Mevi, Saerin, Zelkan, Ouapi, and the Sentinel walked through the open frame of the metal door. It entered into a small cube-shaped room lined with thick plated metal that bore, what seemed to be, scratches or angry scuffs. As the Sentinel helped Mevi into the small room, the door shut automatically behind the golden protector. A red light slowly clicked to life then, as if signaled by the light, clicking gears and metallic scraping echoed through the thick metal walls. The process felt as if Mevi was being analyzed, judged if permission to enter past this metal trap would be allowed or not. The light suddenly flickered to the normal monochrome, dull, light that had prevailed over the hallways to this point in the facility. The invisible emitter sputtered weakly to life as if low on power.
As the light changed from red, a series of clicking ticks came from the opposite side of the small metal room from the entrance. The outline of a door appeared and it began to swing open, slowly. A single bronze and white cloth clad warrior, not unlike the Sentinel, pushed the heavy metal door open. His face was showing from under a full helm with a digital visor switched into standby as small lights flit across the screen only he could understand. Rough shaven, tired, and remarkably young the man ushered for the group to pass through the doorway with haste.
When Mevi exited the metal box she entered into what could only be described as the bronze warrior’s barracks, one that was housed within what seemed like a large empty metal cave. An open platform had spattered small housing complexes penned in with a thick wall, with warriors wearing dented bronze armor with white padded clothes under the scuffed metal armor. A group of five bronze warriors stood idly by the exit Mevi’s group passed through. Their attitude casual, tired, and maybe even bored. The moment the Sentinel passed the threshold into full view, every warrior within sight straightened in alarm and to a rigid attention. The guards, who were obviously guarding this entrance to the above facility, looked over the group followed by the Sentinel with panicked eyes. They desperately searched for who they should ingratiate themselves to and give the most honors. Mevi, possibly to her disadvantage, was still wearing simple white and blue robes without any obvious flair or markings. The warrior’s gazes immediately fell upon Ouapi, who bore silvered sigils that marked her as a high ranking individual. One of the guardsmen bowed his head quickly, then raced off ducking into a nearby building. Zelkan seemed content to wait by the door, so Mevi did nothing.
The complex itself was simple, with only a few buildings that attached themselves to the thick wall that marked the edge of this part of the Undercity. A short wall, with a barely walkable platform, encircled the entire complex. Two or three warriors seemed to patrol the wall at any one time, while a dozen or so other warriors idled in the main yard of the complex doing odd jobs. When the heavy door shut, loudly, behind the Sentinel all eyes drew towards the newcomers. The bored faces of the bronze warriors were scared into enthralment as they all began to gawk at the Sentinel.
Mevi had, up until this point, forgotten just how tall the Sentinel really was. To her small frame everyone seemed quite tall to Mevi. The Sentinel stood several heads taller than herself, but as he stood looming over her protectively, Mevi noticed he even dwarfed the bronze warriors. Each of the warriors seemed two or three heads taller than Mevi, and the Sentinel stood two or three taller than them. As Mevi was finally able to compare the Sentinel to other people that could be compared to him, the Sentinel’s power and bulk became fully obvious to her after all this time.
As Mevi finished surveilling the complex, and realized how intimidating her guardian really was, a man in powerful bronze armor shot out of the nearby building the warrior had run into. If the other bronze warriors were wearing heavy metal armor, this man was wearing twice or thrice any normal warrior’s worth. Massive bulk was etched into metal plates that covered every piece of body or skin. No part was left uncovered by the heavy-looking armor in a remarkable show of strength and endurance. Gold runes etched into the bronze warrior’s chest, with a blue gemstone where his heart would be. Mevi struggled to read many of the strange runes and various languages that were frequent on the Barge, but she thought one of the runes might’ve said “Maphet” and another “Given soul and body.” She was learning the runes slowly, but her studies had paid off at least to an elementary degree.
