Category: The Three Realms (Book 5: The Final Fight)

An hour after the briefing, Delselii decided to visit Markulak’s cell. He didn’t know why, just that he felt that he needed to see him…it. He entered the brig and looked at Markulak. The robot’s lights were off. Delselii turned to the Orc woman guarding the brig. “What’s wrong with him?” he asked.

“Nothing, he’s just recharging,” replied the guard.

“Wake it up. I want to talk to it.”

“That’s not advisable. He’s gotta get out of recharge himself.”

“I have questions for it and-!” Markulak then started whispering. “…What in the Realms?”

“Arsha!” mumbled Markulak. His lights then flickered on as he switched on, shaking all the while. He then looked at his surroundings and calmed down.

“What’s wrong?” asked the guard.

“I think I was…dreaming,” replied Markulak.

“Looked like a nightmare.” Delselii arched an eyebrow.

“I was in the Over-realm,” recalled Markulak. “Realmfleet Headquarters, to be precise. I was supposed to report for my debriefing, but I couldn’t find the right office. Then I started calling Arsha’s name but…she didn’t answer. And then, suddenly, I was being chased by my fellow robots…or were they…Golems? …Silly, isn’t it?”

“You don’t look so tough,” Delselii muttered.

“Doctor!” hissed the guard.

“My type of robot is not the strongest, no,” remarked Markulak.

“Aren’t you going to say that we’ll be bowing to the Empire soon?” asked Delselii.

“You don’t really want to, do you?” quizzed Markulak.

“No, but that’s what you’re programmed to say, isn’t it?”

“…I mean, it IS part of my initial programming.”

“‘The Realms will be made better with us in charge,’ I believe is the mantra.”

“Yes, and Dr. Borg believes such will be possible.”

“She’s wrong. People like her are always wrong.”

“There’s no one like her.”

“There’s always someone like her. When my people were created under Intrag’s rule, we were disposable labor. Our talents were always stifled. It took a long time for Homunculi to get to where they are now.”

“You’re comparing her to Intrag?”

“Yes, because her words mirror his and she’s managed to recruit most Homunculi to fight against the Realms. Now my people are fractured, and we can’t reach a consensus on how to secure our future. What few of us remain loyal to the Realms now have an uphill battle to clear our good name.”

“Then you have a similar nightmare to mine.” Delselii blinked in surprise.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“You feel like you’re the only one of your kind who sees sense,” guessed Markulak. Delselii said nothing. That comment hit a little too close to home.

---

Bashoon finished her current duties and returned to Delselii’s quarters. She rang the door chime. “Come in,” called Delselii from inside. Bashoon went inside and looked to see the Homunculus Mad Scientist looking at plans. She got a better look and arched her eyebrows.

“The robots?” she asked.

“Got them from Mr. Markulak,” replied Delselii.

“…MISTER Markulak, I see,” chuckled the Goblin woman.

“I went to see him. I don’t know why, just curiosity maybe. He woke up from a nightmare. He was in Realmfleet HQ and couldn’t find the right office for his debriefing. After that, he was chased by an unknown enemy. He guessed they were either his old partners or the Golems under the Empire’s command. Sounded way too similar to my nightmare lately and I know I didn’t tell him about it, so he couldn’t draw from that. You know, he called his nightmare silly, maybe mine is too.”

“Not at all. It’s not easy turning your back on your own people. Believe me, I know.” Delselii looked at her in disbelief. “Oh yes, I understand what you and Markulak are going through. My family turned its back on Goblin-kind when it was corrupt.”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it,” said Delselii in surprise.

“It’s not something I like to talk about usually. But, given the similarities between the three of us, it’s something you need to hear.” Bashoon pulled up a chair and began her story. “It was when I was a Realmfleet Cadet. After I served a small training cruise aboard the Starfinder, my family was stripped of its fortunes by Chancellor Torsko for daring to say that what happened with the Diamond Consortium was wrong and we were practically banished from Dwelga. We were hopping from ship to ship, and I was considering resigning before I became an Ensign. That’s when Arsha took me and my family aboard. After I helped her solve the Vorkath Monastic Hospital case, she gave me a position aboard the Endeavor as an Ensign and my parents were given an opportunity to open Barmek’s Bar and Grill. We still had no other Goblins to help us.”

“It sounds like the Barmeks were clanless once,” muttered Delselii in confusion.

“We were until Penshek Tolshoon became Chancellor. Because we helped him find the Scale-Sword of Yunshul and were among the first to discover Oyed’s presence in the Realms, we had our original fortunes restored and the Chancellor made our family part of his clan. Still, there are other Goblins that sided with Dr. Borg and would prefer to spit on the sacrifices my family made to get to where we are now. That’s why I say you and Markulak are more alike than you realize. I guess I just see myself in Markulak, going through life despite being abandoned by your people. Maybe he can inspire other robots to switch sides.”

“…Here’s hoping.” Delselii smiled a genuine smile as he said that.

---

Over in Frigandor, Dr. Borg was cleaning up after an experiment. “Just shy of one lousy half watt!” she grumbled. “All I need is a more efficient cloaking system! Is that REALLY so much to ask?! Are we that behind technologically?!” The door chime then rang. “Come in.” A Sprite couple then came in.

“Cy-girl!” called the woman.

“My little scientist and Oyed slayer!” cheered the man. Dr. Borg’s face lit up as she turned to face them.

“Mom! Dad!” She then hugged her parents. “What are you doing here? I thought you were stuck in the Over-realm!”

“Actually, we were in the Grilthan Forest, taking a little leave time,” explained Mr. Borg.

“Have to admit, Oyed really messed up our travel plans,” remarked Mrs. Borg. “But we took solace in your successfully draining him like that!”

“How did you find this place anyways?” asked Dr. Borg.

“Purely by accident, believe it or not,” said Mr. Borg. “We decided to finally visit Frigandor and explored the outskirts. We stumbled into an icy cave and your forces caught us.”

“But your darling spouses checked us over and gave us clearance,” continued Mrs. Borg.

“Well, it’s great to see you again!” cheered Dr. Borg. “This war’s kept me away from you guys for too long!”

“Well, so did Rellmeer’s unlawful execution of you,” muttered Mr. Borg. “But you showed her, didn’t you?”

“Nothing keeps Cytanek Yavenag Borg down, does it?!” chuckled Mrs. Borg as she pinched her daughter’s cheek lovingly.

“Mom!” protested Dr. Borg.

“Now, about that horrid Arsha!” growled Mrs. Borg.

“My sources told me she’s back in the Mid-realm right now,” replied Dr. Borg, “possibly to retake her home of Largandra. It’s a bit of a toss-up right now as one of my robots went rogue.”

“Well, if you need help, you may avail upon us,” promised Mr. Borg.

“We’re here for you now!” agreed Mrs. Borg.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad!” said Dr. Borg. “It’s been too long since we were together!” The Borgs then embraced each other like the family they were.

Arsha, her parents, her spouses, Orbak, Elmpam, Lardeth’s parents, Markulak, and the senior staff met in the conference room. “Your home’s been taken over?!” said Bashoon.

“And blockaded, it seems,” muttered Elgrad, on edge that his home was threatened.

“Why’s the robot here?” asked Thangred.

“Markulak has tactical information on the robot forces,” replied Arsha. “He’s also good at intelligence gathering, so I’m having him brief us on how to get into Largandra without being seen and how to take down the robots quickly and quietly.”

“And it seems you could use the help in scrapping them,” observed Markulak.

“…I mean, you’re not wrong,” muttered Thangred.

“So, this briefing,” Markulak was addressing everyone, “will be concerning how to effectively destroy my former compatriots, starting with my type, the humanoid.” A diagram of his type then popped up on the screen. “The basic weaknesses are as follows: a good slice at the joints, an electric spell right between the eyes, or a shot to the chest if you want to detonate our payload.” Bashoon then noticed something was off. Markulak then noticed the same thing. “Hey, where’s Dr. Vorsholstein?”

“He sure is taking his sweet time!” muttered Elgrad.

“Captain, permission to find him?” asked Bashoon.

