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Chapter 5, who's ready!?
Any of ya'll seen the anime GATE? It's almostabout the modern Japanese military heading to a Lord of the Rings style world and establishing a presence there. I absolutely loved the setting, but hated nearly everything else. While you might like it, the characters and story had me tear my hair out from disappointment. It could've been so much more. . .
Venting over, on with the story!
Steel Versus Titanium, Wildfire Versus Thermite; The Winner Is Easy To See With The Simplest Foresight!
Chapter Five: The One And The Wolves
A loud horn was sounded as Ned and the accompanying near-fifty Rangers approached the Wall. While it was intended to reach the Wall with only Rodrik, Joer, and Benjen, they were quick enough to find the Rangers sent back before they could. In the end, he exited the carriage and rejoined them for their journey back on horseback.
Behind him, the exhausted men were rushing back to report his departure with Richter, and supposedly bring all the banners and rush the North to get him. Fortunately, he reached them before a war was made.
Behind them, however, was an armored carriage with a single occupant following the group. Ash, she. . . it. . . she? was called, the acting emissary from the IMC, an organization, not a nation. Things were complicated, and complicated led to misunderstandings, which more often than not would lead to war.
And it was him who had to explain it all. Ned sighed, knowing the future events to be stressful.
In the distance, he could hear the gears as the metal gate lifted open. He could already see the dark tunnel, but at the end of it was a black brother with a torch to light their way.
"Do we ambush that creature when it reaches the center, my lord?" one of the men asked. When they had to camp, he had to silence any notion of attack against Ash, as he would do again here, but it looked like it wasn't needed.
"You will do no such thing," Joer told his subordinate hotly. "Attacking that creature might as well be a death sentence for us all." Joer and he tried explaining what they had seen at Outpost Alpha, and proved to be as difficult as he expected. Drones, guns, and that large flying contraption, none of which was easy to describe to those who haven't seen. Though a glance at Ash told the Rangers he was no liar nor senile. . . he hoped.
Perhaps he was senile, and everything he'd seen was his mind torturing him with illusionary events. That was far easier to explain than anything he'd seen, hence why he was frightened he couldn't convince his liege lords and King Robert.
"If any of you attack, I will have no choice but to kill you for violating guest rights," Ned said, Joer grunted in agreement. Hopefully that was enough to stop possible attacks. Neither Ned nor Joer liked this, but the other option was a war with people who learned to fly.
Up above, it was difficult to see, but he saw a scorpion trained on something, it wasn't hard to guess what. Regardless, the Gremlin, as it was called, was too close to the column of men for a competent man to risk loose an arrow.
At the entrance of the tunnel, Lord Stark saw the man in charge of leading them. It was none other than Ser Thorne, looking grim as he always had.
"Still alive I see, milords, thank the Gods," he said, not a speck of relief in his voice, but he nodded his head in respect regardless. "What of that thing trailing behind you? What is that?"
"If things go well, nothing," Joer said as Thorne walked beside their horses to light their path. "If things turned sour, our and the realm's death."
Allister blinked and hummed as he saw the carriage start entering the tunnel. "Shouldn't we kill it, then? I can have the men ready to loose a hundred arrows upon in the courtyard."
"Only if you want us all to die, Allister," Joer said angrily. "No one is to dare harm it, or I swear by the Gods I'll execute you all myself."
Allister looked to Joer oddly, then back at the carriage, its loud hum reverberating along the tunnel walls. "What did you find?" he asked. "Was it only that thing?"
"That thing and far more of it," Joer replied. "I'll explain it all when the men gather. For now, that thing is under guest rights."
Thorne scowled, but accepted the Lord-Commander's answer, if reluctantly. Ned wasn't happy about this either, so he understood Allister's feelings on the matter. Though in reality, Allister had absolutely no idea of why they're acting like this. He hadn't seen what they'd seen.
Light shone through the end of their tunnel with another black brother waiting, one Allister ran to reach before any of them. The unfamiliar black brother hastily waved to someone. Considering Allister's earlier suggestion, archers were now being recalled.
For the first time in two days, he breathed in air from south of the Wall as he exited the tunnel. It shouldn't be anything special, but it felt like home, even if it was only Castle Black.
