Let it Snow: Orange Start

[voidtreckermods]

The moment Red team jumps the voice speaks again. “Orange team to doors. Void shift imminent. Ten, nine, eight, seven...” There is a lurch and the train seems to tumble. The windows flash with the void for a second before they are once again surrounded by snow.

The train steadies, the doors open, the train is in mid-air and one step away from the train doors there is an ice platform. Crossing is not too hard, though a bit daunting. They are very high up and the ice is inherently slippy.

The platform is not large enough for them all and so the only natural way is for them to begin entering the labyrinth to allow everyone off the train. The moment the last person leaves the train it blinks away and the moment everyone has entered the labyrinth there is a grinding sound and the ice behind them closes.

For good or ill they have entered. Their goal is clear, a strange machine suspended in the centre of the maze but getting there will be a challenge. Though it looks like they should be able to merely walk towards it walls of ice stand in their way. The only way to stop any of this is to get through the labyrinth.

Comments

[democratically]

"I can't blame them," Padmé muses, straightening to look ahead, before turning back to him. She isn't one to sit around, even if she hadn't been brought here by her own choice. "People had spoken about stops, and I will admit, I was interested."

[so_dark_a_road]

"And this is a sample of what to expect on the missions," answers Curufin, with a humorous light in his eyes. "Adverse conditions, strange problems to solve, and vicious creatures to manage. All right, Orange Team doesn't seem to have creatures to fight or collect, not this time. I figure we'll only have to deal with booby traps in the maze."

[democratically]

"So long as it actually does some good." That would be the biggest question. She will see for herself today, and know at least first hand what it entails. There is a soft huff from her as Padmé offers a small smile. "Well. Just another day in the senate for me... You'd be surprised at the traps therein."

But even though her words are light and playful, there is also a certain seriousness in it. It's clear that she does take this matter to be important and will treat it like such. "I'll need to keep an eye out in that case."

[so_dark_a_road]

"I certainly hope this mission does some good." Yes, they will soon see whether it does or not. "The senate? This is a government body? Oh, you mean politics. What sort of traps do your senators like to spring on their colleagues?"

"And as for the maze, yes. Keep a watchful eye on every twist and turn."

[democratically]

"Not always pleasant ones." She had almost died shortly after joining the Senate, having been lead in to an area that was having work down. They likely would have found her body under the rubble, eventually. "So long as it doesn't move."

Although she isn't being serious with that statement. After all, it doesn't, right...?

[so_dark_a_road]

"The politics of the most democratic institutions can be savage, even if there isn't a King claiming the right to overrule the rest. When people can't give orders dictator-style, they may resort to trickery or even to violence." He knows. He wasn't always as nice a person as he is now.

"I did dream that the maze started snaking and shaking with us in it. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if that really happens at some point."

[democratically]

"There are strengths and weaknesses with every form, although it has as much to do with who is involved as not." Were all senators true to their calling, the system may well work far better than it did.

She frowned a little, tilting her head toward him. "You've dreams that come true- or dreams of the future?"

[so_dark_a_road]

He gives a small laugh. "I agree with you, it does have to do with the players in the game of politics. The form matters, but perhaps not as much as the participants."

Oh yes, the dreams. "Yes. My intimations don't always come in the form of dreams, but often they do. I can tell when they're real or not. My prophetic dreams on the train have been real."

[democratically]

"No doubt that must come in handy at times." Although perhaps a bit troubling as well. Gifts can also be a burden, especially when it is not something that one wishes to dream. "But also be something that shouldn't be taken lightly."

[so_dark_a_road]

"It does come in handy, at least it has since I left my own world." Sometimes it is troubling, though. In the world he lived in before he escaped into the Void and was picked up by the VoidTrecker, he had known he was going to lose his lover, and he did. He knew more than a year before it finally happened, and so his joy was always tinted with sorrow -- though it had made their time together profoundly precious to him.

