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greaterawarness · 3 years ago

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Arc Training Program Ch. 4 "Getting To Know The Cadets (Part Two)"

(Sorry for the long wait! Here is part two! Hope you enjoy it!)

The next stop on hunting down his cadets is the library. He scans the room seeing some odd number of clones and Kaminoans scattered about but none were one of his. He starts walking slowly around the room until he finds someone curled on the floor with stacks of books surrounding him. His face is hidden by a large book that he is completely entranced by. He reads the cover The Species of Gree. Alpha clears his throat, but the boy doesn’t hear him. Alpha walks forward and pulls the book down so CC-1004’s eye would finally register Alpha. The boy jumps surprised and scrambles to his feet.

“Sir! Sorry sir! I didn’t see you!” He says much to loudly for a library. He hears a few shh hissed at him and winces. “Sorry… sir.”

“What are you doing?” Alpha asks realizing all the books scattered around the boy are books on different types of species. The boy’s face turns a deep shade of red.

“Uh…” Is all he manages to get out. Alpha kneels down to look at the book he was reading.

“The species of Gree?” He says before giving a deep hm while flipping through the pages.

“The Gree species is one of the oldest civilizations in the galaxy. They even predate the Republic.” 1004 explains. Alpha gives another small hm. 1004 looks down while squeezing and unqueening has hands in and out of fists nervously. “I know this probably isn’t the best use of my time but… I think studying different species and their civilizations could benefit the Republic.”

Alpha stares at the boy. He looks like he’s about to be scolded but shows no regret.

“Just don’t let your other training fall through the cracks.” Alpha hands the book back to 1004. He takes the book with wide eyes.

“I wont sir!” He says with a big, excited smile on his face. Reading has never been a big priority when training the clones. Most bounty hunters wont even take their cadets into the library. Alpha might have been the first to not scold the boy for wanting to pursue reading for leisure. Unfortunately, he had nothing to offer like he did for 2224 and 7567. Alpha never felt he had the time or patience for reading unless it was a report.

“Seen any of the others around?” Alpha asks before the kid can get to lost in his books again.

“3636 was in here not too long ago… I think… I kind of lost track of time when I picked up this book.” 1004 admits.

“Understood.” Alpha starts to turn away before looking back at 1004. “Don’t slouch when you read. You’ll mess up your back.”

After walking around the entire library and seeing no sign of 3636, he leaves. He walks with his hands behind his back and head held high. Other’s salute or acknowledge him politely as they pass through the corridors. When he makes a turn towards the mess hall, he spots Shaak Ti. She speaks with two bounty hunters. When she notices him staring, she smiles softly with a slight nod of her head down a different corridor. Alpha nods his thanks and heads in that direction.

He finds himself walking above different training rooms where other batches perform practice battles. He spots 3636 staring down at one of the ongoing battles. Alpha quietly walks to his side to watch the batch below. The batch is slightly younger then his cadets and have sloppy movements. Alpha can predict the ending but looks to 3636 who barely flinched when he approached. 3636 lets out a tsk before pushing away from the railing. Alpha raises a brow at him as the batch below fails.

“Something wrong?” Alpha asks calmly. 3636 half turns with his lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes stare at the floor in tense frustration.

“Why is it so easy from here?” He asks finally. Alpha tilts his head slightly so he continues. “From here I can see their moves before they make them. But when I’m down there it’s like I have tunnel vision. And when I slow down to see the big picture its usually to late to do anything before I realize what’s happening.”

He shakes his head and turns away. Alpha feels the corner of his mouth turn into a grin.

“What did you do before?” Alpha crosses his arms before brining one hand up to his chin pondering with great curiosity.

“Before, my batch would move ahead and I could see it all. Not at first but with trail and error I eventually learned the different battle sequences my trainer had us practice. But the ones you have us run through seem to be random. Or its like the droids have a mind of their own. I can’t predict their moves and what the others will do.”

Alpha stiffens.

“CC-3636, there are thousands of battle scenarios. Are you saying you memorized all of them?”

“Yes?” He says it as if it were obvious. “There are 1,325 to be exact. Well, 1,326 but I think one was a glitch that combined 453 and 34.”

He’s living breathing protocol droid.

