It took Abram only a few minutes to get to the command deck. It was a contained and brightly lit environment, populated mostly by mages and warlocks operating mystical apparatus aided by the contracted spirits of Abram's army. Someone had once suggested that they use summoned minor demons and implant them as mystic support...Abram had promptly dismissed the individual from service.

"Never employ a demon unless they're within blade shot. I imagine many in the court say that about me."

Observing the operations of the command deck was the death knight, Babs. Her face was of course concealed by the mask but Abram could see the natural and relaxed preparedness in her stance and movements.

She wasn't' afraid, nor was she amazed or curious about the operations of Jadefall. Instead, she was staring at the staff, both alive and deceased. Abram had anticipated this conversation,and resolved to nip it in the bud.

"If you have any concerns you may voice them now."

Babs didn't even turn around.

"You sure you want your crew hearing this?"

"They've heard worse, and will continue to."

With that, the death knight turned towards Abram, who was standing behind a shifting map table. It's display constantly changed with Jadefall's surroundings (in a set radius, but then quit it's movement once Abram raised his hand over it. He didn't want any distractions during this challenge, which Babs delivered with a neutral tone.

"You're using your dead friends as fuel and slave labor, just to flex on your rivals and the Taiyang."

"The dead members of my order man their posts willingly. They have no desire to leave this world, and so I have provided them a way to remain here."

"Under your thumb."

"Under my direction perhaps. But they still have their families, and I have gone through great pains to ensure that their new bodies have sensation and all amenities of living. As for the labor...what would you have them do? What is a Father without the labor he provides to his family or nun without the wisdom she imparts to her peers? All require purpose and industry."

Babs looked around at the Citadel, and at the mystics operating their stations. They were doing their jobs, but they were most definitely listening in on the conversation. Abram knew this was a crucial point, he could not risk losing face in front of his soldiers. But if he ranted too much...

"They've been listening to the rants of nobles and their sycophants for far too long...ah, I know what to do."

Abram turned towards the scrying mage, a thin young orc with bluish skin.

"Maximilian?"

"Yes M'lord?"

"Are the gryphon knights in?"

"They have just boarded sir, and their mounts are being sent to the launch bays."

"Excellent work Max, keep me informed."

Max smiled and then went back to his work, while Babs actually turned to face Abram.

"Gryphon knights? You expecting some trouble? Beyond the original mission I mean?"

"I am. We're heading into the heart of enemy territory, on the word of people I haven't looked in the eye and for the sake of bloodying our enemy's nose, rather than knocking them down. Taiyang is not so easily intimidated, so I thought to bring extra precautions.

"That's smart."

She said nothing else after that, though Abram waited for her to point out some perceived flaw in his plans and reasoning. None came. She simply stood on the bridge and observed the proceedings. It remained so until two more people marched onto the command deck. One was young Connor, beaming proudly in his half-plate armor, and following his knight, Aurora. This woman had been a member of Abram's old entourage, and was more than happy to see her old commander.

"My lord, it's good to see you again."

"And you as well Aurora."

The young elven woman (young even by Elven standards), was of a sturdier build than most of her kin and wore spell forged lorica segmenta. It was an old style of armor but it was perfectly usable, especially compared to chainmail and leather. As she and her squire walked up to Abram, they stopped in their tracks upon noticing Babs. Connor didn't know quite how to react, but Aurora made a respectful curtsy and held a polite smile.

"Dame Barbara, I'm honored to meet you."

Babs nodded.

"I've heard a lot about you Aurora."

"Really? That's surprising, I just became a knight recently."

"Word spreads when you do your job right."

Babs then turned to Abram.

"I'm heading back to my quarters. If you need anything, you can find me there."

She walked off with heavy steps, and not one word passed between Aurora and Abram until the death knight left the room. Once the doors had closed behind her, Aurora's expression changed to a worried and exacerbated frown.

"What's a Magis Eques doing here?"

"Observing us. Possibly spying on both me and the crown in general."

"You don't think she's here to settle the score?"

"She is very serious about the oaths she makes, both official and personal. And my...goodwill from Atma's passing has not run out."

Aurora's look changed to a more sympathetic one.

"You always seemed so angry when she came up."

"I was fool, everyone goes through such a time at least once in their life. But enough about my history, let's talk about your future."

Aurora saluted and stood at attention, while Connor did the same. Abram then pointed at the shifting map.

"We shall reach our mission point in three days. During that time, it will be your duty to keep the boarding parties drilled and prepared for a sea battle against Taiyang junks and possibly a dragon attack."

"You think we might run into a dragon?"

"The Emperor's line stretches far, and not all of them are as stupid as the son my sister killed. And considering that the shipment we're pirating is of the strongest metal known to civilization, I'm not going to sit back and assume that our opponents won't guard it properly. You have your orders, any further questions?"

"WillI be working directly with Dame Barbara?"

"Not unless the situation calls for it."

"Understood my lord. I will be on my way then."

