Ziare Dyarron | Keilara Kala'myr | Mercy | Freedom
Mongrel's Shadow and his widow; Matriarch of the Scar Hounds Tribe; Guardian of Mongrel's armour and sword
Objective: Try to contact Manifold and ask his help.
Location: Ancient ruins, Selvaris
Equipment:
FS-18-UP2 Assault Rifle | 2x
Sunfury Pistol |
Light Armour |
Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | 2x
Vibrodagger | 2x
Riftblades |
Promise of Freedom ||
Cloaking Device | 5x
ASBF Probe Droid ||
OPBC-01m
Writing With:
The Manifold
(and as Kallan) | Closed
[ Come back… ]
"Galactic Basic" | ~ Telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >>
~ Mercy ~
Nothing, nothing happened. Manifold didn't answer, I just stood there for long minutes, waiting for him to appear. I knew that time in the Netherworld was different in some places, but I was impatient. In addition to the frustration and emptiness, I felt angry again for the first time in many months. I clenched my fists at my sides and shouted angrily. And, in the next moment I fell to my knees. I hoped so much, so much, because it was the only one hope. True, I had no way of knowing whether Manifold was still alive or dead. I didn't know if it was captured by the Maw, although I couldn't find any data about it on the network.
It seems that I have no choice but to do what I have to do. To be together again in death. Maybe I'll die just trying to get the twins out so I can give them to Kallan and Keilara. If we only have two in our minds instead of many more, they will probably become even stronger sooner. They will be happy. Keilara had already practised making her astral projection physical. And Kallan was able to take control of my body, so I let him. They can still have a normal life that we don't.
I was still listening to Asher's voice, not through the memories. I asked MANIAC to collect from the HoloNet and the Nite database all the news and footage of Asher taken on various planets. We didn't have a family album and that's all I had left. War footage, some pictures I did or we did when we were together, his armour and his sword. Also, the remaining part of his brain is safely in stasis at home on Serenno; if he ever needs it, Kallan can get himself a clone body. And the memories of a life together, ten years in this life and sixty years in the other.
Still no answer. Why? Why was I unlucky in life? Why did all my luck run out the moment he died? Others might say how lucky I am to have survived multiple strokes, but I didn't feel lucky. I just felt like an unfortunate freak or a mongrel who couldn't even die with the one they loved. Mongrel… even the thought of the name made me feel pain again, even though I hated this name. He was much more than that, it was not for nothing that I asked him to choose another name that belonged to me and not to the Maw. Of course, only after Kallan became Kallan again and they separated, just like me and Keilara now.
There was still no answer, I knew Freedom was hoping too, but when finally there was nothing, I rose from the ground like a ghost. It was over, it was my last hope. The anger disappeared again and only emptiness and pain remained. I turned to walk back to the ship at a loss when the answer happened. For a moment I felt hope and my heart beat so violently that my chest hurt. I groaned but hurried over to the beacon. I hardly heard what he said or that he was surprised.
<< Manifold! I am Mercy, the original body of Freedom. She is here too and if she could feel it, she would be happy that you are alive and free. I…we…need your help. You are our only hope in this matter. There is no one else in Realspace or Netherworld we turn to for this matter. >> I told him.
~ Keilara ~
I was also worried that we were running out of time, but I tried to look strong and calm, not only for Kallan, but also for the children. Although I did not understand and did not yet know how mature they were, how much they knew what was at stake. They essentially "sacrificed" themselves so that Mercy and thus we could be saved. They were able to influence Tu'teggacha without the little green monster realising what had happened. All to keep Mercy alive. It was a matter of moments that all three of us would die there or survive that situation. It was still terrifying and I shuddered when I thought about it.
Mercy felt no love or connection with them, she wanted to free them because she knew that Kallan wanted that. It doesn't matter if I did too, she always did the opposite of what I wanted. It's true, I knew that this also happened in that alternative life, that she didn't accept the twins for a long time. Months passed there as well, although Asher was there by her side and the children were with them the whole time. And of course there was a psychiatrist, now within the Maw she couldn't afford such a luxury. It was a difficult situation and we really couldn't help her.
And worst of all, Asher wanted to die because he believed that Mercy would be happy without him, without her chains and he would not cause any more pain to her. The exact opposite happened, she was chained, the last time she smiled was when Kallan said she spoke like Asher. Last but not least, Tu'teggacha's tortures seemed nothing compared to the pain she felt since then. It hurt me a lot that we couldn't help with this, even if we tried to support her. Not only us, but also the children. The only consolation was that at least the mental shields were functioning normally and strong. At least we had that much protection.
I smiled as I felt Kallan's touch on my arm and then the way he leaned into my arms. Here, smiling softly, I rested my chin on his shoulder for a few moments and closed my eyes. It was such a peaceful moment, I hugged her a little tighter when she said she loved me too. I wish this moment could last forever. Since Tython, we've had so little time for each other anyway. Both of us had to get stronger, then the captivity in Exegol and of course the twins too. I was happy for the children, but also when my husband and I finally had a few free minutes together.
I let the embrace a little looser when he turned around. I looked up at him as he planted a kiss on my forehead and smiled. I was glad he was better now. I was worried about him, really, even if I did try not to show it. I didn't want him or the kids to worry about it, because I'm worried about them. I nodded grimly at Kallan's words.
~ I know, and if it doesn't work out, it's just the two of us will remain and she's going to die. ~ I told him, I know it's actually four and not two, because Freedom is here too, even if she's speechless and just doing calculations all day, and Ziare was there somewhere, I think, but she is extremely weak and fragile.
~ I've been practising astral projection lately, it's getting better and better and easier. So if you will control the body, if this is necessary, then I can be there with you, next to you and support you, not only here in the depths of our minds, but also normally. How are you progressing with learning to control this body? ~ I asked him.
I knew from MANIAC's log that Mercy was also preparing for this, since she offered Kallan to control her... our body for a reason. He ordered a ring from Nite that can shape-shift the body and change according to our thoughts or the signal of our mind. To do this, she sent some of her own and Asher's DNA. If it is ready and Kallan controls the body, it can happen in his own body, because thanks to the ring, if the ring will sense his mind's signal, the body will change into his own. He can be himself again, what the Maw took from him.
~ Even in the worst case scenario... if Mercy gives up. We know where the twins are, the Scar Hounds are there, and we have enough money to hire the best professionals to help rescue them. One way or another, our children will be with us soon. Trust in this! ~ I looked up at him and smiled kindly.