We had finally reached the now familiar Last City, it's size is still impressive. As we head in for landing the familiar structure of the hangar does bring me nostalgia of our last trip. Our little, 'encounter' that we had does bring a smile on my face. Upon landing our ships each one of us exits, I see Ikora talking to two figures, from what I can remember, one of the is Saint-14 and the other is Osiris, two Vanguard officials. The bird hoodie wearing Osiris has his sights set on me, not looking away from me. I don't remember seeing him in the tower last time I was here. They seem to finish their talk and Ikora and Osiris walk towards me.

Ikora: We can proceed Faklis. This is..

Faklis: Osiris, I know who he is and who he was.

Osiris: Do I sense mockery in your tone?

Faklis: I know more about you than you would think and yes, I know what you were and how you lost it. Tell me how does it feel?

Osiris: You better watch your tone, you are in our territory now.

Faklis: And why should I, you are now nothing more than the lowest of the low in strength. 

Ikora: Break it up you two. Let us meet commander Zavala.

We start walking out the hangar, I can feel the spite in Osiris's gaze and I savor it. As we walk out into the courtyard I immediately am greeted by daggers for stares, many I recognize and many I don't. The horned one seems to be talking to the blue headed one which is Zavala and once they see me their gaze turns from warm to cold and hate filled. We approach the two, no word is spoken for a moment.

Ikora: Hello Zavala, I have brought with me a special guest.

Zavala: What is he doing here? 

Ikora: I thought maybe we could have a little chat with him about some things.

Shaxx: I don't think speaking with him is valuable, he is nothing more than a slave to a traitor.

Faklis: I never wanted to visit too, but Ikora wished for me to come and my queen had a chat with her and gave me an order to go with Ikora. 

Shaxx: Like I said, a slave. 

Zavala: Someone as hostile as you is not welcome here. 

Faklis: I can show you hostile if you want. You of all people should know that you are nothing now. Your mortality is catching up to you, isn't it.

I see they become rather defensive. Zavala's age is showing, having become a mortal the natural order is slowly creeping up on him. Ikora steps in, she doesn't seem to like where this is going. 

Ikora: Oh grow up all of you. 

She starts talking but my mind wanders to the large ship docked not too far from where we stand. It is damaged, that is clear. I wonder what is going on. At that moment a young Eliksni comes walking towards us, freezing up upon seeing me. 

Ikora: Oh, Eido, what can we do for you?

Eido? She seems scared of me, but rather interesting. 

Eido: I would like to speak with Eramis again. 

Faklis: Eramis? That old wench, she is still alive. Hahaha, I would too like to speak to her. 

Ikora: Of course not Faklis. Eido, feel free to talk to her whenever you want. Find out as much as you can from her about ancient medicine. 

Faklis: Young one, for what reason do you need ancient recipes?

Eido: It is not of importance to you. 

I couldn't help but chuckle at her response. The ferocity, the defiance, so cute, so feeble. I walk closer to her and in return she becomes more tense, she sees something in me, something in my eyes that terrifies her. 

Faklis: Ikora, if we were to work with you, we better be updated on everything that is going on. For what reason does she need ancient recipes? I will find one way or another. 

Ikora let's out a sigh.

Ikora: Mithrax is being slowly killed by a curse and she is trying to find a cure. 

I burst out in maniacal laughter, everyone in the close proximity looking at me like I have lost my mind. It takes me a moment to calm myself. Such a stupid thing, to use old remedies to cure a curse. What a stupid but valiant effort.

Faklis: I wish to see him. I doubt that the two meatheads wish to speak to me right now and I am so intrigued to see a Kell dying by his own decision making. Little one, will you show me to Kell Mithraxx.

Eido looks at Ikora, not knowing what to do. Eventually Ikora gives her a nod of approval and in return, from Eido, I get a nod. We leave the large meatheads and head over to the area where their people have set up shop. Stalls that sell Eliksni wares, tech and such things, that might have use. We walk into a building, a large distillery of all sort of concoctions and then, there he is. Standing, connected to a Servitor that is delaying the effect of this curse. He doesn't look all that well and I can't help but let out a laugh. 

Faklis: Oh how the mighty have fallen? 

Mithrax: Who is this Ikora?

Ikroa: Mithrax, this is Faklis, a envoy of a Awoken 'queen'. Faklis, this is...

Faklis: I know Ikora. I know who he is, I have heard and read stories of him. Tell me, are the supposed relics responsible for this?

Mithrax falls silent and that is all I needed to hear, or not hear.

Faklis: That is what you and all those that use such unpredictable powers deserve. You let them use you, not the other way around, use powers that have a facade of greatness but underneath they are another story entirely. 

He doesn't speak.

Faklis: Has the cat gotten your tongue?! Speak! You are supposed to be a Kell, your duty is not abandoned and your image is not ruined even in sickness! Pathetic. 

