Surrender? Yeah, right.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Malriiko's eyebrow twitched, but aside from that her face remained smooth and placid. "Call me Malriiko, Consul," she interjected calmly but firmly, keeping her annoyance carefully hidden. Speaking to her like a child, hm? Was it a jab at her height or because she was a mage and mages were only good for slavery? Disgusting. She didn't like his tone; it was disrepectful at best and, while she didn't want to raise a fuss about trivial matters like names and all when there were lives at stake, she also knew how important it was not to let the little things slide. She was in charge here and she was not going to have her authority disrespected.

That also meant ignoring his tone. Let him speak like he was talking to a child. She would remain the "adult" one here by showing him the proper respect and using her "big girl" voice the whole time. Besides, he sounded kind of ridiculous like that, anyway. She was quiet as he spoke, watching him intently as he made his proposition. It sounded good. In fact, it sounded way too good to be true, and now she was just waiting for him to smack her with the conditions. For him to be offering up all that...yeah, it had to come with one hell of a price tag.

They were certainly going to some insane lengths to help, if what he said was even true. A blockade? Mal laced her fingers together and narrowed her eyes, waiting for him to get to the part that really mattered, noting the change in his expression. Eugh. Yeah, she knew that look, all right...

Unfortunately for Nacrus, any effect that tactic might have had was lost when he opened his mouth, and Mal could have burst out laughing right then. All right, trade or money she could expect, aid and support she could expect, helping them fight Aedolis she could expect, but...a representative? In a high ranking position? From Edanith? The slavers? Sure, she'd agreed to hear his proposal out of desperation--and because he'd sort of appeared right there in his big fucking ship and hey, if he wanted to be diplomatic, why not, what'd they have to lose all things considered?--but this?

The corner of Malriiko's lip twitched into a half smile. "Well. That doesn't sound so--"

That was when the doors slid open, and Mal froze and tensed. A squadron leader.

Before her mind could even register just how horribly awkward this was likely about to become and what horrid timing the guy had, the pilot ripped off his helmet, and after that, Mal only had time enough to recognize his face and hear warning bells go off in her head before he opened his mouth and...

Douchebag slave traders?! Oh hell no!

It took every bit of willpower not to groan loudly and introduce her head to the table, and even more willpower not to want to do it a second time when, finally, finally he looked around and saw that no, she wasn't the only one in the room. Awfuck. Instead, she just stared at him, gave a tense smile, and looked quickly to Nacrus, but all he did was wave and say hello. Mal let her breath out on a low, quiet sigh, then pointed to the door Riot had just entered through. "Riot, would you please step outside? I'd like to have a word with you after the meeting."

Her eyes narrowed a little, expression stern, but inside she wasn't without sympathy. His reaction was completely understandable and completely appropriate, even if it came at a thoroughly inappropriate time. If she were a fighter pilot and not a Captain meeting with a leader, she would have said something close to that, no doubt, and she knew his opinion very likely reflected that of the majority--or so she would hope. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Regardless of what he might think, she had no intention of scolding him this time.

[Tally]

Riot's head snapped toward the older guy when he spoke.  This would be the consul, maybe yes?  Ah shoot, what was his name?  Nacroid?  Narcnarc?  Something like that.  Like he could be bothered to remember the name of every stuffy, arrogant politician Edanith farted out.  Pah.  This guy didn't even look that impressive.  Probably wasn't worth nothin' without his pet mages.  Good thing he had them here, all things considered.  Had to be more than a few Libra soldiers who'd like to introduce the good consul to the business end of a plasma gun.  

He made a face then put his hand out with the palm facing the consul in a talk-to-the-hand gesture.  "Tch.  Yeah, y'know what?  I was so, like, not even talking to you all right?  So why don't you turn yourself back around and mind your own business there, chief?"

