Fleshing out Revy's story arch

So I uploaded a few more short stories I wrote a few years back. These are all part of my "Chronicles of Revy Daidros" series. It takes place in a fictional futuristic galaxy, in the world of Eve.

In the Rough and Tumble stories, I try to eck out some of Revy's more dangerous encounters. The Rush is perhaps my favorite. Ransom is definately one of the darker stories involving Revy, and though his name isn't mentioned in the story, the antagonists are after Revy's older brother Traimus.

More will be revealed about him when I have time to upload the other stories.

Chow for now!

Short Story: CoRD, Rough & Tumble pt 3

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Rough & Tumble: Ransom

“You think THIS is bad??”
The balding old Caldari man looks at her with an evil grin. He steps close to her and quickly backhands her across the mouth. The foul smelling man laughs and paces across the chamber, exuding a condescending aura.

“I can show you… WORSE!”

The sixteen year old girl looks weak, and is shivering overcome with anger. Across the room from her bound form, lies the body of a dead man. She didn’t know the person, only that he worked for Traimus on a few jobs. One of his crew perhaps, a dealer or informant? Just moments ago he had been talking over the neo-com and then two men burst in and killed him, brutally cutting his neck.

“What do you want with me?”
Revy yells, defiantly eying her captors.

“Why what everyone wants- money! And I’m sure he’ll pay it. You know why?”
The old man returns, stepping closer to her, getting right up in her face.

Revy moves her head in avoidance, trying desperately to get away from him.

“Because you’re just so PRETTY!”
The man sniffs moving his head up around her hair. His filth infecting the air she breathes. He grabs her hair and pulls her head violently against the back of the chair.

The last thing she hears before she blacks out is drugged up pathetic laughing.

-~-

“Pack it up! Leave the girl, I’ve given her enough crash, she’ll be out for days, if she even survives!”
The large dark skinned man enters quickly, yelling out the order to three men in the adjacent room.

“So we have the money then!?”
The overweight Caldari man yells angrily.

“Yeah, better yet, we also have his coordinates! Bos’ Terag has him scrambled not far from here. He’s called for us. Looks like he was coming for her. Hah! That is until Bos found him out!”
He returns, looking down at the girl.

The Caldari man nods, then shifts his gaze back to his subordinates. He motions for them to take her before he steps nearly into the tall Serpentis leader

“Instructions were clear- the girl lives! Now get to your ship you lazy overweight slime!”
He spits the last remark into the air at the overweight drugger, obviously angered by his disobedience.

The men leave the destroyed room quickly, and never return.

Short Story: CoRD, Rough & Tumble pt 2

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Rough & Tumble: Chasing the Prize

“Its four hours later than I would have liked… I’ve been cooped up here for too damn long Ertroli. It’s not like me to sit around like this. But the prize… It’s worth me waiting a bit longer.”
She whispers into the transmitter.

Revy Daidros looks out across the dense asteroid belt. She wears a dark black C.E.E.S. or Combat Enhanced Efficiency Suit, and looks more like she’s part of a ground recon unit, than one operating inside a ship. Several pouches and clasps line the form fitting blast-proof suit, and two high density plasma rifles lie in wait on either side of her belt.

“There are six here presently. I believe we’ll see it again soon. They’ve been at these roids for quite a while. Dinner set Ertroli?”
She speaks through the transmitter, then begins to check several of the ships onboard systems.

“Yes. We.. ready he.. Waiting on t.. mai.. course .. Rev...”
A mans voice returns, though static muffles it almost completely lost.

She adjusts several modules and temporarily mutes the communication channel. Outside, her ships cloaking device flickers with energy and the hum of the massive electronic field intensifies briefly inside the ship, reacting to space debris floating closer to the vessel. She again opens the communication channel.

“Alright, Tavis’Shel will think twice about stealing from me again…”
She whispers aloud with a smile on her face. The smile turns into sinister resolve when she spots the Occator.

“Here she is boys… You all ready?”
She says with too much enjoyment.

-~-

“What do you mean you THINK my ship MIGHT be attacked???”
The Gallentean man spits the phrase into the air with obvious frustration.

He is middle aged, has a head of thinning black hair, and wears opulent garb adorned with accessories. Standing in front of a greenish hologram, the agent displayed on it looks annoyed and very cavalier. A large window beyond the image reveals the inside of a sprawling station, the room probably three hundred feet above the stations main level. This is the only room in the Veltaris Ruse whose cost exceeds three million ISK a night.

The man on the hologram shakes his head in annoyance and returns, taking control of the situation:

“Let me put it this way chopps… You paid me for information, I’ve given you information. Yeah she’ll be attacking the Blood Paige, no doubt of it. In fact I bet she’s doing it right now. Hah! Ooooh, that look on your face is too priceless… Hey thanks again for the cash. And for your enjoyment, I’ve prepared a little vid for you. Chow you slimy bastard.”

The informant laughs back at the man, and smiles wickedly. He winks and gives him the finger before hacking the feed.

The hologram hisses and nearly cuts out before revealing a new image. This one shows the Blood Paige, a heavily damaged Occator surrounded by three other ships, an Arazu, an Eris, and an Enyo. The pale green light of the hologram doesn’t do the image justice, the glow from the sun behind the ships drowns out nearly every other detail. Save the fire now consuming the propulsion unit of the ship.

“Uaahhhhhhh! No no no no no… You… why… AAHHHHHHHH!”
The man steps forward and yells at the image, overtaken with anger and fuming with emotion.

Revy Daidros then appears over the transmission. A smile of enjoyment on her face.

“Tisk tisk tisk. Tavis. My wretched friend. Did you really think you would get away with it?”
She says.

“You bitch!! If you-”
He screams in spite.

“What!? If I’ve unloaded your precious slaves? If I’ve made sure they were going somewhere other than your pathetic prison facility on Mya V? If I’ve confiscated all ore your men so graciously mined for me this night? Settle down settle down… I haven’t taken all of it. In fact you can have the Omber. It’ll probably be here in the Paige’s wreckage!”
She laughs through the last part of the transmission, and then waves good bye while biting her lip.

The transmission is transferred quickly back to the Blood Paige, whose damage has become too much for it to move. Crippled, the fires rage in it for many moments before the ships heavy capacitor cell erupts in a massive explosion. The transmission then flickers out.

“DAIIIIDROS!”
The man yells out in furious hate.

Short Story: CoRD, Rough & Tumble pt 1

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Rough & Tumble: The Rush

“You’re sure this is the place?”
A female voice mentions uneasily over the com-link.

