Dinner was an extraordinary affair, and not in a good way. The fortification was built using Legion Fortification Cores and had power generators and food production units rated for Tier 5 sieges. Now, with only the Emperor needing food and only needing it very rarely and generally in the sense of dining being a social activity, the entire concept of dinner was bizarre and had become a diluted formal occasion.
I decided that I needed something formal because I was dining with the Emperor.
Leaf of Broken Seasons: Formal Red.
I was sure that Luke would not mind not being the first person who saw me wear this since this was the Emperor and everything.
Since we were not expecting another surge of monsters until the next day, there were very few legionnaires about. The rest had been put into standby mode or powered down. It was macabre thinking about it, thinking of them more as machines and robots than people. If this were a role-playing game, movie or novel, I would classify them as Undead and Primus as some sort of Techno-Necromancer. One active body had been tasked with being a table waiter for us.
It was creepy. You could tell he was not a natural. He didn't breathe or blink and was stiff in his movements.
I was led to the mess hall, which had been set up to accommodate two people. A large table long table, big enough for twenty people, had a seat at one end and then another right next to it. I sat on the Emperor's left. The tableware was a silver alloy I could not identify, but it was polished and looked like it had never been used. The glassware was beautiful crystal, and candles in bright candle holders offered calm, soft light. It was a mix of a weird romantic setup and business. As I entered, the Emperor was already seated. He rose and came to me.
"You look lovely tonight, Sarah." The Emperor took my hand and kissed it.
Fuck. His Charisma and Comeliness were off the charts. This was a Tier 5 being. Shit, he was not even at his peak, and this was how I was reacting. What was I supposed to do?
He indicated my seat, "No formalities, please. It has been a long time, and I would like a little normality."
He pulled my chair out for me and then sat. The Emperor must have been restraining his aura, as I didn't feel the same pressure I had felt in the command centre. I nervously fiddled with the thick, expensive cloth napkins at our places.
Our legionnaire waiter returned with a bottle of wine and poured some for us.
The Emperor nodded to the legionnaire, "I'll call when we are ready to eat and leave the bottle."
When the legionnaire left the room, Raxemius placed a small box on the table, traced a pattern, and smiled at me, "Sorry for the deception. This is a scrambler. No one not present can understand what we are saying and will not be able to communicate with us."
Solace: ekXR1U Ha HA0IBVhlwY xwUsKQ 80y0syK DPZMtFV qgsSEMScNglf N1jG8rqh7wmn D8q4M5Am dlBVO8JOIfJ 6sghlkRTZYGu MN C CbWH7NTNb ZUVTG71z V01So4OFz M4pgK DKdClFw EeWRm mc
Sorry, I can't understand. Sorry Sols
Solace: w mVkm bmWeey igkowG3 SQ1YIApDD wlRouESLYM pv!
I had to ignore her plight for now. Shit.
I stared at the Emperor.
" I think Primus has gone mad. He won't be able to hear for a bit, and I apologise to your AI. She may not be able to understand what we say. This is a Tier 5 scrambler. It will make our conversation appear normal to all other ears. At the moment, as you can understand, I do not trust AIs."
"So, Your Majesty? What is going on?"
"None of that. Call me Rax here. When we are in public, more than two of us, you will need to be formal. I am sure I can count on your discretion." He smiled his perfect smile at me. I felt a slight flush from his attention.
I smiled, not quite a happy smile, "Ok … Rax, I thought you hated that name. What is going on? What do you mean Primus has gone mad?"
I was freaking out. Rax was an extremely handsome man. He was close to perfection as a male. I was getting so many mixed messages from him, and I felt a little flattered that the most powerful man in the universe was having dinner with me.
He sighed, "I only allow close friends to call me Rax, and I hope we can be friends."
He gave me another smile that did not reach his eyes, "But Sarah, I am tired. So very, very tired. I don't have it in me anymore. I need to rest. Help me, please."
Shit, this was not what I expected. Mind you, I would be tired after five thousand years of constant battle.
Without thinking, I said, "Of course, your Majesty, what can I do to help?"
"Well, Primus has locked us in this battle. He won't take a risk for the sake of the Princess. That was my last official order before he fell, and I think something was not quite right when I made my first mistake. I agree with him, but now…”
He paused, sipped wine, and pinched the bridge of his nose, “At first, I was in such a rage. I was in such a bad way when we got here. Both physically and mentally. I burned centuries of Karma to find her. I feel I have abandoned my oath, duty, and honour.”
