Beyond the Gate

Chapter 23 Requiem

Ascretta, Ascretta System

Pollicle Zone Shipyard City

The next morning

The area was clearer here, I had a clear view of everything. And what I saw in front of me in a way, scared me. My sniper rifle was slung across my back as I held my ori staff in hand and carefully moved through the archway of the outer edge of the city. I saw no Pollicles on the scanner. But the design of this structure showed me that the Pollicles had used their own means of construction and built a wall around the edge of the outlaying peir. And the scan showed it was entirely empty!

I stepped carefully through the archway of the open gate, I had kept the jumper in a crevice away from prying eyes, not far from a natural cave network. According to the scanner on board I was able to find a easier exacpe route if I needed to use the natural cave network at least. I scanned with my eyes everything I could, smelling the air, tasting its winds briefly to try and find any Pollicle scent. This peir was empty, it was dead.

Just the dead within it where I had slain them when Tantomile and I were last here. I found the transporter and hooked into it, using it to scan for lifesigns near the next transporter. I knew where the furling I was searching for was. But I didnt know where or how many Pollicles were there too.

I decided to try a random transporter and the door closed behind me. It opened silently as I held the staff in hand. If I had to I could shoot whatever scrossed my path. I ducked around a corner silently and spotted a pair of Pollicles, these were none of the few breeds I was familiar with. One of them looked like a Bloodhound, the other Shidzeu type, like a pair of patrolmen on a beat.

I had no way of hiding myself and I didnt want to get noticed as I watched them step around a corner. It wouldnt be too much longer before I could find my target. I decided that following the two, since they were also in the direction I sought, was my smartest bet.

As I followed them I was confused as to the lack of Pollicles in the area. But as I moved silently from pillar to pillar the two Pollicles never looked my way. "I say" Said one, the Bloodhound, a posh accent to his voice, I had to smirk, each Pollicle had a different accent as far as I could tell, most of the bulldogs had a brutish thug vibe to them, while the Beagles, even though I didnt hear them speak, more then likely had a much more gentle almost childlike tone. And the Goldens ? They had a exotic regal tone to their accents

I listened to their conversation as they walked along. "Do you suppose that Laimes words are true ? That we should only help the Furlings we find ?"

"You remember how Fallowhide was found two weeks ago ?" the other, the shidzhu, replied. "Both his arms broken, his neck broken, and seven broken ribs. Whomever did the deed to him was clearly looking for something, and yet he also let Laime walk away with her life."

"Was it because she cared for the Furling Child that her life was spared ?" The bloodhound asked, they came to a halt as I neared the corner and peeked carefully around it to look their way. "Or do you suppose the Furling let her live as a warning to us ?"

"All Goldens love to care for others, its why they're the medical folks in the armies that the Overlords have, its why they're the medics, and why your wife is so good at her job" The shidzhu replied to him, "Look, if it'll help you sleep better and patrol better, I think that Laime spoke the truth, the results of the deceased that Laime spoke of makes me glad she wants to care for any Furling that shows up in our citystates."

"If only that were the case, from what it sounds like, the Furlings are indeed returning. And its only a matter of time before another war occurs." Said the bloodhound. I listened to then, holding my staff against my body. I was tempted to clout them both. But they were still standing there talking. Only feet from me. I could literally reach out and punch them senseless if I wanted to.

But as I listened where I stood behind the corner, these guys were harmless, I just needed them to move from the door I needed to get through on this level. And the stairs were also past them. So getting to the stairs and then going up to the next level around them was out of the question until they started moving again I was stuck.

I checked the scanner. They were the only two other lifesigns in the area. I put the scanner away, and leaned against the frame of the wall silently, waiting and listening. "Come on you two get walking, you can talk while you walk." I mumbled softly before shutting up.

The shidzhu thought he heard me. "Whose there ?" He called out in my direction, but they saw no one, and heard nothing. I held my breath as I heard a pair of footsteps nearing my hiding place.

"It was just the wind in the atrium, I tell you Daldo, you really need to stop being so paranoid." The bloodhound said to him. Apparently the Shidzeu was hearing things, or so the Bloodhound thought.

"Oh sure like you're not paranoid and hearing voices either, Traffic." The shidzhu said, they turned and started off, the shidzhu felt similar to Rodney on many levels as he started spewing technobabble as they walked off. I followed them as far as the stairs to my left and went up a flight without a sound.