"Father!" Robb yelled from above on a walkway with Jon beside him and Theon behind but unmoving. When his two sons made to run to him, they were stopped by a black brother before moving any further. He saw them argue with him, but the brother didn't let them go. Ned was thankful for that.
The two boys stopped still seconds later, Ned didn't need to look why, he already knew. He heard the carriage growl a little louder as it moved to the side before giving a light screech and stopping still.
"Anyone who dares even spits in its direction gets his head on a spike!" he heard Joer shout commandingly before getting off his own horse and walk his way to the Gremlin. Ned sighed and did the same, even Benjen decided to join him.
"Say what you will, but the next few weeks won't be boring," Ben said in dark humor.
"Boring is safe, boring is good," he replied, noticing that Ash still hadn't gotten out of the carriage. Was she waiting for them? He doubted that. "I'll call upon some craftsmen to make more pitch and construct additional scorpions."
"You think that would be enough?"
"No."
As he approached, the metal door opened and she hopped out, snow crunching under her bladed legs when she landed. Ash looked around Castle Black, her face frozen in neutrality like stone. Every subtle movement, every small jerk, they were so very humanlike that it didn't match her metal body.
"Lady Ash," Joer called when he was close enough, having her eerie gaze look upon him. "Welcome to Castle Black."
She gave a humanlike nod. "Appreciated, Lord-Commander," she said, her voice vibrating as he remembered. "How long do we stay before we leave for Winterfell?"
It was Eddard's turn. As he stepped beside Joer, he said, "we'll be leaving shortly, merely changing horses and refilling our supplies." He didn't want to stay here longer than he had to, more so if any rogue brother felt to play hero and attempt something regrettable.
"Understood. I'll wait in here until then," she said before jumping back into her carriage and turned back to Mormont. "I recommend you inform your men not to get close, lest they touch something they really shouldn't." The man grunted, and she closed the door shut. The black glass not showing anything inside.
Ned let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He half thought he'd see an arrow bounce off of Ash's metal body, thankfully it wasn't the case. He saw Joer bring a man and order him to keep men clear of the carriage.
Ben patted his back. "Come on, you get some hot stew to eat, and I'll have the stewards ready your horses and supplies for your men," he said kindly. "Though I suppose you should speak to your sons before then."
Right, his sons. Perhaps it was best to explain their new visitor before they take their journey back to Winterfell. When he turned to look at them, Ned saw they were where he saw them last. The black brother from before keeping his hands on their shoulders to keep them from moving.
After one last look at the metal carriage, he went to see his sons. He wondered if Jon learned more of this place, if he should perhaps spend time learning about the world before cruelly throwing the rest of his life here. Winterfell may be cruel to him for being known as the bastard, especially by Catelyn, but was it bad enough to warrant this?
And if they were to fight these IMC people, then Jon was even more in danger.
Ned nodded and thanked the black brother, who nodded back before releasing them. The two, now calmer, walked to their father, with Theon not far behind.
"Father," Robb said. "It's good to see you back safe and sound." Jon beside him nodding in agreement. His eldest son then looked to the carriage. "What is that thing?"
Of course his curiosity wouldn't be kept back for long. "That is a horseless carriage, and inside is a visitor that will be joining us in Winterfell," he replied. It didn't take long before another question was asked.
"A visitor?" Theon asked incredulously. "That demon creature is a visitor? My lord, is that wise?"
If it was to avoid war, then yes, it was very wise. "The choice was thrust upon me, and I had no choice but to accept," he said, his voice sounded tired, even to him. "I will tell you in more detail later, but for now know that the demon creature you mention is an emissary, and will be treated under guest rights." She had a metal body, she probably didn't need to be worried about being hurt.
"My lord, if it pleases you, I can kill that thing and make you free," Theon said, drawing his bow, right before Ned quickly gripped the shaft before it made it off his ward's shoulder. "My lord?"
"Don't," Ned hissed, catching all three by surprise. He took in a deep breath to calm himself. "She is under guest rights, and I will not tolerate any of my House to be complacent in causing a war." Again, he breathed to relax his tone. "The people she's with, they're not like us."
