"Captain, I think you should see this!"
Ville was calling from the cargo area, where he and several other crew members were sorting through some loot that had been taken from the citadel. After a few minutes, Onestar arrived.
"What is it?" he asked.
Ville pointed to something that was hiding between two boxes. All Onestar could see was a shivering form about the size of a child. Ville gestured to the form, and slowly it emerged.
The creature walked on all fours. It looked vaguely like a wolf in size and build, but instead of canine ears it had a pair of horns like those of a big horn sheep. A smooth, bony carapace covered much of the creatures forequarters and back. The rest of the body was covered with fine, soft fur. It was an astrovarg, a canine creature that lived on larger asteroids in a dozen different spheres. It must have gotten aboard while the ship was lashed to the citadel.
"It appears that we have a stowaway," Onestar said with a slight smile, as he knelt to look at the varg. The varg just looked at him and the others with a mix of curiosity and fear.
"Can we keep him, captain? Can we, huh?" Ville asked, imitating a young child. The others got a laugh out of this.
Astrovargs were a common choice for a ship "mascot," with the added plus of chasing away (or eating) any vermin that may climb aboard while docked. Onestar carefully extended a hand for the varg to see. The varg advanced slowly and sniffed the samurai's hand. It suddenly became more relaxed, and happily started sniffing at the other crew members who were nearby.
We may have to keep him, Onestar thought. He appears to have decided he belongs here. Hmmm...
The Stellar Islands...
Onestar, captain of the Eternal Wanderer, stood on the banks of a lagoon on the Stellar Islands. The ship had landed here three days before for minor repairs. A group of locals had sighted the ship when it landed, and after some trepidation, gladly came to socialize with the crew of the dreadnought. After the grueling flight through the flow, and the scrape with Jamian's pirates, the lazy, tropical setting of the Stellar Islands was a welcome break for the crew. Onestar snapped his head around fast to hear a thunderclap in the distance. Rain was common here, and it helped maintain the lush vegetation that was so prevalent. He turned back to the beach to see two figures approaching.
One of them was Kath, the scro mercenary from the citadel. The other was a grommam named Merabor, who had been using his psionic powers to create a dreamscape where Belieth could come to terms with her traumatic ordeal. Both were carrying bags of supplies.
"So Kath," Onestar asked, "you have decided to accept my offer?"
"Sure have," the scro answered. "Pay isn't good, but the benefit package sure is." The scro quickly smiled, and paused before continuing. "Besides, it will be nice to work for the good guys for once."
"Put your belongings in the cargo hold until we are ready to leave. By then we will have a bunk ready for you," Onestar said.
"Aye my liege!" the scro said with a snappy salute and his characteristic crooked smile.
Onestar then turned to Merabor.
"Are you sure you want to come with us?" he asked.
"I am," the grommam said, in a deep, rolling voice. "After listening to the tales of your crewman, I want to see the stars for myself. Besides, Armas says he could use some help in the infirmary, and I am a healer. Perhaps, out there, I can learn to be an even better one."
"Welcome aboard, then," Onestar said. "Wait until Hall gets back; he can spin tales from a dozen different worlds."
"I'm looking forward to traveling with you, sir." The grommam bowed and walked on to the gangplank leading to the ship. Kath had stopped to talk with Sylissia, one of the lizard women, near the plank.
Onestar turned away and looked at the beach again, then at the ship. After all this time, he still enjoyed looking at a ship while docked. Some pleasures are so simple that they defy explanation. The sound of thunder was growing stronger, as was the sound of laughter coming from the tents further up the beach. He then turned and looked up to a nearby cliff, where a tiny column of smoke could be seen. Hall and Belieth had gone up there the previous day to spend some time alone. As soon as they were gone the gossip and off-color comments began to spring from the rest of the crew. Onestar paid no attention to the jokes, or at least he gave no acknowledgment of them. A bonfire was burning brightly under a large, open dining tent. As the first drops of rain hit the sandy beach, Onestar walked over to the tent to join the crew.
