Spies

Region: The Bleak Lands   

Location: Huola – Planet VII – Cerra Manor

Date: 06.08.117

Time: 17:30 Local time

The sound of heels clicking on pavement preceded a tall Achur woman as she made her way in from the shuttle pad, dressed in business attire and sporting platinum blonde hair shortly cropped to frame her face. She possessed an air of confidence about her, mirroring the demeanor that could be found amongst the highest corporate executives, complete with the same polite fake smile.

She paused as she stepped onto the terrace, her vibrant green eyes scanning purposefully as she noticed two men standing at the bar.  She looked them up and down, noting that one appeared to be a Templar, but her attention was quickly diverted as she located a Caldari women sitting on one of the sofas on the far side by the balcony.

"An interesting place for a meeting, although I can see why you've taken up residence here.”  She smiled, approaching Sahriah and winking towards one of the male servants.

The Caldari looked up from the neocom she was reading before standing and straightening her uniform.  Her lips melted into a soft smile, one of pure politeness, as she studied the Achura.

“Indeed, this is a beautiful residence.” Sahriah tucked her neocom back into her jacket before placing her hands behind her back neatly.  “I apologize for not contacting you sooner Ms. Rel.  My duties here have been occupying most of my time."  She gestured towards one of the sofas. “Please sit. Would you care for something to drink?”

"Commodore Rei ask me to relay the following.  "The Achur straightened slightly and developed a mock military air and a Khanid accent.  "I was there approximately 215 km off your bow, I find it interesting that you were able to able to monitor the situation while engaged in combat with contracts.  Though I suppose it’s why I hired you."  The women smiled, taking a seat, her eyes flashing with purpose.  "Accurate enough?"

Sahriah’s smile widened at the impression and she waved a servant over before taking her own seat again, neatly crossing her legs.  Despite the casual remark, Sahriah had come to understand that everything coming from Dionee’s lips was laced with hidden meaning.  In fact, she couldn’t seem to recall a friendly conversation that hadn’t been some sort of test or message, something that greatly added to the distrust she felt for the women.

The two looked at each other for a few moments, each with a polite smile, before Dionee turned to the waiting servant.  "Well then Achuran Saki. Chilled.  We might as well start this off right" she crossed her legs as well, mirroring Sahriah’s demeanor and leaned into the corner of the sofa while the servant scurried away.

"Fantastic" Sahriah’s response was almost sarcastic. "Any other comments from Ms. Rei I should be aware of before we start?"

"None that are suitable for the public."

Sahriah shifted her gaze to Thal Vadam and Predator Elite who were still seated at the bar as the servant delivered their drinks  "Would you prefer to discuss the situation in private?"

"No, there is an advantage to public discourse."  Dionee poured half a cup of Saki and lifted it to her lips, closing her eyes for a moment and drinking it in a single gulp.  "I am curious however...why you are guarding the child of a Holder who as far as I can tell no longer has a holding?"

As she had suspected, a clear message that they had been watching her.  Sahriah wondered if the order to spy on her personal affairs had come from Azaziel Rei herself, or if this was just a result of the mirrored distrust that Dionee and her felt for each other.  Regardless, it was unsurprising but irritating nonetheless.

"Niece actually.” Sahriah corrected “Rebecca is Lord Reginald’s niece."

She lifted her glass, taking a sip before placing it back down squarely on the table and returning her hands to her lap.  "Because I was contracted to Ms. Rel.  You do remember my profession don’t you?”  She kept her tone causal but inflected enough to relay her discontent at the woman’s prying.

"I see, apologies.  My access is a bit more limited than it used to be, but thank you for pointing out the error in my assessment."  She winked and took another shot of Saki.  "I still find it an interesting contract for a woman that specializes in ship to ship combat."

Sahriah held her gaze, receiving the message that she wouldn’t be dissuaded easily.  In truth, the contract to protect Lord Reginald’s niece had presented her with the perfect excuse to remain on the planet and conduct her own personal agenda.  Once the residents at the manner had learned of her Sani Sabik affiliations, it had made prying for information much more difficult, and what better way to repair that distrust than by working for a Holder, or at least he would have still been a Holder if not for his incompetence.  Thankfully the process to repair the damage was well underway, but the last thing she needed was for Dionee or Azaziel to come along and interfere with her personal affairs as she knew they could.

Her eyes flashed a warning as she responded this time.  "Well branching out just increases payment opportunities doesn't it?"  She turns and gestures to one of the men at the bar.  "I am working alongside Templar Vadam.  You'll find he's quite an exceptional ground to ground combat specialist.  He’s even been kind enough to give me some training.”

