Temple of the Builders.

Betwixt the stars that hung within the heavens, beneath the fabric of what had been made and designed the workings of the Unyian Spiral laid the special places within space and time where the builders once sat when they discussed the balance of their creation. Their design had been proven flawed, the Umarians had escaped their prison and the result was far from what they had ever expected — For once the Spiral was stable, and the power of chronomancy had been stripped from the Espra and those who had manipulated it. Regardless of the good that had been done, there was still much that had been broken. Caecyan Falcon had been absorbed into the Luminary Assimilate of the Umarian Hordes – and even in the aftermath of the war, after Adrin had been released – He still remained. It prevented closure, and complete fixture of the chronomatic fields, time still streamed in two directions…both headed for cataclysm.

As it had happened many times before, the bright artificial atmosphere of Northstar Station faded from the grips of Iondara. However this time, it was not to the Alpha Timeline where she fell, it was there within the heart of the very galaxy itself that she would appear, standing within circle of pillars at the enterance to the Builder’s Temple.

It was a place of tranquility, yet of overwhelming size. Magestic stone gardens filled with luxurious pearl sands with decorative tribal rake designs. Sakura blossoms drifted from vines to the courtyard, some even drifting beneath the covered pillars where Iondara appeared.  Up the stairs from the courtyard, the massive stone doors to the temple awaited her, covered in inactive glyphwork they seemed onimous and bland in comparison to the beauty around them. The faint sounds of water could be heard, gurling within a fountain, a copy of the one that stood within the Capital grounds of both Atlantica and Lorenz just before the steps leading up to the doors.

The faint sound of music could be heard, the hum of warm strings and the thunderous resound of war drum. With each resounding chord, the beautiful voice flowed like a river and never ceased even as the wind began to pick up, infact the voice, the music began to twist into the wind like a dancing swordsman. Louder and louder, the voice raised carrying with it tremendous power and force – driven as if coming from every direction all at once.

“wŏ kān de jiàn yún zài tiān shàng hùn luàn de fēi

wŏ tīng de jiàn gŭn gŭn shā chăng mái yī dī lèi

zhè shì shéi de shā mò wŏ wàng le wŏ shì shéi

yòu shì shéi ràng zhè tiān huī”

( I saw the clouds…wandering aimlessly in the sky

I heard a teardrop in the midst of the raging sand

Who does this desert belongs to?)

As the wind carried, the power within it evolved and when it erupted before Iondara it revealed what was beneath, what before had only been seen within the confines of the Alpha Timeline.  Bright green hair melted back right from the roots of her hair, form molding and shifting to the form in which history truly noted her, her jewel encrusted war scepter appearing within the air just an arm length away.

“Come…” The voice beckoned, “Come forwards, into the temple. Teal Moon, come to me”

*

As all aboard the NorthStar was harsh and artificial, so to was Iondara.  Just like the inky coldness of space, the woman who had risen to a high rank under the watchful gaze of the General, was one that lived only to serve, and fight in the name of her people.  Times she had forgotten, when her place on board her ships would be whisked away, as she was taken back to the Alpha timeline.  A place where Iondara did not exist.  A place, where she was known as Teal Moon.  How she dreamt that she could return, but alas, dreams were all she had.  Standing on the bridge, alongside that of the General, who had just flipped off the press corp, she kept her eyes upon the command consol decks, and showed no emotion, after the Tange had released the pods of the dead.  It was like she had no heart for them, and even in the General’s callus words in regards to their race, she only raised an eyebrow.  What kind of woman does not shed so much as a tear for those that have lost?

But fate always plays an interesting hand, when dealing a new deck.  For the new order meant change for all, and that included the Norians.  What this meant in the scheme fo things, was to come in due time.  Time…for Iondara, was about to change course.  Like the fluttering of a butterflies wings, to the beating of the heart of a new born child, everything was to change in a split second.  No longer was she standing on the bridge, but instead, she found herself in the midst of a grand temple.  Eyes widening, as the realization struck her, that she was no longer where she should be in time.  A gasp of breathe, a sharp intake, that would leave her with her mouth partly open. Iondara slowly turned, to see all that was now around her.  Her senses capturing the sights, sounds, and smells, so foreign, that she winced.  Her heart started to beat faster, chest rising and falling rapidly, as her skin warmed to her new found environment.  Iondara closed her eyes tightly.  Maybe it was something she ate.  Opening one eye, it was all still there!

