Apostles of Doom

Two loud bangs came from near the center of the ship. Further, it sounded like it was coming from above them. Diocate Temerlain blinked in shocked surprise.

“What the—” XO Stevensword exclaimed before being interrupted.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

XO Stevensword was closest to the door. He stood quickly, looking very concerned, and moved to exit. “It sounds like someone is banging on the main hatch!”

“Indeed!” Captain Cranshall agreed and stood as well. He waved at a small mirror mounted on the wall of the captain’s mess. “Bridge, what is going on?”

“We are unsure, sir,” Chief Sorcery Officer Halferth replied. “None of our sensing equipment detected an enemy presence, and we are not seeing anything on the main scanners. We need to check the porthole hear the main hatch.”

“On my way,” XO Stevensword snapped. Cranshall nodded and followed.

Barabus looked to Heron, who shrugged.

“Let us go see,” Heron said.

BANG!

BANG!

The dinner companions all began squeezing out from around the tight booth table in the mess to go see who their visitor was.

Barabus noted the knights going the opposite way, most likely to more fully arm themselves. He arrived in the onboarding room to see Stevensword on the metal ladder leading up to the hatch in the ceiling, peering through a porthole.

“Open up in there!” a loud voice yelled from outside.

“Who are you and what do you want, demon?” Stevensword yelled.

“You are an Oorstemothian vessel from Astlan, are you not?” the voice yelled. That caused a large commotion among those in the boarding room.

“How in the Abyss did he recognize our flag?” Wing Arms Master Heron muttered.

“We are. This is the Oorstemothian Extra-Dimensional Enforcement Vessel Inferno,” XO Stevensword replied.

“As I suspected! In that case, I claim sanctuary under Title 12, Rule 54, Clause 139 of the Oorstemothian Code of Chivalry!” the voice yelled back.

Barabus noticed that several people, most notably Captain Cranshall, Wing Arms Master Heron and the chancellor, all reacted in shock at this reply. The chancellor in particular was blinking rapidly.

“What law is that?” Heron hissed to the chancellor, apparently not wanting to be heard by the being banging on the hatch.

“I, uhm… ” Dante fumbled, clearly uncertain and trying to think. “I am not familiar with that one; it would have to be incredibly old.” The chancellor’s brow wrinkled. “The Oorstemothian Code of Chivalry dates back to the earliest days of Oorstemoth.” The Chancellor paused for a moment. “Back during the period of the Knights of High Justice.”

“Knights of High Justice?” Captain Cranshall whispered incredulously. “That would be something like fifteen hundred years ago, the reign of Ponchas the Second, perhaps the Third.”

BANG!

“Are you still in there? Open up! It has taken you miscreants long enough to come and rescue me! I want to get out of this damn set of armor!” the voice yelled.

Captain Cranshall called up to XO Stevensword, “What do you see out there? Do you say it is a demon?”

The executive officer made a shrugging motion. “He’s not at a good angle for the porthole. I simply assumed that, being in the Abyss, this person was a demon.”

“What can you see?” Heron demanded.

“Well, a person encased in a lot of metal. Golden or perhaps bronze metal. It appears quite formal, and of a very old style. Not seeing any wings or tail. He is moving around and I just get glimpses,” Stevensword said.

“Who are you?” Captain Cranshall called up.

Barabus noted that both the captain and the wing arms master seemed to be sweating profusely. As was he himself.

“What do you mean, who am I?” the voice sounded quite perturbed. “I am the person you came to rescue! Hello! Are you daft?”

Heron looked to Barabus, who shook his head. “That is not Talarius. The voice is wrong, as is the armor.”

Barabus noted that his three knights had returned with weapons drawn.

“Could you be more specific? We have come to treat with several issues of justice,” XO Stevens called back.

Barabus swore he heard a harrumphing noise, which would be quite remarkable given the thickness of the hull.

“I am Sir Samwell, First Knight of High Justice and Sworn Champion of the Keeper of Law, Ponchas the Third!” the voice yelled back with outraged dignity.

Stevensword looked to the captain. Chancellor Alighieri drew in a sharp breath, causing the others to glance at him.

“Now open this damn hatch before I have you all tried for high treason!” the voice thundered.

“Well, he does sound Oorstemothian,” Sir Lady Serah observed.

Barabus glanced back warningly at the knight; even though he agreed with her, this was probably not the best time for snide remarks.

Heron looked to the chancellor, who was leaning against the bulkhead and looking quite pale. “I take it you recognize the name?”