Chapter 62 Everything for a Price
Character Malcolm Reynolds
"Well I have to admit this is as nice a place as you made it out to be," Mal told Harold upon entering his home on the Citadel. "Not nearly big enough for everyone who is here though."
"That is why people are showing up in waves," Harold said, "I'm actually surprised that I am able to have this party, I had assumed that Cassity would have heard about some galactic plot to overthrow the Council or something by now."
"I would figure you wouldn't mind if the Council got over thrown," Mal said, "After all they are undermining you every time you turn around."
"I had a chance to let them all die a few years back," Harold said, "Instead I saved them. As problematic as they are without them things would be a lot worse."
"Usually I like worse," Mal said, "If it means no one can tell you how to go about your business then I can support that idea."
"You'd love being a Specter," Harold remarked, "Well I will leave you to your mingling our friends from Remnant will be here soon and I have been informed that they may have a few bags to bring in."
"Right," Mal said as he and Harold parted ways by the bar. Wash and Ax were seated at the bar, each with one of their favorite drinks in hand. Mal slid onto a stool and joined the two. "So it's self serve here?"
"Hardly," Gaige remarked as her head popped up from behind the counter. "I'm the bartender."
"Seriously," Mal asked.
"Seriously," Wash said. The four just stared at each other for a few seconds before a cough drew their attention to Junior.
"Thanks for watching the bar for me but I'll take it back over now," Junior said.
"Aww... Gaige moaned as she gave up control of the bar, "I guess it's okay though I don't know how to fix drinks anyway."
"No but your good at consuming them," Ax said.
"I guess there isn't an age limit for drinking on Pandora," Mal remarked.
"There isn't an age limit for anything on Pandora," Ax said, "We choose our own limits."
"So the long engagement is your choice," Junior asked.
"Yeah, I was only what seventeen when I fell madly in love with Ax," Gaige said, "It was about six months into the relationship that we decided not to get married until I was twenty one."
"That is some commitment you have there," Junior said, "With Yang and me it was rather fast, as are most things with her. She comes in and blows up my place one day a month later she is bringing in guns and armor and kissing me, a year later we're married, shes playing at the club as a drummer, being a mother like figure for her team and being my number one agent in regards to hunting down that armor set that we gave to Cynder. To be honest I don't know how she did it."
"The same way I do everything dear," Yang said as she took the last stool at the bar, "with a lot of energy. Hey Mal glad you could make it out today, or night, uh how do you tell what time it is here?"
"The Citadel makes it's own time," Mal said, "I've seen places like this before, space stations and such, none that were this big but they are all the same. I'd say it is probably about mid afternoon based on how bright the lights are shining across the station."
"Really, I'd say it is approaching noon," Wash said.
"It doesn't feel like noon," Mal replied.
"Your right it isn't," Harold said as he approached the four with a woman who reminded Mal of Inara but with a paler complexion. "It is currently ten am."
"Ten, in the morning," Mal said as he looked out the window behind him, "That is a lot of lights for ten."
"Yeah well that is how the Citadel works," Harold said, "Anyway this is Miranda, she wanted to ask you about a possible job or two."
"That so," Mal asked as he looked over to Wash, "Wash why don't you go find your wife make sure she isn't breaking anything and let Miranda here have a seat. We may have some things to discuss."
"Oh right," Wash said as he realized what Mal was referring to, "I'll go do that. Hey Shepard come show me around here."
"You know I could have talked to you without sitting down," Miranda said as she took Wash's seat. "Besides he is your pilot right, he may have wanted to be in on this conversation."
"He may have but your name may cause some issues with our most dangerous crew member," Mal said, "I'm having Wash run interference for you on that."
"What because of my name," Miranda asked.
"Miranda, it was the name of a planet, the planet where the worst scourge of our galaxy was born, the Reavers," Mal said, "And River remembers that planet, she knows what happened there and it is why she is the most dangerous and unpredictable member of our crew. You show up and say that your name with River around, well you might be dead a moment later. Wash is warning Shepard right now and he will be talking to Simon, River's brother about it."
"She is that dangerous then," Miranda stated, "Good that is exactly what I need, along with your ship, on a job of course."
"So your okay with potentially setting the crazy girl off," Mal asked.
"Yes I am," Miranda said, "I don't think it will come to that though my last name is Lawson, we can use that when communicating. I am with the Council here on the Citadel and we have noticed that someone or something is trying to push the races to another war, Cassity or the Ephraim has already decided to help us figure out who or what is causing this. I want you all to be her ship and crew to get around the galaxy. Your ship is small, light, fast and stealthy, but not so state of the art like the Normandy so you won't even draw that type of attention. The Serenity is perfect for what Cassity will have to do and that is traverse the Terminus Systems. There are a lot of races in the Terminus that are on less than friendly terms with the Council I believe a group such as yourselves will be the best chance we have of finding out if anyone out there is causing this stir."
"What sort of numbers are we talking about here," Mal asked, "How would you pay us?"
"Council Credits of course but you could use DC to transfer them between any currency that you might need," Miranda said, "As to the amount, to prevent another war, you can name your price."
"A hundred thousand to start with as spending money for anything we might encounter," Mal started, "A full tank of fuel that is best suited for Serenity, and a fully stocked pantry will get us started."
"Done," Miranda said, "Your are currently docked in hanger 437 so I will have them fill you up. Thank you for your time Captain Reynolds." Miranda promptly got up and left to see to her other business and Simon sat down.
"Man she is efficient," Gaige remarked for herself, Ax, Yang and Junior who had all just watched the transaction between Mal and Miranda.
"Do you mind," Mal said to the three, "Private business and all."
"Oh right," Junior said, "What conversation?"
"I hear our new employer might cause some trouble with River," Simon said.
"Miss Lawson is very careful in her dealings," Mal said, "I don't think she will cause that much trouble."
"So you accepted her offer," Simon asked.
"We've been riding on the coattails of Dragon Company ever since we found them," Mal said, I don't like that, no offense you guys."
"None taken," Yang said, "None of like feeling useless."
"Exactly," Mal said, "We have a job, we do the job and then we name our price for the job."
"Name our price," Simon asked.
"She left the payment up to our discretion," Mal said, "I started us out with a hundred thousand a full tank and stocked kitchen I figure... where is she going?"
"Who," Simon asked as Mal got up and headed towards the door. River had just gone out of it, following Miranda.
"Your sister," Mal replied.
"Oh no," Simon remarked as he followed Mal. The rest that were at the bar followed as well.
Mal caught sight of River as the tan garbed lady headed down a set of stairs across from the entrance to the apartment. He ran across the walkway, drawing the attention of the people he passed but not caring about what they thought, right now he just had to make sure that River didn't fight Miranda. Mal and the six who were following him made it down the stairs to see River turn off into a side street, she was running now. Mal was turning into the side street moments after he saw River go down it and was just in time to catch a glimpse of her turning into an ally. A few seconds later and he was turning into the same ally to see Miranda fighting off two massive Krogan mercs. He noticed River up on a walkway above the mercs just moments before she dropped down between the two and impaled one on her sword while drawing her pistol on the second. The second Krogan was replaced by Yang just a fraction of a second after River had lined up the shot.
"You would have been shot if I had pulled the trigger," River said calmly as she watched the first merc slide off her sword.
"Uh yeah," Yang said as she backed away from River, "Thanks for not firing then."
"Anytime," River said as she put her weapons away and walked towards Mal. "Well Miranda it looks like you were not as discrete as you had hoped to be. They will be ready for us Captain. You don't have to worry about me as much, those old triggers were taken care of, you all helped put them to rest."
