The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Twelve - Revision history

imported>Administrator: 24 revisions imported

2023-06-23T14:57:30Z

24 revisions imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:57, 23 June 2023
(No difference)

imported>Administrator: 1 revision imported

2023-06-19T14:18:22Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:18, 19 June 2023
(No difference)

1d4chan>RuneNan: /* 9-094-001-M42 */

2020-04-15T21:01:03Z

9-094-001-M42

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:01, 15 April 2020
Line 185:		Line 185:

	Soon enough, the hovercar the Fire Warrior commandeered had deposited him at the landing site, escorted by a team of Crisis Suits. Vulkan hadn’t moved an inch in the entire period between the Water Caste diplomat leaving and Fap’s arrival. The Promethian Way allowed such centering of balance, and he knew it would unnerve the flightier Tau.<br>		Soon enough, the hovercar the Fire Warrior commandeered had deposited him at the landing site, escorted by a team of Crisis Suits. Vulkan hadn’t moved an inch in the entire period between the Water Caste diplomat leaving and Fap’s arrival. The Promethian Way allowed such centering of balance, and he knew it would unnerve the flightier Tau.<br>
	As soon as Fap arrived, the Crisis Suits deployed to flank the Terminator, taking up symmetrical covering positions to allow Fap a clear line of retreat of Vulkan did something aggressive. He had no such inclination. Fap marched right up to the Salamander and started to speak.		As soon as Fap arrived, the Crisis Suits deployed to flank the Terminator, taking up symmetrical covering positions to allow Fap a clear line of retreat if Vulkan did something aggressive. He had no such inclination. Fap marched right up to the Salamander and started to speak.
	“What is your business on our world, human?” he asked shortly.<br>		“What is your business on our world, human?” he asked shortly.<br>
	“At the time we arrived, precisely nothing. Now? Escape,” Vulkan replied in the same tone. He noted with distant amusement that Fap was trying to look taller than he actually was. As if it made a difference when compared with the vast size of a Terminator-clad Primarch.<br>		“At the time we arrived, precisely nothing. Now? Escape,” Vulkan replied in the same tone. He noted with distant amusement that Fap was trying to look taller than he actually was. As if it made a difference when compared with the vast size of a Terminator-clad Primarch.<br>

1d4chan>RuneNan: /* 0-094-001-M42 */

2020-04-15T20:08:10Z

0-094-001-M42

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:08, 15 April 2020
Line 145:		Line 145:
	“Lady Isha, Farseer Taldeer, Assassin...and guest,” their leader said, pausing for a moment when he spotted Lofn hiding behind her mother’s leg. “You’re expected. The Emperor awaits your presence in the Hall of the Throne.”<br>		“Lady Isha, Farseer Taldeer, Assassin...and guest,” their leader said, pausing for a moment when he spotted Lofn hiding behind her mother’s leg. “You’re expected. The Emperor awaits your presence in the Hall of the Throne.”<br>
	“Very well,” Isha said, inclining her head slightly. “Lead the way.” The Custodian turned and walked out of the little tech-shrine, down the halls of the Palace. As they walked, Isha briefly tuned her mind to Taldeer’s. ”Farseer, why is your daughter here? This is no place for a child,” she thought.<br>		“Very well,” Isha said, inclining her head slightly. “Lead the way.” The Custodian turned and walked out of the little tech-shrine, down the halls of the Palace. As they walked, Isha briefly tuned her mind to Taldeer’s. ”Farseer, why is your daughter here? This is no place for a child,” she thought.<br>
	”You’ll see, Lady Isha. She has a gift I couldn’t afford not to bring to the table,” Taldeer thought back. Further ~~exchanged~~ were prevented by the sudden arrival of another Custodian, this one in the layered leather and folded adamantine tunic of a Companion in formal, non-combat uniform. He had doffed his tasseled helmet, tucking it under one arm.<br>		”You’ll see, Lady Isha. She has a gift I couldn’t afford not to bring to the table,” Taldeer thought back. Further exchanges were prevented by the sudden arrival of another Custodian, this one in the layered leather and folded adamantine tunic of a Companion in formal, non-combat uniform. He had doffed his tasseled helmet, tucking it under one arm.<br>
	“Madams, sir. Your arrival is punctual. The Emperor and the available High Lords are awaiting you. Please, this way,” he said, gesturing at a gilded door set into one wall.<br>		“Madams, sir. Your arrival is punctual. The Emperor and the available High Lords are awaiting you. Please, this way,” he said, gesturing at a gilded door set into one wall.<br>
	“I was told we would be meeting with the Emperor himself, “ Isha said, following the man into a small conference room.<br>		“I was told we would be meeting with the Emperor himself, “ Isha said, following the man into a small conference room.<br>

