JDL | Lt Cmdr Hunter, Princess Nox, Pal'Maar Ilex - "Seize The Day"

Posted on 241502.19 @ 6:40am by Civilian Xue'Daio Nox & Civilian Pal'Maar Ilex

Mission: Holy Cow

Space had never been a suitable place for Xue'Daio. She hated it. It was cold, dark, and lacked the zest that planetary life offered by way of warm sun, beaches, towns... Even Cardassia was better than being trapped in the confines of a Federation runabout. It seemed almost damp, but of course it wasn't. It was dry, sterile, and lacked character — a horrible first impression if she'd ever seen one. "How much longer?" She asked the pilot, refusing to leave until they either arrived alongside the Enterprise or they decided to spare her from witnessing their humiliation and returned her back to Apsha. Warm, beautiful Apsha.

The pilot, a brusque older Andorian man, looked over his shoulder at the repugnant Princess for at least the fiftieth time in the last half hour, and shook his head. "Five minutes, ma'am."

"Go faster." She ordered, folding her arms across her stark white dress, "I'd rather not be an old woman by the time we get there." Xue's indignant protests seemed relatively futile, and she knew it all too well. It didn't stop the strange albino beauty from making her redundant demands, nor did it still her ever tapping toe against the thinly carpeted deck.

"Greetings ma'am," the acting XO messaged the incoming ship with a warm smile. She knew the type of person who was about to honour them with their presence, or at least think they were. Royalty, there tended to be two type, either nice and relaxed or bitch and egotistical. "My name is Lieutenant Commander Adrianna Hunter, I am the acting executive officer. Please allow us to guide you in and I shall meet you on your arrival." Hunter turned off her console and headed for the hanger the guests would be arriving in at alongside some specific crew.

"You heard the woman." Was all the White Princess said. The swish of heavy silk tangling in on itself and scrambling to make way for a swinging leg filled the cabin, and all too quickly Xue'Daio was gone and making preparations for her exit onto the Enterprise. Humans, she decided, were fragile things. Dark and dreary, not at all unlike space. The Cardassians had been much the same, but their ridges and scales had provided endless hours worth of focal points, a perfect cover while she'd pretended to take interest in what the Legates had to say — even when their voices boomed like thunder in anger over the Romulan's execution of Merket.

----

USS ENTERPRISE

The docking procedures had been easy and Enterprise had done as she was designed to do; captured the runabout and tugged it in, setting it safely on the shuttle bay deck. She could feel the eyes boring holes into the thing's coarse gray exterior — eyes like those that had watched her retinue's procession along the roads leading Justifal to Aliene. Eyes that demanded a glimpse of her. It was that very thing that Xue'Daio hated the most; the constant scrutiny and the way people watched her every move as if she were some great mythical creature. The thought was paused, halted firmly by the dawning realization that to them, the Federation, she was a creature of myth and legend. They'd only ever truly seen one another... And a half-breed. The long trip from Cheydinhall Sector to where the Enterprise orbited some poor, lowly, Gods forsaken planet had revealed many things to her as they'd slowly chugged along.

"If I refuse?" She asked, tilting her chin towards her guard, watching him in question and reaffirmation of what her mother had said. Death. Death and being fed to bloody roses would come if she balked and spat on the Federation openly. She hardly had a choice.

"You will not," Pal'Maar said quietly, daring to meet her eyes. "No matter how backwards these people are, your mother will make you pay the ultimate price if you do not do as she wills." He knew he needed to say nothing more than the truth. The Princess was smart, he knew she understood; his role was only to speak it aloud so that she might blame him when she was displeased. A role he knowingly and willingly played.

Xue's strange colored eyes closed as she sucked in a breath, held it, nodded, and released it all in the span of no more than twenty seconds. It was all she needed to forge her resolve in steel and do what she knew she must. "They're pathetic." She mused in a whisper, "All we need to do is pretend to care just long enough to gather information and leave. That's all." The Albino laid out, her eyes coming open once again to lock on the tall male's. He was impossibly tall at seven feet and some change, enough to force the tiny Princess to tip her head back in order to properly search his face and acknowledge him. It didn't seem quite fair. He should have been ordered to take a knee when speaking with her, at least that would have put them eye to eye. "No alliances, no treaties, no promises. Just a ridiculous meet and greet mission." She spoke with her white gloved hands weaving through the air in choppy movements as if they alone would keep the situation as cut and dry as possible. It was the territory that came with being a noble, of that she was well versed — but this noble believed in the rules of engagement as dictated by being of the Makta and not the tooti-fruity softness of being Ma'Raydio. It was to be her biggest virtue and biggest vice, she just hadn't quite come to terms with it yet.

