The Princess’ Trial

Princess Vekh Selenya Teyrenskovacourt paced the cell she had been thrown into. She had been expecting someone to try and stop her trip to Earth. It didn’t help that she had been requested by the Crown to give the Galactic Senate an in person update on the anti-piracy operations in their section of space. It had been a waste of time on all counts. The senate had accepted the written report, before asking her questions she had no way to answer. Humans this humans that. “Maybe if I had gotten a chance to meet some humans.” Her lamentations fell on cold walls. More offensive was the shackle around her ankle chaining her to the room, a physical shackle, made of metal, with a physical chain also metal. The noise it made vexed Su’lenai the most, clanging and scraping, it was so uncivilized.

A brassek entered the room spewing more nonsense about how Princess Vekh would be treated fairly, how the Eastern Lady was going to be crashed to ‘prove they mean business’. Su’lenai was frustrated by his moronic logic, and the fact the barbarian decided to use her official name. If these cretins thought that using official language and terms would prove they weren’t a bunch of murdering inbred bastards. The platitudes that the crew of her ship were going to be taken as additional hostages sounded nice, although Su’lenai didn’t believe the gray skinned brute until Captain Hal’remal was dragged in and confirmed that the crew had been evacuated as well.

While the good news was pleasant although the fact everyone had been taken captive was going to be a dishonor the Qalmeri Houses, even more than just if Su’lenai herself had been surrendered for the ship. Once her captor and the good Captain had left her, Su’lenai went back to pacing, she didn’t know why pacing helped her think but it was quite the effect. The noise from the chain was combating that benefit. The pirates hadn’t decided to take them to warp. Instead they were stripping what they could from the Eastern Lady probably to sell the luxuries kept aboard. A bittersweet thought entered Su’lenai’s mind: she would be the one to design the replacement for the Eastern Lady, she would be the one to decorate the interior. The weight of her children, and their children stopped her in her tracks. She would be the first First Princess since the arrival of the Roschani empire to put together a Royal Yacht. Sure a few of the princess had lost their ships, however due to the matriarchal nature of the Roschani Empire it wasn’t much of an issue. Su’lenai found it odd that the Roschani had so many more women.

The ship shuddered causing the chain to clatter something fierce, the subtle feeling of moment implied that the Eastern Lady was being sent to it’s doom on the planet below. Then the tells of reentry lead to more of that most uncivilized noise. It detracted Su’lenai from her contemplation on the future of her reign, should she be allowed to have one. The Roschani were if nothing else a petty race when it came to politics. A trait shared between domestic and foreign branches. The Queen herself was a reasonable woman, if getting old and tired, the bureaucrats on the other hand were a level of petty that bordered on criminal. Su’lenai wondered if she would be pushed into exile like the Roschani’s heir apparent. As the worst of reentry finished she decided she’d live with humans if that happened.

The Vessharin ‘Captain’ not that he deserved the name entered her cell. “Princess I take it you would rather not interact with people lower station than your self. As the Captain of this ship and your captor I believe I shouldn’t be beneath you.” Su’lenai hated how the winged lizards spoke. It was like someone had taught a computer etiquette, and ti had developed the hints of a lisp. She didn’t dignify him with an answer, he knew her position. If they were going to treat her like a common slave she was going to treat them like common slaves. Therefor this affront to the term captain was still a slave to her mind.

The Vassharin rubbed his horns in frustration, “Princess your Captain Hal’remal informed me that you would be the only one with a code that would verify that you were alive, and that biometrics wouldn’t be sufficient for a ransom. I for one would like to return you to your people, rather than sell you off to one of the outside powers. However as you’ve been uncooperative I take it you’ve grown fond of this kind of situation. Perhaps I should make it more authentic by replacing your dress with rags.”

“This dress isn’t as nice to wear as it probably is to look at. Such is the duty of those with station. Your outfit leaves much to be desired. Perhaps we could swap. I think that hat would look a lot better on someone without horns.” Su’lenai didn’t keep the frustration from her voice. “If you want me to play along with this farce at the minimum get rid of this noisy relic that belongs under the dustbin of history.” She shook her leg and rattled the chain. “Then perhaps I might find you worthy of conversation.”

To the Vassharin’s credit he laughed, “Your reputation for escaping and evading precedes you Princess. Thus I have elected to use what I know will work to foil your schemes. I am one who works to know those who will be in my care. Now once we get back to our base I can have you transferred to better accommodations.” Su’lenai knew lies when she heard them, she decided she would make them make things worse before granting them anything else and started to ignore the Vassharin. Eventually he left in a huff. “If you refuse than I will treat you like the slave you will become.” Su’lenai knew his threat had weight, although taking it as a parting shot drained it of much of it’s impact.

Su’lenai went back to pacing and trying to figure out how to get away. She knew the distress call went out at least partly. From what she remembered there was a patrol ship a few days out, and a research vessel that would probably come to investigate before then. Rescue would depend on if the research vessel was able to determine, and then trap the pirates on this planet. The odds weren’t looking good for a rescue. “Escape might be possible if the planet isn’t to hostile.” she mumbled to herself. Giving her thoughts physical form didn’t make them any less depressing.

The door opened and one of her maids appeared in the door way, shuffled in fluttering like a luffing sail. “Yo-your-re majesty I-I ah, ha-have.”