The Achur narrowed her gaze at Sahriah slightly, understanding the veiled threat for what it is. "Fascinating.  Well, it certainly is good to have additional sources of income.  Diversity in portfolio and all that." She laughed but the laughter didn’t completely touch her eyes. "It's like they used to say back in Achuran business school."  She lowered her voice to a gravely lectury tone.  "Propel dynamics learned in YC98 during the market crash of that year that a lack of diverse securities blah blah blah."

She mimicked Dionee's un-genuine laugh, leaning back into the sofa, her hands still firmly in the middle of her lap.  "Shall we discuss business now or would you like to hear more fascinating tales of my life?"

Dionee closed her eyes and tilted her head back.  "Funny how fleeting these moments are, how tenuous this life is.  A small breeze.  The smell of an ocean.”  She opened her eyes and looked sidelong at Sahriah.  “The touch of a long lost lover.  The cry of a child.  So easy to forget how they become ghosts to our kind."  She paused for a moment before straightening, content in the reminder. "Well I suppose I am here on business."

The conversation progressed in the same guarded tones as it had started with the topic changing to Empress Jamyl and the recent appearances of the Drifters.  They had kept her under contract for some five years now, using her as their eyes in known space as they worked secretly in the depths of Anoikis.  Periodically Azaziel would send her little minion to collect information or provide her with a task, always preferring to meet in person rather than utilize FTL communications. Capsuleers were some of the most distrustful and paranoid creatures in the universe, and with good reason.

"You should visit Ascension sometime Sahriah.  It's the colony we've created on J143959 III.  We've been researching some, interesting, things there.”

The thought of going into wormhole space was distasteful but she nodded anyway.  "I should like to, perhaps when I am able to spare a day or two.”  She finished the rest of her drink, placing the empty glass on the table.

"It's an amazing place really.  The coral forests are incredible ..." Dionee stood up and smoothed her skirt winking coyly at a passing servant.  "I have to admit this place is quite impressive."

Sahriah stood politely with her, preventing an eye roll. "Yes, it’s been very…refreshing…to be planet side again.  You know how much time I normally spend cooped up in a station.”  She began to move with her towards the exit.  “If you will forward me the details, I will ensure I make the time to visit."

Dionee smiled at her knowingly before providing an unexpected hug, whispering something in her ear before pulling back.  "Well I must be going.  You know how the Commodore just has to have her reports on time."  She smiles.  “Maybe I'll see you again…here”  She turned and began walking back down the path towards the shuttle without waiting for a reply.

Sahriah lingered on the spot for a few minutes, an uneasy feeling permeating her thoughts, before turning and moving back over towards the balcony, leaning against it as she watched Thal and Predator depart as well.  The sun was beginning to sink beneath the horizon, the last threads of light painting the sky in brilliant streaks of orange and purple.  Several sea birds floated towards the shore on the cool ocean breeze, their cries muffled by the waves crashing on the shoreline below.

She stood overlooking the beach from the balcony that rested on the cliff above, raising a single finger to brush away the rogue strands of hair that whipped across her face.  The servants made no sound as they went about their duties in the background and she took a moment to enjoy the serenity that the planet could offer, but eventually that too was interrupted as her neocom pinged with incoming audio communication.

She took it out of her jacket, smiling as she recognized the source.

“Is your position secure?”  She inquired, skipping all formalities.

The voice of a young Minmatar girl replied in a nervous tone “Yes”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, he doesn’t suspect anything.”

 “Good.  I expect you to keep me updated.  Do anything he wishes and don’t question him.   Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“Contact me again when you have something useful.”

The feed was terminated and Sahriah closed her eyes as a fresh gust of wind rolled onto the terrace, letting it gently caress her face.  I suppose I can’t blame you she mused as her thoughts refocused on Dionee.  I guess we all have our spies. 

Release

Region: The Citadel

Location: Ikao VII – Moon 8 – Spacelane Patrol Logistic Support

Date: 25.06.117

Time: 18:07

Sahriah stepped off the docking ramp, dressed in a red and black uniform and that been freshly embroidered with the Forsaken Asylum alliance logo. The concourse was teeming with other Capsuleers and their crews, unloading a myriad of cargo containers, weapons and civilians onto the decks of the docking bay. She paused, momentarily admiring the vastness of the hanger deck and her new Barghest-class battleship which floated silently behind her. Held in place by the powerful graviton emitters of the station, its hull shimmered majestically, mirroring the gun-blue metal of the Caldari architecture surrounding it. Right at home she mused.

