maskormenace | ( audio o6 )

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[ He does not know how long he's been gone. Nor an idea of where he has been. That is the worst part. That he could be taken and have nothing at all to account for it, no memories, no idea of what or where or why. Between one moment and the next, time has passed and Athos has too many unanswered questions. The anger that this causes, along with the strain to keep it contained, is evident in his voice when he chooses to address the network. ]

The Russians, the people who were taken, what happened to them?

[ He has to get back to De Chima, to make sure both d'Artagnan and Lucy are safe. But he is in Heropa somewhere and he does not want to waste time. If they are not safe then he will do whatever he can to find them again.

He has a cache of weaponry somewhere. He made sure to hide something in each of the Porter cities. So that is where he is heading first. ]

Is the fight still going?

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[ He would know that sound anywhere. D'Artagnan is on the line so fast.

There's a fair lot of metallic clashing in the background, by the way. Athos will probably recognise it as swordplay. ]

Athos.

[ He's about equal parts relief and fury. ]

They're fine, they're home. You've been gone for weeks, where in God's name are you?!

Heropa.

[ The tension drops from his voice as suddenly as it arrived. D'Artagnan is alive. If he had not been here to protect him and something happened --.

Well, both the soviets and the Americans would be made to be afraid. ] I came to only moments ago. [ But weeks. ] I remember nothing, only that we were to war and then the rest is missing. What happened?

The military called for aid. There were three missions. I was part of one that captured that dread machine of theirs, and shortly after, the rescuers found them. They were underwater, not in space.

[ The sound of swords is fading. Traffic can be heard instead, as d'Artagnan makes his way rapidly to the porter. ]

It's not over. Shepard found a message that threatened something about the tenth of the month, but that was yesterday, and nothing happened.

Is Porthos with you?

Underwater. [ He already sounds like he's 100% done with this place. But no, he is glad to see it again, if only because his friend is here and wherever d'Artagnan is, Athos will be too. ] Of course. That is exactly the kind of place a prison could be.

[ And then his voice is slightly more troubled. ] Porthos? No. It is just I. He has not returned then?

At least it was somewhere on Earth. Imagine fighting a war in space, Athos. I don't think we're ready for that.

[ By comparison, a submarine in Antarctica had almost seemed sensible. ]

He hasn't. I hoped you would be together. You left within hours of each other.

[ Which he's still mad about, for your information. ]

Did you go home?

How was it even breached?

[ Athos is moving still, the sound of Heropa filtering through the phone. He makes an irritated noise just after the sound of a horn. Cars. The Russians can have those, at least. ]

No. At least, if I did, then I do not recall.

It was on board a ship, a particular kind built for that sort of thing. From what I understand, they commandeered other vessels and forced it to surface. I wasn't there, though. You'd be better asking someone who was.

[ There's a sudden silence, while d'Artagnan ports, and then all of a sudden he's in Heropa. God, it's so much warmer here. Wiping his brow, he presses on. ]

That happened to me once. I know the feeling.

Where are you exactly?

I've just passed the statue of that strange mouselike creature.

[ It's relatively near the Porter, actually. ] The Doctor informs me that no retaliation has been made as of yet. Is that true? [ D'Artagnan is more of the kind of person he trusts when it comes to warfare. ] What did they do? Merely bring those who had been taken back?

Yes, for now.

[ His tone is judgmental, of course. D'Artagnan had followed his orders. That doesn't mean he has to like them. ]

These people aren't ready for war, Athos. They're afraid, and not ready to engage in open battle. Unfortunately, that means they're allowing the Russians to dictate what happens next, and I don't think that's good for any of us.

[ There's a pause, then, because of course, he sees a familiar hat and cloak ahead of him. Smiling, d'Artagnan repockets his phone and goes to take hold of his friend's elbow. ]

You're a sight for sore eyes.

[ He is a little puzzled when the call disconnects, but then there is a hand at his elbow and a familiar voice to greet him and the world is put to rights again. ]

D'Artagnan.

[ In his words there is the usual mix of fondness that his young friend is rewarded with, but now there is relief there too, of the strongest kind. Athos is quick to embrace him, a hand going to grip his shoulder. ]

I am glad to see you.