Eido: Hey! You can't talk to him like that! Who do you think you are to talk to him like that?

Faklis: A nobody and that is what he actually needs. He needs to understand just how stupid he is and was. All that sweet talk won't get you anywhere. 

Eido: He is still a Kell, you should treat him better.

Faklis: Oh you foolish thing. I was a Kell too, until our stupid people didn't throw me out. Child, don't meddle in situations that you are ill-informed. Now, let me take a good look at you, Mithrax.

I grab him roughly and lift up his arms, Eido and Ikora gasp at the rougness that I display. I did do that on purpose, I could have been gentle but what is the point. The curse is doing quite a lot on his health and wellbeing. Playing with dark powers is never a good idea, most of those that handled those relics died or had succumbed to the evil. There is nothing that can be done, the body is going for the grave deep under the soil. I release him, letting out a sigh. 

Ikora: What is the situation Faklis? 

Faklis: Not good that is for sure. I could ask Akeskriks if she could do anything. Maybe we can start working on making a body for him. 

Eido: What? Like an Exo one?

Ikora: Like Atraks.

Faklis: Exactly, it can be done. His mind seems to be in a good shape, the problem is the body. That is the thing that had become corrupted. Because, even if you do cure him, he will be weak. 

Eido: Do you think it could be done?

Faklis: Maybe, but I would wish to speak with Eramis too. Akeskriks is talented that is for sure, but I might need blueprints or something similar to help us out. 

Ikora: You can go with Eido, I have something that just showed that needs to be dealt with. 

Faklis: Alright. Eido, lead the way. Mithrax, it seems that there might still be hope for you, more time for you to reflect on your pathetic means of acquiring power.  

I follow after Eido into a large building. Many cells sit around us, in them all sorts of different prisoners and at the very end she is held. A entirely isolated, well guarded cell. Her form can be seen inside, sitting on the bed. Looking pathetic, but upon seeing Eido Eramis seems to liven up. She doesn't even acknowledge my presences, the way she speaks to Eido, there is something there. A spark. I clear my throat to announce once more that I do exist. 

Eido: Eramis, this is Faklis. A 'guest' that came in with Ikora.

Eramis: Faklis, I have heard of that name somewhere, at some point in my life. What do you want here? 

Faklis: I wish to talk to you. Nothing more, nothing less.

Eramis looks at Eido, receiving a nod back Eramis takes a seat down on her bed. 

Faklis: I am interested in one called Atraks. How were they created and do you still have the documents that could show us how she came to be?

Eramis: Why would you want that?

Faklis: For personal reasons, my people would benefit from that kind of knowledge. 

Eramis: And who are your people? Who do they follow? 

Faklis: My people, my queens people are many. We have Psions, Cabal, Eliksni, Awoken and even a Guardian. We do not follow any power that is not ours. They follow my philosophy of power that purely comes from ones own creation. I neither serve the Darkness nor the cursed machine named the Traveler. I despise both equally. 

Eramis burst out laughing.

Eramis: Such a valiant philosophy that will surely lead you somewhere. Faklis, you are a fool, your people won't be unified for long. I can assure you. 

She starts blabbering, my mind goes numb, all that I can see is her mouthpiece move up and down. I do pick up a name, Fikrul, the Scorn baron, but that is all that she mentioned about him. I will have to do more research on this Fikrul. 

Faklis: But do you have the means to be able to make an Exo Eliksni body? 

Eramis: It is useless, the Deep Stone Crypt is in shambles and there is no use of it anymore. 

Faklis: JUST TELL ME DO YOU HAVE IT?! Is that so much to ask. 

Eramis: We do, but it is useless without the DSC. 

Faklis: I want you to try and gather them, by any means necessary.

For the next hour or se we spend talking, well more Eido and Eramis, I feel like a third wheel. They discus old recipes and talk about the everyday mundane things. At some point I simply leave and head back to the Tower, retracing my steps. Once there I head over to the blue head, Zavala to talk to him one on one, without the other intervening. We discuss the future plans, on our possible alliance. He proposed a couple things, some do seem tempting but others are simply outrageous and benefit only one side. Throughout the conversation I can see the mortality catching up to him. He finds it more and more difficult to stand, having to lean against the railing to take the pressure of his knees. It is sad to watch something like this happen, a man once looked up at and revered and now, having lost the Light slowly succumbing to the tooth of time, to his natural order. Ikora joins us soon and we discuss a couple things with her, the talks are long, longer than usual but eventually we do decide to end them. I am told to relay the details and to report to them back later on. I gladly head over to the hangar where my ship sits, calling out to me, to leave his cursed place and so I do. Flying off, I hate spending time there, but this voyage did have some useful thing and byproducts. If I can my hands on the Exo blueprints we might be able to recreate it in our laboratory, with a lot of modifications of course, but it could be possible.