Belarus Hunting || The Hunt for Dustanee
Chapter 1 | Seeking Wisdom
The pulse of the engines of the Mahayana sang to its inhabitants soothingly. Its gentle melody served as a heartbeat, showing that the ship was thriving strongly. Its quarters contained sleeping members of the crew and family, however, it did not contain Ashlee. She wasn't on the bridge either, she had spent her time getting to know the ship from tip to end, working on the bridge and working in its engine and core. She had dirtied her hands with the means in which were needed to fill her goal. Work with the people, sweat and bleed as they do.
However, this night, Ashlee was sitting in the ships gardens, staring down at a single Aya flower as a memorial to her uncle Ash shadowed over her. Her red hair weaved and danced around her face, leaving her orange eyes hidden to those who passed by. Settled beside her was a simple energy pistol, sword, and pack, she never let them leave her side.
Hopefully whatever it was that was troubling her would end with the meeting she had requested with her father. If he ever received her message, which simply read: 'Sir, I am making a formal request to have an audience with you. Meeting location is the Ash memorial in the Belarus Gardens. Time 14:00. Ashlee Belarus.' It could have been that she didn't know how to speak with her father, or that she was so tense and insecure in the way she spoke to anyone. So now she waited, her face expressionless as she waited, listening to the pulse of the Mahayana's engine.
The data pad on his hip vibrated boldly. Without taking it off it's cradle on his hip he simply tapped at it, allowing the message to be directly linked to his visual interface in front of him, a Holographic projection that only he could gaze at. A grin played at his face seeing that it was from his daughter. Then a serious tone replaced it, his orange eyes reading it back and forth while he moved his way to a nearby tram.
Stepping in and seeing the next stop was the 'Terra.' Mere moments later the tram slowed to a stop and the PA announced the current location on the ship. "Now arriving at the Terra. For more information on the Terra, please refer to your closest District Kiosk. Thank you and have a wonderful day." As Dust stepp out from the tram he could hear the PA speak of the next stop, but was more attentive at meeting his daughter. Her message seemed... urgent and important. His mind could only wonder what it was she needed to speak about.
The Terra wasn'y empty. Others were walking about and enjoying the view and art of the green Terra. Tree's, ponds, streams, a collague of nature at it's best. The memorial monument could be seen in the middle of an Aya florwer garden. Offerings and gifts could be seen nicely leaned up against the monument, in turn giving a blessing to those who prayed. This practice of Saints and Hero's was something he had been use to for a long time now, even he had cought himself giving prayer to these Saints.
Saint, Hero, Family, Idol. That's what Ash was to his niece. He was a legend she someday wanted to emulate and surpass. As the time turned to 14:00 Ashlee stood tall, folding her arms behind her back and lifting her chin. Standing at attention, she gave one last gaze to Ash's statue, designed and commissioned by her mother she assumed.
There was a light twitch, snarl, and lip purse before it vanished. She needed to keep emotionless composure and present herself as a soldier when her father arrived. Ashlee would show him that the family blood remained strong and pure. Ashlee had severed her uniqueness it seemed to train and become a weapon, warrior, and fighter in the name of the Belarus Empire.
Everything was in order; buttons were all in a row and aligned perfectly with her pants. Her boots were properly polished and laces equally tied, bows tucked in the sides alongside the bottoms of her pants. Her hands moved up, combed through her hair until it was smoothed back into a simple sleek and neat bun. Orange eyes rested, chin level. Seriousness consumed her as much as her ambition and determination. She was determined to be the best and do the best, that was obvious. After all, Ashlee was the oldest and she had to be strong in order to protect her brother and sister.
The large and thick doors to the monument slide open, the feel of warm steamed air came rushing towards him carrying the scent of sweet pine and flowery scents. His demandingly authoritative eyes with a hint of madness gazed down to his daughter. He could see the look in her eye was of years spent grooming and conditioning herself to take on the demands and challenges she would face in the future.