He gave the Captain's command the consideration it deserved then decided to ignore it.  Even though being around these mage slaves made him all squirmy, even though he couldn't stop running his eyes over them, stealing looks at their skull bands, even though being in the same general vicinity with these people made him feel diseased with their corruption, he wasn't gonna be put off that easily.  Not even by the Captain.

"Yeah, well."  All this time he'd been slapping his helmet lightly against his leg over and over.  It was a fidgety movement, something to channel his nervous energy into.  "I'd like to have a word with you, Captain, if you would, before you make any kind of decision."

Any kind of stupid decision.

"There's something you should know, sir," he added.  "So you can, uh, make an informed decision or whatever."  He retreated to the doorway and motioned her over, to step outside with him for just a minute.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Malriiko did groan when Riot did...did...that hand thing to the bloody consul, but she at least had the restraint not to palm her face or sink her head into her hands—or worse yet, snicker. She quickly cleared her throat to try and cover up the noise, closed her eyes for a moment or two to regain her composure so she didn't end up snapping at him when she opened her mouth, and then finally opened her eyes again. She felt torn between frustrated and amused, because come on, even she could admit seeing a Squadron leader act like a school girl was pretty funny—when you weren't in a meeting that could very well determine the fate of how many lives?

Stupid, stupid, stupid idiotic foolish—!

She kept her venting in her head, though some of her aggitation leaked into her limbs as she tapped her index finger restlessly against the tabletop and raised her eyebrows at the pilot. Talk to her now, hmm? Oh really? There was a brief pause before she gave a small nod and rose smoothly from her seat. "Yes, actually, I think that would be for the best, Mr. Delacroix," she said, pushing her seat back in and stepping around the table to follow after Riot.

"Excuse me, consul. I'll be only a minute."

The doors slid shut behind her once she was outside, and she wasted no time in grabbing Riot's arm and pulling him aside so he could walk with her. If they were going to talk, she wasn't going to take any chances by doing it near the conference room doors. Eavesdroppers and all. "This had better be damned important, Delacroix, to walk in there acting like an absolute imbecile during a diplomatic meeting with the godsforsaken consul of Edanith who, if you haven't noticed, has a bloody warship with its nose practically buried up our arses right now, which really is the last thing we need with Aedolis and its lizards on the way," she hissed, keeping her voice low.

"As much as I admire the brass balls it takes to outright diss that sleaze during such a precarious and delicate situation—Delacroix, you looked like a girl. What do you think our enemies are going to think when they see a grown Squadron leader, representative of and responsible for a chunk of our forces, flipping his wrist like a teenage girl? They're going to think we're pansies, Delacroix, that's what. Next time, one, knock, two, ask to speak to me without insulting the people I'm trying to make sure aren't going to try and kill us, and three..." She made a half-hearted hand gesture, groping for what the third thing was.

"None of this stuff," Mal finished, letting her hand drop back to her side.

She took a deep breath, feeling infinitely better with that finally out of her system, then ran a hand through her hair. "Alright. I'm done. So, out with it. What's up?"

[Rhi-Rhi]

Miyurin had been as silent as the other mages throughout the meeting, and she remained quiet even when a man burst into the room, though it did make her jump. Still, she didn't pay him any special attention; she'd been instructed to keep a watch on the captain to make sure she wasn't lying.

At least, that's what it probably looked like.

In truth, she was very interested in that pilot, or at least where he'd come from and what he'd said. The doors had opened for him. They weren't locked like she'd assumed. It took a great deal of willpower not to figit, but she managed to squash the urge and just shifted her weight from one leg to the other and made sure she was still watching the captain. Doucebag slave traders, huh? She didn't know what "doucebag" meant, though she could deduce from the context that it was an insult, but it was the rest of the sentence that mattered. It made her remember where exactly they were and what it meant. She'd overheard fellow mages and other Mordecai talking about the Libra—this must be it—and about how mages were free here. What that pilot said only reinforced it.

Who knew when she'd get another chance like this.