1d4chan>Apocolypse101: Added to Category:The Tales of the Emperasque

2019-10-27T00:28:29Z

Added to Category:The Tales of the Emperasque

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:28, 27 October 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{~~story~~}}		{{Awesome}}
			{{Story}}

	''Continued from [[The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Eleven]]''.		''Continued from [[The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Eleven]]''.
Line 680:		Line 681:

	''Continued in [[The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Thirteen]].		''Continued in [[The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Thirteen]].

			[[Category:The Tales of the Emperasque]]

1d4chan>Garrick: typo fix (arroved --> arrived)

2018-08-26T22:16:05Z

typo fix (arroved --> arrived)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:16, 26 August 2018
Line 184:		Line 184:

	Soon enough, the hovercar the Fire Warrior commandeered had deposited him at the landing site, escorted by a team of Crisis Suits. Vulkan hadn’t moved an inch in the entire period between the Water Caste diplomat leaving and Fap’s arrival. The Promethian Way allowed such centering of balance, and he knew it would unnerve the flightier Tau.<br>		Soon enough, the hovercar the Fire Warrior commandeered had deposited him at the landing site, escorted by a team of Crisis Suits. Vulkan hadn’t moved an inch in the entire period between the Water Caste diplomat leaving and Fap’s arrival. The Promethian Way allowed such centering of balance, and he knew it would unnerve the flightier Tau.<br>
	As soon as Fap ~~arroved~~, the Crisis Suits deployed to flank the Terminator, taking up symmetrical covering positions to allow Fap a clear line of retreat of Vulkan did something aggressive. He had no such inclination. Fap marched right up to the Salamander and started to speak.		As soon as Fap arrived, the Crisis Suits deployed to flank the Terminator, taking up symmetrical covering positions to allow Fap a clear line of retreat of Vulkan did something aggressive. He had no such inclination. Fap marched right up to the Salamander and started to speak.
	“What is your business on our world, human?” he asked shortly.<br>		“What is your business on our world, human?” he asked shortly.<br>
	“At the time we arrived, precisely nothing. Now? Escape,” Vulkan replied in the same tone. He noted with distant amusement that Fap was trying to look taller than he actually was. As if it made a difference when compared with the vast size of a Terminator-clad Primarch.<br>		“At the time we arrived, precisely nothing. Now? Escape,” Vulkan replied in the same tone. He noted with distant amusement that Fap was trying to look taller than he actually was. As if it made a difference when compared with the vast size of a Terminator-clad Primarch.<br>

1d4chan>Garrick: typo

2016-05-12T23:07:10Z

typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:07, 12 May 2016
Line 527:		Line 527:
	Vulkan glanced around the corridor, noting it to be mostly crew quarters and a few equipment lockers, though one door looked promising, marked as it was with a pictorial fire. Vulkan walked over to the door and pried it open, smiling at the bounty beyond: a rack of compressed oxygen tanks and a welding frame.		Vulkan glanced around the corridor, noting it to be mostly crew quarters and a few equipment lockers, though one door looked promising, marked as it was with a pictorial fire. Vulkan walked over to the door and pried it open, smiling at the bounty beyond: a rack of compressed oxygen tanks and a welding frame.

