Thread: Outlaw Rising (Frelance & darkangel76)

STARSHIP GYPSY DANCER, CIVILIAN CLASS, ILLUMINATI ROYAL VESSEL Orbiting Planet Themis Warm. Safe. Those were the words invading Reisa's mind when Viktor reached out to touch her arm. Without realizing it, she took a couple of steps closer to him, letting his heat wash over her as she listened to the kind words of the captain. She was truly grateful for everything these rebels were doing...and all for her, in honor of her family. She smiled inwardly knowing that there were good people who truly knew the risks and sacrifices her entire family had made over the years. Looking up at the captain and relishing Viktor's heat, she gave the man in charge a nod. They were heading toward the outer rim. She remembered her parents speaking of a hidden base out there, so remote that the Illuminati had a difficult time locating its whereabouts. A feeble attempt to show their iron will and strength, the Illuminati royals had a stronghold built out there. As far as she knew, they'd been unsuccessful in locating the camp. Reisa then turned toward the princess. Princess Laelestra looked just as pathetic as she'd expectedsheltered and nave. So, how did a bratty princess like having the tables turned on her for once? Reisa smirked, but then suddenly felt guilty when she saw the tears in the Illuminati princess' eyes. She looked confused, shocked...innocent. It was disconcerting to say the least. Did this princess have any idea of what her people were, what horrors they were capable of? Laela's silence, that look in her eye, made her decide that she was more than likely clueless. At that, anger surged in her veins. How cruel to grow up knowing nothing and then learning your people were monsters. Still, it wasn't her job to babysit. She had other things to do, to prepare for. Laela had never felt so confused in her life. Everyone looked angry and she didn't know who was who any longer. She watched one of the twins leave, her heart beating faster and faster as she knew the inevitable was approaching. She was certain that she'd be executed or, worse, thrown into some cold prison where she'd suffer alone in the damp dark. Shivering, she recoiled when the captain told her what she'd be doing now that she was a part of the ship. She'd be miserable, a failure! She had no idea how to prepare food or anything of that nature. But in that moment, she knew she needed to accept her fate. Perhaps that would buy her time before her family found a means to rescue her. Rescue. Laela didn't want to, but she had to admit that she wasn't even sure what that would mean, if her family would even bother at this point. As she was shoved out off the bridge and took in the faces of everyone, she found herself hoping that they'd be able to achieve their cause. Ava's eyes connected with Laela's before she was gone from sight. She looked up at the captain, her tummy fluttering, and smiled. He was going to trust her to take over a role in communications. This show of trust overwhelmed her. After living a life judged and scrutinized by the Illuminati, she hadn't known what to expect. But, she'd taken a chance, renouncing her status and traversing down a path of no returnone she'd never regret. Thank you, captain, Ava spoke, her voice soft as a small smile tugged at her lips. I won't let you down. It was a promise, one she'd never break. As Reisa walked alongside Viktor, she watched the whimpering princess as she was nudged to keep moving. She glanced at Viktor, skin flushed, and she smiled. Do you think she'll be any trouble? she asked, though she already knew the answer she'd be trouble, but not the sort they'd anticipated. Laela jerked her head and glared at Reisa. It stung that others saw her as trouble. She was good for nothing. A worthless royal, a mere toy to be played in everyone else's game. STARSHIP DOUBLE HELIX, CIVILIAN CLASS, ILLUMINATI SCIENTIFIC SHUTTLE Destination, Planet Charon The escort fighters made quick work of the unknown ship that had tried to threaten her. Her! Dr. Sophie Bracken was not one to give in to idle threats! Still, this had been close. Too close. She let her small crew work their gadgets as they made plans to be escorted planet side. It wasn't long before her shuttle was landing in the docking bay. Sophie saw the smoke billowing up from where she stood just outside the Governor's Palace. Palace...now that was one way to describe things. The Governor's Palace wasn't like the grand homes on Helios or even on Themis. No. On planet Charon, the palace looked more like a bunker, a mighty fortress dripping with guards and donning the Illuminati crest. It might lack the finer luxuries and aesthetics of the elegant Illuminati architecture on the Inner Sanctum planets, but at least this place was safe. It needed to be strong, send a message to the cruel rovers wandering the black. Yes. The place spoke of dominance, of respect. It was one place she knew where nothing would harm her. Where is he? Sophie sniped, her dark hair mussed from the intense skirmish that had happened while orbiting. Where? I