She waited a few minutes after the captain and the pilot had walked out the door, outwardly relaxed though anyone who was actually looking at her might have seen her muscles tense. Luckily, she was just one mage of many and mages were to remain in the background anyway, right? That would serve to her advantage here, especially since Havaror had made her remain in the back of the room.

Close to the door.

She went from standing to running in a matter of seconds, lunging for the doors, which slid open as she'd hoped. The moment she stepped out into the hall, she saw the captain and pilot walking off to the right, so she pivoted on her heel and took off left down the hall, silently wishing she wasn't stuck in this human body with all her magic repressed by that damned thing embedded in her skull. All she had to rely on now was speed, though she knew she was at a disadvantage here. She didn't know where she was going, and considering what she knew of politics, she didn't even know if the Librans would even accept her.

Even if she got away from the Mordecai, they might just drag her right back anyway. She didn't care, though. The least she could do was embarrass the hell out of her captors, since that was the only weapon she had right now.

[Anonymous]

The air was rather stuffy wasn't it? All these people here, negotiation, delegating, and the only thing that he had to do really was just stand here and give a signal when the Captain lied. He honestly could be doing so much more! He could be helping to prepare for the attack, setting up choke hold positions that would be hard for the Aedolis military to take over. No doubt they would destroy the station's defences rather quickly, the guns lined about the outside or what have you, but the main fighting would be in the hallways. Havaror could envision ambush tactics from rooms, even going so much to laying down mines, surprise trip wires, and just anything to confuse the other side.

Not to mention blaster fire.

When the youth burst suddenly through the conference room, Havaror managed to basically show the restraint of a God really. The only movement from him was to his side, to one of the pistols on his belt. He didn't draw it, he just rested his hand on it comfortably really. If need be, he could pull it out and shoot the man, but that was really until he found out the man belonged there. Well. He didn't belong there, but he was part of the Libra crew it seemed.

His hand moved back to cross over his chest as he kept silent. Whatever. Let the man be then. Nacrus seemed to be able to handle it, and he was actually surprised he hadn't ordered them to open fire on him. He wasn't being very polite now was he? He didn't much care for that. After all, they were coming here to help them weren't they? Sure it was a stretch for everyone to do this wasn't it?

When the loud youth and the captain left, Havaror took this time to approach Nacrus and give him a slight update. "Haven't been lying yet sir. I don't like it though. Everyone is walking on a razor's edge, we're all scared that we're going to betray each other. I don't like it." If only they weren't openly er...magey? Everyone wouldn't be on so much of an edge. Unfortunately the old term "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" doesn't work out, as the enemy of the enemy was also an enemy.

Strange way that worked out.

That was when there was a sudden commotion. Miyurin. Havaror let out a short curse as he saw the creature head for the door at an alarming rate. Apparently she figured out how to open it, no doubt by watching it being opened several times. Ugh. Automatic doors too, they just opened right for her. "Sir, pardon me. She gets a little...antsy." Havaror rubbed the back of his neck before he headed straight for the door. With it open he rushed out after the woman. He was like a charging bull after the woman, but was careful not to knock over the captain and that young pilot fellow, though they were on the right and she had gone left.

His hand had unbuttoned the gun's holster at his side, but he had yet to draw the weapon. He was hoping he wouldn't need to use it, he would get in a lot of trouble for shooting her. Not only from Narcus, but from Miyu as well...yeah, it wouldn't go over very well no doubt. He could knock her down, he just had to wait for the right moment. He had the stamina, he could chase her all about, but she was...er...magical after all.

He would have to take her down.

Perhaps tackle her, but that might hurt her.

He was a rather big person after all, very heavy, and she was fragile, small, easily crushed really. Yeah. Maybe not as bad as Captain Mal...oh she would be crushed quickly. Well, if he ever needed to take her out he could just throw himself on her. Ahem. He was getting sidetracked by his own thoughts. He almost didn't see her weaving around people. They simply got out of his way, they feared getting run down, and he wasn't going to stop to help people up. Oh no, he'd just bowl them over and keep going. He needed to get Miyu back after all.