“Oooooh yeah it is… You just wait.”
She replies with obvious pleasure in her voice.

Revy Daidros sits comfortably at the helm of her silent ship, her feet up and chair leaning far backwards. Her face and arms are illuminated by the pale murky white glow of the consoles in front of her. The beautiful Inaki woman gazes absentmindedly at first, out into the seemingly limitless depths of space. This is the place, she grins playfully as she twirls that phrase around her mind, dissecting it- pulling its meaning apart almost as voraciously as a slave-hound rips its next meal. Her mind contorts at the sudden violent thought… well where did that come from, she wonders.

Two small ships lie in wait, about ten kilometers out from each other. She peers down into the monitors at her sides, reading the data. Her left brow raises and a small grin pierces her thin red lips.

“Yes… that’s right, just a few more moments now…”
She mouths almost inaudibly, anticipation welling inside of her.

Outside the angled windows of her Daredevil, the suns light becomes brighter and brighter. A planet slowly moves out of its way revealing red-orange light. It floods the entire ship in a split second, and Revy wills the visor closed around the main window of the ship to compensate for the sudden blinding glare. Upon the icy planet far below them, a planetary storm wages. Thick bands of toxic cloud circle and writhe, creating a maelstrom of fury upon its surface.

“Alright… Just another minute or so, come to my position, you’re a little too close Tria.”
Revy says checking her gauges a final time.

“Now be ready, and do hang on. Make sure you’re secure and strapped in- and your tray tables are in their upright position.”
She giggles into the com-link.

“Yeah yeah… hey do you think we should be doing this..?? I mean…”
A sudden moment of doubt fills Tria, hinting that Revy reconsider.

“Too late for that! Hang on!”
Revy practically shouts into the com-link. Sensors aboard her ship light and begin tracking a very large object, headed in their general direction very fast, almost losing the link, she manages to grab hold of the objects trajectory.

Instantaneously and way too close for comfort, a comet streaks furiously by their position, only thirty kilometers out, simultaneously, a large explosion rocks the surface of the adjacent planet as a second comet barrels at thunderous speeds into the raging planet below. Within a second the comet that avoided the planet is already more than one-hundred kilometers out.

“Alright, I’ve got it… Here... we GO!”
Revy shouts out the last phrase as her ship propels into a dizzying warp.

Thru comet dust and clouds of microscopic minerals their ships furiously race to catch up with the speeding comet. They can barely see thru the glass of their craft, the ships warp drive compensating dangerously on the unstable object. For many minutes the two pilots are enthralled and in awe as the ships drive pulls them closer towards the comet, who’s speed is just fast enough to allow them to slowly catch up.

“Aaaaaaaahhhh!”
Revy yells in glee as they pass dangerously close to the systems star, and then beyond it, her ship slowly losing grasp of the warp bubble. The experience is almost hypnotic, being pulled into the comets silvery wake, and she closes her eyes for the last few moments while the ship slows to a halt as the drive loses power, leaving Tria’s far behind her.

“God that’s a rush…”
She says falling back into the seat of her chair, exhausted. Propping her legs up, she turns the ship and begins to travel slowly back towards Tria, now several hundred kilometers away.

“I think I won… Fifteen kilometers! Did you see that…!!”
She says playfully with excitement.

“God… Its amazing… You and your tricks Revy, dad would be proud!”
Tria says back, pride in her voice.

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 9

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 9, Shattered Pieces

Bastion sits silently at the helm of the ship. Unable or unwilling to form the message in front of him. Probably both. For many long moments he pauses, trying to find anything from within the shattered data cores. Nothing. Just hints of a transmission, and nothing more.

“…I regret to inform you. Revy Daidros was destroyed twelve hours ago. She slipped out of the medical facility, and made her way to the hive. From what little data I can gather, and there isn’t much… it appears that her ships defenses were never activated. Nor were its weapons systems. It is my belief that she left a final message that was damaged and irretrievable. Perhaps you have the abilities to cipher it, as I do not. I will see that they make it to your desk.”

“I have activated her clone cycle, and barring any problems it will be ready in the next few days. As per her request, the memories surrounding this incident have not been wiped from her mind. Thank you again for all you have done.”

He finishes the message, and looks curiously out across the wreckage. Far in the distance lies the hive. And perhaps somewhere, the last thoughts of Revy Daidros- drifting towards nothing… and everything.

~END~

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 8

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 8, Terrible Lie

The cold medical room is vacant save for the prone Intaki, and a half dozen very specialized biologic scanners. They surround her in a cocoon of violet-blue pulsating energy. From within the light several focused beams arc into nodes attached to her body, sending bolts of focused electro-magnetic particles into key sections of her body. The lab is dark save for this light, its thin bands arcing upwards- spiraling around her still body, and casting dark violet dancing shadows about the room.

In her mind, Revy recalls the latest series of dreams, all bringing her closer to the Truth of her condition. These past few days have been difficult, the tests have been thorough and exhausting, and in some cases dangerous. Her body seems to have a weak connection with the machines around her, especially when she is directly interfaced with them. And consuming her thoughts like a plague consumes life, dwells somewhere in her both hatred and resolve.

“I haven’t seen any change in her. At least none for the better”
The medical operator mentions to another.

“Well, we have done everything we can, the EMP’s aren’t working like we’d hoped.”
The doctor replies.

“Yes, it was perhaps our best strategy. Well, lets continue on this regimen until we can find the source of the infestation in her. At least she isn’t having the episodes any longer.”
A third man says with confidence.

