[font=Lucida Console][color=#000000]It was time to leave. The Dragons have given my life a meaning, they have helped me when I needed them most. They have given me a home....but I need more. I feel empty as of late, I feel as if I need to accomplish something. The last weeks have been spent in solitude, isolated from my brothers, perhaps they even believe I betrayed them.....but no.
I have reached a decision, I...I must go. I must find my own way, seek wisdom away from this place. Hai, the decision has been made, but, I cannot go like this. I must go back to the Court, to make one final request to the honorable Taishogun. Hai, I will not leave without his blessing and my blade. I must return to where it all started...
[font=Lucida Console][color=#000000]The marvelous courtyard, the great hall of the Imperial Court, a sight for sore eyes. To come back, see my brethren again, it has healed many wounds. Although, they looked upon me in a strange, perhaps even curious way...they must have been surprised that I came back, I was gone for a long time after all.
I still think of them as my only family in my heart, but I must find my own way. Perhaps they will not understand now, but in time they will...
When I bowed before the Taishogun, old memories came back. His greatness as wise as ever, gave his blessing to me. I believe he understands my thirst for something else. Hai, he understands. He gave it to me....the seal...
He released me from his duty, but in heart, he will always remain my master, my leader. In my heart they are my family no matter what happens.
His greatness allowed me to take my Katana, my blade with me. May it lead me down the path of honor and may it give me wisdom. One day I will return, I will visit my family again, to tell them stories of my travels. Until then, fate shall guide my path...
[font=Lucida Console][color=#000000]I needed some additional equipment on my ship, so it was time to visit a Freelancer station that I heard about long ago. It was far away from my home, but perhaps these long journeys can bring some peace to my mind. It is not easy to fly alone, to fly without my brethren. They gave me comfort on long journeys, someone to talk to. But all that is in the past now...
The road to this station called "Barrier Gate" was filled with life, souls that are trying to find a place in the universe....much like me. Perhaps I can learn from them, gather experience, perhaps they have something to share. After flying for quite a while, I finally arrived at the system the base is located in, Coronado. It was filled with mystery, not like any of the systems I passed. Finding the station was hard, but after a while searching, I finally saw it hidden in the clouds, I was finally there....."Barrier Gate"
Upon landing I got my equipment, and I met a mercenary. I talked to him for a while, he seemed honorable, told me that there is some good money to be made as a mercenary. Perhaps that would be a way to cover my expenses. I undocked and started the long flight back to Kusari. There was enough time to think about what to do next....
Kusari is shattered. So much corruption, violence....no honor at all. Full of gaijins, foreign corporations just trying to make money, no matter what the cost. They do not think about the lives they ruin...
I am still being hunted there, even now the Naval Forces do not give me rest. They have not forgotten me it seems. Nor should they, even now I will make sure that they pay for their actions.
A difficult life that of a mercenary. Enemies all around, wherever I look. Everything is about money, hai. All the same they are, the other mercenaries. Few of them have honor...
I have watched them, the ones I've met fight bravely, they rarely give up, but for what? Money....everything is about money. I hope that I can learn from them, and not stray along the same path.
Time is passing slowly, and yet fast. A lonesome fate I have chosen, the shadow my only companion. But yet, perhaps in this loneliness I can find that what I seek....
The Shoguns have thought me, that one finds wisdom in the most oddest of places, sometimes in the most far away places, and yet, sometimes, it is right in front of you. I am having doubts.
Can I really find what I seek in this manner? To take lives away for money, is that really the right way? Have they deserved to die?.........They must have, yes, I believe so. I can see it in them, in the last minutes, when I am about to take their life, they seem to acknowledge what they have done, they embrace it, and then, they go with ease.
I barely get enough to survive, but is the money worth it? Is it really worth it to see their faces over and over again...I will not give up now, no matter what, I must press on. I cannot shame myself and my brothers with failure, I will not.
[color=#000000]Today I decided to visit some of the Tau systems, specifically Tau 23. The miners there have trouble often, so I thought I could make some money while offering protection to them. The area was rather deserted. Full of shadows, crowded with rocks, your mind can wander off when you fly through there. I heard about the mining locations in the system before, so I went there to see what is to be had. On my way there I passed the IMG base, Java station.