Theon looked like he wanted to scoff, but held back from his lord's tone. "What is she? A wildling? I doubt we need to be scared of them," he said cockily. "What could some half-frozen bandits do?"
Shaking his head, Ned said, "if it were wildlings, I would've said so, but no, they aren't. They're something far more dangerous if angered. And I refuse to give them reason to be." King Robert might, and Ned would be honor-bound to do his grace's commands. He hoped he was enough to convince him otherwise. Just like now when Theon nodded and placed his bow back in place.
"What did you see?" Jon this time asked. "You reached the blue light, haven't you, my lord?" Yes, and he nearly wished he didn't, but he had the suspicion they were going to find him anyway.
Lord Eddard nodded. "I'll tell you more about it when we reach home. For now, prepare to leave, we won't be here much longer."
"HQ, the convoy is now approaching Winterfell," Ash said from inside the Gremlin just as she saw the castle in the distance.
"Copy that," the woman said on the other line of the radio. "The IMS Malta is positioned in orbit, so support is there should you need it." What that meant was if the right circumstances were met, the IMC would orbit drop a battalion of Marines, neutralize everyone in the vicinity, and take control of the castle as IMC territory.
"Understood, Ash out." The radio clicked to silence. Around her vehicle were horsemen of House Stark, Eddard Stark's personal guard. She wondered if they were there to keep her in check, or stop people from attacking her. Stark might not know the true might of the IMC, but she knew he understood that a war with the IMC won't be normal nor ever in their favor.
Why else would he allow a stranger as her into his home if it wasn't out of fear of orbital bombardment?
Checking the outside temperature, it was several degrees warmer than north of the so called Wall. Not exactly the most imaginative of names of a landmark, but if it worked, it worked. Regardless, the temperature difference on this side was astonishing for a planet of this size, though perhaps they were just passing autumn according to the IMC's meteorology analysis.
Already she and horsemen began entering a town, dubbed Wintertown thanks to the 'intel' that she personally 'acquired'. Whatever happened to her, Ash didn't know, nor did she care enough to find out. Likely being pampered for what her mind has to offer, or being threatened to have screws driven into her fingertips.
Through the tinted glass, Ash could see civilians bow before their lord, or widen their eyes and gawk at the sight of her Gremlin. They weren't getting close, likely more out of the unknown that her vehicle was, especially since they couldn't see her through the black glass.
She looked to the back seat filled with supplies to see the ideal weapon if she was to vacate the Gremlin and fight. Of the weapons she stocked, there was a Volt as her main weapon, an R-201 rifle for more power if needed, a scoped G2A4 rifle for medium range sniping, and the P2016 pistol attached to her as her standard sidearm.
The IMC also provided her a suppressor for her G2A4 rifle and pistol, in case the IMC ever wanted someone discreetly removed. Both the G2A4 rifle and suppressors were hidden, just to make sure none would draw conclusions. If she was preoccupied, then the IMC would drop in a Kraber sniper unit to take out the target from a kilometer away.
Needless to say, several situations were taken to account, most of which involved black op tactics as a response.
That thought and recollection lasting not even a full second, she looked back ahead to the road, labeling the Volt as the ideal weapon for its quickness and flexibility. It took them two days and three nights to finally reach Winterfell, and she was relieved to know that progress was finally going to be made for the search of the Ark.
Granted, she was skeptical in searching their books for a hint for where or what the Ark even was. Traditional means of research and experimentation didn't produce anything worthwhile, sampling, mining, even radiation exposure, nothing worked. All that was left was asking the locals, not the usual IMC method at all, but constraints were made, one of which wasn't bringing the full force of the IMC's military might.
The gates ahead slowly opened, and she finally officially entered Winterfell. The guards she could see past her window gripped their spears tighter, men on the ramparts held their crossbows more at the ready. Wariness might actually be their true savior.
The horses in front of her stopped, prompting her to stop as well. Through the driver's window to the left, she saw a gathering of people, or perhaps calling them her hosts was more apt.
"HQ, this is Ash, I've made it to Winterfell and will begin data collection soon," she said through her boosted internal radio.
"HQ copies," the woman responded."Be advised, any possible hostilities may be shown at first contact." Richter can attest to that. "Pro-" The radio went turned to static before going silent.