"Stop Miyu! I don't want to harm you, I really don't but it will come to it if YOU DON'T STOP!" Havaror bellowed after her, picking up his pace. He had a choice now. He could dive at her, grab her by the leg and hold her in place, or he could try to catch up to the speedy girl and simply pick her up, kicking and no doubt screaming. Hrm. The first option was easier, it didn't require too much effort, while the second one would require getting close to her, and having that screaming. He didn't much enjoy that screaming.

It always kinda...got to him?

Well. He had to stop her first before this got way out of hand. Havaror had no idea where the hell they were now, and he knew that it would be hell to get back to the meeting. He wasn't even sure they should return to the meeting for that matter. After this little escapade...it probably wasn't going to be a good idea really. Havaror took this chance as they got close to a corner that she would have to run to, and he simply dashed full force, his knees bent as he leaped through the air at her, his hands coming out to want to try and grasp her by the legs. If he did manage to wrap his hands about her leg she'd get pulled off balance, and he wouldn't let go, not with his iron grip.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Of course Havaror would come after her. She hadn't expected any differently, and it gave her hope. He was large, but he was slower than she was so she had an advantage there. And since he never seemed to want to harm her, since he was always so cautious about handling her, it gave her that much more of a chance. Some other Mordecai might waste no time stopping her with whatever means it took.

Stop? Yeah right. She could have laughed if it wouldn't have been a waste of breath, because if anything his demand only made her run faster.

In an attempt to throw him off, she turned the first corner she came to, taking the turn so sharply she nearly slipped on the tile, and she made that move not a moment too soon since that was also when Havaror threw himself at her. He missed her by inches, and it was only when she heard him crash to the floor like a ton of bricks that she even realized how close he'd come to grabbing her, and while she knew it was only inevitable, she was going to enjoy her freedom while she could. This act of defiance made her feel the most alive that she'd felt since she'd been taken.

Too bad she'd reached the end of the road.

The corner she turned into turned out not to be a hall leading to anywhere except to, well...the restrooms. Men's and women's, right across from each other, and other than that it was a dead end. Miyurin growled to herself and spun around, panting, but she didn't try and make another break for it. She simply stood there, sraight-backed and breathing heavily with her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she waited for the inevitable. It wouldn't be long before Havaror blocked the entrance and came to pick her up; no time to do anything else.

Well...hopefully she'd at least embarrassed the hell out of everyone she'd intended to embarrass.

[Anonymous]

So close!

His fingertips had just been inches from her, almost brushed along her legs but he had just been a hair too slow in his dive. With a loud "Whump" and a rush of breath from his lungs as his stomach and chest collided with the hard, uncaring floor. Okay, that had been a bad idea really. Havaror was quick however to shake off that particular incident. He wasn't embarrassed by it either, people had seen him running after his target. Luckily for him everyone managed to get out of his way before he leaped. That could have been bad really. Really bad.

Like flat as a pancake one. Heh.

He rounded the corner to note that there was nothing there but a dead end. And the washrooms. He'd go into either one to get Miyu back, but she apparently just stood against the wall instead. Havaror said nothing as he came to stand near her, watching her carefully. Well this was...well just awkward wasn't it? She looked rather...well...ver y active, like she might be ready for a fight, or for that matter, ready for another flight. Havaror moved his head from side to side, a slight noise of his bones cracking as he adjusted and stretched his neck.

He slowly approached her, hands at the ready just in case she tried to run again. His hand came out and he placed it upon her shoulder. He didn't look angry, perhaps a little frustrated or annoyed but he seemed calm still. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. He wasn't sure he should go back to the meeting, after ah...after that. At least, he shouldn't go back immediately, Nacrus would need some time for damage control, if of course anyone really asked about it. Maybe they'd get lucky? If Nacrus needed him, he had his communicator, he could always send a message and let him know.