Aurora then marched off with Connor in tow, while Abram attended to some final business on the command deck. He had drilled his crew night and day for the past month and a half on how to operate Jadefall. Despite their skill and ability, the crew were still neophytes in its operation. It was unprecedented construct of magic from the mind of a demon after all, there were no other flying pyramids of demon steel and hellfire in the world. So the crew was still shaky on its operation, and Abram had been patient up to this point.

Now he drilled them harder and harder for the remainder of the day. It went well of course, they'd had time to practice over the time they'd been here. But Abram's presence alone was a poor substitute for the impact that cannon and dragon fire would have on the crew's attitude and operational capacity. They'd have to prove themselves.

"But just in case."

Abram made certain that his fail safe for Jadefall was still in place, though he told no one about it. Considering the fact that he was under scrutiny by every member of every court from every backwater county, Abram had been careful to display only just enough power to intimidate them all.

"Can't give them my full measure, they might actually be a threat then."

After all, his promise of change to Atma had not included sacrificing his basic reasoning skills. Once he was content with the crews performance, he ordered a shift change, gave orders to the officers of the watch, and then headed over to the guest quarters. Once he reached the door, Abram knocked on it gently. That same bubbly voice came from the other side.

"It's your place anyway, come in."

Abram did just that, and he saw Babs sitting on a chair still in her armor and sharpening that misty bladed of hers. He could feel the souls that she carried around swirl about her, and though they were in that strained state between life and death, they weren't in any pain. Speaking of which:

"Do you find it strange? That you commented on my use of souls while you use them in a similar fashion?"

"I didn't know what you were doing with'em, or why. Once I got your reasons I wasn't as worried."

That same implacable curtness, that same easy confidence...and an underlying weight that balanced on top of it all. Abram had done some digging, and found out the sordid details of Babs' losses in family, most of them anyway. The identity of the killer had been hard to track down, and Queen Isabella had told him to leave it alone, which frustrated Abram.

"Who is so dangerous that a Marshal of the Crown cannot see their name? Questions for yet another time, we look to the present for now."

Abram conjured a seat from the metal and laid back into it. His cat like eyes had lost nothing of their probing and vicious look. But he had always been good with his words.

"I never expressed my regret, and gratitude concerning your friendship with my sister."

"She was too good for both of us."

"Indeed, she was always moving forward, no matter the personal cost. She was much braver than me."

"Why are we talking about this? I've got an idea but I'd like you to say it."

Abram didn't miss a beat, and even tried to relax his body language into a more approachable state.

"I only wish to know where we stand, and ensure that it's on good ground. I know we'll never be friends but I hope we can at least respect each other."

"Is that so?"

"Yes it is. This is key time for Leo right now, and as people who presume to defend it, we ought to make an effort to work together."

Babs had stopped sharpening her sword, though it was still drawn. And her mask had turned to face Abram directly. He had her full attention, though she remained neutral as ever.

"Where to go from here...perhaps an appearance of vulnerability? No, she'll find that condescending. Ah."

"You never came to me for the weapon I promised."

"I don't need it yet."

"What are you hoping to kill? It would help me to know."

"A dragon, a very old and powerful dragon...one of the Crimson Gods."

Abram thought on this for a moment. He'd only heard legends about such monsters, and their bouts of cruel intrigue or mad rage. If one of them had indeed killed Babs' family, and was hidden from available royal record, that actually narrowed down who he had to look for. But again, those were questions for another time, and he now had an answer to his deeper question.

"So that's why you're here then. To ensure I survive long enough to deliver."

Babs actually shifted in her seat alittle, not unnerved so much as intrigued by Abram's deduction.

"You're just as smart as everyone says."

"And you suspect thesame danger from this mission that I do, you wouldn't have been so concerned otherwise. What do you know that I don't?"

Babs remained silent, considering her options. So Abram pushed, confident that it was safe for him to do so.

"I know it's hard to trust me after all the hell I put you through. But If not for me, think of the many aboard the ship. They've accepted the risk of combat perhaps, but that doesn't mean we must spend their lives on a whim."

Babs shook her head, and there was a slight chuckle of dissatisfaction from her mask.

"You're pretty good at that: weaponizing guilt..."

Abram said nothing, and gave Babs the time she needed to resolve whatever troubles she was going through, which intrigued Abram all the more.

"Is she protecting a friend perhaps?"

She gave her answer.

"I know someone who might be helping them. She sailed to Taiyang after her son was killed...she lost faith in Leo after that."

"What's her name?"

"That's not your business. All you need to know is that she's a cleric of Kar-Salkoth,and you might be in for some weird shit. You're good with that I think."

"That will be enough to work with. Thank you for your trust, I'll leave you to your preparations, and perhaps some rest."

Babs nodded and then promptly went back to tending her sword. When the door closed behind him on his exit, Abram considered ordering some of his spirits to monitor Babs.But he was confident that she had told him enough useful information, and that it was the truth. Instead he did something more subtle.

"Guards, monitor the magic within this room.Should it emanate from within the room or should a faint trace of divine or arcane nature come in, inform me, but look no deeper."

There were affirmations of "yes my lord" from the various spirit knights contained within the fortress. Now he would monitor the borders of the room rather than Dame Barbara directly, and his listening spirits would appear no different from all the others contained within the fortress.