Alpha stares at the boy not sure if he should be amazed or terrified. Instead, he motions for him to follow. He takes 3636 to the part of Tipoca City that only the ARC Troopers were allowed. They passed many familiar faces who acknowledged Alpha in a head nod, smile, or even gesture. When they spot 3636 following behind him, they turn cold and watch suspiciously. He eventually turns into a break room currently occupied by two ARC Troopers, Hull and Raff.

“Leave us.” Alpha’s words were cold and blunt. They pause and exchange glances pondering if they should protest or not. They make the right choice and vacate the room. 3636 doesn’t look troubled or even scared to be surrounded by true ARC Troopers. The only thing Alpha can find in the cadet’s cold analyzing eyes is curiosity. Alpha sits on one side of the holochess board and gestures for 3636 to sit on the other side. He hesitates for the first time but eventually lowers himself down studying the board intently. When Alpha turns it on, he frowns.

“What is this?”

“Dejarik. You have to use wit to win.” Alpha smiles with the holographic creatures buzzing in front of him. 3636 says nothing so Alpha does a quick run through of the rules. When he’s done, he begins. The first round Alpha goes easy on the kid letting him get a feel for the game and truly understand how it works. He still manages to win but the kid doesn’t look fazed. He merely leans back slightly with eyes narrowed on the board in deep thought. When they play their second playthrough Alpha thinks he might lose but comes through in the end. Still, 3636 doesn’t look deterred. On the third playthrough Alpha can tell there is a clear difference. The kid leans forward with eyes glued to the bored. Other ARC Troopers have begun to fill into the room to watch. Alpha has to choose each move carefully. Halfway through Alpha rubs the back of his neck wondering how he will pull the win when he lifts his eyes. He freezes when his eyes meet CC-3636’s. They stared at him like a wolf that just locked onto its prey. Alpha looks back down. He makes his move and leans back. The rest of the men in the room watch the kid, murmuring amongst themselves. Alpha wonders how many have placed bets. 3636 smiles while making his final move.

“Holy shit.” Alpha chuckles to himself. The room is in an uproar. Fordo leans against the doorway full body laughing. 3636 sits pleased with his victory. Alpha holds a handout, and they shake hands. He gets to his feet to lead the kid out of the rowdy room of ARC Troopers. No need to subject him to that horror. Fordo pats his shoulder as they pass. When they’re finally in the quiet corridor 3636 looks up at him.

“So, what was the point of that game?”

“There are very few troopers who have the strategy capabilities that you have CC-3636. Tell me, while playing the game did you win the first try? Or even the second?” Alpha places his hands behind his back and glances at the cadet as they walk.

“No.”

“Exactly. But on the third try you got the hang of it. Just like with all things it takes practice to be able to strategizes in the heat of combat. We’ll work on that. Soon you’ll be dominating on the battlefield as much as you do in holochess.” Alpha smiles at him. 3636 stares forward intrigued. He might have even smiled if Alpha wasn’t looking.

Alpha leaves 3636 to continue studying other batches so he can continue his hunt for his other cadets. He doesn’t have to go far it seems when he spots CC-1010 leaning against the windows overlooking the mess hall. Alpha frowns when he approaches. 1010 stands up straight when he notices Alpha.

“Sir.” He says plainly. Alpha gives a displeasing hm.

“What are you doing? I told you to be doing something productive not lean against a window and people watching.” Alpha crosses his arms. 1010 raises his eyebrows as if shocked but his eyes remain plain.

“Sir I assure you I am using my time wisely.” 1010 places a hand on his chest offering a small grin. Alpha frowns. “You see I am not people watching but studying. You would be surprised of what secrets you can learn from simply observing others.”

“Explain.”

Alpha decides to bite. Perhaps he’ll catch him in his own lie. 1010 gestures down to the people eating below. It’s mostly other clones but some Kaminoans and bounty hunters are mixed in.

“You see that bounty hunter there? She’s been fucking one of the Kaminoan scientists.”

Alpha frowns at 1010. “This is gossip cadet.”

“Patience, Sir, patience. I’m getting to the good part.” He assures him. Alpha settles again and looks to the female bounty hunter. “Now she is also fucking the bounty hunter over the Bravo Squad. Well, that or she wants to fuck him and is just working with him. I know this by watching their mannerisms. She acts the same around the city unless she is with the Kaminoan scientist or with the bounty hunter over Bravo Squad but there is a clear difference between the two. With the Kaminoan it’s very forced and overly flirty. Very out of her character. Almost like she’s trying to fool the Kaminoan. Then I compared that to when she is with the other bounty hunter. It’s more natural but much more secretive. Little whispers and glances here and there. A small hand gesture no one would notice you weren’t looking for it.”

“I’m failing to see the point of all this.” Alpha sighs starting to lose patience.

“I’m almost to the good part,” He assures him. “All of this intrigued me, so I followed her one day. It intrigued me because why force a romance she clearly didn’t want and hide one she clearly did. Didn’t seem right. After following her I found out that the Kaminoan scientist she’s interested in works in the genetics lab and she often convinces him to have meetings in the lab. Then after having a meeting, she would have an interaction with the other bounty hunter. One no one would notice if they weren’t looking for it.”

“Besides a serious health violation what are you getting at?” Alpha crosses his arms intrigued. He leans against the window with a smug grin.

“I believe our female bounty hunter is stealing from the genetics’ lab with the bounty hunter of Bravo Squad.”

“That’s a serious allegation. What proof do you have?” Alpha drops his arms. 1010 frowns while looking down at the mess hall at the female bounty hunter.

“Nothing but what I’ve seen.”

“Why haven’t you come forward yet?” Alpha shakes his head at the boy. CC-1010 turns to meet his eyes.

“I’m a cadet. Who’s going to believe me?”

They stare at each other for a moment as Alpha calms down. 1010 looks back out the window.

“I believe you.” Alpha says finally. 1010 stands up straight meeting his eyes again, confused.

“You do?”

“Yes,” Alpha nods confusing the boy more. “I’ll have others look into this matter.”

He looks down shocked for a moment.

“Thank you.” He says showing a genuine smile for the first time. Alpha leans against the window again prompting 1010 to mimic his stance.

“So, what made you start watching her?” Alpha asks now analyzing all bounty hunters in his site. When 1010 doesn’t answer immediately he glances over at him. He wears a grimace.

“Words often spoken are lies.” He says finally. Alpha waits for him to go on. “The bounty hunter over my batch was a master at manipulation. I learned very quickly I couldn’t take her words at face value. Instead, I learned to read her body. From there I was able to find the truth. Body language gives most liars away. When I started getting good with her, I started looking at others for practice. Our lunch lined up with the female bounty hunter’s and that’s when I noticed what was happening.”

Alpha nods while turning so his back was against the glass. He glances up at the ceiling remembering his time under Jango’s instruction.

“Jango would play mind tricks on us at times. He did it to try and push us mentally. Made most of us stronger. I know of bounty hunters like the one that taught you. They don’t use those tactics to help you but more to control you. But as long as you pass the simulations then the Jedi and Kaminoans are happy to let you graduate.”

1010 looks up at him.

“You don’t think those cadets should graduate?”

“I think those cadets will deal with more obstacles later down the road then most others.” Alpha says meeting his eyes again. The cadet nods but Alpha wonders if he really understood what he meant. Alpha clears his throat deciding to turn the conversation to a brighter note. “Do you watch everyone’s mannerisms then?”

“Yes, it’s become second nature now.” 1010 crosses his arms with his back to the glass now mirroring Alpha.

“So, what are mine?” Alpha arches a brow at him. CC-1010 pauses with eyes staring forward. At that moment Shaak Ti approaches making 1010 stand up straight.

“Sir, I see you and the General have business to discuss and I should really get back to blaster training.” He says before walking quickly down the corridor.

“Hey wa—never mind.” Alpha shakes his head with a chuckle. Shaak Ti gives him a look, but he just shakes his head.

“Something wrong?” She asks.

“No… well? Possibly. I have good reason to believe that two of the bounty hunters here are selling Kaminoan genetic secrets.” Alpha says pointing out the female bounty hunter below.

“That is quite a claim. And what reason do you have to support this?” she asks.

