Heir Apparent

Heir Apparent

Her Neocom buzzed, a flashing blue light illuminating Kirstin as she poured over a datapad. The days works orders being spelled by a flick of her digit. Schematics spinning lazily on projective displays around her.

“Yes?” She responded quietly keying up the incoming page.

“There is a man here to see you Ms. Amsel. A, uhm.. A Bayushi Yukinago…” Her secretary replied in a sweet yet unsteady tone.

“Who?” Kirstin craned her neck towards the blinking Neocom. A brow quirk as the illumination bounced off her faint morning application of makeup.

“He’s from Ishukone, Ms. Amsel. Assets and Acquisitions….”

“Division 758B… Ma’am.” The a new voice echoed through the com, the man clearly impatient to make his appointment.

“Yes. Assets and Acquisitions..” Her secretary parroted with a clearly annoyed tone in her voice. Kirstin finger hovered over the activation key, it quivered slowly as the blinking blue page awaited her reply. Her finger finally dropping to key her voice through. Static lingered a moment hesitation hitching her breath before she finally spoke.

“Send him in…Please.” Breathy words hung in the air as the communication channel clicked closed. Seconds later a hiss of the hydraulic door to her office announced the arrival of her guest. Rising from her desk she took a moment to press out the faint wrinkles in her black skirt, rolling her shoulders to settle the matching blouse on her shoulders.

A short Achuran man stepped through the doorway. Adorned in the black and gold on Ishukone, the golden waves pinned to the folds of his dress shirt, he stepped swiftly into the office. Taking little note of his surroundings his bald gleaming head bounced the brackish lighting of the office with near comical precision. Flex of grey in dark onyx goatee betraying a youthful complexion.

“Mrs. Amsel.” He bowed curtly as he came to a stop next to her desk. “Bayushi Yukinago, of the Ishukone Megacoperation, Assets and Acquisitions, Division seven five eight B, Malkalen five.” He concluded his long winded introduction straightening back out.

“Mr. Bayushi.” Kirstin replied bowing low to meet his. “What can Capital Allied do for Ishukone?” She waved a hand, motioning to a seat across from her. “…Please. Sit.” She smiled faintly, her jaw set eyes locked in contact. Avoiding any impropriety.

“You misunderstand, Mrs. Amsel…. Ishukone is not here for business with Capital Allied Industrial Distribution.” He smiled a silent thank you as he sat. “We are here for business with you Mrs. Amsel.”

“Me…?” She narrowed her brow, leaning across the glass desk, her icy blue eyes scanning the man who looked back at her from behind dark amber orbs.

“Yes, Mrs. Amsel.” He replied slowly, retrieving a large tablet datapad from his briefcase as he took this moment to break from her vexing stare. “…Like I said I am from assets and acquisitions.”

Kirstin paused a moment, twisting her lip about as she chewed on her inner cheek. “Well, what is it I can do for Ishukone, Mr. Bayushi?” She replied finally her voice softening with general contrition. Bayushi smiled, a little chuckle escaping his lips as he he slid the datapad across the pristine translucence of the glass desk.

“No Mrs. Amsel, I’m here because Ishukone wishes to do something for you.” He smiled tapping gently at the datapad. Looking down at the datapad, a single floor plan laid bare. Main hall, master staircase, primary domicile. The words bounced around on the image as her eyes flicked about trying to comprehend what she was looking at. “… More specifically Mrs. Amsel. The Ishukone Corporation has something we have concluded belongs in your ownership…” He spoke matter-of-factly. “…We have an offer for you, Mrs. Amsel.”

“An offer?” She picked her eyes up off the datapad to settle them back on his. “I’m not even sure what I am looking at.” She replied flatly. “What is this?” Her eyes falling back to the schematic a moment trying to glean something from strict lines and plain words.

“It was your fathers, Mrs. Amsel.” He replied softly, he was clearly more intimately aware of her than she was of him.