“Permission granted,” replied Arsha. “I’ll have recordings of each robot type’s weaknesses for you to review.” Bashoon nodded and left the room while Markulak continued. She headed down the corridors and made her way to Delselii’s quarters. She rang the door chime.

“Come in!” called Delselii. Bashoon opened the door, prompting Delselii to grin. “Ah! Bashoon!” greeted the Homunculus Mad Scientist. “How’s the planning going?”

“Where were you?” asked Bashoon. “You were supposed to be at the briefing!”

“I was engaged in a project that required my attention. Lieutenant Barmek, prepare yourself!” Delselii then pulled a cloth off a machine. “Here it is!”

“…What is it?”

“It’s a thaumic pulse generator! With one blast, any cloaking device within a por range would short out and malfunction! Very low energy cost, yet very potent!”

“That’s good, but surely it could have waited? The briefing needs you there right now! Markulak is telling us about the weaknesses on all of his former compatriots!” Delselii then scowled.

“Bashoon, last I checked, you’re the commander of the Metal Melter Squadron. Unless I’m mistaken, you’re supposed to destroy all robots on sight, not talk to them.”

“…I see what’s going on here.” Bashoon then sat down in one of the chairs. “Delselii, when you talked to Markulak, could you really say that you didn’t see any similarities between him and Endea?”

“I didn’t talk to it.”

“Why not?”

“I saw no need.”

“If we’re gonna use this person’s-!”

“IT’S NOT A PERSON, DAMMIT! IT’S A ROBOT!” Bashoon simply glared at the taller Homunculus.

“…If we’re gonna use this person’s knowledge, we need to put aside our prejudices for right now.” Delselii wouldn’t be swayed.

“Just because it has a name doesn’t mean it’s a person like Endea! Just because it laughs at a Three Maidens sketch doesn’t mean it fully understands humor! Just because it talks doesn’t mean it’s sentient! It is what it is!”

“What makes that particular robot unlike Endea?”

“There aren’t any fresh breath particles on him, are there?!”

“Are there any on Homunculi?” Delselii’s eyes went wide at her counterargument.

“…You’d dare…?!”

“In this case, I had no choice. Last I checked, Homunculi didn’t get the fresh Breath of Life. You guys use the Breath particles of the corpses that were your original ancestors, yet you’re still considered life-forms on the level of everyone else. And Golems are considered life, yet the clay they were made from have even less Breath particles than you. I would advise you to talk to Markulak before you start making snap-judgements, because if you don’t talk to him, you’re going to find your decisions about his destruction harder to live with than you realize. Now, I’m going back and finishing up the briefing. I’m leaving you with a choice. You can either stay here and stew about what was said, or you can join me and get what you missed.” She left the room and shut the door behind her. Delselii scowled at the door as he thought about Bashoon’s words.

---

Bashoon returned to the conference room as Markulak wrapped up his briefing on robot types and their weaknesses. “All right then,” declared Arsha as Bashoon returned to her seat, “we have a plan. Bashoon, you will lead a squadron to breach the northern walls around Largandra. Review all the robot types and make sure your entire unit is up to scratch on stealth kills. Once there’s a sufficient window, the rest of us will sneak into Largandra. After that, Mama and Daddy can take over the operation.”

“Why your parents?” asked Denstra.

“Because we know the layout of the castle like the back of our hand,” explained Elgrad. “The usual Royana tradition is that after the heir finishes their tour, they have to spend time studying the layout of the castle, secret passages and all.”

“Secret passages?” asked Orbak. “Like my castle?”

“Yep. King Tundark Royana had them installed when he was in charge. The family used to think he was just being paranoid, but it looks like they’re going to be put to good use.”

“Well, this is a rare thing,” chuckled Elmpam. “Usually, secret passages are for a cowardly ruler to escape a besieged castle. It’s rare for a ruler to use them to get IN one.”

“Like you said, only cowards use them for a way out,” chuckled Elgrad. “Tundark was the BIGGEST coward in our family history.”

“Sounds like we have a plan!” declared Arsha. “We start it tomorrow morning! Dismissed!” As everyone filed out, Arsha put her hand on Bashoon’s shoulder. “Bashoon, a word with you.”

“Yes, Captain?” asked Bashoon.

“Delselii DID get the message about him needing to come here, yes?”

“He did, but childishly ignored it.”

“And why, pray tell?”

“He doesn’t recognize Markulak as a living person because he wasn’t given the Breath of Life.”

“Delselii said that?!”

“Yeah, him of all people.”

“…I don’t care what you have to do, get Delselii to drop this prejudice! Is that clear?”

“Crystal clear, Captain. He’ll put it aside by hook or crook before tomorrow.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that. Here.” Arsha handed Bashoon a data crystal containing the recording of what she missed. “Dismissed.” Bashoon saluted and headed out.

Back in the Endeavor’s brig, Markulak was going through a small recharge cycle and, because he was a good prisoner, he was allowed to watch some entertainment. He was watching a Three Maidens short where the Three Maidens had climbed aboard an enemy ship and had to disguise themselves as Imperial crew members. It was near the end of the short as the Captain of the vessel was berating his men. “Such Officers!” he shouted. “What would the Doctor say if she heard about this?! Three Realmfleeters making fools of a whole shipload of Imperial forces!” Just then, the “Doctor” and two of her “Top Specialists” came in. One of them was carrying a case that advertised her as the Minister of Propaganda, Specialist in Lies and Bunk. The Captain and his Officers saw them and swallowed the disguise as they saluted her. The “Doctor” spoke in agitated mock Fae. She then spoke in the combined Realm language.

“You failed to catch three Realmfleeters!” she barked. “Blow out your brains!”

“But, my Lady Doctor, we’re part of the Empire!” replied the Captain. “We have no brains!”

“Then blow out what passes for your brains!” continued the “Doctor.” “When my Field Marshal counts three,” she pointed to the large woman in a decorated Officer’s outfit, “start blowing out your heads!” The Officers saluted and drew their wands.

“One!” barked the “Field Marshal.” She then turned to the “Doctor.” ‘What comes after one?”

“Two!” the “Doctor” spit in the “Field Marshal’s” eye as she said it. “Never mind, fat girl! I’ll count myself! One!” The Officers then raised their wands again. “Two!” The Officers pointed their wands at their heads. “Th…Th…Threeah! Ah! AH! ACHOO!” As the “Doctor” sneezed, the white mophead that served as the wig flew off, revealing her real hair to be black and long!

“My Doctor!” yelped the Captain as he handed her the wig back.

“Ah, my personality,” said the fake Doctor. “Thanks, Bub.” The Captain then realized that the three women WEREN’T the Doctor and her specialists, but Moru, Larima, and Curlandii! The Three Maidens then realized the jig was up! They yelped in terror and fled the Captain’s Ready Room.

“GET THEM!” shouted the Captain. The Three Maidens led them on a merry chase around the ship. They made it to the ship’s exterior and held the door closed. Moru then spotted oil and coated a path from the door in it.

“Okay, let them out!” she told her friends. They opened the door and the Captain and his Officers slipped on the oil, sliding down the ship. They landed in the mud below and caused a big enough splash to hit the Three Maidens. “Why, you…Trippy Trinnies!” She threw the oil container on their heads, knocking them out. “SUCCESS!”

“SUCCESS!” agreed Larima.

“PARTY TIME!” cheered Curlandii. She then kissed Moru on the lips. Moru gagged.

“I told you to stop that!” Moru then poked Curlandii’s eyes. When the end credits rolled, Markulak was laughing.

“Man, if Imperial forces were as incompetent as you guys say,” he said to the guard, “we’d deserve to have three idiots make fools of us!”

“I’m surprised you’re laughing at it,” remarked the guard. “With all the insults thrown around, I figured you’d be offended.”

“It’s something to boost morale,” replied Markulak. “The Empire’s got similar media.”

“So, you’re not taking it seriously?”

“Should I take comedy that seriously?”

“…I’ll leave that up to you. …Hey, are you aware of Skain taking over the Mid-realm?” Markulak’s eyes flickered.

