"... and that's how Jie Revorse was framed!" said Commander Revorse, thumping her hand on the table, "The Fargettians never dropped that biological virus - it was Earth, in a captured Fargettian ship! The Earth Federation are warmongers, terrorists and liars! They should not be allowed a say in the government of the Tria galaxy!"
Chisato yawned and watched Lola pounce on the camera strap she swung rhythmically. As she dragged it along the table, the kitten chased it. The story had been fascinating at first but after the twentieth retelling, it had begun to lose its impact. Eruaqs had already fallen asleep in his food and was snoring loudly. Four empty bowls were stacked beside him. He really does eat like a pig, thought Chisato. He had completely forgotten his ordeal with the XINE. Chisato wondered if he even remembered where he was going. Was he really as insane as Marietta had told her? She gave the power limiter behind his ears a nervous glnce. Styx... they were going to Styx... This everyday life... eating, sleeping, bickering and playing with the kitten... it didn't feel like they were really going to the most mysterious and dangerous planet in the galaxy. Commander Revorse had finished her rant and was now leaving the room, presumably returning to the bridge. Chisato left Eruaqs to his nap and wandered to the observation window. The stars were relaxing to watch and this was the only place she could think, try and piece together the tangled mess she ahd gotten herself into. So much had happened at once. She grew to appreciate the slow days when the only things she had to worry about were a kitten chewing a wire and Eruaqs being space sick.
It was easiet to think of it as just another day at work. She took a long work break but now she was back at her office and she was chasing up another story. It was a very dangerous story but then they all were. It was no worse than chasing Indalecio up Fienal Tower. She was Chisato Madison. The intrepid reporter. Monster-infested ancient ruins, secret military bases, unexplored planets... she went everywhere.
Where was Ashton now? Did Celine ever defeat the Iselia Queen? Is Leon old enough to legally be studying at that academy yet? Homesickness stabbed her in the stomach. She thought she saw the blue planet Expel twinkling in the distance. They would be worrying about her, too. Where had that crazy reporter gone now?
"Why did you...?"
Chisato whirled around, bringing her fists up into a ju-jitsu stance. It was only Eruaqs, standing in the doorway like a statue, his eyes staring as though he had seen a ghost, his expression that of one possessed.
"Tria, why did you...?"
She sighed. He was probably sleepwalking. He slept anywhere but in his bed. He was worse than the kitten.
"Tria... no, please..."
Chisato crept up to him. She didn't want to disturb a sleepwalker, but at the same time, she was worried about him. His cries were pleading, almost tortured. He grasped with a hand at something that didn't exist.
"Tria! No! Why? TRIAAAAAAAAAA!"
He began screaming the name of the Goddess over and over again. Chisato ran out of the room and back to the living quarters, turning the music up to full volume to block out the inhuman screaming. The screaming of one utterly lost and alone in the Universe.
--------------------------
The ship docked in a small clearing.
Marietta left the cloaking device on. Elicoor 3 was an underdeveloped planet and, while she didn't give a damn about the UP3 act, she knew from experience that, were her ship to be discovered, it would probably have the titanium plating nicked and melted down into swords and armour. The android travelled light, with only a laptop, camera and a pair of laser pistols. Marietta didn't need to eat or sleep. Her batteries oly ran out every two years.
She stepped out of the clearing and into a moorland full of fiery red heather, prickly bushes and small rocky outcrops. A wiry, hardy-looking hare grazed underneath a hill, running away faster than her sensors could follow when it saw her. She soon discovered larger creatures - wolves, huge wooly animals, spiny creatures with spiked tails and giant birds. She rooted through her database to find out which ones were harmless and which she should avoid.
Climbing up the hill gave her a good vantage point. She located and examined the settlement below her. It looked big enough to be a town. Its walls were made of granite quarried from the soaring mountains she could see in the distance. The ramparts were high, to keep out vicious animals. The tall wooden gates were open, however, and there was a steady stream of traffic in and out. High above the town, the sun set into a magenta pool.
Keeping one eye on a scrawny wyvern trying to sneak up on her, she climbed down the hill. The dew made it slippery and, though she was rust proof, she hadn't experienced weather conditions for twenty years. The mud and wet all down her legs was beginning to irritate her. She stopped near a small stream to wash herself clean and dry her legs on the tall reeds that grew by the river bank. Now she was almost at the gates, she could see the people clearly. Most of them were merchants, their brightly painted caravans and stalls loaded with goods of all kinds - fruit, spices, silk, pots, armour and weapons. There were soldiers everywhere - bands of eight at a time, in black plate armour. There were tradesmen of all kinds as well, such as craftsmen, blacksmiths, engineers and cooks. Another group of people were prevalent, in black silk robes - were they priests, scholars or some kind of heraldic mages? Her attention was caught by an oversized rabbit walking on its hind legs. It wore green overalls and appeared to be successfully selling something from a tray around its neck. Her curiosity piqued, she walked through the gate, attempting to intercept it.
"Welcome to Peterny." said one of the guards at the gate, "State your business."
"Reporter." she said, showing him her camera.
"Ah, for the Guild Review?"
She nodded. She had never heard of the Guild Review, but she guessed this man hadn't read the Chronicle. He smiled and waved her in, alllowing her to continue her search for the rabbit.
Peterny was clearly a trading capital. She hadn't even reached the town square before she became lost in a sea of people yelling, bartering at the tops of their voices, hawking their wares. Bright colours and rich smells assailed her sensory receptors, forcing her to mute the settings. Three people tried to pick her pocket but were disappointed to find that they were painted on. Pushing past anyone in her way - it seemed to be what everyone else was doing - she made her way down the street until she reached a large wooden building that seened particularly popular. It had large wooden notice boards and a counter through which people passed various goods to an official-looking man in a large hat.
It was there that she saw her target.
A young man with pale skin, straight black hair that stuck to his attractive but shy face and ended in white fletching, he wore a black tunic with a dragon embroidered on it in white thread. He was carrying a large crate full of swords. Ignoring the queue she was supposed to be standing in, she walked up behind him.
"Lionel Deguares."
He glanced up at her with the most dejected expression she had ever seen on the face of a human who was not trying to jump off a bridge.
"Uh... hi..." he began, "I... uh... gotta get this stuff on the auction. I'm busy. yeah, busy."
"So this is an auction." said Marietta. It was certanly different to eBay.
"Uh, yeah... this is the world famous Peterny Grand Trading Auction." he gave her an odd look before placing his crate on the counter. He then produced some papers that were stamped by the man in the hat, who rang a bell.
"I'm not from here. I travelled a long way." she admitted. "Are you from this town?"
"Me? I'm from... Airyglyph..." he sighed, put his hands in his pockets and stared up at the sky with an even more suicidal expression. Then he blinked and looked at her,.
"Sorry, lady, I'm being kinda rude. You knew my name... you must've come to hear me play. There's still a few hours before I'm on. How 'bout you and I go for a drink?"
