trans_9 | [Closed] Little Deuce Coupe

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[Closed] Little Deuce Coupe

Ildraniath didn't spend all of her time plotting. She spent quite a lot of time brooding, as well. Or simply thinking about the situation she'd been thrust into. For someone who's entire goal and purpose in life was to safely read the future and guide her people through it, stumbling blind through the void was a challenge, to say the least. And then there were her plans to do wit hthe dalgig. She was still watching them, still thinking, still internalizing it all while she considered and waited and wondered.

But she needed something else to do, of course. So she went walking through the empty corridors and miles of passageways that stretched through Stacy. Occasionally she stopped in at places that seemed of interest. Today, she happened to be in the hangar. The sheer variety of war machines was rather overwhelming, but she wandered among the craft with a curious eye nonetheless. It never hurt to see what was down here, after all.

She was about to turn around and find another way of distracting herself when she spotted a familiar, curved shape and after a moment of staring (just to make sure she wasn't seeing things), she walked over to the elegantly curved and sleek craft that sat in one corner, unused and unnoticed.

An Eldar jetbike. Here.

Well, she supposed she'd never been down here to check. She ran her hand over the hull a slight smile tugging at her lips. She'd ridden one, a long time ago in another life. How curious.

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Ildraniath looked up, slightly startled. She hadn't imagined she'd run into Zouichi here. Or anyone, really. She composed her features and dipped her head in a small nod.

"Something to that effect. It's a jetbike. Used in wartime, mostly."

The craft does have seem to have a pair of underslung cannons.

If Zouichi noticed her surprise, he didn't remark upon it. "I suppose that would go some ways toward explaining why it's in the Hangar. Perhaps there are other surprises here, too." Certainly he'd never seen the jetbike on his previous visits here... but then, craft could be moved from other areas of the ship, and the bike was not especially bulky.

He turned back toward her. "Do you know how to pilot it?" He was trying to be polite about it, but the truth was he was rather curious about how such a craft might work. Or what its power source might be.

"This ship has no end of surprises," Ildraniath replied wryly. She was personally hoping to avoid any that might be lethal. She glanced back at the bike and then suppressed a small chuckle.

"I do know how to use it, actually. I used to be a Shining Spear, in another life."

She turned back to the bike and ran her hand over the hull again, letting her fingers linger, "From what I remember, it was rather exhilarating."

He glanced at her for a brief moment, considering. "You know, I can sort of imagine that."

"In any case, I'd be a little surprised if mounted combat wasn't exhilarating. Fighting at high speeds requires a different skillset. Misjudging a turn, failing to accelerate at the correct moment... even mistiming a blow can prove deadly." And aside from all that there was, of course, the undeniable thrill of slicing through the open air while moving far more quickly than was even reasonably responsible.

"You should take it for a ride sometime. I'm sure there aren't many on board qualified for piloting one."

"I was very angry at the time. At what... well, it didn't matter what. What mattered was that I needed to learn how to control that anger," Ildraniath shrugged. She paused to let distant memories sink in. There had always been a thrill. But she'd left that all behind.

"As thrilling as it might be, I'm not sure I have the time-"

She stopped herself and shook her head, "What am I saying? I have nothing but time at the moment. I'll have to do that someday."

Or right now. Who knows.

That got Ildraniath another glance. "Alendian mentioned that, as well. The anger." He wouldn't ask about its source, of course, but he couldn't help but wonder about it. He'd only seen Ildraniath truly incensed once in all the time he'd known her... so what was it that would require her to change paths to master her anger?

Okay, he couldn't resist. "You know, there is an awful lot of empty space in this Hangar."

She really ought not to let her desire to fly again get the better of her. She was a farseer. That meant something.

Of course, she was also farseer with nothing to do. After a moment she finally shrugged, "...we may as well see if it works."

She shrugged out of her robe - the plantsuit was still on udnerneath it, as much as she despised the thing - and then carefully settled into the control chair, straddling the bike.

"Let me see..."

He watched with great interest as she began working at the unfamiliar-looking controls. In fact, as long as it wasn't powered by psychic energy, he might even be able to pilot it on his own if he observed closely enough. Er, not that he would, of course; it wasn't his, after all, and though it didn't seem to be Ildraniath's either, it was from her world. Just... you know, in case.