	Vulkan wasted no time, conscious that the entire crew of the ship was probably on their way to reinforce the defenders around the vital systems. He grabbed the welding frame and two oxygen tanks and dropped them on the decking above the Tau ambush, then unceremoniously stabbed the decking with the Spear, carving a hole around them. They dropped down amongst the Tau warriors below, scattering with a horrendous crash. ~~Vukan~~ aimed down the hole and hosed down the pile of welding kit with the Gauntlet, igniting the welding propellant. The explosion cast a wall of oxygenated flames over the densely packed group of defenders, killing most in seconds. Vulkan followed the trail of fire down, landing heavily on the scorched deck plating, and casting about with the Spear.<br>		Vulkan wasted no time, conscious that the entire crew of the ship was probably on their way to reinforce the defenders around the vital systems. He grabbed the welding frame and two oxygen tanks and dropped them on the decking above the Tau ambush, then unceremoniously stabbed the decking with the Spear, carving a hole around them. They dropped down amongst the Tau warriors below, scattering with a horrendous crash. Vulkan aimed down the hole and hosed down the pile of welding kit with the Gauntlet, igniting the welding propellant. The explosion cast a wall of oxygenated flames over the densely packed group of defenders, killing most in seconds. Vulkan followed the trail of fire down, landing heavily on the scorched deck plating, and casting about with the Spear.<br>
	A pair of Fire Warriors setting up a portable barricade at the entrance to the shield generator room dropped their burden and opened fire, scattering pulse rifle shots over Vulkan’s armor. Vulkan took one round across the helmet and snarled, his attention dragged away. A quick assessment of the threat revealed that they were too far away for even the enhanced Gauntlet to reach, so he dipped his hand into a pocket and yanked out a frag grenade, primed it, and tossed. The two Fire Warriors ducked back behind a lowering bulkhead into the shield generator room, and the grenade detonated harmlessly against the metal sheet. Vulkan polished off the last standing Fire Warrior at his feet and charged at the metal wall, slamming into it like an autocannon round. The blast wall buckled and bent at the site of impact. Vulkan snarled and drew back, slicing through the metal with the Spear, carving a line across it above his head. He drew another line just in from the walls, weakening the metal again, then reared back and slammed in again, barreling through.		A pair of Fire Warriors setting up a portable barricade at the entrance to the shield generator room dropped their burden and opened fire, scattering pulse rifle shots over Vulkan’s armor. Vulkan took one round across the helmet and snarled, his attention dragged away. A quick assessment of the threat revealed that they were too far away for even the enhanced Gauntlet to reach, so he dipped his hand into a pocket and yanked out a frag grenade, primed it, and tossed. The two Fire Warriors ducked back behind a lowering bulkhead into the shield generator room, and the grenade detonated harmlessly against the metal sheet. Vulkan polished off the last standing Fire Warrior at his feet and charged at the metal wall, slamming into it like an autocannon round. The blast wall buckled and bent at the site of impact. Vulkan snarled and drew back, slicing through the metal with the Spear, carving a line across it above his head. He drew another line just in from the walls, weakening the metal again, then reared back and slammed in again, barreling through.

1d4chan>Garrick: LIVII --> LIIVI (as written elsewhere)

2016-03-08T00:17:36Z

LIVII --> LIIVI (as written elsewhere)

