The Search for ZKW

[Craines]

Fiona looked at deSicev. The water seemed to have done him some harm. The pixels that made up his face had been the target, but the shield got all the water...

"Statement: Fiona, we cannot trust the Inquisition. They claim secrecy, but their presence can always be found, lurking about. Continued theory: If they are within the Kusari government, then we wouldn't need to give them permission. Perhaps they are lying? Conjecture: If they are, we cannot trust them with the ingenious Jaktarian device, nor the Galactic Energy Basin conduit. The artifact, by any other name. Foreboding Addendum: Fiona, if we give them even the merest hint to the way the artifact functions in conjunction with the ZKW device, we'll unleash a terror worse than even Verginix himself."

Fiona stared at the little device. It hadn't begun to sing, that was a plus. But it would say the subject matter before the sentence... well, it was an improvement.

"DeSicev, how you know about the Inquisition, or the ZKW device, or the Galactic Energy Basin, I'll never know. Or try to find out. But I trust Roddy and Rita. And even if they have a... scarred leader, I do not believe we should treat them as enemies."

She turned to the two Bretonians. "Yes, I can get you clearance for Kusari crafts. But know this; they must be returned at the end of this expedition, or else... well, the wrath of Kusari will be brought onto Tekagi's fortress. I don't envy anyone inside when the entire Kusari fleet opens fire upon it."

And so, it was decided. Fiona couldn't go herself, for there were pressing issues involving the Clan Ghost Wolf were still in high motion. The Epiphany, piloted by the semi-lucid deSicev, would go in her stead. "After all, he knows more about this than I do!" Fiona reasoned with Roddy and Rita.

"Query: What ships did you have in mind, Masters?" deSicev asked in his now-accentless voice. "Clarification: Mistress Fiona has informed me that you two are to be called Masters Roddy and Rita. I am loathe to do so, but she is the mistress. And I cannot question her. Scathing Riposte: If you give me any reason to doubt your loyalty to the mission, I'll jettison myself into the void. Good luck finding me out there."

Roddy and Rita smiled at one another. This would be a fun mission.

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