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Thread: [M] Star Wars: The Bureaucrats [Hannelorian & Kach]

  1. #51
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    The room Lt. Beren found herself in was cold, literally and figuratively, it was a sterile environment that clearly existed for a single purpose alone, to extract information for the most unwilling participant. As her record would most assuredly reflect, she was no stranger to these rooms and these situations. Especially after the aforementioned incident on the Wookie homeworld. Having logged the answer to her question away in the depths of her mind, Marienna sat as instructed. She sat tall with impeccable posture, as she had been trained to do. Her gloved hands were folding ever so perfectly atop the small table. There was an unnatural quality to Agent Cross' stare, or perhaps a supernatural quality. She was the kind of woman who could stare into the very depths of her target's soul. It was clear that Agent Cross wanted to make sure Marienna was as uncomfortable as possible, the feeling of eyes constantly on you may be enough to crack some people. Marienna was not some people, she was strong and filled with determination.

    For every moment that Agent Cross stared at her, she stared back. Marienna had the good fortune, or perhaps great misfortune of having large eyes that could easily in conjunction with the rest of her delicate features appear dead. In fact, she was reminded of comments made by others, at times the woman could look like a corpse, or more accurately a kind of porcelain doll. A cold unfeeling stare accompanied by an utterly neutral facial expression. She would not let herself become undone in the presence of a glorified interrogator.

    When asked to recount the events of the day Marienna did so without hesitation or the appearance of any emotion. Agent Cross, who appeared to be rather good at her job demanded she be thorough and so thorough she was. Marienna listed every last detail her memory brought her, the smell of burnt flesh and armor, the screams of absolute agony from those she helped pull to safety. She matter of factly complimented Lt. Fischer for his decisive action and heroic bravery that undoubtedly saved lives. Normally, Marienna would do this because it was the proper thing to do. The Empire stood behind their own mostly, and it would be expected that she be complimentary of her superior officer. However, this time was different, she genuinely noted Corwin's actions. She brought them forward because he deserved credit for his good work. Marienna even went so far as to note the incident in the hallway with the confused trooper who had seen her elsewhere while in fact, she was out in the field. She offered no commentary on the fact that a shapeshifter had clearly taken her form.

    Then of course, came the unexpected. Agent Cross had mentioned her previous run of bad luck. This did, for a moment catch Marienna off guard. There was a slight, almost imperceptible change in her demeanor if only for a fraction of a second. To her mind now, Agent Cross was playing games. The very nature of the question was incendiary. Did she hope Marienna would slip up and just blurt out Kashyyyk? A name now cast aside and nearly forbidden? Marienna, now without missing a beat or taking her eyes off of Agent Cross answered.

    "Planet Wookiee C, ma'am. Former designations include G5-623, Edean, and Kashyyyk." Marienna considered offering a small smile, but she declined. She had been determined to include the proper name of the planet in her response. The name the proud Wookiees had given to their planet with its boundless great wroshyr trees. Despite her own near death experience, Marienna personally commended the Wookiees for their efforts, she deeply sympathized with their profound hatred of the Empire though she would not say that, at least not publicly.

    "Though I fail to see how that event has any relevance to this morning's tragedy." Marienna now, feeling slightly emboldened offered her commentary on the nature of the question, having answered it without hesitation. Perhaps you would care to enlighten me, ma'am?" She spoke without grave inflection just as she often did. Perhaps she should have been more concerned about her own fate.
    Thanks to Hayabusa/Ryoku for the set.

  2. #52
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    Gina Cross was familiar with everyone in the compound, or their files anyway. She could name any imperial personnel stationed on the planet and half of the civilian population of the nearby port. Intelligence work agreed with her, but in that moment she couldn't be sure she wasn't sitting across from a facsimile of the Logistics Officer or the woman in the flesh. She would relish finding out.

    An impassive face regarded Marienna from across the small table, the predatory eyes dissecting every word. She didn't sit as rigidly as Marienna did, she seemed at ease, as if she knew what would happen. Hands resting in her lap, under the table top, she waited for the woman to begin.

    Agent Cross had interviewed hundreds of beings, humans and otherwise; but Lieutenant Marienna Beren seemed more the latter in this instance. She had seen profiles of a species called Kaminoans, with the thin pale woman's huge eyes, the resemblance was uncanny and more than a little unsettling.

