SolomorneA report lies on the desk in front of you. Solomorne, clearing his throat, speaks dryly, "I, Solomorne Anthar, formally request to be relieved of my position in the Rogue Trader's retinue due to my failure to live up to the high trust placed in me."
YOU"Why do you wish to leave my retinue?"
Solomorne"Let's not play mind games. I took advantage of your trust, I deceived you, I insulted you. I don't think you want me anywhere near you."
SolomorneSolomorne devours the solitary page of the report with his eyes, as if he is hesitant to look up at you. A faint blush creeps across his cheeks.
YOU[Study the report]
SolomorneThe text of the report is dry and the handwriting pathologically perfect. In a couple of ruthless phrases, Solomorne passes judgement on himself: "failed to demonstrate loyalty in keeping with the favour shown and lowered myself to deliberate lying."
Solomorne"I have been extremely honest with myself and you in my report."
YOU"You're so sincere, Solomorne! It's nice that I can believe every word you say!"
SolomorneSolomorne soundlessly flinches as if from a blow.
YOU[Study the report]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I care for you, Solomorne. I forgive you. At ease."
Solomorne"Thank you. I hear the offer of friendship in your words, but I must humbly decline. I still feel that I have failed you, however. You may count on my service, but I dare not aspire to your candour and trust."
end of branch
YOU"I saw that you were lying to yourself and me about your feelings. I am important to you, so you're trying to punish yourself. But that is your game, and I'm not playing. Go and attend to your duties."
Solomorne"That's not what I... As you will, Rogue Trader!" Solomorne's eyebrows fly upward. His face is stony as he silently salutes you and leaves the study with a painfully straight back.
end of branch
YOU"If you regret what you said, you can simply take it back."
Solomorne"I could. But I won't." Solomorne looks fearlessly into your eyes. "I am truly sorry I lied to you, but... I'm also relieved I don't have to lie anymore."
YOU[Study the report]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I care for you, Solomorne. I forgive you. At ease."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I saw that you were lying to yourself and me about your feelings. I am important to you, so you're trying to punish yourself. But that is your game, and I'm not playing. Go and attend to your duties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you regret what you said, you can simply take it back."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You coward. You wronged me and you think you can get away with it?"
SolomorneFrowning severely, Solomorne shakes his head. "I admit my guilt. I insulted you with lies, and I am ready to be punished." He pulls an impressive spiked maul from his belt and holds it out to you. "Exact your vengeance in kind. Pain for pain."
YOU"What is that?"
Solomorne"An Excruciator maul. A standard tool of suppression for especially dangerous criminals. I ask you not to hold back."
YOU"What is that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beat Solomorne with the maul] "Let's see if this will satisfy my thirst for vengeance."
SolomorneSolomorne's entire body is covered with bruises and wounds from the spikes of the maul, his muscles standing out in stark relief under his reddened skin. But Solomorne, despite the pain, remains upright, gritting his teeth and trying to hold back the roar that bursts from his chest. "Don't... stop..."
YOU"What is that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beat Solomorne with the maul] "Let's see if this will satisfy my thirst for vengeance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Continue the beating] "I like this!"
SolomorneA new round of blows forces Solomorne to his knees. Bloody tears well up in his eyes, but he maintains his stoic silence. Each strike seems to bring greater serenity to his gaze.
YOU"What is that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beat Solomorne with the maul] "Let's see if this will satisfy my thirst for vengeance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Continue the beating] "I like this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wave the maul away] "I'm not going to torture you."
Solomorne"As you wish. But I would consider it only fair."
YOU"What is that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beat Solomorne with the maul] "Let's see if this will satisfy my thirst for vengeance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Continue the beating] "I like this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wave the maul away] "I'm not going to torture you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Slap him] "There's your punishment. You may go."
SolomorneSolomorne takes the blow without flinching. The scarlet imprint of your palm spreads across his cheek. With his head slightly lowered, Solomorne murmurs, "As you will."
end of branch
YOU"If you wish to apologise, you will do so on your knees."
SolomorneSolomorne, frowning at you, sinks heavily to his knees. With a titanic effort, he bows his stiff neck and murmurs, "I apologise on my knees, as I should. I behaved unworthily and I deserve it."
YOU"What is that?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beat Solomorne with the maul] "Let's see if this will satisfy my thirst for vengeance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Continue the beating] "I like this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wave the maul away] "I'm not going to torture you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Slap him] "There's your punishment. You may go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to apologise, you will do so on your knees."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You won't get off with simple pain. Since you're so willing to do any job handed down from on high, from now on, you're going to be a deck swab — when you're not on combat duty."
