Unvindicated (January 2021)
AURUMY
Aurumy, having sent her coordinates to Jaheira—solely under terms that help was on the way—could do little more than wait for her girlfriend to arrive.
Priyet was not the barren wasteland most Oroveins would describe it as, at least, not any more so than a place like Abaddon. As the Wild West of Ellisaria, The Vindicator was easily hidden, if only because there was nothing flashier than fool's gold...and around these parts there was a whole lot of that to be found.
Ru had done nothing to be exiled by her people and yet, having returned to her home planet since her captivity aboard Blackout, found that the only people who accepted her without her halo were the so-called excommunicated of their kind. There might have been a time where she would have judged these people, would have felt shame for them going against the teachings of their race that decreed no one may utilize their gilded touch for any personal gain. But as with most things, the pyrites of this land often had motives other than greed which banished them here.
Would you steal a loaf of bread to feed your family? Because all Murcel had done was cast a few custom armor orders in 24k gold to make ends meet and he'd wound up here: separated from his family and marooned out on the farthest, floating isle, far from home. He wasn't the selfish scourge of society, he was a friend, and he was the one helping Aurumy not only hide a giant spaceship, but currently trying to figure out how to destroy the damn thing.
Both Oroveins currently stood before the hulking vessel, staring up at it, without the foggiest idea of what to do next.
JAHEIRA
Aurumy had always been steadfast in her convictions, often to Jaheira’s dismay. Their brief but heated conversation proved there was no convincing her otherwise about destroying the Vindicator. Jaheira sent a text to Kaelee after receiving Aurumy’s coordinates and quickly boarded the Star Hammer toward Ellisaria.
She arrived on the island of Priyet a short time later to find Aurumy and...somebody else staring up at the massive ship.
“There you are,” Jaheira exclaimed. She looked at the other Orovein then and arched an eyebrow. “...and who are you?” With the bounty on Ru’s head, Jaheira didn’t trust anybody. Six million credits was a lot of money.
JUDAX
From the nearby town came a speeder with an Orovein riding upon it, a tall, angular man with dark skin, white clothes and intense golden eyes, his long hair tied back into a bun. He rides swiftly into the hangar and slows down once he's in there and within walking range. The supposed Orovein leapt off the speeder and headed on over towards them with haste, looking up at the ship and then back towards them.
He seemed unarmed at a first glance (though the clothes he wore could have easily concealed something), but when he got closer he gestured to the ship and started to talk "Wah a' unnuh- a - d- Oh fuck this accent." he growled in a very Judax voice and pulled a weapon from his sash, raising an energy blaster straight for Aurumy's head "No one fuckin' move or I show y'all exactly how fuckin' pissed I am" his faux gold eyes burned a moment longer before the holoskin dissipated and revealed the kingpin himself, teeth bared and acid-green eyes burning with a murderous rage.
AURUMY
Aurumy trusted Murcel. Not only was he an Orovein like she was, but he was also a Blackout survivor that had been unfairly stripped of his halo. Not only that, but credits--even six million of them--meant little to the exiled people of Priyet, as most of them had ended up excommunicated for producing their own means of golden currency against the strict laws and morality police (literally) of Ellisaria.
Honestly, Jaheira would not even have the opportunity to be thoroughly suspicious of one Orovein before another arrived by speeder. This one, however, was known by neither Aurumy nor Murcel, and therefore had ALL of their suspicions redirected upon him even BEFORE he promptly dropped his accent...and pulled a weapon on the gilded girl that stood between him and his Vindicator prize.
Ru didn't even flinch as Judax's holoskin flickered and then deteriorated entirely to reveal his true form. Staring down the barrel of a blaster tended to make whoever was holding it pretty inconsequential, after all: it didn't matter if it was Mobius's most wanted or some random street thug, the alien girl knew she was in danger. "Murcel, Jaheira, please don't do anything rash. Judax, I wasn't expecting the opportunity to meet with you personally giving the amount of credits you were willing to put towards someone else trying to reason with me for you." Her word choice was...careful, but not quite diplomatic given the sure, unwavering eye contact she was making with the Tarlaxian. "I'm glad we will have the chance to resolve our differences in person."
More worried about Jaheira doing something dumb than Murcel going against her orders and putting himself in danger, Aurumy reached out and touched her girlfriend's wrist: meant to calm, but also keep a hand where she could detect a twitchy trigger finger.
JAHEIRA
Jaheira didn’t have time to continue interrogating the other Orovein because they were approached by somebody on a speeder. Neither Aurumy nor Murcel recognized the newcomer, and that put Jaheira on edge. She watched closely for the slightest hint of aggression, and his sudden movement toward the sash made Jaheira draw her own pistol in succession, pointing it at him.
Jaheira was afraid that at any moment, Judax would kill Aurumy, and her heart was hammering in her chest. Tension hung heavy in the air with both Judax and Jaheira pointing their weapons. She thought about shooting the Tarlaxian right then and there, but Aurumy’s plea had her reconsider.
Aurumy brushed Jaheira’s wrist and she swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Don’t shoot, please,” Jaheira said. “I’m putting the gun away.” And then she re-holstered the firearm and put up her hands in a show of surrender.
Jaheira knew Judax did not negotiate, and she felt helpless in that moment, unable to protect the one she loved the most.
JUDAX
Judax's sharp teeth bared, his eyes were wild and his face scrunched with white-hot rage. That expression fell in disbelief as Aurumy just stood there and Morningstar put her gun away "What the hell is wrong wit y'all!?" he yelled furiously and pointed his gun between the two of them in some attempt to drag out a defensive reaction but that ship had long sailed. He sneered in frustration and lowered his gun just slightly "Y'all are fuckin' crazy."
