The Empress Can't Communicate: Chapter 9

Impulse Purchase Part 1

Now Eon wasn't a stranger to impulse buy, having to deal with his childhood friend's quirkiness. Heck, Iyanna made far more reckless decisions (one which led to him and Iyanna having to serve as minstrels in a market, but that was a tale for another time.). He was used to it, but doesn't mean he can't be frustrated about it.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed, "Ok, this is not the end of the world." It's not like they were in a hurry. They'd get there eventually, but making the journey on foot? He'd sooner take one of those disgusting animals from the market than walk all the way there.

The distance they had to cover was simply too vast and the terrain too unforgiving. They needed a ride, not some expensive paperweight. Pacing around, he muttered, "We could probably steal those camels away." It'd be trivial even, that is if he could get Rem to stop working on the yacht.

Waist deep inside the guts of the craft, she answered, "I'm nearly done." With a grunt, she pulled herself out the side hatch, all covered in oil and engine fluids. "I just need a few more parts."

"You really want this, don't you?" He muttered. He really wasn't sure what Rem saw in this piece of junk to make him haul this all the way to the city's scrapyard.

Shaking his head, he watched as one of the kids ran over to give her a towel and refill for her water skin. After taking a drink and giving the kid a pat on the head, she turned and smiled at him, "She'll take us there."

Growling, he turned away as his cheeks heated up at the way sweat and grime covered her form. "Damn it Eon, you've seen sexier outfits from Iyanna, but why the hell are you getting horny from seeing Rem in work clothes?" She was just wearing a sweaty cotton top and overalls, but he was already getting hot under the collar.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed, "Fine." There was no way he's going to change her mind on this anyways and it's not like she hadn't made some progress.

Gone was the ugly beat up yacht. In its place was a sleek, gilded craft ready to take on the skies. With its hull buffed and repainted and its wooden deck remade using Wraithbones he crafted for her, she was a marvel to behold. "But she still can't fly."

The science of humans during their height and her prowess had their limits. Heck, even he couldn't fix this. A missing part was just that, a missing part. They can't fix something that wasn't there in the first place and he doubted they could find the parts inside the city.

"If they could, the merchants who sold this would have long since done so already," He mumbled to himself, annoyed at

They can't fix something that wasn't there in the first place and he doubted they could find a part in the city that would fix her up. If they could, the merchants that sold this would have long since done so.

"Looks like we're stuck here for a while," He grumbled as he plopped himself down on a rusty engine block before letting out a sigh. She was lucky that he was in a good mood. Glaring at the woman as she wiped the sweat off her brow, he scowled. "Stupid sexy gearhead…"

As he was grumbling and muttering to himself, the pink haired menace, Nicole, suddenly popped up by his side before shouting excitedly, "Does that mean big brother's going to stay?!"

That brought a smile to his face. At least someone's excited about having them over. Ruffling the young trouble maker's fluffy hair, he answered, "Maybe for a few weeks, so don't get too attached kids." This earned him a chorus of disappointed groans.

Frowning, Nicole paused for a moment before she asked, "Would big brother stay if he marries the matron?"

"No…/No!" He immediately shut that thought down, and much to his surprise, Rem as well. Raising a brow at the woman, he wondered what was that all about. Her cold, menacing stare, however, killed what questions he had.

Bravely, he turned away as he gave the kids a pat on the head. "As beautiful as your matron is, she's not my type of girl," He answered, earning Rem's sole and unbridled attention.

"Oh?" Rem hummed in question as she reached towards a nearby pile before tearing out an engine block of her own to sit down on, "Do tell." Someone was getting a bit jealous was she?

With his cheeks rosy, he smirked back before replying, "I like my girl a bit willful, and a lot more mature." This had the girl scowling, making him laugh out loud. She was all too easy to tease. "But that's not a dealbreaker," He winked, making the girl pause, "cause I do find girls who are a bit childish, cute."