"Pilot, this is General Marder onboard the IMS Draconis." What a surprise. "Pilot, you are not to show hostility, we are not at liberty to invade and take what we need. Do so, and that will be considered as a breach of our contract and will mean your termination. Standard exceptionality applies, but do not test them. Marder out." Radio clicked silent without even giving her room to respond.
That was. . . a little jarring, especially with what he meant. She was almost completely barred from fighting, standard exceptionality being if her life was in danger she'd be allowed to use force. But there was the Marder version of a nod that meant she should avoid even every possible situation for it, where even by mistake wouldn't be forgiven.
Essentially she was on very thin ice.
She heard knocking on glass, snapping her out of the analysis of the warning Marder sent her. Looking at who, it was one of the Stark guards. She gripped the handle and pulled it to open the door, the guards moved back as the door swung open.
People immediately gasped at the sight of her before her bladed legs touched the cold ground. It was expected for people who never saw a pilot simulacrum, or even a robot in general. She noticed a few soldiers look more on edge, but she still had a pistol on her should she need to use it.
"Lady Ash," the guard greeted, he was with the group during the journey back. "Lord Stark has tasked me with escorting you to the great hall for an audience." Did he leave already? Likely to warn anyone and everyone, she assumed. "Please, come with me. We were also tasked with guarding your carriage from anyone approaching."
She nodded, then grabbed a medium-sized chest from the seat beside her. "Lead the way," she said as she hefted the metal box onto her shoulder. The guard nodded back and walked towards the castle, him and nine other soldiers. To protect her or to keep her under watch, maybe even both. As long as it wasn't an attack, she's obligated to comply if it moved things forward.
She read her HUD as a new message popped up from HQ 'Implement sonar scan to construct detailed map of the building'. Thankfully she was the only one who could see that, and that she had a sonar emitter in the Gremlin as per IMC order. If they figure out the lodging, she'll need to get on that.
More so for IMC Marines to know how to move inside should they be deployed.
"The great hall is here," the guide said as the reached a large door. "Inside will be mostly empty besides a few guards, as well as Lord and Lady Stark, and their council." He looked around, then back at Ash. "If you show any hostile movement, you can be rest assured we will not let you get even close to Lord Stark to even breath on him, monster," he threatened, then opened the door for her to enter.
Ash paused slightly before entering the hall, disregarding everything that was told to her by that guard. Though as he said, there were perhaps twenty guards posted inside, and several civilians including Lord and Lady Stark. She placed the chest she was carrying in front of her on the floor.
"Lady Ash," Stark greeted from his seat in the hall, he gestured to the stunned woman beside him, but she clamped down on it quick. "This is my wife, Catelyn Stark, formerly Tully." He gestured to an older man with robes and chains, Ash knew this was a maester. "Maester Luwin, my trusted advisor." The old man didn't nod, merely show a kind of wonderment at her. Stark then gestured to a middle-aged man to his side. "Vayon Poole, my steward, he will be the one to help with your lodging within Winterfell. Now if you could introduce yourself to everyone."
She nodded. "My name is Ash, a representative of the IMC, the Interstellar Mining Corporation," she began, watching her HUD for any update from HQ if she should mention or omit something. "I've come here under their initiative to research local recorded information in search of an energy source located here we've dubbed as the Ark." She was a Pilot, but also a computer, she was trained to fight and equipped to research, hence why she was best suited for a solo mission such as this.
"Forgive me, Lady Ash," Maester Luwin said. She was getting a little irked for being called 'lady', even if it was just a formality. "But even with all you just said, I think I can speak for all of us when I say we still have no idea for what you are."
"I believe your lord understands what a robot is." Looking to Eddard, he nodded lightly. "In simple terms, robots are metal puppets who can move under their own volition. However, they have no free will, their existence itself is manmade to do as they're told, while robots such as myself are more unique for we have a mind of our own, a personality, so to speak."
"How wondrous," Luwin muttered. "So they're like men built by man?" Ash thought it was close enough, so she nodded. "How?"
"While I may be one, I don't know the process in making them," she lied. If she had to explain the concept of artificial intelligence, she'd be here all week to explain every minute detail.
