After a full hour of nervously sweeping my Sight across the local space for the Inevitable Wisdom, I sensed that the danger had passed, and that the Inquisitors had given up their search. They were continuing onward to their destination to the east, which was thousands of light years away. Alberich startled awake soon after, mentally and physically strained from the experience of being attached to the Divine Retribution. He explained to me that it had felt like he had been attached for at least six hours, which was crazy. I had left him on the bridge for only fifteen minutes, and Warp fuckery had dramatically dilated his perception of time, draining and taxing him. What had started out as an easy flight had ended in exhaustion, and I was ready for the day to end. With curt orders, I told everyone that I was done for the day, and that I would be going to bed early. Null put on another classical music track to play through the ship, so at least that was nice.
Quickly after consuming this evening's ration packet (and avoiding Null's chatter), I passed out exhausted on my bed.
Luckily, no visions or nightmares assailed me during my sleep, and I awoke relatively refreshed after six hours. Classical music was still softly playing through the halls, and I sat up in my dark room. I could barely make out the shape of 99-Z standing in my room holding my morning ration packet and water jug, like normal. She had apparently been standing there motionless in the dark, waiting for me to wake up. Servitors were creepy, and I still wasn't used to them.
With a stretch, I sat up in my bed. "Lights on," I yawned, and the lights came on. I turned to stand up, and cried out in fear as an indistinct black shape raised its head at the foot of my bed. Startled, I scrambled off my ratty mattress, and stood up, raising my Corona in preparation to do magic against whatever daemon this was. The shape was decidedly doglike...
"Wolfie?" I asked, blinking the fatigue out of my eyes.
Virgil immediately teleported into the room with a snap of electricity. "I heard a scream!" the astropath spoke. "What is-?" Virgil turned to see the astral hound cocking his head at us, still laying at the base of the bed. "Is... is that Wolfie?"
"Hey boy?" I cautiously asked. "Wolfie?"
The astral hound barked happily, and stood up. It was Wolfie! He shook, sending waves of shadow off its insubstantial body like a wet dog shaking off after a bath. The Warp beast hopped off the bed, his tail wagging. Was it just me, or was he slightly larger now? "You're looking bigger, buddy. You been eating any jerks in the Warp?"
"He's larger, yes," Virgil observed. "I still do not understand why you keep this parasite around. Astral hounds are pests that devour psykers."
"I keep him around because he's my dog," I said with a smile, suppressing my Corona and leaning down to pet Wolfie. It was good to see him again. It appeared that he really was slowly getting larger, although why that was was anyone's guess. I had first noticed that he seemed a little bigger on Kolch, but now he was about the size of a small cocker spaniel, and had a more menacing aura.
"So Virgil, what's new?" I asked the astropath as I scratched Wolfie behind his insubstantial cold ears. The astral hound happily wagged his tail as he stood at my feet, ready for more trouble. "Anything exciting overnight?" I took the ration packet from 99-Z, and began to eat after cutting the packet open with my magic scissors. This packet tasted like cardboard and McDonalds sprite, somehow.
"Nothing very exciting. Null completed his arm within the last hour, and I discovered what I think is some sort of laundry facility, which is good news for us. The mutant still sleeps, and the astartes is currently walking about the ship. The two blank women have been practicing their combat with each other, and everyone seems frustrated that we cannot adequately communicate with them. Null says that he is now working on a translator, and both Lian and I have been teaching them both basic words in Low Gothic. They seem reluctant to speak."
"I should probably fill them in on what we're doing, huh?" I said, swallowing more paste. I really couldn't wait for when I'd taste real food again.
"If you will it so, yes," Virgil responded.
"Okay, let me see here," I spoke, turning to the display screen in this room. Currently, it displayed the Rhadabus system, and we were still in orbit around a planetoid named "Wandering Eye", which was very far from its star. "Divine Retribution, please show me the two masked women, Ennoia and Morai. Put me on screen, wherever they are. I want to talk to them."
The display flickered ahead of me, and ahead of me, I saw the Ennoia and Morai signing to each other in their sparse room near the engine. All the rooms had these displays like this of varying sizes, probably for this use, which was definitely helpful. "Morai, Ennoia," I began.
The two women crossed their arms over their chests, and faced the display, bowing. They spoke in the ancient tongue of Nubua: "Greetings to you, Blessed Omega. We are happy to see you once again."
I also responded in their language. "Good to see you both too. I'm just letting you know what's up. We're working on a translator to help you with our language barrier. Our tech-priest is making it. Oh, and if you see a friendly black cloud of Warpstuff in the shape of a dog, don't kill him. That's Wolfie, my pet." I leaned down, and picked up the astral hound as he sat attentively at my feet. I held him before the display. He was definitely getting bigger.
"If he poses no danger to us, he will see no trouble," the women informed me as I sat the astral hound back down on the floor. "We have begun learning your tongue from the large Lian warrior-man, and the hologram named Virgil. It is still difficult for us to use audible speech, so forgive us if we make mistakes."
I continued to eat my paste. It was terrible. How could a packet of grey slurry taste like lemon-lime soda? I had no idea, and continued to inform the blanks of our situation. "We're also on our way to a new planet to get some more rations and supplies, and we should get there by the end of the day today. After that, we're going to be making our way through the rest of the galaxy to a planet called Molech."
"What do you seek there, if we are permitted to ask?"
"A Gate to the Deep Warp. I actually need to get home, so I have to go through there to do that."
The women glanced at each other, and nodded. "Do you need us for anything?"
"No, but depending on how things are, we might head out and explore the new planet. It's labeled as a Pleasure World, so I'm guessing we can have some fun for a little bit before heading back out on our trip."
Another flicker on the screen, and beside the women, an image of Null appeared, splitting the screen. The tech-priest was seemingly happy and in good spirits as he sat in his workshop. A glint of reflective gold could be seen under a part of his robe. "Ah, you're awake, and Virgil is with you. Good. I can hear you speaking with the two witnesses down the hall, and now, here we are talking to them. You know, we found a laundry system nearby. Perhaps we could put them both to good use and have them wash our clothes if they want something to do? Their hallway training near the engine room is growing quite tiresome."
There was an awkward pause as the women glanced at each other. "What?" Null asked. He then shrugged. "I finished my arm, Scion. The living gold of this vessel is a fantastic metal to work with. Behold!" The tech-priest raised an elaborately crafted and highly reflective gold left arm. It was covered in fine articulated plates, and silvery wires and embellishments weaved throughout it. Null's new arm was a fine piece of craftsmanship, and he appeared quite proud of it.
"The display," one of the women spoke. "It offers a translation for us in our language."
"Wait, what?" I said in English. "If I speak in this language, are there subtitles?"
They responded in ancient Nubuan, "Yes, blessed Omega."
Null was distracted with adjusting something on his new arm, but he then looked up, and I saw him freeze, suddenly realizing that his insults had been understood. Apparently, when communication over a visual com was initiated, language barriers could be passed automatically through the ship. I had no idea how this even worked, but I was definitely not complaining. This was very helpful. "Well, the sounds of your daggers were getting difficult to listen to constantly when I am trying to work, ladies. Go find and clean up the exercise room if you want to train. I'll send you both servitors to help. And, I'm working on your translator, so you have me to thank for that anyway."
"We did not know there was such a room. No one told us. But, we will now find it and utilize that instead."
"Alright everyone, settle down," I said to my ornery crewmembers. "I'm heading up to the bridge after my bath, so in about a half hour we should be on our way again. Virgil, wake Alberich up and send him up there if he's capable of flying. If not, I think I can do it on my own. Go and find Lian and tell him what we're doing too."
"Very well," Virgil replied. "Thy will be done." The astropath vanished in a smear of light. "That's all. See you later, everyone."
The screen flickered before me, and once again, showed the sparse Rhadabus system. "Ready for more adventure, boy?" Wolfie stood up with a happy bark. I was very glad that he was back!
After a short bath, I dressed myself, and I was now ready for more flying. Since the ship had been in orbit, and not parked on a planet, the walk to the bridge lacked stairs, as the Divine Retribution was "straightened out" like a bird in flight. Wolfie trotted alongside me, ready for anything. Halfway there, I finally felt Alberich wake up groggily. You are flying? he asked me.
Not yet, but soon. Come up here if you can, but if you can't, no big deal, I replied to the beastman.
I entered the bridge with Wolfie, and there, I found Lian already standing next to one of the large pinched ellipse windows of the head of the Divine Retribution. He was watching the stars, and when I appeared, he bowed respectfully. "The Warp beast has reformed," the Fallen observed, watching Wolfie cautiously. The astral hound was still wary of Lian after his aggression on Kolch, but at least he wasn't being hostile to the big marine.
"Yeah, and I'm glad for it," I said, walking over to my central psychic throne, and willing it to attach me. "We're probably going to reach Tar Vigaz today, so I'll need either you or Null to give me that code for the Writ of Confidentiality thing when we're close."
"Very well. I will stay on the bridge today with you," Lian said, watching Wolfie suspiciously. His eyes then briefly studied me again, and once again, I felt a wave of reverence blaze from his soul. "And Lian, don't feel like you have to bow all the time with me. We're friends now, right?"
Lian exhaled heavily. "The impulse is automatic. It strikes me to my soul when I feel it. I think it is because you are of your nature. You are getting stronger, that much I can sense. Sometimes, it is intimidating to be in your presence."
"Okay, but seriously, don't worry if you can help it," I said, closing my eyes and mentally willing the hybrid Warp-Materium map to appear to plot our course. With a short electric crackle, the large screen ahead of me snapped to life, displaying the local weather conditions.
The weather had calmed a little from yesterday, although there was still a persistent whorl of Warp winds enveloping this system. My intuition whispered to me again that something terrible had happened on Rhadabus, and I remembered my traumatic vision of the little boy burning to death.
The Verpestyn family had happened, I thought with a sneer. Even their name sounded nasty. With an expenditure of my will, I shifted my gold wings and oriented myself southward in preparation for the jump. I checked the rest of my living gold, and found myself to be in good health, and eager to fly once again. We'd have to pass close to the planet while in the Immaterium in order to take advantage of the favorable southward Warp wind, which was what I needed. Just beyond my hearing, I could almost physically hear the pain and suffering from that unfortunate world.
"I wonder what happened down there, exactly," I said aloud. Because I never learn from my experiences, I then pointed my Sight at the planet, and then, immediately regretted it.
Many villages and towns had been struck by artillery, and the lights of their fires were still visible. People were picking through ashes on pyres, looking for the personal effects of their loved ones who had been tortured to death. Mothers and fathers wept over dead children; entire towns had been destroyed!
My Sight was then drawn to a creature that resembled a heavy draft horse dragging the body of a mutilated and burned man behind it as a crowd jeered their hatred. Intuitively, I knew who this punished man had been. This was Erchot Verpestyn, the man I had killed yesterday. From what I had gathered from the astropath onboard the Inevitable Wisdom, the Inquisitors had left some of their number behind on Rhadabus as an intimidation tactic. The population of this planet was almost universally pacifist, so an overthrow of their government was not difficult.
The Inquisitors had planned on revisiting the planet in a few weeks in order to properly set up a new government. Their efforts failed, however, when their brutal leader, Erchot, burst into flames as he killed the last child of a decimated village. The locals saw this spontaneous combustion as a divine sign, and threw off the shackles of their fear and passivity. The remaining Inquisitors watched as the placid, merry population of Rhadabus snapped, and descended into uncontrollable rage against their subjugators. All the remaining Verpestyns had been lynched!
My jaw dropped at the realization of all this, and even more horrifying was the discovery that in the town where the brittle-boned boy was burned, someone had hastily fashioned a crude monument to what these people were calling the "God-Empress" after what the boy had said before cursing Erchot Verpestyn to death. The weeping villagers were offering praises and placing bloody flowers at the monument's feet, calling her an agent of "divine retribution" against the wicked.
I forcibly brought myself back to the present, catching my breath as I clutched the armrests on my throne! My interference yesterday had actually caused a lot of fucking trouble, I cursed myself. Those other Inquisitors would eventually turn around and head back to that planet, and I could not imagine how angry those sadists would be when they discovered what had happened to their family members, and that these people were now praying to a weird bloody idol. Of me.
I sighed. Fuck, I didn't mean that to happen, I thought with a hiss. The light of my Corona was rippling, and obviously emotional, so I took a breath and calmed myself down. Lian was now looking outside again, oblivious to what I was actually doing, and Wolfie sat before me, cocking his ghostly black head in concern.
Nothing I can do about it now, I thought, bringing my attention to the map again. We would have a good tailwind heading south once we found the right current, so at least that was good. I estimated that this trip wouldn't even take a full day of Warp travel because of that.
"Lian, step back from the window. I'm closing the shutters," I instructed the Fallen. He stepped back, and I snapped the eye shutters closed with a clang. Closing my eyes, I willed the vessel to cover itself with its Parson Shield, and step backward into the Warp.
Feeling the warm emotions of the Warp embrace me was usually nice on my hull, but this time, it did not feel so nice. I was now over a charred and ashen wasteland that was wrought through with glowing incandescent cracks of smoldering resentment. The cracks originated from a forest that was wreathed in flames of anguish and suffering. I could sense that daemons were happily swarming around it, devouring the suffering that bled off the event.
This is what Rhadabus looked like in the Warp right now, I observed sadly. I set my course, and willed the golden road to form, lighting my way south.
In a very short time, I was now passing the conflagration, looking for that favorable Warp current to push me south. I placed a cautious eye within the emotional storm. Daemons of all four Chaos powers were dancing about happily, relishing in the ruin of the event. I witnessed Tzeentchian daemons singing and dancing around the flames, cheering and laughing. A grinning pink horror turned to me as I flew by, and indicated to its kin that I was near. Very disturbingly, the maddened daemons of Tzeentch were now waving and cheering for me as I flew by. A few shapes of Slaaneshi multi-breasted monstrosities then also turned their attention to me, and diverted their eyes from the flames of Rhadabus to my passing form. The daemonettes and seekers then began to charge at me through the Warp!
Something very unexpected happened. As the pink horrors continued to cheer at my passage, a group of them then charged the Slaaneshi daemons as they attempted to follow me. These seekers and daemonettes were then torn to pieces by the cheering horrors, and as this disturbing event was occurring, I felt a peculiar message wash through me.
Nice lady! Blessed of Change! Fly away, nice lady! Fly away and make more change for us! Hope! Hope! Hope! Nasty lesser neverborn shall not hinder you! the daemons of Tzeentch called out to me as they fought the Slaaneshi daemons that tried to chase me.
At that moment, I felt Alberich walk into the bridge. Immediately, I warned him, "Don't hook up right now. We're in a rough spot. Passing Rhadabus' Warp shadow. Daemons."
"Daemons?" I heard a high pitched voice ring out, and recognized that Jiminy was now also on the bridge. "Only in the Warp, I'm hoping."
"Yeah, they're in the Warp, not in here. We're passing an area with a lot of them right now," I said, beginning to feel the current shift behind me, offering me a good amount of lift and speed. We had found the favorable wind, and were now being carried easily away from the burning forest. "We just hit a good wind, so we're getting away from there."
I then felt myself speeding along another burning prairie, pushed by winds of both hope and hate. The false-sky was the color of a dead little boy's burnt skin, and smelled as such as well to my senses.
I sensed a handful of prayers yearning for me from the burning forest, and they searched for me before fading away. Okay, I am not having any of that, I thought, pushing my engines to burn hotter so we got away from here as quickly as possible. I heard Jiminy protest, "We're running? I see the engines are hot down here."
"I just don't want to be here anymore," I spoke, an unsettled warble in my amplified voice.
After a short time, the burning prairie then smoothed out, and no more screams or prayers could be heard. Instead, I was flying over a jagged surface of what appeared to be emerald crystals tessellating and bending around us into interesting patterns. Above, a sparkling false-sky of multicolored jewels hung with greed. I followed the golden road before me, and the map ahead of my physical form directed me to slow down, and to make for a certain point. We were already there.
"Okay everyone," I said through the entire ship. "I'm taking us out of Warp. Lian, Null, I need you both available when that planet contacts us for that Writ of Confidentiality thing. We're also probably going to need to raid that parlor behind the hidden door to pay for what we need, so get ready for that."
I took a step backward, and then, everything was normal again. I willed the shutters open, and I opened my physical eyes on the throne. Jiminy was currently in Lian's large armored hands, and speaking to Null as Alberich watched me with concern. "How much time passed?" I immediately asked, and my crewmembers turned to me.
"Three hours, two minutes," Jiminy cheeped out before fluttering over to me. "This vessel is fast! Over 150 light years in three hours with a good tailwind! I have been tracking our progress."
The Divine Retribution now showed the map of the Vigaz system, and we had emerged right where Lian had instructed us to. We were now floating within the orbit of one of the system's outer planets. As I studied the map, a glowing red ring appeared within the orbits of the inner planets.
"That is the defensive minefield. Cross it without approval, and it becomes armed," Lian said. "An ingenious but very expensive solution to the threat of xenos out here."
"Yeah, I'll say," I said, observing the ring. "So now what? Do we just hang out here until someone contacts us? I don't really understand. We're kind of in the middle of nowhere here, and I-"
My senses sparkled as I perceived something unusual in the area that was moving toward us, and automatically, I put my Sight out, looking for whatever this new terrible threat was. My Corona ignited hotly in worry, but then, I felt the sensation that someone was trying to communicate with me.
Oh, that was probably the planet, and I should calm down, I thought. The Divine Retribution spoke to me audibly, "Transmission incoming from local vessel."
"Uh, put them on screen, if you can do that."
The ship turned, and before my open eye windows, I saw a moving bright spot that grew larger as it approached. On the holographic screen, a very fancy gold vessel appeared.
It was a long, luxurious craft that was about the same size as I was. Wrought designs and cavorting cherubs were sculpted on its jeweled hull. A very sleazy sculpture of a large-breasted angelic woman was sculpted against its pointed prow. These gems, gold, and sculptures that decorated this ship demonstrated the extreme wealth of whoever owned it, but it definitely bordered on tasteless.
"Hello there, big shiny gold eagle! My, what a scrumptious sight you are! Permission for visual contact with your captain, kindly." A male voice rang saucily through the bridge.
"Uh, hold on," I sputtered. I didn't open up an outgoing line just yet. Did I look okay? I put my hands through my hair, and asked Virgil, "Is my face clean? Do I look alright?"
Virgil briefly smiled and patted my shoulder. "You look fine, Scion. Don't be nervous."
"The mutant should probably not be visible on the bridge for this," Null said through Jiminy. "While Tar Vigaz is far more tolerant with aberrations, it is still a predominantly human world, and humans still do not trust mutants."
Alberich nodded, and with only a little annoyance, walked out of the bridge.
"Wolfie, I'm sorry boy, but can you go and wait in the Warp for a little bit?" I spoke to the astral hound at my feet. Wolfie whined sadly, and snapped out of existence in a puff of smoke.
"We all ready?" I asked my crewmembers. When I had heard affirmatives from all, I settled myself back on my throne, and willed my voice outward again toward the wealthy ship, opening up the channel. "This is the Divine Retribution, and you are speaking with Captain Erika Romanov," I spoke, trying to sound as cool as possible. The screen ahead of me flickered, and before me, I saw a man of about thirty lounging on a gold throne of his own (but far more mundane than mine) with plush green cushions. He was trim, fair-skinned, and had short tawny hair with a thin pointed beard. He wore a doublet embroidered with stunningly elaborate flowers and gold birds, and a jeweled sword hung by his side. In his hand, he held what appeared to be a martini glass, and with a short sniff of my intuition, I was able to discern that he was at least somewhat intoxicated.
"Why, I do declare! A lady captain! Imperial, I see by the uninspired outfit. I suppose that the Imperials would own a ship like yours, considering their thing with eagles, but honestly, I expected you to be a planetary governor with that ride."
My irritated expression was easily seen by the man on the display. "Oh, hush, hush, I was just flattering you, my dear. Your ship is marvelous! If you are somehow unfamiliar with me, I am Justinian Evring Sinclair the Second, youngest son of the vaunted Sinclair family of Tar Vigaz. My friends call me Evring, and that's what you can call me, Ms Erika."
I said nothing as the drunk rich guy on screen continued to spew words at me, not pausing to let me talk. "I'm assuming you do not recognize me, so this is your first trip to my lovely planet. Your ship is absolutely stunning, I say! I am not often impressed, and I must admit, fair lady captain, that both your ship and your pretty face has made my heart flutter!"
"It is my first time visiting," I answered.
"Really? Have they contacted you with the 'Welcome to Tar Vigaz' transmission yet? Did I find you even before they did? My, I'm a lucky man! I just came out of Warp myself from a holiday on Rash. Are you familiar with the little welcome procedure my fair planet has?"
"Uh, I've been informed but-"
"Alright, dear, I'll help you along with it. It can be a little confusing, and I like to be a gentleman about this," Evring said with a greasy smile as a scantily-clad woman handed him another martini, which he promptly drank heavily from. "Thanks, Rose. You're delicious!" he said, apparently salaciously observing Rose's body as she walked away offscreen. "My ship is named the Shower of Gold, by the way. This is my personal yacht. If we become friends, maybe I can have you over for a drink sometime, huh?"
"Well, uh..."
Evring was then distracted by Rose scolding him offscreen. "What? No, I'm not! Come on, honey! Don't be like that! She's got a cool ship! Look at it!" He pointed somewhere offscreen. "Fucking relax, okay? Go take your Tranq and get out of my business if you're gonna be like that." Evring then mumbled, "Bitches" under his breath, and then turned back to the display, unaware that I had seen that entire encounter. "So, where was I? Right, I want you to follow my vessel. I'll lead you in so no one shoots you. Sometimes people can be twitchy out here." This was drifting into the realm of entertaining rather than insulting. This guy was a drunk spoiled space playboy on his space yacht.
As the Shower of Gold began to align itself ahead of us, pointing toward the inner planets, I asked Evring: "So, I need a Writ of Confidentiality. How does that work?"
"Thought you never been to Tar Vigaz?"
"No, but I know about the Writ, and I have a code. What do I need to do?"
"Follow me, and pay attention!"
Evring chuckled on his throne as he drank his martini. Sweeping his hand wide, he gave some indication for his vessel to move forward to a watching pilot. On the map, I saw his ship turn and begin to travel toward our destination. I psychically directed my vessel to follow his, but while also keeping my guard up in case of trouble. "You must be interesting if you want a Writ. You have officially charmed me, mysterious Erika!"
"Thank you?"
"Don't mention it. Anyway, soon you'll hear a transmission from the planet. That's customs, see? It's automated, but just keep saying 'Writ of Confidentiality' and you'll get through to a real person at the PDF. They'll take your code, tell you what to do. I hate talking to the customs computer; screw that."
"Thank you, Evring," I replied, following Shower of Gold as it began to speed up ahead of me.
"So, who is on there with you? PDF might ask, or maybe they won't depending on your code, but I'm asking you first. I'm assuming you've got the basics, like a Navigator, an engineer, that sort of shit, but maybe you don't have a Navigator considering the big rift thing that just happened. Not like that matters too much all the way out here, considering our location, but sometimes we used to be able to see it. Those Navigator guys are still somewhat useful even without an Astronomican because they can still see the currents of the Warp when they're in it, so I guess they still have a use out here. Ain't that right, Tristan?" A male voice made an affirmative noise offscreen.
"It's just me, a space marine, a tech-priest, two women, a lot of servitors, and..." Was I going to reveal that we had a mutant? Fuck it, they were probably going to scan us anyway and find out. "We have a bird mutant on this ship too."
"A bird mutant? Is he blue? One of them Tzaangors, they call them?" Evring asked me, not concerned. It surprised me that this playboy knew about Tzaangor mutants. Maybe Alberich could make some friends? Or, maybe not, considering that he wasn't actually a Tzaangor anymore.
"Not exactly. He's a guy with a white falcon's head."
"We have a population of Tzaangors on Evna, the Capitol, don't be worried. We won't purge him like the rest of you Imperials would. They'll probably make him take a cognition test when you land, though. Gotta make sure he's not too filled with taint and can play nice with others, dig?" Evring paused, and someone gave him another martini. He was really putting them back. "So, you have any fun amenities on that ship? I've got a sexy nightclub and a spa on Shower of Gold, but then again, you appear to be Imperial, and Imperials don't have much fun. No offense."
"Actually, I've got a sauna and a theater on board," I said with a sly smile. I didn't mention my golden throne. He probably wouldn't believe me, or even really know what the Golden Throne on Terra was, knowing this guy.
"Oh, well I guess you are fun," he responded. He was about to say something else when I suddenly sensed another incoming transmission, this one coming in from deeper within the system. "Ah, there's the customs thing. Go take care of it and we'll talk later. Continue following me. Bye bye!"
The screen crackled to show a multitude of gold coins and jewels cascading across a stylized pink and purple sunset, and then, the words "WELCOME TO TAR VIGAZ" appeared ahead of us like a slick 1980's graphic advertising Las Vegas. A very cheesy lens flare on an emerald then flashed, causing the screen to shift to a blonde computer-animated woman with tan skin in a black skin tight dress. The fake lady waved at us, and said, "Welcome to Tar Vigaz, the Gateway to the Frontier! We are happy to be your destination today! Please stay on the line and answer a few questions concerning the nature of your visit and the vessel you travel upon. Thank you!" A slick animation of soaring spaceships, casinos, and smiling robots appeared.
"It is annoying, but necessary," Lian spoke ahead of me. "Despite all appearances, this planet is one of the most heavily guarded worlds in this region of space, even without a proper navy to defend it. They are wealthy, flush with riches from various empires, human or even alien."
"Tar Vigaz has never sat well with me for that reason. It reminds me of tales of Commoragh, and the Imperium knows about it, and simply looks the other way. Hopefully, we can get the Writ, get our supplies, and leave."
The smiling computer animated blonde woman appeared again. "Welcome to Tar Vigaz! For the safety of all, please answer the following questions, or our inner rim mines will be activated. One: What is the primary align-"
"Writ of Confidentiality," I interrupted the fake computer lady. This caused the message to slightly glitch and cheerfully repeat itself, so I just said "Writ of Confidentiality" again. This reminded me of a trying to get an operator when calling a help line, and I smiled.
"Please hold for assistance," the animated lady said as my display paused, and a soft prerecorded male voice began listing off the coming attractions on the planet, which included theater productions, gambling tournaments, safaris, and pleasure cruises in the local galactic area.
"This reminds me of home. Kinda like this place I knew called Las Vegas," I said to my crewmembers with a smile. Virgil looked at me, confused, so I just said. "It would take awhile to explain, but Vegas, in my reality, was a resort city that had this same sort of mood."
The screen ahead of me shifted and displayed a severe middle-aged man with a dark crew cut wearing a black military jacket with a sunburst pin on his right side. Behind him, there were a few large displays, and other men who appeared to be officers. This looked like some sort of command center. The man was currently speaking to someone offscreen, but turned briefly to address me. "Hold a moment, uh, gold... eagle vessel? Would you say that's an eagle, Ray?" A voice off to the side responded with, "Yeah, put in that it's an eagle. Write it in the 'other' section." The officer turned to us again, "Locking your location, eagle vessel."
