A Tale of Arcane Space: Lost & Found

Coriolis could only laugh. "I will never complain about my workout regimen ever again. I'll take a week of painful Leg Days over trying to pull that off."

Danielle's eyes shimmered, and the stream of nano-crafters slid back into her arm as she stepped back. "Cori, kick the door right... there. That will break the portal-shield as well."

Without any further prompting, the Goblin reared up and kicked -- and the sliding door buckled inward and fell to the ground, the edges weakened by Danielle's work. Inside, nine Gnomes of varying age and gender lay on the ground, cowering as far away from the door as they could. Cori took one look at them -- and it was immediately clear that they were very different from every other Gnome she'd ever seen. Gone was the unblinking mania, the cold hatred that seemed baked into the body language of those horrific terrors she'd been killing to reach this point. These nine just seemed... like people. Terrified people. "We're here to help! Gather all the prisoners up, we're teleporting out!"

The nine looked up -- and staggered to their feet. One of them cradled a small child in his arms. "We're going to live? Oh my Gods! Jula, help your mother!"

A child grabbed hold of her parent, putting her shoulder under their armpit to keep them from falling. "Mama, your prayers were heard!"

Without any further delay, Danielle made sure everyone was accounted for, holding on to either her or someone who was in contact with her -- and teleported.

***

"Lin, we're out! We got them onboard the Endurance!" He smiled as he heard the relief in Cori's voice on his comms-bud. It was time to finish this. He watched the last shield-spire get blown to smithereens by a lightning-cannon from the Ramrod, and another turret get hit with a plasma torpedo from the Endurance. He flew across the massive hull, and with a sweep of both arms, sliced one of the ship's four engine pylons away, and then a second. A wave of crimson fireblades shredded the third like claws through paper, leaving the gargantuan vessel limping with only one engine remaining. He then crossed over the top of the hull, and his eyes flared with true-seeing light.

Now that he could see the Gnomes moving about inside the ship, he watched them moving frantically about, trying to make repairs as fast as they could -- all save two, who stood impassively in a room towards the ship's front, still as statues. He flew straight towards them, his cloak spinning around him like a drill as he burst through their hull, emergency shields closing behind him to keep the interior from losing all life support. His flight slowed, and he stood inside the DreamNought's bridge, facing the pair. They were one male and one female Gnome, staring at him with hate in their eyes. The male lifted two fingers to his brow, but the female slapped his hand down. "He's shielded. You will die if you attempt to force the truth upon him." She turned to Lindauriel. "You should be punished for deepening the dream, WarSaint." Her eyes flickered across him, and she smirked. "And so you will be, arrogant and ignorant fool. But we grant you have bested us. Are you here to gloat?"

"I'm here to offer you a chance to live." Lindauriel took a deep breath, and was surprised to discover some pain that came with that motion. He grit his teeth, doing his best not to reveal anything to the Gnomes before him. "Leave this system in peace, never to return -- and I won't obliterate this ship and everyone on it."

The two Gnomes sniffed disdainfully in perfect unison. "We are but one vessel. Our brethren are spreading across the Galaxy, destroying the accursed dream as they go. When we die, others will one day return to resume our work of destroying you all. If you will not kill with us, then you will be killed by us. The dream must end!" They lifted their hands, and pointed to his belly. "Your wounds will soon claim you. One of our brethren made illusions to fool you into thinking you'd blocked all his attacks. In your eagerness to kill us, you never noticed that we had slowly killed you." They began to laugh.

Lindauriel touched his stomach -- and his hand came away bloody. He summoned divine fire to his hands, preparing to heal himself, when he heard a loud click. He looked up, and the two Gnomes were holding up a large remote control, which they'd just triggered.

"You will die soon enough -- but we are impatient."

He felt a massive vibration in the hull beneath his feet, and his cloak of blades enveloped him in a protective barrier only an instant before everything in sight was consumed by the white-hot force of an overloaded reactor core. The explosion hit Lin's shields, and just before he blacked out, he had the strangest sensation of falling.

***

His back hit something, hard, and he was suddenly conscious again, his mouth full of his own blood. The WarSaint looked up, and through groggy eyes managed to make out the vague outline of a Gnomish DreamNought a few hundred meters away, ripped in half by an internal explosion -- probably a cascading flywheel release, he thought to himself with sluggish and sleepy imprecision. Looks nasty. I guess that Lindy guy must've been blown out by the blast wave and hit an asteroid. He blinked. Wait. I think I'm that Lindy guy. I don't like that name. I don't like how I feel right now. His head lolled back and forth, slowly blinking. Oh, that's pretty.

