Colin's posts

Azari listened to his choices, before nodding.

"I know." he said with quiet conviction.

- - -

Hal and Terra were in his office, talking about the state of the world, and how things seemed to have... lightened up a little, but they were unsure as to what that meant. But they were not going to let their guard down.

"We need to figure out what to do." Hal said.

"This needs to-" he started to say, before Chris suddenly burst into the room.

"I'VE REMEMBERED!" he declared, shocking the two of them with his entrance.

"I've remembered EXACTLY where Vanessa is!"

Azari was silent, before sighing heavily.

"My stance still has not changed from before." he told her.

"While I want your machinations to remain in motion... I know that it just wouldn't be the same here without you. Not for me, anyway." he said honestly.

"Will I be able to follow Ashley? Yes. Yes, I will be able to follow her." he told her.

"However, I would also prefer to join you in the afterlife." he then said.

"So it's not really an either/or question. But if left up to me, entirely, I would stick around just long enough to make sure things go smoothly, before departing." he went on.

"...also, I'm not sure how your sister would react to my presence, either." he then admitted.

"Indeed." Azari replied.

"...and that's already set into motion." he told her.

"She'll want to come here. She'll demand it." he went on.

"And that's when the plan is finalised." he said further, looking at her with some sadness in his eyes.

"I've got everything prepared to tell everyone here when you leave." he then said.

"They will know that Ashley will be their new Mistress, and that anyone that thinks otherwise is a traitor to the cause."

Aly's face was red as well, and she just looked away.

"I... uh...." she stammered.

"I'm bringing this up because I was just told about it." Ryker said.

"The dragon on the roof told me. Said Eke's father had the same problem." he went on.

"So I got worried and wanted to make sure nothing... er... happened." he added.

"But... but why such urgency?" Aly asked.

"I just didn't want anything to happen while she and I are... er... well... out to... dinner..." Ryker mumbled.

Ryker jumped a little.

"Oh! Geez!" he exclaimed.

"Guess I'm distracted." he said, as Aly showed up.

"What is it?" she asked, concern in her tone.

"Right, something you two need to know." Ryker told them.

"Ah..." he then started to say, before pausing, and looking embarrassed.

"It... just... maybe you should... uh..." he stammered further, shaking his head.

"Right, I need to just say it." he then said.

"You two? Maybe you should consider a life of... abstinence. It... will help prolong Eke's life." he told them.

"....." Azari was silent, before nodding.

"Yes." he replied.

"I sent two of your most disposable pawns out with him." he told her.

"They'll find the closest Wood Elf village, start bragging about a plan, and we both know what will happen from there." he continued.

"...they won't know the difference." he then mumbled.

"He'll blend in perfectly." he assured her.

"No matter what happens... eventually... regardless of where you are... you'll have the last laugh." he added with a confident smile.

"Hmmm." Hal mumbled.

"I can try, most certainly." he said.

"Anything in my power." he added with a nod.

"Regardless, I will afford you a dorm, as well as privileges for the dining hall." he then told Chris. "However, do not expect people to be too friendly at first, and for some to be outright hostile." he added.

"I expect it." Chris replied.

"After all I've done, and helped to orchestrate, people have a right to hate me." he reasoned.

"...." Hal was just silent, and looked at Serenity with an expression that said 'Wow... what a turnaround in attitude'.

"...." both Hal and Chris were silent.

"I see." Hal said, with Chris looking confused.

"Huh?" he muttered.

"Never you mind." Hal responded.

"...k." was all Chris said in response, with a shrug.

"Regardless, I do hope you're willing to help us out." Hal then said to Chris.

"I am trying to." Chris said. "I just need to think back into my memories." he added.

Chris merely nodded and picked her up, being more gentle than one would think of him.

With that, he carried her to Sharp's office, only going inside when he was beckoned to.

Once he did, Hal looked at the two of them, and raised an eyebrow.

"Welcome back." he said to Serenity.

"....are you feeling clear-headed now?" he then asked Chris.

"More than ever in my life." Chris responded.

Chris seemed to be a bit out of it when Serenity spoke to him.

"Ah." he said.

"Yes." he replied.

"Yes, I am." he told her.

"Let's go." he said further, standing up... and looking at her.

"Um... I realise this might be an insult, but... do you want a lift there?" he asked her.

"As in, do you want me to carry you?"

Chris just nodded in response.

"Right." he said.

He then sat down and watched as the two of them disappeared into the other room, before thinking about things.

"...who I am..." he mumbled.

"Who AM I?" he then asked himself.

'...was I ever allowed to be who I am? Or was?' he then thought, before leaning forward and grasping at his hair.

"Ngh." he grunted.

"I'll think on that later. I need to remember where Mis-" he started to say, before catching himself. "....Vanessa is."

"......" again, Chris was silent, before getting up off the bed.

"Right." he said.

"Okay." he told her.

With that, the two of them left the room, and saw Terra sitting where she was.

"......thank you." Chris said to her.

"Thanks to you... I'm... I'm free." he told her.

"It's more than one such as me deserves."

"I know." Chris replied.

"But... knowing her, she has plans for that." he said, before pausing.

"...yeah. Yeah, she'll have plans to continue on her work." he went on.

"I just... don't know HOW." he admitted.

"But I need to try and remember where she is." he then said.

"If she can be found, it can hopefully be stopped."

Chris nodded in response.

"I know." he replied.

"I know." he said, before starting to think.

"I just need to probe my memories." he told her.

"I need to think. Think about the area. Think about what surrounds it." he went on.

"Because that barrier is still technically in effect." he continued. "It's just that she, herself, IS the barrier." he muttered.

"Not even Miss Terra herself will be able to locate that place."