Aurumy was the one who'd rubbed him the wrong way the most, snapping his furious gaze towards her as he got even closer "Just sell me the ship so I can shove it in a fuckin' collection and we can all call this a big misunderstandin'... then ya can try ta psychoanalyze me all ya want, shrink ehehh...heh" he laughed dangerously, it wasn't a remotely happy laugh, he was barely containing how pissed off he was, looking plenty unhinged in the process.
"You crossed me, Aurumy. You crossed me real bad, you're lucky I'm even negotiatin' with ya. Now it's time for you to decide what this ship is worth, ya life or some creds? You got till I count to ten to accept a sale or ya dead, you got me?" he lifted his gun again and with no one else raising their weapons he pressed his gun right up too close to Ru's forehead.
"One."
AURUMY
"With all due respect, Judax, we already had this conversation over the phone. My answer then remains my answer now, and I implore you to respect that: if not for me, then for every single survivor out there who has had sickness stirred in their bellies each time they saw this cruiser come to port."
Aurumy was calm, but to think her immune to Judax's threats meant you simply did not know her. Jaheira had to understand that she KNEW the risks she was taking, and that she DIDNT want to lose the family she had gained through loving and being with her. But this, both selfishly and unselfishly, was more important. The Orovein had few hills she was willing to die on, but seeing each and every last one of the giant, piloted trauma-triggers in this galaxy burn was definitely one of them.
"Mursel, we are continuing as planned. Please have my Morningstar help you," the gilded girl informed her fellow, halo-stripped alien. My Morningstar, Ru had said, a subtle but direct plea to Jah to trust her, as with all the strife they had been through as of late in their relationship, her use of such a sweet, possessive pronoun had been decidedly absent as they worked through their issues. The Orovein male stepped forward and gently bade the human woman to follow him back to his station, and should Judax's eyes (but likely not his blaster) follow them, he'd see that--while obviously moving them out of the line of fire--they'd already prepped: there was a commcam set up there, ready to record the LITERAL fireworks that the therapist-turned-activist had planned for the Vindicator.
"The fact that you think my intention was to cross you, Judax, is woefully incorrect, and it genuinely pains me that you think I told you no just to tell you no. I am righting a wrong that is long overdue, one of several I intend on correcting for myself and so many others." Unfortunately for Aurumy, when Judax began to count, there was no real opportunity to build a rapport nor pick his brain for the necessary commonality between them that might make him reconsider, abandon his quest for something more attainable, and not shoot her dead.
As patient as Aurumy was, she was also not fond of being spoken to like a child given all that she had been through. "Access code QU12N3FTW," the young lady spoke aloud, speaking softly but proving she carried a VERY big stick as the Vindicator behind her promptly came to life and responded with clear recognition: Acknowledging Aurumy, awaiting orders.
In this life, Ru lives by the motto do no harm, but take no shit, and they'd officially reached the second part of that tagline. "Threat detected, target blaster and Tarlaxian heat signature," she instructed the vessel's AI, which armed itself and locked onto the Modox. Make no mistake, Jude could choose to shoot her dead right then, but he'd be blown to smithereens shortly thereafter. "Now--will you please stop counting and can we talk like civilized adults? No head-shrinking required. Deal?"
JAHEIRA
There was little Jaheira could do in that moment other than watch things unfold. Any retaliation meant Judax would likely shoot Aurumy, and it was a risk she was unwilling to take. Her hands were clenched as she stared down the king pin, sizing him up, debating all the ways in which she could kill him if he so much as harmed a single hair on Aurumy's head.
Jaheira was notoriously bad at following orders. Aurumy instructed her to help Mursel, and she shook her head. "Ru, no--" but there was no time for an argument. She looked between Mursel and Judax, finally electing to follow the other Orovein, but not before warning, "If you hurt her, Judax, I will kill you."
She had no choice but to trust Aurumy's plan. Out of the line of fire, Jaheira rounded on Mursel. "And why should I trust you? What are we doing here?" The commcam at the station caught her attention then. "What the hell is this for?"
JUDAX
'My Morningstar'
Judax' eyes snapped between them briefly, brain obviously processing thoughts about that but on the surface all he gave away was the bubbling over white hot rage. His pupils were barely pinpricks as he pierced Ru with his stare, butthen he saw the commcam. Were they going to film this!? what for? to mock him? he was so focused on his own goals he was failing to see the point.
"That's what I'm doin'! I'm the one tryna put this shit right!" he gestured wildly with the gun probably alarmingly "All you want ta do is sweep this shit unda the rug like it never happened, do ya think ya the only person he got ta!?" his Tarlaxian accent (or at least the one from his region) got thicker and deeper with ...urgency. Emerald blood trickled down from his nostrils on the left as his blood pressure rose minimally enough to burst a few vessels in that already abused nose of his.
He was obsessed with the need to get this ship. So much so that when that big ol' turret stuck its head out he considered ignoring it at great risk. He blinked harshly up at that gun and finally came to his senses partially though, glaring furiously "Usin' his tools against me. Ain't that Ironic" he laughed bitterly, blood spittle flying from his lips.
"Ya makin' a mistake pointin' that thing at me." he growled as he raised his free hand and slowly put away his gun back in his sash, eyes narrowed at her and Jaheira. He should have put it on the ground but he hadn't explicitly been asked to. One of his claws was burning hot acid green though as he raised both hands.
