This is a quick piece. It was meant to be longer but we had to adjust it to fit with the Finale.

Aleena and Dash comment on the odd bugbear shaped spaceship.

 
The sound of the dark tower being crushed was deafening, dotted by occasional sharp explosions and blinding flashes. A bugbear-like ship of unknown origins had been hovering over the tower moments ago before lowering itself onto the tower, setting off several traps and trapspells infused and built into or enhanced onto the the tower itself.

The sounds of gears and metal being crushed and twisted surrounded the ship as it lowered itself, crushing the tower and sending the walls crashing to the grounds below. Dash and the others had gotten further away. As best as Dash could tell, pretty much everyone remotely close to the point where the tower stood moved away from it. Some simply fled the area.

Dash took the sight in. He tried and failed to make any sense of it in his mind. Of course, Aleena would be much more likely to know what's going on. Dash quickly pictured the scene in his mind and sent it to Aleena via the mind link.

Aleena walked in from the periphery of Dash's vision. Dash took a moment to appreciate the stunning curves and athletic grace of the Morlencir queen. It was enough to take Dash's mind off the oddness, if only for a moment.

"We've never seen anything of its like, Sebastian," Aleena said. The wonder in her voice was.. uncharacteristic, to say the least.

"It's ignoring all of our communication attempts so far, though you might have better luck on the ground. I…"

The elf paused, turning to face Dash. She approached him and ran her fingers along his cheek. They felt real, even though her presence was an illusion made from the technology she left in his head. "I think you should keep clear of it, though. At least until its intentions are known."

"Long as I don't have to stay clear of you," Dash answered. He shook himself back to the present. "How would we know if its hostile? Past the obvious part of it attacking us?"

"I don't know. But I'm coming back to find out." She smiled. Dash pulled her into a kiss. Well, okay, it wasn't exactly real but it was close enough.

"In that case," he added, "I'd hate to be them if they're looking for trouble."

She laughed softly. "I'm looking forward to being with you again. See you soon."

Dash blinked, taking a moment to figure what she meant. They were face to face now only.. not really, Dash concluded. "Ah, right. In the meantime, I'll pull my team back. We've still got other issues to deal with if this proves out to be nothing. See you soon, queen."

********

Dash stood apart from the others, having picked out a hill with a view of the distance ship. It had been easier to see earlier, before waves of energy obstructed it. Dash shook his head. That seemed ominous - but was it outright hostile?

If they had the ability to shield themselves, they'd be foolish not to use it. Or it could easily mean they were preparing to attack. Dash could only wonder idly as the minutes and hours quietly passed...

Just a quickie, but I took the rest we were going to write, modified it and pushed into the Finale, which we'll get to.. right after the Dread Captain Waldo debuts!!