Dust was casual, he didn't walk like he spent years marching in formation like most of the other Generals, Commanders, or other lower ranking officers. It was a walk that spelt out an attitude matched only by a calm and dark individual. His uniform he wore was nicely tucked and buttoned. Black was the main color with a strip of steel gray running up the side of the pantleg on both side and to the vest. The predominate 3H was printed on the left shoulder and Back; Imperial emblem took it's position on the right shoulder. Left chest had a surplus of colored ribbons and medals displayed on a thin sheet of holographic material that glitched in and out with a pixelized persona.
"You wished to seek an audience with me Ashlee?" He asked without too much tone in his voice to spell out if he was mad, sad, happy, or just plain normal. His poker face was a canvas painting with no strokes of the brush, no color. Just Dust.
Was it strange for his daughter to feel anxious towards meeting with a Father she had never had met privately before. Many girls grow up as their father's shadow, idolizing their father's smile, voice, and even the opportunity to hold his hand when something scary was around. Ashlee had never had the opportunity for any of that.
Her hands clenched for a second then relaxed as she stared forwards and drew in a breath to answer him. "Sir, I did, sir." He was her father and leader, she'd hold him to such high regard so long as she wasn't told to do otherwise. Frankly, she hoped that after this meeting he wouldn't punish her, after all the subject could quite possibly be rather touchy. "I wanted to speak with you sir, about Mother." Ashlee remained blank, even her voice failed to show if she was being ominious or inquisitive.
Overall, the time she'd spent studying the Belarus family was filled with recordings of histories and events that had made her only desire to ask more questions. Insuring that her back remained stiff as a board, chin level as a picture frame, and shoulders square as a door, Ashlee didn't turn her gaze to lock with his let alone lock on anything specific. She was trained for moments like this and be damned if she didn't follow them to the letter.
He held back a smirk, wondering if this strict respect for authority was of her mother?s doing or perhaps a natural poise of his daughter?s choice. He admired her choice of attire and clear value of maintenance. A woman with a grip on her reality which was nearly as strong as his brother Ash. "Questions you have, not a problem Ashlee. Ask away.." He looked to her a little bit more grimly, "What about your mother is it you would like to discuss?"
He walked over to the statue of his brother, looking down at a few of the gifts. He took out a incent, rubbing a finger over it while watching smoke give birth to an amber, the sweet smell mimicked that of the sacred flower of Aya. Giving a short sentence in a mocking prayer tone, "May Aya be with us Ash." He set the incent into a clay pot full of soil, where countless others were already burnt out from past use. He looked up to the large statue, remembering the day he lost his brother.
The notion still lingered in his thoughts as he looked back over his shoulder to his daughter, Ashlee. "I can imagine that this may be difficult for you as it is for me." He paused a few moments before continuing, "I am your father, yes. But, due to the circumstance rank disrupts a casual conversation." He turned to her, cosing the space between them and looking into her eyes, noticing they felt familiar. "I give you permission from here on, you have freedom to speak when you desire."
Ashlee had been named in honor of Ash, so when his brother honored him her head bowed in response. She had already paid her respects to him. When he turned back to her and gave his version of an 'at ease' she took the suggestion willingly, but it hardly seemed her frame had relaxed. She'd noted his grim expression to her desire to discuss her mother and knew even more that what she was about to ask would insight emotion from her father. Still, she had gathered her courage in her pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and she wasn't going to hold back now.
Her gaze finally met his weathered face as she spoke," I have researched Mother before your time with her, when you two met, and then the times after. I have questions for you and I hope that you will answer them Sir." Pausing, she studied him cautiously. The second that passed felt like an eon. Yet, eventually she spoke, her voice finally defying her lack of emotion with a fine lacing of irritation. "Clearly you see something in Mother that I do not see. When you met her she was weak and defenseless and on countless times you had to rescue her from her own simplistic actions. So, I ask you, of all the Cores you could have chose to be by your side, why did you instead choose a human who knew nothing of the empire, was far too weak to change without you nearly risking yourself to help, and when facing the brotherhood fled to a sewer instead of fighting on Corbin like you did. She clearly had the same power of you and her failure to use it cost the Corbin family their home world." All sense of dignity and duty was lost as she studied her father. "Why did you choose to marry someone so frail and inexperienced as *her*?" Utoh, it seems as though Ashlee harbored a smidge of resentment towards her mother.
