Darana regarded the form on the floor briefly. The woman hadn't lasted as long as Darana thought she would. Darana sighed, scooped the unconscious form up, and placed her in a nearby chair. "Come on wake up." Darana waved the awful chemical concoction meant for these occasions under her nose. Anastayza stirred, "I'm....I am sorry." She mumbled. Darana scowled at the apology. "Don't apologize." She growled, turning the chair towards the monitor in the wall, "Now watch!" Ana looked up at the wall and groaned internally, 'Go figure, another fine mess I've gotten myself into. How did Garrek avoid these messes. He's so arrogant.' "YOU" Darana snapped, "are not a prince of the realm! YOU..." "Shit!" The pilot thought, interrupting Darana, "She's still listening." "I am *always* listening. Never forget that." The pilot froze, quieting her thoughts. It didn't last long. She began thinking about not thinking and then wandered onto whatever the reason she could be here was. Darana returned her attention to the screen. Shade asked if she owed any money. An incredulous look crossed Ana's face on the screen. Darana paused the recording and looked expectantly at the pilot. "Why would I owe anyone money? What do I spend money on when I am on a ship or at a remote outpost?" She replied, then realized she could have stated that a little nicer. 'Shit,' She thinks to herself, 'I did it again.' "You just can't seem to see what is in front of you can you Lt.?" Ana began to reflect back on the warm welcome and congratulations she got about the shuttle battle and compared it to now. She left it behind, knowing it would only cause her anxiety and focused on the here and now, nothing more. "What am I supposed to see? I don't understand." She asked sincerely. "Look at at yourself." Darana indicated the screen, "It is a valid question and you are *daring* to challenge him." Rowan recalled how she lost patience with his 'game' and since he did not have a uniform on...... yea, she challenged him. "Only now do you understand." Darana pressed a button and the scene continued on, "Let us continue forward." Once more the pilot thought of Discipline 101, only this time without the laughing. Ana tried to hide her embarrassment and regain her focus on just 'watching' the recording. Darana smiled to herself and paused the image just as Ana began giggling in response to Shade's question of her working with mercenaries. The thought of working with mercenaries was ridiculous! She a trained Imperial pilot..where...oh, Maybe she WANTED me to work with mercenaries. Anastayza groaned inwardly once again. "You seem to think this whole thing is a Game. You have no respect." Darana observed in an annoyed tone. "Sorry, Ma'am." "Sorry?" Darana questioned, "Sorry?" She repeated, her voice a little higher. Ana breathed in slowly, 'OK, I gotta remember she doesn't like me apologizing. Fine. Let my actions do the talking.' "You are a sorry excuse for an Imperial Officer!" Trying to compare her actions as a pilot, to what she has said and done here, she began to retort, "Yes, ma'am, but I am a good pilot...." "Did *I* ask you to *interpret* anything?" Darana interrupted. The other woman was quiet. No response. "Do you find security checks funny?" Ana caught her breath and remained very still both physically and mentally, with an ominous feeling. "No Ma'am." She replied simply. "Then WHY are you giggling?" Darana pointed to the screen and the frozen image of Ana in mid-giggle. "He was repeating questions and ignoring my responses. I became arrogant," she replied and attempted to focus on maintaining an even tone and not feel any anger or bias. "hmmpph." Darana forwarded the video again. "...loyalty lies with those whom I serve." The recorded Ana stated. Darana glanced between the monitor and Anastayza. "Yes, Ma'am", she replied, thinking that when she served on the outpost, she was more loyal to the outpost than the other Imperials who infrequently visited the station. She was now emotionally neutral. Darana gritted her teeth as Ana focused on trying to say "the right thing", or at least saying things "the right way." With slow and controlled movement, Darana moved in front of her and leaned over her. Ana held her breath as the fear started creeping in again. Darana's hot breath tickled her shoulder as Darana bared her fangs and whispered into her ear. "So you want to tell me what I 'want' to hear...or rather." She paused, "What you 'think' I want to hear!" Darana pulled back, catching and holding Ana's eyes with her own, "Well I have news for you," 'She's a colonel. She wouldn't bite me...would she?' Ana thought to herself, very concerned. She tried to control her fear, knowing Darana would feel it. Darana held back a chuckle before continuing on, "You will *never* be able to second guess me. I.....WILL.....HAVE.....THE.....TRUTH!!! NOT, your pathetic ideas of what you think *I* want!" Anastayza's mind reeled. She tried to figure out what to say, how she meant it, and without making Darana angry or upset. She wasn't trying to exaggerate or lie. Then she became angry that this woman didn't believe her.. 