Rogue Trader; season one
Episode Eight: Double Cross
Ni-Fang had Pretas lead the way, As the three headed for the 'headgrabber room' she spoke aloud, "The voxvid creature in white, you think the holovox had them in its databank?" They turned a corner and went up a flight of stairs.
"I don't know" Pretas answered, "I only know this, I didn't make Gera for a reason, I knew I needed protection, but how I created him I can't actually remember."
"So asking you to make my own army, clones of a Lucifer Black with their training encoded into them. Would be a not happening?" Ni-Fang pressed. She neded answers, and so far only Pretas seemed to have some of them. "If this group of Xenos comes from the Astralis Sector, that's beyond the Kronos Expanse, how could they be there when it hasn't been explored yet?"
"I fear we have worse trouble" Fan said speaking up seeing what awaited at the door, apparently someone had gone Lokikaen and the door design had the keyhole in the middle of it. She pointed at the keyhole. "It wood, not metal" A low growl was heard from her as the daemon within Fan vied for control for a moment before Ni-Fang stepped up and gave a hard WHACK against the wood of the door in the steel fram, it broke open at her touch. as if springing away from her skin.
Ni-Fang smiled, "Hieden" she said into her vox, "We found it." The three were staring at something embedded into the stone wall. made of bronze.
"Good lass," Came Hiedens reply, "Have a care Captain, it is not called headgrabber for nothing." The vox clicked off. How did he knew that?
Fan stepped closer to the item and it seemed to pull from the stone wall, but it didn't do anything more as Fan looked into it. "What do you see?" Pretas asked.
"Sparks, multicolored lights" Came the reply as Fan stepped out of the way ot let him look, but Pretas too saw the same thing. "Now what?" Fan asked as Ni-Fang stepped up and looked into the thing, it pulkled from the wall even more.
"Whoa.. wha... gah..." The hands from the headgrabber database form and held Ni-Fang there for a half a minute. As if it was to give the information to her. It then retreated into the wall, dead. The information from it drained. Blinking for a minute Ni-Fang spoke something in Lokikaen, "That was different. Whoo, sparks you said? Not exactly says i, more like white light of death."
"I saw sparks, the item did nothing to myself or to TechPriest Pretas" Fan replied, thankfully even wit the Daemon within Ni-Fang the information would take several months to a year or so before causing any thing noticeable to the woman. "Come on, lets go," the room shook as something far above begain ot land. "We need to go, this place will rattle apart if we stay within it any longer!" Fan said in Lokikaen, Pretas nodded and led the way to a shaft, not entirely knowing where he ws going, only knowing the direction of up. Seeing the now open hatchway Fan asked mentally, 'How did you know it was here?'
"I didn't" Pretas replied aloud, "I knew only to go up top, find a way up top. it felt right."
"The holovox knew him as someone else, That said I trust him" Ni-Fang said blinking again to get a fog out of her eyes as the dust begain to rise. She started climbing up, Pretas taking the lead, Fan bringing up the rear. "One thing I do not understand," Ni-Fang said as they climbed. "If the holovox knew Pretas and also Hieden as another person, but looking as they do now. What is a Stargate?" there was also something else on her mind, a moon base called Pandora, Hell's Gate. Scarpped for a different location. what was that about. no Ni-Fang she told herself, stay focused on one thing at a time!
It was bound to be asked, but never by her, Pretas thought, "To tell the truth, I don't know. All i know is that our galaxy can't be traveled inside of a day, or a week, as it took us a week and a half to get from Anath to Sol. then another three days from Mars to Terra. Even with a Eldar designed and built engine, that would still take as many days. Yet those Xenos you showed me the holovox vid of a few weeks back, I think somehow. Someway, the Kronos expanse is a lot more populated then the Empire thought."
"Then we continue with our mission then. I have what Jones wanted, locked away no doubt." Ni-Fang said thoughtfully as the three stepped out onto a level, the same level they had first arrived on, the sounds of a river near and also loud. Hiedens voice came over the vox.
"Captain, we have trouble, Laraxans!!" he said.
"What?"
"It was Jinjin, he betrayed us all, Cirir found us and told us about the Eldars doings." Hieden replied.
It was all going to plan, sort of. Cirir scuttled along the corridor, he noticed the cargo container in Bay two left open, the one next to it closed yet not sealed tightly. He opened it and found Gera out cold in it. Now to help the Lucifer Black. Cirir thought picking the man up and scuttling to Galayxa's chambers in them edical bay.
Whewn Galayxa saw him she pointed to him, "keep him away" There was a dark fury in her eyes that hadn't been seen there in many many years.
"He is unconcious. stunned by a dark eldar bolter. jinjin has betrayed us, Gera was wrong to not trust you. It was Jinjin." Cirir rasply explained what he had heard and noticed through the internal mutant vox system. "jinjin stunned Gera after you fled here. he also called our enemies to us where we are. I must notify the captain, Seal yourself within this room once I leave please, I shall not be long." With those words Cirir picked up a odd looking item from the floor, and scuttled out like a shot. Galayxa nodded, maybe he was right.
Cirir found Hieden as the group the first mate was leading arrived in the old nature taken over building that Fan had taken as a hiding place before getting dragged to Mars. "Sir. I have news, you must speak to Jinjin, I fear the worst for us all. he is after Captain Ni-Fang, Lady Fan, and Lady Linelle, and also the Dawn. he betrayed our location to the Laraxans leader Laraex." He rasped.
"Damn, alright what of everyone else?" Hieden said
"Gera is unconcious, TechMedic Galayxa is with him now. Kran is in his chambers, as are the rest of the troops, they await the captains word." Cirir replied, "Apparently also Gera and TechMedic Galayxa had a chat between each other and Techmedic Galayxa fled before Jinjin arrived and stunned Gera."