Another explosion had gone off in the dead ship's depths, causing another expanding white sphere of force. Whoops. That's the secondary drive reactor. I'd hate to be in the middle of that shrapnel storm. Pretty white light, though. As that thought drifted through him, a cloud of metal shards peppered the rock around him, and as they struck the crimson shields around him, the red energy rippled like droplets hitting a pond. Sounds like it's raining. I like to sleep to the sound of rain. It's so relaxing. A rather large spear of jagged metal embedded itself into the rock just to the left of him, less than a meter away. His head drifted over to look at it. Wow. That's big. He blinked again, his gaze passing across a flare-gun on his thigh, and looked down at his hands. There was something he had to remember to do, maybe even a couple of things, but it was so hard to focus. His hands were covered in red. Oh yeah. I made red-glaze barbeque basilisk today. I must have forgotten to wash my hands. He felt so weak. He couldn't even lift a finger. That thought made him laugh for some reason, and a bubble of red popped from between his lips.

He looked up again, and a woman stood over him. Her face was obscured by the hood of her cloak, a strange garment made of knives and blades rather than cloth. Each blade had faint writing etched on it's side. She reached for her cloak, and pulled one dagger free. He could see the words written on it: LINDAURIEL MOONBLOSSOM. The sight of his name jogged something in his awareness. Oh. I see. "Blessings upon, my Queen," he managed to say aloud.

The Goddess of Death knelt down beside him. He could just make out her eyes in the depths of her cloak. They were all colors and none, an infinite well of deep space and distant stars, yet blazing like a thousand living suns. He felt kindness in her eyes. She reached out to caress his cheek, her hand comfortingly cool to the touch.

He coughed again. "But in that final darkness, May the souls of the newly dead hear thy voice..."

The Queen of Silence parted her lips. YOU ARE NOT... She paused, and turned away to look at something. Lindauriel felt his eyes fill with tears. Her voice was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. He wanted to reach out to her, to ask her to say more, but couldn't lift even a single finger. She turned back to him, kissed her fingertip, and pressed it to his blooded mouth as she shook her head. With a last kind smile, and an odd little waggling wave goodbye, the Goddess of Death stood up, and faded away from sight.

"I HAVE HIM! STABILIZERS, NOW!" He saw two pretty faces fill his view, one green, one red. He tried to smile, but something touched his chest and mouth. He shivered as a disconcerting mixture of ice and burning heat rampaged down his gullet, felt something snap painfully into position in his back and belly, and his consciousness simply shut off before the impending agony could arrive.

***

"He's damn lucky, is what he is." Through blurry eyes, Lin could see a familiar green-shelled Tientang gesturing to the prone elf's bed with one of his lower arms, talking with Captain Liang. "I was three systems away, and nearly about to star-jump in the entirely opposite direction when his call went out. Barely managed to divert course in time. And I mean, I'm fast -- damn fast -- but not even I can bounce three systems in one jump. By the time I got here, the battle was already over."

Captain Liang nodded. "Well, I'm glad that you were able to find him, and get Cori and Danielle to him in time. He looked half-dead when they brought him onboard. You have my gratitude, honored WarSaint."

"Please, call me Areeso." He bobbed his head, his eyes giving off a cheerful blue glow.

"Not...ow...not half." His voice was faint, but everyone in the room turned to look at him. "More like ninety-nine and... nine tenths percent dead. I saw... I saw her. The Queen of Silence. I heard her voice."

Cori and Dani were there, standing over him, each holding one of his hands. Cori's eyes were damp. "Do... do you wish we hadn't saved you? So that you could stay in her presence?"

Lindauriel Moonblossom managed a smile, and faintly squeezed their hands with his. "Don't be silly. I've... got too much to live for." He met each of their gazes. "I've got myself, and both... both of you to live for, I hope." As he felt two soft pairs of lips kissing his forehead and cheek, he made a small yawn, and felt himself drifting off to sleep again. "Hey, 'reeso."

His fellow WarSaint waved with three of his four hands, stepping up to the bed, adjusting the collar of his fancy silk tunic with the last free hand. "Rest up, kid. You did good. Your friends got all the captives out, pretty much intact. Cori explained it to me. Hell of a thing, getting a job like that from your deity's herald, but you all pulled it off. Your crewmate Enrique is checking them over in the cargo hold, but they seem to be okay." Aresso looked around the medbay, nodding in approval at the assembled crew, before turning back to Lin. "Just so you know, Gathor should be here soon, and Amelie is coming with him. Tobira, Ashe, and Kindala should be along as well, but they're further out. We'll make sure the sane Gnomes you all rescued get to somewhere safe, under our direct protection."

