When Manric took Sehenna down to the planet, to experience the joys of fishing, he was reminded that she had grown up in a space habitat. She had lived her life in spaceships, never setting foot on worlds. Hope had been her first. So the sight of open water astonished her, and the depth of it terrified her.
"What happens if I fall in? I can't swim," Sehenna protested, gazing into the deep water. Manric was a bit puzzled by that objection.
"We can't swim at all. We sink." Necron bodies had no buoyancy whatsoever. Sehenna looked up from the water to stare at him and made a squeaky sound.
"Sink?! To the bottom?! Can we die?" she asked, appalled. Manric knew the answer to that.
"No, necron bodies have insane tolerance for pressures," Manric assured her. He knew that there had once been a Coreworld situated beneath an ocean. A dangerous thing to do, but unlike the similar Charnovokh world, they had made it work and come out to reclaim the world. "You can just walk out."
"Walk out…?" Sehenna looked into the water again and Manric could sense that she was even more appalled. Then one of the human crew unwittingly made things worse.
"Necrons must have SOME kind of crush depth. This place has spots that go so deep, they're virtually into the mantle," he said and Sehenna made another mechanical squeak. "Not to mention the heat!" Manric groaned internally. This wasn't helping! Sehenna backed away from the ocean.
"I – I really don't want to," she said and Manric tried to think of something that could reassure her. But then the human crew seemed to realize the problem.
"Oh, you're worried about falling in? We would fish you out. Also, if you're really worried, you could wear a safety harness." Ah, that could help! "It clips you to the ship, we use it for some operations."
"Oh. A safety harness…?" The worker showed her the harness, bright orange that went around her chest, and the line that hooked it to the ship. Sehenna was deeply relieved by the thought. And the harness itself was very sturdy, Manric thought it could handle her weight.
With that as reassurance, Manric was able to show Sehenna the joy of the open sea. It was a beautiful day and the fish were flying, making Sehenna exclaim as they danced over the waves. And, to her further delight, a pod a whale-like creatures made an appearance, surfacing and blowing froth into the air. After that, though, the weather started to shift and the crew called an end to the fishing, bringing them back to the islands. The weather there was still clear, as they disembarked. Manric looked over the beach nearby thoughtfully… it quickly fell off into the depths of the sea, but there were other beaches.
"Sehenna, would you like to go to a different beach, where we can walk into the ocean?" Necrons had no expressions but Manric could sense her apprehension, so he quickly explained. "There are shallow beaches where you can walk in easily, and go quite far… the sea life is beautiful and not afraid of us, it will swim up to you." It really was an incredible experience, very similar to a human scuba diving. Manric knew of such things, although they had barely existed on Hope. Scuba diving was gaining some popularity now, as some small parts of the tropical band were being turned into resorts. Sehenna tilted her head, intrigued by the description.
"I would like that," she said and Manric was very pleased. He hadn't done it himself yet so when they found a beautiful sandy beach and waded into the waves, Manric was also able to experience the joy of it for the first time. The native underwater plants were gloriously colored, living on the stones as they went a bit deeper and darting between them were brilliantly flashing fish. A bright purple, very fat blob of a fish trundled up to Sehenna, head butting her several times. Sehenna made glyphs for wonder and joy before she gently patted the fish, and it wandered away with a faint air of disappointment.
I think it thought you were food, Manric sent to her, amused. And it wasn't the only fish making that mistake, they seemed to be attracted to the green lights of the necrons. That just made the experience more delightful, as fish after fish explored them and nipped at their innards, trying to understand the odd things that had intruded in their home. A predator came, a sinuous, dark line and a great school of fish darted through the water, flowing above them. Manric watched in wonder, feeling Sehenna's wonder as well, as the predator pursued and snatched several of the school. This place was so full of life! The shallow water and proximity to the island seemed to have created a very active ecosystem.
They spent hours under the water, but Manric had a timer set and eventually he had to call an end to their fun. He still had duties, and Sehenna did too… soon, they would be moving out towards the Charnovokh. There were signs of problems there and Manric had been tapped to lead a portion of the Wing into that area to run a circuit and look for trouble. It was a great deal of responsibility and Manric was honored that Zahndrekh had selected him, but it meant that soon, play time would be over.
It was time to get back to the serious business of war.
Oramoton wasn't expecting to meet Phaeron Theokh on Mandragora.
In truth, Oramoton had never seen Theokh in his full regalia as Phaeron. Before the Great Sleep, the Phaeron of Charnovokh had been his father. A loving father with a great bond with his sons, he had split them before the Great Sleep, to ensure continuance if something happened to the Crownworld. And it had, oh it had… Oramoton had heard that while the Charnovokh Crownworld had been sterilized, some water had been left and the ancient aeldari had terraformed it, creating a Maiden World. From then the humans had claimed it, as even the eldar had forgotten it, and then the tyranids had come. Facing extinction, the humans had cracked the core to spite the Devourer and all unknowing, killed the necrons as well. A sad fate but at least a peaceful one, as they had died all unknowing.
