Karina hated the way that her father spoke about her friends, but then Aux opened his mouth and she decided not to try and defend him. "Piss off Aux." She replied to the dress comment. Of all people to join her, it had to be Aux didn't it? Well he was also probably the only person capable of pissing someone off enough to end up in max security. Aux didn't seem to know when to stop either as he kept talking until her father electrocuted him and then turned to her for a moment. Karina glared at her father as he called her friends trash. "You might be right about this one. He isn't the best person in the world, but don't you dare call the rest of them trash! Most of them are better people than you will ever be. Kel, for example was the first one to offer me a place to go after finding out that home was not an option. Kaida offered me a cloak and a comforting hand when I was at one of my lowest moments. Beuce... Beuce is the best person I have ever met. He is good in a way you could never comprehend. I am actually happy when I am with him. Happy. Do you understand what that means for me? The only trash I know is you!" Karina couldn't help but yell at her father. It took a moment before Karina noticed she wasn't shaking because of rage, but from the electricity that coursed through her system. This wasn't enough however because her was asking Aux about things that he should have no business dealing with. Karina bit her lip and kept her mouth shut while Aux was speaking, but when he was done, and her father looked to her again sneering. "At least he is trying to be better, unlike you." She retorted before continuing. "At least he doesn't rig trials. You requested that judge didn't you? There is also the fact that you locked me up during them. I could have helped. I could have done something to help Kaida and you knew that, didn't you? You knew I last to see Shiro. He was the one who gave me my mark of mastery and returned to my friends. Kaida hadn't been away from us since then to do what they accused her of. Lea disappeared, but not when they claim. He put together a group of people to help against the one called Nequa. He took me with him and taught me that I am not defined by my past. I am not defined by you, but I define myself! He might have been betrayed, but not by Kaida." Karina stated. She didn't know if her father actually knew this, but she knew it was intentional keeping her away from the trials. "And you will never achieve the greatness you dream of. It doesn't exist." As Aislinn walked, she heard her name. Approaching was AJ and Aislinn smiled brighter. It was nice hearing her friends where alright, but actually seeing one was better. "AJ! Good to see you are alive and well. Is Luna and Kel around? They aren't among the ones in prison are they?" Aislinn couldn't help but blurt out her questions as Zeke started to hide a bit behind her, and Aislinn let go of his hand and put a hand on his head instead. "Sorry he is a bit shy when it comes to knew people. "How have you been?" She then asked finally regaining her composure a bit and speaking to him more normally. 26/30
Aislinn nodded back at Faust. "Got it. I will meet you there soon." Aislinn stated before she turned and left the boy to go find Adrian. He was likely to be in a study, even with the kids around him. She would rescue him so that he could finish his preparations. It also made her do something other than look over his shoulder. She had some issues just letting him do his thing, There was a part of her that constantly wanted to help him and give him advice, even when he didn't want it. She knew that she was a bit of a control freak, but at least she was working on it. Soon Aislinn found herself at the study, and scooped Dayla out of her chair. "Come on Zeke, lets leave daddy alone for a bit so that he can work." Adrian gave an appreciative grunt and half wave as Aislinn walked off with the kids to meet back with Faust. Dayla held on her hip, and holding Zeke's hand. Karina was barely conscious through Aux's trial. She listened vaguely, heard another rant, but she was honestly not as invested in Aux as she had been in Kaida's trial. She couldn't afford to let herself get invested in it either though. The trial was a lot shorter than Kaida's too. It didn't take long before yelling from the judge brought her around to consciousness a little more. Karina sat up and looked at the screen to see her father escorting Aux away, then it was silent. The silence seemed to last longer than she would have expected, but it eventually was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps. Karina knew that rhythm of steps, knew exactly who it was. "So are you here to bring that muzzle that you promised?" Karina asked looking in substantially worse shape than when he had thrown her in there to start. She barely registered that Aux was there, but she didn't want to. Not at least until her father was gone. If she showed any signs of being happy to see him, her father would move Aux as far away as he could before she managed to say a word. 25/30