Pal'Maar silently eyed the princess. He knew she would come to realize on her own the truth of the situation, and there was nothing else to say on the matter. Arms crossed, he stood and waited, letting his eyes drift over the space they stood in. Surrounded by space craft, and lots of smooth flat surfaces, it felt almost like a hospital. It spoke of trying and boring times ahead while on this ship.

"Fine. So be it." She replied with a sharp sniff of dismissal and her slender fingers reached to find the edges of her hood. It was over sized and draped along her shoulder even after she pulled it up and concealed the vast majority of her delicate face with it. The bright white of it only served to blend in with her skin tone and the elaborate travel gown that the Empress had demanded that she wear. It embraced her body, draping carefully from the widest curve of her hip to the floor in a sheen of silk jacquard glory. Raw silk. Only the finest would work to support the sprawled floral patterns of lace and elegant beading of crystal and pearls that danced along the fitted bodice. The sleeves themselves were nothing more than gossamer lace and gave the albino's delicate porcelain skin a look most ethereal. Xue'Daio sighed as she tugged on the length of skirt and began her departure, slinking down from the runabout to the shuttle bay floor with an almost cat-like grace regardless of the absurd indignity such motion caused her. She wasn't some pompous little soldier, she was royalty. The pink of her eyes rolled at her own thoughts as she listened to the sound of Pal'Maar's foot falls treading the deck just a foot or so behind her and to the right. Right where he was supposed to be as she approached the feeble human woman that had hailed the runabout moments earlier.

"Your grace," The acting executive officer bowed her head a little, "Welcome on board the USS Enterprise." Adrianna prayed that this wasn't the spoiled princess or narcissist, but only time would tell. Some members of the universes' royalty tended to just hide it well, so that the 'peasants' wouldn't revolt.

Xue motioned for the human to discontinue her bow and her weight shifted idly from one hip to another. "Thank you, Commander Hunter." She said, her hands resting in a tangle in front of her and her voice nothing more than the serenade of lilting bells. She could play soft... For now. The plain muddy haired human likely wouldn't have known any different regardless. Pal'Maar most likely would. "I have been told that this ship has written a lot of the Federation's history," She added, "I suppose I will have to sit with you for a history lesson after I've settled in."

Adrianna stood up straight and offered an apologetic look, "I'm afraid that my priorities lie elsewhere at this present moment, but if after you settle in, that changes, I would be more than happy to make the arrangements for that meeting."

"I'm sure they do." The star child almost seemed to sigh, "The same way my attentions are drawn to acclimating to this new..." Xue silenced for a short moment, searching for a word that wouldn't offend the creature's sense of pride, "environment." It was perfect, and ideal cover for the way the entire ship, and it's horrific noise, troubled her. The sound of the warp cores pulsing, the hum of electricity, even the percussion of the other woman's frantically beating heart all poisoned the albino's refined sense of hearing. She hated it. "Apsha's climate is tropical, the Enterprise is rather cold. It'll take me a bit to get used to it." She explained, feeling the need to cover her tracks with a smile that peeked from beneath her hood.

Being ex security, Adrianna saw straight through the little princess, though bit her tongue. "Our ship, though it's size and history, is humble, but I am sure you will be able to find a way to make it seem like home for the duration of your stay here. Shall I show you to your quarters?"

"Humble?" The young Princess scoffed, "You're being modest. The rumor and legend of the Enterprise since her inception has spanned the universe wide. I've heard bits and pieces from the time I was a child." Twenty years wasn't especially long, but she knew the stories and legends passed from the traders and travelers that had passed through Aliene. "I won't take up your time, Commander. Please show us to our quarters." She obliged tiredly.

Adrianna smiled warmly, though wasn't entirely sure if it was a genuine one, and began to walk the princess up to her quarters, "We have set up some accommodation in an a joined room for your guard and what not."

Xue'daio nodded and moved off in time with the Commander, knowing Pal'Maar would follow. "Eito." (Strange) She whispered over her shoulder for the statuesque Makta to hear, "ten fänko do simoulai." (they make no sense) The strange sing song of the language adequately covered up the intentions, and she knew that the human's fabled universal translator would struggle if they kept their chatter to a minimum — at least for now. "I appreciate that." She replied to the woman, "I'm sure you can understand the need to keep him close. There are those who would enjoy a chance to unseat the current ruling house."