"Right well that is a relief," Mal said as he let out a breath he had been holding in.
"It would appear that I chose the right group for this job," Miranda said, "
"River are you sure your okay, your not hurt or anything," Simon was asking his sister from behind Mal.
"I guess so but we may need some guns now that whoever it is we are looking for knows we are coming after them," Mal said, "Can we add that to the starting price?"
"We can," Miranda said, "Show me your ship and I can order the best guns for it."
"Right, you all get back to Shepard's let him know everything is fine," Mal said, "Let the others know where we are going."
"We will," Simon said as he, River, Ax, Gaige, Junior and Yang headed back to Shepard's.
"Okay then let me show you Serenity," Mal said, "Just show me to one of those taxis."
Forty minutes later and Mal was walking into the cargo hold of the Serenity. Mal noticed three things wrong as soon as he had entered the hangar. One, the cargo bay was open so someone was on the ship, two all of Jayne's stuff was packed up and waiting in the cargo area, three Jayne was not with his stuff.
"It looks like someone is already here," Miranda said as she drew her pistol. Mal didn't say anything but drew his pistol and motioned for Miranda to cover him as he moved into the cargo hold. Mal stopped when he heard voices filtering in from the rest of the ship.
"Are you sure you've got everything," a distorted female voice said.
"Yeah it's all out there," an equally distorted male voice replied, "Lets just go, I'm not really good at this sort of stuff." Mal thought that he recognized both voices but with the distortion from the ship he couldn't be sure, well not until the next sentence.
"Jayne are you sure you don't want to just tell them," the woman said, "I mean I am your wife now, I'm sure they would understand."
"Weiss, It's not that easy," Jayne replied, "Mal and Inara, Kaylee and Simon, they all have pretty open relation ships. I don't know if they would understand."
"Wash and Zoe would understand, as would Derrial," Weiss said, "You should at least call them or leave a note just to let them know."
"Yeah I guess your right," Jayne said, "It's just that I've always been the hardened merc only loyal to wealth... which I am, but being with you makes me fr more wealthy than even all of the money you have. I just don't know if they will understand."
"They won't if you just up and leave," Weiss said, "Look we will move your things to the Unity but them we are going to Shepard's and telling Mal and the rest about your moving in with me."
"Yeah, yeah okay," Jayne said, "Uh can you do most of the talking though I'm not good at that."
Mal knocked on the wall to let the couple know he was on the other side before saying, "Well you were fairly clear right then."
"Mal," Jayne asked confused for a moment, "Ah... we'll be out there in a second, stupid paper thin walls."
"Well any trouble," Miranda asked as she came over once Mal put his gun in it's holster.
"Jayne is leaving," Mal said, "I thought it would happen eventually but now that the day is actually here. I never thought I'd say this but Jayne is a good man."
"Thanks," Jayne said as he and Weiss came over to Shepard and Miranda.
"Miranda, your here," Weiss asked.
"I've come to get a feel for what type of guns I can add to the Serenity since Mal has offered to work for me for a time," Miranda said, "Since I may be putting him and his crew in harms way it seems only right that they have the means to defend themselves. No shields on her either, we'll have to fix that."
"Really as soon as I leave you get the Serenity upgraded," Jayne exclaimed.
"You could always stick around," Mal said.
"No, I can't," Jayne replied, "Not anymore, not with Weiss here. We're married and that does mean something to me, at least now it does."
Mal looked over Jayne as he had done a hundred even a thousand times before, sizing the man up to see if he was serious. This was the first time since joining with Mal that Jayne was very serious about leaving. "You do what you have to do," Mal said, "But the two of you are always welcome on the Serenity... and those friends of yours Weiss."
"Thank you," Weiss said, "and you and your crew are welcome aboard the Unity whenever you find yourselves in need of a port."
"Do you have the authority to say that," Mal asked.
"Yes," Weiss replied, "After all CFVY was just piloting the Unity until we could take over. Though I am going to see if I can't set up an arrangement like you have with Wash."
"It is a good system," Mal agreed, "Well Miranda you go take a look at the ship, meanwhile I think I will help move these boxes out of my cargo hold. Just don't break anything while your looking around and don't go into Kaylee's room... and don't press any buttons."
"I get it look don't touch," Miranda said as she climbed the stairs out of the cargo hold.
"Well Jayne you were right about one thing," Mal said as he picked up a box of Jayne's stuff and loaded in into the Mule, "This has certainly been an interesting day."
"The past few months have been interesting," Jayne replied, "Hell the last year has been interesting, but yeah I'm just glad it turned out like this you know. I wouldn't want to have to leave you the same way I left Marco."
"I doubt you could pull that type of stunt on Mal," Weiss said.
"Oh so you know about that then," Mal said, "I'll admit Jayne has gotten a lot more talkative and generally more tolerable with you around. You two take care of each other now, I know you don't think I care much for marriage but the truth is I am just not the type of person who will hold onto someone like that. When... I just don't have that sort of commitment."
"You're committed to your crew, to Serenity, to a job, why not a person," Weiss asked.
"With the crew and Serenity I'm the Captain, with a job I'm the contractor with a spouse it's a partnership," Mal said, "I don't do well with sharing authority."
"You've been okay with following K," Jayne said, "Course he has paid for us the past year or so right?"
"Which is exactly why I am taking Miranda's job," Mal said, "I don't like that arrangement either. I should be supplying the needs of my ship and my crew, not relying on the good graces of some seemingly all powerful religious zealot."
"So that is how you see me," K said startling the three, "I have to admit I always wondered about that. It is funny really, you never know just how to look through other people's eyes. I am not all powerful, even if I used to think I was. Throwing power that wasn't even mine against my foes never stopping to consider that it was God who gave me the power in the first place. I wasn't very religious then and I still am not terribly religious now, but I have the good sense to acknowledge who really provides all that we have. I give freely to you and to your crew because God has given so freely to me. He is now giving you what you want by letting you have this job, make your own way if you will. Know this though, you owe me and DC nothing and you never did, your also still DC members so are still immortal and are going to be sticking around for a very, very, very long time." K held out on of his scales, a palm sized black one from one of his forms.
"A scale," Mal asked as he took it from K's hand.
"A signal," K said, "My brother Primes have their soulstones that they can use to talk with each other or anyone holding the stone. I have the scales from my Prime form, that is one of them. When you are ready to be picked up just let me know. Now I have an appointment with Shepard that I'm supposed to bring Miranda to, could you call her out for me?"
"You could just walk in and," Mal started but K had walked out of the cargo bay and morphed into his Leviathan form.
"Or not," Jayne said, "Captain, thanks again for you know putting up with me."
"Don't be saying good bye just yet," Mal said as he walked over to the comm, "Your going to have to bring my Mule back when your done moving, I'll make sure the crew is here. Miranda, K is here to take you to a meeting with Shepard. He says it is important."
Jayne and Weiss drove out with the Mule and cart while Mal was waiting for Miranda to return. She arrived about three minutes after he had called her.
"Oh, I guess I am getting to ride on K back to Shepard's place," Miranda remarked. "I've got the designs for your shields and gun solutions I will give them to the dock master."
"Get on we're already late," K said as he turned his head so one of his giant eyes was staring at Miranda.
"Wow you are really big," Miranda said, "I saw you fighting those Reapers but to be this close to you is quite impressive."
