Amanda and I spent the morning going over her new Nomad council's plans for the remains of my outposts and New Lordaeron. She made it clear that while I would always have a place among them. If I wanted it I'd still have a say in how things would be run, it wasn't mine alone anymore. She seemed afraid of saying it out loud, but to be honest the idea didn't bother me much.

  I both enjoy and loath responsibility. The weight of other people on my back, while I had no chance of understanding myself and my situation, was a burden I was glad to be rid of. At least for now. I just hoped she understood that the summons would always place loyalty to me over the Nomads. Not that it would matter if I never pushed my position against them.

  "I'll help out if I can, and at some point soon I'll head out to New Lordaeron to meet these new people you've brought in. Pay me a fair share of profits from the sales of any exports I had a hand in, and we'll call it nova. From what I've gathered, your fellow Nomad Nations deserve a place to call home, and I have no desire to play at being some kind of leader to people I don't know, and more importantly, don't know me." Really I just didn't want the headaches of leadership at the moment.

  Mith leaned into my leg, once again in his small form. He knew this whole situation hurt me, but he also knew I wasn't just going to let it lie. Not forever. He might like Amanda and the Nomads, but he was bonded to me. Those thoughts sounded pretentious, to me. But Amanda had relaxed at my calm acceptance. I even got another hug, which I returned this time. Maybe this meeting had started out rocky, but at least Amanda and I were cool.

  What's a little threat or two between friends. You point a gun at me, I turn you inside out. It's all the same, right?

  Not so much for the originals of my former paramours. I could feel their disapproving stares. Though I was strangely comfortable with that outcome as well. I should've never gotten that involved with anyone I didn't know well in my situation. Especially not them.

  Mith rumbled, not quite vocalizing a growl at the two wenches. He felt my turbulent emotions, and knew who to blame. I rested my hand on his head and he stopped, knowing now was not the time for aggression. More trouble would come of their attitudes someday, but not yet. Perhaps, by the time they did fucked around, I'd in in a much better position, and they'd find out who I was now. All I had to remember, is to keep them alive by the end of it.

  "So what are you going to do now?" The Nomad leader asked.

  "I've cut deals with Rogue and the Mox, that'll let me figure my new abilities out. I'll get some paying gigs, and work on some quests. It will be some time before I can afford to ransom our friends back, unless I find a shortcut or two. Keep in touch?"

  "You know I will." Amanda smiled, and I returned it. We exchanged our new detes, while her people got mounted up and ready to leave. She quickly followed suit.

  I watched them drive off. My face smoothed over into a blank expression. Reflecting the cold I felt within. The feeling of not knowing what was next bore down on me. It wouldn't do to be lost, I needed to keep my thoughts in order.

  Reina came up to me. "Are you really going to let them take your lands My Lord?" I looked at her and she backed up a step. She knelt and mumbled an apology. The sight of her on her knees hurt bitterly. I couldn't stand my own people being afraid of me.

  Mith gave a soft whine. I gave him some ear scratches. "Sorry Reina, it's alright." I waved her to stand up. "In answer to your question, of course I will. For now. But someday, I'll build a better place for my people. And someday beyond that, this world will be ours."

  I stared up at the sky, it's dusty colored tint saddened me. I still longed to fix this broken place, but I was no longer in any sort of rush. Heeding the lessons that could be learned from trees, I would be as patient as an oak breaking through rock with its roots.

  "Let them have that place. I will indeed help them, and I want you all to get along with them. We don't need more enemies and need all the allies we can get. In the end little swaths of land won't matter. We'll own the very stars." I looked back at her, "But keep me informed of their actions."

  'They not bad, they help, we help.' Mith chimed in. I nodded at him, he saw right through all of this. He saw through me and my act.

  "As you wish, My Lord." She dipped her head to me. She pulled her agent out, and I tapped mine against hers, sharing our connection data.

  I patted her shoulder, "Be well and tell all of my people, to be patient. I will gather you up as soon as I am able." She returned to her home. The smile on her face meant she believed me. Hell, at the moment I believed me too.

