53 GMT -6
"It's empress Kampf." She corrected mildly. "Or at the very least Mrs. I was married you know, until my poor Josef died." It was said with a thread of sorrow. He had been a fun husband. Too bad he had started to get ideas that didn't mesh well with hers. Either way, they had a lovely daughter together and sweet Vicky still mourned her father deeply. The imperial princess had no clue the truth behind her father's death and it was for the best. Victoria was more sensitive than either of her parents. She was a tad sheltered, for all that she had seen some of the worst faces of the empire as part of her education.
Children could be tricky. Wing still wasn't convinced that having sweet Vicky was anything but a danger to her own throne. But she was a symbol of the unity of the empire and it worked out well. Even if she had somehow been born a single child. An almost unheard of birth for an erutin, but she was a hybrid. She tried some of the tepid soup and wrinkled her nose. "What on earth are they trying to serve you?" How disgusting. She sipped at it, though not thrilled to do so. The things she did to maintain some semblance of a cover. "I hope you understand why I couldn't come through official channels, of course."
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Post by Ylanne on Aug 16, 2020 11:30:34 GMT -6
"And I'm sure you were appropriately mournful after Mr. Kampf's death," said Drulović, sipping more at the soup and then setting the spoon beside the small bowl. She grabbed one of the slices of bread, careful to keep it gripped between her thumb and one of her remaining fingers, and gently tore a piece from the middle. She dipped it into the soup, and then nibbled at it. "You'll have to accept my apologies - were you a guest in my home, I can assure you I'd have prepared something for you to enjoy that has an actual texture and flavor. What passes for food here is rather a disappointment." The old woman shrugged lightly, though. "I don't suppose you came all this way for a pleasant midday jaunt, though I'm afraid I'm like to be of little use to you. There are hardly any official channels left to be had, as I'm sure you know I no longer work for my government. It's a shame, really." The corner of her lips turned upward in a crooked smirk - her face had been smashed and broken too many times to be even or symmetrical anymore. Her eyes, though, had not shifted or changed to indicate any particular feelings about this uninvited encounter at all. Of course, Drulović had known this meeting, or one much like it, would be inevitable. It was at least a break in the monotony of her days here, though. They stretched into seemingly endless yawns of time, one sunrise entirely indistinguishable from the next. Only the regular counts seemed to help mark time, and even those offered little to stimulate the mind. For all its reputation as a lawless, chaotic world, dramatic escapes from this Terran prison were relatively few and far between.
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Post by demikara on Aug 16, 2020 11:37:18 GMT -6
"Of course. He was dear to me. I still can't imagine marrying again, not so soon after my loss." And not until she found another nation to promptly black widow her was to being in charge of. It worked well. "Poor Vicky is still so distraught as well. But I must remain a shining ray for my empire, so they know not to sink into sorrow." Of course. "And I'm sure you've caught wind, even in this facility that my dear friend Hope is currently missing. Our records indicate that you are the last person who had face to face contact with her." Which was unusual enough to be remarked on. "She had been coming to prepare my home away from home on Terra for me, and wasn't there when I arrived. This was quite a disappointment of course, and no one has seen her since you, from everything we've looked into."
Wing took a bite of the fruit and wrinkled her nose. "Terra has much better food available than this. I suppose this is part of the punishment though."
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