diff --git a/nikki-preps-for-kral-return.txt b/nikki-preps-for-kral-return.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e761d54 --- /dev/null +++ b/nikki-preps-for-kral-return.txt @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ +Nikki watched as the bridges to downtown fell into Mindemoya, with a sense of regret. +They were now trapped on Monsimeli island. +No way out. +Nikki shivered. + +―Captain Adrienne, let's head back. + +Adrienne called the remaining members of the Presidential Guard to order, and with Auroklos and his followers, boarded the tram up to Havenmount. + +Nikki left Adrienne and Auroklos to coordinate their defences, while she went to see how the office was handling things. +Adam was dashing about holding a stack of folders, and he didn't notice Nikki walking in. +He'd gotten the office workers to coordinate putting their documents into lockboxes. + +―Adam, what are you doing with all the files? + +Adam looked up sharply, and Nikki could see a sense of panic in his eyes. + +―Sorry ma'am, I was thinking, you know. + If we lose the island, we could sink everything in the lake? + Make it as hard as possible for anyone to take over. + +―Nice idea. Thanks for taking the initiative on that. + +This seemed to relax him. +He was still apparently more scared of Nikki than the threat of a coup. +This oddly filled Nikki with a sense of pride and calm. + +She stood tall and raised her voice. +―Everyone, listen up. + No matter what happens here, I want you to remember that the Republic of Galvarelli is going to survive. + We're yaks, we endure the thin mountain air, and the bitter winter cold, and even if we're not great with warm temperatures we, uh. + We find a way to deal with it. + +Nikki regretted starting to speak without planning an ending first. + +―Ah, hell. + I'll do everything in my power to keep yaks safe. + Thank you for your service to this nation. + +A mild cheer burbled around the office. +But the mood seemed slightly lighter, which Nikki counted as a win. + +Nikki entered Calvin's office. +Or, as she sadly remembered, her office. +She remembered the first time she'd seen him, defending an expansion to the Barns. + +―Look at what the Ottawans have built, he'd said. + No Great Voices to help them, and they've still conquered their world. + It's our cousin the cows that named the moon, yet we let the humans walk on the moon first. + We can outrun them easily, but they build vehicles. + We can overpower them, but they build weapons. + It's the power of their philosophy. + Those values that help them grow, openness and acceptance, all come from a desire to do more than just survive. + We've let ourselves be yoked by our traditions, and I say no longer! + +Nikki felt the tears start to fall. +Dammit Cal, she thought. +Why'd you have to leave? + +A knock on the door. +She wiped off her eyes. + +―Come in. + +Adrienne opened the door. + +―Ma'am, we've spotted them, coming from the east. + They're entering the city within the hour. + Auroklos says he'll watch the Havenmount entrances, but I can have a couple of my yaks with you. + +―No, Adrienne. + I'll be up by the waterfront. + I want to see the fuckers attacking us. + +―That's an extraordinarily bad idea, ma'am. + We don't know what they can do, and we need to keep you safe. + +―Captain, there's no point in worrying about me. + If they kill me, it's not going to make a difference. + I'd rather be there to bargain for people's safety. + +―If they bargain at all. + They might just kill you immediately, and move on to everyone else. + +―I have to try. + There's no outcome here where I'm going to put my own life over anyone else's. + It's what Calvin would have done. + +Adrienne nodded. + +―Get ready then, I'll try to scrounge up some decent protective gear for you. + We'll head to the East Bridge in fifteen minutes. diff --git a/nikki-watches-kral-return.txt b/nikki-watches-kral-return.txt index da5087e..e69de29 100644 --- a/nikki-watches-kral-return.txt +++ b/nikki-watches-kral-return.txt @@ -1,92 +0,0 @@ -Nikki watched as the bridges to downtown fell into Mindemoya, with a sense of regret. -They were now trapped on Monsimeli island. -No way out. -Nikki shivered. - -―Captain Adrienne, let's head back. - -Adrienne called the remaining members of the Presidential Guard to order, and with Auroklos and his followers, boarded the tram up to Havenmount. - -Nikki left Adrienne and Auroklos to coordinate their defences, while she went to see how the office was handling things. -Adam was dashing about holding a stack of folders, and he didn't notice Nikki walking in. -He'd gotten the office workers to coordinate putting their documents into lockboxes. - -―Adam, what are you doing with all the files? - -Adam looked up sharply, and Nikki could see a sense of panic in his eyes. - -―Sorry ma'am, I was thinking, you know. - If we lose the island, we could sink everything in the lake? - Make it as hard as possible for anyone to take over. - -―Nice idea. Thanks for taking the initiative on that. - -This seemed to relax him. -He was still apparently more scared of Nikki than the threat of a coup. -This oddly filled Nikki with a sense of pride and calm. - -She stood tall and raised her voice. -―Everyone, listen up. - No matter what happens here, I want you to remember that the Republic of Galvarelli is going to survive. - We're yaks, we endure the thin mountain air, and the bitter winter cold, and even if we're not great with warm temperatures we, uh. - We find a way to deal with it. - -Nikki regretted starting to speak without planning an ending first. - -―Ah, hell. - I'll do everything in my power to keep yaks safe. - Thank you for your service to this nation. - -A mild cheer burbled around the office. -But the mood seemed slightly lighter, which Nikki counted as a win. - -Nikki entered Calvin's office. -Or, as she sadly remembered, her office. -She remembered the first time she'd seen him, defending an expansion to the Barns. - -―Look at what the Ottawans have built, he'd said. - No Great Voices to help them, and they've still conquered their world. - It's our cousin the cows that named the moon, yet we let the humans walk on the moon first. - We can outrun them easily, but they build vehicles. - We can overpower them, but they build weapons. - It's the power of their philosophy. - Those values that help them grow, openness and acceptance, all come from a desire to do more than just survive. - We've let ourselves be yoked by our traditions, and I say no longer! - -Nikki felt the tears start to fall. -Dammit Cal, she thought. -Why'd you have to leave? - -A knock on the door. -She wiped off her eyes. - -―Come in. - -Adrienne opened the door. - -―Ma'am, we've spotted them, coming from the east. - They're entering the city within the hour. - Auroklos says he'll watch the Havenmount entrances, but I can have a couple of my yaks with you. - -―No, Adrienne. - I'll be up by the waterfront. - I want to see the fuckers attacking us. - -―That's an extraordinarily bad idea, ma'am. - We don't know what they can do, and we need to keep you safe. - -―Captain, there's no point in worrying about me. - If they kill me, it's not going to make a difference. - I'd rather be there to bargain for people's safety. - -―If they bargain at all. - They might just kill you immediately, and move on to everyone else. - -―I have to try. - There's no outcome here where I'm going to put my own life over anyone else's. - It's what Calvin would have done. - -Adrienne nodded. - -―Get ready then, I'll try to scrounge up some decent protective gear for you. - We'll head to the East Bridge in fifteen minutes. \ No newline at end of file