“Fanfic - In the Nest”
All characters © their owners.
Based on events around “Death From Above” Season 3, Episodes 10 & 11
Ayat Icaza was not happy. It could be said being happy was not necessary, only obedience and performing the task to the best of her ability was necessary. That was only said by fools who believed it, the downtrodden who were forced to believe it, and those above who could not stand being questioned. In her time within the touman, it was evident Star Captain Luna Hazen was one who would accept questioning, but demanded obedience. She had earned that right, and Ayat would not dare think otherwise.
There were rumors. But then, there were always rumors until someone decided to act on them. Then it was entertainment.
She shook her head to clear it, not looking forward to dealing with that Spheroid mercenary again. Mackenzie Sokolov, a talented Freebirth, a mercenary who had surrendered to bargain for the lives of her companions. There was a lot of muttering about the attention being given to Mackenzie, about how she didn't deserve it. Ayat had reservations herself, but she also had her orders.
She watched, across the training compound, as Mason Kadir walked away to his duties in administration. He was the other mercenary who had been taken. He had not surrendered until cornered, he had fought for his freedom until he had no choice. That bought him a measure of respect, especially from Brathovd Bekker, but Ayat knew better. Mason was still looking to escape the Clan, and that was why he was given the task to oversee the transition and try to make it work. He needed to see their ways were better for the people here, he needed to understand it was not a terrible end to be conquered by Clan Jade Falcon. After all, they were not the Smoke Jaguars. Everyone had the chance to make a new life, to make the choice of what they would do.
Ayat had been given a choice before. And she knew she'd picked the right answer, because she was still here.
Then she saw Mackenzie leaving her own classes, looking unhappy and angry, headed towards the bar. Ayat let out a slow breath, shaking her head. The young woman would do fine if she could get that fire under control, if she could just focus it to where it would do good. If she kept this up, she was going to get killed the instant it got out who her family was. Jackson had dealt with it admirably, Mackenzie would deal with it in time too. In time.
A soft beep from her wrist told Ayat time was slipping away from her as she reflected on this. She didn't have infinite time to deal with thinking this through, she had work of her own to see to. She was assigned another task with the Freebirth mercenaries, to continue testing them and see if they could handle the transition themselves. Or, on the other hand, the tests would see if they would choose the wrong side again after being shown the error of their ways.
And if they did, Ayat Icaza knew her duty.
All characters © their owners.
Based on events around “Death From Above” Season 3, Episodes 10 & 11
Ayat Icaza was not happy. It could be said being happy was not necessary, only obedience and performing the task to the best of her ability was necessary. That was only said by fools who believed it, the downtrodden who were forced to believe it, and those above who could not stand being questioned. In her time within the touman, it was evident Star Captain Luna Hazen was one who would accept questioning, but demanded obedience. She had earned that right, and Ayat would not dare think otherwise.
There were rumors. But then, there were always rumors until someone decided to act on them. Then it was entertainment.
She shook her head to clear it, not looking forward to dealing with that Spheroid mercenary again. Mackenzie Sokolov, a talented Freebirth, a mercenary who had surrendered to bargain for the lives of her companions. There was a lot of muttering about the attention being given to Mackenzie, about how she didn't deserve it. Ayat had reservations herself, but she also had her orders.
She watched, across the training compound, as Mason Kadir walked away to his duties in administration. He was the other mercenary who had been taken. He had not surrendered until cornered, he had fought for his freedom until he had no choice. That bought him a measure of respect, especially from Brathovd Bekker, but Ayat knew better. Mason was still looking to escape the Clan, and that was why he was given the task to oversee the transition and try to make it work. He needed to see their ways were better for the people here, he needed to understand it was not a terrible end to be conquered by Clan Jade Falcon. After all, they were not the Smoke Jaguars. Everyone had the chance to make a new life, to make the choice of what they would do.
Ayat had been given a choice before. And she knew she'd picked the right answer, because she was still here.
Then she saw Mackenzie leaving her own classes, looking unhappy and angry, headed towards the bar. Ayat let out a slow breath, shaking her head. The young woman would do fine if she could get that fire under control, if she could just focus it to where it would do good. If she kept this up, she was going to get killed the instant it got out who her family was. Jackson had dealt with it admirably, Mackenzie would deal with it in time too. In time.
A soft beep from her wrist told Ayat time was slipping away from her as she reflected on this. She didn't have infinite time to deal with thinking this through, she had work of her own to see to. She was assigned another task with the Freebirth mercenaries, to continue testing them and see if they could handle the transition themselves. Or, on the other hand, the tests would see if they would choose the wrong side again after being shown the error of their ways.
And if they did, Ayat Icaza knew her duty.