\u201cWell, I must compliment you, Arsha,\u201d chuckled Dr. Borg as both Arsha and Bashoon\u2019s teams were brought to the control room. \u201cI honestly didn\u2019t expect a two-pronged attack. Still, your attempt to interfere with my deal with the Imperium was futile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen the Imperium sees that you\u2019ve interfered with a Quest that they\u2019re funding,\u201d snarled Penshek, \u201cthere will be no end to their vengeance!\u201d Dr. Borg stared at him for a moment, then chuckled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Chancellor\u2019s fooled you well, hasn\u2019t he?\u201d she purred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…What?\u201d asked Penshek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet me the Imperium,\u201d Dr. Borg ordered Eltan. The naga keyed in a command and the Goblin Chancellor appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChancellor Torsko?\u201d quizzed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDr. Borg, I trust things are going well,\u201d grunted Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs well as can be expected,\u201d replied Dr. Borg. \u201cWe have the Goblin you sent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent,\u201d purred Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, I don\u2019t understand,\u201d muttered Penshek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…I thought you would have killed him by now,\u201d growled Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s all this about?!\u201d demanded Penshek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA removal of a political rival,\u201d replied Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been insulting my views for too damn long!\u201d continued Torsko. \u201cWhy you side with rebel youngsters when the old ways still work, I\u2019ll never understand!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut…but I don\u2019t…\u201d stammered Penshek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all very simple,\u201d explained Torsko. \u201cDr. Borg contacted me a while ago after finding the Scale-sword on her island. Her financier and a good friend of mine, Tormo, introduced me to her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter we talked, I made him an offer,\u201d continued Dr. Borg. \u201cHe would send a political rival on a Quest for the sword and I would dispose of said rival, earning a little extra money for my experiments. After all of his rivals are gone, I will give the Imperium a position in my empire as the main bankers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we won\u2019t have to rely on Realmfleet for profits!\u201d growled Torsko. \u201cAh, I see you have a member of the Barmek family with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou did all this to spite Realmfleet?!\u201d snarled Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo spite YOU and your sibling-parents, actually,\u201d hissed Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou did NOT just call me the product of inbreeding!\u201d snapped Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy else would you preach the notion that the Imperium is diseased with its own power?!\u201d argued Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrying to enslave the Trolls all over again?!\u201d retorted Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen they served us, it was declared the height of our civilization!\u201d growled Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSlavery\u2019s barbarism and you know it!\u201d shouted Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSlavery\u2019s been the backbone of all civilizations!\u201d snarled Torsko. \u201cOnce Dr. Borg publicly gives the Scale-sword to me after all my rivals are dead, we\u2019ll be funneling money to her for generations to come and I\u2019ll retire easy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo this whole thing is a retirement plan!\u201d growled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think Varshenta Beach will be a good place to retire,\u201d chuckled Torsko. \u201cThe ladies love the money-men there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t get away with this!\u201d hissed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet that from Dr. Snood<\/em>?\u201d scoffed Torsko. He then gave his attention to Dr. Borg. \u201cPenshek\u2019s the last of my rivals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen I\u2019ll deliver the Scale-sword to you once I finish up here,\u201d promised Dr. Borg. \u201cBorg out.\u201d The call ended and Dr. Borg turned to Weltam. \u201cSpeaking of rivals, I believe Arsha should witness the execution of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll bring her up here,\u201d replied Weltam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you\u2019re killing Reb too?\u201d muttered Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBring Melgem up here too,\u201d Dr. Borg directed Weltam. \u201cMy newest theory is that his spirit will be broken worse than his body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, Reb first, then let Melgem give up on living before killing him,\u201d guessed Weltam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the plan for this behavioral experiment,\u201d confirmed Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cComing up,\u201d purred Weltam. She then sauntered off to the brig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen Realmfleet discovers what you did…!\u201d snarled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRealmfleet is ineffective in keeping the major threats under control!