    The woman's face was unmoved as she described her day, and the gruesome scene at the attack and Gina wasn't sure what to make of it. It had been a horrific scene but according to her file, for a logistics officer, she had seen a surprising amount of action; which on its own was cause for remark and speculation. The woman seemed stoic and surprisingly hardened even for an Imperial officer. Her memory was impressive, and Gina couldn't help wonder if the Lieutenant's talents were being wasted in the Logistics Core at the small details she recalled.

    The interruption by an imperial officer tickled something in Agent Cross's mind. Marienna described the interaction but never mentioned a name for the stranger, and she had for everyone mentioned so far. She would circle back to that fact when she was ready.

    Cross was surprised, though it didn't show, at the mention of Lieutenant Fischer's actions. His file had been unremarkable, this was only his second posting after a short stint on Coruscant. An ordinary paper pusher doing average work. Some business about a serious investigation he headed at his first post, an orbital station, regarding some medical supplies and discovering a smuggling ring but nothing else of interest; almost the opposite of his coworker seated before her.
    She wondered what Marienna thought of having to answer to a less senior officer because of her disciplinary record? Apparently not poorly enough too not praise the man, it was a good indication, but not enough on its own.

    The revelation that a trooper had claimed to have seen LT. Beren while she was out of the compound was met with apparent disinterest. It wasn't anything Agent Cross hadn't already known, and it didn't help her make a determination.

    The hair line fracture in her calm, like a reaction to a loud noise in the next room, told Agent Cross one way or another, her answer would hinge on whatever come out of the woman's mouth next. Her hand tightened on the grip of her blaster resting in her lap, pointed under the table at the woman. If the being sitting across the table from her was a shape shifter, there was good chance it wouldn't be willing to be taken alive; her security team was in the hall, but there was likely little they could do to save her from the vicious jaws of a Gurlanin.
    Her heart raced, it was always such a rush when her interviews came to their climax; like staring out the hatch of a shuttle with the ground a pastel smear of color below just before you stepped into the open air and gravity had you.

    A satisfied smirk crept across Agent Cross's lips as her hands relaxed, letting the blaster lay in her lap as she pressed her moist palms against her trousers.

    "A shape shifter may have access to your appearance Lieutenant, but it is very unlikely it had access to your file, or to your memories." The investigator informed, pausing for a moment to let the thought sink in before continuing.
    "I doubt there is any hazard of it trying to impersonate you again now that we it knows we are onto it, but for certainty I have a pass phrase for you. I will remark on the weather, and your counter sign will be 'beats the weather on G5-623' ". She continued, not sparing a moment for acknowledgement.

    "The officer who brought you the report, what was the nature of the report? You didn't mention the officer's name did you recognize him? Could you identify a photo of him?"
    She produced a data pad and tapped it, bringing it to life. She waited for a reply to the question before she revealed the pictures of staff and locals compiled on it and showing on it's screen. It was important to avoid witness contamination whenever possible. Perhaps the Lieutenant would be the lead she needed.
    Last edited by Kach; 11-26-2021 at 03:39 AM.
    The final battle,
    Pain, suffering; overcome,
    by the united.


  3. #53
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    Lt. Marienna Beren would not say she felt uncomfortable in her current situation. Indeed owing to her general personality, a part of her felt right at home in an interrogation chamber. She came to understand that Agent Cross very much enjoyed her job. It appeared that she took a great deal of pleasure in asking questions, in making somewhat dramatic statements. She was a proud woman and Marienna liked to imagine herself as a relatively cooperative subject. What she didn't take kindly to was subtle threat. Yet she still sat there without flinching, without moving so much as a muscle. It was her intention not to give any impression that she might attack or perform any other wildly stupid movement.

    Marienna noted that Agent Cross seemed to like to keep her hands below the table, perhaps folded neatly in her lap. But alas, Marienna knew better than that. She was smarter than that. Gurlanin's were strong, vicious creatures at times. If Marienna listened just carefully enough she could hear it. The sound of the blaster beneath the table, pointed undoubtedly in her direction. The sounds of fingers on metal, or the blaster itself just barely touching the tabletop from underneath. In many ways Marienna would have preferred if Agent Cross openly pointed the blaster at her, above the table. After all, it's not like Marienna did know the woman was armed. They all were.