"But Jinjin would not do such thing, he is an Eldar" Linelle replied.
"A dark Eldar, Lady Trasker. he wants you, Lady Fan and Captain Ni-Fang along with the Dawn, Laraex is paying him in Imperium credits in return for whatever the key unlocks."
"Not that it will do them much good" Hieden thought aloud, "I'll call the captain and inform her of this new problem." he reported it.
"We're almost to the top, we'll be there soon" came Ni-Fang replied before killing ther vox connection
Ni-Fang, Pretas and Fan had just arrived at the foot of the escarpment when she saw the first dead Laraxan soldier, killed by the power, 'Linelle or Kestre, or both' she thought. A few paces on and there were more, but that was no shock to her, what came next was. The Laraxan's had landed their ship a little further out than her own, but in between, making a trinagle with a clear field in between, in that space stood a Barog Master and Hieden alone. The rest of the her crew either unconscious, wounded or worse, were taking shelter beneath the Dawn's port hangar bay. Behind the Barog, stood the Laraxan commander and what little remained of his men, at the very least her crews had atoned for themselves, the Laraxan ship was as big as the Spirit, they would have had many men.
Ni-Fang and Fan ran, the inner daemon of each, taking over. Pretas launched a powerful attack of an ice storm at the beast, but it just shrugged the jagged blades of like fleas, which caught a few more of the Laraxans. As the pair came near, Hieden swung around, he was holding Anduil in from of him, a pale blue sphere surrounded him.
"Run my daughters run, there is nought ye can do here, protect the others..." He shouted louder as the Barog sprayed him with fire, that rippled down his shield like rainwater...."Run...now." He held out his hand and a blast of a pale yellow essence blew them backwards. Both looked with fear at him and as one yelled "Daie...noooooooo"
But it was too late, Hieden swept up to the Barog, and swung Anduil in an arc, that severed the beast torso, but in doing so Hieded and his shield was engulfed by the flame spewing from the black beasts stomache. When they looked again, the Barog was dead, and where Hieden was, a white coalesence of tiny stars gathered and lifted to the sky.
Linelle wounded and leaning against the landing gear of the Dawn was weakened but not down, through tears she yelled the battle cry "Imle do rasana", Ni-Fang and Fan understood, and between those two, Linelle and Kestre' the last of the Laraxans were laying dead before their ship. Casually Linelle wiped her twin blades on the cloaks of her enemy, she gathered her two 'daughters' and returned to the Dawn.
"Now we wait for him." She said with tears streaming down her face. They looked at her completely puzzled, they did not understand.
"Wait?" Fan repeated. She turned to Linelle, white fury in her eyes, "Diae is dead, and yet uyou say to wait he return?" Her skill at speaking dimnishing as her daemon left her for a time, her native way of speaking taking over. The ships hadn't moved yet everything else of the Laraxans had fled.
Ni-Fang stood near the hangar doors which were open, it had started to rain. She stared out into the rain, where her uncle had been only heartbeats before. He'll be back, Hieden will be back. She mentally told herself before talking mentally to Fan, 'Hieden will be back. Somehow or another he'll return, he was lost to us once before, yet managed to live. He will be back' Somehow she knew.
Fan said nothing, casting one last dark look at Linelle she left the hangar out into the rain. Going to where the great daemon laid dead. Dropping ot her knees at the site Fan cried, tears of both rain and her own streaked her face. She called mentally, 'Why? Why Diae? I am lone again, with none!' She at beat the ground then as she recived no answer, mud splashing everywhere. But she didn't care, her diae had died before her very eyes. yet Ni-Fang said he'd return? How could one do that?!
In the midst of her screams Jinjin watched not far away. Wondering then if it was time to snatch his target, one of the three, and make a getaway, but then he noticed her pick something up.
A blade.
Now was not the time, Jinjin faded away, using a gatecraft icon to disappear into the ground, and away from that location.
Fan felt something in the mud as she splashed around in her fit, a hilt of some kind. Lifting it she found her Diae's weapon. She held it, staring atthe blade, seeing Hiedens face in its refelction instead of her own, smiling. Her face slowly set into a grim line. Never will I forget you Diae, I never forgot you while a captive, I will not forget you now. She looked up into the falling rain, letting it rinse her face as she knelt there.
The rain poured so much it begain to pool in places, Fan just knelt there. Not moving, holding Hiedens blade in one hand. She never moved even when Ni-Fang appeared next to her, she too dropped to her knees. 'He saved us both, he gave himself so we could survive, something is going on, but what it is Hieden had to go in our stead, our daemons would not have survived.' Fan was crying again, Ni-fang pulled the black haired girl into a hug, she also was crying at the loss, again, of Hieden.
it was not until the rain began to let up did the two head back to the Dawn and the Spirit. both of them soaked, yet Fan carrying Hiedens blade. When they returned to the hangar of the Dawn Linelle made to take the blade, but Fan growled something only Ni-Fang could understand, who only shook her head when Linelle looked at her for a translation, whatever Fan had growled was not exactly translatable. Ni-fang then let her friend go off on her own inside the Dawn, she locked herself in her small chamber, setting Hiednes sword on the side table, with its blade out and hilt within reach, she laid face down on the bed and cried herself to sleep.
Meanwhile in the hangar, everyone stood looking toewards Ni-fang, after Fan had left. Everyone had the same question on their faces. 'Now what?' Ni-Fang took a deep breath. Though she hated doing what she was about to. "Fan needs to be alone for a while, I would also need such time myself, yet it is not so for me, nor is is so for you Trasker." At mention of her last name Linelle looked to Ni-Fang, "We have two ships to fly, but we have to take them to MerTelCom docks at the captial. to do that we need to put our pain aside and pilot both craft there, the Spirit we will then use, you mentioned Hieden returning. Do you know of where?"