"K, Miranda, if any of my people are still at Shepards tell them to get back here," Mal said, With Jayne leaving I want to give everyone a chance to ask him any questions they might have."
"Sure," Miranda said as she climbed onto K, "But couldn't you just call them?"
"I will but if any of them miss the call you two are a very good back up means of communication," Mal said, "Go on now your late to a meeting, Shepard might do something drastic if he can't bore someone with his meetings."
"True," K said as he took to the air. It was unclear however if he was referring to Shepard doing something drastic or them being late.
Mal went and called his crew to meet him on the Serenity ASAP then he went into the kitchen and made himself a snack, beef jerky and oatmeal. The snack only took ten minutes to fix and eat and clean up after, so Mal was idly spinning back and forth in a chair and tossing a potato into the air when Inara arrived. She was the first of the crew to make it back and it only took her twenty minutes to get over to the Serenity so she must have left Shepard's before the rest and was closer to the ship when Mal called.
"What are you doing," Inara asked when she came across Mal.
"Waiting," Mal said, "I want everyone to be here when Jayne and Weiss get back."
"Oh? Why," Inara asked as she sat down across the table from Mal. Mal caught the potato again and looked over to Inara. She was in an elegant black dress that he had given her a while back. She raised an eyebrow at him, encouraging a response to her question.
"Jayne is leaving to be with Weiss," Mal answered, "They are married now so it was bound to happen. I just want everyone to have a chance to ask him anything they might want to."
"Are you showing... concern, for Jayne leaving," Inara asked, "Hardly a day goes by that you don't joke about replacing him."
"I know but now I actually have to," Mal said, "Jayne, while hard to deal with at times and certainly hard to be friends with, is easy to deal with. He is predictable, loyal, even if he doesn't want to admit it. I treated him right and that won me his respect. Not everyone has that experience with Jayne I want to give them the opportunity to see that in him."
Inara nodded and got up, "I'll be in my shuttle, call me when Jayne gets here."
"I will," Mal said as he resumed tossing the potato. It was about thirty minutes before the rest of the crew showed up. Mal had them all wait in the cargo bay for when Jayne returned and informed them of what was happening.
"Wow, I must say while we never got along that well it will be different without him," Simon remarked.
"It's not his funeral," Zoe said, "But yes we will be seeing a lot less of Jayne now."
The sound of the Mule's engine drew everyone's attention as Jayne and Weiss returned the four wheeler.
"What is all this," Jayne exclaimed, "I said tell them I was leaving not throw a party now that I'm gone."
"It's not a party for you leaving," Kaylee said as she walked over to the pair, "Well it is but it is to say goodbye. Weiss may I?"
"Oh fine," Weiss agreed.
Kaylee wrapped Jayne in a hug muttering, "please visit or something okay?"
"Uh yeah, sure," Jayne said as he awkwardly extricated himself from Kaylee and shot Mal a look that was a cross of 'I hate you right now' and 'please for the love of God help me.' Mal just smiled as Jayne was thrown into the emotional grinder by the crew and Weiss got a lot of attention as well, her and her team had very quickly grown on the hearts of everyone on the Serenity and while Mal felt he had to take this job of Miranda's he was sad to know that none of their new found allies who helped them save their galaxy from both the Reavers and the corrupted Alliance would be crewing with him this time. Mal was pulled out from his thoughts as River came up to Jayne and Weiss.
"You feel happy," River said to Weiss.
"I am," Weiss said, "I almost don't know what to do about that, I'm so used to being focused or strict, or whatever..."
"I know," River said, "Psychic remember? Jayne, you finally feel right for some reason maybe you've finished your search, completed your mission. I don't know exactly what it is but I have a feeling that you two are going to be wonderful together."
"Only because we are awesome individually," Jayne said.
"For once I will support you on that brag," Mal said, "No go on, I'm sure the misses has a list of things she wants you to do."
"That would be funny if it wasn't true," Weiss said, "We do have a lot to do, taking over the Unity and all."
"Yeah took us an hour and a half to find our room," Jayne remarked, "Okay so I'm not good at this... I guess we will see you guys later when your done with this spy thing?"
"We'll make it happen," Mal said, "Now really we all have things to do so let's go do them."
Character Charolite
They had been at the motel for three months, during that time they had lost Glen as he drove off one their first night to find his friends in Atlanta and they had picked up a man named Mark who they had found in Robbins Air force base inside a commissary supply closet. They had no other dealings with people aside form the occasional wandering bandit. Mark was just a couple inches shorter than Lee, was white, wore glasses and had short, brown hair that matched his brown leather jacket. That morning he, Lee and Kenny had gone out hunting to try and catch some food as even the supplies that Mark was found with were drying up quite rapidly at this point. In fact Charolite had fore gone food for the last three days choosing rather to use a energy siphoning spell that Steve had suggested she use. As a result she was the most admired member of the group, since she would always pass her ration, if she got one, to either Clementine or Duck, depending on which one had not eaten most recently.
The group tension had been on the rise these last few weeks and Charolite was now very aware of how each member viewed each other member. As for herself Charolite likes Clementine and Lee since they were the first people she met and since they were the first to trust her and Steve. She also liked Lilly and Larry since Lilly was the only one who had stepped up to be the leader and Larry since, while derisive towards just about everyone, he had made it perfectly clear his priority was the safety of Charolite and Clementine. Doug liked Charolite, saying once that she was like the greatest little sister he never got to have. He cared for Clem and Duck too but he seemed to be closer to Charolite.
Lee and Kenny had become good friends, supporting each other when it came to the 'group' decisions. Carly and Doug were in a weird romance, sort of. They both cared for each other but were seemingly to afraid to take their friendship farther. Katjaa had tried to stay neutral with everyone but with Kenny being her husband that was not always easy. Kenny and Lilly butted head all the time. Kenny's priority was his family where Lilly seemed to view everyone, even her father, as equally important. Doug, and Mark were usually the voices of reason in the group when things got heated between Kenny's faction and Lilly's. Kenny's faction was him, Lee and occasionally Carly, Lilly's was her, her father and occasionally Mark. It was Mark and Doug who would usually bring both sides to an agreement but when they couldn't Charolite would intervene reminding everyone to think of what was best for Clementine and Duck. On such occasions she would almost always get an "and you," from Larry, Kenny and Lee which would defuse the situation.
"Hey Charolite can you find something for me to hammer with," Larry asked as he walked over to her. They were all outside in the parking lot of the motel with Lilly on the top of a makeshift watch tower that was a chair mounted to the top of the RV. The group had fenced off the parking lot and were building walls on the fence to keep out the ever growing bandit population. It was this wall that Larry was going to work on and he needed something to hammer in the few nails that they had found the day before.
"I'll look around and see what I can find," Charolite said as she got up from her seat in the shade provided by one of the upper walkways of the two story, L shaped motel. Charolite scanned the parking lot but didn't see anything, they had pretty much stripped it bare of anything that was useable the first few nights that the group was here. She went around the back of the buildings to see what she could find. There was a brick and a fairly decent sized rock around back so she grabbed them and took them to Larry. "I got a brick and a rock," she said as she came up to Larry.
"Huh I guess the rock will work better," Larry said as he took it, "put the brick over there and let me work." Charolite dropped the brick off in a pile of wood planks and boards. Everything then came to a stop in the lot as Lilly raised her rifle and looked out towards the woods that were across the road. Larry crouched behind the wall, and Charolite redyed an illusion to throw if there was trouble on it's way. Instead it was Lee, Mark and Kenny. They were accompanied by two young men though one of them was being carried by mark.