“I have on good authority that it is so. If it’s not, then I will personally apologize for any damage done.” Alpha insists. This surprises Shaak Ti.

“Alpha, you have never apologized for anything.” She says eyeing him slightly. He gives a nonchalant shrug.

“Times are changing.”

“It appears so.” She chuckles softly. Alpha notices a datapad in her hand.

“Did you need something?” He asks.

“Yes, I’m afraid there has been an incident with two of your cadets in hanger bay three.” She hands him the datapad. He reads the CC numbers and groans. He immediately takes off for the hanger bay.

When he arrives to the bay he finds CC-8826 and CC-1138 sitting handcuffed on the floor surrounded by a group of troopers.

“These are my cadets. What’s going on?” Alpha has to hold back his anger. 8826 and 1138 look nothing but bored while sitting at the feet of the troopers.

“Sir, we caught these two trying to steal a ship.” The trooper shoots a look at 1138 when he yawns. Alpha felt his anger boil in his chest.

“Sorry for any damages or inconveniences. I’ll take it from here.” Alpha squeezes his hands into tight fists already running through every exercise and drill he was about to make them run through and then he contemplated if he should just fail them and put them on sanitation duty. The cadets are uncuffed and follow behind Alpha.

“We weren’t trying to steal a ship.” 8826 says breaking the tension between them. Alpha whips around to face them. They still look unfazed by Alpha’s furious face.

“Then what pray tell were you doing?” Alpha shouts. His voice echoes through the corridor. He hears someone scurry out of the hall.

“I just…” 8826 starts but stops. Alpha shakes his head.

“No, go on. Explain yourself!”

“I just wanted to know how it works.” He says at last. Alpha shifts his weight taking in his words. He must not answer in time because 8826 goes on. “The ship. I’ve studied the design like everyone else but when it’s put together it looks nothing like the holograms. I wasn’t trying to steal the ship I just wanted to see what the inside looked like and how it all connected.”

Alpha felt his anger begin to simmer. He looks to 1138.

“He couldn’t lift one of the panels.” He shrugs. Alpha feels himself chuckle a laugh. He rubs above his eyebrows.

“You really weren’t trying to steal the ship?” Alpha feels like he just experienced a crash landing.

“No.” they both say. Alpha studies their faces. They didn’t appear to be lying but both boys have always been hard to read in the past. Of course, neither boys would be his first to suspect of desertion. Alpha lets out one final sigh releasing the anger he had only moments before.

“Very well.” He says turning away. He leads them away from the hanger by to one of the distant larger storage rooms near their barracks. He has to find 99 to open it for him. inside they cough and cover their noses from the dust collecting on all the items inside. Most were outdated gear and weapons with some obsolete spare parts here and there. 8826 and 1138 walk around taking in all the things while Alpha follows 99 to the back. He helps 99 pull a tarp off an old speeder bike. 8826 and 1138 stare at it intrigued.

“This is an old speeder bike left here by one of the Mandalorian bounty hunters. It’s rundown and needs a lot of work. You want to know how things work? Start by taking this apart and putting it back together.” Alpha places his hands on his hips watching 8826 squat in front of the bike inspecting it. He gets the same crazed look in his eye that he does when he’s in combat. Alpha leans against a crate glancing over at 1138.

“You interested in building the bike too?” He asks. 1138 has always been silent and calm. He only ever showed real anger when he lost and continued to fail at something. Every other time it’s the same blank expression. 1138 crosses his arms and nods. Alpha leaves it at that not forcing a conversation. 99 helps them clear a path to push the bike back to their barracks. Alpha didn’t want the kids let loose in this room to often. When they reach the barracks they walk in at the same time CC-4477 does. Alpha pauses. He had almost forgotten about the cadet.

“CC-4477,” he calls over while 99 leads 8826 and 1138 to the back wall with the bike. 4477 walks up to him. “Where have you been all day?”

“Sir? What do you mean? We passed each other in the corridor several times today.” He says plainly. Alpha frowns trying to think back. Did he really walk right past one of his cadets and never notice? He almost wants to ask more questions when the doors open and CC-1010 walks in with CC-1004. CC-4477 walks over to greet his brothers leaving Alpha feeling odd. He would have to keep a closer eye on 4477.