"Of course her necromantic abilities might give her a more perceptive angle then I've anticipated...No matter. If I go too far, I'll end up starting a conflict I hope to avoid."

Abram needed little sleep himself, and that was a great boon. Because for the next two and a half days, he ensured every aspect of his flying fortress from it's systems to it crew was warmed up for the conflict ahead. The presence of a priestess of Kar-Salkoth wasa troubling prospect. Even though he was concealed from destinies' gaze, the thousands aboard Jadefall were not. The enemy might very well know that they were coming, and if the Golden Dragon Emperor's prescience was worth a damn, then he must have taken a few precautions.

"What if the number of futures that the dragon emperor sees is too overwhelming? He might see so much that he can't discern reality from possibility. That might explain their overall success but occasional failure in the specifics...What fascinating creatures I get to kill."

the voyage itself was uneventful. Aurora trained the newer recruits into working order, while Babs shared a few mental fortitude techniques that would be of use to the line soldiers. But soon the third day was here, and Abram starred out at the Mako Sea though a view port at the top of the pyramid. His gryphon was perched atop his shoulder, and seemed to be excited. Abram gently scratched it behind the ears.

"Not yet little one, you'll tear into enemies soon enough. I promise you that."

ne of the spirit knights manifested in an artificial body in front of Abram, it was Harold.

"We are approaching the coast of Fuji my lord, and our seers are attempting to locate the divine essence of a cleric."

"Excellent. Although, I believe I exempted you of your duties Harold."

"I don't have much else to do...I already cremated my brother."

Abram heard the tremor in Harold's voice, and knew once again that he had to tend to it.

"What was your brother like? Before he became bitter I mean."

"Oh...Gibbons was a strange one. Very principled, never broke the rules, and was very devoted to the gods of justice and "righteous" death. He'd get into fights a lot but it was usually to get us out of trouble we started. He never was one for empathy and flexible thinking, but at least he was honest."

"I'm sorry I made you carry out the sentence. I suppose...I suppose I felt it right ina way. He may have tried to take my life, but I felt his convictions. He deserved a quick end for his bravery."

Harold nodded.

"I thank you for that at least my lord. I know there was no other way...it's just that...I don't know. I've lost so much for my family, and for my brother to turn on me and then force me to put him down...I feel so much despair. Forgive me, that's an unworthy attitude for a Knight of the Imperial Flame."

"Accept your suffering."

"What?"

Abram straightened himself, and walked towards Harold.

"Are you a man?"

"Yes,my lord."

"A coward runs from pain. A fool ignores it. But a man confronts his pain. You must acknowledge the hurt you feel, only by accepting pain and feeling it will you be able to conquer it. Clichéd words I know, but I promise you: they ring true."

Harold looked up at his commander, who stood gleaming in his silver armor with the sun beaming behind him. The lesser knight's eyes were awash with admiration and reverence.

"My lord, you are so good to us. You rescued us from death's grasp, and gave us not only vindication against those who murdered us, but a new chance at life...what have we done to earn all of this?"

Abram placed a hand on Harold's shoulder.

"Not what you have done, but what you will do. As for that...Win this battle with me, and I will tell you more."

Harold nodded with an almost enamored look in his eye, but then evaporated back into the fortress and went to his duty. Abram then went to his. He posted his Gryphon back to its nest in his office, and then marched to the command deck. Aurora had gone to the deployment pad with the gryphon knights, and Babs was waiting for him next to the command chair.

"We're coming up on the convoy Abram."

"Excellent. Navigation: bring us in firing range."

The navigator, a dwarf woman in eastern robes, grinned excitedly.

"Yes my lord."

Jadefall moved forward a little faster, and Abram could see the shapes of the junks manifest on the map. There were seven in total, a full convoy, the mystics even detected the essence of divine magic emanating from the ship in the middle of the convoy's formation...this had Abram concerned, so he gave an order.

"Have our mages conjure a small storm. Let it build around us and then send it towards the fleet."

"Yes my lord."

Abram then contacted Aurora through his psionic powers.

"Aurora?"

"Yes my lord...I almost thought you were Echo for a moment."

"Deploy the gryphon knights from the opposite entrance while the storm rages. Then keep above the clouds until I send up a flare."

"Yes my lord."

Babs looked at all of this as it happened, but waited until Abram had come out of his visible trance before talking.

"A storm will give us away, and their mages will be able to disperse any conventional magic we throw at them."

"I'm aware. But I find it strange that we haven't encountered any interference from the Taiyang during our flight. This reeks of a trap."

Babs didn't nod or respond to his words. She simply kept her attention to the map, and the mystic projections on the stations of the mages and warlocks populating the command deck. The storm had manifested, and the griffons had indeed flown along its edge and into the clouds. When the storm rushed towards the enemy fleet,Abram pointed in its direction.

"Elevate fifteen degrees above the storm, and fire our opening salvo once it's dispersed."

"Yes my lord."

