This is the first of my intro stories that put the characters of
"Slayers" in an interstellar environment. There are some changes of
course, but I think they are logical for my particular universe.
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Amelia, Margava and heir to Seiruin, was in a position that a
certain (thankfully small) percentage of her fellow nobles and
aristocrats would have been aghast to see.
While most of the Upper Classes did believe in fulfilling their
duties first before enjoying any privileges, there was a percentage
who felt that their first duty was to enjoy themselves, and to what
ever netherworld you believed in if you felt differently.
This group would be found only in the most recent of fashions, at the
most decadent of parties with only the most select group of people.
This group honestly felt the only way you would find one of their
August ranks with sweat, no I mean perspiration, on them was while
participating in some "proper" game or while doing something more ?
intimate. Anything else would be so far beneath them that, from
their point of view, it would be akin to treason.
What Amelia was doing that would have upset "that" crowd was
painting. To be more accurate she was sitting cross-legged on a lift
platform set up next to the side of a grounded starship. She was
apparently in the middle of touching up some artwork painted on the
side of said ship. It was obvious that she had been at it a while,
as evidenced by the paint streaks on her face and hands.
As she paused to examine her work she heard a call from below.
"Hey Amelia watcha doing?" As she looked down she saw Gourry
accompanied by Sylphiel and Jiras looking up at her.
"Just touching up the Dragon-Spooker's name and artwork. I noticed
that it had gotten a little scorched up when I did the walk around so
I decided to fix it."
"I don't understand," asked the Norlish, his cybernetic eye flashing,
"Just why the Captain allows that name, I mean I can hear her teeth
grind over the intercom when she contacts orbit control."
"Well," responded Amelia "Part of it is because it is a gift from her
brother and sister."
"Gift?" asked Jiras, both true-arms and mid-limbs crossed.
"Yes, a lot of people don't know it, but House Inverse also controls
I-Square Shipping, along with other companies. They gave her a long
term lease, at one crown a year. It includes basic maintenance, but
not a lot of the things Lina has added."
"So that's why we get fuel and basic repairs so cheep!!" said Gourry,
scratching his head. "An I thought it was because they were afraid
of Lina."
Amelia nodded.
"But why 'Dragon-Spooker?"
Zelgatas chose to walk up at this time. "Oh you are telling that
story."
"Yes Mr. Zelgatas. Unless you want to."
"No you go ahead Amelia."
"Thank you. Anyhow here on Secondus we have a small flying reptile
which we call a Dragonette or Dragon. They actually make very good
pets and are easily domesticated."
"And a good thing too," added Zel.
"Why Master Zelgatas?" asked Jiras.
"Because they can spit acid. Not a particularly powerful one, but it
is painful."
Amelia nodded her agreement. "But they can be very affectionate, in
some ways like a cat. In fact they are fairly common among those who
like the more exotic type of pet and with farmers within their native
range."
"So what does that have to do with the ships name?"
"When they were growing up they had several Dragonettes in the house.
Somehow Miss Lina managed to get all of them scared of her. The
Lady Luna took to calling her that for a while. When Miss Lina asked
for the ship Lady Luna apparently remembered that and forced her to
take the name for the ship. Miss Lina really hates being reminded of
the story because none of what she did was on purpose, and in fact
she liked several of the Dragonettes."
"Well," said Gourry rubbing his head, "You learn something new every
day."
"Or in your case for the third or fourth time," muttered Zelgatas
under his breath.
Notes
Jiras: All I know of him is that the original is a fox creature who
is interested in explosives. I assume that this interest lead to the
loss of his eye. In this era, cybernetics are available and so he
replaced his missing eye.
Norlish: The race that this version of Jiras belongs to. They are
six-limbed and ferret like. When standing on their rearmost set of
limbs (true-legs) they are from 1/2 to 3/4 human size. The can run
on all sixes if desired. They have a gift for using technology or
performing feats involving technique (many are excellent cooks or
keyboard players for example) but they have a harder time finding
that creative spark.
Marquis: In the Empire that I'm basing this on a Marquis rules over
a continent or similar area. One of said similar areas would be
considered a nation or country these days.
Margrave/Margrava: Rules a province or state within a Marquis'
territory. It is considered one step down from Marquis.
Titles: I will not go into the entire title system, but one aspect
is that the heir to a landed title is given the next lower title as a
courtesy.
In this Universe both Lina and Amelia are "noble" or "sangafina".
One common power that all nobles have is some form of flight and or
gliding. Other powers may also exist within a family. House Inverse
has gifts dealing with fire and has true flight, while House Sairuine
has gifts dealing with electricity. Sairuine also does not have true
flight, but gliding instead (this is why Amelia was using a lift
platform)
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Following intro stories will most likely include similar additional
information
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Ben L. Harrison - HM1(FMF)/USN/RET
Harriso3@ix.netcom.com
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Anime Excuse #219 Akane made my lunch
Anime Excuse #221 Tried to break up a fight between Rei and Usagi
Anime Excuse #230 Got between Lina Inverse and Lunch
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Member SME Team