Topic: Trepidation | Tales of The Empiress Belarus

Sarah Belarus

Date: 2009-04-06 03:00 EST
December 23

His lips brushed hers in a feather soft caress. Tears were streaming down her cheek while his voice echoed in her ears,? You know I?ll be safe.. No nano has been the end of me yet. Before you know it, I?ll be back again. To see that we have a safe family I have to do this Sarah.? Her forehead was kissed, his hand brushed through her golden hair and he whispered,? You will always have a piece of me and be a part of me. We are one Sarah, always.?

More tears were cascading down her cheeks as copper hues met copper hues. The two cores knew this was what had to be done,? Promise you?ll be back? Promise me you won?t leave me alone to watch our children grow.? She knew he couldn?t make that promise. She knew this was going to take longer than both of them expected. She embraced his form, drew in his scent while she sobbed against his chest.

Two were wed and only a short time later he was to leave. It was not fair, but it was the choice that had to be made. Her fingers danced through his silver strands and over his cheek. Tracing and memorizing the lines of her beloved husband?s face. Time and time again she had watched this face, watched it twist into a smirk, so dark yet on so many occasions so full of joy.

There was a time where Dust and Sarah would be seen walking along the new gardens of the Estate?s but many knew, Dust was leaving, but Sarah didn?t know when he was coming back. They both didn?t know when he was coming back.

Ash was standing behind his brother and his wife. His arms poised around his back as he watched the two say their fair wells. Sooner or later, Sarah knew this was coming, after all, Ash had warned her. As Dust drew away Ash would speak up,? No need to worry yourself to death, Sarah. Dust and I will be just fine.?

?Stay safe out there, both of you.? Her eyes were settled on Dust as he spoke. She was still sobbing as she rose up and captured his lips in another tender kiss. Tears were pouring down her eyes as she squeezed his hand tightly and then let him draw away from her. Finger tips slid apart slowly and both of their figures would be parted.

Sarah watched as her heart throbbed, her eyes on her husband all the way. Soon he was out of sight while she sobbed out and shook her head. Her eyes turned over towards her guard for the day. She didn?t know his name, but she was sure that he would work his hardest on keeping her safe.

The trials and tribulations to come were something she would have to handle on her own. As the ship shifted from view, Sarah turned. Tears were falling from her eyes as she spoke up,? Ash, please bring my husband home and bring him back in one piece?? All she could do at this point was pray and hope.

Dust was strong, Sarah knew that. Their love was strong and even if he was away for a millennia Sarah would always love the man who she had combined cores with. Waiting was a game she could play, all to well. All she needed to do was have faith.

For the people of the Empire, Sarah Anne Belarus had to be strong.

Gabriel Ashlocke

Date: 2009-04-19 22:04 EST
April 19th.

Disapear for days? No word? Gabriel had had enough of this. He walked though the command post. He was looking for Sarah. He ordered men and women out of his way while he looked for her.

"Where is she?" The person had no idea. He had one...Up to her room he went and knocked on the door.

Sarah Belarus

Date: 2009-05-04 17:05 EST
The door to her room opened, Sarah greeted Gabriel with a pleasant smile. Sarah had been nothing but smiles, going all over the Estates and leaving people with a smile. Every where she went she did something, somehow to help those she could. So what if it caused concern if she did it without her guards. She had always liked being without them.

Sarah nodded to Gabriel, the only one who seemed to be bothered by her constant wanderings," Gabriel, you're just in time for tea!" She said, acting as if her latest absence hadn't caused issues. In fact, her latest wanderings had quite a bit of trouble for Gabriel, Sarah had left the Estates then.

Sarah Belarus

Date: 2009-05-29 10:07 EST
How to start this other than. Sarah had snuck out.... again... Old hag was making a come back! It was the only way to assure that she was able to have some kind of fun in Rhy'din without Gabriel breathing down her neck. Granted she had given Gabriel and his crew some work to do to distract them. Which was a good thing. It gave Sarah the opportunity to see Rhy'din and find out what had been going on. The pregnancy had managed to make that all said and good. After all. It helped with the fat old look she was going for. And there she was, making way with trouble in the marketplace. A bit of tea and a doughnut from the cafe, some window shopping. All from under that disguise was perfect. And the few who would have been hindering this, busy back at the Estates. Ha!

