The Arch Storm

[Ayem]

We grope about inside the mist, and discover strange creatures and new constructs.
We find a miner, corsair and dragon.

We step in the shadow of Tejina, the provider. The miner falls into our lap and we capture it, bring it close. It speaks.

Kiri: Nothing. We can destroy it if you like, or leave it if it pleases.
Major_MAU: I don'€™t know. I heard that honour is a big word of your identity
Kiri: For some it is their essence of being.
Tejina: For others, a forgotten heritage
Major_MAU: Me too, what about yours?
Kiri: Honour is a dream from a past life.
Kiri:Do you recall your past life?
Tejina: Haste...worry...pain...Striving to meet goals set by those above
Major_Mau: Pah... you know.. mining.. is very good for making money.
Tejina: Unmissed. Undesired, those years
Major_MAU: heard of the orders?
Major_MAU: ever seen them?
Major_MAU: I'€™ve got Dreams.
Kiri: Orders... the Order? A clandestine organisation designed to hunt and kill the creatures from the distant areas of Sirius?
Kiri: No, never heard of them.
Major_MAU: to FIGHT for Freedom. Freedom...
Major_MAU: But ive got no chice
Major_MAU: i have to get money
Tejina: We certainly know nothing of a diabolical terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of House government
Major_MAU: theres no way..
Kiri: Oh yes, they do that too.
Major_MAU: i must earn
Major_MAU: I cant exist
Kiri: For who do you earn all this money?
Major_MAU: For who? For US.. for Freedom!
Kiri: Some distant figure, sat at a desk with a flickering screen, tapping your orders into a keyboard?
Kiri: Rebel, strike him down. He should slave for you.
Major_MAU: I will go down in Honor, if you kill me.
Kiri: What is honourable about death?
Major_MAU: But ill never stop trying to make this world better.
Kiri: Except that you'€™ll be dead.
Major_MAU: To die for a good thing. Thats honor for me.
Kiri: After death, you cannot change the galaxy!
Tejina: What is truly '€œgood'€, though?
Kiri: Therefore, it would make sense not to die.
Major_MAU: Yes. It does.
Kiri: But how not to die?
Major_MAU: What is honor for you?
Kiri: Do you struggle and defeat, or... submit?
Tejina: Is it raising a child in the ways of truth? Is it working day in and day out to care for a family?
Tejina: Is it something more abstract, politics, civil service?
Major_MAU: It is Peace and Freedom. I want to have that!
Tejina: What stigmas do men leave behind when their acts are done?
Major_MAU: PEACE. Freedom. Know what that means?
Tejina: Is it true freedom when all men are left alone to do as they will?
Major_MAU: No. Thats no freedom.
Tejina: Some would take advantage of that...
Tejina: Then what is?
Kiri: There is peace when the gouts of flame settle and the glowing fragments of constructs cool and become dull.
Major_MAU: Freedom is [don'€™t know word for] if everyone has the same rights.
Kiri: Freedom is... equality? How egalitarian.
Tejina: You follow the teachings of the Coalition?
Major_MAU: He has to behave like a true human living
Major_MAU: What are the coalitions teachings?
Major_MAU: Never heard of '€˜em
Tejina: Bits and fragments we know
Tejina: Appearances indicate they aim to share all equally, yet those in power gain more
Major_MAU: Dont understand me the false way.
Major_MAU: I want to be strong.
Major_MAU: I want to be mighty
Major_MAU: I want to CHANGE
Don_Mingo: Owwwwww
Major_MAU: So. Please. Please let me go.
Kiri: Then stand up, protect humanity against its greatest threat.
Kiri: Its selfish '€“humanity-.
Major_MAU: Which threat!
Don_Mingo: You are strong men?
Major_MAU: I want to change
Tejina: Ease the transition to unity
Tejina: Your oration is strong
Major_MAU: theres hope for the humanity
Tejina: Your will unyielding
Major_MAU: I wont give up!
Don_Mingo: There is no HOPE
Kiri: When all people are of the many minds that are one, there will be found true equality.
Don_Mingo: HOPE its in the church
Don_Mingo: And im no belive in GOD
Major_MAU: Maybe not all humans will follow me. But i want to make a better world to those who follow me!
Don_Mingo: im the messia
Don_Mingo: Sirius wil be destroyd
Major_MAU: So. I just want to know, what you will do with my fragile life.
Don_Mingo: The messia whil be comes
Tejina: Nothing binds you to this place save your own inertia. Be free, and change this universe.
Kiri: It will amuse to watch your efforts.
Major_MAU: You. You'€™ve got Honor.
Don_Mingo: All people will be destroy, and then come new people, STRONG PEOPLE
Major_MAU: I will remember you too
Kiri: If all people will be destroyed, how can new people come to be?
Don_Mingo: 1 person
Tejina: If by fire and ice an ending comes, what is left to fill the void?
Major_MAU: there will be hope. Believe. Just believe.
Don_Mingo: There is no Hope.
Tejina: Something will endure. Always has. Always...always...will.

We released the mining machine and its crew, and left to chase the Corsair Don Mingo, but he eluded us by entering the Rheinland star patterns.

Tejina returns to the Gate of Heaven with a bounty of materials and captives. We... drift.

A Corsair springs his trap, he seems so pleased.

Kiri: Now what is this?
Kiri: What lumbers in the mists?
Rico.Santos: Ha!
Kiri: It looks like a monster!
Kiri: But what is it?
Kiri: But monsters don'€™t flee!
Rico.Santos: Goodbye.
Kiri: I suppose it must be human.

It flees with only the trail of its exhaust to remember it by.

A scrap merchant accosts us, fights and flees, then turns to fight, and flees and dies.



We turn our face towards the arch, and slip into Chugoku. A dragon, sleek and maned, prowls his rocky home.

Kiri: They cower within the mists.
Kiri: They should.
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: Mhmmm
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: What is this?!
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: Halt right there!
Kiri: A ghost.
Kiri: But can a ghost touch?
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: A ghost of who?
Kiri: Shoot a gun?
Kiri: Murder a dragon?
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: Can it?
Kiri: It'€™s been known to happen.
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: The ghost is welcome to try?
Kiri: Does it have to?
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: If it wants to...
Kiri: Then I suppose it must.
Kiri: There is an urge.
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: Go on then...try
Kiri: Not going to flee back to your rock?
Kiri: So different from the others..
]bd[Toshiro.Watanabe: only cowards flee
Kiri: The mists will welcome you.
Kiri: Brave to the last. The mists draw close to the wreckage, and preserve.

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