Rogue Trader; Tales from the Spirit of Silence
Episode 11
Fronache & a Latte [part II]
Once she hit warp and the darkness covered her tiny craft Ni-Fang soon settled into a deep sleep. in her mind time was moving, it was a three day trip via direct lane use from Lokia to Terra, and her father was dying. But he was not going to die this soon. She slept long and hard, and as she slept she found herself inside a building. a diner of sorts.
Looking around she had to wonder where the frek she was. she spotted a single person, a woman with black hair, and for a moment she only stared, this was too surreal! "Who are you?" Ni-Fang asked when she realized she didn't have anything for a weapon, not even a chair! She had to play it safe even though she was asleep.
Morgan stopped at the table and sat across from her, some of her features, like Hiedens steel green eyes and dark hair were seen clearly. Morgan smiled. "My name is not important right now, but what is important young one is your history."
"What do you mean?" Ni-Fang asked confused giving Morgan a 'you're kidding right?' though in her mind she kept thinking, its just a dream. Then she realized. "It is about the head grabber thing, right?" Morgan shook her head, though she knew that Ni-Fang had downloaded the datasbase, and her daemon within her had kept her from breaking down within days muchless hours of downloading the thing. OK so it wasn't that. so she asked. "What history?"
Morgan seemed to inwardly chuckle "How much do you know of a planet called Dakara?"
Ni-Fang looked at Morgan, bit her lip a heartbeat, then said simply. "Not much"
Morgan then procceeded to tell her aboujt the planet, and instructed Ni-Fang to send a notice to Hieden to go there. there would be an item most useful for Ni-fang there. After what seemed like many hours Morgan said that she could wake up. Butr before she stood up Ni-fang had one last question to ask.
"What is Pandora?" Morgan had ot stare, how did that data get into the database? Morgan shook her head and said simply. "That I cannot answer, you will have to ask Hieden." it was true, Morgan had no idea what Pandora was about other then that box. Ni-Fang nodded then and stood up to leave, as she did so the building faded and she came to inside Startail.
OK girl that was different, she thought. she dropped ouyt of the warp near a planet, and sent a notice to Hieden, it read short and simple. "Go to Dakara system, there is an item there that should help us against Xi Lan, make haste, I will meet you in my fathers office." She jumped back to the warp and continued to Holy Terra
"You can't go I forbid It." Linelle was in one of her moods. A year had passed since the last confronation with Xi Lan. Heiden was anxious to do something, anything, but this. He had told her about his need to go to this Dakara place some time ago, and indeed he would have gone. But Xue had too much to do with Johan's health failing and Ni-Fang away so much. Hieden and Linelle were more or less running the company, so much so Xue and Johen had agreed to grant them a one third share in trust for Daniel and Elizabeth.
"Lin I must, and ye know it. That maniac is still on the loose out there and she is building her forces. Ni-Fang's last vox confirmed it, Xi Lan is a prepping fer a big push agin us. We need th' advantge now, more than ever." He tried his best to sound convincing but was doing a shoddy job, and he knew it.
"On one condition then I shall grant it Hammaer Starfire, I know Xue is going with you, and I trust you both. But if you cross me again, I have your permission to kill you both...agreed." She smiled wickedly, and a tear fell. Hieden held her closely.
"Agreed"
In the early hours Hieden, Xue-Lan and Pretas left in the Jumper that was part of the Dawn's original alotment of auxillary vessels, the same one that only he and Pretas could fly, due to their certain heritages. Xue wanted badly to know why she could not fly it herself, onlt the explanation from Pretas drove her to snuggle down in the rear compartment and sleep. In fifteen hours they were over a reddish brown planet, they checked for life signs and found none. Hieden gently aroused Xue, "We're here sleepy-head." He said with a smirk. Neither he nor Pretas had slept at all.
Landing in a small defile, Pretas went over the instruments and made sure there was atmosphere, everything was in the green. "So tell me Captain, what is so special about this barren world?" He asked.
Xue Shen wanted the same answer, but she saw there was a memory in Heiden's eye that was hurtful to recall. "Perhaps another time Techpreist, for now, we do what we came here for and get back to Terra as quickly as possible."
"No it's alright Xue. This place was a scene of both great tradgedy and triumph, many times over. But alas, in the end, evil once again ruled here, and the forces of good could only undo all the great things that had been achieved here to destroy that evil. Nevertheless me friends, in the end those good forces returned here for a short while, but all the glory was gone, so it was left te nature once again." Hieden opened the rear hatch and stepped out. "This was, it be a short walk up this valley."
The sun beat down wickedly and the 'short walk' turned into a three hour slog. Finally though they came into a sheltered ravine, there was little here except for a small rivulet and some dense scrub. Hieden bid the other two to wait as he scrambled up a rocky slope. In a few minutes he hailed them and they found themsleves in a dank musty cavern, which once may have been a temple of sorts. He paced the space in four places until he found a blank smoothly finished wall, the dust of ages covered it, but running his hand over it revealed a panel, it slid out smoothly. He placed his hand on it and the wall disappeared as if it was never there.
Pretas took in a large breath, Xue was equally taken aback. Before them was what could only be described as a hangar, similiar to that on the Dawn, only much, much larger. Directly in front of them, as lights came on with their approach was a ship. Maybe one third the size of the Dawn perhaps, but it was blocky and arrogant looking, and Pretas could see it was nothing more than a weapons platform, he ran down the small slope and stood beneath it's aggressive prow.
"This...this belonged to the Old Ones of Terra?" He said in awe.
"Yes laddie, this is the Janet Fraiser, a pure gunship, in the sense and she has more than that as well. Her design is such, we can build five o' her in th' time it takes te' make one of the Dawn. An she is deadly." He turned to Xue-Lan. "Xue she only needs a good crew of no more than sixty or so. She can carry troops if ye like as well. But there is more, come."
He led them to a vertical ladder in climbed up into the ship. Systems came online the moment their presence was detected. Hieden took them to the holding area, adjacent to one of the two large hangar bays. Ther he showed them what could only be described as ground vehicles, eight of them, in three varieties, some armed by the looks of them. he stood with his back to the arrayed equipment. "Well, what do ye think Xue?"