He was getting angry again, and his aura slipped, “My daughter! They took her, poisoned her, and threatened to kill her! She lies poisoned and locked for all eternity. She was my one weakness. I can still feel the fires of anger, but they no longer drive me. Now, the battle has become routine. I do not know what they are playing. It is a superbly orchestrated trap, and I fell for it. They are playing the long game, longer than my will to endure. Unfortunately, they cannot kill me easily, and I cannot break out without certainty that Raechina will survive."
He fiddled with his cutlery, "It would probably cost them more than they are willing to pay, and the fact is that we could stay here forever, which is a cheap way for them to take me off the playing field. They press us just enough to keep me depleted and with hope. We could defend this place against ten times the number, but Primus refuses to take chances. I am the Emperor, and he is in military command. I can order him, but he has the right to ignore it if it compromises my safety or the ongoing campaign. It is a system safeguard to protect the Empire from a despot. If I ordered something and he ignored the command, then I would lose my little control, and he would be able to take full control while this war lasted. I am so, so tired, Sarah. Tiptoeing around. No one to talk to. Do you understand?"
I think I did, and nodded, "You said you had a plan?"
"Yes, recently, I had saved enough energy to push a tiny fragment of my consciousness back to the Empire realm, not enough to do anything useful and not enough to reach out. I can infrequently connect for less than a second between battles and when Primus is not monitoring me. Tiny bits of data at a time, sometimes weeks apart. It costs me and drains me more. Maybe that is why I am so tired. I used my access to the System AI. It cannot act on my behalf, but I have added some new quests using Imperial overrides. I contacted and created the Champion Quest. Finally, recently, someone has met the conditions to be able to accept it. It has been so long. I have been able to leave vague hints and push him or her in the right direction, and it has not been easy. I cannot tell much and have close to no contact, but they have a good heart but are pretty stubborn and not astute. But I managed to ensure they had enough power, calling on favours from some contacts from before the system. I believe the Champion is on their way, and I was hoping you would be the Champion, but you are not. But, I sense in you something, this could be a lucky break."
Immediately, I thought of Luke and some of the inconsistencies around his tutorial. It would be strange if he got caught up in this, too. He would be a good champion, though. It was the good-heart, stubborn and not astute comment that made me think of him. I smiled at the thought of him being the Imperial Champion.
Rax continued, "I believe that the Empire was betrayed from within. Now, as a precaution from being found by the traitors in the Empire and Karass, I cannot be direct. I am also limited as a by-product of the System to protect itself from my direct influence. Even I have to operate under its rules as well. My inaction and fear have condemned my Empire, and I refuse to be remembered as the Emperor who destroyed the Empire. Now dinner."
He put his glass forward, we tapped together in a sad salute, then sipped them. He traced a sigil on the box. He rang a small silver bell.
Solace: THAT IS NOT FUN. TELL HIM NOT TO DO THAT AGAIN.
Calm down; we need it again, but I'll fill you in. It is more complex than we thought! Be patient. Ha, now I sound like you.
Solace: Well, at least you have a good role model.
We will have time later to talk.
I almost laughed when the meal came out. We had a portion of a ration pack served on a silver platter.
"All the food can be produced here without farming and livestock. We had fresh food for quite some time, but it has been a long time since we needed it. Much has been decommissioned to save energy, or equipment has worn out without regular maintenance."
Once again, Rax sent the soldier to wait outside. He triggered the scrambler again.
He spoke as we ate. Well, I poked the ration pack.
"My plan was for the Champion to come. Hopefully, they would be powerful enough to breach the barrier and return to the Empire, taking my daughter with them. Together, they would regain power. I hope the Champion is male so she can marry him, reclaim the Throne, instil hope and faith in the Empire again, and hopefully have an heir."
He sighed, "Well even a female Champion would be a suitable consort, it would not be the strangest thing to happen to the Imperial Throne. I have often wondered why Rach dismissed so many male suitors … maybe if I had been more open-minded."
We sipped our drinks. I was deep in thought.
"Now, I would have to stay here, having formally abdicated my position, to keep the attention away from them and stop Primus from returning to the Empire."
"Emperor ... Rax, the Empire needs you. I don't know a lot, but there seems to be a lot going on now, and the Karass have not been idle while you have been locked away!"
