Recently discovered in my archives, I am reposting Act III of Toby's story here.

Toby started the tour in the same place he always did, on the bridge of his ship. The original design had been modified a bit, the command seat and pilot/navigator's stations having been combined into a customized command couch of his own; consoles and controls arrayed around it so that he could access a myriad of functions from the comfortable reclining seat. Ahead of him, a large triple-reinforced crystalsteel viewport gave a beautiful look at the land beyond, while three large screens surrounded it; the main viewer below, the TAC (tactical) monitor to the left, and a variable display screen to the right.

Behind him, two wide steps led up to the smaller updeck, which had several seats and consoles, as well as two exits - one aft, one starboard into the airlock stage area. He'd check that later. Stepping through the aft door, Toby found himself in the Central Core.

The Core was something like an elevator shaft, but down the center was a three-sided ladder that ran from this top deck, down through the two decks below. Surrounding it around the edges of the circular shaft was a metal grate decking, so that one could move around to the doors that exited the shaft, or step into the center and descend/ascend the ladder.

On this level, there were four exits - fore and aft, port and starboard. The aft exit actually opened into a small airlock, which in turn opened into the big shuttlecraft hangar; easily the biggest single enclosed space in the ship after the main cargo bay. On either side of the airlock were shuttle storage hangars, each one had a little pressure door that opened into the Central Core (the port and starboard exits). The port hangar held a sleek little personnel shuttle (kind of a taxi, but more comfortable), while the starboard held a boxy and slower cargo shuttle. He paused long enough to make sure both were secured in their frames, then slowy circumnavigated the big main shuttlebay.

The main doors were huge as well; a clamshell design, they parted in the center, and could expand to an opening nearly as wide as the shuttlebay itself. The bay could easily hold up to five or six standard craft, but he kept it empty and depressurized for most occasions, unless he was on planet. It was much easier in space to only pressurize/depressurize the shuttle hangars, and saved wear and tear on the main hangar's environment systems. Not to mention, it saved on air storage.

There were two other exits from the hangar; a circular 'elevator' dead-center in the middle could drop down into a mainenance facility underneath (Toby kept this sealed off, however, for a special project), and on the starboard side, a square elevator/floor panel could drop down to the Storage facility on the next deck down, and down again to the secondary cargo bay on the bottom deck. This was usually disabled, especially if the shuttlebay was depressurized.

He walked back through the airlock into the Central Core, and climbed down the ladder to 'B' Deck below. Three of the exits (port, starboard, aft) led into the same corridor; it ran the entire centerline of the ship from the port side, to the Core, then curved around to the south and continued on the starboard side to the Storage/Supply room. The ship's map divided this deck into four 'quadrants', Fore, Aft, Port, Starboard (or N/S/E/W). He walked out the port exit to check that quadrant first.

The port quadrant of this deck was the personal area. The first two rooms were the Infirmary (on the left) and the Louge (on the right). A rebuilt IB-2 medical droid took care of most of the issues that he couldn't himself, while the Lounge had developed nicely over time into his personal den/playroom. He had put a bar in there, a little couch and recreation area, and there was also a small kitchen off the back. Further down the hall were his office (on the left), and his quarters (on the right) - at the far end of the corridor was a sealed hatch to a small escape pod.

The forward quadrant was accessed only through the Central Core. Originally, this sizable space had been the upper section of the main cargo bay - the idea being that very tall cargo modules could be lowered in from above, and take up two stories. Toby, however, had permanently closed and sealed the dividing 'floor' between the decks, and installed another level of flooring atop it, turning the upper cargo bay into a self-contained compartment of its own. Over time, then, he'd turned it into his personal lab and work area - the addition of cabinets, desks, test equipment, and various testing rigs (as well as a large rig for holding something as large as a small fighter craft) completed the setup. The upper doors could still open, but he had them sealed and the controls disabled for safety reasons.

Almost the entire Starboard quadrant was also made up of a single room; the Storage/Supply area. This room held everything from dry stores, to several large water tanks, to engine parts, to a spare generator. There were also two compartments built into this room - Ship's Services (which basically meant laundry and other such facilities), and Droid Storage (which held repair and power sockets for the ship's droid crew.) Two platform-style elevators exited this room; one went up to the shuttlebay, one went down to Secondary Cargo below.

