Auray
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Post by Auray on Dec 17, 2012 22:19:16 GMT -5
Auray walked half a step behind and to the right of his leader. Within a few steps their strides began to match. Normally, Auray would be calm and focused yet it seemed his insides were reeling. The undershirt on his back began to stick from sweat. Neither said a word on the walk to Pavidus' office. Once he glanced over at Auray, but it was noticed as a glare. Auray didn't know what to expect, he knew he let near all Vis Vires be destroyed by his misplaced trust. He managed to take a colony, remove its cancer, and give its people purpose. <Have we found our purpose? Or have they found us?> Aurays thoughts troubled him deeply, Pavidus used to make him feel important, capable, and even needed. But this time he felt once again, a world apart from his revered leader. So much had changed. Auray had grown to be a strong leader in the face of his new people but felt now as if he was nothing standing in the presence of greatness. And the humble can only kneel.
"Sir" Auray spoke while on one knee. Pavidus standing in front, right above him. The walk to Pavidus' private office seemed to take forever but now for Auray, time had all but stopped.
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Post by Gundam Revival GM on Dec 19, 2012 12:39:25 GMT -5
Pavidus smiled the whole way back to his office, unseen by Auray. He knew things no one new, and that would include Auray. He truly did want to embrace his protege after not seeing him in months, but he had to play this right, keep everyone in the dark.
As they entered Pavidus' office, which was ornate and fancy, but very simplistic, Auray knelt on one knee, his head looking to the ground. "Sir," Auray said simply. Pavidus' smile disappeared as he continued to walk towards his desk. He sat down, finally saying, "Sit," as plainly as Auray said 'sir'.
Tell me a story, Auray... he thought, waiting for Auray to take a seat.
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Auray
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Post by Auray on Dec 19, 2012 20:26:32 GMT -5
Auray's head lifted, he met his lord's gaze and rose to his feet. As usual Pavidus had caught him off guard.
"Tell me a story." His leader spoke.
No, there was no immediate yelling or scolding as the young man predicted. There was no way the entire Vis Vires fleet would fit in X-10, it was plain to see he had lost it all. Though a deep space bound colony is a feat in itself, Auray didn't believe it was enough to make up for his shortcomings. Pavidus had to be furious, he thought and he's surely holding back the scorn.
Auray sat down slowly, still looking into the eyes of Pavidus. They seemed different somehow, they seemed deeper and more intense like a man who had seen the universe. After all, he did find this ship and some kind of new race.
<That woman was no human.> Auray thought to himself. <What secrets could these people have?>
Auray's mind raced with far too many thoughts, he was trying to conjure up a decent explanation as to the preceding events and figured honesty is the best policy.
"Some time ago, Dmitri Mustafa came to me. He had killed the Queen and pledged his allegiance to Vis Vires. This, however, was a ruse. He would spend the coming months arming the fleet with explosives he then used to destroy everything with the aid of Razel. I thought he was a powerful ally, and wanted him close. I knew I couldn't trust him, I had the chance to kill him and instead let him live. That is a mistake I won't make again, sir. To be frank, I figured his alliance too great to be cast aside with only assumptions."
Auray maintained his composure, he continued his story.
"We had no choice but to retreat and put distance between what was left of us and Earth. I found colony X-10 a suitable place to occupy. We met small resistance there from an organization calling themselves "The Unspoken". They were easily destroyed. The people of the colony rose to fight us but we stopped the resistance with non-lethal force and gained their loyalty. I sought to retrofit X-10 with a deep space engine system in hopes we would find something of value beyond the reaches of man and return Vis Vires to glory. The engines themselves gave many people of the colony jobs. The self-sustaining nature of the mission gave people much to focus on, growing and maintaining their own food sources. Also, with the 'Unspoken' gone, the people were free and I would say they are even happy, if there is such a thing."
Auray trailed off, he didn't know what else to say. That was it in a nutshell. He sat patiently for his lord's response.
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Post by Gundam Revival GM on Dec 21, 2012 23:25:40 GMT -5
Pavidus listened to his most trusted soldier intently as he told the story of how he ended up here. He almost lost it and burst out laughing as Auray mentioned Dmitri's obvious betrayal, but he kept his face stone cold, grim almost That get's me every time, Pavidus thought as he held in the smile.
Pavidus continued listening as Auray told him about X-10 and the Unknown. His face grew darker and more distant as Auray talked. By the time Auray finished, Pavidus' face was as dark as space, and twice as scary. He did NOT look happy.