The storm traveled forward, and Jadefall behind it. As the pyramid ascended farther into the sky, a light shone from within the storm, and dispersed it. Cannon fire then burst forth from the enemy fleet, and shot through the airspace that Jadefall had just barely evacuated from due to Abram's command. Without needing to give the order, Jadefall unleashed it's own salvo of demon steel roundshot and hellfire rays into the enemy ships.

Four of the junks were set aflame and their own masts made to crash into their hulls, but a shimmering field of misty energy shone around the remaining three in the center. This was enough to protect it from Jadefall's initial blast. And Abram actually began questioning the amount of preparation he had put into this operation, but then the navigator's voice rang out within the command deck.

"We have a draconic essence incoming."

"From where?"

"Below-"

adefall shook from a great impact and the mystic projections began to flash in and out of focus. Likewise the map began twisting into various shapes and forms that made no sense. Abram knew no one could hear him at the moment so he used his ability to directly control the pyramid to send up a flare. It went up of course but that didn't make any difference to whatever monster was slamming into their underbelly and now turning it onto it's side. Abram however, was not ready to sit still.

"I've barely had this piece of junk for two months, I'm not losing it now."

Jadefall's engines began to roar to life once again, and the fortress stilled...then the walls began to shake.

"The bastard's trying to crush us?"

Abram made of psionic scan of the citadel, and was almost relieved that only the top sections of the pyramid were being beaten in. This meant that the dragon attacking them was not one of the ancient monstrosities of legend. But that certainly didn't mean it wasn't dangerous, or that it was stupid.

"My lord, divine energy is interfering with our attempts to scry the surrounding area. We have no sense of external direction." As proof of this, the map in front of Abram was now completely still and bare. Abram thought quickly, and came up with a solution.

"Babs, channel your passenger souls into Jadefall, have them reinforce the magic inthe structure."

Babs nodded without complaint, drew her sword, and stabbed it into the floor. Amethyst flames burst from it and then meshed into the floor before spreading through the walls. Abram then turned to his operators.

"The shield system: Is it operational?"

"It's experimental my lord, you never had reason to-"

"I'm testing it now. Set it to gird composition. Tight enough so that solid materials will be blocked but that more malleable substances will seep through."

"Uh, yes my lord."

Abram felt the hum of energy one again, even as the walls started to shake even more,and faint concave impressions began to form.

"Of course. Of course a dragon can crush demonsteel."

"Navigation, are all windows, ports and any openings of the citadel closed?"

"Yes sir, the emergency rituals kicked-"

"Then dive."

"Pardon my lord?"

"Doit, now."

The navigator turned her head back to her station and invoked the proper runic combination to drop the engines. Jadefall began it's rapid descent into the ocean. The drop was not that long, and thanks to the shield projection, Jadefall would be protected from the worst of the drop. So would the dragon of course, but that wasn't the point. Abram yelled out in a firm voice, and broadcasted the command throughout the entire pyramid.

"Brace for impact!"

And what an impact it was, there was a great shaking of the walls and floors. So much so that even Abram and Babs struggled to keep their footing. But once the shaking had stopped, it stopped entirely. The walls were no longer being crunched from the outside, and the map even returned to a functioning state. The surrounding ships were projected, as well as the gryphon knights who were making an attack on those same ships. Abram was surprised but pleased.

"It would have been excellent if Aurora waited for us to resurface, but there's no way she could have anticipated that.Still, she should be applauded for her initiative in attacking the convoy."

"My lord, the dragon is banging against the shield. The water's already filling up within the shield and...and it might drown. That...that was your plan my lord?"

"It was, but if our draconic friend is smarter then I think he is-"

"He's turned into a humanoid form and is swimming back towards the fortress, it seems he has a...a Black Blade in his hand."

"Damn these bastards."

"Deactivate the shield and ascend."

Babsturned towards him.

"Won't that let the dragon escape?"

"He's not trying to escape."

Abram received a transmission from one of his spirt knights.

"My lord, his Black Blade is disrupting our connection to Jadefall, we believe he's cutting into the walls to make an opening."

"Let him come through, if the sword remains imbedded any longer then it has to, he might realize the true effect it has on the fortress."

The spirit let out a grunt of affirmation, while Babs started grunting in pain.

"I can't keep this up forever. His Black Blade is pulling my charges from me, I'm not losing them to protect your tine box."

"Noted, are we rising?"

The navigator rapidly charged lightning into runes and glowing hexagons rising from the panel in front of her.

"We've almost broken through the water's surface."

"Then once more, brace for impact." There was another shake of the walks, and then stillness. Abram could even see the map continue to project the battle with the merchant vessels, as well as the incoming Taiyang relief force of ironclad warships...and something thing worse.

"My lord, interstitial rift is being opened above us."

Abram could already feel the power being unleashed in the area. And realized the true nature of the trap that had been set for him.

"They must have set up altars or sigils in the surrounding islands, and the dragon is here to keep us pinned. Babs, whats your status?"

The death knight was now leaning on her sword, and heavy breaths were escaping from her mask. "I've exhausted most of my excess soul energy. If I use anymore, some of them might actually disperse...I'm gonna be at my base level for the rest of this mess."

"I see. Come with me then, we have a dragon to kill."

