The Multiverse: Two Shoes In For Trouble

Éclaire Hanley came back from behind a pillar, her communicator in hand while not paying attention, she slams her body full force into the incoming Carmen Dellevon, not seeing her.

Carmen Dellevon didn't see Éclaire Hanley coming and was caught a bit off guard. She stumbled to the side a step, flinging out a stiletto to stop from fully falling. She was grateful it didn't snap under the sudden force. It was worth the money for a good pair of heels.

"Woah!"

Éclaire Hanley nearly fell back from her own collision, she was unfortunate to have her own stiletto snap under the torque of her sudden movement, a sickening crack, and the woman stumbled back. "Watch where you're frakking going, by the lords are you blind!?" Hanley nearly screamed. "My Shoes are ruined!"

Carmen Dellevon raised a brow and shot the woman a look up and down. She was dressed beautifully and was almost a head shorter than Carmen, but emanated a sort of grit.

"Was I the one nose in screen?" Carmen quipped, "A shame for the shoes." Perhaps if she was polite Carmen would consider replacing them for her. After all, it wasn't going to be long before fortune would turn in her favor.

Éclaire Hanley bent down to try and adjust her shoe, as Carmen was looking her up and down. While short, she was incredibly physically fit, almost to the point that would envy even a supermodel. As she bent down, the exposed skin on the back of her neck revealed a bar-code tattooed into the skin, barely seen with her red locks covering the back of her neck.

"Shame about the shoes? These were designer shoes, and this dress!" Her face reddened in anger. "It's okay, not like you could pay for these anyway." She remarked sarcastically.

Arroze Durkaw mocks Hanley from across the room

Carmen Dellevon barked a laugh in return, folding her arms across her chest.

"I don't think I'd wish to purchase a shoe from a designer who failed to factor in physics," She smarmed back to Hanley. She bit the inside of her cheek and thought for a split second. Carmen pointed a heavily ringed hand to wave at Hanley's attire.

"The dress. The same designer as the shoes?"

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ Which one, The one in the fancy dress, or the one she bumped into? ”

Éclaire Hanley seemed to get even more agitated. "Julianna Hagan's Premium line." Hanley quipped. "Shoving me like that? Anything's going to break. It's not the designer's fault."

Éclaire Hanley pointed back at Carmen, her own arm bore a small silver watch like device, as she jerked her arm at Carmen, flickering alien numerals appeared above the smooth silver facing with a soft cyan glow.

Carmen Dellevon cocked her head to the side, "Never heard of them. Must be from some backwater planet."

She squinted at the watch device, "You have a lot of technology. No wonder you can't see where you're going, always with lights in your eyes."

Éclaire Hanley flustered. "Backwater planet!? How dare you!" She shouted, attempting to bring her open hand across Carmen's face with an indignant slap.

Carmen Dellevon slowly turned to level a glare at Eclaire Hanley, recovering from the slap. She had a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. It wasn't friendly.

"And what was your name?" Carmen brought up a curled fist to examine one of the large rings decorating it, flicking her attention back to Hanley with a fire behind her eyes.

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ Some arrogant admiral or whatever, she threatened to kill me. ”

Éclaire Hanley chuckled, her own fire behind her eyes. "Éclaire Hanley, and I'm the Supreme Commander of the United Aschen Empire's Imperial Defense Force." She said those words with conviction, as she darkened her expression, using her true name as opposed to the shortened 'Claire'

"Insult me, and my people again, and this galaxy won't be big enough for you to hide." The woman warned. A proverbial measuring contest was underway.

Arroze Durkaw waved carmen over

Carmen's grin stretched wicked across red lips. "Such a fancy title."

This woman clearly thought she was something. Maybe she was. Maybe she wasn't. Either way, Carmen knew it wouldn't be wise to retaliate here and now. No, she had other ideas.

Her people? Carmen narrowed her eyes for a flash- and then it clicked. This Eclaire Hanley. She mentioned that she was one of the Aschen. A reclusive people Carmen had learned of them. Elitist, but advanced. Their technology was coveted and traded on the black markets back home.

Arroze Durkaw timidly squeaked at this sudden realization

Carmen Dellevon says,

“ Far from home, aren't you? Supreme Commander? Explains the arm. ”

Carmen Dellevon had a twinkle in her eye, "And the temper."

Éclaire Hanley nodded in an almost condescending, arrogant manner, the other woman was getting it, it clicked. "Nothing's too far for the Imperial Navy. That's right, that ship? The big one? That's mine, and I can vaporize this station, and everyone on it with just a simple order. I just have to key up this communicator..." Hanley said, waggling the communicator, with it's soft holographic display flickering with alien numerals. "And tell my Executive officer weapons free."

Carmen Dellevon looked out the window and gave a slow nod. She was still smiling but let her lips close. Vaporize the station? She raised a brow at the communicator. There was no doubt the power this woman held. But, was she able to swing with that great sword of hers? Or was it just a decoration?

"I see. Quite a large ship. I can't imagine the hassle of getting from one end to the other. Do you have to share that with others?"

