Colbert waited, patiently, in the holding cell he had been taken to days ago with Scarron. They'd been taken care of. Perhaps even a little better than expected, but something felt… off. Despite being "taken in for questioning" they never received any such questioning. Scarron had seemed strangely calm during this ordeal. Colbert expected them to be dramatic and whining as theatrical and exuberant as they were, but instead it looked as though they were being patient as he was.
"It's not my first time en la peine," Scarron winked at him when Colbert asked why they were so calm about this. In fact, they seemed more fussed over Colbert's head injury from where he was struck by Agnes. Taking time to tear at what little clothes they wore to clean his wound. It was during one of these times, at night, that the door to the holding cell areas was opened and the familiar form of Agnes walked before their cell, looking at both of them with her usual surly expression.
"You," Agnes pointed at Scarron, "you're free to go." A guard behind her walked forward and unlocked the door before coming in and grabbing Scarron.
"Wait! Not without ma beau!" Scarron protested.
"This isn't a discussion," Agnes said, icily, as Scarron was quickly escorted out. Colbert's eyes followed Scarron for what little time they could, feeling his heart begin to pound as he wondered what fate awaited him. "As for you," Agnes said as she scowled at Colbert and thrust a finger at him, "come with me."
Colbert was handcuffed and roughly escorted down to the garrison part of the castle grounds, where, upon his arrival, he was met with the sight of Henrietta, whose back was turned to both of them, as her attention was focused on the machine that lay before her. It stood on two legs, like a giant suit of armor, with "arms" that were permanently pointed forward upon which were what looked like cannons. Though it was not in its usual fighter form that Colbert was used to seeing it in, there was no mistaking it for anything else. This was Siesta's Sky Fury.
"Thank you for joining us, Captain Colbert," Henrietta greeted him, causing him to frown at the moniker she used.
"I've long since let go of that title. If you insist on using past titles for me, please refer to me by what I'd like to be remembered by," Colbert insisted. Henrietta stopped caressing the distressed-looking vehicle as she turned to give Colbert a cold, stoic look.
"We don't always get to choose how we're remembered," Henrietta replied as she stepped towards him. "To Agnes? You will always be the one who ruined her life." Colbert cast his gaze down in shame as he clenched his fists. "To Louise and your other students? You will always be the kindly, excitable Professor." Henrietta reached forward and tilted his head up to make his gaze meet hers. "I still don't have a way to remember you. But I give you such an opportunity tonight. To be the one who saved my friends." Colbert looked to her with confusion at this. Henrietta took her hand from his chin and pointed at the decrepit Sky Fury behind her. "Can you get that in working order?"
Colbert's attention was now focused on the machine before him as he stepped forward to scrutinize the machine. It took him only a few minutes before he returned to Henrietta. "After all my studies? I believe so. But only barely."
Henrietta gave him a small smile, "That will be good enough."
Colbert, after being released from his cuffs, spent the next few hours working on getting the Sky Fury to bare minimum working order, just as his frustrations peaked, he slammed his fist against the metal construct, and, miraculously, it began to hum to life.
"Sky Fury operational. WARNING: Hull integrity at 2%," the false, stilted, imitated feminine voice of the ship's AI, called an "Adjutant" spoke in a language that Colbert did not understand. What he did understand, however, was the machine was alive again. If only barely, given the broken, almost stuttered delivery of whatever it said. At that, he thrust his fist into the air, giving a victorious yelp that turned to one of pain as he was unaware his fist was right below the edge of the metal hatch and he had just punched right into it. Rubbing his tender hand, he climbed down from the Sky Fury and looked to Agnes and Henrietta being illuminated by the dark blue light of morning's twilight. Henrietta looked to be almost asleep as she sat on a crate, while Agnes looked as alert as ever and stirred the Queen awake. Her eyes flew open as she took a few owl-like blinks before she focused on Colbert.
Colbert, still rubbing his hand, gave her a confident smirk, which she returned in kind.
Colbert was overseeing Henrietta having mages move the Sky Fury onto the Ostland when he was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps behind him. He turned to see Agnes, scowling at him as she ever was, was the source of this disturbance and gave her a solemn, regretful look. Knowing how all his past attempts to mollify her rage had gone, he opted, instead, to be silent.
"I still don't know if I can ever forgive what you did," Agnes began, looking away from him while maintaining her scowl. "But… saving the new family I've found seems a good place to start."
Colbert was now involuntarily speechless at this. He had never expected such words from this woman whose heart seemed ever-consumed with hate and rage. Still, he maintained his straight face as he nodded at her. Just as she nodded and began to turn away, he felt his ability, and need, to speak return to him.
"Wait," he spoke, causing Agnes to stop without turning to face him, "come with me. I can't operate the ship and its weapons alone."