    Now Marienna turned her attention to the photos produced on the data pad, and running through the mental images she carried of everyone she met, she pointed out. "This one ma'am." Marienna calmly and quickly identified the man as a civilian, one name

    However, it seemed more advantageous not to bring it up at this current moment, and return her attention to Agent Cross' questions. Especially now that for the moment she appeared satisfied that Lt. Marienna Beren was in fact who she said she was. "Yes ma..." Marienna began to say in acknowledgment of the new pass phrase she had been given, but it appeared Agent Cross had no time to waste and was interested in moving on. The trooper with the report, of course. That had been slightly out of the ordinary, at the time she did not question it, though perhaps she should have thought more deeply about it.

    "The report was sent by one Mr. Kuna Syko, he oversees dock work at the barq distribution and transport depot. Lt. Fischer and I went to talk to him, having noticed several discrepancies between the weights reported in each shipment and the amount of barq actually leaving the planet." Marienna paused for a brief moment before continuing. "While Lt. Fischer was chatting, I had an opportunity to test one of the barq scales. As expected, the calibrations had been tampered with. The report in question were the maintenance logs for those scales." Marienna as ever was quite deliberate and intentional in her word choice.

    "No ma'am, I did not recognize him. We had only just arrived on this assignment." Marienna had just assumed this was someone she hadn't yet met. "I cannot recall the name, but I recognized the duty station and rank from his bars. I reprimanded him for abandoning his station to bring me the report. He specifically named Kuna Syko as having given it to him. Marienna felt herself an idiot and a failure. If this had been their shapeshifter she didn't know it, and instead was reprimanding it for poor form. She let him just right on by. This was infuriating to the normally calm woman.

    Turning her attention to the photographs now produced by the datapad, Marienna compared the images she knew to the ones she kept in her head of everyone she had encountered. It wasn't long before she identified the man. "This one, ma'am." The photograph was of a civilian named Jamis Lorso, we had for a time been employed as a trash man by the Empire. "Is that all ma'am?" Marienna asked softly almost.
    Thanks to Hayabusa/Ryoku for the set.

  4. #54
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    Agent Cross listened intently as Marienna explained the origin of the report. Kuna Syko, now that name rang a bell. She recalled Lt Fischer had sent a surveillance request on the man and forwarded a transponder code. She had been looking into the man's activities, but Logistics personnel requests often weren't a high priority. Tampered scales and altered reports, now that was a good starting point, but was it connected? It didn't seem likely a dock worker skimming barq would be involved in insurgent bombing, but nothing could be ruled out yet.

    Cross watched the woman's face closely as she examined the pictures. She seemed to be confident in her selection. Scooping up the data pad, she tapped on the photo opening her file on Mr Lorso. She skimmed it, seeming to ignore Marienna for a moment before speaking without looking up. If she had information on the man, she didn't seem interested in sharing it.
    "A few things Lieutenant. Do you know why the droid's drives would have been taken? The data should have been backed up on the server."

    "I intend on paying Mr. Syko and Mr. Lorso a visit as soon as I can get out of the Compound. You and Lieutenant Fischer are welcome to come along for your investigation."

    Agent Cross finally looked up from her data pad at the marble statue across the table. The woman seemed useful enough, but Gina hadn't come to an opinion about her yet.

    "And I suggest you and Lieutenant Fischer work out your own signs, just in case."
    The final battle,
    Pain, suffering; overcome,
    by the united.


  5. #55
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    Marienna was reminded rather quickly that she hated Intelligence officers. They were cocky, self assured, and seemingly cold enough to put her reputation to shame. She hadn't expected Agent Cross to share any information, even if she had it. That wasn't how they rolled in that department. For her own thoughts, Lt. Beren suspected the barq theft was meant to be a distraction, keep the Imperials attention off of other things, or was simply part of some side hustle if that was in any way connected to the bombings. Then again, this apparently was not her place to decide or speculate.

