Xandar, Capital of the Nova Empire

Twelve Years Earlier

No One's POV

To be technical, Aria wasn't doing anything really illegal; it really all was a matter of perspective when you look at it.

She was a part of the Nova Corp Academy and Nova Corps; and when it came down to it, she was doing them all a favor, the Nova Corp Star Blasters needed an upgrade…

"Nova Prime Rael." One of the Millenian ranking officers walks Aria into Nova Prime Rael's office, giving a respectful salute, the doors swishing open with a fluid swish. "I apologize for the intrusion… But, we caught Aria experimenting with one of the Star Blasters. But only after she crashed it into the Xandar barrier. We thought it prudent you should know."

"Okay… Well, technically…" Aria points out, holding up a finger. "That may be true…" Aria offers, looking at her grandmother. "But I certainly was not experimenting with it in hopes of increasing its energy output… Or because I was working on new-"

"Aria." Her grandmother only sighs, giving her a stern look, and only then did Aria notice that her grandmother was in a meeting with the Kree Ambassador and other Kree.

"Right… Sorry." Aria manages to apologize half-heartedly. "So… I'm just… Going to go?" Aria gestures to the door a bit sheepishly.

"We will talk about this over dinner, Aria." Irani Rael tells her granddaughter with a look at her that says that they will, but in the end, Aria would likely get off with a metaphorical slap on the wrist; after all, Aria took after Irani in many ways, in wit, strength, backbone, fire, determination, and intelligence something Irani enjoyed seeing and enjoyed cultivating in her only granddaughter.

"Yes, ma'am." Aria salutes her grandmother in a half-serious, half-mocking salute, also sending her grandmother a sassy smile before scampering out the door.

"Now… Where were we, gentleman?" Nova Prime huffs under her breathe at her vivacious granddaughter, turning back to the Kree Ambassador and his entourage.

The Kree by nature were a race that were not dictated by emotions, they were not driven by sentiment, nor passion; Starforce members even more so, they were an elite military task force for the Kree, and were to uphold a higher standard.

I have no heart,

Just ice and stone.

Made of nails,

And teeth and bone.

It was not to say that Kree did not understand emotion or have them, however, they were inherently less emotional than other races, say humans, even Asgardians; the Kree society was one, a unit, for the good of all Kree.

Yon-Rogg understood this, he strove to be better, for his family, for himself, and for all Kree, of course. He was a pink skin, a lesser in the eyes of his own kind, in the eyes of his own family, as a bastard of his father's, but he had made something of himself; a Starforce member, already climbing through the ranks, and that meant something.

And I know exactly what I'm for,

To hurt and destroy and nothing more.

And if it's true that I was made,

I still don't know if I can change.

She was radiant, her blonde hair shining brighter than the three suns that shone over Xandar, and her blood sang to him, deeper than the traditions that ran in his own people since the beginning of the Kree Empire, a conviction greater than his vow as a Kree warrior, and stronger than the pureblood that ran through his family several generations on Hala; it was a melody, a siren call that resonated deep in his bones, settled in his soul, and spoke to him.

But love's not a thing you get to choose.

Try to resist,

You'll always lose.

"So…" Yon-Rogg catches up to Aria. "Did you really crash a Star Blaster into the Xandar barrier?" He questions, his hopes for a smooth opening or impressing his bloodmate quickly going away the moment he speaks.

"I think that answer would be quite obvious." Aria answers, her gaze catching his as if wondering why he was bothering to speak to her to begin with; historically Kree and Xandarians did not get along and although her grandmother was working towards peace between the two empires, undoubtedly it would be years until prejudices or even the horrors committed between the two races would be laid to rest and a distant memory. "That wasn't the plan… Clearly. I was testing out a few new things I had designed. Didn't turn out quite like I wanted them."

"You designed them?" Yon-Rogg questions.

"Obviously." Aria deadpans, looking unimpressed at Yon-Rogg's questioning. "What? Women can't be intellectual in Kree-land?"

"Of course not. I mean, yes, they can be." Yon-Rogg offers back with stuttering defense, defending his home world. "The Kree believe in equality for all… For the good of all Kree."

"Right…" Aria offers with a disapproving scoff; Aria knew much about the Kree and their so called "equality", her mother was Kree, after all, a servant from one of the high-born Kree and her mother painted a much different world than the perfect utopia they believed themselves to be.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yon-Rogg questions, clearly not understanding Aria's sarcasm and still slightly slighted by Aria's words against the Kree's honor and integrity.

"Whatever you think it means, Solider Boy." Aria offers back more than a bit sarcastically. "Now, I have a date to get to and a grandmother to dodge… So, if you'll excuse me, Lieutenant…" Aria half-heartedly salutes, her gaze spotting her best friend waiting down the hall for her, no doubt waiting to hear what her grandmother had said and if she had gotten in trouble from her latest stunt with the Star Blaster; it wasn't exactly like it was the first time she had done something like this.

"And I don't suppose you'll give me the opportunity to prove you wrong?" Yon-Rogg asks, striding a few more steps to catch up to her once more.

"Mmm. Yeah. This- this isn't going to work out. No offense. But- this-" Aria gestures to Yon-Rogg. "Isn't my type." She offers.

"You just gestured to all of me." Yon-Rogg states flatly.

"Exactly." Aria replies equally as deadpan. "Besides, I don't date men who haven't earned their command stripes. Or, who can't work their way around a holo code." That comment is said offhandedly and with a teasing tone, not that Yon-Rogg knew that.

Yon-Rogg watched his bloodmate walk off, her hips slightly swaying to the rhythm of her walk, and her blonde ponytail bouncing lightly, nothing but yearning in his blood, in his very core, in his very being to be with her, before watching her throw herself into the arms of another man, her date, he presumed, making his blood light on fire, call out to protect and defend her, a primal instinct, one so deep and fierce as if there was an inferno of rage and wrath strong enough to burn out a star.

'Cause something has stirred,

A beast has awakened.

Opened a door,

There's no mistaking.

Waging a war.

It's fighting inside of me.

/

So hear my battle cry,

I'm out for blood to claim what's mine.

Battle Cry ~ Beth Crowley