With no more responses coming, Karina tried her best to relax and let the pain finally ease a bit. Between the shocks and her banging her arms against the bar, there hadn't been much chance to let it ease off. That didn't last long however as Karina kept listening to Kaida's trial. It was clearly rigged, as Karina found herself almost appreciating how Kaida replied to that. It meant she probably got in more trouble, but Karina could at least appreciate that Kaida was brave enough to say it. However when Kaida was carted off, Karina looked at the screen and she swore that she saw him smiling at the camera, smiling at her. He knew this was going to be the outcome. The camera quickly switched off of him however and to the prison where Kaida seemed to be off. She couldn't see clearly what it was, but at that point Karina was upset again. Her collar zapped her, but Karina didn't let that stop her simmering rage. She had managed to get through the rest of the trial without getting too upset, but seeing how it effect Kaida. The state she was in now, and the fact that her father had been smiling about it. Karina didn't care about the pain as she threw herself at the cage trying to break out, only to be repelled back and for the collar to go off once more before it stopped. Karina was left on the ground barely able to think straight as she stared at the tv and the jail where Aux was being taken away. 24/30
This entire conversation was weird. First off the Summit wasn't for a little bit, or else she would be there now. Then there was the treason thing that Aislinn couldn't possibly fathom. At least at the end was something about Kel. Aislinn tried to process this one thing at a time. "Alright, so some people are getting ready for the summit, but what do you mean that Kaida is on trail? I get Aux, but Kaida?" Aislinn first questioned, but she had been away long enough she knew that there was not much she could do to help on that front. Instead of trying to deal with that Aislinn thought of the third thing. "Well it is good to know that Kel is safe. I have to pick up my niece and nephew, but if you want company to the infirmary, then I will happily join you after. I would like to see and speak to Kel myself anyways." Aislinn admitted. Perhaps it wasn't the best place to take the kids, but she was sure that Zeke would like to just go for a walk anywhere at this point. 23/30
Karina could only sit and watch as the boy start to move around in his cell. She was almost surprised when he seemed to start to hear something, if the way he stopped indicated anything. It wasn't long before he started tapping again and Karina had to sit and start to try and translate again. She wasn't sure about the first word. While she believed that she was getting the right letters for the most part, but she didn't understand what it meant. The rest of it however she made out for the most part after hearing it a few times. The missing letters were easy enough to fill in to make it make sense. At least this time it would be an easy response, and she figured she would have to be quick before the guards caught on to what they were doing. -.-- . ... (Yes) was all that Karina managed to reply before it was starting to get bothersome to do. Hopefully he managed to get enough information to provide help. Aislinn smiled back at the boy and decided to walk and talk as she started back towards where her brother in law was. "I am Aislinn. I used to travel with the SoS group for a while but I had to come help here with my family." Aislinn explained to the boy before continuing. "Though I can't say I know who this Carbine person is that you speak of. No one by that name or description when I was there. Have you seen Kel or Luna though? Last time I saw them they fell overboard the ship we were traveling on. I have been trying to keep my eye out for any sign of them since, but to no such luck." Aislinn explained to Faust, hoping that he knew who she was talking about. If not, it was likely they never made it back. 22/30
Karina would have remained laying on the floor in a curled up ball, if the tapping on the screen didn't become louder and more irritating. There was still a small corner view of the prison below the main image of the trail. At first Karina had ignored the sound, focusing more on what was going on with Kaida. She wished that she could be there and help, after all she had seen Shiro not that long ago. He was the one that helped send her back to SoS. Her father would never allow her out of here to help the case, not when he already planned to rig the case against her friend. The tapping had become too much to ignore however and Karina forced herself back into a sitting position, trying to see what was causing it, and if there was a way to make it stop. The latter of the two thoughts was likely not possible though. As Karina focused in on the screen, she started to realize that the tapping sound had some rhythm to it. It took a bit, but soon she was realizing what she was hearing, it was Morse code. Once upon a time her father had taught her the code so that she could receive and recite messages to him if he wasn't home and missed something, he never did much care to keep a