trans_9 | If war were a game that a man or a child Could think of winning [Open]

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If war were a game that a man or a child Could think of winning [Open]

Lafiel staggered out and away from the sensorium pod, clutching her bruised jaw. Blood pooled between her teeth, coppery and salty in her mouth and she swallowed it.

There was a special kind of humiliation that came with being physically bested and though Lafiel knew she was in the right, it still stung.

Master Chief or Captain Kirk would have known what do immediately, but she had only exacerbated the situation. She knew this to be her own fault. The punch had been a predictable consequence of her actions.

She couldn't even curse for fear of spitting more blood.

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There was a strained pause as the Spartan tried to keep the anger out of her voice. When she spoke again, it was a credit to her self control that she didn't have to grit her teeth. "Be that as it may, a subordinate doesn't take a shot at a superior officer without repercussions. As an Empress you need to know that. There is protocol. Despite your personal feelings, insubordination within the chain of command can't be tolerated."

She lifted a hand to the girl's face again, gently this time. It was more a soothing touch than a probing one. "Now, tell me who did it."

Lafiel, though calmed by the touch was still defiant and full of a mixture of shame and determination. "I will take this up with Squadron Command then. But I should have never let it get to this point in the first place."

Wedge had also been on the way to the Sensoriums, if only to check in on Asuka and see if she was still at it. He came up short, watching the two for a moment before he approached, one eyebrow raised at the mention of 'Squadron Command.'

"Something wrong, Your Highness?" Oh. Kriff. That's a nice bruise you've got started there, Lafiel. "...what happened?"

Lafiel was almost relieved by Wedge's approach. There was something about Kelly's manner at that moment that was soothing, a bit of balm on the burn of her humiliation. "Thank you, Kelly. This is need-to-know information though. I'll find you after this is done."

And, when Kelly had left, she looked up at Wedge, snapped him the Abh salute (index and middle fingers to forehead). "Sir, I came upon Pilot-Trainee Soryuu in the sensoriums. I let my temper get the better of me and challenged her to a dogfight. I outstrategized her twice and continued to provoke her when we were finished, though I knew the Pilot-Trainee's nature. This is, for the most part, my fault."

"...and she struck you?" Wedge asked, crossing his arms with a frown. This was going to be a bit of sticky situation to deal with. And indicated that Soryu needed more attention and training, specifically to deal with that temper. At the same time, of course, it seemed Lafiel let her pride get the better of her. Hm.

"Yes sir. I am prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem neccesary for my actions." Lafiel looked a lot more dejected about this than Asuka did. But then she was the type to hoard responsibility to herself. Being an Abriel did that.

"What happened, exactly? I want all the details." Wedge crossed his arms. He was going to get to the bottom of this...

Lafiel went on to describe the whole ugly event in detail. She couldn't keep a note of pride out of her voice when she showed how she outstrategized Asuka. When she got to the part where she punched her, her jaw ached again and she rubbed it.

"...I see. Deca-Commander Abriel." He's chosing to use her rank, not her title here. "You had good intentions, trying to teach Asuka that there is no such thing as 'cheating' in the battle. However. After the first time, it might have been better to let the matter drop. I'll deal with Asuka. I think your sore jaw will be punishment enough. Carry on."

"Sir, one more question." Here comes a nonsequitor.

A few minutes later, after her little talk with the squadron commander, she rejoined Kelly in the hallway.

"My apologies for leaving so suddenly. I hope I didn't worry you too much. It's being dealt with." She gave her a hesitant (though still red) smile as if to say 'See? All OK!'

The Spartan had waited of course. While she wasn't exactly happy about it, it was something she was used to. So, leaning against a wall, arms folded tightly and a scowl on her face she'd waited. She didn't like being brushed off like her opinions didn't matter, like her concern was unnecessary. 'Need to know.' Tch.

When Lafiel came to meet her again, she stood straighter, her hands coming to clasp behind her back. She was a soldier, at attention in front of a ranking officer.

"I'm glad then, Empress." A short pause. "I'm sorry if I was out of line earlier. I let personal concerns get the better of me. It won't happen again."

Yeah, this is Kelly's way of telling you she's pissed off that you brushed her off, Lafiel. Pardon the woman.

Lafiel sighed. "You weren't out of line. Do you think me ignorant of human nature? If I told you the name you would go out and seek revenge or threaten or find some other way to protect me. And if General Antilles ordered you not to, you would find a way to skirt the letter of his order. And this is a battle I have to fight on my own." Although the concern was not unappreciated. This level of candidness in personal matters was probably new to anyone who knew her...

Kelly shrugged at that, not looking at the girl. "People like that don't learn. They just keep making the same mistakes, hurting people, because in their minds they have a right to." She ran a hand down her face in frustration. Everything the Abh was saying made sense, but she didn't want to hear it. She had a right to be worried and protective. Her jaw clenched and unclenched slowly. "So you expect me to sit by and do nothing when someone hits you?"

She flung a hand out toward the Sensorium Lafiel had emerged from. "Someone needs to teach these people that every action has a consequence."

Edited 2010-02-06 08:07 (UTC)

"And that will come through the proper channels. I appreciate your concern and I feel much safer with you around but please, i'm asking you to not pursue this any further." Where she more the type, Lafiel would have grabbed that outstretched hand and pulled it down to squeeze it for extra emphasis. She looked up with big pleading eyes. A career spent under the microscope had made Lafiel's need to not be favored in any way almost compulsive.

Her fists clenched at her sides, and for a moment she had to resist the urge to lash out and hit something. Break something. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. She hated it when Lafiel looked at her like that. "Fine. If that's what you want. But If it happens again, I'm finding them, whoever they are, and I'm breaking them in half."

"Thank you. I should have known better. This isn't the first command i've failed at." Lafiel took every single small mistake to heart. Every little bit she internalized, comparing it against the records of what Abriels had accomplished, perpetually finding herself short. "Master Chief wouldn't have allowed that to happen."

Kelly looked down at the little Abh for a moment longer. Letting out a quiet sigh, she slid one arm under her and lifted her off her feet easily. It was the Spartan's equivalent of a hug, Lafiel. Deal with it. "You're young. People make mistakes." At the comment about John though, she pursed her lips, frowning slightly. "John is a strong leader, but he's sacrificed a lot to be that. Sometimes I think he had to give up too much. You'll learn. Don't beat yourself up over a small mistake."

Lafiel didn't squirm in Kelly's grip. She'd come to accept it as part of Kelly's company. She leaned into those comforting, muscly arms."I can't afford them anymore. I am the last Abriel. What I do reflects on us as a species. I have to be as good as him...Or you. Or Mister Kennedy." There was a Not So Different in this somewhere...

When Lafiel leaned against her, she paused, looking down at the mop of blue hair resting against her arm for a moment before bringing her other arm up to the Abh's back. "No one expects you to be perfect overnight. It takes a lifetime to learn. Pushing yourself is good, but not if you don't take heed of your limits." She raised a hand to pet the girl's hair gently. "Understand?"

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If war were a game that a man or a child Could think of winning [Open]

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