Before the group traveling to Gallia had time to panic, something flew overhead that caught the border guards' attention. Kirche looked to the sky to see the familiar draconic form of Sylphid making an obvious spectacle of herself while the border guards fired their massive rifles at her in a booming staccato. She elegantly dipped, dived, and dodged around their shots, but Kirche knew this was unsustainable.
"We need to take out those guards," Kirche advised as she turned to everyone.
"Great idea but… how?" Montmorency asked. The group took a moment to contemplate, but, before they could come up with a solution, the guards ceased firing, basically at the same time. Kirche and the rest looked over to them to see each guard fall apart, one bisected by the familiar flash of green light from Zeratul's scythe, and the other by the red light of Tiffa's.
It was both horrifying and convenient for them as they went forward.
As they approached the structure built into the middle of the road, they looked to see Sylphid poised to join them. However, before she could, what looked like two small ships came roaring and firing off missiles at Sylphid.
"Sylphid! No!" Kirche desperately cried out as the group watched explosions rock where Sylphid once was and, once the smoke had cleared, there was no trace of her. The roaring m-shaped ships then turned around and disappeared back into Gallia.
"We have to find her!" Kirche exclaimed as she started heading in the direction that she last saw the dragon.
"Kirche, no," Siesta said as she grabbed her arm. Kirche turned and looked to her with disbelief.
"What do you mean, 'no'? She just risked her life for us and you want to abandon her?" Kirche asked, indignant and desperate.
"We're in enemy territory now, and we're not sure how much time Tabitha has. Sylphid…" Siesta's voice trailed off as she looked away from Kirche, shamefully, "we can't let her sacrifice be in vain."
"What are you saying?" Kirche's voice trembled with fear and rage.
"I'm saying," Kirche could see Siesta turn and look at Louise for a second before looking back to her, "we can't take the risk." Kirche's shocked look became a scowl as she yanked her arm from Siesta's grip.
"Are you sure you're the same Siesta?" Kirche interrogated as she pierced Siesta with her gaze, causing Siesta to once again look away in shame.
"I'll do it," the voice of Matilda came from the cart as she stepped out, revealing herself. "I'll search for Sylphid. The rest of you press on." Kirche was quite surprised at this turn of events.
Selfless volunteering from her? Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt? And Siesta being unwilling to help a friend? She could scarcely believe it. Though, she had no choice but to as she nodded to Matilda, who began walking with purpose into the wooded area where Sylphid was last seen above. Kirche shot Siesta one more glare, to which Siesta continued to look away shamefully while she took Louise's hand, and began marching forward past the two dead Marines.
I do agree, Ardent Kirche, Zeratul's voice rang in Kirche's head. That was uncharacteristic of my apprentice. He could not be seen as of now as he remained scouting ahead and cloaked.
What happened? Kirche asked. Not knowing Siesta could hear such a broadcast of general thoughts.
Her Executor suffered a grave injury, as you were told, and I believe she feels she must be more… conservative with her efforts, Zeratul surmised. Kirche felt a small pang of guilt upon hearing this. Though she could now understand, she still didn't wish to accept it as a reason to leave Sylphid behind.
Meanwhile, Matilda was making her way through the wooded area beside the road the group was now advancing on, searching desperately for Sylphid. She remembered, back when she worked at the academy, how Tabitha was never disrespectful or dismissive of her. And how she knew how it felt. To be so casually used by those in power like she witnessed happen to Tabitha that day.
Her search was abruptly interrupted as she saw what looked to be a girl laying in the woods, illuminated by the waning moonlight of a night almost ended. She approached the unconscious girl that was adorned with waist-length royal blue hair and completely bare otherwise, and removed the cloak that was covering her own immodest outfit she was given by that odd innkeeper to put it on the girl. She looked directly up from where the girl lay and could still see the waning smoke of the explosives that hit where Sylphid was last seen. The pieces started to come together.
Matilda hummed with a smirk as she waved her wand to summon a small dirt golem about her size to carry the girl, "You're more interesting than you let on, Sylphid."
