Episode 28- Before the Culmination.
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"I can already think of a few applications…"
"It could be used practically everywhere…"
"It won't be useful for me."
"Maybe we could reduce the electricity bill…"
It seemed like two of three researchers had heads full of ideas, so they left swiftly without a word. Dobromir started putting his armor back on, and asked "How's Raynor doing? The last time I heard him, he was running away from Kerrigan."
"Well," said the Mayor, "He is currently somewhere on the Char, skulking around. But also, and get this, he allied himself with some Protoss commander."
"It's strictly 'we can survive together and be casual friends', so zero Protoss technology for us." Said the remaining researcher.
"So many things are happening at once, but from my narrow Zerg perspective, I see so little. Also, the colony doesn't have an agent besides me, leaving us half-blind. And knowing…"
"Is half the battle. I know, my son, do you have something on your mind?" The mayor was scratching his head, he would need to wash his hair tonight.
"I deflect the question," he showed a respective card with two opposite arrows. "Ariel, you try to brainstorm."
"Of course you would have a card like that hidden somewhere away. We could train another agent, but it would take at least fifteen years." Saying this, she started to slowly stroke her chin, thinking. "Outsider intel is never truly reliable, so we can only focus on the inside. I… have no idea."
"I don't have one either." Mayor started stroking his chin, oho, his beard needed some attention.
"Basically we need more than one Dobromir," said aforementioned, "but there is only one." He stood up, and started walking to and fro, holding one finger up, leaving the rest folded. "But what if there would be more than one?" Now three of his fingers were up.
"What do you have in mind?" Asked Hanson, adjusting her glasses, so they could perfectly reflect light. Yes, she liked theatrics, like any respective researcher, she also was a nerd.
"Wait a bit, I almost remember where it was." He turned around and started rummaging through the drawers. The cabinet's in this room were everywhere, and filled to the brim. The thing is, they weren't packed with paper but rather disc's, mobile data banks to be exact. The cabinet's themselves were unmarked and unnamed, so for some outsider it would be utter chaos.
"Those things aren't even organized in any way, mom is just throwing those willy nilly, but somehow still remembers where they were thrown." He closed the drawer, and opened one higher. "Plans for anti-nuke weapons? No, not this. How to grow fungi? No. Difference between dreams and reality? No. How to weave a basket? No. All of TZO? No. Radiating sand? No. Aha! there it is." He quickly extracted a disk from the pile, and closed the drawer. "Here"
Looking at the disk in her hands, Ariel read out loud "How to grow yourself as a kid. Guide for infertile, collaboration between me and… Talise Cogan? So this is the only collaboration our mothers made?".
"Uhm, the information inside contains a lot of things, but I want you to focus on making clones, clones of me to be exact."
"But, with your corruption by zerg…"
"Don't worry," said the mayor from the back, "Dobromir's baseline is stored in a certain safe container, and every step is recorded in this thing."
"Wait, why would you have the baseline stored?"
Hearing this, Dobromir walked over, standing as close as he could, and leaned even closer, so their eyes could meet. "Look me in the eyes. The fractures and color are the zerg part, but the pupils are from birth. Or rather, from before birth."
Hanson gasped softly, she never looked into his eyes that much. Or had many occasions for the matter, but his pupils were contracted now, presenting almost two slits. She always thought they were some special lenses or something, but no, they were real. She took a step back, and looked at the disk in her hands. "So the collaboration was to create… you?"
"Aye, my Wife was infertile from pretty much the beginning, but considering who she is, she decided to have a family descendant anyway, and then decided, why not make him even better?"
"I will… do what I can". She said looking up.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, Dobromir replied "Don't worry, you already surpassed my mother when it comes to biology. A few more years, and even your mother would have to bow to your superior skills."
"But cloning you won't be enough, they would still need to learn a lot of things…"
"Don't worry, be happy. I will arrange something with the memories part. But one more thing, prepare but don't start before consulting with me, I don't want them to be the exact same as me." That being said, he too quickly said his goodbyes and vanished into the outside.
