A couple of days later Cia invited me to a party on her ship, with all the crew celebrating the birthday of her XO Luisa. Amieta was there, and Fisk - Cia's Security chief, so there were people to talk to. I was quite careful, trying not to "let people know" that we were, or might be, an item. There was an argument between the XO and some other crew, and Cia stepped in. She chose a middle path, and although I was filled with misgivings when it started, it ended rather well - even the XO looked pleased.
I enjoyed talking with Amieta - she treats Cia like a little sister, and I think if she disapproved she could, practically speaking, end it. But Fisk - I tried treating him politely, reasonably friendly, and he seemed Ok, if a little formal. And later I caught him giving me a dirty look, and then asking Amieta off for a quiet chat. I thought perhaps he found something in my background that he doesn't like, even if it's not bad enough to kick me off her ship.
As the party died down, and we said our goodbyes, I cornered Amieta on the way out - what had Fisk wanted? was it anything to do with me? Ami assured me not, that it was something else and seemed surprised that I dropped it at that point. If she wanted to lie to me, there wasn't anything I could do, and if she was telling me the truth, then ... Cia's ship is not my business - I should stay out unless invited.
I'd asked Cia if she wanted to maybe go sailing the next day, and she said yes. I told her to call me when she was available, and we'd go.
All the next day I spent waiting around. Either in the bazaar or on my ship, or flying listlessly between Rens and Pator. I ran into Amieta in the Bazaar, and we talked for a bit. She seems nice, in a dangerous, competant way. She said I'd answer to her if I hurt Cia. I said if Cia hurt me, Ami would owe me a beer. Ami looked surprised, but agreed.
Then Camille came in - high on sugar and without Cia. She said Cia was working, so she was shopping. Camille started going through a list of plans for how to take over the 'verse - get a monopoly on the air supply and make people pay up or die, put TCMCs in their heads so they'd do what Camille wanted them to. The more I listened, the more I was scared, even horrified. She sounded like a sociopath in the making. I was feeling abandoned, emotional and unable to deal with that any more, so I left Amieta to it before I said something I shouldn't.
That night, after leaving Camille and Amieta in Rens, Mata gave me a call. She asked how I was (shitty) and gave me good advice about dealing with Cia. She told me to relax a bit and try to just get on with her, to let it happen. She also told me that I should get used to Jonny and her being a couple, that it was working and it was good. She'd just told him to sort his sec status out so he could come to the naming day after the birth, and Jonny had been doing legitimate work for the Republic fleet to try to get back in their good books.
I flew back to Rens and walked the Bazaar for a bit and ran into Cia. It was ... good. One of the reasons she'd been busy was that her application to join ReAw was accepted, and she was a bit overwhelmed with information, and the other was that Matariki had cornered her somewhere and asked her questions. We walked arm in arm through the bazaar and talked. It was nice, relaxing, joyous.
We discussed Mata and her child, and it came up that Cia doesn't believe in medically assisted pregnancies - it just wasn't done on Annelle. It felt like Matariki made her sad because Mata has something she thinks she never will, since she's been pod-killed.
I said I might be going down to lowsec to work for a few days, and Cia said she was glad to see me, that she'd miss me, and then kissed me on the cheek before we parted.
The day felt like I had been in a high-G maneuver, diving down and feeling the immense G forces at the bottom, and now I was ending the day feeling weightless, floating at the top. It was dizzying. I felt worn out, emotionally weary, but happy and I found myself smiling all the time.
There has to be an easier path.
20090804
Beginnings part v
So I set about organising dinner. It took me most of the week. I wasn't doing missions or going on patrols, I was thinking about menus and surprises. I wanted it to be special. I wanted Cia to like it. I booked a really nice restaurant, and a really nice hotel suite, and timed it for sunset around the moon.
I had met Cia's head of security in the Bazaar, and so I sent him a message. I wanted Cia to be safe, without having half a dozen marines in the booth while we were trying to have dinner. Fisk Hurun was no nonsense, and practical, and pretty much everything a security officer should be - I was happy to answer his questions.