When the rest of the cadets return, the quiet barracks become loud with chatting cadets that prepare for the night. Alpha stays in the room helping 1138 and 8826 dismantle the bike and providing what wisdom he could all the while keeping an eye on the others. 1010 and 4477 sit on their extended racks chatting about their day and what they noticed while 7567 and 2224 sort through their gear. 99 shuffles around cleaning up here and there before getting pulled into a conversation with 3636 and 1004. Alpha feels a sense of peace wash over him. A feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time. If ever.

When the night drags on he leaves the cadets to bathe and get to bed. He walks back to his room to find Shaak Ti watching one of the cadets practice battles. He walks over to join her at his table. She smiles at him while sliding a data pad his way.

“What’s this?” He asks while examining it.

“It seems you were correct about that bounty hunter. She and her accomplice have been detained. It seems the Kaminoan she manipulated had no idea. Still, he will face his own punishment from the Kaminoans.” She leans back in her chair.

“That fox.” Alpha says softly to himself. He puts the datapad down wearing a proud smile.

“It seems taking an off day was good for you.” She smiles warmly at him. He rubs the back of his neck.

“What can I say? You were right. Each boy is very different and has their own set of skills.”

“Now you must find a way to utilize those skills to get them to work together.” She rests her arms on the table leaning forward slightly. Alpha nods before reaching over to turn the holovid off. The sit in silence enjoying the peace.

“Thank you.” He says suddenly. She tilts her head. “For helping me.” “Your success is all of our success.” She says making him roll his eyes slightly. After a pause she adds. “You have changed Alpha.”

“I believe you’re right.” He nods with eyes falling on the table where his hand rests. He looks up to meet her eyes. “You have changed as well. From the first time we met.”

“That is the nature of time. It changes us. For better or for worse.”

His eyes drop to the table again this time staring at her hand resting on the table.

“Do you think it’s for the better?” he asks staring at her hand resting loosely on the white table. She takes this time to stand, pulling his eyes towards her face again. Before she walks out of his room she pauses and says.

“I hope, Alpha. I hope.”

Read full story HERE on AO3

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agentnamed · 1 year ago

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Rolling her eyes, a very unqueen-like action, Margaret placed a hand on the small of her back. Being pregnant was like wearing full plate armor, heavy and slightly painful.

"I understand that there can be complications if I'm not careful. But I know my limits! I'm so tired of people acting like I'll break at the slightest touch."

@siberianwarriors liked an AU on the wish list.

Since finding out that she carried the kingdom's heir, everyone was treating Margaret like she was made of crystal. It was maddening, but she tried to understand, she was the queen after all, and her and Steve's child was the future of the kingdom.

Today was especially frustrating because if she hadn't been pregnant, her and her knights would have been sparring in the training yard.

What made matters worse was the fact that Steve's best friend was on rotation for her shadow.

"Barnes, speak plainly. Do I look like an invalid to you?"

#siberianwarriors #pregnancy tw

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techouspeaks · 2 years ago

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Are Laura and Riko Really That Bad?

This isn't gonna be long review but I may do an editorial on this related.

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of people saying how much they hate Laura from Tropical Rouge Precure. She's stuck up and mean and surprisingly, a lot people seem to feel that way about Riko from Mahou Tsukai Precure.

To where I ask "Have you been around kids?" They're not picture perfect sweethearts all the time. Granted, yes I get it. You're watching a show, not baby sitting an annoying character and yeah, there are characters I'd like to punch in the face despite some of them being kids, but I also can confess I wasn't a perfect angel myself.

I wasn't a monster but I had moments of being a down right witch with an electric broom to put it nicely. (And without cussing.) You know where those moments came from? Insecurity. Peer pressure and that's what Laura and especially Riko come from.

Riko is a perfectionist because she comes from a family of magic users that excel in their skills including an older sister. She's sorta like Chibi Moon in that regard. She wants to do good in her skills and when an evil threat threatens that, she's even more pressured. She takes it very seriously and when she meets someone who isn't serious at all and sorta treats it like a joke which is Mirai at times, she's naturally offended by what she sees as something she takes pride in, as learning magic is part of her way of life. So she feels if she doesn't excel at it, she possibly sees herself as a failure, something that can be relatable to others.

