Iska lit a cigarette. "if Iska is lucky, maybe home in time for big hunt" she said with delight. "But first bury father, then look after Nyck and workshop."
Iska fiddled the cigarette with her fingers. "Maybe ask Bubal for bondmate." she continued with a smirk. "But he have to prove himself in hunt first, Iska is picky with mates".
"Not.... from around here?", Dwan said in response to what Saw said. His eyes widened as he realized what he thought earlier was true. He put his left hand on his face and laughed. Then, his hand was engulfed in blue flames. "It's been a while since I've seen an outsider, I'll be honest.", he said, as he lowered his hand. "As you just saw, these flames are cosmetic.", he said, pointing out the lack of burns on his face. "How about you tell your story first? You don't seem like the caldic type.", Dwan told Saw.
Harken Saw placed his hands behind his behind. "Of course."
"I've been around here for many years, seeking out a new goal in mind. Create my own empire and use my knowledge to influence many things." Harken Saw said, his eyes pointed at Dwan.
"That doesn't say much doesn't it?" Dwan shook his head. Harken Saw paced around. "Erminglad, it all started there. So many years I can barely recall memories of what was it like. Even I don't know who I was there. Memories fade so fast for me, it's odd. Archius Kain was the Emperor, as I told, fought the Garthlan Xergis. I think I was a soldier. I rose through the ranks and took part in his elite guard."
"War grew desperate, territory changed and both sides were fighting on pure instinct. No matter what happened no one could have prevented bodies in the mud puddles, burning towns, and even purges. I would be lying if those experiences didn't take a toll on me. But hey, I'm still alive and I can restart all over. From the very beginning." He said outwards. He fiddled with his hand.
"Archius changed, we all changed. Noble dogs into savage wolves. We fight to survive, we fail we lose everything we stand for. That is why we must act instead of react to our conflicts." Harken Saw explained.
"I failed in my part, but there is still time to fight and end it. I do not know how I came to this universe after everything I've been through but perhaps I've been given another chance." Harken Saw said.
Dwan placed his right hand on his chin. "Fascinating. Someone who was moved from one universe to another.", Dwan said, looking at Saw. "No wonder I thought that you couldn't be an outsider. You've got no powers... unlike me.", Dwan said. "Now, my turn.", he said, as he raised his left hand.
"If you probably haven't figured out, I use caldiur, what you know as 'magic'. My left hand and forearm act as my wand of sorts. In my ancestral universe, caldiur exists. My caldiur is genetic, inherited from my mother.", he explained. "The laws of caldury are one of the laws of the omniverse that fluctuates in each universe. In one universe, it exists hand in hand with other laws. In others, there is no such thing as the laws of caldury. This universe is that kind of universe.", he further explained. "In caldiur-less universes, I'm restricted to two incantations. 'Universal Travel', which allows me to jump between universes, and 'Hasten', which speeds up any active incantation, though you can imagine that it's pretty useless in these universes. My genetic caldiur doesn't really inhibit me from learning more incantations in caldic universes, so I can keep learning more and more incantations.", he explained, showing off his knowledge of caldury.
"I'm not technically from another universe, but from a realm, a sort of mini-universe that can't create its own life. My mother, a daemoness, was the one who figured out the 'Universal Travel' incantation I use, and after a set of events, she ended up with my father, a dwarf. Through their travels, she became quite powerful and eventually managed to muster the power to not only allow interspecies breeding, but to also create a realm. Following my birth, she had me join them on adventures, sightseeing and exploring many universes. She wanted me to be open-minded, acceptant, and all that guff.", he revealed to Saw. "Then, ten years ago, she decided to kick me out of the realm. Father and her wanted me to become independent, so she gave me a custom made tome that only allows me to use certain incantations, unlocking more as I grow in power, experience and knowledge. It also records any new incantations anyone linked to us caldicly, meaning any incantations she finds I'll end up seeing in the tome.", he told Saw.
"Been out in the open since, exploring the vastness of the omniverse. Besides my adventuring, I ended up finding myself interested in the study of caldiur, caldury, leading me to explore the omniverse to find like-minded people. I did find some, but most of them lived in a time where there weren't mass-produced books or caldiur was illegal. I've compiled quite a few works, all of which I've put in the archives of the ship as "science fantasy" books. I've even written my one book on this, also available in the archives.", he said to Saw. "I've also compiled a sort of 'omniversal division' list. I've got no clue how the omniverse works, but I sure know how to identify multiple types of universes.", he told Saw.