And Mata gave me the idea for a gift. I went to Uncle Ashlar, the carver, in his studio on Gyng, and looked at the finished pieces. He had one of a woman seated, pouring a jug, with hinted-at features instead of having every detail delineated. It is one of those pieces where you could see any beautiful woman there rather than one in particular, and the lines suggested movement and elegance- in fact, Ashlar had named it "Grace". I thought it would be perfect.
And I had to get new clothes. Back to Rens Bazaar - I found a tailor who would make me something appropriate. Black with gold thread marking clan patterns of courting. It had a high collar with buttons, and I thought it would look fantastic.
And then the day arrived. I was walking around the entrance of the restaurant, trying not to look nervous, and failing.
She arrived. Peeling off from her guards and walking up to me looking fantastic. Simple, Elegant, and with hair! She'd jump-cloned in the meantime back to a missioning clone, and this one hadn't been mistreated.
I lead her into the restaurant, and we were quickly seated, and then we talked for hours. In between we ate. I don't remember much of what we said, but there were bits. She told me that her father had been in FIO, that he'd had a cloning accident and been gone for some time. And when he came back Cia was in the White Rose society - Sansha supporters. He thought she'd been controlled by Sansha and would have information about them. So he kidnapped Cia and Camille - his own daughters - and tortured Cia for information about the Sansha.
Amieta rescued them, and Silver.
I was horrified, and relieved, and embarrassed for being relieved.
I mentioned that I'd worked in the Federation for a while, and she asked where and too late I figured out that FIO was not the right answer. She looked scared, and then like she was convincing herself that I wasn't necessarily a spy from her father - building a reality that fit what she hoped? I'm not sure.
At the appointed time, I walked her to the Hotel - I was pre-registered - and took her to the window floor. And we watched the sunset together holding hands until it got dark and talking some more... I showed her Grace, and said it was a present for her. I think she liked it.
Then I offered her the chance to do more than talk, and she said yes. I wonder still if that was what she wanted, or whether she was trying to figure out what I wanted. I was desperately trying not to pressure her, but maybe that's a pressure in itself. Afterwards, I asked what tomorrow would bring.
Big mistake. She looked scared - trapped - and I tried to back-pedal. She asked if we had to decide now, couldn't we leave it for a bit, nobody else had to know right?
And of course I said yes.
Then she said she had to get back to Camille. Camille needed her. "Maybe one day, Amieta or someone could babysit and Cia could spend the night?", "Maybe" she said.
And then she kissed me and left. One day she'll come back and pick up Grace.
The hotel room felt very lonely right then, but I was damned if I was going back to my hangar.
I had met Cia's head of security in the Bazaar, and so I sent him a message. I wanted Cia to be safe, without having half a dozen marines in the booth while we were trying to have dinner. Fisk Hurun was no nonsense, and practical, and pretty much everything a security officer should be - I was happy to answer his questions.
And Mata gave me the idea for a gift. I went to Uncle Ashlar, the carver, in his studio on Gyng, and looked at the finished pieces. He had one of a woman seated, pouring a jug, with hinted-at features instead of having every detail delineated. It is one of those pieces where you could see any beautiful woman there rather than one in particular, and the lines suggested movement and elegance- in fact, Ashlar had named it "Grace". I thought it would be perfect.
And I had to get new clothes. Back to Rens Bazaar - I found a tailor who would make me something appropriate. Black with gold thread marking clan patterns of courting. It had a high collar with buttons, and I thought it would look fantastic.
And then the day arrived. I was walking around the entrance of the restaurant, trying not to look nervous, and failing.
She arrived. Peeling off from her guards and walking up to me looking fantastic. Simple, Elegant, and with hair! She'd jump-cloned in the meantime back to a missioning clone, and this one hadn't been mistreated.
