Volume 2: Episode 4 - Missing
Cafe, ToCar Hospital
Three cups of tea, charged to Rm. 1801. Darius took a tray from the stack, one of the medium-sized types with four cup holders, and squeezed the cups in. Now, time to go back upstairs wondering if Lianne received any more news. Tray in paw, he made his way back to the elevator and tapped the up button. The door slid open immediately this time.
Lapin: Welcome back, Monsieur Bengal. I am ready for you.
Despite Lapin's distress at the monotony of going up and down all day long in an elevator, reciting the same canned lines over and over, there was still something about his cheerful, welcoming demeanour that instilled a sense of comfort. It may not be a job that most could keep up for more than a year, but, nevertheless, Lapin was good at it.
Darius: I see you didn't have to move while I got the tea.
Lapin: Mais non, Monsieur Bengal. In the time it took you to get your tea, I was already up and back again. Back to 18 for you, Monsieur Bengal?
Darius: Yes, please.
The door slid closed and Lapin started the elevator with a customary turn of the crank. As the elevator started to move, Darius had an idea. Carefully balancing the tea tray in one paw, he took his phone from his pocket with the other.
Darius: Lapin, I wasn't kidding when I said we should have tea sometime. Let me see your phone.
Lapin paused for a moment, then took his phone out of his pocket with a smile. Darius tapped his screen and then touched his phone to Lapin's.
Darius: There, now you have my info. We can meet at a tea shop or the condo I'm staying in. Your choice.
Lapin responded by placing his hand on his chest and giving Darius a little bow.
Lapin: Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Bengal. When the battle is won, I shall contact you.
With his paw holding the tray starting to get shaky, Darius quickly stuffed his phone back into his pocket and then held on with both.
Darius: With my crew on the job, they have a good chance of winning.
The bell went ding and Lapin returned the crank to the stop position. Darius wondered if the crank actually functioned or if it was just for show, since he still pushed the button for the floor every time. A question for another time, perhaps. Darius stepped out of the elevator when the door opened while Lapin gave his usual closing.
Lapin: Merci d'avoir utilisé.
His mood lightened, if only for a moment, Darius opened the door to Mikado's room and stepped inside, wondering if Lianne found out anything new.
Darius: I'm back with the tea.
Darius rounded the corner to find Mikado still sitting on the bed and Lianne with his face buried in his tablet. He took his tea without a word. Darius took his own tea and handed Mikado his.
Lianne: I'm getting an update. Information is still spotty. Turns out the battle has been going on for over six hours, not two. Shadowdancer and Chrono Blade are still in it. Crystal Falchion is badly damaged, but still managing. Also... Oh no...
Both Darius and Mikado leaned in close awaiting what Lianne would say next.
Lianne: One of the two dragon ships was destroyed.
Darius nearly dropped his tea as he clasped his paw over his mouth.
Lianne: I hope it isn't true. My contact is as reliable as he can be, but the information isn't always accurate.
Mikado: Understandable. It must be chaos up there.
Darius: Too right. Even from the Shadowdancer, we only had a vague idea of what was going on when you were infiltrating the Blood Agony.
Lianne: Also old. Whatever I get here is likely at least a half hour old by now.
The chill music from the radio suddenly ceased and an announcer cut in. All three listened carefully, for it must be of grave import for a dedicated soothing music program to interrupt regular programming.
We interrupt this broadcast with an update on the battle in the Polaris Sector. Deep space telemetry probes have just recorded a massive explosion, comparable to a small stellar detonation. No news yet on the status of our fleet. We shall keep you apprised of any further developments.
And that was it. Short and sweet, for a station that typically never does anything even remotely resembling news. Both Darius and Mikado had an idea of what happened, but both looked to Lianne who confirmed their guess with his nodding head.
Lianne: Anything comparable to a small stellar detonation could only be the destruction of the Blood Agony. Even Lazmaedia herself couldn't do such a thing on her own. Give me a moment to text my contact.
Lianne took a few steps away while Darius's phone started to jingle. He took it out and looked at the screen.
Darius: Ramses! I'll put him on video.
With a button tap, Ramses appeared on the screen.
Ramses: Oh! Mikado too! Did you hear?
Darius: We heard. Lianne is here too and he said that only the Blood Agony could explode like that.
Ramses: I wondered. The so-called experts on TV are just arguing right now. I hope Amenaru, Kit, and Sylvar are okay.
Mikado: I hope we get news soon.
News came, but not on the status of the Shadowdancer. Much more general news dribbling in over the next several hours. The Blood Agony was destroyed. Lazmaedia was weakened and fled, leaving the remainder of her fleet behind. The Carpathian fleet eventually cleared out the remaining vashta ships. Not a total victory, since Lazmaedia fled, but still quite good. Darius and Lianne stayed through the night, eventually joined by Hopper, waiting for more news.
Condo, near ToCar Hospital, 2 days later
For the first time since news of the battle reached his ears, Darius had a normal start to his day. Waking up in the condo. Cooking food. Breakfast conversation with Ramses. No news yet on other ships, but there were plenty of rumors. Something Lianne told him the previous night stuck with him, though. An announcement on fleet status would come soon once the admiralty had a proper headcount.
Darius: Have you heard anything yet?
Ramses shook his head.
Ramses: Nothing. I'm worried because Shadowdancer is hardly ever mentioned in any of the rumors. I hope there is an announcement soon.
Darius: Me too...
Before Darius finished his thought, Ramses suddenly turned his head to the side.
Ramses: Doorbell. Dad ordered some things yesterday, so it's probably that. Mom's getting it.
Darius: You seem a bit jumpy, but that's understanda...
Again, Darius couldn't finish his thought as Ramses jerked his head to the side again. From a distance, he could hear a distant voice coming through the phone speaker.
Ms. Pendergast? I am Lieutenant Schneider from CEF Command. May I come in?
From there, many things happened at once. First, Ramses dropped his phone and it landed face-down, it would seem, for all Darius could see was a black screen. He could still, however, hear. Various panicked noises calling family from wherever they were in the house. Rushing footsteps. Ramses's mom ushering the Lieutenant to the living room. It took time for things to calm down and again, he could hear the distant sounds of conversation. As guilty as it made him feel, Darius didn't hang up. Rather, he turned up the volume to maximum so that he could hear. Even then, it was a challenge to make out what was being said, so he put his hear on top of the phone speaker and concentrated on listening. Shadowdancer... wormhole... missing... whereabouts of Amenaru and Sylvar unknown... Questions about Kit... same answer...
The conversation went on for a half hour. Darius was already late for his shift, but this wasn't a thought that entered his mind. Missing... Better than dead, but not by much. In the words of the Lieutenant, they could be anywhere in the galaxy now. Darius rested his head in his paw and wiped tears from his fur. Suddenly, the black screen of the phone turned around, showing a dizzying rotation of the house, until Ramses's red face reappeared, wet with tears.
Ramses: Oh, you're still there. So, you heard...
Darius: Most of it. I'm sorry. I should have hung up.
Ramses shook his head.
Ramses: I'm glad you heard. Saves me the trouble of repeating it. Sorry, but I have to go now.
Darius: Don't apologize. Take your time. We'll talk again sometime.
All Ramses could do was nod before he ended the call. Not that Darius could have done any better. Once the call ended, he dropped his phone to the table and wept.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
Zelbunnii
Avareonart
Less_end