Meanwhile, the traveling group had stopped once more as they felt their plans completely derailed by what they were witnessing. What lay before them was no mere town, but a collection of buildings that none of them except Zeratul had ever seen before. With unnatural lights that shined greater than any torch or fire they had ever seen, and massive, blocky construction that all looked to be of steel that belched a thick, choking black smoke that already started to irritate the nostrils and eyes of everyone present.
The detection set up in this base is scarce, but sufficient to keep us from sneaking through, together, Zeratul explained to the group, psionically, while remaining cloaked. However, given YOUR less conspicuous forms, you may be able to sneak into the nearby Supply Depot and disguise yourselves.
The group had no idea what he was talking about as they looked at all the structures and heavily armored soldiers patrolling around. Zeratul and Tiffa suddenly appeared before them, dropping their cloaks of shadows.
It is that building there, he pointed to one of the smaller buildings that looked akin to some kind of small warehouse or hut adorned with fans. Tif'narak and I shall draw their forces away while you infiltrate the Supply Depot for disguises. Just as soon as he said that, and before anyone could ask any follow up questions, he cloaked himself in shadows and disappeared, with Tiffa begrudgingly moving to the opposite side of the base from where the indicated Supply Depot was located, where she surmised he was headed.
Zeratul knew acutely what the detection radius of the missile turrets, column-like structures with a rotating missile battery atop them that was meant to shoot targets out of the sky, within the base were and positioned himself exactly at the edge of it. Tif'narak, who seemed to know where he was, stood next to him. With a small nod to indicate she was ready, Zeratul blinked to the missile turret, slashing at the connection between the missile battery and the base of the structure, causing it to crash to the ground. He knew, as well, that where he stood also revealed him as there were overlapping detection radiuses from other turrets nearby,
"Intruder alert! Protoss have breached the base!" A voice could be heard urgently exclaiming over the loudspeakers throughout the base. Tif'narak ignited her blood-red double-bladed warp scythe as well as she stepped forward, becoming illuminated by the various lights within the base.
Immediately, they were beset by UED marines firing their rifles at them. Both Zeratul and Tif'narak deftly avoided most projectiles, with what few made contact only glancing off their psionically manifested shields that flashed like a protective bubble around them. Tif'narak twirled her scythe as she cut down three marines at once, hearing their screams of terror as the last sounds they ever made, before she leapt to the top of the nearest structure and scanned for more targets. Seeing an oncoming bipedal machine begin to aim at her with its twin-cannons mounted as though they were attached to the "head" of the machine that rotated towards her, she leapt for it, deftly cutting off one of its cannons as she landed. The machine attempted to rotate to shoot her once more, but Tif'narak leapt and severed the other cannon before it could before planting herself atop the cockpit of the machine and driving her scythe into it. All this while Zeratul was focusing on the turrets, destroying them one-by-one as he had the first and cutting down any Terran unfortunate enough to get between him and his prize.
The rest of the group, meanwhile, were stuck looking at this carnage in awe. Once they finally managed to snap out of their hypnotized states, they began making their way to the Supply Depot. However, they were interrupted by an approaching Matilda, clad only in the tiny dancer's outfit given to her by Scarron.
Kirche looked to her, with her heart immediately becoming clutched by worry as she noted the lack of Sylphid. However, there was also an inkling of curiosity that diluted the worry as she saw the royal-blue-haired unconscious girl cradled in a human-sized earth-golem's arms. She put that from her mind however as she turned her attention to Matilda.
"Did you find her?" Kirche asked.
"Indeed," Matilda motioned to the unconscious girl. Kirche was not the only one who raised an eyebrow at this. "It can be explained later. For now, what are we doing?"
Kirche was unsure if she should feel relieved at this time, but decided to put it aside as she pointed to the supply depot. "We're going there to get some new disguises. Apparently these won't cut it."
"Thank the Founder! I hope I can get something much more dignified!" Montmorency cried out in relief, with Guiche looking the slightest bit disappointed.
As another explosion rocked the end of the base far from the supply depot, the group knew this was their chance as they rushed towards it. The guards posted outside were called away, and they were able to immediately enter through the enormous, single door that served as the only exit/entrance.
Once inside, they were noticed by what looked like a man in a light gray garment that none of them had seen before. It was plain, but covered the body from neck-to-toe as one single piece with what looked like metal stitching holding it together in the center. The man, who was holding what looked like some square metal plate that glowed, stared at them, and they stared back, silently.