"Before you ask, no, traveling between universes isn't hard, once one gets the basics down. The hard part for me is trying to figure out my destination. In my case, I have two options when traveling. First, I can do it random, leading me to end up in any universe I haven't been to. Second, if I do know of a universe and a set location, then I can travel to that universe and end up at said location. No restrictions when it comes to returning to universes, either. If I wanted to say, return to the ship and get myself a drink, I could do so because I'm aware of my surroundings.", he said, as he laughed a bit. "People end up noticing such inconsistencies in location after a while, which is why I just return to my previous location. I'm all about being consistent, as long as it mattered.", he told him.
"Why am I so open, you ask?", he said to Saw. "Because I know what you're going to ask of me next.", he said bluntly.
"Likewise Pippin, I'm not entirely sure about my own fate after this affair either." Viper spoke after Pippin had finish as the Sanghvi leaned it's back onto the metal hall within the walkway.
"From what little assess I have to the remains of UGC's information net and scattered communication frequencies I'm able to find, My race seems to have once again united themselves with the goal of reestablishing their state but I doubt the Kanads would let them do so without a fight." Viper said as it looked over the crew for an moment before it continued. "And whatever remains of the UGC peacekeeper forces have either been generously "sponsored" by the Kanad Collective or simply gone rouge, establishing their own little protectorate around vulnerable and fragile colonies so I might join with them as I still hold true to my duty of protecting citizens of galaxy, though I remain pessimistic about how long there last but will remain loyal nevertheless." Viper said in an defeated tone as it slowly lowed it's eyes to the floor of the hallway.
Viper than after several minutes of staring at the ground looked back at Pippin."But I'm sure your be able to find somewhere nice to settle down, Engineer Pippin. There's plenty of high class living areas within the Sol and Elysium sectors, the latter having an recent influx of high paying engineering jobs available on Attica, with it's moon, Athens, is said is be one of highest rated living spaces within the know Galaxy." Viper said trying to lighting the mood of the situation while taking it's mind off of it's own future.
"I do not wish to go back if that's what you're implying. I've made my fortune here, this universe. I am a new man and I tend to leave what has happened behind me."
Dwan looked surprised by Saw's response. "Oh, thank kyrios for that.", he said, as he put his right hand to his chest. "I'm honestly surprised by that, as guys like you always seem to like the idea of interomniversal conquests from what I've seen before. But you're a much better guy than I expected.", Dwan said bluntly. Dwan took a second to think, as he tried to think of anything he didn't mention.
"Before you ask, yes, I have been using my powers to benefit myself in this universe. I've used it to get booze for my bar, as well as sell drinks that don't exist in this universe at a higher price. I've left to further my research in caldury as well. But the most interesting usage of my powers happened recently, at Hanza. While everyone was on the Archius, Lion and I attempted to defuse the situation on the station. I ended up voluntarily choosing to get rid of the bomb by having it go through one of my portals. I had set up a second portal in case the bomb went off, which would send the two of us flying into another universe. However, the set up, as well as how long it took for the bomb to sink, as it didn't have any force to make it go through smoothly, meant that we ran out of time. The bomb went off and the two of us ended up elsewhere in the omniverse.", he told Saw. "Usually, in cases like these, I would've never returned. You can't survive things like that. But Lion convinced me to return. After our battle against the Auditors on Kumoro, we revealed ourselves. Unfortunately, one of our crew members, Yanim Sidikan, immediately thought we had survived through despicable means and ran away, doing god knows what now. She deleted all her files from the ship.", he said.
"Lion thought of a pretty decent way of how we could've survived without revealing my powers, but I doubt the Kanad would've believed us if we told her. But it managed to convince everyone else. Later, I went to a convergent universe and retrieved all the files she had deleted on the ship. The 'personal' ones are gone though. I then labeled her as 'deceased', knowing that it would be better if everyone thought she was dead.", he revealed. "I'll be ramping up the usage of my powers for the battle ahead. If you see mechs, then it's because of me.", he told him. He paused for a moment, looking down at the ground. He looked back up at Saw.
"I know I've already used my request up, but can I ask you for two favors?", he asked Saw.
Iska scoffed. "If kanad want war again, they get it." She flicked her cigarette on the floor and grinded it with her boot. She continued, "Clans fight, but Kanad is real enemy. Clans will united and shoot them out of skies, just like last time".