"This is the PDF of Tar Vigaz," Lian said before me.
"You should get the code from me," Null said through Jiminy.
"Your code probably expired after a thousand years, with all due respect, tech-priest," Lian said, keeping his eyes on the screen. "The easier it goes for them, the easier it goes for us."
A small screen appeared at the corner of my display. Null had actually changed his robe to a thinner red one that still had fold creases from storage on it. His new gold arm was proudly visible, and it actually appeared that his metal had been polished.
"Code please," the man on the screen then impassively asked us.
Before Null could protest, Lian was now rattling off a long string of letters and numbers. I could hear the sound of someone typing on the other end of the transmission.
"Code accepted," the officer said, turning to us again. In the room he was in, I could now see that the various displays behind him were now showing images of the Divine Retribution in flight. People were gathering around these displays, pointing and marveling, oo-ing and ahh-ing. "It appears you have friends, as we can see here as you follow Shower of Gold, but we do not know the name of your vessel. Name of Captain and vessel, please."
"I'm the Captain, and my name is Erika Romanov, sir," I spoke. "The name of the ship is the Divine Retribution."
The man seemed to examine the throne I was sitting on, his eyes very curious. He did not say anything else for a few moments, and then said, "Quite a vessel you have there. I know it is not my business to ask yours, but I will tell you that in all my years, I've never seen such a unique flying machine. We're all just buzzing down here over it."
"Thank you," I said with a smile. "So, uh-"
"One moment please, we are in communication with Shower of Gold right now," he said to us, staying on the line. The officer then turned to his side, and it appeared that he was talking to someone who was seated beside him again.
Lian and Null seemed relatively relaxed about this encounter, but the tech-priest seemed a little irritated. Lian did have a point. No use giving these guys an expired code. The PDF officer smiled briefly before nodding and turning his attention back to me. "Good news, I'm pleased to offer you Priority Planetside Docking Services located on Evna. Of course, this is assuming that bird you have can effectively maneuver and land in atmosphere."
"Oh, it can. That's no problem."
"Your vessel is a little on the large side, but we'd like to offer you that if you take up a request by Mr. Sinclair. We will now transfer you to him. Contact us when you have accepted his proposal, and then, you can proceed to the city of Evna, all docking fees paid."
This sounded fishy, and I didn't like the sound of that. Was this drunk space playboy asking me out on a date, or was there something more nefarious going on? This universe had left me paranoid, I realized.
The screen shifted again to Evring smiling on his cushioned seat, laughing at something a very scantily clad woman had said near him. He playfully smacked her bottom before turning his attention to me again. "Oh, you've got the whole of the Tar Vigaz PDF excited over your beautiful vessel, my dear!" He drank from his glass again. "They probably told you that you can land on the planet if your ship can fly in atmosphere, and we can have all your port fees cleared, yeah?"
I nodded. "Yeah, but-"
"The catch is easy, intriguing lady captain. Today is your lucky day! I am giving you two tickets to my masquerade ball that's happening in three days. Accept and promise to visit my party, and I'll put you and your crew up in one of our hotels, all expenses paid. And on top of that, I'll offer you some fun spending money if you do me a little favor, one that will make everyone happy! Let's say, three million in script. Deal?"
"You want me to go to a party?" I asked him. This was definitely starting to sound sketchy. "What other favor?"
"Yes! And don't look so put off. My parties are incredible, but this one should be to die for! Lady Langwidere herself is planning to come to this one. And the favor I ask should be fun for you too. I would like for you to arrange a flyby of the capitol city of Evna before you land there. You will be given a flight path, and directed where to fly by our drones while in contact with the PDF. Basically, tell your pilot they're going to fly in a big circle around Evna. Can your vessel handle that? Atmosphere flight, that is. I told them it could."
I smiled. "Yeah, it can. So the deal is that you want me to fly around the capitol city and then go to one of your parties, and with that, I get all my fees paid and a hotel to stay in?"
"Affirmative, and you get script!" He said merrily with a short belch. "Such a glorious vessel you have, and an intriguing person you are! Of course I want to learn all about you, but at the same time, I want Evna to see your marvelous ship! I want to show it off! We'll put it on the news!"
I heard Virgil's voice in my mind as I felt his touch on my shoulder. That's a lot of money he's offering. This feels too good to be true. I am suspicious.
We're running out of food, Virgil, and if we do this we'll also get money for our supplies. We need to stop somewhere, I responded to him, and I felt him concede.