    "It's easier to take drives from a droid, than it was to take your time trying to hack into our systems. KV hasn't had a security upgrade in some time. He..." Marienna realized she should likely not humanize the droids in front of Agent Cross. "The droid, rather, was never a priority and aside from basic maintenance no upgrades have been allotted." Of course, if Marienna had had the material available she would have done it herself, but their resources as a department were slim even in the best of times. "Further, KV doesn't always sync everything. At least not at regular intervals. It's an old, old model." The reality was, at least as far as Marienna knew, the droid liked to act out, odd cries for attention which she would be all too happy to provide.

    "As to whether or not we accompany you, that is not my decision ma'am. I will leave that to my superior officer." Lt. Beren continued with her famous neutral expression, but at least was now giving the appearance she was indeed someone who would follow the party line. She had been in enough trouble of the years. The temptation to smack the agent around a little bit was almost too great to resist.

    "If that's all, I'd like to check in with said superior officer, please." Marienna now forced a quick smile before letting it fade into nothing, it seemed as though this meeting was reaching it's natural conclusion. Marienna was champing at the bit to be free of the situation. A part of her wondered if Corwin had gone through an interview similar, though she doubted anyone suspected him of being a Gurlanin in disguise.
    Thanks to Hayabusa/Ryoku for the set.

  6. #56
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    The woman's thin lips strained under the weight of her disappointment, their edges hinting toward a frown. Their oversites in data storage were a problem, had she not had bigger mysteries to solve, a report would have been submitted saying as much.

    Marienna's abrupt change of words, a train derailing considering the woman's steadfastness thus far, gave Gina Cross pause. She likely wouldn't have noticed the slip had the woman continued on, but now it stuck out; a shiny white stormtrooper in the golden fields of Barq. She mentally filed the tidbit away for future examination.

    Lieutenant Beren deferring to Lieutenant Fischer amused Agent Cross. To the unsuspecting observer, it appeared the good little Lieutenant would do her job and follow orders. She knew better however, the contemptuous reply the most polite 'go f*ck yourself' she had heard in some time. A faint curl of her lip was the only acknowledgment.


    Marianna's smile unsettled Agent Cross, it seemed un-natural, almost ghastly as her lips curled and her too perfect features shifted. Gina stood, holstering her side arm.
    "You are free to go Lieutenant Beren, though I would suggest you have someone accompany you when you move about the compound. Just in case."
    The woman's brown eyes burned with a predatory look as they bore down on Marienna.
    "And if you think of anything else I should be made aware of, you can find me in the intelligence offices."

    She moved toward the door and tapped the keypad. The door hissed open and Agent Cross nodded to the two troopers standing across the hall opposite the door. They turned in time, moving down the corridor with Agent Cross following.


    Corwin paced slowly in the central room they had adjourned from as he patted a hand against his hip.
    They pair had been in the interview room a while, and he figured that must have been a good sign but he was filled with anxiety that made him feel like a caged animal. There had been nothing to do, all the others were going about their duties to secure the compound and their office was still being investigated by Intelligence Branch. So he waited.

    He turned when he heard the door hiss open, when Agent Cross emerged and dismissed the troopers he released a breath he didn't know he had been holding.
    Spots of mud dotted his hairline as sweat pulled the dust out of his hair and his eyes looked sunken. His lips curled slightly in a memory of the broad grin he normally wore. The day's events had apparently caught up to him.
    The final battle,
    Pain, suffering; overcome,
    by the united.


  7. #57
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    When Agent Cross left the room, Marienna breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn't give the woman the satisfaction of hearing that. A part of her wondered if she would have been a better choice for the Intelligence office. After all Marienna was almost as distant, cold and calculating as Agent Cross. Then again, that would be a job she would not enjoy, squeezing people for information, all of that pesky spying. It was a service she would be unwilling to perform on behalf of the Empire, no one really deserved that sort of treatment, yet many received it any way, often far worse than the gentle pressing she had just experienced.

    After a few moments had passed and Gina Cross was safely away Marienna rose, running her hands along her uniform, to straighten it as it were she returned the cap to her head and finally exited the room, Corwin was waiting, was it for her? She supposed it didn't matter quite so much, nevertheless she walked slowly to her superior officer and saluted him, just in case there were still eyes hidden away and watching her or rather, them. "Well, that was fun." There was a distinct sarcasm in her voice, something she seldom expressed though she thought after the day they had both had, it might be worth it to step outside of her comfort zone.

