Post by Shadowhart on May 29, 2014 2:12:50 GMT
The view is spectacular with the sunlight piercing the storm clouds over the ocean. The wavs crashing on the shore, waring with the sound of not-so-distant thunder, announcing to all that trouble is coming.
A storm is coming....
that much is certain.
Perhaps for more than this portside town... Much more.
Shadowhart stands on the shore and breathes deep, filling her lungs with the salt air, as she calms her mind.
Lightning arcs across the sky, playing havoc wtih her cybernetics, heightening the sensation of touch to such a degree that the wind itself feels like it is carressing her face..
Closing her eyes she lifts her face to meet the first few drops of rain. Each minor impact rippling through her nervous system as her tongue snakes out to grab a drop of the clear sweet water.
Even with her poor hearing she can make out the sound of the VToL shuttle over the sounds of the storm.
A sharp pain lances her eardrump as the active coms are accessed. Instinctively she reaches for her left ear, pressing it against her head.
:: Raven Trieme: "Shadowhart? Commander Shadowhart, can you read me?" ::
:: Shadowhart: "I can, and this is a surprise. Com Channels are secured planetside, except for and Emergency" You must have a lot of pull::
::Raven Trieme: "No Commander, .. You have a lot of pull.":: Even without seeing him, she can hear that smirk dancing on his lips.
:: Shadowhart: Beware throwing your weight around, Raven. Lets not start trouble before I even leave the ground::
She lifts her face to the storm one more time, "This I will miss." she says to herself. "The abundance of water. So commonplace that it falls from the sky."
Her thoughts drift to the six years spent on this rock, restricting her walk down memory lane to the sunnier paths. The sweet sound of birdsong played each morning as she breaks her fast. Fresh food! The taste and texture of fruits and vegetables from the market, far superior to the "organic foods" they get on the station.
Oh and eggs - She will miss her fresh eggs in the morning.
She looks down at her pack and smiles, "And they say you can't take it with you..." she gently pats the pack before picking it up.
"COmmander?" Her old friend's voice pulls her from her thoughts. "Raven..... " the name trails off as she stares at a young kid standing in front of her in a miltary uniform. "You must be from the Trieme family line, I see the resemblence in your face and hear it in your voice."
The boy lets out a hearty laugh, "Shadowhart, I AM the Trieme family line."
"Raven?" She asks unable to hide the shock.
"Yes Shadowhart, I Only look like a noob" That smirk was back, dancing across his face. His eyes flick to the walking stick at her side. "I see you still have that old stick...."
she shakes her head. "don't start an old argument with your noob body, Raven." She leans down, pretending to pick up the pack, already anticipating the turn of the conversation.
"you know... It would just take one week in the hospital and a...."
Using her hand for support, she grips the cane in the middle and raps him once at the back of the knee.
as his legs buckle she retorts, "I told you to drop it."
His reflexes recover quick enough for him to keep his footing but not enough to keep the shame at bay.
"MY Raven would have dodged that," she says using the cane to right herself agaain. she looks at the boy again, closely this time. "HOw did it happen?"
"That, My friend, is a tale for another time. Our chariot awaits." He motions to the two guards standing on either side of the shuttle door.
As she gets closer, the frown grows. THe shuttle was an old model by the looks up it, buffed and painted to appear new.
::Squad channel accessed::
::Shadowhart "Not as much clout as you'd have me believe." she says, the scorn showing through.
::Raven, "This is far from a fair test, shadow. All the ships were bought up by the corporations when the stations were moth-balled. The conflux were declared defeated. The World rejoiced and disbanded all but the smallest milatary force. The Corporations are now selling us OUR ships at double the prices. Supply and Demand!::
::Shadowhart "Turning Sol on me?"
::Raven, "If we had STAYED Octavius, we would have simply TAKEN our ships back. NO! We would have NEVER decommissioned them in the FIRST place!"
Their forward progress is halted while Raven struggles with his anger and disgust at the situation.
Now it was Shadowhart's turn to smirk.