\u201d argued Dr. Borg. \u201cYou lot claim to be peacekeepers, yet the Splitters and scum like Reb still exist! The denizens of Domoroto were all kidnapped and raped for 50,000 years, yet the Mega-sharks all got a slap on the wrist by being forcibly relocated! I\u2019m giving the Realms a permanent solution to evil!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen why are you talking to Oyed?!\u201d demanded Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s for me to know and members of the Realm Trinity Empire to find out,\u201d chuckled Dr. Borg. She then turned to the Revenants. \u201cThese are the last prisoners to be executed. Make sure their executions are recorded. After that, send the recordings to Realmfleet HQ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it,\u201d confirmed Yulduk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weltam keyed in an entry code for the brig and the door opened. \u201cOh, Reb!\u201d she sang. \u201cIt\u2019s time for your haircut! Now, the barber recommends going right below the neck and…WHAT THE?!\u201d The cells were empty! Weltam opened them and cast a spell to determine if magic was used or is in use. The spell turned up nothing. \u201cOf all the…!\u201d snarled Weltam. She slammed her hand on an alarm button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The alarm rang throughout the base. Dr. Borg determined its location to be from the brig. \u201cCommand Center to brig!\u201d she called over the intercom. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReb and Melgem have flown the coop!\u201d replied Weltam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you sure?!\u201d yelped Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPositive! I\u2019ve checked their cells!\u201d answered Weltam. \u201cThey ain\u2019t here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Marshii,\u201d chuckled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Another diversion!\u201d snarled Dr. Borg. \u201cMy security system really IS subpar! Everyone, find them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll fail in the attempt,\u201d laughed Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh? Why, pray tell?\u201d asked Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause the Endeavor<\/em>\u2019s long left the island with Reb and Melgem being patched up by Marshii!\u201d boasted Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScalpel,\u201d Marshii directed the nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScalpel,\u201d replied the nurse as he handed the tool to Marshii. She took the tool and used it to cut the excess cast wrapping off of Reb\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuccess,\u201d declared Marshii once she finished. She turned to the nurse. \u201cGood work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Doctor,\u201d replied the nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy GRACIOUS thanks as well, Doctor,\u201d bid Reb. \u201cI already feel my POOR bones coming back together. That UNHOLY brute, Yulduk, was so base that he WOULD hurt a lady!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d save the thanks for now,\u201d advised Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Why?\u201d asked Reb. The nurse then snapped his fingers and she vanished. \u201cWHAT IN THE DEPTHS?!\u201d shouted Reb\u2019s voice outside the door. Marshii and the nurse stepped out of the brig\u2019s infirmary and smirked as Reb and the cybernetically restored Melgem roared in their cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you really think this opportunity WOULDN\u2019T be exploited?\u201d asked Marshii. \u201cA chance to arrest the most notorious pirates in all the Realms? You bet we\u2019re gonna take it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019LL PUNCTURE YOUR SWIM BLADDER FOR THIS, YOU DRIED-OUT MINNOW!\u201d threatened Reb. \u201cTHEY CAN\u2019T HOLD REBARISAL ROJAM, ADMIRAL OF THE SCARLET STREAM PIRATES!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll we need to do,\u201d chuckled Arsha, \u201cis to get the Scale-sword to Dwelga and upset your little potion-cart!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou won\u2019t be able to do so when your head is cut off!\u201d snarled Dr. Borg. \u201cYulduk, take them to the Execution Yards! We\u2019ll show the Realms what happens to those that defy us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood!\u201d replied Yulduk. He turned to the other Revenants. \u201cYou lot, get them ready for…\u201d he didn\u2019t get far with his command as Eltan\u2019s tail grabbed his waist and flung him into Dr. Borg! As they tried to pick themselves up, the Realmfleet Revenants undid the prisoners\u2019 bonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOrders, Captain?\u201d asked Eltan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet us to the Scale-sword!\u201d ordered Arsha. \u201cAfter that, we\u2019ll all clear a path to the open and summon the Endeavor<\/em> for pickup!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDrelta, lead the way!\u201d Eltan ordered Drelta. \u201cI\u2019ll bring up the rear!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it!\u201d replied Drelta as he summoned a pair of ice blades. Eltan then slithered towards Dr. Borg and Yulduk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is the meaning of this mutiny?!\u201d demanded Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile we DID wish we could see our families one last time before we died,\u201d hissed Eltan, \u201cwe gave our lives to protect them! We feigned rage towards Arsha! The thought of having died DOES sicken me, but I don\u2019t blame Arsha for it! Her life was just as on the line as mine and she was willing to give it up if it meant the mission could succeed back then!