After an eternal moment of tension, Louise stepped forward, raising her wand at him to manifest a stasis hold upon him. The man immediately became frozen in place with what looked like a thin layer of crackling green energy covering him.
Siesta sprinted forward, knowing the stasis would not hold him for long. Just as it faded, she placed her hand on his head.
Sleep, she psionically ordered, just as she'd done to Louise's sister Eleonore many months ago. It worked just as well, this time, as the man crumpled on the spot and Siesta turned to give an awkward smile and thumbs-up. The group began perusing the warehouse, being unsure of where to look as everything was labeled in a language none of them understood.
Khaydarin, however, gave some helpful chimes as they began going through the warehouse, casting their examination beam on everything rapidly until it suddenly changed from blue to green and they turned to beep at them. The crate that it stopped at was rather high up, and none of them could reach it. Siesta reached out and tried moving it with her psionics, finding it quite a strain on her as this was the most dense object she could remember lifting.
"C'mon, Siesta! You got this!" Louise encouraged as Siesta focused heavily on making sure not to slam the crate down and attract more unwanted attention.
She felt she was successful enough as the crate reached the ground with a low thud and the group looked for a way to open this container. Siesta spotted what looked like the lock holding it shut, which had lights on it and strange letters, and ignited her psi blade, cutting through it and throwing the crate open. Inside they could see outfits that looked similar to the one they saw the one person they saw in here wearing, but in many more colors.
Kirche, of course, immediately grabbed a red one, with Montmorency grabbing a blue one and Guiche deciding to match her, Siesta grabbing one of the same color as the guard they knocked out, with Louise grabbing a similar one, though needing to dig a little more to find one small enough to fit her frame properly. As they were hastily trying to put these on over their garments which were barely more than underwear already, they heard another two workers walk into the supply depot and rushed to hide themselves.
"Ah, shit, looks like Jenkins was telling the truth," one of them, a middle-aged man with a toothbrush mustache and a bald head said as he looked down at the passed out worker Siesta had put to sleep. Their manner of speaking was so foreign to all but one here, as Gallians hardly ventured beyond their borders. With a drawl that made many of their words a little slurred and blended into each other.
"Yeah… looks like the stim withdrawal's hitting. Well, I'll be damned. He really is quitting!" the other worker, a slightly younger man with a grizzled face and a haircut that looked somewhat short in the front and sides but fell past his shoulders in the back, said with a tone that felt he was both impressed and surprised.
"Welp, let's get him back to the rax," the first man said as the two of them worked together to hoist the man up and carry him from the supply depot.
"Think we should lock up?" the other man asked as they passed the entrance.
"Ah, we'll come back to it once the alert is lifted," the other man dismissed as they left the depot and disappeared from sight.
The concealed group breathed a collective sigh of relief as they carefully finished getting dressed. Once they had, the unconscious girl began to stir from the blaring alarms going off in the base and threw her emerald eyes open as she snapped up and out of the golem's arms. As she did, the cloak fell from her body, revealing her nude form underneath.
Guiche positively gawked, slack-jawed at this, causing Montmorency to smack him on the back of his head. The girl gave a few owl-like blinks at everyone before her eyes seemed to light up with excitement at Khaydarin, who gave off a sound that sounded like an alarm, as well.
"Shiny!" the girl cried out as she dove for Khaydarin, who maneuvered himself out of the way, causing the girl to almost fall. As she readied herself for another attempt, Louise grabbed her arm, giving her a stern, irritated look.
"Just who are you and what are you doing with Khaydarin?" Louise demanded.
"Oh! You're a friend of sis!" the girl cried out excitedly as she squeezed Louise tight, much to her chagrin.
"What? Who? I don't know who that is!" Louise struggled to say. Siesta forcibly separated the two, furrowing her brow at the girl as she did.
"Oh! You, too! And you! All friends of sis!" the girl cried out with excitement.
"Before anything else," Montmorency began, practically snarling through her gritted teeth, "put some damn clothes on!" the girl looked down at herself in confusion, before looking back up at everyone and giving a small, playful giggle.