"Yes, but when I do not know" Linelle said, she could pilot a craft only so far, and towing the Dawn was out of the question.
"I want you to take the Dawn, and follow me to MerTelCom docks, I'll....." She broke off at the thought of telling her father the hard news instead of the good news. "I wil then explain to father that I lost my first mate, and need time to think. After we dock both craft, I want you to find a foster father for the child you carry." Linelle nodded, so it was to the MerTelCom dockyards on the other side of the planet. Ni-Fang then left the Dawn and headed onto the Spirit. Shortly both craft lifted off and headed away
Linelle watched as the Spirit lifted off, through tear filled eyes she guided the Dawn aloft and followed the larger ships in low flight across the mountains and forests. Rivers and long flat prairies passed below until finally the outskirts of cities could be seen, within moments it seemed they were docking at MerTelCom.
The whole flight Fan never left Linelle's side, the tall eldar, her daie's wife and mother of his child, grew more and more like her own mother she never knew every moment she was with her. Fan made an oath, and her daemon as well, that know harm would ever befall Linelle or the child she carried, a future brother or sister for her, this was an oath she would keep.
It was a sad parade Johen saw leaving the two ships, he had been voxed by his daughter on their way in, and told also there was a Laraxan ship waiting for his taking, sitting in the valley below the moutain they had just left. But he was more concerned for the welfare of the survivers of the attack. The Dawn had lost seventeen good soldiers, the ships engineer and Gera had been badly wounded, as well as another eight soldiers. The medtechs of both ships worked tirelessly, and Pretas was never far away, doing what he could with the skills he posessed. The Spirit lost twelve of her twenty soldiers, half her crew had suffered wounds and four mutants were dead, even Cirir suffered a deep wound to his pride, as a stray round clipped his shoulder, and he kept on berating himself, for not dancing fast enough.
As Ni-Fang walked down the ramp to greet her father, she collapsed in his arms from sheer exhaustion, even her daemon was taxed. Linelle and Fan lead the Dawn's crew out and came to stand next to the young Captain, Johen looked at her sadly, he guessed that something was wrong, after all this time, expecting to see Hieden with his 'lost' ship, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
"I take it, things did not go well Daughter." He said
"Not as well as it should have father...there are circumstances I will convey to you in private, but for now we all need rest."
"Yes I understand. Linelle it's good to see you again, Hieden my old friend came back from the dead I hear, if reports from Mars Station ring true. Where is he?" He asked, but he already thought he knew the answer.
Biting back tears Linelle answered simply. "Biding his time elsewhere Johen, he'll be back." With that she took Fan by the hand and headed for the dock office, Ni-Fang and her father looked at the two women walking away. And Ni-Fang repeated the words softly. "He'll be back father." Then followed in Linelle's path.
As she walked toward the large building Linelle spoke to Fan through the power of her mind, not even knowing if the girl understood. "No Laraxan will be safe, nowhere in this galaxy can they hide." She was surprised to hear in her head the answer from the raven haired girl. "No mother, none of them will be, or any agent of theirs as well."
JinJin had used his powers to travel his own way to the docks, he knew he would be hunted now, but he was skilled at deception, he would bide his time. He watched from the shadows as two of his quarry entered the MerTelCom office building, then slipped away unseen.
Four of her personal nine were dead, that was not good, not wanted at all. She would need to replace them soon as she could. She had been shown to a room, and had locked herself in to get cleaned up, seeing only Cirir and Kran, who reported everything that happened between himself, Gera, and Cirir. Gera was being treated and healing rather well. Cirir himself seemed more or less locked in a internal struggle over the loss of four crewmen.
"They can be replaced, it is Jinjin that I want to speak to personally, fight and kill him if need be." Ni-Fang said as she spoke to both Kran and Cirir in her room. She had told her father of Hieden's skill and his sacrifice, yet knowing his knack for showing up when he needed to, as when she was looking for a crew for the first time. He was there. What she was thankful for was that Kran had offered to help raise Linelle and Hiedens child whatever gender it may be in the place of Hieden until he returned. Linelle after much debating with Fan for almost an hour, agreed, but on several terms, of which Kran had also agreed readliy on.
Johen seemed rather miffed that one of the best crewmen he had was once more gone. Yet apparently it did not seem to faze Ni-Fang much, the fact that there was a Laraxan ship in the Zhi Gui range of mountains seemed to help him a bit to keep his thoughts in order.
Ni-Fang then set about finding of new crewmen to replace the dead four, Cirir, she mused , would make for a good first mate and shall pick the four replacements. That should brighten his day....
Jinjin watched as Ni-Fang, his third target enter the main office building, apart from the building his other two targets entered. He was about to call for some backup plan to the front ofhis head when he noticed Fan leaving, she carried nothing, save for a small pack, no fan of any kind was seen on her belt or in her hands. Jinjin smiled and began following her at a distance as she headed for the market.
Fan had no idea she was being watched and followed, The Dark Eldars skill and magic also kept him hidden from the daemons senses, and also out of sight until the proper time as Fan turned a corner to head down an alley towards the market.
it was then that she stopped at the sound of the quiet voice, "Going somewhere?" She whipped around and stared at Jinjin.
"You!" She hissed pointing at him with two fingers.
Jinjin smiled and replied in a silly sounding voice, "me! But that's beside the point, the point is you are here and I am here. and you have something I want"
Fan stared at him, speaking something in Lokikaen and dropping a finger, giving Jinjin the bird before saying, "What are you talking about? You have what you wanted, Diae is dead."
"Is he?" Jinjin said stepped forwards, the glint of steel seen briefly in his hand Fan flipped backwards as the knife missed her by centimeters. She threw her own blades back at him, catching him on the arm. drawing first blood. Angered now Jinjin dashed forwards, catching Fan off guard with a solid right hook, and a knee updraft to her chin, sending her reeling backwards.