    Marienna let her gaze fall across Corwin, the stress of the day had finally taken its toll on him. She withdrew a handkerchief from the pocket of her uniform jacket and with great care gently wiped some of the sweat and dirt from Corwin's brow. "You need to clean up, and get some rest." There was kind of care and concern in her voice. He had proved himself to her as someone should trust, though she wondered if he really trusted her. Of course, the interrogation would have been something beyond his direct control. There were protocols for that sort of thing. "It's also recommended I not walk around by myself, so I'd be happy to accompany you back to the barracks." There was no smile, though, she made her own small gestures of comfort in her own way.

    Lt. Beren set out with Lt. Fischer toward the barracks, saluting those she passed as was necessary. She could feel eyes on her, people perhaps wondering if she was really who she claimed or if in fact they had somehow managed to miss her pesky doppelganger friend. Marienna shifted her gaze toward the ground, walking now with her arms folded, an unconscious move to literally close herself off from others. The events of the day as she recounted to Cross would replay in her mind, and she couldn't help but think in part, this was her fault. If she had only paid closer attention to the man who was out of place and had broken standard protocol.

    Arriving at their quarters, Beren looked at Fischer and nodded. "I'll let you to it, sir. I will be in my quarters if you want to..." she was going to conclude with the word talk, but she recognized this was perhaps not her strongest suit. "Nevermind." She bid the thought away, and with the swipe an ID card the door hissed opened, and she disappeared inside without so much as another word. Inside the lights turned themselves on and she diligently worked to take off her boats and set them ever so neatly on a small mat that sat beside the door.

    The air in her room was cool, though a bit stagnant, she made her way to her bed and sat upon it, swinging her legs over before allowing herself to collapse. She quickly peeled the gloves from her hands and threw them to floor. A rare thought to call her brother, or to send him a message crossed her mind. No, that wasn't who she was, it wasn't who they were. She didn't call to talk to him about her day or the things that happened to her. It was over a year after the Kashyyyk incident before she told him what happened. Naturally he was stunned and appalled that she failed to say anything sooner. That was her way, keep yourself distant, apart... minimize the pain or the messiness of emotion.
    Thanks to Hayabusa/Ryoku for the set.

  8. #58
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    Corwin was a bit surprised by the formality of Marienna's salute, he hadn't expected the gesture. Acknowledging with a quick return, he chalked it up to her being unsettled after the 'interview'. Perhaps another sign her icy crust didn't extend as deep as she projected.

    He was surprised to hear sarcasm coming from her and it brightened his smile. It took him a moment to realize, it was because he considered her a friend, not just a coworker, despite their relatively short acquaintance. Perhaps the interview hadn't been so bad for her after all.

    "Well I am glad to see you are still in one piece." It wasn't completely a joke, evident by the hints of tension still in his voice. He had dealt with intelligence branch before and once you were on their radar, you were never truly off it. Both being under the ISB's umbrella, he had done some looking into Agent Cross before he arrived. His careful probing since, had proved she had earned her reputation as an extremely capable operative.
    "And hardly any worse for wear."

    Those eyes again, he couldn't help but stare into the cloudy skies that threatened to brake into a violent downpour or clear to a warm sunshine at any moment as she examined his sorry state.
    He was lead out of his day dream by the feel of her dabbing at his forehead.
    His freckled cheeks took on a faint hue and he cleared his throat.
    "It has been a... long morning..."

    Corwin had not been ready to be put in charge of the compound, and he had said as much when he spoke to Captain Winters, knowing Marienna had far more field and practical experience than he did.
    It had taken his insistence and promise of a short duration for Corwin to acquiesce, but he was grateful to know he had her as his acting second.

    Surprised at the warmth of her tone, perhaps he looked worse than he had thought. Not taking the time to tidy himself had been a necessary sacrifice to begin the search immediately. He hoped it would turn up something.
    "Of course, do lead the way."
    Marienna had actually said 'happy'. He really wasn't sure what to make of that, she had seemed pleased, or to be enjoying herself at times, but happy hardly seemed a word anyone would use to describe Lt. Beren. Perhaps she was saying it, like he would have, in an attempt to comfort him?

    He followed closely until they exited the offices, then moved up walked beside Marienna as they passed armed patrols heading toward their barracks. Ties screamed in the distance, circling like vultures as they completed their grid.

