Chapter Eight: The train ride
The train ride itself was fairly boring for the peerage. Talion and Lilith however were in a closed room together, separated from the others. They had some planning to do, but told everyone else that they wanted some alone time as a new couple. The others smiled and left them alone, as they themselves started to take out books and games to play. The trip took around 6 straight hours.
"That's 2 hours of planning and 4 hours to spend however we want to," Talion said once they were in their room. Lilith nodded and the planning began. As the others returned to the underworld to visit family over the break, Talion was still on the hunt for the last general, who survived the great war. Lilith decided to help him, as she felt like she still owed him something for his generosity, protection and promise. Also, now that they are together, she wouldn't leave his side no matter the reason.
Talion unpacked his luggage and brought forth several technological devices. Hologram containing a holo-map, a circular ball with a guardians AI in it, which was invented and used by the guardians to prepare a battle during the great war, along with a few other things.
"Flux?" Talion said. The small ball quickly glowed blue and a robotic voice could be heard. "Hello Grandmaster Talion. How may I be of service? Have you had any progress regarding the hunt for the general?" Flux said, in a robotic monotone voice.
"Yes and yes. Listen Flux, I need you to find a few logical positions where the general might be hiding. I was able to narrow the possible area down to a few hundred klicks in my home world. After you have done that, Lilith and I will go have a look and see if we find anything there." Talion said.
"Lilith? I have no information about her in the databank. Who is she?" Flux answered. "Uhm, right. She is uhm... my partner in one way or another." Talion said stummered. "A former chaos warrior during the great war, although she was deployed at the end of the war."
"Former chaos warrior?" Flux said in a voice which can be assumed to have the sub-tone of sceptic in it. "Very well. You will have to tell me the story later, after the mission is accomplished." "Deal," Talion replied.
"Would you like me to calibrate your suit again?" Flux said. "Sure, go ahead. But you know that I only put the armour on for style points and because of the promise I made to the others." "I know sir, but I will then be able to assist you better in the fight" Flux said. "I know, that's why, you may go ahead and calibrate" Talion replied. "Copy that. I will go on standby, if you need me sir" Flux said, as the ball stopped glowing blue in the rhythm to Flux's words. "Do that," Talion said as he placed the ball next to the hologram projector and activated it.
As Talion activated the hologram projector, a blue holo map materialized. "Ok, before we start talking about the plans, and making preparations I have a few questions." Lilith said from the seat behind him.
"Alright, go ahead" Talion said as he turned around. "First question" she said raising her index finger "What do we see on the holomap?". "The landscape of the place my family owns. Along with 20 klicks around the territory." With a nod came the next question. "Second and third. What armour were you talking about and who exactly is Flux?" as she raised another two fingers for the additional two questions.
Talion smiled as he answered. "Flux is my personal AI, who assists me in any way I want him to. He can accomplish things I can, just faster. He is especially handy when it comes to calculating hyperdrive jumps for example. But that is just one thing he can do. He mainly assists me by doing the things I currently cannot do myself" Lilith nodded in understanding.
"Alright, and what about the armour?". Talion opened a portal about the size of himself. Out of the portal he took a small box. He then closed the portal and opened the box. In it were two thin bracelets. "This is the armour I was talking about." Talion said. "You mean bracelets" Lilith replied in disbelief raising an eyebrow. "No no, armour. Don't let your eyes deceive you" Talion said as he took the thin metal bracelets and put them on.
At first nothing happened but then in a blink on an eye Talion was engulfed in a white armour. The armour was the best quality Lilith ever saw (the armour could be compared to the clone trooper armour from Star wars but more flexible and maneuverable). The helmet had a T-shaped visor and looked intimidating. Mouth wide open Lilith stared at the armour. Her face expression was similar to the one she had in the training room after breakfast, though not as terrified.
Talion took his helmet off and grinned. "You should see your face," he said. "What the hell Talion? This armour looks amazing!" she replied to Talions surprise. "You never fail to surprise me" she continued. "Well, I am glad to," he said. "Ok, question four," Lilith said quickly. "Why don't you ever use the armour? Or rather, why do you only put on the armour for style?"
"The armour, which Yuri and I designed and built, was designed for the average guardian, whose physical, magical and regenerative abilities aren't fully grown or not as powerful to begin with. The suit or armour if you want to call it that, increases those stats. But for me now and during the end times of the war, the armour would only change my stats minimally. In other words my abilities aren't improved by the suit. However with the suit Flux can assist me better in combat." Talion explained. "Also as the great war continued, we guardians became one under the symbol of peace. Therefore we decided to make the armour as well as the T-shaped visor the symbol of the guardians for the innocent. Or for those who don't recognize us for your power or our tattoos."
"Mhm, I see. So it is more of a symbol of your origin rather than anything else." Lilith said. Talion nodded and the armour transformed back into the two bracelets. He left them on however, as the bracelets are very thin and quite comfortable.
As time went by, Talion and Lilith discussed what their next moves were and Lilith told him more about her abilities and powers, which are fairly similar to Talions powers. They decided to let Flux finish his analysis from the area and come up with a few logical hideouts before they did anything else. This would give Talion some time to meet his family again after centuries on the frontline.