His breath came as halting and gutteral hisses. He drew a longer blade from within his coat. Holding it over Fan he said in a quiet voice, "Hieden will come back, but you wont..... little girl...." With those words Fan tried to back away from the dark eldar, but her arms and legs refused to respond, a heartbeat later Jinjins blade rammed through her heart. The pain was too much, a silent mindscream heard only to herself, and Jinjin who shrugged it off as a bad case of fleas as he wrenched the blade from her, it had started to rain again. Jinjin smiled, he really wanted to play with Fan, but there were people nearby who had heard the noise no doubt.
Jinjin hid his blade and walked away, heading through the market yet none entered the alley way. Fan was left alone. A hand clutching at her heart, where Jinjin had stabbed her. His blade had burned. As if poisoned. She felt the world go black, then felt nothing more.
Linelle felt worried for Fan so she sent Kestre' to look out for her, and not knowing the city well, she got turned around a few times with all the mixed sounds and smells. Finally her senses picked up Fan's path heading for the markets. It didn't take long for her to catch sight of the young woman as she turned into another alley some distance away. Kestre' hurried, but with the crowd here it was dificult. Finally she turned the corner, anxious to be with the one who had adopted her as a sister. But her face turned to horror as she saw none other than JinJin, crouched over Fan's limp form. She ran, a firball ready, but he had seemingly disappeard into the shadaows.
Kneeling beside the young woman, she felt for a sign of life, it was ebbing rapidly. She began to wail and curse the Gods and summoned Timsa, in her mind. "Your brother is a Dark One, hunt him my Love.", to which she felt his reply, "It will be done my Moonglow.". She felt Timsa move some distace away, his tracking was next to none.
Bending to lift Fan up, Kestre' felt a soft breeze, yet there was no wind today. The breeze felt warm and full of compassion, caring, she paused...then that same epireal spiral of tiny white stars appeared, when Hieden had killed the Barog and somehow vanished. She stopped and fell on her haunches, and witnessed something no being had seen for thousands of years, a hand materialised had stopped over Fan's heart. It pulsed with energy and glowed, the wound closed and Fan suddenly breathed life once more. She looked at Kestre' shook her head and was about to say "What happen.....," Then she spat. "JinJin."
"Yes I know, we'll get him, rest for a moment, something miraculous has happened this day.
They both sat there for a short while, and as they were about to get up and leave, Fan heard a soft man's voice. "I Love you my daughter, I'll be back with you soon." She cried on Kestre's shoulder, not from sadness, but joy. She knew daie was going to return.
Somerthing happened? Fan looked at Kestre as if the Eldar had grown a second head. What was she going on about? The last thing Fan remembered was fighting Jinjin for but mere moments before being stabbed through. The Diae's voice. She heard him clearly. Clearer then she ever had in her life, was it in her heard, or her mind? Meanwhile Jinjin had slipped away from Holy Terra on a outgoing cruise vessel as a nobel going on a trip. The ship left the port just as Timsa arrived at its location, Jinjin had slipped out of his trackers grasp once more. Timsa swore mentally and headed back to the offices area for MerTelCom. The mental call he recived from his adopted sister seemed to give him a spring in his step as he walked back.
Meanwhile; at the ofcfices area within the chamber Ni-Fang was given. Gera and Pretas had joined her there and also Cirir and Kran. They knew nothing of what was happening to Fan at that given time. Ni-fang had a map of the docks, several ships of the make and model design similar to the Dawn were under construction as warships. Pretas was reading through a datasheet for a crewman of mutant means thast Cirir had chosen, a pretty much imobile woman, connected directly to a computer core, which ciould either be hooked to a ship or just to a hovercraft to move her around. Cirir had found four replacement mutants under guard of the Imperial Guard. And at Johens request the four mutants were released and given directly into crew costody to Ni-Fang and Cirir.
A woman, clearly Lokikaen, entered the chambers and stood near the door. Dressed in a glittering black velvet and silver cloth dress that was rather revea,ling to say in the least. Ni-Fang noticed her and smiled, and for a few seconds everyone, save for Cirir, who had met (and danced with) Ni-Fangs mother Xue, thought they were seeing twins as Ni-Fang was exactly the same hight as her mother (1.68 m), only her mother had raven black hair, wherein Ni-Fang had startleling white. though her mothers hair was short.
"Mother" she said in Lokikaen getting up from the table where she sat and headed her way, the two women embraced.
"Daughter, it is good to see you again, Brother Ning and his wife Xia, want to speak to you as soon as they can regarding your crew. And the key you had found for Jones, we recived word from him the key you carry had been sued. And says to pass it on to Brother Ning." Xue replied in Lokiaen.
"But Ning is a Scholar, not a soldier" Ni-fang replied slightly confused before realizing where Jones was going with the movements of the key. Scholar Nings wife looked similar to Linelle, but not as tall. "Does Scholar Ning want the key now?" She removed it from within her robe.
"When they speak to you about the key yes, unless you wish me to give it to him for you." It was once said the mother of a warpborn was a true fighter, both within and without. Would that hold over for Xue the mother of Ni-Fang, the sole heir to MertelCom? Ni-Fan only smiled and handed the key to her mother to give to Elder Ning. Lady Xue had only a walking stick of sorts with her. Ruby Red in color.
She would be safe from harm with that.
Gera spoke after Ni-Fangs mother left, "Nice lady" Apparently Pretas had emnbeded a bit too much of being a soldier into Gera, as the woman wanting part had seemed to appear the morel adies the bodyguard saw.
"She is my mother" Ni-Fang replied with a smirk, Gera didn't seem or look fazed, nor did he act such either as he replied.
"Still, a nice lady, one such asd yourself Captain, are lucky to have such for a mother." he said before shutting up at the look Pretas gave him, 'Suck up' written all over it. Ni-Fang only continued to smirk.
