Emma gives you a weak smile, and the Ministers give another bow of their heads. You coordinate with Zero to put together a Hovercraft and escort, who, after approval from Emma, does so. You direct Cephie to your rooms, and while she entertains herself with the telescope, you get dressed. SEED's uniforms are difficult to put on by yourself, but you manage it. Fully dressed in more than just a hospital gown, you settle yourself back in the wheelchair and slump back down.
"So, how did it go? It seems like she let yo--"
"She said we can no longer be lovers."
"Oh. Oh shit." For once in the entire time you've truly known her, Cephiela gives you peace and quiet.
Emerging into the hovercraft pad bay, you find it completely empty, besides for the waiting hovercraft and the escort. A few Crusaders salute as you are brought on to the craft, stepping in with you as Cephie gives out the coordinates for where she hid her ship. Its in a mountain range, in the Outlands, an eight hour trip.
"We'll be back faster, though."
You nod, lapsing into silence along with your Crusader Guards.
The hovercraft lifts off the ground, and begins to accelerate away from the setting sun.
"[Do you want to talk about it, Pheobe?]" Cephie asks, after some time.
"[No.]"
"[Alright. Hey, ask a question-- you like asking questions. The most curious Ascended, that's you!]" Cephie is trying to lift your mood, acting cheerful and chipper.
"[I'm alright.]" You state, a little bluntly, and Cephie nods, settling down into her seat, examining the Crusaders.
It's well past midnight when the hovercraft sets down into a valley -- and you look down from the window, down at the Voidcraft that sits nudged into it. It's gleaming white, ringed with gold arches. Black machinery is framed between the bisected top and bottom. The contours of the vessel flow organically, resembling a bird of prey with wide swooping wings. It's bigger than the smaller cargo hover crafts, sitting at roughly [130 meters] from tip to tail. Cast in a gold-colored material, in High Empyrean, are the words 'Maja Drifter'. Beneath it is a complex, almost fractal barcode.
You step slowly out of the hovercraft, gingerly on legs that feel wobbly. You do not fall, instead, you take in the vessel. "Noble Design Pattern, I see." Cephie beams you a smile at your statement, nodding. "It's huge for a Lander."
"That's what I said, but nooo. You have to fill it to the brim with useless shit."
The Nobility preferred luxury, comfort, and automation. Repairs were usually handled by the chained AI on board, but if something went truly wrong, the entire ship would have to be turned into scrap. They say that each is handcrafted by a team of Ascended Shipwrights -- so no modular components, no improvised repairs, barely any armor, energy-draining heavy shields, and they weren't the fastest ships in the Empyre, by any means. But it looks pretty, and that's all that matters.
Cephie keys in a code to let the two of you inside.
Luxurious could not begin to describe the inside of the vessel. The walls inside are a smooth white, broken up by abstract reliefs of gold, jade, and platinum mounted on the walls. There are a lot of empty surfaces -- shelves, but they aren't sealed off. Cephie catches you looking, stating, bluntly, "The Nobles filled this entire place with the most absolute worthless crap. No concern for if the generators cut off."
There are also way too many sharp edges for a proper Voidcraft, where one of the leading causes of death is head trauma from tripping, but Cephiela has put soft foam down on all the edges to round them off. And the layout-- the layout reminds you more of a cabin or a mansion as opposed to a proper Voidcraft. A fireplace switches on, crackling away with warmth. Built-in couches line it. You hobble through, noticing the engine room would have laid open and bare to the world, were it not for thick, heavy leaded panels sealing it off. "No safety precautions for if anything went wrong." She calls.
The engine hums to life as you investigate the four cryo pods and the two behavior pods. Cephie approaches, eying the pods, "Well, welcome to my home. Those behavior modification pods are designed for Ascended. You don't have to worry about using your will. It'll cut it off."
With a heavy sigh, Cephie slumps on one of the built-in couches around the fire, stretching out languidly. "We're heading back now. We've got four hours to kill. I've got a library -" She gestures to a data-pad sitting on one of the couches, "Its got some videos loaded on it - if it asks for you a password, don't mess with it, is all I ask." You raise your brow, and she grins. A small robot, about hip tall, emerges from one of the walls via a small passageway.
"[Madam Cephiela, and Guest, would you enjoy some wine or alcohol for your trip? We have Ascended brands for you to sample if you so choose.]"
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Topic: McCreary's Planet -- (FINISHED) (Read 259257 times)