Watching Jaheira walk away and question the other Orovein. "Ain't it obvious? they're makin' a big spectacle out of this bullshit." he sneered. lips curling over deadly sharp teeth in disgust.
"Tryna erase the fact that Dr. Weiss ever happened."
AURUMY
Mursel was decidedly less calm about all of this. He trusted Aurumy, but he didn’t know Jaheira. Her line of questioning seemed to trigger the Orovein, who had likely been subjected to some sort of interrogation in his past because he SNAPPED at her rather quickly in response. “Why should I trust YOU? Your own girlfriend didn’t even tell you what she was doing! I’m here to help, don’t treat me like your enemy while some crazy dude is the one waving around a blaster!” Yeah guys, um, now was not really the time for this!
Aurumy forced herself to remain focused on Judax. However distracting Jaheira arguing with Mursel was, overall they were inconsequential to everything else that had already been put in motion and where stakes were the most high right now. “I know just how many people he got to,” Aurumy responded, far more cooly in reply than Judax was with every accusation made. She was well practiced in dealing with hostility as a defense mechanism, and treated the Tarlaxian the same as she would any survivor...and that meant empathy ALWAYS came first, even if it was to her detriment (or, heaven forbid, even her demise).
...which is why what Judax said next affected Aurumy so greatly. Because it was true. Because Judax was right and when he pointed it out, Ru quickly realized that was a line she could never—WOULD never—cross. “Disengage defensive countermeasures. Stand down,” the Orovein promptly decided that she would have to go without an armed line of defense. But at least Jude had already felt pressured to put his gun away. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t draw it on her again.
“It WAS a mistake,” Aurumy admitted with the most heartfelt of regret. That was perhaps the most admirable thing about the gilded girl: she made no excuse for herself and readily admitted her misstep. “But you are mistaken if you think my intention is to make it as if Weiss never even existed. There are still those in this galaxy who see these spacecrafts as symbols of a misguided cause they are still fighting for. So long as these ships exist, they could fall back into those hands. Even in your possession, Judax, even out of sight, I can assure you, they’d never be out of mind for me.”
She clasped her hands in front of her and lowered her head contritely. “We all process grief and loss and trauma and try to heal differently. I am not trying to impede your goals, but you are not entitled to something I have simply because you want it. You cannot tell me I am wrong simply because I do not agree with how you do things. We’ve had the dialogue, you’ve made your case, you’ve tried offering and persuading and even threatening me now, but I’ve made my decision and will find peace only in the destruction of the Vindicator and all other living relics that still exist out in the universe like it. You’re damn right I’m going to make a spectacle out of this, Judax. The people Weiss and Lux captured and tortured and killed on Blackout, anyone who survived and still has to endure deserves to see this CAUSTIC reminder blown sky high. This black mark on Möbius’s history does not solely belong to you, it belongs to all of us, and when I consign it to oblivion, I hope you know that I’m doing it for you just as much as any other survivor I’ve had the honor of meeting.” Yes, even under these EXACT circumstances, Ru insisted she was made better by knowing Judax had lived through his own, traumatic experiences and existed out there in the world despite the anti-alien reich’s best efforts.
“Start autopilot and begin self-destruction sequence,” Aurumy stated aloud, obviously having realized this was an option since having the Vindicator respond to her last command. The on-board AI responded to her authority, which had already been cleared by the aforementioned access code she’d given: Acknowledged, detonation to occur once vessel has cleared planetary atmosphere. And then the engines fired up and began to power up and ready the cruiser for automated liftoff.
JAHEIRA
Jaheira’s already thin patience was waning, and she was about one smart ass comment away from punching Mursel in the mouth. It took every ounce of self-control for Jaheira to resist decking him, because now was really not the time, and Aurumy would probably never forgive her for hurting her friend.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jaheira responded. “I’m a shitty girlfriend. Tell me something I don’t know.” At this point, Aurumy and Judax were having a full-blown therapy session, and Jaheira didn’t know what to do. Killing Judax while he was unarmed briefly crossed her mind, but if the plan went sideways, that would put Ru in harm’s way again.
Suddenly the Vindicator roared to life and started its self-destruction sequence. She looked to Mursel, panicked, and asked, “What now? If the ship is destroyed, Judax is going to kill her—and then us. That’s what we are live-streaming?”
JUDAX
Judax's piercing gaze went a little slack as she disengaged her biggest advantage over him, looking up at the turret as it slipped away and then back at her with an expression that could only suggest he was thinking very deeply about her actions and calculating his next move. His hand lowered towards his gun, twitched and then with a frustrated curl of his lip he simply let it rest at his side, nostrils flaring and a low growl rattling in the back of his throat briefly.
But then that snarl itself even faded as she explained why she needed to destroy it, eyes darting around at nothing and his jaw slackening, it was a rare thing to see Judax so unsure of himself and he caught himself in this moment of apparent vulnerability because he looked up and hardened his stare again, looking between Morningstar and Aurumy each. His eyes widened as the self destruction sequence was initiated and the Vindicator engines and thrusters came online. The Tarlaxian turned his head to look up at it, reaching up to clutch his jacket with his claws as gusts came from the ship activating.
Perhaps inexplicably in that moment he turned away from both of them and looked up at The Vindicator as it left the hangar and started its ascent for the atmosphere. A rare resignation seemed to come over him as his tense shoulders slowly sagged. Filmed for all to see, the ship reached the right distance and sat there eerily for a moment before it simply exploded in what seemed like a minimal flash of light at that distance... but then as the debris fell back towards the planet and burned up on re-entry a beautiful spectacle occurred. Like an artificial meteor shower, tiny pieces of the Vindicator rained down.