  I spent a few minutes looking at the crops, and reached a decision, or more of a whim really. I caused a few plants to finish their growth cycles and harvested them for seed stock. Mith bounced around now that the tension had been released, he was swiftly back to his usual cheerful self. Orange corn, red beans, blue potatoes, and purple rice. I had a feeling I could grow them in my Hub. It would be a good idea to make myself as independent as I could. I was envisioning a food truck, for some reason. Grow a bunch of food in my Hub and then use it to run a food truck. A heavily armed and armored food truck, to be sure. Hmm. I liked the idea.

  I walked back to where I left the Chevillon, just letting my mind sort through things. Mith frolicked during the walk, investigating everything nearby. It was hard to stay serious when he was such a ball of playfulness. It was only his presence that kept me from becoming morose.

  The remnants of the Khalai buildings still bothered me greatly. I wondered what I would have do to have them returned to me. I missed the effect of the Psifield, there was a comfort in it. A joy in the connection it brought with it. I also missed Alina, not only for her information processing, but for her no nonsense view of existence. I missed Meadran's advice and the feeling of resting under his canopy. I missed joking with Raynor and John. I missed having Jaina to help with planning things out. They would be returned to me, no matter what I had to do.

  The ride back to MB 4 was uneventful. Though it was a hoot to see Mith with his head sticking out of the passenger side window. His tongue was flapping in the wind, and he was having a great time. It reminded me of the long rides I used take with Ruger back on my old Earth.

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  Life wasn't so bad right now, and I shouldn't let things I couldn't control upset me. I'd a way to figure out the subtilties of my power, I'd a Hub to explore and a crazy store of ridiculous proportions. I had allies to rescue. I had a clear set of goals and a purpose.

  Mith barked at some of the passing cars. Most importantly, at least to me, I had a dog.

  I was nearly back to MB 4 when Mith started barking at an alleyway. It was an angry sound, and he seemed eager to get to that darkened place to do battle. I decided to indulge him. I found a parking spot and slid the Emperor in between two other vehicles.

  "Mith be careful and don't charge in without me." I quickly cast Nature's Blessing for the first time since my return. It felt off somehow, but still gave an energized feeling. A quick check of my stats showed that it still provided an insane plus four to everything.

  'Okay, hurry, hurry or we miss it.' He bounced and darted a short distance ahead before falling back to my side. We rushed over to the gap that led deeper into the dark recesses. I could hear the sounds of a quiet struggle.

  Advancing with quick soft steps, I soon found a fascinating scene at the junction of a few other alleys. Two filthy and exhausted Kriegsmen were using their entrenching tools to slaughter a wave of those terrible things from the underground. Their lasrifles lay broken on the ground at their feet. A quick scan showed that the three other Guardsmen of their squad were down, whether dead or just wounded, I couldn't say yet. Dozens upon dozens of the bodies of the strange cyborg beasts covered every inch of the remaining ground. An opened manhole was clogged with even more bodies. Who knew how many were dead below the surface. The creatures' dark, almost black blood was splattered everywhere.

  I admit that I hesitated to get involved. To the servants of the Imperium, I would now look like some odd member of the space elves they'd told me about. What did they call them? Ah, that's right the Aeldari. I remember, that their general order for dealing with any Xenos was to shoot them in the head. Repeatedly. However, the Kriegers were still my responsibility.

  I looked down at Mith. He was tense and ready to charge, only holding back because I'd asked him to.

  I sighed, "Fuck it." and stepped into the junction with my pistol drawn, quickly shooting two of the odd cyborgs in their torsos. Mith charged the remaining creatures and quickly began to hamstring them. Ordinarily a dog that leapt so quickly to violence would trouble me, but I knew that Mith and his kind were very different from the standard dog. Two more shots from my Omaha X got me to the closest downed Guard. I knelt to see if I could save them. Good, they weren't dead, but had lots of blunt force trauma, cuts and scratches, and several bites, which are what caused enough blood loss to put the Kriegsmen down.

  By the time I finished getting him clear of immediate death, only a couple of the cyborg beasts remained. I stood to walk over to the next Guardsmen, who was thankfully also not dead, I quickly pulled him back from the brink. When I looked up one of the Kriegsmen was approaching me. The last of the cyborg things was down for the count. Mith walked between us, he didn't growl or threaten the Guard, but it was clear my friend wouldn't step aside. I walked to the last downed Imperial, this one had a few bullet wounds, but was clinging to life with the tenacity I would expect of these hardened troops. It was no trouble to get him back to right.