At the chorus of hoots and whistles, Rem's cheeks took on a pinkish hue. "I will bite you," She bit back, but her voice lacked a bit of heat. As much as he wanted to keep teasing though, best to let her be for now. He'd rather not test her patience.

"Kidding aside," He hummed, changing the topic, "We do still have a problem on our hands." And what a troublesome problem it was. "What the hell are we going to do now?" He asked, gesturing at the half finished craft.

It might have a new coat of paint and its inside were all fixed up, but it lacked the most essential element; The power plant. "And no I am not powering that and neither should you," He said, earning him a frown from the woman. Just because either of them could, should they should.

Getting tied down as a battery was not an appealing aspect. Then there was their little admirer. "You and I both know that thing's going to keep one of us tied down, and I'd rather not have to use one man down when she strikes again," He argued.

Maybe if he had his collar removed, he could power it without problem, but that would open up a whole new can of worms. "I'd probably light up like a damn Christmas tree," He grumbled as he tugged at his collar.

"Speaking of our mysterious adversary," He hummed as he turned towards the east, right towards where Rem claimed Inquest was headquarters right now. "How long till we expect another one from her?" he asked. The first attack was bad already. He really did not want another one especially with the kids around. They're too cute for that.

"I've suppressed my aura," She answered before Eon felt a small tap at his collar, "She won't find us unless both of us make ourselves known." True to his words, the light around her was a lot less radiant.

"That's good," He nodded as he sighed out a sigh of relief. That's one less thing to worry about. "But my point still stands." Their ride was still a few parts short before she'd ever take to the skies once more.

"I'll find a way," She reassured him as that ever so confident smile grazed her face. He knew that she had something planned up, but he was still unconvinced.

"Unless you find a way to magic up…" He replied before pausing as he examined the craft and felt its complex innards. "What does this thing run on anyways?" He asked, curious about the gaping hole left in the core.

Reaching down, Rem pulled up dust and weaved to shape, earning her gasp of wonder from the kids. "A Time Crystal Battery," She explained as the dust collapsed to a cylinder, housing an undulating crystal inside, "Ones made by Samsung specifically."

This had his brow rising. "The Appliance Company?" He blinked, partly surprised that the Korean cheobol survived for that long and partly not considering their all encompassing nature. It did make sense though. "So does that mean you can make one then, right?"

"Nope," She answered without missing a beat, making his face fall.

"What do you mean can't?" He asked, surprised that she of all people would have difficulty making them. She was the master of mankind. "You made an entire lab under a mountain, but you can't make a battery?!" She only had boxes of scraps to work with building everything so what's the problem?

"They kept their manufacturing methods a trade secret," She shrugged and everything started making sense much to his frustration.

"Gods be damned proprietary tech," He groaned as he covered his face, cursing its very existence. Of course they'd do something like this. "This is why you make sure parts are easy to find and anyone can repair your shit or you'd end up with shit like this."

Yes, it's also a thing in Aeldari society given how trade secrets work, but anyone could just work with a master to learn it. Hell, anyone had free reign to learn it themselves, but humanity's proprietary tech seemed intent on hoarding knowledge and making it as hard as possible to recreate; Something which even confounded humanity's greatest.

"How are we going to get this thing flying then?" He asked as he gazed up at the yacht. Even after they're long, mega corporations managed to find ways to fuck people over. "I doubt there's a Samsung factory out there." Given their track record, the AI they were using probably joined the Men of Iron uprising.

"I know someone who can help us," The Empress answered casually, making him pause to look back to find her sporting that same smug, enigmatic smile she had when she had something troublesome in mind. "Nicole?"

Wait, she can't be serious right? Following her gaze, he raised his brow as they landed upon the excitedly vibrating form of the Pinkette sitting by his side. "Are you guys looking for a Samsung," She blurted out, "Because I know where one of its nests is!"

This gave him pause as he took a moment to digest her words. "A nest?" He asked, mildly confused at her choice of words. "Not a factory?" Could she just be talking about the hollowed out husk of old factories? They were a common sight in the wasteland.