Oddly the kingpin seemed transfixed, eyes wide and unreadable, lips slightly slack. A deep breath was all they'd hear out of him in this time, though if anyone was observational they might notice how the hand clutching his jacket slipped inside to instead press his claws against his shoulder.
AURUMY
Mursel was unafraid of Jaheira’s petulant wrath and neglected any further confrontation with the woman in favor of tending the commcam. Aurumy and Judax’s entire exchange had been documented thus far and was even more interesting than the inevitable destruction of the Vindicator.
Aurumy looked up as the Vindicator took off and ascended to a safe orbit, suspended there in an eerie silence. The seconds stretched on, and the Orovein felt compelled—especially as the Tarlaxian was more focused on everything else BUT killing her right now—to step forward and put herself back within the earshot of the Modox, but not within the commcam, which had been aimed up to capture the spectacle of the imminent explosion.
“Judax, I can’t promise you that we won’t ever be at odds again if you hope to collect what I intend to destroy, but what I can promise you is that I am not your enemy. I hope that…maybe someday, you will tell me your survival story, because the goal in all of this is never to forget what Weiss did to all of it. The goal is for it all to be remembered, and recognized as a similar experience we’ve been through, no matter how different circumstances or details might have been for each of us.”
BOOM!
Ru gasped and looked up again, wringing her hands together and swallowing the lump in her throat. She’d done it. She said she’d do it, she’d made a promise…and she’d stuck to it. Now everyone would know: she wasn’t just all talk…she had the action to back it up too! And she’d gone toe to toe with one of Mobius’s Most Wanted to get it done.
JAHEIRA
The sound of the Vindicator’s thrusters was nearly deafening as it ascended into orbit. Jaheira couldn’t hear whatever was said between Aurumy and Judax, although she never took her eyes off the kingpin until the spaceship exploded in a flash of light above them.
Jaheira shielded her eyes with one hand as she looked up at the spectacular display of light as debris re-entered the atmosphere and promptly burned up.
With the Vindicator finally destroyed, Jaheira rejoined Aurumy near Judax. She placed a hand on the small of her back to let her girlfriend know she was not alone. Judax was eerily quiet in that moment. His expression was unreadable, and Jaheira was afraid he might suddenly react violently and without warning after processing what just transpired.
JUDAX
Judax didn't respond to Ru coming closer during that time, eyes still fixed upon the shimmering debris as it fell back into the atmosphere and burned up. That wasn't to say he wasn't listening, in fact it was quite apparent he was with the way his claws twitched at the mention of Doctor Weiss even though he'd already been discussed moments prior, a small tick barely telling of how it truly felt, like a cold bucket of ice had been poured over him. He ran a hand over his hair and stared ahead with furrowed brows as his attention finally left the beautiful shower of destruction above them.
The silence was a dangerous thing with Judax, it could mean anything as Jaheira so rightly figured out. He was calculating...thinking. Finally he sucked air through his teeth and shook his head, turning his head to regard them both with eyes that looked oh so tired, although years of exhaustion had bubbled to the surface. "I ain't your enemy." he said to Ru at first "I ain't no survivors enemy unless they make themselves one... though ya gave it ya best fuckin' shot today." he flared his nostrils with a huff.
"An' I ain't no Morningstar's enemy either." he turned away from them and tugged the collar of his jacket up, heading back to the speeder he'd arrived on and mounting it unless stopped in the process. He looked back "If you say survivors wanted to see that thing destroyed, then..." he just nodded and started up the speeder. If no one stopped him, he'd be gone. Maybe, just maybe, he'd enjoyed seeing a Weiss ship going up in flames more than he'd expected.
AURUMY
Aurumy was sound in his convictions, and talked a mean game, don’t get me wrong, but this wasn’t to say she hadn’t been afraid. Terribly so, in fact. Judax was not a man to be trifled with, and the Orovein, honestly, didn’t even know the half of it. Yet here she stood: alive...perhaps more alive than she’d felt in quite some time.
She’d let Judax have the last word, not wanting to cheapen his reputation by saying something as futile as thank you. The Orovein seemed to understand that the Modox had made this decision for his own, self-serving (albeit unexpectedly and mutually beneficial) reasons. As the Tarlaxian sped off, then and only then would Ru turn sharply and throw her arms around Jaheira. She held her tightly and buried her face against her chest. But she didn’t apologize. She didn’t apologize...because she wasn’t sorry. What she DID say, however, was perhaps even more mending to battle-worn fences: “you’re not a shitty girlfriend.” Yes, she’d been listening to Jah bicker with Mursel, even when the stakes were at their highest.
JAHEIRA
Jaheira deflated like a balloon after Judax concluded neither her nor Aurumy would be considered an enemy. They were already a target for Lux Aeterna and the last thing they needed was for one of Mobius' most infamous kingpins to put a bounty on their heads. Jaheira nodded in response to Judax, and made no attempt to stop him as he mounted the speeder and left. Suddenly Aurumy was pulling Jaheira into a hug and she returned the affection, kissing her atop the head. She didn't respond to Aurumy's comment, if only because she was still processing everything and she felt like a shitty girlfriend at her core.
"Let's go home," Jaheira said. She looked to Mursel, but did not say anything. Unless Aurumy had unfinished business on Priyet, it was time to leave.
AURUMY
Aurumy just nodded and kept holding onto Jaheira, ready to be lead away and taken home. They’d walk past Mursel, who’d already shut down the commcam and held it out to her. She took it, squeezed his forearm, and thanked him.