So now Prince Theokh was Phaeron Theokh and he was coated in midnight blue, the color of mourning. His Veil of Darkness was a very advanced model and seemed to sparkle around him, swaddling him in darkness. Oramoton was not particularly intimidated as Theokh walked slowly towards him, his scythe in hand, but felt Sisus go very still behind him. Oramoton sent him a private glyph of reassurance.
"Oramoton. So you are here…" Theokh's blue gaze traveled over him before settling on his staff. "Have you recovered from your engrammatic damage?" he asked and Oramoton wished that necrons were more expressive. Was that a hint of anger he was detecting?
"I am almost entirely recovered," Oramoton said and saw Theokh's eyes flare a touch. Yes, this was anger. "A soul and social contact was all that was needed to repair most of my damage. I believe that my long isolation, after I was prematurely awoken, had made the damage worse." That could happen, isolation causing the engrams to degrade. Necrons were not social creatures by any means but there were limits.
"I see," Theokh said with a deep chill, so deep that Oramoton fancied it should etch ice on the walls. Briefly, he wondered if Kallathsek was still alive. Angering a Phaeron this badly could often be a ticket to oblivion. "I will be blunt. Will you return to your Dynasty?" …
"I cannot. I have sworn myself to Orikan the Diviner," Oramoton said, but gently. He… really didn't feel good about this. "I loved your father like he was my own and I would return, if only to honor him, but I cannot… I truly thought myself exiled, so I had to act as such." Theokh surely understood that.
"I understand," Theokh said with grim resignation. Oramoton could tell he'd expected all of this and suddenly, he was moved by deep guilt.
"Theokh… I want to apologize," Oramoton said and Theokh tilted his head, surprised. "I should never have treated you and your brother as I did. I am very sorry for that, and my past behavior in general." Oramoton didn't want to get any more specific than that. The both knew what he was referring to… Oramoton had been like a younger brother, but in the worst of ways, a vicious, spiteful little brother that nonetheless had their father's favor.
"Honied words, little serpent," Theokh said roughly and Oramoton flinched. "Enough. I act for the good of the Dynasty only. If I could act as I desired, I would kill you." Well, that wasn't surprising although it did sting. But Theokh was under no obligation to forgive him and Oramoton knew his behavior had been horrendous.
"Hey. People do change," Sisus said and Oramoton shook his head, sending him a glyph of warning as he held up a hand. Sisus was a Cryptek now but a very low one, he should not talk back to a Phaeron under any circumstances. Theokh regarded him like an insect he was thinking of stepping on.
"What is this little thing?" Theokh rumbled and Oramoton didn't like the way he said that. Tightening his grasp on his staff, he replied calmly.
"This is my apprentice, Sisus. He is helping me sift through the Warriors of Mandragora, looking for those who are sane and valuable." As Oramoton had hoped, that distracted Theokh from Sisus' lack of respect. His eyes flared with what seemed to be interest. "We have found Imotekh's daughter in law, among others. If you negotiate with Orikan, perhaps it can be arranged for me to begin searching among the Warriors of Bardic." Oramoton would gladly do that, to help make up for all the wrongs he had inflicted on them.
"I see. I will reach out to Orikan," Theokh said and Oramoton nodded before bowing respectfully and exiting the conversation. Sisus followed him as they walked away.
"Sisus… I know you only spoke out of friendship, but do not talk back to a Phaeron. You are only a minor Cryptek, you must show respect," Oramoton warned and Sisus nodded.
"Sorry. I knew that was dangerous but it just pissed me off," he said and Oramoton nodded. Sisus definitely had a temper and was also very loyal to his friends. Overall it was commendable but in some situations it could be a bad combination. "I won't do it again." Oramoton had his doubts, but hopefully Sisus would hold to that.
If they did end up going to Charnovokh, there were many nobles there who would not tolerate back talk from some upstart Cryptek.
Valdar knew he'd essentially fainted from the 'blood loss' Ostos had inflicted on him. His mind had been hazy and everything was vague, as his body repaired itself.
What is he going to do with the scout ship? Valdar thought, his engrams firing fitfully as he drifted in a kind of formless sea of thought. What could a single pwi-necron do with a scout ship, if he had no moral code whatsoever? Well, he could… scout out worlds, not for precious minerals and colonization prospects, but for places ripe to be plundered. Sell the information on certain worlds, places that were known pirate havens. The ship could only be used by a necron, it had no life support, so he could parlay it into a place on the crew. But Ostos had said he wanted to be a pirate king… would he murder, double deal and backstab his way to the top? Was that the plan?
Valdar could see how it would all work out, but he had no desire to do such a thing himself. Thievery was wrong, murder was wrong. Ostos was right, he was a 'slave' to his morality, but Valdar wouldn't want it any other way.
Valdar came back to full consciousness as his systems completed the repairs. When he did, he found he was hooked to Casimir. He held still as his friend looked into his face.