“Intriguing set of circumstances surrounding this one… I’ve never heard of anything like this. Ever.”
The second doctor mentions, almost as if reading the thoughts of the others.

~~~

“Its been three days since I’ve been here. Two and a half weeks since it happened. And I’m no closer to being cured of this wretched disease.”

Revy speaks into the data recorder set into her ship. Her face is stern and her body seems haggard and tense.

She sits alone, in Nightshift. Dim yellow lights pulsate in the hull of the Nemesis, giving the small ship an eerie glow. The engines are offline.

“All I can think about is that somewhere in that hive, the One still exists. I can hear it clearly now, its calling to me, it wants me to protect it. I must destroy it once and for all. They’ve told me I can’t leave, but I must. I can no longer separate my thoughts, finding it hard to listen to conversations and its always there in me. That sound.”
She explains with fervor.

“The hive is still there, and I know what I must do. To all of you who have helped me… I want to thank you. It has not been in vain. I understand that you have gone out of your way to help cure this, and I appreciate all you have done. But it grows in me, and I have felt it getting stronger. You’ve done all you can, and now so too will I.”

She turns off the data recorder and sits stationery for many moments, her eyes closed in contemplation, trying to find the words inside her heart.

Deep within her, somewhere twisting every thought, drones the sound.
It beats as loud as her heart, coursing thru her as if it were a part of her blood.
It encompasses her very soul. And yet she cannot hear its truth.
The terrible lie within her.

Next>

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 7

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 7, Deeper Within

Revy lies motionless on a small cot in a dimly lit back office. Her shaven head is lined with sweat, and her eyes seem to be moving under closed lids. Two figures are in the room with her. A red-haired Gallentean woman sits beside Revy’s unconscious form, looking after her with concern. The other woman stands in a corner, reading data off of the chip Bastion recovered at the laboratory. Both are deathly silent, a tinge of uneasiness exudes between them and pierces the smoky air.

A door opens at the opposite end of the room, breaking the silence. A Caldari man steps through, a drink in hand, looking with intrigue at the unconscious Intaki.

“What happened to her?”
He exclaims with little apathy.

Ignoring the question, the dark haired woman responds:

“I’ll take her to my lab... Understand- I’m not promising anything. Have your men bring her to my ship.”

The woman speaks directly to the Caldari man, ignoring the two others. She then closes the data pad, and brusquely leaves the chamber, letting the door clash loudly shut behind her.

~~~

Revy perceives apparent darkness. All around her is this feeling, this vibration in the air. A tingle arcs through her cold veins, though she cannot feel it here… Before her looms the hive. It seems vast, unending. An ethereal representation of her mortal form floats patiently in front of it. The hive is in constant movement, thousands of drones pierce its surface, performing all manner of tasks upon its craggy and irregular carapace.

Millions of tiny fuses light in no apparent pattern all around her, some beginning to shift from deeper within the structure. Moments pass while several tendrils cautiously slither towards her, like snakes unwilling to reveal their presence.

“I… what…?”
Revy begins to think, trying desperately to form unconscious words.

As if in response to some wicked behavior, the tendrils immediately burst to life- revealing several prong-shaped barbs along the entire length of their form. With one swift and crippling action, all six tendrils whip around her body, sinking the barbs deep within her imagined flesh.

Squeezing.

And then there is only the sound, and pain. It floods through her, threatening to wipe out all human thought, replacing it with only an absolute series of truths she cannot quite yet comprehend.

There is no I.
Only the one.
The rest are its progeny.

~~~

As if suddenly understanding a new language, Revy’s imagined form fades, along with the visage of the hive.

“The one still exists…”
She mutters incoherently, though none are present to hear her strained words.

Next>

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 6

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 6, The Escape

“Revy!!”

Bastion yells as he barges into the laboratory, nearly breaking the sturdy door off its hinges. Inside lies his captain, sitting upright staring at him as he enters. He stops in astonishment, to see her like this, once a respected agent of Federation Customs, now little more than a lab experiment gone horribly wrong.

“We must leave the planet, there is a shuttle waiting… The Odyssey is still safe. I did as you asked, she helped make the arrangements. But.. this.. did you do this???”

He motions down at the corpses in the chamber, the skin on their faces blistering from some unknown rash. Revy watches Bastion as he moves hastily through the room, looking over everything. When she doesn’t answer, he stops what he is doing and moves closer to her.

“Revy, I don’t know what’s happened here. But I know that if we stay, they’ll kill you. And me probably. We must leave now.”

“They won’t kill me Bastion, nor will they kill you. Its ok, I don’t feel different anymore. I know what needs to be done now. If the ambassador finds out what they’ve done here this whole installation will be torn apart. No- they won’t kill me, but I need to contact her… I need her to do it.”
She replies almost emotionlessly.

Revy then moves purposefully towards the door, moving down the hall, Bastion shakes his head and thinks aloud. Just before he leaves the room, he pulls the data core from the main medical unit. At least this can give him some answers…

“This is madness…”

The two quickly make their way thru several passageways of the nearly abandoned complex. They pass by a small crew of maintenance personnel working to restore the power to the small base. Outside, a strong planetary storm wages, and is the source of the temporary power failure. Lights flicker above them as they make their way to hanger 22, where Bastion's shuttle awaits.

Once inside, Revy lies down, fatigued and looking very fragile. Bastion covers her with blankets and hooks her into position. He then quickly gathers the necessary coordinates and begins to undock. Powerful surges of wind tear at the shuttle, threatening to tear it to pieces before it finally stabilizes and begins its swift ascent towards space.

Several hours pass, the agile shuttle making its final jump to their safe location. Bastion looks intently at the monitors in front of him. He finally finds the encryption frequency and with a sigh of relief, the data loads into view.

“What… this can’t be right…”
The resolute Vherokior begins to read the analysis.

“Ms. Daidros seems to have had a massive genetic deviation…” he mumbles
“…leaving her DNA strands altered, broken down into something we’ve never seen.”
“…apparent cause appears to have been several billion microscopic drone-like particles…”
“…entering her system by way of the Odyssey… Recommend immediate termination…”

He turns back to look at Revy, laying prone in the small shuttle. It is hard to see her like this he thinks, it is not who she is… He then opens up the com-link, and forms a message.

Next>

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 5

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 5, The Broken Strand

…I am surrounded by my drones.
The situation is under control, I am in control of them.
I see a large structure in the distance, they want me to protect the hive.
There are so many.
Dust. Debris.
The light of the sun is obscured by it, I want it that way.
I send out some kind of resonance.
A sound.
My ship, Odyssey, responds to it. I can handle this.
I am making progress.
…She can’t sustain much longer.
All will be our way soon.

~~~

Revy’s body twitches in the cold dark chamber, her chest and head wracked in sweat. She lies atop a cold metal table in a lightless cell, an impressive assortment of advanced medical equipment and machinery surround her. A series of straps that were once holding her in place, hang limp off the sides of the table. Several of her implants have been surgically removed, and probing cuts have been made into the back of her head, which has now been shaven clean.

Just a moment before there had been seven doctors in the chamber. Now, they lie crippled on the floor in pools of their own stagnant cooling blood. A red light behind her suddenly blinks alive, as a machine begins its startup process. Several small beeps can be heard in rooms adjacent, and the lighting reluctantly flickers on.

Her fingers twitch...

Next>

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 4

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 4, Interrogation

“Are you sure you haven’t found anything in her?”

The dark skinned Vherokior asks in a demanding tone. He stands in a military laboratory, talking with two others. Standing just shy of six feet, he wears a tribal rune-lined leather cloak and vestment, and seems to demand the respect of those in his company.