"Shall I stand back?"

"It might be a good idea," she remarked coolly. Without waiting for a reply, she examined the controls. It had been a while, hadn't it? Ah, yes. She flipped a switch and then hit the power. With a hum, the craft trembled slightly and then smoothly rose into the air, hovering under its own power. Ildraniath smiled.

"Ah! I knew I remembered how to use this. Altitude. Pitch. Yaw. Acceleration..." She was almost talking to herself as she ran through a quick checklist of the controls.

Zouichi backed away, but only just enough to be sure he wouldn't be in the way should there be an accident (who knew when the jetbike had last been flown?).

In any case, it seemed that the knowledge of a lifetime ago was not yet lost. He wondered, though, exactly how long ago Ildraniath the Farseer had been Ildraniath the Shining Spear.

A few centuries, perhaps. Maybe less. But she wasn't quite thinking about that. Instead, she carefully brought the jetbike around and then accelerated slightly, shooting out into the open space of the hangar, where she coasted to a stop.

"I think I can still operate it," she chuckled, "I remember how."

Zouichi walked up to where the jetbike was idling, sidestepping a few more unpiloted craft on the way.

"I can see that," he said, smiling ever so slightly. "I'm almost tempted to challenge you to a race. Provided, of course, that we set down on a world with a wide open space or two." Well, that and something like a road. His bike had an antigravity device installed to adapt to the ship's terrain, but it still couldn't technically fly.

"I am not sure how well your bike would fare. It's rather uneven when my craft can go over terrain your craft would bog down in," Ildraniath replied with one of her amused little smiles.

"But it could be exhilarating. I'll take you up on that someday when we're not quite as locked into our daily existence aboard this ship. Or maybe when we can actually make choices."

Well, he couldn't just let that remark stand, could he? "You'd might be surprised what kind of terrain it can negotiate," he said, smile broadening just a little. "With the right amount of coaxing, of course." And speed. Mustn't forget the speed.

"Of course. It's a shame no one saw fit to install a racetrack around the City, isn't it? Living areas just doesn't feel complete without one."

"Well, I don't know about a racetrack, but more open space certainly wouldn't go amiss," she replied, leaning over the controls and eyeing him with that little smile she always seems to have, no matter how happy she actually might get. Control over her own emotions, apparently.

"But, remind me to look at your motorcycle some other time. Although I doubt it can stand up to Eldar engineering, I'm sure it is an impressive machine."

"More open space -- and maybe a few less crumbling buildings," he agreed. "Though now that I think of it, a train track or two runs around the explored portion of the City. I wonder..."

"It's not a flying machine, of course," he said of the HDC, "And I'm afraid my work requires me to ask more of it than any vehicle should reasonably be asked to provide. But it's always risen to the occasion. If you'd like, you can always come by the inn sometime. I'll even be sure to prepare additional incentive."

"Haven't I always felt free to drop by?" Ildraniath replied with a small laugh, "But I will stop by in the near future. It's been a while since I've seen your inn."

She glanced down at the instrument panel and made a few small adjustments, "I still think any race would be blatantly unfair. But I suppose you can challenge me, if you feel like it. It's not as if we've anything else to do but wait..."

And plan.

"True. Although now that I think of it, it has been a little while." And they could be much more sure that their conversations would not be monitored in the City than in the Hangar. In any case, Ildraniath's next remark made him raise an eyebrow in response, even as he watched her work at the panel. "'Unfair'? Well, I suppose now I'll have to challenge you. It's the only way to defend my honor."

He paused for a moment, hesitating. "By the way... may I ask you a little more about the nature of the Warp?"

The relative freedom from monitoring devices was always a plus, of course. She cocked her head to one side and shrugged, "Defend your honor as much as you like. We'll see how it turns out."

So, Ildraniath was actually contemplating doing something fun. ~~Obviously, she was from the mirror universe.~~

"The warp? Of course. What would you like to know?"

He smiled. "I'll do just that."

"According to Alendian, contact with the Warp can somehow 'taint' a living being, irreparably so. But the Eldar navigate it, don't they? And draw upon it. But you don't seem particularly compromised to me."