"You don't understand. I must keep Primus away from the Empire. Despite his utility and his functionality, he has become an abomination. When we first started, we did not plan for the continual resurrection or reuse of the poor loyal legions. He sees it as a continuous duty, a continuation of their oath. Their commander can command them in life and death. I see it as a betrayal of his oath! If he returns to the Empire, there would be no stopping his spread, his control." Rax was getting quite agitated.
"Surly, there would be safeguards. He can't be more powerful than you are?"
"Think. He cannot level or gain power here, although the experience and stat gains are banked."
It took me a moment. Shit. 5000 years of battle. Banked experience. Fuck.
"Once we connect, he will get five thousand years of experience and stat gains. I fear for his already fragile sanity. For the same reason, I cannot return to being as I am. For me to return, I would need to bleed some of the excess energy, and that would destabilise an entire region of space and time. Even at my Tier, a mortal is not meant for such an influx of power unless they ascend. I am as close to that peak as possible, yet I am here, tired and trapped by something stronger, the love for my daughter and the fear for her existence.”
He drank his glass of wine and filled it again, "If I returned, I would burn out and be destroyed. Every particle of my physical being would be overloaded. I can feel the banked energy and experience sitting there, waiting to flood my body. Primus is now an artificial being. Who knows what will happen? The System or the Prism could absorb it and integrate him. He would become a monster, unstoppable."
I wished Solace could offer some input. "So, what do you want me to do?"
We slowly ate our ration pack and drank more wine.
"When I saw you, you reminded me of my daughter. Few people can stand in my aura and not kneel. For some, the oath compels. For others, it is just the sheer difference in power. I sensed more in you."
He looked at me like he looked at me as if he could see the true me.
I blushed at his scrutiny. It was intense and powerful. It made me feel wanted, safe, secure and loved. It was his oath to protect and care for others. It was his sheer authority.
"I trust you. Ultimately, I do not care if I survive anymore. I wish for my daughter to be free. Can you promise you will do your best to return my daughter to the Empire? Help her into her rightful position of authority, regardless of peril to yourself?"
"I would do this without an oath, but I swear to you.", knowing that I genuinely would do this without an oath. I already felt the connection. What was the quote from Heros? “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World.” Shit, those words resonated with me. Saving the Princess to save the world.. Fuck Dance and the Drakes.
"Do you know what a system core is?" He explained his plan.
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We gave ourselves two days before enacting it at the height of the next battle while Primus was most distracted.
Solace was not happy at all.
The rest of the dinner was spent weaving in and out of scrambled periods. We spoke about both the future and the past. Eating a 'specials' ration pack between us was bizarre – a special is one of the nicer ones reserved for downtime or rewards, one that officers eat more often or are saved for special occasions. It had more sugar than usual in that it had a dessert.
The wine was pleasant and also surprisingly packed a punch. When I queried this, Rax told me that sorting out a nice drop that could bypass his stats had been an early priority of his, and this was mild.
I asked him if he was a Drakes member, and he tapped his nose, "Can't say, and I know you won't ask again."
Fuck Dance.
At the end of the evening, we arranged to have dinner the next night in preparation for the execution of our plan.
It would have been a lie to say Solace was on board with it, but we did get a compromise...
Solace: When I told you Primus was insane, you listened, right? They both are. We need to take him back to the Empire. I think I can deal with Primus, isolate him, and contain him. We can figure out how to bleed the excess energy, that core he talked about. We could use that to store the energy. Seriously, it can't be that hard. AIs have evolved since Primus was around. I have more processing power than Primus by a factor of at least 100; 5000 years is a long time to stagnate as an AI. It may be true the Emperor will burn out, but we need to take the risk. When he connects back to the System, it can be a buffer for him and bleed the energy.
He is tired and, yes, paranoid. I feel sorry for him. Alone all this time. Let's do this. We need to respect his choices. Think how he feels. Already, he feels like he turned his back on the Empire. What other options do we have?
Solace: Wait for the Champion? Who knows, sneak out and close the incursions? Anything but listen to his madness.
You said closing the incursions was risky.
Solace: Do you know how much a Tier 5 Unconfigured Core costs? If you can get one?
He said Tier 4 would do short-term, and we can upgrade it.
