~*~*~
Illithan led her four guests into the main citadel, the place was incredible; oriental and beautiful it seemed to mimic Illithan. They were asked to wait as she left to change, dressed inappropriately for a meeting with her leader. They had been waiting for over an hour, Harper was noticeably the most impatient, walking in circles and tapping his foot at times. "What is it with girls? They take so freaking long to change for anything!"
Trance offered one of her small ambiguous smiles, not offering up an answer. "I am sorry to anger you so Harper," Illithan's voice drifted down a nearby staircase and they looked to her. Harper dropped into his seat from shock; the Illithan standing before them was radically different to the one Harper had met. Her hair was elaborately done and she was wearing a beautiful silken robe with a bow tied at her middle in a vaguely Japanese style; Harper, knowing of her condition could also see that her stomach bumped slightly but he ignored it to ogle again.
'Oh Christ, uh ...'
Illithan smiled simply at him, "Control yourself," She said earnestly making Dylan chuckle. She looked at him and smiled again. She turned back to Harper, her brown eyes highlighted by makeup, "Mr. Harper, if it does not insult Dylan would you kindly escort me? It is not right for a woman who has just returned home to enter the chamber alone if there is a man available. I have three to choose from, yet I doubt it would sit well if I entered on the arm of a Magog."
"It's fine with me," Dylan told her honestly; with an elbow, he pushed Harper towards her and the engineer uncertainly held out his arm to Illithan. She held his arm with a certain grace to her mannerisms.
They led the way into the counsel chamber and Harper was feeling as if things could only really get a tiny bit better; he had always wanted a beautiful woman on his arm and now he had one. "Announcing the prestigious daughter of Chairman Watalt, the defender of the planet Laylai, Illithan Milana," The herald announced from besides them as they entered.
Illithan removed herself from Harper's arm, "Counsellor Yalish." She bowed deeply, "It is my great honour to introduce to you Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant and three of his crew." Yalish surveyed the four off worlder's and then looked to her; he seemed to be weighing them up. "I realise that I have broken one of the laws of our kind in inviting a Magog to our home but I will stand entirely accountable for anything that occurs."
"I introduce to you now, Rev Bem, Trance Gemini and Seamus Harper,"
Yalish spent a few moments looking between the four Andromeda crewmembers before turning his attention to Illithan again. "They are only a nominal concern now; as glad as I am to see you safe your return is an ill omen." Illithan lowered her head, shifting her gaze from his. "Why have you returned?"
"I had too,"
"You feel that because you are with child that you need be here?"
Harper took a step forward, "Don't be stupid, it's not that!" He snapped slightly, this presumptuous male's assumption that Illithan was being a coward made him mad. "Molovan wants the kid, his heir, if she's here he can't get it now can he?" His tone was condescending and Illithan shut her eyes, bringing Harper was possibly a mistake.
Yalish looked to him for a long moment, his powerful hazel eyes made the young man flinch away. "And who are you to assume to know of our codes?" This did not work in improving Harper's mood as he became angrier at each presumption.
"Just struck me as common sense,"
"Clearly you have very little, Seamus Harper,"
"Yah, probably but I'm not the one your bitching at here!"
Illithan looked towards Yalish and then towards Harper, she felt it was kind that he was trying to preserve her honour and integrity if not a little foolish. "Please sir, forgive him for his intrusion, I felt it best I return home to have the infant so that Molovan could not get hold of it. Raised here, with protection and teaching, it could grow to be like us and not like him."
Yalish's eyes lingered once more with Harper's before going back to hers, "You have formed a connection with this Shalench spawn?" He questioned of her and she looked defiantly into his eyes, her ears flattening back onto her head like an angry cat.
"No sir, I would like nothing more then to have the infant terminated but the law forbids it. If I am to be forced to have the infant anyway I would prefer it to be here then anywhere else."
