Skyreign

12: Janeth

There she stood, before the Skyreign crew, dimly lit by the green projections of the battle outside the ancient walls.

There she stood, before Laura. A hero worthy of legend and praise for her numerous years of selfless service to the Behraanese Destiny.

Certainly worthy of legend, seeing as Admiral Sehra was reported to have completely disappeared well before Laura was even born. Seeing as she was declared legally dead.

But it was her, alright. She matched all the descriptions almost perfectly. Yet, it seemed as though there should have been more fire in her eyes than there was. This woman's eyes emitted a deep, flickering sapphire glow, not one of youth as her contoured, supple face and physique might have suggested. The fire was there, but then, there, it was merely the embers of a fire that had burned a long, long time.

Laura knew full-well that as she read into a page of Janeth's eyes, Janeth's eyes would discern a full novel of hers.

"So, you've found me," Janeth said evenly, leaning on the table, her arms crossed, "but while Behraan sent you, they also sent a Trilithe to clean you up. I wonder which of those two missions your Imperator was keener on."

"Not the Trilithe's," Olsein grunted, "Sam here got her good."

Janeth's face made no indication whether such news meant anything to her, as she replied simply, "Indeed."

"Why did you leave?" the young Captain's eyes were filled of conflicting thoughts, "and how did you become the leader of these natives here?"

Janeth studied the young lady briefly as that puzzled face carried an undercurrent of distrust. Finally she said, "You must feel as if I have betrayed you. I can see that I did leave behind some level of legend, one you among many have taken some example from. You must feel that, in seeing me work alongside these Nywanese Generals, I have become something less than what you were born and raised thinking of me to be. Please—correct me if I'm wrong."

Laura's thoughts siphoned directly from her mind. Janeth's eyes read her whole chronicle.

"And would I also be wrong if I was to say that you have become a lonely, bitter, antisocial shell of a young woman because you pursued my very likeness, as Behraan has portrayed?" Janeth had a subtle smirk, barely visible in the poorly-lit room.

"Take that back—"

"Would I, Laura Vinfield?" Janeth reiterated. As if it were impossible for the Admiral's eyes to cut any deeper, not only did they begin to sear Laura in such a way that her throat dried, but the very lids of her eyes locked themselves open, and her eyes could not tear away.

Silently, Laura murmured, as the intense stare slacked just slightly enough to let a tear drop from Laura's left, more agitated eye, "you would not. You were my hero."

"I was, was I?" Janeth took a silent breath, seeing the infliction she caused the poor girl and deciding to scan the rest, "it would be fair to assume that such a perception is not largely shared."

"Sure would," Olsein's brows suggested more disdain than the usual dose, "been a long time, Jan."

"A long time indeed," she acknowledged him, "how's old Dae doing?"

"Couldn't tell ya, been a few decades," he replied with a shrug.

"Got caught up in other things, hmm?" Janeth leaned her chin on her fist, "it shows. You've kept up in your profession enough to slow your aging. And yet, I imagine you could have restored your youth entirely, had you stayed alongside her and learned all that she had to teach."