The sakura blossoms drifted silently down around her, and Iondara reached out to pluck one from the air.  Its texture, so smooth and supple   Bringing the petal to her nostrils, she inhaled its fragrance.  The stirring of emotion, started to erupt within her, like her soul had been awakened from the deepest slumber.  The woman, Iondara felt nothing, but the woman who stood here in this ancient place, felt more strongly and deeply then most.  The white petal slipped from her fingers, as she twirled towards the direction of the beating of war drums.  Did this signal the arrival of one that she knew in a past life?  Clutching her fingers tight into a fist, she brought it up to her chest, as her eyes brimmed with tears at the sound of the most marvelous voice.  Singing a song that had long since been forgotten through the ages.  Iondara’s jaw twitched, then her chin wobbled, clearly she was now distressed, as the voice grew louder.  Like the rise to chorus, that swells joy within one’s heart.  Who could be doing this?  Why…why now?

With the voice, the wind did pick up, from a simple breeze to a much more powerful force.  And to this, Iondara’s image, began to change, as her black locks melted into that of a sharp and vibrant green.  Her entire body was changing; morphing into the woman she was viewed to be by time itself.  Iondara was no more, for in her place, stood Teal Moon.  Just out of her reach, a scepter appeared, encrusted with jewels, that would have been prized by Sultans and Kings alike.  For reasons unknown to her, she reached out and seized it from the air, staring back at the gate.  It was then the voice called to her, by name.

“Come…” The voice beckoned, “Come forwards, into the temple. Teal Moon, come to me”

Teal became a moth to the flame, unable to look away.  Each step as though entranced by the voice itself.  Approaching the door, she finally spoke.

“From across the stars, I have travelled this day.  Have you brought me home?”

Not waiting for the answer, she entered the temple….and this is where our story begins.

*

The one thing that has unified us all is our emotion…our story…the reason we exist. If it becomes changed — we cease to exist.

As Iondara entered the temple the wind would die down in the courtyard, the faint sounds of the strings and the woman singing could still be heard. The flow of the tune seemed to become more passionate, filled with the deepest emotion that seemed to drip from the stone walls. Made of stone, wood, paper and traditional materials the building was almost reminicant of an ancient castle found on Earth in Japan or China. Strange glyphic language that looked Norian but was not covered the walls, the lighting seemed to come from strange crystals that grew within the creveces between the stone and wood.

Immediately before Iondara stood a stone altar-like table, with two glowing statues – one on either side. The statue on the left was a foot soldier, wearing ancient armor clasping a worn blade within his hands. The statue on the right was that of an archer, her bow drawn and arrow aimed towards the door that was forwards of the table. On the table was a book, the . book seemed very old – its pages stained with age and time. The pages however were blank, and blood dripped and seeped from the paper where it joined the binding. The blood, obviously Norian dripped into a pool of green on the stone floor of the temple.

As she would step into the enterance, the doors behind her would seal shut, closing her into the entryway.

“

Each step taken by Teal, was poised, and precise.  Though she had no recollection of this temple in her memory, it was clear, that she belonged here.  The purpose of her calling?  The reason the voice brought her into the temple, would be clear, as her eyes settled upon the book that rest on the stone alter-like table.  From the statue that held the ancient sword, to the opposite that clasped a bow and had it poised to fire, Teal’s mind ticked over to their significance.  Guardians.  With the doors to the entrance closing in behind her, she now faced the alter, and noticed the dripping of blood; norian blood upon the floor in a shining pool.

At first this confused her, for a book does not bleed.  Tentatively she made her way to the alter, and on reaching it, she stretched out her arm, and gripped the edge of the book cover, turning it open.  Each page, yellowed with age, and the edges torn and frayed.  Time had not been kind to the tome, but why did it bleed?

The winds had ceased to blow, and her hair settled back down behind her.  The owner of the voice had not yet shown himself to her.  But in her heart, she knew who the voice belonged too.

“I know its you…*Teal gazed up to the ceiling, and let her voice be heard*…show me a sign.”

*

The singing continued, regardless of Teal’s declaration that she knew who it was. The song’s next verse was finished to completion.

xĭng zài hēi shān shuì zài huáng hé fēng chuī wàng bĕi

zuó rì gù xiāng dōng shì jùn mă zài dĕng zhù shéi

tiĕ yī xià de nĭ wŏ cōng huàn nàn dào xīn suì

wŏ wèn tiān shì bái shì hēi

(I’ve forgotten who I am

And who…turns this sky grey?