"You're awake?" Valdar didn't nod, just used a glyph for affirmative. "I'll unhook us, hold still." Yes, that was what he was waiting for. Valdar waited patiently for Casimir to finish separating them before sitting up and looking around.
Not to his surprise, the ship was gone. To his complete surprise, though, there was one of the natives with them. Valdar examined her and quickly came to the same conclusion as Casimir… she was experienced and probably of much higher status than the little xenos he'd examined earlier. Well.
"I guess we're going to experience cultural immersion," Valdar said, a bit amused and resigned. He knew that was the best way to learn a new language, but it was still going to be interesting. They were NOT xenologists or xenobiologists, they had never been trained on such things at all. They were not to interact with the native life beyond cataloguing it, then moving on. Valdar moved to his feet, tilting his head at her curiously. She stared back at him for a moment before gesturing and moving away. They both followed.
When they reached the home of the xenos, it was roughly what Valdar had pictured in his mind. A rough little hunter-gatherer camp, they were using leather structures that resembled teepees. There was a fire pit and a copper kettle was brewing, full of what looks like an alien stew.
The xenos did not react positively, of course. There were high, trilling sounds that Valdar interpreted as screams. Many of them scattered while the stronger stayed, but reached for their weapons or flexed their hands, showing retractable claws. Horosska spoke calmly and loudly, presumably explaining everything. It took a bit of time and many shouted questions, but eventually things calmed down a bit. One particular xenos walked directly up to them. She seemed even older than Horosska, her movements slow and her hair fronds dull and discolored. Her clothing was heavily ornamented, with beads of seashells and polished stones. She also wore many necklaces and had a copper dagger with a very fine hilt, made from some kind of animal horn. Everything about her said she was important and Valdar formed a snap impression… Horosska was a war leader, while this was the tribe's shaman. There was a brief conversation, before the new alien pointed to herself.
"Yasska." All the aliens names had a kind of trill to them and again, they had to work a bit to master it. Although she found their names equally difficult. The other xenos stayed cautiously away. Well, they would have plenty of time to win them over. Valdar already had a plan for that… aside from daggers, they appeared to have no weapons. Valdar would have to make sure of that – he did NOT want to patronize them – but if that was so, he could teach them how to make and use a sling. Valdar reflected on it a bit ruefully… if only he knew how to make a bow! But unfortunately, his knowledge of bronze age technology was very limited. He only knew how to make a sling because he'd had a passion for ancient arts of war and made an authentic, no rubber sling as a child. As they stood there calmly, making no threatening gestures, some of the other xenos dared to approach. Even a few children, although they hid behind their parents' legs and gazed out at him shyly. Valdar really wondered how their reproduction worked… there was no sexual dimorphism that he could see.
They did little that night except observe, joining the xenos by the fire and listening to them chatter. Food was offered but they of course refused. Valdar and Casimir just 'slept' by the fire, or rather pretended to sleep. As they did, they talked a bit between themselves, via interstitial messaging.
Valdar, I'm really sorry. I was useless back there, Casimir said and Valdar looked at him, surprised.
What are you talking about? You saved my life. Casimir had followed their instructions perfectly. He looked away.
I mean the fight before that… Sisus would have done a thousand times better. If Sisus had been there, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Valdar didn't know what to say to that because he knew it was true. Sisus was an excellent hand to hand fighter and had also always kept a power knife tucked away, even when he should be completely safe. Of course…
Ostos would have just targeted him first and probably killed him. He planned this out. Valdar could see it all now. Casimir, don't feel badly that fighting isn't your strength. Casimir was adequate with a gauss flayer, and fairly terrible at everything else, but that was fine. They were surveyors, not soldiers. How did that bastard pass the psychological tests? Ostos definitely shouldn't have passed them, with the mental disorders he evidently had!
I wonder… can you trick the tests? What? Valdar looked at Casimir, confused. He said he'd been working twenty years for this. If you're intelligent and take a course in psychology, can you spoof the tests? Valdar thought about that for a moment.
You know, maybe. He must be quite intelligent, Valdar said slowly. They both knew that Ostos was smart, it took a certain degree of intelligence just to be a surveyor, but was he actually quite a bit past that? Valdar didn't think Ostos was any kind of genius, but still… perhaps. Do you think he can actually become a Pirate King? It sounded ludicrous but Casimir flashed glyphs of uncertainty.
I don't know. Maybe? It's crazy though, what does he want that for? The wealth and excitement? Casimir sounded like he didn't understand it and truthfully, Valdar didn't either. But he also knew that for some people, that was all that mattered.
Well, it doesn't matter now. Do you mind if I go into a sleep cycle? Valdar felt like he really needed it, after his brush with death. Casimir sent glyphs for assent and Valdar dropped into a controlled sleep cycle. Just an hour for a full maintenance and he would be feeling so much better.
The next day they could both get started on the serious business of learning an alien language.