"Nope," Nicole shook her head and insisted, "I'm pretty sure it's a nest and it's where the best scrap came from!" Smiling conspiratorically, she offered, "If you come with us now, maybe we could show how to get there safely."

"It's just outside the walls," She claimed, piqueing his interest. If that was true then they could get out of here by the end of the day. All it would take was just a quick incursion, but that was if that was true. There was just a hint of a lie behind her eyes, like she's hiding something and he thought he knew what it was.

Snorting, he reached out and gave the girl a pat on the head. "Ok look, I know you guys want to explore out there, but it's dangerous." There's a reason why their guardian got angry with the pinkette back in the brothel. "You got bandits, raiders and monsters ready to eat you."

The world was just a bit too dangerous and he hadn't even talked about the rogue AI that might still be wandering around in the waste. "But don't you worry," He smiled as he ruffled the pouting pinkette's hair, "Once we get this thing sorted out, I'll let you come explore with me a bit before we go away, ok?"

"But I really know where the nest is!" She insisted as she rummaged through her pockets, before she pulled out a familiar block of metal and glass, one that he recognized instantly, "See?"

Slowly, he reached out to the offered scrap before inspecting it. "Well would you look at that," He blinked, amazed at seeing such ancient technology out in the waste. It looked almost brand new even, neither sporting much scratches or even a crack upon its flat screen.

"Now do you believe me?" Nicoled huffed as she crossed her arms across chest. "I told you I know a place where you can find the Samsung and they have a whole forest filled with scrap just like that!"

Now this changes things. "Rem," He called out as he turned to his companion before he asked, "How likely is it that this factory has what we're looking for?"

Smiling wider, she nodded, "Very likely." Eon almost wanted to just kiss her smug face, almost. At least not in front of the kids.

"Well kid, you got my attention," He said to the pinkette before gesture at the walls. "Think you can show us to this nest you've been talking about?" Hopefully, there was no hard feelings for doubting her.

Unfortunately, the girls smirk told otherwise. "Oh I would love to big brother, but isn't it dangerous to go outside?" She replied sweetly, making him bite his tongue. He was going to play this game, wasn't he and Rem wasn't too enthused to help as she leaned on the hull of her yatch.

"You're on your own, buddy," He could almost hear from her gaze as she flashed him a playful smirk. Truly, the Empress was a spiteful bitch.

"You're lucky I don't want to walk all the way there," He glared back at the smug Master of Mankind before turning to Nicole with an appeasing smile. Time for him to play a part he was all too familiar with, placating a child.

The first step was to address the issue. "Now, now, I was just trying to warn you about the outside." Some might say it's a sign of weakness, but for him it was an invaluable tool. It establishes that he can accept his mistake and in turn, change his mind.

"I'm sure we can work something out with your guardian," He added. He did remember the matron saying something about an overseer, but it shouldn't be a problem with him and Rem around. It couldn't be that right?

Already, he could see the gears turning inside her head; something which he didn't need his foresight for. "Let me think about it," Nicole hummed, tapping her chin before she flashed him an innocent grin, "Nope!" This was followed by a chorus of giggles, but he merely smiled back.

This was just the opening shots of the negotiations after all. "But didn't you say you wanted to explore," He reminded her, throwing the ball at her court.

Nicole, however, was a seasoned veteran, one whose skill was honed from her time on the streets as well as the lovely matron. She wasn't going to be swayed by something so simple and with a smile befitting of a master, she replied. "Oh I would, but it seems that we've forgotten where it is."

Like all who bargain, she had a price and she wasn't shy about asking for it as she extended her hands to him. "Perhaps I need something to jog my memory…"

"I'm sure we can work something out," he replied, navigating the perilous path before him. Promise too much and she'd milk him for all he's worth, promise too little and she'd play even harder. She wasn't making it easy, he had to give her that, but he hadn't bargained with Iyanna all these years for nothing. "Perhaps something like this would suffice?"

With a flourish, he pulled out a shard of wraith bone before gently wrapping them around her wrist, earning him a gasp of delight from the young girl. "I could make a bracelet, a ring or even a crown if you wish," He smiled, watching as she bit her lips and gazed at the trinket.