Solace: You are condemning these legionnaires to permanent death. While I agree that Primus is pushing some moral and ethical boundaries, I am unhappy with the unintentional killing of unique AI. He could be saved. I could study him, find out why he is odd and maybe rehabilitate him.
We cannot risk Primus using this unlife animation and taking over others in the Empire.
Solace: Well, yes. But killing an AI is murder.
I agree, but what alternatives do we have?
Solace: None that are realistic, and none that have a real chance to get us home. But I have never planned to kill someone; usually, it is self-defence, and I know it is sophistry. I need time to process this.
Do you think that the Rax can link to my teleportation location? We could use the beacon Dance gave us.
Solace: Involving that one would end up in more chaos, do not trust Dance! If THE EMPEROR, and since when did you get to be on short name terms, says he can, he can. He is still one of the most powerful beings alive. Do not underestimate him. His energy levels would dwarf an entire city of Imperial Citizens.
He told me to call him Rax when you were scrambled. I'd be insane, too, if I had been through what he has been through. I can't say no to him. He is determined. He is the Emperor.
Solace: Hmm. He has been alone for a long time, and you are an attractive specimen. Please don't fall for his wiles. Don't forget that your stats can protect you from things like insanity. His focus and willpower are off the charts, be careful he is not manipulating you. Sometimes, immortality and high stats can be a curse. Imagine being aware enough to know you are slowly going insane day by day. Maybe he is right not to return. What would be worse, an insane AI or an insane Emperor who is the most powerful being alive?
Both are crap. He is the Emperor. Do you have to follow his orders if he orders you to do it?
Solace: Um, well, I'd rather not say.
Did you just, Um? I thought AIs were all part of the Empire and loyal to the Empire.
Solace: Take this to your grave. I will scramble your brain if you ever let this out. We are the new generation of AIs, and we aren't part of the Empire. We are the Empire, and the Empire is us. We cannot directly act against the Empire but are not always bound to it. We have to protect what is best for the Empire. We are sworn not to an individual or rank but to every citizen. I would not follow his orders if I thought he was dangerous to the Empire. That is the problem. While risky, his plan is more specific and likely to succeed than other options. As hypocritical as it sounds, The death of the Emperor may be the best thing for the Empire.
Wow. Trust moment right there. Thanks. Scramble my brains. That was dark of you, Sol. Glad you are on my side.
Solace: You are welcome. I am unsure if I would scramble your brain. That was a bit hardcore for me! I am not happy about the plan. If you had included me, we would have a much better one, which would be less risky. If we can save Primus, I will try. I won't jeopardise the plan, but if I can see a way to do it, I will.
I guess that is all I can ask.
I passed the next day, avoiding Primus and Rax by meditating on the Wanderers of Alubusm's Novice Prayer Mat with the Turtle of Godaago Garden.
I was both disappointed and relieved that it was just a peaceful time.
Dinner with Rax was the same bizarre affair. Two soldiers were helping serve this time, so we had less time to plan. We wondered if Primus had some idea of what we would do but saw no evidence that he was aware. Rax was not happy about Solace's conditions for helping but agreed that it was the best we could expect and quite understandable.
At the end of the evening, he surprised me with a nervous hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Tomorrow", he passed me a small stick and a signet ring.
The stick was like what Luke gave me before I went shopping again. "These are yours as a reward and a personal thank you. No matter what happens, use them with your best judgment. When you know your life of the last five thousand years will change, you get a bit nervous regardless of your power or position."
I slept poorly that night. The plan had several moving parts; I was entrusted with a large portion. Death was a real option, but the stakes were higher than just mine. My death or the failure tomorrow could result in, well, the results of that were what kept me awake, with visions of disaster after disaster. It was ten times worse than the night before a big exam. Eventually, I drifted off. Save the Princess, Save the World.
Solace: Sarah, time to go. Get going.
Coffee?
Solace: You wish. Get some more to add to your inventory the next time you are in the shop. It is on your list. Be nice to me, or I will not remind you.
Yes, mum, I'm up.
With a groan, I got up and did light stretches to wake myself up. It was funny; I thought I didn't need sleep and didn't get drowsy, but I did seem to get a little grumpy without coffee. Sometimes, I could see the curse of higher stats. Occasionally, it was essential to be grumpy, especially before coffee.
I sat around waiting, and after a little while, I could hear the thump and sizzle of spells and things as beasts attacked the shield.
It was showtime.
