MSNPC Luirétt - We Did This

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( Balcony Landing Platform - Halls of Andorenne, the Golden Spire ))

In many ways, Luirétt was changed by their experiences aboard New Hope, even if it had been less than a full day since they fled. The experience had set deep marks in Luirétt’s clean facade, hardened them in ways that their people would’ve never let them experience had they stayed. It was out of love and reverence - Luirétt knew this in their heart - but a part of them still resented it. The Yurum could do so much more, be so much more, offer so much more, if only they were allowed the full experience of life. But saying that at this junction was pointless. They would have to wait for the proper negotiations to begin.

It was, however, not only Luirétt that had changed markedly. It was the city itself as well, and in no way was this more obvious than in the thick plume of smoke that rose from the commercial district. Luirétt was at a loss of what to do. They wanted to help, but they didn’t want to go closer to the smoke. They wanted to see what was going on for themself, to understand, but they didn’t want to make matters worse.

Was this what having free choice was like? Constantly second-guessing yourself?

Bergmen: Maybe we should investigate, do you agree, Commander? Luirett?

The desperate plea that had rested on Luirétt’s tongue was dragged out by Lieutenant Bergmen addressing them directly, assuring them that they had a choice, and that it would be listened to this time.

Luirétt: I can take us there. The Skycraft will respond to my inputs.

Commander Jovenan nodded readily, accepting that choice with no reservations.

Jovenan: Let’s do that. We can always resume to our original destination if it turns out to be nothing.

As Luirétt climbed into the Skycraft, they heard Doctor Bancroft make a quiet comment somewhere behind them. It had to be the way he dealt with stress and uncertainty. In which case, he was a very uncertain individual indeed.

Bancroft: ::dryly:: For the record, this is the part where the doctor would usually say something like ‘please run in the opposite direction.’ ::sigh:: But, we are Starfleet, after all.

Bergmen: Response

Luirétt placed their four palms upon the sleek and minimalistic front panel of the Skycraft, making the computer hum to life, and it showed the Yurum-specific interface. Luirétt didn’t know how the Skycraft knew that it was a Yurum currently piloting the craft, but at least that meant they’d be safe as they proceeded.

Luirétt: Everyone ready?

Jovenan: I’m ready.

Bancroft: Locked in, all hands and feet inside the vehicle. Claustrophobia loading now.

A very uncertain individual indeed.

Bergmen: Response

The Skycraft started its movement with an ease and fluidity that Luirétt hadn’t truly appreciated prior to boarding New Hope. While both vessels were of Boraxian make, the elegance and ease with which the Skycraft flew through the air now was a far cry from the cumbersome colony vessel, and Luirétt unconsciously eased into the familiar seat. They flew in the direction of the smoke, Luirétt barely paying attention to their surroundings as they did so, as they knew that any Skycraft on collision course would automatically adjust their course to swerve around them, thanks to the Skycraft identifying that it was being piloted by a Yurum.

Unbeknownst to Luirétt, this meant that they soon had a small following of vessels following them to the plume of smoke.

(( Commercial Area - Boraxian Cityship ))

Jovenan: Try to find a spot where we can see what’s going on, but keep our distance. Do you know what building that is?

Bancroft: Ow! Lieutenant, that’s my spleen – I need that.

Luirétt: I’ve unfortunately never been in this area of the city before, Commander.

No Yurum ever needed to step foot in the commercial sector - any item that they required or desired would be brought to their Spirehaven, without fail - so even one as old as Luirétt only knew this area of the Ship through media coverage or briefings by the Matriarchs for ceremonies that sometimes occurred here. Luirétt had never officiated one of those, however, ever busy with other, more important business.

Bergmen: Response

Looking into the streets below, Luirétt struggled to identify those below. No Yurum, obviously, or such a crowd would never be allowed, but beyond that? It was unprecedented. Never before had Luirétt seen their people engage in this behaviour, and that fact was uniquely unsettling to them.

Jovenan: Who are those people?

Bancroft: ::squinting:: Something about this doesn’t seem right. That’s not panic… it’s more like a riot met a flash mob and decided to play with matches.