"Oh! Those! Illococoo always forgets! Sis always has to remind her!" the girl explained as she rummaged through the container. Matilda, at this time, dismissed her golem, causing it to revert to a pile of dirt.
"Illococoo?" Kirche said aloud as the girl found a red jumpsuit she seemed enamored with and started attempting to discern how to get into it. "Wait, earlier you said you'd explain the Sylphid connection with her, Matilda, so now's as good a time as any."
"Really? Now? We're in a rush!" Matilda chided as she grew impatient with the girl that the group assumed was Illococoo referring to herself in the third person and started showing her exactly how to put the garment on, causing Illococoo to gasp with awe at this.
"Then give us the short version," Kirche implored.
"Hey, blue girlie," Derflinger piped up, clearly referring to Illococoo, "just tell 'em. If you don't, I will." Illococoo gave a pouting frown before giving an exasperated sigh.
"Sis wanted me to keep it secret, but I guess it can't be helped," Illococoo shrugged, "Illococoo is Sylphid," she said as she placed her hand on her still bare chest as she had not finished dressing herself. Matilda, still annoyed and impatient with her, yanked the jumpsuit up in an attempt to cover her.
"What? But that doesn't…" Kirche mused as she looked at this childish girl that looked about their age struggling to figure out how to even dress herself.
"It does if she's a Rhyme Dragon. Which she is," Derflinger explained.
"Wait, did you know the whole time?!" Louise interrogated the sword.
"What's the issue? Didn't think it'd ever be relevant," Derflinger casually replied, causing Louise to scowl at him,
"Illococoo can prove it!" the blue-haired girl said as she clasped her hands together.
"Hey! That's not the best idea right now, bluey!"
"Huh? Why not?" Illococoo asked, disappointed.
"I'm assuming you don't want yourself or any of your master's potential rescuers to get captured, right?" Derflinger asked.
"That does sound bad…" Illococoo admitted, sheepishly.
"Look, for now just trust me and bluey over there. That's Sylphid. Rhyme dragons have human forms, okay?" Derflinger curtly quickly explained before he sheathed himself.
"Well, I guess I feel a little more relieved," Kirche said as she looked over Illococoo, who was admiring the jumpsuit with stars in her eyes. This brought a small smile to Kirche's face.
As the group moved to leave the supply depot with themselves clad in their newly-acquired disguises, they suddenly remembered the little floating gold friend of theirs that was following them.
"How are we gonna explain that?" Kirche asked, furrowing her brow. One more explosion could be heard in the distance as they all thought. "Well, I guess if nothing else I can still flaunt my charms to distract anyone who asks," Kirche said with an exasperated sigh. She looked down to herself, feeling disappointed at how unflattering this outfit was.
Siesta then took a moment to consider Derflinger as she had him strapped to her back. These people did not seem to carry swords with them, and it caused her to, unfortunately, stick out.
"Maybe we didn't think this all the way through…" Siesta lamented as she took Derflinger off her back and held him before her, trying to think of what to do. Louise looked to her and, after a moment, looked to have an idea dawn upon her.
She turned to Khaydarin and pressed a button that looked almost impossibly hidden upon the Probe's body, opening a small compartment. From within, she produced a ring and some other object that was too small for anyone except the person holding it and maybe some people much closer to her to see. She took the tiny object and placed it on Derflinger's pommel.
"Hey! What was that? It pinched!" Derflinger exclaimed.
"Does everyone remember my performance with Khaydarin at the Familiar Showcase about a year ago?" Louise asked. There was a moment of contemplation between the rest of the group that suddenly gave way to looks of realization. "Exactly! We can hide Derflinger for now and summon him back when we're out of this place."
"Hey hold on now! Don't just leave me behind!" Derflinger protested.
"Don't worry, we're not leaving you behind, just your body," Louise explained.
"What? Oh. I know what you mean, but I can't do that right now," Derflinger began to explain.
"Huh? Why not?" Louise asked, incredulously.
"Remember what I told you? I can only transfer myself with Khaydarin's runes. We don't have those right now," Derflinger informed, causing Louise and Siesta to look crestfallen.
"Then… I guess we do have to leave you behind for now," Siesta said with solemn resignation.
"I don't like the sound of it… but it sounds like we don't got a choice if we wanna save that bookworm," Derflinger replied with equal resignation.
