《Aegis》Chapter 77: Setting Sail
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You are somewhat familiar with how the Brass Scarab at the base of your throat affects your not entirely of this world body, but don't know how it would affect Yasha. So you decide to just ask her. After all, she should know what she is doing and how she does it considering that she has performed so well for so long.
On your way down to her quarters, you pass by Dasidas Mabis, formerly the Command Sergeant Major of the Davin 22nd, now your new Master at Arms for the Terra Incarnadine. He is leading the morning run for the new senior officers in full gear and pack. You step to one side of the corridor and he stops the run and salutes. You exchange brief pleasantries before allowing him to carry on. As his 'squad' heads off down the corridor, you catch a fragment of a sentience "You thought I was one step short of the Emperor? Well listen up then..."
You shake your head and continue on your way. He has been drinking with the Dagda Security Detail again, and they (and Morrigan) always have a few stories to tell. You are immensely satisfied with his performance so far. where Morrigan was limited by her own fears, and Elena by her limited command experience, Mabis has been there, done that, seen the worst a world can throw at him, and can still crack a joke about it. By the time the Terra Incarnadine is ready to head out, you will have the better part of a regiment at your disposal.
You arrive at Yasha's quarters to find her making yet another family genetic tree. "Still trying to find another person to carry on the house?"
"Yes. Hand me that grimoire on the works of Gregor? I think I may have found another branch of cousins, now I have to figure out if any of them could lay claim to House Saurlance."
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"You do remember that Morrigan is about six months pregnant?"
"She is? How wonderful!"
"Setting aside the fact that the child could possibly inherit the Saurlance Legacy, Morrigan is worried about, well, psychics."
"Oh, she needn't worry about that! If the child has the third eye at birth, it won't be active for quite a while, plenty of time to train in its use. If it doesn't, then it doesn't, and there won't be any problems."
You shake your head, "I think your missing something Yasha. You and Vir grew up as and amongst a community of sanctioned Navigators. Psychic powers were a part of your everyday life. Morrigan didn't. She's served on enough ships to not fear sanctioned psykers, but she is afraid of unsanctioned psychic power and the mutations that come with it."
"Ah, I begin to see. I should talk to her about these things then?"
"Talk to Vir first, Morrigan may have gone to cry on his shoulder at some point." You know damn well she has, but don't want to break Morrigan's confidence in you. "On the other hand, you've noticed the scarab tattoo at the base of my throat?"
"How could I miss it? And what does this have to do with Morrigan?"
You decide to tell a mostly-true truth. "It was a gift from Ariavari." You pull out the Brass Scarab in a handkerchief, careful to not let it touch your bare hand. "And she gave me two. When placed against bare skin, it will sink in. Touch the resulting tattoo and 'will stillness' at or into it, and it suppresses psychic energy in the implanted body. I think she intended for each of us to have one for some reason, but I'm not familiar with everything about it, so I thought I'd ask you. First if you could help me discover more about its function, and second if you wanted this one before I gave it to Morrigan."
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Yasha takes the handkerchief and Brass Scarab carefully. "I'd wondered how you dissipated the warp energy suffusing your body so quickly that day. The first and foremost question I have is whether it has an 'off' switch. Without one, it's of no use to me as it would block or suppress my ability to Navigate. Have you any ideas?"
"None, but I haven't thought about it too much."
"I have an idea: will not-stillness into the scarab. But it would be best to try it later, away from Kudo and the eyes of the Inquisition. Next time it is just the two of us, alone, we can try it. As for this one, I'll give it to Morrigan. I'll also talk to her and Vir about the Saurlance succession issues."
"That sounds like a good idea. Just, be careful ok?"
"I will."
A day later, Morrigan sends you a brief text-only communication, thanking you for sending the Brass Scarab her way.
Three Months Later...
Morrigan's firstborn is a healthy girl named Ethna Nic Vir Dannan, with the Navigator's eye in the middle of her forehead.
Within the week, several terse messages have flown back and forth between Matron Saurlance and Vir. After the first three messages, Yasha got involved as well. With the Terra Incarnadine still in dock, and the Aegis needing a new navigator, you decide to dispatch Zheeves to ferry Vir back to Viking to open negotiations, with Yasha to Navigate for them.
One Month Later...
House Saurlance is no more. The former Matron Saurlance would not negotiate in a reasonable manner and attempted to take Vir hostage, probably to use him as a breeder.
Zheeves responded by terminating all contacts between House Von Sebastion and House Saurlance, and blacklisting the Matron with the shipping guilds.
When the Matron tried to get Imperial Law Enforcement involved, accusing Zheeves of kidnapping Vir and Yasha., Zheeves was already two steps ahead of her.
He had triggered the clauses in the on Von Sebastion Charter needed to create a Navigator House, with Vir as its head and Yasha as its principle Navigator, already on contract to House Von Sebastion.
Vir named the new house as House Dannan.
Zheeves then sic'ed the Imperial Tax Collectors on the Matron over some discrepancies he had learned of, as well as Imperial Law Enforcement over filing false charges.
Yasha, Vir, and Zheeves came back to Dagda laughing in their drinks at the Matrons sudden and permanent downturn in fortunes.
This does leave the Aegis without a Navigator, but the final decisions about that ship are now up the Zheeves.
Two Months Later…
The day is approaching for the Terra Incarnadine to take to the stars once more. Jace is closing up the last work areas. Zheeves has a new Navigator for the Aegis. Both ships are fully crewed and ready.
Mu'randa has come through with a promising lead on an old ship graveyard to galactic north of Viking. if the rumors are true, you might be able to outfit the Terra Incarnadine with some good quality weapons, and perhaps cue up a semi-permanent, highly profitable salvaging operation. If the rumors are false, you could end up with wasted time and needless risk.
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