Bergmen: Response

Once again, the translation software failed them, as Luirétt failed to understand certain words that seemed integral to that sentence. The Boraxian language simply didn’t have words for this kind of behaviour, as it was unprecedented - at least in their time as a space-faring civilization - and it was deeply unsettling. Was this the price for the freedom of the Yurum? It made Luirétt sick to the stomach, seeing their people behave in such an uncharacteristic manner, and they piloted the vessel closer to allow for a clearer look. They needed to find a way to stop this. It was unnatural.

As the Skycraft drew closer, a distinction between the people on the ground became clearer. One circle was swaying before the flames licking against a large structure, performing unfamiliar praying symbols in the air. That was unsettling enough - Luirétt had received extensive training in all the rites and ceremonies, and they had never seen those symbols before - but the second group was far more concerning. Shrieking and flailing, feeding the flames with all materials they could.

Bancroft: Where are the authorities? Security forces… ::searching for the right analogue:: damage control teams?

Luirétt: I don’t understand... 

Luirétt didn’t understand the aliens. Why did this behaviour not cause revulsion within them? Why did they have words to describe situations like these, and how could they think of countermeasures to such chaos?

Luirétt didn’t understand their people. Never before had they seen Boraxians behave like this. Had this always been at the core of their people? Was this behaviour just a symptom of the Yurum leaving? ... Was this - preventing this - the reason Great Mother Elirielle had refused to listen to them? Had she, in her wisdom, wanted to shield them from the true horror lying at the heart of their species, and in doing so, had their shared misunderstandings and distrust pushed the Boraxian people too far?

Jovenan/Bergmen: Responses

Luirétt ceased their piloting as the craft stopped a short distance above the ground, heat shimmering and weighing down the air around the craft. Luirétt’s wide eyes glowed in the fire, fear and primordial shame shaking them to the very core as they watched a large structure collapse, spreading grain across the floor.

Bancroft: That was grain! I think this is – was – a food depot…

Luirétt commanded the Skycraft’s lid to open, letting the powerful heat assault their senses, and the senses of the aliens within the craft. They couldn’t let this continue.

oO This is our fault, Vahljeahn Oo

Luirétt knew this without a doubt.

oO What have we done to them? Oo

They needed them.

oO We were too hasty. Oo

They should have shown patience.

Jovenan/Bergmen/Bancroft: Responses

Luirétt: ::shrill voice:: You must stop!

There was a small lull in the movement of the two groups as the ones closest to the Craft heard Luirétt’s call, but nowhere near all of them. Luirétt activated the voice transmitter within the Skycraft, rarely used, to allow their voice to travel great distances.

Luirétt: ::voice amplified:: Please, listen to me, my family. You must stop this. You are afraid, and you are desperate, I understand this. These times are scary for us all. But you must find strength in yourselves, strength to resist these impulses. Listen to me, I beg of you.

Luirétt’s voice travelled, this much was true, but the effect was unprecedented. The Boraxians were a people to whom a life without the Yurum was so horrible and improbable a situation, they had never anticipated being without one. Nor had they ever considered how much one would be missed.

Boraxian: That is-

Boraxian: Luirétt?

Boraxian: The Yurum, they’re back?

Boraxian: The Holy Fires answered our prayers!

Jovenan/Bergmen/Bancroft: Responses

The cries were not those of joy. They were those of desperation, of longing, of hurt, of pain, of loneliness and confusion, and then, the most awful thing that Luirétt could have imagined came to pass. As some Boraxians started advancing on the Skycraft, their hands extended in seeking, desperate for Luirétt’s peace, for everything to return to what it once was, other members of the crowd seized them and physically threw them in the other direction.

Boraxian: Don’t touch them!

Boraxian: The Yurum are back!

Boraxian: The Yurum are free!

Boraxian: Luirétt!

Fighting broke out within the crowd, Boraxians against Boraxians, with Luirétt looking at the violence with fear and devastating guilt painted plain in their features. Somewhere behind them, a big explosion went off, further adding to Luirétt’s despair at the situation unfolding in front of them.

oO We did this Oo

Jovenan/Bergmen/Bancroft: Responses

TAG/TBC

MSNPC Luirétt

Sectarian Faction Leader

As simmed by

LT Tamio K’Wara

Operations Officer

USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1