The aft quarter of the deck was listed in the ship's blueprints as Shuttle Repair/Maintenance; a circular elevator platform lowered from the center of the shuttlebay above to allow the shuttlecraft to be worked on as needed. However, Toby used this area for storing his third small craft; a salvaged Imperial missle boat prototype, found adrift in deep space. Via his most ambitious engineering work on the ship ever, he'd constructed a gantry track system which could move the craft out of its dock, into an airlock next door, and from there the rail gantry could eject it out into space - effectively a hidden launch facility.

There was no way to go aft of here, though the ship didn't end here. Aft of the saucer here was the ship's main sublight drive, as well as the extendable "Starlight Drive" plasma accelerators that could give the Lady a surprisingly swift boost of speed.

Moving back to the Central Core, Toby dropped down once more to the lowest, "C" deck. As with the decks above, there were four exits; the port one was the main exit from the ship - it led down a long corridor to the port-side airlock. The forward and starboard exits moved out into the main cargo bay. The largest single space in the ship, the Main Cargo Bay took up the entire forward half of the saucer's lowest deck, and was capable of holding over 500 metric tons of cargo. At the forward edge, the main doors opened wide and also down, becoming an entry ramp for planetside access. Nearby, a sealable ladderway led up into the former upper cargo bay, now Toby's workshop. A large cargo airlock on the starboard end of the bay allowed spacestation or ship docking for cargo transfer as well.

Just behind on the starboard side was the Auxiliary Cargo bay; a more specialized compartment, the Aux. bay could be configured for fragile or atmosphere-sensitive cargo, and had powerful shielding against radiation. A cargo elevator from here led up to the storage/supply room, as did a similar elevator out in the main cargo bay.

The aft part of the saucer and aft hull was mostly taken up by machinery, air and water tanks, and other equipment; there were several compartments however. Just aft of the Central Core, in direct line, were the main Engineering room, the Reactor Core, and the Reactor control room. On the port side was the Combat Systems control room (specialized machinery and controls for the shields and weapons systems), and on the port side was the main computer and circuit-control room. At the far back of the hull was the hyperdrive unit and various monitoring stations.

Toby took his time in inspecting everything, then made his way back up to the bridge. Off to the side, he entered the staging area; in here were spacesuit storage lockers, as well as other EVA equipment. He didn't bother with any of that now, since the ship was on-planet, and keyed open the airlock. The doors closed and opened, behind and in front, and he stepped out onto the upper hull of his ship.

The saucer-shaped hull of the Lady cut through the electromagnetic static surrounding Red Star Station. Toby angled for one of the close-in cargo docks, and negotiated with the tower till he had a spot. The ship angled close, expertly trimmed and aligned with the dock port. With a soundless vibration, it clicked home.

His cargo unloaded and sent on to the warehouse for delivery, Toby had a few hours to kill while the nearby jump gate began its up-cycle. He wandered the Concourse, eyes on the various shoppes.. but his thoughts were light-years away, on a tall, slender orchid that danced, smiling, in his dreams. And the smile remained on his face, at the mere thought of Lorelie.

So close to returning to Rhydin, Toby had more and more realized that he hadn't given her anything in the way of a gift since they'd started seeing each other. Granted, she wasn't the type to demand "things", but it still gnawed at him. When he passed a jewelry store, then, the seed of an idea was planted.

The salesclerk had been all over him when he walked in, seeing visions of a diamond-covered commission in the obviously smitten young man. Toby wasn't quite ready for THAT level of commitment just yet (and neither was she), but he left with a beautiful silver ring, and even had her name stenciled inside the band. A Promise ring, he thought as he walked out with it - time to show her there was something more behind him than just 'seeing each other.'

Toby couldn't wait for Lorelie's reaction.

The half-drunk glass of water glinted with little reflections of light, the cabin's illumination dimmed quite a bit of late. Headache or not, emotional strain or not (and there'd been a lot of both lately), Toby still had a job to do, a business to run. A love life did not end the life you already had - that was one thing that both he and Lorelie understood well. For good or ill, their separate worlds remained apart.

The workspace on his screen had three new contract deals in various stages of workup, now. Two passenger deals, one cargo run. But only two of them were paid - the third was something entirely special.

First, Grem. The conversation had been entirely casual, but Grem had a definite desire to visit Earth, and had approached Toby with the intent of just what would be involved. Earth was not an uncommon destination, fortunately. Toby had told him that he could make the trip in two days, possibly less. He didn't make a habit out of passenger trips, but it was still a good source of income. Enough so that the Lady had a guest cabin specifically for that purpose.

