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A brief intermission [Closed]
Zouichi stood waiting by the entrance of a cavern of some sort, one of the newly discovered areas on the ship. His presence there was unobtrusive and therefore easy to miss. In fact, one might have thought he was simply finishing a patrol or exploring; he certainly did enough of both under ordinary circumstances. But not quite. Not today.
Today he was clad in his customary black armor, but he was also carrying a small package tucked under one arm. And upon closer inspection, he looked... well, a little embarrassed.
Today he was clad in his customary black armor, but he was also carrying a small package tucked under one arm. And upon closer inspection, he looked... well, a little embarrassed.
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A human holiday? She wasn't horrifically interested in human holidays, but if Zouichi wanted an excuse to spend time with her, it was as good as any. She shrugged her shoulders and glanced at the package in his arms before replying.
"I don't mind. Perhaps you can explain it in a bit more detail."
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"It's... nothing overly complicated. In fact, in the region where I was from, it mostly involved giving gifts of chocolate to those close to you. However, the country we borrowed it from regarded it as an opportunity to spend time with someone in which one was romantically interested."
A perfectly neutral, factual, clinical explanation. Except for perhaps the hint of color creeping across his face as he delivered it.
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"That seems... somehow appropriate."
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"I'm glad you agree," he managed, offering the package he was holding to her. It was a small, white box. Plain, but containing a number of fresh strawberries covered in dark chocolate. Not too sweet, of course.
He motioned to the entrance of the cavern. "Shall we?"
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And with that, she swept onward, "This cavern was just uncovered, wasn't it?"
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Zouichi followed a step behind. "Yes. A few of the crew found themselves trapped in the general area; there were a few messages about it on the comms."
As they headed further into the cavern, striations of crystalline material began appearing, interspersed with the rest of the rock face. Green, blue, pink -- and as far as Zouichi could tell, possessed of an unfamiliar makeup. Well. Not familiar on Earth, anyway. There were more ordinary cave formations as well: stalactites, stalagmites, hazy quartz and outgrowths of cauliflower-shaped crystal protuberances.
"I heard you finally got the Council to listen to you. Planning to celebrate?"
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She looked rueful for a moment, "Perhaps I ought to pay closer attention. But I spend so much of my time waiting and thinking, it becomes a chore simply to try and sort the valuable information from the utterly inane. We don't do anything, we just sit and wait for the ship to deposit us at our next location, casually drifting along as if we were happy to be used..."
Her ears seemed to perk for a moment and she glanced at him (the rock formations were very pretty), "Somewhat. They agreed with me. Finally - and they say they'll work with the chain of command to try and implement some sort of measures, but I don't have confidence in their abilities or their speed of action. So I believe I should prepare a contingency plan."
She swept out her omnicomm with her free hand, thumbing through it, "A group of marauders successfully disabled Stacy's security systems via access to the command center - which we happen to have as well. If they can do it, so can we. Of course, I'd also like people in the nerve center to try and disable anything important from there. Regardless, I think I can eliminate our Stacy problem with a small group and the correct amount of research... and applied force."
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It was an attitude across the ship that was both pervasive and troubling. The Daligig had, for instance, outright threatened the crew's safety, beaten a woman who'd had no way of presenting any real threat to them -- and they still had people aboard the ship voicing half-hearted justifications about how if they just waited long enough, their supposed allies might provide some kind of nebulous lead. Sometime in the future. Maybe.
After all, there were clearly no other alternatives. Right?
Was it apathy? Denial? Did no one on the ship have a problem with simply falling into line and following whatever course the Daligig had already set for them?
He walked alongside her as she spoke. As they proceeded further into the cavern, the bands of crystal widened, refracting the light in all directions out upon the rock face. It really was quite lovely, even if he had no idea what it was made of.
"I was wondering how long it might take them to realize you had something to say. For an elected body, they..." He shook his head. "I don't know what's worse -- the fact that they seem to have no idea what they're supposed to be doing, or the fact that they're so smug about not doing it. I always thought the purpose of an elected body was to listen to all constituents, not just ones to whom they feel personal loyalty. But almost every conversation I've had with individual Council members has convinced me that their priorities aren't in line with anything I'd expect. And that's when I see them at all."
He glanced at Ildraniath's Omnicomm.
He loved it when she talked strike forces. "Planning to get help from the people in Neuropathy? ...but I agree. There's no reason we can't accomplish something a couple of pirates could. We should have better resources and better people at hand." Then a pause. "Are you planning to take this plan to the Captain?"no subject
She glanced up from the omnicomm to take in the sight of the caverns and she gave the barest nod of approval before returning her attention to her long list of private notes and observations.
"I wasn't planning to, no. If I seek approval, they will probably tell me it is too risky. Too dangerous. But war... war is about risk. We need to find a way to get control of the ship back to ourselves - not control in name only, as we currently have. I plan to ask for assistance from anyone who wants to help. But I am not going through their chain of command."
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But no. That was an entirely conversation altogether.