"Right."

Abram turned towards the crew.

"Shift course away from the incoming fleet and project the shield in that direction alone while diverting as much energy to it as you can. Meanwhile you will direct our weapons towards the rift, and unleash every shot and hellfire burst we have into it."

"Yes my lord."

Abram and Babs then walked out of the command deck and ran towards where the spirit knights were making a stand.

"My lord, the enemy is an formidable one. We're holding out as much as much we can but he's outclassed most of the warlocks and mages."

"Hold out at the intersection as long as you can, we'll get there soon."

Abram and Babs rushed forward as quickly as they could. Abram was actually impressed that Babs could keep up with a rested demon given her weakened state. In good time though, The Silvered Fiend and the Angel of Anubis came upon several destroyed suits of spirit armor and charred corpses in dusted robes. Abram summoned up a great rift, and pulled forward his dark bladed falchion: The Mors Deus.

"Still haven't come up with a name for it..."

Babs also had her sword ready for combat, and looked around for their enemy. The intersection they were in was an atrium. A wide open area with many open ceilinged rooms and ascending staircases leading to different sections of the Jadefall pyramid. The death knight was not pleased with this set up.

"I can't sense his soul, not just because he's concealing it, but because there's too many wandering spirits around."

Abram looked around, and tried to commune with said spirits. He received no response, but felt a great deal of energy build up. Abram conjured up a shell of shields around both him and Babs, just in time to block the many arcane explosions that burst forth from the bodies and wreckage of his soldiers.

The sound and force of the explosion died down, and a familiar looking sheen of blackened steel cut into the shield wall. Abram cast his shields forward in an attempt to crush the concealed enemy in front of him. The shields were glancedaside by an invisible force, and their departure revealed the enemy. Babs braced into a fighting crouch, just as Abram raised his blade up.

"Well, this should be fun."

The man in front of them was of average height, but was the pinnacle of human fitness. His gold draconic eyes blazed with a very real inner fire, and his shirtless torso was covered in glowing tattoos. In his hand was a Black Blade in the shape of a Jian style longsword. This dragon breed dropped into an eastern fencing stance, and then charged forward at an incredible speed...then he teleported behind them and unleashed a burst of arcane energy.

The move was so swift that both Abram and Babs were caught unprepared, and they were slapped into the wall. But their armor held, and death was avoided. The blow still hurt though, and Babs was barely up before the dragon breed darted forward yet again and directed a flurry of blows against the death knight. Once more, Babs displayed a superior technical skill,and her greater bulk was certainly a help.

But the dragon breed was faster, and the draconic blood in his veins gave him an inhuman strength. Slowly she was forced back and had to resort to fist and gauntlet deflections to glance aside the flat of her enemies' blade to avoid a direct hit. Abram saw this as he got up from his small crater with far less speed than he should have. His vision was shaky and his footing bad. Wondering what was happening, he looked at his own body and saw that there were lingering traces of divine fire flickering along his armor.

"A mixture of divine and pure arcane energies...I hate demi-gods."

Abram used his powers to cycle off pieces of his armor with new ones as he charged towards the dragon breed. The repairs were done just in time for him to bring his sword straight down onto the enemy in question, only for the blow to be deflected by the now moving and almost living tattoos. Babs tried to get in a sideways swipe with her sword, but was slapped aside by a wave of telekinetic force. Microseconds later, the dragon breed turned his sword and thrusted towards Abram.

The attack was so fast that Abram couldn't get his sword free in time to dodge it, so he summoned a cannon and dropped it on the dragon breed. The dragon breed caught it telekinetically, but Abram fired it off directly into him. Once more, Abram was flung backwards and slammed into a wall with such force that he left an impression in the steel. His armor was still holding out, but there was visible damage and deformity along the shoulder plates and cuirass.

His sword was on the floor, and as he reached out to summon it to his hand, and it flew towards him, the blade halted in midair. Emerging from the smoke was the dragon breed, unharmed and looking more eager than anything else. At this point, Abram was starting to panic.

"Of course they sent one of their best...I need to get in contact with the rest of the crew. Maybe if I-"

His thoughts were cut short by the loud whiny of a horse. From the ruined walls came Babs, charging forward atop a great steed of amethyst flame and black armor. Before the dragon breed could thrust forward with more telekinetic force, Abram opened more rifts around the man, and summoned forth his own Black Blades, Five in total. They surged forward and were then halted in midair, but Bab's course was not stopped and she was able to crash her horse directly into the dragon breed...only for him to catch the horse in his free hand, pick it up,and then slam it into the ground. Abram however, had been able to summon the Mors Deus into his hands, and gripped it tightly.

He still couldn't push forward the Black Blades, but he figured that if he kept up the pressure, then the dragon breed would be unable to direct his telekinetic powers elsewhere. And the hunch proved correct, as the enemy in question raised a handan unleashed more divine and arcane energy in Abram's direction. The Silvered Fiend cut forward with his weapon, and blocked the blast as his sword burst into sapphire flame.

