The excitement from the queen's arrival continues throughout the floor. We just sat there, confused, and shocked.
The Queen walks up to the stand and raises her hand, quelling the applause. Everyone stands at attention and waits. She is quiet for a moment, observing the room. She looks from side to side, smiling at each face she sees. Then she takes a deep breath, letting down her hair and cracking her neck and adjusting her outfit. She wore leather jeans and a strange shirt I have never seen before. It is skintight and covers most of the front of the body, though her hips and back were bare and exposed. The shirt almost forms a "I" shape down her body. She cracks her neck one last time and steps forward.
"When I was a kid, I had a starfire engine in my backyard. I loved watching it. It was never in use, but it was beautiful to look at. I especially remember the sunsets. It would drop on a perfect spot in the horizon and the entire scene would just be perfect. All of that was tainted though. We all remember the event."
Most of the people nodded but some were a bit by what she was talking about, so she continues.
"For those new here, we called it the Correst Event. Rebels had activated a planetary starfire engine and sent the nearby moon into a crash course with the planet Correst. No one survived. When it happened, I swore that an event like that would never happen again. To watch an entire planet, burn instantaneously is quite a scarring event."
She walks to the circular structure and observes it, walking around it as she still addresses the room directly.
"Our fight with the rebel forces is wide and far. We would be too spread thin without your support. With this new system in place, we can supply you faster than ever. Fuel, ammunition, reinforcements, all will be faster than ever before. We thank you all again for coming, Harthun will provide more details."
As she exits the podium, everyone applauds again. Oniv whispers something to Clara before turning his attention to me.
"I think we have what we need. Have Angel contact the evac ship, let him know we'll be leaving shortly."
I nod to him before turning to Angel, who has picked up already that it's time to go. We continue to watch the presentation in hopes of gathering more information. As Harthun starts going over the information, I catch a glance at Adarla and instantly get a chill up my spine. Her eyes look as if they are looking right up here, right at us. It can't be true through, she doesn't know any of us, she hasn't seen our face. Do we just stand out? What's more confusing is she would look away for a few moments but then look back and would be staring right at us.
"Is it me?" I ask Oniv, "Or doesn't it look like she is staring at us?"
"You think she is?"
"It seems like it."
"You think we should abort now?"
Oniv thinks for a moment.
"Speak with Angel, see if she has an emergency evac plan."
I nudge Angel in the shoulder.
"Yeah?" She asks.
"You have a plan yet?"
"I am working on it, but I will take some time."
"How much?"
"I don't know, yet."
Her eyes start circling. She is searching for something, confirmed by the wire sticking out of her wrist, and connected to an electrical port.
"I just need more time." She continues.
"Ok, we may not have much yet-"
"-Well, well, well." A voice says from below. Harthun stops speaking. All eyes turn to stage right. Adarla, still staring in our direction, walks center stage again, smiling.
"I'd never thought I would see you here." she continues
Everyone looks around for a few seconds before noticing she is looking further up, then all eyes turn in our direction.
"There is no need to hide, I know you are there. Come out old friend. We have so much to catch up on."
Everyone continues to look around, wondering who she is talking to.
"There is no need to hide, Clara. I know you are there."
My heart sinks. Everyone's does, as all eyes turn in one direction. Clara looks back to us for a moment. She has no emotion to her call out, almost as if she was expecting it. But if she did, why would she come? She stands to her feet, and everyone faces in her direction. She doesn't react, or say a word, but Adarla smiles.
"There she is. Hello Clara."
Clara clears her throat and speaks, "Hello my Queen."