Meanwhile in the streets, Fan knew in her heart that her Diae would be returning, only where exactly? then she spotted it, a teahut of sorts. She was in need of a drink anyhow. Mentally she said to Kestre; 'Let us enter there, I need drink.' It was true,. she had lost a lot of blood, but was somehow still alive. Kestre only nodded and followed, the pair of them finding a table, not really execting anyone to show up. Fan went right for the tea.
It was not until a young... ish looking Hieden sat down across from her, who gave a shake of his head to Kestre to not make a sound, as Fan was busy drinking down half the teapot worth of tea as it was. When she set down the teapot she stared at the man acorss from her, 'Diae?' She asked mentally.
Hieden smiled, which prompted Fan to dive over the table and grab the man into a hug. nobody within the teahouse noticed the sudden movement. Acting as if they had seen it all the time and was nothing new.
But Fan was happy. her family was together again.
Things happened fast for anyone to enjoy, first losing Hieden, four mutants, and nearly her own life in a fuitful battle of wits against her daemon. apparently the inner daemon liked to be tested as much as possible, only the last time would be a while before going at it again.
Ni-Fang found herself wandering her parents mansion, which was, in terms of size alone; the same ammount of sqaure meters as the Spirit was, maybe even larger. which many rooms never before explored. She foundherself in her mothers chambers, her father was there.
Johen saw his daughter enter and took her up into a hug. "When we recived word of the fight and loss of some of your crew, your mtoher had the tailors of Lokika, here at the mansion, make something for you." he said at her questioning look. He stepped aside as hjer mtoher stepped forwards and drew her into a hug also.
The two then conversed in Lokikaen, between themselves with privacy as Johen left the room at his wife stern look as the maids arrived with the mourning attire for Ni-Fang. The black and dark emerald lace dress, with more lacelike look and amazing design patterns, leaving much to be shown in terms of skin, and leaving plenty to the imaginations, to it. Ni-Fang marveled at the beautiful dress, and stared at her mother as the maids helped her put it on. It was not until the maids left did Ni-Fang speak.
"You mentioned fighting? Why would I fight within this item made by Lokikaen tailors commisioned by you for my mourning of my crewmen lost?" She asked her mother Xue
"Because child, as of late you have found yourself in battle with others when you least plan it. As such I thought it fitting to make you a set of clothing that can act in two ways, onem, for mourning your los, and the other for helping in battle." Xue hugged Ni-Fang. "Do not worry, when word reached us of you leaving Port Wander to begin your trading upon your ship on your own, I had several outfits designed and made for you, yet you are in mourning. So this is fitting for you."
Ni-Fang smiled. "Thank you mother." She hugged her mother then once more as her father entered.
He stood for a moment, smiling seeing his daughter within the dress his wife had made on such short notice. "You wear it well daughter" he said softly. he then got down to buisiness. "Cirir, the fourlegged man outside wished to see you when he did not find you on either of your ships, I've decided to give the Dawn into your new fleet, since you have the Spirit already, you also have a second ship to use as well, the Dawn is yours. uit should fit within the Spirits hangar bay pretty well."
Ni-Fang nodded at mention of Cirir "Yes, he is my first mate until I find one to replace the loss of Hieden Hieldenhammer. Cirir has been under the weather in terms of mood due to loosing four of his kindred in the recent battle as well." She smiled then, "It will do him good for me to speak to him."
She then elft the room, and shut the door behind her Cirir stood in the hall waiting. "Cirir," She said simply, then headed down the hall, Cirir scuttling along smoothly and quietly.
"Captain" he said at last coming to a halt when he nearly walked into the back of Ni-Fang, she was staring at something. Cirir saw nothing. But Nio-Fang saw for but a few seconds, Hieden pointing in some direction, towards the markets. Was he still alive?
Was he at the markets?
The young man entered the cafe' and glanced at his image in the mirror, he'd seen that face before, was it his? Of course it was, only the face he wore some thirty odd years ago. He scanned the place and found who he was looking for, another man perhaps in his late thirties with a dark haired woman, he seemed to remember knowing both of them at some time in his long life. But the question remained, who was he this time, "Am I me again, or someone else, how much time has passed?" He also remembered seeing a young woman with a friend, "When was that? The other day? But I was here then as well?"
He went straight to the booth, ignored the other patrons, took a cup of coffee from the waitress, who smiled at him, he knew her as well, also knew of the battle she fought so long ago, and only by the intervention of the man he was to meet, was the waitress saved from an eternal war of chaos. He smiled back at her, and she mouthed the word Waffles?, to which he nodded yes.
Sliding into the seat opposite he frowned at the other two." Well, this makes how many times?"
"Hmm, about one hundred and thirty or so since I was your handler Will, or is it Hieden, or will it be your birth name Agathon?" The other man said.
"Dont be a smart arse Daniel, it doesnt suit you, and Elizabeth, its nice to see you again, but why the two of you?"
The waitress brought his coffee and waffles over, he thanked her and said they were still the best hed ever had, she walked away slowly, turned and winked at him...strange he thought, coming from his mother, then she was always regarded as a bit of a renegade up here; he laughed to himself.
"Things have changed Will." Elizabeth said as she leaned closer across the table, she always smelt of roses. "Forces are moving in the galaxy, a single force we believed forty thousand years ago, had been delt with, but there was one we missed."
"Dont tell me."
"Yes Im afraid so." Daniel himself leaned closer so the other patrons would not hear. "When Morgan fought with Adria, we believed that was that, the Ori had been dealt it wasnt the case. We have since learnt, and only recently since she has revealed herself, there was another who took human form before our battles during my time on Earth and hid in another far part of the Milkyway Galaxy, unseen by any of us, including your fellow ancients."
"So why now, and do you know who it is?"