But even though Abram was able to hold his own, there was a problem. He couldn't summon more weapons while at the same time keeping the dragon breed's telekinesis at bay. Luckily, Babs charged from the dispersing form of her horse came in at the dragon breed from the flank. Her wings of black and violet flames burst from her sides and struck out just as furiously as her sword. Yet she was still kept at bay as the bastard somehow maintained his swordsmanship with one hand. And at the same time, his telekinetic field was up, and the barrage of energy continued. Abram was at a loss.

"We're outclassed. Babs might even be burning through souls at this rate, she's that desperate...maybe a simple trick will do."

Abram focused on his Black Blades that were ever so close to his enemy, and then used his power to do something he had only ever seen his sister do, he teleported to the weapons. Once he was there, right behind the dragon breed, he brought his Mors Deus down upon the man, only for his blow to once again be blocked by the strange tattoos dotting his body.

To Abram's credit, the tattoos were buckling under his blow, which meant the dragon breed's already diverted focus was on that specific task. So Abram simply let go of the sword, which was pushed upwards. And before anything else could happen, he threw a punch straight into the enemies face. The blow struck true, and while it didn't do anything dramatic like fling the man across the room, it did divert his parry, enough so that Babs was able to bring her misty blade straight across his chest.

There was a spurt of blood as the man stepped back, and Abram felt the weakening of the man's telekinetic defenses. So he brought his Black Blades down into the dragon breed's body. All five hit their mark and a divine glow could be seen emanating from the wounds. The dragon breed then fell to his knees, and was decapitated by a final blow from Babs.

A great explosion of golden energy burst forth from the body, disintegrating it, and casting Abram and Babs to the ground. Both knights were able to slowly get up, and they looked at each other with some apparent shock in their posture. Before they could recover completely though, Abram received a psionic message from the navigator.

"My lord, our warlocks are flooding the rift with demonic energies and we think we can keep it contained long enough to facilitate our escape."

"Have the Gryphon Knights returned?"

"The ships they attacked were rigged with explosives, nine of them died my lord."

"Where is Aurora?"

"Wounded my Lord, but the surviving knights were able to bring in a prisoner, a cleric of Kar-Salkoth."

Abram's fist tightened its grip.

"Then we have everything we need. Ascend as far as you can and make for Leo waters with all haste."

"Yes my lord."

Abram diverted his attention back to the carnage around him, and saw Babs saying a prayer while leaning on her sword. Her mask had fallen off, and her amethyst eyes seemed to take in the light around them as it shone over her flawless olive skin and sculpted features. Even he had to admit to himself that she wa sa striking woman, but his attention was fixed on the words she was saying.

"Lord Anubis, grant mercy to the souls that are now in your court, and beneath your gaze. Treat them with mercy and fairness, and forgive me for my transgressions today."

There was a faint glow of amethyst light within Babs' eyes, and then she stood straighter, just as Abram walked forward and picked up her mask before handing it back to her. She took it, and nodded with a grateful half-smile before putting it back on.

"I spent twenty souls today. They weren't ready to go, but I still used them. That's not going to go over well with the rest."

"You did it to save the living, and others among the dead whose business wasn't finished. You can be forgiven for that surely?"

"Yeah. But you only need forgiveness when you mess up, and we did."

"Yes, the ships were rigged with explosives, and most likely had no metal to begin with. But we killed another child of the Emperor, and deprived the Empire of a cleric of one of the most powerful gods of the pantheon. I'd say that's a win."

"Yeah..."

Babs seemed to have withdrawn into some deep thought, and Abram had no wish to follow. Instead, he looked over the carnage before him, and realized something.

"That was just a young dragon."

Babs' voice came out with a slightly grimmer edge then usual.

"Yeah. That's why Atma had to be smart...and lucky. Not too lucky at the end though I guess."

"She was betrayed by small man who blended in with the rest of the danger. Cowards like him tend to get their blades in deepest."

Babs didn't say anything to that, so Abram decided to preempt their little heart to heart and get to the deployment bay.

"Let's get to the bay. I'm eager to see who your friend is."

"Not friend, family."

That last line wasn't much of a surprise to Abram. He had felt the protectiveness in her voice when she had talked about the issue a few days earlier. So He gave Babs her moment of contemplation, and then walked off with her following behind him. Within a few minutes, they were on the broad deployment bay.

A wide area with several empty births and afew empty nests, which now hosted several wounded and bleeding gryphons. They were usually such majestic and terrifyingly beautiful creatures. But now they were nursing their battle scars, and no words save for cussing and the occasional scream came from their beaks. They were eventually ushered towards the makeshift nests where they could be tended to properly.

But the surviving gryphon knights refused any help. They stood in a semi-circle around Aurora, who sat atop a stool. She was missing an eye and her left hand had been burned it itself, her fingers melted into each other. The doctors and healers had stopped any bleeding of course, but when they tried to do more, she merely shoved them away.

"Get out of my face...I've got work to do."

The knights were not just gathered around Aurora, but were nervously eyeing a robed woman. She was of a middling age, but her eyes seemed much older then what was natural for any creature of flesh and bone. And when Babs and Abram walked over to the assembly, the woman turned to the death knight with cocky smile.