Later that night, Onestar sat quietly in his office, looking out at the beach. Whisper, the astrovarg, was sleeping beside the desk. Despite the rain, the bonfire was still burning brightly, and the joyous figures around it paid no attention to the rain. The rain was making a pleasant drumming sound on the hull of the ship. Onestar closed his eyes briefly.
"Too much sagecourse," he said to himself. He looked out the window again and sighed. "I could die here," he whispered.
Then came a knock at the door. Onestar turned around to see Blaise and Zebart.
"Good evening," the samurai said.
"Good evening, Onestar," Blaise replied. "You will be glad to know that I was able to fabricate a replacement spring for the ballistae from a local vine. I'll do that in the morning."
"Excellent," Onestar said.
"But for now, I'm going to turn in." At that Blaise walked away, as Zebart walked in carrying what looked like two small telescopes connected by a strange gear box.
"Youmayfindtheseuse fulCaptaintheyworklike atelescopeonlytheyare smallerandeasier tocarryIevenhaveaspecial leathercaseforthem," the gnome rattled.
Onestar looked at the device and placed the two scopes on his eyes. Zebart was suddenly the size of a giant. He put down the scopes and asked "What do you call these things?"
"Binoculars," Zebart answered. "Good night."
"Good night." Interesting, Onestar thought, looking at the two scopes, these may actually be useful.
A while later, another knock came at the door. It was Meridian. The Kenku was wearing a special cloak to keep the rain off of his plume of feathers.
"What's on your mind, Meridian," Onestar asked.
"The same thing that's on yours, I imagine," the Kenku answered.
"Is it that obvious?"
"I'm afraid so." Meridian carefully sat down in a large plush chair near the captain's desk. "I'm finding myself going over the mages words all the time. Sleep is becoming difficult."
"I know," Onestar said heavily. "Tiegorus said that the mages of Omnispace are suddenly becoming more active, and are looking for various magical artifacts. There is nothing strange about that, but..."
"Why are they so active now?"
"Precisely." Onestar and Meridian sat quietly for a few minutes.
"Perhaps I'm being paranoid, old friend," Onestar said quietly, "but I have a feeling that something terrible is about to happen."
Hall-ee-mor Dargess stumbled out of the small tent, put on his shirt, and walked though the morning mist to a nearby cliff. The dark blue sky of the Stellar Islands was a wonder to behold at any hour, but dawn was especially grand. One of the other islands was visible in the sky, resembling an enormous garden resting on a cloud. When the light was right, one could see the magical ribbons that connected the islands together. This morning however, that wasn't possible. The previous nights rain had left a heavy mist in the air.
Hall looked down into the valley, to see the Eternal Wanderer resting peacefully in a lagoon. He could see tents, and the remains of a bonfire on the shore near the ship, as testimony of the previous nights festivities. He breathed deeply, tasting the sweet air. He walked back to the tent and looked inside. Belieth was still sleeping. Hall wasn't about to wake her. While her recovery from Jamian's torture was progressing faster than expected, she still suffered from nightmares. Merabor's dreamscape was working well, however. Hall silently picked up his mandolin and returned to the rock, where he quietly started to play.
After only a few minutes, he heard a noise in the brush. Quickly, Hall put down his mandolin and darted for the tent. As he reached for his sling he gently poked Belieth awake.
"Visitors!" he whispered.
Belieth quickly pulled on some cloths and walked into the clearing, carrying what looked like a modified wheel-lock pistol. Hall and Belieth crouched down and looked about, using every sense they had. Finally, a figure emerged from the trees, hands upraised.
It was a tabaxi, a feline humanoid race from a faraway sphere. She was wearing a midnight blue body suit with a matching cape, while her natural coat was dark brown with black stripes. She also had two swords strapped to her belt. One was clearly a katana, while the other looked like a smaller katana, but the blade and handle were both perfectly straight. It was then that the two half-elves recognized their visitor.
"Tabatha!" Belieth said, putting away her weapon.
The three quickly embraced, then settled down as Hall started to make a fire. Shortly, as the three ate some fruit and nuts, Hall finally asked:
"Tabatha, what brings you here, of all places?"