"I can't leave the Queen unprotected," Agnes answered.
"It's fine, Agnes," Henrietta said as she had suddenly approached, causing Agnes to turn and look to her, wide-eyed, "I have Atindrias, the Adept, to watch over me."
"Your majesty…" Agnes practically whispered.
"Hey! Don't forget about us!" a feminine voice called out to them, causing them all to look to an approaching Jessica, flanked by a strutting Scarron who was adorned in a beautiful pink dress covered in frills and lace.
"Oui, ma beau, that is my niece and new in-law we are talking about!" Scarron announced as they approached the group, winking at everyone.
Colbert gave them both a warm smile as he felt his heart fill with a fiery determination.
"Just remember," Henrietta began, causing everyone to turn to her as she raised a finger to the sky, "stay right at the edge of the border. We still can't risk an international incident." Everyone nodded to her, and Colbert turned his gaze to the Ostland.
"Let's go, everyone."
"Mada! My feet hurt!"
"I'm hungry!"
"I'm tired!"
"I know, I'm sorry, we just have to keep moving for now, okay?"
These were the things that could be overheard from the anxious refugee children as they moved, quickly as they could, through the mountain pass, with everyone trying their best not to look back at the swarm of monsters coming for them. As they moved, the incline seemed to gradually lessen until it flattened out into what looked like a canyon, with a plateau at the end. Once every refugee was through, the Rebel Marines and snipers began to place themselves strategically at makeshift manmade bits of cover and platforms that had been added to the rocky walls of this canyon.
Siesta's heart was pounding with worry as she approached Mama Cassandra.
"It won't be enough," she informed the woman.
"Heh. Don't worry," Mama Cassandra began with a confident smirk as she looked down to Siesta, "we've been in plenty of holdouts."
"Not against the Zerg, you haven't." Siesta gravely rebuked, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Listen," Mama Cassandra said as she placed a hand on Siesta's shoulder, "giving up just ain't in our nature. Definitely ain't in mine. So no matter what happens, we're gonna stand together."
Siesta took a moment to contemplate this, feeling her anxieties battle against her determination. She stood side-by-side with Protoss and didn't stand a chance against Zerg. What hope could mere people possibly have? She began feeling suffocated by the hopelessness, until a certain sound could be heard that caused everyone to turn their attention to the end of the canyon ahead.
"Everyone!" the familiar voice of Colbert announced, his voice echoing through the canyon. "Make your way to the Ostland! That's this ship, for anyone down there who doesn't know!"
Siesta immediately felt her anxieties dissolve as a smile broke out upon her face.
"Siesta! We're here! And we got something for you!" Siesta was shocked to hear her cousin's voice erupt from the titanic airship approaching them. She looked to Louise, who gave her a small smirk as she nodded at her. Once she received that go-ahead, Siesta looked to Tabitha, who, upon meeting her gaze, seemed to immediately discern her intentions and nodded to her as well before she looked to Illococoo, who gave a dramatic, exasperated sigh before she clasped her hands together and chanted to become the form of Sylphid once more. Siesta walked to Sylphid, petting the dragon's neck in gratitude while she, Tabitha, Kirche, Tiffa, and Louise mounted the dragon. Once everyone else was aboard, she looked to Mama Cassandra, who was busy directing her rebels to defend the refugees.
We'll be right back, Mama Cassandra, she psionically sent to her, causing her to whip her head around wildly until she locked eyes with Siesta and gave a small smirk and nod. With another mighty wingbeat, Sylphid took off into the sky and to the Ostland, where, in the distance, Siesta could see her cousin waving up at her, alongside a cross-armed Agnes and, to her delighted surprise, the Sky Fury.
In just a few moments, Sylphid touched down on the ship, and Jessica sprinted to Siesta, taking her into a tight embrace. As the cousins hugged, Siesta suddenly felt a very sharp pinch on her behind that caused her to yelp and pull away from Jessica, who looked down at her with a smug, mischievous grin.
"What the hell was that?!" Siesta exclaimed.
"You're owed some birthday pinches!" Jessica began as she pinched her fingers in the air in a playfully menacing manner, "And I promised Julien I'd make 'em hurt for not telling me about my new sister-in-law." Jessica gave a knowing look to Louise, who blushed and looked away from the two.
"Wha-HEY!" Siesta yelped once again as Jessica took her momentary distraction to get her with another good pinch, causing Louise to giggle. "Can this wait?! We have something going on here!" Siesta frantically gestured to the refugees and her traveling companions below.
"Fine, fine!" Jessica said with a defeated sigh, "but don't think I'm gonna forget, cousin!" Jessica said with a playfully threatening tone and smirk.