paper trail. Slowly her mind started tilling in the taps with letters, slowly she started to understand more of what it was saying. She could pick up on some letters at first, then words, though what was sent didn't make too much sense to her. Karina furrowed her brow as she thought of the reply, repeating the taps and dashes in her mind. Send this back. What did he just want someone to reply to the message? He had been talking with her friends, perhaps he was trying to help. Either way she had to do something. Karina looked around her cell desperately trying to figure out what she could do. Given that they were in prison, perhaps the place they were being kept was not too far away. She could at least try and reply with something. Backing up towards the bars on her cell, Karina started to rock back banging her head against the bars, in what seemed like frustration and desperation. This however instead was an attempt to hide what she was really doing, as she banged her manacles against the bar as hard as she could, spelling something out herself. .... . .-.. .--. / .. -. / -- .- -..- / .--. .-. .. ... --- -. (Help, in max prison)
Scout ships, yeah sure. Karina knew that he was lying, but she still wondered how much her friends bought it. While Karina wanted to have faith in them, but given her situation, things were looking rather grim. She couldn't help but think that it was starting to feel hopeless. Her father was taking Kaida to trial and she couldn't help but fear the worst of it. Karina didn't even know if she wanted to watch, but it wasn't like she had much else to do. After her father left the room, the tv flipped over so she could see the trial as they started. Karina didn't realize that it was going to be her father representing Kaida. "I am sorry... I am so sorry." Karina hated that she didn't have enough strength to do what was needed to save her friends. She had been weak. She failed again, but this time it wasn't to stand up to her father. Last time not standing up got Vincent killed. This time Karina tried not to immediately bend to her fathers will, and instead it was going to hurt everyone. Before her father could even do much, the judge was already yelling at him, part of her felt smug that she treated him like that, but the other part worried her about what this meant for Kaida. Of course, it was soon clear that it wouldn't be good for Kaida with this judge. She wondered if her father set this up too. She listened closely to the case, and again Karina couldn't help but let her anger get the better of her. "Kaida would never do that! You don't know wh-OW" Her body jerked and jolted as he collar shocked her again. Karina convulsed, pulling against her manacles, which cut into her wrist more and made it hurt all the more. "Make it stop!" Karina called out desperately, this time not in anger but sheer in pain and anguish. It was both physical and mental at this point. Karina was breaking down to some extent and she didn't want to hear any more of the court case. Even as she caught the fact that her father didn't immediately try and prosecute Kaida. It couldn't go well at this rate and Karina couldn't stop blaming herself for that. The more she blamed herself though, the more upset she got, and thus the more chance she had to get hurt again. She didn't know how much more of this she could take. "Someone help...." She cried quietly wishing Beuce, or anyone really was there. She just didn't want to be alone or with her family anymore. 20/30
Aislinn was about to walk out to find her brother in law, when she heard the boy at the bar say something particular. She raised an eyebrow as she looked over to him momentarily. "Excuse me." Aislinn approached the boy. She did not recognize him from her time with SoS, but that didn't mean that he wasn't a part of them. "Did you say you were with SOS? You mean like with Kaida, Ananta, Beucefilous and all them? If so do you mind answering a few questions for me?" She could take an extra minute or two before getting her niece and nephew, Adrian would be fine for a bit longer. 19/30
"You know you don't have to stay, you can go back to looking for your friends." In the tavern two ladies sat across from each other In the midst of conversation. The younger of the two spoke first as she sighed taking a sip of whatever she was drinking. "I can look for them from here. Lets face it, I don't even know where to start and at least here we meet so many people that eventually someone is bound to have run into at least someone from the SOS group." The older one said with a lot more confidence than the younger lady seemed to have. Aislinn reached out and grabbed her sisters hand as she looked her in the eyes. "Besides, Adrian needs the help representing our world, and you need help with the kids. I left you once already, I am not going to do it again." "He is trying his best." Sarah instinctively tried to defend her husband, but Aislinn just smiled at her. "I know, he is doing a fine job, but it is a lot of work and I offered to help." Aislinn continued to try and convince Sarah before standing up getting ready to leave. "Tell you what, I know that you are stressed. I will watch the kids until the Summit meeting. You can go take a nap." Sarah looked like she was about to say no, but she took one look at her sister and knew that it was no use in arguing. "Alright, but don't you have to help Adrian with the Summit stuff too?" "I will be there for him when it is time, but he told me he wanted to learn to do this himself. Now go. I will go find Adrian and take the kids off of him." Aislinn informed Sarah before starting to head out of the bar, taking a glance at the boy talking to the bartender. She didn't think she knew anyone by that description, but she would keep an eye out anyways. 18/30