Pushing her way through the overcrowded hanger, Sahriah crossed the security threshold that separated the quieter Capsuleer amenities from the general baseliner population. On a normal day, she would have preferred to unwind in one of the many luxury lounges the station afforded her kind, but today she had another form of relaxation in mind.

As with many stations, the entertainment sector of this one was, unfortunately, mixed. Despite the high concentration of Capsuleers that lived here and the fact that most of the station populace had grown accustomed to this, there were still many that were complacent enough in the presence of station security, to throw a menacing glare in their direction, should they notice an implant socket or the baby-smooth skin of a fresh clone. Ignoring the offshoot glances from a gang of Minmatar teens, Sahriah passed by the many boutiques, shops and adult ‘establishments’ until she reached her destination in the heart of the district.

Strobe lights flashed in a prismatic array of colours, greeting her as she entered. Aurora was one of the stations most popular nightclubs and attracted a large array of customers from most of the ethnicities in New Eden. Named for the dazzling holographic lightshow that graced its walls every evening at midnight, Aurora featured a number of facilities in addition to its dance floor including the traditional Caldari gambling services and game rooms. Watched over by four large Civire bouncers, it was a place that rarely experienced trouble-makers.

Dodging elbows and a few stray hands, Sahriah moved towards a large room situated in the back of the venue. The room sported several large displays positioned in a ring around a center console, which in turn, was flanked by two glass booths, both containing an array of monitoring equipment and a single chair.

The rhythmic beat vibrated through her body as she stepped up to the console and placed her hand on the recognition pad. The screen flashed green, displaying her information and accepting her entry.

// Mind Clash Competitor//

//Competitor: Sahriah bloodstone

//Race: Caldari

//Gender: Female

//Age: 26

//Status: Capsuleer

//Rank: Amateur – Class 3

An assistant appeared, ushering her into the empty booth and starting a pre-game scan of her vitals before securing restraints over her arms and legs as she waited for a competitor. These precautions were mandatory, especially for amateur players. Although purely a psychological game, Mind Clash was considered a dangerous sport, a trait that had pushed it from Caldari bars, into the international spotlight.

Evolving from the computer game ‘Clash of Wits’, Mind Clash allowed two players, connected via a neural link, to project a variety of mental attacks against each other, which could range anywhere from projecting unsettling imagery, to causing nausea and stimulating pain receptors in an effort to force the opponent into submission. Due to this, the game had the potential to cause both physical and psychological damage and was heavily regulated to minimize accidental injury or death. Professional Mind Clash players were restricted from battling amateurs and were required to go through extensive screening, often amassing large psychiatric bills to help cope with the stress the game induced. Even these facts however, were not enough to stop the incalculable number of illegal Clash games held outside the borders of empire space.

A shiver ran down her spine as a thin cable was inserted into the implant socket at the back of her neck. A myriad of sensory information flowed over her like a warm wave and she closed her eyes, allowing it to engulf her body as the noise of the nightclub was drowned out, overridden by pulses of data and light. It had been far too long since she had allowed herself to be distracted with recreational activities, but after the events of the past few months, it was no longer a temptation she could resist.

The viewers flickered as the virtual representation of the battleground manifested on the screens above, showing an arena of dirt extending into an expanse of black nothingness, and indicating that a challenger had been found.

A familiar rush of adrenaline coursed into her system and she smiled, allowing herself to become fully immersed in the experience. It felt good, an intense and irreplaceable high that could only come from having a million neural receptors stimulated at once. While it was an experience reminiscent of the connection she felt with her ship, it was drastically enhanced by the presence of another mind. She could feel him there, flittering at the edge of reality while they waited for the game to begin. Her opponent was another Caldari and another Capsuleer.

A piercing metallic hiss resonated through the room as a figure materialized on the screen, slinking out of the mist forward onto the battlefield. While the technological advances of the Empires allowed for the interpretation and projection of the battle from the sensory input of the players, it was not clear how exactly it derived the avatars that appeared on-screen. What was clear however was that it did an exceptional job of keeping audiences entertained with an array of visual effects befitting of the latest holo-reels straight out of the Federation.

The signal was given to begin and Sahriah reached out with her mind, probing for her opponent, the creature being willed forward in unison with her thoughts. Now fully illuminated on the battleground, it resembled a large black feline, but with a slightly more serpentine appearance. Its melanistic leathery skin contrasted against cinder eyes and a long distensible jaw snapped forward viciously in provocation, mimicking her eagerness.  She could feel him through the connection like an electric current, a spark she intended to snuff out, and her hands curled around the ends of the chair’s armrests as their minds connected.

The panther’s eyes locked onto its opponent, a large white cobra, coiled defensively near the middle of the battleground, head reared but still, in intense concentration.

