An hour after the briefing, Delselii decided to visit Markulak\u2019s cell. He didn\u2019t know why, just that he felt that he needed to see him\u2026it. He entered the brig and looked at Markulak. The robot\u2019s lights were off. Delselii turned to the Orc woman guarding the brig. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing, he\u2019s just recharging,\u201d replied the guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWake it up. I want to talk to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not advisable. He\u2019s gotta get out of recharge himself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have questions for it and-!\u201d Markulak then started whispering. \u201c\u2026What in the Realms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha!\u201d mumbled Markulak. His lights then flickered on as he switched on, shaking all the while. He then looked at his surroundings and calmed down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d asked the guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I was\u2026dreaming,\u201d replied Markulak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLooked like a nightmare.\u201d Delselii arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was in the Over-realm,\u201d recalled Markulak. \u201cRealmfleet Headquarters, to be precise. I was supposed to report for my debriefing, but I couldn\u2019t find the right office. Then I started calling Arsha\u2019s name but\u2026she didn\u2019t answer. And then, suddenly, I was being chased by my fellow robots\u2026or were they\u2026Golems? \u2026Silly, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t look so tough,\u201d Delselii muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor!\u201d hissed the guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy type of robot is not the strongest, no,\u201d remarked Markulak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAren\u2019t you going to say that we\u2019ll be bowing to the Empire soon?\u201d asked Delselii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t really want to, do you?\u201d quizzed Markulak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, but that\u2019s what you\u2019re programmed to say, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I mean, it IS part of my initial programming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018The Realms will be made better with us in charge,\u2019 I believe is the mantra.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, and Dr. Borg believes such will be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s wrong. People like her are always wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no one like her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always someone like her. When my people were created under Intrag\u2019s rule, we were disposable labor. Our talents were always stifled. It took a long time for Homunculi to get to where they are now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re comparing her to Intrag?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, because her words mirror his and she\u2019s managed to recruit most Homunculi to fight against the Realms. Now my people are fractured, and we can\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you have a similar nightmare to mine.\u201d Delselii blinked in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou feel like you\u2019re the only one of your kind who sees sense,\u201d guessed Markulak. Delselii said nothing. That comment hit a little too close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bashoon finished her current duties and returned to Delselii\u2019s quarters. She rang the door chime. \u201cCome in,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe robots?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGot them from Mr. Markulak,\u201d replied Delselii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026MISTER Markulak, I see,\u201d chuckled the Goblin woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI went to see him. I don\u2019t know why, just curiosity maybe. He woke up from a nightmare. He was in Realmfleet HQ and couldn\u2019t 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\u2019s command. Sounded way too similar to my nightmare lately and I know I didn\u2019t tell him about it, so he couldn\u2019t draw from that. You know, he called his nightmare silly, maybe mine is too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot at all. It\u2019s not easy turning your back on your own people. Believe me, I know.\u201d Delselii looked at her in disbelief. \u201cOh yes, I understand what you and Markulak are going through. My family turned its back on Goblin-kind when it was corrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is the first I\u2019m hearing of it,\u201d said Delselii in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not something I like to talk about usually. But, given the similarities between the three of us, it\u2019s something you need to hear.\u201d Bashoon pulled up a chair and began her story. \u201cIt was when I was a Realmfleet Cadet. After I served a small training cruise aboard the Starfinder<\/em>, 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\u2019s 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<\/em> as an Ensign and my parents were given an opportunity to open Barmek\u2019s Bar and Grill. We still had no other Goblins to help us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt sounds like the Barmeks were clanless once,\u201d muttered Delselii in confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were until Penshek Tolshoon became Chancellor. Because we helped him find the Scale-Sword of Yunshul and were among the first to discover Oyed\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Here\u2019s hoping.\u201d Delselii smiled a genuine smile as he said that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over in Frigandor, Dr. Borg was cleaning up after an experiment. \u201cJust shy of one lousy half watt!\u201d she grumbled. \u201cAll I need is a more efficient cloaking system! Is that REALLY so much to ask?! Are we that behind technologically?!\u201d The door chime then rang. \u201cCome in.\u201d A Sprite couple then came in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCy-girl!\u201d called the woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy little scientist and Oyed slayer!\u201d cheered the man. Dr. Borg\u2019s face lit up as she turned to face them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom! Dad!\u201d She then hugged her parents. \u201cWhat are you doing here? I thought you were stuck in the Over-realm!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cActually, we were in the Grilthan Forest, taking a little leave time,\u201d explained Mr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave to admit, Oyed really messed up our travel plans,\u201d remarked Mrs. Borg. \u201cBut we took solace in your successfully draining him like that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did you find this place anyways?\u201d asked Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPurely by accident, believe it or not,\u201d said Mr. Borg. \u201cWe decided to finally visit Frigandor and explored the outskirts. We stumbled into an icy cave and your forces caught us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut your darling spouses checked us over and gave us clearance,\u201d continued Mrs. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s great to see you again!\u201d cheered Dr. Borg. \u201cThis war\u2019s kept me away from you guys for too long!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, so did Rellmeer\u2019s unlawful execution of you,\u201d muttered Mr. Borg. \u201cBut you showed her, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing keeps Cytanek Yavenag Borg down, does it?!\u201d chuckled Mrs. Borg as she pinched her daughter\u2019s cheek lovingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom!\u201d protested Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, about that horrid Arsha!\u201d growled Mrs. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy sources told me she\u2019s back in the Mid-realm right now,\u201d replied Dr. Borg, \u201cpossibly to retake her home of Largandra. It\u2019s a bit of a toss-up right now as one of my robots went rogue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, if you need help, you may avail upon us,\u201d promised Mr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re here for you now!\u201d agreed Mrs. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks, Mom and Dad!\u201d said Dr. Borg. \u201cIt\u2019s been too long since we were together!\u201d The Borgs then embraced each other like the family they were.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An hour after the briefing, Delselii decided to visit Markulak\u2019s cell. He didn\u2019t know why, just that he felt that he needed to see him\u2026it. He entered the brig and looked at Markulak. The robot\u2019s lights were off. Delselii turned to the Orc woman guarding the brig. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d he asked. \u201cNothing, he\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3260,"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-5200","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\/5200","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=5200"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5201,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5200\/revisions\/5201"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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