I lead her into the restaurant, and we were quickly seated, and then we talked for hours. In between we ate. I don't remember much of what we said, but there were bits. She told me that her father had been in FIO, that he'd had a cloning accident and been gone for some time. And when he came back Cia was in the White Rose society - Sansha supporters. He thought she'd been controlled by Sansha and would have information about them. So he kidnapped Cia and Camille - his own daughters - and tortured Cia for information about the Sansha.
Amieta rescued them, and Silver.
I was horrified, and relieved, and embarrassed for being relieved.
I mentioned that I'd worked in the Federation for a while, and she asked where and too late I figured out that FIO was not the right answer. She looked scared, and then like she was convincing herself that I wasn't necessarily a spy from her father - building a reality that fit what she hoped? I'm not sure.
At the appointed time, I walked her to the Hotel - I was pre-registered - and took her to the window floor. And we watched the sunset together holding hands until it got dark and talking some more... I showed her Grace, and said it was a present for her. I think she liked it.
Then I offered her the chance to do more than talk, and she said yes. I wonder still if that was what she wanted, or whether she was trying to figure out what I wanted. I was desperately trying not to pressure her, but maybe that's a pressure in itself. Afterwards, I asked what tomorrow would bring.
Big mistake. She looked scared - trapped - and I tried to back-pedal. She asked if we had to decide now, couldn't we leave it for a bit, nobody else had to know right?
And of course I said yes.
Then she said she had to get back to Camille. Camille needed her. "Maybe one day, Amieta or someone could babysit and Cia could spend the night?", "Maybe" she said.
And then she kissed me and left. One day she'll come back and pick up Grace.
The hotel room felt very lonely right then, but I was damned if I was going back to my hangar.
Beginnings part iv
Interviewing Silver Night was an exercise in frustration. I like to get an idea of what a potential recruit feels - what they want, what they don't want, to try to tell if they'd be a good fit. Silver was all "I want what the corp wants" and "My feelings are irrelevant". Combined with the Caldari formality, I wasn't sure whether he'd fit or not.
I got glimpses though - when I told him that Re-Awakened has a few people who are getting second chances or trying to redeem themselves for past mistakes he seemed almost eager, hopeful maybe.
I told him that I'd recommend he be accepted if he put in an app. I suggested to Eva that she clear it with the other CEOs in EM before accepting him though, after Jonny.
Cia started hanging out in the EM Public channel - She was hoping to get to know people in the alliance I think. She mentioned she was doing missions, and I offered to help - of course, by that time I was half way to Lonetrek to leave a jump-clone in Torrinos. I finished the trip, feeling slightly embarrassed that she'd caught me doing that, while at the same time somehow pleased that she knew.
Then I clone jumped back to Pator and ran missions with her for hours in Lustrevik until she qualified for jobs from the agent in her own right. It was peaceful, in a warlike way, and a pattern that I'm familiar with. There was no embarrassment in calling targets or setting destinations. Almost like I'd forgotten who was in my gang. I liked it.
Later that afternoon I talked to Mata - about how I felt, and what I was thinking. I asked her if she thought I was going to fast, and she asked questions, the way she does, and said "You're almost holding hands and you're worried you're going too fast?" - Mata can be pretty scathing when she wants to be.
I got glimpses though - when I told him that Re-Awakened has a few people who are getting second chances or trying to redeem themselves for past mistakes he seemed almost eager, hopeful maybe.
I told him that I'd recommend he be accepted if he put in an app. I suggested to Eva that she clear it with the other CEOs in EM before accepting him though, after Jonny.
Cia started hanging out in the EM Public channel - She was hoping to get to know people in the alliance I think. She mentioned she was doing missions, and I offered to help - of course, by that time I was half way to Lonetrek to leave a jump-clone in Torrinos. I finished the trip, feeling slightly embarrassed that she'd caught me doing that, while at the same time somehow pleased that she knew.
Then I clone jumped back to Pator and ran missions with her for hours in Lustrevik until she qualified for jobs from the agent in her own right. It was peaceful, in a warlike way, and a pattern that I'm familiar with. There was no embarrassment in calling targets or setting destinations. Almost like I'd forgotten who was in my gang. I liked it.