Siesta used her psionics to stash him on a shelf high out of human reach. Louise then turned to Siesta and held out the ring, causing Siesta to hold out her hand and Louise to slip the ring upon her ring finger with Siesta noticing that there was already one upon Louise's own right ring finger. Both the girls froze and blushed at this, feeling warm and tingly. Their moment was interrupted by Matilda clearing her throat, causing them both to jump and give sheepish chuckles before turning to leave with the rest of the group. Once they had, the alarm finally ceased as more announcements echoed from all over.
"Lost contact! Delta squad! Sweep the base! They may still be around!" a voice ordered from all around them, almost like how a psionic voice echoed within. The group seemed to be making their way through the base unmolested, though not without some strange looks given to Khaydarin that the personnel seemed to shrug their shoulders at as they kept at their duties. Illococoo was the second-most cause for attention as she made sounds of awe at almost everything she observed.
"Illococoo usually sees things from so high up! So interesting to see things up close like this!" Illococoo exclaimed to the group, who were becominging increasingly nervous about the attention she was drawing.
They were interrupted as they were following the road that was cutting through the base by the sound of whistling. Obviously directed at them.
It caused everyone, including Guiche, to look at a man who was leaning against the outside of a building that sounded as though it had music coming out of it that none of them had ever heard before. The man was wearing a kind of hat whose brim only extended forward, as though it were only meant to keep sun out of the eyes and nowhere else, with the rest being fairly plain. He had a sleazy demeanor about him even Guiche could sense.
Kirche, the only one who knew how to play this game, was the only one to give him a flirtatious half-smile as she approached, causing the man to kick off the wall and approach her.
"Well, well, howdy there miss…?" the man began, expectantly, with an accent none of them had ever heard before. It was a kind of slurred drawl that caused his words to blend. It reminded Siesta of the way her father talked, but, stronger.
"Zerbst, Kirche von Zerbst," Kirche decided to give him her real name, feeling she'd probably never see him again, anyway, once they finished their task. She extended her hand to him, which the man gladly took and planted a small kiss upon. "My my, what a gentleman."
"Lot more where that came from, Miss Von Zerbst, if you're willing to join me for a drink?" the man asked, smirking.
"Of course," Kirche said as she felt she had snagged him, "but only if my friends get to as well." Kirche gestured to the rest of the group.
"You drive a hard bargain, beautiful," the man gave an amused chuckle, "you got yourself a deal." The man looked to the group and quickly raised his head at them, which they took to mean they should enter the establishment with the man leading the way. Once inside, the group realized it was merely a bar, but adorned with artificial lighting.
The group, along with the man, sat at a table in this somewhat crowded bar. The music the group could faintly hear outside was now filling their ears. It didn't resemble any music they had ever heard, but kind of a mix of different kinds. Someone was singing like they did in peasant's songs. And there were some kinds of strings like a lute or violin, but much more... sharp whenever their notes resonated. What really stuck out to them was the sounds of much lower register sounds that vibrated their bodies, and the more impactful and rhythmic pounding of the percussion that made each and every one of them start to do something with their bodies to follow the rhythm of the music, whether it be tapping their fingers, their feet, or bobbing their heads. All of it subconsciously.
"Y'all like Skynyrd?" the man asked, amused. No one was sure what he was referring to as they all gave him confused looks. "Y'all seem't've taken a shine to it," the man pointed out to them as they noticed their various expressions of vibing to the music and immediately became self-conscious about it, causing the man to chuckle with amusement. "Imma see about rounding us up some refreshments," the man said as he rapped his knuckles on the table and stood up, giving Kirche one last look and smirk as he did, "don't go nowhere, darlin'."
"Wouldn't dream of it… darlin'" Kirche repeated with her overly-flirtatious tone, causing the man to tip his hat to her and leave the group.
"What the hell was all that?" Louise hissed.
"Blending in, you should try it," Kirche replied with a smirk, causing Louise to frown at her. The song seemed to stop and the bar was silent for a moment before a new, somewhat similar-sounding but slower song came on.
"'Scuse me, miss?" Matilda felt a tap on her shoulder as she turned, giving the person accosting her, a young man with a thin goatee, a raised eyebrow. "You wanna dance?" Matilda scoffed at him before turning her back on the now-dejected man, who walked away.
