"No. I can't.
No matter how much I want to.
...try to get out of here before you end up like me, Fansworth. This is no place for good men."
“No, indeed it is not, Celling,” Fansworth replies, a somewhat puzzled look on his face. “That’s why we’re going to catch those rebels and make it safe.”
Later, in the baseCelling listened on the radio to the team sent to the Protinam Citadel. It’s clear that things haven’t gone well.
“
They… they’re all gone…” sobs Angela. “The Citadel… burnt to the ground… bodies everywhere…”
The other Protinam, Carlos, takes the radio. “
Whoever did this took the Pillar,” he says, his voice hard. “
That means he can scan the future from everywhere. He’s going to need a lot more power, since this is a pretty optimal location, but based on what you’ve told us he has that.”
An aide runs in. “Captain Celling?” she says. “The teams sent to search the Andes are back.”
No suspicious activity in the Andes Mountains
Suspicious activity detected near the Andes Mountains
Celling sighs and turns back to the Protinam. “Do you have any way of tracking him?”
“
We should be able to intercept the carrier wave once he lights it,” says Angela. “
Find out where he is. If he uses it. We're going to track him down and-”
“
That won’t be necessary,” says a voice from behind Celling.
Celling reacts instantly. In one fluid motion, he draws his pistol and fires several shots at the Secondborn.
Nothing happens. The bullets sail through David Eborrenial’s glowing, Cisharni-possessed form and crack into the wall behind him.
The Secondborn laughs. “
Don’t be foolish, little mortal. I’m not actually here. This is just an astral projection created to communicate with you.”
“Then start,” growls Celling. “What do you have to say?”
“
I come from a place far from here. A place of riches and magic, and of immortal gods,” the Secondborn begins.
“I think I may have an inkling of where you’re from already!” says Celling. “What the hell do you want?”
“
An alliance,” the Secondborn says simply. “
Yours is an interesting nation, Celling. Your weapons are alien to me and in many ways more powerful than any I know of. You strike at your enemies from miles away using flying pillars of flame. Your command over the natural sciences and the methods of engineering is impressive, even to me. I am intrigued by your use of bottled lightning and alchemical potions. And then there are the more esoteric sciences. The power to invert gravity, the creation of a spatial gateway, surpasses anything even the Cisharni know of. With the right help, your civilization could become a mighty bastion of humanity. Your people would make a fine addition to the Atlantean Empire. With your armaments our legions would be unstoppable, and with your armor and navigational systems Atlantean warships would rule the seas. Wormhole science would transform the empire. Andantesite would allow us to use the skies and earth themselves against our opponents.”
“This all sounds very good,” says Celling, “But what's in it for us?”
The Secondborn gestures vaguely. “
Us. You would be under the protection of the Atlantean Empire. We would support you against your enemies and help you keep the peace. I could teach you the mysteries of arcane magic to amplify your attacks. Teleporters could make your wrath strike far and fast. We Cisharni never die, Celling, and hold the strength of gods. Those pesky internal problems - the Goonswarm, the rebels - would be nothing. Each of us could take on a thousand men. And win. With ease. I could take on a million.”
“And what guarantee do I have that you will uphold your end of the bargain?” Celling asks. “Do you speak for your Empire?”
“
The others will be brought around to my point of view in time. Based on an observation of your stars I have been moved to the opposite side of the Earth from Atlantis. I request your help in returning.”What do you say?