She held her finger to her lip in thought. "Very nice Star, and I'll have as many of these ships and whatever she carries built. But how in Hell's name do we get it out of here?"
Hieden laughed a hearty sound. "Oh that's th' easy part lass, we simply engage the warp drive. I'll get back to th' Jumper and dock her. Then in half the time we took te' get here we'll be back on Terra."
"Do it, now." She demanded, her arms folded beneath her breasts, the sternest of looks upon her face. "I want that witches head."
Ni-Fang arrived at Holy Terra, reciving an input notice from Startail that the Spirit and the Dwan heraded for Dakara, whatever the place had for them she hoped it was worth the trip. She headed for high orbit then headed for the landingpad at MerTelCom's main tower in the Imperial City where her father Johen was. The purple craft landed and several servants rushed out to refuel the craft, and also inform Ni-Fang of her fathers condition. With a curt nod she dismissied the servant to rejoin the others in caring of the fighter craft and headed into the tower.
Stalking down several halls untill she found the room her father was in, she entered, speaking in Lokikaen she told the doctors to leave and wait outside. After they left she locked the door. she turned towards her father. "Diae" she said. Hoping he was still alive and she wasn't too late for the antidote.
"Ni-Fang" Johen replied, he opened his eyes slowly and looked at her as she stepped forward, placing a needle into his right arm near the wrist. "How is your mother?"
"She is fine. She is worried for you, Hieden and her have gone to a planet called Dakara, whatever they are looking for I think they know what they are doing." She said nothing more, the needle drained of its content was thrown away. Her father looked a bit better.
Johen smiled as he sat up, feeling better then heh ad in weeks. he looked to his daughter. "Your mother is not taking things well, when you ewere mourning your first mate she worried more for you then anything else. What worries her now I wonder?"
"Lokika no doubt worries her, she has to find more staff for the planets HQ of MerTelCom." She said.
out in the hallway a man walked towards Johens room, stopping near the door Qiu Xien listened to what was said inside. His forehead mottled in thought and a flare of anger shot through him. Ni-Fang survived? Frek! What mnade him angerier was the mention of the two children born to Ni-Fangs first mate and navigator. That both children were to be given a share of trust found of MerTelCom. Rather then see his brother in law as he had planned, Qiu turned and left the doorway at a fast walk, he had a different plan.
Ni-Fang smiled and pushed her father back to the bed. "You are ill Diae, and you know it, Mother can handle things of the Company until you are well enough to work without worry of your illness." She told him.
Johen smiled. "Always the thinker." He grabbed his daughter and hugged her. when she gave off a small squak of surprise he laughed aloud. "When I am well enough to work without worry, things will be set up for you to have a fleet of your own. I was given word through a servant that your mother had given order to build a small group of craft. I was told they'd be cheap to make yet battle worthy and the like. Now i must sleep, if your uncle is waiting to see me, let him in as you leave." Johen settled back in the bed as Ni-Fang smiled and let go of her father and left the room. She didn't see her uncle anywhere so she merely shook her head at her fathers question if any were there to see him. then she shut the door and left.
The path way of the ancient made homestead of Lokikaen make was lined with soldiers every five meters. each soldier keeping watch. Qiu entered the homestead and spoke in a odd voice. Another man appeared, a dark blond haired man at that, dressed similar to Qiu and Ni-Fang both, a one piece tunic that acted more liek a robe with a dark emerald shash tied around his waist, his hair was worn long in the traditational Lokiaen way. Qiu smiled. Chyen YeQien jhad learned much and seemed ready to work now, he also seemed a bit lovestruck.
"Master Shao, you called for me?" Chyen said
"Yes, I have a job for you, I want you to meet with Ni-fang, my niece, take her to dinner, try to get her mind off her faghers company and onto you. Her mother, my sister, runs the company now and Johen is dying. When Johen goes, I will see to it that you marry Ni-Fang, but only when Johen has died." Qiu replied. If Ni-Fang married a man outside the company her share of the company would then be rendered void, and even worse as Chyen's bloodline was that of Xi Lans own extencded family! Yet Chyens family crest was a purple snake on a white field.
Chyen only smiled. He loved Ni-Fang, but how could he get close enough to her without giving himself away? "How do I do that? If a wrong move is made she will know and try to kill me."
Qiu laughed and shook his head. "I have another already planet on her ships crew, a former sister of battle subset named Sisters of Luna, her name is Rain, she will meet with you when the time is right or when you need help." Qiu huimself had no idea that Ni-Fang was gearing up for a fight against the Desecrator of the Holy Temple on Lokika. but when that fight would happen...
The three of them settled back for what they thought would be an uneventful journey back to Terra. Hieden took the time to explain the small ships systems it's history and give them a detailed tour. They were running on a automated routine and so there was no need for concern, the ship's computer would sound an alert if anything should go wrong, so the Captain made sure both his firends knew as much about the vessel as time allowed.
They were now in the starboard hangar bay, where four of the fighter craft, the same as the one Hieden brought back from the desert outpost, were stored. Along with six larger craft that to Xue and Pretas were equally amazing. Stout fat things with drooping wings, missile stations on each wing and a lethal looking gun turret atop the cockpit. It carried a aircrew of four and could also carry up to twenty four fully armed troops or two of the land vehicles he had shown them earlier. The strike craft as he called them, were known as Tornado's, or more technically AC401's, built primarily for attack missions and delivering troops and equipment rapidly to the ground.
They moved on and both Xue and Pretas were full of questions, more than anything else they wanted to know about the name of the ship. "She is certainly full of wonder Star..." Xue began, "but as it is obviously built purely for war, I must ask, as I read the files in the logs, why was it named so. This woman who carried that name was a medical healer, a...doctor. That doesn't seem to fit with the ships role."
"Yes Captain, I had been wondering about that also. I saw this Janet Fraiser on the holovox in the underground base, can you explain. That old world did place great store in naming their ships."
Hieden's memories of William MacGregor came to the fore as he explained in the most succinct terms he could manage. "Tha' ships were nominated the 'Heroine' class. Doctor Janet Fraiser was a military surgeon who died whilst trying to save a soldier on the battlefield. This 'ere ship was the first of her class, so the honour went to her, to carry the name of a true hero." He closed his eyes for a moment. Though William never met Janet, he had read and re-read all the files of the SGC during his time there, she was so much like his wife Anne of that time.