I shifted my scanner to a floor by floor set up and managed to track two more pollicles a level above me. Perfect. I wasnt planning on destroying anything, but I was planning on moving fast enough to keep things civil at least for now. I needed to keep myself moving, I made a mental note of which way to go.

I found myself in another atrium like space, the room was oblong with several catwalks suspended from the ceiling. Along with fully visible beams above and below them. It was longer on one side as I walked through the catwalk on the upper most level, below me was the atrium floor a good dozen floors down. I scanned again for lifesigns and only found me.

I moved along the catwalk as silent as I was able and found a door, it slid open as I neared it. I carefully looked both ways, I could smell the scent of wet dogs. My nose wrinkled. Did I just find a Pollicle version of a turkish bath ? I really despreately hoped not.

Turned out I did, I skirted the baths and thankfully none of the pollciles inside it knew or sensed I was present whatsoever. I silently moved to the next area of the structure and the stink of wet dog became stronger

I checked the life signs and hissed softly. On the other side of the door was a pair of Pollicles, I peeked around the open doorframe and spotted the two mutts, both of them Doberman breed. They stood at attention and never spoke. I hissed softly. I couldnt sneak past them without one of them noticing me or smelling me.

I looked about briefly then smiled wickedly and backtracked to a set of stairs and climbed a pillar without a sound. Once on the overhead baem I walked perfectly balanced on my hands and knees without a sound until I was directly over the two Dobermans. I looked at my vambraces and smiled, the kull vambraces had a blade attachment, I triggered them two prestine silver blades poked out. Perfect!

I smiled, I remembered an old video game I loved to play and learn new compbat skills from. I balanced silently and watched the Pollicles a bit more. Briefly my hand went to the life signs detector and the screen showed another pair were further away, but they were moving. I waited as I suddenly spotted their movement. I also heard voices.

The gold of the Furling was closer on my scanner. So I needed to clear a path. I also spotted on the scanner the natural cave network enterance area. If I needed a fast get away, I had it.

I waited for the patrolling Pollicles to pass before dropping down like a heavy sack of weat on the two dobermans, my hidden blades driving deep into their necks as my weight pulled them to the floor with me. Both were dead before I touched the floor. I withdrew my blades and then followed after the patrolling pair of pollicles without a sound

This pair of pollicles were roving as was their orders, but they werent talking, Instead the voice I was hearing was apparently their boss. Screaming about how the cat was not waking up and something was wrong.

I followed the roving patrol, they passed a door, and then that was where the problems started. Someone had discovered the two dead pollicles. I climbed a pillar and got onto the overhead beams. I took a deep quiet breath and listened as Pollicles patrolled below me.

The door, my target door, slid open without a sound. "Sir" Said one of the patrolling pollicles

"What ?" Barked the pug within. Oh my, what an ugly old cuss he was I thought seeing the mutts face. "First the cat wont wake up, and now Laime is claimning shes sickly and needs to be cared for, what now, did you forget your orders again ?"

"No sir, but we did find that someone killed the two stationary guards in the outer hall on this level." Came the reply, the patrolling Pollicles were both Rottwiler breed.

The pug growled, "Find whoever did it, and capture them!" The mutt ordered, "When you capture the offender alive, bring them to me directly so I may... question them" This pug was indeed not someone I wanted to play with, or be played with. The last thing I wanted was to be his new toy.

What was it with the pugs and bulldogs wanting to screw anything they could ? I started to wonder if any of them were named Bill. I watched the soldier leave, the pug left the door open and complained again, I saw on the scanner now that the device worked inside with the door open, the golden mark of a Furling was not much farther, looking to be in another chamber connected to this one. "I am surrounded by incompetents!" The pug growled

He looked at the Beagles who stood around him, I spotted one of them, I even recognised his scent! I made a mental note to just knock out the beagles. Even setting my blades to only deliver sleeping gas to knock them out as I got settled for a long wait.