By the time her fathers footsteps faded, Karina was curled up on the floor in pain. She had never been good at handling her emotions, and while she was doing better as of late, being left in prison like this only made her more angry. She didn't even have to start yelling for the collar to go off, all it took was her thinking about it too much. It was hard not to think too much about it though when between the silence and the cuffed hands it was abundantly clear just how much she messed up. On top of that it was torture to just be able to see and hear her friends but not be able to go to them. She wished that she could at least see them once more again before she was carted away to get married, but her father would never allow that. He already told them that she had run away and was gone. There was no returning to them, not when she was stuck down there. Soon Karina heard a familiar voice again as she sat up to glance at her tv. Her father had arrived to bring the first person to trail and scatter her friends. Well it was nice seeing all of them while it lasted but now they were leaving and Karina was getting nervous for Kaida. Did Kaida even know who she was dealing with? She spoke optimistically, but Karina saw it as otherwise. Her father had promised to prosecute them to the highest degree because of her, she was going to get Kaida in even more trouble. "Kaida, do-" Before Karina could yell out at the screen, again she was shocked and Karina slouched forward again, just barely able to catch Kel's question. She couldn't help but wonder what he would reply to that. 17/30
"You brought this on yourself." Her father replied before turning to leave the cell block. Karina may have been in pain, but that didn't stop her from making one more comment. It was something she had been holding onto for when she had nothing else to lose. "I may have brought this on myself, but know who else brought something on himself? His name was Uniform, or Hughes something? I can't be bothered to remember. He seemed to know you, well and thought he could use it against me. If felt good when I killed him." Karina taunted her father. Her father stopped walking further, as he turned back around slowly. "Is that meant to infuriate me?... That you managed to eliminate one of my former lieutenants?" He began to walk back towards her, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. "You killed an old man?- That is your final statement to me?..." He shook his head in disappointment. "I'm holding much resentment towards you right now. Not because you kill that war horse, but because you can't do the one thing I told you to. But I'm done being mad. It's like being angry at a cup or lamp. Blaming something you own is foolish. You either have to get rid of it or throw it away." He leaned over and spoke softly. "Why do you think I'm trying to give you away?" He stood back up, letting that sink in. "I know full well that you are trying to get rid of me. I have know from before you first tried to marry me off. If you wanted me gone so bad, then you shouldn't have dragged me back here. I never planned to return home." Karina sat in a cold, simmering anger, nothing that raised her blood pressure or set off the collar. "But that isn't possible is it, because you are such a stuck up *Kupo*hole that you can't stand the thought of anything being out of your control. But guess what, this isn't home. These worlds, these people, my friends, they aren't governed by you. I can't wait to see your face when you lose control of more than just me." It was a threat and a promise. Uniform was just a start. "Really should've brought a muzzle with me," he stated before turning to leave again. Karina didn't even say anything in response, but her father was making her so frustrated that even without saying anything, her collar shocked her as she tried to scramble towards the bars after her father. If he smacked her it would be less painful than this stupid back and forth they were doing. If he would just be the abusive father she remembered than the manipulative one he was being now, it would at least feel more justified. Now it felt like she was being the bad one and she knew it was just her father not wanting to give her any ounce of satisfaction that she was right about him. He probably had an image to maintain here and beating his daughter to a bloody pulp wouldn't help it. Which only made her want to get under her fathers skin more, reveal his true identity. 16/30
