"Are the bolts ready?" Tiegorus asked.
"Aye captain," a human said. "Just give the word."
"Fire at will, eight bolts, one along each compass point."
The Calla Maraine stood quietly in the ring of asteroids where the wreckboat had been detected. The field was full of potential hiding places, and the wreckboat could be anywhere. Eight ballistae bolts flew from the squid ship in rapid succession.
The bolts were modified helmseekers. Instead of damaging a ship, they would simply latch on to it. The bolts were only about four feet long, and contained a hollow compartment. They were developed by the Elven navy to send messages during search and seizure missions. The compartment could easily carry a scroll or map, and the wax seal was surprisingly difficult to open. Anyone with a dagger could do it, but it took a while. Tiegorus had also placed another spell on them that would inform her when one of the bolts reached a target. Several hours later, one of the eight tiny gems on the bridge of the Calla Maraine lit up.
"Heading 225!" the navigator called. The Calla Maraine quickly pivoted and traced the bolts path. About twenty minutes later, the squid ship stood before a medium sized asteroid, with what appeared to be a cave on one side.
Tiegorus, Bagath, and a few of her crew entered the cave, as the Calla Maraine remained cloaked outside. After a few minutes, they came to a dead end in the small cave. The helmseeker was impaled on the wall. Bagath quickly cast a spell and began to feel around the cave. Tiegorus muttered something and the multi-colored gem on her staff began to glow with a soft, reddish light.
"The wreckboat came through here," Bagath said, "but their track ends at that wall. As far as I can tell they haven't come through again."
Tiegorus was concentrating on the wall where the helmseeker was. Her outstretched hand was quivering as she cast a spell. After a moment she sighed in despair.
"A dimensional portal," she said heavily. "They could be anywhere by now."
"Can you tell which plane they entered?" Bagath asked.
"Yes, if I examine this wall for the next week," she answered sarcastically.
"We don't have time for that," Bagath observed.
"We certainly don't." Tiegorus paused for a minute, looking at the helmseeker. "Let's put a Continual Light on the helmseeker. If they re-enter the prime plane the same way they left it, they will see the bolt and get the message when they return."
"Aye, but what do we do in the mean time?"
"I guess we should return to Spectre. At this point we can help them better from there than from here."
Shortly thereafter, the blue squid ship began to maneuver free of the asteroid field on route back to Spectre. Meanwhile, back in the cavern, a soft glow emitted from the helmseeker. One could only hope that the silent messenger would still be glowing when the wreckboat returned from wherever it had gone.
Realmspace...
Aganist the darkness of space, the stars appear little more than flecks of glittering dust. The nearer one gets to the wall of Realmspace's crystal shell, however, one can see that these flecks of starlight are huge portals of radiance, shimmering with light.
These portals are not near to each other in any respect. They are spread apart by distances one could not walk in one lifetime. The areas between the stars are dark, dismal places that never see light of their own.
Without any warning, one such area of darkness begins to flutter. The darkness wavers, and light begins to pour from the spherewall. This light is not pure however; it is filled with thousands upon thousands of colors. None of these new colors enter the darkness: It's almost as if an invisible hand scoops them away before entering.
From the other side of the opening, something stirrs. Something passes through, a retangular-shaped craft with dozens of lines attached to the back. These lines stretch into the opening, and, a minute later, another craft enters, this one different than the first.
This craft has two long protrusions, shaped like twisted vines, extending in front of it. Resting on the twin vines is something like a conch shell one would find adrift on any one of a hundred shores. It is scarred, its white appearance blackedened in places, but otherwise intact. After it completly exits the multi-hued ocean of Phlogiston, the darkness reverts upon itself, closing the hole. Space has restored itself, and the tugboat and Dreadnought both drift further into Realmspace.
On board the tugboat, Blaise Pascal stands on the aftdeck, looking back at the Dreadnought in tow. The tug is one of many belonging to the Narrashan Towing Company, a Lizard Man operation who will tow any ship anywhere, no questions asked, if the price is right.
Blaise begins to question if the price paid for this particluar run was worth it. He revealed one of the Arcane's prized secrets: how to manipulate the Sisters, a naturally-occuring randomizing warp in Greyspace, and take it anywhere, anytime, you want.
