Ensign Luxa Lorana - Are you afraid of heights?
Luxa Lorana
((Draivon - Draivon District, Cait))
To all Caitians there was a sense of pride in other species or cultures, enjoyment of Caitian lands, ideals, history or culture. This was the primary driving force behind the Caitians' need to integrate and influence federation culture around the galaxy.
Lorana was no exception to this, watching Hiro's eyes widen as he looked upon the natural beauty of the Draivon Canyon filled Luxa's heart with a joy she hadn't experienced in some time.
Yet, safety first.
Lorana: It's important that you don't stray from the footpath. There are scents that will prevent creatures coming from the jungle, if you go off the path, the scents might not protect you ::retracts claws:: Even these can't help you with some of the things out there.
Jones: ::eyeing her claws:: Should I be armed?
Lorana laughed mischievously. She didn't bother telling him that she had considered bringing weapons but not for the creatures.
Lorana: You did say you wanted an adventure? I promise, what's on the other side is worth it.
Jones: I trust you. Let's go.
On they went. It was a good thing Luxa had warned him about leaving the path, or he would almost immediately have gotten himself into a less-than ideal situation. Two minutes into their hike, he'd seen an dragonfly-like creature measuring at least twenty centimeters from anterior to posterior. He had turned to watch its flight across their path, and was just about to take a step into the tree line to observe it further when something BIG and scaly lunged from the shadows, making the dragonfly thing vanish in a lightning fast snap of clearly lethal jaws. Lorana braced herself to grab a hold of him, if he forgot her instructions again. Slightly paler, Hiro stepped to as close to the center of the path as he could estimate.
Lorana chuckled.
Jones: On the path. Right. Do I want to know what that thing was?
Lorana: Don't worry, it would have deposited you out the other end, a little bruised maybe, but unharmed. It only digests the insects. A pli'qra looks nastier than it is.
Jones: Well, whatever you call it, I'm happy it's not calling me "lunch."
Lorana: Let's up the pace a little, we just need to go further up this ridge.
A short while (and a fair bit of sweat) later, the duo slowed their pace. Hiro presumed they were coming to what Luxa had been so excited to show him. When he saw it, his feet froze and his mouth fell open.
The tree line stopped and they were on the edge of a sheer cliff face, there was shielding in place for those who may walk too far. From here you could see the vastness of the jungle. Spanning from the bottom of the cliff to the horizon, a canvas of green trees, with a river running through it, that forked at a waterhole. The sun was falling against the tree line, and cast a warm glow across the land. Creatures flew from their nest, along a river bank, a herd of large mammalian beasts lapped on the cool waters.
Lorana: ::points to a large home in the distance:: That's my family's land. This is where I was brought up. The jungle was preserved by my forebears and they've refused to destroy any of it. Long ago, the Lorana clan were custodians of this land. Sworn to protect it and all of its inhabitants.
Jones: Response
Lorana: I never really appreciated it, always trying to escape, and find something else to believe in.
((Flashback - 2387 - Federation Embassy on Cait ))
The crowds of diplomats, high ranking federation officials and Starfleet admiralty began to enter the embassy. Each of them had brought their own entourage of staff and officers. The whole chamber in front of the now concealed sculpture of her mother's was a sea of sparkling gowns and formal attire.
Luxa could hardly believe they had all come to the unveiling of a sculpture, although it marked the anniversary of the construction of the first Embassy on Cait.
oO this is a pretty big deal Oo
Duperra: I'm almost finished.
Duperra was underneath the sculpture, she had come with her own contraptions. A plan to mock the establishment and dowse them in the colour of ridicule; dark purple. It would also destroy the sculpture. Setting it in flames.
Luxa: You promise no one will be hurt?
Duperra crawled out from underneath, a satisfied smirk on her face.
Duperra: I don't want to end up in a penal colony. We're just exercising our right to protest.
Luxa looked at the crowds again.
Luxa: I don't know, protesting against The Federation? Starfleet?