He’s waiting for me…. Preemptive aggression had proven to be her downfall more than once. She took a deep breath, relaxing her muscles and opening her mind, enticing him to make the first move, a novice baiting attempt to see how skilled her opponent was.

The cobra darted forward and circled her looking for an opportunity to strike. He was fast and she had trouble tracking him, the illusions dancing as she followed his presence, preparing to block whichever attack he chose to use. Instead she felt a fading sensation as his avatar disappeared into the black mist that encircled the arena.

So your one of those. Sahriah gritted her teeth in frustration. The intense concentration the game demanded was able to quickly burn out competitors in a matter of minutes and there were some that liked to use this burn out to overwhelm their opponents. Mind-kiting was a tactic she despised.

“Get out here and fight me” she internalized bitterly.

“As you wish.”

In a blinding flash, the snake reappeared, lunging forward out of the darkness with horrifying grace and striking her illusion in the side, burying two long fangs into the panther’s belly. She reeled, doubling over, momentarily disoriented as a spike of pain surged through her head and down through her stomach. She could feel his smug smile through the link, as he attempted to expend her focus. It wasn’t often that a first attack was so aggressive.

A sadistic smile appeared on her lips. “Better.”

The panther let out another hiss as its image melted into a thousand grains of black sand that were thrust upward by an imaginary wind and then down again with staggering force. The mist enclosed on the serpent, forcing its way into its throat, blocking the airways and inducing a feeling of suffocation. Euphoria flooded her mind as she felt him falter as he endured the horrible sensation. It was a momentary joy that dissipated quickly when she missed the signs of his counter.

Her vision blurred and senses became muffled as his avatar lashed out, shattering the mist of sand. The arena evaporated into a vacuum of space, suddenly replacing exhilaration with an intense feeling of dread. She shrunk back into her seat as glints of metal swarmed at the edge of her vision, fading in and out as she tried to turn her head towards them. It took several precious seconds to beat him back, forcing down the feeling of lifelessness that threatened to encompass her thoughts.

In a sudden clarity of purpose, her base instincts took over. The panther’s eyes locked on to the snake as it retreated into a defensive position. It was a gaze of murderous intent, calculating not how it might attack unharmed, but on what blow might cause the most suffering.

Her illusion leapt forward, opening itself to a counter attack, but she didn’t care, she wanted him close and he was happy to oblige. A gash of pain flashed down her left arm like lightning as the Serpent stuck out, at the same panthers jaws clamped down on its fragile neck. Both held their grip, abandoning all defense and trying to force the other to submit. Tense seconds passed before she felt herself give way to the intense pain, her vision fading into a white blur.

***

Indiscernible patterns and shapes lit the edges of her vision and unintelligible voices whispered at the edge of oblivion. Panicking, she involuntarily attempted to rip the neural connection from her neck, her hands only grasping air as she sat up straight and then collapsed again, another wave of dizziness overcoming her.

“What the fuck.” Confusion quickly turned to rage as she recognized the pristine white walls surrounding her meant that she was no longer in Aurora.

“Well good morning.” She noticed the man standing two feet to her right. “Have a good nap?”

“Why the hell am I here?” she demanded, managing to sit up slowly this time.

“Big Caldari guy brought you in; apparently you had a little too much fun playing computer games.” He walked over to her and shone a light into each of her eyes “How are you feeling?”

She swung her legs over the side of the bed she brushed his attempts to examine her aside “I’m fine. What did he look like?”

“Huh?”

“The Caldari, what did he look like?”

“I don’t know. Tall, dark hair, your average Deteis I suppose.” He sighed. “You look fine, but I’d suggest not engaging in that wreckless activity, it doesn’t do you any good.”

His recommendation seemed half-hearted, a likely result of it being frequently disregarded. She stuck to the stubborn Capsuleer stereotype and ignored it, sitting in silence for a few moments before standing and heading towards the door. “Thanks.”

“Oh one last thing.” The doctor pulled out a small card from his shirt pocket and offered it to her. “He left you this.”

Taking the card, she looked down, hoping to find the name of her mysterious opponent, but all it contained was one letter… and a score, hand printed in a beautiful cursive front.

 S.  1/0

The Symbols

Region: Metropolis

Location: Finarar X – Moon 15 – Minmatar Mining Corporation Mineral Reserve

Date: 07.06.117

Time: 23:18

A soft blue glow emanated from the private bar, illuminating the rust-coloured walls of the lounge. Well this didn’t take long Sahriah thought silently as she poured herself a drink. She had not planned on being back here so soon, yet Jacob had wanted more information on Shalee, and her recent chat with Vlad had revealed some interesting pieces of the puzzle that she thought he should be aware of.

