Chapter 9
Ajax and I silently walked from the grazing area to the bridge.
Of course, to anyone else it was silent, but to us, it was private.
We were conversing privately in thought-speak. No one would know it, we never looked at each other.
I'm sorry, he murmered. The Captain ordered me to strike when you started to walk away. I didn't think. Couldn't. I'm sorry.
Evaren is a fool. I dismissed his apologies.
That took him aback.
How can you say that about our captain?! Our prince! It's insubordination!
It's treason and so on and so on, I muttered. I know. Evaren may be your prince, but Alloran is my War-Prince. A command from him, Alloran? I wouldn't think twice about. Now, Evaren? I'd think four or five times over, as you probably did as he spoke about the victory mark.
Ajax nodded gloomily. Of course I thought about it. Yes or no? At first I was about too, Yaolyn. I really was. But then, I remembered you were - he paused.
I finished for him, That I was female. I spat it out.
I wished I had been born male. But wishes make nothing truer than it ever had been.
Yes. he said softly.
And because of that you couldn't do it?
Yes.
I shook my head, Next time, Ajax, you should just do it.
What?!
Do it and get over your little fears about females. You'll be working with and around them for the rest of your life. Get over it.
He changed the subject then and there.
I think it was brave how you stood up to the Captain.
No, it was foolish. The mission could have been put in possible danger.
Did I just say that?
I knew it was brave, that's how I felt!
Not foolish!
That's something my brother would have said. Or Ral-.
Pause.
Ralimn.
He stood behind us. The last part of our convo had been in the open at close range. He had heard.
I turned.
Stared.
Stoic stare.
It was foolish and showed you as a possible trouble-maker. Never argue with a superior.
Aldrea and Aximili did.
Does it occur to you, Yaolyn, aristh, that you are not them? Not some big hero?
I know, I said.
Ajax did not interrupt. Like the fight between Evaren and I, he was silent.
Ralimn. Cocky. Smug. Arrogant.
Like me.
But even I knew when to give it a rest. He was acting way too big for his warrior rank.
My mind flashed. I could practically imagine a little lightbulb.
Evaren is a dud, I realized. He's not the brains behnid this, is he?
Ralimn looked down and away.
Is he? I asked, afraid of the answer.
No, Ralimn agreed. I told the plan to the High Electorate, only after Alloran had seen my capabilities.
Ajax spoke now, What do you mean "capabilities"?
Shortly after my career as a fighter was done, as Yaolyn knows from breaking into the information rooms... I became a student at the University of Advanced Scientific Theory. Alloran passed through one day.
It doesn't take a prodigy to figure out that a genius could be of use. I know the stars, the figures, and the tactics. I give Evaren my advice, he takes it. Being a torturer, he'll take anything. Except from stupid arisths.
Ralimn sighed, You don't argue with Evaren, okay? he glared at me.
How he treats us is wrong, I said flatly.
Ralimn snorted, Don't you mean how he treats 'you' is wrong? Listen up, Yao, female fighters may be enlisting to the military, but they won't be as respected as you may think. Or want. Point is, the females got their wish - to join, did they want equal rights in the military? They never said so.
I didn't answer right away. I was mad. It wasn't fair, and with the way things were going nothing would be fair. Ever.
Period.
I would think that respect comes along generally with the package, I murmered.
Ralimn didn't hear me. Get to your posts, he hissed coldly.
* * *
Ajax and I took no care in how fast we got to our posts. It'd be another boring duty at the weapons console for me. Like we'd get any action. Besides the Galaxy Gaze, all we had seen was stars.
I noticed we had finally gotten out of Z-Space. I wondered how long ago it had been when we jumped back to normal space. Probably when I was asleep.
Figures.
Jennifer Lovedye noticed us first. "Hey," she said. She smiled with a 'mouth'.
I looked her over, I had never really paid attention to details. It made me realize how I could just look over something beautiful and not even notice it. Kind of sad, really.
She had white, pearly teeth. Long brown hair fell down in locks to the small of her back. She had it pinned up in some areas with little clips. Butterflies. Gray eyes twinkled momentarily.
"Hey Kelt! We're done!" she exclaimed happily.
The Hork Bajir nodded, equally as happy. "Good, now I can finally rest my eyes. The white void was bothering my vision."
Oh yes, Kelt Mahet was a Seer alright. No small words and short sentences for her.
Jennifer and Kelt left.
So, Ajax and I took our posts. We stood there, following orders from Evaren and Alloran as they came. I could feel Ralimn's eyes watching me. It was unnerving.
Then, for the next two hours it was boring. Mostly small talk and yawning time.
After that, everyone got a rude wake up call.
