The Elfbone Extraction [M]

[Erik Vrell]

Erik passed through the gate next and looked around. There was futuristic technology everywhere he looked. He gazed around in amazement. He was overjoyed to see something like this, going as far as a tear coming to his eye. He quickly wiped it away with the sleeve of his cloaked and turned to see Axorn. He explained the situation to Erik and the psychic took a minute to mull it over. He hadn't taken up guard duty since he was a lower ranked member of his sect and was more powerful back then than he is now. He also didn't feel ready to fight against three, highly armoured and heavily armed criminals and wished he knew more about them. They had probably been in the omniverse longer than him or his companions so they were probably much more powerful. He was unsure of what could happen but decided that he would go along with it. "I wonder what power is contained within this artefact. It must be great for these three to want to steal it." Erik said to no one in particular. Erik looked around for a building that could be the museum, but there were no nearby buildings he thought resembled a museum, not that he had seen a modern museum before. Erik's grey horse tossed its head impatiently wanting to get moving again. "Just be patient," he whispered to it,"we have to wait for Triest before we leave." Erik suddenly remembered Triest and hoped that his friend would be happy with the guard job.

As they waited Erik thought about a plan of attack, should the situation demand it. The fight would be three vs three, but as Axorn, Triest and Erik were most likely weaker than the three they were meant to fight so they may need to have a more solid battle plan. Since Erik was the only of the trio without a ranged attack, he would have to participate in close combat with at least one of the thieves. His only saving grace is that despite their thick armour, his psi-blades could pierce through it. At this point Erik considered developing a ranged attack but didn't feel powerful enough to do so, like he could muster the energy to use one. 'I may as well accept this for what it is.' He thought, 'after all, Omni told me not to fear death so how bad could this go?.' He opted to talk tactics later when Triest passed through the portal.

Erik couldn't help but wonder about the informant who had talked to Axorn. If he could get the storm troopers if the trio's backs, then he obviously had influence within the empire but apparently had to stay hidden, which is why he didn't just send a small army after the renegades. He didn't give it much more thought, as it was the least of his concerns right now, although he would have felt safer with a regiment if soldiers at his back. He also wanted to know the interior design of the museum. He knew that it paid to know how to get in and how to get out, both when attacking and defending. Not that the three of them could cover every entrance anyway. Erik sighed and began to mentally prepare himself for the guard work. 'It shall go how it goes I suppose'. He thought. Even if the three newcomers were grossly outmatched, they would return to life anyway, although it left Erik wondering if there was some sort of penalty attached to dying. 'Let's hope we don't find out.' Erik thought.