Sahriah scanned through news articles on her neocom as she waited for him. Her nights had been spent researching a myriad of articles and reports on the Sleepers, Jove and anything else even remotely related to the Drifters. The autopsy report published by Dr. Anslo Tetua and Mizhir Starsurge had been particularly fascinating. The lack of vocal cords possessed by the Drifters seemed to indicate that they relied on telepathy through neural implants to communicate, much like modern Capsuleer technology, but the question remained, why remove the vocal cords altogether?

The door finally slid open and revealed Jacob Tordanis, dressed in full Caldari Navy blues and sporting the TRIUMVIRATE emblem, a stark contrast to his earlier robed appearance.  

"Miss Bloodstone” he said with a nod.

"So formal Jacob” she stood, smiling as she looked him over. “How are you?"

"I hate robes, and if the bastards catch me, I want them to know I don’t give a damn.” He strode behind the bar, pouring himself a southern sweet tea. “I've been well, how have you been?"

"Alright I guess…sorry to drag you through the war again. I would communicate more through the FTL relays but I don't trust them." She took her seat again. "How is the fight going?"

"S2N is giving us a hard time, but we are managing. Garst seems on edge, but his will is unwavering and our fleets are deadly." He sat down next to her, taking a long sip of tea.

"I've been watching the reports from the area. The fighting looks pretty intense, doesn't really seem like anyone is winning right now."

He sighed. "The capital escalation... and destruction, has been warming up for both sides. Neither side is giving an inch, but sources tell us the Nulli Secunda is almost out of money. So we hold the line." He stretched his neck in slight discomfort, reaching behind and grasping at his biometric interface. "I actually had my first clone activation in over five years. I nearly forgot what that felt like, both during and the days after."

Sahriah nodded, remembering how long it had been since she had a clone activation herself and finishing the remainder of the liquid before placing the empty glass back on the bar. "Have you had a chance to speak to Shalee?"

"No, Shalee has been quite unavailable to me lately. Apparently her husband takes quite a lot of her time"

She had guessed as much. "I've not seen much of her either. I did speak to Vlad Cetes though. Do you know him at all?"

"Ahh, the strange cyborg fellow. I have seen him in several places in the TRIUMVIRATE stations, but I've not yet spoken with him."

"We had a very interesting chat. Among other things, he mentioned that he was contracted by Tigerfish to convince Shalee to marry him..." she trailed off, watching for his reaction.

He looked puzzled at her statement. "The robot is not very people-friendly, nor is he sociable. I can't imagine him being successful as a matchmaker, especially for Tiger." he shuddered at the thought. "I don’t think anyone would suffice as a matchmaker for him."

Sahriah shrugged. "Neither can I, but that's what he claims. He said that Tiger refused to pay him once the job was complete, I think that's part of the reason he left UPAY. He seems quite intent on destroying their marriage now." She paused for a moment, looking down at the bar. “He also mentioned that Revan...disowned Tiger as her Prathet."

Before Jacob could respond, the pressure door to the lounge slid open softly, revealing two dark figures silhouetted by the light of the corridor. The first scanned the room intently before turning and nodding to the other. Sahriah felt Jacob’s hand instinctively move to his sidearm in anticipation. Neither of them was expecting company.

As the figures moved forward into the light Sahriah relaxed, recognizing the women as Azaziel Rei and Dionee Rel, two Capsuleers she had met during her time in the Militia. She placed her hand on Jacobs as she turned to face them.

“Ms. Bloodstone.” The Khanid nodded to Sahriah before her gaze shifted to Jacob “Mr. Tordanis. It’s been a long time. I see you are flying with former Commodore Tyrell again.”

Sahriah reverted to her usual professional tone. “Ms. Rei, I see you found Dionee. I’ll assume you got my message then, I was not expecting you to…reply so soon.” They had a habit of turning up at inopportune times, and they always had an agenda.

Dionee brushed past Sahriah, giving her a warm smile. “It’s been a long time, both of you.  How have you been?”

A faint glow of recognition flashed in Jacob’s eye. "Madam Rei” he raised his glass to Azaziel in acknowledgement "It certainly has been a while." He glanced at the Achura woman. "And who might this be?"

Dionee walked over to the bar, obtaining a glass of slightly blueish liquid before proceeding to a couch by the window. “I'm surprised you don't remember me Mr Tordanis, given that we flew together in the 43rd and later during your first time in No.Mercy. I helped Commodore Tyrell found that enterprise after all” she swirled her drink casually and gave him a playful smile. “Although now apparently you've become the enemy.”

