11-29-2015, 03:57 PM
Glen automatically turned left and stretched out her feathered wings to fly back to her apartment, but the closest storm trooper put a hand on her shoulder and she froze. Her head slowly pivoted to face the soldier, a combination of anger and distress apparent in her eyes. After a long silence, she finally growled, "What."
"Going that way would not be advisable," explained the storm trooper succinctly. "If you fly, we won't be able to keep up, and others may be waiting for you already at your apartment. Enemies." Glen grimaced as she recognized the truth in his words.
"Can't you send more soldiers to go check, or something, while we wait here?" she pleaded, already sounding somewhat resigned. The storm trooper shook his head.
"It would be much safer to get you to a secure establishment as soon as possible, miss," he replied. "This way, please." Defeated, she lined up slowly and silently behind two of the storm troopers, and the other two flanked her, forming a tight box around the soothsayer. None of them even acknowledged Athena's presence trailing a short ways behind them until she spoke up a few moments later, an edge of worry to her voice.
"Where are you taking her?"
The storm trooper who had spoken to Glen faltered, and the group stopped, including the Soul of Mind. She tilted her head coolly and waited for his response, which she noticed took a couple of seconds to work through his brain and out of his mouth.
"The location and details are of course classified," he began, and the corners of Athena's mouth twisted slightly in annoyance, "but we can assure you that the Empire will protect her from any outside threats."
"That's not what I meant," Athena replied in frustration as the storm trooper turned away and the small squad started walking again. She jogged up on his left side and matched his pace. "What are you planning to do with her?" She lifted a hand to gesture towards Glen, who lifted her head and raised an eyebrow in interest. "Lock her up? Take her powers away? Have you even asked her permission?"
The six halted again, and the soldier replied more quickly this time. "No harm will come to her while in the care of the Empire. It is in her best interests, ma'am. I am not at liberty to relay anything more to you. Now, please, cease following us. If you wish, you could consult my superiors at the police station or the federal office."
Athena was only half-listening. While she was curious to learn how he would respond, her main goal had been to make him think of the answer. Now, as he spoke, she peered into the surface of his mind. It was a simple trick, one that she'd used countless times before. Words and images floated around in her thoughts, beginning with the basics: the 'Reform Center for Wayward Magical Denizens.' What followed startled her enough that she almost gasped aloud. The building was stark and surrounded by guards and fences. It looked more like a prison than anything else. She saw flashes of garish pink, heard voices and screams echoing from inside, and finally was faced with a terrible, cruel countenance: a woman with a sadistic, tight-lipped smile that reminded her all too much of the Baroness, draped in a blinding magenta shawl and seated at a desk, hands folded and nails painted in the same sickening shade. Finally, the Soul of Mind was faced with a fact almost more unnerving than what she had already seen: the soldier was afraid of this place. He hated even visiting there and was terrified of that awful woman - Dolores Umbridge, Athena had picked up as her name - and yet he was taking Glen to be held there, for whatever purpose the emperor had in mind.
By the time she had filed all this information away in her own mind, the man had finished speaking and was standing stiffly before her. Athena realized he expected some sort of response from her, but what was she supposed to do? The librarian was listening to their exchange, looking a little afraid now, but still obviously not even thinking of escape. She had no idea what she was in for.
"Ah," Athena began uncomfortably, mind still spinning. She had to think quickly. "Well, of course. My apologies. But could you please point me to this federal office? I just got here a short while ago, you see." The God-Soul let none of her apprehension reach into her voice or mannerisms. She had control of the situation now. She had a plan.
"Oh, of course," said the soldier, although his tone was a bit begrudging. "It's near the Nexus gate, to the right of..."
But Athena was no longer listening. As soon as he began his instructions, she focused her attention on the horned hippogriff, still standing uneasily in the center of the storm trooper squad.
Glen. Listen to me. They're taking you to some horrible "reform center." You have to get out of here. As soon as I engage them, fly as fast as you can. Get out of Coruscant - I'll catch up with you, hopefully. She paused and noted that the librarian's expression had changed - first to shock, as the message sunk in, then a somewhat shaken determination. Fortunately, the whole squad was watching Athena and didn't notice. Good. Don't show it on your face like that. Ready? The leader of the group was saying something about the front desk; he had almost finished talking. Athena took a short moment to find the hippogriff's surface thoughts, and was met with a single, reassuring word: Ready.