"If we all get out of this alive you can have all the pinches you want!" Siesta blurted out, immediately covering her mouth as she did.
"Ah-ha! No take-backsies!" Jessica teased as Siesta pouted at her.
Meanwhile, Agnes approached Tiffa, giving her a small smile as she looked up at her brilliant red eyes.
"It's good to see you well," Agnes said with a warmth that she'd not felt for another in so long. The tips of Tiffa's ears turned red as she returned the smile to Agnes.
"It's good to see you, too," Tiffa began before the feelings faded and she furrowed her brow at Agnes, "though… Last I recall you were trying to prevent this whole thing. Why come here and help now?"
Agnes scoffed and smirked up at her, "We had to make it look good for any onlookers. So no one would get suspicious and think the Queen was involved." Tiffa raised an eyebrow at this. "It's political, that's all, what matters is I'm here now, right?" Agnes asked as she reached out and took Tiffa's hand, causing her to blush once more and struggle to maintain eye contact.
"Yeah," Tiffa replied in a shaky, bashful tone. She took a deep breath to center herself before giving Agnes a wide smile, "I'm happy you're here." Agnes now began to blush as well. No one except Kirche seemed to notice this interaction, as she gave a knowing smirk that she knew they wouldn't notice.
Siesta walked up to the Sky Fury, still in its walker mode, and laid her left hand upon it, causing her Gandalfr runes to glow as she closed her eyes. It's in working condition. But a hair away from being downed once more, her Gandalfr senses told her about the ship.
"I did the best I could," Siesta turned to see Colbert say to her as he approached.
"It's good to see you again, Professor Colbert," Siesta said as she instinctually bowed to him.
"Former Professor. Don't forget," Colbert answered with a nervous chuckle as he and Siesta both looked at the Sky Fury.
"Mister Colbert," Siesta began.
"Yes?" Colbert replied.
"You didn't seem all that fazed. To see me alive, I mean. Most everyone else made a pretty big fuss of it," Siesta observed.
"Believe me," Colbert began as he gave a small sigh, "I felt as heartbroken as anyone else when I heard the news. But," Colbert gave her a small smile. "I can't explain why but I had… faith." Siesta gave a small chuckle herself now as she turned her attention back to the Sky Fury.
"I guess that's as good an explanation as any," Siesta replied with a shrug as she jumped into the ship and began activating its systems.
"Hey, maid," Derflinger piped up from her back. "Have pinky check her spellbook real quick. I got a feeling about something." Siesta was confused but psionically reached out to Louise who was just out of speaking distance on the ship.
Derflinger said to check your spellbook? Siesta asked, unsure.
Louise raised an eyebrow at this as she produced the spellbook that she was thankful to have brought with her and found it opened immediately to a blank page that began filling in with new Khalani runes that her mind immediately comprehended.
Mass Recall, she read. It looked like it would take some time, and the refugees would need to close distance with her, at least to the plateau if the Ostland landed upon it, but this immediately looked like the solution to their problems. "Professor Colbert!" Louise called out, making Siesta feel a bit silly for expending some psionics and not just calling out to her wife.
"Again, not a Professor anymore," Colbert sheepishly laughed as Louise walked over to him.
"Can you do that thing with your voice again?" Louise asked, causing Colbert to look to her in confusion for a moment before realization dawned on his face.
"Oh! Yes, but what for?" Colbert asked.
Down below, Montmorency and Guiche (driving the cart with disabled refugees inside), along with Fouquet (who was using every ounce of her earth magic to seal the passage to the canyon behind them) and the refugees were slowly making their way to the plateau. They momentarily stopped, however, at the sound of rumbling. They turned, wide-eyed, to the entrance to the canyon that was still in the process of being blocked off by rock and dirt, frozen in fear and feeling their hearts seeming to want to beat out of her chest.
"Everyone!" The refugees and other part of the group were distracted from their hopelessness by Colbert's voice echoing throughout the canyon. "Make your way to the plateau as quickly as possible! We have a plan!" While the refugees were already on their way there, this announcement caused them to quicken their pace as the fire of hope burned in their hearts.
"I wonder what they could be planning…" Matilda strained to mumble to herself as she finally finished the rock and dirt barrier she hoped would hold off their pursuers just long enough for whatever plan that "Professor" had concocted to work. She heaved a huge sigh of relief as she finished and turned around to join the rest of the refugees, only to hear a mighty, thunderous banging upon the barrier she had just constructed.
"What?" Matilda, struggling with that word, wondered aloud as she stared, wide-eyed, at her now cracked wall. "No way… Impossible…" She surmised whatever was causing this was something truly massive that she could scarcely comprehend. She summoned as much of her willpower and energy as she could to form her signature earth golem, standing atop it as she did back during her thief days of old, and turned to look at the refugees.