“News to me. The Empire wants nothing to do with that asshole.”

“Why’s that?”

“We’ve got Black people as equals.”

“Ah.” Arsha then entered the brig.

“May I help you?” asked Markulak.

“I have a test for you to prove yourself,” replied Arsha.

“What would this test entail?”

“Help my dad knock a pretender off the throne.”

“Without delay.”

“Good. Now, what can you tell me about the Imperial robot forces stationed in Largandra?” Markulak’s optics flickered.

“To my knowledge, there aren’t any.”

“Intelligence reports say otherwise.” She nodded to the guard. He lowered the energy bars and Arsha handed Markulak a tablet. Markulak looked at the intelligence reports and his optics became brighter when they rested on an image.

“He’s gonna try and contact you!” he gulped as he pointed to the robot in the image.

“We’ll scramble it,” assured Arsha. Just then, the comms rang.

“Bridge to Captain! Enemy forces trying to force a call through!” reported Shalvey.

“Scramble it,” ordered Arsha.

“I’m trying, but they’re descrambling faster than I can-!” Shalvey’s call was cut off as an image appeared on the guard’s console. It was Markulak: Model 8!

“Captain Royana,” purred the robot. “It’s an honor to meet you.” Arsha motioned for Markulak: Model 7 to join in the call. “Ah, there he is!” growled Markulak: Model 8.

“I’m aware that certain robot lines are practically clones of the previous one,” remarked Arsha, “but I’m not sure the Realms are ready for TWO Markulaks.”

“I quite agree,” said Model 8.

“So, you’re my successor,” grunted Model 7.

“Once I kill you, yes.”

“That’s not gonna happen!” snarled Arsha. “Model 7 has been an excellent ally to me!”

“And what a dreary day that was for the Empire!” growled Model 8. “Model 7 disgraced Markulak: Model 6 the day he defected to you! Model 6 was a great man, a real patriot! His death in a ship explosion was most unfortunate.”

“And still under investigation!” reminded Model 7.

“Actually, the investigation’s over,” corrected Model 8. “There was no evidence of foul play, merely poor maintenance.”

“So, why were you activated if your predecessor’s still alive?” Arsha asked Model 8.

“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been,” replied the robot, “but when a duplicated robot’s discovered to have a defect in their duplicate line-”

“I’m not defective!” argued Model 7.

“Of course, you are!” countered Model 8. “How else can you explain your behavior? Leaving your post! Defecting to Realmfleet!”

“What next, you’re gonna order him to trigger his payload?” asked Arsha.

“…I was getting to that,” replied Model 8.

“What payload?” asked Model 7.

“Don’t play coy with your better! You know exactly what I’m talking about! Your Detonium payload! Prove your loyalty to the Empire! Activate your self-destruct!”

“I would, but there’s a small problem.” Model 7 then showed his exposed left knee to the screen. “Realmfleet was a little…heavy-handed when it came to disarming me. I’m afraid they allowed oxygen to enter my insides and oxidize the Detonium to uselessness.”

“…That’s why she made that comment!” realized Model 8. “You told her! You’re a dead man, whether you kill yourself or not! Dr. Borg doesn’t tolerate traitors and I don’t tolerate disgraces to our line!” He then addressed Arsha. “Captain, there’s really no need for you to be involved in this petty dispute. If you would just convince him to return to us-”

“I have no intention of releasing my prisoner to you!” snarled Arsha.

“If you don’t, I can’t be held responsible for the consequences.”

“An empty threat! Your predecessor told me about the Markulak line’s talents in intelligence gathering! You wouldn’t dare lose a chance to get all the information you can from us!”

“Maybe I wouldn’t, but the forces surrounding Largandra would. Think it over, Captain. Your home is about to kill itself and it would be easier on your conscience if they died by their own hands.” The call ended, giving Arsha and Markulak a very nasty suspicion of why robots were surrounding Largandra.

Rokanth practically had a ship on every hill, even the ones inhabited by Halflings. The Endeavor made it out of the vortex and got a visual on the situation. When it was displayed on screen, everyone’s eyebrows went up. “…Handrem wasn’t kidding,” whistled Arsha.

“I’ve got the landing site’s coordinates,” reported Nazay, “but it’s gonna be a tight squeeze.”

“Set us down as best you can manage,” ordered Arsha.

---

The Endeavor slowly maneuvered itself over the site, situated between a pointy Falchion-class vessel and a bulky Imperial-class transport. It descended at a snail’s pace, Nazay not wanting to scratch the other ships or the Endeavor herself. It was almost agonizing at how slow it was. After three minutes, the ship’s landing struts finally touched the hill. One could almost hear it sigh in relief. It then settled down…and scraped itself against the Falchion-class vessel’s prow.

---

On the bridge, Endea cried out as the scraping echoed throughout the ship. She clutched her side and fell to her knees. Marshii and Thangred rushed to her. Once she could manage the pain well enough to muscle through it long enough to glare at Nazay. “Keelside starboard bow!” she snarled. “Really, Nazay?! Not three minutes in the Mid-realm and you scrape me up?!”

“Sorry!” gulped Nazay.

“Thangred, get some engineers to fix that,” sighed Arsha. Marshii led Endea to Sick Bay as Thangred hurried off to assign the repair teams. Arsha turned to Nazay. “Scrape up my ship, hm?” Nazay’s face went as red as his tail in embarrassment. “All right, we ribbed him long enough. We need to discuss the situation with Skain.”

---

Handrem and a Halfling man in a mayor’s suit, Mayor Thenthar Hulmbark, met with Elgrad, Hanako, Arsha, Foresna, and Denstra. “Elgrad, my old friend!” cheered Thenthar.

“Thenthar, you old rascal!” chuckled Elgrad as the two hugged one another. Foresna then noticed something.

“Er, pardon my saying so, Lord Mayor, but you look a little thin for a Halfling,” he said. “What’s going on?”

“We better talk in my home,” replied Thenthar. “This way.” He led everyone down a street through the landing struts of the ships littering Rokanth. They made their way to the highest hill and approached a circular door, painted blue. Thenthar then took out a key ring, found the key, and put it into the door to open it. His taller guests had to duck their heads as they entered the house. Inside the hill, though, wasn’t just dirt. It was a rather luxurious home. Once they entered the door, the guests saw the various coat hooks. All down the hall’s left side were the parlor, the dining room, the study, the sitting room, and the bedroom Thenthar and his wife used. On the right side were the drawing room, the kitchen, the cellar, the pantries, and three more bedrooms, one for each of his children. At the end of the hall were the family’s closets. “My house is open to those that wish to make it a home,” greeted Thenthar in the Halfling manner.

“We shall treat this house as a home,” said Elgrad in the usual reply. Thenthar then led everyone to the parlor. As she maneuvered herself around the home, Hanako bumped into the chandelier. She steadied it, then nodded once it stopped shaking. She turned to follow everyone.

“Low bridge,” warned Foresna. The warning came too late as Hanako bumped her head against the ceiling beam.

“Now what is all that racket?!” came a woman’s voice. A Halfling woman then came into the parlor. “Thenthar, I swear, if you conceded to-!” The woman’s eyes rested on the Royanas. “…Your Majesties?!” she whispered.

“Mrs. Hulmbark, I presume?” asked Arsha. Thenthar’s wife beamed with joy.

“Your Majesties, Your Highness! It’s so wonderful to see you! And Little Foresna! Thenthar, you should have told me we were having guests! I’ll get a meal going!”

“Just tea, thank you,” replied Foresna. “We have a situation to discuss.”

“Concerning the Mid-realm throne and the Pretender on it?”

“That’s it,” confirmed Thenthar.

“Then let me get the kettle going! You lot need some tea after that fright!” She dashed off to the kitchen.

“Skain took our staff,” explained Thenthar. “He’s put them to work as guards demanding passes to go through Rokanth.”

“Passes?” asked Arsha. “When did Halflings need passes to go through their home?”

“Since Skain took over,” replied Handrem. Mrs. Hulmbark then came back in. “He’s passed a number of laws that are encroaching on a citizen’s rights, even my own.”