I was in for a long day. The pug was upset, and the Goldens were more then likely taking care of the Furling. The problem was that I had no idea who the Furling was. Only that it was another female, and she was sick, just like Maggie was. "So the Goldens are the healers, doctors" I mumbled softly. I reaised an eyebrow and nodded to myself, "Makes sense"

Every army, every government, every town really, had their own medical staff on city or government pay. In this case the Goldens were more then likely simply doctors in their profession for the Pollicles. And the pugs and bulldogs wanted to screw anything that lived. The Beagles more then likely swore fealty to the Goldens as far as I could gather, they felt like Musketeers in how they held themselves.

It made me snicker briefly before I shut up as I remained at my perch, watching the hallway below me and also seeing that there was an open grate vent nearby. I cut through it and went through the section. I found an empty zone, like a void between the walls and managed to move through it silently and never get found by the Pollicles.

But I could hear every single word between the Golden, Laime it sounded like, but somehow I felt it wasnt her. It had a strong male voice to it. "Alright Tjend, what do you got ?" I heard the pug ask to the Golden.

"Well, from what I can see, and tend to so far, looks like a broken wrist, maybe a broken finger or two. I set the bone in the leg, it was a rather nasty break." Tjend said. That complicated matters. "Laime was right, Furlings are fragile, and important. If the histories are to be correct"

Tjend was cut off by the pug. "I know my history Tjend, just give me the verdict, can she walk ?"

"No" Tjen said, well that just sucked. "Given with how she had landed, she more then likely broke her leg upon landing, or rolling off the table there." I found a stained glass vent and peeked through it, the atenchamber was more or less built like a tomb. I hissed softly seeing the Pollicles inside it, there were three bodies on tables, and the remains of a body wrapped on the floor next to another table

"So you're telling me I cant use her to gain a footing in the council ?" The pug asked to the Golden, Tjend.

"If you plan on using this injured cat as a means to gain favor with other members of the high council for your enstatement trials, you're better off going out into the western woods where Laime first encountered the Furlings and praying they're gentle with you like they were were her" Tjend replied.

"When I want your opnion, Tjend, I'll ask for it." The pug replied sternly, clearly upset by the look of him. I smirked behind the dark glass. I listened some more and then Tjend told the pug off and the two of them left the atenchamber. The room I found had clothing in it. And one of the dresses looked strangely familiar. Almost hauntingly so. Where had I seen such a dress before ?

The two Pollicles stopped outside the door and I hid as it slid open, they never caught my scent. "I still do not understand how a cat can show up like this, one second this area is empty, devoid of life, next thing we know, bam, three cats, and one squad, with Laime destroyed but Laime and her guards were unharmed ? By another cat!" The pug growled.

"Norho, perhaps you should take a rest ?" Tjend offered. The pug turned on him and snarled something. "After all you've been up for two straight days worrying over the council and now this compounds it. I really think you should rest."

"I will rest when I am dead" Norho, the pug, replied, the two of them looked through the clothing atenchamber that had apparently powered up when the furlings arrived in their zones. He stood looking at the track of the door in curious thought. A hand to his jaw "I dont understand it. When we first came in here this door was locked and wouldnt open. And then we walk by it and stop and it slides open as if its supposed to ?"

Tjend looked around the clothing piles, walking right past where I was hiding. "This clothing looks like it was designed for the cat." He said.

"So we tell the council what we found, then what ?" Norho asked. The Golden, Tjend, however was thoughtful on the subject and shook his head. "What do you mean no ?"

"Exactly as shaking my head means" Tjend replied to Norho. "We take this, and we take her, I can treat her and help her get back on her feet better back at the office" The pollicle said. He picked up a parcel of clothing, but none of the weapons. Somehow I felt that whoever the Furling was, they wouldnt need them.

I watched the two for a moment, "Fine" Norho growled, "We take the stuff, we take the cat, happy ?" He wasnt. "Bad enough two of the guards are dead, something killed them." Norho said. Tjend had his Beagle guard pick up the injured still sleeping Furling and carry her out on a stretcher type bed. I made to follow them, but had a better idea.

I remembered I had my puddlejumper. I went back to it as quickly as I could, with the golden mark on my LSD I was able to make good time to the jumper and get into the air, I cloaked as I returned to the Pollicle held city. Tracking the desired golden life sign.