He had to reveal the secrets to get Holinor to retrieve the craft. The ship he was serving on, The Eternal Wanderer, was destroyed on Spectre back in Greyspace. There was also the possiblity that Onestar and Hall, the owners of the now-destroyed ship, might be in danger. Their trust and faith in him was the reason why he risked revealing the Sister's secrets.
He could only hope that no other Arcane would find out.
Holinor, the leader of the Narrashan Towing Company, led this specific mission. Before they could leave Spectre to retrieve the ship, Blaise had to retrieve some important equipment from the Wreck of the Eternal Wanderer. The Lizard Men, using a diving bell and clerical magics to survive underwater, managed to retrieve most of the personal belongings of the crew from the destroyed ship.
The remants of the Nextasy Helm were retrieved as well, although they were now more splinters than magics. He was able to cannibalize enough of the helm to piece together the manipulator necessary to activate the Sisters. There was a chance that it wouldn't work properly, but it was a risk Holinor took. Travelling to the Sisters, Holinor activated the manipulator. In an instant, they were in Realmspace, only a thousand miles off the mark Blaise projected.
The only question was, were they in the right time.
"Blaise, is there any way we can tell if we're still in the right time continumin?" Phantom asked, walking over to the Arcane. "Getting this back to where Onestar and Hall are won't help if they aren't around to get it."
"I had one of Holinor's starcharters check the constellae," Pascal commented, not looking from the dreadnought, "and they think we hit the time right on the mark."
"Do you plan to leave that manipulator of yours with Holinor?"
"I have to. What choice do I have?" Blaise then turned to face Phantom, the only other member of the Wanderer's crew on the tug. Ville and the others took another of Narrashan's ship, a Vodonian strikeship, to Onestar's hold. "The captain would honor his word, wouldn't he? If Onestar was here, if he gave his word, he would honor it. There is little else I can do."
"Of course, in non-Arcane hands, the manipulator might not function properly, but I won't mention that just yet." Blaise then smiled slightly, which caused Phantom to laugh for just a few seconds, before he realized his laughter might give the secret away to Holinor's crew.
"Prepare to reenter the warp hole," a lizardman voice called out. "Arcane, if you would do the honorsss?"
"Certainly." Blaise then took the manipulator and turned a few nobs, pushed a button or two, and twisted a dial. Space began to fold in on them, the stars began to blur, and everything seemed to turn upside down.
"We ready to go?"
Hall stood by the enterance to the shuttle, holding a leather backpack filled with several books and some precious jewels in a steel box. He picked up a couple of books from the dragon's vast library for research on Athaspace, and a couple history tomes on the Juna Estress requested. He and Onestar finished everything they needed for the Dreadnought's arrival: equipping the dock, readying the area, checking the spelltomes for the modification spells necessary to improve the dreagnought and getting the funds to pay for everything.
Onestar left the quarters they have there, carrying his swords and another small leather satchel. It contained two dozen fire opals, the rarest type of that gem. His stride was relaxed, he hummed as he walked and there was even a smile on his face.
"You're in a good mood today," Hall asked. "What's up?"
"Just happy to be headed back to the ship. I can't wait to get the Dreadnought back here and start making the repairs. After that incident with the map, and all the trouble with the helm, things should quiet down now."
"I wish I could share your optimism," Hall replied quietly. Onestar reached the shuttle and tossed the bag inside.
"Are you still bothered by those dreams?" the samurai asked.
"Sort of. I can't shake the feeling that something is happening out there, something big."
"I trust Blaise," Onestar said, placing a reassuring hand on Hall's shoulder. "Ville and Phantom are more than capable in handling the ship, and any problem. As long as they leave Zebart somewhere, everything will be just fine."
That last comment made Hall chuckle. "You never told me why you hate Tinker Gnomes."
"Hate is too strong of a term," Onestar said, as he climbed into the shuttle. "Extremely dislike is a better one. Gnomes in general, but most specifically Tinker Gnomes. There was one time on Omni when a gnome... Damn."
"The memory loss again?"
"I almost remembered, Hall. It was there, I could see it plain as day, and then it disappeared. Damn the powers!"
Hall entered the craft and placed his backpack under the cot. Onestar took the helm and relaxed. As Hall took one last look around, the craft rose off the ground and circled. Inside, Onestar's armor began to glow with a faint white light. Before the shuttle, a similar light appeared before them as a portal appeared.
