King's Gambit

[Victor Steiner]

Sierra Starport was unfamiliar territory, even for him. He'd never spend much time entertaining the Crayterians, mainly because they didn't warrant his attentions, what with being seemingly so far removed from 'civilization'. So what the hell was she doing here? But perhaps that was the point. As his shuttle pulled into the hanger bay he mulled over what Issak had told. He barely understood the beginnings of her life but she was born, at some point had a relationship, had a son, lost both and ultimately lost herself as well. Until they came along at least, apparently undoing something in her head that had a hand in her leaving the Hessians. He paused his thoughts for a moment as the doors opened and he gathered his briefcase and cane. Leave might be the wrong word fled might be better.

The gentle tap-tap of his cane echoed down the otherwise silent corridor and he continued walking for a while before reaching a viewing station that overlooked a good portion of the starport, various ships coming and going, the soft flickering lights of stations towers and hangers, a dull hum in the air that so often accompanied life away from planets. He'd spent a good deal of time on stations now, he'd grown accustom to their atmosphere and the people who called such places home. There was some sort of beauty to be had in this place, but perhaps that was a romantic view of the situation. Perhaps it wasn't as pretty as it seems and he was more inclined to think that way because it represented some form of escape. Maybe then it wouldn't be so hard to imagine her on a place like this after all, well away and removed from the Omega battlegrounds, yet only a short flight away from Bretonia itself. That is, if she lived here, perhaps this was just a neutral meeting ground or a convenient place to stop until she carried on.

He kept walking, while he liked to assume no one would recognize him, he still thought it prudent to bring his sword cane, just in case something went wrong, although now he wondered if that was a clever move, perhaps she would misinterpret it as a threat. He dismissed the idea, she may have changed, but that didn't mean she'd gone soft....or did it? Too many questions about her now unknown nature swirlled around his head. Who was he actually meeting? A changed woman? A broken one? Was this still the fabled 'Empress of the Omegas'? or had she become a cautionary tale? He would find out soon enough, and he allowed a small smile to cross his lips, it was also entirely likely he was overthinking this. He'd barely been back a week and already reappointed to Director, meeting Issak, soon to be attending another diplomatic mission, and afterwards, the arguments with the Armed Forces over Security. It felt like old times but also...lesser. So many old faces had now gone, he didn't even really know the leadership anymore. He found it strange how the one constant in his life was an enemy and more strangely how that brought some level of comfort.

The long and bland corridor eventually gave way to a large common area, a marketplace of sorts with various bits and pieces being sold here and there. He pushed his way through the crowds before reaching his destination. A small room in a quiet section of the station, there wasn't much too it. A single bed, small shower, a metal table with two chairs and a small kitchen. Simple lodgings, nothing wrong with it. He sat his things down on the table and produced a book from his bag which he set aside. He fired a message away to Henrich to tell her he had arrived, where he was staying and perhaps she would rather meet somewhere else because the place was rather bare. He picked up his book King's Gambit, and other Openings in Chess and quietly began to read.

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