::Shadowhart "Are you finished Spouting Factional Propaganda? We ARE who we are! THe Order of Eternal Legacy. We serve No ONE faction - we serve them all."
She smiles at the young boy in front of her and begins reciting the Creed of Eternal Legacy.
::Shadowhart "Unity! We Serve ALL of mankind- regardless of race, religion, or status."
It feels good to hear those words spoken again after so long and it loosens the saddness that grips her heart.
:: Shadowhart "Ingegrity! we live and fight with honr, with respect and according to OUR Laws."
This time Raven joins his voice to hers and they make their way toward the shuttle
::Shadowhart/Raven: "Ingenuity! We overcome all obstacles - internal and external, through research, Diplomacy and compassion for our fellow man, and failing that, Tactics and Skill."
"Welcome Shadowhart. I am honored to pilot you back to the space station where you belong."
She smiles, "Thank you, I am happy to return. I have been grounded too long. I miss the stars."
A retina scan confirms her identity and they enter the shuttle.
The second Soldier nods, "Welcome Pilot Shadowhart, you may proceed."
"Pilot Shadowhart?" she asks the soldier stopping dead in her tracks, "NOt Optimus Shadowhart?"
"It's a long story Shadow," Raven says softly, Pulling her into the ship.
::Shadowhart "Apparently we have a long trip." there is a steel edge to her voice
::Raven:: Once we get airborn I'll give you the summary"
They buckle in as the engines roar to life.
With a shock wave affect the floor magnetizes locking their boots, shoulder and waist guards to their seat.
A crackling sound followed by a low hum blocks out all other sensations as the ships computer reaches out and latches onto her cybernetic signature enhancing the range and power of her abilities. quickly she works to rebuild and replace her internal security and safety protacols.
As the VTol shifts into a rocket design, the ride smooths out.
::Raven: "As I was saying, After you retired the leadership was passed to Mordikar."
shadowhart nods, motionally for him to continue.
::Raven: "Before the great battle in flux space, Mordikar employed Griggnak to change the leadership over to another person. Someone we could trust. Someone that TRI would accept and someone that we could access if we were needed again."
::Shadowhart: "And.. that person is..."
::Raven: "That person is .. well... you. We cloned you. NOw don't be .."
"WHAT?!?!?!" her voice is loud even over the Ship breaking through the atmosphere.
::Global channel accessed::
::TRI: Welcome to Planetary Access Global channel. For assistance please sign in to :help"
::Global Channel disabled::
She turns her attention back to Raven.
::Shadowhart: "Go one. help me to understand this."
::Raven: "She wasn't even really activated until we needed her. She was suspended. Better another you than TRI or one of the factional governments. Her name is E. Legacy."
::Shadowhart: "This is your idea of Integrity?"
::Raven:: "No, this is my idea of Ingeniuty!"
The captain's voice comes across the ships intercoms, "We are preparing to leave orbit. It will Not be much longer now. THank you for flying the friendly skies."
"Are you sad to leave?" Raven asks, concern in his voice.
"Sad? no. What was sad was this. We returned as hero's, Raven. They called us the Saviors of mankind when we beat back the flux." The bitterness is thick in her voice. "But that didn't last long. Soon we became a burden, sapping the tax payers money with our medical bills and housing needs. The very Modifications that allow us to withstand the rigors of space and jumpgate travel, hinder our health on planetside."
The feelings of betrayal show as anger in her eyes
"The Sacrifices we made, giving up our friends and family - fighting for their peace and prosperity and NOW We're a DRAIN ON THEIR Hard-EARNED MONEY?"
She spits on the ground and digs her nails in to the wooden handle of her cane.
"We gave up EVERYTHING FOR THEM! For some of us, our Lives! Mordikar, Antikas, King Monkey, Chort, Owl! The LIST GOES ON AND ON"
"Some of us might even have given up our sanity...." Raven lets the whispered words and smirk sink in.
She turns sharply to face him and tries desperately to contain her rage.
"I"m guessing you won't be heading up the Diplomacy wing this time around??"