need to see him. Her demands were short and to the point. Soon, doctor. We're bringing you to him now, one of Sophie's crewmen stated. Sophie placed her hands on her hips, her entire body trembling as she tried to steady herself on her feet. She wanted to seem stern, though she knew she was failing. Even still, her crew would remain loyal. They always did. At that, she was escorted off the ramp and into the palace. PLANET CHARON Surface, outskirts of rebel base camp The wind was picking up and that meant the inevitablea ship would soon be crashing. Aeryn glanced over her shoulder and saw the fireball careening toward the planet's surface, the friction of entry making the thing pulse and glow. But, from the size of the flames and the color it emanated, she could tell that thing wasn't going to get incinerated. That only meant one thing. Whoever was piloting that thing was skilled...scarily so. This wasn't the first time she'd seen a ship come tumbling through Charon's atmosphere and it probably wouldn't be the last. Wrecks were common and she was typically the one sent to salvage any supplies she could from the wreckage. Yes. Life was rough on the Barbaric Rimas the outer rim was aptly callednormal rules as seen on the Inner Sanctum had no place. It was a do or die way of thinking, survival the driving force of everyone. Life on Charon was exactly as one would expect. It meant dealing with the horrors the Barbaric Rim had to offer and they were plentypirates, smugglers, criminals. But those weren't what was really nasty. The worst part was that the few Illuminati that had sunk their well-manicured fingers into the dust didn't follow their own code. Their greed and aggression were boundless, merciless. It was why Aeryn was with the group of people she was. She'd been fortunate enough to be found after her own family's ship had gone down. She'd been a child thenscared, alone, coping with the loss of her parents. But she was taken in and cared for...trained. Aeryn knew she had to brace for the impact. There was no way she'd make it back to base camp. That thing would send tremors for miles. But that wasn't what worried her. The guards had been watching, staring up into the reddened sky. No doubt they'd send their own team to inquire after the ship that had been unfortunate enough to swing by Charon. The only good thing was that it would take the guards time to assemble and they had a harder trailer to follow in order to get to that ship. It gave Aeryn some hope. Hope that she might get to it first. Base...base...do you copy? Aeryn spat into her comm. She was running for safety now, her plans altered. Base would have to wait. Do you copy? Over. The static hissed in her ears as she leaped over a large rock jutting out from the surface. She crouched down deciding she was far enough away, yet still close enough to reach the ship once it crashed before the guards. The comm continued to hiss static. Aeryn's face contorted. Frustrated, she slapped her comm hard trying to get it to pick up her base's signal. Goddamnit! Aeryn mumbled. Please... her voice was a whispering plea. Copy that, Aeryn, came a muffled voice over the comm. Aeryn let out a soft sigh. Plans have been altered. I repeat, plans have been altered, Aeryn stated. The comm crackled a little. Copy that, Aeryn. State reason. Aeryn bit down on her lip and peeked over the edge of her rock. The ship was about to make impact. Crash! she shouted. At that, she cut signal and covered her ears. When the ship crashed, the entire ground trembled and she found herself falling to the ground, her face pressed hard against the dirt. No doubt base even felt the impact of this thing. When everything went still, Aeryn sat up. Her face stung a little, so she raised up a hand and touched it. Looking at her fingers, she saw the blood, however it wasn't that badjust some scrapes. It could've been worse. Brushing herself off, she knew she had to act quickly. She reached for her comm and started adjusting the knobs. Silence. Nothing. She pounded her fist against the ground causing it to bruise. Her heart in her throat, she peeked over the rock once again. The guards were gone, but she knew they'd be back. They always were and always with greater numbers. Licking her lips, she kept on adjusting the knobs, calling over various frequencies in hopes to contact whoever might have survived on that ship. She was beginning to worry. All the frequencies the rebels were known to typically used weren't getting her anywhere. This meant being creative. Sheand whoever might still be on board that shipcouldn't delay. The illuminati were always quick to assemble. Come on, Aeryn begged after what felt like forever has passed. Just then, she adjusted the knob and...she heard it. That faint blip. She smiled broadly and tried t hone in on the signal. Gotcha, she whispered, feeling rather proud. She let the rest of the tech she had do its work and she zeroed in on the coordinate where the signal was coming from. Once she had them, she opened her channel. I read you, do you copy? I read you. I'm coming.