Second, Brian Ravenlock. This was the special job. His wife, Charlotte, had become extremely ill. The nature of the beast was not entirely understood by many in the Inn, but Toby knew the term 'cancer' and exactly what it meant. When magic failed, sometimes you had to resort to other means - for Brian, this meant a trip to Earth (ironically enough, though much sooner than Grem, so it wouldn't be everyone at once.) And that meant starship travel, apparently. Whe he'd approached Toby to ask if he knew anyone who could do it, Toby had simply raised his own hand.

Odd, that, he mused. Time wasn't so far past that he'd have been perfectly happy to *land* his ship on that man. Now their dynamic was far different. Funny, how things can change. And once again, it was because of a woman. But this time, the circumstances... like the results... were far different.

That brought him to the third job, easily the most complex of the three. While they were simple passenger runs to a safe and well-charted harbor, as it were, this was one in what hopefully promised to be an ongoing series of cargo jobs. The client was a strange woman indeed. Older, but nonetheless 'right handsome' as he'd heard someone put it, she gave him only her title, which was "Farseer", saying that 'my name is unimportant.' Toby had heard that more than once, but he didn't think much of it. Privacy and discretion concerns were so commonplace on Rhydin that he was usually more surprised when someone DID tell him who they really were.

The conversation had then begun with a rather interesting exchange. "Has your species Mastered the art of low-tech Warp travel? You see I am in need of some spare parts for my own ship - and but of course I would not think of not paying in return for any help you may provide." A sweet smile had come along with the question, which was even more out of place. She didn't strike Toby as the sweet type, by a long shot.

Toby replied, "There's more than one way to get about. I think just about anyone who's able to navigate space by now makes use of some variation on hyperspace or Warp drive. There are also alternatives, but the short answer to your question is 'yes'", he concluded with a wry smile.

Her needs were laid out simply and clearly. Three sets of spare warp tubes, coils, plasma, and.. And several containments of a substance she named as "fl'ithimium". The discussion had been a little abstract on exactly what the stuff was, but Toby had been given to understand it was actually a form of nebula residue, of a very rare and specific kind. The woman had left after they'd set an agreement in principle, with the understanding that she would meet up with him later to crystallize the specifics. Including, he hoped, a little more information on how to track down the material in question - especially if it was potentially hazardous.

That reminded him, it was time to review his notes on the warp-capable tractor system he'd been planning to test out. If this job and others like it were going to become a reality, he'd be able to make good use of it.

"Lorelie... what happened?"

"...she.. happened."

Those two words landed like a falling rock out of the sky. Toby had almost been knocked aside on the steps, by a rushing Lorelie, crying and half-wrapped in her quilt. It wasn't till they got into her room and he managed to calm her down, that she finally spoke.

Natalia. Again.

It all hit at the same time. He looked around in confusion at her torn-apart room - signs everywhere of hurried packing. Her clothes missing, stuffed into her bag. And a leather satchel sitting pertly in the corner, unfamiliar.. and yet familiar. Dully, Lorelie told him what had happened. How she'd encountered her 'friend' once more, and how her friend had once more plied her trade. She had said no, Lorelie admitted. But she would have said yes, and that's the only reason Natalia had left. Knowing she had 'won', yet again.

And so that was why she was leaving, she said, without looking at him. She loved him, she loved him more than she could say. But she didn't want to wait and betray him again. "I was foolish to think I could deal with the powers in this place. I want to go home.. I just want to go home, where it's *safe*. Where I won't hurt you."

Toby felt as though she'd just stabbed him through the heart. Dimly he heard her explaining, how she'd rather them be apart and him know that she was faithful, than here together and have him always wondering. Lorelie, bless her, tried to put as positive a spin on it as she could. But Toby would have none of it. He heard himself saying something about how he'd never forget her. Then he was stumbling downstairs, with a sudden and blind determination to get as drunk as possible. It was happening again.. it was happening all over again.

It could have ended right there. It should have ended there. But somehow, she followed him. Bright anger trailed after the slender young woman as she pursued him all the way to the table. The words they exchanged in the Inn were bitter at first, especially from Toby. The worst thing he could ever have thought, he put into words, as Lorelie coaxed him back upstairs to talk some more.

"What you're telling me, is that you love me, and you always will. But you can't trust yourself not to go running when that toothy harlot crooks her finger at you."