AURUMY
Aurumy, having sent her coordinates to Jaheira—solely under terms that help was on the way—could do little more than wait for her girlfriend to arrive.
Priyet was not the barren wasteland most Oroveins would describe it as, at least, not any more so than a place like Abaddon. As the Wild West of Ellisaria, The Vindicator was easily hidden, if only because there was nothing flashier than fool's gold...and around these parts there was a whole lot of that to be found.
Ru had done nothing to be exiled by her people and yet, having returned to her home planet since her captivity aboard Blackout, found that the only people who accepted her without her halo were the so-called excommunicated of their kind. There might have been a time where she would have judged these people, would have felt shame for them going against the teachings of their race that decreed no one may utilize their gilded touch for any personal gain. But as with most things, the pyrites of this land often had motives other than greed which banished them here.
Would you steal a loaf of bread to feed your family? Because all Murcel had done was cast a few custom armor orders in 24k gold to make ends meet and he'd wound up here: separated from his family and marooned out on the farthest, floating isle, far from home. He wasn't the selfish scourge of society, he was a friend, and he was the one helping Aurumy not only hide a giant spaceship, but currently trying to figure out how to destroy the damn thing.
Both Oroveins currently stood before the hulking vessel, staring up at it, without the foggiest idea of what to do next.
JAHEIRA
Aurumy had always been steadfast in her convictions, often to Jaheira’s dismay. Their brief but heated conversation proved there was no convincing her otherwise about destroying the Vindicator. Jaheira sent a text to Kaelee after receiving Aurumy’s coordinates and quickly boarded the Star Hammer toward Ellisaria.
She arrived on the island of Priyet a short time later to find Aurumy and...somebody else staring up at the massive ship.
“There you are,” Jaheira exclaimed. She looked at the other Orovein then and arched an eyebrow. “...and who are you?” With the bounty on Ru’s head, Jaheira didn’t trust anybody. Six million credits was a lot of money.
JUDAX
From the nearby town came a speeder with an Orovein riding upon it, a tall, angular man with dark skin, white clothes and intense golden eyes, his long hair tied back into a bun. He rides swiftly into the hangar and slows down once he's in there and within walking range. The supposed Orovein leapt off the speeder and headed on over towards them with haste, looking up at the ship and then back towards them.
He seemed unarmed at a first glance (though the clothes he wore could have easily concealed something), but when he got closer he gestured to the ship and started to talk "Wah a' unnuh- a - d- Oh fuck this accent." he growled in a very Judax voice and pulled a weapon from his sash, raising an energy blaster straight for Aurumy's head "No one fuckin' move or I show y'all exactly how fuckin' pissed I am" his faux gold eyes burned a moment longer before the holoskin dissipated and revealed the kingpin himself, teeth bared and acid-green eyes burning with a murderous rage.
AURUMY
Aurumy trusted Murcel. Not only was he an Orovein like she was, but he was also a Blackout survivor that had been unfairly stripped of his halo. Not only that, but credits--even six million of them--meant little to the exiled people of Priyet, as most of them had ended up excommunicated for producing their own means of golden currency against the strict laws and morality police (literally) of Ellisaria.
Honestly, Jaheira would not even have the opportunity to be thoroughly suspicious of one Orovein before another arrived by speeder. This one, however, was known by neither Aurumy nor Murcel, and therefore had ALL of their suspicions redirected upon him even BEFORE he promptly dropped his accent...and pulled a weapon on the gilded girl that stood between him and his Vindicator prize.
Ru didn't even flinch as Judax's holoskin flickered and then deteriorated entirely to reveal his true form. Staring down the barrel of a blaster tended to make whoever was holding it pretty inconsequential, after all: it didn't matter if it was Mobius's most wanted or some random street thug, the alien girl knew she was in danger. "Murcel, Jaheira, please don't do anything rash. Judax, I wasn't expecting the opportunity to meet with you personally giving the amount of credits you were willing to put towards someone else trying to reason with me for you." Her word choice was...careful, but not quite diplomatic given the sure, unwavering eye contact she was making with the Tarlaxian. "I'm glad we will have the chance to resolve our differences in person."
More worried about Jaheira doing something dumb than Murcel going against her orders and putting himself in danger, Aurumy reached out and touched her girlfriend's wrist: meant to calm, but also keep a hand where she could detect a twitchy trigger finger.
JAHEIRA
Jaheira didn’t have time to continue interrogating the other Orovein because they were approached by somebody on a speeder. Neither Aurumy nor Murcel recognized the newcomer, and that put Jaheira on edge. She watched closely for the slightest hint of aggression, and his sudden movement toward the sash made Jaheira draw her own pistol in succession, pointing it at him.
Jaheira was afraid that at any moment, Judax would kill Aurumy, and her heart was hammering in her chest. Tension hung heavy in the air with both Judax and Jaheira pointing their weapons. She thought about shooting the Tarlaxian right then and there, but Aurumy’s plea had her reconsider.
Aurumy brushed Jaheira’s wrist and she swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Don’t shoot, please,” Jaheira said. “I’m putting the gun away.” And then she re-holstered the firearm and put up her hands in a show of surrender.
Jaheira knew Judax did not negotiate, and she felt helpless in that moment, unable to protect the one she loved the most.
JUDAX
Judax's sharp teeth bared, his eyes were wild and his face scrunched with white-hot rage. That expression fell in disbelief as Aurumy just stood there and Morningstar put her gun away "What the hell is wrong wit y'all!?" he yelled furiously and pointed his gun between the two of them in some attempt to drag out a defensive reaction but that ship had long sailed. He sneered in frustration and lowered his gun just slightly "Y'all are fuckin' crazy."