Ildraniath arched a brow and after a moment of consideration, flicked her wrist in that little dismissive gesture she was so fond of, "The warp is dangerous. It holds creatures and demons you could not imagine. Which is why we are very, very cautious and careful. It can cause irreparable damage or corruption, but... the Eldar know what to avoid and how to avoid such things. The humans often do not."

"Which is why humans require guidance, I'm guessing." From the Emperor when interstellar travel was involved, if he remembered correctly. But something else Ildraniath had said piqued his interest.

"You're saying that a human could avoid the dangers of the Warp, if they knew what to look for? It's not an inborn trait among the Eldar?"

"Compared to the Eldar, most humans have little or no potential to be psykers. They have no power. They're blind. The humans that are psykers are horrendously misused and the few that do reach our levels of power are hopelessly inept when dealing with the warp. They've no tradition, no ability at all..."

Ildraniath shrugged, "I suppose they could be taught, but I've no idea if it would actually keep."

Erhart's distrust did seem to support the idea of psykers being fairly limited in human society, at least when they were talking about the Imperium. And even among the humans that he was accustomed to, few were as preternaturally powerful as someone like Nialdi.

Zouichi considered this, along with what he'd asked Alendian earlier. She seemed reliable, and her skill was undeniable, but if the Warp were truly that dangerous... "What would you say if I asked you to teach me?"

Ildraniath's only sign of surprise and shock was a slight raise of her brow. How interesting. What did he expect to learn? Did he even have the potential for it? After a moment she slowly shook her head, "I am not sure I could or should. I have no idea how much potential you truly have or if Eldar methods would work with a human mind. They are... very different."

She frowned slightly, "And there are secrets of the Eldar that I am reluctant to disclose. You understand, do you not?"

Zouichi nodded. "I understand. And I would not ask you to part with information you feel must be kept secret within the Eldar. However, our current circumstances are... unique. There may be a point in the future when contact with the Warp is required to carry out a mission, or deal with some onboard threat. If that happens, I would rather not be caught completely unprepared."

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "And... perhaps I could be of some assistance to you, if that were to happen. I am sure that you and Alendian are quite capable of handling any reasonable threat. But if what we've faced so far has been any indication, the enemies we confront in the future may not be so reasonable."

Ildraniath pursed her lips, her expression one of disapproval, "I will have to think on it. As I said, I have no idea if you'd even be suitable for such a task. I realize you're merely trying to be helpful, but..."

Ildraniath sighed and shook her head, "We have many closely guarded secrets."

Zouichi inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Of course. I do try to make myself useful."

But it was more than that, somehow. He didn't merely wish to help; he wished to help her. If something went wrong in this one area, Ildraniath would have only one other to rely on. That must be it, the reason for his discomfit. He was merely... concerned about her wellbeing.

"You already are, Zouichi. Don't think you need to try and grasp the intangible merely for my benefit," Ildraniath smiled her mysterious little smile and then settled back in the jet's seat. Truly, Zouichi seemed to be one of the few (only) people on board who managed to coax something other than cold indifference out of her.

How strange.

"As I said, I'm not sure I could properly teach you in any case."

"I suppose you're right," he said, smiling slightly in return. He motioned to the jetbike.

"So, are you going to tell me how fast your craft goes? Or will that be a surprise?"

"Fast," she remarked dryly, "Faster than most vehicles I've had the pleasure of encountering, so we'll have to see how your motorcucle holds up."

He seemed to consider this for a moment. "You know, I'm beginning to think we should raise the stakes of this race a little. Make it a bit more interesting."

"Oh? What did you have in mind?" She usually didn't wager much of anything. But maybe just his once....

"It's up to you, of course... but how about a dessert? At the next applicable shore leave planet. If you win, I'll treat you to the confection of your choice."

He paused. "Unless you have a better suggestion...?"

"An odd wager..." Ildraniath suppressed a laugh, "But I accept your wager. I suppose all we have left to do is actually... race."

An interesting proposition and one she didn't feel like turning down at the moment.

He smiled. "Then I'll be looking forward to it."

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[Closed] Little Deuce Coupe

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