"Aw hell, who put this sissy crap on?" a belligerent voice could be heard from somewhere in the bar.
"I did! Gotta problem with Versdin? You gotta problem with me!" a familiar second, belligerent voice could be heard. The group could hear blows landing as they looked to see the man who had invited them into the bar brawling with another.
"Shit, at least they get to see some action, I'm always getting that shit detail like moving crazy old ladies…" Kirche could hear one of the soldiers drunkenly lamenting, causing her to turn to the man, who was seated at the table beside her.
"Sounds rough, handsome," Kirche began her flirtations once more, causing the man to turn and look to her, instantly looking enamored as he did. "How's about you tell me a lil' more about it? Blow off some steam with me?" Kirche, who seemed to be infected by the local accent, began lowering the zipper on her jumpsuit, causing the man to look visibly excited. Louise and Montmorency, meanwhile, looked on at this, completely unamused by this redhead's antics, but being even more annoyed that it was working.
"Yes, ma'am!" the man excitedly sputtered in reply, to which Kirche turned her metal chair and moved it to his table, sidling up to him.
The rest of the group, finding the brawl to be expanding, became uncomfortable and stood to leave. They were only outside for what felt like only a few seconds before Kirche joined them as well, tossing her hair and breathing a sigh of satisfaction as she did.
"Looks like we're headed to Alhambra base," Kirche announced as she marched forward, the group following her dutifully as she did.
"Okay… where, though?" Louise asked, confused.
"I know where that is," Matilda announced, causing the group to turn to her in surprise. "Did you forget my immediate previous ties?" Matilda asked, irritated as she rolled her eyes. "I'll lead the way." As the group prepared to follow the road out of the base, they were stopped by two of the UED marines.
"The base is on lockdown until we can find the Protoss and Elf attackers, return to the barracks," one of the marines ordered, causing the group to experience a bit of alarm as they turned around.
"What are we going to do?" Montmorency hissed in a panic.
Matilda gave an exasperated sigh as she produced her wand and smirked. "I'll meet you back here in a bit. Then lead you to Alhambra," Matilda declared as she began to walk away from the group. I guess it's time for the Crumbling Dirt to make her triumphant return.
Meanwhile, Tiffa and Zeratul were in the woods a good distance from the base, easily avoiding the patrols sent to seek them out and taking any opportunity they could to pick off their members to keep the attention focused on them instead of the group within the base.
How will we rejoin them? Tiffa asked, psionically.
We have destroyed a significant amount of their detection capabilities. With finesse, we should be able to walk through mostly undetected. I have faith in our skills to deal with those who would stop us, Zeratul explained, causing Tiffa to crack a small smile.
After a brief pause, Zeratul felt now would be a good time to inquire her about the powers he witnessed her use.
Tif'narak, Zeratul began, causing Tiffa to turn to him, eyebrow raised. What power did you use to revive the Executor Louise? It is not known among Protoss and the words I heard you chant seemed to be a modified stasis technique.
Oh. That. Tiffa replied as she looked down at her gloved hand that was made into a fist, and opened it, causing a small, glowing, white light to appear. Tiffa stared down at it while giving off a feeling of nostalgic melancholy. My people do not have a name for it anymore. But… it is our own magic. Not Protoss. Not Tal'darim. The white energy weaved around her hand as she turned it and slowly waved her fingers, It is forbidden to teach. And even more forbidden to use. Tiffa suddenly clenched her fist, causing the energy to dissipate as quickly as it manifested as she turned to Zeratul, giving him a look of conviction.
Ma'lash has worked for over six thousand years to ensure this magic died. Eliminating all those who taught and practiced it. Even those who accidentally expressed it. Tiffa looked crestfallen as she relayed this to Zeratul, looking back down on her open hands as she did.
How did you discover this power? Zeratul asked, curious.
It was an accident, Tiffa answered, her eyes starting to tear up as she fondled the locket around her neck, my mother… she was gored by a wild animal one day while I was with her. I was wracked with desperation. Wishing for anything that could save her. Then- Tiffa interrupted her psionic messaging to once again manifest the light, in both her hands this time, for but a moment before it seemed to shatter and fall to the ground like snow.
