After a bittersweet goodbye, her father and his team drove off in the armored assault truck. Morrigan and Torvil turned to walk down into the subway. Simmons’s comments of ‘you owe me’ and ‘I expect you to see you again’ had Morrigan giggling as they descended. She was glad to see she was not the only person in her life to take a liking to the Eskarii people, even if the reasons were different. Torvil caught on to her amusement, “what's so funny?” his tone deadpanned in his usual way.
He knew, which is why it made her laugh a little harder, “amongst all the chaos you picked yourself up an admirer.”
Torvil snorted. “I don’t see how that is amusing.”
She rolled her eyes with a sigh, “of course you wouldn’t. I’ve known Jen for most of my life, you’ve known her for what? A couple hours?” Morrigan found it both interesting and refreshing that the Eskarii had such diverse personalities, much like Terrans. Though Torvil had grown on her, she could not lie that she would much prefer Mo’Emori’s lovely demeanor.
“She is… interesting for a Terran,” Torvil admitted. She caught the blatant discomfort in his voice as they entered the train platform. She watched him drop down into the rails and followed.
“Aww, does Torvil find Miss Simmons 'interestingly attractive’?” she giggled. It was cute to her to think the stick-up-his-ass Eskarii could find attraction in an agent of chaos like Jen.
“Quiet…” he groaned at her teasing. She responded with a grin of triumph as they started down the subway tunnel. It was weird to find the transit system so desolate, not that Morrigan took the subway often. The silence of their foot falls that echoed off the walls and down the tunnels was upsetting. She did not lie to her father, the acts committed by the Federation were monstrous, The desolate city streets and acts of violence against the citizens of Denver. “No, not just Denver. Half of the planet was under Federation control. There is more than just Denver under their iron boot,” She reminded herself. Her blood heated, they labelled her as a terrorist, but she would become much more than that; she would become their downfall. She officially decided then and there, somehow and some way she would bring the Federation to their knees and free the people of her planet and every other planet under Federation control. She looked at Torvil, taking in the alien with similar goals that seemed determined to help her. “I will end this war too. They don’t deserve this…no one deserves this war.”
“Here.” Torvil stopped abruptly. Morrigan grabbed the flashlight Jen had stuffed into her vest and looked around the tunnel curiously.
“Here where?” she inquired as she found nothing but stone walls. “There's nothing here.”
Torvil smirked at her as he turned left, stepping over the electrified tracks and stood in front of the wall. “Watch your step Swyn’wyr,” he said before he lifted his leg and phased through the wall. Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Cautiously, she stepped over the tracks and moved to where Torvil had stood. Inspecting the wall, it seemed completely ordinary. She lifted her hand up to the wall, but her fingers passed through with no resistance. It was an illusion. She was proud of herself for figuring it out as she tapped her shoe against the wall and slowly brushed it up against the wall until there was no longer any resistance. Once she found the edge, she moved her hand to the left and brushed her hand against the wall till she found the illusion. Having something solid to hold and step on, she hoisted herself through the illusion.
Behind the illusion was an open room lined with various tables, charts and equipment. Majority of the items were Terran, though there were a select few things that caught her eye under the humming glow of ancient fluorescent lights that were Eskarii made. She could tell by their sleek, elegant design and use of bright shades of color.
The other thing of note in the room was the middle-aged dark-skinned woman sitting on a table with an excessively large rifle propped against her, smoking a cigarette on the far end of the room having a hushed conversation with Torvil. The two let the girl poke around a bit to satiate some of her curiosity while they finished their conversation.
After a few minutes Torvil cleared his throat to garner her attention as she started digging through schematics of government buildings and lists of personnel. Her head shot up to see him beckoning her over. “Swyn’wyr, this is a friend of mine,” he gestured to the woman who took a long drag off her cigarette. Morrigan stepped up to the woman but eyed Torvil with an inkling of annoyance.
“You know my name Torvil, there’s no need to keep calling that,” she said as she held her hand out for the woman who immediately took it in a firm handshake. “Morrigan Clarke by the way.”
The woman smirked with the cigarette hanging from her mouth as she withdrew her hand and gave her an appraising look. “You’re as feisty as my superiors say. Drusille Dubois. Coalition of Unity,” her French accent highlighting her voice. Her hair was braided tight to her head in the shape of a tiara, and her clothes were rather casual for a field operative where in comparison, Torvil had a near skintight suit that was padded with armor she had never seen before.