"And what of this IMC?" Lady Stark asked. "From the name, it sounds like a merchant's guild than a nation." She was right, but they were never hiding it.
"The IMC-" Ash quieted when a sudden message appeared on her HUD, simply explaining that she shouldn't explain the 'interstellar' portion of the name. "The IMC is a massive company that has business in precious metals, energy, and robotics. They've invested time, finances, and manpower to locate and study the Ark. They are willing to work with you, and pay you, if you help us find it." They have their hands in other things as well, but those three were their prime commodities.
Maybe HQ was right, explaining that they come from 'beyond the stars' or maybe even from another dimension would be too radical for these people. The IMC doesn't need to be involved in whatever conflict that may arise from it, so it was best to keep quiet about it for now.
"Business in energy?" Luwin asked. "What do you mean by that?"
"Most of the items we use are powered by an energy source," she replied. "We're able to harvest energy using multiple methods from multiple sources, and able to apply it to our equipment. I myself have an energy core powering my robotic body, the carriage outside uses combustible oils to power it and move it without horses. Hence why this energy source here has caught the IMC's interest."
The maester looked excited, almost giddy from new discoveries of what man can achieve, though these people may never will. Not from how their technological status had been stagnant for several millennia.
"What if we deny you our help?" Catelyn Stark said. "What if we want none of what you bring?"
"Then we take it by force."
The guards shuffled, metal plate rubbing against chainmail as they began gripping their swords or shift their spears. She didn't receive a warning from HQ, so she didn't do anything out of line just yet, but she shouldn't push her luck.
"Guards, calm yourselves," Lady Stark hastily said, then turned back to Ash. "I mean no disrespect, my husband told me about what you people possess, but I wanted to hear your intentions for myself." Eddard Stark hadn't even seen a fraction of what they had; the Titans, the missiles, the battleships. Nothing, but it seemed to be enough to warrant caution.
Good.
"I understand, Lady Stark. You can rest assured that the IMC considered force as a true last resort." More so now than they ever had before. "We respectfully ask your nobility that you allow us to conduct our research, in return we will give a weekly tribute." She knelt down, unlatched the box and raised the lid. "This isn't a payment, merely a gesture of goodwill. The real payments will be double in size."
Even Eddard Stark lit up in surprise at the gift. Gold ingots stocked the innards, and the lid was padded with foam, but the divots it had held an assortment of gems, ranging from diamonds, rubies and sapphires. All mined from Outpost Alpha, nothing the IMC needs, and not even half of what they mined.
"I see," Eddard said, sending men to collect the chest. "As I said to your leader, Marder, I accept it with special conditions. Are you aware of what they are, Lady Ash?"
She nodded and stepped back as men in armor took away the chest. "I'm under your laws, and I am not to overstep my boundaries while in your land. I'm aware of my position, and the IMC has no intention of breaking our agreement." A message popped up, 'Remind him'. "Though we also expect you to honor your end as well."
The words looked like it aged him ten years. "I intend to honor our deal fully, as difficult as it might be." He mumbled that last bit. She had no idea what that would mean, but their sources said local nobles were terribly proud and stubborn. The IMC should count themselves lucky they met the Starks first, they seem far more amicable.
Technically the first natives they met were wildings, or freefolk, but that didn't really work out considering their massacre at Outpost Alpha. Considering they were planning to construct more outposts, Ash could only wonder how many more of them they're going to meet.
"Then onto the matter of lodging," he said finally. "I assume you'll have to be near the maester's office."
"It'd be perfect, unless the maester is bothered by my presence."
The old man shook his head. "I'd be honored to be a part of a study such as this, though I do hope you answer some of my own questions." She resisted the urge to shrug, but she nodded. She won't tell him everything on it, especially nothing compromising. "Then I have no objections on the matter."
Lord Stark turned to Ash once more. "Then the matter is settled for now," he said, looking a bit relieved to have finished without incident. "I'll have my steward show you to your chambers."
"Appreciated, but I'd like to get my equipment from my carriage first." It was bizarre calling the Gremlin a carriage, but like when they call her lady, she'd just have to settle.
Eddard nodded. "I'll have some men assist you with that. I will be sending word to the king and my liege lords about the IMC." And again, he aged another ten years. "I pray to the gods they believe me." They have to, or else. . .
