12-04-2019, 04:12 PM
Huitzitaca, Xiomera
4th December 2019 - 3am local time
Nelichē had been told to await further instructions upon calling for extraction by a stressed-sounding employee of the Aurora Programme. She had complied, because she had been raised to follow orders, but she was not happy about it. It was her life and her freedom that was on the line! Nevertheless, she’d sat tight, behaving as normal - except for the fact she couldn’t stop glancing over her shoulder.
Eventually, while she was sleeping, her second phone rang, and she almost fell out of bed trying to answer it quickly enough.
“It gets dark early in winter!” she said upon picking up, giving a code phrase.
“Good evening, Nelichē,” came a voice she recognised but hadn’t expected to hear. The accent was upper class Kerlian… but with a hint of Lauchenoirian underneath. Councillor Hale.
“C… it snows on the mountains?” Nelichē said confused. She should address the Councillor using her proper form, but that would also be risky. And also, Councillor Hale had nothing to do with the Programme.
“You needn’t worry, Nelichē,” came Hale’s voice, calm. “You’re perfectly safe. I understand that it must be confusing for you to hear from me, rather than your superiors or Councillor Pierre, but I want to reassure you that you are okay, and you can speak freely.”
“But… Councillor… how?” she asked, baffled.
“President Arnott and Empress Yauhmi have discussed the situation regarding your position and that of the others. Councillor Pierre has proven… reluctant to follow through with our arrangement, so I have taken over control of the Aurora situation in Xiomera. I am calling to offer you a choice.”
“A… choice, Councillor?” Nelichē asked, struggling to process what was happening.
“Yes, a choice. You may return home, as you have asked. You will be able to get on a flight back to Kerlile without bother, and we can handle any further complications upon your return. Or… you can remain in Xiomera, living the life you have built for yourself. If you choose this, however, you will need to swear loyalty to Xiomera. President Arnott and I guarantee that you will face no repercussions from Kerlile if you choose this route.”
“Councillor, I would never betray Kerlile!” Nelichē said, shocked at such a suggestion. “Even if, as you say, there would be no consequences. My loyalty is not through fear of consequences but through love of the Matriarchy. If my work here is done, then let me return and find a new way to serve my country.”
“I see you made your decision easily enough then, Nelichē,” chuckled Hale. “Very well, if you feel strongly enough, buy a ticket for tomorrow and return. Once you’re in the air, we will inform the Xiomerans. You may need to confirm your identity and your return with them, but we’d like you safely back.”
“Thank you, Councillor,” Nelichē said. “I hope my service to the Matriarchy has been satisfactory.”
“Of course,” said Hale, though she sighed when she said it. “I will greet you on your return.”
“You do not need to do that, Councillor,” Nelichē said, surprised. Being greeted by a Councillor would be a great honour for her.
“Ah, I’m afraid I do. You’ll need to fill out some paperwork. Nevertheless, I just realised how late it is in your time zone. Get some sleep, Nelichē. I will see you tomorrow.”
The line went dead, and Nelichē started at the phone in shock. She glanced around her dark room, surprised at this turn of events. She was safe… Xiomera and Kerlile had a deal. She felt even more silly over how she’d acted at the party. She was getting to go home!
She was incredibly relieved. Her outgoing, party girl persona was growing tiresome. At first, her cover had almost been fun, and the flirting certainly made people open up to her. But it also meant she often felt objectified. She was still a Kerlian at heart, and though she was more than willing to play with the minds of men, she often wished she didn’t have to worry about such things at all.
She took out her laptop, and booked a flight to Kerlile that would leave in the afternoon. She would fly business class, a little luxury before discovering what life in Kerlile would have in store for her. She knew of the sanctions, of course. Her life would be a lot less luxurious in the future, but she remained loyal to the Matriarchy, and all she really needed in life was to serve her nation, and its cause.
4th December 2019 - 3am local time
Nelichē had been told to await further instructions upon calling for extraction by a stressed-sounding employee of the Aurora Programme. She had complied, because she had been raised to follow orders, but she was not happy about it. It was her life and her freedom that was on the line! Nevertheless, she’d sat tight, behaving as normal - except for the fact she couldn’t stop glancing over her shoulder.
Eventually, while she was sleeping, her second phone rang, and she almost fell out of bed trying to answer it quickly enough.
“It gets dark early in winter!” she said upon picking up, giving a code phrase.
“Good evening, Nelichē,” came a voice she recognised but hadn’t expected to hear. The accent was upper class Kerlian… but with a hint of Lauchenoirian underneath. Councillor Hale.
“C… it snows on the mountains?” Nelichē said confused. She should address the Councillor using her proper form, but that would also be risky. And also, Councillor Hale had nothing to do with the Programme.
“You needn’t worry, Nelichē,” came Hale’s voice, calm. “You’re perfectly safe. I understand that it must be confusing for you to hear from me, rather than your superiors or Councillor Pierre, but I want to reassure you that you are okay, and you can speak freely.”
“But… Councillor… how?” she asked, baffled.
“President Arnott and Empress Yauhmi have discussed the situation regarding your position and that of the others. Councillor Pierre has proven… reluctant to follow through with our arrangement, so I have taken over control of the Aurora situation in Xiomera. I am calling to offer you a choice.”
“A… choice, Councillor?” Nelichē asked, struggling to process what was happening.
“Yes, a choice. You may return home, as you have asked. You will be able to get on a flight back to Kerlile without bother, and we can handle any further complications upon your return. Or… you can remain in Xiomera, living the life you have built for yourself. If you choose this, however, you will need to swear loyalty to Xiomera. President Arnott and I guarantee that you will face no repercussions from Kerlile if you choose this route.”
“Councillor, I would never betray Kerlile!” Nelichē said, shocked at such a suggestion. “Even if, as you say, there would be no consequences. My loyalty is not through fear of consequences but through love of the Matriarchy. If my work here is done, then let me return and find a new way to serve my country.”
“I see you made your decision easily enough then, Nelichē,” chuckled Hale. “Very well, if you feel strongly enough, buy a ticket for tomorrow and return. Once you’re in the air, we will inform the Xiomerans. You may need to confirm your identity and your return with them, but we’d like you safely back.”
“Thank you, Councillor,” Nelichē said. “I hope my service to the Matriarchy has been satisfactory.”
“Of course,” said Hale, though she sighed when she said it. “I will greet you on your return.”
“You do not need to do that, Councillor,” Nelichē said, surprised. Being greeted by a Councillor would be a great honour for her.
“Ah, I’m afraid I do. You’ll need to fill out some paperwork. Nevertheless, I just realised how late it is in your time zone. Get some sleep, Nelichē. I will see you tomorrow.”
The line went dead, and Nelichē started at the phone in shock. She glanced around her dark room, surprised at this turn of events. She was safe… Xiomera and Kerlile had a deal. She felt even more silly over how she’d acted at the party. She was getting to go home!
She was incredibly relieved. Her outgoing, party girl persona was growing tiresome. At first, her cover had almost been fun, and the flirting certainly made people open up to her. But it also meant she often felt objectified. She was still a Kerlian at heart, and though she was more than willing to play with the minds of men, she often wished she didn’t have to worry about such things at all.
She took out her laptop, and booked a flight to Kerlile that would leave in the afternoon. She would fly business class, a little luxury before discovering what life in Kerlile would have in store for her. She knew of the sanctions, of course. Her life would be a lot less luxurious in the future, but she remained loyal to the Matriarchy, and all she really needed in life was to serve her nation, and its cause.
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax