Gil-Galad awoke to a wooden ceiling, and a rather comfortable bed instead of being...well, dead, or in a jail.
Sitting up slightly, he realized he was in a rather spacious cabin, better than any of the tents he'd lived in back home. Those were tattered, patched together over the years, barely able to keep in heat. This building was much warmer, it might have been possible to go with only two layers if he lived in it.
There were three very neat holes in the wall above him though, through which wind howled, giving a nice feeling of home. His family's tent had similar holes made by bandit arrows.
He blinked slowly, feeling...way better than he expected. Extremely well, in fact. All his fears it seems were gone, his anxieties and worries...replaced with a feeling of tranquility.
It was enough to make him not yank out the needle he found stabbed into his left arm. Gil-Galad merely stared at it in curiosity. It was held steady with some sort of clear adhesive tape, and a cord of some strange squishy transparent material led to a large bag dangling from a wooden rack. The rack was hastily-made, and shifted slightly as Gil-Galad moved his arm, revealing that wheels were mounted to the bottom.
The bag it held up was clear and flexible made of the same material as the cord, filled with water by the looks of it. Impeccably made markings were made on the side of the bag, of the same type as on Lopez's armor. It was also very squishy. It moved when he squeezed it, and he was somewhat surprised at how, like a child, he was just fascinated by the motion.
Out of the corner of his eye, he also noticed a strange device sitting in the middle of the room. A metal rectangle on a small tripod, with a bright blue light spewing forth from its top. More of the sergeant's language was printed on the side.
Slowly, he sat up fully, shifting to swing his legs out from under the blankets. Leaning against the side of the bed for support, he was just in time to see a young Elf woman, carrying a small wooden box walk into the room and yelp with fright, dropping the box.
"I-I-I didn't know you were awake!" she whimpered, dropping to her knees and prostrated herself, "I beg your forgiveness, my lord!"
Gil-Galad was confused, more so at the slow pace of his own mind than her. His whole brain felt fuzzy as it clicked that she was talking about him.
"It's alright," he soothed, "No harm done."
Cautiously, she stuck her head up, "Um...my lord, may I leave? Lady Cassandra and Lady-Sergeant!-Sergeant Lopez instructed me to inform them at once when you awoke. At once!" she emphasized.
Gil-Galad rubbed his face, feeling strange again, and nodded, "Sure, fine, whatever."
Relieved, she made as if to walk away, but halted, "Um...my lord, if I may be so bold...Lady Lopez also told me to make sure that if you awoke without her, that you would not try to pull the needle out. I do not know why! Medicine is not my area of expertise! I had nothing to do with it!" she added quickly.
He looked down at the needle again, tilting his head, "Can't even feel it. I'm not even sure if it's really in there."
"I cannot say, m'lord." with that, she bolted.
Gil-Galad could barely process the strange behavior, his mind was so muddled. He'd never seen anyone act like that around an elf, what happened while he was out?
"And why do I have a needle in my arm? Why is my mind so muddled? And why am I talking to myself?"
Gil-Galad glanced around for his adventuring equipment, wanting to change out of the ill-fitting human bed clothes he wore. He pushed himself up with both arms...but noticed that his right arm didn't hurt.
He looked at it, noticing that the shape had changed slightly. The tiny but visible bulge present in his elbow since his first spell-casting accident was gone. Rolling his arm over, bending it back and forth, he was stunned at how it moved! A much wider range of motion than he'd felt since before the accident, and no pain at all!
As an aside, he also noted that including the feeling of tranquility, there was an additional feeling of great physical wellness. He felt good. Really good. A level of energy after awakening that he hadn't felt for years.
Finding his clothes, he managed to get pants on before he was stalled by the needle. He puzzled at how to put his shirt on around it. Or was he supposed to go without one?
Luckily, the one known as Lopez opened the door. She was still dressed in full armor as he had last seen her, like she expected enemies to burst in at any moment. The sergeant was missing her heavy pack and most of her weapons, both known and unknown types, except the small handheld noisemaker that clung to her side without any visible means.
Judging by her behavior, she did expect enemies to come in at any moment. She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to greet her, and rubbed at the side of her glass visor. Placing a hand on the noisemaker, she scanned the room.
Seemingly satisfied, she moved forward and flicked the clear bag. Nodding to herself, Lopez spared a glance at the needle, then grabbed his arm gently.
"Move." she grated, uncomfortable speaking common. She wasn't using her magic to translate, and seemed to be trying to speak on her own.
"Move what? Where?" Gil-Galad inquired, his mind waking up a little, "What is this thing? What's it for? Why do I feel so strange? What happened to my arm?"
"Move this." she said, jabbing a finger into his arm, "Pain?"
"No, that's what I'm talking about! Why isn't there any?"
Reaching into one of her armor's many hidden compartments, Lopez ignored him and withdrew her black charm box, the one that made weird beeping sounds. Running the probe over his arm, she nodded in satisfaction, Lopez said, "Doing well, you are. Healing fast are you."
"I'm sorry?"
She cursed(judging by the tone) in her own language, "Sorry. You are healing fast. Good."
"What do you mean? Was I injured?"
To his surprise, she laughed. She turned the box toward him, and he was surprised to see two glowing figures traced on the face of it. They looked vaguely humanoid, but with no features, like a child's drawing. The one on the left was covered in several red marks, over the right hand, abdomen, the right elbow, head, and upper chest, while the one on the right was nearly clean. Except for the mark on the right hand…
Gil-Galad raised his fist, and opened it to see the green-glowing mark still traced faintly across his palm. "Are these...supposed to be me?"
"Yes. Before and after." Lopez explained, moving the little rod on her helmet down and switching from spoken tongue to whatever magic she had used before. He noted that she seemed to be using it less often than she had previously.
He furrowed his brow, "But I didn't break my arm recently, I broke it as a child. What are all these other injuries?...if I'm understanding that's what they're supposed to be depicting. And what does any of this have to do with the needle in my arm, and why I feel so strange?"
"That's probably the painkillers," the magic voice explained, "Dulls pain. Your arm wasn't set properly. Had to break it again to fix it. Used bone medicine to fix it. Also found you were ill. Cured you."
Gil-Galad blinked, and snorted, "I wasn't ill."
"Projected chances of dying from identified illnesses were 50%."
Gil-Galad raised an eyebrow, but shrugged, "I guess I should thank you. How long was I out?"
"Several days. The Breach is still there, sealed but not completely."
"Then we must seal it, quickly!" Gil-Galad stated.
Lopez nodded, "Obviously. If I had a-" her own language cut in once again, a single short word, "... I could do it. As is, we're left with your fairy dust. It seems to be stable for the moment, enough that the idiots started arguing about who's in charge again. Commander Tightass wanted to see you before we did anything else."
Lopez removed the IV, picked up the tripod mounted light and the bag of painkillers while Gil-Galad retrieved his equipment. When they were ready, Lopez opened the door and stepped outside into the cold air.
A crowd of people was gathered down the street, their voices carried over the wind immediately going silent as they exited the building.
"Did I mention we're both being worshipped as the Second Coming?" Lopez asked rhetorically, glaring at the crowd, "Either you, me, or both. Some of them have latched onto me as Jesus Christ or something because I apparently look like their version. That, and you're an elf and they're a bunch of racist pricks. On the other hand, some are thinking that regardless of species you're Jesus anyway, I don't know why, blah blah God works in mysterious ways blah. Then there's the ones who think Henry and I are some of your disciples or some bullshit. And then there's the ones that think we're both Jesus."
Gil-Galad barely followed half of that, "They think I'm what?"
A cry of "The Herald of Andraste" met their ears. The crowd beginning to murmur again.
"Yeah, that, whatever that is. Dunno why, everybody here has fairy dust powers, what makes you so special?"
They began walking through the crowd, Lopez walking behind him and keeping a hand on her holster.
She did not relax until they reached the steps that lead to the upper level, toward the Chantry building.
"Why are you so nervous?" asked Gil-Galad.
"Had to shoot a few people recently. Kept trying to assassinate you. And me. And Henry. People think he's a demon."
"Hard to blame them there."
"You don't know the half of it." Lopez muttered darkly.
They reached the Chantry building and proceeded inside. The sound of an argument could be heard at the end of the long corridor, on the other side of the door.
Something about shipping Gil-Galad off to the capital, failing to seal the Breach, and how it was still all his fault.
When Lopez pushed the large door open, her eyes narrowed at the one Cassandra was arguing with.
"Chain that elf!" Roderick ordered the guards, "We must prepare him for transport to Val Royeaux immediately!"
"Disregard that and leave us." Cassandra countermanded. Lopez noted that the guards hadn't moved on Roderick's words, but immediately jumped to obey her.
"You walk a dangerous line, Seeker." Roderick snarled.
"How about you?" asked Lopez evenly, "What kind of line do you walk?"
Roderick looked at her, "Is that a threat?" he turned to Cassandra, "Seeker, be reasonable. At least get rid of this one. She murdered several of your soldiers-"
"Who attacked her without reason." Gil-Galad interrupted, "Though that's their normal behavior, is it not? Attacking those whose only crime was existing?"
Roderick inhaled, "Seeker, she is an apostate, a murderer, and in the company of demons. Any one of those would be grounds for execution."
Cassandra glared at him, "Do you wish to arrest her? Be my guest. It was luck we managed to subdue her in the first place, let alone her Qunari friend. He is obviously no demon."
"And she's standing right in front of you." Lopez interrupted coldly, "Hey, golden-forehead, you got any idea what will happen if the people out there see you arresting the Herald of Andraste?"
"Blasphemy! He is no Herald!" Roderick barked.
"For once, I agree!" said Gil-Galad, "By the lost Dales, you honestly cannot believe I am any kind of Chosen One! Do you realize I'm an elf, a Dalish elf?!"
"The Maker works in mysterious ways. We are all subject to His will, no matter who or what we are." said Cassandra evenly, "You were exactly what we needed, when we needed it."
"I don't care what bullshit you people believe, and quite honestly I think this is a whole lot of hooey, but you've still got a problem. Those people out there believe he and I are Jesus Christ, and I don't doubt they wouldn't like seeing their savior arrested." Lopez pointed out.
Roderick spluttered, "Silence, apostate!"
"Try and make me...shorty." Roderick was all too aware of Lopez's height difference, nearly a foot taller than him.
Paling, he turned to Cassandra again, "Seeker, the elf is no herald. He is still a suspect-"
"In fact he is not. I heard the voices in the temple, the Divine called to him for help."
"That proves nothing! Why did he survive? Why does he have that mark?"
"How about we focus more on trying to close the giant-ass portal in the sky?" Lopez interjected.
"Yes. And Gil-Galad's mark is our only hope of closing it." said Cassandra, stepping back to a shelf behind her and scanning through the books on it.
"That is not for you to decide!" Roderick barked.
Lopez was about to say something, but Cassandra slammed a massive book down on the table.
"You know what this is, Chancellor?" the Seeker asked cooly, pointing at the tome, "A writ from the Divine, granting us authority to act. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn."
"The what?" Lopez demanded, "The inquisition!?"
Cassandra ignored her, walking Roderick up against the wall, "We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order with or without your approval."
Lopez's hand twitched toward her sidearm, a thousand thoughts coursing through her. Looking at Gil-Galad, she snarled, "Did you know about this?"
"Know about what? I just woke up!"
"Great." That word was a stain upon history. Even a thousand years later the crimes were still remembered. Could she end it now, before it began? She could kill these three, maybe the ones inside the building, and if she stretched it, she'd be able to wipe out the bad guys in the village. But beyond that?
Roderick blustered and snarled, and eventually stormed out in disgust.
Lopez remained silent, watching with pure horror and anger as the others spoke.
Leliana exposited, "This is the Divine's directive: Rebuild the Inquisition of old. Find those who will stand against the chaos. We aren't ready. We have no leader, no numbers, and now no Chantry support."
Cassandra sighed, "But we have no choice: We must act now. With you at our side." she looked at Gil-Galad.
"The inquisition of old?" Gil-Galad asked.
""It preceded the Chantry: People who banded together to restore order in a world gone mad." explained Leliana.
Lopez's hand slid down to her thigh, "Is that so…?"
'A world gone mad' would have a variety of meanings. People having different beliefs than your own, for example.
Cassandra nodded, "Yes. After, they laid down their banner and formed the Templar Order. But the Templars have lost their way. We need those who can do what must be done united under a single banner once more."
"What will you do?" Lopez asked cooly.
"We will hunt down those responsible, and close the Breach, of course." Cassandra stated matter-of-factly.
"To what end?"
"We wish to restore order." Leliana said. Her eyes moved to the sergeant's twitching hand.
"By doing what?"
"Is there a reason for these questions," Cassandra growled, "Or are you just wasting our time?"
"Back home, we've had an inquisition, more than a thousand years ago. They're a memory people of my faith would certainly love to forget. They imprisoned and tortured and murdered thousands for little reason. Their job was to make sure everyone converted to Catholicism and stayed that way. If anyone even thought of deviating, they were killed. Is this what you are going to do? Take advantage of the chaos to force everyone to bow down to your Divine?"
The other stared at her with horror.
"What kind of people do you take us for?" Cassandra demanded, "We have done nothing like that! The inquisition is an organization of stability and unity! Not...this insanity you describe!"
"I understand the sergeant's concerns." Gil-Galad said, "In fact, my people have suffered through similar trials to the ones she describes. The Exalted Marches on the Dales, the Circle of Rivain. City elves. They forced us off our land, kidnap our children, and routinely attack us. How do we know that's not what you're planning?"
"Exalted Marches? Some kind of Crusades?" demanded Lopez.
"You could call it that, I guess."
Lopez's hand blurred, snapping her pistol up to aim between Cassandra's eyes, "You sons of bitches! I oughta kill you all right now!"
A bow twanged to her left, and Leliana was drawing an arrow back, "Do so, and it will be the last thing you do."
Gil-Galad had his staff up, pointed at Leliana and a ball of energy swirling in his palm.
Lopez was seriously considering pulling the trigger, to wipe this horror from the galaxy once and for all.
In the midst of all this, from out of a side corridor walked a young woman carrying a primitive clipboard. She had dark skin, black hair, and wore a yellow and purple dress.
She took one look at the tense situation, "Oh, Maker, would everyone please calm down?"
"Hey, Josephine. We're kind of in the middle of something..." Lopez said, speaking to one of the few individuals who had not worshipped, cussed out, or insulted her the past few days.
Josephine Montilyet dipped her head a little, and said in rough english, "Hello, Sergeant." she slipped back into whatever the locals spoke, "I've had a rather rough day, actually. Do you have any medicine for migraines?"
"Yeah, in my kit. Can't get to it right now."
"I suppose it can wait. What have I missed?" Josephine asked.
She looked at Gil-Galad, and her eyes widened, "Oh! Andaran Atish'an."
Gil-Galad lowered his staff slightly, "You speak elven?"
"You've just heard the entirety of it, I'm afraid."
Lopez interrupted, "You didn't miss much aside from him waking up. Found out these guys are a bunch of imperialist, racist, child-stealing murderous thugs. Did you know about this?"
Josephine blinked, "I'm sorry?"
"The Church-Chantry, whatever, has a long history of murder, kidnapping, racism, and arson. Particularly against the people of my friend here. Did you know about this?"
Josephine nodded sadly, "I had heard rumors, read historical texts…"
"That is not who we are anymore!" Cassandra barked.
"Do not patronize us, Seeker," snarled Gil-Galad, "When I was last among my people, we were camped outside a human settlement, mere months ago. It was normally safe for us. But a group of children who had been playing strayed too far away from camp, and vanished."
"Accidents happen-"
"So a column of horses fleeing with half a dozen wriggling sacks slung across their backs was just-what?-a coincidence?!"
"You people make me sick." Lopez snarled, "You know what happened to Henry last night? He came back with a stab wound, and drew the symbol of those who did it. It was the flag of your damned Chantry!"
"Roderick's men, obviously."
"Everyone!" Josephine pleaded, "Calm down! Put down your weapons, all of you!"
"Shooting Hitler never hurt anybody." Lopez grunted, her finger falling within the trigger guard.
"Do that, and fall where you stand!" Leliana drew the string of her bow back further.
"...And prove those fools like Roderick correct! Prove to them that you're a murderer!" Cassandra argued, "I'm the only reason you haven't been executed!"
"As if that means anything," countered Gil-Galad, "You're only delaying until she's of no further use, same with me! We'll be the scapegoats for your next catastrophe!"
Josephine's voice remained level, "Sergeant Lopez, has Cassandra committed any of the acts that you have described?"
"No, not personally. But she represents-"
"What she represents is different from the individual. Have any of these acts been committed in your presence? Are any of the individuals here responsible for anything so horrendous?"
Lopez silently shook her head.
"Gil-Galad, have any of these atrocities been committed here?"
"Not as far as I know..."
"Have any of you heard the news coming out of the lands around us? With their leadership gone, both Templar and Apostate armies have collapsed, and are participating in those horrid activities you speak of, and worse. The inquisition would not condone nor allow this sort of behavior. In fact, with your leadership, it may be possible to prevent such things, kidnapping and wanton destruction from ever occurring again! Leading the inquisition would also help to dispel the rumors around elves, proving yourself and your people to all of Thedas."
With reluctance, Lopez lowered her M6D, "Didn't know someone needed an army to get some basic respect."
Her hands formed fists, but soon relaxed. "Gil, do what you want. I'm gonna get some air."
She stormed out the door, slamming it so hard she heard a picture frame fall inside the room. Didn't know you could do that with stone.
The sergeant quickly crossed the hall, and made it outside, her visor polarizing to deal with the glare outside.
Barbarians. Primitives. Primates. What was she thinking? These people probably still thought bloodletting was a good idea.
She couldn't believe she had to save this entire planet with these idiots. Earth could be gone by now, for all she knew, they could be the last humans alive. And they wanted to start a goddamn Spanish Inquisition.
The only sane people seemed to be Josephine and Gil-Galad. Gil was young, but tough and smart, while Josephine was just about the only person who ever talked to her.
Where most were afraid of Lopez, the ambassador had made an attempt to reach out and talk to her. She even made an effort to learn some english. The only other person to do so other than…
The subject of her thoughts suddenly called out to her.
"Excuse me, Sergeant." Solas was coming her way, moving to walk alongside her. Her boots crunched on fresh snow, while he made a much lighter sound in bare feet. She still had no idea how he managed without shoes.
He spoke in english. Very thickly accented, but still recognizable English. That worried her.
"I cannot tell if it is a problem with my knowing of your language, but there is a phrase I came across that sounds quite strange."
Lopez wasn't exactly in the mood, but the wannabe-spook probably wouldn't leave her alone otherwise, "Alright, shoot."
"What does 'pillar of autumn' mean?"
Lopez halted in her tracks, staring at him. "Where did you hear that?" She regretted letting him anywhere near that tablet.
"It was something I overheard."
"From where?"
"One of your machines. It squawked."
"It means nothing."
She walked away quickly, but Solas followed her, "I read through your tablet to see if I could find a meaning for the term. Ultimately, it seems to be a name. Is there anything in your society with that name?"
"Nothing. I've never heard of it."
He looked at her, his sharp face impassive but his gray eyes not wavering from hers. "So then you shall have no trouble clarifying if I merely misunderstood something else."
Lopez stopped, "Listen here, green-white-and-frostbitten, forget this entire conversation ever happened. You shouldn't even have heard that name."
He tilted his head to one side, eyes narrowed. "Why is it so important to you?"
Lopez shrugged, "It could be our most sacred religious artifact," she said. "It could be anything. You don't need to know."
His shoulders were tense as he stared her down. "Very well. Then it is of no concern to you that your machine indicated that the 'pillar' was in distress?"
She seized the front of his jacket with both hands, lifting him slightly off the ground. He was incredibly light, especially for someone as strong as she was. "How much did you hear?"
His voice was steady as he replied, though a frown appeared between his eyebrows. "I suggest you release me."
"Tell me. What. They. Said."
He met her eyes, and there was a distinctly displeased expression in his face.
"Tell me, before I break you in half, Spooky," she told him.
He contemplated her, before at last answering. "The machine spoke three times. It indicated that a-'distress beacon' had been located. The name Pillar of Autumn was said twice," he said. "There was another name that I could not place, that was only spoken once."
Lopez released the elf, cursing up a storm, and turning away.
"What am I going to do with you, Solas?" she sighed. Then she registered one of the things he'd said. "Wait," she looked back at him. "The other name, the one only said once, what was it?"
He tilted his head to one side, examining her as one would examine a bug under a glass. "It was not in words that I understood," he said.
"Give me a guess," she snapped.
"Why? It appears you do not care for what I know."
"It might be important," she folded her arms. "Maybe even more important than that," she pointed up at the Breach.
His eyes flicked to the Breach and back down to her face. He paused again, evidently considering his options.
She growled in frustration. "Look, I can't tell you everything," she snapped at last. "Alright? I can't. And you're not supposed to know about it. But if you tell me, I might be able to figure out more of what's going on, and that can help you."
He looked extremely doubtful, but at last said "The other name was 'Mona Lisa.'"
Lopez's hands balled into fists, "Hell."
She activated her TACPAD, syncing it up with the devices scattered across the village. One directly in front of her in a certain elf's pack, and several in a tent a few buildings away.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! It hadn't been synced in hours. Sure enough, the two closest distress beacons were now accompanied by a third. "UES Mona Lisa". A small "danger" icon was hovering above it.
If only it knew how right it was.
"Is there a problem?" Solas inquired.
"Solas, you got any family? Anyone far, far away from here?"
She noted something strange in his eyes; he shook his head, "No. Why?"
"A vacation would be nice, wouldn't you agree? A nice long vacation, away from here?"
Solas furrowed his brow further than it already was, and noted something he had not seen in the sergeant before.
She was afraid.
"What is coming?"
"Nothing. Why would you think that?" Lopez demanded. He noted her gloves were trembling slightly.
"You are afraid."
"I lost the ability to be afraid a long time ago, buddy."
"Ah, so you just happen to possess a nervous tremor when there is nothing stressful at present?"
Lopez looked at her hands, and immediately they stopped trembling.
"Damn it all!"
Lopez began to run down the street, but stopped briefly, "Don't break that tablet."
With that, she went sprinting again, running to the tent she shared with a two-meter tall alien.
Henry had her military-issue tablet on his lab, its keyboard extended, and had adopted a hunt-n-peck strategy for typing. When he heard her approach, he quickly closed it and hid it under a blanket.
"Zhao?"
The Elite still looked somewhat ridiculous in his parachute snow suit, but its bright white and orange colouration was no more. He had tasked one of the locals with dyeing it proper Covie colors, blue and purple.
He still looked fat in it.
"Es un problem?" he croaked.
"Oh yeah. New distress beacon. It's from the Mona Lisa." Lopez gulped, a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time reaching her. Nervousness.
Henry paled as much as a war veteran could. "Estas seguro?"
"Si." she replied grimly.
He roared in rage, the shark equivalent of cursing up a storm. He waved around at the town through the tent walls, and garbled out a long string of words, chief of which were, "They weak! They pathetic! They worthless!"
That was about as polite as the dino would get. The sergeant knew what he meant to say, however. He was trying to say that the locals were helpless against the Flood, that they had no means to contain it or fight it. Given Sangheili emphasis on being tough, his words were probably pretty gentle.
Lopez nodded, "I know, I know! We need to get out of here! We need to find the beacons, salvage anything we can find, and bomb that damn pod to hell and gone!"
Henry nodded vigorously.
There was little Khutan feared in the universe. Not humans, not Jiralhanae, not the rage of the San'Shyuum, there was almost nothing.
Zhao would help eliminate that nothing.
He remembered the words of Special Operations Commander Rtas 'Vadumee, his report on the Flood before Halo's destruction. "One single Flood spore can destroy a species."
Good riddance to humans, but nothing, nothing deserved the Flood.
Especially not Zhao.
He blinked, and shook his head to clear out the mental maze. Even she would mock him for being unable to kill a single human, even after all this time.
It was only practical to keep her alive. Yes, practicality.