"Open the gate," Lee said, "We have wounded!" Doug and Carly pushed the dumpster that they were using as a gate aside and let the five in. Mark took the man he was carrying over to Katjaa and the whole group followed him over.
"He got himself shot trying to take my rifle," Mark said, "I know your an animal doctor but your the best hope this kid has got." Katjaa nodded and motioned for mark to lay the boy out on a truck bed.
"Lee," Lilly said with a hint of anger, "Who are these people and do you mind telling me why you brought two more mouths for us to feed here?"
"I'm Ben and that is Travis," the new guy said. He was thin, with blond hair and was wearing a sports jacket and jeans.
"They were lost Lilly," Lee said, "Their teacher got stuck in a bear trap and we left him to give us time to get back here. Travis, well you heard what happened already."
"You let me join with you all," Mark added.
"You had a store house of food," Lilly said then to Ben, "I don't guess you all were carrying any groceries?"
"Uh... no," Ben said.
"Lee a word please," Lilly said as she stormed over to the RV. Larry nodded towards the wall and Mark headed over to help with it. Charolite sighed, she knew this would not end well. She went and sat back down in the shade and resumed drawing in energy from the plants and such that were around her. It took a lot of concentration and per minutes she was only able to pull in slightly more energy than she was using even in this restful state, but it allowed for the rest of the group to draw out the little amount of food that they had left and that was going to be even more important now that Ben and his friend were with them.
"Hey," Lee said as Charolite recognized his voice. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, he was holding out a piece of beef jerky.
"Lee, no. Give it to Duck or Clem," Charolite said.
"I already fed them," Lee said he didn't retract his hand.
"Has anyone else been fed yet," Charolite asked.
"No," Lee said, "there is only this and a cheese and crackers packet left for today."
"Feed the people who do the most work in the group then," Charolite said, "See who has been the longest without any and give them some."
"You have gone the longest without any," Lee said.
"Then find who has been the second and third longest," Charolite snapped then quickly realizing that Lee was only trying to look after her said, "Lee I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that. I have a skill that allows me to pull in energy from organic life around me, plants, animal etc. Feed the others I'll be fine."
"Yeah, okay, Char no need to apologize, we're all a little on edge right now," Lee said as he went off to feed more people and Charolite resumed her meditation. She didn't get to rest for long however as Katjaa's shriek woke her with a start. Lee was over by the truck where the now turned Travis was grabbing at Katjaa. Lee pulled Katjaa away but got himself caught by the walker. Charolite was running over to help as was Mark and Larry who had Lee's ax for some reason. Larry swung the ax and missed the walker, instead getting the ax head stuck in the truck window. Charolite was there a moment later and she blasted the walker, melting it and causing her to gasp as the energy left her body. It wasn't enough to knock her out but now she felt just as hungry as everyone else looked.
"That is why we don't bring in wounded," Larry yelled as he pulled the ax out of the car before shoving it into Lee's hands and storming off.
"I didn't know it happened so fast," Lilly remarked.
"You don't know then," Ben asked before explaining, "Once you die you could come back in a few seconds or in a few hours, there is no way to tell."
"Well then we can't give people the benefit of the doubt," Kenny said, "If can't know that they are alive, we've got to... take care of them."
"What if their just unconscious," Lilly said, "It happens to Charolite all the time. Are you going to kill her just because she saved your life with one of her spells?"
"What no that's not what I'm..." Kenny started.
"Hello," some one from outside the fence asked stopping the conversation, "Uh hello? We just want to talk."
Lee, Charolite, Lilly and Kenny moved over to the fence. They saw two men standing in the road. One was fairly bulky and the other was more wiry but both had the complexion of farmers of some sort.
"Hey there, I'm Andrew St. John and this my brother Danny," the larger of the two, Andrew, said. "We own the St. John's Dairy up the road and were wondering if you all had any gas you would like to trade."
"We've got plenty of food," Danny added, "We'll trade you food for gas."
"Did they say they have food," Larry asked.
"We do need the food," Kenny said.
"Hi I'm Lee," Lee said to the brothers, "How would we work this trade?"
"Some of you folks would follow us to the dairy with gas and we will give you some food to bring back," Andrew said.
"I don't like us splitting up," Lilly said, "But without food it won't matter."
"Me, Mark, Ben, Doug and Charolite can take them some gas and bring back the food," Lee said. Charolite and Doug moved next to Lee to show their approval of the plan, Mark nodded and Ben looked surprised but also nodded.
"Why are you taking Charolite," Larry asked.
"Because I am more useful to a group that is moving than a group that is sitting," Charolite said, "I'll be fine."
"Well," Andrew asked.
"Okay we will trade you some gas," Lee said, "What do you use it for?"
"Generators," Andrew replied, "Keep our electric fence running to keep the walkers out."
"Lee see if you can find out how that works while your there," Lilly said, "If it really works that would be a powerful defense." Lee nodded as he, Mark and Doug went to get some of their gas. Forty minutes later and the group of seven, including the St. John brothers, were making their way up the road towards the farm. Ben was talking with the brothers as he had worked on a farm before and was interested in their set up. Charolite was walking with Doug and Lee and Mark were at the back of the group.
"You know it's nice to see children again," Danny said, "I'm surprised you brought her with you though, no offense mam."
Charolite has saved our lives on a couple of occasions," Doug said, "Well mine anyways."
"That is good to hear," Andrew said, "I could see how people would start to leave kids behind in a situation like this, maybe we shouldn't underestimate anyone who is still alive and well. Who leads a group like your anyway?"
"Right now we're kinda a democracy," Lee said, "sort of."
"You got a couple of strong personalities in your group then," Andrew said, "That could be problematic if things get heated."
"Well Doug and me usually find a way to calm everything down," Mark said, "and when we don't Char there does."
"Does she now," Danny said, "Sounds like the young lady runs the group then, saving lives and mediating between your two sides and all."
"Oh I hope not," Charolite said.
"Hush," Andrew said as he crouched down and snuck over to a hill that looked over to another road, the rest followed him over. Charolite heard voices, two people arguing over food from the sounds of it. "Bandits," Andrew said, "Keep low and let's hope they leave." The argument continued until one of the men had enough and shot the other one, pumping a couple more rounds into the body to make sure it would stay dead before storming off.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," Danny said to Charolite.
"I'm just sorry the skull was so completely destroyed," Charolite said thinking of the skeleton she could have made from the dead man.
"Yeah seeing someone's face so messed up is hard, but we all know it's the head or nothing," Andrew said as he got up and the group continued on to the farm. They arrived at the farm some time later, Charolite had not been paying that much attention, instead focusing on drawing in energy from her surroundings as they moved. On the porch of the two story farm house stood a homely looking woman with a basket, she came down the stairs to the porch to greet them as the group drew closer.
"Here you are already, and with some friendly faces," the woman said.
"This is our mother Brenda St. John," Andrew said, "Mom this is Lee and his friends, they brought us enough gas to keep the generators going for a while yet."
"Oh my, well thank you," Brenda said as she handed the basket to Doug, "Here you all take these. I made them fresh this morning." In the basket was a pile of fresh baked biscuits.
"Wow, this type of stuff you have to have fresh milk and everything for," Doug stated, "I don't see any cows though."
"Maybell is in the barn," Brenda said, "Hopefully she will get over this bout she is having and be with us for a good long time yet."
"You cow is sick," Mark said, "We have a vet, with the rest of our group. Maybe we could send some of us back with this food and bring the rest of our group here, for the day at least."