Éclaire Hanley chuckled to herself. "Obviously a ship like that needs a crew, hand picked and will carry out any orders I give them without question, without hesitation."

At that moment, Hanley's communicator chirped.

Chairman Actual to Esteem Actual, Come in!

Éclaire Hanley growled an annoyed growl, staring daggers at Carmen.

Éclaire Hanley says,

“ Ad Victoriam Chairman, this is Esteem Actual, go ahead. ”

Carmen Dellevon nodded once. She was about to go into detail of her own private vessel, no matter that it was presently on the other end of space, when Eclaire's communicator chirped. It seemed Eclaire was being summoned. Carmen smiled with all her teeth, sickeningly sweet, at Eclaire. Of course everyone followed her every beck and call...when she wasn't busy following theirs.

Éclaire Hanley continued to glare at Carmen, Hanley knew she was savoring the moment, the humiliation. Her communicator chirped once more, another woman's voice playing over the air.

I need you to prep the Raptor for transfer aboard my ship, We're returning to the Empire."

There was a brief pause on the communicator.

I've uploaded updated parameters for EVE to parse, She'll relay updated objectives to your vessel. Have you completed your reconnoiter of the Blue Heaven installation?

Carmen Dellevon raised her brows and smugly tilted her head, as if wondering too if Eclaire had completed whatever a reconnoiter was. One of her still intact heels pointed outward. She gave Eclaire a child's wave, opening and closing her hand.

"If you need a new designer," She shot a look at the broken shoe, "Feel free to find me."

Éclaire Hanley brought the communicator to her lips, glaring even harder at Carmen. "Yes, Sir, this station serves no purpose for Imperial Interests, and I have discovered that it harbors terrorists, and enemies of the state, and should be excised from Imperial affairs. I will submit my full report, at the end of the cycle, and have identified several key potential threats to Imperial stability that should be forwarded to intelligence for prejudicial elimination." Hanley wasn't being discreet in the least. She bore a wicked grin, but kept her demeanor formal to the voice on the other end.

Éclaire Hanley awaited a reply, which came sharply.

I'm on approach, once I've arrived, report to my CIC for debrief, Admiral. Ad Victoriam, Inviere out.

Éclaire Hanley stared up at Carmen, glaring at her, but then laughing. "You're a dead woman walking." She slowly lowered the communicator from her face.

Arroze Durkaw runs up behind hanley and attempts to tackle her, eyes full of tears

Éclaire Hanley caught Arroze running up from behind her out of the corner of her eye, and reacted with almost cat-like reflexes to side-step the tackle, and shove the Troll forward into the wall. She moved with grace, and fluidity, like someone with extensive martial arts training.

Arroze Durkaw stares at hanley, with wrath in his eyes*

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ You're no better than the criminals you punish. ”

Éclaire Hanley says,

“ I don't know what you're talking about, you seem to have it out for me! ”

Carmen Dellevon looked from Arroze to Eclaire, taking another step to the side. She took this opportunity to try to slip away towards the bar.

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ You insulted my species, and now you want to destroy an entire station full of people because one person bumped into you on accident. ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ Why wouldn't I have it out for you? ”

Éclaire Hanley says,

“ I want to destroy a station that harbors terrorists, and hostile aliens that want nothing more than to see good Aschen people killed. ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ LIAR!!!!! ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ NOBODY HERE HAS DONE ANYTHING AGAINST YOU EXCEPT ME! ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ NOBODY HERE WANTS TO KILL ANYBODY YOU RULE OVER! ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ NOBODY HERE IS A TERRORIST! ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ NOBODY EXCEPT YOU! ”

Éclaire Hanley chuckled arrogantly. "Were it not for the security of this station, I would have you shot for that comment."

Arroze Durkaw smiled and laughed

Éclaire Hanley says,

“ What's so funny? ”

Arroze Durkaw says,

“ do it, I have nothing to live for. ”

Éclaire Hanley huffs.

Éclaire Hanley says,

“ I have places to be ”

Arroze Durkaw flips off hanley

Carmen Dellevon had taken a seat at one of the booths nearby the scene, one leg folded over the other. She watched as Eclaire Hanley was yelled at by a troll. Carmen wondered what would happen next. The middle finger was disrespectful on Canus, and on every other planet she'd ever been to.

Éclaire Hanley glared at the troll, but otherwise didn't pay much heed, everyone on this station was as good as dead. She brought her attention back to Carmen, and glowered at her. "Where are you from?" Hanley asked.

Arroze Durkaw spat a tooth into his hand. she was definitely MUCH stronger than she looked

Krurai Sorkis tried to walk in, but veered to the left and dropped on the ground

Krurai Sorkis says,

“ I'm OKAy My DUDEs ”

Carmen Dellevon glanced at the newcomer who had fallen down and raised a brow.

Éclaire Hanley was pondering quietly to herself, near one of the windows. She was going to raise some serious hell when she returned to her ship. She pulled a smartphone from her handbag, and snapped a photograph of Carmen.

Carmen Dellevon noticed her picture being taken out of the corner of her eye. Oh? Two could play at that game. Carmen whipped out her own screen to blatantly photograph Hanley with a tight mocking smile.