"Come on Miyu. Let's get a drink before we're called back." Havaror told her with a small smile as he started to walk, pushing her along into a walk with him. He sounded as friendly as possible, nice to her as he ah...nudged her along to where he wanted to go. A quick glance at a map along the wall had given him a heads up of where to go. A bar. That's all he wanted. A drink of any sort, whether it was one of the weak alcoholic, or just water or whatever. "You're a fast dodgy one aren't you? You've got to be careful Miyu. This is a dangerous time you know. If we're attacked, and you're hiding, you'd have to fend for yourself, and you've only got that gun, no magic." That's all he had really been worried about. Her getting lost, and then he wouldn't be able to protect her anymore, his promise would be broken.

Well, his promise to himself, to protect her and keep her from harm, just as he should.

[Tally]

Riot tossed his helmet into a corner of the conference room, fully intending to return with the Captain.  Once outside, he pulled out a stick of fruity gum and smacked at it while the Cap lectured him.  He got a lot of lectures.  You learned to just tune them out eventually.

When she was done, Riot's bottom lip poked out in a sullen pout and since he couldn't glare at the captain he settled for glaring off to the side, drawing strange looks from people passing in the hall.  "Did not look like a girl," he muttered.  "Hmph. I don't gotta put on a show for them anyway.  What do I care what they think?"  They could look on him however they wanted.  That went for everyone in Libra, too.  The plain fact was Riot was an unholy terror in the cockpit of a fighter and he knew it.  So did anyone who'd ever seen him in a dogfight.  He had nothing to prove.

"Erm, anyway.  Yeah.  Okay so like...uh..."  Damn, he wasn't used to being all, like, hesitant and stuff.  Usually, he had somethin' to say he just came out and said it.  Loudly.  Often with colorful expletives.  Gosh, this was hard, though.

"Look it's like this."  Riot glanced at the others in the hall and stepped close, speaking quietly.  "I ain't gonna name names, right? And I ain't tryin' to be some kinda, like, narc y'know?  But see, you should know that there's rumors flyin' around about us maybe climbin' in bed with Edanith and it ain't bein' met with confetti and right gleeful jigs, I can tell ya that.  And it ain't been just the usual bitchin' and moanin' either.  See..."  He looked the captain square in the eyes, not hiding and not making any excuses one way or the other.  Just informing.  "Thing is, fightin' alongside Edanith's just a deal breaker for some folks.  There's no small number of squadrons would be willin' to take desertion charges over this."

The airheaded fighter-jockey bit receded a little and he said very seriously, "The point is, you make a deal with Edanith, you won't be going into battle with a full force.  A good many soldiers will choose the brig over the slavers.  Captain...they'll refuse to fight."

Screwed one way, fucked the other.  Wasn't that just a kick in the balls?  That was Libra for you, though.  A big freakin' percentage were mages, way out of normal proportion with their population.  It had always been that way, even goin' all the way back to Serendipity of old, and a right many Libran's took Edanith's dirty habits personal-like.  How could they not?  Magic was a part of Seruna like dragons were a part of Aedolis.  

Riot waved his hands quickly.  "Oh now, ain't no one from my squadron gonna trip like that.  Shit, I'd duct tape 'em into their damn cockpits and they know it.  But...yeah.  Like, I just thought you should know."

Pounding footsteps suddenly rang through the hallways and Riot spun in time to see one of the Mordecai charging down the hall in the opposite direction.  Riot was after him in a heartbeat, shoving people out of the way as he sprinted down the corridor.  "Hey!  Wait!"  Gah, the guy was big, with a huge stride!  And he was chasing someone!  Riot caught a glimpse of her as she turned a corner up ahead.  He pursued, using his better knowledge of the layout of the hallways to weave through shortcuts and make up ground.  They were coming up on a dead end.