In spite of his fatigue, Lin rolled his eyes and managed a small chuckle. "Please don't let Amelie vaporize my new girlfriends, 'kay?"

Areeso laughed, and then again when he saw Cori and Danielles' eyes widening in worry. "I'll make sure that Little Miss Firecracker is on her best behavior, don't worry. Get some rest, 'Gothos', I've got you covered."

As his eyes grew too heavy to keep open, the last thing he heard before sleep descended was Cori and Danielle asking in unison, "Vaporize?"

***

Lin stood in the center of a still pool of water, the cool liquid tickling his toes. All around him, stars drifted through the night sky. The horizon was dimly lit by a setting sun. It sent a gorgeous golden shimmer through the endless plain of water that seemed strangely solid beneath his feet. The wind ruffled his hair, the breeze a perfect warmth. Neither too warm or too cold, but just right. Weather perfect for curling up outside, soft grass beneath one's back -- just like the fields near the Moonblossom homestead.

"Would you prefer such a field? I can change this dream that much, at least." Lin turned, and on the post of a nearby fence -- for indeed, they were now in that fondly-remembered field -- Y'shalnacht perched, watching him. "I owe you an apology, good Priest."

The dark-skinned elf looked around, inhaling deeply. There was an invigorating smell all around him of freshly-cut grass, and he sat down on the comorting soil. "For what? For bestowing such a wonderful dream? Hardly a gruesome sin, honored herald."

Shaking his head in a very mortal-like gesture, the divine raven sighed. "I am ashamed. I was so fascinated by the display of crimson flame and warfare, that I failed to realize you had been wounded by that Gnome who emerged from the hatch, even as I admonished you regarding caution and mortality. If I had been more attentive, I would have seen through the illusion that said Gnome used to obscure that harm from your own senses, and you could have healed yourself. My sloth nearly led to your undoing. I will find a way to make amends to you, some day."

"No one is perfect, Y'shalnacht -- not even our Goddess." He rubbed his hand over his stomach. "I hope she won't take it personally that I'm not quite ready to cross through the veil just yet."

"Her Divine Majesty understands, Lindauriel Moonblossom. Your cycle of life is far from over, and she is greatly pleased by your service. You wore her Cloak of Blades well -- it suits you." The raven cocked its head to one side. "After you have recovered, it would honor our Queen -- and myself -- if you were to visit her chapel at Jardin Rouge Colonie. A young Dwarf who Coriolis is seeking will be there, who will need the comfort and insight that a priest such as yourself can provide. After this is done, speak my name to Francoise Duplantier, the Mistress of Artifacts in said chapel. She is expecting you."

"Honored Herald, I accept your task."

"This is no task, but a reward for what you have done today -- because you're going to need all the help you can get. Now that your identity as a WarSaint has been revealed, you will have many new demands placed upon you, and new burdens to bear. On top of that, your... association with a Sun Golem, even a damaged one -- the coming years will be difficult, Priest."

The elf laid back into the soft grass, luxuriating in this dream's soothing comfort. "The reward for a job well done... is a more difficult job, of course."

The divine raven's gentle laugh echoed across the dreamscape. "As it has always been throughout eternity, young Moonblossom, for both mortals and divine alike. I take my leave of you now. Enjoy this bestowed dream, and rest well. Goodbye."

Raising a hand to wave, Lindauriel Moonblossom smiled up at the night sky, and savored this moment of pure peace. It wouldn't last -- but what does?

***

"Look, I think we're being more than fair here." Lin's eyes fluttered, as he heard an old familiar voice. He looked around -- and sure enough, there was Kallitrix, standing a few feet away, her arms crossed in front of her as she glared at Coriolis. Standing behind Cori were Areeso, Captain Liang, and Danielle. "You're salvaging an entire Sun Golem, after all. We'll take the Gnome shipwreck as our share, and that'll be the end of it."

Cori leaned in, eyes narrowed. "And give Dag Thurmond a mountain of Gnome tech to use? Over my dead body, bitch."

Kallitrix ran her fingers through her long and lustrous hair. "Such hostility. Mister Thurmond's honoring the truce we all agreed on, I guess basic courtesy is just too difficult for you?"