He went rigid and quickly glanced at Sahriah. “What is this?”

“I’ve been working for them since we left No.Mercy Jacob.” she explained. “They both currently reside in the wormhole division of S2N.” Azaziel removed her coat, revealing the red star and silver moon of the Trans Secunda Corporation on her collar as Sahriah continued. “I’ve been in contact with Ms. Rei recently; apparently they tracked me down while I was on my way to you.” She flashed a purposeful look at Azaziel. “I didn’t know they were coming.”

“I prefer not to announce my movements through Anoikis.” Azaziel replied flatly.

Jacob immediately became anxious and, unsure of their motives, moved to a more strategically sound position behind the bar; fixing himself so he could see all three woman at once. “You're working with S2N?"

Sahriah could sense his distrust. “Relax Jacob. They’re not a threat. We've been working together for many years. I traveled with them into Anoikis after we left the Militia; it’s part of the reason I was gone for so long."

Azaziel levelled her gaze on him. “The petty squabbles of the K-Space organizations do not concern me unless they threaten the viability of the mission.” she cocked her head slightly to the side evaluating him before switching her gaze to Sahriah. "What does he know?"

"Nothing. We haven’t spoken much recently."

Jacob’s eyes followed. “What does she mean what do I know?  Why do I feel like I've arrived at an alliance debriefing with my damned pants down?"

"Perhaps because you did." Dionee chimed in from the other side of the room.

“Wait a minute.” Sahriah interjected, glancing at the women suspiciously as her expression soured. "You knew I was meeting him? Is that what this is about?"

Dionee merely looked at her, holding a single finger to her lips as Azaziel poured herself a glass of wine and took over the conversation. “Jacob" she sat the glass down without drinking "Where do your loyalties lie?"

Visibly confused, he looked down at the Amarrian. "My first loyalty is to the State, second to none, after that, my current employer." Azaziel nodded slightly as he continued. "However, in the interest of old shared endeavours, I choose not to be Triumvirate in this room, as long as you chose not to give a damn about their war with S2N." 

Dionee’s expression suddenly looked much more serious. "And what about friends, family, old corp mates?  What about those you have yet to meet or those whose lives you change with passing of a thought?"

"Betrayal is not an option for me, whether in good standing or otherwise." he replied curtly.

Azaziel smiled "I think you misunderstand the emphasis of her question Jacob." She walked over to couch, joining Dionee. "Are you loyal to Humanity? Do you understand who and what you are?"

Jacob placed two fingers over his temple, beginning to feel a headache coming on as he attempted to understand the line of questioning. "Are you referring to the immortality of Capsuleers? Or is this something to do with the ongoing Drifter threat?"

Visibly irritated, Sahriah followed the group and sat down by Jacob. She knew where this was going, and she was not pleased. "You couldn't have asked me about this first?"

"I needed to know if your ‘other’ activities were a benefit or a hindrance ..."

Sahriah's face darkened, wondering just how much snooping they had been doing. “My 'other' activates are private, Ms. Rei."

Azaziel merely ignored her. “Every game has an objective.  What is the objective of your game Jacob?"

He bowed his head slightly, looking off into the distance.  "I have no desires for corporate or political leadership" he paused momentarily. “As Capsuleers, we have the ability to learn from fatal mistakes, unlike the billions of others.  We have a responsibility to always be better than before, but not at the cost of being human. I suppose I never thought of having an objective, other than making a difference whenever I can and growing as a commander."

Azaziel shifted in her seat. "You are a reasoned and intelligent man Mr. Tordanis. Tell me what do you know of the Symbol of the Amarr?"

Jacob glanced up, looking sharply into the Khanid’s eyes. ”I'd place the Symbol of Amarr as something of a religious importance. Other than that, I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"

Sahriah's hand unconsciously moved to a necklace that remained hidden under her jacket. She fiddled with the chain anxiously as she listened, wondering how he would react to what he was about to hear.

"Let me explain ...” Azaziel reached into her pocket, pulling out a small pouch and pouring some salt onto the table. Slowly, she traced a number of shapes through the salt, before locking her eyes back on Jacob. "There are five symbols in the Amarr faith. You see the sequence of symbols is a metaphor.  Most people understand the meaning of the Amarrian seal,” she pointed to the third symbol “as it relates to a life subservient to God and by extension the Emperor.  But that is a very narrow view of one step, in what is in truth a grand sequence.

Think of it like this: Before our species was born; we were the circle; innocent and perfect; one with god.  We descended unto the dust of the world helpless and lost.  We live under the blessed tyranny of Gods dominion; our emperor; our parents.” 