I flew between what had to be a few dozen towers as I followed and tracked the golden life sign as it moved among the various towers, going to a transporter as well and disappearing from this peir. I hissed upset at the sudden signal loss. "Just great!" I shrieked inside my jumper. Thankfully the golden life sign reappeared moments later and allowed me to get closer to the centeral spire part of the shipyard.

I parked my jumper on a low tower and remained cloaked without a sound. I spotted dozens of Pollicles on the life signs detector, but amazingly, I had set up perfectly that I could see everything through my sniper scope. I hit the rear hatch controls and the rear door slid apart and the ramp slid into place.

I parked my jumper in such a manner that I could have easy access to everything. I set up my sniper rifle in it poking out towards where the golden life sign was. I looked through my scope and watched everything. I needed to be able to see after all. I magnified the zoom a bit.

I spotted the Golden, yeah he was male, Had to be Tjend, and the pug, Norho. "How many pillars did you run into as a puppy ?" I asked nobody aloud. This was going to be a fun run for sure as I watched through the scope.

I aimed a little higher and set up a little something I liked to call a proper eaves dropping mic. I fired the shot, it locked in place silently just inside a window frame. I put in a pair of earbuds to my ears and listened in to what the two were saying,

"Alright so ya got the cat here, what next oh great healing thinker ?" Norho asked to Tjend. The pug I could tell by the tone was trying to anger the Golden, but it wasnt working.

"You know as well as I as out in the field where this one was found I cant do as I had hoped, with her here I can heal her leg and get a proper splint for it." Tjend said, so that was why the Golden wanted to transport the Furling. I turned my rifle towards where he had the Beagles lay the Furling, focusing on the fur pattern as Tjend set the parcel of clothing on a nearby shelf.

I murred thoughtfully seeing the mostly white chest of the Furling, and also a gorgeous tabby striped tail. I smiled, it reminded me of Dory, my friends old cat. Mostly white with a tabby striped head and face, a tabby tail, and a tabby back. I shook away the memory briefly and refocused on the task at hand, I had a feeling I was going to be there all day so I got comfortable in the jumper.

Four Hours Later

Centeral Spire

Pollicle Zone Shipyard City

It started to rain, I had to hide the jumper somehow, so before it started raining I moved it closer to the overhang of a cover of a balcony without a sound. That way the dry area could be considered part of the balcony instead of an isolate dry spot on the rooftop. I closed the rear hatch.

Tharon needed to know what was going on. I hit my radio. "Tharon, its me" I said into it.

Less than two seconds later I heard his voice and let out a clear sigh of relief. "Hello dear" He said in reply. "Where are you at ?"

"I'm in the Pollicle Zone, I tracked another Furling, according to what I overheard she is very bad off. What is Agustus colors again ?" I replied then asked the question.

Tharon waited a moment and then replied, "a mostly white with tabby markings on his legs, back, head and tail, why ?"

I had no idea how to explain it so I just bluntly said "I think I just found his mother"

I could tell from Tharons voice that he was suddenly excited "Where is she ?" Tharon asked

"Surrounded by pollicles. A lot of them. Best case scenario they care for her, nurse her to health, and then let her free with supplies to try and find us, worse case scenario they try to screw her and you know." I told him, "According to the Golden, a guy named Tjend by the sound of his name, he wanted to help her further, provide a proper splint for her leg, and set the arm bones that are broken in a medical enviroment."

"So what happens now ?" Tharon asked, "Should we get our infirmary ready ?" I sighed in thought, we only had a basic infirmary, nothing as advanced as what I was seeing in the Pollicle Zone.

I shook my head, "No, I dont think that will be needed, if I am lucky I can get her home in pretty good shape." I said.

"And if you're not lucky ?" Tharon asked, I let the question hang in the air for a minute as I pondered how to answer.

"If in the case that I am not lucky in recovering Agustus mother Marcia, well, it might be my fault if war breaks out." I said in reply. I smiled though and I knew Tharon was smiling too. "However if in the case I return with a friend it means I made more friends, from what it looks like, the Goldens really want to care for any Furling that gets found. And Marcia looks really bad, broken leg, he's putting it in a splint as we speak."

"Let me know if anything occurs or you need help" Tharon said

"If you can teleport here at the drop of a hat, that would be great, dear" I replied, it made him chuckle.

I ended the radio call a moment later after we traded goodbyes. I promised I would be back before sunrise the next morning. But somehow I felt that was not going to happen, if at all. If anything somehow I felt as if I was about to start a war no matter what I did.