The Siege of Rigel was something every khergian learned through traditions, and that siege had only cemented the Khergian hate for the Kanads. Not only did the Kanads decimate Rigels biggest tradeport, Vukovar, with orbital bombardment but they also enslaved off-world khergians who worked on Kanad colony planets. Those who survived and returned from the Kanad labourcamps after they were released due to UGC interference bore a tattoo of 3 chain links on their wrists, and were hailed as heroes. Even more so, Iskas father had been in the camps.
"Go ahead, but make those two count. I won't give you anymore."
"Despite your and people's determination, the Collective military might still has it's infamous black fleet. An massive and truly awesome amount of war ships that can and has leveled star faring civilizations to nothing but ashes, through the Collective poses no direct threat towards your home world but does to my entire race and whatever isolated colones that lies within their gasp." Viper answered Iska as it turned to face her.
"Through, it seems that the black fleet has for once in many years, been put onto the defensive of their outer worlds. Maybe due to their countless defeats during the first two years of their war with the Sanghvi, I however doubt their State Security isn't already on the march to destabilized and divide their enemies as the Sanghvi gain more and more ground in their surrounding sectors." Viper said as it turn it's head to think about the many repercussions of the War for the many innocents on both sides.
Dwan sighed. "The first favor I ask of you is this; after the upcoming battle, after the voyage of the Archius IX has ended, I wish for you to allow me access to your files on me. I'd like to modify them and change the Dwan of reality to a more, average bartender. Become the man who never existed, so to say.", he spoke. "The second favor I ask of you is this; even though she had left the crew due to assuming that Lion and I were traitors, I believe she deserves her payment too. She had been with the crew since we left from Terra and worked on many things that we use, such as building our ATDs and helping in the design of the exosuit our Head of Security uses. Yanim, or how I now called her, Senilmika, completely deserves it.", he said. He then hoped that Saw would allow both.
Harken Saw stood silently for a few seconds, "I will only allow the first one. This Yanim has chosen to leave on her own terms. I do not reward quitters and so she must deal with her consequence."
"<So... what would you do if you had a billion credits?>" Gataska asked after purchasing a similar translator to the one Yanim had once carried.
Neasha sighed. "Are we doing this?"
"<Why not? If you believe Yanim we'll all be millionaires in a matter of weeks.>"
"If you believe her, we'll be billionaires before her next fix. I already talked to the Privateers, we're not getting much for our so-called 'contribution.' So we're talking pretend here?"
Gataska sneered as the joke translated in a tinny echo. "<Why not?>" she questioned, "<stranger things have happened, I'm sure. Take this Harken Saw jerk, where did he come from? How'd he make his fortune?>"
"I'm sure there's a touching, corporate-made rags-to-riches biopic about what a little working class go-getter Saw was before his entrepreneurial wings took flight."
"<And no mention anywhere of the people he stepped on to get there,>" Gataska added.
"Speaking of which," Yanim suddenly cut in, approaching from behind and frightening her crewmates, "I can't access my old employee services account. The company seems to think I'm dead."
"Which means?" Neasha asked.
Yanim shrugged, staring into the distance with an unsettled look in her eyes. "I deleted my records before I left so that I could reestablish contact with HarkArk my own terms, at the time of my choosing."
"<So someone changed the records?>" Gat wondered aloud.
"That's what I thought at first," Yanim replied, "but that's just petty... And it's easily disproven. But then I realized that if my leaving wasn't reported to TC, then they'd think I was still on the Archius, and, well..."
"We don't know if it..." Neasha trailed off, suddenly aware of the implications. "Gods, I'm sorry, boss."
"Like you said," Yanim grumbled. "We don't know. And I don't want to know until the job is done."
Dwan stomped on the ground and clenched his fist. He wanted to say something, but he knew it wouldn't be any good. He turned off his blue flames and stood upright. "Alright then.", Dwan said in a disappointed tone.
Harken Saw was left unfazed by Dwan's reaction. "It's time we go to Zeruel. If we stay here sitting on our asses then no progress will be made." He gestured for Dwan to leave out the office. Harken Saw remained alone at last, he exhaled deeply. He stared at the door until he turned.
"Everyone is gone." Harken Saw said. The wall behind his desk opened up, revealing a figure that was of Nicole.
"Why? You told him." Vara said. Harken Saw watched her surprised reaction. He chuckled.