"Shes come forth now, because it has taken all these thousands of years to build an empire, and after a lot of defeats from the one they call the God-Emperor, she is now ready to tackle the Imperium head on, as his time begins to fade." Elizabeth told him.
"She calls herself Emperess Xi Lan, you know her as the leader of the Laraxans." Daniel said simply.
"And you want me to go back and take this trollop down I take it? You know this is getting a bit old, even we ancients need a break, I mean come on Ive been doing this for what, damn I cant even remember how long...I die, I come back, over and over..I remember doing battle with the Ori, long before your ancestors left the caves. Come on Dannyboy I need a break."
"You will have one, this will be the last time we promise, after this you can ascend at your own leasure, at any time. But dont forget, you have family now, you care about them dont you?"
"What a stupid question, of course I do. But what good will that be, when you do the old memory swipe thing again?"
"Not this time Will." Elizabeth said sincerely, her face was openly honest, it always was. He trusted her if no one else. "You go back with all of Hiedens memories intact, and a lot of your time as William MacGregor as well, youll need that. There is a lot to be done, and the old SGC base will give you much of what you need."
"Hmmm, sounds fair, do I get any help this time, or a I on my own again?"
"No, you wont be alone, you have three very strong and special women to help you, you know them well, and the one you know as Pretas, he is of an ancient lineage, he has some gifts you need to draw out. When his time comes, he will be allowed ascension as well." Daniel told him.
"So, when do I go?" He stood to leave.
"When you know in yourself the time is right. Oma stood next to him, then hugged him. You will do well my son."
Linelle had grown tired of the city, and doing Johens clerical work, since his old chief clerk had retired. She needed to get away, and the constant reminders of Hieden were getting to her. At first Fan and Kestre told her of meeting with him several times, though she could never get them to tell her what he said. Then Ni-Fang said she had seen him in passing on a few occasions, and even Linelle herself thought she saw him.
At her sugestion and granted by the God-Emperors courts, through Johens influence, the valley of Zhi Gui, was renamed Hiedenvale, and the mountain that stood before it assumed its long forgotten historical name, Colorado Mountian. She and her little entourage moved there and soon a small cabin was built on the edge of the forest, a swift cool stream nearby.
Six months had passed and Fan came every morning to place her hand on Linelles tummy, the children were strong, Galaxya had ran further screens on her and found twins, a boy and a girl, and Linelle cursed Hieden with a laugh, for the burden he had placed on her. Kran fitted in well, he began to realise with all the talk of Hieden, that his job might only be temporary, and so he became very close with Fan, when her daemon allowed it. But being only young himself, he and Fan enjoyed many an hour in the forest, either hunting or fishing, or just being young.
Ni-Fang had set up a staging base in the Valley, a refuge for the Spirit, and hired crews to restore the old base, after some heavy work, the road leading up to the original frot entry was renewed and Ni-Fang was surprised the day they finally got the massive door open, over two metres thick and more than large enough to accomodate road vehicles, with a long tunnel leading down to level one, it was ideal for her porpose. She carried on her normal business, taking the Spirit out on long trading runs, clashing with Laraxan raiders on a number of occasions. The little Python fighters from the Dawn, her ship now had twelve of them, one she called her own as she learnt to fly it, Windfire she named it; had more than made the difference. Everytime she sent the Laraxans limping home.
Ni-Fang stood late one evening with Linelle and Fan, on the verandah of her own home she had built, less than a hunded meters from Linelles, she looked over the valley and felt proud of the small town that grew there, at first from the workers she hired, but now a few familes came to join them, to escape the pressure of the city. There were shops now, and business, even an engineering company to help with her maintenance. After a long spell, she had Linelle bring the Dawn back, and the town gathered on her return to cheer the now swollen tummied officer who strode proudly down the ramp with Ni-Fang when she docked. 'How much longer Hieden?' She thought to herself, but both Ni-Fang and Fan heard her plea and both held her from either side.
******************************************
Emperess Xi Lan, tapped out a beat with her long blue lacquered nail on the arm of her deep black throne, an officer of her fleet knelt before her. "Rise General Hue, report." She said in a voice that seemed to come from the depths of hell.
"We tried my Emperess, we tried, but each time this Ni-Fang elludes us, we are sorry for our failure." He bowed his head low.
Xi Lan, reached behind her head and withdrew the long steel comb from her bun, and with a flick of the wrist, the comb flew from her hand and buried itself deep into the Generals skull. He fell lifeless with a thud. She stood and looked at her courtiers, eyes aflame with fire. "Find me someone with enough strength and might, who can bring this slip of a girl to me. I will grant anyone eternal life who does this." Of course she would not, but then a little encouragement helps. They all bowed and left, with a nod of her head, she extinguished the lights and sat in the darkness, a darkeness that echoed her soul.
"You always did want her" Said a calm deadly voice, the voice was that of Jinjin, to Xi Lan, in the darkness of the chamber. He smiled as she struck a light, his luminous green eyes shown as he appeared, looking ever the nobel.
"Again you appear unlooked for Dark Eldar. You named your price yet my men paid dearly for it. yet you get nothing of it and manage to flee!" Xi Lan replied with a hiss.
"You forget Empress, That Laxaex was cheating us both, for his ship I raided, he carried nothing of what he promised of my payment." Jinjin replied cooly.
"Laxaex cheated me on many an happening." Xi Lan hissed. "Take your money and go, unless you bring me news of good tidings wherein my own men bring me news I dislike rather badly."
"The one known as Fan is dead" Apparently Jinjin duid not know she was saved, and even the Laxarans also thought her dead, and strangely enough, Ni-Fang played on that after Fan explained her encounter and sighting on Hieden, he said nothing of what was said to her from her Diae. Ni-Fang though weouldf have none of it, and perfered to continue to mourn until the time of the childrens birth.