"Well hello little one. It's been awhile hasn't it?"

Babs stopped in her tracks, and stood a little straighter.

"Mom..."

Abram's eyes narrowed on the strange robed woman in the center of the room, while the others muttered to themselves and each other. All save for Aurora, whose anger reached a boiling point.

"Your mom? Your mom was sleeping with the enemy and you didn't tell us?!"

The woman in robes kept her cocky smile.

"It's mother in law to be precise. And that particular relationship has no bearing at the moment. My son, her husband: is dead. Along with my grandchildren."

Aurora and her knights looked among each other, obviously too angry to grasp the situation but trying to understand it all the same. Abram had no such difficulties.

"So this is revenge then?"

The woman in robes smiled.

"Of course a demon would know something of hatred. But you, Silvered Fiend...I met your parents while I was inTaiyang. They haven't prospered much since your victory at Ulq."

"I suspected as much."

Abram's voice had been cold and firm. He had known the consequences for his "betrayal" of Taiyang, and who would suffer for it. But his parents were virtual strangers, while his few friends in Leo and Evangeline had been very kind to him throughout the years. There was also the matter of personal power of course, but that was only a side benefit.

"We need to alter course, I can't lose face."

Abram raised a hand, and four spirit knights emerged from the walls and floors. They took Babs' "mom" into their demonsteel hands and encased her in a shimmering field of sapphire energy. Aurora nearly jumped up in her chair at that.

"She took my eye, and killed more than half of our-"

Abram didn't even turn his head.

"Sit down."

The voice of the Silvered Fiend, and the years of training beneath his command were too much for Aurora to resist. It was a near involuntary reaction, and even she was surprised by how quickly she sat back down. Before the other knights could protest, Abram spoke again.

"We need her for interrogation. Strange that you forgot that, given that you brought her back."

"Abr-My lord, I brought her here so you could bring us justice. So you could avenge the people who died because of her. She's a cleric of the god of knowledge, she must have-"

"Conjecture and supposition. I taught you better than that Aurora."

Before the younger knight could protest, Abram noticed something. Babs had been edging towards her mother-in-law during the exchange with her sword still drawn. And Abram of course knew why.

"If you kill her now, I'll simply extract her soul and turn her over to the interrogators anyway." Babs stopped in her tracks, but her grip on her sword didn't loosen. All eyes were on her, but there was fear in those eyes. They knew all about the Angel of Anubis, and worried about what she might do if painted into a corner. She herself did not lose control.

"I thought you were going for mercy."

"And you think that mercy should be delivered at sword point."

"It'll be quick at least."

Abram chuckled.

"You know what's interesting? Is that I know, that you know people very well. And I know that you're willing to bet that I'll ask for clemency for your mother if I see how far you're willing to go."

Babs' grip loosened, and she shook her head. "You really are an asshole you know...always with your damned plans and insights..."

He actually smiled beneath his helm at that comment. Abram had always loved being ahead of the competition, and those few moments when he'd been outmaneuvered only motivated him to try harder. This might very well be another of those moments, he risked losing the respect of Aurora, and any crew members who were listening in.

At the same time, there was no need to get on Babs' kill list. Not when he had chance to win all, right now. So he stood straight, took a silent breath, andbegan projected his voice.

"We're not just a knightly order anymore. We are the bearers and enforcers of law.There is a great deal of power in our hands, and we've worked hard to deserve it. But the right to power is no static thing. It is a living thing. You must keep to the helm at all times, and never divert from a right course, otherwise the ship becomes lost, and all those within the power you've worked for, shall sink with it."

He paused, and saw the attention and curiosity of those around him. So he continued.

"If we are the law of Leo, then we must keep true to those laws. And one of them is the right to trial, which is held by every citizen within its borders. This woman thinks she has forsaken such bonds. But her crime is only as great as it is because she, in fact, has not broken such bonds. Her betrayal cuts deep, because it is against the people who once protected her, and spits in the face of those who died with the goodwill of this nation in their hearts."

"What better justice is there, then to subject her to the same laws that she forsook, and the same rights and duties that she so callously abandoned? I know you want blood on your swords, I have felt that thirst as well. But things are different now. We are not mercenary knights, we are the defenders and rulers of the people and this nation that they and we call home. Shall we be cowards and flounce the law? And then hide behind it when convenient? I say no, because I am better than. Because you are better than that."

All eyes were on him, and so he delivered a final blow to their collective preconception.

"You have earned power, you have earned love and life. Now keep them with the just conduct you preach, and the bravery that gave us this hard won victory. In the name of the families you fought for, and the friends who have died today: be better than the bastards who tried to take you from them...what will you do?"

The knights were silent for a while, but then saluted Abram. Even Aurora wobbled to her feet and gave a salute. Babs even sheathed her sword, but remained in her usual stance. With the situation pacified, and word of his speech already spreading among the crew of Jadefall, Abram motioned for his spirit knights to bring the woman in robes to the dungeons.

She would await a trial from there, and he would observe it. Until then, there was more work to do. Everyone went to their quarters or to the medical center for treatment. But Abram had one thing to ask.