Yalish waved one hand casually; Illithan took three steps back before heading for the door; Harper, and the others followed her cautiously. Silence stayed with them as they walked down the corridors of the sweeping citadel. Finally, Illithan arrived at a door and kicked it open with her foot, "I am sorry that things went so badly in there, I thought that he would wait before questioning me alone."
"I'm sorry if I made things worse for you,"
Illithan turned to him and held his face in both hands, her forehead touching his for a moment before she gave him a completely unexpected hug. In her grasp, Harper turned bright pink, deeply embarrassed by her affection. "Harper, on a world where a kind can read your thoughts, do you not think that what goes on in your head is no secret?" This caught him and he spent a few minutes about it, 'I suppose so, so whatever I'm thinking, they know, whatever goes on in my head goes on in there's.' Illithan chuckled before he inflicted upon her an unattractive mental image that she physically shuddered away from, letting go of him. "Thank you Seamus," She said bitterly before moving to the bed. "I would prefer to change into something more appropriate before we tour the city; I will join you outside in a few moments."
~*~*~
When she rejoined them, Illithan had changed back into her previous clothing; her hair loose again and her manner slightly easier. She lead them from the great citadel building, from outside it looked rather like traditional Japanese grand buildings; she lead them further and further from the building, down side streets and alleys to a great wall. With the blessing of the guards they were allowed to climb the wall, what lay on the walls other side was little more then a moor, on the distant horizon they could see a beacon fire. "This wall marks the beginning of Shalench territory, it forms part of the planets pole and this wall encircles it."
"They're prisoners?"
Trance's comment drew her brown eyed gaze quickly, "Not entirely, they have their own cities within their territory and, as you have seen with Molovan, can leave this world." She turned her eyes to Rev Bem, "That is quite possible Rev, should your scent carry to the Shalench then we would know of it." The Magog looked stunned briefly; he had not known his thoughts were as open to her as the others were. Harper looked to Illithan, his face set in a look of confusion that was innocent. "The Shalench people are different to my kind in that they have a keener sense of smell; the scent of Magog is more poignant to them as they know the threat the Magog pose."
In the distance, there was a mighty growl, which was answered from nearer to them. Harper shuddered as the sound was unpleasant and Illithan seemed to freeze. A guard moved to them and nodded to Illithan, "There is a Shalench near the wall, they recently managed to blow through to the city and a rouge male sometimes try to spill his first blood there. I will return shortly but I feel I must take care of this,"
"We'll come with you, we can help,"
"The offer is appreciated Captain Hunt it is harder too fight the Shalench then any other people."
She was soon striding away from them; a sword and shield were given her too. "I guess normal weapons don't work." Harper offered simply from one side, Dylan watched Illithan and a few guards run from them towards a distant break in the wall, lights focused on this broken point despite the fact that it was the day.
"It is not that they do not work," A guard nearby spoke up, his gaze still set on the broken wall, "It is that the Shalench have found a way to shield against other weaponry, close quarters combat is the only option left for us now."
A siren rang out and the voice of a male carried over the previously silent day. "As of this moment, civilians are warned to stay away from the defensive wall in the Sokai province. No civilian is allowed near the wall in the Sokai province by order to Illithan Milana, any civilian breaking this law is accountable for their own actions, any death caused by action against this recommendation is not fault of the counsel."
A sword clashed against a shield and a yell rang out over the sounds, Harper froze in place to listen. Dylan took three definite steps towards the fighting and Harper followed. "Excuse me, sir, what do you think you are doing?" The guard questioned somewhat dumbly, "Illithan told you to stay here!"
Dylan seemed to ignore him, grabbing up a nearby sword and shield, "Sir, I cannot let you do this," The guard stood in front of him, he held a spear he had been holding close to Dylan's face. "I assure you that she knows what she is doing, Illithan was only sent after Molovan because she is an accomplished fighter." The human backed down dropping his sword and shield, "I have known her for sometime sir, and she will live out this battle."