I had to remember I couldnt over think things. If I did it would only make it worse and harder to come to an proper answer. Even if I think I made the right choice, it would not be the correct choice, even if morally correct it could still be the wrong choice in the matter overall.

I picked up my scope from my rifle and used it like a spyglass to see the Pollicles continue working, the Golden now had an assistant, who helped set the splint for Marcia. I know I could trust the Goldens, and the Beagles. Since the assistant was a Beagle.

"When is that cat gonna be on her feet ?" Asked Norho as the pug paced I turned my scope towards him. He wasnt happy either. And I could tell, but he looked far more nervous about something other than just simply angered. Nervous more then likely about being in the council.

"She is still quite feverish, it might be a bit before the fever breaks. The broken leg might have triggered it." Tjend said as a Beagle set a compress upon her forehead.

I put my scope down and sat back ihn the pilots seat of my puddlejumper. If I were to go to Atlantis, my jumper might be too big to fit in their gateroom. So I would have to go somewhere else first, then gate the rest of the way ?

Out of boredom I hit the map software to find the other stargate, the Milky Way stargate. I smiled, I could dial it up and contact Earth to expect possible visitors, or I could send an advice warning to close the iris. Or even better I could ask for reinforcements.

I had so many choices. It was hard for me to pick just one of them

I decided to wait out the rain to see what would happen, I was surrounded by Pollicles, and the rain was heavy and stank of wet dog as long as I kept the rear hatch open, I closed it so no Pollicles could find me or smell me. With the rain it made things easier.

I decided to take a catnap

Three Hours Later

Centeral Spire

Pollicle Zone

I jerked awake as voices rang out. "I'm telling you, we cant just put her in a cell, shes injured, shes sick, she needs care" It was Tjends voice, another Pollicle had joined them, the rain had stopped so I moved my Jumper back so I had a clear view of everything in the tower.

"I dont care. If the council gets word of this, heads will roll" It was a different pollicle, not a pug or a bulldog, or even a rottie or doberman, but a German Sheperd type. "It would more then likely be yours, or Laime,s or even mine." an exapserated Tjend pointed at Marcia

"Look at her, Vake. Does she look like someone who can just be dropped in a cell ?" Tjend growled in reply pointing at Marcia as she laid in bed. Unmoving. But I could basrely see her chest rising and falling with every breath "If anything moving her again is going to do more harm than good and you know it!"

"What about placing a guard outside the door ? To keep her in here instead" Vake offered the thought, Tjend considered it. Then finally nodded

"Alright, a guard on the door, only me, or my Beagle assistants can enter to care for her unhindiered, aggreed ?" Tjend said. That meant leaving Norho out of the room entirely.

"If you are asking if it will keep Norho out of your way while you tend to her care, yes, that is acceptable." Vake replied. Tjend I could hear sigh in pure relief, that somehow was the best news he had all day. "I will tell Norho he is needed by the council for an emergency sesison, these rain storms are growing more frequent and this is the third Furling we found in our city so far." Vake said

"That's not the half of it, Laime encountered another Furling able to attack. Whiped out Banders patrol but let her and her aiasistant, and their Beagle Guards alive unharmed." Tjend said

Vake was thoughtful. "Is it then possible the rumors are true, these storms bring them back ?" Vake asked in thought.

"At this moment I am more concerned with helping her get healthy again," Tjend said, he washed his hands in a sink. "If anything, keep Norho out of my hair and I wont charge the next house call to your apartment."

"Fair deal, Dr Tjend. I will see what I can do" With that Vake left, leaving a pair of German Sheperds at the door to keep watch. Well, it seemed I had another breed I could trust, with the right leverage.

I heard Tjend sigh loudly in relief as the door sealed. "Finally we can help this poor thing get healthy. You two, go and find Laime and bring her here, she knows the Furlings the best, studied them the most in the libraries here. Best case scenario we help a Furling and gain a friend."

I smiled from the jumper as I heard every word. Yes, making a new friend is always a good thing. I thought. And this Pollicle wanted to make more friends. And not screw them. Somehow I felt that I could trust the german sheperd. Vake. The robed male was clearly important, a leader type.