The laughter just bubbles up pushing aside old hurts and betrayals. "It IS you, old friend." she says clasping him on the shoulder.
A storm is coming....
that much is certain.
Perhaps for more than this portside town... Much more.
Shadowhart stands on the shore and breathes deep, filling her lungs with the salt air, as she calms her mind.
Lightning arcs across the sky, playing havoc wtih her cybernetics, heightening the sensation of touch to such a degree that the wind itself feels like it is carressing her face..
Closing her eyes she lifts her face to meet the first few drops of rain. Each minor impact rippling through her nervous system as her tongue snakes out to grab a drop of the clear sweet water.
Even with her poor hearing she can make out the sound of the VToL shuttle over the sounds of the storm.
A sharp pain lances her eardrump as the active coms are accessed. Instinctively she reaches for her left ear, pressing it against her head.
:: Raven Trieme: "Shadowhart? Commander Shadowhart, can you read me?" ::
:: Shadowhart: "I can, and this is a surprise. Com Channels are secured planetside, except for and Emergency" You must have a lot of pull::
::Raven Trieme: "No Commander, .. You have a lot of pull.":: Even without seeing him, she can hear that smirk dancing on his lips.
:: Shadowhart: Beware throwing your weight around, Raven. Lets not start trouble before I even leave the ground::
She lifts her face to the storm one more time, "This I will miss." she says to herself. "The abundance of water. So commonplace that it falls from the sky."
Her thoughts drift to the six years spent on this rock, restricting her walk down memory lane to the sunnier paths. The sweet sound of birdsong played each morning as she breaks her fast. Fresh food! The taste and texture of fruits and vegetables from the market, far superior to the "organic foods" they get on the station.
Oh and eggs - She will miss her fresh eggs in the morning.
She looks down at her pack and smiles, "And they say you can't take it with you..." she gently pats the pack before picking it up.
"COmmander?" Her old friend's voice pulls her from her thoughts. "Raven..... " the name trails off as she stares at a young kid standing in front of her in a miltary uniform. "You must be from the Trieme family line, I see the resemblence in your face and hear it in your voice."
The boy lets out a hearty laugh, "Shadowhart, I AM the Trieme family line."
"Raven?" She asks unable to hide the shock.
"Yes Shadowhart, I Only look like a noob" That smirk was back, dancing across his face. His eyes flick to the walking stick at her side. "I see you still have that old stick...."
she shakes her head. "don't start an old argument with your noob body, Raven." She leans down, pretending to pick up the pack, already anticipating the turn of the conversation.
"you know... It would just take one week in the hospital and a...."
Using her hand for support, she grips the cane in the middle and raps him once at the back of the knee.
as his legs buckle she retorts, "I told you to drop it."
His reflexes recover quick enough for him to keep his footing but not enough to keep the shame at bay.
"MY Raven would have dodged that," she says using the cane to right herself agaain. she looks at the boy again, closely this time. "HOw did it happen?"
"That, My friend, is a tale for another time. Our chariot awaits." He motions to the two guards standing on either side of the shuttle door.
As she gets closer, the frown grows. THe shuttle was an old model by the looks up it, buffed and painted to appear new.
::Squad channel accessed::
::Shadowhart "Not as much clout as you'd have me believe." she says, the scorn showing through.
::Raven, "This is far from a fair test, shadow. All the ships were bought up by the corporations when the stations were moth-balled. The conflux were declared defeated. The World rejoiced and disbanded all but the smallest milatary force. The Corporations are now selling us OUR ships at double the prices. Supply and Demand!::
::Shadowhart "Turning Sol on me?"
::Raven, "If we had STAYED Octavius, we would have simply TAKEN our ships back. NO! We would have NEVER decommissioned them in the FIRST place!"
Their forward progress is halted while Raven struggles with his anger and disgust at the situation.
Now it was Shadowhart's turn to smirk.
::Shadowhart "Are you finished Spouting Factional Propaganda? We ARE who we are! THe Order of Eternal Legacy. We serve No ONE faction - we serve them all."