Carmen Dellevon says,

“ Far away from here, of course. ”

Carmen Dellevon wasn't about to just tell Eclaire where her home was. What was she, stupid? There was a reason Carmen had managed to keep her head for so long.

Gina Inviere ran a hand across the wrinkles in her uniform, smoothing them out. She raised her eyebrow at one woman, taking a photograph of what looked like a sharply dressed Admiral Hanley. Inviere raised her eyebrow, and shifted the peaked cap from one underarm, to the other. She moved quietly through the crowd.

Éclaire Hanley narrowed her eyes, saving the image, and sliding the telephone back into her pocket. She hadn't noticed Inviere yet.

Carmen Dellevon says,

“ Didn't you have places to be? ”

Carmen Dellevon smirked as she pocketed her own phone, giving another glance to the trolls and shifting her back slightly towards them.

Éclaire Hanley humphs. "I do, I was just tying up some loose end---" Was suddenly silenced by a new voice in the room.

Gina Inviere say. Admiral Hanley, I have the Raptor, we're leaving.

Carmen Dellevon looked to the newcomer, chin raising in the slightest and smile softening. Who was this?

Éclaire Hanley stops suddenly, briskly saluting the fully uniformed Gina Inviere with an arm across her chest. "Chairman, Ad Victoriam!" She cast an accusatory finger at Carmen. "I was overhearing credible threats against Imperial security."

Carmen Dellevon fluttered a heavy ringed hand to her chest, face painting the picture of innocent surprise.

"Ridiculous. I won't be blamed for a clumsily broken shoe, regardless of how much it cost."

Gina Inviere cast a glance to the woman, shifting her weight. She obviously commanded a great deal of authority. "Submit your report to intelligence, don't waste my time with these savages. Report to your vessel for departure." The Chairman said, hardly even regarding the other woman with a response. She had a busy schedule, and wasn't going to get involved in petty disagreements.

Éclaire Hanley gave Carmen a wicked smile, then faced Inviere. "Ad Victoriam, Chairman."

Carmen Dellevon narrowed here eyes for a flash at the word savages, but knew victory when she tasted it. The abrupt dismissal of Hanley's concerns by her superior was delicious to watch after all that had happened.

She shot Eclaire her sweetest, sickliest grin in return. Go through your processes Eclaire Hanley, Carmen thought to herself, Let's see if you are what you say you are.

Gina Inviere returned the salute, bringing her arm across her chest. "Ad Victoriam, Admiral." She said. "You're dismissed."

Éclaire Hanley finished her salute, and turned to leave, limping on her broken stiletto.

Gina Inviere cleared her throat, and brought her attention to Carmen.

"A Word of advice." The Blonde said, her Gemonese accent lilting her words.

Gina Inviere started to approach the other woman, taking the peaked officer's cap from under the crook of her arm, her fingers running across the intricately crafted, polished leather visor. "I tend to offer my senior officers a great deal of discretion, and latitude when it comes to using fleet assets to settle personal disagreements." The Chairman warned. "So long as they advance the interests of the Empire." She promptly cleared her throat. "It would behoove you, and those you hold dear not to antagonize them, or this matter further." The woman warned.

Carmen Dellevon looked Gina Inviere in her eye, raising a brow at the mention of empire interests and the loose culture surrounding them. There was a level of corruption she sensed. An internal corrosion, somewhere. Where there was corrosion...

Carmen tucked the thought into the back of her mind. If Hanley chose to divert such attention to hunting Carmen down, over a shoe, well. Now at least Carmen had a sense of what to prepare for. So long as everything went according to plan.

"If your senior officer Eclaire Hanley and I never cross heels again, it would be soon enough," She said dismissively to Gina Inviere.

Gina Inviere chuckled quietly to herself. This woman didn't come from a culture that had many encounters with the Aschen Empire, this was interesting, she was bold, not in a defiant sense. There was something about this woman, and something else caught the Chairman's attention as she briefly averted her gaze to the window, the Esteem was pulling away.

"Be well." The Chairman said, with a hint of Venom in her mouth as she placed the peaked officer's cap back onto her head, the way she looked at Carmen, down the bridge of her nose, like a superior being addressing an animal, it was like a parent scolding a child.

Inviere turned, and began to leave.

Carmen Dellevon didn't like the look Gina Inviere was giving her, down her nose like that. Struck a nerve and annoyed her blood to a boil. She took a deep breath in through her nose, eyes smiling despite the rage that twinkled behind them. Carmen gave Gina a pert nod, returning the shallow well wishes, "Of course, and you too. Travel safe."

Carmen Dellevon watched Gina Inviere leave, burning the uniform into her mind's eye. She frowned and folded her arms. The vibe here was ruined. It was time to retire, she supposed.

The Multiverse » Arcs » Two Shoes In For Trouble

As written by: barney_fife, lostamongtrees, arachnidsUmbra

82 pieces and 8 characters involved, written by 3 different authors.

1 places involved

So begins...

Two Shoes In For Trouble

Setting: Club 47 Main Floor