She glanced up at him to ensure he was following along, before moving her finger over the fourth and fifth symbols. “In our teenage years we rebel; we place our own authority over that of our parents; over our emperor; over our god.  In our time we rise to success in our fashion; maturing into leaders; builders; tyrants.

Jacob cocked his head, his interest piqued, as Azaziel traced another shape to the end of the sequence, a circle with the triangle tip pointing up.

“But” she continued “there is a Sixth Symbol, one the Amarr tried to eradicate from knowledge, and it signifies transcendence. This ... is man becoming God."

"Capsuleers."  Tordanis inferred.

Azaziel shook her head “We are in the fifth age, childhood’s end, a step on that path toward transcendence. You see the Jove gave us capsule technology. Have you ever wondered why?”

Jacob smirked "You believe they purposefully did so as some sort of conspiracy?”

Azaziel looked at him, her tone remaining deadly serious. “They gave it to us and then they watched us. Watched us grow in our abilities and atrocities. I believe they have been testing us, and pushing us. And I believe that it was done with a purpose.”

Sahriah watched his expression as he considered the comment, but his face was impossible to read.

"And did we fail that test?" he quizzed.

“Not yet. As I said, we are at childhood's end. The final test is yet to come, and I am convinced, based off the things I have seen, of two things. That the fate of humanity is at stake, and that we will be either the instrument of its destruction or its salvation."

Dionee perked up again "And that's why the questions of loyalty Jacob. Because in the coming months it may be important to know if you are still human."

"There are more complex wheels in motion then we understand." Sahriah added, hoping to take the edge off the conversation just a little. “We have a responsibility to seek answers so that we can advance.”

Jacob sat in silence for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his grandfather's pocket knife. Unfolding it, he gently placed the blade against the fabric of his left sleeve, slowly tearing the uniform away and revealing a number of scars on his upper arm.

He looked at Sahriah "Do you know what these are?"

She nodded, not needing to look to confirm what they were. “The marks signify crews lost under his command.” It was this particular aspect of being a Capsuleer that Jacob had struggled with more than any other; he was far too kind for world they lived in now. "His loyalty to humanity is not something you should question." She glared at both the women in turn. “I could have told you that.”

"Memories of the lost," Azaziel echoed, looking down at the table and continuing to ignore Sahriah’s comments. "It is the true burden of immortality. In the mind of the unbound, the lost become ghosts that can forever haunt us." She looked up at him with a softer expression "Once I was Major Azri Serralis of the Khanid Navy Special Forces, and she” Azaziel gestured to Dionee “was Ailee Ishimura.”

Azaziel rose and moved to the window looking out over the station traffic moving in and out of the docking ring in a silent dance of oblivious synchronicity.  Her voice fell to a low, soft, almost ominous tone and Jacob’s skin tingled as the words fell ghostly from her lips echoing something far away, a memory that begged to be forgotten, but forever changed those it touched.  “Let me tell you a story Jacob, about a mission into darkness.”

***

As her story unfolded Jacob felt his head swim.  If even a fraction of what she was telling him was true, the implications would be... 

He barely noticed as the glass slipped from his fingers; shattering on the steel decking below.

The Paths Ahead

Region: The Bleak Lands

Location: Huola – Planet 7 - Cerra Manor

Date: 29.05.117

Time: 01:27

There was a distinct conflict between the peacefulness of the terrace and the apprehension Sahriah felt being there. It was a delicate balance she was trying to maintain, being around enough that she could gather information, but not too much as to sow suspicion with her presence. In truth being planet-side again after so long living on a station was a nice change and if only she didn’t have an agenda, she may have willingly spent more time there to relax. No matter how convincing the gardens were at the CONCORD bureau, they were artificial compared to the real thing.

Unsuccessfully trying to ‘run in’ to Shalee for several days, Sahriah was disappointed when the only person she had caught sight of on the terrace was Vlad Cetes. Sitting in his usual position at the bar, the ‘Robot’, as he seemed to be aptly called, had proven to be more than difficult to converse with than she anticipated, to the point where Sahriah felt it was an exercise in futility. She wondered how Tiger expected her to engage with him at all, let alone figure out his inner motives.

Sitting down and ordering a drink, she attempted to carry a conversation with him anyway, asking him about his new alliance absentmindedly as her thoughts drifted back to the Elysion and her enlightening talk with Shalee.

“I'm surprised he hasn't told you. I'm Sani.” She had almost believed her at the time, more so out of pure desire for it to be true than anything else, but she was beginning to doubt the validity of her claims. Again she found herself thrust into a situation where everyone seemed to be using her as a puppet for their own means. To what end was yet to be seen, but this time she wasn’t going to sit back and let it happen around her.