"Come, Ariel, I will show you the vial."
"Ahhh…, this recommendation was spot on." Mina was currently melting, sitting on a towel in the sauna. In swimwear of course, the people of Po'midor weren't uncivilized, so something to cover important bits was a must. Of course, before the sauna there was actually a big swimming pool, with a paddling pool for children. The whole business wasn't that big, but you would be hard pressed to find like this in other colonies. Only the biggest cities on central planets had similar establishments, and even then they were very pricy.
The see through glass doors opened, presenting a mature woman, who without any delays sat opposite to Mina. After a moment of looking into each other's eyes, the older woman replied "I think I know you."
"You do? I don't think many people even heard of me. And I definitely didn't see you before."
"Well, you are the soon to be newest recruit. Next day would be the start of your training, to be exact." She leaned back, closing her eyes.
"Wait, what? What training? What recruit?" She leaned forward, putting her hands on her knees.
"Stetmann didn't tell you? Why I am not surprised, he sometimes forgets to sleep, let alone talk to others when he 'Thinks' they know. About your new job, you will go from dropship pilot, who carries soldiers, to a personal captain of a certain agent."
"What do you mean, personal captain?"
Weaving her hand dismissively, her speaker replied, "You will know everything tomorrow, don't worry. But for now," She looked into Mina's eyes, "I'am Maria, and I will be your Instructor."
"Hello, old friend."
"Chrum." The old boar looked up at his last Rider. Even if he looked slightly different, and had another layer of scent on him, the good ol' stink always remained.
"Can I ask for a ride into the forest? If it's not too much of a bother, of course. I know the earlier fights against Invaders weren't easy for you."
"Chrum", it was a yes if Dobromir could say so, and after that the old swine slowly stood up. Even if his age was showing, the Boar's muscles still bulged, the life of a warrior clearly showing.
"Should I take off my armor or…"
"Oink," A shake of head, this old warpig still had the strength to lift such a puny weight. Retirement was nice, but some exercises from time to time were still very much needed.
By chance, a certain granny appeared, again, this time waiting for her near the exit. "How was it, dearie? Calm and relaxed?"
"Yes, it was… invigorating. Just what I needed."
"I see it, I do indeed." It was followed by a hearty chuckle, "but, there is one problem".
"What problem?" She looked over herself, skin unblemished, even glowed slightly in the sunlight. Her clothes and boots were fine, her skin didn't get all wrinkly, "I don't see anything wrong."
"Look across the street, what do you see, my dear?"
"People, the trees by the road, you…"
"And where is the sun?"
"It's right thereee…. wait what?" The sun was already gone, and the brilliant moon was shining brightly. Mina quickly looked over the streets again, the lamps were lit, and people were slowly walking, it was definitely after work hours. "Bwha? I see everything clearly, but the moon is in the sky? What is going on? Why are the lamps glowing but give no light?"
"Look closely into my eyes dear, and you will see the answer."
"Mmm, okayy…" Mina took a step, then another, and leaned forward, looking closely in the eyes which had seen many things. But currently, they are providing a mirror for the beautiful show of dancing stars. With a start, Mina realized that the stars didn't dance in the helpful granny's eyes but her very own!?
"What do you think?"
"I can do it! Or… no I can't. I, can do it! Buuut… I don't think so. I, I-I can, do it! Or maybe not…"
"What if I rope Moony into this?"
"It would help, buuut…"
"Add Dr. Flow."
"Bring also, also… what was her name? Anyway, the newbie pilot with star affinity. If my shortest sister hunch is right, she should be in House of the Root."
"See you later, Ixie".
"Yeah, yah, come along Rufus." The big mole-bear quickly followed her with the slightly earth shaking footsteps.
"You, my dear, are more happy than usual, that's why your magic is manifesting, albeit in a small form." She stepped back, letting Mina process it for herself.
"Wait so," She looked at the night sky, which compared to the sight on this surface was normal. Thousands of stars hung in the darkness, nothing more, nothing less. She then looked at the moon, then back at the street, that was unnaturally bright, for her that is. "How can I hide it?"