"I came looking for you," the Tabaxi answered in a silky voice. She paused before looking up again.
"I'm sure you know what has been happening in Solaris," she stated.
"Yes," Hall said heavily. "Is it as bad as I hear?"
"Worse," Tabatha answered. "That's why Gordon sent me to find you. I picked up your trail at Greela. I've been trying to catch up with you ever since."
Everyone seems to be looking for me lately, Hall said to himself.
Belieth was very quiet. "What of Solaris," she asked.
"The Black Nimar are growing stronger every day. They have been quietly seeking out and destroying all individuals who threaten them, and destroying all records of the White Nimar that they find. They want to secure themselves before their power is widely known."
Belieth sighed heavily and looked into the trees. Hall looked at the fire for a moment before turning back to Tabatha. Tabatha had been a crew member on the Child of Solaris, and had proven her worth several times.
"What does Gordon want us to do?" Hall asked.
"Help Cherry find the Key of Darran-Koor."
Hall and Belieth gave each other startled looks.
"The Key is the answer?" Hall asked, still startled.
"No, but it will lead to a place with the answer. A place where Cherry can find the means to become a White Nimar!"
"After so long, she finally found it," Belieth whispered.
"The rest of the Silver Osprey party is looking in other areas. I have been told that when the Key is found, we will all be contacted somehow. At that point, we must return to Solaris, and face Montrazar."
"If we still have time to defeat him," Hall said flatly. He got up and walked around nervously. Belieth rose and came beside him, placing an arm around his waist.
"We have to help," Belieth said.
"Of course," Hall answered back,"but how? That Key has been missing for 700 years. All we know is that it isn't in Solaris."
"That's a start," Belieth said with a comforting smile. "The way that ship of yours travels, we are bound to find a clue of that key some day."
"OK, Tabatha," Hall said.
Tabatha bowed slightly. "I have been assigned to protect you," the tabaxi said.
"I don't need a body guard," Hall said with a smile, "but you are welcome to travel with my captain and crew, on one condition."
"That is?"
Hall pointed at the small, short sword. "Keep that weapon hidden, along with the rest of your tools and equipment. If the rest of the crew knew your true vocation they might get nervous. Besides, you trust Belieth and I with your secret. We must do everything to keep it safe. If you wish to tell Captain Onestar and the others what you are, that is your choice. No one will make it for you."
At that the tabaxi bowed again, as if to say "Thank you."
"We had better start back down," Hall said.
A few minutes later the fire was extinguished and the tent packed. The three travelers started walking through the forested hill to the lagoon where the Eternal Wanderer waited.
Somewhere in Krynnspace...
Gamma shift was nearly over. Most of the crew who followed Alpha shift were in the galley, enjoying their Morningfeast. Onestar, who had been up most of the night going over some new reports he had received the other day concerning the occurrences in Omnispace, sat at the desk in his office. The samurai looked tired. The astrovarg Whisper, who had decided apparently to adopt Onestar, rested near his desk.
Onestar put down the reports. In the faint light of the office, his face seemed long and somehow sad. The paper fell out of his hands and landed softly on the desk. The samurai read it over three times to be sure what he read was correct. Somehow, the world of his birth, Sphereworld, had disappeared.
Strangely, Onestar only seemed slightly sad at it's disappearance. It was common knowledge that he held only a passing fancy over his birth world: When he took to the stars, he no longer considered any world his home. But still, he took the news hard. Now, it appeared, any chance of him regaining his memory had been lost forever.
A faint tapping came to the door. Onestar's head jerked up, and all emotion washed away from his face. A captain does not show this emotion to his crew, he thought.
"Enter."
Whisper lifted his head long enough to see Belieth enter the room, then lowered it again, content that no one would bother Onestar. The samurai stood and bowed slightly.
"Please," he said looking up at her again, "sit down. To what do I owe this honor?'
"Onestar," Belieth said as she sat, "this is rather hard for me to say. Somehow the words don't seem right."