They moved on and after a short tour of the missile batteries, which to Hieden's own amazement, were all fully functional, with eighteen of the twenty tubes loaded with working Horizon missiles and more in the holding stores. This boded well for production on their return. Returning to the bridge, the elevator doors opened and the moment their feet stepped forward, the klaxon alarm blared loud in their ears, all three of them looked curiously at one another, until Xue saw immediately before them, out through the large front window openeing two golden pyramid shape ships. "Xi-Lan!" She spat. "Hieden what do we do, you're the Captain here." She yelled at him as she grabbed his collar and hauled him into the bridge.
Shaking free of her grasp and smiling non to kindly at her, he jumped in the command seat and began a well practiced drill. "Xue, take that seat there." He pointed to the missile command chair. "Pretas, beside me here, gunnery."
Boom! A heavy hit glanced of the hull shaking the occupants. On the leading Hatak one of Xi-Lan's commanders dressed in the robes of her clan, ordered more strikes. "Launch the Death Gliders, we shall wipe this Terra vermin from Her Majesties realm."
"Shields up and holding Captain. Firing main cannon." Pretas called as another red-gold beam struck the ship. This time though the shields absorbed the shot and only a mild rocking affected the Fraiser. The pale blue Asgard beam from the forward turrets sliced through the second Hatak, cleaving it in two. Pretas glanced forward momentarily and then looked away when he saw bodies being sucked into the void.
"Good job son." Hieden yelled as another shock wave, a little more efficient this time, jolted the cruiser. "Xue, ready missiles three to eight fire on my mark..." He glanced up for a second. "Ah hells that wench learns quickly, they have fighters. Xue fire now, Pretas switch to rail guns, clear that garbage away now!" Both did as the experienced mind of MacGregor filled Hieden's thoughts, rattled out commands.
After several minutes it was over, the Fraiser had survived her baptism of fire in this new era, but not before the Hatak commander had voxed Xi-Lan full details of the engagement and data on this new small and most deadly ship. It was the last thing he did, as his ship imploded around him, when five Horizon missiles found their mark. Debris floated with the bodies as the Fraiser made the jump for Terra.
(((
Ni-Fang was wandering the gardens of her fathers vast complex inthe Imperial City, not knowing that pair of eyes belonging ot one Chyen YeQien were watching her closely. Ni-Fang began to go through moves of some kind of odd dance.
After a while Chyen spoke up. "gǒǒd skíll" he said to her stepping into view.
Ni-Fang halted and turned towards him. "whō ārě yòú?" she asked him
"Chyēn yéqíèn" Chyen replied, "I work for your father"
"For my father? Why then have I never heard of you? what is your family crest?" Ni-Fang asked a sword towards the man
In reply to the question of his family crest he simple pointed to his necklace. the purple snake shined clearly. "You never noticed others working for you fgather because you aren ever here long enough" he said to her.
"How would youk now of my doings?" Already she was disliking this man, but oddly attracted to him.
"I keep an eye on the company logs, it is what your father has me do at times."
"Who are you really?"
"I am a friend, nothing more, consider me a friend rather then an enemy, and we shall get along well." Chyen replied
"I am unsure of how well we shall get along, yet something tells me you speak truly. So I will trust you only so far." Ni-Fang said she smiled then and asked three quick questions. "What skills do you have? Have you been off of Holy Terra before, beyond Sol System? How are you with a crew of peers?"
She had caught him slightly off guard, he ansewered two of the three, "my skills are known to myself and my parents only, and also to my shifu, I work with a office full of people so that will be no different. I have only ventured as far as Lokika, never father."
He spoke truthfully. Ni-Fang nodded, "Spar with me then, and let us test your skills." Chyen smiled and made ready. Within a heartbeatthe pair were trading strikes and parries.
Ni-Fang and Chyen were slowly circling one another, poised and ready to cast blows, their lithe young bodies relaxed. Ni remembered a stance that Linelle had taught her, one of the secrets of the Nine warrior preists, she formed Weaving the Wind, just to see Chyen's reaction. Immediatley he chnaged his form to Folding the Fire, then she was onto him like a hurricane. "Liar!" She screamed at him, as she pinned him to the ground and kneed him hard in the groin. "Who are you really. If as you say, you've never ventured further than Lokika, how do you know these forms, answer me." She spat at him. "There are few eldar on Lokika, and none of the Nine...answer me now, or I'll finish your miserable..."
Her sentence was cut short by the now familar thrum of an Ancient Terra ship, but she knew it was not the Dawn. "Hieden, mother." She whispered, as she stood and released the hapless Chyen. "Guards." She called out. Two Crimson clothed men appeared "Hold this one in my chambers until I return, do not let him loose understand." She spoke hotly to three of her fathers Crimson guard, they spoke not, but saluted her, fists to chest, and led Chyen away. He cast a spiteful glance over his shoulder before he was out of her sight.
Others had heard the ships arrival as well. Linelle and Fan stood side by side in the courtyard, each holding the now two year old twins, they met with Ni-Fang and together they walked toward the large bare landing fielld just beyond the estate walls. Little Daniel cooed "Diae." As he pointed to the grey ship, it's four stout landing gear coming down, then cushioning the 'Thump' as the Fraiser landed. It was time for reunions all around.
Unseen tp all, a small silver sphere, perhaps a metre in diameter hovered nearby then whisked away. Many planets away, Xi-Lan sat upon her grotesque throne. She peered intnetly at the holovox images and cackled hideously. "I see you now young wench. I see you Agathon Istrael." Her hateful laughter made even her own guards cringe.
Ni-Fang waited for the landing ramp to lower she smelled something from the craft something oddly new, and yet, very old. When the ramp lowered her mtoher came down first, after trading words for a moemnt Pretas arrived carrying once more another DELL box of sorts. this one larger then anything Ni-Fang had ever seen, yet the man carried with with absolute ease. "Another?" she asked him, he only nodded and mentioned something of wheeled items as well within the ship.
Hieden appeared last, and Elizabeth started to reach for him, crying out "Diae!" Hieden laughed aloud as he took Elizabeth from Linelles arms, and hugged her, giving his wife a kiss to the cheek. he noticed that Ni-fang seemed oddly at edge.