Laura is gonna be Queen and granted she wants to be Queen for the wrong reasons, you can tell she does care about her people and does worry about her kingdom. Part of that "stuck up attitude" is a front because she's afraid of showing her emotions, because she may see that as weak and "unqueen like". A good Queen keeps her cool so she tries to be that.

Than the other part is that Laura actually knows what she's doing many times. She knows what words to say, what others need to hear, she doesn't care what others think of her. She knows people may think ill of her and that's sorta what it takes to be a leader. You're gonna have people think fondly of you and not think fondly of you and you can't always change opinions and if you constantly worry about what others feel about you, you're never gonna get things done.

Yes, Laura's words can be harsh but sometimes it's needed. Sometimes you need a bit of a prick to snap you out of things.

Remember that these girls are also thirteen and while we don't always like to admit it, we weren't perfect as teens and teens can be awful. Now it doesn't excuse behaviors but that's why you grow and it takes time to grow. In fact, half the time I feel like most of these confessions of hating on Laura and Riko, come from the fact they maybe afraid to admit as kids we all had our moments of being mean or unruly, maybe not as much as others but we had moments. Part of growing up is admitting mistakes and reflection is realizing you weren't always in the right, but that's okay.

Now I'm not excusing behaviors or trying to shame or pressure anyone to like these girls. I'm just saying keep in mind that not all the "stuck up attitude" is out of being just mean. Sometimes, its pressure and especially with Riko and Laura, it is the pressure they put on themselves. While they're not Virgo, a typical Virgo trait is we're harder on ourselves the most, but also hide these facts to keep from getting hurt and be critical of others because of it.

Kids do this all the time. They will be a bit of a know it all. They will put up a front sometimes and can seem stuck up. When faced with an insecurity, even as a teen or I even say especially as a teen, they don't always know how to deal with it that's healthy and beneficial to others around them. They just know they feel that feeling, want to get away from it or hide it in hopes no one will see it cuz they pressure it as a bad thing. That's being human.

Not saying you should like them but maybe think why they are the way they are. My editorial I eventually want to do will cover more on how harsh we should be with on kid/teen characters as some characters behaviors aren't excusable but some can be understandable, if the character is developing well and to me Laura and Riko developed pretty well.

Laura is starting to realize there's more to humans than meets the eye. She no longer sees them as stepping stones to her being Queen but friends and perhaps through this she'll realize what it truly means to be a Queen or maybe even more outrageous, maybe she wants to stay human and someone else be future Queen. Either way, I can see both happening as she does show she does care about her friends and she's smart too, showing she knows that she needs to keep her mermaid life a secret, as she does so when talking to Manatsu's mother.

Riko developed nicely too and honestly, I never thought she was stuck up. (Have they read/watch Harry Potter? *coughhermionecough*) I always saw her as acting on her insecurities to hide and perhaps the reason why I'm standing up for them is because I've done the same things and relate to them, so maybe I just see it as "If you judge them harshly, you might end up judging real life people harshly. Just to keep in mind."

We all judge people, it's only human especially after being mistreated. I forget too so I can't be waving fingers too much myself. I'm just saying it's good to keep in mind so we won't feel too bitter about characters that may get on our nerves, especially if they're kids.

I see so many people have these harsh attitudes, like kids are always polite and sweet like Sango/Cure Coral or obedient like Minori/Cure Papaya. Hate to break it to you but kids are generally the opposite. Some can be sweet and easier to manage, generally though, the attitude comes with the package.

That's my thoughts on the subject! Seeya next time!

#precure #tropical rouge precure!#tropical rouge precure #maho tsukai precure

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cipheramnesia · 3 years ago

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Fuck this. Unqueens your damned.

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kaylikestodrawlittlenightmares · 4 years ago

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You know what f*Ck you

*unqueens your Vespa *

#c o m e d y #god this is horrible

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zenaquaria · 2 years ago

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Ysra Galaren - Healing Growth

With the conclusion of the Auscives Company’s 3rd arc of the campaign, Ysra demanded I make something relevant to that. She’s spent the first two arcs being aloof and grumpy and distrustful of most everyone else.