    He noted the helmeted heads that followed them as they passed. He nodded solemnly. With each passing group he started to notice Marienna wilting like a cut flower in the sun. Her chin no longer held high as she scrutinized passersby. Calling attention to it, especially out in the open would; well, he wasn't sure. Would Marienna collapse into sorrow like a house of cards or burst into white hot shards of anger?

    Arriving at their barracks and presenting their ID's to the sentries, freshly posted, for verification they entered. Corwin waited for Marienna to speak first as they walked toward their rooms. Finally she paused at her door and turned to speak.

    She must really have thought he was shaken if she was stepping this far out of what he expected her comfort zone was. He opened his mouth to thank her for the offer when she paused but wasn't able to get a word out before she withdrew it and disappeared into her room. Corwin stood there for a moment, looking at the scuffed metal surface of the closed door she had just passed through.

    He felt a pang of regret that the moment had passed. Corwin enjoyed being friendly with almost anyone. He was well liked by all of his coworkers in his civilian life, but they were shallow connections of people forced to spend time together.
    At the Imperial Academy, candidates competed against each other and friendships were for leverage, academic and future benefit more than the enjoyment of companionship. His first posting had been even worse than the Academy and it had left a permanent mark on Corwin. Lt. Marienna Beren seemed to be different though, a genuine person, not trying to exploit him for her own benefit.

    He waited a moment a longer before turning and going to his own room. He had had time to settle in and his room was tidy, clothes carefully folded and stored. A well used metal tea pot and cup, and heating plate rested on the metal desk next two a trio of hard transparent frames of flimsi photographs and a small pile of well worn books. Kicking off his boots beside the door stripped off his tunic hanging it on a hook on the wall. He wanted to lay down more than anything but he knew he wouldn't want to get up if he did. Walking to the desk, he put the metal tea pot on the desk he placed it on the heating plate and activated it before opening a desk drawer to fish a tea bag out of a sealed plastic container and placing it in the empty metal cup.

    His eyes wandered to the photos on his desk.
    Corwin and a woman about his age, sharing the same rust colored hair, astride two speeder bikes posing with mirrored grins.
    The second included the first pair, this time in Imperial uniforms, the female in the Navy's black and Corwin in Field Gray and two older female humans, one fair skinned with a freckled face wearing a large grin with an inferno of curly locks cascading to her shoulders and the other olive skinned with close cut black hair graying at the temples and a stern expression on her angular face.
    The third, a picture of the Coruscant skyline, possibly from some tall building or sky car painted the normally gray structures in hues of sunset.
    A thoughtful grin spread across his lips.

    Day dreaming of his home, he headed for the showers to wash what he could from the morning's attack off.


    He looked at himself in the mirror, the jagged round scar on his chest had long faded to a large pink splotch that reminded him heroics had a cost, and vigilance had to be maintained. He pulled a black issued undershirt over his head and tucked it into his trousers then sat on his bed reaching for the fresh cup of tea on his desk that filled the room with a pleasant earthy aroma. Savoring the flavor of the warm drink, he wondered if he should go to Marienna's room.

    He still had not been able to figure out the woman. Had see offered her council because she wanted too, or because she though it was what he wanted?
    He stood and looked out the window at the compound. Patrols still crossed the roads in his view securing every area while looking for the missing drives and hunting the shape shifter.

    Perhaps he would call Terisa, perhaps she would have an insight from a woman's perspective, and he wouldn't hear the end of it if he didn't report on his first 'combat' experience to her personally before she found out in a report.
    Then again, he would surely be grilled on Lt. Beren again. He wasn't sure why Terisa had taken such an interest in the woman only mentioned in passing, other than to irritate Corwin.
    The final battle,
    Pain, suffering; overcome,
    by the united.


  9. #59
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    Sleep was a funny thing. It had a way of coming when one least expected, perhaps making it the most expected and predictable thing of all. Marienna had barely laid herself atop the bed when it took her. Eye lids drawing swiftly closed bringing the sweet surrender of a dream. A dream, what a pleasant little notion. For dreams offered sanctuary, refuge, or more straight forwardly - escape. A way out of the banality of daily existence, a space carved apart from the world that had just moments ago fallen into absolute chaos. Marienna seldom remembered her dreams.