~*~*~
Illithan led her four guests into the main citadel, the place was incredible; oriental and beautiful it seemed to mimic Illithan. They were asked to wait as she left to change, dressed inappropriately for a meeting with her leader. They had been waiting for over an hour, Harper was noticeably the most impatient, walking in circles and tapping his foot at times. "What is it with girls? They take so freaking long to change for anything!"
Trance offered one of her small ambiguous smiles, not offering up an answer. "I am sorry to anger you so Harper," Illithan's voice drifted down a nearby staircase and they looked to her. Harper dropped into his seat from shock; the Illithan standing before them was radically different to the one Harper had met. Her hair was elaborately done and she was wearing a beautiful silken robe with a bow tied at her middle in a vaguely Japanese style; Harper, knowing of her condition could also see that her stomach bumped slightly but he ignored it to ogle again.
'Oh Christ, uh ...'
Illithan smiled simply at him, "Control yourself," She said earnestly making Dylan chuckle. She looked at him and smiled again. She turned back to Harper, her brown eyes highlighted by makeup, "Mr. Harper, if it does not insult Dylan would you kindly escort me? It is not right for a woman who has just returned home to enter the chamber alone if there is a man available. I have three to choose from, yet I doubt it would sit well if I entered on the arm of a Magog."
"It's fine with me," Dylan told her honestly; with an elbow, he pushed Harper towards her and the engineer uncertainly held out his arm to Illithan. She held his arm with a certain grace to her mannerisms.
They led the way into the counsel chamber and Harper was feeling as if things could only really get a tiny bit better; he had always wanted a beautiful woman on his arm and now he had one. "Announcing the prestigious daughter of Chairman Watalt, the defender of the planet Laylai, Illithan Milana," The herald announced from besides them as they entered.
Illithan removed herself from Harper's arm, "Counsellor Yalish." She bowed deeply, "It is my great honour to introduce to you Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant and three of his crew." Yalish surveyed the four off worlder's and then looked to her; he seemed to be weighing them up. "I realise that I have broken one of the laws of our kind in inviting a Magog to our home but I will stand entirely accountable for anything that occurs."
"I introduce to you now, Rev Bem, Trance Gemini and Seamus Harper,"
Yalish spent a few moments looking between the four Andromeda crewmembers before turning his attention to Illithan again. "They are only a nominal concern now; as glad as I am to see you safe your return is an ill omen." Illithan lowered her head, shifting her gaze from his. "Why have you returned?"
"I had too,"
"You feel that because you are with child that you need be here?"
Harper took a step forward, "Don't be stupid, it's not that!" He snapped slightly, this presumptuous male's assumption that Illithan was being a coward made him mad. "Molovan wants the kid, his heir, if she's here he can't get it now can he?" His tone was condescending and Illithan shut her eyes, bringing Harper was possibly a mistake.
Yalish looked to him for a long moment, his powerful hazel eyes made the young man flinch away. "And who are you to assume to know of our codes?" This did not work in improving Harper's mood as he became angrier at each presumption.
"Just struck me as common sense,"
"Clearly you have very little, Seamus Harper,"
"Yah, probably but I'm not the one your bitching at here!"
Illithan looked towards Yalish and then towards Harper, she felt it was kind that he was trying to preserve her honour and integrity if not a little foolish. "Please sir, forgive him for his intrusion, I felt it best I return home to have the infant so that Molovan could not get hold of it. Raised here, with protection and teaching, it could grow to be like us and not like him."
Yalish's eyes lingered once more with Harper's before going back to hers, "You have formed a connection with this Shalench spawn?" He questioned of her and she looked defiantly into his eyes, her ears flattening back onto her head like an angry cat.
"No sir, I would like nothing more then to have the infant terminated but the law forbids it. If I am to be forced to have the infant anyway I would prefer it to be here then anywhere else."