He looked to the greenery of the Terra. Crew members of all ranks and civilians that were contracted to work on the ship walked past the glass room they were in. Even those who had brought gifts for the monument passed by seeing the two Imperials inside talking, stared. He looked up to the monolith of Ash Belarus and smiled. "Even a insignificant dim-lit star can one day evolve into a black hole which light cannot even escape."
He turned to her with a serious face of his own, looking her over for a moment longer. His hands naturally slid over his vest and pulled it down, making sure it was even and up to imperial standards. Leading by example and to show others that he himself has learned compassion for lesser sprites. Sprites to most K'rynian's were anything not their kind. Quintessentially, lesser beings. Dust had learned compassion for them, and that their lives were of much more value than his own, "Alas, Ashlee. I understand where your questions come from. And yes, we are the best." He turned to her with a devilish smirk, something he was saving, "So shouldn't your mother be a part of the category that we're proudly apart of? An Apex Predator? Yea?"
Apex Predator. That had her shoulders drooping. He'd answered her question with another question. She hated when elders did that. Grumbling a little, her lips pursed and she eyed him with those orange eyes of hers. It was strange just how much like Ash she could be. "Why did you pick her?" Her head tilted a little as she continued to stare him down. Surely he had an answer for her other than a predatory one. She folded her arms back behind her back and she moved to his side and stared up towards Ash.
Curiously, she looked to his face then glanced to her father. "I'm not saying that she's not an Apex Predator, sir, but as far as Apex goes, she's not entirely at the top of the food chain. In every crucial event you've shared with her, she's needed you to rescue her. Doesn't that grow tiresome?" Granted, here she was swearing to defend her brother and sister with her own life, but she had hoped they'd know enough to keep well clear of life threatening trouble unless it could be helped.
"Even in her decaying state, she had more spirit for the empire than any other I had previously served with, besides the Three Eagles of course. As for your mother being seen as weak in such situations. Yes, I've rescued her countless times." He looked down to the burning incent he had placed at the foot of the statue. "Her bravery has helped her overcome her prior weakness. Something that took me many trillions of years to understand. We fight for others who cannot fend for themselves, weak or strong. Your mother was weak, but over the years she has grown to be as wild and courageous as your old dad." He turned to her keeping his authoritative stance, his voice matched it even though the words held a bit of fatherly passion. "To be more precise, the answer is love." He had fallen in love with this women and would sacrifice himself if need be to ensure her continued survival.
That answer, that was more like it. It was an answer she could respect. She stared at the face of her uncle once again, studying the way the light reflected off it. Stepping back, she turned her back to the statue and started for her pack. "There is one more thing I need to speak with you about."
Crouching down, she reached into the pack and pulled out a small, ball like device. It was a data core. Holding it up, she activated it, letting it hover before father and daughter and begin to project an image she had been studying. "I found Dustanee, or at least where she'd hide." The image on the screen was that of Naminue, city on the water. It was a new city, one built shortly after Dust and Ash's last visit to the planet Mahikanah.
There was another problem. The longer the image was watched, of its streets, trade routes, and canals, hooded figures could be seen slinking through allies and along abandoned paths. Although the city was vibrant and alive it was infected at the very heart with?
?Brotherhood." Ashlee said while she stared at the image, it paused showing the cloaked form of a Nano Priest. Slowly her orange eyes fixed on her father and she spoke, "They're after Dustanee too." She stated, although she was certain that was obvious to her father. "Permission to recover the target with Benjamin upon arrival to the planet while you keep Mother distracted?" Perhaps Ashlee had seen some things that Dust never had, but whenever Dustanee was in danger, Sarah nearly lost it. After all, the middle child was more like their father than either Ashlee or Benjamin cared to admit. However, Sarah was more of a weakness in this mission rather than an asset.
She'd never seen Sarah's protective nature, no one but that unknowing priest on Corbin had, and he paid for it with his death when Sarah showed her snake like nature. Sarah was an ambush predator, docile unless threatened and then she was venom and fangs coiled up in a tight spring, just waiting for the most opportune moment. Ashlee was probably lucky she'd never witnessed it, Dust too.
