You are Kolinaisi Kaiko Wahthiri. Warchief. Captain. Primarch.

And anxious.

Your return journey home which is an emergency response to the failin health of old man Martin, has you on wits end. Ya supposed to be sleepin. Ya just finished up writin the new contract including laws for takin ships- which actually drew Roboutes attention with how ya handled it.

The crew is excited to privateer again, and the small team to rescue Frank, Tybro, Charon, and Tig has formed fast and large. So that briefin had to be done.

Then there is the matter of him: He-whom-looks-like-you-but-is-not-really-you-cuz-he-an-ass. His Journal is troublin. His talkin with Epsilon is also troublin. His tryin to talk to the gene witch is even more troublin. Ya captainin name is RuaRua which is big trouble- but him is worse.

Ya haven't surfed in a hot minute.

Ya friend UR, a man of iron, is going to be back on De'lormosa. That's gonna be a fun one to explain.

Not as fun as the scary box which is back in yer trunk. Ya can still sense it.

Then there is of course the issue of Old Man Martin hisself.

He may be dead by the time ya get there. Ya doubt it, he too careful, but things may be different. There is much on yer mind

Then there is Meerah underneath your arm curled up to ya snugly and Erihapti at yer feet doin the same.

Ya want to be able to sleep. Rackin out has always been easier for ya. But not now.

Somethin is eatin at ya.

You sigh.

You look over the journal again, then put it back down.

Your mind is wanderin. You need your rest for the last bit tomorrow.

You shut your eyes.


And the room is the same. And the ghost of not you is standing next to your bed, near Your brother whom you have not connected with in a while.

Magnus.