Rounding a corner, he finally caught up to them and skidded to a halt, panting slightly, hand on the gun at his thigh.  A glance took in the state of them and he stepped back, taking his hand from the grip and balling it into a fist to keep it off the gun.  Whatever had happened, they both seemed calmer now and he didn't want to throw a match on this pile of explosives by being paranoid.  The situation was volatile enough as it was.  Drawn by the commotion, Libran guards had rushed to converge on the Mordecai and now gathered behind Riot.

The tension was electric.

Riot took a deep breath and said, "All right you two.  I don't know what happened and I don't wanna know.  You're not authorized to be out here, so back to the conference room.  I'll escort you."  They couldn't have the Edani wandering around wherever they pleased, for a lot of reasons.  At the top of the list right now was their own safety.  More than anything else, Riot just wanted to get them back into a controlled environment and out of Libra's hallways where there was less likelihood of someone doing something stupid and sparking another international conflict.

[Anonymous]

Nacrus could only sigh and tap his fingers as order fell into shambles around him. With the mages sudden flight and that man bursting in, the meeting had descended into madness. This would never have happened within an Edani government facility.

One of his retinue let him hear the conversation being held outside, the mage acting better than any eavesdropping device ever made by man. It was amazing really, what magic could do. Amazing and dangerous. That mage, if not controlled, could conceivably use his ability to work for extremist groups to undermine the Edanith government, or the Aedolian government, or any military force. Far better that they be safely controlled until a cure could be found.

Edanith had invested heavily in Thanatos in exchange for their research into permanent removal of magical gifts. Thus far, it had not been successful.

One of the mordecai cocked his head, listening to his earpiece, then touched Nacrus on the shoulder. “Sir, sensors indicate that the Aedolian fleet have moved away.” Nacrus grunted. It could hardly be called a fleet, not yet anyway. Still, it was strange that they’d be departing. “Find out what’s going on,” he responded softly.

Minutes of impatient tapping later, a reply came. “Sir, our operatives inform us that the attack has been cancelled. Something’s happened on earth and they’ve been recalled.”

Nacrus’ face twisted. Damn. Without the attack they had lost their major bargaining chip. Pressing a hand to his ear, Nacrus said softly, “Havaror, unless you intend to find your own way back, please send you location to the Al’teir for immediate teleportation.” He released the button. Frankly Nacrus couldn’t care less if Havaror wanted to stay on the Libra and play with his new mage.

He stood just as Malriiko re-entered the room, smoothing out his clothes as he did. “I apologise Captain,” he said dryly as his retinue gathered around him, “But it appears that there is no longer a deal to make. Goodbye.” With a small smile and a flash of light, Nacrus and the others disappeared.

The bridge span for a moment before he regained his balance. “Spin up the jump drives, prepare for immediate departure.” His voice rang out, commanding attention and immediate response. “Inform me immediately of any transmissions from the Libra.”

Havaror had about ten minutes, the time it took to ready the ship for the jump back to Mars, ten minutes to get back onboard before they left him. It’d serve him right too, letting his mage run wild like that.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Malriiko waited as patiently as she could for Riot to spit it out, and while she had a lot of patience normally it was worn thin just now. On the one hand, any excuse to get out of that conference room was a good one because it stalled the whole decision-making process and she had a feeling that no matter what she decided, the Libra was screwed. Wasn't like it couldn't hold its ground, but if they had to fight against two nations...it would be messy. Mal didn't even want to think of the number of casualties and damaged that would be sustained. This was no rocket ship. It was a space station. A floating and moveable planet that wasn't a planet.

A sitting duck. A sitting duck with a stellar military.

And when Riot finally spoke, well, it was as she thought, dreaded, and hoped, and while Riot may or may not have been aware of it...honestly, she did value his insight when he wasn't doing the airheaded thing. He had access to information she didn't simply due to her status. If she walked around everyone else, even in civilian clothes, she'd still be treated as the captain and people watched their mouths. Riot? Never. She respected that about him even if it made her want to deck him every now and then.

