Copyright J.B. Norman
A few days later, after being feted by the Ledu Executive Council and guided through the Crystal Labyrinth by the Ledu Geological Survey, Kathryn, Amarantha, and Dunstella are back aboard the Dolphin, preparing to depart from the moon.
Kathryn has put her medal from the Ledu Executive Council in the cabinet of various commendations, awards, and certificates she keeps as her trophy cabinet and the running tally of her various successful jobs.
Dunstella hasn’t stopped wearing hers.
“Welcome to Ledu Control’s Automated Docking Assignment System,” the familiar message comes through the comms.
Kathryn pre-emptively presses her finger to Amarantha’s lips to prevent her from accidentally making them have to go through the procedures in Penguinian.
Again.
“For service in Penguinian, Quack-quack-hronk. For service in Galactic Standard, Press 2.”
Kathryn hammers her free hand down on the 2 on the Dolphin’s comms panel.
“You have selected Galactic Standard,” the automated message says.
Kathryn heaves a sigh of relief.
Cautiously keeping her finger on Amarantha’s lips just in case, Kathryn goes through all the necessary takeoff procedures and soon, the Dolphin is lifting off through Ledu’s atmosphere.
“Ow!” Kathyn cries at the sudden pain her finger.
She turns the pilot’s chair towards Amarantha.
“Did you just bite me?”
“You could have just asked me nicely not to talk, Captain,” the Alvaraean princess notes.
“How come she’s allowed to bite you?” Dunstella asks indignantly. “No fair!”
“She’s not allowed to bite, Dunstella,” Kathryn notes.
As Ledu and its mother planet recede in the distance and the Dolphin finds itself once again the endless sea of stars of the Oikomene Galaxy, the ship’s comms panels start chiming.
“Incoming transmission, Captain,” Wembley notes. “From the Academiarchy of p’Taa Minor. I do believe it’s our old friend Professor Prft’Noy.”
“Patch him through,” Kathryn says.
“Of course, Captain.”
The holographic image of the p’Taaean professor coalesces above the Dolphin’s panel.
“Captain Starstone,” Professor Prft’Noy says. “Excellent news!”
“Sounds like you have a job for me,” Kathryn says.
“Indeed, Captain Starstone. My research has uncovered the location of the next of the Seven Thousand Obelisks of Am-U-En!”
“And let me guess. The Obelisk is still cursed?” Kathryn asks.
“Well, yes, Captain Starstone,” Professor Prft’Noy admits.
“And the planet the Obelisk is on,” Kathryn continues. “That’s cursed, too?”
“Not so much the entire planet, exactly,” Professor Prft’Noy says. “Though we believe the Obelisk can be found admit the ruins left by the Battle of the Night of the Tears of the Fire. Naturally, with so many of the Unquiet Dead, the battlefield must be under a powerful curse.”
“Yeah,” Kathryn groans. “Figures.”
“But have no fear, Captain Starstone,” Professor Prft’Noy assures her cheerfully.
“We are already preparing the Greater Rite of Gwillimon for just such an eventuality.”
Kathryn looks over her shoulder to Amarantha and Dunstella.
“So, how’s everybody feeling about this?” she asks. “Up for another Obelisk Job?”
When Amarantha and Dunstella answer in the affirmative, she turns back to the hologram of Professor Prft’Noy.
“Okay, but my rate is double now,” she tells him. “Getting cursed isn’t cheap. And I want half up front.”
We started the month with the Seven Thousand Obelisks of Am-U-En, and we’re ending the month with Seven Thousand Obelisks of Am-U-En. Space-Realmgard is a flat circle…
Also, “The Night of the Tears of Fire.” Why does that sound familiar?
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