"Dame Barbara: come to my office, we have business to discuss."

Barbara nodded and accompanied him. No words passed between them as they walked through the now bright and packed hallways as the crew repaired the ship...and took the bodies of the deceased to be preserved for burial. Abram took note of this but did not let the vacant faces infect his thoughts for long.

"We won at least, and we gave more than we got. That's how you win war isn't it?"

They reached his office, and entered. But Abram didn't sit behind his desk, instead he sat by one of the chairs at the side, and motioned for Babs to sit in the other. She did so, and chuckled a bit as Abram's baby gryphon flew back to its keeper and snuggled on his shoulder.

"He's happy to see you."

"Andy ou seem happier, considering our losses."

"I'm weird that way I guess. I'm...I'm grateful that you didn't feed mom to the others, she's been through a lot. She's done a lot too, but that should be settled by the courts. Not an angry mob."

"Well, there's that much at least. Much to mourn though."

"That'll catch up with me soon, once the battle fever dies down."

Babs shifted in her seat, clearly nervous or even uncomfortable.

"What did you bring me here for Abram?"

Now it was the Silvered Fiend who was embarrassed, and he actually took a nervous gulp of air that was just barely concealed under his helm.

"Well, I had a request of you...I'm going to be a father."

"Oh. Congratulations I guess. I'm going to say this right now, no matter how many battles you've had or brilliant plans you've made: nothing prepares you for children."

"That's why I wanted to ask: What's it like to be a parent?"

Babs was silent, and she stiffened up, clearly angry but keeping it contained.

"Why the hell are you asking me?"

"Because you're the only good parent I know. You may have lost people, but I know that it wasn't your fault. And you've kept going, protecting innocents, and even giving creatures like me a chance at redemption...I'm scared. I don't want to fail my wife, or my children. I need to know what to do. If not how to succeed, then how to try my best at least."

Babs stared at him for a few moments, then she leaned forward in her chair.

"Alright, let's start then."

The rest of the day was spent talking about Babs' family memories. The joy of holding babies in your arms, the terror of seeing them scrape their knees, the frustration of their defiance when they argued with you over the most trivial things...and how it was all worth it just to see their smile. Abram of course listened intently, laughing at some parts, nodding grimly at others...but he was silent towards theend, as Babs talked about a final topic.

"There's something wrong with it. Something completely perverse and twisted when aparent has to bury their children. It's the ultimate failure that any person can experience I think. And when your husband's gone too, you don't have anyone to share that weight with. So you bear it all on your own."

"You've borne it well. Perhaps it's time to forgive yourself."

"You're sister said something like that too...It's just not that easy when you get old. You get used to feeling a certain way and you don't feel like getting rid of it."

Abram nodded. And thought on something.

"Did you ever grieve?"

"I yelled. I swore vengeance and all the rest."

"Did you cry?"

Babs laughed and brushed her hair to the side.

"Why? Because women cry?"

"No, because people do. I've cried at my losses before."

"I've complained and I've...had moments. But I've never cried. Come close, but never cried."

"It's just here. Go ahead."

Babs' voice became hoarse as her voice raised in volume.

"Will you just stop! Stop with the "I'm a people person" bullshit and leave me alone."

"That's what you want. Is it what you need?"

"I didn't cry when I was torn from my hometown, I didn't cry when I watched my friends get cut down when I was just a teenager, I didn't cry when Miranda told me to shape the hell up...I didn't even cry when I...when I killed my own family...when Xavier used his bullshit mind powers to make me kill my son...my daughter...my husband...I screamed and I begged but I did not cry."

"When have you cried?"

Abram's tone was neutral, but there was an uneasiness to it. And his eyes were on the edge of tears. Babs on the other hand was now almost frantic.

"I cried when...when I became a knight. I cried when kelvin proposed to me...I cried,when I held my son and daughter in my arms and my mother in law said: You're a mother now, how does it feel...I said it felt wonderful..."

Tears flowed from the chin of Babs' mask. Abram, unsure of how to respond to this,went with the most diplomatic route. He took a handkerchief from his desk, and gave it the crying woman in front of him. She took her mask off just slightly, to remove the tears from her face. When that was done, there was a long silence between the two knights. Until Abram stood up.

"Would you like me to walk with you back to your room?"

"What a gentleman, but no. I'm getting used to walking on my own...I'm not there yet, but I'm close. Thank you for your help. Your sister would be proud."

He opened the door for her, and she went through. Babs left with her mask back on, and with a great weight to her footsteps. But Abram knew she would get better, he recognized that same bravery that must have inspired his sister.

"Strong enough to lift others, and wise enough to know when you need to be lifted. I think there's proverb about such things. I ought to look it up."

Though he had a full day, it was not done. So the Silvered Fiend, accompanied by his little gryphon, closed up his office. He then headed to the command deck, and from there commanded a proud and bloodied crew to return home. There were cheers, sighs of relief, and general feeling of gratitude. Most grateful of all was Abram himself. Because like the husbands and mother's around him, he too had a family to return to, and people worth living for. 

So ends "The Fiend and The Dead", A Tale of Caminus and Yishu.