Vaelaris
There was no goodbyes. Vaelaris felt a slight twinge of unease as he found himself surrounded by the men of the Iron Company. Their presence, stoic and imposing, seemed to close in around him, a silent reminder of their strength and loyalty to the Eitans. While he was used to wielding power in political arenas, the raw physicality of the Iron Company was something different ~ intimidating even. The tension in the room was palpable, made worse by the emotional outbursts that had unfolded. He had rattled Uaeso, eliciting a rare display of anger from the usually composed leader. That, at least, was a small victory in an otherwise unpleasant encounter.
Without another word, Vaelaris fell in line behind the two soldiers, who now carefully carried Tetsuya’s shrouded body towards the shuttle. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, but he kept his face expressionless, unwilling to betray any further discomfort. As they approached the shuttle, its ramp lowered with a smooth hum, and the soldiers, with practiced precision, gently loaded the body aboard. Vaelaris watched in silence, the lingering sense of animosity heavy in the air. He glanced briefly at the Iron Company men, knowing full well that any misstep could provoke them. For now, all he could do was follow, quietly biting back his frustrations, as the shuttle doors closed behind them.
Within minutes, the shuttle lifted off the deck and headed back into open space.
Uaeso
Uaeso stood firm, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the Grandmaster. The tension in the room still simmered, but he wasn’t about to let it boil over. "Keep your men in line, for now," he said quietly, though there was a sharpness in his voice. "Vaelaris will be gone soon. No need to let this escalate any further." He could feel the frustration in the Iron Company soldiers, but now wasn’t the time to test the waters. Not yet.
As he watched Vaelaris and the guards depart, his thoughts drifted to the uncertain future. The Iron Company had long been loyal to the Eitans, but what would happen now with Sylix in command of the Imperium? That bond, that loyalty, had been deeply rooted in tradition. But traditions were being upended, and Uaeso wasn’t sure how long these soldiers would continue to honor the old agreements. His gaze followed the door as it slid shut behind Vaelaris, marking the end of this unsettling encounter.
Once the room settled into a quieter atmosphere, Uaeso realized that Azura had slipped out as well. "Might want to keep an eye on her as well," He exhaled, unsure of what storm was brewing within her, but for now, it wasn’t his immediate concern. He turned, his expression softening as his gaze fell upon Naika and their infant son. Moving toward them, he placed a gentle hand on Naika’s shoulder and looked down at the small life they had brought into this increasingly chaotic universe. For a moment, everything else faded. "Are you alright?" he asked, his tone warm and protective. His son stirred slightly, and Uaeso's heart lightened, if only briefly, in the face of so much uncertainty.
Jun
Jun stood at the console, watching the door close behind Vaelaris and the soldiers. His chest was tight, his breathing shallow, but he forced himself to focus. With swift, precise movements, he brought up the tracking data for the device he had slipped into their father’s body. His eyes scanned the screen, waiting for confirmation, hoping against all odds that they would honor the man’s final rites. A soft beep echoed in the sterile room. His jaw clenched. The shuttle had gone to FTL, but the body~the body was still in the system. His hand shook, fury surging through him. They hadn't taken Tetsuya to be honored. They had dumped him like waste.
With a sudden, violent motion, Jun slammed his fist into the console. The sound reverberated throughout the room, a crack appearing on the screen. His breath came fast, shallow, as he tried to keep his composure, but the betrayal cut deeper than he could stand. Without another word, Jun stormed out of the surgical bay. His eyes were dark, face tight with rage as he walked toward the group still gathered. "Vaelaris' shuttle went to FTL," he began, his voice tight with anger. "But the body... it’s still in the system. They dumped him into space." His fists clenched, his voice dropping lower. "They didn’t even give him the honor of a proper burial."