Xi Lan smiled, finally some good news! "One Daemon is not many, oopur own Baeran is dead to us by another of ancesterial power. Yet this is good news to me." She eyed Jinjin.
"My price remains that of what I told Laxaex, double the orginial deal, Ni-Fang is mine as is Linelle Trasker."
"Trasker? What is she to you?"
Jinjin gave her a dark look, "I have been asked that many a time, and grow tired of it Empress." He told her. "Remember, it was through my doing that you are in this post of power." He turn and stalked out of the chamber, leaving Xi Lan to think.
It had been just over six months since Hieden had passed away. Yet Fan said he was returning soon, but when she did not know, nor did she say anything of what was said to her, even to Linelle. Kran did what hje could to help Linelle, with only two months to go of term before the children were to be born at that. Ni-Fang had found herself getting into battles with Laraxan and Ork ships, and also had the oppertune moments to come across a broken and deadspaced Chaos Marouder craft or two, Sometimes life worked rightly.
Others, not so much.
Ni-Fang found herself locked in her room, drawing. Drawing what appeared to be absolute nonsense to anyone whatsoever, yet to her it meant something. Little did she know it, but the device she had let download into her mind, was begging to work its course.
She wrote things, many of them making little sense, even to herself. Other things she wrote as personal memos in Lokikaen. FGor wont of a better term she was making her mother worried. A few more weeks passed before anytrhing strange began to happen, but not to Ni-Fang or her family, but to Fan and her daemon.
And Linelle...
Hieden had not appeared to any of the three women, nor to Johen or his wife, for almost a month. Something must have been going on. Something that they didn't know about, or couldn't know about. But it was now Johens wife who was most worried for her daughter, and hoped, and thought, praying to her Lokikaen God (the Ancient Chinese Buddah) and hoping that Hieden heard her thoughts as well
Daniel sat in his normal spot in the diner of the Ascended plane, Hieden had gone to take care of personal business. He looked towards Oma, "Should we tell him what Ni-Fang did?"
Oma shook her head, "It is best that Fan tells him when the time is right. Only she will know whe nthat time will be" She smiled then as Morgan appeared, haggard and spent looking, but rather happy then she used to be. "It is about time for you to arrive."
"Adria was a handful, it took doing, yet finally I prevailed, thankfully Merlin agreed to take over for me." She replied, Then she saw Hieden appear, "William" SHe said with a nod.
"Grandmother." He replied with a similar nod. Then gave her a hug. "So, shall I head back to the others?"
The group at the table nodded, Hieden was to go to Solaris Icarus rather then Stolorus, he would return however as Hieden, the first mate of Ni-Fang, and act as a peddler until returnuign to Holy Terra, he had less then a month before Linelle came to term to give birth, and what surprized him the most of that news was, "Two children?" He was stunned to say in the least, How could he raise two warp born children?
"Don't worry, when the children are born we will spirit away one of them, to teach and raise. You may choose which of the two we are to raise for you, Kran has acted in your stead to help Linelle, yet knows it is only temporary for him to do so." Morgan replied
Another voice, a calmer, more serene voice of a older male, was heard. "It is also best you pay more attention to the happenings of the mortals Young Chils" Said Buddah, (known sometimes as Bud by Daniel) as he turned in his seat to face the booth where the rest sat. "The Lady Xue, wife of Master Johen, and mother of Ni-Fang, worries for her daughter, and hopes you hear her thoughts, as I have heard her prayers."
"What about the good captain?" Hieden asked
"She is in mourning for you until Madam Trasker-Hieldenhammer comes ot full term with the infants." He replied calmly. "She has also locked herself in her chambers for days on end, barely eating anything. Much less allowing anyone into her chambers other then one maid. She worries her mother something aweful." He gave Hieden an odd look. "I think it best you appear to her, while she sleeps to speak to her. Or appear in her rooms. Have a mind to mind chat so to speak."
Buddah smiled then, "I would go, but I'm actually quite busy answering Lady Xue Na's prayers for her daughters well being."
That made Hieden snicker, "Ni-Fang was always getting into trouble." He said.
"Still is, the Laraxans are moving, many of the craft are being raided by Ni-Fang and her crew. Even Cirir has grown adept at sword-dancing." Buddah replied.
"Very well, I will speak to Ni-Fang before I return to the mortal realm." the thought of Cirir actually dancing with blades made him wonder what exactly was transpiring in the mortal world.
"Good, it is about time you do, you are gathering dust just sitting on that chair" Buddah replied with a smirk. Hieden was about to flip him the bird but thought better of it and looked to his mtoher and grandmother.
"Shall I get going?"
"Best you do before too long." came the answer, Hieden nodded, and stood to leave, with one more hug ot Morgan, he exited the diner and as he stepped out of the place he stepped directly into Ni-Fangs bedroom....
Ni-Fang was laying on the bed, staring a the ceiling. She never noticed him enter. the maid had been in, but only to change the bedlinens. The first thing Hieden nosticed about Ni-Fang was her appearance, she hadn't changed from the black and emerald dress her mtoher had given her when Hieden had passed away. The lace front was quite clean however, but her hair was another story. It was an absolute mess, worst then a birds nest. Her eyes were bloodshot from too many nights reading, writing, and thinking.
Glass was everywhere, some of it cubelike most of it right from several old windowpanes, all of it contained someform of data imprinted into it. Seeing the piles and stacks of glass, paper and many broken vox recorders. Hieden said simply. "I see you've been busy...."
That get her attention. But not the desired effect. Ni-fang rolled over on the bed, her back to Hieden, Thinking him one of the servants, or a man trying to suit her, she said simply. "Not interested. I'd rather be alone"
Hieden looked at fist confused but a cheeky sneaky smilke appeared on his face as he went forwards, poking her in the ribs where he always poked her. "I am not suiting enough then?"
