[OOM] Pilot Quarters

[fighting_mad]

Plourr is not pleased when the comm starts buzzing at 0230. She yanks her government-issue pillow over her head.

It doesn't stop.

She swears viciously and runs a hand blindly along the floor of her tiny quarters, pawing through her things for the comm unit.

After a moment, she finds it, and it's a half-awake lieutenant who slaps the 'on' switch and snarls, "What the kriff do you want?"

[OOC: Last bit of whitetext from "The Warrior Princess," copyright Dark Horse Comics & Lucasfilm.]

Comments

[sw-npc.livejournal.com]

A full holo of the Grand Duchess Synna Pernon shimmers into focus. "Princess Isplourrdacartha," she says tightly, her face pinched.

[fighting_mad]

Plourr sits up, all thoughts of sleep vanished. The duchess has never called her before, much less in expensive full-holo. Sharp eyes take in the lines in the older woman's face, the disheveled air to her appearance that Synna Pernon would never allow--

"What happened?" she asks brusquely, sweeping her hair out of her face.

[sw-npc.livejournal.com]

The duchess glances away for a painful moment.



"You had best return to Eiattu, Isplourrdacartha."

[fighting_mad]

She throws the covers off. "What happened?"

[sw-npc.livejournal.com]

"There was an attack. The Priamsta have taken responsibility for it and are seceding from the throne," she says, hand rubbing her elbow.

[fighting_mad]

Her mother-in-law isn't looking at her. Warning klaxons sound in Plourr's head, caused by more than simply the abysmal news. "What kind of attack?"

[sw-npc.livejournal.com]

The grand duchess falters for a moment, and only a moment. "An explosion in one of the conference rooms, during a Cabinet meeting."

[fighting_mad]

Oh hell.

Plourr's eyes rise fast, and she holds her head high and voice even. "Was Rial there?"

[sw-npc.livejournal.com]

The duchess's silence speaks volumes.

[fighting_mad]

He's--


"You're not in love with him? Or maybe you are and you just haven't realised it yet."

"No."

"It sneaks up on you. There's a chance I'm wrong. But you should be careful all the same."

"Careful of what, that he'll smile me to death?"

"That he'll break your heart."



"I'll resign my commission," Isplourrdacartha says matter-of-factly, "and arrange passage to Eiattu. I should be on-planet within four days. Will there be anything else?"

[sw-npc.livejournal.com]

The grand duchess looks surprised; taken aback. "Isplourrdacartha--" She shakes her head faintly. "Plourr. You have my condolences." The words are stilted, but her tone and her expression are not. They are grieving and almost kind; far kinder than any response she has ever given her daughter-in-law. It isn't exactly a secret, after all, that Plourr and Synna's son had become very close the last time that the princess had been on Eiattu.

[fighting_mad]

"And you have mine. Four days, Your Grace." Isplourrdacartha clicks the personal comm unit off on her great aunt's bleak expression, and she steps out of her bunk and efficiently starts dressing.

'Some of her earliest memories are of flying.

The sensation would last for only a second, but it sent such a rush through the young girl. She was never afraid, but always exhilarated, because she knew her father would be there to catch her.

Nothing in her young life made her feel as good.

For most of her adult life, Plourr has been flying, but now the sensation is different. She has become a fierce warrior and pilot without peer, blasting her foes out of the air ... all the while wishing for the deaths of the men who butchered her family.

Now she's returned to her homeworld, as she knew in her heart she would have to someday ... even though no one would be there to catch her.

That is, until now.'

Not anymore.