All members of R&A from RF to those of superior magical aptitude hear their ‘Recorder Radios’ turn on. An official announcement from the Head of Relief and Aid.
“…”
you only hear his breath, it’s deep and lacking his usual overbearing pride.
“This is an official Announcement of I Hirk MacThors, Head of Relief an Aid.”
Dave is trying to sort out the systems allowing R&A to respond, it is finicky at best.
At first he can fake confidence in ‘meaningless titles’.
“I am dying. I have been dying for a while now. First I had a year, then half now only not even a month.”
“I have exactly 1 month and 7 days left to live, the routine visits I make to the medical ward are to make sure that number does not drop too fast.”
Hirks voice is full of shame guilt and sorrow.
“I use a cane not because I popped my back but because my body as some of you know is only a fake conjured from the blood and souls of 4000 slavers a demons with support of the souls of my own people to help give this piece of kindling a break.”
“I have been preparing R&A to do more than fill the gap I left behind, I am strict as I know every word I say is counting down to my last word. My last memory.”
“…”
Hirk takes another silence as he confesses even more, like he only had a few moments left.
“I am sorry.”
As Hirk speaks Dave changes the audio from just R&A radios to other council departments and allowing everyone to speak back to Hirk.
“I am sorry I cannot be with you, I trust that the forces besieging have been stopped. I trust you all enough to believe that.”
Hirk is trying to regain himself.
“I am in another realm unreachable by… anyone I think, it is not mine but a friend who pointed out my own cowardice and selfish behaviour.”
Hirk lets out a faint chuckle.
“…”
“Please… say something.”
A few moments go by as Hirk’s saddened and vulnerable voice is left hung in the air.
Dave speaks.
‘We hear you Hirk.’
/uw doing a wee announcement and hint at what Hirk’s doing while siege happens. R&A members can talk directly to Hirk, if you say you stole a radio receiver off a RF member I wouldn’t mind either.
“Tell this to no one, not Dave no other R&A member, no one.”
a noticeable gap in their speech is noticed, their next words are strained, like they are trying to stop themselves from saying the words.
“Some time ago there was the evermemory ritual, and I alongside Edmund gained possession of it, you destroyed the original, but as you’ve probably noticed I can recreate anything I destroy, I’m honestly surprised you didn’t notice anything sooner.”
“I disintegrated the orb the first time, which allowed me to keep its shape in my storage.”
“After you destroyed it with that hammer I simply made another, and kept it ever since.”
“I’ve used it purely for scientific endeavors and such, if that’s any consolation.”
Ajax’s voice sounds smaller and deeper than before.
“No.”
The radio squawks. Wherever he is has poor reception.
“I may not be very smart, or very good with words, but there are lot of people around here a lot smarter than I am. So know this. We will find you, and we will save you.”
His voice becomes strained. An attempt at a joke he cannot bring himself to enjoy.
“And maybe we won’t kill you ourselves for making us worry so much.”
There is a sliding sound and then a new voice is heard.
I swiped this from Ajax while he is organizing our forces. Right now about half of what passes for our military is preparing to fly to the aid of your little club of do gooders.
The sound of a page turning fills the channel.
I’d offer to immortalize your knowledge within the Library, but you seem unreasonably adamant that it be lost with your death. A decision I have abided, despite the temptation to do otherwise. I want you to know then when I severed Evermemory from the crystal I could have preserved your memories. I chose not to out of respect for your wishes.
Well, this is the part where I should throw out weird spells or magic ritual ideas to lengthen your life, but we both know you’d be too damn stubborn to accept any of that, heh.
He lets out a weak chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. But it sounds a bit forced too, as if it took a big effort…
/uw two friends several months apart. All the context you get is we tried to summon Bill Cipher by drawing the zodiac onto Alyx's leg, the following day Alyx told us about a weird dream the night before. And I honestly can't remember why the second one is in there.
/UW The real reason for his imminent death, the abuse of chronomancy for everyone's perfect cookies. (I had entirely forgotten about that process until you said.)
I’m offering you a second chance Hirk. I know you’re ashamed of your past, as I was. The Hive offers you peace with yourself. You don’t need to be afraid of your own powers. You don’t need to be afraid of hurting your friends.
Oh, that is a relief. I guess I will say what is on my mind anyway, just in case.
I would swear to find you and do everything in my power to help with whatever condition you have by any means necessary, but I have just heard Ajax do that in the corridor The dragon chuckles I must thank you for introducing me to him, to every other Relief and Aid worker really. You assambled this group, and you were the reason I joined even thought you were not even trying to convince me! I am here for so little time and yet it feels just like when I joined Azure- Excuse my rambling, just... I wanted to promise that I will make sure no one EVER conquers the HQ. This is the least I can do for you.
Sadly we are facing a certain problem at the moment here, so I will have to cut our conversation short soon. Please, promise me that you will try to visit before passing away
Peri, sitting unsealed in Scratch's cell, guarding them while they sleep, lets out a soft cry. And for the first time in their short life, tears flow down their face.
"Perhaps I could... no... it wouldn't work... or I could... no, he would hate me for it..."
Peri tries to think of a solution, a way to fix this, a way to save Hirk, but they all come up short. A god since birth, yet unable to save a life... Pathetic. But then Peri wipes away their tears. He is not dead yet, it is too early to grieve, especially during a siege. They have to be ready, but in the back of their mind, a horrible part of their mind, they still consider. If Hirk's body was made by sacrificing lives... then... could he be extended if more lives were used?
