EXETERRPG: (1 - 0435) aCO Cmdr Ailynn Bracken and Empress Lana Wakeman.

[Mark Howard]

Mission: Andromeda's Chain

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.01.03



(USS Exeter – Bridge – aCO Cmdr Ailynn Bracken and Empress Lana Wakeman –
0435)



“Hello Babybird.” The Empress had  gloriously announced, to a resistance of
some, and a genuflection of most.



“I have to admit Lana...I did not see that coming.” Ailynn said honestly.
“Which raises a couple of questions in my mind.”



“Immeasurably...Intelligent.” The Lana/Empress crowed to her sycophants.
“The first two words on her personal file. So this...THIS...is the creme de
la creme?  Gently, almost seductively with a slow, measured step that
echoed just enough to resound around the Bridge, a measured step that even
Ailynn would even herself admit were perfect to unsettle. “An at best
second-rate brain butcher, multiple neuroses and severe personality
disordered ex-addict.  I wonder how you got your promotions? Sure as hell
wasn’t by sleeping your way to the top as you're not even that
interesting.” Lana’s voice rolled, one verbal slap after another.



Ailynn herself however squared her shoulder and pulled herself up to her
full six-two...pushing six-three if she straightened her whole spine and
hips. Her eyes flashed dangerously, a half wide eyed note to all who knew
it that it’s focus had their whole, unreserved, emboldened,  utter
intellectual concentration.  However, a part of her bubbled it’s way to the
surface. It was the insincere, playful, emotional tease; Ailynn smiled a
half smile; perhaps more correctly, a full smile, on one side of her face.
The Empress had her unreserved attention.



A tiny part of her, deep deep within Ailynn’s psyche, a new set of neurons
had formed in the last few days, they themselves had made new connections,
an innumerable number of new neural nodes made themselves available to her,
her attitude and thought processes touched by a new scattering of flavour.



Gabrielle, had at least in part, survived.



Her innate positivity, her sheer unwavering body confidence, Self belief
that Ailynn had never had was having a subtle affect on Ailynn’s thought
processes.



Lana continued. “You’ve been outplayed...Bracken….I win.”



Ailynn smiled wryly,  buying herself time, thinking as she let her mouth
move almost on its own accord. “I have to say...your emperiousness...I’m
impressed. I normally have a finger on the pulse of how people feel, I had
no sense of discord, no...rumblings of discontent. I wonder how you did it?
You may as well tell me; I’m going to figure it out anyway.” It was a
blatant boast, Ailynn had no idea yet how to proceed, she needed time to
think, to plan, and her normal outlets to vent, and bounce ideas off, where
completely shut off to her. ~In a situation where you didn’t know who to
trust, trust no one~ “What is it that you actually want...Your Grace…”



“Babybird...Are you hoping that I’ll stand here twirl my moustache and
monologue away?”



Ailynn shrugged. “I was kind of banking on it to be honest,
acting...Ensign….” In her mind she sighed, she’d hoped that she could draw
information out in the same way that she had with the wraith that had been
inhabiting Trentin Jost. Sadly, the Empress seemed to be unaware of the
rules of these situation, and steadfastly refused to give all her plans
away.



“Resign...I’ve won, checkmate, the Queen is dead...long live the Empress.”



Ailynn stepped forward, literally nose to nose, this was admittedly far
less effective as Ailynn had intended, as Lana was considerably shorter
than she was. “I’m not playing Chess...you putrid fleck off a Pyteck’s
rump.”



There was a flicker, deep in the Empresses eyes, Ailynn had always had an
innate skill for reading a tell, it was the reason she was banned from
every casino gambling floor near the Academy, even now. It was the minutest
flash of uncertainty, Ailynn knew that the Lana/Empress was momentarily on
the back foot, ~she knows that she’s reaching the limit of her influence,
she knows that I know things that she doesn’t.~



“Tell you what...Go fish...I’ll trade you the ten of swords for Bertie Bun
the Baker’s son...Old Maid…” Ailynn stared deep into Lana’s eyes, her
steely gaze unyielding.



“Here that?” Lana squealed in delight, “She seeks a bargain.”



Ailynn’s hand shot out and grabbed the neck of Lana’s uniform, curling it
up in her fist and pulling her toward herself, curling her fist, tightening
the collar. “I seek no bargain. When did you get on board? Maxine was the
Empress we all knew that.”



Choking slightly, a single atom of fear firing in her soul. Outwardly
Ailynn was always playful, less than serious, rarely fully switched on to
the tasks around her, a casualty that she had taken for lassitude. The
Empress too had looked into her advisory’s eyes, and where she had expected
weakness, she now saw restraint, where she had seen playfulness, she now
saw a tigress, where she had once seen kind, gentle mentorship...she now
saw death.



Lana tapped the hand at her throat, and felt it tighten momentarily a
message sent to her silently through the delicate, but immensely strong
hands. Ailynn’s fist then unclenched, then pulled Lana’s collar straight.



“Maxine was a dupe.” Lana said. “You were always supposed to believe she
was behind everything. Nix had found so much out, nearly all of it,
but...he was a step behind. That’s why I had to kill him. You’ll have
figured by now that it’s my voice that called for security 5 minutes after
his death.”



“I’d figured that…”



“You can’t win Wakeman…”



“I believe I already have Babybird.”



Ailynn smiled. “I’ve changed too much, you’re so behind that you haven’t
even looked at the picture on the box let alone opened to puzzle to find
the corner pieces.”



“You’re stalling, wittering away to your crowing supporters. Buying
yourself time.”



“Maybe...but last time I did, I killed a god. Me. and I’m not afraid of
you. Because do you know what...I know how much more I know than you do...I
have one question…”



“SPEAK! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD SPEAK SENSE.”



“I don’t want to.” Ailynn’s voice dropped to a whisper, sometimes, Ailynn
had learned, ice cold quiet was far far more powerful than all the rage of
a stellar vortex. “Because the question is going to give me the answer.
You’ve already lost. MahJonng. Yipee-Kay-aye..."



She wiggled her head insultingly, wide eyed, but smiled, a hint of
Gabrielle's sense of play coming through again. Ailynn then half stepped
back, pulling off Lana’s rank pip and communicator, dropping them on the
floor, stamping on both, then spitting on their broken remnants, all the
time holding The Empresses gaze, a stare deep deep into the backs of her
eyes, every cell of Ailynn’s body was afire with resistance, her entire
brain was racing with thought.


She was Paladin.



(Reply Bridge)

(Posted by Mark)
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