1d4chan>Garrick: typo

2015-09-22T04:45:55Z

typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:45, 22 September 2015
Line 394:		Line 394:
	“WELL, CREED LOCKED HIM UP TO MAKE SURE HE WASN’T TAINTED WITH THE WARP – SMART MAN, FOLLOWS PROTOCOL – BUT I PUT IN A WORD FOR HIM AND LUSTIG’S BACK ON DUTY,” the Emperor said.<br>		“WELL, CREED LOCKED HIM UP TO MAKE SURE HE WASN’T TAINTED WITH THE WARP – SMART MAN, FOLLOWS PROTOCOL – BUT I PUT IN A WORD FOR HIM AND LUSTIG’S BACK ON DUTY,” the Emperor said.<br>
	“Good.” The Lord Commander finished the report and sat back in his chair, trying not to visibly avoid eye contact with the Emperor’s monstrous new form. “Well, the report states that the last of the Chaos Titans on Cadia have been evacuated by the Dark Mechanicus fleets, and are heading back to the Eye.”<br>		“Good.” The Lord Commander finished the report and sat back in his chair, trying not to visibly avoid eye contact with the Emperor’s monstrous new form. “Well, the report states that the last of the Chaos Titans on Cadia have been evacuated by the Dark Mechanicus fleets, and are heading back to the Eye.”<br>
	“YEAH, I’VE TOLD CLENDEN AND QUARREN TO CHASE THE TRANSPORTS AND SHOOT THEM DOWN, IGNORING THE WARSHIPS IF NEED BE. TITANS ARE A ~~GOO~~ BIT HARDER TO REPLACE THAN SIMPLE DRONES AND CONVERTS.”<br>		“YEAH, I’VE TOLD CLENDEN AND QUARREN TO CHASE THE TRANSPORTS AND SHOOT THEM DOWN, IGNORING THE WARSHIPS IF NEED BE. TITANS ARE A GOOD BIT HARDER TO REPLACE THAN SIMPLE DRONES AND CONVERTS.”<br>
	“A rational decision, my Lord God,” the Lord Commander said. He stood and saluted smartly. “If I may, sir, I must compose a response.”		“A rational decision, my Lord God,” the Lord Commander said. He stood and saluted smartly. “If I may, sir, I must compose a response.”
	“BY YOUR LEAVE, LORD COMMANDER, AND SEND CLENDEN, QUARREN, AND CREED MY PERSONAL THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS. THAT’S ANOTHER BOTCHED CRUSADE BY ABBADON OUT OF OUR COLLECTIVE HAIR.”<br>		“BY YOUR LEAVE, LORD COMMANDER, AND SEND CLENDEN, QUARREN, AND CREED MY PERSONAL THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS. THAT’S ANOTHER BOTCHED CRUSADE BY ABBADON OUT OF OUR COLLECTIVE HAIR.”<br>

1d4chan>Garrick: typo

2015-09-22T04:41:09Z

typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:41, 22 September 2015
Line 347:		Line 347:
	“You are going NOWHERE,” Fap said, his courage increasing proportionally with his distance from the enormous Terminator.		“You are going NOWHERE,” Fap said, his courage increasing proportionally with his distance from the enormous Terminator.
	“Far to the contrary.” Vulkan looked back down and spread his arms wide. “Know this, Tau: this was the last chance any of you will ever have received for the Emperor’s service,” he said, his voice amplified to fill the entire landing pad, where the various diplomats had been standing, some in pain from having held still for so long. Without another word, he pointed the Gauntlet at the ground and triggered it, bathing his feet in white-hot fire.<br>		“Far to the contrary.” Vulkan looked back down and spread his arms wide. “Know this, Tau: this was the last chance any of you will ever have received for the Emperor’s service,” he said, his voice amplified to fill the entire landing pad, where the various diplomats had been standing, some in pain from having held still for so long. Without another word, he pointed the Gauntlet at the ground and triggered it, bathing his feet in white-hot fire.<br>
	Fap leaped forward, jumping over the fire and wrapping his gargantuan arm around Vulkan’s waist, just as the teleport ~~himer~~ in Vulkan’s suit triggered, and Vulkan was sucked back up to the ship.<br>		Fap leaped forward, jumping over the fire and wrapping his gargantuan arm around Vulkan’s waist, just as the teleport homer in Vulkan’s suit triggered, and Vulkan was sucked back up to the ship.<br>
	A few meters away, Ir’Shal and He’Stan reacted instantly, raising their bolt pistols and leveling them at their erstwhile guest. Vulkan shook Fap off of him, staring down at the trembling alien in amusement. “It’s not often my enemies take themselves prisoner to save me the trouble.” He glanced up at Ir’Shal with a cruel smirk behind his gold helmet. “I brought you a present.”		A few meters away, Ir’Shal and He’Stan reacted instantly, raising their bolt pistols and leveling them at their erstwhile guest. Vulkan shook Fap off of him, staring down at the trembling alien in amusement. “It’s not often my enemies take themselves prisoner to save me the trouble.” He glanced up at Ir’Shal with a cruel smirk behind his gold helmet. “I brought you a present.”