"You're right, I did. But does it really matter when I barely know anything, yet you somehow do." He tilted his head. Vara sighed and closed her eyes. Vara tightened and bit her lips, changing to an eerily pale. Vara opened her eyes, revealing a glowing sensation of vision.
"You shouldn't have." Vara warned him.
"But nobody knows you are involved." Harken Saw walked forward and pulled her hand, tapping it. "My luck is running out, my hopes of survival is slim. Listen to me good, once we finish off the Crimson Son you must remain safe and secret to all public." Harken Saw instructed. Vara stared at him, "No, I must confront them too. I need to find out what they are planning." Vara said. Harken Saw shook his head. "Are you blind? You'll end up dead."
"I can fight." Vara told him, recalling the events of the Xergis outpost.
"That aura at Odenia, I could sense it. It was familiar." Vara said to him. "What are you talking about?"
"I have to go with you. Whether you like or not. We are comrades, comrades do no leave others behind."
Harken laid dormant as he dwelled on that comment. "You're risking your own life, but if you are truly confident then very well." He turned his back and walked out of the room. Vara stood in motion sighing, she went back to the unveiled wall as she closed it. Harken Saw walked out of the office as he saw everyone.
"We migrate our forces to Zeruel, you have a day to prepare. Do not waste your time."
Varn nodded and opened a direct channel to Seth.
"We have a confirmed location. Our target is on Zeruel. You guys have a day to prepare. Make sure that the pups are ready."
Lion listened to the crewmembers chat. "I wouldn't worry about the kanads going nuts, even they are smart enough to know that more war doesn't help them in the long run. Companies like NewGen and kanads like Yanim are living proof that they're not all evil smurfs from a cold, distant, planet and that they actually want to make a change in this world. I respect them for that."
Lion paused and chuckled briefly. "Personally I have a few loose ends with my girl. The past months made me realize how quick and fragile everything is and how the good things such as love and compassion is something to be greatly treasured.
Depending on how this little adventure ends I might even invite all of you to my house for some celebrations." Said Lion with a distant look on his eyes.
Meanwhile in a nearby system, an admiral and his crew waited silently in the dark space. The admiral stroked his beard while observing the millions of stars outside the window.
A few meters to his left, one of the navy officers turned around. "Admiral! We just received word from our contact; final destination is a planet called Zeruel. Coordinates have been relayed."
The admiral nodded and stood up. He slowly walked from his controlchair towards the window.
"Notify all of the vessels. It's time to show what we terrans are made of."
((I've just been informed that I won't have any relevant role to play in the finale. It's been fun, everyone.))
"Of course, Captain." Viper said in response towards Lion's statement about the Viper and Iska discussion about possible motives the kanad' might undertake in the near future.
"Despite my race's rather murky history with them, I hold no grudges against any kanad individual or party. I'm just quite fearful of my race's future along with their former vessels as the kanad state's expansion has shown countless times it's reckless abandon for other races that inhabit their future colonies. The Sanghvi also begun rebuilding their Independence from external influence such as the UGC and the controlling party involved in the matter, the kanad Collective." Viper stated in a worried tone as it look towards Lion.
"Hopefully my fears are disproved as the Kanad Collective has started to dulled it's aggression in recent years...But as you're last encounter with State Security has shown. The blackest parts of the Collective's heart are still beating and in command among these hash and dark times such as this...Well, you're species history has already shown what happens and I doubt that this time it will be any different for the kanads." Viper said as it started to lower it's head and shoulder towards the floor.
"But, I think we don't need to dread on such thoughts at the moment." The Sanghvi said as it's raised head and shoulders up straight. "I would be honored to visit your home, Eastlindht. I'm always delighted to see more of your Terran culture and architectural." Viper spoke in an more lighter tone, trying to take it's mind of it's fears as the galactic situation spirals downwards.
[QUOTE=Sega Saturn;48818937]((I've just been informed that I won't have any relevant role to play in the finale. It's been fun, everyone.))[/QUOTE]
[What? Why?]
((After a long discussion, Doom and I have talked things out. I'll have a role to play after all, but I appreciate the concern some of you showed for me.))
"[I]Shenkada,[/I] hm?" Virin said as he leaned against the thick Plexiglas door of the crampt brig cell. For a while, the prisoner was silent as he savored the food he had been given. It was dry and bland, but after such a harrowing experience the previous day, he was gracious to receive any form of hospitality from his captors. Finally, his sorrowful orange eyes peered up from under his inky bangs and he cleared his throat.
