Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sammael99" data-source="post: 711119" data-attributes="member: 1157">The Stranger (Part 5) - In English- I have been mandated by the Inquisitorial Synod to apprehend the symbiot abomination that managed to enter the Known Worlds. You will easily understand that we need to analyse in detail how this creature was disposed of, if indeed it was, so that such a danger can never again threaten the Pancreator’s flock. Therefore I must ask you to once again tell me, in your own words and now that you’ve had time to cool down, exactly what happened this evening...For the second time, Buenaventura narrated the story that he had already once told the inquisitors. The man listened patiently and then said, in a calm voice :- This is all nice and clear. There is just one tiny bit that puzzles me. Obviously you had figured out that the Inquisition was seeking this creature. Why pursue it rather than warn us of its presence, like any faithful believer would have ?The implications of this last sentence were not very positive for the veterans, but Buenaventura kept his calm.- None of your men were present when the creature left the bar ! We were worried we’d lose it if we came looking for you...- Very thoughtful of you. However, I’d like to dig into this a little deeper if I may. We found you at 21/43 UT, just after the creature was destroyed. According to your description, ten minutes must have elapsed between the time you left the drinking establishment and the time you reached the gate of the restricted area of the 3rd Quadrant, and most likely another ten minutes between the time you went over the gate and the time we found you. Twenty minutes overall. Would you say that is correct ?- I believe so, Buenaventura slowly answered, worried about where the conversation was going.- What bothers me, you see, is that I was myself on patrol at the edge of the 3rd Quadrant this evening. I remember looking at the repugnant digital clock that ornates the Krysler building at 21/28. We were then at the crossing of the avenue where the Korona lies and the narrow streets into the 3rd quadrant. Logically, it means that at the same moment, you were following the creature along the very same avenue... We must have been less than a hundred yards away. Considering the odd tendency of the Cumulus locals to avoid close contact with us, I very much doubt you would not have seen us...Faz paled noticeably. Lilwenn could not be more pale than she already was...- Please understand me : supposing as I do that you did see us, I then wonder why one of you did not come and warn us...A heavy silence floated in the air before the deacon continued with his theory :- What could your motivations possibly be ? I see two possibilities. Either you want to hide things from us, possibly things unrelated to the matter at hand... or you tried to trick us ! Let us suppose, for example, that the diabolic spirit that inhabited the creature now inhabits one of you. It would have been a good way of making us believe that the danger was eliminated where in fact, it is more present than ever...- Your men tested us and told you we were clean !- Indeed they did... However, this test may not be wholly reliable... First of all it is produced by a machine, and did the Prophet not warn us against excessive reliance on technology ? Not to mention the interpretation of these results, done by an Engineer... I am told he is pious, but I can’t help but notice that two of you are affiliated to the Merchant League, just like he is... Can I trust him ? And let’s not forget that we inquisitors are well informed on the manipulations of reality that entities from the Dark Between the Stars can perform on humble mortals...The situation was getting worse by the minute. The inquisitor’s voice now had a passionate streak that suggested a not altogether reassuring fanaticism. The three veterans exchanged glances, wondering how they would get out of this particular trap...Suddenly, there was a hurried knock at the door. The deacon stood up, visibly annoyed, and opened it brusquely :- What is it ?- It’s the Cumulus Police, Brother. They have just arrived, with Captain Vigo. They are numerous. They ask for the prisoners to be handed back to them...At this moment, a voice Lamar Faz knew well was heard from further down the corridor :- You overstep your rights and our agreements, Torkmad. Release the three people you are currently detaining, or there’s gonna be trouble !- Captain, replied the deacon in a glacial voice, I overstep nothing, I do the Pancreator’s work. There is no legitimate barrier to His will !- Wrong ! There is one and it’s gonna kick you in the face if you don’t obey ! I have already sent a message to Archbishop Palamades on Byzantium Secundus, informing him of your actions. I doubt if he’d like to come in person, but I don’t doubt that he will if you do not respect the conditions that you agreed to in his presence concerning this affair. Release the prisoners.Captain Vigo’s voice was closer now :- Furthermore, you should thank these people, not roast their feet. They did your dirty work and with a lot more efficiency and a lot less fuss, I should add. I trust you and your men to have cleared the station by the morning, or you will hear about me some more !The deacon was nearly frothing with rage, but it was obvious he had lost the game. The three veterans didn’t quite understand what was at stake here, but it seemed clear that Captain Vigo had the best cards...Gesturing wildly, the deacon signalled to Lilwenn, Faz et Buenaventura to leave the room. They did not tarry long and on the way out, they picked up their bags that had been opened and searched, most likely for additional « evidence ».And finally, they stood again in the streets of Cumulus, breathing recycled air. It wasn’t up to par with the rich air of the Stigmata jungle before an assault, but it certainly beat the unhealthy air of an interrogation cell under the cathedral. A dozen police officers were posted in front of the religious building, armed and ready to intervene. « They got it quick, this time », the Captain said to one of his Lieutenants on the way out...They were now walking away from the Cathedral, escorted by police officers. Lilwenn turned back to have a last look at the row of inquisitors standing on the stairs, looking unhappy. In front of the medical tent, she spotted the Engineer who had tested them earlier in the evening. He had a faint smile on his lips, and when their eyes met, he winked at her...</blockquote>

Verification