In the adjacent room, the thin Gallentean awaits word, pacing back and forth across the sterile room. She has been stripped of her belongings, her arms are folded and she looks toward the ceiling, shaking her head in frustration.

“No. Nothing. All scans have come back negative. Though she claims to have been having… episodes..”
The military doctor replies with skepticism apparent in his voice.

“I’ve seen it happen, its true. It seems as if she hears something when it happens. It nearly cripples her.”
Bastion replies.

“Well there is not much we can do for now. I recommend we keep her here, we need to monitor this if what she has revealed to us is true.”
The second doctor replies.

“Hah! She won’t stay here. And you have no authority to hold her. Federation Customs owes her…”
Bastion begins to protest in his captains favor, and is brusquely cut short.

“Federation Customs owes her nothing beyond the contracts that she has already fulfilled. Everything else is null and void after this. She will be kept here. And will be watched over. You have a problem with that, you escalate it to my superiors. See what they’ll tell you!”
The second doctor steps closer to the tall Minmatar.

The tall Vherokior is surprised by the sudden intrusion, anger welling up within him.

“So be it. I’ll go to your superiors. I expect her to be released in the next few hours, and you should expect to lose your job over this .”

Bastion approaches the glass and briefly looks thru to his captain. Although she can’t see him, she turns toward him as if she knows someone is watching. He then gathers her belongings and briskly leaves the room.

The two doctors wait until the sound of his boots echo down the adjacent hall, and then turn to look at each other.

“Well, contact Hyvris. We need to know what she knows…”
The doctor begins to walk towards the door to Revy’s cell, a syringe in hand. He stops short as the second doctor speaks up.

“We had better hurry, if the Vherokior holds the clout he thinks he does, she’ll be out of here in a few hours.”

“No… Hyvris will have his time with her. And he’ll get it out of her, the secrets shes not telling us. I’ll take care of Modros, he can’t go anywhere, I have already ordered the dismantling of the Odyssey.”

Next>

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 3

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 3, Betrayed

Revy turns her attention to yet another wreck. There are hundreds of them out here, all bearing her signature. She has already salvaged a good portion of them, finding nothing of value or note. What has it been? Three hours? Six?

“Uughh. I can’t take this. There’s got to be something here I’m missing.”

The agile ship turns toward the drone hive, and the engines disengage. For many moments Revy stares into the heart of the structure, only fifteen or so kilometers out from it, cloaked in its shadow. From this vantage, it truly is vast. Towering out in all directions, possibly forty kilometers in diameter, its many sections seem unfinished and broken.

Its construction was by no means finished before she arrived, that is for certain. But what use did they have? Surely it was to serve some dark and sinister purpose… The dark crescent-moon shaped hive seems alive in some way, even now. She leans forward and trips the switch under her right heel. The lights in the destroyer go out, bathing her in the dark shadow of its eclipse. She peers closer inside and sees a series of blinking fuses.

Just then her vision fades and expecting to hear the awful siren, she tenses her entire body, burying her fingers into the chair and her feet into the floor. Instead, she hears her own voice. She is in combat, with the drones. Perhaps she is finally remembering something of value from that day…

~~~

Revy Daidros:
“We’re doing fine Bastion… Just a few more moments and they’ll be thru my shields. The armor will hold.”

Bastion Modros:
“Very well Revy. I’m not far if you need backup. Just say the word.”

She glances from her vantage at the helm of Odyssey to the main control panel in front of her. Confident in its abilities, she smiles as she approaches the main drone force. So far two large crowds of swift moving Decimators have flanked and failed to bring down her shielding. This next group could prove to be far more dangerous.

She issues several commands mentally, the ship picks up speed, her drones are released and the ship begins targeting several of the small drones within the main cluster. The hive immediately aggresses and turns their focus on the intruding ship. Several heart pounding moments pass and the armor holds. Then something strange happens.

“Dust… Was it not here before now… wait…??”

Suddenly from out of the hive, thick billowing streams of a fine red dust pour forth from hundreds of fissures. The main force continues to pound its way into the armor of the ship. The dust surrounds it, envelops the Odyssey. Lights begin to flicker and the capacitor begins to fail at an unprecedented rate. Systems are deactivating, then the engines are brought down…

“My drones aren’t responding.. Mechanical failure, seems my ship is infected- my systems are failing… Baaast…”

Revy yells into the com-link, communications are down.

Then a strange sensation rising up her spine, thru her body, her fingers tingle, her blood grows cold, her lungs heavy. Then her vision fades…

~~~

“Just before my systems started to fail. I released my drones. I… felt something invade the ship. Invade me. I returned and docked, I couldn’t remember a thing. But why wasn’t I destroyed? Pieces are still missing, I must talk with Bastion.”

Revy breathes in the cold air. She activates auto-pilot, having programmed the destroyer to take her back to Federation Customs. The Odyssey has been compromised, and so have I. Strange tingles raise up her spine, and her blood grows cold as the destroyer hurtles toward the first stargate.

Next >

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 2

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 2, The Dust

Several hours later, Revy Daidros leans forward, looking out over a vast debris field. She stands just over 5’7” and her dark brown hair is set up into her signature style. She wears marroonish form fitting pants, and a dark red sleeveless shirt. A thick black belt wraps around her supple waste, holding dozens of small data chips and utility tools. Her face is bathed in a red glow from the system’s only star. The ship is close to it and would normally need to run advanced thermal subsystems to manage its heat, had it not been for this dust… Chokingly it dims the light and seems to cool the suns energy. A dark and vast shadow suddenly overtakes the chamber.

An immense super structure, built by drones, looms into view, thousands of kilometers out. It blots out the sun as if it were a drain, swallowing the light and heat, digesting it, and spewing out… this dust. The structure is now in ruins, she traces back thru the mysterious events of two weeks passed. She remembers its destruction.

“This is where it happened. I will not leave until I find it. Something. Anything.”
Revy says to herself.

She returns to her seat, and begins to scan the area, moving the swift ship ever closer to the structure, in moments she will be in cam-range. Looking out to it, she merely concentrates on an area of the structure, and the camera in her left eye begins to bring close-up images of the structure to her. She blinks in amazement and with astonishing haste, immediately moves across to the large window in front of her.

“That can’t be- they were destroyed- this was destroyed!!"

She stands in disbelief as she watches large maintenance drones moving across the massive surface. Hundreds of them. They move chaotically, but with some great purpose in mind. Then the drones begin to multiply, pouring out from deep within the broken structure, skittering over it. Like a plague of machinery a disease to true life.