Duperra: No. We're not protesting against the Federation or Starfleet. I couldn't give a claw about them. It's what they do we're protesting about. Robbing other species of their cultural heritage. We just want Caitians to wake up. See that this is all a sham. A recruitment drive for an organisation that essentially removes autonomy from other races, and leaves them with this.
Duperra waves her arms and tail around.
Duperra: Bland, boring Federation Standard. Do you know how many Caitians join Starfleet?
Luxa shakes her head.
Duperra: Around 60% of graduates from Caitian schools go on to Starfleet Academy. Those who don't go to the academy, end up serving the federation in one way or another. That doesn't even include the Academy Preparatory schools.
Luxa turned as she heard the soft footfall of her mother, who entered the back stage area. She was adorned in a flowing golden gown, her silver hair bundled atop her head. Luxa thought her mother looked like a work of art herself.
M'Aris: ::opens her arms:: Daughter.
M'Aris embraces Luxa, her paw resting on Luxa's head. She gently sniffs her, before their cheeks connect and they scent mark.
M'Aris: Luxa, you're… anxious?
Luxa: It's a big night.
M'Aris turns her attention to Duperra, nods once, her tail flicking as an indicator of her displeasure that the young Caitian is in her presence.
Luxa: ::cringe:: Mother, please.
M'Aris: You're siblings are waiting on you ::looks to Duperra disapprovingly: I suppose you can take your friend with you.
Luxa bows as a show of respect, and rushes off, followed closely by a defiant Duperra.
Luxa would not join her siblings. Both young Caitians used their claws to scale the side of the building, finding a vantage point atop a large column. Duperra looked to Luxa, moved closer and rubbed her cheek against hers, removing the scent of Luxa's mother and replacing it with her own. Luxa's growing sense of unease continued.
Luxa: Can we stop this now?
Duperra: There is no stopping it.
Luxa: Please, Duperra. This isn't fun anymore. I think we might have taken it too far.
Duperra: ::scoffs:: Fun? It's never been fun for me, Luxa. When I got here, we bore the marks of shame for a crime our clan committed centuries ago. You remember what they called me?
Luxa: ::sadness:: Kzinti.
Duperra: I've never even seen one. Just because our clan betrayed the Caitian people against the Kzinti, in a war that's mostly forgotten, we were cast out. My father was born and raised in the dirt of an Orion colony. He worked his entire life to come back here. For what? To be scorned, judged and looked down upon by this? ::She flicks her tail at the building:: It's not fun being the one that has to stand outside, Luxa.
Luxa: I know, and I'm sorry it was like that for you. No one cares about that anymore.
Duperra: You have the privilege to say that to me Luxa. That's why we're leaving, my father can't get proper work here because of his past with the Orions. Starfleet turned him down for the enlisted position. :: Tears fall :: It's all he ever wanted, Luxa.
Luxa places her paw on top of Duperra's.
Luxa: Do it.
Duperra pushes down on the trigger. Neither of them watch as the sculpture erupts into a fireball and sprays the scented paint all over the room. Cries of alarm and screams erupt below them.
Duperra's bright green eyes lock on to Luxa's and with the chaos below them they embrace. Luxa knows that there will be no going back for them. No forgiveness.
oO shame Oo
((Back to scene))
Lorana urged Hiro to walk further up the edge of the cliff edge. Eventually there was a small structure, outside some young Caitians stood. Luxa saw an old friend Yonteer approach, waving.
Yonteer: Luxa?!
Lorana: It's me Yonteer. The winds have carried me back to a home that will never forget my scent.
They bow heads as is customary. Tails prone before returning to their more casual demeanours.
Lorana: This is my friend Hiro.
Jones: Response
Yonteer: We don't get many humans here :: looks to Luxa:: Have you come to glide?
Lorana smiles, looks to Hiro.
Lorana: Hiro, are you afraid of heights? I want to take you to a secret place, but we can only get there if we glide? Which means we have to jump off the cliff. Yonteer is the best on Cait, I promise.
Jones: Response
TAG/TBC
Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240004LL2