"Okay," I replied reluctantly. "So, what do we d-"
We were unceremoniously transferred to the PDF officer again. "Have you accepted?" he asked me.
"Yes," I responded. "We'll do the flyby, and accept the invitations to the party. What now?"
"Follow the flight path that we are transmitting to your vessel right at this moment, and stay within the marked buoys." Just as the officer said that, two wireframe outlines appeared on the map. One was the flight path to Vigaz, and the other was apparently of the flyby they wanted us to do of their capitol city. With a mental nudge, I activated the flight path to the planet, and the wireframe overlayed itself on the display before me in space. Having a telepathic spaceship definitely made some things easy, I thought gratefully. The officer then touched a com bead in his ear, listening to a concerning message. "One moment, Divine Retribution. Ah... this message is for the, er, marine I see standing on your bridge. It concerns the code you have given us," he said.
"Is there a problem?" Lian asked quickly.
"No problem at all, my lord. We are in communication with the individuals associated with it. They will meet you at your designated port. We are giving them the information they need. They ask you, now. 'What is the mystery of heaven?'"
Lian inhaled heavily, and said, "Those who are fallen are not lost. The angel has come home, but the nest is empty. The star is in hand, but the sun has set." The Fallen then paused, and looked at me. Bracing himself, he then said, "Heaven has a place among the stars."
The man listened into his com bead, and then nodded shortly. "They will meet you at your planetside port." He then turned to me again. "You will do your flyby over Evna, and then, transportation will be arranged between your port, and your hotel. I am told that you have been given a penthouse suite. It seems no expense is being spared for you."
"Thank you," I replied.
The man smiled briefly, and asked "Is there anything else we can help you with?"
"Yes, actually," Null spoke up. I looked down at his screen in surprise.
"What can we do for you?"
"Send a message to Nimmie Amee at the Tower of Reason in Evna for me, if it is still in existence. Tell her that Chopper wishes to see her, and tell her where we will be staying."
"This will be done, sir. And, on behalf of the Sinclair family and all those in the Conglomeration of Ev, welcome to our lovely planet. We look forward to your flyby, and we hope you enjoy your stay!"
The guy blipped away, and we were left following Shower of Gold as the gaudy vessel flew ahead of us.
"I don't like this," Virgil said. "Too good to be true."
"I also do not like this," Alberich emerged from the hallway, speaking behind us as he walked to stand before me. Lian stood watching the display, his back to the throne. He appeared to be deep in thought.
"While this planet can be difficult, it appears my contact is still active, and once I speak with her, she can help us with bulk rations and supplies for our long journey. A thousand years ago, she was an accomplished magos, but I lost communication with her when I was on Levant. I trust her implicitly."
My intuition sensed a strange sadness from Null right now, which suggested that there was more to the story. It sounded personal, so I didn't want to delve, and kept my mouth shut. Instead, I addressed Lian as he stood ahead of me. "So, your people are meeting us on the tarmac, Lian? Hope they won't be obvious. I don't want the other Dark Angels to show up and kill us."
"Yes," the Fallen answered. "But, do not worry. My brothers are not conspicuous."
"They are still renegade marines," Null protested. "I think contacting them was a mistake. I could've used my contact to help us with everything instead."
"What's done is done now, I guess," I said with a shrug.
"Why are they being so generous with us?" Alberich asked suddenly, his ears down. "That is my main concern. Nothing in life is free, either in this dimension or my own. They seemed quite eager to receive and flatter us, and the ship leading us in just happened to be where we dropped out of the Warp dimension. I don't like it."
"I don't like it either, but listen, we're out of food. We need supplies, and they're offering us a lot of money. We're not defenseless, and we have contacts here, so as long as we're on our guard and don't stay too long, we should be fine."
"Trust in the Inheritor of mankind," Lian whispered pensively, his mind elsewhere.
"Yes," Virgil spoke quietly, and walked to stand next to the Fallen. "The Inheritor is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?" the astropath said, putting a comforting hand on Lian's arm.
Hearing Virgil talk like that from time to time made me very uncomfortable, and today was even worse because of what I had sensed on Rhadabus. I was starting to have a lot of sympathy for what the Emperor had been through. Having people think that you were divine was awkward and weird, and I didn't like it, but today, I just decided to try and laugh it off.
"Heh, no pressure, right guys?" I said, my voice amplified and charged with emotion. It echoed majestically in the bridge, and my halo brightened again, which didn't help at all. No pressure at all, right?
No one answered my nervous echoing god-voice laughter, so I leaned back in my throne and promised myself that we'd stay out of trouble, and that nothing bad would happen on this planet. Let's go, everyone. In and out. Quick adventure.