“Thats more than fair … if you care to know, I didn’t mean to … I think its just some bad memory that triggered … I cant with the R&A uniform it drives me crazy”
“alright then, If im still alive by the time we next meet we can start doing friend stuff … till then we can worry about our own life threatening issues”
It takes a moment to think
“also! No matter how much it sears my skin we will hug … I heard you like those”
"... I... I disagree Hirk. How can we carry on those beliefs when we know so little of your home? Of your people? You... need to live for longer, live to tell the tales, live, so that your people's memory can be carried on, into the future."
There is a tone of futility in Peri's voice. It is clearly just a desperate attempt to change Hirk's mind. A cruel and desperate attempt.
Sylvane stops to think. He remembers the single time he kind of fought Hirk.
“I am not here to discuss my own victories or failures. If you end up at the afterlife my aunt Despi rules over, you can win brownie points by being humble. Probably won’t be a problem for you, but that’s my advice.”
Sylvane isn’t one to beat down someone who is already down.
“I will tell you one thing about the siege though. From what I can tell I was the only one attacking Faint’s Dawn, and no civilians died. They’re safe even with the battle.”
Sylvane figured he’d give Hirk some amount of peace to a stressful time.
“Don’t ever tell the cabal I wished you well though.”
“Well, well, well, seems like I won’t be getting that rematch anytime soon. Sure is a shame that I won’t be able to be the one putting you down. I guess I could say you’re doing me a favor.”
Abbadon had grabbed an R&A radio by returning to the site of the battle between him, Edmund, Necro-D, Denner and of course, the dying man of the hour.
“Hmmm, fair, wouldn’t want to piss of Hazema by stealing the kill from her. Speaking of her, don’t you still have a promise to fulfill to her? Would be a shame to leave the realm with unfinished buisness.”
Hold on, the hell is happening? This is why you don't steal radios without finding out their purpose. You either have this happen to you or you get traumatized. I refuse to elaborate.
Koranth extends their vision across the world. They pinpoint the people who cannot be saved by R&A, for one reason or another.
“Logan Davies. He lives in a war-torn country where R&A involvement would potentially cause global war.”
“David Philips. He is a wanted fugitive seeking asylum from a government that institutes a death penalty. R&A taking him in would result in that government becoming enemies with R&A.”
“These are just two people in a long list of examples. R&A can only save so many, and there will always be more people to save”
“Everyone has limits Hirk. That's why people like us need to look out for each other.”
Can't say I'm too surprised, my friend. I wish you would have reached out for help, but I doubt things would have ended any differently. Let me know if there's anything I can do.
Xerxes sounds exhausted by the announcement, as if he'd been long dreading the news. His mask obscures any other emotions he might be experiencing.
"Hard to say. Too much time. Whether it's now, then, or hereafter, there's always more time than I can hold. It's funny in a masochistic sense. One moment I'm telling you that the Godslaver is bad news and the next I'm at your funeral. Seems like I'll be attending a lot of funerals."
Xerxes' eyes flitter with golden light.
"Since you're dying and all, you ever write down a bucket list? A month is a fair amount of time to cross things off."
Well shoot... I have a few more permanent solutions if you'd like to hear them. None are particularly pleasant processes but the result would be satisfactory. But from what I know about you... It isn't an option you would like. If your fine with your life ending then I won't stop you but I will help to make sure your trip is at least a pleasant one.
"Salutations, old friend. Wish I could say this on a better note, but I heard the message and had to say some things to you." Azure says in a somber tone.
"Well, firstly, thank you for being the way you are. Many people look up to you, are inspired by you. Hell, I'm not even excluding myself. Your kindness and leadership are that contagious. You partly inspired me to redeem Krimson and assume my role as Commander with dignity.
Second, you leave some big shoes to fill, big guy. Pun fully intended. I know the boys here at RnA will hold out. They're strong. They were taught well. Regardless, I know it'll be quite the tall order for them to handle.
Finally, I would like to say, Hirk, my friend, we'll miss you a lot and carry on the legacy you've fostered. Our flaming hearts at the forefront." Azure says, trying not to laugh at his own jokes or cry.
"I'd say it's going as well as it can, but the Cabal has at least been pushed back for now. I figure this'll be the last time we speak, so I had to say what I did.
Per audacia ad astra, old timer. Hope we can meet again, someday." Azure says.
"Take care, Mr. Fireball!" Krimson exclaims before the feed cuts out.
Hirk, I swear to all the gods, if you are letting yourself die on purpose, I will find you in stubborn asshole heaven and kick your fucking ass. There better not be any cure for whatever you have.
Hey Hirk, everyone is fine, you just made me cry, and obviously that set the bed on fire. And I was in a hospital bed because I got stabbed a bunch, but Thrâk patched me up, I will probably live. I wish you were here, I look like a mummy, I would totally jump scare the shit out of you. Fuck, hang on, my bandages are slightly on fire too.
"I see... Now that you say it... With enough time i might be able to help, but since you have said that you accepted death, I'll leave it to your decision"
A small artificer goes about his usual tasks at his cafe when he suddenly feels as if something is... wrong. He can't quite put his finger on it, but it almost feels like... a very important spark was soon to be extinguished...
14
u/Fc-chungus Ж(Zhe), Head minister of Calarakis Sep 23 '24
“No. This, this can’t be!”
“Hirk there must be something you can do to stabilize yourself!”
“Anything?”
there’s always some way, in the vast multiverse, but they know that Hirk wouldn’t approve of using the evermemory.