"Going that way would not be advisable," explained the storm trooper succinctly. "If you fly, we won't be able to keep up, and others may be waiting for you already at your apartment. Enemies." Glen grimaced as she recognized the truth in his words.
"Can't you send more soldiers to go check, or something, while we wait here?" she pleaded, already sounding somewhat resigned. The storm trooper shook his head.
"It would be much safer to get you to a secure establishment as soon as possible, miss," he replied. "This way, please." Defeated, she lined up slowly and silently behind two of the storm troopers, and the other two flanked her, forming a tight box around the soothsayer. None of them even acknowledged Athena's presence trailing a short ways behind them until she spoke up a few moments later, an edge of worry to her voice.
"Where are you taking her?"
The storm trooper who had spoken to Glen faltered, and the group stopped, including the Soul of Mind. She tilted her head coolly and waited for his response, which she noticed took a couple of seconds to work through his brain and out of his mouth.
"The location and details are of course classified," he began, and the corners of Athena's mouth twisted slightly in annoyance, "but we can assure you that the Empire will protect her from any outside threats."
"That's not what I meant," Athena replied in frustration as the storm trooper turned away and the small squad started walking again. She jogged up on his left side and matched his pace. "What are you planning to do with her?" She lifted a hand to gesture towards Glen, who lifted her head and raised an eyebrow in interest. "Lock her up? Take her powers away? Have you even asked her permission?"
The six halted again, and the soldier replied more quickly this time. "No harm will come to her while in the care of the Empire. It is in her best interests, ma'am. I am not at liberty to relay anything more to you. Now, please, cease following us. If you wish, you could consult my superiors at the police station or the federal office."
Athena was only half-listening. While she was curious to learn how he would respond, her main goal had been to make him think of the answer. Now, as he spoke, she peered into the surface of his mind. It was a simple trick, one that she'd used countless times before. Words and images floated around in her thoughts, beginning with the basics: the 'Reform Center for Wayward Magical Denizens.' What followed startled her enough that she almost gasped aloud. The building was stark and surrounded by guards and fences. It looked more like a prison than anything else. She saw flashes of garish pink, heard voices and screams echoing from inside, and finally was faced with a terrible, cruel countenance: a woman with a sadistic, tight-lipped smile that reminded her all too much of the Baroness, draped in a blinding magenta shawl and seated at a desk, hands folded and nails painted in the same sickening shade. Finally, the Soul of Mind was faced with a fact almost more unnerving than what she had already seen: the soldier was afraid of this place. He hated even visiting there and was terrified of that awful woman - Dolores Umbridge, Athena had picked up as her name - and yet he was taking Glen to be held there, for whatever purpose the emperor had in mind.
By the time she had filed all this information away in her own mind, the man had finished speaking and was standing stiffly before her. Athena realized he expected some sort of response from her, but what was she supposed to do? The librarian was listening to their exchange, looking a little afraid now, but still obviously not even thinking of escape. She had no idea what she was in for.
"Ah," Athena began uncomfortably, mind still spinning. She had to think quickly. "Well, of course. My apologies. But could you please point me to this federal office? I just got here a short while ago, you see." The God-Soul let none of her apprehension reach into her voice or mannerisms. She had control of the situation now. She had a plan.
"Oh, of course," said the soldier, although his tone was a bit begrudging. "It's near the Nexus gate, to the right of..."
But Athena was no longer listening. As soon as he began his instructions, she focused her attention on the horned hippogriff, still standing uneasily in the center of the storm trooper squad.
Glen. Listen to me. They're taking you to some horrible "reform center." You have to get out of here. As soon as I engage them, fly as fast as you can. Get out of Coruscant - I'll catch up with you, hopefully. She paused and noted that the librarian's expression had changed - first to shock, as the message sunk in, then a somewhat shaken determination. Fortunately, the whole squad was watching Athena and didn't notice. Good. Don't show it on your face like that. Ready? The leader of the group was saying something about the front desk; he had almost finished talking. Athena took a short moment to find the hippogriff's surface thoughts, and was met with a single, reassuring word: Ready.
![[Image: 2WaRJHm.png]](http://i.imgur.com/2WaRJHm.png)