"Well don't just stand there, idiots, MOVE!" Matilda shouted as she had the golem take a wide stance to intercept whatever may come their way. Her determined gaze was interrupted, however, by the sound of more magic below her. She looked down to see Guiche, summoning as many of his bronze-armored feminine-shaped constructs that he called Valkyries as he could. He looked up to Fouquet, giving her a determined smirk, which she returned. Not bad, kid, she thought to herself.
Back on the Ostland, Louise had finished relaying the plan to everyone involved.
"So we need to buy you at least five minutes to cast the spell?" Kirche asked. Louise nodded.
"And the refugees enough time to get to the plateau first?" Agnes asked. Louise nodded once more. "I got it," Agnes said as she nodded and gave Louise a look of fierce determination, turning her back on the group as she went over to a nearby crate and opened it. "You know," she began as she pulled out a massive rifle that looked similar to what few of them had seen Ghosts use, "Gallia isn't the only one with artifacts," Agnes gave a satisfied smirk as she pulled the slide on the rifle, causing it to make a satisfyingly loud click indicating it was ready. Tiffa looked to her, enamored and with stars in her eyes. The ones who noticed this did their best not to let Tiffa know, lest she become self-conscious over her overt swooning.
Soon, the Ostland stopped and gently landed on the plateau, causing everyone to work together to ready the rope ladders and massive gangplank to facilitate the escape of the refugees. Agnes marched down to the plateau and positioned herself at the edge of it, laying herself down on the hot surface while she aimed the scope beyond the canyon entrance to look at their oncoming foes, feeling terror grip her heart as she saw the writhing mass of flesh and teeth coming for her. Her focus on the terror was broken as she heard footsteps stop next to her. She looked up to see Tiffa crouch down next to her.
"I can feel your fear, you know," Tiffa said, causing Agnes to be taken aback, "don't worry, I won't tell anyone you're capable of that." Tiffa teased with a wink, causing Agnes to smirk and scoff.
"What's there to be afraid of? We've fought these bugs before," Agnes began, "besides, I have nothing to fear with you by my side." Tiffa blushed once more as she placed a hand on Agnes' shoulder causing her to look up and meet Tiffa's gaze.
"I won't let a single one touch you," Tiffa declared as she stood up, ignited her warp scythe, and leapt down to the base of the plateau, softening her fall with psionics as she did.
Me neither, Tiffa, Agnes thought to herself as she steadied her aim on the now crumbling wall separating the tide of Zerg from them.
Siesta, in the Sky Fury, was approached by Louise as she was triple-checking that everything was ready to go. Once she saw her, she stopped and looked down to her wife, who looked visibly anxious even as she furrowed her brow with determination at her.
"Before you suggest or try it," Louise began with a firm tone, "I'm not going to leave these people behind to be saved. We stand together. We fall together."
Siesta looked to her with a brief feeling of confusion before giving her a smile, "I was going to suggest no such thing."
"Don't argue with me! I-what?" Louise was flabbergasted at this response as Siesta hopped out of the Sky Fury and stood before her. Louise's eyes widened with surprise at this. Siesta had been so protective of her recently. She could hardly believe this sudden change of heart. Her surprise increased as Siesta stepped forward to take her hands. "Really? It's alright? You're not gonna try and scold me out of this? Or take the decision from me?" Louise asked.
Siesta shook her head. "No, my love," Siesta replied as she embraced Louise, "Where you go? I go." She pulled back and gave her wife a tender kiss before giving her a wide smile. Louise returned it with a nod as Siesta gave her a look that was tinged with shame. "I forgot it was your sense of justice in the face of all odds that drew me to you. You stood up for me when no one else would. And, even though I didn't know it yet, in doing so you captured my heart. I'm sorry I forgot that." Siesta apologized to her wife, who was giving her a warm, sincere look that told her her words were not falling on deaf ears, "From now on, let's stand up for what's right together." At that, Louise gave her a determined smile through furrowed brows that Siesta returned as they gave each other one more kiss before she turned to re-enter the Sky Fury, now satisfied that it was ready to launch as she closed the cockpit and prepped it to go into fighter mode.
"Welcome back, Captain Sasaki," the false, stilted voice of the ship's Adjutant greeted her. "Noncritical alert: radio waves detected. Signal strength: excellent. Would you care for some music with your flight?" Siesta looked to the console that she considered the "face" of the Sky Fury and shrugged.