“The Mid-realm’s gone to pot!” grumbled Mrs. Hulmbark. “That slaver should never have sat on your throne! He claimed that YOU made that proclamation, Your Majesty.”

“I most certainly did not!” growled Elgrad. “He owned my ancestors; I didn’t let him anywhere near that kind of power!”

“…I’m sorry, he OWNED your ancestors?” asked Foresna. “I know the Royanas were slaves before the Great Uprising, but a HUMAN from that time is on the throne now?”

“Skain’s not human,” corrected Arsha. “That’s just a disguise to fool everyone. He’s actually an Elf, and a very vindictive one.”

“He once owned the Royanas as his slave labor,” continued Elgrad. “My ancestors were whipped whenever they didn’t get enough of the crops, they were raped, they were killed for talking too much, they were separated from their children, any injustice you could think of, They suffered. Mortak decided that they suffered enough, so she organized a slave revolt against Skain and his family. Skain never forgave the Royana Family for that or forgot. His vendetta led to his family abandoning him.”

“Why is he still around?” asked Foresna.

“The Royanas wanted to reform him,” replied Arsha. “Over time, he’s become less and less blatant about his desire to possess other people as property, but I see that it’s all just an act.”

“An act we wanted no part of,” said Thenthar. “My wife, bless her, has been getting those of darker skin tones out of Largandra and trying to find homes for them. Because of that, we Halflings limited ourselves to just three meals instead of our usual seven.”

“That explains why the Halflings look so thin,” remarked Elgrad. “They’re not eating enough. Mayor Hulmbark, King Handrem, you have my word that these atrocities will stop!”

“You ever need support, just say the word!” declared Handrem.

“And you’ll have my militia as well!” promised Thenthar.

“Then we need to plan our siege,” said Elgrad.

The flotilla arrived and gave the crews the necessary tools and materials needed to fix the Realmgate. The Endeavor coordinated the action and saw to it that all the necessary repairs were made. Conso watched the whole operation as each component was tested. “When history looks at this,” he muttered, “they’ll say it was all a great folly.”

“History’s written by the winners,” remarked Arsha as she came up to him. “We’re close right now. We need to see this through.”

“Arsha, there’s no guarantee of that!” snapped Conso. “Face it, you’ve led us to ruin!”

“With all due respect, Sir, there’s no guarantee of your statement. You haven’t personally fought Dr. Borg. I did, meaning I know her better than any Admiral in Realmfleet, even Aldarval. Why else has she deferred to me on matters relating to Dr. Borg?”

“Because she’s a fool following a child!” Conso then got up in her face. “Arsha Royana, the idiocy of you and your fellows on that night has cost us a peace we all enjoyed! Did you even consider that maybe, just maybe, allying with Dr. Borg would give us better results and allow us to keep the peace?! She DID defeat Oyed!” Arsha closed her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing.

“…Admiral Conso Forsorna, it is taking all of my self-control not to smash your head to the floor for that insult alone! Yes, she defeated Oyed, but she’s a known criminal to the Fae Republic and proved unrepentant for her crimes! She didn’t exactly protest Oyed’s actions when he ordered cities to be bombed! She laughed with him as innocent men, women, and children died at their hands! Bowing to her would be giving her permission to destroy as she pleases! I won’t let that happen!” The silence hung in the air for a few seconds. “…Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a ship to command.” She then left Conso alone.

---

The day finally came. The Realmgate was back in the sky where it belonged. The bridge crew manned their stations with Elgrad watching the whole operation. “All stations report ready,” called Shalvey.

“Then it’s time,” declared Arsha. “Transmit opening instructions to the Realmgate.”

“Transmitting instructions,” confirmed Shalvey. “…It’s received them and is ready to open on your command.”

“Nazay, open it.”

“Opening.” Once Nazay keyed in the command, they waited three seconds before the familiar vortex of colors appeared.

“Elmar, status of the comms probe.”

“Comms probe is ready to launch at your command,” reported Elmar.

“Malak, calculate distance from our position to the other side of the portal for it to land. Endea, refine those calculations.”

“Calculating,” replied Malak. “…Initial calculations complete.”

“Refining,” reported Endea as her eyes turned white. “…Final calculations complete.”

“Launch probe.”

“Launching,” reported Orthena as she pressed a button on her console.

---

A small device was launched from the Endeavor’s starboard bow torpedo tube. It sailed through the air and entered the vortex.

---

“Probe is inside Realmgate vortex,” reported Melandra.

“All we can do now is wait,” muttered Denstra. And wait they did. Bashoon drummed her fingers on the walls.

“…Catchy tune,” she muttered to herself, “but damn if it ain’t an earworm!”

“What’s a catchy tune?” asked Thangred.

“It’s something I heard while we were still trying to fix the Realmgate on the sly.”

“How’s it go?”

“Well-”

“Captain,” called Shalvey, “we’re receiving a transmission!”

“Can you identify it?” asked Arsha.

“Trying. …It’s from the other side of the vortex! It’s the probe!”

“Put it through!”

“It’s audio-only.”

“Don’t care! Put it through!” Shalvey keyed in the necessary commands and a rustic man’s voice came through.

“This is Handrem Dworga, King of Rokanth,” introduced the caller. “Political I.D. 8-4-7-2. Your probe came out of a vortex over Rokanth. Please identify yourself.” Arsha motioned her dad to take the call.

“Handrem, old buddy, this is Elgrad Royana, King of the entire Mid-realm! Political I.D. 4-0-2-8!”

“Elgrad?!” cheered Handrem. “Is that really you?!”

“It’s me, old friend! How’s the war treating you right now?”

“Not so good. You remember Lord Skain?”

“What about him?”

“He’s taken the throne! We need you back now!”

“Oh no, not him!” snarled Elgrad. “Not in MY Realm! Handrem, get Mayor Hulmbark and arrange a meeting with the three of us! We’re coming home!”

“So that IS a Realmgate in our sky!” cheered Handrem.

“An Over to Mid Realmgate, to be precise.”

“I trust you have the necessary data so a new Mid to Over Realmgate can align with yours?”

“Arsha’s crew has it all!”

“She would be proud of her crew.”

“Believe me, she is.”

“…Elgrad, you’re talking as if Arsha’s alive.” Elgrad nodded to Arsha.

“I AM alive, your Majesty,” she revealed.

“…Arsha?! But how are you…are you a-?!”

“No, no, I’m not a Revenant. Oyed just botched killing me, against all odds.” Handrem cheered.

“PRAISE THE ONES, SHE’S ALIVE! Elgrad, Arsha, we’ll have a feast ready for you when you get here!”

“Save the Victory Vice for when we save the Mid-realm from Skain,” urged Arsha. “We can’t have that slaver polluting the throne a second longer.”

“You’re right, we haven’t won yet.”

“We’ll set out once this call ends. Have a landing area ready for the Endeavor.”

“I’ll have to squeeze you in. The majority of Realmfleet ships ended up in the Mid-realm. We’ll be ready for your arrival. Handrem out.”

“Good luck, Handrem!” called Elgrad. The call ended and Arsha turned to Nazay.

“Nazay, take us through! Nice and easy!”

“Aye aye, Captain!” As the Endeavor moved forward, Bashoon grinned.

“Now that song’s REALLY appropriate,” she remarked. She then pounded her fist on the wall to set the rhythm. Once she pounded enough times, she started singing.

“There once was a ship flying through the skies

Bringing hope to war-weary eyes.

The war raged on, her weapons did fly,

Fight, ye warriors, fight!

Soon may the Endeavor come

To foil the last of Dr. Borg’s fun!

One day, when the fighting is done,

We’ll take our leave and go!” As she sang, morale all across the ship reached new heights when the crew saw that they were finally leaving the Over-realm.

Marshii entered the throne room of King Heenda. She had a small phial containing a pink potion in her hands. Norvorok had his medical wand ready. Marshii gave him the potion and he loaded it into the wand. “All we can do,” muttered Marshii, “is pray.”