SolomorneSolomorne's eyes widen, but after swallowing some profane outburst, he bows his head stubbornly. "As you will. If my shame will atone for a fraction of the pain I have caused, so be it."
end of branch
YOU"Back to the report."
SolomorneSolomorne nods grimly.
YOU[Study the report]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I care for you, Solomorne. I forgive you. At ease."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I saw that you were lying to yourself and me about your feelings. I am important to you, so you're trying to punish yourself. But that is your game, and I'm not playing. Go and attend to your duties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you regret what you said, you can simply take it back."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You coward. You wronged me and you think you can get away with it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything is over between us, but that does not excuse you from your duties. Go."
Solomorne"As you will!" Solomorne salutes you solemnly and leaves the study.
end of branch
YOU"Don't show your face on my ship again."
Solomorne"As you will. And... forgive me."
end of branch
YOU"You won't get off with simple pain. Since you're so willing to do any job handed down from on high, from now on, you're going to be a deck swab — when you're not on combat duty."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Back to the report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Slap him] "There's your punishment. You may go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to apologise, you will do so on your knees."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You won't get off with simple pain. Since you're so willing to do any job handed down from on high, from now on, you're going to be a deck swab — when you're not on combat duty."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Back to the report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wave the maul away] "I'm not going to torture you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Slap him] "There's your punishment. You may go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to apologise, you will do so on your knees."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You won't get off with simple pain. Since you're so willing to do any job handed down from on high, from now on, you're going to be a deck swab — when you're not on combat duty."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Back to the report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Continue the beating] "I like this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wave the maul away] "I'm not going to torture you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Slap him] "There's your punishment. You may go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to apologise, you will do so on your knees."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You won't get off with simple pain. Since you're so willing to do any job handed down from on high, from now on, you're going to be a deck swab — when you're not on combat duty."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Back to the report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Beat Solomorne with the maul] "Let's see if this will satisfy my thirst for vengeance."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Continue the beating] "I like this!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wave the maul away] "I'm not going to torture you."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Slap him] "There's your punishment. You may go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you wish to apologise, you will do so on your knees."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You won't get off with simple pain. Since you're so willing to do any job handed down from on high, from now on, you're going to be a deck swab — when you're not on combat duty."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Back to the report."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything is over between us, but that does not excuse you from your duties. Go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Don't show your face on my ship again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You coward. You wronged me and you think you can get away with it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything is over between us, but that does not excuse you from your duties. Go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Don't show your face on my ship again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wordlessly tear up the report]
SolomorneSolomorne's pupils dilate as he watches your fingers tear his letter to shreds. When he opens his mouth, his voice is hoarse: "You are entitled to do this... to my act of penance."
YOU[Study the report]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I care for you, Solomorne. I forgive you. At ease."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I saw that you were lying to yourself and me about your feelings. I am important to you, so you're trying to punish yourself. But that is your game, and I'm not playing. Go and attend to your duties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you regret what you said, you can simply take it back."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You coward. You wronged me and you think you can get away with it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything is over between us, but that does not excuse you from your duties. Go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Don't show your face on my ship again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Carefully stow the report away in your desk]
SolomorneStrange trepidation and pained satisfaction gleam in Solomorne's gaze.
YOU[Study the report]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I care for you, Solomorne. I forgive you. At ease."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I saw that you were lying to yourself and me about your feelings. I am important to you, so you're trying to punish yourself. But that is your game, and I'm not playing. Go and attend to your duties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you regret what you said, you can simply take it back."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You coward. You wronged me and you think you can get away with it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything is over between us, but that does not excuse you from your duties. Go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Don't show your face on my ship again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I care for you, Solomorne. I forgive you. At ease."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I saw that you were lying to yourself and me about your feelings. I am important to you, so you're trying to punish yourself. But that is your game, and I'm not playing. Go and attend to your duties."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you regret what you said, you can simply take it back."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You coward. You wronged me and you think you can get away with it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everything is over between us, but that does not excuse you from your duties. Go."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Don't show your face on my ship again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The part about disappointed trust is quite right, you manipulative pig."
Solomorne"I was following orders." His lips tighten stubbornly. "But that doesn't absolve me of my guilt. I failed you."
SolomorneSolomorne devours the solitary page of the report with his eyes, as if he is hesitant to look up at you. A faint blush creeps across his cheeks.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I don't think dismissal is necessary."
Solomorne"That is generous and gracious. But I have no intention of exploiting your trust again."
SolomorneSolomorne devours the solitary page of the report with his eyes, as if he is hesitant to look up at you. A faint blush creeps across his cheeks.continues where this line first appears above