Ashlee looked to her father, expecting that he'd side with her, agree to the challenge, but part of her was curious to see if he'd act more like a father, barrel in, and fight tooth and nail to save his child, like a lion would in the wild.
Dust looked over the map. Those cloaked enemies who were a sect of the Nano Empire in disguise. His eyes glared at them in a mild attitude that made him want to crush them all for surely existing. "This is not the first time they tried to take our family out."
He remembered the assassination attempts on 3H. The Redstar and Corbin weren't hit as hard as the main family of Belarus who have been aligned with ruling the Empire for the last several generations going back to the days of Aya and Ada ruling the Avian Empire. In his mind The Ma'kynai reacted purely on instinct, the Ma'kynah actually had a brain, what they're excuse was to destroy the universe was completely unknown at the moment.
"I'm sure Dustanee can dandle herself." He said in a quick retort. Knowingly this would be a great place to start they're venture to where the Brotherhood is operating, and even more so, what they were planning to do. In a slow sigh of relief while speaking, "I agree Ashlee, with your ability to tactically foresee the outcome of unit deployment and order execution; do you believe it would be wise to assist and capture your sister, while dealing with our secret little foe's?"
He gave a smirk to his daughter in her brilliants to discover this. He turned away from her once more, looking past the glass wall, past the outer hall way, and through a larger window which revealed space itself, the twinkling star, "Two birds with one stone my young tactician?" He waited for her response. He could already sense something very special and amazing about his daughter. She was in fact keeping the blood line pure.
Dust thought over these discrete lines of inspiration evolving into something new, Ashlee had become his moral compass for their tactical movements from here on out.. The thought he had to entertain. He turned back from his long gaze. Looking over his daughter once more. It was a shame she had grown past the age of high fives and piggy back rides. She would have been fun to be around with, instead of venturing out into the depths of space to eradicate the oncoming threats of evolved Ma'kynai. The price for the trade off cut deep. But it had kept their ever so precious empire intact and ever growing. But no, his daughter had an agenda and plan of her own, he would presume something under his radar. He could only wait and wonder.
(Live play between myself and Dust Belarus. Thank you Dust, pleasure as always.)
Chapter 1 | Seeking Wisdom
The pulse of the engines of the Mahayana sang to its inhabitants soothingly. Its gentle melody served as a heartbeat, showing that the ship was thriving strongly. Its quarters contained sleeping members of the crew and family, however, it did not contain Ashlee. She wasn't on the bridge either, she had spent her time getting to know the ship from tip to end, working on the bridge and working in its engine and core. She had dirtied her hands with the means in which were needed to fill her goal. Work with the people, sweat and bleed as they do.
However, this night, Ashlee was sitting in the ships gardens, staring down at a single Aya flower as a memorial to her uncle Ash shadowed over her. Her red hair weaved and danced around her face, leaving her orange eyes hidden to those who passed by. Settled beside her was a simple energy pistol, sword, and pack, she never let them leave her side.
Hopefully whatever it was that was troubling her would end with the meeting she had requested with her father. If he ever received her message, which simply read: 'Sir, I am making a formal request to have an audience with you. Meeting location is the Ash memorial in the Belarus Gardens. Time 14:00. Ashlee Belarus.' It could have been that she didn't know how to speak with her father, or that she was so tense and insecure in the way she spoke to anyone. So now she waited, her face expressionless as she waited, listening to the pulse of the Mahayana's engine.
The data pad on his hip vibrated boldly. Without taking it off it's cradle on his hip he simply tapped at it, allowing the message to be directly linked to his visual interface in front of him, a Holographic projection that only he could gaze at. A grin played at his face seeing that it was from his daughter. Then a serious tone replaced it, his orange eyes reading it back and forth while he moved his way to a nearby tram.
Stepping in and seeing the next stop was the 'Terra.' Mere moments later the tram slowed to a stop and the PA announced the current location on the ship. "Now arriving at the Terra. For more information on the Terra, please refer to your closest District Kiosk. Thank you and have a wonderful day." As Dust stepp out from the tram he could hear the PA speak of the next stop, but was more attentive at meeting his daughter. Her message seemed... urgent and important. His mind could only wonder what it was she needed to speak about.
