Rogues Revenge Ch 26 Pt 1 posted 24/2

[SteveMill]

The penultimate chapter - continued as always on the space ritual site, follow the sig.


Chapter 26: Retribution

The AI chip consumed minimal power and dissipated what waste heat it generated through passive cooling fins filigreed at the microscopic level to provide a large radiant surface area. Xela did not sweat yet she could feel a hot dampness slicking her forehead and a leaden reluctance to move with precision infect her swollen clumsy fingers as they fumbled through the circuits and relays.

Xela terminated the Interface, switching Control Metaphors seamlessly. The default sub-routine pre-dated the imprinting of Marteene’s cousin Hela onto the clean slate neural network and rested on a foundation constructed from the captured Xenon templates. It was a cool and efficient CM, its relentless logic untrammelled by feelings. Her frantic concern for Gragore’s safety faded behind a cold ice wall, which leached emotion from the facts like bright sunlight bleaches colours until the lack of contact with Force and Jackson became just a Prime Motivational Factor in the cascading neural chains driving the repair droid as it connected to the severely damaged internal comms network.

[Al]

Great stuff and, although somewhat expected, a bit sad.

Al

[SteveMill]

Great stuff and, although somewhat expected, a bit sad.

Al

And this time for real, no sleight of hand. Is it the last major character death though?

[Moss]

Is it the last major character death though?

With you Steve, how can one ever tell besides I can think of at least one that is still on the cards! Big mean ugly guy, anyone?

[KiwiNZ]

WOW!!!

This is one of the very best chapters you have written! I have seldom felt so tense with anticipation and anxiety while reading Rogue before. That is one amazing piece of writing!

A shame that this was the end of Xela. At the beginning I was thinking she was infesting herself in the station and due to this became a part of it. But I guess she did not.

I too was curious as to how would rescue Max and Jackson. Very good way of doing that. Also very descriptive and comprehensible how they feel in their recovery.

Well, I am looking forward to finding out how you finish it up. Hopefully Xela was able to transfer herself to something else, at least in parts.

[Mercenary]

Great stuff and, although somewhat expected, a bit sad.

Al

And this time for real, no sleight of hand. Is it the last major character death though?

Well we expect Law to die..

...but maybe that's not who you mean..

[SteveMill]

Great stuff and, although somewhat expected, a bit sad.

Al

And this time for real, no sleight of hand. Is it the last major character death though?

Well we expect Law to die..

...but maybe that's not who you mean..

No - I meant characters on the lighter shade of gray.

[KiwiNZ]

bump

[KiwiNZ]

[Sirilius]

Whoa this is excellent, great work. Can hardly wait for the next part:)

[THESPEEKER]

BUMP!