“Here’s hoping that our prayers are answered,” replied Norvorok. He then raised his wand. “Calundo!” He flicked the wand and pink mist came out of it. The mist coiled around the statues in the room, then it faded. Everyone waited for thirty seconds before sighing in disappointment.

“I’m sorry,” began Marshii, “I thought-” Her explanations were interrupted when she heard a sound. “…Stone?”

“Sounds like it.” The sound WAS stone, specifically, stone cracking away. The statues were cracking at an exponential rate. Just then, a stone hand fell away from one of the statues, revealing a hand of flesh and blood. More statues fell apart to reveal the person inside. The King was the last to escape. He joined everyone in catching their breath. He was about to get up, but Marshii and Norvorok caught him.

“Easy!” urged Marshii. “You need food and rest!”

“I have…get to the council!” panted Heenda.

“Not until tomorrow!” ordered Norvorok. “They’re voting on keeping the Realmgates closed, and we need you conscious enough to vote no.”

“Meaning you need food in your belly and a full night’s rest!” continued Marshii.

“But-!”

“Doctor’s orders!” Marshii turned to the entire throne room. “That goes for all of you!”

---

Aldarval and the Council convened the next day. They took their seats and chimed in on the table in front of them. “Realmfleet Council now in session,” declared Aldarval.

“Arsha’s testimony has changed the outcome of this vote,” began Conso. “That Blood Contract they signed was real!”

“Real?!” argued a Blaze Elf woman.

“She showed me the scarred signature on the back of her hand.”

“Does she understand how reckless that is?!” snapped a Zephyr man.

“I frankly don’t think so, Admiral Samfuram.”

“With that in consideration,” muttered a human woman, “I think there’s a case we can make that the All-Realm Royals are no longer fit for duty.”

“Admiral Hanfar Zenopagh, I did NOT just hear you suggest that!” snarled Aldarval.

“Supreme Admiral, with all due respect, we can’t continue this war.”

“Which is why I…inadvertently…took the decision out of your hands,” muttered Conso. The Council looked at him. “…Arsha needs to end the Final War by the end of the year. If not, she, Malnar, and Lardeth surrender their claims to their respective thrones and get their parents to abdicate.”

“You can’t threaten them with that!” argued the Blaze Elf woman.

“Besides, she’s gonna need the Realmgates fixed up for that to happen,” remarked Aldarval. Just then, Heenda trotted into the chambers. “Ah, your Majesty! Welcome back!”

“A pleasure to be here,” replied Heenda. “Have I missed the vote?”

“No, as a matter of fact. We were just about to vote on repairing the Realmgates. Now, Admiral Lorzak Mekoza.”

“Nay,” answered the Blaze Elf woman.

“Admiral Hanfar Zenopagh.”

“Nay.”

“Admiral Samfuram Samafel.”

“Nay.”

“Admiral Conso Forsorna.”

“…Aye.” The nay-sayers turned on him.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CONSO?!” demanded Lorzak. “YOU SUNK US!”

“We have no choice!” That statement silenced the room. “If we’re so dependent on Arsha, then we need to make it clear that this miracle has a deadline! She can’t exactly do that unless she can travel the Realms! Either we force her to end it by this year, or we condemn ourselves to her as a throneless bounty hunter that’s perfectly willing to drag this on for centuries!”

“If we’re quite done insulting our best Captain!” snarled Aldarval. She then turned to Heenda. “King Heenda Untarfu.”

“I’d say my vote’s a little redundant, but Aye.”

“And the vote of Supreme Admiral Aldarval Naltomak,” finished Aldarval, “is Aye! Now, Admiral Lorzak, would you kindly order your agents and fellows to stop harassing the group repairing the Over to Mid Realmgate?”

“…Aye, Ma’am.” Lorzak left the chambers to issue the necessary orders.

“Admiral Samfuram, organize a repair flotilla to assist in Realmgate repairs.”

“Aye, Ma’am.” Samfuram headed off to obey.

---

Back in Frigandor, Dr. Borg, her spouses, and Jansha lazily sat on a couch. “…I wonder if we can even make new gods,” mused Remsu.

“Getting a hankering for children?” asked Shefarn.

“Something like that.”

“It would be nice to know,” remarked Dr. Borg.

“…Truth be told,” said Jansha, “I would like some siblings.”

“Then that’s the first thing we discover!” declared Dr. Borg. Just then, a robot came into the room. “Ah, Markulak: Model 7, how goes it?”

“Model 8, actually,” corrected the robot. “My predecessor proved defective. He’s-”

“Why would…sorry, you were about to tell me?”

“As I was saying, Model 7 had gathered all necessary information about Project: Ascension and he’s defected to Realmfleet. Something’s prevented him from self-destructing.”

“WHAT?!” That put them into a panic.

“Summon the rest of the Council!” ordered Jansha.

---

The Imperial Council gathered and Markulak: Model 8 presented his report. “You’re joking!” pleaded Yulduk.

“I wish I was, my Lord,” replied Markulak: Model 8.

“This is bad! If this gets to Realmfleet, we’re hosed!”

“You’re not wrong,” remarked Yamta.

“We have to destroy the defect,” declared Dr. Borg. “Model 8, see to it that your predecessor is destroyed and-” Just then, Weltam burst into the room.

“My lords and ladies!” she panted. “It’s bad! Our spies reported that the Realmfleet Council’s authorized repairs on the Realmgates! They’ve only got the Over to Mid Realmgate working but-!”

“That’s too much damage to our operations!” growled Dr. Borg. “The installation of the energy-dampening weapons on our ships MUST be accelerated.”

“We can try,” remarked Tormo, “but the supply lines aren’t as extensive as we would like. There ARE going to be delays in shipping them to all allied docks.”

“We can’t afford delays!” Dr. Borg then took in a breath. “Sorry. Tormo, please issue the necessary orders to secure the supplies we need quickly.” Tormo nodded his head and left the room. “Yulduk, how fares the mana consumption on all Revenants?”

“Badly,” replied Yulduk. “We’re consuming it as fast as Splitter Golems. We’re trying to ration it, but our hunger’s too great. You know, maybe removing Oyed so quickly wasn’t a good idea. You DID talk to him in making me, yes?” Dr. Borg then face-palmed.

“I didn’t even consider that!” she wailed. She then got an idea. “…But I may have a temporary solution. It’s only gonna be effective until we all ascend and people use you to make Revenants.”

“I’m down for that. Tell me when you get it.”

Arsha made her way to a nearby computer terminal. “Computer, locate my parents,” she ordered.

“King Elgrad and Queen Hanako Royana,” replied the computer, “are in docking tube 3.”

“Thank you!” She dashed off to the starboard side and found her parents. They still had a pipe in their hands and blinked. They then saw Arsha’s regretful face and got the idea. Hanako opened the door and Arsha stepped back as they walked out.

“Figured it out, did we?” asked Elgrad.

“Mama, Daddy, I’m so sorry I was rude!” said Arsha. “I didn’t even think you guys were going through a victory vice!”

“One of your lovers is from Rokanth, and you didn’t even consider that?” asked Hanako.

“And consider how we felt,” continued Elgrad. “We find our daughter again, and what does she do? She berates us on indulging after so many months of being unable to find her. Can you even guess how hurt we were?” Arsha turned her eyes down. “I’m gonna guess not.”

“Arsha, you can’t afford to make those kind of snap judgments,” continued Hanako, “not if we’re going to win this war.”

“…No, Mom and Dad. …Sorry, Mom and Dad,” mumbled Arsha.

“All right, I think we said our peace,” said Elgrad. “We’ll take that smoker’s potion once the victory vice is over, all right?”

“All right.” Elgrad and Hanako then returned to their quarters while Arsha sighed, wondering how to proceed. She didn’t have to wait long.

“Captain Royana,” called Malak over the comms, “sensors picked up a Trinnie Robot coming towards us!” Arsha adopted her authoritative stance once again.

“Has it made any demands?” she asked.

“No, Ma’am. It’s not even fired on us.”

“This feels like a trap. Send a squadron out to meet it.”

“Aye, Captain.”