I woke up on the black mountain,

Lying next to the Yellow river…)

When the verse was finished. An ink bottle and quill appeared upon the table. Within the ink bottle was more of the same blood which dripped from the table and the book. From beyond the next set of doors, the voice spoke again now much more clearly and louder. “Upon the pages, write your name and the name of your mate. Write upon the pages that follow it the names of each of your three eldest male children. Write so that you may exist.” The voice faded again.

The door behind from where Iondara had come seemed to ripple, it’s structure fluxuating as if it was being pulled apart. Piece by piece the stone began to rip apart as it was devoured. The garden behind her was gone, the realm scape was literally pulling itself apart, twisting and breaking with each second that passed and it was moving inwards towards her, creeping slowly.

“Hurry…” the voice urged again. “Hurry or all will be lost!” the voice nearly screamed.

*

At the end of the song, the verse complete, the magic of ages would bring the appearance of the ink bottle and quill.  But the ink was not the black that is used to write, but instead, it was the blood that matched that which had already flowed from the book itself.  Though Teal, had called upon the voice, claiming she knew who it was, instead it gave directions which were to be followed to the letter.  Bringing her eyes down to the alter, she reached for the quill and dabbed it twice in the ink well.  As she raised her hand, the fingers gripping around the wood of the quill, the voice told her what she must write. ~Her name, the name of her mate, the names of her three eldest male sons.~  A wave of sadness hit her, as she recalled each name in turn.  Images returning in her mind, to each as she remembered them on their last and final meeting.  Teal hesitated, unsure if this was the right thing to do.  She was not a Goddess, to change the events of time, but she was no longer Iondara either. As her hand passed over the book, the voice urged her….hurry..hurry.  The doorway which Teal had come through was now rippling, as though the nothing was going to destroy this most sacred place.  Hurry…hurry.

It was now or never, and Teal bowed her head, as the tip of the quill met with the parchment, and the swirling script came to life, the quill bleeding upon the opened pages..

“Teal Moon”

“Caecyan Falcon”

“Adrin”

“Nira”

“Severce”

At the writing of the final name, she returned the quill to the ink well, then stepped back, away from the alter.  Had she done in time?

*

Once the names were written upon the pages the book slammed shut. It lifted from the table and shot forwards like a cannonball from a cannon. It smashed against the inner doors of the temple erupting into a blazing blue flame. The flames touched the glyphworks illuminating them one by one, spreading as if a flame touched by gas. The entire temple groaned and heaved as the door began to open. On the other side of it was what seemed to be darkness, and the voice called once more. “Hurry…Come to me!” The female voice seemed almost to fade after one final shriek.

Behind Iondara, things continued to fall apart the stone tore away from the temple floor even – opening up to the abyss, to nothingness.

*

From the slow moving swirls of her scripture, captured on the pages of the book, to the reaction that followed, it was as if time had finally decided to catch up with her.  Whatever the writing of the names had done, caused the book to close upon itself, and zip through the air, crashing against the inner doors to the temple.  The floor, walls, everything started to shake violently.  Teal’s worst fear that her actions were too slow, had come to be, and she panicked, as the voice raised to a petrified scream.

 ”Hurry..Come to me!”

 Teal heard the sharp groan and tearing as though time was being ripped apart at the seams, the temple literally dismantling, including the floor on which she stood.  She had to get out of there, before she fell victim to the abyss itself.  Running around the alter, she sprinted for the door, and in the dying seconds, leapt through as the room where she had stood simply vanished into nothing.

 *

First Floor, Temple of the Builders

Location in Time: Post-Temporal War 9884 NSD, Specific – Subspace Web Hex 876, 983. Time Until End of the Universe: 0.001seconds

Once Iondara had made it through the second door, it closed behind her. The time or lack there of it was behind her, and it was held within a form of chronometric suspension. The space and time within the temple flowed with the same current as that of the original, unbroken timeline of the Unyian Spiral. The layout of the first floor of the temple was very simple, it mimiced the Grand Cathedral of Cystho.

