Editing LotS/La Historia/La Huida de la Princesa Illaria/Child of Heaven

<font size="3">'''Child of Heaven'''</font><br/>
Hiciste lo que tenías que hacer.
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Intentas aferrarte a ese pensamiento mientras miras fijamente las desnudas paredes de tu celda, a la barrera de energía azul extendiéndose más allá de sus delgadas barras. Dan poco confort.
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Una y otra vez la escena se reproduce en tu mente. Sientes tu dedo gordo pulsando el botón rojo al extremo de la palanca de mandos, ves la nave Centuriana explotando - un estallido de brillante fuego contra el negro del vacío. El sonido de su destrucción, generado en tu implante aural, ruge en tus oídos como una acusación.
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Y aquí estás, en la cárcel del mismísimo centro de mando del Emperador de Sian. Cuando el crucero llegue a su destino, devolviéndote a tu planeta natal, te enfrentarás a un juicio. Los emisarios del Colectivo Centuriano hablarán en tu contra, solicitando tu ejecución.
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Te tumbas y cierras los ojos, sabiendo que nunca llegará el sueño, pero intentas engañarte que sí lo hará. Entonces tus ojos se abren de par en par, cuando el mundo tiembla. De un salto te pones en pie, y otro temblor retumba a través de tu celda. Algo va mal… ¿Una colisión? Llamas al guarda, pero nadie responde. Lo que esté ocurriendo, lo ha apartado de su puesto al final del corredor.
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Los minutos eternos se arrastran mientras esperan, agarrando las barras con los nudillos blancos. Entonces oyes gritos de terror y dolor en la distancia, puntuados por el inequívoco siseo de fuego láser. ¡Un ataque!
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Tu mente da vueltas. Ningún enemigo podría subir a bordo del Child of Heaven, pasando sus incontables líneas de defensa. Y no había ninguna alarma de emergencia. No tenía sentido… Pero los sonidos de combate continúan, ahora más fuertes. La nave está bajo ataque, y sólo un pensamiento llena tu mente: la Princesa Illaria… ¡está en peligro!
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Tiras de las barras de la celda, gritando de frustración. Luego quedas en silencio, cuando oyes pasos en el corredor. Alguien viene…<br/>
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<font size="3">'''Evasión'''</font><br/>
[[File:LotS_Quest_z1_a1_q1.jpg|none|Evasión]]
La barrera de energía azul ante tu celda parpadea hasta extinguirse. Sólo alguien con el código de autorización podría haberla desactivado… La esperanza se inflama dentro de ti. ¿Ha vuelto el guarda para dejarte salir?
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Entonces aparece ella más allá de las barras, su hermoso rostro surcado por la ansiedad.
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“¡Princesa!” exhalas.
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Sus ojos se iluminan cuando se encuentran con los tuyos.
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“¡Rápido, cógelo!” dice, apretando un rifle láser contra las barras. “No pude encontrar la llave. Dispara a las barras.”
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Un millón de preguntas saltan a tus labios. Pero coges el arma, girándola para poder meterla en la celda. Illaria se aparta, despejando tu línea de tiro.<br/>
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<font size="3">'''Enfrentándose al Enemigo'''</font><br/>
[[File:LotS_Quest_z1_a1_q2.jpg|none|Enfrentándose al Enemigo]]
Sales de la celda, empujando las barras dañadas a un lado.
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“¿Qué ha pasado? ¿Quién-”
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“Son los Centurianos,” replica. Ella ya va corredor abajo, con su pistola láser en la mano. Te hace un gesto para que la sigas, y aceleras para ir a su paso.
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“¿Cómo subieron a la nave?” preguntas.
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“No lo sé. Simplemente… aparecieron. Los sensores no los detectaron.”
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“Pero-”
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Quedas en silencio cuando os acercáis a las puertas que llevan al exterior de la prisión, al atrio. Ahora los sonidos del combate están cercanos. Las preguntas bailan en tu mente, intentando atravesar la confusión. Pero ahora no es el momento.
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Los soldados Centurianos están fuera, de espaldas a la prisión, mientras disparan a blancos fuera de tu campo de visión. Indicas a la Princesa que se quede atrás, pero ella ya está pegada a una de las puertas de la prisión, con su arma lista para atacar.  Asientes, y la sigues.<br/>
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<font size="3">'''Guardando a los Guardas'''</font><br/>
[[File:LotS_Quest_z1_a1_q3.jpg|none|Guardando a los Guardas]]
En el atrio un grupo de Guardas de Sian intercambian disparos con más soldados Centurianos. Les sobrepasan en número, y varios de ellos yacen muertos. Pero los supervivientes mantienen su puesto, continuando la lucha.
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“Tenemos que ayudarles,” dice la Princesa, moviéndose ya y disparando.