The ship hurtles toward the structure, beginning an orbit of forty-thousand kilometers when suddenly she screams:

“Ahh-aahh stoooop!”

She collapses in pain and holds her ears, that sound… Doubled over in apparent agony, she manages to move toward the helm, and pulls herself into the seat. Massaging her temples and wincing in pain her vision blurs, the high-pitch siren is stronger than it was earlier. But the same, somehow connected. And just as suddenly as it had come, the sound dies out, leaving with it a massive ache.

Moments pass by, streaks of light spiral wickedly up and down within her vision, slowly thinning until she can see again. The sound is not there, but a hollow ringing remains. Almost immediately, she turns her attention back towards the drone hive. She looks back up to see nothing.

The structure is desolate, there is no movement… No drones… just an immense and foreboding structure amid an endless debris field. And dust.

Next>

Short Story: CoRD, Broken Strands pt 1

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails


Broken Strands: Part 1, The Dream

“Dust. The dreams. It seems I can’t escape from it… It has been two weeks since it happened. I can’t escape...”

She mumbles, almost inaudibly.

Small portions of the same dream, are revealed in tiny truncated slivers each night. Fourteen nights of restless sleep, and this wicked puzzle slowly comes together. This night has been different so far; no dreams, no pieces, no clues… just a dull relentless pain.

Revy Daidros sits in darkness, her lithe form folded over the intricate glowing consoles set up in front of her. Her dark brown hair is usually pinned up in an alluring way, but tonight it is a mess. Hands cupped over her ears, she rocks forward slightly, as if feeling an intense sudden pain in her head. The dull red monitors under her cast long shadows into the small chamber. The destroyer is vacant- thankfully, she wouldn’t want anyone to see this. Only the sounds of her panicked breathing break the silence.

“What is this… why can’t I remember it?”

She slowly lowers her hands from her ears as the intense sound only she can hear diminishes. Wiping away tears that have formed around her beautiful brown eyes, Revy sits back into the form fitting chair. Moments pass while she begins to repair her composure and assumes the confident and charismatic aura most know her so well for.

She sighs and stretches briefly before tripping a switch with the heel of her right knee-high boot. Immediately a pale green light begins to flood every chamber of the ship, revealing a network of narrow maintenance lanes and empty weapon bays. Normally these bays would be stockpiled with ammunitions, but no weapon turret has been installed on this ship. Instead, this destroyer was built for speed, maneuverability. The fact that she pushes her mechanics limits is well demonstrated when the eight massive engines rapidly fire to life. A loud series of booms rock the hanger, sending small shockwaves rippling thru it as if the air where water. She grins playfully. Messages of warning resound around her, alerting her that she has not been cleared for departure. She waits briefly, mildly impatient until a Federation Customs agent appears on the nanite-cam inset in her left iris.

“You are ready to undock now Ms. Daidros - please give us a moment next time before you engage your boosters.”

The agent declares with apparent uneasiness. The visage of the agent then abruptly fades and with it the sounds from the main operations tower. Much to her pleasure.

“I hate it when she does that.”
The agent declares.

“Yeah, but she’s earned her right to traipse around here as she does.”
Another mentions.

They both watch intently from far above hanger 438 as Revy’s Catalyst undocks from the gigantic quiet station.

“At least she doesn’t do that in the Odyssey.”
The other shakes his head in annoyance.

Looking about her monitors, the beautiful Gallentean woman seems changed somehow. Confident, at peace, this is where she belongs. Almost instantaneously, she wills the ship to its destination, and a series of jump gates are immediately programmed into the route. She smiles playfully and aligns the ship for her first jump. Her smile fades after a few moments, and a look of serious urgency is left in its place.

“Okay. I am not crazy. I know something happened out there. I don’t care how long it takes, but I will find out what.”

She closes her eyes as the tremendous momentum of the ships warp drive slowly pulls her into dizzying warp speeds. Wincing, she begins to recall the dream, not by choice, but by something else..

“Why must I continue to think of it??”

