A t E: Session 12 - Epilogue

General Summary

I have no need to write a battle log. Not since I left the Arcithian Forces anyway. For what it's worth I don't ever feel the need... This day was different.     Opened.       It began at Oh-Eight-Hun. Dawn feed, fed late. I slept in. So did Bronika. She was in her usual moody place. Most women get to this place a few days a month. She might have three good days a month. I often bugged her by calling her Miss Reverse-Cycle. She hated that. The rest were at the table too. The alien and the men. Somehow there was a regular soldierly type who was new. 'Aprons' Katchdet he goes by. The apeman, Blerogard ate nothing but fruit. I missed out on the last plum and three apples. Snagged the berries that he was eyeing. He grinned at me for that. I only nodded in return. We all need fruit in our diets. It's a rule.     The talk was about next steps. I listened. Kade talked. None had questions, so the plan was set. Travel again. The 'Delinquent' is a tough old star-span but it's going to need to be up on the pentapod soon. Servicing overdue. Not my say-so -- Mystyr's. The winged one, Bataqua speaks about getting to a healer for Atteroster. This disease of his is troubling. I have my mask. Others may not be so well equipped. Seems Kade's plan already includes the healers of Alone. Been there, done that, read the book, sold the rights, lost my money... The undersite of this city is more of interest. I didn't get down there last time. This time I will. See for myself -- the 'Kingdom of Humanity' -- can't be real. Still, I will take a gander.   Travelogue -- Narcolf's Citadel   Garroting Gates   Waterskin (optional)   Alone   Excel (optional)       We take off. The usual hissing-chugging trip. 'Steam and pressure, see fair weather'. On the way north we spot a 'lightening town'. Not my name for it -- Aprons's. Says it's 'cause of the speed the place can be assembled and disassembled. The town's people are prospectors. After a haul of 'velvet'. Not my name for it -- Kade's. Seems this velvet is found in the ground, so it's a lot like mining for ore. Supposed to be far more valuable than metal ores though. I guess it's possible?     Reach the citadel of the cleavast queen. She's only around for Kade. I chill -- literally. Cold where the cleavast live. They need it to cold, otherwise they hibernate. Hibernate when it's warm... talk about reverse-cycles. Seems to go well. Stay is only a night. Eat, sleep, dump, repeat, dawn-rise. Kick Bronika awake and head to the span. Help Mystyr with the gyros. Always it's the gyros. Need a better stabiliser. The Canticle might have us beat there. Would be good to swap in a Canticle magnetic polarizer for the gyro system on the Delinquent. The rest show up and we steam. Heading: Garroting Gates. I'm relieved. This might mean some action. Been three years and a million miles since I was last at the Gates. We arrive. Set-down is five miles from the Gates.     It's just the three of us: Kade, Surtice and me. Surtice is an odd kettle. Driven by cogs but heart of a man. Wouldn't swap mine for his. Not never, not no-how. He handles his private prison well. I couldn't be locked up like that. He's quiet. Probably going to blow at some point. I have some swift-clamps ready for that day. He'll thank me later. Wouldn't want a moment's pressure release to be regretted for the rest of it... We come across a pair of troopers. They don't hear us approach. Easy take-outs but we select the switch-up instead. I pose as "Commander Dark'. The others are with me; a trooper and a senadroid. We dupe them. They let us be. We move on.     We reach the landing zone. Plenty of large star spans getting the once over here. None take-off while we watch but looks likely at any moment. Talk to a captain. He's compliant. Takes Bronika's wish list and says he'll collect the items on it. We take in the sites. The Gates are as I remember them. Artisan and engineer have had their hands on them in equal parts. Tall, twinned, square, illuminated by Blue power (coils?), spirit forms of future times swirl within its crystal windows. Nothing too unique then. Seen it three years ago. Still the same. New is the diviner that hangs from heavy-type chain links between the gate towers. A large steel-looking anchor of a thing. Not sure what it is for. Guillotine? Portcullis? Counter-weight? Pendulum? I give up...     We carry on into the city proper. CBD. Old-style, like in a fairy tale only one for the older kids. Spooky, shadows and mist. Blue-tinged, like the Gates. Makes sense really. Kade heads off. Salvoes pop out. He fires a shot at an unseen target. I figure he's hunting rats or what have you. He didn't give warning. We catch him up. He's apologetic. Plugged a bystander-type. Beaked, bird-man -- very strange. Admits to being a Monster. Didn't do so unasked though. He only agreed to being one. I have my doubts but keep my thoughts private. I'll keep an eye on 'Feathers'... He says Kade's a thief. I smile. Looting is not a crime in the Arcithian Forces. Is in lots of places we get to though. This must be another one. I don't care. Dead soldiers want their stuff to get used in the field. We aren't for glass-box collectors. When I drop, take my gear and keep it oiled...     We move on to the courtyard. No control centre here as it's been removed. Deathwing site isn't here either. Wonder what ever became of that captain we met? He'd helped us escape the commandant's clutches. That and Kade's rockets too. He'd blown the place half-away. Took out a level plus. Caught them all asleep. Buried before they could roust. We survey the place. Looks much the same, 'cept for there's no deathcaster hanging from the archway. There's the Green hue all around. Comes from a large 'crystal', big as a man, that hangs in the arch in Pethro's stead. Kade wants a close inspection so he goes over on an abseil. We hold fast the rope. He gets the idea to remove the crystal. I go to get a celerator -- a two-seater will do. I lev back. get in position. Kade levs down. has to set two charges to the chains that hold the crystal. Second time's the charm. I catch the crystal in the rearward seat of the celerator. I lev down to the ground. Kade comes for a look-see. Then --- and then...       This is why I write this down. Like a dream, I might forget this if I don't. If it fades, I want to be able to read this...   I pass out. Or I'm transported. Whiche'er. I'm elsewhere. The air smells. Smells of the familiar. The world of Logresse. Plants and nature. I wince. I feel unwell. Not my stomach, it's fine, as usual. Caste-steel my guts. I'm ill at ease. I feel shame for my last time here. I'd killed an innocent here. I should be hung for my deed. When I look around I see first a tall pair of doors. On them a seal. Not the animal. The official type. It represents finality. Embossed, is an insignia. Looks military but I'm not so sure. Not here. Well, maybe but unlikely. I call it, fifty-fifty. Above this an inscription. Clear to read.     'And The Last Fortress Is Truth'     Wonder how many other fortresses come first? Could be a few. At least one... Then I notice a figure. Powered armour! What? Here in Logresse... That shouldn't be. Shouldn't be necessary either. Overkill much? It's chantried. Coloured. Dyed. Someone knows their stuff. Not many have the skill. Powered Armour imbued with Colour... Now that's the art of dyeing...     Surtice is there too. Just regular old armour for him. He looks the same -- golden same-self. They speak. Kade sounds odd. Different. Not himself. Slower and pedantic. I move in. Before I'm needed, before I get there, i pass out again. Then I awaken. Surtice has worked his magick again. I'm better. Lost twelve hours but better.     We take ourselves somewhat quietly back to the ship. The crystal comes with. We'll hoist it and transport it. Might not be safe. We'll have to chance that. It may be a key. Key to Kade's new self. I'm worried. Might be a fair bit of incoming, incoming if that armour is any indicator. Need to tell the others. We need to prep.       Closed.

Character(s) interacted with

Surtice Ly   Kade   Capt. Ghoul   Atteroster   Blerogard   Bataqua   Aprons Katchedt   Bronika   Mysytr   Curtaine   A'Kkolex   Kade