Zeratul surmised her meaning immediately as he tried to emanate feelings of understanding to her.
It worked, Tiffa continued as the smallest, wry smile broke out on her face, she was fine. Like nothing happened. But… my mother… she was angry. So… angry. Tiffa clenched her fists again as the smile faded from her face. I was ordered to hide it. Suppress it. But… Tiffa paused as tears began to fall into her open hands. I didn't know what it was… I was a child… How could I control something like that? It happened again when I was playing with my brother.
You have siblings?
One. Had. Tiffa's flow of tears intensified the longer she went on. Same thing. My brother got injured while we were out. I immediately tried to summon the power once more. And it worked. But… then he told his friends. Who told their parents. And that's when the Ascendants came. Tiffa clenched her fists and began trying desperately to wipe her tears away.
My mother was given a choice when they asked who possessed the gift. Me. Or my brother. How could any parent make that choice? Mother later told me why, but at the time I had no idea why she chose to have me spared. Tiffa fell to a kneeling position as she punched the ground, face now wracked with rage. He didn't do anything! He should have lived!
It took a few moments for her crying to cease before she stood back up, wiping the tears from her enraged countenance.
From that day on… I was trained in the ways of the Tal'darim. I hated them. I hated them all. Until one night… I don't remember when. My mother came for me. Killing everyone in her path. I had never bore witness to such power before. She bid that I run from that place. From her. To Tristain. Tiffa's gaze became downcast as her tears ceased and a melancholy smile adorned her face. Through… many years of study. I taught myself how to use my power.
Your mother… she is-?
She was Tal'darim, yes.
You speak as if she were gone as well.
Tiffa gave a solemn nod at this. It was the same time as she freed me. Must have been, she paused, at least decades ago.
He didn't need to know the full truth.
Time means little to beings such as me. Such as us. Tiffa gave Zeratul a knowing look, to which he returned a knowing nod. I still think about her every day. Tiffa said as she unconsciously played with the locket once more.
There are many of my brothers and sisters that I have lost long ago that I think of to this day, as well, Zeratul told her reassuringly. Time may mean less to us. But the time we do have still has meaning.
Yes, Tiffa replied with a small smile. Soon after their dialog finished, the base before them was wracked with blaring alarms once more as they both saw the form of a behemoth Earth golem had appeared. Tiffa chuckled as she looked over at Zeratul, I guess this is our chance.
Zeratul nodded back at her, Indeed.
Meanwhile, back down in the base, the marines guarding the exit to the base were immediately drawn away by the sudden appearance of the massive earth golem that was wreaking havoc. The group waited, as they were requested to, for Matilda's return, which occurred shortly after the alarms began blaring once more.
"Shall we go then?" Matilda asked rhetorically as she took the lead in exiting the base, leading the group deeper into Gallia. Not long after they had left the base, the scenery began to shift back to the kinds of normal countryside that everyone was used to, minus the massive deforestation and mining efforts that now scarred the land. The group was finding themselves exhausted by this point. They had been traveling nonstop since Tristain. They tried to make their way into what little tree cover they could find and all began sitting around, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"Ugh… if only we didn't have to leave the cart behind!" Montmorency lamented. At that, Louise gave a smirk as she turned to Khaydarin and nodded. Khaydarin let loose a burst of energy directed at a ring on her finger, just like most everyone here had witnessed before at the familiar exhibition about a year ago. As the energy coalesced and dispersed, they all saw the familiar form of the cart they had surely left behind outside the base. "Woah! It works on things that big?"
"Of course it does! My familiar is truly a magnificent specimen!" Louise replied with pride as she puffed out her chest. Siesta regarded her with pride and awe. She loved how clever she could be. The rest of the group was too exhausted to care as they gathered the bedrolls from the cart and all began passing out almost immediately upon hitting them.
With the exception of the married couple.
Louise gave Siesta a knowing look, which Siesta met with one of confusion. "I think we should go try that thing now," Louise said with an imploring look. It took a moment for realization to dawn upon Siesta's face before she nodded. As the two stood up to put some distance between them and the rest of the slumbering group so as not to potentially disturb them, Zeratul, with Tiffa, blinked into view before them.