"Somethin' on yer mind lass?" Hieden asked her.
"It is an employee of my father. His skills are that of the Nine, he knows the stances." She said quietly, now Linelle looked her way "He calls himself Chyen YeQien. the Purple Snake is his family crest, one I never heard of before."
"I am sure it is nothing, he sounds liek a promising man, where is he now?" Hieden asked, her mother merely nodded she knew of YeQien and had spoken with him at several points in time.
"i do not trust him, so I have him under guard, he is in my chambers right now under Crimson Guard." Ni-fang said, that meant something major was going on, if YeQien was under Crimson Guard something must have happened between the pair for that to be earned. The fact that he was in her own chambers made zero sense. Which promted Hiden to ask her.
"in your chambers? was he caught there or..."
"We sparred, it is how I found his skill of the stances. I tested him, he showed me he knew of the stances learned only by the Nine. he claims to never been beyond Lokika." Ni-Fang said, she shook her head, "Hieden ,what kind of woman do you think of me? I do not act rashly you know that" it had been two and a half years since the events of fighting with Jinjin and her downloading the data, and only one year since Hiden had removed it from her mostly so.
"At least not as much" Fan snickered recalling how Ni-Fang had once decked Hieden for going out of step when in conferance., but that was noew few and far between.
Hieden changed the subject then, "news of your father?"
"He is getting better the docotrs were able to conduct a successful experiment with a device Preta had created with Hieronyma's direction. she is with him now I think." Ni-Fang noticed how clsoe her TechMedic and TechPriest had been getting as of late.
"That is good I'll speak to him later if he is well enough to have company." Hieden said.
Ni-Fang only nodded, she spoke to her mother in Lokikaen before turning and heading for her chambers.
Chyen sat in a chair, one he had chosen to sit within, he was mostly right. Ni-Fang was a hard nut to crack rightly. He went over their sparring, more of a test she told himself, she was testing me. But did I pass or fail? he truly had not gone farther then Lokia in his life. But he had not the heart to etll of where he learned those stances, Folding the Fire was his personal favorite of the stances he knew, which was pretty much all Nine! he relaxed noting two guards standing witrhin reach of him, and one by the door, the three never spoke, nor did they asllow Chyen to move.
he knew how to channel pain so getting kneed in the grion didn't hurt much as he had thought, What he did not expect was to see Qiu arrive briefly and speak to the soldiers, which allowed him a bit of breathing room but not much. He was able to make himself more comfortable in the chair he had sat upon. then he had to wait
But not long, Ni-Fang stalked in, with so much as a wave of her hand the three guards left the room. Ni-Fang took a seat across from Chyen. "So" she said to him.
"So." he replied, wondering where the conversation was going to go
"Where did you learn the stances?" She had no idea that her uncle held a member of the Nine within the complex somewhere.
"On Mars Station. there were members of the Nine there, like I said I have never ventured further then Lokika, Mars is closer then Lokika." Chyen replied it was msotly true he had only been to Mars station once in his 27 years of life. and Ni-Fang was only twenty three and also knew the stances!
"You are right there were members living there but they are not there now, how long ago was your trip to Mars Station or to Lokika?"
"Six moons ago to Lokika, three years ago to Mars" he had no idea of Fan, or of who she was, thinknig her a member of anothers family of servants there.
Ni-fang stood to leave her chambers, though Chyen was still there, she moved to the door as he spoke up. "? Da, su wah Ai si gi Ai so si sho" She stopped and loked at him, thinking for a minute of what to say to him. He looked at her, his dark blond hair shifting with the breeze through the open door.
"Jai shi, sak to nikto, Chyen!" She hissed angered, slamming her fist to the door frame, a crack was heard where her fist connected. she turned towards Chyen. "?Da shi, shi si Ai tao sik yi sik"
"Yui Diae shang song du sak aei." Chyen replied standing from his chair and moving towards her.
"Di shik, si sa wai!" Ni-Fang hissed, turning towards him. her father had indeed hired the man that stood before her. "Su sien dak, ? du nu mavar sei" She got into a stance.
Right when Chyen was about to meet the stance with one of his own that Qiu himself taught him, Xue Shen entered the chambers doorway. "Ni-Fang." she called, then seeing Chyen she said somewhat calmer, and in athority "YeQien."
"Di Xue Shen." Chyen replied holding up his hands in the Salute of Lokika.
"Niang" Ni-Fang said seeing her mother, turnnig towards her she noticed her worry. "What is it?"
"The enemy is moving, your father wants you to get back to Hidenvale as soon as you can. Hieden also wants to go back there, Linelle and the children too are to go." Xue Shen said.
"What about you?"
"I will be fine here. it is you that is in charge of a crew of people that work for you, not I." Xue told her what Johen said to do. Ni-Fang had to be told the truth of her real father, but Xue Shen knerw that her daughter would refuse to believe it. Uncle Hammer would always be just that, her uncle, like Uncle Qiu. But she would tell her anyway.
Ni-Fang spotted Chyen still in the room, "what are you still doing here? go." She said, the tone of her voice, not to mention the anger in it made Chyen think that going without talking was the better idea, he skirted around both women and left the chambers at a fast walk.
When Chyen had left Xue Shen looked tired, as if she did not want to tel lthe next bit of news. "Niang, what is it? tell me trulthfully why does Diae want me to go?"
"Ni-Fang, Johen, he is not your father. Hammer Starfire is." Xue Shen said.
That was too much. Ni-Fang nearly went to the floor. She backed up, knocking a vase from its perch to the ground with a crack to the wood but a small dent to the metal. She stared at her mother. "No." She said quietly looking away, it couldn't be true. "No!" She repated, louder this time, and mostly out of fear. Xue Shen tried to get closer to her daughter, but Ni-fang would have none of it, pushing away her mother. She backed up another step. "No! Uncle Hammer died! You did not tell me then! Diae, the one you are married to Niang, is my father! Uncle Hammer..." Tears came to her eyes then and she turned away. her hand towards her mother, palm out, not wanting her mother to come closer.
