Above Huin'ni Prime, the gunship, Mellain's Fury hung in low orbit. Deep in the ship a giant of a man donned his black and copper plate armor. A long cloak with a deep hood obscured his features. He attached the chains from his belt to a large metal bound book, mag- locked a heavy pistol to his hip and pulled his battle hammer off a stand and set it, head down on the ground next to him. He gasped the tome and opened it. After finding the correct page, he began to chant an invocation. A faint red aura surrounded him momentarily. He closed the book and let it fall to his hip. He lifted the huge hammer and rested it on his shoulder. He marched down a long, dark hallway until he reached a well-lit room with several people running around and shouting. The thrum of machinery filled the area. He frowned and stepped into the room with a stomp. The echo of his foot falls alerted the room full of people that he was arriving. As he breached the doorway, a single man approached him.
"Master, all is ready for transport, we managed to surpass their teleportation blocks. Shall we proceed with a test run?" He asked nervously.
"No." His voice was like rolling thunder. "Mellain and Arkhan will protect me." He stepped up on the dias. As it powered up, runes around the edges of the dias started to glow. Machines whined up and thrummed like a beating heart.
"Get on with it!" He growled loudly. His powerful voice boomed over the machinery noise, much to the terror of the workers. Switches were thrown, nobs tuned to a precision setting. The machinery began to whine and the thrumming shook the room. Soon a flash of bright light filled the room, a boom like thunder rang through the room, when it faded away, the large figure was gone!
In the medical facility, Cali lay prone on a bed, in a dimly lit room. Machines beeped quietly as they monitored her vitals. Il'taira sat next to her, deep in meditation. She attempted another probe into Cali's psyche. She had gone to her limit this time. Her exhaustion was threatening to do her harm, but she refused to give up. She would die to bring Cali back. Then she began to remember when she told Cali that was what would happen. She would sacrifice herself to save the young engineer. She probed deeply, but to no avail. She was beginning to believe the worst.
Cali's spirit was gone.
The darkness became overwhelming and she began to get lost. Not only in the darkness of Cali's mind, but her own sorrow. Over the last few days all of the crew had attempted to console her, but she could not be consoled. She felt a great deal of guilt.
As she brought her mind back to "reality" Il'taira thoughts began to wander to her past as a child of "cursed origins". As a youth, she didn't really think she was any different. She knew she looked different from either of her parents, but they never gave her any idea that it was a bad thing. In some remote area of Wrolmar there are even writings of the Kurn like her being revered as sages, shaman and soothsayers. However, as she became an adolescent the sideways glances, the whispers and rumors started. Threats started getting louder, as superstitious bigots got bolder. which caused her father to become distant and neglectful. He didn't want to be "blamed" for her... defect. Her mother continued to be fiercely protective of her daughter and defended her nearly daily.
One day, her father, on the verge of leaving them to save himself, was approached by a liaison of the royal house. They offered to take Il'taira into protective "captivity" to lessen his burden. He was offered a very large amount of money and a position in his local counsel. He jumped at the chance to be rid of the stigma of having a "tainted" offspring. The day the men in black robes came to take their daughter was a nightmare to her and her mother. She was scared, confused and lost. She was being ripped from her home and family and put into a frightening situation. She could very vividly see her mother's face from that day, tears streaming down her face, screaming and reaching for her daughter as these strange men took her away.
The first few weeks of her new life were almost exclusively in a small, unremarkable room. A bed, small dresser, a chair and a privy. If she knew what a prison cell looked like, she assumed it was this. She was visited several times a day by an old woman with dull white skin and gray hair who brought her food. She did have to admit, the company and the food was the highlight of her day. It was the best she ever had. Once a day, about two hours after lunch, she was visited by another woman. Fierce red skin and jet black hair with a single white stripe. Her eyes were cunning but also very wise. She never even mentioned her skin, she only ever talked about her life, and if she'd ever "heard" anyone's thoughts.
This line of questions confused Il'taira until, after months of this routine Il'taira unconsciously answered her questions before the woman asked them. The next day she was moved to a larger room with a bigger plush bed, books to read and even a small enclosed courtyard where she could sit in the grass and feel the sun on her pale skin.
She began to have regular visits throughout the day by teachers who talked a great deal about mental powers and the supernatural. She continued to hear the questions in her mind before they were asked. She even learned to move small items with her mind! She began to understand just how different she was, but didn't understand why she was here.
This lasted a few months, until a man came to visit her one day. He was tall, powerfully built and had a certain air about him she couldn't quite figure out. He was obviously very important, but she couldn't be sure. He would take her out into the courtyard, sit on a bench with her and just talk. Never about abilities, or her "condition", rather he would just talk about life, what she hoped for her future and even her dreams. He seemed to focus on her dreams, even bringing in a scribe to write down the details of her dreams.
One morning, after breakfast, the man came for a visit. That day he brought her a small gift. An amulet she should wear whenever she leaves her room.
"What's this?" Il'taira asked as she put the silver cord around her neck and held up the silver and black metal amulet.
"Is a very special amulet. I need you to wear it whenever you leave your room." He said.
"Leave my room?!" She looked up at him wide-eyed.
He chuckled, "Yes, this amulet will allow you passage throughout much of the palace."
"Palace?" She looked at him confused.
"Yes, you've been living in a secluded area of the Wrolmar royal palace." He said.
"But..."
The man smiled and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Il'taira," it was the first time she'd heard her name spoken since coming to this place. "This is your home now and you can go almost anywhere you like."
"I don't understand."
"I'm giving you some freedom from this room and your life... but," he paused for a moment, his face turned very stern and serious. "I need you to work with a teacher."
"But, I have been, sir."
"This will be a different teacher. She will help you find your full potential."
Il'taira nodded.
"Good." He smiled warmly. "Oh, one other thing. I need you to listen to your dreams."
"Listen to my dreams?"
"Yes, remember when someone would talk with you about dreams? Well, I want you to really focus on your mind and thoughts as you go to sleep at night. I will have paper and a writing utensil brought to your room."
"What should I think about?"
"Nothing."
"But-"
"Il'taira, just whatever thoughts enter your mind, remnants of your dreams... anything you think might be of interest, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, write it down. Your teacher will discuss your writings with you and take the papers away. They will always make sure you have enough to write down whatever you feel like you want to."
"Yes sir." She nodded. "I understand."
The man smiled and stood up, she stood as well. "Thank you Il'taira, I truly appreciate your willingness to help the Empire."
His words confused her, but she smiled and nodded at him. He nodded and turned to leave.
"Oh, sir!" She called him. He turned and looked down at her.
"Yes?"
"What's your name?"
He smiled, have a slight chuckle. "It's Haston."
"Very nice to meet you... Haston."
He smiled and nodded to her. After he left, Il'taira sat and dwelled on the man's name, she thought it sounded familiar. A few moments later...
The Emperor?!
In their suite, Serra and Kat lounged on the plus couch just relaxing and taking a moment for themselves.
Serra has been in a whirlwind of "excitement" ever since the Kurn duo (and later trio) arrived on her ship. Now she sat in peace and comfort with a woman she never thought she'd be able to love like she did. Planning to marry in the next few days, the two of them had gotten so comfortable with each other, they could sit in silence and just smile at each other. Serra did break the silence.
"This is so nice!"