"I used to work in security, so I know that their jobs are important. I can assure you though, that as long as you are on board this ship, you will be kept as safe as possible."

The tall spotted man eyed Adrianna Hunter, his eyes narrowing in evaluation. The princess was obligated to behave herself, but he was but a guard and would be allowed some degree of forgiveness based upon the assumption that he was nothing but muscle. He found it hard to believe that the tiny creature that stood in front of them had seen to the safety of others; he was pretty sure he could break her in half over his knee if he wanted. Judging by the look on the face of the princess, she'd probably welcome him doing just that. It would cause too many inconvenient questions, and would likely make things more difficult as the acting executive officer would certainly be missed.

The Albino couldn't help but chuckle as she caught her guardian's gaze from the corner of her eye. She could practically hear him thinking and it was abundantly clear that they were on the same page yet again when it came to the merits of the creatures they were having to deal with. "I plan on holding you to that, I'm sure my guard is as well. Don't feel slighted should he decline any hands on assistance."

"He is more than welcome to use the facilities on board to keep fit. We have an amazing gym and so fourth," she smiled and looked to the guard, "It would also be advised if he would smile whilst here."

"Ode." Xue sighed softly under her breath and laced her fingers together, the picture of polite ease as she strolled along. "A gym?" Her interest was piqued, she'd never heard of such a term before and chose to ignore the comment about Pal'Maar's stern stone facade. She'd seen him smile, plenty and usually because she'd done something that had ended in ridiculous and horrible failure. In many ways he was the Starchild's only 'friend', and that term wasn't thrown around loosely. "What exactly is a... Gym?"

Adrianna returned her focus to the princess, "Sorry, a gymnasium. It is an area with equipment to help train and keep fit."

"You..." Slightly bewildered, Xue's head shifted under her hood to look between her stalwart guardian and the feeble Human, 'Your people use equipment in order to keep fit? Yes... I think he will look at this... Gymnasium." It could be the first key in obtaining information and technology to better the Ascendancy's warriors. Day one and she was already gathering knowledge. "Our Makta use their own bodies as resistance while training, no equipment other than weapons for sparring. We're intrigued."

"I can show him round if he wants to join me there tonight," she offered, "I tend to go there just after my shift."

Xue looked to the hulking male, "alaimo ẹdá." (immoral creature) She began, gesturing towards Hunter, "Da rẹ lalẹ fun awọn 'gym' ati ki o wo ohun ti o jẹ ati boya o jẹ yẹ fun ìpe akọsilẹ." (Join her tonight at the gym and see what it is and if it's worthy of note) Xue nodded stiffly, sealing her order with the affirmation.

"Once we are settled in, I shall find your gymnasium and you can show it to me," he affirmed, directing a look at Xue as he did so. He was unsure of this little creature's motives, but he knew he needed to see to what this gymnasium was about.

Hunter just smiled a little as they arrived at the Princesses quarters and adjoining quarters for her staff, "Here is your quarters, and the ones next door are for your guards and so on."

Pal'Maar twisted his lips into an exaggerated approximation of the smile that the tiny creature had directed to them, though his eyes remained dull and flat. Nothing amused him right now, but she seemed to expect the gesture, so he might as well indulge her. Then he turned to the doors into Xue's quarters, and headed in to inspect them for her safety.

Adrianna left him to it, "If you need anything don't hesitate to contact me. As for your guard, I'm busy today, but the invitation is open to him."

Watching as the hulking Makta set about hunting for booby traps, the Albino allowed her attention to fall back on the pest of a Human once again. "Of course." She smiled, sweet as ushukela straight from the cane. "Expect him soon. Enjoy the rest of your day, Commander. We've come a long way from the Cheydinhall Sector, I'm sure you can appreciate our need to rest." And with that, the frigid little Princess disappeared into her quarters and the door hissed shut behind her.

---

Lt Commander Adrianna Hunter
acting Executive Officer
USS ENTERPRISE

Xue'Daio Nox
Crowned Princess of the Stenellian Ascendancy
Lady of Aliene
Regent of Apsha
Stenellian Ambassador to the Federation

Pal'Maar Ilex
Caste leader; Makta
Royal Guard