I heard that it usually vibrates with life around it, but sadly, that wasn't the case this time. I finally arrived at the mining sites, but sadly there was only one miner there, hai. And he wasn't very talkative.
He barely managed to mutter a few words out, and he just continued to shoot the rocks. Perhaps he was even scared of me. The lonely wastes of Tau 23 were enough for me, so I just decided to head towards Tau 37 and rest on Freeport 10. The system wasn't that much different then the previous one, but the Freeport was a sight for sore eyes.
I could finally get some rest, and clear my mind. Perhaps I can even find some job there, who knows what fate will bring.
[color=#000000]Upon resting at the Freeport, I found an employer, a Gaijin. He told me of a man in Bretonia that wronged him. The man seemed honest enough, and even so, I was running out of funds...
I got into my ship and set course. The flight was long and the systems which I passed strange. I have not seen some, well, most of them before. After a while I finally arrived at my destination and began searching for my target...
The system was nearly empty, and from what I have heard over the communications there was a hassle in the system nearby. It seemed that the authorities were busy handling some pirates. Even here, everything is the same. Pirates, murderers and thieves everywhere. After extensive searching I have finally found my target, to my regret, only his demolished ship. It seems that he had wronged others as well, not only my employer.
I started making my way back to Kusari, perhaps I will get payed for this information, even though I was not the one to end his life.
I was flying towards Freeport 10 again. I was there often, it was calm, eased my mind, it felt good. I found myself among the rocks in Tau 23 again. For some reason, while spending time there, my mind was at ease. It was lonely, quiet, nothing but myself and my blade. The very reasons for which I embarked on this journey in the first place.
I met one miner again, but he was quiet, much like the others he didn't say a word. They are growing tiresome. And then, there it was, Freeport 10. It always felt good to come back there, to see my room where I was staying. Perhaps I should even ask the Zoners to allow it to be my home....
I was looking for the man that gave me the job in Bretonia. I had news of my targets death for him, but I didn't know if that would suffice to get payed. I didn't even know if he would believe me or not, but I did have proof for him. A part off of the ship. I was hoping it was enough and there was only way to find out. He was sitting at the same table in the bar like last time.
I talked to him, told him what I had found out, but it was not enough to get payed in the full amount. The only thing I received from him was gratitude and some spare change. It seems that the mercenaries nowadays are expected to be very professional, and very strict to the contract. I am still learning how to act like one, the behavior of a Dragon and a mercenary is very different. The man, who wished to remain anonymous and myself parted ways. And now....I am looking for another job.
[color=#000000]As each day is passing, I am trying hard not to forget who I am, from where I come, and who my brothers are. The lure of money is great indeed, for one has a hard time in rejecting to take someones life for money. I have seen many others that do what I do, money has now become their main motivation in life. I am still battling hard to prevent the same thing from happening to me.
I visited New Tokyo again and soon found myself surrounded by Naval patrols. I managed to get away, but it seems that they are still looking for me. I imagine that will remain so, perhaps they do not even know that I am no longer part of the Shogunate, but then again.....they must know.
Freeport 10 is more and more feeling like my home, my new home. I have grown accustomed to the bar, to the people that linger there, all of the gaijins passing through. My thoughts about it are growing stronger every day. Perhaps I should finally send a transmission to the Zoners, perhaps they would let me stay there permanently.
The chances are good, there are many mercenaries passing through there, but, will they allow a former Dragon the same thing....
I suppose there is only one way to find out.
[color=#000000]My thoughts were poured into reality. I have sent a request to the Zoner Alliance to make Freeport 10 my new home, but then something else happened. Hai, since Freeport 10 is in bad shape after an attack by some gaijins, not that I would mind but, I have been suggested to find an alternative. My plan was dampened for one second, but then I realized something.
Another familiar place was right in front of my nose. A place which I visited also frequently on my trips to Freeport 10, it was almost as familiar, and felt almost as good. It was another Zoner Freeport, Freeport 6 in Tau 29.
The Zoners tell me that it is in far better shape, and that it would be a better alternative. And from what I have seen on my visits there, there are many gaijins with whom I can conduct my business. The disappointment and dark thoughts concerning Freeport 10 didn't last long in my mind. Perhaps....no, I am most certain that Freeport 6 will feel just as good, if not better. If I am allowed to make it my home, the Zoners will have much of my gratitude....and help, hai.
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