It was his voice that made her think aloud, yet still having her back to him. "Hieden?" She turned tio look, but he was gone. But was he returning? Something was written on a piece of glass, newly written. When she read it, she smiled. Hieden was returning, but it was not when, it was where.
After speaking with Ni-Fang's mother Xue, Hieronyma headed to Ni-Fang's quarters. She, too, was worried about Ni-Fang and how much time she spent alone. With a bit of urging from Xue and Johen, she decided to go check up on her and see if there was something wrong.
Hieronyma went to knock on the door to Ni-Fang's quarters, only to have the other woman answer it faster than she had thought possible. Ni-Fang grabbed Hieronyma's wrist and pulled her inside, causing the other woman to give a tiny squeak in surprise. Ni-Fang looked like a wreck to Hieronyma, her hair dirty and matted, her eyes haunted. When Ni-Fang released Hieronyma, the timid TechMedic began to speak.
"Ni-Fang, ma'am, you-"
But Ni-Fang cut her off. "Have you seen any sign of Hieden at all?" she demanded.
Hieronyma frowned. She had hurt the others whispering of Hieden's return, but she could not see how it was possible. How could someone come back from the dead. "No, I have not."
"And Linelle?"
"Linelle is fine," she assured. "The twins are healthy, maturing fine. You do not need to worry about them." Before Ni-Fang could interrupt again, Hieronyma added. "Ni-Fang, your parents are worried about you, we all are. You need to take better care of yourself." She placed a hand on the other woman's shoulder.
"Hieden left us" Ni-Fang said dejectedly, "Fan says he is returning, but refuses to say anything more then that." Ni-Fang looked at Hieronyma, "Linelle is close to term, before you came to my door, I thought for a moment I heard Hieden in my chambers. But when I looked, he was not there. Yet I heard him clearly. Felt him too"
"Felt?" How can one feel the dead?
"He poked me" Came the reply.
That was impossible, "He what? He's dead, how can he poke another?"
Ni-Fang looked at Hieronyma, her face saying something snooty, yet she only said, "I don't know." It was true, she didn't know.
"So now what?" Hieronyma asked quietly as Ni-Fang went to the window and opened it out to the river seventy five meters below. Hieronyma followed, finally getting it as Ni-Fang removed her necklace given her asa young girl by Hieden before he took he Dawn fifteen years before. "You're not thinking...."
"... of a swim? Yes I am, after all, you said it yourself, I need to worry moreof my appearance and take care of myself, so...." As she spoke Ni-Fang sat on the windowsill, the window was wide open, and nowherenear hitting her head. She smiled, "Wanna join me? You need to loosen up a bit, you're always stiff necked and quiet."
Before Hieronyma could answer Ni-Fang grabbed her wisr and fell backwards, pulling Hieronyma along straight ino the ten meter deep, bathwater like, slow moving river system. It wasn't cold, nor was it unexpected from the other people using the river. A few houses were built, and some that were there were using the river as a means of transport and seemed used to Ni-Fangs gravity defying stunts out her window. At least to the point of not calling for the local police department to fish people from the river from so high a fall.
Both women poked their heads above water, soaked to the core. Yet now in good spirits. Both women were smiling. For the first time in ten years, Hieronyma felt at peace and ready to have fun for once
At first, Hieronyma was frowning. But when Ni-Fang saw the look on her face, she started laughing, and Hieronyma smiled a bit and laughed too. She swam to a more shallow part of the river and tried to stand up, but ended up slipping on the rocks and falling right back down. She laughed and shivered slightly, her wet clothes sticking to her body.
"I am not stiff necked," she said quietly, with a bit of a smile.
Ni-Fang laughed. "Then you obviously have not seen yourself."
"...hey!"
The two women laughed. Hieronyma gave up on trying to stand up and sat down in the water. IT was actually quiet refreshing, now that she was used to it. Ni-Fang splashed her playfully, and she giggled and splashed back.
"You need to relax," the other woman said with a laugh.
"If this is not relaxing then I do not know what is," Hieronyma replied with a grin. Ni-Fang was right, she did need to relax sometimes. It was hard to, though, when she was the virtual outsider on the ship.
Ni-Fang stood up, and tossed her hair over her shoulder, sending water everywhere. "You know, you're kind of a mystery to everyone. No one knows anything about you."
Hieronyma simply shrugged. Her past was a touchy subject, one that she did not like to talk about that much. "Well no one has ever asked."
"Well I will, then," Ni-Fang said, and Hieronyma began to feel uneasy. She nodded slowly, and Ni-Fang asked. "Where were you born?"
"Holy Terra," Hieronyma said after a moment of hesitation. "I-I didn't really know my parents." That of course was a lie, for the first eleven years of her life she had lived on the streets with her parents. She'd had four siblings, she was just another child to them. They hadn't even really noticed when she had left.
"I see," Ni-Fang said with a nod. "Did you do anything before you were a TechMedic?"
An image of a daemon charging her immediately entered Hieronyma's mind, and she winced. She suddenly remembered Ni-Fang was daemon-possessed, and flinched back. "I'd rather not talk about it."
She struck a nerve, that must have been it. Seeing how Hieronyma was reacting to the question Ni-Fang said quietly; "Forget I asked that then, I take it you have been a TechMedic for a longer time then on local records?" Hieronyma nodded, Ni-Fang then noticed something, the water, now chest deep, felt slightly colder.
And it wasn't her doing either.
Nor her Daemons.
Nor was it anyone she knew either.
It was someone else, someone, once close, but now an enemy. Hieronyma fell to it first, the instant chill of the water sent the Techmedic into shock, pulling her under within a heartbeat. It took a few minutes longer for Ni-fang to figure out what was going on before she too fell to the coldness of the water. A single name entered her mind as she slipped from the land of the living into the blackness.
Jinjin