The Terra wasn'y empty. Others were walking about and enjoying the view and art of the green Terra. Tree's, ponds, streams, a collague of nature at it's best. The memorial monument could be seen in the middle of an Aya florwer garden. Offerings and gifts could be seen nicely leaned up against the monument, in turn giving a blessing to those who prayed. This practice of Saints and Hero's was something he had been use to for a long time now, even he had cought himself giving prayer to these Saints.
Saint, Hero, Family, Idol. That's what Ash was to his niece. He was a legend she someday wanted to emulate and surpass. As the time turned to 14:00 Ashlee stood tall, folding her arms behind her back and lifting her chin. Standing at attention, she gave one last gaze to Ash's statue, designed and commissioned by her mother she assumed.
There was a light twitch, snarl, and lip purse before it vanished. She needed to keep emotionless composure and present herself as a soldier when her father arrived. Ashlee would show him that the family blood remained strong and pure. Ashlee had severed her uniqueness it seemed to train and become a weapon, warrior, and fighter in the name of the Belarus Empire.
Everything was in order; buttons were all in a row and aligned perfectly with her pants. Her boots were properly polished and laces equally tied, bows tucked in the sides alongside the bottoms of her pants. Her hands moved up, combed through her hair until it was smoothed back into a simple sleek and neat bun. Orange eyes rested, chin level. Seriousness consumed her as much as her ambition and determination. She was determined to be the best and do the best, that was obvious. After all, Ashlee was the oldest and she had to be strong in order to protect her brother and sister.
The large and thick doors to the monument slide open, the feel of warm steamed air came rushing towards him carrying the scent of sweet pine and flowery scents. His demandingly authoritative eyes with a hint of madness gazed down to his daughter. He could see the look in her eye was of years spent grooming and conditioning herself to take on the demands and challenges she would face in the future.
Dust was casual, he didn't walk like he spent years marching in formation like most of the other Generals, Commanders, or other lower ranking officers. It was a walk that spelt out an attitude matched only by a calm and dark individual. His uniform he wore was nicely tucked and buttoned. Black was the main color with a strip of steel gray running up the side of the pantleg on both side and to the vest. The predominate 3H was printed on the left shoulder and Back; Imperial emblem took it's position on the right shoulder. Left chest had a surplus of colored ribbons and medals displayed on a thin sheet of holographic material that glitched in and out with a pixelized persona.
"You wished to seek an audience with me Ashlee?" He asked without too much tone in his voice to spell out if he was mad, sad, happy, or just plain normal. His poker face was a canvas painting with no strokes of the brush, no color. Just Dust.
Was it strange for his daughter to feel anxious towards meeting with a Father she had never had met privately before. Many girls grow up as their father's shadow, idolizing their father's smile, voice, and even the opportunity to hold his hand when something scary was around. Ashlee had never had the opportunity for any of that.
Her hands clenched for a second then relaxed as she stared forwards and drew in a breath to answer him. "Sir, I did, sir." He was her father and leader, she'd hold him to such high regard so long as she wasn't told to do otherwise. Frankly, she hoped that after this meeting he wouldn't punish her, after all the subject could quite possibly be rather touchy. "I wanted to speak with you sir, about Mother." Ashlee remained blank, even her voice failed to show if she was being ominious or inquisitive.
Overall, the time she'd spent studying the Belarus family was filled with recordings of histories and events that had made her only desire to ask more questions. Insuring that her back remained stiff as a board, chin level as a picture frame, and shoulders square as a door, Ashlee didn't turn her gaze to lock with his let alone lock on anything specific. She was trained for moments like this and be damned if she didn't follow them to the letter.
He held back a smirk, wondering if this strict respect for authority was of her mother?s doing or perhaps a natural poise of his daughter?s choice. He admired her choice of attire and clear value of maintenance. A woman with a grip on her reality which was nearly as strong as his brother Ash. "Questions you have, not a problem Ashlee. Ask away.." He looked to her a little bit more grimly, "What about your mother is it you would like to discuss?"