"Elves never take prophesy lightly, no matter what form it comes in. It's part of our culture. But since you're asking about it, I was wondering if prophetic visions are something that your people receive?"

[democratically]

"Not the people of Naboo, no." A shake of her head in return to the question. Her dreams are only dreams, her mind doing what it does as she sleeps. There is nothing prophetic about them. They simply are. "But..."

She pauses, brow furrowing, thinking of Anakin, and what he has told her and what she has learned over the years. "I believe that there are those out there who may have them. I can't speak on it though, as unfortunately I have little to offer information wise."

[so_dark_a_road]

"So, this is rather new to you, then." Dreams as prophesy, not simply the mind doing what it does when a person is sleeping.

"Are those you believe may have them shamans, priests, teachers, sages? I would be surprised if not all cultures had such people."

[democratically]

"A friend of mine, he dreamed of something happening to his mother." Although they had been too late to stop it, much to Padmé's dismay. She had tried looking for Shmi and sent her trusted handmaiden Sabé to track her down to bring her back to Naboo, but Padmé had never been able to find her again.

"There are many different cultures across the galaxy, so I cannot speak for them all."

[so_dark_a_road]

"And what he dreamed happened later?" From the look on her face, what happened to her friend's mother wasn't good.

"No, I suppose we can't be sure about all the other cultures. I was making the assumption because in my world, all cultures have foresighted people. It's a normal and expected feature of our world. But I've been exposed in my travels to some more 'modern' cultures, and some of them think that prophetic dreams are nonsense."

[democratically]

She glanced off, in thought, before nodding her head. "He dreamed that she was in trouble. But, we came too late."

It's easy enough to bring his sorrow up in her memories, and she could not blame him. To lose a parent, and his only parent... She couldn't imagine the pain. "The galaxy is filled with many different beliefs. I suppose it does depend what you are used to. I know of some who never leave their planet, and by design not lack of ability. They are simply content with their own world as it is."

[so_dark_a_road]

"I am sorry for your friend's loss, then," he said, realizing that too late meant a death.

"I suppose we should be glad that the galaxy contains many cultures with many beliefs. It would be boring if everyone thought alike. I can't imagine not taking the opportunity to travel to other worlds, but then, I am the restless sort. Would you have taken the opportunity, if you had been asked? Or at least, been tempted to take it?"

[democratically]

It was a soft noise she gave to acknowledge his comment. Padmé knew that Jedi were not meant to have ties, but Anakin had not started off the same as them. He had lived and grown up with his mother.

"I'm not exactly restless... Although I do prefer to be doing something than just sitting around lazing about. I suppose I've always been on the go. I was part of the Refugee Relief Movement when I was a child. We went to other planets and tried to offer what aid we could. My tenure as Queen saw me more planet bound, for the most part, but I didn't mind. Naboo has given me much, and helping it is the least I can do."

[so_dark_a_road]

He nods. "Then you have much valuable experience to offer. You have seen other planets and given aid to them. And you have been the chief executive of a planetary government, even if only for a short time. And you understand that a ruler has reason to be grateful to the people."

[democratically]

"It has gone a long way to help me in my career." The experience that she had as a child had aided her over the years, and her parents had always instilled a sense of duty in her. "If only all were the same, then the galaxy might be slightly better off."

Good place to end?

[so_dark_a_road]

He smiles. "I wish there were some way for all who govern to realize what you know. All galaxies would be better off, I suspect."

He glances over his shoulder at the entrance to the labyrinth. "And speaking of restlessness, perhaps we should enter the maze, and see if we can locate that machine?"

And end!

[democratically]

She can only nod. It is a galaxy that she would like she see, but Padmé is under no illusions. Such things take time, and she also knows that they do not late forever. Even the history of her own planet has had its stumbling points.

She does follow his gaze, taking in the maze, before turning back to him. "Yes. That likely is for the best, no? Best of luck."

Before taking a breath and heading towards the entrance.