---

The robot stood by the Endeavor and waited for the squadron to approach it. It was humanoid, armored all around, and had purple eyes. The squadron leveled their wands at the construct. The robot then raised its hands. “I surrender,” it said in a male voice. The squadron looked at each other, then at the robot.

“State your designation!” demanded an Ice Elf.

“I don’t have a designation,” replied the robot. “My name is Markulak.”

“What’s your purpose here?”

“I have information that may help Arsha win the Final War.”

“…Prepare to be searched!” Markulak nodded and a human came forward, patting it down.

“…It’s clean,” he called.

“Bring it to the brig!” ordered the Ice Elf. “Mr. Markulak, you’re now a prisoner of war!”

“I understand,” replied Markulak.

---

“You brought the robot on board?!” snarled Arsha once the Ice Elf reported what his squadron did. “I was hoping you’d shoot it!”

“With all due respect, Captain, I couldn’t do that,” replied the Ice Elf. “Not when it surrendered voluntarily.”

“It’s a Trinnie robot! It’s programmed to be tricky!”

“Jansha was programmed to be servile, yet she chose to be in a position of power over organics. Who’s to say that a Trinnie robot may defect?” Arsha arched an eyebrow, then thought about it.

“…It’s a risk.”

“Endea’s trial was a risk.” Arsha smiled.

“True. All right, we’ll keep the robot, but it’s YOUR responsibility.”

“Aye, Ma’am.”

---

Markulak was kept in a brig cell, given a means of recharging his systems through the power conduits of the ship. Arsha and the Ice Elf then entered the brig. They approached the cell, prompting Markulak to look up. “You gave yourself a name,” began Arsha.

“Strictly speaking, it was Jansha who did,” replied Markulak. “Markulak: Model 7. You, Captain, decapitated my predecessor, Markulak: Model 6.”

“I had no idea.”

“It’s one of the reasons I left the Empire.”

“You told me,” remarked the Ice Elf, “that you had information concerning the Empire.”

“Indeed. Dr. Borg ordered the Empire to find a Divine Tower in the Under-realm.”

“Why?” asked Arsha.

“It relates to them betraying Oyed.”

“I had a report about that. She turned on him and drained him of his Divine Mana.”

“Not just his, the Divine Ones’ as well.”

“What?!”

“The Divine Ones?!” yelped the Ice Elf.

“The Imperial Council,” continued Markulak, “believes that they will be better Gods if they blend Oyed’s Divine Mana with the Divine Ones, then ingest it.”

“I want confirmation on that!” Arsha ordered the Ice Elf. He nodded and pulled his sleeve back to reveal a communicator.

“Coil. Nine. Seven. Boxcar,” he said into it.

“Link. Click. Four,” replied a distorted voice.

“Sugar. Sugar. Nine. Four. Two. Sky. Cloud. Tower. Contract.

“Tower. Salt. Four. One. Twelve. Nine. Salt. Sign.”

“Boxcar. Three. Station.”

“Stop.” The call ended.

“Our cryptographers,” remarked Markulak, “can never figure that code out.”

“It’s confirmed,” reported the Ice Elf. “Imperial forces are searching for a Divine Tower in the Under-realm. They’re planning on being the new Divine Ones.”

“We need to get the Dwarf Kingdoms reunited,” declared Arsha. “With their help, we can find it faster than Dr. Borg can.” She then turned to Markulak. “Why?”

“You must understand, I want to preserve my people,” replied the robot, “but their recklessness and constant cloning of one’s mind is driving them to ruin.”

“I’m not so sure as I can promise the Empire’s preservation,” remarked Arsha. “My Blood Contract forbids it.”

“…Regrettable, but I will help you assist in its destruction.”

“Very well. Now, the reports indicate that most Trin…ity robots have an explosive payload in them, but in an unknown location.”

“Our left knees carry the detonator. Remove it and the explosive will be contaminated to the oxygen inrush.” Arsha called for a bomb squad to deal with the problem. The bomb squad found the detonator, removed it, and there was a hiss coming from inside Markulak.

“Now, if THAT wasn’t Detonium quickly oxidizing,” remarked the Bomb Squad’s Orc woman leader, “I don’t know what is.”

“Detonium?” asked Arsha. “Not exactly stable in terms of explosives. Very reactive.”

“Dr. Borg wanted us to take our enemies with us,” explained Markulak.

“Well, it’s harmless now,” replied the Orc woman.

“Now, what else shall we talk about?” asked the Ice Elf.

Dalengor pointed out the saboteur’s cell. Admiral Conso Forsorna was a Troll/Incubus Blender with a Lust Demon’s eyes, wings, horns, and tail. “Captain Royana,” he purred. “It’s an honor to be here.”

“Spare me, Admiral! We both know you’re stealing supplies!” hissed Arsha. His smile then vanished.

“All right, let’s do as you suggested and get straight to the interrogation!”

“You stole supplies from us!”

“To make sure you go along with the Council’s decision! Aldarval’s constructing a Realmgate behind our backs after we overrode her veto on keeping the Realms separate! Why?!” Dalengor snarled.

“You’re the one being-!” Arsha raised her hand to stop her.

“We’re gonna humor him and go through his interrogation.” She then turned to Conso. “We’re reconnecting the Realms one way or another and halting the Trinnies’ attempts to create their own.”

“Come on, they’re not that smart!”

“You’re underestimating the genius of their leaders! Dr. Borg probably looked at all the Realmgates, figured out the network, and decided to make her own when the old ones were destroyed!”

“I don’t underestimate her genius. You, on the other hand, overestimate her.”

“I most certainly do NOT! But, let’s forget about her for a minute and get to more important matters! Do you have any idea how many supply lines this irresponsible act has disrupted?! My own castle’s technology came from other Realms! Heating fuel from the Under-realm! Masonry from the Over-realm! Barely any Realm uses their own resources, we all made our money by exporting them!”

“We seem to be surviving just fine without the Realmgates! Our economies ARE still stable!”

“But for how long?! I know Dr. Borg! She’ll strike when our economies finally collapse! She’ll give us access to her own Realmgate network only if we bow to her! She adapts! Evolves! Destroying her is the only chance we have to survive and thrive!” Conso shut his eyes in annoyance.

“Given your history with Dr. Borg, I have a certain…sympathy for your desire to end her life. But I cannot condone the rebuilding of the Realmgates if it means the continuation of the Final War. Your crew is hereby ordered to halt your labors and begin taking what you’ve made apart so we can negotiate with the Realm Trinity Empire.”

“…I’m afraid negotiation is impossible, especially for me, Lardeth, Malnar, and our parents.”

“You lot won’t even try?!”

“Our Blood Contract forbids that.” Conso blinked.

“…You mean, that bit about the Blood Contract during your address to the Realms on the day your parents declared war? That was real?”

“I have the scar to prove it.” She showed off the back of her right hand to give Conso a good look at her signature scarred onto it. She continued her explanation. “It said that we would avenge Andwayla’s death by destroying the Realm Trinity Empire. If we try to negotiate with them, it would be considered reneging on the contract, and we’d lose our lives. We CAN’T negotiate with the Trinnies.” Conso looked at her in horror. “They worship Oyed, remember? He won’t rest until the Realms are destroyed. We HAVE to destroy him and his followers to survive, meaning we need to be more aggressive.”

“Well, you just left me with a horrid choice,” growled Conso, “whether to stop you and let you die to save the Realms or to allow you to continue this fruitless war you, your lovers, and respective parents started!”

“I don’t know if you fully understand,” replied Arsha, “but an Under-realm ruler was killed, an Over-realm ruler was wounded, and those acts took place in the Mid-realm. Andwayla Narven introduced methods that helped us hunt down Splitters in record time; her assassin, Yamta, spat on those contributions by killing her! If you were in our position-!”

“Arsha, you don’t need to explain yourself!” urged Dalengor. Arsha didn’t stop.

“If you were in our position, Sir, you would do the same.”