"Well, for now you don't have to. But beyond this planet, among normal people, you have to vent your energy, somehow. Even if the mana concept from fantasy would be easier to understand, we don't have it. Instead, the magic we use exhausts our stamina, leaving us more and more tired."
"Soo, I just need to run a little? Do squats?" She prepared to do something along the lines, but was interrupted by hand blocking her path.
"Unfortunately no. Magic is more primal force than just Regular psionic, but it is still a mental power of sorts. Using it leaves your mind more exhausted, which in turn makes your whole self overall slowly losing strength." The granny retracts her hand.
"But I used my powers the previous days and I didn't feel more tired then." Now Mina folded her arms on her chest.
"I see, I see. Come, young one, I will show you something more… in a secluded place."
With that, the granny started walking off, surprised Mina quickly following the unexpectedly fast elder. Her head was still a little fuzzy from the sauna, but was now additionally filled with other questions. If not one thing then another.
"Okay, I understand the first choice, but a human-mushroom? Doesn't it border on obsession?" Hanson was talking through her multipurpose device, walking aimlessly before the, for now, empty vats.
"But won't he be just a Funguy-i to be around?"
"Really, you use puns now? Okay, I will do it, I don't care enough to argue otherwise."
"It may seem like a random whim from a quirky guy, but I have certain balanced result in mind, you'll see."
His answer was only a sigh.
"Here is far enough deary, you can treat it as your final lesson."
"What do you mean final?"
"Everyone is different, especially when it comes to magic. The rest of your potential lies in your hands."
The two were standing on an empty, grassy plain, some distance from any homes or buildings. The trees from the forest loomed over not far away, casting deep shadows all around.
Turning around, the granny extended her hands towards the sky, and started "Treat this as your ultimate skill, very effective but also costly. Now pay attention."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the gentle moonlight receded, leaving everything in total darkness. A moment later, the light intensified in a certain spot, only to become a silent, blinding pillar of immense heat. The area not far from them was instantly glassed, but even a tiny sound didn't escape.
The granny was still looking at Mina, even if the immense heatwaves could bowl them over any second. A moment extended to Eternity, only to stop as suddenly as it started. The moon again started to gently illuminate half of the planet, leaving no impression of a powerful lazer.
"W-w-hat was t-that?" She was shaking slightly, looking at the now smoking hole in the ground.
"I have power over the moon, my dear. And the moon is just a smooth disco ball, which reflects the sun's light. I just focused on it for a moment. Now it's your turn."
"My? But, what could I do?" Mina stopped shaking, it wasn't that terrifying, just, entirely new. The terran technology could do far, far more worse than that.
"It's simple, my dear. You command the stars. What can a star do? Just concentrate, and will it to happen, preferably into that hole."
Stars… starts… they shined, hung in the sky and… Right. She concentrated, and soon, one of the stars on the night sky's tapestry started to shine brighter. It started getting bigger, and bigger and… wait no. It was getting closer! A moment later, a loud boom echoed in the night, together with a bright explosion.
"Huff, huff," Mina slowly collapsed backwards, supported by the granny to miss hitting the ground.
"As you can see deary, it's very exhausting."
"S-so, why are you, still, standing" She was breathing heavily, and was on the verge of fainting.
"Remember what I told you? Magick first and foremost exhaust your mind. We older people don't need to be smart, but are usually wise. A wise person is ultimately a better magic user than someone Intelligent."
"Moony, there you are. Ahh. and our newest member."
The startled Mina weakly turned her head, looking up at a very familiar sight. It was a giant's boar head, with its gentle eyes directed at her. Now, even if it was the Rider's hometown, she didn't really have the chance to see other than the other granny's chariot puller. The voice was also somewhat familiar, but with black spots dancing before her eyes, she only saw glowing eyes.
Before passing out, Mina managed to hear the familiar stranger say "I know it was you after seeing the power of the lazer."