{{ Reference – [U.A.R ] The Yughoshi – Our Common Direction (18+/NSFW) ‘

The heart of the Yughosi was the Cathedral of Cystho, or S’elothotha Cystho as most of the moguliloth-tongued ones referred to it was more of a command structure than a spiritual construct. It was massive, possessing hundreds of rooms, alcoves and twisting corridors that labyrinthed inwards to the main structure. Like a clandestine house of worship, towering atrium, crowned choirs and criss-crossing transepts that bore stained-glass window structures with decorative stone tracery that allowed in light from the upper array to pierce the interior between branching arches of black waxy carapace like walls. Massive naves and aisles directed towards the main Altar-structure referred to as the ‘Seat of Cystho’ that sat beneath a massive pendentive held dome. The presbytery-floor was reserved for only the highest ranked members of the Amuin Congress and those who were invited. The Altar, or throne precipice was elevated off the floor which could be reached by winding staircases on either side of the massive solid-state volumetrics that displayed real-time territorial claims within the annexed Unyian and Ryuuesi Spirals. Tapestries hung from walls showing vivid symbolism of awarded conquests and the shields of the massive military arms of the Umarian Astral Raquamothla. The throne itself was placed within a circle of control monoliths that served as interface ports for Lao’Taun and his staff, the glossy black structures glowed as volumetrics rippled over their surface. Like it had grown upwards from the frame of the Cathedral-itself the throne consisted of twisted outcrops of the same glossy black material with luminescent jade and sapphire accents. Heavy chains attached to the mast-like front of the throne where Lao’Taun often held his parasitically infested puppets prior to the final days of their use.

Lao’Taun sat within the throne, the humanoid form he held one of many metamorphoses that had a habit of deceiving those he encountered, underestimation one of the many tools of his progressively advancing regime. On this particular day, he held a rather unamused look, bored and perhaps even a little annoyed as frame rested slightly at an angle leaning towards the back-right of the throne, arm crooked upon the rest and hand pressed against his cheek. The Raatasi Tlataelat Ushacth (RTU) had begun their silent incursion into the Elysium Spiral with a mission that varied greatly from the rapid and forceful conquests of the proceeding regions. Projected results from sentient space-born biological drones flashed from the monument-like faces of the monoliths and he couldn’t of seemed any less interested. It seemed the Lorenzian Norians had some sort of debacle going on, their Citadels were on alert and traffic around the planetary sphere that housed ‘Ayenee’ had become what he believed to be an organized mess. His hand dropped from his face and he let his head rest within the back corner crevice as he curled his fingers around godsmourn which was sheathed and leaning against the throne. tap tap…He lifted the covered blade and dropped it’s tip to the floor over and over. If it was an attack he wanted, it could of been achieved – the weakened fold of Adrin’s people was hardly a match for him. }}

The voice once more returned, emanating from the throne structure. The melodic flow of the song once more returned along with the music. It called out to Iondara/Teal it was sung for her in a way that made it unique. The voice behind it, passionate and full of emotion. The faint hum, of some kind of power source emitted deep beneath the floor. It was almost as if they really were upon the legendary Leviathan Yughoshi Chanyosa.

yī kē xīn zàng le jī dī lèi

yī shēng qíng bēi wŏ wăng qián fēi

jì zhu zhè tiān de zhòng dì mĕi

cāng hăi shì jiè yī yăn chéng huī

(The winds are howling to the north

Where were the horses at the market in my homeland waiting for?

Under the leaded armor,

You and me…. through thick and thin,

Our hearts are shattering)

Upon the throne, sat the woman who had been heard singing sat motionless. Her raven features chiseled out of some ancient tale where beauty met death. Cold, pale skin yet the emotion on her face was full of life, even if it was sorrow. Tears dripped from dark eyes like faucets, pouring with eons of deprivation, starvation of emotion and heartbreak. It was strange, because the colorful kimono she wore said so much more –Vibrant royal purples and gold fashioned with back glyphs, it spoke of power and majesty, and the sword at her side marked her as a warrior.

“Teal Moon…” She spoke, sadness within her voice and her eyes still shut. Pale hands passed over one another, showing off intricately painted nails that portrayed scenes of battle and glory.  Upon the monolith structures before the throne,  images flashed – the horrors of war and death displayed upon them in full gruesome detail. Was it the images of the past? With war certainly came death..but if the war was there not peace? The figure sat, motionless awaiting her approach.