Her resolve was cracking, he could feel it. "It is pretty…" She whispered entranced, something that her siblings had to shook her out,

"Stick to the plan!" One of them his, making her jolt. With barely hid reluctance, she pulled the bracelet off as she schooled her feature.

"While that is nice," She replied as she inspected the intricate weaves of the bracelet born from countless practice, "We do want something more valuable,"

"Oh?" He asked, feigning intrigued, "And what might that be?" Would she want gold or would she insist that he stayed, the latter of which he might have difficulty giving. He really did not want to get more attached to these little scamps than he was already.

And as he gazed at her, he'd find himself quite a surprise. "We want chocolates!" She exclaimed, "Lots and lots of chocolate!"

For a second, he stood there frozen at her demand, before he started laughing much to the girl's chagrin. He just couldn't help it? "Chocolate?" He asked incredulously as he wiped the tears from his eyes, "Of all things you could have asked, you wanted chocolates?"

"What's so funny?" She pouted as she glared hard at him, "Don't you know how hard it is to find chocolate!?" Oh he was well aware of its value, especially with what little that remains in this wasteland. There were only so few still left out there.

But it was not due to how simple her request was that really got to him. "No, it's just adorable," He answered as he rested his chin on the palm of his hands, "But if it's chocolate you want~" He had just the thing, all things to a brat back in the mountains of Anatolia.

Reaching inside his pocket, he pulled out a couple of these precious treats daintily wrapped in foil, making the pack of kids gasp out in wonder. Preserved for all time thanks to the delicate bubble of stasis, they will neither rot nor change in taste.

They were as they were the moment they were packed all those years ago and to think humanity would use it for something so mundane, but that's part of their charm. "Is this what you want?" He asked, dangling the treat before them.

"Gimme!" She squealed with barely held delight as she took the offered sweet and tore into it with gusto. "It's melting in my mouth!" She moaned as she unwrapped another one, making the other bristle at her greed.

"No fair!" One of them shouted as the group descended on Nicole, making her let out a yelp of surprise and outrage. "You were supposed to share it!" Her sibling shouted, but she was not having any of it.

Using her size to her advantage, she pushed and shoved, fending off the tiny horde from her right fully claimed prize. "No, it's mine!" She shouted, but that it only made her siblings fight all the harder to steal them away from her.

"Now now, settle down," He chuckled as he broke up the fight by holding them aloft the air with his mind, "There's more of that where that came from, so why don't everyone calm down?"

Not everyone was convinced but as they tumbled in the air, with a few tapping out as they held their mouths, they eventually gave in. Setting down after, he gave them each their own treat, making sure everyone had their fair share while keeping others from taking more.

"Big brother's the best!" They cheered as Eon nodded, content at the sight. Kids were a handful he admits, but just seeing them happy brought a smile to his face.

As he got up to give them some time to enjoy themselves, he noticed Rem's gaze on him. Turning, he smiled back at her and asked, "What?" It wasn't like bribing kids was that bad. It's the easiest way to get them to work after all!

Snorting, the empress brushed her hair aside as she commented, "Cute." He opened his mouth to argue before pausing. It really was, wasn't it?

"Hey, can you blame a guy for trying to make a bunch of kids smile?" He chuckled as he glanced back at the kids who were already plotting on fleecing him for more chocolates, but not like he needed it. "It's better this way."

"I suppose not," The Empress smiled fondly, "It's a precious thing we must cherish."

"It really is," He whispered as he felt his cheeks heat up at that precious smile on her face. She really was cuter this way, huh? Shaking his head, he turned towards the towering walls. "Who knows? Maybe we'd find something else in the Nest these kids are talking about," He mused.

"Agreed," The empress nodded as she got up, probably to prepare for the eventual trip. Even if it was just a short one, they can't be too safe.

As he got up, he noted, "Something's bugging me though." It wasn't something that important. "Why do these kids insist on calling it a nest?" He asked. It was strange, sure, but it shouldn't be too bad. Worst case scenario, it was just a rogue AI they'd have to dispatch, right?

