Koriand'r (StarFire)

Stealing the ship was easy. Not turning around and going back to Tamaran is hard. Ideas of vengeance circle her mind, but the person she would most like to inflict it on is out of reach. For now, it would be best to lay low. Find safety and by X'Hal come up with a plan to return to Tameran and take back her homeland from those who had invaded.

Laying low will be difficult, but she must find a way. The ship draws a lot of attention. This planet does not have sophisticated technology. It is primitive compared to the ones in her own star system. She looks for a place to land, eventually finding an area that is clear and mostly green with the native foliage, except for some white lines and circles. The ship does not sense any threats to landing though, so she drops the ship. As it comes down three Gordanian ships triangulate above her and begin firing. It is clear they are aware that their own people are no longer in control. She had let their bodies float in space, perhaps they had been found or perhaps the ship had ways to tattle on her. Bio-signatures were used to pilot Tameranian ships, this ship had not asked for proof, only passcodes, which the officers had given up easily enough after she beat them senseless.

She tries to take off again, but the exterior is too damaged. Plan b it is, she gets out of the ship and takes off running at first and then flying, letting the joy of her escape consume her. She flies and dodges their attempts to shoot her down. When she gets to some large buildings, they cannot follow her as easily. Their ships cannot navigate the narrow spaces between the structures, as easily as she can. She lands on a busy street. The inhabitants of the planet scream and run, some stop and stare as they see her. Perhaps this is their first time seeing life from another star system. She would like to reassure them that she means no harm, but at the moment there are other priorities.

Two Gordanian soldiers on smaller planetary ships hover above her. She runs through the sea of people. Stopping only when the structures of buildings block her escape. There is only one way in and out of the corridor. They get close and hop off their ships, attempting combat directly. She will not be easily defeated. She begins fighting.

"Don't you think those numbers are a little unfair?" A young planetary inhabitant with pale skin, dark messy hair and something transparent and dark over his eyes says. His words are unintelligible. They are not in the star system common or her own planet's language. The Gordanians do not seem to understand either. One of them raises his weapon at the inhabitant, before he can fire the young inhabitant kicks it out of his hand. The Gordanians did not expect any of the primitive life-forms on this planet to fight back. Koriand'r smiles. She has an ally. They fight off the two Goradanians and once she has given them a finishing blow of star-bolts the inhabitant grabs her hand and starts running. Koriand'r is confused at first, but follows them, as more ships appear overhead. Eventually they stop in a narrow alleyway. The sky is partially covered and it's dark. They will not be easy to see.

"My name is Richard, and you are?" she takes her ally by the shoulders and presses her lips to theirs. They are surprised, but they do not fight her and she gathers the data she needs.

"I am Koriand'r, which means StarFire in your language," she says. "You are called Richard?" She thinks about what he said before she kissed him.

"Yeah, my name is Richard... Why did you kiss me?" he asks, his face is turning bright red. Is he sick?

"That is how my people obtain the language knowledge of other planets," she says matter-o-factly.

"Why are they after you? Why are you here?" Richard asks.

"The Gordanians are working with the Citadel. They were at war with my planet. They captured me with the help of... They captured me and have kept me as their slave for a year, before I was able to steal one of their ships and escape," she says, ending with a sigh. "Though I do not know if I will be able to evade recapture." She looks up and sees a few more ships go by. They will likely stay on this planet until they recapture her. If word gets out to her own people that she escaped, it may give them hope and hope is dangerous to the enemy. They will realize that they may yet still win the war. It's not over.

"Why don't you come with me. I know some powerful people who might be able to help." She tilts her head slightly. This person does not look like he would know anyone important. He is younger than many of the inhabitants she has seen today, but he did help her... He had been brave against the warriors when others ran and fled. Perhaps she could try to trust him. Plan B would be to be alone again and that is an unwelcome idea.

"Take me to them," she says. He pulls a small black device from his pocket. It lights up. She looks at it, but he turns so she cannot view the screen.

"Alright, let's go. Here, maybe this will help them avoid sighting you," he takes off his top clothing article and hands it to her. She slips her arms in pulls it over her head. Despite his smaller size it is still loose on her frame. He pulls up a hood over her head and she tucks her hair in. When she's finished, he grabs her arm and starts walking, quickly.