He stood near the dockside, looking towards the water. Taking in a deep sigh and releasing. He had missed his home and he had been away for so long. Crimson Guards stood by his side. Silent, strong, and ready. His mind traveling through thought. Data streams weaving about his body in collection, like a school of fish being mopped up by a large predator.

He could sense the cores pulsing in either direction. the vast city of Rhy'Din was growing ever more every day. Buildings being built on one another like snowflakes pilling up on the ground. He had started at one end of the city and ran across the tile slopes of the rooftops. His feet and toes barely touching the tops as he sprinted across. Jumping down from one edge and free falling only a second before taking the edge and coasting onto another slope. The market was ahead. The stalls of food, items, and people could be smelt from there. The water in view. That strong pulse of three cores by the waters edge easily met his monitors. With one sleek move, he bent his knees and sprung from the edge. Leaping high into the air as he rain bowed across the remaining rooftops. he ground coming quick he tucked and rolled with ease. Coming to a stance as his feet slid to a stop. "Morning Brother."

Something new had gathered her attention. Usually she wouldn't expect crimson to be around. She contemplated this for a few moments. That was when the two familiarities came up. There were two identical cores in the market area. One around her neck and one near the docks with another powerful core. That made Sarah pause in her walking. She even pulled the hood and wig off to get a better look at the rising sun and blue sky. Brows were ticked up and coppers were glowing curiously. On toes she turned, and without haste was making her way towards the dock. A bit slower than normal, a bit more cautious, but all the more eager. In all honesty, she prayed that it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her, that it really was who she had been praying for it to be for months.

The two crimson Guards quickly came to a salute. Ash slowly turned and looked to his brother. "Good morning." He smiled and hugged his brother. "How was your sleep on the way home?" He asked, the Crimson resumed they're position. One on either side of Ash. Still standing ready for just about anything. In recent times he was gathering the Crimson Guards and teaching them to use their core ability's, most importantly how to get the most out of Data streaming. The two standing by his side were one of the firsts he brought up and trained. They were known as the Crimson Elites. A Group of very talented and special breed of Cores.

He saluted the Guards back, only to find himself embraced in a hug. He smiled and returned the hug. "I slept well on the ride home. I'm just surprised you went with me this time. I only wonder where you disappeared to while we were there. I remember a large explosion almost like a nexus nova, and then you were gone. I didn't see you again till we were ready to saddle up and make the trip home." He pondered this for a moment, wondering if Ash had ascended to something else. Oh the mysteries of Ash the almighty. Just as he was about to speak he reacted quickly as he lifted his nose to the air as if he smelled something. But he wasn't smelling with his nose at all, he was sensing another. Another Core. His wife perhaps. He played a smile on his face and looked to Ash and the two Crimsons knowing they sensed it too. Ash probably sensed it well before Dust. "Sarah?"

Sarah didn't give the man time to breathe! She heard his voice and her steps pushed her faster than could have ever been imagined. The greeting was a mere tackle before he vanished. That was not the greeting she had expected, but something important to them all must have pulled him away. A frown formed upon her lips and she shifted only slightly to spot her brother. Her smile returned never the less and he was embraced in a hug. The two of them had made it back, that was more than a breath of relief for the woman. Her hand went to wipe at her tears before she spoke," You're really here right? Down to the core?" She gestured to where Dust had been standing," Both of you?" Fear of seeing ghosts didn't settle well within the pit of her stomach.

Sarah Belarus

Date: 2009-06-01 07:17 EST
Bob was there. Watching the ocean in the light of the eternal sunset, was it always this way?

Sarah was there with another flash of movement. Standing besides him and looking out over the waves. Her lips were pursed in her constant thought, taking every rippling wave in while she watched.

"Everything taken care of, everything is ok I assume." Not surprised she was there.

"Heh... I suppose." She was finding it harder the last few weeks, not seeing her husband, not being able to tell him things. It was all pushing her last nerve.

"You suppose. I guess that's better then horrible or completely destroyed in every possible way. Right?...I like it here. It's quiet." He looked at her, turned his head slightly. "Don't you?"

"No... It's too quiet and reminds me of my first trip away with Dust. To many almost death situations." Sarah stated while her eyes turned to look at him.

"Unfortunate..Too many near death situations can make one lose their mind. This Dust...guy. What kind of name is Dust?" He shook his head for a second. "You know...I never did figure out. What was the deal with the Cores...and are you really..alive. Or a machine?..or both?"

"We're both." She modestly answers before looking towards the water again," I don't know how to explain Dust. I just know I love him and that's enough for me."