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 8 March 2016
Line 2:		Line 2:

	''Continued from [[The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Eleven]]''.		''Continued from [[The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Eleven]]''.



	==9-088-001-M42==		==9-088-001-M42==
Line 114:		Line 112:
	“It’s not a matter of approval.” Eldrad rubbed his eyes, marshaling his thoughts. “We can’t risk losing you again, not now.”<br>		“It’s not a matter of approval.” Eldrad rubbed his eyes, marshaling his thoughts. “We can’t risk losing you again, not now.”<br>
	“In stark contrast to losing you, who are entirely expendable,” Isha said drily.<br>		“In stark contrast to losing you, who are entirely expendable,” Isha said drily.<br>
	“Compared to you, yes, Lady Isha, I am,” Eldrad said doggedly. “I can go alone. I’ve coordinated with the Mon-k…humans before,” he added, noticing the psychic blank slate that was ~~LIVII~~ in a room nearby. Taldeer bristled.<br>		“Compared to you, yes, Lady Isha, I am,” Eldrad said doggedly. “I can go alone. I’ve coordinated with the Mon-k…humans before,” he added, noticing the psychic blank slate that was LIIVI in a room nearby. Taldeer bristled.<br>
	“Father, Lady Isha, I could go in your stead. I possess rather more working knowledge of the Imperium than either of you, at this point.”<br>		“Father, Lady Isha, I could go in your stead. I possess rather more working knowledge of the Imperium than either of you, at this point.”<br>
	Isha grinned faintly at the mental images floating through Taldeer’s head at that statement. Eldrad slowed until Taldeer caught up with him.		Isha grinned faintly at the mental images floating through Taldeer’s head at that statement. Eldrad slowed until Taldeer caught up with him.
Line 120:		Line 118:
	“Father.” Taldeer interrupted, coming to a halt and spinning to face him. “Enough. Even if you were up-to-date on the state of the galaxy right now, you’re still mentally and physically exhausted by your trials. I’m going.”<br>		“Father.” Taldeer interrupted, coming to a halt and spinning to face him. “Enough. Even if you were up-to-date on the state of the galaxy right now, you’re still mentally and physically exhausted by your trials. I’m going.”<br>
	Eldrad stared down his stubborn daughter for a few more seconds before relenting. “Very well. On your own head be the consequences if this goes poorly.”<br>		Eldrad stared down his stubborn daughter for a few more seconds before relenting. “Very well. On your own head be the consequences if this goes poorly.”<br>
	“Good.” Taldeer resumed her march down the hall to where the rest of the delegation was waiting. “Since the Emperor of humans already knows about ~~LIVII~~ and Lofn, there’s minimal risk involved for them anyway.”<br>		“Good.” Taldeer resumed her march down the hall to where the rest of the delegation was waiting. “Since the Emperor of humans already knows about LIIVI and Lofn, there’s minimal risk involved for them anyway.”<br>
	“ ‘Them?’” Eldrad echoed, catching up to her and blocking her path. “You can’t be considering bringing them with you.”		“ ‘Them?’” Eldrad echoed, catching up to her and blocking her path. “You can’t be considering bringing them with you.”
	Taldeer smirked proudly. “I am. And you will see exactly why.”<br>		Taldeer smirked proudly. “I am. And you will see exactly why.”<br>
Line 142:		Line 140:

	==0-094-001-M42==		==0-094-001-M42==
	“How did you even talk me into this?” ~~LIVII~~ asked angrily. Taldeer elbowed him discreetly. “Just asking. Diplomacy isn’t my thing.”		“How did you even talk me into this?” LIIVI asked angrily. Taldeer elbowed him discreetly. “Just asking. Diplomacy isn’t my thing.”
	“Nor mine, to be honest,” Taldeer said faintly. The eldritch glows of the teleporter-suppressant field reactivated around them, and a pair of completely uninterested-looking Custodes stepped forth, shooing off the techpriest operating the teleporter.<br>		“Nor mine, to be honest,” Taldeer said faintly. The eldritch glows of the teleporter-suppressant field reactivated around them, and a pair of completely uninterested-looking Custodes stepped forth, shooing off the techpriest operating the teleporter.<br>
	“Lady Isha, Farseer Taldeer, Assassin...and guest,” their leader said, pausing for a moment when he spotted Lofn hiding behind her mother’s leg. “You’re expected. The Emperor awaits your presence in the Hall of the Throne.”<br>		“Lady Isha, Farseer Taldeer, Assassin...and guest,” their leader said, pausing for a moment when he spotted Lofn hiding behind her mother’s leg. “You’re expected. The Emperor awaits your presence in the Hall of the Throne.”<br>
Line 154:		Line 152:

	One seat near the head of the table was empty, with a small iron Fleur-de-leis sitting on the seat cushion. A small hologram of the Imperial Eagle hovered in the center of the rectangular table. The Emperor, notably, was absent, save for another small hologram of the icon of the Throne. The hologram was echoing in the auditory and psychic tones of the Emperor; clearly it was more than just a projector.<br>		One seat near the head of the table was empty, with a small iron Fleur-de-leis sitting on the seat cushion. A small hologram of the Imperial Eagle hovered in the center of the rectangular table. The Emperor, notably, was absent, save for another small hologram of the icon of the Throne. The hologram was echoing in the auditory and psychic tones of the Emperor; clearly it was more than just a projector.<br>
	“ISHA, SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT,” the icon said. “FARSEER TALDEER, ~~LIVII~~. WELCOME BACK TO TERRA. YOU’VE BEEN BRIEFED?”<br>		“ISHA, SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT,” the icon said. “FARSEER TALDEER, LIIVI. WELCOME BACK TO TERRA. YOU’VE BEEN BRIEFED?”<br>
	“Naturally,” Taldeer said. Isha took the seat at the head of the table, nearest the door, with Lofn at her left and ~~LIVII~~ at her right, with Taldeer sitting protectively between her daughter and the others. Lofn was looking more than a little apprehensive, but kept quiet. Clearly, she had no more idea why she was here than anyone else.<br>		“Naturally,” Taldeer said. Isha took the seat at the head of the table, nearest the door, with Lofn at her left and LIIVI at her right, with Taldeer sitting protectively between her daughter and the others. Lofn was looking more than a little apprehensive, but kept quiet. Clearly, she had no more idea why she was here than anyone else.<br>
	“LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU AND FARSEER ELDRAD ARE WELL ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY,” the hologram roared. “AND THAT I’M SORRY THAT I CAN NOT JOIN YOU IN PERSON. THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AN ENTIRE CLUSTER OF HIVES IS SOMEWHAT TIME-CONSUMING. WHO MIGHT I ASK IS THE CHILD NEXT TO YOU?”<br>		“LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU AND FARSEER ELDRAD ARE WELL ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY,” the hologram roared. “AND THAT I’M SORRY THAT I CAN NOT JOIN YOU IN PERSON. THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AN ENTIRE CLUSTER OF HIVES IS SOMEWHAT TIME-CONSUMING. WHO MIGHT I ASK IS THE CHILD NEXT TO YOU?”<br>
	“It is my daughter, Emperor,” Taldeer spoke up. “You’ve met.”<br>		“It is my daughter, Emperor,” Taldeer spoke up. “You’ve met.”<br>
Line 383:		Line 381:
	The Grand master of Assassins glided down the corridor, resplendent in his black-and-red robe. He halted a few meters from LIIVI, staring him in the eye. “Vindicare. Your return was unanticipated. Why are you here?”<br>		The Grand master of Assassins glided down the corridor, resplendent in his black-and-red robe. He halted a few meters from LIIVI, staring him in the eye. “Vindicare. Your return was unanticipated. Why are you here?”<br>
	“To complete my mission, Master,” LIIVI said. The Master cocked his head, with an air of strained politeness.<br>		“To complete my mission, Master,” LIIVI said. The Master cocked his head, with an air of strained politeness.<br>
	“Your mission, ~~LIVII~~, was to kill Farseer Taldeer of Ulthwé. Yet here you are, fathering her child. Why is that?”<br>		“Your mission, LIIVI, was to kill Farseer Taldeer of Ulthwé. Yet here you are, fathering her child. Why is that?”<br>
	“Do not misunderstand me, Master,” LIIVI replied. “My mission is to protect her. That is all I have had, since I saw her eyes through the scope.”<br>		“Do not misunderstand me, Master,” LIIVI replied. “My mission is to protect her. That is all I have had, since I saw her eyes through the scope.”<br>
	“You are flawed, ~~LIVII~~. Damaged. You can be repaired.”<br>		“You are flawed, LIIVI. Damaged. You can be repaired.”<br>
	“I am more deeply flawed than a man, and less so than the machines you build,” LIIVI said. “I am content with that. Now…let us discuss this no further.”<br>		“I am more deeply flawed than a man, and less so than the machines you build,” LIIVI said. “I am content with that. Now…let us discuss this no further.”<br>
	“Have you somewhere more pressing to be, ~~LIVII~~?” the Master said placidly.<br>		“Have you somewhere more pressing to be, LIIVI?” the Master said placidly.<br>
	“Yes.” LIIVI opened the door to his suite. “Lofn needs to get tucked in.” He closed the door to the suite behind him, leaving the master in silence.		“Yes.” LIIVI opened the door to his suite. “Lofn needs to get tucked in.” He closed the door to the suite behind him, leaving the master in silence.