Lorelie looked crushed, and then her temper flared. She wound up and slapped Toby hard across face, hard enough that he tasted blood. She shoved him, hard as she could, and he just crumpled to the ground. He didn't even try to defend himself..

Those in the Inn were unsure of what to say or do, as the two young lovers raged at each other. Toby felt broken inside, like Lorelie had reach in and just shattered his heart with that slap. But every time he wanted to just sink into the pain, he felt the rush of anger - anger that no matter how strong love was, some slinky little tart was a little more strong. That went against everything he'd ever believed in. It challenged his faith, and right now Lorelie was giving up, in his eyes. She was letting it all fall away.

How they ended up in her room again was anyone's guess. He just didn't want to argue anymore. He'd even pleaded quietly with her to just go.. "Please.. just.. go." but she wouldn't. And in the end, it was that decision of Lorelie's that made the difference.

Toby started down the steps, the satchel over his shoulder, when he heard a cry of pain. A very familiar voice. Dread suddenly gave him wings, as he took the steps three at a time, and came down on the landing to see the tableau ahead.

Lorelie lay fallen, clutching at a spreading red injury in her side. Aiden and the Farseer were heading toward her, and a rather malevolent looking black dragon was snarling at her from not far away in the corner. The blood trail told the story - the thing had slashed at Lorelie. Why... that was another matter. But at the moment, Toby wasn't concerned with 'why'. Everything that had happened of late... every little thing that had ever tried to take her from him, be it Rien, Natalia, or just plain trouble, echoed back and forth across his mind. Without even thinking, he drew the black device from his belt, and the front of it slowly split open.

A moment later, the shadowed corner in which the black dragon lay was bright as the noon sun, as the bolt of plasma tore across the room and smashed into her side. The very air in the path of the bolt caught fire, crackling briefly before collapsing into a drift of smoke. The soft "PLOOOM" sound, and the screech of pain from the dragon, caught everyone's attention.

The battle that began was short, but very wild. The black dragon was still intent on Lorelie, even after being blasted, and only Aiden, her friend, stood in its path. The Farseer was also seeing to her, as well. On the other side, a man Toby didn't know (Lucius deAuster) and a young woman (his daughter Ciera) were also readying to get involved. Ciera was given a terse command from the man to stay away, and he himself disappeared into the kitchen... only to return with the Stew pot. Which he then promptly unleashed on the dragon.

Claws, plasma fire, an axe, and ..whatever the Stew was made up of, all raged back and forth. Aiden blocked the dragon's path as she screeched away from the Stew, and had his side torn open for the favor. The Stew turned on Lucius, who was able to bat it away with his great axe, along with several bolts of burning plasma from Toby - a few of them also turned on the dragon, to get her away from Aiden, who now lay bleeding after trying to tie off his injury. The Farseer had deftly gotten Lorelie out of harm's way, spiriting her out into the Great Hall.

The dragon finally had enough of the burning plasma bolts, and wheeled screeching on Toby, fangs agape. He had his silver softball in his hand, and suddenly he flung that hand out - the silver ball rocketed at the dragon like a bullet shot from a gun. The intent, no doubt, was to crack her over the head with it. Instead... she just ate it.

Toby's expression went very cold. And very, very vicious.

He was very proud of his little inventions. That one was one of his best, his Meteor Hammer. He'd originally developed it as a melee weapon to counter the dangerous folk that he'd encountered here - instead of a metal ball on a length of chain, the ball was subject to a very specific force field. Controlled by the glove on his hand, Toby could spin the silver sphere like it was on a chain, and hurl it with considerable force... then bring it back. It made for quite an interesting toy, as well as a hell of a weapon.

It also had some other surprises. The dragon blinked as she swallowed it, plainly not expecting *that*. Toby's hand went to the wrist band he had behind that glove, and flicked a switch. The dragon's eyes then went huge, and a screech of pain was torn from her throat as the plasma jet inside the ball erupted into life. She dropped to the ground like a rock, being roasted from the inside out.

Toby lifted his hand, the silver sphere dragging the creature screaming into the air by her own innards. His eyes glittered, a snarl upon his face, as his fingers turned the dial for the plasma jet ever higher. Torturing the erstwhile vicious creature in the middle of the room. Her shrieks grew louder, until finally Toby's voice rang out. "Decision time for you. You know now, what I can do to you." The glitter in his eyes grew. "You can leave my Lorelie alone.. or I will burn you alive. Decide!"

The dragon arched her neck in agony, and just made a gasping sound. It was all she could manage at that point. It was enough.