The heavily armored man, who was probably this barrack’s leader, rushed to Mevi’s group. The man removed his full helm to reveal the left half of his face was brutally scarred by some kind of burn. His one good eye scanned over the gathered curiosities until it landed on Mevi, the one member of the group the rest of the warriors seemed to pay no mind. The man approached, then dropped to one knee before Mevi. His warriors seemed surprised, obviously not expecting the small girl to be of any importance. “My lady. I am captain Hez. I am honored to be in your service.”
Mevi was less surprised at his supplication at this point after the last several weeks of similar declarations in greeting, “Rise, please. I am Mevare Bensari. Magi Apprentice to Lord Maphet.” Mevi had memorized the greeting Zelkan gave her for those that seemed ‘lower’ in rank.
Hez looked at Mevi and he seemed genuinely glad. He squinted his eyes as he smiled at Mevi, as if staring directly into a bright light. “We are honored to host such a prestigious guest. We are at your service and command, my lady.”
Mevi smiled awkwardly, she might’ve expected supplications but she was still not truely used to it beyond an initial greeting. Zelkan picked up on her hesitation, as he was always good at doing, “Thank you for receiving us Captain Hez. I am my lady’s chief attendant.” Saerin stifled a chuckle with a hand, and an audible tone of annoyance briefly colored Zelkan’s words. “If you would receive us within your cabin, we would be most appreciative.”
“Of course, chief attendant.” Hez replied.
Hez lifted himself, bowed deeply towards Mevi, and then guided them to the nearest building within the complex. Holding the door open for each member of Mevi’s party, Hez came in last. The interior of the building was very minimalistic, it only held exactly what it needed to suit what might’ve been an office and bunk: a short desk with a device similar to a large datapad embedded in the desk’s surface; a single cabinet, closed tightly shut with what looked like a large manual lock; three chairs, one behind the desk and two in front; finally a bed, which seemed so small Mevi wondered how the large captain slept in it or if he slept here at all. Each piece of furniture was made out of a simple, crude, metal. Indeed the entire barracks, from what little Mevi could have seen, seemed welded from crude scrap metal. The complex seemed very primitive compared to what Mevi began to expect as normal on and within the Barge.
Hez eagerly rushed to retrieve his own chair from behind the desk, and he all but forced Mevi to sit in the extremely too-large chair. The Sentinel stood behind her, as her dutiful golden shadow. Zelkan seemed to glare at Saerin, who shamelessly sat on one of the only empty chairs, but Ouapi quickly claimed the only other. Leaving Zelkan and Hez standing in the middle of the cabin as if they were to be judged by those present. Zelkan couldn’t help sighing to himself as to how quickly Saerin became comfortable, her fidgeting in the chair as she inspected the cabin curiously seemed to further annoy Zelkan. Turning to Hez, who stationed himself by the door, Zelkan finally began addressing the captain. “Thank you again for receiving us, Captain. We are on a mission some might wish to be secret. We know our way, but we must borrow some of your Legionnaires as escorts. We wouldn’t be more than a day, possibly two.” Mevi was briefly alarmed, ‘How could they be down here for an entire day or maybe two? What could possibly make this mission take so long, how deep below was Modrak?’ Mevi thought to herself. As Mevi had her own realization of how long this mission might take, and the dangers she may face, Hez’s own face contorted in shameful regret.
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“I am deeply sorrowful that I cannot aid you with Legionnaires as of right now, my lady.” Hez seemed to turn his attention towards Mevi now. “The villains of the Undercity have been raiding our base for several months now without stop. Dwindling our manpower and injuring many who would normally go on patrols in the nearby sectors. As of now, by decree of The Divine Lord Magi Odion, we must maintain a minimum number of active duty Legionnaires to man the defenses… Or whatever is left of our defenses at least. If not for the sudden exit into realspace, I suspect we would be fighting off an attack as of this moment if the Holy Barge had continued on its previous course.”