Su’lenai pulled the maid into an embrace “There is a time and a place for decorum, relax dear.” Su’lenai didn’t let go of the maid until she heard an end to the restrained sobs. She then stepped back and gave the maid a once over, she was young barely though her transition into womanhood. Pushing the questions around this maid’s Burgee Unfurling out of her mind, “Katara; no. What is your name?”

“Valra’sal, your majesty.”

“Valra’sal am I to put on that atrocious garment? If we can even call it one?”

Valra’sal smiled, sorrow still in her eyes, “Yes your majesty.” Su’lenai turned presenting the zipper of her dress to Valra’sal.

The new garment, even if thinking of it that way offended Su’lenai, was opaque enough for modesty’s sake while being course and rough. “Fabric best used for polishing.” Su’lenai mumbled as she pulled it on. It felt less civilized than her noisy restraint. “I suppose our ‘generous captor’ wants me to remove all but the essential accessories?”

“Y-yes. He was very insistent.” Valra’sal said into the floor, seemingly unwilling to look at her princess in such a state.

Su’lenai raised Valra’sal’s face, “It isn’t many who will get to see me in such a nonsensical outfit. You should cherish this moment for when we return to the court. It should make for a very good story or two.” Su’lenai then gave a spin laughing at the situation. Before handing over her earrings, rings and necklace. The circlet stayed pinned to her head, as did her signet ring on her right hand. “Keep them safe. I will be needing it back fairly soon.”

A shift of the light drew Su’lenai’s attention to the small window in her cell. The sky was replaced with stone, then the ship settled the hum of the engines fading out. “You are dismissed Valra’sal, I’m sure our captors will want to know I’m incident.” Valra’sal cycled from confusion to a small understanding smile, gave Su’lenai a bow and then left.

Su’lenai paced for a moment before sitting under the window. She waited, assuming that the Vassharin would come back to flaunt her new ‘distressed’ state. Yet he didn’t, time kept going on and it seemed like he wasn’t going to come back for a while, thus Su’lenai shifted to a less dignified and more comfortable position. The ships power then went from low to off. Leaving Su’lenai in a dimly lit cell. Time dragged on

The door then opened and the Vassharin entered. Pausing as his eyes traced Su’lenai, for the first time since she was captured the glance made Su’lenai’s skin crawl. She knew something had changed and changed for the worse. “I see you are comfortable.” There was a barley contained fury in his voice.

“If you have a pillow or two that would be better, your deck plating is rather cold and rough.” Su’lenai stood stretching. “Or perhaps a thicker dress. This one lets all the cold though.” While Su’lenai never had an easy time reading the reptilian features, this Vassharin clearly felt like he was on the edge of loosing control. She decided to gamble, “I take it my rescue is on it’s way.”

“A research vessel has entered the system it has been looking for you. It has found the wreckage.” He started pacing, “I don’t know how you managed to get them here this quickly. Nor why they have the ability to deploy teams to the surface of this planet.” He turned and approached Su’lenai, “What did you do? Who did you contact?”

“I don’t know, I was practicing my speeches when you disabled my ship.”

“Well they will not be able to find us here. We are covered by sensor blocking stones. And we are powered down. They will not be able to find us. If they do we will kill them and leave this world behind.”

“Then why are you here?” Su’lenai stared up at the larger Vassharin, doing what she could to stay defiant.

“Because I wanted to see your reactions myself.” He unfurled his wings making for a threatening display, “When this is over you will obey or you will suffer.” turning to leave his tail wiped over Su’lenai’s head.

Once Su’lenai couldn’t hear his claws clacking on the deck plating she crumpled to the floor. She lost the fight against her tears eventually once they stopped she collected herself. “You’re not going to fall apart.” She took deep breaths and leaned back against the wall. She tried to calm her nerves, the weight of that distress call killing people was one she wasn’t ready to bear. “Scientists.” the thought escaped her. “If they find me they die, and I can’t escape this barbarism.” She shook the chain out of spite.

Strange noises drew her out of her silent contemplation, it sounded like fireworks, then shouting. She couldn’t make it out. “Hopefully it is wildlife, the scientists…” Su’lenai didn’t want to think about that scenario. It became clear that weapons fire was being exchanged outside, and she fought against the hopes that she would be rescued by them. Another round of explosions, this time followed by the clattering of mag-rifles. Hope burst forth in her chest, yet she bit her tongue. The walls were rocked by an explosion. Shouts of pain cut short by weapons fire, and the stomping of heavy metal boots.

“What are you?” The shout of the Vassharin carried though the hall before the Vassharin was thrown into her cell. He was beaten and bloody, his attention snapping from Su’lenai to the armored figure filling the door. It was Qalmeran in shape, yet bulkier and larger than any man she’d ever seen.

The armor laughed and raised it’s weapon. “Knees. Hands Up.” The Vassharin lunged for Su’lenai, she froze in fear, the armor appeared interposing between the now panicked reptilian. Grappling it he threw it to the ground with a crunching of bone. A Folpron in a more reasonable set of armor entered.

“Leave him alive,” she said as the armored figure wrestled the reptile away from Su’lenai. “Do you have restraints?” The armor didn’t respond but a pair of metallic restraints clicked onto the reptile’s wrists, although the fight seemed to have been beaten out of him.

“Princess?” The armor spoke, it was passable Rokran. It’s boot was planted on the still squirming reptile.

“Yes. Who?” Su’lenai said after her mind caught up with what had happened. The armor took off its helmet, a pale face was square and his eyes were both hardened and kind. “Human?” The word escaped her lips.

He smiled at her, “Noah Bannon,” he offered his hand, “Human and here to rescue.”