"A vet," Brenda exclaimed, "Our prayers have been answered, you can can stay here and a few of you can go get your friends. I'll make dinner. Danny come help me in the kitchen."
"Me and Ben can go back and tell the others," Doug said, "We'll take them the food too."
"Yeah okay," Lee said, "We will stay here and see if we can help out."
"If you want you can help me walk the perimeter," Andrew said, "Sometimes the walkers get caught on the fence before getting fried. They overload it so we have to keep taking them down."
"It would be nice to know what the perimeter is like," Charolite said.
"Well you can go on ahead, I'll turn off the north section for you while I top off the generators," Andrew said, "Just meet me back here at the house when your done."
"Okay sounds good," Lee said, "Charolite, Mark let's go." After a bit of walking the three found their way to the north section of the fence. The lights on the posts were off signaling that the fence was indeed powered down in this section.
"This will be a good way to see just how protected this place is," Mark said, "We don't want to bring the kids in if it is not as safe as the St. Johns' claim."
"Agreed," Lee said, "It looks like the walkers do get taken out by the fence though, there are a few still stuck on it." The three walked up to a walker that had been caught in the fence.
"Yeah it's definitely dead," Mark remarked. Lee then pushed it off with his ax just to be safe. Looking along the fence there were a couple more walkers that were stuck to it and a fence post that was knocked over.
"Well lets go," Charolite said, "I want to be at the house when the rest of our group gets here."
The three moved on, cutting off the next corpse they came to and repeating the feat with the last one, leaving the dislodged post that the last walker had messed up.
"We can put it back up from the other side," Mark said, "Use it for leverage."
Charolite slipped between the wires while Mark and Lee carefully stepped over them. The three got the fence post righted again and the entire section lit up with power.
"What the? This section is supposed to be off," Lee exclaimed, "They know were out here!"
The next few seconds were confusing as crossbow bolts started raining down on them from the woods, one hit Mark in the right leg and one hit Charolite in her left arm at the shoulder. The pain was intense but Moroni had taught her how to deal with pain. Mark it seemed had had similar training as both he and Charolite were able to follow Lee's directions and make it to a tractor to hid from more bolts. They got the tractor moving and, after dislodging and killing a few walkers that were in the way, made it back through the gate in the fence and headed towards the house.
"Charolite," Steve said his 'voice' heavy with concern.
"I'll be fine," Charolite said, "Just got to get this bolt out of me..."
"It's not that easy," Steve said, "The virus, it weakens the immune system of the host, making you very susceptible to pathogens of a very dangerous sort. I can protect you from this at least partially, but Mark... unless you have a skill from M that lets you heal I don't think there is anything we can do if he gets an infection."
Charolite didn't bother responding as she didn't want to think about that possibility, also because her shoulder was killing her, but mostly because she didn't want to think that even the smallest wound might lead to a fatal infection. When they arrived at the house the St. Johns were on the porch and they came running down to see to Mark and Charolite.
"Oh my word what happened to you all," Brenda exclaimed.
"It was an ambush," Lee yelled, "The fence came on while we were outside it and the bandits were waiting for us!"
"We'll be fine," Mark said, "I'll get this out and then see to Charolite.
"Now we will have none of that," Brenda said, "You got harmed on our property I will get you fixed up, come inside with me."
"Lee," Lilly yelled as the group minus Doug, Carly and Ben came up from the road. "Mark, Charolite, what happened?"
"Bandits attacked us," Lee said.
"I am really sorry," Andrew said, "We had a truce with the bandits, food for protection, what choice did we really have? This is going to far though, they've broken the truce. Danny why don't you take Lee and go find where these bandits have their camp, then we can make sure they don't hurt any one else again."
"Come on inside you two," Brenda said, "I'm going to need to get those arrows out of you."
Charolite and Mark followed Brenda inside as the group behind them continued the very tense conversation.
"At least, we don't have, to deal, with that," Charolite managed to sat through her gritted teeth.
"You are amazingly tough for a girl your age," Brenda remarked, "Why you must be what, fifteen?"
"I'm twelve," Charolite said.
This seemed to surprise Brenda, not an unexpected response considering Charolite's more muscled and developed body for a girl her age. That coupled with her training she could pass for a girl of several years older than she actually was. Brenda's face seemed to grow sad for a few seconds before it returned to normal. "Well I'll have to get some tools to get those out of you two without damaging you further," Brenda said, "But I do have some medicine that will help with the pain." She led the two upstairs and opened a closet. "It's morphine," Brenda said as she handed a bottle to Mark, "But it is designed to ease the pain and help you go to sleep so you don't have to feel those arrows coming out. I know it isn't ideal but it is the only thing I have."
"Morphine," Mark asked as he read the bottle, "Where did you get it? This is professional stuff."
"We used to have more cattle and needed more farm hands," Brenda explained, "We would keep a stock of all types of medical supplies on hand for emergencies since we are so far away from the city. This is basically all that is left."
"Oh who cares," Charolite said as she grabbed the bottle and quickly read the instructions. She took two of the pills and swallowed them before sitting down against the railing and letting out a sigh as she felt the pain, that had spread from her shoulder through her entire arm and down her back, begin to recede. "Thank you," Charolite said before falling asleep. She woke up to find herself in a metal room. Lee, Lilly, Larry Kenny and Clementine were in it and they seemed to be trying to get out. On the plus side her arm didn't hurt any more. She went to get up and realized something was very wrong, her left arm was gone.
"My arm," Charolite exclaimed. Drawing the attention of her friends who had not noticed that she had woken up. "My... my."
"Charolite your awake good," Steve said, "Look I can fix your arm but... it means that I won't be with you any more. My skills, my knowledge I can pass it all to you, as well as a spectral arm. Don't tell me not to do this either, in all honesty I've been leeching off of you ever since I found myself in your head. It is so hard for you to draw in enough energy from that sustenance aura I taught you because you are drawing in energy fro two people, it's why all the spells you cast seem to take so much energy, because I've been draining half of it... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I was so scared Char, so scared to die, but now. Now I'm giving you the chance to live and to save this world, save these people. Good bye and thank you." Then in a rush of heat that passed through her body, Charolite felt Steve leave. She still had access to all his spells, they were hers now.
"Rahh let us out," Larry yelled as he noticed Charolite was awake and he started banging on the solid metal door. As Larry was pounding on the door Charolite watched in amazement as a faintly glowing spectral arm shimmered into existence where her left arm used to be.
"Ah, ah, ah ho," Larry gasped as he collapsed to the ground.
"Dad," Lilly exclaimed. The others had now shifted their attention to Larry who looked like he had suffered a heart attack and was not breathing. They had not noticed Charolite's new arm over the new crisis.
"Oh God," Kenny said, "Is he dead? If he's dead..."
"He's not dead," Lilly snapped. Charolite cast a quick spell to see if Larry was dead. He wasn't breathing and his heart had stopped. It might be possible to revive the big man but it was unlikely... still.
"She is right," Charolite said as she pushed herself up off the floor with her new are, getting a feel for it. It was stronger than her natural one, equal in strength to her dominate right arm. It also acted solid but it obviously was not so it could not be harmed. "He isn't dead, but he might be soon if you don't revive him."
"Then help me," Lilly said almost pleading but still with that air of command that came with her military background.
"I can't do anything to help bring him back," Charolite said, "I can just promise you that I can give you the maximum amount of time you can have to see if he will come back. Should he turn... I can put him to rest."