“Wha..” Her voice hitched as a lump formed in her throat, Bayushi in an act of kindness cutting her off.

“Their…Their untimely passing forced Ishukone legal to work within the parameters of their last updated corporate testament. The will, well.. The will was horribly outdated, your Father, for whatever unknown reason chose not to update upon his purchase of this property. Perhaps to keep it a secret from your mother and you, a surprise maybe?” He smiled faintly moving a hand across the datapad, drawing small circles across the screen. “It’s located on Malkalen five Mrs. Amsel. Your father divested quite a substantial amount of your families shares in it purchasing the lot. Unfortunately, it fell into testate at their passing. The chaotic nature of these last few years has created a substantial backlog for our legal departments, issues like these are generally left on the backburners…” He paused, his amber eyes softening to watch hers as they flicked about processing what she had just heard.

“Issues…? She replied slowly. “..Respectfully, Mr. Bayushi. I still don’t understand what you are talking about..” She sighed softly. “You’re saying my father owned this property, but presumably Ishukone took possession when it fell into testate, yes? So….” She hung on that word a second under furrowed brow as she pondered. “..You want to sell it back to me, that’s why you are here?” Bayushi shifted uncomfortably in his seat a moment, a feigning a soft smile.

“Very good Mrs. Amsel. That is in fact the offer I am here to present you. With respect for your family the Ishukone Corporation wishes to offer you a priority should you wish to purchase it.” Kirstin took a moment. Pouring over the schematics again slowly.

“This looks like an industrial building, the grounds themselves are rather large.” She replied.

“Yes Mrs. Amsel, when your father purchased it, it was a textile refinement facility that Ishukone was in the process of shuttering. Its located outside of the major city center of Hagiami in the Pash district of the plan..” Bayushi found himself cut off by Kirstin, her voice calm but forthright.

“I will purchase it…”

“W-would you like to hear the price?” Bayushi replied slightly taken-aback.

“I’m sure Ishukone has listed a fair price, please forward me the notice of sale and transfer of ownership. I will have funds in escrow for you immediately.” She replied stoically, rising from her seat and extending a hand outward. Bayushi taking the hint and rising with her, a slight groan in the older man as he does. Gripping her prosthetic cold carbon fiber fingers sending a shiver up his spine.

“Very good Miss. I’ll have the paperwork forwarded before I depart..” He smiles. “I came a long way to meet you Mrs. Amsel, I’m glad it proved productive.”

“As am I.” She replied taking one last look the schematics.

“You should know Mrs. Amsel, you father payed an architect, amongst others a substantial sum up front. The property has been modified substantially, he even filed a change land status. It’s listed as residential now.” Kirstin watched Bayushi linger before him, watched the words slip from his mouth, but they only vexed her more. “ Phillip Onamato, was…Er. Is, the lead architect on the project. Ishukone saw no need in cancelling the project since your father had paid such a hefty sum to see the whole thing through. If you make it to Malkalen you should see him first. I will have his contact information forwarded with the paperwork.”

“Excellent.” She replied flatly. “Thank you for seeing Mr. Bayushi, and thank Ishukone for allowing me the opportunity to regain my families property.”

“Of course Mrs. Amsel, Ishukone has nothing but respect for you and your family. Thank you for your hospitality.” He bowed, followed shortly by her to signal his departure. The hissing of the hydraulic door breaking the solemnity of the moment as he stepped clear of her office.

Kirstin sat back down slowly at her desk. The floorplan still displayed on the tablet Bayushi had left behind in the corner of the diagram a small logo spun, pristine white wings rotating clockwise slowly with the words Onamato Architecture SIBaA hanging beneath. For what felt like an hour Kirstin simply sat their, her palm flattened across the desk slowly. Finally her palm lifted from the desk, her fingerstips lingering on the desk with listless hesitation, finally reaching out to and landing on a keyed up datapad. Static crackled in the air a moment before she spoke.