As the ship hurtles thru space, Revy begins remembering portions of the dream. Sending her well-disciplined mind spinning into a cacophony of uncontrollable thoughts. The ship begins to shudder and buckle because of it, as her mind is directly linked to every aspect of the ship. Such thoughts can be dangerous while plugged in, let alone while the warp drive is active. Visions of the dream come pouring into her mind, and just before they infest it completely, she wills the autopilot to take control. Then there is only the dream left in her.

~~~

…I am surrounded by drones.

The situation is under control, I am in control.
I see a large structure in the distance, they are protecting the hive.
There are so many.
Dust. Debris.
The light of the sun is obscured by it, they want it that way.
I pick up some kind of resonance.
A sound.
My ship, Odyssey, can handle this. I can handle this.
I am making progress.
The drones can’t sustain much longer.
And all at once, I… I can’t remember it.
What happened after this?
What is happening to me…

Next >

Short Story: CoRD, Who is Revy Daidros?

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails



Who is Revy Daidros?

Born and raised on Intaki V with the rest of her kin, Revy was the first in her immediate family to become a capsuleer. She was born to Shantelivan and Kourushay Daidros, whose influence and stature go well recognized on their harsh planet.

Her mother, Kourushay, is a proud and respected member of the Idama or "Most Holy". The title is given to those Intaki known as the "Reborn". Whereby through natural almost shamanistic practices a soul is reincarnated into a new life. While memories are lost from the previous life, mannerisms, personality traits and even abilities are kept. Kourushay has so far lived 7 mortal lives, loved many men who have passed beyond this realm, and is a proud and loyal parent.

Having grown amongst a very large family, with half-brothers and sisters ranging in age from 60 years to 3 years, she was never alone. However, alone she may have felt, as her father was killed six years after her birth while making a dangerous overland journey thru the deserts of Ataka. Though her memories of him are vague, she still reserves a piece of her heart for him.

Revy knew at a young age that she would someday become a capsuleer, as it was always her dream. She was skilled as an artist during her teenage years- a hobby she has never forgotten, and was always traveling as much as she could. By the young age of 12, she had already made the pilgrimage to 27 space stations across three regions, where she fostered a growing interest in space flight. Her half brother Traimus, (born to Kourushay's 6th husband Sel’haith), watched over her and taught her everything he could during their travels. His disappearance 4 years later would propel Revy into a sinister plot that would nearly kill her. Never having found the exact circumstances surrounding his disappearance, she sought at last to become a pilot, like Traimus.

And so at the age of 17, she sought enrollment at the Center for Advanced Studies, and began pursuing the path of the capsuleer. Two sisters joined her a year later at the school, where the three became well known and liked by most of their collegues.

Probably best known for her flare for the dramatic, she has an uncanny knack for getting others to smile.

Characteristics

Height- 5'7"
Weight- 122 lbs
Apparent Age- Late 20's, early 30's
Eyes- Brown, dark rimmed
Hair- Brown with darker streaks, usually curled or held up into her signature style
Tatoos- None apparent
Race- Gallente
Bloodline- Intaki
Ancestry- Artists
Birthplace- Celebrinem, Intaki V
Education- Center for Advanced Studies
Specialty- Engineering, Spaceship Command & Electronics

Next >

Short Story: CoRD, Introduction

So I used to play this online game called: Eve. It is a Sci-fi based MMO, where you create a character who becomes a "Capsuleer" or a pilot who begins as a graduate and over the course of time learns skills that increase your knowledge in a myriad of subjects. As time in the game progresses, your character begins to gain power and standing and can pilot bigger and meaner ships.

I was enthralled when I saw that their community was rich with role-players, perhaps more so than any other online game I've played to date. So I started to write stories based on my character.

Her name is Revy Daidros, and these are the stories I've written based on the character, about 9 months worth...

The Chronicles of Revy Daidros

Introduction
Who is Revy Daidros?
Broken Strands: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Rough and Tumble: The Rush
Rough and Tumble: Chasing the Prize
Rough and Tumble: Ransom
Remembrance: The Beginning
Remembrance: Graduation Day
Remembrance: Beloved
Remembrance: Data Trails

Short Story: SoV, Chapter 2

The Snows of Valoreth

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Storm
Chapter 2: Secret Meetings

Chapter 2: Secret Meetings

Time seems to stand still for him. It has been six hours since he found this spot. Six hours he has waited, only to find the dark begin to overtake the forest. The light is falling now, and all too quickly. The bitter cold is starting to have its effect on him. His gloved hands tingle no longer, and his boots, soaked to their core, seem to be heavy and unwilling to follow his direction. It has been six hours too long he thinks to himself.

He stands near a tethered horse, not far into the trees beside a long and narrow trail that is the north road. The trees on the western side are dark, and on the eastern side, at least from his vantage seem devoid of any movement. His thick green dark robe offers little protection from the fierce wind, which whips through the trees as if it were a living thing, berating them for some wrong doing. The howl of the wind is all about this place, and though his senses are keener than most, a stranger might have little difficulty in taking him by surprise.

“It’s been too long…” He says quietly to himself. The man is human, and wears a longbow strapped to his back. At his side lies a quiver and a small hunters knife. A half-empty bag of oats and frozen berries lies sprawled open a few feet from him. “Alright Chiras, we will wait no longer. It was foolish to wait this long… And night is drawing too near.” His horse seemed to like the idea, lifting its head and then pushing the pack of oats nearer to him.

“Alrin, son of Adille of Valoreth.” The words sounded too close, and spoken with a different dialect. The man spins quickly, surveying the forests edge and trying desperately to find the speaker.

“Can’t see me, it is good to be this. Just listen to my words, you were called to hear them and it is why you have come here in this hour.” The speaker was definitely elven, but still cloaked to him. They sounded as if they were so close… though Chiras didn’t seem spooked. Alrin glances once more to the road, covered in thick snow. He was thankful at least that it had stopped snowing, but being out past dark meant Sirion’s retribution, and he did not want to risk it.

“I’ve waited as long as I can, and must go now, lest my life be forfeit! Reveal yourself and I might stay to hear your speech, elf-kind.” His words spoken were quiet, hoping the speaker would respond, he waited a few moments before gathering his belongings.

“Very well Alrin. I put my life in dangers way just as you have. See me now.” The words were coming from in front of him, and for a moment he noticed a silhouette. Blinking twice, he felt a rush of air and looked again to see an elf standing before him, not ten paces away.

“What news do you have for me? Why have you made me wait so long, as now I face a harsh trip back to reach Valoreth before nightfall…” Alrin steps closer to the elf, anger lighting his features. His voice louder this time, the sound arcs outward into the lonely forest.

~~~

Its sense of hearing is keen, but its sense of smell controls its nearly every action. The mangy beast turns its attention to a familiar scent on the wind. A horse is near, its blood seems to pierce its brain like thunder pierces a gathering storm. It lumbers quietly towards the sound of one mans lowered voice. Drool begins to form and drip out of its incisor laden mouth, the dire wolf can think of nothing else but the horse… the blood. And then there is nothing. Its world seems to disappear, and its voice of hunger seems to fall quiet and unnaturally docile.

~~~

The elf walks towards Alrin, and quietly says: “A woman has come to Valoreth. Her name is Dylenna, and she is a friend to us. Look after her if you can.” The elf steps closer still, standing slightly shorter than he. “Sirion has been busy. His guard still loyal to him, they took one of our kind to the keep. My sister- Elanewin’alao. He has bound her body to his will, she serves him as the Drei’ak’Vast- the undead… Do you understand what I am saying to you?”

Alrin lifts himself onto his horse after tying up his bag and then says quietly, “You mean Sirion has killed her and risen her spirit?” The elf takes another step closer, and sighs heavily. “No, her spirit has been freed. It is her body that he has risen, and to do nothing more than works of evil. And there are more like her. Our eyes have seen four. Three others are humans, and one a dwarf-born.” The elf suddenly bends his back and peers towards the road. “We have spoken too long. Find Dylenna, be wary of Sirion, evil he commands and with vengeance in his heart!”

At that the elven man seems to fade from in front of him. Spooked by the elves last reaction, he peers wearily towards the road. After a moments hesitation, he turns Chiras towards Valoreth and the two quickly make their way towards town, leaving behind the tall trees. The wind still howls and the air still bites into him, a deep and bitter cold. Yet one thing still alarms him, and Alrin can’t place it. He thinks nothing more of it, not noticing the two dim eyes peering at him from a place not far away.

~~~

“Alrin’s returned sir!” A young mans voice shouts out towards the entry to the barracks. The dark clouds overhead obscure the moon, though they move quickly and at times the moon’s light can be seen in irregular patches on the frozen ground.

Another mans voice sends out the message of Alrin’s return, and then another from inside the barracks. Not long after a tall man steps outside. He is wrapped in a dark blue cloak, and hefts a battleaxe strapped to his back. His large boots crunch in the fresh snow, moving down a slight hill ever closer to the stables. The stables and barracks were quiet around this time, and not many were seen about. It was uncommon for men and women to be out this late- and none dare be spotted outside the city limits, lest they pay a terrible price.