'What the heck did I say wrong *this* time?' She really wanted to reply. Really, realy wanted to retort, but thought better of it. Silence had worked before. Should she or shouldn't she? "Silence," Darana interrupted the pilot's thoughts, "Is not your best option here...otherwise you will force me to find out myself the answer to my quesitons." Darana's tone was low and quiet tone. "Ma'am. I have been honest with you." Ana replied simply. "Yes?" "Yes Ma'am." She replied. 'Well okay maybe my communication was off before? Why would she think I am not telling the truth when she can just tell right away if I am lying?' Then she starts thinking about how she words things, and how people might misunderstand her... and how it is her fault if Darana suspected something amiss because she couldn't get her words right.... her thoughts continued with that for a moment, than she focused again on staying on subject. 'Just answer the question.' she told herself. 'Keep it simple. You are telling the truth so you have nothing to fear. Stick to the facts...' Darana listened intently as Ana tried to calm herself. The woman's insecurity had finally caught up to her. Finally realizing that Darana had been quiet and was obvisouly listening to her thoughts, Ana became embarrased again. She began to recall past missions once more. Trying to feel good about herself again. "What is your point Lieutenant? Do *not* try my patience. I have no need to hear of your 'past glories'. Nor, do I care about them." Ana, still lost in her thoughts remembered why she loved her job so much. She took solace in that love and started to think hat no matter what job this Colonel had for her, if it was piloting, she would prove her worth. Suddenly realizing Darana has spoken to her, "What are you asking me, Mam'm?" she asked, sincerely puzzled for what Darana wanted to know. "I had asked you, whom do you serve?" She was even more confused now. Hadn't she already answered that question. "The Imperial Service that gives me my orders, ma'am." Darana sighed, then picked up the remote again. Suddenly, Ana heard herself saying, "What part of being a hero for the Imperial Service makes you think I would be interested in the Alliance?" Darana looked sternly at her, "So you think of yourself as a hero? You should be a hero for putting innocent lives in danger?" In what now seemed like a normal state of confusion, Ana thought about how so many more lives would have died if she hadn't engaged in the battle. "Yes, Ma'am. The lives of everyone on that post, plus all the Imperial resources of that post would have been lost had I not intervened. The lives of myself and the few in my shuttle, were minor compared to losing the many Imperials on the base and the Imperial resources," she responded flatly. but instead feeling good about her decision, yet also aware of the risk and feeling sad for deciding to take that risk... but being aware that such risks may happen and decisions have to be made and what is best for the service in the larger picture is more important... and she repeats the familiar lesson learned in the Academy ..... She recalled a classroom experience when the instructor set up a situation where someone had to die to save others... and then the instructor asked the class, "Do you still want to be a pilot?" and she had enthusiastically replied, "Yes, sir." Darana studied her carefully. "And yet you are so full of pride in yourself..you would tout yourself as a hero for doing a job that is expected of you." When Darana stopped speaking and simply looked at her, Ana became very nervous. "What, no response Lt?" Darana paused briefly, "How unlike you." Perhaps this cocky young pilot was beginning to learn after all. Ana knew, she just knew, that Darana would find something wrong with her feelings. She was frustrated, no matter what she said, Darana would find fault with it. Her emotions ranged from sadness to praying for this to be over. Maybe she should have said something, maybe she shouldn't. No she must 'control' herself.
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