“Ready a shuttle. I have business in Malkalen…”

“At least you are smiling.”

Kirstin awoke to a blinding flicker. Her icy blue eyes strained, eyelids fluttered as the cold light of a morning sun crept through the faintest slit in a far off curtain, the light strobed as the soft white curtain drifts against some invisible breeze.

As she blinked away the haze, the faintest petals of Nonni snowfall comes into focus. Like shredded silk it was pure white and nearly sheer as it listed, battling to stay afloat in the still air outside. Tugging at heavy down Duvet she watched their plight. Listing lazily to and fro, their gentle vacillations slowing only before their inevitable fate. A soft and final landing on the small windowsill she peered through.

“Good morning.” She called out in a breathy yawn, the warm heavy sheets sticking to her frame as she twisted her frame.

Silence greeted her, nothing stirred. She twisted further, rolling herself over. Sheets gripped tightly she encased her figure in a cone of warmth.

“Wake up Sleepyhh….” She cut herself off, the empty bedding beside her greeted with the same still air. The chill of absence already upon them as confusion takes hold first. Her eyes dart about, trying to make sense of her solitude, she was not alone when she first laid her head down. Agonizing seconds past, what feels like minutes before her eyes spot it. Across the best, resting on the blackened wood of their bedside table a small box.

Small and made of wood, lacquered in a black finish its size no bigger than an outlaid palm. Wreathed in weaving golden leaves and vines, the inlaid pattern is distinctive of personal touch. A hand had carved this box. The faintest imperfections, tiny nicks where the wood knotted, the golden leaves nearly perfectly symmetrical, the faintest straying of hand betraying it as man-made.  Beneath it, a singular piece of folded paper.

She had not seen paper in so long, not since the Academy. She had forgotten what it felt like, so thin, and coarse. Reaching out, her prosthesis silently obeyed. She plucked the paper free she loosening the carefully folded crease revealing a pitch handwritten letter.

“Kirstin my love, “

Her eyes poured over the small note, the pitch black penmanship curling and twisting across the paper, and as it did, it did too curl and constrict within her chest. A dull thudding and groaning ache subsumed her. Each syllable ended in another crunch.

“…I know that if I did not leave you now, like this with words on paper alone, I would not have the strength either to walk away from you as I must do…”

Her frame curled forward, the sheets falling from her upright frame as cool air nipped at her skin. Further she curled, a silent retching as her eyes continued to pour over the note.

“Forgive me.”

Her vision was blurred as she watched the final letters of the note run and spill down the page. The ink flowed like an onyx creek twisting and turning across the page before finally coming to a stop at its edge. It pooled as it hung, deep obsidian in the cold morning light, and finally it fell hitting the Duvet and leaving a blackened stain. The note followed silently behind. Falling like the embattled snow outside it drifted, falling faster with its soggy weight. Twisting her frame into a ball she rolled back onto her side, reaching out to grasp the tiny black box. Her fingers gliding along the intricacies as she shuddered. Her warmth fleeing as if absent all along. The lid to the box opened slowly, inside a smaller note of the same pen revealed inside.

“I made this to give you one day. Keep it or burn it as you may wish.”

Closing the box again she shut her eyes. Like she had so many times before again she hoped, that this would be only a dream, and that she would awake, smiling again.

((All quotes provided by actual IG mail source.))

In The Black

YC116  06.21

The click of black heels echoed through The Noir as she approached the microphone stand. The lights dimmed before the loud slam of the stage lights snapping to life deafened the clicking. Blinded she winced a moment, her eyes adjusting to the soft silhouettes of the crowd. Her long lashes providing minimal shade, pitch eyeliner traced an outline, giving her eyes an icy blue sheen. Smokey eyeshadow isolating them into piercing beams.

The stage lights cast a delicate sheen on her sleek black dress, low cut and backless her skin sparkled as beads of sweat trickled down her. A mix of nerves and the heat from the lights left a diminutive quake in her hand as she wrapped her fingers around the microphone stand pulling it close. Scarlet lips nearly caressing the microphone as she gave a quick flickering glance at the pianist to her side, the corner of her lip curling with a nervous smile as she gave him a subtle nod.

His finger strike the ivory, it echoes through the silent lounge before he cascades up the keys to his desired note and begins to play. Her lips parted, a gentle timbre is caught by the microphone, breathy and airless it hangs in the room like smoke.

Shadows settle on the place, that you left..

Our minds are troubled by the emptiness..

Destroy the middle, it’s a waste of time..

From the perfect start to the finish line..

And if you’re still breathing, you’re the lucky ones.

‘Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs…

Setting fire to our insides for fun.

Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong

…The lovers that went wrong….

The light shone like fuzzy supernovas in her eyes, she struggled not to squint deciding instead to lock her vision on the floor in front of her. The rest of The Noir was dark, save for the occasional flicker of a burning ember. Smoke rose from the seats getting caught in the light as it twisted and coiled before dispersing into the air. The dark sheen of her dress mimic the lounge itself, catching glints of light as she swayed gently. The microphone stands swinging like a metronome as she sang into it.

We are the reckless,

We are the wild youth..

Chasing visions of our futures

One day we’ll reveal the truth

The one will die before he gets there…

And if you’re still bleeding, you’re the lucky ones.

‘Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone..

We’re setting fire to our insides for fun…

Collecting pictures from the flood that wrecked our home,

It was a flood that wrecked this home..

And you caused it…

Finally bringing her eyes level with the crowd they sparkled as they caught the light, a twinkling halo captured inside her iris glowed giving her a ghostly stare as she flicked her gaze around the room. Finally comfortable in her skin a faint smile crept up her lips as two white fingers squeezed around the stem of the mic stand leaving its axis at the slightest of tilts. Each bridge hanging deathlessly in the air, the twang of piano strings leaving a dreary ring alongside it.

Well I’ve lost it all, I’m just a silhouette,

A lifeless face that you’ll soon forget,

And my eyes are damp from the words you left,

Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest…

Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest…

And if you`re in love, then you are the lucky one,

‘Cause most of us are bitter over someone..

Setting fire to our insides for fun,

To distract our hearts from ever missing them…

But I’m forever missing him…

And you caused it…

As she finished the stages lights dimmed. Her eyes blurring as the house lights rose back up. Blinking a few times her vision finally cleared to the red satin seats facing the stage. The hiss of a burning ember caught her attention as her eyes focused on the singular onlooker. Clapping slowly he rose with a smile mirrored by her as she bow slightly fidgeting with the microphone stand.

“Very good.” He applauded. She smiled as some colour rushed her cheeks and a sense of relief washed over her.

“Lets take it again.. From the top.” 

I Walk Into Empty

YC 115 22.03

“The Shiigeru has been destroyed. Reports are confirming that massive collections of debris will make planet-fall in approximately forty minutes. Early estimates show most of the debris landing close to the city of Arcurio. Death toll estimates are upward into the five hundred thou-“

 The room went dark as the Neocom feed was silenced. The dull hum of the Matari quarters the only sound left. The faint glow of panels and instruments cast somber shadows on adjacent walls as Kirstin sat quietly on the small couch.

Five years had passed since Malkalen, five long years since she had fled from her home. To the fringes of Empire spaces as far as any contract would take her she fled. In small Matari quarters she watched her world succumb to madness. She watched her State succumb to hatred and fear.

If Noir had taken her family, then Heth had taken her home, and today that madness had reached it’s climax. As ten-thousand souls burned away in orbit amidst the wreckage of the Shiigeru, Kirstin could no longer bear to watch. So she sat in the dim light of her quarters amongst the silence and stale air.