"Both. I don't know about that. But I suppose it is alright after all Everybody is different. I sense tension in your voice. You are alive enough to still feel. And it shows. Something isn?t right with you. Is it?"

"I miss my husband." She answered the question as honestly as she could. Which was at 100%. Her lips had pursed and she was murmuring," It's hard not to be worried about him. Very hard." Her eyes turned to fix upon the ocean again while she stood there. Her fingers moving to tuck in her pockets," Guess I was seeing a Ghost the other day... In both of them."

He shook his head. "I figured that....wait, what. A ghost? Two Ghosts? Any idea who they were...of course you knew who they were..I see Ghosts everyday..." He nodded. "As for being worried. I am sure the guy is fine. He didn't seem too....too much in danger if I remember right."

"My husband makes it a point to be in some kind of life threatening situation at least once or twice in a day." Said as she went over a few fond memories. She even gave a soft second long laugh," He works hard though, to make sure everything is alright. We came across some bad things on our last off world visit. He just left doing what he thinks is best."

Sitting on a rock nearby. Staring out at the ocean. Dust played the violin. A piece never written or recorded but tought from teacher to student for many many generations. His silver locks of hair flowed in the gentle sea breeze, as his orange eyes slowly closed and envisioned something in his mind. The song was frightening and sad at the same time. It carried an eastern hymn to it.

"That sounds stressful, life and death all the time. Of course I don't have that issue. Death is a friend of mine. We talk often...But being in life and death situations all the time sounds...not very smart." He laughed then. "I knew a girl like that once. I couldnt talk sense into her...She died eventually. I was sad."

"Made a promise that if she died, I wouldn't bring her back. She wanted her death to mean something to me...And you know..it did."

Sarah was lifting her head at the sound of the music playing. It was something ominous to her, something she hardly understood for a moment. Her eyes turned towards Bob and then she contemplated his words as she spoke," I value the life I'm in. No one can sway me from loving what I have right now. Somewhere in this demented world is a man that loves me." She blinked to his words," How so?" But even as she spoke she was turning her gaze towards none other than her husband. Her eyes squinted for a moment in contemplation. Was he real?

He just smiled. " I see him too..Go to him. I have taken up too much of your time as it is."

His bow danced across the strings slowly. In a furious rage it suddenly tapped at them in a wicked manner, the hyme becoming a sinister canvas of speed and fury. Sand around him moved outward and the waves fell silent. His eyes closed to the sea, like turning his back on a mighty enemy. He could feel the pulse of another core near him. It matched his noted on the violin perfectly. His frustrated image turned calm and a smile appeared on his face as he slowed the steaming bow and looked down to see his wife.

Then he walked off into the ocean, and faded into it. Gone.

"...." Sarah was silent, no more no less. At Bob's words she nodded, but for some reason her feet were firmly planted where she was. She didn't know what to say or to do. She just knew that Dust Belarus was only a fraction of a step away and she was afraid that he would be nearly embraced and vanish once again. It was not doing well for her nerves. Even as he looked down at her she was looking up at him. Her eyes showing her fear of it not being him, of it being another mind trick. Standing there before him she held her breath. Not sure what to do or say besides let tears start to trace upon her cheeks. Soft sobs forming," If you're not a fignant of my imagination get down here and prove to me that you're my husband." But her core was telling her he was.

He stood to his feet and dropped the priceless violin to the sand. A single hand coming to her cheek and brushing it free of her tears. A simple as he moved in close, slowly wrapping his arms around his sweet little angel. The simplest of kisses placed upon her lips. "don't tell me you didn't miss me now." He smiled to her once more expecting either to be tackles, smothered in kissed, more tears, or all of the above.

And knowing his wife all to well he would see the sobs break free and the arms would be felt flinging about his neck. Tears poured as her lips showered him with kisses of joy. Her voice had left her all together as she pulled him in close. Coppers opening to gaze up in his own as she traced his cheek with her hands and played through his hair. Even then she was breathless at the sight of him. Standing before her just as he always did, so very confident. It was as if her husband was still just as strong as he was before, if not stronger. Even then she could not help but feel her love for him had grown a hundred fold," Each and every day since you departed from me has been misery. I have missed you so much."

"I know my darling. Expect to wake up each morning knowing I'm right next to you." He smiled and embraced her for a hug. He was all smiles, only to be drown in kisses. I missed you darling, he said in his thoughts.

And I missed you Dust. With all of my heart.