Later that afternoon I talked to Mata - about how I felt, and what I was thinking. I asked her if she thought I was going to fast, and she asked questions, the way she does, and said "You're almost holding hands and you're worried you're going too fast?" - Mata can be pretty scathing when she wants to be.
20090803
Beginnings part iii
A week went by, I was distracted, barely doing any missions or combat patrols - haunting the bazaar hoping I'd see her again. I sent Cia a message asking about dinner and she gave me a time and an address - Torrinos - Deep in Lonetrek. So I flew over. I arrived early and paced around the docking bay until the right time.
I brought some things I thought Cia and Camille might like, including a weapon. It's a high tech version of the one I carry. She had told me she had nightmares about one time she'd killed someone with a knife - though now I wonder if it was the knife or the killing - and my solution to that particular problem sits on my hip.
I dressed somewhat formally; much more so than normally. and Cia was wearing a simple blue dress that highlighted her eyes - I thought she looked wonderful. Camille was impressed with the gifts, though they were mostly junk from my hangar. The meal was great (though I don't remember much about it), the company excellent. After the food, Camille volunteered to go do her homework, and gave me a huge wink when Cia wasn't looking - is that the little-sister seal of approval?
I was awkward and tongue-tied, Cia was charming and wonderful... We almost held hands, and I kissed her on the cheek when I left. I wanted to hold her but I didn't want to scare her. After what her father did, or what I imagined he did, I felt like any move might ruin things. Every time she blushed I felt my heart beat a little faster.
I asked about the possibility of dinner without Camille sometime, and Cia said yes. My heart soared.
Cia had resigned from her corp - her CEO was killing people she thought of as friends, and she didn't want to be involved. Captain Vikarion was sure he was right, that his cause justified any action however unpleasant - he reminded her of her father I think.
She said she had promised herself a week to think about what to do next. I might have mentioned Re-Awakened ...
I left feeling embarrassed after tripping over the furniture. A silly end to a perfect evening.
I had another early morning op the next morning, and had to fly 30 jumps to get there slightly late - I didn't miss much, and we tracked a war target down in highsec and popped and podded him. I was sleep deprived from the late finish and the early start and I didn't care - the 'verse was a wonderful place.
After the Op, I stopped in at the Shackled Amarr to talk with the other pilots on the Op. Sarr was there - she hadn't been on the Op, but she'd been drinking again. She was angry. She said a pilot in Gradient used to be a Slaver, and had bragged about it, and her corp didn't care; that they were covering things up; that they didn't want her to make a fuss. Elsebeth Rhiannon, her CEO, had told her to drop it. Sarr wouldn't - couldn't. She asked me to talk to Eva or KJ - the Alliance directors - and get them to do something about it. Other pilots from the Op started filing into the bar and I used it as an excuse to get out.
I dropped a line to Eva and took off to Rens to be far away from Pator; from Sarrapis when she's drunk.
I saw Cia in space - she was doing missions in Rens, working on standings with the Brutor Tribe. I couldn't think of a reason she'd do that unless she was thinking about Re-Awakened's standing requirements.
I walked the Bazaar for a bit smiling a lot, and found a coffee house called Lenfa's. It's comfortable and hidden. I gradually relaxed and waited for Eva. I don't get to talk to my CEO often, but I enjoy it when I do. I told Eva about Sarrapis, about her fears and her drinking, and Eva told me that it was common in ex-slaves, She'd seen it before that it would pass with time. Eva promised she'd look into Sarr's problem.
I told Eva I was hoping to recruit Cia into Re-Awakened, that she had just left White Rose, and that I'd seen her missioning in Rens that morning. Eva smiled and told me that she thought Cia would fit in the corp, that she was pleased she'd recruited me, and that she was only waiting a couple of months before making me a director because she wanted me to still be having fun.
Director? Me? Responsible in part for the workings of the alliance? I must have looked stunned, since I think Eva laughed at me. I suggested that recruiter roles would be adequate, and she nodded and agreed - My first job as an official recruiter was going to be interviewing Silver Night.