"Say what comes from your heart. That will never fail you."
Belieth smiled slightly. "I think I understand why my husband calls you his friend. He thinks quite highly of you, you know."
"And I of him. What can I do for you, though?"
"Onestar," Belieth started, "first, I want to thank you for being there for Hall. He really needed a good friend while I was...away. He seems stronger, more confident now."
The samurai merely bowed again.
"I do have a favor to ask of you. It has been such a long time, and both Hall and I have talked about this, and, well... Onestar, we want to renew our wedding vows. Would you perform the ceremony?"
Onestar's eyes opened wide with surprise. His mouth fell slightly open.
"I...I am honored. Of course I will. When would you like the ceremony to be held."
[Today, if that wouldn't be too much of a bother,] a voice said, coming from the light on Onestar's desk.
The samurai smiled. "And how long have you been on the helm, eh?"
[Long enough,] Hall replied, his voice coming from what seemed to be Whisper. [Howzabout during the Highfeast?]
"Get in touch with our halfling chefs. I want to make this a feast. Have them prepare something that will be the talk of the sphere for years to come. And notify the command crew to prepare an hour break this afternoon. It seems that we have a wedding coming up."
Word spread quickly throughout the ship at the wedding. Crystal Ravenheart agreed to be Belieth's Maid of Honor, and Blaise Pascal agreed to be best man. To keep Father Armas happy (and make him feel more a part of what's going on), he agreed to bless the newly-finished garden Onestar had put into the main deck.
The zen garden wasn't that big...some small flowering plants, a little sand from the Stellar Islands, small rocks arranged for the viewer to observe, and a large, polished rose crystal which was magically tied into the helm. It illuminated the area with a soft, rose-colored glow. The magically-altered green vines lining the walls of the main shell added to the glow of the chamber.
The halflings were busy all morning preparing a feast fit for a demigod. Onestar gave them full permission to use whatever foodstuffs they might need; a stopover at Krynn could be made to replenish any food supplies. Everyone was getting into the celebration.
Everyone, that is, but Zebart. When Pascal overheard the gnome offer to build a podium for Onestar to speak from, he quickly told his assistant that he should perhaps, for a change, keep quiet and just watch.
Father Armas blessed the couple in a private ceremony attended by Hall, Belieth, Onestar, Blaise and Crystal. In his quaters, near his shrine to Celestian, he said a small prayer over the couple. Then, he nodded to Onestar and made a small sign of his faith.
Armas offered the pair a drink of elvenmead he blessed in an obsidian cup. Hall sipped first, then Belieth. After they finished, Onestar, his armor transformed into full dress mode, left and made his way up on deck.
When Onestar appeared on the main deck, all the crew of the Eternal Wanderer quieted. Damian, the Drow bard, began playing a soft, lilting elven wedding melody. That was the nice thing about having a bardic helm, Onestar thought. Music anytime you want.
Onestar took his place at the front of the garden. The rest of the crew stood around the ship, either on the decks or near the garden. Eliolia sat on the helm to keep the rose crystal glowing, although the ship didn't move.
Hall and Blaise walked up the stairs first. Hall wore his finest clothes; he looked more like a court dandy than a seasoned spacefarer. Blaise wore a simple suit; he once commented that Arcane do not perform such ceremonies.
Crystal walked up the stairs next, once Hall and Blaise reached the garden. Although the elven lady looked regal, she looked even more stunning than before. Although none could be prepared for who was to come next.
Belieth climbed the stairs with all the grace and poise she could muster. All who saw her were amazed with her beauty. She wore a simple, floor-length gown that Eilolia provided for her: where she acquired it, she wouldn't say.
If you were to look at Belieth, you wouldn't know, you couldn't tell that she had been in a personal hell for the past five years. Hall just stared and smiled at his wife as she approached him. Father Armas acted as Father of the Bride. He gave Belieth's hand to Hall, which he accepted and squeezed tightly. All turned to Onestar.
"I do not know," the samurai began, "where the tradition began that captains of sailing ships could brings souls together in marriage. That is not important today. I cannot express how pleased I am to reunite these two souls today."
