Whatever it is that Caesar desires, it has to wait. I look away from him, returning my eyes to the course ahead.
"I must find Lord Aliester. I must be at his side." I tell him. I do not look away from my course, nor slow my flight.
"I thought as much.†Caesar replies, “Where is he?"
"This way," I reply. What does he want with Lord Aliester? He said that he didn’t care.
Caesar replies, "You mean... you don't know? You don't know where your own 'lord' is?"
Why is he asking all this? How is it important, when Lord Aliester is hurt? â€Not exactly,†I answer, “He is very far away; I can only faintly feel Him.â€
"Well, that's just great,†he answers.
He falls silent, as the machine flies along side of me. I pay it no mind, it isn’t important now.
"You know, Enlil... we could get you there faster."
What? He can? How does he know where to go? I look over at him, setting myself into a glide. "Can you?" I ask. If he can get me there faster, perhaps I will be able to help!
Caesar grins at me. "Of course!†he answers, “It seems my friend managed to figure out where Aliester probably is, and I can get us there in literally no time!"
â€How?†I ask. I know he lacks the power to teleport that entire machine.
"Just a little dimension-hopping.†He explains. “It's a lot like teleportation, only it takes a lot more practice, and it's a lot more effective. We use it all the time, you needn't worry. So, what do you say?"
How odd, a Dimensional Traveler. I never expected to see a human capable of it here, in this mostly magic-dead world. Can I trust him, after he helped Mellewyn?
But, if he wanted to slay Lord Aliester, he would not have left earlier, not before finishing the task.
“If it will get me to Lord Aliester more quickly,†I answer, meeting his gaze. “I shall accept.â€
"Gotcha,†he answers, his lips quirking upward into a smile, “Just keep moving, I'll handle the rest."
He falls silent again, closing his eyes. He seems to be thinking. Perhaps he is concentrating? I can’t tell anymore… It feels as though my eyes were bound with cloth, I should be able to sense the magic I know he is using, but I cannot.
Minutes pass, as he seems to fall deeper into his trance. Gliding, I watch him curiously. Then his eyes snap open, glowing with a faint green light. The air ahead of the machine and I begins to warp and distort. I watch it, as a hole seems to open within the air. Within that hole, I can see buildings of concrete and steel, hundreds of them reaching into the air.
And, I feel Lord Aliester among them.
I do not hesitate to follow the black craft through the gate, as it speeds ahead. I brace myself as I approach it, yet I feel nothing strange as I fly through. However, the sense of Lord Aliester’s presence multiplies a dozen times over!
He is close, no more than a mile or so away. I can feel that he is in one of the buildings, still very weak.
Below me now is a dizzying array of roads, buildings, and people. Looking down, I see thouands of people walking along the roads, tens of thousands of machines plying those thoroughfares. Buildins seems to take up every available bit of space, I see only a few scattered hints of trees.
It is so very different than Heimdal, so unlike the closed and empty halls of the Core. Here, life seems to thrive in every place and corner possible. Everywhere I look, I can see people.
But, it is not important now.
I see a large building not far from us, reaching higher than any around it. There, I feel Lord Aiester’s presence.
Without a moment’s delay, I begin to fly toward it. Beating my wings as hard as possible, I strive for every modicum of speed I can get. I must reach Him! I must be by his side!
I can hear Caesar’s craft following me. He too wishes to see Lord Aliester. I know not why, but I care not. Perhaps he will understand now…
I hover over the top of the building, looking down upon its roof. Much of it is flat, save for a couple of scattered structures placed near the edge. Curiously. A thriving green garden rests near those smaller buildings. It seems so very out of place, amidst the steel and concrete.
I’m coming, Lord Aliester
The black machine descends, stretching out its spider-like legs, and settling upon them lightly. I follow, landing atop it near Caesar. He grins at me.
I bow toward him, and say “Thank you very much, Caesar. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.â€
Caesar smile changes a little, becoming a little more self conscious. He rubs the back of his head and answers, “Yea... You’re welcome."
I’m coming, Lord Aliester.
I leap off of the craft, letting my wings slow my descent. As my feet touch the roof, I fold my wings, and look back as a hatch atop the machine opens. From it emerges the lavender-haired half elf that I saw before, when Lord Aliester bid me to welcome them. "Such a nifty little vehicle" she says to no one in particular.
She must have been controlling the machine. I spread my wings a little as bow to her as well. "Thank you.†I say, “Thank you so much. You have my sincerest gratitude for delivering me to Lord Aliester so quickly."
The half elf looks around, then says, "Well, don't thank us too much just yet. Getting here is the easy part... getting in is going to be tricky. Security's pretty tight."
Security? I have not heard this word before? Why would it stop us? Did we do something to anger it?
“Why would Security keep us from Lord Aliester?†I ask, “I only want to help him.â€
Caesar answers. "Yea, well... I doubt MacinTech security is well versed in your relationship with Aliester." Turning to the purple-haired half elf, he asks, "So... what now?"
"I'll tell you what to do," declares a flat female voice from behind, "You'll drop any weapons you may have and state your intentions for being here."
I turn, and see a woman with red hair and scarlet eyes. She looks exactly like Rei! Yet, her eyes are different. This isn't Rei.
Nor do I understand why she is pointing a large metal cylinder at us.
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Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=unclepervy@rpgww60462>Uncle] at: 2/26/03 10:48:08 pm