Cori put her finger right in Kalli's face, before Liang gently pulled her back a little. "You sold images of Lin fighting that monster ship, told the whole damn Galaxy his secret. How much did the media congloms give you for those pictures? You've made your money, now get the hell out of here."

A hand dabbed a cool cloth on his forehead, and Lin looked up to see the rosy-cheeked face of Amelie, still the amazing collection of voluptuous Dwarven curves, her ample cleavage on full display as she leaned over him. "Say the word," she whispered with a giggle, "and I'll reduce that cave-elf ex of yours into component atoms. That haughty skank has it coming."

He shook his head. "I missed you too, Amelie. Help me raise the bed, please." As Amelie hit the switches that slowly lifted Lin to a semi-sitting position, everyone turned to face him.

"Hey, Lin." Kallitrix stepped over to him, putting an extra sway into her hips, and Lin preemptively put a hand on Amelie's arm. "I have an offer for you, hot stuff. Ditch these losers, right here and now, and Mister Thurmond will pay you a signing bonus of seven hundred million gold-notes, and a very handsome salary besides, as his personal guard. Ready to hit the big-time, sexy boy? I'll take good care of you, and we'll have a nice little party once you're all healed, just like the good old days back in the dorms."

Lin was already shaking his head. "Sorry, Kalli. But no." He shifted in his bed with a pained grunt. "Did you really sell my identity to the media?"

She put a hand over her breast. "Lin, Lin, Lin. That's just business. If Mister Thurmond and I didn't do it ourselves first, then anyone else from our crew, or yours, or someone with access to system surveillance feeds would've done it. It was money on the table, and I'm not so much a fool as to let that slip away." She looked over at Amelie. "Everyone loves info about the WarSaints, especially one of their newest and youngest members. You WarSaints all get your identities outed eventually when you have to pull off some big to-do." She looked back to Lin. "This just happened to be your time. Besides, where do you think that signing bonus is coming from, hmmmm?"

Amelie made a low growl in the back of her throat. "Just say the word, handsome."

"Kallitrix." Lin took a deep breath. "This sort of thing is why we're not friends anymore. Why I didn't sign up with Thurmond in the first place. For you, it's all about the money. That's not who I am."

"Cut the shit." The cave-elf shook her head. "You're part of a rock-runner crew, Lin. The next salvage score, the odd bits of treasure, the cash jobs along the way. That IS who you are -- and if you work for me, you'll make ten times what you're scrounging for now. Just think of the nice poor-shelters and orphanages you could build with that, hmm?" Her grin brightened.

His eyes drifted down at the pendant of the Queen that she still wore. "...and how many charitable works have you funded with your gains, my fellow priest?"

The grin on her face vanished. "...Fuck you."

A single glowing finger lifted, Amelie's steady hand a mere inch from Kallitrix's nose. "Yeah, he's been there, done that, and had the shots after to clean your slime out of his blood. I think you're forgetting where you are."

Lin raised a hand. "Amelie, please. Kallitrix, I do owe you this much -- the Ramrod did help clear a path for me to get to that Gnome ship and knock out it's shields. So I think it's fair that your crew gets to tow off half of the wreck, to sell or trade or use however you want. That's a solid haul by any measure. Take it or leave it."

The Cave-Elf stepped back from the short WarSaint with the readied Disintegration spell on her fingertip. "So you get the Sun Golem, and the other half of the wreck, AND the rescuees? That's hardly fair -- Lindy."

Cori very quietly rested the flat of her dagger on Kallitrix's shoulder, and leaned in to speak into her ear. "Call him that again. I dare you. I double-demon dare you."

Lindauriel shook his head. "Just so you know, Kalli, I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed in you. And at this point, I don't care if you think it's fair -- it's all you're going to get. Unless you really want to get into a pissing match against half a dozen WarSaints and a Sun Golem -- not to mention my very capable crewmates."

Captain Liang motioned for Cori to step away. "Miss Kallitrix, I think at this time it's best that you return to your shuttlecraft. Please convey my regards to your captain, and that I'm well aware that he's going to do his best to 'squash me like a shitbug' or some other rude epithet of his, the next time our paths cross -- and that I don't really care. You can also have these back." He handed over three discs of crystal and circuitry. "Well done, planting beacons on us back at Zelefon Station and when you came onboard today, but we won't fall for that again. Mister Moonblossom's terms are quite reasonable -- pick which half of the DreamNought wreck you want to tow away, and leave with it. Immediately."