-x-x-x-

Standing amidst a forest of jagged motels, he gazed in horror at the sight before him. "Oh…" He whispered as his eyes followed the undulating form of the mechanical monstrosity flying over the jagged walls of a smoke belching fortress, "So that's why they call it a nest." Maybe he should have asked more as this was just ridiculous.

They weren't merely facing a rogue AI, but an active hive one which churned out horrors up into the sky by the thousands. "Shhh," She warned him as she pulled him behind cover as the giant monstrosity turned its gaze at them. "The Samsung will hear you!"

Joining Rem and the kids, he cursed under his breath as the monstrous automaton glided towards them. "SCANNING," It boomed as the baleful red glare of its gaze passed over the trees, missing thanks to the thick canopy overhead, "NO THREAT DETECTED. RESUMING SENTRY MODE."

That was close. "We should have a few minutes to move," Their guide sighed out in relief as she slipped out of cover and headed deeper in the forest, "The Samsung usually gets busy making weapons to throw at the city."

True to her words, the fortress heaved and belched out fire, heralding a wave of horrors heading towards the city. No wonder the matron wanted her children to have nothing to do with this place. Not only was there an active war machine, one bristling with crude missiles and turrets, flying overheard, but the fortress itself was alive and active.

This was not worth it, he thought to himself as he turned to the kids. "Before we go," He excused himself as he gazed at an equally concerned Rem, "Do you mind if you kids give us a few minutes? We just need to talk about something.

Nicole would look at them in confusion before shrugging. "Sure? But we don't have all day!" She reminded them as she went ahead with the kids, giving them some privacy.

He waited a few more minutes, sensing the world around them before he let out a shuddering sight. "Rem," He breathed out with a wry chuckle as he leaned against the tree before sliding down on the ground, "That a Man of Iron."

"It is," Rem nodded without complaint as both of them stared at the fortress.

"And I'll be honest with you," He admitted with a grimace, "I don't like my chances with that thing." Yes, he was afraid for good reason. "What the hell did you make these things anyways?" He asked, glaring at the fortress as the smoke grew black while the dull roar of industry filled the forest, "And what did you feed them?"

"To fend off your people," She answered, reminding him of his people's favorite pastime once the fall began, "And make toasters."

"Right," He sighed, cursing his brethren before staring at the cloud of horrors it was building up once more. In an hour's time, it'll have enough of them to attack. "But kidding aside, I don't think we can kill them."

"Agreed," She nodded without argument.

"That's a full blown Men of Iron with a factory-" He replied, only to pause as he realized what she had just said, "Did you just agree with me?" Was she of all people agreeing with him? Didn't she want to go there to collect a battery?

"Yes" She answered, "It has a factory." Grimacing, she added, "I did not know it had a factory." That explains things.

"Fair enough," He nodded, respecting her for admitting her limits. That thing probably made enough stuff to overwhelm either of them. Speaking of thing. "How the hell did it even manage to survive," He asked, "Didn't you guys wipe them out."

He was pretty sure there were still some rogue ones out there, but seeing things one out and about, causing trouble, even if what it made was crude, was a surprise. Shouldn't the loud ones be dead by now? "This one hid," Rem answered, pointing at the mound next to it.

"God damn it…" He cursed as he stared at the nest before he hummed, considering it. "But we do need this battery." It'd be suicided for one of them, but there were two of them around. "Do you think I have a chance to sneak in there?" He asked as he weighed the risk.

Frowning, the Empress closed his eyes before nodding, "You could." That was all he needed to hear from her as he got up.

"Good enough," He grinned as he rolled his shoulders and limbered up, "Cause I'm about to do something very stupid." This was going to hurt a lot, wasn't it? "Go take the kids," He ordered as he slowly walked towards the fortress.

Ignoring the concerned shouts of the kids before they turned to outrage as Rem grabbed them. They could protest all they want later. Right now, he had bigger fish to fry and what a better way to catch it by making a hook.