She smiles at the young boy in front of her and begins reciting the Creed of Eternal Legacy.
::Shadowhart "Unity! We Serve ALL of mankind- regardless of race, religion, or status."
It feels good to hear those words spoken again after so long and it loosens the saddness that grips her heart.
:: Shadowhart "Ingegrity! we live and fight with honr, with respect and according to OUR Laws."
This time Raven joins his voice to hers and they make their way toward the shuttle
::Shadowhart/Raven: "Ingenuity! We overcome all obstacles - internal and external, through research, Diplomacy and compassion for our fellow man, and failing that, Tactics and Skill."
"Welcome Shadowhart. I am honored to pilot you back to the space station where you belong."
She smiles, "Thank you, I am happy to return. I have been grounded too long. I miss the stars."
A retina scan confirms her identity and they enter the shuttle.
The second Soldier nods, "Welcome Pilot Shadowhart, you may proceed."
"Pilot Shadowhart?" she asks the soldier stopping dead in her tracks, "NOt Optimus Shadowhart?"
"It's a long story Shadow," Raven says softly, Pulling her into the ship.
::Shadowhart "Apparently we have a long trip." there is a steel edge to her voice
::Raven:: Once we get airborn I'll give you the summary"
They buckle in as the engines roar to life.
With a shock wave affect the floor magnetizes locking their boots, shoulder and waist guards to their seat.
A crackling sound followed by a low hum blocks out all other sensations as the ships computer reaches out and latches onto her cybernetic signature enhancing the range and power of her abilities. quickly she works to rebuild and replace her internal security and safety protacols.
As the VTol shifts into a rocket design, the ride smooths out.
::Raven: "As I was saying, After you retired the leadership was passed to Mordikar."
shadowhart nods, motionally for him to continue.
::Raven: "Before the great battle in flux space, Mordikar employed Griggnak to change the leadership over to another person. Someone we could trust. Someone that TRI would accept and someone that we could access if we were needed again."
::Shadowhart: "And.. that person is..."
::Raven: "That person is .. well... you. We cloned you. NOw don't be .."
"WHAT?!?!?!" her voice is loud even over the Ship breaking through the atmosphere.
::Global channel accessed::
::TRI: Welcome to Planetary Access Global channel. For assistance please sign in to :help"
::Global Channel disabled::
She turns her attention back to Raven.
::Shadowhart: "Go one. help me to understand this."
::Raven: "She wasn't even really activated until we needed her. She was suspended. Better another you than TRI or one of the factional governments. Her name is E. Legacy."
::Shadowhart: "This is your idea of Integrity?"
::Raven:: "No, this is my idea of Ingeniuty!"
The captain's voice comes across the ships intercoms, "We are preparing to leave orbit. It will Not be much longer now. THank you for flying the friendly skies."
"Are you sad to leave?" Raven asks, concern in his voice.
"Sad? no. What was sad was this. We returned as hero's, Raven. They called us the Saviors of mankind when we beat back the flux." The bitterness is thick in her voice. "But that didn't last long. Soon we became a burden, sapping the tax payers money with our medical bills and housing needs. The very Modifications that allow us to withstand the rigors of space and jumpgate travel, hinder our health on planetside."
The feelings of betrayal show as anger in her eyes
"The Sacrifices we made, giving up our friends and family - fighting for their peace and prosperity and NOW We're a DRAIN ON THEIR Hard-EARNED MONEY?"
She spits on the ground and digs her nails in to the wooden handle of her cane.
"We gave up EVERYTHING FOR THEM! For some of us, our Lives! Mordikar, Antikas, King Monkey, Chort, Owl! The LIST GOES ON AND ON"
"Some of us might even have given up our sanity...." Raven lets the whispered words and smirk sink in.
She turns sharply to face him and tries desperately to contain her rage.
"I"m guessing you won't be heading up the Diplomacy wing this time around??"
The laughter just bubbles up pushing aside old hurts and betrayals. "It IS you, old friend." she says clasping him on the shoulder.