"Sure, why not?" Siesta said. At that, she hit the button to cause the Sky Fury to shoot up off the deck of the Ostland and into the sky as the pounding sound of the percussive noises from the music she'd heard in Gallia began to fill her ears. The percussion stood alone, for a time, before the familiar, crunchy sound of those stringed instruments came in, along with that deep tone that vibrated her whole body, pumping her up as it did. Unbeknownst to her, it was not just playing within the ship, but without, catching the attention of everyone around.
Tabitha, seeing Siesta take off, felt it their duty to assist as they turned to Illococoo, who gave one exasperated sigh before she transformed into Sylphid. Once Tabitha had mounted Sylphid once more, Kirche interrupted them.
"Hey!" Kirche called out as she turned to Tabitha, who looked down at her with confusion, "not without me. Ever again." Kirche said with a small smile. Tabitha felt their eyes sting with coming tears as well as they returned her smile and nodded, reaching out to Kirche and taking her hand to help her up.
"Never again," Tabitha repeated to her as she leaned back and wiggled against Kirche, causing her to squeeze her best friend with delight as they took off from the Ostland to go towards the now crumbling barrier that Matilda had set up.
Matilda was the first to see them appear from the swirling dust, the massive wave of Zerglings and Hydralisks, half-gorgon and half-draconic looking beasts whose lower bodies slithered while the rest of their body arched up with arms adorned with massive, scythe-like claws tucked by their sides, ready to strike, sprinting past the mound of dirt and rock that remained after they had broken down her wall. She instructed her golem to swipe wildly at them, feeling that accuracy was no issue as the environment was too target-rich for that to matter. As she did, though, she failed to account for Zerglings rushing up the golem's arm towards her. She felt she could direct no energy to them as she prepared to dodge, but found it unnecessary as the Zerglings were mown down by a combination of icicles zipping past her and flames scorching what the icicles missed. She looked up to see Kirche and Tabitha wave at her, causing her to return their waves with a smirk.
These brats really got it, don't they? She thought to herself as she kept her attention on swiping away at whatever Zerg she could while Rebel Marines and snipers picked off whatever got past her before they could reach the refugees.
"~See the people walking down the street
Fall in line just watching all their feet~"
The words had finally kicked in in the song blaring at and around Siesta's Sky Fury as she closed distance on the oncoming Zerg and landed it to begin unloading at them with the twin gatling cannons, shredding the beasts to ribbons as their limbs and gory chunks flew in every direction.
"~They don't know where they want to go
But they're walking in time~"
There was a brief pause of buildup that set Siesta's heart on fire before the next words came to her.
"~They got the beat
They got the beat
They got the beat
Yeah, they got the beat~"
She nodded her head and smiled at this as she heard it. Her groove was thrown off, however, as she saw, from the clearing dust of the broken wall, the gargantuan form of something she had only ever seen in training before. Roaring and stomping its way to them.
"Are you kidding?! A Brutalisk?!" Siesta exclaimed as she turned her cannons on the beast, seeing a barrier manifest around it that her shots glanced off of. "WITH SHIELDS?!" Siesta practically screamed as she noticed that other Zerg were now getting a little too close for comfort and hit the button to transform the Sky Fury back to fighter mode.
I can't take any hits. Not like this. Siesta thought to herself as she zipped around to see how many Zerg were following the newly-appeared Brutalisk, as well as get a better look at it. Her eyes widened before her face contorted with rage as she saw a familiar, infuriating figure standing atop the Brutalisk. The figure with the glowing runes upon his forehead met her gaze as time seemed to slow down for both of them. Siesta could see Saito take the time to smirk at her before flipping her off, causing her rage to boil over as she screamed and dived wildly at the Brutalisk. Her psionics alerted her, however, to quickly roll out of the way as a massive, spiked tentacle swiped out at her, causing her to hyperventilate at the close call.
That's no ordinary Brutalisk, Siesta thought to herself as she made sure to get out of range of the beast.
Earlier, back on the plateau, Agnes was scoring easy shots on any Zergling or Hydralisk that happened to break through the two layers of fighters they had. It almost felt too easy to her. Boring, even. She sighed as she took out yet another Zergling that had taken a leap at one of the Rebel Marines who looked around wildly before throwing a thumbs up in her direction, which she smirked at. However, now was the time that the Brutalisk, a creature she had no name or words for, appeared. And it struck terror deep into her heart like she'd never felt before. She looked through the scope to see who she believed was the one who attacked them at the Sasaki household those few nights ago and surmised he must be controlling them as she took a shot, only for it to glance off of some kind of bubble that manifested around the creature. She could also see Siesta's Sky Fury barely dodge a tentacle that sprouted from its back to swipe at her as she circled around.
How are we supposed to fight such a thing? Agnes thought, desperately.
I think I have a plan for that, but I'll need your help, Tiffa answered as she suddenly leapt up to the plateau and landed beside Agnes, holding a hand out to her.