  That finished, I turned my attention to the two that'd been fighting. "Guardsmen, report." I figured, why not? Maybe whatever bullshit the Company had put together to maintain loyalty would still work. Luck was with me because it worked like a charm. The Kriegsmen snapped to reflexive attention. Their salute were crisp despite their wounds.

  "Watchmaster A-27 reporting," The one closest to me began, "Heavy Cybred resistance has been encountered in this area. Theta Squad's function is below proper minimum strength. Standing orders are to return to base." Cybred, as good a name as any for these twisted things.

  "Why are you on the surface?" I didn't say in violation of my orders, but I was thinking it. On the other hand, I couldn't see the Kriegsmen as the type to betray their Emperor.

  "Large movements of Cybred forces have been using the surface to get behind our front lines. We were on patrol to monitor their movements, and were forced to fight a running retreat to report our findings." I could read nothing of his expression, the cold dark glass of his gasmask kept his eyes protected from scrutiny. However I could tell he hated the idea of retreat, even if it was part of his orders.

  "Do you recognize me?" This was the critical moment.

  "Yes, Emperor!" There it was. They knew me regardless of any transformation. Good to know, I wouldn't be shot on sight.

  "Do you have... " What was it, oh right, "Vox communication with your base?" While I didn't want to know, I needed to know what was going on underground.

  "Yes, Emperor!" There was that weight again. The weight of lives settling on my shoulders.

  "Hold fast for healing." I stepped over to the Watchmaster and laid my hand on his shoulder, there was a twitch as if he was going to attack, but the Guardsman managed to hold back his conditioning. After a minute he trembled, I had no idea why. Heh. His treatment was coming along just fine, and I kept it slow to prevent any accidents. It was noticeably easier to patch him up.

  I moved to the last Guard, the Watchmaster nearly collapsed behind me. He quickly righted himself, when he saw me looking back at him. Hopefully, he'd attribute his reactions to religious reasons.

  Mith followed right beside me, more at ease now. I quickly set the last Kriegsmen to rights, and pondered what to do next. The others were beginning to stir. It was bad that the underground conflict was spilling onto the surface, but I probably shouldn't get too entangled in it. Though I did need to find a way to supply the Marshal as I'd promised. Just when I was starting to relax.

  "Send word to your Marshall, I have returned, and will see what I can do to aid your efforts. But first, come and rest. We'll get you setup with some weapons and food." IT might be a problem, but they were my people. However insane they might be.

  "Yes, My Lord!" Watchmaster A-27 barked flaring with faith. I felt my teeth grinding together a bit, yeah this was not a good development. Mith gave a soft whine. I gave him an ear scratch. I saw the attention of the Guardsmen focus on Mith.

  'Jealous.' He laughed in my mind. Maybe that was so, but jealous of who.

  We cleaned up the site as best we could, throwing bodies back into the sewers. Liberal use of Purify managed to make it appear that nothing had happened here. I went over the Kriegsmen with the same spell. "The Emperor Protects!" They responded as one. More like the Emperor cleans, but whatever.

  This was a bad idea, but I wasn't going to send them back into the fray without some iron to protect themselves with. Maybe I should just try to make sure they enjoyed our little outing.

  Yeah, we should definitely keep the Mox and Rogue out of this. The less they knew about the crazy things going on underground the better. So I spent the next couple of hours getting the Guardsmen some heavy duty guns and a crash course on their usage. It didn't take much to train them up. Say what you will about their doctrines, they were experts at mayhem whatever its form.

  A trip to a local burger joint, got them stuff with the questionable nutrients of Night City. They ate like starving wolves. I shook my head at their enjoyment of the food. Poor fools. What'd they been eating that they thought this scop was good?

  "I was thinking of taking you back with me, but my current allies should probably remain ignorant of your existence."

  "As you wish, Emperor."

  I dropped them off back where I found them. They assured me they could find their way back from here. I would meet them here in a week to get a Vox Communicator and give them whatever supplies I could cobble together. I didn't want to lose track of this conflict again. I didn't want the underground horrors to sneak up on us after all.

  With most of the day now gone, Mith and I finally made it back to the Apartment.