Morrigan turned to Torvil with a scrutinizing look, “you're with the Coalition?” to which Drusille laughed at hysterically. Confused, she looked between the woman who was busy laughing and the Eskarii that folded his arms in annoyance.
“We tried getting him to join, but he's got his head so far up his ass with nationalistic pride there is no getting through,” Drusille finally said when she finished laughing.
“That is because your Terran intelligence is minimally sufficient at best!” Torvil retorted.
Drusille shrugged and gestured towards him as if he was proving her point. Torvil threw his hands up in defeat and walked across the room stringing Eskarii curses under his breath along the way. Meanwhile Morrigan inspected the massive rifle that leaned into the woman.
“You were the one providing sniper coverage at the school?” she inquired.
The woman nodded with a grin as she patted the massive sniper rifle. “16.8mm anti material rifle, I call her Le Petite Mort.” The woman finished with a chuckle. Morrigan did not know French, so she did not understand the joke.
“So, you were the one who sent him to find me?” Morrigan finally asked. She had been curious since she first met Torvil as to how he had been given those orders and why.
Drusille pursed her lips and shook her head sharply, “no that wasn’t the CoU. He actually came to us for help seeing as we have a joint effort going on and all. Something about an order from his sister telling him to save you n shit.” Morrigan quirked an eyebrow at that as she turned to watch Torvil dig through papers and equipment. Her attention returned to Drusille when she began muttering off a list of names under her breath. Frustrated, the dark-skinned woman called out to Torvil, “hey! What the hell was your sister’s name?”
“Which one? I have many.” he scowled as he dug underneath a table.
“The one who sent you to fetch Morrigan.”
Torvil dug out what he was looking for, which appeared to be a Terran portable computer. He turned and set it up on an adjacent table that had room for it before replying. “Mo'Emori.”
Morrigan gasped, “Mo’Emori is your sister!?” She was completely shocked that the gorgeous and sweetest Eskarii she had known was related to the emotionally devoid, hard ass that was Torvil. Her mind ran itself in circles around the unexpected connection in her life.
“Yes, ‘grab the Terran girl known as Morrigan Clarke, get her out of the Federation and pass along my hope to her. She has the heart of Eskarii’ is the gist of what she sent, along with your files,” he said monotonously as he booted the computer up.
“This is crazy…” she muttered to herself as her brain tried to make sense of it. Drusille gave the girl a curious look as she watched Morrigan turn beat red. “How though? She's a receptionist for my therapist?”
Drusille jumped off the table and set her rifle aside as she stepped around Morrigan towards Torvil. “If you mean “Dr. Yuma” he’s not really a therapist… I mean he is definitely qualified, and on paper that’s what he is. But the reality is he is a CoU recruitment agent. Torvil’s sister is partnered with Yuma as a liaison between the CoU and Eskarii.”
Morrigan went slack jawed at Drusille’s interjection. She could not believe everything was so connected. Torvil smirked without looking at her.
“Don’t let her bravado fool you, the Eskarii have agents everywhere. Which is why our intel is far superior.” Drusille smacked him in the arm in response. “Bra’cut. Yes though, my sister works with this Yuma to find those who would benefit either party,” he told her casually as if it were meant to be common knowledge.
“Can we call her? Can I talk to her? Is she okay?” Morrigan fired off with zeal. Her confusion was pushed aside by her excitement at the prospect of speaking to her Eskarii crush.
Drusille cocked a cheeky grin as she nudged Torvil, “she's quiet the keener when it comes to your sister.” Morrigan immediately stopped speaking and started fidgeting nervously as she stared at her shoes to hide how red her face had gotten. She had not realized how exuberant she was acting when she noticed she had shifted across the room towards Torvil.
Torvil's face was unreadable as he finished up with the computer and reached above on a shelf to bring a box down. “Right now, I must tend to your wound like promised.”
She had completely forgotten he had stabbed her; however, she was completely healed by then. “We don’t have to worry about that right now… I feel fine…”
Drusille gave her a probing look, “Torvil said you were injured.”
“Well yeah I was, when he stuck a knife in my stomach.” Morrigan replied. She was not sure if he had disclosed that information and hoped it would be a good enough distraction.
