Day Four:
Hall approached the Rock of Bral, having achieved what he had planned to do. The trip to and from the small, forested asteroid had been uneventful. He still had to deal with customs, however, and that might prove to be a problem. Two beetle ships flanked the small shuttle. Hall sat quietly as they magically probed the small ship for anything suspicious. When nothing was found, Hall willed the shuttle to the Wanderer and set it down. Onestar greeted him on the flying bridge.
"What in the nine hells have you been up to?" he asked. "Crystal just detected a magical surge in your quarters. Belieth ran down there, thinking you were in trouble."
"What is she doing now?" Hall asked, seemingly not concerned.
"Standing in the hall looking very shocked and confused," Onestar responded.
"Is Hypathia on board?" Hall asked, changing the subject.
"Yes," Onestar answered, as the two started for Hall's quarters. "What's going on here? I assume something to do with the artifact you mentioned?"
"Yes," Hall answered, offering no further explanation. The two stopped at the door to Hall and Belieth's quarters. Belieth was standing in front of the closed door, looking very strange.
"Hall," she asked, holding him at bay. "What in the universe is going on here? You used the gem..."
"... to smuggle something through customs, I know." Hall looked over at Darian, who was walking past. "Darian, please go to the library and bring Hypathia the arcane."
"Yes sir," the dwarf answered.
Hall looked at Belieth and smiled.
"I admit this isn't how I wanted to handle this, but it proved to be the best way," he said.
Belieth smiled and kissed him.
"I trust you," she said, beaming, "but I admit I'm very confused." Having an illithid for a friend is strange enough, but this..."
"It will all make sense soon," Hall answered.
Hypathia, Blaise and Darian emerged into the corridor.
"Do you have the artifact?" Hall asked.
"Yes," Hypathia answered. "Do you have the information?"
"In a matter of speaking," he said, as he slowly entered his quarters. "Please come in, but move slowly, and don't be alarmed."
Belieth entered first. Onestar, Hypathia and Blaise entered Hall's quarters and gasped at what they saw on the large chair near the portal. It was an eel-like creature, with thin, spiny legs and an uneven patch of thick hair on it's back.
It was a neogi.
"My friends," Hall said quietly, "this is Cohmot."
The neogi talked for hours, about where the neogi in Solaris live and work, about their long range plans, about who they worked with and of who they didn't work with. Cohmot spoke passionately about how senseless they were, and how he, unlike most neogi, was determined to flee. Some years before, Hall had found the neogi traveling in disguise, and agreed to help him hide on the small, forest covered asteroid that flew in the same skies as the Rock of Bral. Cohmot had done what he had agreed to do; Hypathia had the information she needed. When the Wanderer left Bral, Cohmot would be returned to his quiet home.
As agreed, Hypathia sold Hall the fragment of the Key, no questions asked, and at far below its value. Hypathia considered the entire transaction a wise investment.
