Diplomatic Immunity--Preface: Vasha's Discovery, Part II

[Bront]

"I could talk to him.... he might understand now... but what else would you need to do Sister? You know full well that some of that was... well, you know... will you need to delve into those type of experiments again?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Yes, a bit...But I think I have the general formula down...certainly if I made a few revisions and substitutions and added your tears and a bit of the Jhyram Arris's essence, I'm sure I could create a stable elixir for the procedure..."

 

[Bront]

"Alyz... is this going to revive him in his own body, or some other one? And will he be alive? I don't want him to be some undead monstrosity, he wouldn't stand for that."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Vasha, if I wanted an undead, I could have done that in about two minutes with an easily-obtainable black opal. I'm only interested in bringing him back to life. The issue was in creating a perfect new body for him, but I did that a while ago. I don't want to go back in that room, but if you look behind the giant tube with the brain and the heart, there's another with the perfect body of Marrik...I put it back there where I couldn't see it because it makes me cry to look upon it."

 

[Bront]

"You didn't create that from others did you? It's realy his body? Sister, I'm overjoyed that we could realy do this, but I'm afraid... something's nagging me, saying that this isn't quite right."

"Maybe I just need to comune with Arris. I've been so far away, perhaps she can offer guidance."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"It was created painstakingly from flesh spawned from Marrik's own, paying careful attention to anatomical details I gained from taking all those other people apart, some of which were failed Marrik bodies if you had looked more carefully."

"I'm afraid it simply wouldn't be feasible to sneak you past the guards to commune with Arris...I'm sorry--maybe you can try it near the Jhyram Arris?"

 

[Bront]

Vasha's unsure if she finds that comforting or not, but at least it's his body.

"Yes, I think near the Jhyram Arris will help. You said you needed some of it's essance, won't that compromise the Jhyram Arris?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Well, it may, but it would be no more than the droplet that dripped off and merged with you, for instance. Does it seem compromised from that?"

 

[Bront]

"No, I guess not."

"Alyz, I'm going to try to comune with Arris, and then get some sleep. This... this is not easy for me, for I feel hope and dread at the same time. I'll give you my answer in the morning, ok? But promise me you'll reconsider this too, and make sure it's something that Marrik would want, and something you're willing to do and live with, even if he chooses to leave you again."

Vasha forces a smile, and holds Alyz's hand as she looks in her eye waiting for a responce.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I will...if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have even been doing this, you know?"