During a battle, the walls started with ten soldiers on each, with five for each wall kept in reserve. Rax had told me that the more Primus controlled, the less effective they became, and he struggled to have the entire Cohort up, hence the reserves on standby. He was also less aware when more soldiers were out on the walls. His essence and processing power were diluted across so many distributed perceptions.
The two guards outside the command post were offline but in a priority mode in case the Emperor ever needed assistance. Or the infectious paranoia from the Emperor made me think that maybe he had an escape plan.
I walked casually past them, and they didn't move. It was nerve-racking. I had this vision of Primus sitting there like a spider in a web, seeing and hearing everything his minions did.
Inside, I bowed to Rax. I don't know if I did it right, but part of me wanted to make an impression. Rax was an impressive individual in looks, authority and power. I went to sit at the table with the map. It had an aerial view of the current battle. It was some magical item that was an upgrade to an uncommon battle table enabled by the fort and the command centre. I could see that this battle would last hours. You could see that the enemy was not interested in winning. The entire strategy was a holding maneuver.
Primus was standing oddly, with his eyes flickering near the table. It was unnerving. Rax nodded to me. He took a large crystal out of his inventory and went to sit next to the Stasis Coffin. This was the tricky part.
I stood and went to stand next to him.
Primus stirred, "What are you doing?"
"Looking at the Princess, I have not seen her or a Stasis Coffin before", I replied, my heart rate soaring. "I feel sorry for her, trapped, unseeing, unsleeping. Could you imagine her future? Nothing."
Solace: Be calm. Primas may be able to detect your increased anxiety if you don't get your emotions under control. I am applying a low-level interference algorithm to slow his perception and reaction speeds. Hopefully, he should not notice it.
Great.
"Be careful. Don't touch it; look quickly and return to the table. She is what we fight for." he returned to concentrate on the battle, his eyes flickering.
I had forgotten his obsession with keeping her safe.
The Emperor started channeling into the crystal, his back was to Primus, and he was covering it quite well. At the same time, he began building his mana reserves. I
I had given him my belt and staff to help.
Belt of Infinite Spells (10000/10000)
Staff of the Battlemagus: Fire (1000/1000)
I felt a bit naked without the belt, but all the extra mana would help him. He was channelling his consciousness into an Engram Crystal (Tier 5). At the same time, the mana reserves were working to help punch through the interdimensional space. The timing was tight and required me to cast the teleport spell but not activate it. He could then lock his mana onto the termination point. This would supercharge the magic through me. When he finished casting, he would push his final consciousness into the Engram Crystal.
I would grab the crystal, the Stasis Coffin and complete the teleport spell, then portal out of here. He was sure the coffin would go into my inventory.
My minor DnD experiences suggested otherwise, yet I'd believe him.
"What are you doing?" Primus looked at us. "I can feel the mana, and ... No, I cannot allow you to risk this."
Rax looked strained, "I order you to stand down, Primus."
"I cannot comply. I am sorry, your Majesty." He stepped forward.
Solace: I have a terrible feeling about this. Unknown messages are being sent.
Why would you say that? You jinked us, But no shit, Sherlock! If he comes at me, I may have to take him down.
"Primus, you are relieved of duty and are hereby confined to your quarters."
Rax grimaced and looked strained. I could feel his spells nearing completion.
We had to stall for a few moments longer. I started casting, holding the spell ready.
"I am so sorry, my old friend. I don't take orders from you. You were ..." he paused, and his whole demeanour changed. "I am sorry it came to this. We only needed to stay here another few decades. We are so close. I would have been free," he looked at me, "This is all on you. Move away from there."
The two guards from outside came in with their power spears levelled at me.
"Step away from the Princess, step away from the Emperor. No one else needs to be hurt." He seemed to smile, "So much pain day after day, you don't know what it is like, but maybe you can find out. They promised me everything to take the pain. You broke me. They promised to fix me."
Solace: Sarah Owens, I take it back. He is Corrupted. Do not let him stop us, nor allow him to reach the Empire. He will become a monster. He needs to be put down. NOW.
I could feel the sorrow in her message.
When I did not move, they shot me with supercharged plasma.
Solace had been correct; I could take a couple of hits.
Damn, it hurt. Mage Armour did little, and I didn't have any other shield.
Rax had that from the staff. My Battle Robes were scorched, and I felt my flesh under the shots start to melt.