*

Never before, had Teal seen a sight as grand as this place.  A cathedral of great power and majesty.  From where she had been, which was tranquil and peaceful, right up till she wrote the names in the book, to this…was a sharp contrast.  Catching her breath after making her daring run through the door, she practically skidded along the tiled floors of this enormous structure.  Again the voice sang out to her, another verse it seemed.  As though part of a riddle, which Teal did not understand, sung in a language she could not remember.  For each door that opens, the mystery deepens.  Had her scripture in the book of blood had any affect upon those that dwelled on this floor?

The first thing to come into view would be a center piece to the cathedral.  A throne.  It was from here, that the voice did come, and the owner of the voice, sat motionless upon its seat.  Teal moved slowly towards the woman on the throne, whose features were like they were chiseled out of marble stone.  How could one of such beauty appear to be so cold?  She was almost a contradiction to gaze upon her.  Eyes that shed many tears, still leaking down her face, rounding her cheeks, and dripping upon the floor.  Her skin, light, but almost sickly pale, which was illuminated by the fact, her kimono was so vibrant, telling stories with its rich colours, almost like how a tapestry depicts a scene from the time it was made.  At her side, a sword, the mark of a warrior.  Was she an Empress from a past regime, who had been cursed to sit in this catherdral, to weep for the slain?

All she said, was “Teal Moon..”  So she knew her name.  But Teal did not know hers.  By the images that appeared all around the throne, that depicted war and its horrors, Teal began to wonder, was this woman the Goddess of War herself?  And if so, why does she cry?  War results in the countless deaths of millions.  Had this woman watched over the Sons of Teal through the ages, and seen the heartache of loss countless times?  And what of Falcon?  Where was he?

Teal bowed before the woman upon the throne, and asked simply.

“How is it you know my name?”

*

The momment one realizes that every momment that had come before it was of lesser importance than where they stood now.

The form upon the throne moved with grace and elegance, yet beheld itself like a statue of majesty itself. It was unmistakable that the protective source of chronometric disruption that kept the temple safe was that of the woman herself. Her lips curled upwards in an enchanted grin, amused beyond the depth of words themselves. Skin alablaster and without flaw, her eyes opened revealing the most perfect of obsidian gem-like portals framed by elegantly lashed apatures. Her hair seemed to shift and move, gems and metal began to grow within the threads as the headdress formed, leaving beaded braids to fall to frame her narrow face.

“I know…all names child….” the woman said. “Welcome to the Temple of Builders…I am the One. I am the Master Builder, I am Unya….” The words of the Goddess were concrete and with unfathomable complication. Teal Moon was now before the creator of their home Spiral Galaxy. The One had created the Espra and the Umarians who in turn created the populations of Noria and countless other worlds, now after eons of silence – her voice was heard.

*

“Welcome to the Temple of Builders..I am the One.  I am the Master Builder, I am Unya.”

With this introduction, Teal was suddenly awestruck.  No…this wasn’t possible.  Teal quickly looked back behind her, then over to the doors where she entered.  Teal then paused for a moment.  Well, maybe longer than a moment.  “Uhmm”  Reeling from the shock, of the enormity of this situation, she found her brain was struggling to cope. Teal opened her mouth as if to speak, then she held up a finger, and pointed it toward Unya.  Then, she brought her hand up over her mouth as though to stifen a scream.  Not fangirling or anything, but clearly, this was like parading a common peasant before God.  Another moment, and she finally lowered her hand from her mouth.  Capturing the look upon Unya’s face, she had this…smile.  It was hard for one to describe after the river of tears earlier.

“Okay..”

Pointing back at the door way where she had come from, Teal finally said.

“I…did what you asked and..signed the book, with the names of my Mate, and my Sons, as well as myself.  *she paused again and then shook her head as if to knock sense into it, before continuing.*..Uhmm….what have I done?”

*

“It is sad, when families fall apart…” Unya said quietly, her head lowered. “Especially families as great as yours.” Her compliment or discruption of the Daithilus whom had fallen apart faded her voice, it was almost as if she was cracking again. Tears still dripped down the Goddess’s face. Teal had indeed done as she had asked, she had written herself, Caecyan and their eldest sons into existance within the special chronometric field that was still holding to protect the Temple. “Everything outside of this place is gone….all that remains is oblivion.” Sorrow filled her speech, a being as powerful as she – torn, shredded, hopeless.

