Barruni was walking towards her quarters with a mix of annoyance and trepidation. she was annoyed at how damned confusing the human was with his apologizing. this was all good for him so why did he feel sorry for her? his enemy? The thought in her mind that was building, however, was the fear of retribution from her peers. despite what she had hoped, she no longer had the protection of the Vanid, and she will be facing her fellow regiment as a proper traitor.
She held her position at the door for a few moments. hoping that no one was inside so she could set up her bedding and leave for her training without meeting anyone. it was better if she confronted them in public anyway. She didn't get that chance however as the door opened from the other side and Gnud appeared right in front of Barruni. causing the Shu to back up and the Hron she came into contact with to bristle and grow in size and intimidation. "What are you doing back here traitor?"
'I-I'm here to get my equipment for the training. I'm still part of this unit." Barruni tried to stay strong, in spite of her stammering, giving the predators look that unnerved the prey she was facing, but Gnud was in full protector mode, that predators gaze causing her to ready an attack on the offending intruder. She would ensure that this enemy didn't harm those in her herd.
"The announcement of your betrayal of the fleet and dishonorable discharge has already spread to everyone! your act of insubordination is unforgivable. Have some respect for those of us who care about our jobs and get out." Gnud's voice was low, even for her species. she would've swung at the former comrade if she wasn't allowed to attack civilians.
"Hey, we can find out if the Vanid managed to let her keep her job!" Jin called out from inside the room "You'll regret making that bet Gnud!" well at least someone was having a good time in this situation. Barruni and Gnud were on the verge of a fight and Jin was casually making bets.
"Well to which... what was the word the human used?" Gnud called back to Jin. and while Barruni saw the woman was distracted, she knew that if she tried anything she would not be fast enough to escape the massive fist that was ready to slam her into a wall.
"Tyrint?" Barruni's translator completely broke on this. despite the fact that she had gotten a new one, she couldn't comprehend the Hron trying to speak another language. even if it was the language of her master.
"Tyrint, yeah." Gnud stated in annoyance. "damn species and their vowels. so hard to use special words when they're using vowels. Now, who brought you back into the ship? what detestable person allows a traitor to walk among us?" it would be a peculiar sight for anyone walking through. despite Barruni's current position, anyone else could see the slave tattoo on her back, meaning that a soldier was threatening a lowly slave.
"t-the human." came the slave's soft reply. her mind returned to the thoughts of her lost freedom. and the abuse she was going to experience when that human realized she wouldn't fall to let him lead as he hoped.
"What did you say?" Gnud asked in annoyance, causing Barruni to speak up in terror again.
"The Human! he fought to have me reinstated into the fleet!"
This caused the Hron to send a fist hurtling towards Barruni, only for it to stop only inches away from her. "Calm down. attacking a civilian will get you punished. we're already having trouble with the harassment. we don't need more problems." Jin spoke up. Barruni could now see his large arm jerking the figure of Gnud back to stop her from connecting.
"She's a traitor! she abused the one person who has helped us so far just for the request of her mistress! when is it that she is going to turn on us to curry more favor!" Barruni was surprised to say this but Jin was her savior. turning a one side interrogation into a potential shouting match.
"Yes, but do you want to do him wrong by offending that mistress? you're the one who agreed to believe in what the human had said in light of all of the harassment we've been getting. why do you want to harm his efforts as well?"
Gnud just let out a growl at this point. to think that the young man she was guiding and supporting actually needed to talk sense into her. it wasn't the way these things should go. She needed to be better than this. "You're right. Tell us what the human wanted then if he was the one who brought you back?"
Barruni watched the two return to their old positions, Jin letting go and returning out of sight, with Gnud back in place to strike at her if she offended the woman too much. "He said he wanted loyalty. didn't want to seem like he enslaved those he didn't like."
This caused both Hron to maker sounds of annoyance. "You think having a slave of your own would give you some perspective. but he's still going on about that loyalty crap?"
"That's what I-" Barruni added to let out about her frustration at the loyalty talk of her master, only to be cut off by a hand from Gnud.
"You don't get to complain about him. he's done more for you than anyone should. now, why did he get you out of trouble and not your mistress?"
"I-I don't have a mistress anymore," Barruni said in a more dejected tone. the opportunity of a lifetime and it was thrown away by some spy.
"How can you not have a mistress any more? she told you to betray the human. you should have a Vanid you're working for. who is it?"
"I-I became the human's slave." Rutemia shrank further for some reason, despite having no logical reason to do so. she wanted to run away from the shame of this conversation.
"His slave? what do you mean his slave? how are you still here and not doing as he desires?" Jin cut in. his voice coming through despite the fact that he couldn't be seen by the now slave. "I don't want to have to buy meals for the next week!"
Gnud for her part was distracted as that reveal came out, not thinking about the absurdity of it as she replied to her friend's reply. "you were wrong Jin. it seems I was right that the fleet wouldn't excuse traitorous actions like this. I even managed to call that she would become a slave."
Barruni tried to talk again as the two were arguing with each other about the bet. she didn't want to be late for her training and give the human more reasons to keep her in his personal chambers. "Yes and he wants to keep me as a soldier. so may I please get my things?"
"We'll be talking to the human later. I don't trust a traitor by my side. and since he is the friendliest person to us, we owe him, so we won't allow you to spurn your luck for his near stupidity and abuse him again." Gnud stated while shifting her posture to allow Barruni inside. where jin was almost sulking on his bed.
"To think that the Vanid couldn't get their way. maybe if we... nah. I doubt anyone would even care about us enough to solve the harassment." Jin was going through his tablet to the work he needed to complete and the availability of certain facilities.
Reaching her bed, Barruni found that many of her personal possessions were gone. leaving only the resources she needed for active duty still available to her. the waves of pain from her new position kept coming as she remembered all of the things she wanted to do; wanted to have; and yet was doomed to be a possession herself.
She collected the equipment she would need and left the room. Walking through the ship as a slave now was a far different experience than walking through the ship as a soldier. no one gave her right of way, the news of her being a traitor caused others who were originally afraid of her to make actions of disgust when she walked through the facility. and as she arrived at the room she would be doing her training in, she met a far worse facility.
She walked inside an almost ancient classroom. there were no holographic displays. she needed to get used to using a machine to work through the three-dimensional devices. The only people inside were those soldiers who were doing poorly and squandering fleet resources as well as a few slaves. she was on par with the failures now, and she couldn't fight back from it.