"What about you health," Kenny started as the group looked to Charolite, noticing for the first time her new arm. Kenny just stopped in his sentence and left his jaw hanging open. Lee took a step towards her but Clementine ran over to her and hugged her.
"Does it feel real," Clem asked.
"I can feel you just fine with it," Char replied as she hugged her back, "Does it feel real to you?"
"Yes," Clementine replied.
"If Char can take care of Larry should he turn," Lee said as he walked to Kenny, "I'll help Lilly, you, Clem and Char find a way out of here. That air conditioner can come off, giving us access to the vent. See if you can find something that can unscrew the screws holding it on."
"Right," Kenny said.
"Let me see if I can reach through the door and open it from the other side," Charolite said, "I have a ghost arm after all."
"Do it fast," Lilly said, "Dad may need you despite all of this." Charolite nodded and went to the door. At first her hand stopped at the door but with a slight amount of concentration Charolite pushed her hand and then her arm up the the elbow through the door. She could feel the handle and the lock on the other side, she could feel it but not turn it. Her arm would convey the sense of touch but it only had physical presence if it's connection to her was not interrupted it seemed.
"Nothing," Charolite said.
"Coins would work," Kenny said, "Anybody have a quarter?"
The group shook their heads. "Larry might," Lee said after a moment.
"Get them," Lilly said, "Charolite how is Dad doing?"
Charolite scanned Larry with the detection spell again and noticed that his brain had shut down. "I'm sorry Lilly," Char said as she put her physical hand on Lilly shoulder, "the virus will be taking over soon. Get anything you need off of him now, we have maybe three minutes."
"No," Lilly said, "No no no no." Kenny pulled Lilly away allowing Lee to get the coins and unscrew the air conditioner. Clementine went through the vent and opened the door from the other side.
"Lilly I have to send him on his way now," Charolite said as she summoned the red orb that would melt the corpse. To Char's surprise the orb was draw to her spectral hand. After thinking about it for a moment though it made sense that it would be easier to channel her spells through a focus that was partly in both the spirit and physical worlds, in this case, her arm. Charolite then melted Larry's body before he came back. The amount of energy that she felt leave her saw still considerable but it was much less draining than before. Char let a few tears roll down her cheeks, she had liked Larry, even though he was at odds with everyone else in the group he, like Lee and Kenny always made sure that Clem, Duck and herself, despite Char's constant protests, were taken care of and protected. "First Steve and now you," Charolite said quietly, "Who will be taken from me next?"
"Steve," Clem asked.
"He... went home, to provide me with this arm, more energy for spells and all the spells he had," Char said, "He's gone now Clem. When I was capture by the demons and forced to train as an agent by Moroni, Steve was always there for me, when I joined DC and didn't really know what to do, Steve was there. Even when I first arrive here and met you he was still there and now he isn't."
"Funny in a horrible way," Lilly said as she came over to Charolite and Clem. Kenny and Lee had moved out into the barn through a room that was full of saws and cutting equipment. "That is exactly how I feel right now. Come on Lee and Kenny might need help." Charolite nodded and the three proceeded through the cutting room. Charolite had no doubt that it was these very saws that took her arm from her.
"What happened," Char asked.
"The St. John's are cannibals," Lilly replied, "they tried to feed us your arm and Mark's legs." This news shocked Charolite but it also enraged her. So when the three entered the barn to see Lee holding a pitch fork over Danny who was caught in a bear trap Charolite didn't even blink as she ran up and grabbed the pitch fork from Lee and plunged it through Danny's head with her new arm, pinning him to a hay bale that he was sitting against and casting a spell on him that would bring him back as a skeleton in a few minutes.
"Eep," Clementine screamed, scared by Charolite's violence. Char didn't care at this moment if Clem was scared she was a smart girl and would figure out why the St. Johns had to die. At this moment, Char had lost Steve and Larry, Mark had no legs according to Lilly, Char had lost an arm, even if it was replaced with a better one, and half of her friends were missing... Charolite looked Lee in the eyes, she could see he had thought about killing Danny but she didn't think he was going to have. Either way Lee nodded and the two headed outside while Lilly stayed to protect Clem and load Danny's rifle.
"Where's Kenny," Charolite asked.
"He ran out here," Lee said, "Katjaa screamed so Kenny went off to find her."
"Psst, Lee, Charolite," Doug called from a corn field that was to the two's right.
"Doug," Lee said, "Your here good, is Carly and Ben with you?"
"We're here," Carly said, "What happened?"
"The St. Johns cut off Mark's legs and my arm and tried to feed them to the others," Charolite said as she show the three her new arm. The three were speechless, but their faces told Charolite everything. Ben and Carly were mortified and scared, Doug was entranced but also seemed remorseful for Charolite's loss. "Now they have Katjaa and Duck I assume. Sneak around and find a way in, see if you can track down the other brother and keep us updated on his position."
"We will," Doug said as the three headed around to the gate in the fence. Charolite and Lee moved across the yard. Katjaa's scream drew Lee's attention to the house. Char motioned for him to go see what the trouble was while she circled around. A laser on the side of the house drew Char's attention see followed it to see Doug, Carly and Ben at the gate. She moved over to it and opened it to let them in.
"Come on we have to find And..." Charolite was interrupted by Kenny, Andrew and Duck all yelling over by the house. Charolite ran back towards the house, half way there a gun shot rang out and the sound of a fist fight erupted. Charolite rounded the corner in time to see Lilly shoot Andrew who was pushing Lee towards an electric fence. The blow was glancing, doing little damage but was enough to give Lee the upper hand. Lee knocked Andrew through the fence and the two rolled down the hill where Lee got on top of Andrew and punched him until he was sure that the fight was over.
"This ain't over Lee," Andrew said as Lee walked over to join Charolite and the rest, as Lilly and Clem had come over and Kenny's family had moved to her side as well. "When Danny and Mom get out here..."
"They won't be coming," Charolite said as she moved in front of Lee and let Andrew get a look at her. The spectral arm was glistening in the night as the rain that had blown in trickled through it. He back away a step as Charolite moved towards him. "Where is Mark?"
"Mark is dead," Lee said, "His... body got Brenda on the stairs, that is how I got Katjaa free."
"No," Andrew stated as he fell to his knees, "Danny..."
"Dead," Charolite said as she got closer to Andrew, "I put a pitch fork through his head with this arm that you forced my closest friend to trade his life for."
"Then finish this," Andrew yelled as he got up, "Come and finish this!"
"I don't have to," Charolite said as she looked to the barn to see her new minion coming out. She also noticed that Walkers had breached the fence and the noise of the groups fight had drawn them towards them. Char's skeleton with the pitchfork however dispatched three of the walkers that had gotten in it's way already. "Look Andrew, It's Danny, don't you want to say good bye?"
"Move out of the way," Lilly said. Charolite looked to see Lilly had her rifle aimed at Andrew but Char was in her path. If she moved then that would be letting Andrew get a quick death... Char looked back at Andrew who was back on his knees with a look of horror on his face as tears mixed with the rain and ran down his cheeks. Charolite understood then that Andrew had just lost everything he ever cared for in one night and all she was doing was tormenting him. With a thought Char had Danny's skeleton set the pitchfork down and instead of killing Andrew Char had it hug him. It was macabre, but Andrew still wrapped his arms around what was left of his brother. Charolite moved out of Lilly's way and the shot was fired punching right through Andrew's skull making sure he would stay dead. Char saw Brenda shambling out of the house so she melted the walker with a spell, Char was pleased to note that her spell casting had indeed become a lot easier now that Steve was not draining half of her power, but she would have still preferred if Steve was with her.
