Office Hours, Tuesday All Day

[on_her_korhal]

It was her third week of being a teacher here, and Kerrigan was still not really used to having this office.

That's probably why she was leaning back in her chair and staring at the empty walls today.

Really.

[ open hours, kids ]

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Good or bad? River took a seat in a chair.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

There was something a little like Mike about this girl. All the good questions. Neither, she replied, Just reminding me of something.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River began spinning the chair around, staring up into the ceiling. Want to talk about it?

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Kerrigan tracked her movements - it was a reflex, and it was making her a little dizzy. Did they ever make you kill anyone, River?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

The chair suddenly stopped, River's back to Kerrigan. Why?

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Where I come from-- the last test is... Kerrigan closed her eyes, ...There's a man. He puts a gun to your head - someone else's head. Two options. She opened her eyes again. Did they ever make you kill anyone? she repeated.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

There was a pause. Yes. Not like that. Not kill or be killed. She slowly spun the chair around. Did it anyway. Improvised weapon

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Why?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Because I could. Peaceful. Precise. They wanted me too, of course. She frowned, her expression turning uneasy.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Her fingers searched for something to fiddle with-- and found a pen. Kerrigan tapped it gently against the desk. Were they good reasons?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

No. The answer came quickly. You think that makes me bad? River kept her face expressionless, but her eyes deceived her.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

I kill because I'm a good soldier, came the vague and faraway reply, Now-- also because I have hope, but... still because I am a good. Soldier.

Kerrigan cocked her head at River, although in a way, she didn't really seem there. Does that make me bad?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Some might say it depends on the cause. River looked up at the ceiling. I'm more of a weapon than a soldier. Still not sure who's doing the aiming.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

We're all weapons. People like us. She slammed the pen quietly down on the desk. My universe just seems to excell at making us bigger and bigger guns...

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River suddenly burst out laughing, spinning the chair around again. Trying to make someone safer?

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Her mouth quirked again. Something like that.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

I'm well camouflaged. Innocent girl. Crazy was a manufacturing error. She laughed again, still spinning the chair. You never tell anyone?

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

Not here. Tactical mistake. Kerrigan picked the pen back up between two fingers, tapping it against the table on one side, then the other and back again. Back home, there's not much of a point. Everybody's terrified when they see.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Makes me lonely. Some people understand here. Makes a difference though. River stopped, then started spinning in the opposite direction.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

I guess it does. "We're storming Antiga Prime tomorrow," Kerrigan said, twisting the screen of her computer to show River a representation of the planet.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River turned to watch the screen. "What are the obstacles?" she asked, curious.

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Small team, scanners, a lot of people lying in wait..." The Antigans wanted to leave. The Confeds wanted them to stay. We-- offered assistance. They needed mine. "Stealth is the name of the game." Kerrigan smiled at River.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Distract them?" River asked with a grin. Did they anticipate something was going to happen?

[on-her-korhal.livejournal.com]

"Distract and hide," Kerrigan said, pulling the screen back to its original position. "Not the proudest of battle tactics, but it'll save your life." I killed the top Confed. We stormed them. The Antigans greeted us like heroes.

That one got a little smile; she forced the bitter parts of it away. Sometimes it's worth it.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Saving your live is important enough," River snorted. What does being a hero feel like?