THE DIARY OF MALADIN

Luckily, with Aaron's help, we located where Len was taken. That was after I found Rhyss and 'boosted our homie' Dalen from the ever wonderful care of the men in black.

We took her back to Amber before Rhyss and I returned to help liberate Lentaro. Aaron led us to a black ops military installation in upper New York State where he was being held. Aaron did what he could to help Lentaro while I snuck up to the installation. That is when I got shot in the ass by a giant alien beam of energy.

Oh, did I mention that the base was under attack by an alien ship bent on the destruction of all it surveyed? I didn't? Oh, well, that was happening while we were trying to free Len.

Anyways, it shot me in the ass as I was running for the doors of the installation. Luckily, my shield spell took the brunt of it. I disintegrated the doors and made my way down the stairs. I used my extra sensory perception spell to help me located Lentaro. I could hear explosions and hurried to find a doorway that was locked and barred.

For this occasion I pulled out my concussion grenade spell and blasted the doors off. Running down the corridor I came face to face with a mass of armed men shooting over a box of C-4. I hurriedly back peddled and let off a concussion blast in the midst of the men that were now shooting at me.

After I could see and hear again, I found that I was intimately acquainted with the far wall of the corridor, and Len was standing over me. I hope I helped, but in my daze all I could think was to get up and keep moving. There was no telling how long this place was going to last with that alien ship tearing things apart above us.

After escaping I took Len and Rhyss back to Amber and had a little talk with Random. Then I returned to help Aaron continue our search for the Jewel. I ended up finding out where it had been, but it soon became apparent that Dalen knew what was going on with the Jewel, and that someone had it. The appearance of strange phenomena in downtown NYC was our tip off.

By this time Dalen was with us, while Len pumped Rhyss for info back in Amber (Len's words, not mine, mind you). Together the three of us found ourselves within a large crowd that had been attracted by the strangeness. As we began to search for the possessor of the Jewel, we also became its targets. I found myself fighting to save my life from some strange mystic warrior, wielding a red blade of light. These all turned out to be figments of a child's imagination, childhood heroes to save him from his waking fears... us.

In the end Dalen got the child and left for Amber. This was just before Aaron revealed how close to the edge he is these day. His hubris reared its ugly head, 50,000 people in NYC died, as he created his own bubble of space to lock in the jewel. All he really got in his mousetrap was Maladin and one of those Bright Pattern Goons that have been haunting poor Aaron. I hope that this placates his growing penchant for mad displays of power.

He mentioned plans for genocide of the Waveriders, as his last option to defeat them. I heard his plan, it might just work. I argued then with him about the horror of genocide. He told me he would do ANYTHING to save his blood and his home. I believe him. He swore me to keep this plan from Dalen. I like to keep my promises. But, having seen a hint of madness in him in NYC, I wonder who I will have to tell about this. Are all the Amberites fine with the idea of genocide? Is Aaron just one of many?

Genocide is too much, too far. Warriors die in battle, they pay the price to push their views and wants. But the innocents need not suffer for the hubris of the strong and powerful. The innocent populaces of Amber and the Waveriders deserve to be spared as much of this war as possible.

Will I have to stop Aaron, in the end? I fear the madness that would allow him to kill millions of innocents. The ends would be forever tainted by this means. Aaron, by my honor, I will try to convince you of another path that we can seek together. One that does not need the blood of innocents.

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