"I know it's cliché, but I needed to ditch my old ID and I figured it would do the trick. I think it was working, anyway, but how was I supposed to know Yanim would come after me like that?" He asked, rhetorically.
"Actually," Virin corrected, "we were just on Terra so we could get supplies. Whatever's between you and Yanim... the fact that you two bumped into each other was pure coincidence. I still don't know what happened."
"I know," Shen replied, dejectedly. "Your buddy told me when he locked me up about how you all met. What I mean is that I never thought she would..."
"Yeah." Virin said, shaking his head. "You know how some people have buttons you just can't push? Well, she's got a few screws loose after what happened to her on that other ship. She can't deal with people betraying her. That's her button."
Shen grumbled to himself as he picked away at the ration. "I did something I'm not proud of. But I'm not the one who signed her warrant. I'm not the one who planned out the shit that happened to her. If she had called for me, every part of me would have wanted to help her, not harm her. Not anymore though. I've never had a gun pointed at me like that before."
"So what was it then?" Virin asked, entertained. "What really happened that night on Duroma? Yanim hasn't told us."
Shenkada smiled bitterly and revealed the entire story of his encounter. When he finished, he weakly asked Virin a favor.
"A trip to the Sol system as a tourist would do wonders. Captain, we should probably head back to the ship to make sure everything is ready."
Iska scratched her chin. "Iska never hear about human homeworld. What is like?" she asked, with a genuinely curious tone.
Yanim heard a chime. With a mental acknowledgement she opened the channel, and Rask was on the line. "Got any news?" she asked.
"Keh. Ever hear of Zereul?" his voice crackled. "Uh, that'd be our destination, boss. No big rush, we're faster than most of these rigs, but I wouldn't waste time getting back over here. Virin says he needs your help with somethin'."
"I'll be right there. I'm with the others right now, anything we need?"
"How the hell should I know? We don't even know what kind of fight we're in for. We might as well spend whatever money we've got left on souvenirs 'cause-"
"Whatever."
---
Rask turned to Virin. "Bitch hung up on me."
"Hyeh. Nice."
[QUOTE=kilerabv;48825626]"A trip to the Sol system as a tourist would do wonders. Captain, we should probably head back to the ship to make sure everything is ready."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Radley;48825783]Iska scratched her chin. "Iska never hear about human homeworld. What is like?" she asked, with a genuinely curious tone.[/QUOTE]
"It's very peaceful, especially Terra. We could stop by the Zero-G Park at Luna, the entire theme park is based around space and has zero gravity. It's quite enjoyable." Said Lion as he smiled.
"I'd have to show you the Valley of Heroes as well, seeing as my house is right next to it."
Lion nodded to Varn as Dwan left Saw's office. "I agree, let's head back to the ship. We'll meet inside the armory in three hours." He said whilst turning around to walk back to the transport.
Viper nodded. "Roger Captain, I'll head towards the Archius XI as soon as possible, there isn't peculiar individual or group that I'm interest in on this station so I'll just do several weapon and defensive system diagnostics on board, reporting my findings to you once they finish." The Sanghvi said as it walk towards the transport with Lion.
Iska took a quick look at the door behind which Dwan and Saw had had they're talk.
Iska stretched her arms and then moseyed over to the transport.
Dwan followed the rest to the transport, staying quiet.
A few minutes later the crew arrived back at the ship. As they were walking up the hangar ramp, Lion turned his head to the others. "Before you do something else, I want all of you to do one final weapons check on both your personal weapons and on the vehicles.
After that you're free to do whatever you want untill we meet in the armory." Said Lion who then went straight towards the bridge, overlooking the holotable he had installed.
Looking through the sensor data and the three-dimensional holograms he could tell that there were several thousands of ships present. For a moment he thought he spotted a familiar signal from one of the non-Privateer hangars but he quickly dismissed it as a technical glitch.
Iska had already checked her private weapon beforehand. She gave Lion a nod and ran up the hangar.
She walked over to the tank. "Johnson!" she shouted across the hangar "I want tank loaded with maximum shells and systems checked, now!". She pumped her fist, signaling the engineering crew to double time it. She turned back to Varn, who had just walked up the hangar. "You will pilot, yes?" she asked, as she noded her head towards the tank.
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