I had no idea that Norho was plannnig something vile and sinister for the council. Apparently he had goaded, and also blackmailed a good few members, key members, to get enstated. And now that he was on the seated council, he could get his way. And what he wanted for his way, was a Furling Harem.

"Sir" Said one of the Beagles. "Permission to speak freely ?"

"Permission granted. Please, speak your mind" Tjend said to him.

"Word is that Norho is on the seated council now. Anything you or Laime or even us your guards, try to do will get ignored, our spies said he blackmailed a few. One of them were blacklisted from voting, all her votes given to him." The Beagle replied

Tjend sat back in his chair in shock at the news. "When was this ?"

"About two hours ago. I think it is why Councilor Vake said that heads might roll, yours, his, or Laime's. If Norho gets his way,.." Said the Beagle, he sounded like a scholar type of guard

"If Norho becomes High Councilor, the leader of our people, we will be in chaos, and more then likely whiped from this earth." Tjend replied, He sighed, he didnt look happy.

Two hours later

Sunset

Pollicle Zone

I found some food that Tharon had thoughtfully stashed in the jumper. I chowed down silently as I listened into the targets below and across from me. As I listened I could hear that Tjend was more and more upset with Norho. The pug had gotten elected, blackmailing and sneaking his way to the top.

And now he was gunning for Marcia, and her caretakers.

I hissed softly in anger. I hated pugs now that I thought of it, pugs, bulldogs, rotties. To me the only really nice dogs were Golden Retrievers, German Sheperds, and Beagles, and then I remebmered my aunts Havanese pup. They were all good dogs really

"You cant go in there!" Said a voice from outside the door, I trained my rifle in that direction, spotting Norho, he wore a crown on his head, he was now the high muckey muck. I swore under my breath.

"I am your boss, stand down." Norho growled to the two German Sheperds as they stood on either side of the door. They blocked his path.

"We are under orders from the Council, only the Goldens and their Beagle Guard can enter this room. You have to wait out here."

"YOU FOOL! I AM THE COUNCIL!" Norho already let the power get to his head clearly just by look of him. The two guards traded looks and continued to block the path. Good doggies, I smirked as I heard Norho slowly loosing his self control. "Arrest these two for sedition!" he screamed to two more of his guards.

"What the hell is going on here, Norho" Came the calm voice of Vake as he stepped into view. "Someone steal your mutton chops again ?"

Norho spotted Vake and growled, "You! You ordered them to keep me away from my prisoner!" He shouted at Vake. An accusing finger pointed at him. I had tears in my eyes this was too damned funny just to listen in on, I felt like I was in the studio audience of a TV show and the actor for Norho was hamming it up.

I snickered as I heard Vake reply "You mean the Furling guest inside ? I chose to put the guards there to keep her safe within the room, and prying eyes away while she mended. Have you seen her condition ? She is in no condition to be moved I can assure you of that" Very good doggie I thought, Vake kept himself calm and collected, as Norho was flying off the handle.

I had to laugh then, I couldnt help it, thankfully the roof was barren of people so my laughter was unheard. I liked Vake, a lot. I saw clearly that I could trust him.

Norho seemed to realise who exactly set things up for him to be angered. "Tjend set this up didnt he ? Wanting only himself or Laime to access the prisoner!" He growled at the Councilor.

"Far from it, I offered and he accepted" Vake replied calmly, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched Norho for his next move he smiled a calm smile. "Besides, he is more concerned with the care the Furling receives. Like you should be" Vake told him.

"Whats that supposed to mean, Councilor Vake ?" Norho asked him, clearly upset in how he stood, the two guareds remained at their post.

Vake turned to the two guards, "As you were" He said to them, they stood at attention, still blocking the door towards the room where Marcia laid. Vake then turned towards Norho. "You got one minute to leave this floor, you come back here and my guards will arrest you, High Councilor or not."

"This is treason!" Norho shouted. He pointed an accusing finger at Vake. "You want me out of power for yourself! Well, you're not getting it!" Norho screamed. "Get out of my way! I want to see the prisoner!" he said to the guards as he reached forwards to shove them aside.

I growled, I needed to put an end to this and fast! "Heaven help me" I hissed to myself as I pulled the trigger while aiming at the Pollicle leader...

TO BE CONTINUED