[Closed] Little Deuce Coupe

[futureisclear]

Ildraniath didn't spend all of her time plotting. She spent quite a lot of time brooding, as well. Or simply thinking about the situation she'd been thrust into. For someone who's entire goal and purpose in life was to safely read the future and guide her people through it, stumbling blind through the void was a challenge, to say the least. And

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[zouichi]

Sleek, curved lines, elegant form, exquisite composition... now that was a (jet)bike Zouichi could appreciate. He supposed he could see now why Erhart had remarked upon the differences between Eldar craft (or even a Variable Fighter) and the large, flying battering rams the Imperium apparently made use of.

He slipped his way past several X-Wings, making his way toward where Ildraniath was standing and quietly noting the change in her usual expression. "A reminder of home?" he asked.

[futureisclear]

Ildraniath looked up, slightly startled. She hadn't imagined she'd run into Zouichi here. Or anyone, really. She composed her features and dipped her head in a small nod.

"Something to that effect. It's a jetbike. Used in wartime, mostly."

The craft does have seem to have a pair of underslung cannons.

[zouichi]

If Zouichi noticed her surprise, he didn't remark upon it. "I suppose that would go some ways toward explaining why it's in the Hangar. Perhaps there are other surprises here, too." Certainly he'd never seen the jetbike on his previous visits here... but then, craft could be moved from other areas of the ship, and the bike was not especially bulky.

He turned back toward her. "Do you know how to pilot it?" He was trying to be polite about it, but the truth was he was rather curious about how such a craft might work. Or what its power source might be.

[futureisclear]

"This ship has no end of surprises," Ildraniath replied wryly. She was personally hoping to avoid any that might be lethal. She glanced back at the bike and then suppressed a small chuckle.

"I do know how to use it, actually. I used to be a Shining Spear, in another life."

She turned back to the bike and ran her hand over the hull again, letting her fingers linger, "From what I remember, it was rather exhilarating."

[zouichi]

He glanced at her for a brief moment, considering. "You know, I can sort of imagine that."

"In any case, I'd be a little surprised if mounted combat wasn't exhilarating. Fighting at high speeds requires a different skillset. Misjudging a turn, failing to accelerate at the correct moment... even mistiming a blow can prove deadly." And aside from all that there was, of course, the undeniable thrill of slicing through the open air while moving far more quickly than was even reasonably responsible.

"You should take it for a ride sometime. I'm sure there aren't many on board qualified for piloting one."

[futureisclear]

"I was very angry at the time. At what... well, it didn't matter what. What mattered was that I needed to learn how to control that anger," Ildraniath shrugged. She paused to let distant memories sink in. There had always been a thrill. But she'd left that all behind.

"As thrilling as it might be, I'm not sure I have the time-"

She stopped herself and shook her head, "What am I saying? I have nothing but time at the moment. I'll have to do that someday."

Or right now. Who knows.

[zouichi]

That got Ildraniath another glance. "Alendian mentioned that, as well. The anger." He wouldn't ask about its source, of course, but he couldn't help but wonder about it. He'd only seen Ildraniath truly incensed once in all the time he'd known her... so what was it that would require her to change paths to master her anger?

Okay, he couldn't resist. "You know, there is an awful lot of empty space in this Hangar."

[futureisclear]

She really ought not to let her desire to fly again get the better of her. She was a farseer. That meant something.

Of course, she was also farseer with nothing to do. After a moment she finally shrugged, "...we may as well see if it works."

She shrugged out of her robe - the plantsuit was still on udnerneath it, as much as she despised the thing - and then carefully settled into the control chair, straddling the bike.

"Let me see..."

[zouichi]

He watched with great interest as she began working at the unfamiliar-looking controls. In fact, as long as it wasn't powered by psychic energy, he might even be able to pilot it on his own if he observed closely enough. Er, not that he would, of course; it wasn't his, after all, and though it didn't seem to be Ildraniath's either, it was from her world. Just... you know, in case.

"Shall I stand back?"

[futureisclear]

"It might be a good idea," she remarked coolly. Without waiting for a reply, she examined the controls. It had been a while, hadn't it? Ah, yes. She flipped a switch and then hit the power. With a hum, the craft trembled slightly and then smoothly rose into the air, hovering under its own power. Ildraniath smiled.

"Ah! I knew I remembered how to use this. Altitude. Pitch. Yaw. Acceleration..." She was almost talking to herself as she ran through a quick checklist of the controls.

[zouichi]

Zouichi backed away, but only just enough to be sure he wouldn't be in the way should there be an accident (who knew when the jetbike had last been flown?).

In any case, it seemed that the knowledge of a lifetime ago was not yet lost. He wondered, though, exactly how long ago Ildraniath the Farseer had been Ildraniath the Shining Spear.

[futureisclear]

A few centuries, perhaps. Maybe less. But she wasn't quite thinking about that. Instead, she carefully brought the jetbike around and then accelerated slightly, shooting out into the open space of the hangar, where she coasted to a stop.

"I think I can still operate it," she chuckled, "I remember how."

[zouichi]

Zouichi walked up to where the jetbike was idling, sidestepping a few more unpiloted craft on the way.

"I can see that," he said, smiling ever so slightly. "I'm almost tempted to challenge you to a race. Provided, of course, that we set down on a world with a wide open space or two." Well, that and something like a road. His bike had an antigravity device installed to adapt to the ship's terrain, but it still couldn't technically fly.

[futureisclear]

"I am not sure how well your bike would fare. It's rather uneven when my craft can go over terrain your craft would bog down in," Ildraniath replied with one of her amused little smiles.

"But it could be exhilarating. I'll take you up on that someday when we're not quite as locked into our daily existence aboard this ship. Or maybe when we can actually make choices."

[zouichi]

Well, he couldn't just let that remark stand, could he? "You'd might be surprised what kind of terrain it can negotiate," he said, smile broadening just a little. "With the right amount of coaxing, of course." And speed. Mustn't forget the speed.

"Of course. It's a shame no one saw fit to install a racetrack around the City, isn't it? Living areas just doesn't feel complete without one."

[futureisclear]

"Well, I don't know about a racetrack, but more open space certainly wouldn't go amiss," she replied, leaning over the controls and eyeing him with that little smile she always seems to have, no matter how happy she actually might get. Control over her own emotions, apparently.

"But, remind me to look at your motorcycle some other time. Although I doubt it can stand up to Eldar engineering, I'm sure it is an impressive machine."