Xue Shen watched her daughter, knowing in her heart that it was true. She watched Ni-Fang she had gone to the other part of the chamber. Leaning against the door post. Ni-Fang was speaking in another langauge, obvisouly that of her daemon.
'No, its not true, Hieden is Fan's Diae, not mine.' She was saying. her daemon tried to reason with her as well, but she was having none of it. 'HIEDEN IS NOT MY DIAE!' She screeched at last. She looked back to her mother, who still stood at the door. tears stung her eyes. Looking away, she tried to get hold of herself.
"Leave." she said at last.
"Ni-Fang." her mother started to say.
"GO!" Ni-Fang yelled, nearly cursing plainly by then, Xue Shen saw the anger in her daughters eyes and backed out of the room, closing the twin Lokiaen doors.
hearing her daughters anger being taken out on random items in the room beyond the doors, the noise was sure to draw attention, she called to the guards nearby. "Guard this door, should my dfaughter try to leave, contact Hieden or Linelle. if you have to, restrain her as you see fit." She said before leaving the area. Heading to Johen's medical room. She had done what she had to, she had told Ni-Fang the truth. And it was up to her now to take it as it was. Or to deny it.
Pretas stood on the edge of the loading ramp, his feet hurt and so did his head. He had gotten into little game with some of the estate's guards, they called it skulling. These men were from the far deep south, Australis, hardened by internal wars of many years, they reminded him much of Hieden, only their accents were even stranger. But they were good soldiers and some of them had been recruited into the ship's rosters to replace those who had been lost so far in the constant skirmishes were Xi-Lan's forces...too many he thought.
"What's taking them so long Captain?" He turned to Hieden.
"Not sure lad, some trouble with Ni-Fang according to Hieronyma. She was nae specific on the cause tho'." Hieden knitted his brow, holding his hand to shield the sun, he gazed toward the estate gates. "They're a coming now lad."
Looking hard through the heat haze, he saw Ni-Fang, her mother Xue, Hieronyma and Fan, flanked by Gera and two Crimson guards, but where was Linelle? It wasn't like her, the babes were with them, but the mother? He began to sweat a little, for the past few days, Linelle had told him she felt uneasy about something, but what was it?
Xue approached the Fraiser's ramp ahead of the others. She carried Elizabeth who slept in her arms.
"Star, I need to speak with you, alone." She said softly and handed the baby over to Pretas, seemed to take it in his stride, now three years old, she more than her brother, adored being held...by almost everyone. He remained where he was, as Hieden led Xue into the small ship.
As the two of them reached the elevator Hieden spoke. "It's Linelle isn't, there is something wrong Xue, I canna see it in yer eyes." He felt a knot in his throat.
"Yes." She said quietly. "We went to your rooms earlier and there was no sign of her. I've had my guards look everywhere..." She placed her hand on his arm gently. "I'll find her Star, I will. But you must leave here with Ni and the others, it's no longer safe."
"Xue, I can't leave without her..." His eyes filled, and rage slowly started beneath him. He began to quake.
"Star Hammer, be the giant of a man I know you to be. I will find Linelle, I promise you. I'm keeping Gera, Timsa Aldare and Kestre Naidin with me." She stood closer to him and held him briefly. "Now take Ni and the rest to Hiedenvale, I'll join you there soon. And one other thing, you are to promote Pretas to Captain commander of the Fraiser, I believe he is ready now."
Hieden simply nodded, he could not compose his words for the moment. Then he looked up at his one time love. "Ni-Fang, you told her didn't you?"
"I did, and now she has just heard it from Johen. He will not see the next sunrise Star, so I must stay with him until then. She has not fully accepted it yet, give her time...give her time." Xue turned and left, she did not even look back as she faded out of his sight.
It had been a year since she was told, a full year. And all the while Ni-Fang told herself, it was just a cruel joke her mother was playing on her. Even her daemon she controlled believed it, but she had none of it. None of it until that night, the last ngiht her father had to live. he was living good and was healthy. But it was not anything that either Ni-fang, nor Xue Shen were expecting!
A servant arrived at the landing pads,. a good three km from the MerTelCom complex itself, a long run no doubt. After giving the Lokikaen salute to Xue he said in Lokiaen. "Master Johen wishes to see you, and lady Ni-Fang, he wishes for you to come to his offices at once and lady Ni-fang to meet him in her chambers."
Xue nodded, "Wait here but a moment" she said to the servant, who nodded and stood at attention. Xue turned and went up the ramp to the Fraiser, finding Hieden where she left him. She chattered towards Ni-Fang, since she was also there, telling her that her father wanted to see her in her chambers. She spioek to Hieden. "Johen wants to see Ni-Fang, I do not know why, but it might have something to do with how things have been going for them both."
"Are you sure?" Hieden asked, he was worried for Linelle being missing for two days.
A solid smack brought him back to reality, "Do not question my motives Hieldenhammer" she said as Hieronyma arrived at the bridge. "Ni-Fang will meet up with you at Hiedenvale come dawn. You are to command things until she arrives, understood?"
Hieden nodded, giving Xue a hug. "Good luck" he said quetly into her ear, they broke contact and Xue left, following after Ni-fang, who was already in the distance.
Johen sat in his office. At the desk, he was writing something, a letter to his daughter. The time it took for the servant to fetch his wife, gave him the chance to write to his daughter, his only child. "Ni-Fang, if you have found this in your room at day break, it means I am no longer with you. MerTelCom is yours to command under your mother. Run it well, and in time, though I wont be here to see it happen, find one that loves you and remain with him. You have family Ni-Fang, family that loves you. Even though you do not want to believe the truth, it is true. I love you. And always will love you as my daughter. Love, your father." Johen signed the letter withhis useal flare and put it in an envelope, signing it ot his daughter he placed it in a folder. Also with his daughters name on it, within the folder was the will, and all shares to MerTelCom under his name transffered to her own name.
he called to a servant, a young girl entered, he handed her the folder. "Take this to Ni-Fangs room, Place this letter on her table where she will see it." The servant nodded and left doing as told. He watched the servant leave, turning away as his brother in law entered.
After the servant had left the office room Qiu stepped in. It was as if Johen knew that he'd show up. "Surprised to see me brother in law?" Qiu said in a jovial tone.