“…I’m not in your position, though. I can’t even BEGIN to imagine your thought process on the eve of the War! You lot may have found a way to ignore the exhaustive implications of combat, but I have no such luxury! I don’t have the freedom to kill you to save the Realms! We’ve long agreed that such an act is reprehensible and entirely unacceptable! If the end of the Realms was farther off, I would have your parents executed and you and your fellows forced to give up your claims to your respective thrones, but Aldarval will surely veto that and we couldn’t amass the necessary voices to overturn her veto, and I am NOT prepared to keep you locked up forever! So I see no alternative…but to be the single “no” vote when we decide on keeping the Realmgates closed forever and to allow you to continue with your work on rebuilding the Realmgates.”

“…Very well,” sighed Arsha. “Dalengor, let him go.”

“Captain!”

“That’s an order.” Dalengor hesitated, then she keyed in a command on the console and lowered the energy field on Conso’s cell. He then stepped out of the cell and turned to leave, then he turned back to Arsha.

“Take a message to the All-realm Royals and Aldarval,” he hissed, “I will be monitoring you lot VERY closely. If I EVER find out that you intend to prolong this war, I won’t hesitate in taking aggressive action against you all! If the Final War doesn’t end by this year, you, Lardeth, and Malnar are to surrender your claims to your respective thrones! Is that clear?!” Arsha nodded, then Conso left.

“You can’t agree to that!” hissed Dalengor. “We need YOU to rule the Mid-realm! Wasn’t it your dream to marry your lovers and unite the Realms?!”

“I received a report a day ago,” explained Arsha. “Eltan’s group of renegade Revenants found out that the Trinnies betrayed Oyed and weakened him as well as all the Divine Ones. Right now, Dr. Borg’s forces are manageable. I have a good feeling we WILL win the Final War before the year’s out.”

“That’s three months out though!”

“Then we’ll win in three months. I can see it now, all of Rokanth going through a five-day victory vice…oh Depths, what was I thinking?!”

“Captain?”

“That must be why Mom and Dad smoked! Seeing me again allowed for a victory vice! …Depths, I was rude! I gotta go take care of something!” She immediately dashed towards her quarters.

Arsha and Marshii were briefed on the situation with the Ralandren government and what parts were needed to fix the Realmgate. They met with Aldarval and Norvorok. “The way I see it,” mused Arsha, “we have two methods of attack for this situation. First off, we DO have the supplies needed to fix the Realmgate. Second, well, that depends on Marshii.”

“We’ve got the medical staff we need to help,” replied Marshii.

“Perfect. Then Marshii and her staff will help with the petrification virus while Thangred and his team can sort out the Realmgate repairs. We’ll have security teams round the clock for any saboteurs. Any sighted crooks, the security officer that catches them is to immediately teleport the perp into a brig cell and tell me about it so I can personally question them. Aldarval, is there a timetable attached to this?”

“I would like to have Heenda unpetrified in three days,” answered Aldarval. “The Council’s about to meet again and they would prefer all members to be in attendance. He can call for a second vote on keeping the Realmgates closed, and we should be able to reconnect the Realms without any interruptions.”

“We can try and free him in that amount of time, but I can’t guarantee anything,” remarked Marshii.

“Do what you can,” directed Aldarval. “Now, unless there’s anything more, I’d call this meeting adjourned.” No one said anything as they got up. When they rounded a corner, Marshii DID say something to Arsha.

“Captain, can you send someone to investigate your parents’ quarters?”

“Why?” asked Arsha. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s been a funny smell emanating from there the past few days.” Arsha arched her eyebrow.

“I’ll…see what’s up personally.” She left Marshii and made her way to her parents’ quarters. The instant she reached for the door, she smelt the smell. As she sniffed, she sighed and thought of Rokanth, Foresna’s home. Mainly Halfling inhabited, there was always the scent of tobacco in the air…tobacco…Arsha then realized that the “funny smell” was tobacco smoke! She rang the door chime.

“Come in,” called her dad. She opened the door and found Elgrad and Hanako each smoking a tobacco pipe!

“MAMA! DADDY!” she cried. “WHAT’S ALL THIS?!”

“Arsha, what’s wrong?” asked Elgrad.

“What’s wrong?! When did you two start smoking?! You know what, forget it! You can explain this to Marshii!”

“Arsha-” began Hanako.

“Don’t wanna hear it! You! Me! Sick Bay! Now!”

---

“Really?!” snapped Marshii when she heard the story. Arsha simply stayed silent, glaring at her parents, and having transferred her hairpiece to her waist. “Really, you two?! Three days?! You started smoking the instant Arsha retook command of the ship three days ago?! That’s really all it takes for a land-dweller to start smoking?!”

“It’s well within our authority to do so,” rumbled Elgrad.

“Don’t talk to me about authority!” grunted the old mermaid. “Even if we forget every single risk associated with smoking, do you realize how much it costs?! It’s 100 golds per tobacco pouch right now! Higher for Rokanth-grown tobacco! Talking to me about authority?! You know, I have the authority to quarantine your asses from the rest of the crew!”

“…We’re well-aware, Doctor.”

“Marshii, is there precedence for this?” asked Arsha.

“Not within their families, no,” replied Marshii. “No Royana has smoked since Mortak took control of the Mid-realm and the Rotanos haven’t smoked since the First Age. This is new territory for them.”

“Are we in any immediate danger?” asked Hanako. Marshii bit her tongue before she went off. It was time for information gathering, not a tirade.

“What happens if you don’t puff on your pipe for, say, a half-hour?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Oh sweet Ones!” groaned Arsha as she put her head to the wall. This wasn’t a headache she expected.

“Yesterday,” explained Elgrad, “I was stuck in one of the elevators for ten minutes due to a power fluctuation during maintenance. I didn’t have my pipe on me, and I started shaking. I couldn’t stop until I smoked.”

“Well, medical analysis (and a little bit of common sense) says that if you two keep it up, it’s only gonna get worse,” remarked Marshii. “Worse case and the likeliest scenario at this rate, you won’t be able to go ten seconds without a puff.”

“Can’t you just give them a potion to get them to kick the habit?” asked Arsha.

“Those kinds of potions have to match their biology. In this specific scenario, your parents are Patients One and Zero. Given that they came from really healthy families, it’s gonna take a while to whip one up.”

“How long’s that gonna take?” asked Elgrad.

“Hours, days maybe. Nurse Raltin’s good at whipping up potions. He might offer a better estimate than me. Until then, we need a cleaning crew to get rid of the tobacco smell in their quarters.”

“I’ll assign one right away,” declared Arsha. “I won’t have people become second-hand smokers. Mom, Dad, you can stay in mine while that’s going on. You’ll return to your own once they’re clean. And while you’re crashing in mine, I’m gonna lay down a ground-rule here: you two need to support each other through this. No smoking in my quarters or anywhere on my ship!” Just then, Dalengor’s voice came through the comms.

“Brig to Arsha,” she called. Arsha took the call.

“Go ahead,” she replied.

“We’ve got a saboteur in a brig cell. You’re not gonna believe this, but it’s Admiral Conso.” Arsha’s eyes went wide.

“Conso?! Sabotage?!” asked Marshii.

“On my way!” declared Arsha. She then turned to Marshii. “Can Nurse Raltin work on the smoker potion without you?”

“Easily. He can mix potions in his sleep, not that he should.”

“Have him keep me abreast on progress. I’m heading to the brig. Oh, and Mom? Dad?”

“Yes, sweetie?” asked Hanako.

“Malnar and Lardeth’s parents are gonna hear about this as well as my lovers.” She then left Sick Bay and made her way to the brig.

After she was cleared for duty, Arsha put her duty uniform back on and examined herself in the mirror. She sighed as she felt herself returning to old habits. She then thought about her rose hairpiece. She then guessed that it must have been lost when Oyed beat her up half a year ago. She then heard the door chime. “Come in,” she called. Elgrad then entered.

“That look suits you better, Sweetie,” he remarked.

“It certainly feels better than that hospital gown,” she replied. “Although, it feels like it’s still incomplete. I guess it’s just me missing my hair ornament.” She then shook her head slightly. “Oh well, I guess I’ll have to go without it.”

“Then what am I gonna do with this?” Elgrad then pulled his hand out from behind him and revealed Arsha’s rose hairpiece! Arsha’s eyes lit up in surprised happiness.

