Chapter Text
“Eraveil, you say,” Victoria said, arching an eyebrow. “I would be happy to accept your invitation. You will not object, of course, if I bring my retinue.”
Ahab was relieved she hadn't asked about his motives for inviting her, his gaze shifting from her sparkling eyes. “Sure. You mean Faust and Nails –“
“Nails is not accompanying me,” she said, her features becoming more severe for a moment. “I haven't seen Mr. Faust in some time – be a dear, see if you can't detect him for me?”
Ahab opened his mind and dove headfirst into the sea of psyches, seeking Faust. He saw Faust in a corner of the Colossus, looking uncharacteristically fearful as he ran into a dead end... and he heard a familiar chorus of four young voices.
Tall man with the briefcase / where'd you buy your dumb hat?
Sad man with the briefcase / why such a scaredy-cat?
“I'm not frightened!” Faust cried, his voice cracking. “And this is not a dumb hat!”
“Of course not, Mister.”
“It's a very fancy hat.”
“You must be rich.”
“Does Lady Victoria pay you lots of money?”
“What's foie gras taste like?”
“Does Lady Victoria dress you every morning?”
“You don't need to explain,” Victoria said. “Your expression tells me everything. It's no matter. Eicy, Pact, Paloma!”
Eicy, Pact, and Paloma suddenly emerged from behind Victoria, scaring the Caelestite within an inch of his life.
“Yes, Victoria?”
“Yes, Lady Victoria?”
“What?”
“Pack your things. The little lamb seeks the Truth in the ancient pastures of his people, and we will be good shepherdesses and guide him.”
–
“It's an intriguing idea,” Reinhardt said. She was reading about the transportation and logistics department's updated key performance indicators for the next quarter to take her mind of Migard's mind-crushing six hundred and ninety page budget request. “I'll be there, sure. I've been meaning to test the remote command tools that I asked Gronru to make. Actually, how'd you like to make it a full set?”
“You want me to invite the Legion Commanders?”
“Bring Hiiro, Sharona and Wrath to me, please. Tell them to meet me in the lounge and that it's urg –“
“I'm here!” Wrath shouted, shoving Ahab out of the way.
Moments later, Hiiro and Sharona met them in the lounge, Ahab following behind. Wrath was sitting and fuming and Reinhardt had a sly grin on her face and a stack of thick manuals on her lap.
“Legion Commanders.”
“Is everything all right, Grand Marshal?”
“It's quite all right,” Reinhardt replied serenely.
“It is not all right,” Wrath snapped. “Reinhardt's making us study for exams like fresh recruits!”
Sharona crossed her arms and her tail started swaying in annoyance, nearly taking Ahab's legs out. “First of all, a fresh recruit wouldn't be taking their exams, someone near graduation would.” Hiiro nodded in agreement as Wrath rolled her eyes. “Second of all, what's the meaning of this, Grand Marshal? We've proven ourselves in combat hundreds of times!”
“Look. When you were all promoted, I had the Committee temporarily suspend the certification requirements so that I could expedite your assumption of command. But now the Committee is on my ass about it, so you're hitting the books. That's the bad news.”
“What about Barton?” Wrath asked.
“What about him? He completed his exams a long time ago. And furthermore, I have him assigned on other training.”
“Hmph. I wish I got special training,” Wrath muttered under her breath as Reinhardt continued.
“But the good news is that you're going to the Cloud Gardens in Eraveil to have a quiet place to do your studying.”
“Yes, Grand Marshal,” Hiiro said. “A tranquil environment will be quite beneficial for all of us, exams notwithstanding. Sharona and Wrath stared daggers at her. “Cloud Gardens... it sounds rather lovely.”
“It is,” Ahab interjected. “It will be perfect for whatever you need.”
Everyone turned; they'd forgotten the little Caelestite was still in the room.
“Exactly! Thank you, Navigator. I can't wait to see it.” Reinhardt smiled at Ahab.
Wrath turned her head, her expression changing completely.
“You're going as well?”
“Yes, I'm testing the remote command apparatus – weren't you listening?”
“Then perhaps I can make the most of it,” Wrath replied. Hiiro and Sharona shot each other a glance.
“That's the spirit.”
–
“I don't know,” Roy said, his attention focused on his needle and thread as he sat sewing a new cloak for Eve. “I've got so many things that need my attention here.”
“Don't you ever relax?” Ahab asked.
“Eh, sometimes. But old timers need to keep busy. You'll understand someday.”
Azure walked by, rifle slung over her shoulder, her bright blue luggage rolling behind her. She smiled at Ahab, who changed color.
“I'm ready, handsome. Getting out of the dry heat is going to give my skin just what it needs, don't you think?” Ahab nodded stupidly, not finding the words.
“On second thought, why don't I come along? There will be plenty for me to do!” Roy said, loud enough to make sure Azure could hear. “Besides, it wouldn't hurt the rest of the Wrench to learn how to handle logistics in my absence.”
Ahab looked over his shoulder to watch Azure disappear into the hallway. He turned back to Roy and raised his eyebrows.
“I noticed that you are I are the only fellows on your Cloud Gardens list. Not an accident, is it?”
Ahab smiled, a dopey expression on his face.
“Hey, you're only young once. But,” he said, looking Ahab dead in the eye, “I'd watch your back. Azure's got some trigger-happy friends.”
–
Ruby approached Rouge, bathed in the glow of the Lumina Grid. Rouge held a Firefly up to her eye, looking for the source of its malfunction.
“Rouge, I'm going on an adventure in Eraveil! The Navigator asked me to accompany him to the Cloud Gardens and help him explore the region!” She held a hand up for silence, her expression becoming serious. “But, he only asked me, so I'm going without you.”
Rouge dropped the Firefly she was fixing, which shattered as it hit the ground.
“No you're not!” Rouge cried.
Ruby grinned and threw her arms around Rouge. “No I'm not! Come on, let's go pack!”
“Ha, I knew it, you stinker.”
They ran off, hand in hand. With a sigh, Kafka gathered the pieces of the Firefly. I don't care where they go, she thought, as long as it's very far from here.
–
Paloma sat on Eicy's luggage as Eicy struggled to get it zipped.
“Why do you need all this stuff? We won't be that far from Soroz. And who even has a travel picana?”
“I do, obviously. I'm not going to bring my good one but I don't want to be without one when I finally convince that stupid Navigator to let me have an interrogation chamber. You should be more like me – find joy in things. I'm sure Victoria would agree.”
“Hmph.”
Pact burst in, a large cardboard box under her arm. The box had some kind of dark blue ooze seeping from its corners. “Aren't you two packed yet?”
“No, you're Pact, we're Eicy and Paloma.”
“What? Look, can you believe they were going to just throw away all those pancakes Vice made two weeks ago? They're just now aged to perfection! I'm bringing them, and they're all mine, so don't beg for them later.”
“See, Paloma? I'm not the only one bringing torture implements.”
Paloma sighed and turned away, hiding her expression.
“I saw a smile!” Eicy chuckled.
–
The next day, Soroz gently descended on the meadow of the Cloud Garden. Ahab stepped out, felt the wind blow as it carried dandelion seeds, wondering how he could build a new home here on the land of his people, and if all those who settled in Eraveil would be doomed to the same fate. No, he thought. I won't be a prisoner of history. His further thoughts were interrupted as Wrath shoved him out of the way as she sprinted to the dormitory.
“I call top bunk!”