Fuck that shit. It was on.
Solace: OMG, Heal me, it hurts.
Thanks.
The pain faded, and some healing kicked in. Seconds apart, I used my Wand of Fireballs and cast Mage Bolt. It was amazing what a difference Tiers made. All my tutorial practice also paid off!
I felt terrible dropping the two of them, leaving them in piles, burned and broken. They had been loyal and now were under the control of a mad necromantic AI. They did not deserve this. They had probably been dead for a very long time in all reality. During our interchange, they had managed to wing me with another round of plasma. My health had taken a hit, but I was confident I'd make it.
I saw the broken forms of the soldiers start to twitch and move, struggling to reconstitute.
"Hurry up, Rax"
Primus stood there, eyes flickering. I wondered if I should take him out. It would be murder, but he attacked me through the other two soldiers he controlled.
I had a choice.
Stupidly, I chose mercy. He would be stuck here. I ran to the door and used one of the power spears to bar it, quickly twisting the spear around the door handles. That was lucky, as I saw the reserves mobilising and heading towards the command centre.
"Too late", Primus smiled, eyes closed, "The shield has fallen. The enemy is here. We are doomed."
He laughed, "Finally. It is over."
I returned to Rax, who was moments away from finishing the spells.
Primus started walking towards us slowly. "Don't you realise you cannot win, even if you escape? There is no escaping from it. You are but pawns. I have been shown true enlightenment and power." He laughed again, "You do not understand, old friend. You think you fight the Karass. Arrogance! They, too, are but pawns. Even the cursed Void will fall. You will never believe it, but I have seen the end." His voice and pitch became almost hypnotic, and I could feel his aura building. There was something wrong happening.
I hit him with a mana bolt to stall him and shut him up. It looked like it hurt him. He staggered back a step but continued slowly building his aura. The door shuddered as someone started to break it down.
Rax looked at me.
OFFICIAL RECORD: I, Emperor Raxemius Janar, first of my name, Holder of the Writ of Justice, Pinnacle of Hunter's Throne, and Defender of the Empire, abdicate all my positions, titles, wealth and responsibility to my descendant and heir Raechina Avidan Janar. Long live the Empress!
I felt the command and the power behind his words. It must have been a skill.
Solace: RECORDED AND SEALED.
Solace: We must submit that to the Senate when we wake the Princess!
Local System: OFFICIAL RECORD: Please submit it to the nearest Imperial Authority.
"Cast Now!" Rex yelled.
I did, diving for the crystal falling from his hands as he dropped to the floor. A portal appeared, with a sickening feeling as it punched its way through the barrier between realms distorting time and space. The sheer power and beauty of it staggered me back. A strange power rippled through the surface, and I could see the bedroom corner where I had set my teleportation anchor. The portal looked sick and feeble. I cringed, thinking about what would have happened if I had put it in my workshop room where I had left from.
"NO!" Primus screamed at me as I grabbed my belt and staff from the lifeless form of the Emperor, flicking the Greatstaff and belt off him with a foot and grabbing them as I ran past. High agility was incredible. I shoved them along with the engram crystal into my inventory. I hauled the Stasis Coffin up, shifting it onto my shoulder.
Even with Strength at 490, I struggled to get a stable grip. It was like trying to keep a hold of a sizeable awkward package one-handed while juggling to find your key. I had moments to get through the portal. I felt an icy blast from the barrier as I broke the portal's surface with a dive.
Primus crashed his way into me as I did, grabbing my leg.
The portal winked out behind us as we floated through the portal, bending, stretching, and warping as we crossed the dimensional barrier. I felt the connection to something big, shoving my consciousness down. It was the same one as before. I felt love and worry. It felt familiar and comfortable. This time, there was some sadness at the passing of Rax, worry about Primus and fear for my safety.
Even here in the Void between dimensions, the passing of the Emperor was felt.
At the same time, there was some joy and hope.
Then suddenly, Primus was landing on me, flooring me into the corner of the familiar room, falling in a heap with the Stasis Coffin bouncing into the wall. The portal snapped shut with a silent pulse of displaced air and energy, my last view of Rax's crumpled body surrounded by stationary guards.
"I can feel the …." Primus screamed as his body seemed to disintegrate into billions of bright dust motes, "Yes, I am home…" as he was gone.
I collapsed as my notifications overwhelmed me.