Her plan worked, Drusille smacked him hard across the back of the head, and again, and again, “are you fucking shitting me? You gobshite. Mon p'tit Chriss! I can’t believe you would stab the person you were rescuing!”
She continued to smack him viciously until he threw his hands up in defense, “d'gon! It was necessary at the time!” he shouted at her and grabbed the case and set it on the ground next to Morrigan’s feet, who had taken a step back. “Remove the bandage,” he commanded furiously.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Morrigan sighed, knowing there was not going to be any way to escape it, began removing the bandage covered in dried blood.
Torvil started grabbing tools and looked up as she removed the last of the bandage. What he saw was not a clotted wound in need of mending, but red tinted skin that had no indication of being damaged. “How is this possible?” he asked idly as he gently touched her flat stomach as if it were an illusion.
She blushed slightly as she watched him, “I uh… heal fast?” trying to find an excuse other than the truth. This encounter drew Drusille’s attention as she walked over and inspected what Torvil was so confused by. The curiosity on her face quickly shifted to disbelief as well.
“You said she was a mage?” she asked. Torvil nodded in response as he set the medical tools down in the case. “I have never seen a mage who can heal themselves before…” Drusille added.
Tired of the display of her body, Morrigan thrust her shirt down to cover her stomach. “Listen, I don’t quite understand my abilities, can we please just move on from this instead looking at me like I’m a freak?”
Both of the agents cleared their throats and nodded, her words bringing them back to reality. “Of course. My apologies.” Torvil added as he packed away the medical kit and moved back to the shelving to escape his own guilty embarrassment. Drusille on the other hand, pulled out a phone and pulled up a contact in the phone before handing it to Morrigan.
“Just push call, if she’s not busy she should answer. I'm going to help Torvil figure out the rest of your exfil.” Drusille’s expression said she was doing this as more of an apology than anything else. Morrigan gave the woman a stern nod as she took the phone, if being made to feel like a freak was what it took to speak to Mo'Emori, then she would take it.
Being left to her own devices, Morrigan pushed the call button. Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened to the phone ring. It rang three times, four times, each time had her heart pound harder to the point of nearly drowning out the dial tone. There was a click on the line and Morrigan thought her heart had stopped.
“Hello Miss Dubois,” came the familiar harmonic voice she adored. It was blissful relief for Morrigan to hear the Eskarii’s voice again. Her memories of the woman flooded her mind; her shining yellow irises, long flowing teal hair, the smile that melted her heart. In that moment she wished for nothing but the chance to be in the Eskarii’s arm again, to feel her against her, to lean up at the beautiful face that was Mo’Emori, to see her soft, thin lips and…
“Hello?”
Morrigan shook her head, “yyes… yes I'm here…” she stammered feeling the heat of her face against the phone. She could not believe she got so distracted by fantasy.
“This isn’t Lady Dubois…” the tone threatening.
“No Mo’Emori… its me.” Morrigan felt like she was just making things worse as an uncomfortable silence hung on the line.
“Mori?”
Morrigan could not help but blush as Mo’Emori said her name. Her soft harmonic voice was music to her ears.
“Hi…” She forced out as shyness overtook her.
That did not stop the outgoing Eskarii from continuing the conversation.
“I take it my brawdr found you yes? I am so relieved to hear that your safe! Has Torvil behaved himself?” she asked excitedly. Morrigan also heard Mo’Emori turn the phone away, muffled words she could not understand were said.
Morrigan giggled at the question, “yes, even though he is a bit of an asshole.”
She heard Mo’Emori laugh on the other end, it was a beautiful sound. “He is quite abrasive, but he has a kind heart.” That caused her to snort.
“If you count stabbing me as kindhearted, then sure he’s a real sweetheart.” She watched Torvil's head twist as he stared her down. It wasn’t anger his eyes said, but wide eyed worry.
“He did what!? Give the phone to that D’wit an Pash!” Mo'Emori all but screamed into the phone. Torvil’s head shrank into his shoulders as he turned back to his work. It was obvious he heard his sister from across the room.
“No, no its okay I’m perfectly fine I promise!” Morrigan did not mean to throw Torvil under the bus like that. “Please Mo’Emori don’t be mad, it was necessary at the time and I promise I’m okay.”