Right. So even with assistance they'd be fucked--but she really couldn't expect any less of her crew, and deep in her little magic-weilding, non-captain heart she was proud that they'd take the brig over that. Mal was a mage. She wanted those slave-drivers in here no more than the next Libran. But for the sake of diplomacy (AKA covering their asses) she'd let them on board and was, essentially, wasting their time.

Stalling was good. She'd sent out that message to the Cancer, so hopefully those slackers would respond or she'd feel very...cross. And in the meantime, she'd set some engineers to work installing that shipment from Thanatos Inc. There was a good chance Zachary was using them as guinea pigs, but at this point the more defense, the better. They'd just have to test it out as a last resort.

Ugh, her head hurt.

"Thank you for that," she said, folding her hands behind her back and squaring her shoulders. She looked off to the side, face placid as she watched people pass through the halls. Then she turned back to him and smiled faintly.

"Yes, I'm sure your squadron is different, Riot," Mal said tiredly, though there was no sarcasm in her voice. She wasn't trying to be wise there. She lowered her voice and leaned in close, conspiratorily. "Because I'm sure they know you'd do that, too. But listen. You just tell those other squadrons--and you can quote me on this--that that's not happening and that the only reason we'd ever crawl in bed with Edanith is so we could hack off its dick and slit its--"

Pounding footsteps cut her off, and she stood up straight, red eyes wide, as not one but two Edani rushed past. Riot was after them in a flash, though, along with a group of other soldiers, and Mal closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Gods above. Guess that was her cue to get back and hope it hadn't all gone to hell for the two minutes she'd been gone.

She turned and stepped back inside the room, eyes slightly narrowed as she fixed them on Nacrus. "Will you please control your people?" she asked, but no sooner had the words left than Nacrus stood up and...

...What?

He and the others vanished before she could reply, spots dancing in her vision from the flash. Oh shit.

Either they were telling the truth or something had gone drastically wrong.

She quickly went to a speaker panel on the wall and entered in a quick access code to contact the Bridge. "What's going on? The Edani pulled out. Give me the status of the Edani ship and the Aedolian fleet now."

-------------

Miyurin jerked away with a hiss when Havaror had the nerve to touch her, baring teeth that were sharper than they should have been. When he spoke, though, she just wanted to laugh. Get a drink? Honestly? Did he remember who he was talking to and where they were? Oh well. She was cornered, the chase was through, and she'd had her fun so she let him push her into a walk and listened as he prattled on, snorting to herself. She could defend herself fine on her own, but she didn't voice any of her opinions.

She still didn't want to talk to the man just yet--though she would and had talked to other people.

But before they could get very far, they were cut off by a number of armed guards and Miyurin looked up at Havaror uncertainly, freezing on the spot. There went his whole get-a-drink idea, which suddenly didn't sound half bad when contrasted with the thought of going back to that conference room. Where she got to stand and stand some more looking important or something while serving as a living lie detector.

Miyurin didn't move, though, and just remained where she was with her hands out where they could be seen. This was Havaror's move, and she wasn't in much of a hurry to get back so she'd just follow him.

[Anonymous]

Well this was a little...unexpected to say the least. Maybe just a little. That little fellow was talking to him, it made Havaror look to him with a slight raised eyebrow. Did the boy really think he could stop him? Still. They were supposed to be diplomatic weren't they? He sighed, giving a small nod. No drinks then, how typical. "Very well I suppose we can..." Havaror stopped for a moment, putting a hand out to stop Miyu as his other hand pressed to his ear piece. What? This wasn't...well, this was actually probably good. "Sorry kid, apparently we're going back to our ship." He had caught something about Aedolis pulling back to Earth. Unexpected, he almost wondered what had happened down there to get them all to pull back.

