Negotiations with the Trifold Union’s ambassadors had long since ended when Curator Stroth decided to 'borrow' a pocket credol from the Threshold of the Ninth Plane and strike out along the Pilgrimage of Aneth. By now, reaching her destination after over a month on the trail, someone on Aglostarros would surely have noted her absence. It was hard not to feel like a criminal now, as she walked the caverns beneath the Halls of Aneth where GLoW made its base. The perfect hiding place.
“They say we’re supposed to hate you, Curator,” Stroth’s guide spoke up, leading her casually through caves that had become hangars, bunks and storage for a trove of recovered artifacts. “You and your ARK ships, plundering dying worlds. But I do understand the desire to preserve things.”
As the guide - Challe - directed them to a small commissary table, Stroth produced a small, stylus-like metal cylinder from a pocket, stating: “I hope to help that preservation, with this.”
“What is it?” Challe asked, warily.
“Essentially, backdoor access to Project Centennial,” Stroth explained. “So you can learn what we learn. It’s a peace offering.”
Challe took the cylinder and inspected it. “Could we control your Centurions?” he considered.
“Not without raising suspicion,” the curator snapped in response. “This is a ‘look, don’t touch’ situation. Understand?”
Challe gave a wolfish grin, slipping the cylinder into his shirt pocket. “My dear Curator,” he said with creeping menace, “it appears you’ve made the mistake of assuming we want the same thing.”
Comments