He walked over to the statue of his brother, looking down at a few of the gifts. He took out a incent, rubbing a finger over it while watching smoke give birth to an amber, the sweet smell mimicked that of the sacred flower of Aya. Giving a short sentence in a mocking prayer tone, "May Aya be with us Ash." He set the incent into a clay pot full of soil, where countless others were already burnt out from past use. He looked up to the large statue, remembering the day he lost his brother.
The notion still lingered in his thoughts as he looked back over his shoulder to his daughter, Ashlee. "I can imagine that this may be difficult for you as it is for me." He paused a few moments before continuing, "I am your father, yes. But, due to the circumstance rank disrupts a casual conversation." He turned to her, cosing the space between them and looking into her eyes, noticing they felt familiar. "I give you permission from here on, you have freedom to speak when you desire."
Ashlee had been named in honor of Ash, so when his brother honored him her head bowed in response. She had already paid her respects to him. When he turned back to her and gave his version of an 'at ease' she took the suggestion willingly, but it hardly seemed her frame had relaxed. She'd noted his grim expression to her desire to discuss her mother and knew even more that what she was about to ask would insight emotion from her father. Still, she had gathered her courage in her pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and she wasn't going to hold back now.
Her gaze finally met his weathered face as she spoke," I have researched Mother before your time with her, when you two met, and then the times after. I have questions for you and I hope that you will answer them Sir." Pausing, she studied him cautiously. The second that passed felt like an eon. Yet, eventually she spoke, her voice finally defying her lack of emotion with a fine lacing of irritation. "Clearly you see something in Mother that I do not see. When you met her she was weak and defenseless and on countless times you had to rescue her from her own simplistic actions. So, I ask you, of all the Cores you could have chose to be by your side, why did you instead choose a human who knew nothing of the empire, was far too weak to change without you nearly risking yourself to help, and when facing the brotherhood fled to a sewer instead of fighting on Corbin like you did. She clearly had the same power of you and her failure to use it cost the Corbin family their home world." All sense of dignity and duty was lost as she studied her father. "Why did you choose to marry someone so frail and inexperienced as *her*?" Utoh, it seems as though Ashlee harbored a smidge of resentment towards her mother.
He looked to the greenery of the Terra. Crew members of all ranks and civilians that were contracted to work on the ship walked past the glass room they were in. Even those who had brought gifts for the monument passed by seeing the two Imperials inside talking, stared. He looked up to the monolith of Ash Belarus and smiled. "Even a insignificant dim-lit star can one day evolve into a black hole which light cannot even escape."
He turned to her with a serious face of his own, looking her over for a moment longer. His hands naturally slid over his vest and pulled it down, making sure it was even and up to imperial standards. Leading by example and to show others that he himself has learned compassion for lesser sprites. Sprites to most K'rynian's were anything not their kind. Quintessentially, lesser beings. Dust had learned compassion for them, and that their lives were of much more value than his own, "Alas, Ashlee. I understand where your questions come from. And yes, we are the best." He turned to her with a devilish smirk, something he was saving, "So shouldn't your mother be a part of the category that we're proudly apart of? An Apex Predator? Yea?"
Apex Predator. That had her shoulders drooping. He'd answered her question with another question. She hated when elders did that. Grumbling a little, her lips pursed and she eyed him with those orange eyes of hers. It was strange just how much like Ash she could be. "Why did you pick her?" Her head tilted a little as she continued to stare him down. Surely he had an answer for her other than a predatory one. She folded her arms back behind her back and she moved to his side and stared up towards Ash.
Curiously, she looked to his face then glanced to her father. "I'm not saying that she's not an Apex Predator, sir, but as far as Apex goes, she's not entirely at the top of the food chain. In every crucial event you've shared with her, she's needed you to rescue her. Doesn't that grow tiresome?" Granted, here she was swearing to defend her brother and sister with her own life, but she had hoped they'd know enough to keep well clear of life threatening trouble unless it could be helped.
"Even in her decaying state, she had more spirit for the empire than any other I had previously served with, besides the Three Eagles of course. As for your mother being seen as weak in such situations. Yes, I've rescued her countless times." He looked down to the burning incent he had placed at the foot of the statue. "Her bravery has helped her overcome her prior weakness. Something that took me many trillions of years to understand. We fight for others who cannot fend for themselves, weak or strong. Your mother was weak, but over the years she has grown to be as wild and courageous as your old dad." He turned to her keeping his authoritative stance, his voice matched it even though the words held a bit of fatherly passion. "To be more precise, the answer is love." He had fallen in love with this women and would sacrifice himself if need be to ensure her continued survival.
