Chương 8: Gift
The key spun around Talassar's wrist, following the same patterns Niobys used to draw whenever he showed up at Loquace to impress the young children in the various creches and schools. Niobys loved their wide-eyed attention and always went out of his way to accommodate the silliest requests, hopping amongst the gardens or throwing multicoloured sprays of energy throughout the facilities. Talassar smiled, remembering how he used to hang onto the old man's arm and demand to be thrown into the air so he could learn how to fly. Of all the young psions he'd always believed his connection to the old man was the strongest.
[So many changes Niobys. Who knew this little psionic toy of yours was the key to all your secrets. At least it keeps the monsters at bay.] The core was humming in delight sending weave after weave towards the key, giggling whenever they fell apart because of its interference.
Gusts of wind tugged his borrowed coat and Talassar stood up, groaning at the aches worming their way through his body. The Holy City was a blur of light on the horizon, spotlights fanning out into the night sky and illuminating faint shadows which could only be the warships of the home fleet. This deep within the wilderness the air was crisper, the haze of constant plasma trails obscuring the sky left far behind. Delighted by the freedom he'd thought lost, Talassar slowly stretched his muscles, picking up speed through his exercises, almost dancing through the tree-line. His every move became crisper, shifting from simple katas to deadly strikes backed by psionic energy. The very air rippled as he drew on more of his Essence, attuning himself to the crumbling binding while searching for more cracks to pull energy through. With a slash of his wrist a wave of force cut through the earth before him and Talassar spun away, drawing the key out onto his wrist and punching straight ahead, but the expected weave collapsed when it left his fist. Talassar grunted, trying to control the collapse but the weave burst open and he was forced back a few steps.
["Weak Talassar. So very weak."]
[It's enough for now. Even though I'm not as strong as most Favoured, I should be able to overpower any Acolyte I come across.]
["Only if you face Acolytes."] With a final giggle the core subsided and Talassar retracted the key, letting it slip back into his Essence.
HLA guards stepped out of the forest and flanked him now that his exercises were complete. Rather than protection, they were wardens marking his every move. Almost all of them projected varying degrees of fear, stories and memories of Favoured vivid in their minds. If Talassar chose to act against them, they would fall without being able to respond and they knew it.
"I'm surprised you came back G." Talassar said, confused by the man's serenity. He stood out amongst his companions a rock within the rippling lake of emotions.
"It is an honour to assist you once more Favoured." G bowed as he approached, slinging a rifle over his armoured shoulder and snapping it in place with a dull click.
"I doubt your comrades agree." He gestured at the sneering guards who melted back into the forest with a curt order from G.
"I don't have to agree with them Favoured."
"I suppose you don't. Is there any news from Soveks?" Talassar settled onto the ground and leaned back against a tree, grumbling until he found a comfortable position. The scar on his chest twitched and Talassar rubbed the mangled tissue through his clothes.
"The Commander," G stressed the title, "wants to take action tomorrow morning. At nine. You're to make your preparations to seize the Alpha section labs before then."
"I'll be ready."
"I'm sure you will Favoured, but I must inform you once more. At nine sharp the advance team will break into the docks and you will follow along with the Commander's personal guards. You are to gain access to the Invincible and deal with Psions only. Once the warship is handed over to us, we will take you out of the system and provide you with a ship of your choice as agreed."
"Of course." Talassar's grim smile made G waver, uncertainty flickering in his mind.
"The Commander keeps his promises. Always."
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe he did." [But I'd be a fool to trust him all the same.] "Don't worry G, I'll play my part successfully and give you Invincible. I know how to follow orders and I can do nothing with a warship."
["With a warship? No you can't. But Invincible? Bad Talassar. Lying is very bad."]
"Is that why you do it?" the words were so faint Talassar could barely hear, since he was lost contemplating the core's words. "I mean is that why you do all those things?"
["So much sadness Talassar. A child listens to its parents."]
[Silence!] he suppressed the core forcefully.
"Soldiers like us," Talassar pointed to G and thumped his chest with a fist, the sound ringing out vividly and startling their surroundings into silence. "Don't question orders."
"No. They don't." For a moment G was filled with overwhelming guilt. [If I was a better man, I would ask.]
["If you were a better man, you would take the ship from these unbelievers and take me home."]
[Your mother would flay me.]
["She has a bad temper."] The core agreed before retreating into his heart, losing interest with the conversation. Every day its presence was becoming stronger. It couldn't overpower him but its existence was another weight he didn't need in his life. Talassar closed his eyes and ran through the steps required to activate the key, trying to recall Niobys' every word and expression when he gave him the key. The old man was notorious for plans within schemes within plans.
[Even his death was a scheme whose outcome is unknown. With the core I shouldn't have been involved but maybe Niobys knew more than he let on.]
"There's no need for you to wait here G." The big man's presence was a constant reminder of the restrictions facing and Talassar wanted nothing more than to run somewhere deep into the woods away from the HLA, Synod and Guardians, but until he escaped Guardian space, he would always be under their thumb.
"Grey." G held out his hand. "My name's Grey, Favoured."
Talassar studied the outstretched hand for a while. Few offered such amiable gestures to the Favoured and despite his discomfort Talassar shook the man's hand. "And mine is Talassar. Even if the Synod didn't revoke my status, by tomorrow night it won't be an appropriate title."
Grey chuckled, and pumped his arm twice, mood brightening considerably. With actual contact, Grey's emotions were easier to read and Talassar sensed underlying threads of curiosity and caution. He wanted something from Talassar, but whether it was etiquette or wariness, he wouldn't just come out and ask. And Talassar wasn't willing to get too close to the man either.
["If only he knew what you planned. Friend is another title that isn't appropriate for you Talassar."]
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