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYulduk, stay behind and deal with this traitor,\u201d commanded Dr. Borg. \u201cI\u2019ll take a team with me to stop Arsha\u2019s advance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood,\u201d replied Yulduk. He then got into a defensive stance as he faced Eltan. \u201cThe Revenant Spell was your chance to take revenge on those who left you behind! You OWE Dr. Borg!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou were convinced to join her after she brought you back!\u201d snarled Eltan as the two combatants circled one another. \u201cShe needed to use her words! That\u2019s never a guarantee that a Revenant will join her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUngrateful Shrew!\u201d roared Yulduk. \u201cReborn to a new privilege which you throw away!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrivilege?! This?!\u201d Eltan swept her hand over her tail and indicated the Revenant veins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou clearly never knew a life of failure!\u201d replied Yulduk. \u201cIf you did, you would value the gift Dr. Borg gave you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a curse, not a gift!\u201d argued Eltan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI say it\u2019s a blessing and a second chance!\u201d roared Yulduk. He threw a pair of fireballs at her, but Eltan absorbed them and unleashed a torrent of flames at his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust once,\u201d Dr. Borg griped to herself, \u201cI\u2019d like things to be easy!\u201d Her pursuit of Arsha and her group led her to the new room the Scale-sword was resting in. Bashoon had lowered the force-field already and Penshek was making a grab for it. \u201cBack away from the sword!\u201d demanded Dr. Borg. Penshek didn\u2019t listen and grabbed the sword\u2019s hilt, pulling it free from its bonds. \u201cDisobedience on this scale is punishable by death!\u201d snarled Dr. Borg as she flew at the team in a rage. Sheendii fired a blast of ice at her wings and knocked her to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet going!\u201d urged Sheendii. \u201cI\u2019m undead right now! I\u2019ll cover the escape!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not leaving you again, Lieutenant Eltraa!\u201d argued Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith respect, Captain, you don\u2019t have a say in the matter!\u201d countered Sheendii. \u201cGo! Now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha!\u201d interjected Foresna. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a choice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Withdraw!\u201d called Arsha. Everyone ran as Sheendii fired ice blast after ice blast, slowing down the enemy forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eltan had gotten her coils around Yulduk and slammed him repeatedly against a console, forcing him to fall unconscious. She let him drop to the floor and caught her breath. \u201cI won\u2019t be a slave to her cruelty,\u201d Eltan declared. She then noticed Arsha\u2019s team on the monitor making their way towards the exit. \u201cNear enough,\u201d declared Eltan as she keyed in a command to the power core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWarning. Warning,\u201d droned the computer as an alarm sounded. \u201cReactor core contamination. Unable to purge. This base will self-destruct in three minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The announcement rang throughout the base. \u201cSelf-destruct?!\u201d yelped a pirate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnable to purge?!\u201d wailed Jansha. \u201cMother, what do we do?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Evacuate the base,\u201d declared Dr. Borg. \u201cThis venture is no longer worth pursuing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlunder Island Stronghold can accept you,\u201d offered Rochak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the amount of loyalists Reb has?!\u201d argued Jansha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHad,\u201d corrected Rochak. \u201cThe loyalists fled when we took over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn that case, we accept your offer of asylum,\u201d declared Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yulduk finally got up and shook his head to clear his headache. He heard the alarm and saw the status of the power core with everyone clearing out. He then put two and two together and snarled before dashing towards the exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Realmfleet Revenants and Arsha\u2019s people got outside as the inhabitants of the base continued with a ruthless evacuation of the base. \u201cOkay, Endeavor<\/em>,\u201d called Arsha over a communicator, \u201cwe have the sword and we\u2019re all here! We also have five new arrivals! Get us out of here!\u201d Light surrounded everyone and they all ended up in the teleport room! The officers manning their stations saw the Revenants and leveled their wands at them. \u201cWait! Hold your fire! They\u2019re friendlies!\u201d The crewmembers arched their eyebrows in confusion. \u201cOkay, we\u2019ve got a story to tell you…\u201d muttered Arsha.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cWell, I must compliment you, Arsha,\u201d chuckled Dr. Borg as both Arsha and Bashoon\u2019s teams were brought to the control room. \u201cI honestly didn\u2019t expect a two-pronged attack. Still, your attempt to interfere with my deal with the Imperium was futile.\u201d \u201cWhen the Imperium sees that you\u2019ve interfered with a Quest that they\u2019re funding,\u201d snarled […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2661"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2664,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661\/revisions\/2664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n