Mo’Emori growled but relented, “Okay Mori… I’ll believe you but you tell that bra’cut he will get an earful later.” Morrigan smiled, despite the day’s stress wearing on her, she could not be happier knowing the alien woman cared about her. “How are you though my Mori?” Her heart entered her throat.
There was also something to the question that she had not considered, how was she actually? She looked around the room. It was dreary with the hum of the lights illuminating most of the area and the smell was of stagnant mildew. She inspected herself; she wore a combat vest stolen from dead marines, her normal clothes were soiled, she was sitting on a stone floor in an underground room and her body was exhausted.
“Well… I’m on the run from a galactic wide military, I’ve gone from free to terrorist in the matter of a week, my boyfriend has been conscripted and I’m exhausted. So, all things considered… I’m actually okay…”
Mo'Emori sighed, “I hope that is true. I’m sorry to hear about Taylor.”
“Once I get out of here, I’ll find him and get him out of…wherever he is… then I’m going to tear down the Federation, the mages have been abusing their power for far too long. The Eskarii deserve better, the Terrans deserve better...” She trailed off as she realized her temper was beginning to rise again.
She could hear Mo’Emori smile, delight coating her voice. “If anyone could do it, I know it’s you darling.” Morrigan preened at that.
“I’m sorry we are not able to hang out like I promised…”
Mo'Emori scoffed, “your safety is far more important. Once my brawdr gets you out of there, I’m sure we can plan something dear. Until then you have far more important things to worry about.”
Morrigan was thankful that she was more understanding of the situation and did not hold a single part of it against her. It was not like it was her fault she turned terrorist.
“I am afraid I have to let you go though; we are currently in the process of setting up a new office in New York.”
“New York?!” Morrigan exclaimed.
“Yes, Mr. Yuma felt that our position had been compromised and needed to relocate. No need to worry though deary, everything is alright and we will get in contact soon I promise.” Morrigan’s heart faltered slightly at the need to say goodbye. She still had many things to say and ask but a new war was on the horizon, more important things had to be done.
“Alright…” trying to mask the sadness in her voice, “hopefully I’ll see you soon, and please stay safe Mo’Emori.”
Her Eskarii crush giggled, “of course sweetheart, you need to be sure you do the same. We shall speak soon and tell my brawdr he had better keep you safe or I’ll turn his skin into a Triss’unbré. Stay safe!” Mo’Emori had hung up before Morrigan could respond.
She let out a breath of sadness, her life had completely spun out of control. Everything she thought she realistically wanted in life has gone up in flames, and now she was thrust into a position to chase her fantasy dreams of toppling the government and freeing her people; both the Terrans and Eskarii. It was a strange realization to think that an alien species was no different than the human race, however, she believed just that.
She brought herself back to reality to find Drusille and Torvil going over a map of Denver while Drusille used a data slate to dig through whatever information they needed. Morrigan pulled herself off the floor and joined the pair, “So, do we have a plan?”
Torvil jumped, having not heard her approach. Drusille stifled a laugh as she turned to the girl with a grin. It appeared to Morrigan that she enjoyed antagonizing the Eskarii, which given how dangerous the man was, said something about Drusille. “I take it my chwaeda is mad?” Torvil asked passively as he returned to his work. She gleamed that the word meant ‘sister’.
Morrigan shrugged, “well, she said something about turning your skin into a Triss-something if you didn’t keep me safe, otherwise she was her wonderful self.” Drusille started laughing hysterically as Morrigan watched Torvil blanch, which was impressive given he was pale to begin with. Why it was funny was beyond Morrigan.
“Wonderful she says… threatens to turn her brawdr…ridiculous…” Torvil muttered to himself.
Morrigan looked to Drusille who wiped away tears from laughing so hard.
“A Triss'unbré is a ceremonial gown worn by female Eskarii. They're typically made with the hides of hunted powerful beasts.” She informed Morrigan.
Her eyes went wide as she blushed, it was a surprise to find out that the sweetest of Eskarii could be so vicious. Yet it was endearing that Morrigan meant that much to Mo’Emori to threaten her brother that way. Clearing her throat, she asked, “the plan then?”
“We have found our way out.” Torvil moved aside to point at the northeast corner of Denver.
“The airport?” Morrigan questioned. “Wouldn’t they have grounded all flights like they do in any other terrorist situation?”
