Gaia. (2)

The Marshals led the two men to and through the guard of honour, with every Marshal bowing ever so slightly as the two men walked past them. There was a platform that was directly below the opening into the ship, and when the group reached it, it slowly began to rise. Relovan looked down at the Marshals, security and policemen and women on the ground. His gaze was fixed more or less on the police, and after a few seconds, he set his bag down and saluted them in what looked like slow motion. The police all looked at their fellow Enforcer, and before they even knew what they were doing, they all reciprocated the salute.

"Surely, some of the cowards you chastised are down there, Lawman."

"No doubt."

"Yet you're still willing to salute them?"

"I was informed that there was one Enforcer – a young kid – who wanted to provide assistance during the whole incident. Apparently, he cried a hell of a lot when he heard my final update on the radio. This salute is for him, on the off chance that he's down there."

"Understood." Nura said as he faced and looked at the police on the ground.

The Adonian too saluted them, but with his trademark grin that kind of made it look like he wanted to eat them. The police officers all held their salutes, right up to the point that the platform deposited the Chief and Relovan into the SS Illusive. Relovan's salute suddenly dropped as he looked around. They had been immediately deposited into the passenger area of the Illusive, and it looked like the interior of a private aircraft of the highest quality.

"…Chief Nura."

"What is it, Lawman?"

"What is this? Why are we being flown like dignitaries?"

"…your guess is as good as mine." Nura answered as he too spent a few moments looking around.

"Please, this way." The Marshal that had first spoken to them said.

The two men simply followed the Marshal who led them to a round table with two seats that even appeared to have been placed there specifically for them. There was a massive seat, and a more regular sized one, and the setup wouldn't have been out of place in a high-class establishment meant for entertaining members belonging to the upper echelons of society. The rest of the Marshals teleported into the cabin, and they all moved to their designated posts within the cabin. The one who appeared to be in charge then approached Relovan.

"Excuse me Enforcer, would you like me to place your bag in a storage compartment? Unlike the Chief, you appear to be travelling light enough that I can place it somewhere in here."

"…sure, I don't see why not." Relovan distractedly responded.

He was still looking at the amenities within this lavish space. The Enforcer handed the bag over and just as he did, seatbelts popped out from the sides of the chairs, making themselves available.

"Gentlemen, we are about to take off and would recommend that you fasten the seatbelts until we are at least within the Void."

The pair required no further suggestion as they fastened their respective belts with alarming speed – especially Relovan. The Marshal simply returned to his own designated spot after putting Relovan's bag in a storage compartment. These designated spots were demarcated with glowing white circles which had a barcode and serial number placed on a plaque that had been placed on the floor. A slight rumble within the cabin suggested that the SS Illusive, which had been on and idling the entire time, was ready to take off. The Voidcraft rose up vertically and as it did, the landing gear retracted. Everything that was happening was being felt more than it was being heard, and Relovan found himself absolutely gobsmacked by the entire experience. A holographic monitor appeared in front of either man, and it showed both of them the view from multiple cameras that were on the outside of the Illusive.

"Opening Portal – please stand by." A robotic sounding voice announced.

Relovan watched as that slit from before opened up again, and the Void Storms that were raging within all looked like they were going to rip the SS Illusive to shreds.

"That looks crazy violent." Relovan remarked.

"It is." Nura replied. "But then, the more violent the storms within the Void, the shorter the route. These Top Tier vehicles are made to traverse the most violent parts of the Void like it's nothing, after all."

"…I'm just having flashbacks to the last time I was onboard a V-Fighter, Chief."

"Don't sweat it, Lawman! This will be nothing like that!"

Just as Nura said that, the Voidcraft flew directly into the Void Portal. The Illusive wasn't moving particularly quickly as it went in, and as the nose crossed the threshold and entered, the voice spoke again.

"Activating Void Shields."

The brightly coloured cloak covered the ship, which was just as well, as the Illusive was attacked by the combination of Void Storms. They all hit the SS Illusive at the same time, yet all that was felt within the cabin was a slight rumble. The ship started moving faster the further in to the Void it flew, and after a minute or two, the voice spoke again.

"Reaching optimal cruising speed and activating cloak. ETA to the Capital is seven Artrinomian Cycles."

"That's around five Earth hours." Nura clarified.

"Yes, I am aware, Chief." Relovan said as he looked at Nura. "That is bloody quick, though. Especially considering just how far the Coalition Capital really is."

"Agreed." Nura said with a grunt.

There was quiet in the SS Illusive for a while as both men got comfortable and visibly relaxed. The silence and relaxation were both broken by Relovan close to an hour into the trip as he looked at the Chief.

"Chief, I have a few questions."

"You do? Well, ask away, Lawman."

"First of all, on the day we met, right before things went to shit, you tossed my regulation combat armour off the Station as I was trying to put it on. I haven't been able to think of one logical reason as to why you would do that."

"To see what you were made of." Nura answered with a shrug.

"Excuse me?"

"Lawman, you were faffing with that stuff for so long, you were going to be left behind if somebody didn't do that. I mean really, would they have made any difference if you had managed to put the rest of that crap on?"

"Probably not, but protection is still protection!"

"Tell me Lawman…" Nura interrupted. "…how long have you had that problem? Being unable to wear armour, that is."

"What makes you think I'm unable to wear armour, Chief?"

"You wouldn't be the first person I've met who's had that problem, Lawman. Just answer the question, please."

"It's been a while…"

"Since the Death Squad days?"

Relovan shot Nura an extremely concerned glare, but it was waved away rather dismissively by the large Adonian hand.

"The Marshals are unable to repeat what is said by those they are escorting – it is law. Much like Custodians, they were beholden to the strangest laws. We are free to speak without having to worry about our words being leaked or recorded."

Relovan looked at Nura, and then at all of the Marshals with a suspicious look, but when he looked back at the Chief, he answered his question with a nod.

"At first it wasn't a major thing – I was only unable to equip small items of protection, but as time went on, it got worse and by the time I received my name, I was pretty much completely unable to equip armour."

"So you lost the ability to wear armour before you left the D.D.S?" Nura asked, sounding surprised.

"That's correct, Chief. I left, got a name, and then joined the force. But my being unable to equip armour doesn't mean you should throw it away at your leisure."

"It wouldn't have made a lick of difference, though." Nura dismissed again. "Lawman, are you familiar with Kang-Elani?"

"The God of Justice and Lawfulness, The Watcher, The Impartial, The Fair, The Judge. One of the 'Living Gods' who exist in a different dimension to the one we inhabit, yes?"

"That's correct. Do you pray to him?"

"I pray to no Deity, Chief Nura. I pray to no Deity, I put my faith in no Deity and I believe in no Deity – though I can understand how you made that connection, with me being such a firm follower of and believer in law and order, after all."

Nura took a few moments to process the information he had just received, with his eyes growing wide.

'…this means that the Lawman is one of them?!' Nura thought to himself before looking at Relovan.