Questions for Explanations

Moe stared with disbelief. “It can’t be, I saw you die. The explosion….there was no way anyone could have survived.”

Ellifaine Frowned, “Most did not. Only I and one other made it out alive.”

“But how? We had set the explosives ourselves, you were supposed to be in the clear before I detonated, why did you divert from the mission?”

“There were complications. I was prepping the last semtec charge when I heard a whimper. There was a small child in the room with me.”

“But Intel told us it was only the target”

“Well intel was wrong or they just did not care. Either way the small boy was there. I deactivated my charge straight away and was making my way towards yours when you detonated.”

Moe shuddered, he had relived that moment a thousand times before.

“Had I known I would have never pressed that button.”

“I know, believe me I know, it was all my fault. I should have continued, but the child, there was something in his eyes. Anyway when your charge detonated the blast wave blew me and the child out of the upper window and onto the shrubberies. We were singed up pretty good but alive.”

“Why did you not find me sooner?”

“If Ergos knew what I had done, they would have killed the child and myself also. No I had to disappear. For both our sakes.”

Moe thought to himself. The reasoning made sense, but he could not help but feeling angry and hurt. All the years he had agonized over her death. Reliving it almost nightly in his nightmares, but she was here now very much alive.

“Where have you been? How did you find me?

“There is much to explain as to where I have been and I feel that there may be time for that later. But as to how I found you…well you have been under surveillance for some time now.”

“Surveillance, buy whom? You are not with Ergos are you?” Moe said his muscles tightening.

“No! No. Relax” Ellifaine said seeing his obvious reaction. “No I work for a very different organization now. One that has a main purpose of bring Ergos down called Echo Mirage. But there will be time for all that later. We have to get moving.”

“I can’t leave” Moe said frowning “There are complications”

“I know I heard the conversation between you and Zhu-Rong. Remember, you were under surveillance. Besides I brought you a present.”

She sheathed her vibroblade and in the same fluid motion swung a small satchel onto the counter, stirring up a rather large cloud of dust. Moe walked over and opened it. He fumbled through the contents picking out one item in particular, and stood up to his full height placing a large hand on the fragile looking elf’s shoulder.

“I think I like this plan.” Moe said smiling.