Aurumy was the one who'd rubbed him the wrong way the most, snapping his furious gaze towards her as he got even closer "Just sell me the ship so I can shove it in a fuckin' collection and we can all call this a big misunderstandin'... then ya can try ta psychoanalyze me all ya want, shrink ehehh...heh" he laughed dangerously, it wasn't a remotely happy laugh, he was barely containing how pissed off he was, looking plenty unhinged in the process.
"You crossed me, Aurumy. You crossed me real bad, you're lucky I'm even negotiatin' with ya. Now it's time for you to decide what this ship is worth, ya life or some creds? You got till I count to ten to accept a sale or ya dead, you got me?" he lifted his gun again and with no one else raising their weapons he pressed his gun right up too close to Ru's forehead.
"One."
AURUMY
"With all due respect, Judax, we already had this conversation over the phone. My answer then remains my answer now, and I implore you to respect that: if not for me, then for every single survivor out there who has had sickness stirred in their bellies each time they saw this cruiser come to port."
Aurumy was calm, but to think her immune to Judax's threats meant you simply did not know her. Jaheira had to understand that she KNEW the risks she was taking, and that she DIDNT want to lose the family she had gained through loving and being with her. But this, both selfishly and unselfishly, was more important. The Orovein had few hills she was willing to die on, but seeing each and every last one of the giant, piloted trauma-triggers in this galaxy burn was definitely one of them.
"Mursel, we are continuing as planned. Please have my Morningstar help you," the gilded girl informed her fellow, halo-stripped alien. My Morningstar, Ru had said, a subtle but direct plea to Jah to trust her, as with all the strife they had been through as of late in their relationship, her use of such a sweet, possessive pronoun had been decidedly absent as they worked through their issues. The Orovein male stepped forward and gently bade the human woman to follow him back to his station, and should Judax's eyes (but likely not his blaster) follow them, he'd see that--while obviously moving them out of the line of fire--they'd already prepped: there was a commcam set up there, ready to record the LITERAL fireworks that the therapist-turned-activist had planned for the Vindicator.
"The fact that you think my intention was to cross you, Judax, is woefully incorrect, and it genuinely pains me that you think I told you no just to tell you no. I am righting a wrong that is long overdue, one of several I intend on correcting for myself and so many others." Unfortunately for Aurumy, when Judax began to count, there was no real opportunity to build a rapport nor pick his brain for the necessary commonality between them that might make him reconsider, abandon his quest for something more attainable, and not shoot her dead.
As patient as Aurumy was, she was also not fond of being spoken to like a child given all that she had been through. "Access code QU12N3FTW," the young lady spoke aloud, speaking softly but proving she carried a VERY big stick as the Vindicator behind her promptly came to life and responded with clear recognition: Acknowledging Aurumy, awaiting orders.
In this life, Ru lives by the motto do no harm, but take no shit, and they'd officially reached the second part of that tagline. "Threat detected, target blaster and Tarlaxian heat signature," she instructed the vessel's AI, which armed itself and locked onto the Modox. Make no mistake, Jude could choose to shoot her dead right then, but he'd be blown to smithereens shortly thereafter. "Now--will you please stop counting and can we talk like civilized adults? No head-shrinking required. Deal?"
JAHEIRA
There was little Jaheira could do in that moment other than watch things unfold. Any retaliation meant Judax would likely shoot Aurumy, and it was a risk she was unwilling to take. Her hands were clenched as she stared down the king pin, sizing him up, debating all the ways in which she could kill him if he so much as harmed a single hair on Aurumy's head.
Jaheira was notoriously bad at following orders. Aurumy instructed her to help Mursel, and she shook her head. "Ru, no--" but there was no time for an argument. She looked between Mursel and Judax, finally electing to follow the other Orovein, but not before warning, "If you hurt her, Judax, I will kill you."
She had no choice but to trust Aurumy's plan. Out of the line of fire, Jaheira rounded on Mursel. "And why should I trust you? What are we doing here?" The commcam at the station caught her attention then. "What the hell is this for?"
JUDAX
'My Morningstar'
Judax' eyes snapped between them briefly, brain obviously processing thoughts about that but on the surface all he gave away was the bubbling over white hot rage. His pupils were barely pinpricks as he pierced Ru with his stare, butthen he saw the commcam. Were they going to film this!? what for? to mock him? he was so focused on his own goals he was failing to see the point.
"That's what I'm doin'! I'm the one tryna put this shit right!" he gestured wildly with the gun probably alarmingly "All you want ta do is sweep this shit unda the rug like it never happened, do ya think ya the only person he got ta!?" his Tarlaxian accent (or at least the one from his region) got thicker and deeper with ...urgency. Emerald blood trickled down from his nostrils on the left as his blood pressure rose minimally enough to burst a few vessels in that already abused nose of his.
He was obsessed with the need to get this ship. So much so that when that big ol' turret stuck its head out he considered ignoring it at great risk. He blinked harshly up at that gun and finally came to his senses partially though, glaring furiously "Usin' his tools against me. Ain't that Ironic" he laughed bitterly, blood spittle flying from his lips.
"Ya makin' a mistake pointin' that thing at me." he growled as he raised his free hand and slowly put away his gun back in his sash, eyes narrowed at her and Jaheira. He should have put it on the ground but he hadn't explicitly been asked to. One of his claws was burning hot acid green though as he raised both hands.