A grunt behind her broke the silence as a form rose behind her. The lights in the quarter whirred and flickered on, washing the two in a dull lamplight. The man, a Sebiestor was dressing himself as she craned her neck to face him, a weak smile formed on her trembling lips as he picked up his things.

“I need to go.” He spoke flatly. A garish voice to match equally garish features. A crooked nose to match a crooked grin. 

“So soon…?” Kirstin replied, her voiced hushed to a near whisper.

“Things to do.” He replied, throwing a brown trench coat over his shoulders and making for the door.

“..Wait…!” She squeaked, he arm shooting out to grab the sleeve of his coat. An action quickly rescinded as he shot a glare at her. “…You said, you said I-I could….” She appealed unable to find the remainder of her words.

“Oh yeah…” The man replied, rifling through his pocket. “..Here’s the rest of them.” He smiled placing a small opaque bottle on the arm of the couch. “Call me when you need more.” He grinned, turning and exiting the quarters.

Snatching up the bottle quickly she smiled retreating to the bathroom as he left. Once inside she placed the bottle atop the small sink as the automated lights flickered on. Sickly light flooded the small room casting drab shadows across the sharp angles of the Matari design. Turning on the shower she returned to the sink. A hand extending to grasp the bottle, a faint tremor running down her spin as the lid popped free. Inside small Blue pills bounced around, she peered into the bottle as if staring through a telescope at distant worlds. Letting two pills fall free and into her hand she paused.

 Her Hand. A prosthesis now, white and dull she wiggled the fingers and watched them bend and flex, absent all sensation. In mimicry of life they closed around the little blue pills as she brought them to her mouth, popping them in unceremoniously. 

Stepping into the shower she let the warm water cascade off the back of her neck. Leaning against the small glass enclosure she sighed contently as the warmth held the tremors at bay. A gentle bliss creeping up her spine as she began to wobble, her knees buckling as she collapsed into the corner of the stall. Laughing as she fell she curled herself into the corner as water rushed down around her. 

Holding her prosthesis out before her eyes, the laughter faded to a soft whimper as her vision blurred. Struggling to right herself she crashed through the small door of the enclosure falling out onto the washroom floor naked and soaked. Finally dragging herself to her feet by yanking on the sink.

Pausing a moment she stared at the mirror above the sink. A harlequin silhouette staring back. Glossy eyes highlighted a listless form before her as steam began to fill the room further blurring the face in the mirror.    

“My you look impressive…” The reflection mused, as Kirstin’s voice echoed through the small quarters.

 

 

 

“Curse you, Caldari….”

YC 110 05.15

Kirstin awoke to the howl of sirens and the screams of her kin around her. She could feel flames licking at her ankles as her eyelids fluttered open.  The air was choked with black smoke hanging deathlessly above her. Tinnitus still ringing in her ear as she blinked away the darkness in her vision. The face hovering over her was that of an Ishukone security officer, his fingers pressing against her carotid artery until they locked eyes. Immediately she was scooped up. Thrown against his chest as a blur of smoke and fire passed through her vision. She tried to speak through cracked and split lips, the taste of blood choking her. She could only let out the faintest whine, a sound completely drowned out by the cacophonous havoc around her. Losing strength with every step he took, she faded back into the consuming darkness of her unconscious. Her neck failing now to support her head it slumped back and as it did to her horror she gazed upon her arm, or at least where her arm should have been.

Ripped as if she had been savaged by some beast, a visceral stub just above the elbow is all that remained. Bit’s on bone shown through where tendons and muscle had been shorn clean. Blood dripped at an alarming pace and made a sickening spattering sound upon the metal floor. Her discovery had sent adrenaline rushing through her system, a desperate attempt to maintain consciousness as shock took hold of her. She parted her lips again, this time a scream escaping. Pinpoint pupils fixed on the wound as she writhed in the mans arm. Screaming again as the pain finally overtook the adrenal rush. Unbearable pain washing over her, too much for her lithe frame. Going limp in the mans arms her vision darkened again as she slipped into unconsciousness. A gentle reprieve from the chaos surrounding her.

