Ancestral Sacrifice

-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] is grafted into a ship, his arms and legs severed and used as connection points for the vast tangle of wires that connect him to the rest of the vessel and keep him on life support. The camber is dully lit and pulses with a slow throb --
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] The ship has landed and the deserter not needed now. He hangs limply, head hanging. Every now and again he lets out a low chuckle --
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] slips through the ship's defenses. She brought some information on the security of the ship -- and she's using it to her best advantage as she sneaks in, body obscured by a dark hooded cloak. --
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] steps into the Vagabond's chamber, silently. --
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] stale air in the chamber smelling of ozone seeps out when the hatchway is opened like a slow breath --
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] chuckles --
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] closes the hatch. She speaks in low tones as she steps up to the broken Vagabond. --
AA: <\ Hello, traitor. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] does not look up --
RO: deserter
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] lowers her hood and reaches out to grab the Vagabond's chin, forcing his face up in a movement which is almost tender. --
AA: <\ Look at me. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook's [RO'S] eyes are unfocused, he knows every intimate detail of his room by now and rarely uses them. He tries to focus --
RO: sentinel
AA: <\ Once I had a gang to watch out for. Once I had someone to protect. />
-- abysmalAirspace's [AA'S] grip tightens, just slightly. --
AA: <\ Now I have no one. Now I am the Merriest. The last of my kind. />
AA: <\ And you, traitor, lie broken. />
AA: <\ Tell me what you did. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] laughs slowly --
RO: you never looked very merry
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] smiles, her expression cruel. --
AA: <\ I bear the honour of my brothers in my name. I bear my lady's honour. For them, I laugh. />
RO: and a deserter laughs too, it is all he can do
AA: <\ You betrayed us. Didn't you, traitor? />
AA: <\ You sold us out. />
RO: yes!
RO: a deserters title turned out to be the most apt
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] laughs hollowly --
RO: how many more times will you all make him conffess this?
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] pulls her hand away from Raggeyed's chin. --
AA: <\ This time is the last. />
AA: <\ You see, traitor... />
AA: <\ Even now, I act in my lady's interest. />
AA: <\ I would gladly let you rot here. You are nothing but a coward, a terrible cur. />
AA: <\ ... but my lady would never allow it. />
AA: <\ She is dead, you know. She died because of you. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] speaks softly in a cracked voice --
RO: yes
RO: a troll never forgets this
AA: <\ Have you dwelled on it, night after night? Has it sunk into your thick thinkpan that this is all your fault? />
RO: you come here night after night, all of you
RO: you stand before a deserter like you do now and torment a deserter
RO: all of you except, her
AA: <\ You deserve torment. />
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] unsheathes her rapier, aiming it at his face. --
AA: <\ What you do not deserve is what I know she would give you. />
AA: <\ Release. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] focuses on her suddenly --
RO: you
RO: you're really here?
AA: <\ I am. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] closes his eyes --
RO: sent by the mirthful messiahs themselves
AA: <\ I am sent by no one but my lady. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] opens his eyes slowly --
AA: <\ You deserve so much worse, you traitorous caitiff. />
RO: this is probably true
RO: miracles work in mysterious ways
AA: <\ Before you die, I want to hear you apologise. />
AA: <\ Feel remorse for what you have done. />
RO: a deserter is sorry
AA: <\ Good. />
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] lowers her rapier to his neck. --
RO: before a troll does this, would she like one last gaze at her lady?
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] hesitates. --
-- abysmalAirspace's [AA'S] voice is barely audible as she whispers, hoarsely: --
AA: <\ ... yes. />
RO: very well
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] closes his. The lights in the room flicker and dim as the deserter is connected to the ship, symbiotically bonded. When he opens his eyes he appears as the Pilferer Riskshot --
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] reaches out with her other hand to stroke his cheek. --
AA: <\ I... am sorry, my lady... I am sorry I could not protect you in the end. />
AA: <\ I still live. The merry trolls still live. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] falters and doesn't know how to react to this at first. He finally says something --
RO: Y☼u have always served l☼yally
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] sighs, looking away. Tears prick at the corners of her eyes, and one falls down her face. --
AA: <\ And I will continue to serve. />
RO: Thank y☼u
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] breathes in, her voice hitching a little. --
AA: <\ ... all right. I cannot kill you like this. Drop the disguise. />
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] the illusion fades and the deserter returns to his usual appearance --
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] he breaths in --
RO: a deserter is ready
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] chuckles, then laughs --
AA: <\ Very well. />
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] continues holding his cheek in a final measure of kindness as she angles her rapier up. She thrusts, piercing his jugular and sending her blade up past his jaw. --
-- ragamuffinOutlook [RO] the blade pierces his brain killing him nearly instantly. Marroon blood pours out from the wound and the lights in the room flicker wildly and die out. He falls limp, held up only by the cords where his arms used to be --
-- abysmalAirspace [AA] steps back, sheathing her rapier and putting her hood back up. She flees the chamber before security arrives. --