That answer, that was more like it. It was an answer she could respect. She stared at the face of her uncle once again, studying the way the light reflected off it. Stepping back, she turned her back to the statue and started for her pack. "There is one more thing I need to speak with you about."
Crouching down, she reached into the pack and pulled out a small, ball like device. It was a data core. Holding it up, she activated it, letting it hover before father and daughter and begin to project an image she had been studying. "I found Dustanee, or at least where she'd hide." The image on the screen was that of Naminue, city on the water. It was a new city, one built shortly after Dust and Ash's last visit to the planet Mahikanah.
There was another problem. The longer the image was watched, of its streets, trade routes, and canals, hooded figures could be seen slinking through allies and along abandoned paths. Although the city was vibrant and alive it was infected at the very heart with?
?Brotherhood." Ashlee said while she stared at the image, it paused showing the cloaked form of a Nano Priest. Slowly her orange eyes fixed on her father and she spoke, "They're after Dustanee too." She stated, although she was certain that was obvious to her father. "Permission to recover the target with Benjamin upon arrival to the planet while you keep Mother distracted?" Perhaps Ashlee had seen some things that Dust never had, but whenever Dustanee was in danger, Sarah nearly lost it. After all, the middle child was more like their father than either Ashlee or Benjamin cared to admit. However, Sarah was more of a weakness in this mission rather than an asset.
She'd never seen Sarah's protective nature, no one but that unknowing priest on Corbin had, and he paid for it with his death when Sarah showed her snake like nature. Sarah was an ambush predator, docile unless threatened and then she was venom and fangs coiled up in a tight spring, just waiting for the most opportune moment. Ashlee was probably lucky she'd never witnessed it, Dust too.
Ashlee looked to her father, expecting that he'd side with her, agree to the challenge, but part of her was curious to see if he'd act more like a father, barrel in, and fight tooth and nail to save his child, like a lion would in the wild.
Dust looked over the map. Those cloaked enemies who were a sect of the Nano Empire in disguise. His eyes glared at them in a mild attitude that made him want to crush them all for surely existing. "This is not the first time they tried to take our family out."
He remembered the assassination attempts on 3H. The Redstar and Corbin weren't hit as hard as the main family of Belarus who have been aligned with ruling the Empire for the last several generations going back to the days of Aya and Ada ruling the Avian Empire. In his mind The Ma'kynai reacted purely on instinct, the Ma'kynah actually had a brain, what they're excuse was to destroy the universe was completely unknown at the moment.
"I'm sure Dustanee can dandle herself." He said in a quick retort. Knowingly this would be a great place to start they're venture to where the Brotherhood is operating, and even more so, what they were planning to do. In a slow sigh of relief while speaking, "I agree Ashlee, with your ability to tactically foresee the outcome of unit deployment and order execution; do you believe it would be wise to assist and capture your sister, while dealing with our secret little foe's?"
He gave a smirk to his daughter in her brilliants to discover this. He turned away from her once more, looking past the glass wall, past the outer hall way, and through a larger window which revealed space itself, the twinkling star, "Two birds with one stone my young tactician?" He waited for her response. He could already sense something very special and amazing about his daughter. She was in fact keeping the blood line pure.
Dust thought over these discrete lines of inspiration evolving into something new, Ashlee had become his moral compass for their tactical movements from here on out.. The thought he had to entertain. He turned back from his long gaze. Looking over his daughter once more. It was a shame she had grown past the age of high fives and piggy back rides. She would have been fun to be around with, instead of venturing out into the depths of space to eradicate the oncoming threats of evolved Ma'kynai. The price for the trade off cut deep. But it had kept their ever so precious empire intact and ever growing. But no, his daughter had an agenda and plan of her own, he would presume something under his radar. He could only wait and wonder.
(Live play between myself and Dust Belarus. Thank you Dust, pleasure as always.)