"Then with your permission, I'll take my leave." They both nodded, gestured to a few men, and she turned back, only now with a few of the guards and Vayon Poole following behind.
Immediately when the door opened, two children tipped over inside onto the floor. They dressed well and were particularly clean, so Ash deduced they were children of someone here in office.
"Arya, Brandon!" Catelyn shouted. Well, now she knew whose children they were.
When the two children looked up from her mechanical legs and see her face, they yelped in fright and scrambled back. Turns out, guards were nowhere to be seen. Looking back to the rather frightened kids, she took a discreet photo of them if they ever needed to acquire them and offer some incentive to Lord Eddard Stark.
The girl jumped to stand in front of her brother defensively, as though Ash intended to eat him. Ash's response was simply walking down the corridor to reach her Gremlin. Already she could hear Lady Stark's chiding of her children behind her, but she had more important things in mind.
Like getting that sonic emitter planted.
"-and so, I, Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, implore King Robert Baratheon, an audience with this emissary to further negotiations between us and the aforementioned IMC," Jon Arryn read aloud the letter during a meeting of the small council. "This is what Eddard had to say."
Robert, in a rare occasion, decided to join the small council once he heard his brother by bond had sent a letter. Jon had read it first, and was very hesitant to even bring it up, but he thought better of it. He raised Eddard, he knew the boy who grew far too fast for the war, and this letter was genuine in every word.
"People who use metal, horseless carriages, makers of metal, soulless men, users of flying little contraptions that shoot light? Are you sure this was Lord Stark and not one of his clearly imaginative little children?" Little Finger said mockingly, though Jon was half ready to accept that. "Or has our dear Lord Eddard taken up writing stories?"
"I'm going to have to agree with Lord Baelish on the matter," Master of Ships Stannis Baratheon said unkindly. "Burn away that letter, Jon, it's nothing but a fairytale." He wanted to, if nothing more than to preserve the dignity of the boy he raised.
Renly gave a fake indignant gasp. "And not record this? It's certainly one of the best stories I've heard in my lifetime," he said, his tone so sweet it had to be fake. "Why, I myself am looking forward to the next chapter!" Stannis grunted in displeasure at his brother's eccentricity. "Please do send him a reward for the most creative story yet, I say it's very well worth it."
"Enough, with the lot of yeh," Robert half-shouted. "I won't have any of yeh mock my best friend, though I do have to say this wasn't what I expected from Ned." He turned his bearded face to Jon. "You called me down here to read me this? Do yeh know I had a whore to attend to before you interrupted me with this, aye?"
"Your Grace, this is a message from the Warden of the North," he implored. "You can't just miss out on a message such as this."
The king grunted in acknowledgement, though he would've responded far too differently if it was Tywin Lannister or Mace Tyrell who sent the message. Likely he wouldn't have even attended the council if it wasn't from Ned himself.
"So what of it? Ned's either telling the truth, or he's gone senile." He grunted again in displeasure. "To be honest, I've no clue which is more frightening."
Metal men that walk around and have the ability to use 'guns', a machination that shoots metal faster than any bow, and some were bigger that caused explosions. Frightening indeed, but he knew where Robert's mind's would sooner accept that Ned had gone mad. If anyone could back Ned's claim, there was him.
Though it seemed Robert beat him to it. The king turned to the oddly silent man and asked, "Varys, what of your 'little birds' that you're so proud of, what do they have to say about this?"
The man kept his hands within his sleeves. If Jon hadn't known any better, he would've said the Master of Whispers looked distracted, or even concerned. When Jon was reading, Varys was attentive as he always was, but after that he was something else.
The eunuch didn't respond at first, in fact he seemed indecisive in what to say. "Spit it out, man!" Robert boomed. "I don't have all day, and I have a woman who needs my cock in her mouth."
Varys bit his lower lip before finally finding the words. "Your grace," he began slowly, hesitant still. "My little birds tell me that a pillar of light was indeed seen north of the Wall." So that corroborated with Ned's letter, but there had to be more. "And my little bird in Wintertown say they've seen a metal horseless carriage." The words were heavy, Jon felt, even he felt them. "As for within the castle of Winterfell, they said they also saw a metal doll the size of a man, walking by its own volition into the castle. While I didn't hear of guns nor these 'drones' he spoke of, I'm afraid to say that Lord Stark's message is indeed true."