Arc 3 hit her hard and fast, bringing her home only to crack her (and the party) over the head with blow after blow from the machinations of the enemy. Well, the Company took exception to that and swung back! Hard. Removing a dust lich curse over a secluded tree manor, cleansing the lifeless Bleakscar of a living curse fueled by the shard of a fallen deity, and then stopping an incarnation of a piece of that fallen deity from summoning the Unqueen of Dragons to the mundane plane.

And through all that, she learned what happened with the man she’d been courting before the war and why he seemed to suddenly drop her to marry her ex-best friend. The reason why she wore a brooch of cracked glass to signal to other Vaeleryn elves she wasn’t available for courting. She learned to trust her companions, even the one who was hiding a massive secret she would have, had it been anyone and anywhere else, killed him for.

And now, she’s ready to move forward. To heal, and grow, and look to the now and future~

Do not repost, edit, alter, trace/copy, use/redistribute my artworks without my permission.

#dnd #dungeons and dragons #wood elf #ranger #comic #growth #elf #art #not pony #auscives adventures #ulei'var #my ocs #ysra galaren

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tiend · 6 years ago

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too sinful, won’t listen

The Jedi General’s face was impassive as he watched the native queen walk out of the parley tent, functionaries and bodyguards of both species swept along in her wake. Her face wasn’t human, but between it and her rigid posture he didn’t need the Force to sense her disapproval. It was the third day of negotiations, and the third day she’d walked out. The Republic needed that moon for a supply depot, and every day she delayed was another day she risked being deposed in the name of wartime expediency. One of her minor functionaries bowed to her, and broke away from the party to venture into the clone camps.

Genet Company had stuck to their billet. It was raining, a cold drizzle that got into their blacks; a good time to stay inside, maintain their kit, play sabaac, and not get shot at. Not that they’d been shot at since they landed here; if anything, all the locals were disconcertingly friendly. They looked up when their interpreter hustled in, but most looked away again. They’d gotten used to it in the last few weeks; it was an aulk, one of the species native to this system. It looked a cross between a heron, an owl, and a seal, and smelled fusty in the damp.

“No, no,” it muttered to itself as it made its way to the captain’s quarters. “No good.” It’d been in the parley tent today; some sort of religious duty.

“Bad news, Lump?” called out Sabot. Its name translated to something like “a person who sits on the banks of history and watches the water” and was not pronounceable by human throats. It had gurgled a hoot of aulkish laughter at its nickname.

“No, no,” it said. “Jedi.”

“What’s the general up to now?” asked Gantry. The sabaac game paused, as the players’ ears pricked up.

“Not listen to unqueen, not listen to me,” said Lump. “Jedi cannot go.”

“Still stuck on that, are they?”

The aulk bobbed its head in its version of a nod. “Tell captain.” It went down the corridor, and out of sight.

The sticking point, as Genet understood it, was that the unqueen - representing both finfolk and aulks - refused to let their general even fly over the projected site for the supply depot. Genet and the rest of the 981st Engineers had done an initial survey, but their general had been forbidden to even break atmo. He, the Jedi, and presumably the Republic, did not find that acceptable. The unqueen did not give one single flying fuck about what the Jedi thought, and had said so in nearly those exact words. She’d also said something about war crimes, although by then her accent had thickened too much for anyone to make it out. Kebiin Company had had duty in the parley grounds that day, and the helmet footage had been a hot commodity.

Lump came back, its featherfur less ruffled. Their captain knew his job.

“Pray for tomorrow,” it said, shaking itself out. “Small hope.”

“You tried to talk to our general?” said Gantry.

“Even tried show,” it fluted, sadly. “Not leave tent.”

“You tried to show him something?” said Sabot, who’d had a run of shitty hands and was tired of being inside. “Can you show us?”

“Yes,” said the aulk. “Show, yes.”

A small group left the billet, clones driven outside by boredom or curiousity. The aulk went first, its stooped gait leading them through the busy streets. The locals were still out; aulk featherfur was largely impervious to weather, and the finfolk loved water. Not many droids; the salt and damp played havoc with their systems. They walked in strange processional through the city to the summit of one of the smaller hills that surrounded the bay. From here, they could see all the way down to the finfolk’s gleaming houses on the shoreline. The aulks preferred to make their roosts on the hills.