It was this notion that drove the large man to anger. “ALRIN!!!” He tapered off the name towards the end, yelling loud enough for people to leave the area. He pushed open the large stable doors and inside found the scout, unbuckling the heavy saddle Chiras bore during the journey.

“Just what the HELL took you so damn long you fool?? You want to rouse Sirion, there are ways to do it- but this ain’t one of them!” He moves closer to Adris, and sneers a little when he doesn’t get an answer.

“So what is your report then??? You’re just going to ignore me, I can have you whipped you realize?” The old man lowers his shoulders a little and then shakes his head in annoyance. “I have nothing to report father. Sadri’s farm is as they’ve left it. Nothing remains after the fire.” Adris turns and meets his gaze with a little hesitation.

The larger man sneers and then slaps Adris in the face. “Never be out this late again- next time you’ll be whipped.” The large man waits a moment longer and then storms back towards the barracks.

“Guard- wake the chancellor… I’m thinking we’ll have visitors tonight…” He points and barks the order to the guard standing next to the barracks door. The two exchange glances as the master of arms enters the building.

Short Story: SoV, Chapter 1

The Snows of Valoreth

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Storm
Chapter 2: Secret Meetings

Chapter 1: The Storm

Red orange embers crackle wearily in a dying hearth. The light wanes until near darkness overtakes the small chamber, threatening to steal away the last dancing flame yet burning. Two closed doors and a window mark swift entry for the cold wind, though the walls seem to betray the room of its little warmth just as much.

The dark room is nearly vacant, save for a table, and a few chairs. An old finely wrought rocking chair supports an even older man in the center of the room. His torso and arms are covered by a thick wool blanket, his legs are hidden under two pair of thick leather breeches, and his bare feet rest in a bucket of steaming water. Black riding boots covered in melting snow sit patiently next to him, and a broad headed axe next to them.

Steam rises from the bucket, and he slowly rocks back in the chair, then lets his muscles relax, pulling him again forward. He does this slowly for the better part of fifteen minutes, until the water turns cold. Fine strands of hair begin black and end gray upon his aged head and his dark eyes reflect the orange light of the fire, in them stirs something mysterious.

He stops rocking for a moment and looks down at his axe. He breathes in deeply, “I must go back out, Dylenna.” He gazes into the dark corner. The woman can barely be seen so far from the light of the fire. She huddles against the cold wooden walls, wrapped in another blanket. Staring blankly into the fire. Dylenna looks up to the man, “How much longer must we do this father? We can’t take much more of this- why must we stay here?”

“We cannot ride to Valoreth until the snows recede, and that will not be for another eight weeks. Until then, I must get us wood and food. I’m sorry but there is no other way…” His eyes well up for a moment, but he blinks away the tears, hoping his daughter would not notice. He then takes a moment to wipe off his feet, and begins to dress again for the deep cold.

“Be careful father, don’t go far- please. I’ll watch over mom until you return.” She adds quickly “don’t forget the lantern- if you were to get lost out there you’d die quickly.” The old man says, “I’m not taking the lantern Dylenna… I don’t want to be a beacon for any who might be near.” He shakes his head sternly as he fastens the axe. Dylenna looks up at him, now angry at his decision “Please take the lantern father, please.” A sigh can be heard from him, and all his fifty years seem to catch up with him at long last. He moves for the door, and opens it. Immediately the wind can be felt encircling the room, what little embers remain in the fire now burn out, bathing the room in an uncomfortable and foreboding darkness.

He steps out and quickly closes the door. Tears well up in Dylenna’s eyes, as she stares at the lantern left behind. Violent coughing can be heard in the other room. For many moments Dylenna fears to go in, to see her mother in her current state. Its only a matter of time, she thinks to herself.

~~~

The snow storm roars overhead with ferocity, the wind its weapon, the cold its killing blow. A light copse of trees surrounds this place, forming a small bowl-like depression. A gloved hand reaches up into the air, tendrils of snow and wind rush past it with great force. The hand is palm up, and it begins to move in a sphere like shape, as if sculpting some unseen force. The hand belongs to a cloaked figure wearing white. The figure kneels with one leg deep in the snow, it lowers its hand slowly and then a female voice sounds out “Eathanu em’alal ineluwei.”

A force of energy suddenly envelops her hand, awkwardly at first. Colorless, it appears to distort the view past it, writhing and snaking out in many directions. As she moves her hand closer to her chest, the energy wells up near her torso and begins to surround her. For a moment she shutters and then in a sudden movement she pushes her hands outward and stands up.

The energy violently pushes beyond her body and develops into a roughly shaped sphere fifteen feet around her. The snow that once battered against her now instead hit the sphere of energy and swirls about it, changing its course as if the sphere were a physical thing.

Satisfied with the result, she slowly takes off her right glove, finger by finger. A delicate small hand bears pale skin, nearly the color of the snow itself. She wears a single ring on her thumb, and a thin leather arm band. She rubs her thumb against her other fingers, as if still feeling the effects of the spell.

Another figure comes up from the trees behind her, and quickly steps into the sphere. He is cloaked as well, but doesn’t wear his hood. He is an elf, with skin only a touch darker than the woman’s and hair the color of the trees, a pale dusty brown. He carries a bow in his hand, and a backpack, packed full. A thin long sword rests at his side. “Tela’in an-evu inelu” he says proudly to her. She nods and lowers her hood, revealing a face beyond beauties meaning. Her pale silver hair is pulled back, a tiara rests upon her brow and fastens behind her half-elven ears. She looks back at him and says urgently “Tash’aen’li an’alal hevu-divan…”

He nods to her and immediately springs forward with haste. She follows close behind him. The two leave the trees and begin the long trek across a frozen valley. By now nearly three feet of snow have fallen, and the storm has just begun.

~~~

The old man winces as wind pummels him from behind. He moves with as much haste as he can afford in the darkness, having traveled only three hundred yards from his home. His home, the only shield that can protect his family from this harsh storm. He looks back at it, wondering if it were wise to come out in the dead of night. He sees no smoke rising from the chimney and shakes his head, “I must- we won’t have a tomorrow if I can’t gather more wood…” he says trying to reassure himself.

He continues to trudge forward, pulling a canvas tarp behind him. He shakes his head in shame, wondering how he could let the bandits steal his wood stores. It had been three nights ago, and they had come in the dead of night, possibly from the southern hills. At least they hadn’t come inside- “at least they hadn’t killed those I love” he thinks aloud and stops for a moment. Maybe they had.