Guiche and Montmorency had finally made it to the base of the plateau, with more and more Zerg trickling past the first line of defense of Siesta, Matilda, Kirche, and Tabitha.
"Look out!" one of the Rebel Marines shouted as a Zergling leapt at the couple, causing Montmorency to cower while Guiche, reacting on instinct, summoned a spear using his magic and leveled it at the leaping Zergling, causing it to be impaled through its head. Guiche dropped the spear as the immediate weight of the creature was too much for him to bear and he began to hyperventilate as his adrenaline felt to be overwhelming him.
"Oh Founder! Guiche! You saved me!" Montmorency exclaimed with stars in her eyes with a renewed vigor for the man before her.
"Montmorency," Guiche said in a low voice as he kept looking at the ground.
"Yes, my brave, handsome knight?" Montmorency answered in a loving manner.
"I… I…" Guiche struggled to say as he looked up to her.
"You what? What is it?" Montmorency implored as she stared deeply into his eyes.
"I'm gonna throw up," Guiche said. Causing Montmorency's infatuation to immediately cease.
"What?"
No sooner had Montmorency asked that, Guiche unloaded his stomach both on and before her. She was absolutely too stunned to even react beyond staring forward, unamused. And yet, Montmorency thought to herself, I still want to marry this man…
Meanwhile, Matilda was starting to find it impossible to maintain her position aboard her golem as Zergling after Zergling kept scaling it and she had to keep focusing efforts on shaking them off as opposed to actually fighting them. It was as one had finally reached her and was poised to strike that she, accidentally, leaned back to avoid it and found herself careening towards the ground. This is gonna hurt… Matilda thought to herself as she braced her body for an impact that never came as she found herself caught by the Protoss that had been traveling with them.
"T-thank you," Matilda stuttered out as she looked up to the being in awe.
Fall back to the plateau, comrade, the time is nearly nigh for our departure, Zeratul ordered as he drew and ignited his warp scythe, slashing at and bisecting a Hydralisk that rounded the side of her now collapsing golem. She found herself frozen in awe and some other kind of feelings as she stared up at Zeratul, who had set her down.
Cease your fantasies and be on your way! Zeratul admonished her thoughts as she looked away bashfully and turned to begin running to the plateau she was already being pushed back to on her golem, with Zeratul following close and cutting down any Zerg that attempted to reach her.
Tabitha and Kirche were doing their best to provide air support while drawing fire from and dodging the Hydralisks down below, but Tabitha could feel that Sylphid was already growing weary. Hold on, partner, just a little more, Tabitha hoped their thoughts would reach the dragon they rode on as they looped around to do another pass at the canyon, firing icicle spikes wildly into the Zerg and finding plenty of targets, but not feeling like they were doing nearly enough, even with Kirche providing fire support.
"Tabs! Pull up!" Kirche frantically shouted, causing Tabitha to realize they were about to collide with the Brutalisk and pulling Sylphid up into an almost vertical climb. They held onto the dragon for dear life, with Kirche doing the same but with Tabitha's body. As they shot up, Tabitha could see, atop the Brutalisk, the familiar visage of Saito, who looked to them with mild shock while they gave him a solemn look. They could see Saito give them a small, wry smile and tears begin to well up in his eyes as he looked back to the plateau.
Above, on the plateau, Agnes was standing with her rifle trained on the oncoming monstrosity, while Tiffa stood behind and slightly beside her, wrapping one arm around each of Agnes' arms as though they were both holding the rifle at the same time. Tiffa took a deep breath as she channeled her people's magic from her body to the rifle, causing it to glow a brilliant white along with her eyes as a cracking energy began to form around them.
"Steady yourself," Tiffa whispered into Agnes' ear. Agnes, for her part, was feeling her heart race from two kinds of anticipation as she aimed the rifle dead center of the Brutalisk. The sparking and crackling of energy around them intensified, as did the glowing of the rifle. "Not yet," Tiffa whispered as Agnes surmised she must have felt her anticipation in wanting to take the shot.
Siesta, when I give the word, dive straight for the center of the Brutalisk, from its back, Tiffa reached out to Siesta. She felt the smallest hint of hesitation before Siesta's answer.
Okay, I trust you.
Not but a moment later she felt it was time.
"NOW!" Tiffa shouted, causing Agnes to pull the trigger and a brilliantly bright white projectile to erupt from the rifle. Upon meeting the Brutalisk, it shattered the invisible protective bubble around it, causing it to rear up its front two legs and roar.