"Lets go guys," Doug said, "Before the walkers cut us off."
The group started to head out but Charolite was stopped when she noticed her Skeleton had stopped following her commands. Instead of following her it had picked up the pitch fork again and was defending Andrew's body as the walkers came upon it. "Danny," Char whispered. She thought about it for a moment then dissolved Andrew's body. The skeleton noticed this and looked over to her almost asking for her to let him go. With a sigh Charolite disbanded Danny's skeleton, allowing it to fall to dust, before she continued back with the others. Behind them the walkers swarmed the farm.
"Those were bad people right," Clementine asked Charolite to which Charolite had no reply.
"They were bad people Clem," Lee said, "They won't hurt anyone like they did Charolite again."
"Hey what's that noise," Duck asked. Everyone stopped and listened.
"It sounds like a motor," Lee said.
"It is," Kenny said as he moved towards the sound, "It's a car."
"It's filled with food, supplies," Carly remarked as the group moved to the car.
"What is in there could keep us going for a while," Kenny said, "We need that food and this thing looks abandoned."
"What if it's not abandoned," Clem asked, "What if the people who own it are coming back? That stuff isn't ours."
"I don't detect anyone alive around here other than us," Charolite said, "I also don't detect any recent deaths in this area... so Clementine could be right whoever drove this here may come back for it."
"The only way anyone would leave a motor running is if there were going to abandon this thing and leave it as walker bait," Kenny said, "No way anyone is coming back for this and if we don't take it soon then there will be a hoard of walkers guarding it thanks to the sound of that engine. Lee you going to help or not?"
Lee looked between Clementine and the truck then went to stand by Clem, "I'm with Clem I don't want any part in this." Charolite knew that Moroni, the old Moroni at least would have taken the supplies so she didn't touch them, choosing instead to draw in sustenance from her surroundings while the rest looted the car. Charolite found that she was getting energy back at a much faster rate now that Steve was gone. Like with her spell casting Charolite was glad that she was more effective but that was overshadowed by the loss of Steve since it was so close still to when he left her.
Character Jinx
Jinx was curled up under RuGaard's wing as the two waited for Fenix to arrive. "Remember don't let him know I am here at first," Jinx said.
"I know," RuGaard said, "If I didn't think that this was good for Serra I wouldn't have agreed to help you. He is coming now stay quite." Jinx settled in to listen to the conversation.
"Fenix thank you for coming by," RuGaard greeted as Fenix meet him outside one of the structures on the Ark that RuGaard had been using to keep updated on the status of his empire. Even though he passed it off RuGaard was still interested in it's affairs, so long as they didn't mean he had to get involved with them.
"You said you had an idea about Serra," Fenix said, "Since your history is based in empire building I figured hearing you out was a good idea."
"So is yours," RuGaard said, "You are right, I have a few ideas about making Serra's situation better. With Lambent helping your people now you have a quasi-hive mind at your disposal. Your descendant, Brain, he had a fleet of spaceships but there is no way that Serra could produce those with the limited resources that are left on it. You need an empire to get a fleet the size Brian has. Now you may not think it is needed with the paradox about you two and all but you have to start the foundation of that empire. You are the Paladin of Serra. The people will listen to you, but you need a plan. I offer to provide you with that plan."
"I thought you had given up the empire building," Fenix said, "Other than us both being DC members we don't really interact much, so what has changed?"
"Ace," RuGaard said, "ever since we found him he has constantly been able to shift my outlook on life."
"So being immortal, surrounded by races of all kinds, led by the brother of Lucifer and constantly having to fight against the physical manifestation of sin itself doesn't do that for you," Fenix asked.
"Ha apparently not," RuGaard said.
"Okay fine what ideas do you have for me," Fenix asked.
"Your world and Tamerial are connected, Jinx's and your own trip to that planet proved that," RuGaard said.
"And Tamerial has plenty of untapped resources," Fenix remarked, "That is something that Johnson and Throon could use to build a whole navy of ships with."
"Thanks to those constructors yes," RuGaard said, "That is how you built the Paladin isn't it."
"Yeah it is," Fenix replied, "We were able to build it with minimal resources too, but it is not as big as those squid like ships Brian has. With Tamerial we could have plenty of resources to go bigger. Only thing is there are plenty of powers on Tamerial that would be trying to stop us, the Daedra being the biggest of those factions."
"Exactly," RuGaard said, "That is why you need an empire behind you, Serra is the start of that empire. Hive mind, warriors, all of them look up to either you, Delta or Throon. You get them behind you then you may have a shot at convincing some of the Daedra to follow, or at least align with you. Word is they don't get along very well."
"Make you enemies your allies," Fenix remarked, "K's oldest trick. I have one issue with this plan, Serra doesn't have the population to go to war against a planet with demon overlords and don't forget the dragons."
"On the contrary it has plenty of forms to throw into a fight, Lambent is much like Doug, one mind but a trillion forms. You have those control a robot army... well I think you get the idea."
"Huh yeah I guess that would work," Fenix stated after contemplating RuGaard's idea. "We don't have a lot of minerals in the ground anymore but we have plenty of abandoned cites and destroyed machines to convert into raw material. We could field an arm with that."
"So what is your plan," RuGaard asked.
"My plan is to not let you just get this machine going and back out, you and yours are coming with us," Fenix said, "Let me guess Ace gave you this idea in the first place didn't he? I'm willing to bet that he is getting this whole thing started just so he can have a good time. It doesn't matter what the reasons behind this meeting are, you or Ace or whoever started this is right about one thing... Serra doesn't have the resources to build a fleet the size Brian has."
"Good then," Jinx said as she came out from under RuGaard's wing, "It wasn't Ace, it was me. I have a bone to pick with the Daedra and you need resources. By working together we can both get what we need. I already have a few Daedra on my side, Nocturnal, Meridia, Azura, Hircine, the others are going to be problematic as most all of them are embodiments of hate, or destruction, and Mora and I have a conflicted history."
"Your starting a war to get revenge then," Fenix asked.
"No, I'm starting a war to get you what Serra needs to grow," Jinx replied, "It just so happens that my home has all the resources you could need and with the Oblivion planes attached you would only need to take one world to have all the resources you could ever want."
"And you are in on this," Fenix asked.
"I think it is your best option," RuGaard said, "It is either take on a world you already know and are attached to anyways or find a completely alien one. This way you will also have the gratitude of the people of Tamerial for removing the threat of the Daedra."
"Jinx you've interacted with the Daedra," Fenix said, "What are they?"
"Um well no one really knows for sure," Jinx said after a pause, "I don't think they even know what they are. It could be why so many of them are so destructive, maybe they fear not knowing who or what they are?"
"The four that you mentioned," Fenix asked, "Why are they on your side?"
"Three of them are benevolent and Hircine is the Prince of beasts, well man-beasts to be exact and I am a Khajiit, dragon, succubus," Jinx said, "He and I are also, shall we say, emotionally intertwined?"
"You two love each other," RuGaard asked in surprise, "huh and I thought it was just because you are, mostly, a cat."
"Actually I am mostly succubus," Jinx said, "I am actually one half succubus and one forth Khajiit and dragon."
"So your boyfriend is spoken for what about the other three," Fenix asked.