Line 422:		Line 420:
	“She didn’t seem to have a soul, in the conventional sense,” the Master said, feeling an unfamiliar chill run through him. “She…was a soul. One gigantic, shallow, ageless soul.”<br>		“She didn’t seem to have a soul, in the conventional sense,” the Master said, feeling an unfamiliar chill run through him. “She…was a soul. One gigantic, shallow, ageless soul.”<br>
	“LIKE I SAID, WARP GODDESS. SHE IS THE ASPECT OF THE ELDAR PSYCHE THAT DEALS WITH REBIRTH. REMEMBER, BEFORE THE FALL, ELDAR WERE REINCARNATED UPON DEATH; HER ASPECT AS A GODDESS OF REBIRTH REFLECTS THAT. I’LL SPEAK TO HER AS SOON AS WE RECONVENE. UNTIL THEN, DISMISSED.”<br>		“LIKE I SAID, WARP GODDESS. SHE IS THE ASPECT OF THE ELDAR PSYCHE THAT DEALS WITH REBIRTH. REMEMBER, BEFORE THE FALL, ELDAR WERE REINCARNATED UPON DEATH; HER ASPECT AS A GODDESS OF REBIRTH REFLECTS THAT. I’LL SPEAK TO HER AS SOON AS WE RECONVENE. UNTIL THEN, DISMISSED.”<br>
	“Very well, my Liege,” the Master said, collecting himself and standing. “Oh…I should mention that I spoke to Vindicare ~~LIVII~~.”<br>		“Very well, my Liege,” the Master said, collecting himself and standing. “Oh…I should mention that I spoke to Vindicare LIIVI.”<br>
	“AND?”<br>		“AND?”<br>
	“Utterly without regret or internal conflict. He’s as focused now as he was before.”<br>		“Utterly without regret or internal conflict. He’s as focused now as he was before.”<br>