“There is a hanger, which those who can afford it can rent space for private travel.” Torvil pointed to the computer screen, “there is a starship owned by some Terran diplomat from Orion III, we're going to take it.” She saw on the screen a list of what was registered in the hangers at the airport, the one highlighted was a Atlas type-C private starship belonging to someone named Terrell. She did not know anything about starships to guess what it entailed but it was a plan.
Drusille chimed in, “I requested constant updates about the Federation’s movements, it won't be easy with the military presence at the airport. You're likely to be spotted in take off at the least, but the type-C has a hyper drive for long distance warping. So, once you break free from the planet’s atmosphere you should be home free.”
“Are we taking the train to the airport?”
Torvil snorted, “as wishful as that is, no. If we stole a train, it would be noticed. We will use the subway tunnel as cover though seeing as your Federation has yet to think to look?” He turned his gaze to Drusille to confirm.
“Oui, they're still searching the streets. There’s no guarantee they won't get wise but it’s your safest bet.”
Torvil shut the screen off and turned to Morrigan, “it’s 29 miles, take a couple hours to rest before we go, by then it should be well into dark as well.”
Morrigan's body hurt just thinking about walking 29 miles. He was right she would need as much rest as she could get. Without complaint she found a stack of supplies that seemed to be various Terran clothes, blankets and canvasses and made herself a makeshift bed. As crappy of a bed as it was, it was instant relief on her body. She could feel every joint, muscle and ligament loosen up in a dull ache. Letting out a sigh she closed her eyes, reaching down into herself as the world faded away for the moment. “Hey, you’ve been quiet lately. Everything okay?”
Apollyon was quick to reply, Of course! It’s been an interesting day for sure. A little bit of sneaky sneak, with a side of delicious murder and a disgusting bowl of heart felt emotions hahaha.
“Really? Well pardon the fuck out of me for being happy.” She retorted to Apollyon’s heavy sarcasm.
No, no, you misunderstand. I really do chalk this up to a good day. As for my silence, welllll like I said, it’s been interesting to watch.
Morrigan snorted softly, of course the ancient spirit would find the day interesting. Indeed I do, and if I were to be honest to ourselves, I’m quite proud of you.
“Proud of me? For what?”
Well, the entire time you’ve kept your head on straight, thought carefully of the world around you, and that cold, cold death given to that marine hehehehe, that was glorious.
If Morrigan could roll her eyes emotionally she would. “Yes, the sociopathic spirit loved the fact I turned murderer. Never mind the fact that I don’t want to be a murderer or anything.”
Aww, someone thinks highly of me. Let’s be real though, this road of yours will lead you to do a lot of things you don’t want to do. That part is inevitable when you're aiming for revolution. Killing that guy? That was the first baby step into becoming the aspect of a new age. If you want to be the harbinger of a new era, well… stuff what reservations you have deep inside yourself kid. Revolution is bloody and messy.
“You are the worst at pep-talks you know that?” Morrigan saw Apollyon’s point though. This path would change her… bend her in ways she would never wish. That entire day had seen to showing her that, and it was right, she had to steel herself. History would likely paint her mean things: rebel, terrorist, monster. She knew she was not any of those things, not yet anyways but eventually she would most likely need to become all of those things to overcome the Federation and its tyrannical grip. What was the saying? ‘What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?’ If history meant anything; there was no such thing as an immovable object, so she would need to become the unstoppable force.
See, this is why I’m proud of you. You're not only taking the steps you need but also seeing why you need to take those steps. You’re even becoming more attuned to my power. I know you felt it earlier.
“What do you mean?”
Blood. It is the core of existence, any sentient being has blood in some form, and that holds power. The more you come into my power, the more you practice, the more you'll be able to feel it, call to it and bend it to your will. You’ll become the unstoppable force known as death. With that, you’ll shape the universe to how you want it.
“That… seems more ominous than anything.”
Eh, its semantics, nothing ominous about it. Anyways, if you keep moving forward, taking the steps you need on your path, your goal will be more than just fantasy.
“Right… Alice didn’t just fall down the rabbit hole…” she replied with the philosophical concept of an ancient children’s story.
Heh, indeed.
Morrigan pulled herself out of her enlightening conversation with Apollyon and immediately drifted off to a dreamless sleep.