02: The Abtaka of the Brotherhood of Manly Souls Opens His Heart to Legend Once Again

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[1]

The events of the past few days– the battle against the final onslaught of the Invaders, the climactic struggle of the Getter Team at Saturn, and the place they departed to– have frankly been epic.

They have also made quite the impression on a certain ex-Jade Falcon, who had not dared to think that such heroism could be possible.

As the White Chalice journeys back to Earth, he can be seen at various places–in his (Tin-foiled) Nova's cockpit on the outer hull, in a vacuum suit by one of the large airlocks, at the observation deck– just staring up at the endless sea of stars as a child would.

http://blogs.voanews.com/science-world/files/2013/01/Under_the_Milky_Way.jpg

Talk to him? Snap him out of it? Play a prank on him?

[2]

Matthew is wandering about the Chalice, looking for the pilots who fought at Saturn, tablet and light pen in hand.

And the most determined of expressions on his face.

[3]

Matthew is sitting by a table in one of the portside lounges, ignoring the cold lunch next to him, and doing something unusual for a frugal warrior from an ascetic caste society.

He is writing on paper. Copious amounts of paper. Some sheets are discarded at his feet, some are set to the side, and all are covered with splotches of ink.

A close examination will reveal them to be...verse poetry?

[4]

Matthew has posted a request on the Chalice Net for all Clan warriors onboard to assemble in Hanger 3 to "Fulfill the debt of honor we owe to the memory of great warriors."

For those of you who show up, Clan or otherwise, there is a gaggle of Clan Wolf/Ex-Jade Falcon warriors and tech caste members about, wondering why the heck they were gathered here. There is no sign of Matthew about.

Comments

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew blinks.

Is she trying to listen to something in the vacuum of space? Preposturous.

Then he remembers how the 'impossible' is a rather fluid concept.

He closes his eyes and tries to listen as well.

[fallen_overlord]

(Letriel continues to float in silence before she opens her eyes. She scoffs a little in annoyance. Letriel sees Matthew with his eyes closed.)

You won't 'hear' it like that as there is no sound waves. It is electromagnetic vibrations and radio waves. It's only because I am sending you radio transmissions via Vice that you can hear me. I just have the right biology to pick up on those things.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew blushes.

"Ah. I should have guessed that."

He considers what Letriel says.

"That would mean that you are listening to the stars themselves, quiaff?"

[fallen_overlord]

Actually, I was listening to the 'songs' of the planets but close enough.

(She looks out on the galaxy but her look is not a pleased one.)

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew, somewhat concerned, tries to guess at Letriel's troubles from another angle.

"I have heard that among the giants of Sol, Jupiter's song is the loudest and boldest. Yet Saturn's song has surely been warped and changed after what the Invaders did to it."

[fallen_overlord]

(Letriel shrugs a little bit. She obviously doesn't care about the current state of Saturn and its' moons.)

Hmm, I would suspect. I can't pick up on that this far out since my senses have been dulled. Who knows though, Saturn's song might have improved after it all. It might make this prison you call a universe nearly tolerable.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"A prison? In what way?" Matthew asks innocently.

[fallen_overlord]

Do you really think I am traveling with you rejects because I want to? Ever since I was freed from the seal I have been bound to this flying fortress and had my power torn apart. I can't even go out of a certain radius of this ship without consequence. To me, your whole universe is like a prison.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Then where would you go, were you not so imprisoned by our universe and our ship?" Matthew says stiffly, slightly offended by being labeled a 'Reject' (which carries some heavy connotations among Clanners).

[fallen_overlord]

(Letriel sighs a little.)

I was going to go back to my realm, Pandemonium. I have an obligation as one of demon nobility to return to that horrid abyss of suffering to lead my legions against those that oppose me.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew's expression softens.

"Aff. That is a worthy goal to strive for."

He ponders what Letriel has said thus far.

"Why do you think you have been bound to the White Chalice so? It seems a strange coincidence."

[fallen_overlord]

Before I was thrown into the last seal I attacked the realm of humans in my universe. This threw a wrench in the Almighty's overall plan. It probably was pissed and knew that it couldn't directly interfere with the human realm and sending angels to kill me would have caused a massive slaughter. So it had humans seal me into this universe and probably made the last resort defensive program for the seal to make sure I couldn't return. I think it was just suppose to bind me to a nearby place once I got too far from where the last seal was. Your ship just happened to be around at the time.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"The Almighty." Matthew repeats, snorting. "Your enemy seems to have quite the ego, to give itself that title. Especially since it erred in allowing you to be bound to a mobile location."

[fallen_overlord]

Actually, that is the title humans gave it. It is just kind of the title we all use as it is the strongest being in my universe. It doesn't have a name that we could comprehend so the Almighty became the default. It is also called Creator, Deus, and a few other titles/names. All the higher beings from my world are like that. For example, Demon Overlord Letriel is not my name, it is a title. If you wanted to pronounce my true name I'd have to rip out your tongue and reattach it. It is also the reason why titles hold such weight for my kind.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"The Clans have excellent medical technology." Matthew replies cheekily. "I may take you up on that offer someday."

He then nods behind his helmet. "Yet names are important. The Bloodnames we earn through strength in combat are how we earn our legacy, our chance for a genetic immortality."