<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #80BF00">Karra Lee Micheals</span></span></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #80BF00">Captain Micheals</span></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/Galvin_Fugazi/d8d8d07d-bef1-4b12-bb9c-4a8ccbe576b0_zps6c4f5818.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">When Karra had closed the door behind her, she heard Tom hit something and a few mumbled words she assumed to be curses. She held still for a moment, ignoring the curious glance of Sarge. She took a breath, closing her eyes for a moment to recenter herself. She would pretend none of this had ever happened, that Tom had never confessed his feelings, that she had never gotten jealous, that they hadn't exchanged heated kisses or words in the freight room. She would maintain her position as second in command and insure that they would survive this ordeal. <br/><br/>Finally she resumed her position of leaning on an empty chair. Sarge didn't say anything as he held the Latina woman in his arms. Karra kept her arms crossed, one booted foot over the other as per her usual leisured stance. She blew a piece of hair out of her face, contemplating what Tom had said. It was obvious to her that he didn't understand why she had decided to let go. He didn't understand that, if they were to cross any lines here in Getalia, if he were to go between her and Tanita--that even if they managed to get back to earth, even if they managed to build something between them...she would only be able to recall his time in Getalia. Did he not see the damage it would cause if she were to consent to such a thing now? Besides, what if it turned out Tanita was what he wanted all along? She wouldn't be able to handle him going back and forth, and then finally leaving for Tanita. No, it was much better to let him do what he thought best now and hope that they could salvage something in the future. <br/><br/>But he had seemed so hurt that she didn't see his side of things--but that simply was not the case. She saw his side, she saw it and thought it was ridiculous. If Tanita wanted to live, if Tanita wanted to find a way out of this then she would not need his love--no, she would need a damn back bone and find herself a reason to live. If she couldn't do that, then perhaps she didn't deserve to live. Karra mentally shook her head. She couldn't believe she was thinking such awful things. Tanita was just a civilian and Karra's thoughts were far too cynical. <br/><br/>How could she help it though? She had been in Transportation for two years with Tom, both of them coming from combat piloting at the same time. She had never had him as a co-pilot during that time, but she had heard stories about him, just as he had likely heard stories about her. They had similar backgrounds, had great chemistry--at least in terms of being able to work together, they were the go to team for damn near anything. And yet, Tanita had only been around for a few hours and Tom was perfectly okay with doing 'what he had to' in order to 'keep them all safe.' Karra was not stupid, she knew that Tom had liked the way Tanita had looked at him, she had even joked about it in the cockpit as they were getting ready for take off. <br/><br/>It was amazing to her what a few hours could do. Just a few hours ago she had been laughing and joking with Tom, blowing him playful kisses and laughing at his terrible jokes. They had shared a cup of coffee and reminisced about the time Karra had been chosen to test out a new parachute and it had failed. Tom had noticed something off about the parachute just as Karra had jumped, and he had come after her. Thankfully all of them had been doing mandatory jump training, so Tom had his own parachute with him. He had saved her ass then, but that wasn't to say there weren't other times she had saved him.<br/><br/>But here they were angry at each other, and likely not speaking for a while--at least not anything personal. She knew she should explain to Tom her reasoning, but at the same time she felt that he knew her well enough to understand the way she thought. <br/><br/>She was pulled from her thoughts as Tom finally emerged from the freight room. He sent her a look that made her feel incredibly guilty, but she did not change her expression. She chose to ignore the look and instead turn her head away. No matter the situation between them, no matter if he were to give his love to Tanita or not, she was still angry for the way he had treated her earlier. Granted she hadn't been quite nice either, but it had been no reason to drag her off and slam her into crates, reprimanding her for nothing. She knew he hadn't liked her tone earlier, but she had not disobeyed orders and she had not argued with him in front of anyone. <br/><br/>Tom took Tanita from Sarge and sat back down with her in his lap. Karra said nothing and, oddly enough, she felt nothing at the sight of the woman in his arms. Instead there was just an emptiness. It hurt, but it was dull and distant. Good, it seemed when she had been held captive so many years ago it had paid off. She was starting to shut down her emotions, flicking them off one by one as they sprung up. Hurt--check. Sadness--check. Grief--check. Anger--check. Happiness--ha! double check. System shut down.<br/><br/>Tom's voice suddenly broke through Karra's thoughts, <span style="color: #FF8000">"Sorry, personal problems. Nothing to worry about. Alright, as you may have understood, as did we, we got somehow replaced in location and probably in time. We are no longer on the planet we lived before and we have no idea how it happened. But as I doubt that we can go back, we have to make the best out of it. Tell me all you can about this place we are now. And especially about the princess and her clan and if there is any opposition to them.“</span> <br/><br/><span style="color: #80BF00">"If there isn't any opposition to them, I would be surprised,”</span>  Karra supplemented. She paused for a second in contemplation, <span style="color: #80BF00">"If the Princess and those of such power are so terrible...then how come an uprising hasn't already occurred? Is there something that is protecting them...?"</span> Karra asked, more so thinking out loud than anything. It didn't make sense to her that such cruelty and brutality would survive for so long in a place that had so obviously advanced technologically. Unless there was something that was controlling the people--or protecting the 'nobles.' Perhaps both.</div>