Out of the Blue

Epilouge and Author's Note

Iahn's head spun and his world vanished into disarray along with the blue haze of the Vortex. When he woke up he was face first in the dirt, he somehow managed to get to his feet. Saying the landing was rough was an understatement. He looked around and saw crowds of peasants freezing in the cold. That was when he noticed it was freezing and he shuddered. At least he knew he was somewhere cold which ruled out Tahiti. As soon as he stood up his arm broke out in spams and he realized he was still wounded.
His shoulder hurt like hell, and he was certain there were other cuts and bruises scattered around his body. Everything ached, but he knew he had to do something. He looked at his temptor; thank god it remained unscathed, except it was out of power. Fantastic. He had to find out where he was and how he could get power back to his temptor. He started walked through the dirt streets that were half hidden with snow, pushing through the crowd as he went.
He had no idea where he was, but he did know two things, he had no way to contact his team, and he had lost Tessa once again. Once he got power, he would have to resume his search. Well, if the Denbori had wiped out DC then that would be a slight problem. But if their only goal was to find Tessa he hoped they would do the job for him. He didn't like the idea of siding with a madman but Tessa was in danger and he had sworn to protect her long before he joined the Agency.
But there were some positive things that could come out of the genocide in DC. For one it could prove to everyone once and for all that the Agency was weak. He had been saying it this whole time but no one had listened. Maybe to them he would be a martyr to the cause, but he hoped that it would bring change to his home. He wanted the world to be better the next time he came back to it, even if he had to bring on the change himself.
Then the crowd dispersed a bit, and Iahn realized where he was at once. Before him, Iahn saw a great palace stretching out as far as the eye can see. It was a vast stretch of green and white walls, lined with gold, a great wall separated the common people from its doors. He recognized it as the Winter Palace, and despite everything he smiled. Iahn started running towards the gates. Then he remembered that there would be guards who expected some fool to do this so he would have to act in secret.
He wasn't sure how though, but he had to act fast. He had no idea how much time he would have left in this place. He had to see Cat though; if he was going to die he wanted to see her again. Before the Denbori changed him, he wanted to see her again just once. Iahn walked up to the palace gates and saw a Russian guard standing there. He started speaking in his mother tongue, and Iahn didn't need HAN to realize what he was saying. But a translation matrix could work both ways, and with the press of a button, HAN could make sure his point came across to the guard.
"My name is Iahn Epoch, and I must speak to the Empress" He told the guard in his language.
The guard laughed in his face, and went to close the door, oh if only he knew what happened to people who laughed at him. Iahn grabbed his dagger and slit the guard's throat. His partner appeared about to sound an alarm, but he finished him off. The gate opened now, and Iahn walked onto the courtyards of the Winter Palace. He got into the palace with ease, as the doors opened to him, they must have mistaken him for one of the other guards. He knew his way around the palace, and since most of it was asleep he arrived at Cat's chamber door with ease.
He knocked, and found no response, so he knocked again. He realized he must look like a mess, and wondered if Cat would even recognize him. The thought made his stomach churn with nervousness but for once he was happy. He had been so miserable ever since he left, he should have never left her side. The large door opened, with a creaking sound, and he could see Cat's head in the doorway. She was in her early thirties now, her hair was still dark as ever and she still looked so radiant, even in her night clothes. Her dark eyes blinked in astonishment as she saw him.
"Iahn!" she gasped, and for a moment he couldn't breathe because he was so happy to see her again. The fact that she recognized him told him that he'd beat the Neuroagents.
"Cat, I've missed you so much" Iahn told her.
"You told me, you would never come back. I swore I'd never see you again" Cat added, was it just him or did he notice a hint of nervousness in her tone. No he must have misheard; he was so weary right now he might collapse.
Cat must have seen something in his face, and opened the door some more for him. It clicked in his mind then, that she was wearing the necklace he had given her. It hadn't been much, just a bit of string and the canister that held Ehlorine core of his old temptor. It pulsed blue gleaming like a sapphire on her neck. Before all this, he had thought about staying here, he thought he could have a life with Cat but that didn't turn out the way he wanted it to be. The Agency robbed that from him like so many other things.
She took his hand, and led him into her chambers. The walls were white, lined with gold with a high vaulted ceiling; this place had been more beautiful than what he remembered. This was her chamber; there was a doorway that led into the bedroom on the other side. Everything was dark though so it was hard for him to see everything in detail. He somehow ended up on a couch, lying on his side with his good ear facing Cat. He could tell the rudimentary bandages had broken and he was sure he was bleeding all over the Cat's furniture.
"Don't worry, I will bring you a doctor" Cat said, still in Russian.
Iahn saw that instead of going to the door she went into her bedchambers. It surprised him, especially when she start speaking in rapid fire Russian. He was weak, but he told himself he could still stand, and he somehow managed to get to his feet again and walk into Cat's chamber. Inside thanks to the light of a few candles, he saw Cat with her back facing him. She was talking to man in his late thirties wearing nothing except his 18th century style underwear, which made him want to vomit. The man saw him first and pulled out a sword and advanced on him, pointing it at his neck. He'd seen worse though, even been through worse he could handle this hapless Russian. Iahn pulled out a pulser from his jacket and it landed on the Russian's chest. He collapsed in a heap a pitiful sight.
"You should have told me to expect guests, I would have brought a gift" Iahn remarked. "Oh and don't worry, the bastard's still breathing, that'll just knock him out so we can have a nice chat" he added.
"You left my starlight solider, and I have needs that must be satisfied. Now leave my palace before my guards force you out" Cat tried to explain
"Cat, I will not leave, do you have any idea how much I've suffered all because I lost you. I won't let that happen again" Iahn argued.
"I have an empire to rule Iahn, and I want no part of you or your suffering" Cat told him
Iahn couldn't believe that everything was spiraling out of his control. First he had lost his position, all because he fell in love, the next thing he knew his mentor died and he lost his position. Then he lost his sister, and even now he had no idea where she was, or even she was still alive. Now the same woman who had pledged her love to him was rejecting him for some gray haired bastard who would never care for her the same way.
His anger made his head spin even more to the point that it seemed like this wintery place was starting to burn in his mind. He deserved none of this pain, he needed none of it yet he was burdened with loads day after day like Atlas himself. He wanted to hurt someone, punish them he needed to let it out before he drove himself insane.
"You will regret this Catharine I swear, when you find your descendants in the depths of Hell you will weep. Because of you countless will die and their blood will stain your hands forever" He warned.
Iahn looked down and saw his temptor had regained its charge, just as he heard footsteps charging out the door. He saw no other option, and knew he would find no sanctuary in this place. He ran toward the window, and it shattered to pieces, but he didn't touch the ground. Instead the Vortex enveloped him once more.

Author's Note

Once again thanks to everyone who has supported me with writing this and reading. It has been a great experience and something I really enjoyed. A sequel for this story is in the works, but in the meantime I will be posting short stories and other things to keep everyone busy!