Ajax and I silently walked from the grazing area to the bridge.
Of course, to anyone else it was silent, but to us, it was private.
We were conversing privately in thought-speak. No one would know it, we never looked at each other.
I'm sorry, he murmered. The Captain ordered me to strike when you started to walk away. I didn't think. Couldn't. I'm sorry.
Evaren is a fool. I dismissed his apologies.
That took him aback.
How can you say that about our captain?! Our prince! It's insubordination!
It's treason and so on and so on, I muttered. I know. Evaren may be your prince, but Alloran is my War-Prince. A command from him, Alloran? I wouldn't think twice about. Now, Evaren? I'd think four or five times over, as you probably did as he spoke about the victory mark.
Ajax nodded gloomily. Of course I thought about it. Yes or no? At first I was about too, Yaolyn. I really was. But then, I remembered you were - he paused.
I finished for him, That I was female. I spat it out.
I wished I had been born male. But wishes make nothing truer than it ever had been.
Yes. he said softly.
And because of that you couldn't do it?
Yes.
I shook my head, Next time, Ajax, you should just do it.
What?!
Do it and get over your little fears about females. You'll be working with and around them for the rest of your life. Get over it.
He changed the subject then and there.
I think it was brave how you stood up to the Captain.
No, it was foolish. The mission could have been put in possible danger.
Did I just say that?
I knew it was brave, that's how I felt!
Not foolish!
That's something my brother would have said. Or Ral-.
Pause.
Ralimn.
He stood behind us. The last part of our convo had been in the open at close range. He had heard.
I turned.
Stared.
Stoic stare.
It was foolish and showed you as a possible trouble-maker. Never argue with a superior.
Aldrea and Aximili did.
Does it occur to you, Yaolyn, aristh, that you are not them? Not some big hero?
I know, I said.
Ajax did not interrupt. Like the fight between Evaren and I, he was silent.
Ralimn. Cocky. Smug. Arrogant.
Like me.
But even I knew when to give it a rest. He was acting way too big for his warrior rank.
My mind flashed. I could practically imagine a little lightbulb.
Evaren is a dud, I realized. He's not the brains behnid this, is he?
Ralimn looked down and away.
Is he? I asked, afraid of the answer.
No, Ralimn agreed. I told the plan to the High Electorate, only after Alloran had seen my capabilities.
Ajax spoke now, What do you mean "capabilities"?
Shortly after my career as a fighter was done, as Yaolyn knows from breaking into the information rooms... I became a student at the University of Advanced Scientific Theory. Alloran passed through one day.
It doesn't take a prodigy to figure out that a genius could be of use. I know the stars, the figures, and the tactics. I give Evaren my advice, he takes it. Being a torturer, he'll take anything. Except from stupid arisths.
Ralimn sighed, You don't argue with Evaren, okay? he glared at me.
How he treats us is wrong, I said flatly.
Ralimn snorted, Don't you mean how he treats 'you' is wrong? Listen up, Yao, female fighters may be enlisting to the military, but they won't be as respected as you may think. Or want. Point is, the females got their wish - to join, did they want equal rights in the military? They never said so.
I didn't answer right away. I was mad. It wasn't fair, and with the way things were going nothing would be fair. Ever.
Period.
I would think that respect comes along generally with the package, I murmered.
Ralimn didn't hear me. Get to your posts, he hissed coldly.
* * *
Ajax and I took no care in how fast we got to our posts. It'd be another boring duty at the weapons console for me. Like we'd get any action. Besides the Galaxy Gaze, all we had seen was stars.
I noticed we had finally gotten out of Z-Space. I wondered how long ago it had been when we jumped back to normal space. Probably when I was asleep.
Figures.
Jennifer Lovedye noticed us first. "Hey," she said. She smiled with a 'mouth'.
I looked her over, I had never really paid attention to details. It made me realize how I could just look over something beautiful and not even notice it. Kind of sad, really.
She had white, pearly teeth. Long brown hair fell down in locks to the small of her back. She had it pinned up in some areas with little clips. Butterflies. Gray eyes twinkled momentarily.
"Hey Kelt! We're done!" she exclaimed happily.
The Hork Bajir nodded, equally as happy. "Good, now I can finally rest my eyes. The white void was bothering my vision."
Oh yes, Kelt Mahet was a Seer alright. No small words and short sentences for her.
Jennifer and Kelt left.
So, Ajax and I took our posts. We stood there, following orders from Evaren and Alloran as they came. I could feel Ralimn's eyes watching me. It was unnerving.
Then, for the next two hours it was boring. Mostly small talk and yawning time.
After that, everyone got a rude wake up call.