"Good timing, we were just about to try the summoning ritual again," Siesta informed them before she turned to look at the sleeping group, "And it'll be good to know they're not alone."
Zeratul and Tiffa nodded before Zeratul took up a post in one of the nearby trees to enter into a semi-meditative state that kept him alert to threats while TIffa collapsed herself against a tree and almost immediately fell to sleep.
Louise and Siesta, meanwhile, found themselves out of sight of everyone and, feeling they had created enough distance, kneeled before each other, taking each other's hands as they did. They were interrupted, however, by the curious beeping of Khaydarin, who had joined them. At first confused, Louise gave the small, floating, golden ball a small smile before patting them on the head.
"Well you were there the first time, so I guess it's fitting," Louise said as she took her hand away from Khaydarin and placed it back in Siesta's while looking at her. "Let's see if I can remember this…" Louise mused as she closed her eyes to concentrate on her memories.
After a few moments, she finally opened them once more, looking as lovingly into Siesta's eyes as she did the first time they did this. "I am Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, wife of Siesta Sasaki," she began with transparent pride at her statement, "Pentagon of the five elements… give my wife your blessing, and make her my familiar spirit," just as before, upon the completion of her recitation, Louise planted a kiss upon Siesta's lips, this time even more tender and amorous than the last time they did this.
They did not stop there as their kissing intensified, their mouths parting just enough to leave their lips brushed against each other just barely before fully meeting again and again, with them each becoming enwrapped in each other to such a degree that they did not notice a glowing magic circle that had surrounded them, manifested from nowhere. It caused a rising, crackling energy to spark around their forms. Their passion was only briefly threatened when, finally, Siesta felt the familiar prick of the beginning of pain upon her left hand.
Unlike last time, this time she merely winced as she drew a sharp breath while the burning sensation lasted for but one intense moment before it subsided. The two pulled away from each other at that, with a bridge of saliva stretching between their lips straining to a break as they both sat back down in their kneeling positions.
Siesta looked at her hand and felt relief and elation fill her spirit, with the same feelings readable on Louise's face as she looked down at Siesta's hand as well. There they were once more, glowing, as they used to, the Khalani runes that read "Akhundelar".
The glowing persisted as Siesta was still wearing the bracer from earlier, and she felt the familiar rush of power and techniques that came with these runes that granted her mastery of all weaponry and greatly enhanced her psionic powers. Effortlessly, she ignited the psi blade and stood up, doing standard strikes and swipes that came naturally to any training Protoss Zealot. She even decided to top it off with a leap and flip into flourishing strike, feeling confident and empowered as she was. Louise clapped for her as she grinned at her wife. However, these feelings of elation in Siesta began to ebb as a new feeling sunk its claws into her. Dread.
Siesta remembered Derflinger's warning… and the manifestation of the consequences he warned of in Albion as she faced the horde of Zerg on her own. As she did, the suddenly deactivated the psi blade and removed the bracer from her wrist in such a hasty manner as to cause Louise to look at her in concern as she stood up.
"What's wrong, my love?" Louise asked, worried. Siesta held the golden bracer in her hand, a look of dread upon her face.
"I still have to be careful…" Siesta said in a trance-like tone as gaze remained fixed on the bracer before her and the thought of the runes on the same hand that bore it. Louise broke her wife's contemplation with a simple touch upon her other hand, giving her a reassuring smile as she did.
"I know you will be," Louise said with a kind, comforting tone. Siesta returned her smile as she kissed Louise once more. "Oh!" Louise exclaimed as she felt the ring on her wife's right hand and turned to Khaydarin, who beeped in acknowledgement as they shot a burst of energy from their eye that faded to reveal Derflinger, who dramatically coughed as though he had lungs.
"Ough, good thing I got no stomach to empty," Derflinger commented, causing Siesta and Louise to giggle before Siesta reached down to pick him up. "Woah! Hey!" Derflinger excitedly exclaimed, "That feels familiar! Welcome back, partner!"
Siesta drew Derflinger and gave him a small flourish that felt as effortless as she remembered. "Yeah," Siesta said with a confident smirk as she sheathed Derflinger and took Louise's hand to lead her back to the camp. "We're so back."