Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"In the past, I probably would have held it against you... but now, I can't. So much is going on, and... to be at the epicenter like you are... I can't imagine the stress you're under."

 

"It's hard. It's hard and nobody understands." Katie says, crying and hugging Ali tighter.

 

Ali starts patting her on the back.
"It's okay. It'll be okay. You were strong enough to free a goddess because someone else who wanted to couldn't. I'm sure you can overcome everything else the Hive Master throws at you." She says confidently.

 

"M-Maybe..." Katie says, comforted.

 

Ali hugs Katie a bit tighter for a brief moment.
"Nuh-uh. No maybe. I believe in you, even if it comes down to losing sis. I know it won't be clean, and I wish it was, but..."
Ali trails off, not wishing to continue the thought.

 

"Well, I guess this is enough for the general population." I say, finishing my bagel and coffee.

 

"We'll try and save her," Katie says, lightening up, "I know we can."

 

You feel just as full as if you ate one of your dinners. Seems that it's nothing special, but definitey good enough.

"Thank you... j-just promise me one thing, if you can." Ali says, shaky. "I-if you can't... promise me you'll tell her I'm sorry, and make her death quick."

 

I pay the bill and then head out to explore the city.

 

There doesn't seem to be anything to pay.

Outside, you seem to be on the less fancy side of town. There's not a huge gap, it seems, but it's clear not everyone is thriving.


The clock tower tells you that you killed 20 minutes in the restaurant.

 

"Done. Who will you be sending?"

 

"You get to choose one of the following two options."
Pause for clarity.
"One; three common raptors. They can talk, fight, and know what kills them around here. May need a little extra food to get from point A to point B, but this is the basic deal.
Two; three of my escort. They're the cream of the crop here, but if things go south, you owe me and the rest of my guard armor like you did Aral'hrah. If you only lose one, then you owe me and the two others armor."

He waits for you to decide.

 

"What makes you think I gave the armor to him?"
I ask first.

 

"You are not from here. Shortly after you first appear, he has armor. Nothing else has changed here that suddenly; the two seem to be correlated."

 

I shrug.
"If you want to think that. Escort."
I decide.

 

Akli'il turns, raising a wing.
"Eklir, Gau, and Fuela. You're going with him."
A dark-green necked raptor nods, then a crimson necked.
The last, neck uncolored and wings colored a lighter green in its stead, hesitates before nodding.
"Why send your wife?" One other escort member asks.
"Because she's capable, and if I lose her, I'll have no hesitation making sure this robot knows the price he owes me." Akli'il retorts, frustrated. "Now, you three are dismissed for two weeks. Go with the robot."
The three nod before darting over to you, standing in front of you like a pack of hunting dogs waiting for orders.

 

"Come. We have beings to meet."
I say, walking in the direction of Aral'hrah's territory.

 

Silent, they follow you.
Fuela seems to lag behind a bit, but she catches up after a little while.

 

"Nothing to say?"
I ask as I walk.

 

They all shake their heads, Fuela the last to do so as what seems to be usual.