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Un grito se eleva de los guardas en cuanto ven a la Princesa entre ellos. Se lanzan al combate con renovado vigor, desesperados por protegerla. Haces lo mismo, disparando a los Centurianos que avanzan.<br/>
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<font size="3">'''Sacrifice'''</font><br/>
[[File:LotS_Quest_z1_a1_q4.jpg|none|Sacrifice]]
A ragged cheer goes up as the last Centurian falls. For a moment there’s calm, though the noise of distant weapons fire shows that you’re simply in the eye of the storm. All around your fragile bubble of safety, chaos still rages.
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You turn to Sergeant Tarik, the highest ranking guardsman there.
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“What’s our status?” you ask.
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He shakes his head, his expression grim.
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“The ship’s lost, captain. They’ve got the bridge.”
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“We have to take it back,” says Princess Illaria.
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“There’s too many of them, Highness,” replies the sergeant. “We need to get you to the nearest hangar. There’s still time to get you out.”
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“I won’t surrender the Child of Heaven,” she says.
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Sergeant Tarik turns to you, a look of appeal in his eyes. It’s mirrored on the faces of the other guards. None of them can bring himself to contradict the Princess of the Sian Empire, but you read the thought on all their minds.
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“We’ll all die for you, Highness,” you say, gesturing at the bodies of the fallen. “But don’t let us die in vain. If you escape the Centurians, these men and women will have fallen doing their duty.”
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She opens her mouth as if to make a retort, then closes it. You know her well enough to read the subtle emotions which play across her face, bespeaking the flow of her thoughts. Her sense of discipline, of duty to her empire, overrides her passion. She nods.
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“Form up around Her Highness and the captain,” says the sergeant. Then he adds, before you can protest, “If we get to the hangar, you’ll need to fly her out.”
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He’s right. You’re the only pilot there. In that moment you realize just how bitter it must be for Princess Illaria, knowing that others are dying so you may live.
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Together you round the corner and charge along the atrium, towards the hangar at the far end. Centurian soldiers stand at the entrance, and their crimson lasers rip into your formation as you run. Sergeant Tarik collapses beside you, dead before he can even cry out. You fire towards the soldiers, hoping you can pick them off before they can cut you all down.
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<font size="3">'''Commander Rautha'''</font><br/>
[[File:LotS_Quest_Boss_z1_a1.jpg|none|Commander Rautha]]
Somehow you survive the barrage of lasers, and pour into the hangar. The entrance platform is covered with corpses, both Centurian and Sian. They fought hard for control of the hangar, the Centurians to prevent their prey from escaping, the Sian Guardsmen so that their people might reach safety.
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Standing amongst the dead is a man wearing a Centurian commander’s uniform. A malicious grin crosses his face as he sees Princess Illaria approach.
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“Nice try, Princess. But you’re not getting off this ship. Not till General Rahn’s cruiser comes for you.”
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Almost as soon as the words are out of his mouth, you, the Princess, and the remaining guardsmen open fire. Laser beams fly at him, but each one stops a few inches in front of his body – the air shimmering as it makes contact with an invisible field.
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He’s not carrying a pack… there’s nothing on him big enough to be a shield generator…
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The commander laughs at your confusion. Then he makes a sudden, predatory movement, grabbing hold of the nearest Sian Guardsman and yanking him over by his arm. You dart towards them, but before you can intervene there’s a sickening snap, and the guardsman is hurled aside – his neck broken.
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“Who’s next?” asks the commander.
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...............
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The commander staggers back against the railing, gasping for breath, and falls to one knee. The arrogant smile is gone, his face now twisted in hatred.
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“I don’t have time for this,” he rasps. “If Rahn wants the bitch, he can gather up the pieces!”
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With a quick movement he snatches a grenade from a fallen Centurian soldier’s belt. As he stands back up, the lights on its surface flash, a blinking red to herald the destruction that will come. But before he can throw it, you’re on him. One of your hands clasps his, pressing his fingers down, preventing him from dropping the grenade. Your other arm comes round in an arc, your elbow smashing him in the mouth. He splutters as his teeth fly down his throat. Then he topples over the railing, disappearing from sight. A second later there’s an explosion from down below the platform.
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“They’re coming!” yells one of the guardsmen from behind you.
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As if to punctuate his words, you hear weapons fire from outside the hangar. A few of the guardsmen head out into the atrium, one of them yelling over his shoulder:
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“Go! We’ll hold them!”
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You descend to the floor of the hangar, and make for one of the long-range fighter ships. You bark out a command word, and the canopy opens as the ship’s computer recognizes your voice. You boost the Princess into the cockpit, and clamber up after her – the guardsmen aiding you from below. You reach back down to help them up in turn. Then the canopy descends, and the ship’s engine roars to life.
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The fighter moves forward, turning towards the energy barrier separating you from the darkness of space. To your right Centurian soldiers rush onto the hangar’s entrance platform, having at last fought their way through the guards who remained to stall them. They open fire as the ship rises, their crimson lasers flashing out towards you. But their small arms fire has little effect, and a moment later you’re through the energy barrier.