A fist slammed onto the table. "What nonsense is this!?" Stannis shouted. "Your little birds are as mad as Stark! Where's Grand Maester Pycelle when you need him?"
"Pycelle is tending to Joffrey at Queen Cersei's request, as our prince scraped his knee," Varys replied, upsetting Stannis further at using a maester what a nursemaid would do. "Back to the matter, the words 'IMC' has come up multiple times from my little birds, as did the name of the emissary, Ash. It's the name of the doll that I mentioned before, or that 'metal puppet' you read in Lord Stark's message, if you prefer. Say what you will, but he wasn't lying nor is he mad."
Petyr scoffed. "Yes well, there is one way to put a stop to all this, or even confirm it all." Jon knew Baelish had his own ways of gathering information, though surprising he didn't know before Varys.
"Send the emissary here, of course," Renly said uncaringly. That boy could barely read the mood of a room, but he was correct this time. "Accept the audience, what better way to see if our dear Ned Stark isn't as mad as we believe to be?"
"You too, brother?" Stannis growled, and stood to leave. "Do what you will, I'm not taking part in this madness." He then stormed out of the council chambers.
Renly sighed. "Looks like I upset my loving eldest brother, but he did give us his consent for the audience, if you think about it."
"Thankfully we don't really need any ships," Petyr japed. "Perhaps they will fly to King's Landing with those flying machines Lord Stark mentioned. Though I do look forward to it. If this was real, a source of income to let these IMC people read some old tomes? Why, it would be mad not to accept." He gave a little laugh.
Jon believed the council's opinions have been heard, most were mocking the matter, and a few, including himself, were wary of this. However, his opinion was like that of Petyr. First, they need to know if this was real, and bringing this emissary was the best choice for that.
"Your grace, as your Hand, I ask that you allow this audience to happen," Jon told the king, who had been oddly silent during the council's final exchange. "It is indeed the best way to get to the root of this."
"Yes, it would, wouldn't it?" Jon didn't like his tone, almost as though Robert was tired of it all. "To hell with it!" He took his goblet of wine and downed it all in a single swig, then threw it across the room. "Send the emissary, and we'll see who's mad then." Another decision made out of impulse. Jon couldn't help but shake his head.
"I don't believe you made that choice out of the information. . ." Varys muttered. Good, Jon wasn't the only one who thought so.
Sighing, Jon said, "I'll write the letter to bring Lady Ash here."
"Fantastic, it's settled," Robert said irritably before standing back up and leaving. "Do send my regard, Jon, and tell that cold bastard to come and visit sometime." And then he left, like this was some bothersome formality he decided to grace them with.
Jon shook his head at the boy he raised as a ward so many years ago. He then looked to the remainder of the small council, currently consisting of Renly, Petyr, and Varys, all of whom were already leaving.
Except for Varys.
The eunuch approached him, and his heavy perfume overwhelmed Jon as it always did. Not even his old age could weather his sense of smell enough.
"Lord Hand, I've a matter of great importance I need to speak to you about, but this issue with the IMC has taken up most of my attention," he explained. "Worry not, I'll be sure to bring any information I find in the next meeting."
After this IMC business, Jon couldn't think of a better way to spend the remainder of the day than locked up in his chambers with a large goblet of wine, but due to Robert's disposition, most of the king's business had been thrust upon him, including working with the small council.
"Make it quick, Varys. I know that you know I have much work to do."
"Indeed you do, Lord Hand, but this is a matter of lineage." He moved in close, making his perfumed scent even more overwhelming. "There is a book, one that says the history of the bloodlines of the seven kingdoms. What I've read was indeed too dangerous to ignore."
Jon narrowed his eyes. "What could this book possibly say?"
"You'd be surprised, Lord Hand. Very surprised indeed."
People who write a Game of Thrones story without the politics is like writing Avatar without any of the bending. So while I understand this can be more sci-fi action (with muthafukin' Titans!), that's not what a story with a Game of Thrones setting is about. . . but the Titans will still come.
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