@wastallest plotted thing
She’d been living on the sides of busy roads, on metal park benches and corners of subway stations. Anything to avoid the grotesque display her mother had become. No hoard could cover it up, not really, and the more Hal tried the more a decaying face stared back at her.
Of course, the one day that week she decided to scrounge up her uniform and attend academy was a field trip day. This one to Vort Research Station 9. As always. She had been there before, only this time the class was cautioned to be on their ‘best behavior’ due to the presence of a special guest.
Hal didn’t listen beyond that. She had a feeling they half-wished she’d skipped today as well. No such luck.
“Now kids! These are the blueprints for the new Bludgeon Class fleet leader!” the head scientist produced a hologram, Hal’s classmates gathered around in awe, “This is going to be the Tallest’s new flagship! As we speak our engineers are working on- oh, did you have a question young lady?”
Dozens of eyes focused on the small figure at the back of the room, Hal with her hand raised, stepping forward as classmates and her teacher alike silently groaned. Prayed she wouldn’t make a spectacle.
“Uh, yeah- so, the Tallest. That’s the Irken leader right? Like, their king or whatever?”
“Well, Queen, I suppose, but yes! Very good!” the scientist answered cheerfully, “Vortian technology is a sought after commodity, you see, and to maintain harmony with the Firmament we-”
“Give stuff to evil queens who blow up planets?” she interrupted,
The resulting gasps from the surrounding crowd caused Hal to chuckle; to step forward methodically and get a better look at the hologram her classmates had since lost interest in.
“We’re allies with the empire, little one.” the scientist corrected, “You couldn’t possibly understand yet how these things work. We aid the Irkens because- hey! Don’t touch that!”
A pink, clawed finger interrupted the hologram’s field, the blue lights split and shined around it, bringing attention to the front.
“Planet splodey lasers. Nice.” she commented, purple eyes gazed up at the frustrated scientist with a mischievous glint “For harmony, right?! Haha.”
Only a hand on her shoulder could interrupt her audacious display. Her teacher pulled her back, a solemn bow of his head offered towards the vexed scientist.
“I’m terribly sorry.” he lamented, then pulled the chaotic Vortian out of the room and into the hallway. To disrespect a scientist, a head scientist no less, was to spit in the face of all they were, all that Vort stood for.
She rolled her eyes and shrugged out of his grip, pouting as she leaned against one of the cold steel walls.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing Halinor but-” she sighed and shook his head, “We’ll talk about this later. You’re to stay right where you are, and if I hear you’ve touched anything I’m contacting juvenile hall.” he stepped back sheepishly, discipline was unlike him; another language he felt uneasy speaking. No other students required such harsh words. “-again.” he walked away, then froze. Standing in the threshold of the lab, he perked and gazed over his shoulder at the rebellious girl.
“This is your future, keep going like this and you’ll destroy it.”
He slammed the door on his way back in.