    Most often, when she awoke she was left with a feeling. A simple, yet fleeting, feeling that she assumed was produced by the dream from which she had awoken. Feelings of warmth, love, things she would have great difficulty expressing. Yet, as the day would inevitably proceed, that feeling and all memory of it would fade into nothingness. There was no retrieving it, only the small hope that the next time she would wake a similar pleasant feeling would be returned to her only to fade once again.

    Of course not all dreams were pleasant. Indeed, they could very much be nightmares just as easily. How the mind determined exactly what would happen when one closed one's eyes was a marvelous and terrifying thing. For Marienna, at this very moment, this was her reality. Lt. Beren found herself sitting in an entirely white room, or so she had assumed it was a room. It could have been anything really. The space itself was unsettling, there was no sound, no smell, just bright white. Casting her gaze down over her body she was not, as expected, clad in her Imperial uniform. Instead, she wore a simple yellow sundress with a wide brimmed hat.

    This dream had taken her out of her work life and plunged her into something far more personal. Taking a few steps forward Marienna took note of the fact that the floor seemed to feel cool. Another glance down would affirm that she was not, in fact, wearing any shoes. Strange choices she had seemingly made. Taking a few more steps forward there was nothing in sight, just the endless sea of bright white open space. "Hello?" Marienna called out into the void? She could feel herself spoke, the words rising within her, she could feel the corners of her mouth move, her lips yet... no sound actually escaped her mouth. It was as though the devastating silence had simply consumed them without so much as a second thought.

    There was nowhere to go but forward, nothing else to do but to keep moving, one foot in front of the other in an endlessly repetitive fashion. It felt like it had been hours and even within a dream Marienna could feel herself grow tired, her legs heavier as she trudged forward. Then it happened. Something happened. A bright light, a rush of wind, pushing her back. A hand raised to guard her eyes, now barely comprehending what was happening. An explosion in the distance began rushing outward, toward her. When the cloud of dust that broke the sterile white world had almost engulfed her, the ground from beneath her disappeared. The security of land was gone and there was nothing now but free fall. Black hair flying upward as she simply fell.

    There was a desire to close her eyes, to let the fall take her into the great unknown. But instead she watched as the world above returned to the same unending white, it seemed to never grow further away. Was she falling at all? Further, she felt relief, her body remained in motions, without the endless walking. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a hand had reached out and grabbed her own, pulling her up and away, pulling her closer, holding her now. "Shh." the voice cooed gently, calmingly, saying no more as the world faded from crisp white into a void of black. There was nothing then, except a familiar smell, yet it was so faint, almost impossible to detect. Yes, she knew then, exactly who had saved her.

    Marienna awoke in the small dark space that were her quarters with a name on her tongue, and the feeling of safety, of fleeting warmth. "Corwin." Marienna whispered as she rose from the bed, prepared to work, to investigate whatever the insufferable Agent Cross had up her sleeves.
    Thanks to Hayabusa/Ryoku for the set.

  10. #60
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    The early evening sun painted the sky in hues of red, orange, and pink even though there were a few hours left until nightfall when Lt. Beren left the barracks. Corwin's quarters had been empty so he was likely back at their office. The compound still seemed deserted, with only a few pairs of personnel moving about that she could see. It was quiet. A few steps from the barracks, a female voice called out to Marienna. It was the Naval Lieutenant from the earlier meeting still wearing her flight suit with her glossy black helmet tucked under her arm. She jogged over from a group of four other pilots similarly dressed passing, likely returning from their search. A dark skinned woman with soft rounded features, her black hair was pulled into a high, tight bun. Lt Andrews looked tired, though she wore a friendly smile as she closed the distance.

    "Lieutenant Beren right? Lieutenant Andrews, Artimek Flight leader." She introduced herself with a hint of informality. "Would you mind if we chatted while we walk?" She asked, but didn't seem interested in waiting for an answer, as she continued her line of questioning.
    "How is Corwin doing?" She asked casually. "He really seemed tossed to the fire today, but he definitely rose to the challenge." Lt Andrews watched Marienna expectantly as they walked down the firm packed road toward the Admin Offices.
    The final battle,
    Pain, suffering; overcome,
    by the united.


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