[ And then, because he's Athos. ] Especially in one piece. I never know what might befall you when left to your own devices.

[ D'Artagnan pulls him into a tight embrace, immediate and eager. He looks so relieved, an expression that doesn't falter even when Athos aims sass his way. ]

It's as though you think I'm ill-equipped for war. Isn't it my turn to worry about you?

[ Automatically, he falls into step beside his friend. ]

There was a part of me that feared you would not return at all. It would have been kinder if I'd wished for that, I know.

No, I think you are well too equipped. That's what concerns me. [ But there is a small smile curling up the corners of his mouth as he says so. ]

Kinder, perhaps. But I would have been the same way. I am glad to be back at your side. Lucy says she went to Paris, has she been regaling you with tales too? She seems pleased by it. [ They're heading back towards the Porter and back towards where they consider home. It is a strange feeling, this kind of relief, and yet he feels it anyway. ]

She did. She was with one of the diplomatic teams, trying to drum up allies. I would have gone with her if the call to arms hadn’t come in.

That, and…I don’t know if I want to see.

[ The changes, he means. The modern Paris would look nothing like his home, and d’Artagnan fears it would be more upsetting than placating. He doesn’t know if he’s ready for that, even now. ]

I don’t know how successful they were. So far, it remains to be seen. No other country has announced they’ll stand with us, at least not officially. Not even France.

[ Athos makes a humming sound at d'Artagnan's original comment. He can understand that fear. To return to the place they love and see it changed would be upsetting. And so he doesn't comment on it, but reassures him. ] Seemingly she had a good time. Though I might need quite a bit of wine before she tells me of it.

[ To think that France would allow something like this to happen and not send aid is also discomforting. ] Perhaps they do not see it as their fight. It is only America that has Porter technology. They might think we can handle it by ourselves.

Yes, well that’s the other piece of bad news.

[ D’Artagnan lifts his eyebrows. ]

The Americans were the only ones with porter technology. It’s clear now that the Russians were building one of their own. It didn’t work like the porter that brought us here, but more like the ones that take us between cities.

It’s what I helped retrieve from them. With any luck, that will set their programme back.

We still have the advantage then.

[ Unless they have more.

Or the technology to make more. He does not know. He has never understood. ] I am glad you were there to help. [ Athos should have been. Why he hadn't still baffled him. ]

I'm glad I was, too. Now we both are.

[ Because it's not over. D'Artagnan doesn't believe it for a minute, and honestly, he's glad to have Athos at his side again before the real fighting starts. ]

It's only a question of how long we have to wait.

If the Americans do not seem to be making a move, Russia will do so.

[ He imagines it will be soon. That is what warfare is like. ]

That’s what I’ve said.

[ He sounds so relieved that, for once, this isn’t an argument. ]

The people here seem to be struggling to believe that, honestly.

[ Athos makes a noise. ]

Most are not soldiers. They do not know that a threat like this never sleeps. Either because they have never seen it happen, or because they have forgotten.

Or because they wish to leave their heads in the sand, where they've buried them.

[ D'Artagnan is not so forgiving. The truth is right in front of these people. It's criminal for them to avoid noticing it. ]

We are not strangers to that either.

[ How many people have they run into who are content to continue to live as they have done, despite the impending danger? ]

There is a reason wicked men rise to power, d'Artagnan. That is surely one of them.

I know that you’re right. I shouldn’t be surprised.

[ But he had been. He had expected people here to know better, when the war had been spoken of so often. ]

They will have to face it sooner than they think. It’s only a matter of time.

[ Athos had thought that too, but perhaps war did not have the same resonance to the people as it did to them.

Still, he sighs, and lets his shoulder brush his friend's, pauldron to pauldron. ] I'm sure it is. But we cannot focus simply on the bad. We would find ourselves quite insane. We are alive, and we have a chance. It is good to remember that.

[ D’Artagnan pauses, and then closes his hand on Athos’ shoulder. ]

I’m glad to have you back, my friend. These have been long and angry days without you.

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desequilibre - 2016-03-07 20:57 (UTC) - Expand

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