"Out here, in the void between worlds, it can grow very, very lonely. We all need each other, not only for support, but for our sanity. Human contact is not only necessary."
"Through caring, through love, we survive. We grow. We are able to explore these spheres and make all these advances. Love is the true binding force of this universe, and it is love which brings us here today."
"Hall, my old friend, do you once again take this woman to be your wife, your love. Will you care for her, cherish her for the rest of your life?"
"I will," Hall replied, looking into Belieth's eyes.
"Belieth, will you once again take this man to be your husband. Will you care for him, cherish him for the rest of your life?"
"I always will," Belieth said, a tear forming in her eye.
"So be it. As we all gather here today, let the stars and the gods beyond them know that these two souls are now joined as one. Let no man ever tear them apart again!"
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride," Onestar said with a gleam in his eyes, although Hall had already beaten him to the punch.
"Well!" Onestar said with a laugh. "Let the festival commence!" At that, all gathered yelled and laughed. Food appeared from below decks, and all gathered mingeled. After a short while, none save Hall saw Onestar walk upstairs to the command deck. Excusing himself, he left to join the samurai. Belieth nodded, and he went upstairs.
"What's wrong," Hall said as he reached the command deck. Onestar was sitting in his chair, his hands crossed in front of him.
"Nothing."
"Don't give me that silent samurai routine, buddy," Hall said, spinning Onestar around to see him. "I know you better than you think. What's wrong?"
"That last messenger that arrived brought word from Omnispace. Sphereworld's disappeared."
"What?" Hall muttered.
"They have no idea what happened to it," Onestar said. "The magi gathered at the Spire of Magicks on Omni, and they still have no idea what happened."
"What about your memories?"
"That is the past. I am tired of living for or looking at the past. I am only looking ahead now. Whatever happened then does not matter."
Hall knew Onestar was lying, but decided not to press the issue.
"So," Onestar began, changing the subject, "what now?"
"What what now?"
"You and Belieth. What are your plans now?"
"Hun?" Hall said, almost looking angry. "Do you mean what I think you mean?"
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"You're kicking me off the Wanderer! No way, buddy! Belieth and I aren't going anywhere!"
"That's not what I meant..."
"That's what you meant and you know it! You think I want to go and settle down, have a couple kids and live like like a normal person? That's not what I went into Wildspace for. There's too much out there for me to see and do, and Belieth wants to be there with me! I'm not retiring, no way!"
The two looked at the party below. Crystal was standing on a low table, singing for all she was worth, while Damian accompanied her on a bizarre, drow flute. The music was intoxicating. The smell of food was almost overwhelming, especially for Whisper, who was happily running around the crowd looking for handouts.
Karamon and Kath were dressed up in their best uniforms. Karamon looked rather garrish, with more medals than the uniform could hold. Kath on the other hand was in the true minimalist attire of a scro. He looked every bit the professional soldier. Either way, the two were enjoying one another's war stories.
Hall looked at the crowd and again at Onestar. Hall could only guess what Onestar was going through right then. Loosing a home is one thing, and Hall understood that. Loosing the world of one's birth was beyond him. Indeed, Onestar had been there for him during one of the most difficult times of his life. Now, Onestar was the one in need, and Hall was ready to return the favor ten-fold.
"Did you actually think I would settle down when I could have this?" he asked quietly. "Belieth and I tried the domestic life once, and we didn't like it," Hall stated. "Well," he corrected himself, "I for one wasn't quite ready for it, and I doubt Belieth ever will be. I love my home world. I've seen dozens in the ten years since I last saw her, but for me, Cartania is still the most beautiful world in the universe." He paused for a minute. "But, I'm not about to settle down, not when there is still so much to learn out here. Besides, who's gonna keep you out of trouble?"
Onestar said nothing, just stood and grabbed Hall. He hugged him like a brother.
"C'mon," Onestar said. "Let's go downstairs. I think we're missing a party."
The pair returned downstairs.
The End.