“Place of, of.” Lump stopped inside the portico of the building, and checked its translation pad. “Virtue in perigee? Lowest point. Unqueens say, no lower.” It opened the door and went inside, turning on lamps as it went. Dowse, Gantry, and the rest followed it in, out of the rain. The walls were undressed stone, and were hung with portraits. Not portraits, the clones realised as they got closer. Carbonite. Children in carbonite, small frozen faces looking down at them.

“Lump, what is this?” said Gantry, shocked. There had to be hundreds, both aulk and finfolk, dustless and peaceful.

“Soldier,” said Lump, surprising them.

“They’re not soldiers, they’re children,” scoffed Sabot.

“You child soldier,” Lump said, in a voice harsher that they’d known it was capable of. “They our child soldier. Some our child soldier. More other place.”

“What - what happened?”

Their aulk was flipping through its datapad again. “They neotenic. Look young. Hard to fight.”

“What the fuck,” said Dowse. “Because people don’t like shooting children? You made soldiers to look like children?”

“Yes,” fluted the aulk, mournfully. “Lowest point.”

“Fucking hells,” breathed someone else.

“Very bad war. Make land, water unclean, dirty. War stop, first unqueens promise peace, break diadem, kneel,” it went on.

“Mistakes were made?” said Dowse.

“Atomic dirty,” said the aulk. “Atomic in water, in ground. Promise clean place, place for child soldier. Jedi can’t go. Jedi old and sinful.”

“You nuked your moon,” said Sabot.

“Not place you were,” replied Lump. “Some.”

Gantry laughed. “But our general is too sinful to see even the radioactive bits?”

“Yes,” said Lump. “Too old, too sinful, won’t listen.”

Sabot scoffed. “Jedi don’t sin. No drinking, no drugs, no sex. All monastic repression and earth tones.”

“War crime,” said the aulk, half-hissing. The clones exchanged glances, and decided against defending their absent general’s honour in favour of finding out what the unqueen had said.

“We don’t understand,” said Gantry evenly. “Jedi don’t commit war crimes.”

“No, no, no,” said Lump, its featherfur ruffling up in agitation. “Not commit war crime, use war crime. Use you.”

For a while, there was only the noise of the rain on the stone roof.

“Use us?” said Dowse incredulously. “We’re war crimes?”

“Child soldier, war crime,” Lump said, and added a small mournful trill to the end in its own language.

“Hang on, hang on,” said Gantry. “No, wait, I still don’t get it.”

“I think Lump means our general can’t visit the moon because we’re soldiers?” said Sabot, questioning, and got a head bobble in return.

“Too old, moon for child,” it added. “Only child. You child. Jedi old.”

“Fierfek,” said Dowse. In their experience, people assumed the worst of them; assumed it was the Jedi that leashed their troops into civilised behavior. “Is that why everyone’s so nice to us?”

“Yes!” fluted the aulk. “Penance.” Now they thought about it, none of the small gifts had been given to the Jedi. Every small carving or pastry or bunch of flowers had been given to one of them.

“Thank you,” said Gantry, finally. “Thank you for showing us. Are they - are you going to wake them up? Ever?”

“They ask, when peace, when ground clean,” said the aulk, and made a ritual gesture. “When unqueens crowned, when peace.”

It bowed solemnly to the hall of sleeping children, bowed deeper than it had to the unqueen before turning off the lamps and closing the door. The grey rain seemed to fit the half-light of the early evening, and they followed the aulk back to their billet in silence, alone with their thoughts.

The talks failed. The Jedi General, no longer impassive, and his troops were escorted from the system by an insultingly large shoal of finfolk ships. It’s hard to depose someone from a throne they didn’t hold, that no one wanted. Soon after, the Interregnum closed its borders to the Republic and the Confederacy alike. Rumour said the finfolk pilots would let clones through the cordon, and rumour decided that if the Interregnum wanted those vat-bred abominations, it was welcome to them.

#tiend writes #tiend builds a tower of soapboxes and rants #writing wednesday #ficlet #still more OCs #interregnum #disagreement #finish the clone wars

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