Finally after several minutes, he comes to a small series of pines. The largest stood ten feet high, with several smaller trees nestled around it. They would be just enough to protect him from the wind- for a time. The old man sighs once more, and un-straps his hand axe.

For several minutes he tears away at the bark of the wood, pulling off the outer crust, a shield like surface that is known on these trees as the Esk of the trunk. Underneath lies the trunk itself, healthy and dry from the elements outside. He raises his axe to the bark and begins to cut into it. The harsh dull clatter from the axe resounds out for many yards.

Several minutes pass, and the old man already seems stripped of energy. He lowers his trembling arm, nearly unable to bring it to bear against the tree. He has near enough wood to burn for an hour… Tears well up in his eyes and his heart grows heavy. Why did he bring his family out here? What was he thinking… “What was I thinking…” he says to himself.

“You were hoping to save your family from the curse that has fallen over Valoreth, ata.” A female voice says, startling the distraught old man. A sensation then overtakes him, one that he hasn’t felt for a great many years. Ata is the elven word for father. His arms tingle and tears burst from his eyes, his brow wrinkles in confusion for a moment. “Telain… is that you? Daughter of mine??”

A hint of a smile crosses her features for only a moment, then quickly fades. “Yes Trinor, its me. We need to speak.” His features harden again, and he feels his strength return, albeit slowly, as if his body were numb and just starting to regain its feeling. He picks up what little wood he has gathered, and begins to strap them into the canvas. “Trinor, its best we hurry, this is Tash’aen’li, my half brother, he’ll carry them for you.” The old man looks up at the elf who was half hidden behind a tree. His eyes grow wide at the thought of his half-elven daughter having found blood-kin with the elves of the north. He nods quickly and the three begin to make their way back to his dark and quiet home.

~~~

The three step into through the cabins threshold. The wind outside tears at the house, creating an eerie sound, as if the wind were a wailing creature throwing its weight against it. The elven man quickly places one of the logs gathered into the fire place. “That won’t be enough to make the fire, we must burn another, or the fire will go out.” The old man says with shame in his voice. Tela’in puts her hand out to him and then steps toward the fire place. She bends down and touches the log “Erin eki-an, Aleguwi!” she says the last word louder than the first, and immediately fire leaps from her bare hand onto the log. The old mans eyes widen as he thinks to himself, my girl- a wielder of magic...

Just then the other door opens, and Dylenna steps inside. Her eyes are tired, but when she sees Trinor she smiles. “Who are you?” she says mystified and a little afraid. “Dylenna, close the door. I need to tell you something.” The old man says and waits for her to do so. “This is Telain, she is my daughter, but not of your mothers blood. She is your half sister.”

Dylenna’s eyes betray anger for a moment, then she looks to the half-elf with confusion in her eyes. “Its Tela’in actually. This is my half brother Tash’aen’li. We have grave news regarding Valoreth.” Dylenna’s eyes widen and she takes a step closer to her father.

Tela’in remains next to the log for a moment, and then says “Ilin avas’il” nothing seems to happen at first, and Dylenna’s eyes narrow. “This log shall not burn dry until tomorrow at sundown, and not a minute before, now then, sit.”

Tash’aen’li sets his bag on the table and begins to withdraw several provisions. “Eat, if you have hunger.” He says. The four eventually sit down, Dylenna and Trinor still very much shocked at the sudden and chaotic change of events, no matter how good fortuned they seem. “Trinor, have you heard of Sirion’s new law?” Tela’in asks, looking at him from across the table. “No… I haven’t… been to Valoreth for many weeks, perhaps it has been… sixty days? Maybe more…” he says as he searches his memory.

“Sirion has closed his walls. He forced out Lady Nula, his own wife. The Elf Bond has been broken once more, and we have been banished from his lands as outlaws.” Tash’aen’li says calmly. The two look at him with anxiety growing in their hearts. “We have come to tell you, Trinor, because evil is brewing in Sirion’s keep. We need to know what is happening in Valoreth, and we want you to be the one keeping us informed.” Tela’in says, intent on keeping Trinor’s gaze.

After a moment Trinor relaxes his weary shoulders and says “I am old… and weakened. How can this body help your cause, while it would mean the abandonment of my family.” Dylenna looks at her father wearily, “No- you cannot ask this of my father.” She shakes her head and stands from the table. “Ask it of me, sister.” Tela’in rests gently against the back of the chair, studying Dylenna with curiosity. “Trinor, the decision is yours to make. Be it you or your daughter, my half-sister. Know that if you are caught, you will be imprisoned, probably taken to Sirion’s Keep.”

A many long moments pass, and Tash’aen’li stands, “We may yet stand against Sirion, and his curse. But to do so, we need all the help we can get.” He pauses for a moment and looks down at the tired man before them. “Dylenna, if you want you may do this task, but don’t look for my blessing, as I cannot give it. My place is here with my wife. She is ill, and not fit to travel.”

“I’ll do it.” Dylenna says with confidence. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning then. Pack any belongings you can sister, it is a long journey. Leave me for a minute to speak with your father.” Dylenna nods and kisses her fathers cheek, then leaves the room.

“Ata… My mother is dead. She was taken by Sirion’s men two weeks ago.” Her eyes look down into the fire for a moment then back up to him “She wanted me to tell you that she loved you still, despite your choices.” Trinor buries his face in his large hands. “She is dead? How do you know, perhaps she is imprison-“ the half-elf interrupts “Her soul has left her body. Yet she walks Sirion’s Keep as one of his servants. Do you understand this? She isn’t dead, but also not living, ata. She has become undead, her body is prisoner, but her soul has been freed. Her last wish was that you help us in Valoreth.”

His eyes suddenly betray his sadness, he stands and shakes his head. “If Dylenna has a chance to live in Valoreth, then so be it, she will be better off there. But if anything happens to her, I hold you responsible. Your mother left me Telain. She made the decision…” His argument fades as he speaks. He pauses for a moment and sighs with anguish “Give me your oath that you will do everything in your power to protect her.” He looks at her with concern. “I give you that oath, ata. I will do everything in my power to protect my sister.” She breathes in and stands. “She looks a little like me doesn’t she…”

The old man doesn’t respond, but instead looks out the window. He remembers so little of his past… “I can’t remember her face…” He whispers to no one. Tash and Tela’in exchange glances briefly. “Trinor- go and sleep now. We are to leave tomorrow morning.”