"Not really" Johen replied, looking away. Qiu stopped his smile, sneering then.
"So it is expected. You are alone, none left to help you. And you know it!" Qiu withdrew a blade from under his cloak. Johen removed one from the nearby table. "Time to say good bye Johen Xiau!" Qiu hissed attacking Johen in a flurry of strikes. The two men went all over the room, destorying all sorts of items as they did so. Johen found himself backed against a wall, and his own blade broken in his hands, Qius sword through his heart as he slid to the floor. the evil man's voice ringing in his ears. "Good bye Johen, you will be missed." he hid the sword then, knowing he had to play it fake, having one of the servants act as a runner he sent for his sister.
When Xue arrived and saw her brother she asked him "Qiu, what is it?" she ewas not expecting her brother ot be there. only expecting to see her husband at his desk.
Faking a pained face he repleid slowly. "Xue Shen, Johen... he...," he looked away, but Xue knew what he meant, turning aside from her brother she dashed into her husbands office, finding him on the floor, almost dead.
"Johen!" Xue cried. shaking him, "Johen!"
Johen's eyes open slowly, through the fog he saw his wife. Holding out a hand he brushed her face. "I know you." he said slowly, "Xue Shen." he coughed.
"I'll get the healers!" Xue started to say, standing up, but johens sudden strength on her arm made her stop.
"No" he gasped slowly, breathing hard. "No, there is something you should know." he said his voice and breath starting to go shallow. "It's Linelle, we spoke two mornings ago, She was worried about Jinjin, wanted to go hunt him down, I said no, Jinjin, he, he has her!" He said, slowly breathing his last then. Xue Shen cried, Holding Johen's lkimp bloody form close where he laid ion the floor, Qiu watched from the door, two guards came. He stopped them, from entering with a shake of his head, his sister needed to be alone.
The good thing about dreams was that nothing was what they seemed. Ni-Fang had a fitful sleep, it had been one hard year. She had heeded her fathers request and went to her chambers ot wait for him. She ended up falling asleep, and once more she found herself inside a diner, again, the same diner as before, only instead of Morgan, she saw. "Who are you?" She asked somewhat harshly seeing Oma sitting across from her in the booth. "Why am I here?"
"The truth. There are some things you need to know." Oma replied
"I know the truth, Hieden is not my Diae, if he was then who do I call father truly? Uncle Hammer died to me that day, he works for me now, he is not my Diae and you know it!" She was closeto swearing at this woman and Oma must have known it.
"Shoot the mesaanger why don;t you." she said in reply.
"What?" That threw the warp born off guard, shoot the messanger? Giving the woman before her a hard look she said somewhat angered. "What the frek is going on, and you better be truthful to me. otherise..."
"Hieden is my son, and your father, even if you choose to accept it or not, it is the truth." Oma said.
That angered Ni-fang, she stood up, her chair flying. thankfulyl the diner was empty save the two of them. She stared hard at the woman. "You dare to play the horrid joke on me as well?" She snapped her hands in a odd form and threw herself at Oma, Oma stared for but ah eartbeat as blue fire seemed to make Ni-fangs bones of her hands glow bright blue, trails of the bluerw energy followed her movements as she slashed te table in two, Oma dove out of the way. Ni-Fang followed.
Within minutes it was over. Ni-Fang had Oma in a death grip, both of them not moving, Oma spoke. "It is your choice to accept the truth for what it is, or to deny it. None else can make that choice for you. and you know it." Ni-Fang held Oma so tightly nither woman could move without trippin the other.
When Ni-fang finally let Oma go she hissed. "Hieden is not my Diae, and you know it, get that through your mind!" She turned and stalked out of the diner.
Her eyes snapped open, she was in her room at MerTelCom complex in the Imperial city, her mind hurt as she sat up. She heard screaming, thinking it her mother ranting about Linelle's disappearance Ni-Fang thought it normal, Hiden had left for Hidenvale that morning, and she said she'd arrive there after the funeral of her father.
She got out of bed slowly, going ot the table at the center of the room she noticed the folder, and trhe letter ontop of it, opening the letter she read it, her eyes filling with tears. Dropping the letter to the floor she screamed one word. "DIAE!" She tore from her bedchambers and dow nthe hall to her fathers office, where her mother still cradled Johens limp form.
Ni-Fang dropped to her knees in Johens blood, her head now buried in her fathers shirt. "Diae!" she cried. She saw the blood everywhere, and her fathers sword broken. "Who did this?" she cried, looking to her uncle who stood in the door way, he didn;t answer, he merely hung his head in sadness.
Johen was gone. but there was worse news to be had.
At Hiedenvale the Fraiser had landed in one of the seven newly constructed landing pads for the fleet ships to land on. The Spirit required three of these giant pads at least to land successfully and not damage any outbuildings beyond her giant hull.
"What the hell keeping her?" Hieden wondered. Ni-Fang told him she'd be along as soon as her fathers funeral was over, she seemed to know he'd be going, or so she hinted, the news from the servant the day before made Hieden worried that something else might be happening.
"She will be here soon Diae, stop worrying, you are making me worried as well" Fan said from behind him where he near the main control console of the Fraiser's bridge. Pretas had gone to his quarters to begin working on something very important he claimed. Though he'd been promoted, Ni-Fang had yet to make that official and was still unsure of Hieden's confidence in him.
"I can't help it, Linelle has been missing for tree days now, and Ni-Fang is running late." Hieden replied. As he spoke, a silver spec appeared in the distance, Ni-Fang was coming just at turn of the noon hour. "About damn time." He thumped the coming of the panel hard. Fan put her arms around him and held him tightly, she could feel him quivering, with both rage and sadness.
The shuttle landed close by the larger ship's starboard hanger and several people disembarked, most of them workers for the village. They all began unloading cargo, mainly food and such supplies, boxes of weapons for the newly recruited soldiers. When Ni-Fang finally emerged from the shuttle, Hieden noticed her hair had a black ribbon in it. He knew it meant bad news. Something very bad.
Hieden ran from the bridge to meet Ni-Fang and was only exiting the elevator and saw her there right in front of him. He'd forgotten how quick she could be.