"You're playing a dangerous game getting even remotely involved with him.” Jacob's warning sat uncomfortably in the back of her mind, though its truth had little effect on either of their actions.

The conversation slowly veered itself to the CFC and to Tiger, a topic she was hoping to avoid considering her inability to formulate a plan on how to approach the subject, but one she unintentionally started by voicing her animosity towards the notorious coalition.

"Maybe someone will destroy the CFC one day too" she said finishing the rest of her drink.

“CFC will fall one day.”

"One can only hope. I still can't believe he took UPAY out there."

“The CFC is a good place to make money, but that is their sole redeeming value.” Vlad replied, taking a sip of his drink. “I believe he has lost his mind and become weak.”

His words caught her attention and she looked at him. “Explain.”

“He let his love for Lianne consume him.”

She frowned slightly, asking him a question that she had not yet found an acceptable answer to. "How did he get involved with a loyalist in the first place?"

Vlad shrugged “Unknown.”

"You don't know anything about her?"

“I do not see what he sees in her, or she in him.” he replied coldly “There is the ultimate way to get this information. Capture and brain scan him into a captive unit. I have used it before to extract information from recalcitrant humans.”

She somehow found humour in his comment, smirking as she imagined Tiger preforming a live dissection on the bar. “Well if you even attempted it on him you better have access to every single one of his clones because if he comes back remembering anything, it wouldn't be pretty.” She doubted he cared but curiosity got the better of her. “Regardless, I doubt there is a need for it. I figured you wanted nothing more to do with him anyway.”

The annoyance on his face was clear. “I want him to lose what he got without paying for.”

“What do you mean?”

“His marriage.”

She tilted her head slightly in confusion as he took a sip and continued in a raised voice.

“He paid me to assist him in getting married. He got his marriage, I want my MONEY!”

Unfazed by his anger she sat back a little in her seat, contemplating his words. “Really?” she queried casually “What exactly required him to need your assistance?”

“Because he could not convince her to marry him, maybe his constant need to cheat had something to do with it.”

"I would have thought cheating would be the least of his problems” she verbalized unintentionally. “Err…How did you convince her?"

“Unknown.”

Leaning on her arm, she waved the bartender over and ordered another glass of grape juice as she silently cursed his one-word answers. She knew the terrace wasn’t the best place for this conversation, but not having seen him display much emotion in the past she wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass her by.

"So when did Tiger give up his 'faith'?" 

Vlad understood that she was speaking about the Sani Sabik “When he started trying to court her.”

"He did it for her?" she probed, frowning.

“Correct. Although I think he may have abandoned them when Neferis disowned him as her Prathet.”

Sahriah sat up straight, blinking "What? She did that? Why?"

“That was many years ago, I do not know why.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes as she contemplated the validity of his story.

"I would have never thought he would be the one to give up on...that"

“Neither would I.”

She flicked eyes to his, daring. "Unless he hasn't."

He shook his head in response. “He is not Sabik, no longer. If he is, then he is only fit to serve....us”

Sahriah recoiled in her seat, fully understanding the implication. "Don't say that Vlad." Her voice was deathly serious before softening as she thought it through. "It's Tiger. There has to be more to it than that."

“Then you find out what is it is. I have no interest in saving a weakling.”

Narrowing her eyes slightly, she returned her gaze to the bar. No you don't, but you do have an interest in their marriage.

"I spoke to Lord Reginald the other day. He said you murdered him here" she responded bluntly.

“Incorrect. It was self-defence.”

A smile curled on her lips. "Self-defence? Is that why Shalee let you stay?"

“Correct.”

"He seemed quite mad at you. Think he'll try again?"

“I doubt it. Actually he is angrier about my subverting the MIO and district governor as compared to his actual death.”

She turned her head towards him again. "Well you seem to be full of tricks."

“A smart businessman makes connections everywhere. Sometimes they need a little persuasion” he rubbed his fingers together, the universal symbol for bribery.

Smiling, she nodded. “Though one needs to have certain...assurances, besides that.” she found herself not speaking about Lord Reginald anymore. "Aligned interests for example.”

“Of course. And if they are not amenable to see reason” he took a cartridge from his pistol. “They are removed.”

Sahriah studied him, attempting to discern if he would be useful, but her thoughts were interrupted as he stood.

“I must take my leave. Good night.”

She acknowledged his statement with a slight bow of her head and seconds later he was gone, leaving her alone on the terrace to contemplate the new set of variables that had been presented.

Slowly, a small grin spread across her face. Yes…I think you will be useful indeed.