Pavidus cleared his throat, "so you're telling me you trusted a known enemy, you let him destroy my entire fleet, MY army," Pavidus stopped, drawing attention to how angry he was by drawing in a deep breath before saying, "and then you have the audacity to offer up a measly CIVILIAN colony full of WHAT...?!" Pavidus' voice hit a booming crescendo, but he did not move.
"Not to mention," his tone back to it's calm and collected self, "the fact you are here at all... don't tell me it was anything else but to find me...?" Pavidus glared at Auray, expecting an answer...
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Auray
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Post by Auray on Dec 28, 2012 22:29:37 GMT -5
Auray sat quietly and listened to Pavidus speak, he knew this was coming. He didn't expect to get away without a good ass-chewin'. However, he still didn't come up with a good answer yet. All truth be told, Auray was hoping he'd find him.
"That was part of the mission sir, we did accomplish that atleast. Losing the fleet was not my intention but the colony is a valuable resource including its people."
Auray spoke with respect as always, he kept his tone low. He would keep how he truly felt to himself. He knew he had failed, though to Auray that seemed so long ago.
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Post by Gundam Revival GM on Jan 3, 2013 12:52:10 GMT -5
Pavidus glared at Auray with all-knowing eyes, listening to his answers. Looks like you have become a fine leader... Pavidus thought as he noticed Auray's unease at having to explain his actions to someone, something Auray undoubtedly felt he didn't need to do once Pavidus was gone. And the way he stands up for the people of his colony. A fine leader...
Pavidus drew in a deep slow breath once Auray was finished. He was calm as he spoke. "We may find use of your colony," Pavidus said, letting a slip of a smile out, "until then, it is yours to take care of." The last part was slightly condescending, as if he were talking to a child about a pet.
Pavidus rapt on his computer's keyboard, looking at the results that followed, and then back to Auray. "It looks like your people are already working on bracing the colony into docking bay 1," he looked back at the monitor, noticing the teamwork displayed by the people of colony X-10. A fine leader...
Pavidus smiled his smile, still staring at the screen, lost in the thought of all his good work.
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Auray
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Post by Auray on Jan 4, 2013 22:08:32 GMT -5
Auray sat quietly watching Pavidus intently. And that smile, Auray could recognize even the smallest hint of it by now but still didn't know its true meaning. He payed close attention to Pavidus, his facial expressions, that flicker in his eyes. Reading him was hard, Auray wasn't sure if his lord's anger was sincere or a front. He knew nothing Pavidus did was accidental, putting him in charge of Vis so young wasn't just a test, it was a lesson.
"Yes sir."
Auray's simple response. He would wait for his lords true orders patiently. After all, there was much of his own he wanted to accomplish. Something was buggin him though.
"Sir, if I may, what is this ship and who are its people?"
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Post by Gundam Revival GM on Jan 4, 2013 22:31:28 GMT -5
Pavidus finally took his eyes from the screen he was staring at and turned to look Auray in the eyes. The slight flicker of his smile was all but gone, his face as serious as any leader's ever was. He squinted his eyes as Auray asked about the ship and it's occupants, waiting a moment before standing. "That's a good question..." he said as he strode toward Auray, still sitting in the chair.
Pavidus walked by the chair, stopping for a moment to put his hand on Auray's shoulder. He said nothing, just squeezed and kept walking. As he continued out of his office, he added, "...let's go show you some answers."
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Auray
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Post by Auray on Jan 5, 2013 20:43:10 GMT -5
The light squeeze of his shoulder, a simple gesture, yet enough to restore Auray's confidence. It was small things like this that he took to heart, he saw Pavidus' as more than just a leader but as an example he should follow and strive to be like. The emotional control, the ability to speak without words, the presence of power. Pavidus always had a certain aura that surrounded him, now more than ever. Auray could sense it, his leader was not the same as before, he was something greater. A small hint of jealousy rose in his gut, how could he struggle so hard to maintain so little when Pavidus just disappears and comes back with a planet-sized vessel he no doubt had some command on.
What secrets is he hiding? What exactly is aboard this ship?
Auray sat for a moment and inhaled, he hadn't been this far in the dark in a long time. The feeling was unsettling, unnerving. He found Pavidus, sure, was even comfortable to be in his presence but being put back in a child's position, he did not enjoy. Again, he found himself wishing he had more to show for his efforts. The colony, X-10, a good start but not enough to satisfy him anymore. Inside him his hunger grew, he longed to prove himself not just to Pavidus, but to everyone.
Planting his feet Auray stood from him his seat and took his place along side Pavidus, waiting to follow, hoping for answers.
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