Toby flicked the dial off, and yanked back on his gloved hand. The silver sphere pulled itself free, leaving the black dragon to huddle on the ground, smoking and quivering.

He turned, as Lucius proceeded to once more cage the Stew in its pot, though not without injury as well. Toby called out his thanks to the man and the lady with him, then caught sight of Aiden.

Oh God..

The method of transport that Lorelie used was decidedly strange, to Toby's mind. Making a doorway out of thin air, with a writing quill, just too odd. But at least the previous time they'd gone to Rien, they'd stepped out of it into a pastoral park setting. This time, when Toby looked over his shoulder, it seemed as though they'd walked straight out of a storefront. Toby's doubletake was comical, to say the least.

But the Rien of now was markedly different from the place he had visited..was it only a month ago? People moved strangely, almost terrified. Some buildings lay in ruins, the remains broken. The strife had begun, and already the chaos was beginning to spread. Lorelie wasted little time in getting them to her home, though a brief harangue from an old man set her temper off once again before she managed to pull herself away.

Haven looked absolutely stunned when he saw them at the door, and even more so as Lorelie fairly collapsed in his arms. They bore her to the couch, and Toby gave the other man a quick description of the injury she had suffered. After a brief interlude where Haven rather forcibly ejected his current female companionship from the house (an incident which would have been comical under other circumstances), he set to work tending to the rather ugly gash.

Haven had healer's training, thankfully, but Lorelie had lost a lot of blood. Even as Haven worked, Toby saw her eyes going gradually hazier, her voice going lighter and decidedly unfocused. "I feel funny.." she whispered, peering up at them. Toby held onto her hand, quietly reassuring her as he watched the other man with a growning sense of unease.

"You just rest." He kept his voice light, upbeat, even as the worry gnawed at him. Lorelie gave him a funny little smile, then a little urgency re-entered her voice. "I want to be with you, Toby. I want...I know that I can be strong
enough. I can do it, I promise. I love you, Toby. I love you so much.."

His heart quivered, and not just from the fear. "Shhh... I know." Squeeze of her hand. "Right now... I just want you to get better. The world can wait."

The moments ticked by, and even as the wound itself was bound up neatly, Lorelie seemed to grow weaker and weaker. Worse still, a disturbing cough was arising as she attempted to breath - a cough that held hints of fluid deep in her lungs. And, too, she began reverting back to her native tongue, her voice growing increasingly unsteady and random. Whatever she was saying made Haven all the more nervous, because he kept prodding her to "Talk in common, honey.. come on, now.."

It didn't seem to matter. She just kept slipping further and further away, into a hazy little peaceful world out of their reach. Toby suddenly seized on an idea, anything to get her roused again. "Think you'll behave if Charlotte comes to our wedding?"

THAT got her attention. Her eyes began to focus, and her teeth ground together at the thought. Haven immediately picked up on it, adding "Aye.. I could invite Azraella." Referring to the girl he'd just ejected, who clearly did not take a shine to Lorelie. "And I'm sure the elders would want to see.."

For a time, it worked. Lorelie began to grow weaker again, the wet sound of her coughing growing fainter and thicker every moment. The two men exchanged a sudden, bleak look as the realization finally began to sink home.

Lorelie really was dying.

We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb..
Higher and higher,
Leave it all behind..

- Van Halen, "Dreams"



He was stepped out of time. There was no world around him, nothing existed any more except for the still, fragile form beneath him, and the frenzied intensity that so barely teetered on mad panic, driving him to restart her breathing, his hands and lips going through those long-practiced motions. The same motions that hadn't done a damn thing to save Aiden, not a few hours before.

Shut up. Shut up. It's not happening this time. It's not.

Toby's forehead burned as if from a fever, crystal blue eyes flecked with equal parts fear and determination. Dimly, he was aware of Haven stirring groggily beside him, but all he could see was her. And she still... wasn't.. moving... damnit!

So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of

Memories flashed back over his eyes, unbidden. The tall, somewhat aloof violet-haired girl standing alone by the bar, giving him a veiled gaze as he approached. The warm smile she'd given him the next time they met, so inviting and warm.

Playing the piano for her, revelling in her obvious delight with the music... and with him.

That first intense, shuddering moment together, exhausted and giddy with the intensity of lovemaking.

The fights, equally intense - one thing was for sure, whether they loved or fought, Toby and Lorelie were truly the epitome of intesity.