Silver Night! He's the one Amieta works for. He helped save Cia from her father. Maybe he'd help convince Cia to join Re-Awakened?
I brought some things I thought Cia and Camille might like, including a weapon. It's a high tech version of the one I carry. She had told me she had nightmares about one time she'd killed someone with a knife - though now I wonder if it was the knife or the killing - and my solution to that particular problem sits on my hip.
I dressed somewhat formally; much more so than normally. and Cia was wearing a simple blue dress that highlighted her eyes - I thought she looked wonderful. Camille was impressed with the gifts, though they were mostly junk from my hangar. The meal was great (though I don't remember much about it), the company excellent. After the food, Camille volunteered to go do her homework, and gave me a huge wink when Cia wasn't looking - is that the little-sister seal of approval?
I was awkward and tongue-tied, Cia was charming and wonderful... We almost held hands, and I kissed her on the cheek when I left. I wanted to hold her but I didn't want to scare her. After what her father did, or what I imagined he did, I felt like any move might ruin things. Every time she blushed I felt my heart beat a little faster.
I asked about the possibility of dinner without Camille sometime, and Cia said yes. My heart soared.
Cia had resigned from her corp - her CEO was killing people she thought of as friends, and she didn't want to be involved. Captain Vikarion was sure he was right, that his cause justified any action however unpleasant - he reminded her of her father I think.
She said she had promised herself a week to think about what to do next. I might have mentioned Re-Awakened ...
I left feeling embarrassed after tripping over the furniture. A silly end to a perfect evening.
I had another early morning op the next morning, and had to fly 30 jumps to get there slightly late - I didn't miss much, and we tracked a war target down in highsec and popped and podded him. I was sleep deprived from the late finish and the early start and I didn't care - the 'verse was a wonderful place.
After the Op, I stopped in at the Shackled Amarr to talk with the other pilots on the Op. Sarr was there - she hadn't been on the Op, but she'd been drinking again. She was angry. She said a pilot in Gradient used to be a Slaver, and had bragged about it, and her corp didn't care; that they were covering things up; that they didn't want her to make a fuss. Elsebeth Rhiannon, her CEO, had told her to drop it. Sarr wouldn't - couldn't. She asked me to talk to Eva or KJ - the Alliance directors - and get them to do something about it. Other pilots from the Op started filing into the bar and I used it as an excuse to get out.
I dropped a line to Eva and took off to Rens to be far away from Pator; from Sarrapis when she's drunk.
I saw Cia in space - she was doing missions in Rens, working on standings with the Brutor Tribe. I couldn't think of a reason she'd do that unless she was thinking about Re-Awakened's standing requirements.
I walked the Bazaar for a bit smiling a lot, and found a coffee house called Lenfa's. It's comfortable and hidden. I gradually relaxed and waited for Eva. I don't get to talk to my CEO often, but I enjoy it when I do. I told Eva about Sarrapis, about her fears and her drinking, and Eva told me that it was common in ex-slaves, She'd seen it before that it would pass with time. Eva promised she'd look into Sarr's problem.
I told Eva I was hoping to recruit Cia into Re-Awakened, that she had just left White Rose, and that I'd seen her missioning in Rens that morning. Eva smiled and told me that she thought Cia would fit in the corp, that she was pleased she'd recruited me, and that she was only waiting a couple of months before making me a director because she wanted me to still be having fun.
Director? Me? Responsible in part for the workings of the alliance? I must have looked stunned, since I think Eva laughed at me. I suggested that recruiter roles would be adequate, and she nodded and agreed - My first job as an official recruiter was going to be interviewing Silver Night.
Silver Night! He's the one Amieta works for. He helped save Cia from her father. Maybe he'd help convince Cia to join Re-Awakened?
Beginnings part ii
The next day she was in the Bazaar again - She was still wearing a hat, a shapeless encompassing hat that hid most of her head. She kept touching it like she was worried someone was going to take it, or it was going to fall off. She asked lots of questions, about me, about EM, about why people do unpleasant things to each other.