“Kirstin!” A familiar voice called from across the docking bay. Icy blue eyes to match hers, a wide smile, the faintest stubble on his chin. Kirstin smiled immediately closing the gap to embrace him.

“Fuchi..” She replied softly as he squeezed her before holding her at arms length to get a better look.

“My you look impressive! Doesn’t she dear?” He beamed glancing to the women beside him.

“She does indeed, Joseph.” The women smiled resting her cheek against an open palm.

“Muzu!” Kirstin smiled, moving to embrace her as well. “I have missed you both, so much.”

“And we’ve missed you.” Her father beamed. Embracing the whole of his family. “Today is a great day for Ishukone, but a greater day for me, my little girl has come home.” He sighed contently before straightening out. “We should go, the delegation is to meet soon, we shouldn’t miss the news when it concludes!” Holding them both he gave  gentle push towards the main foyer of the station.

Awash in the Ishukone colour’s of black and gold the station had an air of jubilation. People moved in frantic pace too and fro. Banners of the State and Ishukone flew side by side. The usually cold and formal air of a Caldari business station was electric. Fear and hope intermingling in the air as the whole of the station held is breath awaiting the proceedings of the summit.

“He has waited so long to see you again Kirstin.” Her mother smiled softly locking arms with her as her father push ahead through the crowd. Her father looked so much older then when she had last seen him, a year ago before taking another contract. His black onyx hair had begun showing flecks of grey, he looked more regal in that sense.  But it was immediately betrayed by long laugh lines and soft wrinkles across his face. Her mother conversely maintained her steely complexion, her hair still radiantly blonde. Darker blue eyes still as piercing as ever, impossible to deceive even for a moment.

“I’ve been looking forward to see you both too. Especially on a day like today.” Kirstin smiled turning to glance at her mother as they strode down the main foyer.

“Don’t be silly Kirstin…” He mother replied with a smile. “… You are a capsuleer now, you don’t have time for frivolities like this.”

“Muzu please. I….” Kirstin found her protest cut short.

“You’ve made him very proud…” Her mother squeeze her arm bringing them tightly together. “…You’ve made me very proud.” Finally locking eyes, her mother smiled faintly. “We love you dearly Ms. Amsel.” Kirstin frowned quirking a brow at the informality.

“What?” She replied puzzled.

“Ms. Amsel…..?” The voice seemed faint now, far off behind some invisible fog. “…..Ms. Amsel….?” Kirstin blinked, and just like that it was all gone. The black and gold of Ishukone’s station long gone, replaced with a steely blue and bland white of a hospital bay. “…..Ms. Amsel, are you still with us?” A doctor leaned over her, shining a small pen light in her eyes. She blinked again, and again, in futile hope to return to where she had just been. Finally she responded, her voice weak barely audible.

“Y-yes..I can hear you..”

“We’ve cleaned the wound Ms. Amsel, we can have you fitted with a cybernetic prosthesis within the week. We just need to insure the wound hasn’t taken on anything infectious first.” Kirstin sighed softly, looking around the room from her small hospital bunk. Her eyes finally coming to rest on a bandaged stump where her arm once was.  “We had to take off more of the arm, to properly close the wound, and have it ready for prosthesis.”

“This will all be payed for by Ishukone of course Ms. Amsel.” A man stepped forward from the doorway of her small room. In his hands a small box, an Orchid resting across the top. “With our deepest condolences. They were exemplary employees.”

“They….?” She responded, propping herself up with her good arm.

“We are so sorry, Ms. Amsel.” The man replied softly, placing the box across her lap. Suddenly the weight of the gesture was to great for her. Falling back against the bunk the revelation had sucked the air straight from her lungs. She closed her eyes again slowly as a hot tear kissed her cheek. Silently she prayed, that she may open her eyes and be on that station again.

She prayed in vain.