"Hey asshole!" He shouted as he broke off a shard of wraithbone before holding it close to his lips and breathing life into it.

Slowly it grew, stretching and weaving into itself as the great warmachine turned to him. "COMMENCING SCAN," It boomed, but he knew well it already had him on lock. This was merely psychological warfare, one this creature was well versed as it bristled and glowed with power, "THREAT DETECTED."

Unfortunately for them, he wasn't exactly their usual prey. He was their hunt and he had his spear, one woven just for them, aimed right at their beady red eyes, "Eat this!"

With one fluid motion, he shifted, twisting his hips and throwing everything he had into the throw, sending the deadly weapon whistling into the air as it trailed fire behind it. The machine would barely even move before the barbed tip slammed straight into its eyes, shattering it as fire and smoke engulfed the machine.

"Heh, that was eas-" He chuckled before his eyes widen as the cloud parted and a beam of light washed over him, sending him flying through the air.

He'd crash through several trees, carving out a path in the forest and and a trench on the ground, before he'd came to a stop. "Heh, that actually stings," He let out a pained chuckle as he glared at it. The damn thing was still in one piece, albiet missing half its head.

What's worse was the cloud of smaller horrors stirred, converging to his position. "You want to dance?" He grinned, glaring at the nest it stirred awake once more, sending out plumes of fire in answer, "Ok you big hunking pile of scrap metal, let's dance,"

Without warning the gathered cloud rained down, each sleek like arrows and their bellies ladden with explosives. Each one would be enough to tear through even armored targets, but they would not meet their mark as he sang.

At his cry, the bones strapped to his body flew out, spreading, breaking and tearing as they met the deadly cloud, rocking the very ground with the blinding ball of fire they made together. Still, that was not enough as the mighty dragon tore through, opening its mouth as it spewed out exotic beams of light.

Space froze and time twisted at the passing of the beam, but his foot was swifter. Together, they sang their deadly dirge. Their horrid screams and roar, meeting his tune as the dust of wraith bones in the air grew and formed, tearing through them.

This, however, would be not enough to destroy them. With one more cry, it heaved before breathing out its last, bringing forth living fire that sought to burn all. He couldn't dodge, not when the fire could poison the earth. Standing before the blaze, he sang louder, pulling what little dust he coud call to shield the forest.

Fire and Bone meet and the two clashed, one ever consuming while the othe every growing. Something had to give, but it wasn't either as the half wrecked form of the warmachine crashed into him. "Gotcha."

With his hands clenching, the shards of bone collapsed upon the monstrosity, crushing it like the jagged jaws of a monster as it filled died, sending dust flying everywhere. It was over, or so he thought.

As he was bent down panting, he coughed, grimacing as it came out with silvery speckled blood. "Damn thing doesn't play fair, does it?" He chuckled as he grabbed at his collar while more of flying monstrosities, each as big as the one he formed slipped out of the fortress.

Did he have to actually let loose? His answer would came as golden fire washed over him, purging the silver plague that was tearing at his inside. "Took you long enough!" He laughed as the empress strode forward, burning sword clutched in her hand, "What took you so long"

"Called for backup," The empress shrugged. She was without her armor or any of her finery, but her fire alone (as dim as they were) billowing over her ragged clothes was still a sight for sore eyes.

"Well that backup better be worth it cause this thing's getting angry," He snorted as he gestured at the fortress. Already, he could feel ancient machinery waking. The battle had just started and now they had to face its full wrath.

"You know the plan right?" He asked as he whistled, calling upon dust to make a sword of his own. She can't be the only one having fun.

Grinning back, she answered, "Take out the core, I'll distract it." With a cry from the machine, the battle was joined as the battle between ancient beings and warmachines started in earnest.

A/N:

Sorry it took so long. Don't worry! My adjust to my job is doing well. It's actually fixed my sleep schedule back to morning and I'm extra motivated to write. I'll try to get Rogue Trader running soon, but I do have the dialogue for the next chapter of Empress so who knows.