Zelkan seemed taken aback by the lack of immediate declared support, “How can you offer no support? My lady is the Magi Apprentice of our Divine Lady, Lord Magi Maphet!”
Mevi held up a hand to interrupt Zelkan, “Zelkan, we can’t force them to come with us. I had originally assumed we were traveling alone already.” Mevi tried to adopt a feigned air of pride and authority, “Would I be allowed to see the injured Captain Hez? Before we leave, at least.”
Hez, obviously not expecting the sudden burst of magnanimity and power of presence, fell to a single knee in a formal bow, “Of course my Lady. If we can offer anything else, weapons, supplies, directions, or what else that would not defy our orders from Lord Magi Odion; we will happily oblige.”
Hez then lifted himself up and eagerly opened the door. Zelkan seemed almost surprised, like he might’ve even been just as proud as confused at Mevi’s sudden decision to ignore their own needs over the Legion’s orders. Mevi puffed her chest out a bit, her gambit to act like a dignitary had succeeded! She had been letting Zelkan do most of the talking since she had originally arrived at the facility, too scared to speak her voice with any amount of authority. But she had taken this chance as practice and pretend she knew how to use her rank and station. She had seen the Neophytes talk in such a firm way at the meeting only hours before, and had seen Alestair use a single hand to halt conversation many times during said meeting. She had been waiting to try out the way the other leaders within Odion and Maphet’s ranks spoke to see if she could pull it off.
Mevi walked past her companions; Zelkan and Saerin, looking at her with prideful surprise. Zelkan’s confusion waning in place of a subtle gladness that could even shine through his electronic mask. The group exited, following Captain Hez. Mevi couldn’t help but notice the amount of additional bronze Legionnaires that had emerged to stare at her and her group. A stern look from their captain set them back to their duties as they scattered to their posts.
The largest building of the relatively small complex was their destination. From its design and size it looked like a commons hall or a storage house. As Hez pushed the doors open, with a metallic creak, Mevi was met with the sight of at least three dozen sleeping or groaning soldiers in their casual fatigues. Several were missing limbs, but all tried to maintain a steely silence despite the pained expressions across each face. Heads turned when the door creaked open, and were considerably confused when Mevi stepped through first. Mevi could almost taste the fear, pain, and dread in the air as it hung around this building like a palpable mist. Captain Hez walked in, dour as he was furious at some disappeared foe who caused these injuries. Hez stood tall just past the doorway behind Mevi and pronounced, “Attention men! You are graced by her ladyship, Mevare Bensari, Magi’s Apprentice to our Divine Lady, Lord Magi Maphet!”
The warriors snapped to attention at their captain’s call and even many of the sleeping soldiers woke suddenly as they attempted to straighten at attention, but their instinct to soldier was overridden by awe as they looked at Mevi’s small form as if she were a benevolent angel. Mevi was almost overcome by the sudden wave of hope that gleamed in the warrior’s eyes brightly. Mevi tried her best to hide what embarrassment was now flooding her mind. She patted herself down briefly, self conscious of her inadequate wear. She looked up and reorganized herself, standing proud again as she recalled her pretend authority. Captain Hez seemed none the wiser to Mevi’s fidgeting or the hot red that she felt pass over her face.
The sensation passed as Mevi tried to remind herself to pretend to act like Alestair. She needed to be steely, confident, and the authority in the room. Mevi looked out at the wounded warriors. The brave Legionnaires who apparently fought an unknown war to protect the facility she had begun to call home. Mevi felt a longing to help them, a kinship towards their sacrifice, and had to fight back the instinct to make empty promises. Mevi had no idea how to react to these poor souls who had fought for her safety while she was oblivious to any danger she might’ve been in without them. Instead of words, Mevi simply began to walk the paths through the makeshift war hospital. Mevi gave the soldiers warm smiles and looked each in the face, regardless if they returned her gaze or whatever wound they bore. She was determined to not forget them and to not take her position of apparent abject luxury for granted when she returned.