Gradually, under gentle questioning it came out that her father had done "things" to her, and when she wouldn't do what he wanted, he'd tried to put chips in her head to make her. And when she got away, or was too broken, he got access to her med clone and did what he wanted with that. She took her hat off to show the scars, where her father had tried to put chips in her head; where the medics tried to repair the damage - her hair shaved close to the skin, and the pink patches of the scars in her head.
I guess I assumed the worst - that her father had molested her. And I wanted to be in that white inty with him in my sights. Shoot him down, slowly, make him suffer and die.
But I needed to save Cia first. She looked like she was in post-combat shock - not sure that surviving was the lucky option. I started with the obvious, that because bad things happen to a person, that doesn't make that person bad. That the person at fault for hurting her was her father, not her. It still surprises me how people have to be told this. She told me that Amieta had promised her that her father couldn't hurt her again.
I told her she didn't have to be ashamed. That her father should be ashamed. That her scars were... battle-scars, and battle-scars can be things of pride in being a survivor - that she was a survivor.
I think I helped. I think she looked stronger after thinking about it. She even invited me to come to dinner sometime.
Then I got to meet Amieta, or Ami. Ami is an older woman, who has been in the wars - both her arms have been replaced with prosthetics from the shoulder down. Not prosthetics that could pass as flesh, but obvious mechanical prosthetics - I think Ami understands about battle-scars. Amieta looked at me like she's met a lot of young punks and if I'm one of them it will go worse for me. I think I like her. She seemed pleased that Cia wasn't wearing her hat any more.
It was a long day of talking but at the end of it I felt useful. Needed. Maybe even wanted.
Gradually, under gentle questioning it came out that her father had done "things" to her, and when she wouldn't do what he wanted, he'd tried to put chips in her head to make her. And when she got away, or was too broken, he got access to her med clone and did what he wanted with that. She took her hat off to show the scars, where her father had tried to put chips in her head; where the medics tried to repair the damage - her hair shaved close to the skin, and the pink patches of the scars in her head.
I guess I assumed the worst - that her father had molested her. And I wanted to be in that white inty with him in my sights. Shoot him down, slowly, make him suffer and die.
But I needed to save Cia first. She looked like she was in post-combat shock - not sure that surviving was the lucky option. I started with the obvious, that because bad things happen to a person, that doesn't make that person bad. That the person at fault for hurting her was her father, not her. It still surprises me how people have to be told this. She told me that Amieta had promised her that her father couldn't hurt her again.
I told her she didn't have to be ashamed. That her father should be ashamed. That her scars were... battle-scars, and battle-scars can be things of pride in being a survivor - that she was a survivor.
I think I helped. I think she looked stronger after thinking about it. She even invited me to come to dinner sometime.
Then I got to meet Amieta, or Ami. Ami is an older woman, who has been in the wars - both her arms have been replaced with prosthetics from the shoulder down. Not prosthetics that could pass as flesh, but obvious mechanical prosthetics - I think Ami understands about battle-scars. Amieta looked at me like she's met a lot of young punks and if I'm one of them it will go worse for me. I think I like her. She seemed pleased that Cia wasn't wearing her hat any more.
It was a long day of talking but at the end of it I felt useful. Needed. Maybe even wanted.
Beginnings
Two weeks. It's been only two weeks since I met her, and my life feels like it's been turned upside down.
Actually, it feels like I'm still spinning. Sometimes everything is up, and sometimes everything is down.
Matariki says writing it down might help. I'm giving that a try, though it may all be a waste of time.
It started in the Bazaar... actually, it started before that, with a different person.
It started in a bar. In Pator VII Kulheim station, at the Shackled Amarr. It was after an early shift op, and I decided to drop in there to hang out and relax with the gradient pilots. The only pilot there was Sarrapis, and she hadn't been on the op. She was drunk. She was sad, and she wanted to get drunker.
