Interlude 19: Settling Old and New Scores Together

"Your fear?"

"Yes, my fear."

In the darkness, two voices spoke thus. The former hissed, laced with dissatisfaction and curiosity. The latter hissed as well, yet sounded strangely calm, as though its speaker were not a living thing.

"How very curious—" The former gave two strange little chuckles. "—The you I remember feared nothing."

The latter did not laugh. It merely said, "In truth, I fear many things."

"Such as?"

The latter gave no further answer. He simply stepped out of the darkness. They made faint, reluctant sounds, clinging to his armor unwilling to leave, but his mind was made up.

They quickly realized this, and could only helplessly channel more power through the last remaining thread of connection, loyal as a hunter's hounds.

And the latter remained utterly unmoved.

He raised his head, stretched slightly, and sent a signal of homecoming to the warship beneath his feet. A mournful howl of wind arose in an instant, swirling through the empty chamber like a heart-rending roar. In truth, however, the wind was merely an affectionate welcome.

Nightfall was overjoyed by his arrival.

Behind his twisted faceplate, Karyl smiled faintly, while Nightfall remained impatient.

In the wind, it rattled off countless things at once: the changes Nostramo had undergone in recent years, whom Jago Sevatarion had lost his temper with, how many traitor and xenos warships it had destroyed—it said much, and spoke quickly, yet still remembered to extend an invitation at the end.

Come back. Nightfall pleaded. Let us avenge them. Ten thousand years of mourning have been long enough.

I want to, but now is not the time.

But you have returned.

Yes. Something owes many people a great debt, and now I am going to collect it.

May I come?

*I'm sorry, you cannot. But I'll bring you