"Hieden, you, me, and Fan, on the Spirit, now." Hieden knew that by the tone of her voice she had something only the two of them could hear. One of things she was not going to tell him was her weird dreams of the diner. Once they were all inside and the door to her cabin sealed she spoke.
"Jinjin has Linelle." The news hit both Hieden and Fan like a locomotive. "Mother is at the Imperial City right now, Diae was killed by someone, Uncle Qiu and mother are running the investigation." When she had explained what happened to her father Hieden seemed to calm down a bit.
Yet only slightly he rage still consumed him like a furnace. "Jinjin has my wife?" he growled angrily. Ni-Fang just could barely keep her own Daemon from appearing and knock Hieden to the ground, or at least some sense into his skull. "I'll kill the frekking swine!"
Ni-Fang grabbed Hieden by the shirtfront. "You will, but not now, Xi Lan is moving you know this. Jinjin can wait until we deal with the threat at present, before we go haring off without reason!." She hissed. "Until the time we go after him, we cannot change our course!"
"And if he alters it?" Jinjin already had Linelle, and he wanted not just her, but Ni-Fang and Fan as well. Hieden had a point. Ni-Fang let go of him, looking thoughtful, she had no way to answer.
Fan mentally spoke up. Her mind-voice heard clearly by the pair before her. "Niang is taken by the enemy, and the Desecrator of Sacred Places moves against us, leaving us to internal strife! Before you know it Xi Lan would be breathing down our necks! Think before you act please, Diae!' She did not want to loose both her parents to something reckless.
Hieden nodded, Fan was right, he needed to calm down, at least a little. "You're right." He said at last. "Jinjin has Linelle that we know, and Xi Lan is moving, the galaxy is huge where would Jinjin take her?" He wanted to at least start to work on where Linelle could be.
"You work on that leg of the journey Hieden, I need to take a walk." Being in almost total command of MerTelCom, with her mother grieving, had made her mind reel in do many directions. Hieden she left to his own devices then to see where his wife was taken. Hieden went down to the little cabin he shared with his wife in Hiedenvale, to try and make sense of all this. He was worried also for the twins, 'Would they be a target as well'. Dark thoughts filled his mind as he walked.
Ni-Fang wandered Fan by her side holding her hand. The path she trod was aimless through the New city of Hiedenvale. Fan stayed stayed close, lost in thought, her mother was taken prisoner by one of those who had guarded her! As they walked they came into a market place of sorts near a few eating spaces. A crash was heard nearby in an alley. Catching Ni-Fangs attention.
With an impish look to Fan the two girls ducked into another alley and backtracked behind a few buildings to where the crash had originated. Peeking around the corner the two spotted something with a dirty blueish sheet to his hair, a Skaven, a human-rodent mutant, was rooting through a trashcan. Ni-Fang stared open-mouthed at the poor hungry soul. Fan just wondered what the creature looking for. Without thinking Ni-Fang stepped into view, the Skaven stopped what he was doing and watched her hungrily as she approached him. "Are you in need of help?" she asked him softly, pity on her face.
It was unknown until then as far as she knew if Skaven even understood basic Terran. But the Skaven seemed to have surprises for everything, as was their way. Once she remembered her father mentioning a competitor having multiracial people working for him before he put the group out of business with MerTelCom's holding consuming almost two thirds of Terra's businesses.
"Merci madame, I did not mean to intrude!" the Skaven had a strong accent to his voice, that sounded much like the ancient Terra language she had heard on old vox recordings. He stumbled and fell off the can he had perched upon to get at whatever food was within.
"Intrude?" he had her confused about something, "What do you mean." She smiled and shook her head. "Come with me, if you are in need of food, I think I can get you something to eat from the Spirit's Galley." She held out a hand to help the Skaven to his feet. "After all, I own the ship. You are welcome to come aboard"
Now she was truly taking on a interracial crew no doubt, a half Eldar, five mutants, a clone, a Skaven, and many humans, what else could happen?
Xi-Lan ordered Linelle to be held in the darkest pit of her fortress. Naked, filthy and staving, Hieden's wife held her resolve. She wasn't yet desperate, but close. She prayed to her goddess Sehanine Moonbow for deliverance, but so far no answer had come. She was in pain, and the control collar about her neck rubbed welts on her soft skin.
The Twice Cursed Empress fumed, she got nothing from the half-eldar after three days of constant torture, she was losing her grip. The woman would surely die before giving up anything, and she spat JinJin's name because he said Linelle would easy in Xi-Lan's hands. She was about to go back to the dungeons when she felt a stirring of the air nearby, it made her shiver.
"You're going to lose you know." A woman's voice told her.
Xi-Lan spun around to the direction of the voice, and saw a shimmering figure standing defiantly before her. Raising a hand, already a fireball ready she demanded. "You again, why do you plague me so." She launched the flame at the apparition, which of course went straight through. Elizabeth Weir giggled.
"Ooh that tickles." She smiled brightly and became solid.
Xi-Lan almost felt fear, but she knew who and what this woman meant. "A messenger from the cowardly Ancients that hide always in the shadows? Tell me messenger, why am I to lose?"
"He's coming for you Xi-Lan, he may lose his wife, but you will surely die by his hand."
"Who, of whom do you speak that could defeat a God?" Xi-Lan said haughtily.
"Search the memories of your ancestors the Ori, then you will know." Elizabeth faded then from view in a pale white mist.
"Agathon, the doom-bringer" Those memories spoke to her in a hateful voice and she now truly felt fear.
Those words running through her mind Xi Lan wandered the halls fuming. she was getting nowhere from the eldar halfbreed. She called for a servant. "Send word to Jinjin, he can take the captive he brought me. Anything he gets out of her he is to send word to me. he is not to kill her, I need for as bait!" She was not going to lose. Not this time.
She went to her main throne room on the fortress world of False Hope, a dead world. Unable to find suitble terraforming to the planet itself. Xi Lan had taken the world as her main fortress world. False Hope was near to Port Wander, but considered a dead world because of its lack of proper climate and terraforming never worked there.
She had begun building up her armada. Dozens of ships were being built. all of them Ha'taks with Ori weapons she had designed and had built. Now all she had ot do was continue to make more ships and recurit more soldiers on other worlds. She had sent crews out to planets informing them of a greater galaxy without having ot focus or wait on the emperor or his Inquition groups to come to their aid.