When it opened enough to make hole for the shuttle to leave, something else entered. The ballistae hit the shuttle with enough force to rattle the occupants, but not enough to harm it.
"By the Celestial Tribunal!" Onestar cried out as he made the ship return to the ground. "What in the seven hells was that?"
Hall opened the hatch and jumped out before the shuttle touched down. He saw the glowing ballistae attached to the ship's side, doing no damage but not falling off once the shuttle's gravity dispelled and the cavern's gravity took hold.
"It's a ballista bolt, and it's glowing!" Hall yelled. He examined the bolt and noticed a familiar dragon insignia etched on the side. "It's from Tiegorus!"
"Your old friend?" Onestar asked, peering out the door.
"One in the same. I'd recognize that dragon anywhere! What in the name of Solaris is she doing sending this out? And what is she doing in Greyspace?"
"Does it look like it has any messages?"
"There is this bit of wax...a messenger bolt!" Hall took out a dagger and began digging at the wax. "There's a door here, and odds are there's a message within!"
"If that's the case," Onestar said, taking the dagger from Hall, "better let me get it. I'm stronger than you are." He winked as he said that.
"Show off."
Onestar took the dagger and picked at the wax. It was tough, but he removed it in under a minute. Handing the dagger back to Hall, he opened the hatch and saw scroll of old parchment within. The samurai removed it and handed it to the bard.
"Perhaps it is something personal," Onestar explained. "You should read it."
Hall nodded, and unwrapped the parchment. He scanned it quickly, and then, with eyes opened in horror and shock, gave it to Onestar to read.
Onestar took the scroll and read it aloud.
"'Hall, it is my sincerest wish that you find this scroll.
I have travelled far to warn you your life is in danger. I do not who or exactly how, but we learned that certain parties are planning to attack the Eternal Wanderer.'
"'We travelled here hoping to find you, but you could not be found. If this finds you, then be careful. All I can tell you is that you are in grave danger.'
"'Stay well. We are returning to Spectre. I await your return safely. Signed, Tiegorus.'"
"I knew I had a bad feeling for some reason," Hall commented.
"Forgive me later for second-guessing you," Onestar said as he jumped back into the ship. "Right now, I'd like to see if we could catch up with your friend. See if you can get that bolt off the ship and we'll go."
"I doubt we'll catch her," Hall commented as the bolt came off the ship in his hands. "There's no telling how long this was here, and the Calla Maraine is equiped with a Great Helm. It travells faster than any standard ship. There's no telling how long this was waiting for us outside." Hall brought the bolt into the shuttle and closed the door. Onestar was already on the helm, and his armor was glowing once more.
"Then we'll have to spring for a doorbell when we get back. Right now, let's go!" Onestar closed his eyes and the shuttle lifted off the ground. Once again, a glowing portal opened and the shuttle passed through it unhampered. Once clear from the glow, they passed out of the mouth of an asteroid cave and into the asteroid belt. Onestar manuevered the ship to the shortest path back to Spectre, while Hall looked out the bow portal.
"Onestar," Hall began, "do you see what I see?"
"You mean the fight off in the distance, outside the belt?" the samurai replied, his voice deeped due to the helm's magic. "Yes. There appear to be two ships. One is a modified hammership, and the other is a squid ship. Interestingly, the squid is painted blue."
BLUE! "The Calla Maraine!" Hall yelled. "That's Tiegorus and her crew! We've got to help her!"
"And how pray tell do you plan to do that?" Onestar asked. "This shuttle has no weapons save for a glowing bolt. There isn't even any way to fire it."
"This from the man who was unafraid to go one-on-one with a dragon?"
"That's a low blow, Hall."
"Those are old friends, Onestar. I've got to help them."
"Sigh." Onestar closed his eyes again. "All right, hold on. We're going in."
"What?" Hall turned to look back at the samurai. "What's your plan?"
"Who says I have one? I didn't when we took on the dragon. Of course, Lord Monitor isn't here, we're outgunned and outmanned, but that never stopped me before."
"You know you are stark, raving, crazy!" Hall yelled, as the shuttle moved to it's fastest speed toward the hammerhead.