"Nocturnal is Lady Luck, if you will, me and Grish have connections to her via the Nightingales," Jinx said, "Meridia is the Lady of Life, mostly because she hates undead but nevertheless she is kind to mortals, Azura is the Lady of the Dawn and Twilight and is actively benevolent towards mortals."
"Okay what about the rest then," Fenix asked.
"Of the remaining Malacath may be willing to join us," Jinx said, "as well as Clavicus Sheogorath and Jyggalag. The others Boethiah, Hermaeus Mora, Mehrunes Dagon, Mephala, Molag Bal, Namira, Peryite, Sanguine and Vaermina all love tormenting, dominating, manipulating or destroying mortals in some way."
"Eight on nine," RuGaard remarked, "If we get all of the ones who are in between to side with us."
"Grishnake can help with that," Jinx said, "He has had dealings with them, Malacath in particular, being an Orc and all."
"I thought you also had dealings with them," Fenix said.
"Oh I have," Jinx said, "But my dealings with them were mostly for mutual benefit we never were actively trying to be friendly towards each other. Grish however was actively kind towards the four."
"Which four, the ones on the fence," Fenix asked.
"Yes, though Grish also has good relations with the four that are already on our side," Jinx said, "The other nine, I have been a constant thorn in their sides so, they banished me, thus our meeting on your planet. It is very likely that we will not be getting any of them to join us."
"Does Grishnake know about this plan yet," Fenix asked, "Has he agreed to it?"
"Not yet but he will," Jinx said, "Lydia and Serana both have bones to pick with the Daedra that will oppose us and Grish is as avid a hunter as my 'boyfriend' is. He won't be able to resist the chance to hunt some of the Princes."
"Okay then," Fenix said, "I'll go talk with Delta, get a call with Hoffman going. One question though, why are they all called Princes?"
"Daedra started out gender neutral," Jinx said, "Some chose female, some chose male but all keep the title prince."
"So they chose their gender," RuGaard asked, "Can they change it on a whim then?"
"They don't seem to," Jinx said, "Really the only one who has done that is Boethiah and that seems to be mostly to disguise who she is. No they seem to keep their genders."
"Right sorry I asked," Fenix said as he shook his head, "Just get Grish and his friends on board and we will talk again."
"I shall go gather my family," RuGaard said, "We you requested that we go with you so I will, since I helped get you into this mess."
"Talking with me about how to expand Serra doesn't count as getting me into this mess," Fenix said as he turned to leave, "I'm doing that by agreeing to it, but I appreciate that you will be there to help."
"Right," RuGaard said, "Now to convince Grish."
"Yep," Jinx said, "This should be interesting. Time to go over to Remnant."
Two hours later and Jinx was sitting by the forge in Grishnake's smithy that was now taking up a large portion of the park he had set it up in. "So that is your plan," Grish said as he stuck a piece of steel back into the furnace. "Marco what do you think, can you hold down the forge if I head out for a few days?"
"It might be a little longer than that," Jinx said.
"Okay a few months then, who cares the point is does the lad think he's ready for the responsibility," Grish said.
"I can do it master," Marco said.
"Is that confidence I hear," Grish remarked, "Now that is something new. I always knew you had it in you boy. It just took some training and a few lumps and burns to bring it out. Now tell me running your own shop is not going to be better than that squalid existence I found you in."
"It certainly will be sir," Marco replied, "I'll have the place looking better when you get back then when you leave."
"It seems I can no longer call you boy," Grish stated as he looked at Marco. "Your a man now. Don't let this go to your head though I don't want to come back and find this place going all new age on me okay."
"Can I at least put in a mirror ball," Marco asked.
"Hummm fine but a little one, and make sure it reflects the forge," Grish said as he handed his hammer to Marco. "Okay Jinx I'm in. I'll tell Lyds and Serana about it, I know they will want to help."
"Thank you," Jinx said, "I figured that with your children and all you would want to help take down the Daedra."
"Oh you have no idea," Grish said with a nasty looking grin on his face, "No idea at all. Hey I bet Anders and Marion would love to get in on this."
"It's not their fight but then again it wasn't my fight to help them with Thedas," Jinx said, "and they are the main reason I stuck around with DC. Yeah I bet they would like this little war of ours."
"Well go talk to them then," Grish said, "Me, Lyds and Serana will get ready, you just come tell us when Fenix is ready to move on this plan."
"I'll do that," Jinx said, "You wouldn't happen to be heading towards the airfield would you. It's how I'm getting back to the ship."
"No," Grish replied, "My house is towards the river. However, Anders and Marion are here in the city today. They came by earlier which is why I thought to mention them."
"Then I will prolong my stay to find them," Jinx said, "Which way did they go?"
"They were heading to the market down the street then out to one of the villages," Grish said.
"Ember Reach," Marco stated, "One of your Dragon Riders set up shop over there, acting as it's protector or something."
"Really," Jinx asked, "Which one?"
"The big armored man and the red dragon," Marco said.
"Murtagh and Thorn," Grish remarked, "Interesting, I didn't take them for the protector types, more of the berserker types."
"Hmm, now why would Marion and Anders be going to meet with those two," Jinx commented, "Well I guess I will find out. Which direction is Ember Reach in?"
"Southwest of Vale," Marco said, "You'll find it situated on the top of a mountain."
"Southwest, mountain," Jinx repeated as she walked out from under the forge and transformed into her succubus form, "Got it, see you guys later." With three flaps of her wings Jinx was speeding over the city and towards her destination.
Character Kalathanon
"And you don't see her anywhere," K mentally asked Lucifer.
"No, your Magog-Cinder has seemingly vanished," Lucifer replied.
"You and I both know she is out there," K stated, "She is out there planning her next move... the fact that she can hide from both of us is disturbing."
"She can hide certainly but we do have one advantage," Lucifer said, "We have the first Magog-Cinder we know that the Magog side is focused solely on creating more sin but the Cinder side, well like with our own Cinder she is a person, she has a plan and we happen to have a version of her working with us. More than that we have a world of people who have been fighting her for years."
"Your right. We have the ability to predict what the person side of the creature will do," K said, "We know that one Remnant is already fallen under the control of this Magog-Cinder, we know that without Coris Dust doesn't replicate infinitely and we can assume that most of the technology that the Magog-Cinder has is based or amplified with Dust. So most likely target?"
"Another Remnant," the brothers said simultaneously. Then Lucifer continued, "But which one?"
"We could ask the Ruby-net," K suggested, "If one of them is from the world where Magog-Cinder goes next then we can track her and stop her."
"And if not there are so many Rubys in that shield that we can narrow down the possible locations based on which ones are left," Lucifer said.
"It seems I need to talk to Ruby then," K said.
"What is with you and her," Lucifer asked, "Usually people dying makes you angry, but her death made you cry, why?"
K was silent for a bit before replying, "Have you seen the Ruby-net? It is uniform, as in it is one soul. Ruby is the same across every universe like us but greater, more than us. We were born in eternity so we are the same person in all the dimensions and universes across creation. Ruby was born a mortal, by all rights she should be different across the dimensions and universes but she is not, she is one."
"What about Shade," Lucifer asked.
"I've checked on that too," K replied, "Same, It makes sense now when I think about it, that is how she could find all of the other versions of herself. How she could seemingly talk with Jesus and then come back from the dead, why her Aura is so strong, because Ruby Rose was already an immortal before we got here. She must have unlocked it when Summer died, it's why all of them share that memory, that event. So the question is which Ruby is the original Ruby, is our Ruby the first, or is she out there still? I guess we will find out now that Magog-Cinder is hunting down Remnants."