So they wouldn't be needing to make this deal with Libra then. That was always...good? It could have been a very interesting turn of events, a good fight for that matter.

"I understand Lord Nacrus. I will send my coordinates to the Al'teir right away." He reached into his pocket to remove a small device, pressing the button on it. It was the emergency teleport button, which really was just sending out a pulse back to the sip for the teleporters to lock onto. He moved his hand to go around Miyu's shoulders. There was a small flash and suddenly they were gone, leaving the Libra and returning back to the ship.

He let go of Miyu as he dusted himself off. For some reason he always felt really...dirty when he teleported. Like there was a residual energy on him. He just didn't know what to make of it really. He looked downward to Miyu, rubbing the back of his neck now. "So would...you like to go for that drink? If you do, don't say any tangible words." That way she couldn't just grunt and claim that she was saying something. He grinned though at her, shrugging his shoulders at the same time. He did so want to be friends if possible, he'd have to show her that...no doubt in a very grand gesture of some sort.

But drinks could be a good start.

[Tally]

This Mordecai seemed entirely too agreeable.  Almost nice.  Like he weren't Evil Undiluted.

That was, until he reached for something in his pocket.

Riot's hand twitched for his gun but didn't touch it.  His eyes stayed locked on the Mordecai's pocket.  Logically, he didn't think the man was going to pull a weapon on him. Illogically, he wouldn't have been surprised if the guy sprouted demon wings and summoned a thousand devils from the lowest reaches of hell.

Evil Undiluted and all that.

The device that he pulled from his pocket, however, was not a weapon but something else.  Edani technology, but to Riot's eyes it looked like a—

Riot reeled backward suddenly.  They'd just disappeared!  Both of them!  Damn.  Teleported.  He'd wanted to talk to that mage, get her name at least, maybe try to help her in some way.  Like as not that woulda been impossible, but still...he'd wanted to try.  He didn't even know the chick and it still hurt him to see her all afraid and desperate.  And he admired her, silly as it sounded.  It'd taken real balls to do what she did, to make a break for it.  Whoever she was, they hadn't managed to break her yet.

Apprehension jolted through him.  Something must have gone wrong.  Aedolis had arrived sooner than any of them had expected or else Edanith had decided to carve into Libra before the Aedolians could get there.  But a moment later, info started coming through on his headset, filtering in from the scout ships flying perimeter out in the black, then to the bridge, and from there down the ranks to the squadron captains, of which he was one.  He paused to take it in, thinking he was surely hearing it wrong.  Aedolis pulling out, turning around.  Edanith doing the same.  There was a a flavor of speculation to the words, as though no one else could quite believe it either, but as he listed the data filled out and grew more and more undeniable.  

Off the hook.  Maybe the gods were still alive somewhere out there.  Alive and watching over the people of Libra.

He jog-walked back to the conference room, where he found the Captain alone.  No Narcnarc and no Mordecai with their slave mages.

Abruptly, he was overcome with a near debilitating sense of relief.  His back his the closed door of the conference room and he slid down to the floor, where he drew his legs up and rested his head on his knees.  "They're leaving," he said.  It came out as a half groan, dizzy with relief as he was.  "Oh man, like, I mean, I woulda fought them o' course but I was so totally not lookin' forward to that shit."

He didn't care what it looked like, him all huddled on the floor like a little kid.  Aedolis was leaving.  He'd never been so happy.  He was known in the Libra for having nerves of titanium, but fighting Aedolis?  That'd had him at near a nervous breakdown, and he'd gone to such efforts to keep up the figher jockey bravado that to find out he was in the clear undid him completely.  He would have cried if that wouldn't've cost him all the man points he had left.  Aedolis scared him more than he could let on, and for one very good reason.

Nine years now.  Nine years he'd been lying to his superiors, his friends, and his Captain.  Keeping his secret was getting harder and harder.