Arsha made her way to a nearby computer terminal. \u201cComputer, locate my parents,\u201d she ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKing Elgrad and Queen Hanako Royana,\u201d replied the computer, \u201care in docking tube 3.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you!\u201d 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\u2019s regretful face and got the idea. Hanako opened the door and Arsha stepped back as they walked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFigured it out, did we?\u201d asked Elgrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMama, Daddy, I\u2019m so sorry I was rude!\u201d said Arsha. \u201cI didn\u2019t even think you guys were going through a victory vice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of your lovers is from Rokanth, and you didn\u2019t even consider that?\u201d asked Hanako.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd consider how we felt,\u201d continued Elgrad. \u201cWe 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?\u201d Arsha turned her eyes down. \u201cI\u2019m gonna guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, you can\u2019t afford to make those kind of snap judgments,\u201d continued Hanako, \u201cnot if we\u2019re going to win this war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No, Mom and Dad. \u2026Sorry, Mom and Dad,\u201d mumbled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, I think we said our peace,\u201d said Elgrad. \u201cWe\u2019ll take that smoker\u2019s potion once the victory vice is over, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right.\u201d Elgrad and Hanako then returned to their quarters while Arsha sighed, wondering how to proceed. She didn\u2019t have to wait long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaptain Royana,\u201d called Malak over the comms, \u201csensors picked up a Trinnie Robot coming towards us!\u201d Arsha adopted her authoritative stance once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHas it made any demands?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, Ma\u2019am. It\u2019s not even fired on us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis feels like a trap. Send a squadron out to meet it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The robot stood by the Endeavor<\/em> 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. \u201cI surrender,\u201d it said in a male voice. The squadron looked at each other, then at the robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cState your designation!\u201d demanded an Ice Elf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t have a designation,\u201d replied the robot. \u201cMy name is Markulak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s your purpose here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have information that may help Arsha win the Final War.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Prepare to be searched!\u201d Markulak nodded and a human came forward, patting it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026It\u2019s clean,\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBring it to the brig!\u201d ordered the Ice Elf. \u201cMr. Markulak, you\u2019re now a prisoner of war!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand,\u201d replied Markulak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou brought the robot on board?!\u201d snarled Arsha once the Ice Elf reported what his squadron did. \u201cI was hoping you\u2019d shoot it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith all due respect, Captain, I couldn\u2019t do that,\u201d replied the Ice Elf. \u201cNot when it surrendered voluntarily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a Trinnie robot! It\u2019s programmed to be tricky!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJansha was programmed to be servile, yet she chose to be in a position of power over organics. Who\u2019s to say that a Trinnie robot may defect?\u201d Arsha arched an eyebrow, then thought about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026It\u2019s a risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEndea\u2019s trial was a risk.\u201d Arsha smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrue. All right, we\u2019ll keep the robot, but it\u2019s YOUR responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. \u201cYou gave yourself a name,\u201d began Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStrictly speaking, it was Jansha who did,\u201d replied Markulak. \u201cMarkulak: Model 7. You, Captain, decapitated my predecessor, Markulak: Model 6.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of the reasons I left the Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou told me,\u201d remarked the Ice Elf, \u201cthat you had information concerning the Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed. Dr. Borg ordered the Empire to find a Divine Tower in the Under-realm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt relates to them betraying Oyed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had a report about that. She turned on him and drained him of his Divine Mana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot just his, the Divine Ones\u2019 as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Divine Ones?!\u201d yelped the Ice Elf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Imperial Council,\u201d continued Markulak, \u201cbelieves that they will be better Gods if they blend Oyed\u2019s Divine Mana with the Divine Ones, then ingest it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI want confirmation on that!\u201d Arsha ordered the Ice Elf. He nodded and pulled his sleeve back to reveal a communicator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCoil. Nine. Seven. Boxcar,\u201d he said into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLink. Click. Four,\u201d replied a distorted voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSugar. Sugar. Nine. Four. Two. Sky. Cloud. Tower. Contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTower. Salt. Four. One. Twelve. Nine. Salt. Sign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoxcar. Three. Station.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStop.\u201d The call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur cryptographers,\u201d remarked Markulak, \u201ccan never figure that code out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s confirmed,\u201d reported the Ice Elf. \u201cImperial forces are searching for a Divine Tower in the Under-realm. They\u2019re planning on being the new Divine Ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to get the Dwarf Kingdoms reunited,\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cWith their help, we can find it faster than Dr. Borg can.\u201d She then turned to Markulak. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou must understand, I want to preserve my people,\u201d replied the robot, \u201cbut their recklessness and constant cloning of one\u2019s mind is driving them to ruin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not so sure as I can promise the Empire\u2019s preservation,\u201d remarked Arsha. \u201cMy Blood Contract forbids it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Regrettable, but I will help you assist in its destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery well. Now, the reports indicate that most Trin\u2026ity robots have an explosive payload in them, but in an unknown location.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur left knees carry the detonator. Remove it and the explosive will be contaminated to the oxygen inrush.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, if THAT wasn\u2019t Detonium quickly oxidizing,\u201d remarked the Bomb Squad\u2019s Orc woman leader, \u201cI don\u2019t know what is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDetonium?\u201d asked Arsha. \u201cNot exactly stable in terms of explosives. Very reactive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Borg wanted us to take our enemies with us,\u201d explained Markulak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s harmless now,\u201d replied the Orc woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, what else shall we talk about?\u201d asked the Ice Elf.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arsha made her way to a nearby computer terminal. \u201cComputer, locate my parents,\u201d she ordered. \u201cKing Elgrad and Queen Hanako Royana,\u201d replied the computer, \u201care in docking tube 3.\u201d \u201cThank you!\u201d She dashed off to the starboard side and found her parents. They still had a pipe in their hands and blinked. They then saw […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5170,"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":[97,238],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-5169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-5-the-final-fight","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5169","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=5169"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5171,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5169\/revisions\/5171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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