“I thought it was gone forever! Daddy, where did you find that?!”

“In Wysper City, of all places. Someone found it four months ago and held onto it until they managed to get my attention. I kept it in my quarters the entire time.” Elgrad handed it back to her and she set it into its proper place in her hair bun. She then felt a swell of strength coming from within her as she looked into the mirror once again.

“Much better! Thanks for holding onto it, Daddy!”

“Anything for my little girl.” Arsha gave the mirror one last glance.

“Well, I better get to the bridge. We should be arriving at the Plains by now.”

“Good luck, Arsha!” bid Elgrad as they left the room and went in opposite directions. Arsha then entered the bridge with the confidence she was known for. Denstra left the Captain’s chair and took her own. Arsha sat in the Captain’s chair, feeling like she was returning to an old friend of hers.

“Approaching the Plains,” Nazay reported.

“They’ve accepted our codes and are giving us a landing path,” called Shalvey.

“Nazay, set us down,” ordered Arsha. “It’s time to get some work done here.”

“Beginning landing cycle,” confirmed Nazay. The Endeavor then glided down and slowed down so it wouldn’t kick up so much debris or loose ends. She then touched down and a group of Centaur soldiers came up to greet them.

---

Arsha, Denstra, Endea, and Bashoon were led to a bunker where Aldarval was talking to a pair of people, a Neko woman and a Human man. “Sabotage? Are you sure?” asked Aldarval.

“There’s no doubt about it,” replied the Neko. “Someone’s against us rebuilding the Realmgate.”

“And whether or not it’s the Trinnies or the Council,” muttered Aldarval, “makes no difference.” One of the Centaur soldiers cleared her throat, attracting their attention. Aldarval grinned at seeing Arsha again. “When I heard you were actually alive, I couldn’t believe it!” she chuckled. “But it’s great to see you again, Arsha!”

“It’s great to see you too, Admiral,” returned Arsha. “What’s this about sabotage?”

“It’s been going on for about a quarter of a year now,” explained the Neko. “Every time we’re close to a breakthrough, some nitwit decides it’s good to undo the work in some capacity! We were supposed to have finished it by now, but we’re still three-fourths of the way!”

“And nerves are really getting frayed here,” continued the Human. “Although, with Bashoon’s help, I might be able to help people and get them to calm down.”

“…Do we know each other personally?” asked Bashoon. The Human smiled softly.

“You’ve been enjoying freedom for a long time. …I willingly chose imprisonment over my sins.” Bashoon’s eyes then lit up.

“Novice Norvorok!” She was about to hug him, then recalled something. “Whoa, hang on! Last time I saw you, your hospital was breeding Chimeras for experimentation!”

“I’ve sought redemption, Bashoon!” answered Norvorok. “Ever since my arrest, I’ve been seeking forgiveness under his guidance! If you help me now, you’ll be able to help the Realms in the process!”

“I’m not working with you, buddy! Not after the torture you helped that hospital put those Chimeras through!”

“You need to come with me, right now!”

“Oh no, YOU’RE coming with ME!”

“Lieutenant, enough,” interjected Arsha.

“I’m sorry, Bashoon,” said Norvorok as he pulled out a bracelet, “but the situation is more dire than you thought! Malutan!”

“DON’T YOU DARE!” Bashoon and Norvorok then vanished. Arsha blinked, then looked at Aldarval.

“Norvorok’s been rather spun up about his project,” explained the Admiral. “In any event, we must talk.”

“Yes, what’s this about sabotage?”

“Various supplies are being stolen,” explained the Neko. “We’ve been trying to construct a Realmgate without them, but we’re just not able to make a stable portal!”

“What are the supplies you need, Miss…?”

“Pouncara. Nekini Pouncara.” Arsha blinked.

“The harem outfit model?”

“I needed to put my engineering degree to use in these times of war.”

“…I’m amazed. Anyways, what supplies do you need?”

---

Bashoon and Norvorok managed to land flat on their faces. “Oof! Ow!” groaned Bashoon. “Rough teleport! Then again, that always happens with a Tele-bracelet.” Her expression then hardened again. “But you can teleport us back!”

“I only had the power for one trip!” replied Norvorok.

“Then get some more! Where are we?!”

“We’re at the Capital City.”

“Good! Then you can tell King Heenda that I’d like a word! They’ve got hundreds of their people trapped in other Realms! THOUSANDS!

“But you’re in the Royal Castle! Right now!” Norvorok then flicked the lights on to show Centaur statues.

“…What’s with the artwork?” asked Bashoon, confused.

“Let’s just say the sculptors were Gorgons, renegades that tried to kill Erudsa after she sided with us.” Bashoon then realized what, or rather, WHO, the statues were. She got a good look at the statues around the throne and realized they were King Heenda Untarfu, his harem with his harem head, Laumney, and their son, Kunfar. “A voice was silenced,” continued Norvorok. “If he attended the Realmfleet Council meeting, then he would have struck down the motion of not rebuilding the Realmgates.”

“How long has it been like this?”

“Just a month after the Realmgates were destroyed, the day before the decision to keep the Realms closed off to one another. This petrification wasn’t the result of the usual Gorgon’s Stare. The renegade Gorgons disguised themselves as travelling merchants and sold a new potion to the people of the castle. When it evaporated, it released a virus that resulted in turning them into living statues. It died before it could leave the castle. It froze the local government in three minutes flat. There was only enough time to close the castle off from the outside world.”

“You said living statues. How did you-?” a scared moan then escaped from Kunfar’s statue, answering Bashoon’s question.

“They’ve been unable to die or move,” continued Norvorok. “They’re stuck forever in their respective poses.”

“So you’ve been trying to find a cure and give Aldarval the voice she needs to pass an executive order to rebuild the Realmgates.”

“We don’t have enough medics, even with their help! They’re doing all they can!”

“Who’s we? How are you still flesh and blood?”

“One of them told me about this! They’ve all been waiting for the Endeavor these long years!”

“Norvorok?” called a woman’s voice. They both turned to see a Chimera woman enter the throne room. She had the legs of a goat, a mermaid’s tail, a tiger’s torso, talons for hands, the eyes of a lizard, and a pair of tiny horns on her head, just barely visible under her auburn hair. “Ah, there you are,” greeted the Chimera woman. She then saw Bashoon and gasped. “One of the Saviors! Bashoon Barmek!”

“Er, I’m sorry, I’m at a disadvantage. Who are you?”

“I’m Lanbuldii Lorntar, Savior Bashoon!”

“Stop that, I’m as mortal as you.”

“She and her fellows have called the Endeavor crew their Saviors since they were saved from the Monastic Hospital’s Womb,” explained Norvorok.

“…She’s one of the Chimeras from the Womb?!” realized Bashoon.

“And thanks to the research, I’ve been cured of my pain!” explained Lanbuldii.

“Thanks to Crossgene Hospital’s newer research methods, we’ve saved them all,” continued Norvorok. “I was made the head of the research team as penance for my sins.”

“We received news about the virus about a day after it hit the castle. The Centaurs smaller government officials are doing what they can to keep the Plains running, but without a central figure to guide them, the Plains would have gone tribal.”

“So you saved them,” summarized Bashoon.

“We tried to cure them,” supplied Norvorok as he gestured to the petrified Centaurs, “but we simply don’t have enough people to help. Even the Gorgon doctors are baffled.”

“There are other countries in the Over-realm that have doctors to help,” reminded Bashoon, “even those initially from other Realms.”

“Not nearly enough,” replied Norvorok. “We need Marshii’s genius. We couldn’t get a message to her until we got reports that the Endeavor found Arsha.”

“So you’ve stayed here all on your own for the entire half-year?”

“I had no choice! I can’t leave these people to their suffering!”

“…Can’t is a matter of fact. You actually can, but you won’t. That makes it a choice.” Bashoon finally gave him a warm smile. “You really ARE serious about repenting.”

“Bashoon, we need the Endeavor’s help more than ever!”

“And you’ll have it. This, I promise.” The two then hugged.