He looked thoughtful as he listened. "I understand your reluctance. However..." Zouichi frowned a little. "Back when the ship loosed KAIN on the rest of the ship, the captain was instrumental in dealing with him." And that had impressed Zouichi. The way a baseline human, one who hadn't even had to make an appearance, had put his life on the line to protect a fellow crew member anyway. Had stood up to an immensely powerful alien being with nothing more than a few weapons and a plan.
"...He struck me as someone who got things done. Perhaps he could be persuaded to take part in this. If the crew's proved anything, it's that they're eager to fall in line behind those in authority. And it seems he's set apart from the Council anyway."
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She shook her head with a frown, "No. I know nothing about him. He is... an unknown variable and I would rather risk him approving after the fact that having my plan spoiled because I told him what I was about to do. And for being set apart from the Council, he does precious little..."
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But then, Zouichi had a dim view of most of the Council.
He frowned a little at her estimation of Leon, but even he had to admit Command had done very little as of late. "I see. The people here does tend to be strangely... unwilling to combat the status quo. But I'd hope that at the very least, they wouldn't try to actively interfere with someone trying to improve our situation."
Because what would that solve? Really. Didn't they want to fix the ship? Get out from under the Daligig's thumb?
The deposits of crystal stretched across the cavern chamber in striations of delicate color; there was even a hint of sound audible from them, in response to the tone of their voices. Zouichi took a seat on a smooth outcropping of stone. They shouldn't be disturbed here.
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"Of course, I doubt you asked me to come down here to discuss the political situation aboard the ship. That seems... rather uncharacteristic of you."
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He sighed, expression relaxing slightly. "You're right, of course." He'd asked her here to spend some time together, and here he was using the opportunity to complain about the bureaucracy. For shame.
"I doubt that this will have much immediate relevance to the war effort, but I've heard that singing to the crystal in here elicits a rather unusual response. It seems to have a few other surprising properties as well." He did think the crystal might be of some use (or at least some interest) to her. Really. It wasn't at all about coming up with an excuse to talk to with her.
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After a long moment of contemplation, she began to sing. The words (if they could be called words) flowed together - it was Eldar. And although it was not the height of the singing art, it was still worthy of being called good. Eldar never allowed themselves to be overshadowed by humans after all. At least, not if they could help it.
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The crystal sang in return, in a sort of voice that was clearly not human or Eldar, harmonizing along with Ildraniath until the chamber seemed filled with liquid sound.
That, too, was entrancing -- and why not? Those that had spent enough time cutting Ballybran crystal might stroke a cut for hours, lost in appreciation for it.
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She shrugged. "...that was interesting though. Beautiful, even. I wonder if it's natural..."
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"I believe it is. I've heard some rumblings about its possible use for communications or power sources, as well. Of course, I don't know what your jetbike uses for fuel, but..."
He shrugged a little in turn, but couldn't help smiling a little. "One more thing I'd never have encountered on Earth."
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"And something I doubt I've encountered on my Craftworld. This trip seems determined to make everyone discover something, either about themselves of the galaxy at large."
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Perhaps even a little distressing. Because while Zouichi had long steeled himself for the deaths of almost everyone he knew, it was hard to deny that Ildraniath's loss was one for which he'd be markedly unprepared. It was impossible to both feel strongly for someone and remain wholly prepared for their death. At least, it was for him.
His smile turned a little wry. "I suppose I've the Ohm to thank for that. So. Do you mind if I ask what else you've discovered?"
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Which was probably a roundabout way of insulting a large portion of the crew. She let her hands drop and for a moment found them idle and that bothered her, so she folded them again. It seemed to be her default position with them. The idea of opening up to another wasn't alien to her, of course, but to a (near) human? She'd never thought it would have happened.
So they were both adjusting to something strange.
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"I suppose we're all fortunate for that patience," he said, still smiling in that odd, wry fashion. He reached over to where her hands lay folded in front of her, delicately brushing gloved fingertips over her own exposed fingers.
"I..." He what? Zouichi wasn't even sure what he'd been about to say.
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Not that she was used to confiding in many people. She worked with other seers and warlocks, but here she was alone and had to take her own council. How did she deal with that? How did she keep herself steady and sane? She glanced up and her fingers slowly relaxed as Zouichi reached out to her. After a moment of hesitation (opening up had never been her strong suit), she returned the gesture and wrapped the fingers of one hand around Zouichi's in a little squeeze.
"I know," She said simply.
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But he smiled as she reciprocated the gesture, genuinely this time. Though many societies placed a great deal of emphasis on overt, sweeping displays of emotion, somehow... well, somehow even the smallest of Ildraniath's gestures seemed to convey more meaning than even the most dramatic or heartfelt of those.
Perhaps some things could be left unsaid.
Whatever happened, as long as they were on this ship together, he'd do his best to listen, if she required it. To be there beside her, even if he didn't always fully understand the concerns that worried at her. After a moment, he leaned over, brushing his lips against her forehead.
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Just for a moment.
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