Watching Jaheira walk away and question the other Orovein. "Ain't it obvious? they're makin' a big spectacle out of this bullshit." he sneered. lips curling over deadly sharp teeth in disgust.
"Tryna erase the fact that Dr. Weiss ever happened."
AURUMY
Mursel was decidedly less calm about all of this. He trusted Aurumy, but he didn’t know Jaheira. Her line of questioning seemed to trigger the Orovein, who had likely been subjected to some sort of interrogation in his past because he SNAPPED at her rather quickly in response. “Why should I trust YOU? Your own girlfriend didn’t even tell you what she was doing! I’m here to help, don’t treat me like your enemy while some crazy dude is the one waving around a blaster!” Yeah guys, um, now was not really the time for this!
Aurumy forced herself to remain focused on Judax. However distracting Jaheira arguing with Mursel was, overall they were inconsequential to everything else that had already been put in motion and where stakes were the most high right now. “I know just how many people he got to,” Aurumy responded, far more cooly in reply than Judax was with every accusation made. She was well practiced in dealing with hostility as a defense mechanism, and treated the Tarlaxian the same as she would any survivor...and that meant empathy ALWAYS came first, even if it was to her detriment (or, heaven forbid, even her demise).
...which is why what Judax said next affected Aurumy so greatly. Because it was true. Because Judax was right and when he pointed it out, Ru quickly realized that was a line she could never—WOULD never—cross. “Disengage defensive countermeasures. Stand down,” the Orovein promptly decided that she would have to go without an armed line of defense. But at least Jude had already felt pressured to put his gun away. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t draw it on her again.
“It WAS a mistake,” Aurumy admitted with the most heartfelt of regret. That was perhaps the most admirable thing about the gilded girl: she made no excuse for herself and readily admitted her misstep. “But you are mistaken if you think my intention is to make it as if Weiss never even existed. There are still those in this galaxy who see these spacecrafts as symbols of a misguided cause they are still fighting for. So long as these ships exist, they could fall back into those hands. Even in your possession, Judax, even out of sight, I can assure you, they’d never be out of mind for me.”
She clasped her hands in front of her and lowered her head contritely. “We all process grief and loss and trauma and try to heal differently. I am not trying to impede your goals, but you are not entitled to something I have simply because you want it. You cannot tell me I am wrong simply because I do not agree with how you do things. We’ve had the dialogue, you’ve made your case, you’ve tried offering and persuading and even threatening me now, but I’ve made my decision and will find peace only in the destruction of the Vindicator and all other living relics that still exist out in the universe like it. You’re damn right I’m going to make a spectacle out of this, Judax. The people Weiss and Lux captured and tortured and killed on Blackout, anyone who survived and still has to endure deserves to see this CAUSTIC reminder blown sky high. This black mark on Möbius’s history does not solely belong to you, it belongs to all of us, and when I consign it to oblivion, I hope you know that I’m doing it for you just as much as any other survivor I’ve had the honor of meeting.” Yes, even under these EXACT circumstances, Ru insisted she was made better by knowing Judax had lived through his own, traumatic experiences and existed out there in the world despite the anti-alien reich’s best efforts.
“Start autopilot and begin self-destruction sequence,” Aurumy stated aloud, obviously having realized this was an option since having the Vindicator respond to her last command. The on-board AI responded to her authority, which had already been cleared by the aforementioned access code she’d given: Acknowledged, detonation to occur once vessel has cleared planetary atmosphere. And then the engines fired up and began to power up and ready the cruiser for automated liftoff.
JAHEIRA
Jaheira’s already thin patience was waning, and she was about one smart ass comment away from punching Mursel in the mouth. It took every ounce of self-control for Jaheira to resist decking him, because now was really not the time, and Aurumy would probably never forgive her for hurting her friend.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jaheira responded. “I’m a shitty girlfriend. Tell me something I don’t know.” At this point, Aurumy and Judax were having a full-blown therapy session, and Jaheira didn’t know what to do. Killing Judax while he was unarmed briefly crossed her mind, but if the plan went sideways, that would put Ru in harm’s way again.
Suddenly the Vindicator roared to life and started its self-destruction sequence. She looked to Mursel, panicked, and asked, “What now? If the ship is destroyed, Judax is going to kill her—and then us. That’s what we are live-streaming?”
JUDAX
Judax's piercing gaze went a little slack as she disengaged her biggest advantage over him, looking up at the turret as it slipped away and then back at her with an expression that could only suggest he was thinking very deeply about her actions and calculating his next move. His hand lowered towards his gun, twitched and then with a frustrated curl of his lip he simply let it rest at his side, nostrils flaring and a low growl rattling in the back of his throat briefly.
But then that snarl itself even faded as she explained why she needed to destroy it, eyes darting around at nothing and his jaw slackening, it was a rare thing to see Judax so unsure of himself and he caught himself in this moment of apparent vulnerability because he looked up and hardened his stare again, looking between Morningstar and Aurumy each. His eyes widened as the self destruction sequence was initiated and the Vindicator engines and thrusters came online. The Tarlaxian turned his head to look up at it, reaching up to clutch his jacket with his claws as gusts came from the ship activating.
Perhaps inexplicably in that moment he turned away from both of them and looked up at The Vindicator as it left the hangar and started its ascent for the atmosphere. A rare resignation seemed to come over him as his tense shoulders slowly sagged. Filmed for all to see, the ship reached the right distance and sat there eerily for a moment before it simply exploded in what seemed like a minimal flash of light at that distance... but then as the debris fell back towards the planet and burned up on re-entry a beautiful spectacle occurred. Like an artificial meteor shower, tiny pieces of the Vindicator rained down.