Yalish waved one hand casually; Illithan took three steps back before heading for the door; Harper, and the others followed her cautiously. Silence stayed with them as they walked down the corridors of the sweeping citadel. Finally, Illithan arrived at a door and kicked it open with her foot, "I am sorry that things went so badly in there, I thought that he would wait before questioning me alone."
"I'm sorry if I made things worse for you,"
Illithan turned to him and held his face in both hands, her forehead touching his for a moment before she gave him a completely unexpected hug. In her grasp, Harper turned bright pink, deeply embarrassed by her affection. "Harper, on a world where a kind can read your thoughts, do you not think that what goes on in your head is no secret?" This caught him and he spent a few minutes about it, 'I suppose so, so whatever I'm thinking, they know, whatever goes on in my head goes on in there's.' Illithan chuckled before he inflicted upon her an unattractive mental image that she physically shuddered away from, letting go of him. "Thank you Seamus," She said bitterly before moving to the bed. "I would prefer to change into something more appropriate before we tour the city; I will join you outside in a few moments."
~*~*~
When she rejoined them, Illithan had changed back into her previous clothing; her hair loose again and her manner slightly easier. She lead them from the great citadel building, from outside it looked rather like traditional Japanese grand buildings; she lead them further and further from the building, down side streets and alleys to a great wall. With the blessing of the guards they were allowed to climb the wall, what lay on the walls other side was little more then a moor, on the distant horizon they could see a beacon fire. "This wall marks the beginning of Shalench territory, it forms part of the planets pole and this wall encircles it."
"They're prisoners?"
Trance's comment drew her brown eyed gaze quickly, "Not entirely, they have their own cities within their territory and, as you have seen with Molovan, can leave this world." She turned her eyes to Rev Bem, "That is quite possible Rev, should your scent carry to the Shalench then we would know of it." The Magog looked stunned briefly; he had not known his thoughts were as open to her as the others were. Harper looked to Illithan, his face set in a look of confusion that was innocent. "The Shalench people are different to my kind in that they have a keener sense of smell; the scent of Magog is more poignant to them as they know the threat the Magog pose."
In the distance, there was a mighty growl, which was answered from nearer to them. Harper shuddered as the sound was unpleasant and Illithan seemed to freeze. A guard moved to them and nodded to Illithan, "There is a Shalench near the wall, they recently managed to blow through to the city and a rouge male sometimes try to spill his first blood there. I will return shortly but I feel I must take care of this,"
"We'll come with you, we can help,"
"The offer is appreciated Captain Hunt it is harder too fight the Shalench then any other people."
She was soon striding away from them; a sword and shield were given her too. "I guess normal weapons don't work." Harper offered simply from one side, Dylan watched Illithan and a few guards run from them towards a distant break in the wall, lights focused on this broken point despite the fact that it was the day.
"It is not that they do not work," A guard nearby spoke up, his gaze still set on the broken wall, "It is that the Shalench have found a way to shield against other weaponry, close quarters combat is the only option left for us now."
A siren rang out and the voice of a male carried over the previously silent day. "As of this moment, civilians are warned to stay away from the defensive wall in the Sokai province. No civilian is allowed near the wall in the Sokai province by order to Illithan Milana, any civilian breaking this law is accountable for their own actions, any death caused by action against this recommendation is not fault of the counsel."
A sword clashed against a shield and a yell rang out over the sounds, Harper froze in place to listen. Dylan took three definite steps towards the fighting and Harper followed. "Excuse me, sir, what do you think you are doing?" The guard questioned somewhat dumbly, "Illithan told you to stay here!"
Dylan seemed to ignore him, grabbing up a nearby sword and shield, "Sir, I cannot let you do this," The guard stood in front of him, he held a spear he had been holding close to Dylan's face. "I assure you that she knows what she is doing, Illithan was only sent after Molovan because she is an accomplished fighter." The human backed down dropping his sword and shield, "I have known her for sometime sir, and she will live out this battle."
~*~*~