That first time he'd offered her a promise ring and the almost angry way she'd reacted. And the slow realization that he wasn't the only one who had thoughts of what might lie in the future for them. Their future.

Holding her through a screaming temper tantrum, or a terrible nightmare, till she was finally sleeping peacefully in his arms.

The pain of betrayal, and the desolate feeling that the past had finally managed to repeat itself yet again.

The shock of the quiet realization that not only did he love her... but despite the clingy, poisonous evil that tried to seduce her from him, he believed in her, knew her heart was true.

The moment when she told him she would be leaving him forever, because she loved him too much to betray him.

And now.. this. Their last moment together. The end of their future together.

There was no time. There was nothing but that last moment, strung out to an infinity of memory.

The days that followed were some of the most peaceful of Toby's life. It was so very tempting to just stay there in Rien forever - and even still, Toby quietly decided, this was definitely the place he was considering making 'home' - after all, it was where she was. And what better definition of home, than that one - wherever they were together.

Days spent together, as Lorelie showed him the more untouched and less-populated sights of Rien. Or when her duty called, Toby wandered around on his own. Not too far and too often, mind - he was mindful that Rien was still in a state of some turmoil, and he was still a stranger. He also spent a lot of time with Haven - the man had become a friend in short order. Toby wasn't quite used to that, he had so few friends of either gender. But they had a lot in common, particularly a love of the graceful little orchid, in their own fashion: Haven as the protective and oft-exasperated brother, and Toby in a more intense way.

Haven had also been more than glad to take on a special tattoo request from Toby - he'd long ago had a single musical note tattoo'd over his heart. Now, a beautiful orchid (the flower that represented his beloved Lorelie) lay there as well, with her name entwined around it in both Standard and the flowing language of Rien. That was a special little surprise he had waiting for Lorelie, the last day of their vacation.

She had been surprised, and delighted beyond words, to see it. Longing touches had led them together to the house's shower - built over a hot spring, it was ever running, and a particularly beloved part of Lorelie's home life here. Though admittedly, they'd gotten precious little washing done..

The two lay entwined, sitting shuddering on the slick floor of the shower chamber, the warm water spattering over them in an unending steaming curtain. Trading gentle little whispers of love, breathless and happy. It was truly a sheltered, private little slice of joy.

Until a ball of hormones came rolling in.

Haven and a girl Toby (and Lorelie) didn't recognize came barreling in, not seeing the two at first until they nearly stumbled over them. The silence that fell was as thick as the moments before a thunderstorm. All that remained to be seen was who'd be the first to comment?

Toby managed to draw together his dignity for a big smile and a quick grab for the towels they'd laid to the side. "Hey, how're y'all doing today? Water's pretty warm, eh?" Haven's face was a total mask of crimson, but the slender, pink-haired girl with him was surprisingly unfazed as she greeted Toby back. Lorelie also kept a wild grip on her dignity, as the two women spoke in their own tongue. Whatever else, she seemed in good spirits about it all..

Toby and Lorelie managed to make it all the way to her room, before the giggles began. And once they did, they just didn't stop. Even after she got dressed at last and headed off on her duties, she'd be giggling the rest of the day. And Toby? He realized it'd be a great time for a walk, because he'd not be able to look poor Haven in the eye for a month at least.

Toby walked slowly up the entry ramp, into the cargo bay of the Lady. He glanced around, distantly, as if he hadn't seen his ship, his home, in a hundred years. Then the little smile returned to his face. The very sight of her did something to him, something warm and comforting. He walked over to the panel stand, flicking the switch to close the ramp once more. As it ground up, his eyes closed briefly, just listening to the sound.

Max hovered nearby, comforting in another way entirely. Sometimes, Toby thought wryly, Max was the only person he could ever trust, along with his love. Max was always there, always ready to obey his master. Max, like the Lady, was a constant in an inconsistent world.

Toby gave a deep, relaxed breath, and stepped into the Central Core, scrambling up the ladder to the next deck up, and out into his lab. Here, too, things looked at once familiar and strange as if he'd not seen them in ages. A hand run slowly over his well-worn workbench, the reinforced surface still bearing more than its share of marring and scarring from a thousand different experiments, and more than a few mishaps.

The last experiment he'd begun was still there, locked in the secure restraining clamps. Toby looked at it for a long time, then suddenly reached up to flick on the powerful overhead lights. Sliding up into his chair, Toby let the smile come free as he opened up his toolkit. Too long, far too long.