Sarrapis is a hauler pilot for Gradient. She says she was a slave, and she has no memories prior to being rescued by a Gradient pilot from a slave hulk - something about Vitoc side-effects. She seemed lonely, and when I talked to her it felt like I was throwing her a life-line. She was hanging on my every word, but I knew it wasn't because of what I was saying, just that someone was paying attention to her.
So I did a bit of drinking with her, and she did a lot of drinking, and we talked. And I discovered she had never been on a planet - or didn't remember being on a planet, so I offered to take her to Matar.
The next day, I took her sailing, on a lake near Paiho. It was a slightly windy day, so the boat was pushed and blown around.
Sarr loved it. Loved the wind in her hair, the sun on her face. She was fun to be around. It was nice feeling like the virtuous warrior in the white interceptor. She didn't drink anything all day.
We got back to station, wind-burned and happy, and she had a hot-chocolate drink and went to bed, looking like a new person.
And then I wandered Heimatar feeling ... like doing good deeds, or rescuing someone.
And in the Rens Bazaar I ran into Camille again - she's 7, and intelligent and vivacious, and she talks to strangers in the streets and she has her own security team of hard people following her around. What changed the world was that she introduced me to her sister - Cia...
Cia is Gallente, tallish, maybe 15cm shorter than me, and looked scared. She looked like she'd been in a crash or something, and had some scary looking guards around. She seemed interested to talk, and reminded me a lot of Sarr only not unhealthily skinny. So naturally, I got into the white interceptor again. I gave Camille some suggestions and she went off with her security team, and I got to talk to Cia.
Cia was sad and hurt and twitchy at the most unlikely topics. I set out to right wrongs and save her...
Actually, it feels like I'm still spinning. Sometimes everything is up, and sometimes everything is down.
Matariki says writing it down might help. I'm giving that a try, though it may all be a waste of time.
It started in the Bazaar... actually, it started before that, with a different person.
It started in a bar. In Pator VII Kulheim station, at the Shackled Amarr. It was after an early shift op, and I decided to drop in there to hang out and relax with the gradient pilots. The only pilot there was Sarrapis, and she hadn't been on the op. She was drunk. She was sad, and she wanted to get drunker.
Sarrapis is a hauler pilot for Gradient. She says she was a slave, and she has no memories prior to being rescued by a Gradient pilot from a slave hulk - something about Vitoc side-effects. She seemed lonely, and when I talked to her it felt like I was throwing her a life-line. She was hanging on my every word, but I knew it wasn't because of what I was saying, just that someone was paying attention to her.
So I did a bit of drinking with her, and she did a lot of drinking, and we talked. And I discovered she had never been on a planet - or didn't remember being on a planet, so I offered to take her to Matar.
The next day, I took her sailing, on a lake near Paiho. It was a slightly windy day, so the boat was pushed and blown around.
Sarr loved it. Loved the wind in her hair, the sun on her face. She was fun to be around. It was nice feeling like the virtuous warrior in the white interceptor. She didn't drink anything all day.
We got back to station, wind-burned and happy, and she had a hot-chocolate drink and went to bed, looking like a new person.
And then I wandered Heimatar feeling ... like doing good deeds, or rescuing someone.
And in the Rens Bazaar I ran into Camille again - she's 7, and intelligent and vivacious, and she talks to strangers in the streets and she has her own security team of hard people following her around. What changed the world was that she introduced me to her sister - Cia...
Cia is Gallente, tallish, maybe 15cm shorter than me, and looked scared. She looked like she'd been in a crash or something, and had some scary looking guards around. She seemed interested to talk, and reminded me a lot of Sarr only not unhealthily skinny. So naturally, I got into the white interceptor again. I gave Camille some suggestions and she went off with her security team, and I got to talk to Cia.
Cia was sad and hurt and twitchy at the most unlikely topics. I set out to right wrongs and save her...
Nothing to see here
Matariki said I should write things down. Get it straight in my head.
I'm thinking about it.
I'm thinking about it.
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