Siesta could see the barrier shatter, and did not need the signal from Tiffa for what was to be done. The music returned back to the same words it repeated over and over, Siesta's heart burned with determination once more as she took the Sky Fury in for a dive bomb at the Brutalisk's back. Before she knew it, she found herself on the other side, bursting forth from the front of the creature with the Sky Fury covered in the beasts' gory insides as it gave a final death throe and slowly collapsed. She did not have the ability to revel in the sight of Saito falling to the ground, panic in his eyes as he did.
As Saito fell, he closed his eyes and embraced the flash of events that were summoned into them that were his brief life. He smirked as he realized Joseph would be able to hurt him no more, and that his best friend would finally be free from him having to hurt them ever again. Just as he accepted his fate. He felt a hand grab his and his eyes flew open to see Tabitha, atop their dragon, looking down at him as the source of the life-saving grip. He gave a sigh of resignation as he smirked at them.
"You should've let me die," Saito chided them. Tabitha, in response, furrowed their brow as they flew him up to one of the canyon sides and carelessly dropped him as they did. His body scraped and bruised, he strained to raise himself to look at the dragon now headed for the plateau. He spit blood onto the dirt and rock beneath him as he struggled to stand up, giving a sincere half-smile to them.
On Sylphid, Kirche looked down at Tabitha in confusion.
"Why?" was all Kirche could ask.
"Repaying debt," they answered plainly. Feeling she would get no further explanation, Kirche immediately dropped it as they went to land on the Ostland. As they approached, they noticed themselves and everyone else there, as well as the Ostland and Sky Fury, begin to glow with a brilliant blue and white light.
Hurry Akhundelar! The Recall is about to begin! Siesta heard Zeratul declare with urgency.
She felt no need to worry, however, as she flew the Sky Fury to the plateau and, immediately as she approached it, felt the familiar sensations of her body being turned and twisted all manner of ways that felt… disorienting, to say the least. The scenery around her and everyone else within the range of the spell disappeared in a flash, and, in the next moment, everyone found themselves in the immediate vicinity of an enormous, golden pyramid that those of the traveling group recognized as the Protoss Nexus at Tarbes.
We did it… Siesta thought to herself with relief as she took deep breaths to stave off the nauseating effects of being warped here.
Louise, down on the ground level, felt herself falter, with Colbert supporting her. She fought the urge to vomit as she slowly sat down on the deck of the Ostland and took stock of her surroundings. Seeing the Nexus before her, she broke into a wide smile while still heaving deep breaths through her open mouth.
"We did it…" she said, weakly, as she tried to rise to her feet, with Colbert supporting her.
"Thanks to you and your friends?" Colbert said as he gave her a look that bequeathed pride upon her, "We did."
Louise felt positively invigorated by this as adrenaline surged through her body, allowing her to sprint from Colbert's arms and to the edge of the ship to overlook the refugees and her traveling companions.
"WE DID IT!" she shouted triumphantly at them. Everyone else infectiously caught her enthusiasm as they all began to cheer and weep with joy at this victory that was had without a single loss of life. Siesta! Fly a little closer to me! Louise reached out to her wife.
Siesta was confused as to what she could be planning, but heeded her request as she dove low to make a screeching pass over the crowd of refugees and the Ostland. As she did, suddenly, a cloak of swirling pink energies that looked like Zeratul's cloak of shadows that appeared when he blinked appeared before her, which coalesced and faded to reveal Louise, who now sat upon her lap, tilting her head back and giving Siesta a playful smile. Siesta returned her energy with the same smile as she kissed her forehead.
"You did great, Missus Valliere," Siesta said.
"You too, Missus Sasaki," Louise answered.
Below, Sylphid had landed and Tabitha and Kirche dismounted while Sylphid popped back into her Illococoo form.
"Promise Illococoo no more passengers for a while! Illococoo needs a break!" the dragon, in her human form, whined. Tabitha giggled at her as they pulled her in for a hug. Illococoo was, at first, surprised at this, but, after a moment, eagerly took Tabitha into an enthusiastic embrace.
"Welcome home, Tabitha," Kirche said as she looked down at the two with a warm expression.
"Yes," Tabitha said as they broke away from Illococoo and took Kirche's hands, looking up at her and blushing, "good to be home."
Kirche, feeling it right, slowly leaned down and pressed her lips to Tabitha's in a slow, amorous kiss, which Tabitha gladly returned. The two, liplocked and embracing, were ignored by most all around them except Guiche and Montmorency, with the former reacting with elation for his friends while the latter looked more resigned than anything as she was still concerned with her now ruined stolen jumpsuit.
Tiffa and Agnes had not let go of each other since they embraced to take the shot at the Brutalisk together, and felt like they never wanted to, with Tiffa staring down at Agnes with amorous intensity that she had not felt in a long time, and Agnes had never felt. Before anything could proceed, Agnes broke away from Tiffa.