“Our problem has grown…beyond the complications of two…terminating times.” Unya began to explain, how what was once a simple need for the two times in which Iondara/Teal moved between to be one had become something which ended existance entirely. “War is coming, within Iondara’s time…A war, fought by brothers. One that must be stopped.” As she spoke, noises could be heard at the other side of the Cathedral, it was the shuffle of feet at first, and then so much more.

The Darkness slowly began to illuminating to show two forms engaged in combat. The sounds of a rattlesnake-like hiss resounded with outstanding volume as the teal eyes of Severce erupted in absolution. A growl, a ear shattering sound of bones busting and a cry out in pain as stinger embeded claws dove beneath flesh.  The Sepra moved with incredible speed and agility, form falling beneath the coming blade even though flesh still ripped away with his claws. The glint of silver could be seen, the sweeping ring of a monomolecular blade being slung through the air as Godsmourn was bore at full force. Adrin despite the injury to his shoulder went after Severce as he began to move away, and just before the expected impact, the cathedral fell into darkness once more.

The light shifted, the sweet smells of honey-thistle filled the air, the sound of laughter penetrating the blackness as a new feeling came to existance within the grand cathedral. One of peace, a peace that was short lived. Laughter ceased, the horrifying feral scream that followed made the stained glass panes shake within the frames. The howling scream that followed it was no less comforting, filled with grief and sorrow. Severce could be heard, his agony filled voice resounding into nothingness, “NEXIA!”

*

The first words uttered by Unya, would shake Teal to the core.  Her family had fallen apart from all she knew, she only existed here, in this place.  As for the Alpha timeline, she didn’t even know what had happened.  Either her memory erased of its end, or something far worse.  If everything outside of the Cathedral has fallen into oblivion, then how is it even possible that Teal made it this far?  As Unya would go on to explain, that the problems had extended beyond the two time lines, it became apparent, that the future from which her “other” self existed, was in grave peril.

Two sons, were to go to war.  Two sons, she did so adore.  But how on earth do you stop what is happening on a different time?

“I am not powerful in the present.  I serve on the NorthStar.  I am a ranking officer, but not one that can stop a war of the Leaders.”  Teal at least knew that much to be true of herself, Iondara.  But when the darkness in the Cathedral  illuminated to show what could well be the final battle of Severce and his brother, Adrin, Teal felt the power in her legs give way.  Naturally, it was a projection, to show what could happen, but it looked and felt so real.  The point of impact, the moment where you clasp your hand on your heart, to take that last breath, and the darkness absorbed the scene, as easily as it had shown it.

Next came the sweet smells of honey-thistle.  Laughter, joy. Beauty, truth, love.  Everything that makes living worthwhile.  But it only lasted a single moment, before horror befell that scene as well.  The screaming of a woman’s name “NEXIA!”  then all went silent once more.

Tear stricken and with heavy heart, Teal cried out to Unya.

“How the hell do I stop this?!’

*

Unya shook her head, “The war carries on for generations beyond them, and the level of bloodshed and technology grow and grow until temporal weapons are designed. The weapons will destroy everything within the Spiral…Everything.” Unya’s words came with a heavy sigh.

“To stop the terror from coming, to prevent this tragedy you have witnessed – you must stop the assassination of Hival Queen Tange Nexia. Her death will be blamed on Adrin if you do not, and two brothers will go to war for no reason.” The Goddess became specific with her instructions. “The world in which you are at, Shoishugo is to host the celebration of the Tange Bond tomorrow. The Hival Queen is assassinated at the ceremony. It must be stopped – protect her.” Unya wept, tears flooded from her eyes.

The task assigned seemed simple in comparison to what was shown, but it was only a peice of the puzzle, the first of what would be many to come. Unya lowered her head. “We will see each other again…In another time….” She raised her hands, the room seemed to breathe as she pushed them outwards. Iondara would be sent back to where she was before she was summoned. Once she was gone, the chronometric field collapsed and both the Temple and Unya were destroyed as they were torn into oblivion.

*

“Protect her.”  The last words, that Teal heard.  The blink of an eyes, and Iondara was right back where she had been, as though only a second had passed.  The General was still going on, and the crew were back at work at their stations.  Iondara swallowed hard, as a bead of perspiration ran down her cheek.  She was well aware, of what had transpired, and what she had to do, to stop the war that could end them all.  Normally, the emotionally void Iondara would never speak out of turn, however, something inside her forced her to speak.

“General, perhaps I should greet the…..bugs as you call them.  The press might be hard to digest.”

*

>End Sequence