The numbers of the LFC had swollen then nearly doubling their previous numbers. Now all she had to do was continue to focus. How dare they try to interfere with her plan! She smiled as she paced before her throne. The Ancients could do nothing whatsoever, Once she had Ni-Fang in her grasp, she would have a clear path to the center of the galaxy, Holy Terra. Soon, she mused. Soon I'll be in charge, and that downtrodden God-Emporer will be nothing but a memory! her gales of dark laughter were heard through out the fortress palace.
Ni-Fang found herself cornered by Pretas over Remy, the poor rat fellow was surely in need of a job and a very humble creature at that, very easliy scared as well. It was al lshe could do to keep PRetas from melting the poor Skaven where he stood. Had Ni-Fang not been there Remy would have surely died by Pretas' hand.
"You truly do not plan on having him as part of the crew do you?" He asked her, giving Remy a hard look, the Skaven stood as tall as he could, though not as tall as Pretas or Ni-Fang, maybe a half head shorter. his fur was of bluesh color and it looked supple and string for his tail also. his eyes were brightest green and rather childlike, as if he were still a young Skaven.
"I do plan on it TechPriest, know this, if we are to survive against the Darkness of the Tomb Robber, we will need every avalible person, man and beast alike, to do it." Ni-Fang explained what had been told to her by her mother and the death of her father Johen and that she now ruled the company itself on her own.
Pretas took a half step back, almost falling on his tail had he had one. He hadn't been informed that Ni-Fang was now in charge of the company he had been hired through when she took him on as techpriest! "I am sorry, I did... I did not know of your loss. Your father was a kind man I am sure. It is a shame for his loss to us." he said now starting ot understand the pair of creatures before him, he could mentally feel Ni-Fangs power due to her inner daemon, and just barely feel Remy as well, only all he could feel from the ratman was the unrelenting need to cook something.
The childlike Skaven looked first from Ni-Fang to Pretas then back to the former. Pretas finally nodded, "If he is to be our cook, I do not see why not, you're in charge. I'll follow." Two weeks had passed and reports came in from Lokika, apparently reports concerning the firing and rehiring of Remy from Footfall, a fortress world of sort, now laden, or so it was said, with treasures beyond any means of imagination.
Remy had once been the chief cook of a revival trader company, MerTelCom had run the company to the ground and bought them out. Before the buyout Remy had been fired while on Holy Terra. And it was only a full week to the point of time when Ni-Fang and Fan had come upon him, Remy had taken a instant liking to Fan, and even a faster liking to the twins, letting both play with his tail. Hieden he seemed to know, or at least have seen before. Remy it was saidacoording ot the report, was a top cook, and could cook anything given only the ingredients alone!
Ni-Fang put Remy inchjarge of the massive galley onboard the Spirit, he was also put in charge of all food supplies as well, including enough ale for the soliders, and food enough to feed a skaven army seven times over seventy wasn't until late in the evening of the fourteenth day after his meeting with Ni-Fang and Fan did he get to offically meet Hieden.
Hieden had gone to the galley expecting to meet Xue Shen there, indstead he saw the Skaven festering about, cleaning tables, setting up chairs. Apparently he did thingsa to keep as busy as possible, no doubt to stay out of trouble Hieden found himself thinking as he watched the Skaven clean the mess hall, a room three storys tall, and seven times that in length, and only half that length in width, easliy holding five hundred to a thousand men at one sitting.
Remy felt the eyes on him after ten minutes of beginnig to set up the evening meal, He looked about, slightly startled seeing Hieden, fully expecting Gera or Pretas there wanting ot speak to him, the Skaven were known for their skill and weapon creation, bug he perfered to cook, (or kok as he said it) when he saw Hieden he nearly dropped the mop he was using to clean under the dining tables near the higher up area where Ni-Fang normally would sit. After a heartbeat he said clearly in very good Reikspel, "May I help you?"
Hieden smiled, he was a good talker, his food was well made, and nodded. "Only in information, that is, if you have it." He replied. Remy went over to the table, with a soft nod he awaited the onset of questions he iknew he was sure to be asked. But instead he was surprised when Hieden mentioned his old employer, and asked who they were.
"Lakewood Merchants." Remy replied in his thick French accent. "they pay-pay in warptokens, yet sleep-spaces not good for quick-naps, even less so for skavenburrows." He said giving off mucvh information, including his old rate of pay, and rthat he was only more worried of having a place to call a bed and a place to kok near his bed and was clearly afarid he'd loose both at any time.
Hieden smiled and shook his head, resting a gentle yet firm hand on Remy's own shaking one. "You need not worry of loss of your place of rest nor your only job, you find joy in cooking for others, and Ni-Fang has given such a job to you on her ship, her personal ship, and she herself is in charge of the company," Hieden had found himself needing ot talk to Xue Shen, his first flame before Linelle. But instead he was chatting with a Skaven of all beings! For the moment, his search for Linelle was forgotton as he was focused on Remy.
Meanwhile in her cabin Ni-Fang had begun writing something. It was a journal of sorts.
'I rescently was given charge of the company from my father, may the God Emporer bless his soul. He is lost to me now, Hieden insisted I write down my thoughts of everything that happens, in case someone has need of my knowledge. I think he is right. With Father gone I know only of one to turn to, Mother. Yet she insists that Hieden is my true father, I refuse to believe it.
Not everything has sad endings, yet some happy endings instead as well, a Skaven, of all creatures I should meet on my travels, has been hired by myself, and made chief cook onboard my ship, the Spirit of Silence. He is a well to do cook, and he does it very well, I have never seen the galleyway so clean before. Remy, as he is called, knows his job well. And thus I hjave choisen that he should remain as chief cook to the end of his days, or mine, whichever is first. He is a gentle soul and I for one, and glad to have him aboard my craft.
Hieden and I have yet to make a plan to find where Linell kis kept, personally I don't want to think about it. Father is gone to me, dead from a sword to his heart. Uncle leads the investigation, and Linelle hazs been taken by Jinjin, one in league with Xi Lan, the tomb robber of my homeworld Lokika so long ago.'
(From the travels of the Spirit of Silence, vol I
Altdorf Press, 43,004)