"Not bad, elf," Agnes playfully jabbed, even as her tone was wavering while keeping her back to the elf. Tiffa initially reached out for her, but, sensing Agnes' discomfort, pulled her hand back with a wry smile.
"Not bad yourself, human," Tiffa replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice, mixed with resignation. Agnes nodded but made no further reply as she walked back to the Ostland to store the rifle away, with Tiffa staring longingly after her. To give herself peace of mind, Tiffa reached out to feel what Agnes was feeling, but, before she could get the confirmation, she severed the connection.
I'll let her use her own words, Tiffa thought as she cracked a small smile to herself.
Meanwhile, in the cart, Tabitha's long-sleeping mother was finally rousing. For a moment, she felt a deep sense of panic as it seemed her beloved daughter was missing. Feeling frantically around her, she calmed as she felt a familiar form in her hands and cradled the doll in her arms.
"Charlotte…" she whispered to herself.
Ma'lash sat upon his throne in the capital of Nephtys, Adyl, patiently awaiting the presence he felt was approaching. Not a moment later, the doors to his throne room were blasted open, and before him he saw the familiar, arrogant visage of the one who had bested him, causing him to be sent to this world.
Alarak, Ma'lash said in an amused tone as he stood from his throne.
Alarak, who had one of Ma'lash's guards in his hand by the throat, squeezed and crushed the elf's neck before tossing them aside. Ah, Ma'lash. I knew the stench of your presence before I set foot on this planet.
Always with the barbs, and never with the action to back them up, Ma'lash jabbed back as he ignited his red warp blades.
Oh? I seem to recall how this happened last time, Alarak said, amused, as he ignited his own and stood before Ma'lash. Are you really so eager to meet your fate once more?
Come and see, Ma'lash taunted as he beckoned Alarak to him. Alarak rushed forward, feeling his strikes expertly parried as Ma'lash floated to the side of Alarak, who was leaned over in his strike. You are slow, Ma'lash taunted once more, and reckless. He brought his elbow down on Alarak's back, causing him to crash to the ground. Ma'lash, feeling in a playful mood, did not take a killing blow as he stepped back and allowed Alarak to rise to his feet.
YOU underestimate ME? Alarak chided, genuine frustration in his tone. You will regret your arrogance.
Ma'lash merely beckoned him once more in lieu of responding, which he could feel had further angered the usurper before him as Alarak charged once more. Once more, Ma'lash easily deflected and dodged out of the way of the Alarak. This time, he decided to grab him, and shove Alarak to his knees while he put his blade to his throat.
It appears YOU were the one guilty of underestimating, Ma'lash mocked. While you were always content to rest on the laurels of your natural power, and deceive others into performing your work for you, I have trained. I have bettered. As Ma'lash lectured Alarak, they both heard footsteps at the broken entrance of this mostly-barren stone throne room. Both Ma'lash and his captive looked up to see a feminine Protoss. Ma'lash felt pride and confidence emanate from Alarak below as they each recognized this visage.
Ah, Ji'nara. My trusted First Ascendant, Alarak greeted the Tal'darim who had appeared. Be of use to your Highlord and slay this thrall of Amon. Ji'nara kept walking forward, silently, until she stopped before the two, looking over them both with an expression neither could discern behind her full-face-covering helmet. After a long moment of silence, it appeared Ji'nara lifted her head to look at Ma'lash.
What is your bidding, Highlord? Ji'nara plainly asked.
Ma'lash was positively reveling in the feeling of hopelessness he felt in Alarak below him. He had an amusing idea as he shoved Alarak from him, leaving him now kneeling before Ji'nara as Ma'lash pointed down at him.
Eliminate this usurper, Ma'lash ordered. Without a second thought, Ji'nara ignited her right warp blade.
How dare you… Alarak snarled as he looked up to Ji'nara with fury in his eyes and rose to his knees. I made you, Ji'nara. Without me you would be NOTHING. By the rites and laws of the Tal'Darim you serve ME! At that, Ji'nara drove her blade through Alarak's chest.
We are the firstborn, Ji'nara began, the laws are what WE make them. Ji'nara and Ma'lash both felt one last furious gasp from Alarak before his spirit left his body as it collapsed to the floor. Ma'lash chuckled at this as he deactivated his warp blades and went to take his throne once more.
The Tal'Darim stand ready to serve you, Highlord, Ji'nara dutifully informed as she took a knee before Ma'lash.
Once Ma'lash was seated, he looked down to Ji'nara, feeling pride and relief build up in him as he no longer had to rely solely on these lesser beings for Amon's plans.
Round up every elf you can, Ma'lash ordered, bring them to the capital. The time for the Dark God's plans to come to fruition is nearly upon us.
END OF ARC 1