Mevi quietly gave her smile to the bronze Legionnaires. As she passed by each soldier she could feel the warrior’s hope swell from just her presence. Mevi refused to appear against their hope or expectations, and remained a quiet ornament for them to gawk at as a representative of their divine Magi. As she finished her rounds of the war hospital, Mevi returned to the entrance where Hez and her companions still stood in a somber silence. Mevi turned to the wounded, and without any idea of what to do next simply said, “Thank you for your service. I will return.” Then, with her promise said, she bowed politely. The wounded were aghast at their Magi’s Apprentice’s action, Mevi could hear a combination of quiet sobbing and loud proclamations of love or loyalty to Maphet. Mevi simply hurried out of the building, the door sliding shut behind her by the hand of Captain Hez.
Mevi only now noticed the rest of the Legion barracks had gathered by the entrance of the building and had been peering at Mevi’s actions. Captain Hez hadn’t stopped them from snooping on her and as she left several of the warriors fought back tears. Yet even as their emotions rose they stood at attention when Mevi exited the building. Placing their right hand over their heart in a tight fist, with their left holding their weapon of choice tightly at their side. They stared upwards, as if unwilling to meet Mevi’s gaze.
Mevi silently looked at Zelkan for what to do, her confidence was running dangerously low. Zelkan, who had been brimming with his own confidence and pride moments before, noticed the pleading look for help. Zelkan ushered Mevi to follow him towards what looked to be the main gate of the complex. A sad thing, compared to the scale of so many structures seen before, but tall enough the Sentinel might have an issue climbing over it. Zelkan led Mevi and her party to the gate, with Hez following them there. “We thank you for your hospitality, but we must continue our mission with or without additional help. My lady wishes your company of Legionnaires luck. We will return this way in one day from now if our luck prevails.” Captain Hez nodded, obviously holding back some emotion that fought to be let out. Hez gave Mevi a powerful smile, one of a man who had seen much beyond the call of duty and finally saw their savior on the horizon. Mevi only hoped she could hold up to his expectations. Captain Hez took something from his hip, a small metallic cylinder. Staring down at it, he handed it to Mevi and said, “My lady. We cannot go with you. But when you return, use this to signal us. We will charge out of this fort with the fury of the Magi’s righteous to get you back safely.”
Mevi smiled back, “Thank you Hez. I look forward to seeing you again when we return, may you and your Legion be safe.”
“Hahaha!” Hez pounded his chest with a fist as he laughed, “If any of these Undercity scum come to attack us before you return we’ll drive them off with righteous devotion! I won’t allow a single man to fall before you can return to bless our campaign!”
Mevi parted from Hez, with one final smile, and prayed silently for their safety. As Mevi and her party walked towards the gate two Legionnaires rushed past to open it wide for their group. Stretching scorch marks wounded the metal landscape outside the barracks, old and burnt carcassess were strewn around the field that seemed to belong to both Legionnaire and ruffian. Left to rot or be stolen away by a desperate vagrant. Mevi conceded the lead of the group slowly to Zelkan, when they were out of sight after passing one of the large pipe-like supports that cover the Barge, she let Zelkan fully take the lead again. Letting out a great sigh of relief and stress, Mevi allowed her back to relax and muscles to unstiffen. Zelkan ensured their pace was slower than needed, and turned to look towards Mevi, “I cannot express my pride my Lady. You knew exactly what to do with the soldiers. You looked the very picture of a Magi’s Apprentice.”
“In truth?” Mevi said after she caught her breath and her heart began to slow, “I just didn’t know what to do or say, so I tried to say nothing… I wish I only knew sooner what was happening down here.”
Ouapi spoke for the first time since they had first met, “There are many hidden battles fought across the Holy Barge by our Lord’s faithful.” She said in a sullen and knowing tone.