Oddly the kingpin seemed transfixed, eyes wide and unreadable, lips slightly slack. A deep breath was all they'd hear out of him in this time, though if anyone was observational they might notice how the hand clutching his jacket slipped inside to instead press his claws against his shoulder.
AURUMY
Mursel was unafraid of Jaheira’s petulant wrath and neglected any further confrontation with the woman in favor of tending the commcam. Aurumy and Judax’s entire exchange had been documented thus far and was even more interesting than the inevitable destruction of the Vindicator.
Aurumy looked up as the Vindicator took off and ascended to a safe orbit, suspended there in an eerie silence. The seconds stretched on, and the Orovein felt compelled—especially as the Tarlaxian was more focused on everything else BUT killing her right now—to step forward and put herself back within the earshot of the Modox, but not within the commcam, which had been aimed up to capture the spectacle of the imminent explosion.
“Judax, I can’t promise you that we won’t ever be at odds again if you hope to collect what I intend to destroy, but what I can promise you is that I am not your enemy. I hope that…maybe someday, you will tell me your survival story, because the goal in all of this is never to forget what Weiss did to all of it. The goal is for it all to be remembered, and recognized as a similar experience we’ve been through, no matter how different circumstances or details might have been for each of us.”
BOOM!
Ru gasped and looked up again, wringing her hands together and swallowing the lump in her throat. She’d done it. She said she’d do it, she’d made a promise…and she’d stuck to it. Now everyone would know: she wasn’t just all talk…she had the action to back it up too! And she’d gone toe to toe with one of Mobius’s Most Wanted to get it done.
JAHEIRA
The sound of the Vindicator’s thrusters was nearly deafening as it ascended into orbit. Jaheira couldn’t hear whatever was said between Aurumy and Judax, although she never took her eyes off the kingpin until the spaceship exploded in a flash of light above them.
Jaheira shielded her eyes with one hand as she looked up at the spectacular display of light as debris re-entered the atmosphere and promptly burned up.
With the Vindicator finally destroyed, Jaheira rejoined Aurumy near Judax. She placed a hand on the small of her back to let her girlfriend know she was not alone. Judax was eerily quiet in that moment. His expression was unreadable, and Jaheira was afraid he might suddenly react violently and without warning after processing what just transpired.
JUDAX
Judax didn't respond to Ru coming closer during that time, eyes still fixed upon the shimmering debris as it fell back into the atmosphere and burned up. That wasn't to say he wasn't listening, in fact it was quite apparent he was with the way his claws twitched at the mention of Doctor Weiss even though he'd already been discussed moments prior, a small tick barely telling of how it truly felt, like a cold bucket of ice had been poured over him. He ran a hand over his hair and stared ahead with furrowed brows as his attention finally left the beautiful shower of destruction above them.
The silence was a dangerous thing with Judax, it could mean anything as Jaheira so rightly figured out. He was calculating...thinking. Finally he sucked air through his teeth and shook his head, turning his head to regard them both with eyes that looked oh so tired, although years of exhaustion had bubbled to the surface. "I ain't your enemy." he said to Ru at first "I ain't no survivors enemy unless they make themselves one... though ya gave it ya best fuckin' shot today." he flared his nostrils with a huff.
"An' I ain't no Morningstar's enemy either." he turned away from them and tugged the collar of his jacket up, heading back to the speeder he'd arrived on and mounting it unless stopped in the process. He looked back "If you say survivors wanted to see that thing destroyed, then..." he just nodded and started up the speeder. If no one stopped him, he'd be gone. Maybe, just maybe, he'd enjoyed seeing a Weiss ship going up in flames more than he'd expected.
AURUMY
Aurumy was sound in his convictions, and talked a mean game, don’t get me wrong, but this wasn’t to say she hadn’t been afraid. Terribly so, in fact. Judax was not a man to be trifled with, and the Orovein, honestly, didn’t even know the half of it. Yet here she stood: alive...perhaps more alive than she’d felt in quite some time.
She’d let Judax have the last word, not wanting to cheapen his reputation by saying something as futile as thank you. The Orovein seemed to understand that the Modox had made this decision for his own, self-serving (albeit unexpectedly and mutually beneficial) reasons. As the Tarlaxian sped off, then and only then would Ru turn sharply and throw her arms around Jaheira. She held her tightly and buried her face against her chest. But she didn’t apologize. She didn’t apologize...because she wasn’t sorry. What she DID say, however, was perhaps even more mending to battle-worn fences: “you’re not a shitty girlfriend.” Yes, she’d been listening to Jah bicker with Mursel, even when the stakes were at their highest.
JAHEIRA
Jaheira deflated like a balloon after Judax concluded neither her nor Aurumy would be considered an enemy. They were already a target for Lux Aeterna and the last thing they needed was for one of Mobius' most infamous kingpins to put a bounty on their heads. Jaheira nodded in response to Judax, and made no attempt to stop him as he mounted the speeder and left. Suddenly Aurumy was pulling Jaheira into a hug and she returned the affection, kissing her atop the head. She didn't respond to Aurumy's comment, if only because she was still processing everything and she felt like a shitty girlfriend at her core.
"Let's go home," Jaheira said. She looked to Mursel, but did not say anything. Unless Aurumy had unfinished business on Priyet, it was time to leave.
AURUMY
Aurumy just nodded and kept holding onto Jaheira, ready to be lead away and taken home. They’d walk past Mursel, who’d already shut down the commcam and held it out to her. She took it, squeezed his forearm, and thanked him.
