The next morning Occa reappears and - per Tully's request - wishes
Offred back to life.
However, nothing happens. The wish is a failure.
You still have the ear, though...
"Maybe you have to use technology to bring him back? And why didn't anyone mention that all my magical items were now useless?" asks a put out Darian. "It's not your fault, mind you, but it took me a long time to find some of these items."
"DOES NOT COMPUTE," says the robot, who has just rolled up. "CRY ME A RIVER."
"How about I drill you a new one, instead?"
"DOES NOT COMPUTE," the robot repeats.
Tully says, "I guess technology and magic doesn't mix too well. Ah well. I have lost pretty much everything I owned that was magic, so I don't need to get anything back from the house. I can leave anytime."
Tully adds, "Let's head back to the moon or Almada, ok? We need to see if either can give us a clue of where to head next. We should probably leave that elf a message that we were unable to find her husband."
Tully says, "Well guys, do we need to do anything else here?"
Zanax shrugs, "I guess I'm ready. We should pick up some other weapons, though...seeing how ours are now useless."
"We have these technology things."
"What technology things?" asks a clueless Darian.
Zanax suggests, "Perhaps we should spend our time learning about these tech items on the ship while we journeying to our next destination."
Tully says, "We already did that."
Tully then says to Darian, "We each have a hand blaster, blaster rifle and Sinclair blade, plus eighteen charges. Oh, and the necessary belts and holsters for them as well. Plus, we have Offred's documentation. I am hoping that you have been registered as Offred, so that we can use them for clearance in making other things."
"Um, okay... I don't have any of Offred's memories of his time in my body, so you're going to need to walk me through all of this."
Darian will wear the chain mail suit and save the plate mail. He'll also bring the flametongue with him.
Tully says, "Let's see if Billdotdoc has any information on how to use this stuff as well. If not, Robot can instruct us. Let's practice here before we leave."
Zanax nods, "Sounds good to me."
"We have to learn how to use these things somehow."
You reenter the XP class scout and ask Bill Gates about the weapons. However, he is unhelpful and so you adjourn outside and go to the rearmost, secluded corner of the property. Under the tutorage of the robot you learn how to handle the weapons. While he is not familiar with the blaster the controls seem to be much the same as with the lasers that he does know. However, after a few test shots, during which time you melt a section of wall, torch a tree and vapourise a gardener you realise that even Occa's property is not spacious enough to truly become adept with these weapons.
Darian shrugs as he looks at the weapons. "I think I'll do better with the sinclair sword."
Tully says, "Let's go back to Almalda1"
He heads back to the ship.
Zanax makes sure he has access to a Sinclair Sword (set to long sword) and several charges before boarding the ship.
Tully, Darian, Zanax and the robot board the XP class scout and crowd up into the control cabin. The commands are given and the space ship rises up into the sky and blasts off southwards.
The ascent is similar to the last time. You gaze in awe at the landscape below as the ship slowly gains altitude and velocity. You see Castle Yuri pass underneath you as Sandas recedes. The Rocky Mountains remain to your right, though they seem to be shrinking as the ship climbs heavenward.
The sky rapidly darkens.
Earth is far below, now. You are traveling over water - presumably the Bay of Hork - and the horizon has a decided curve to it. The first stars come into view...seen even in sunlight.
The Bill Gates is moving very quickly, now. A hundred miles below you see the Gulf of Mexico...then the Caribbean Sea...and then the cloud covered lands of South Amrica.
You pass over the equator, and over the southern horizon rise constellations that you have never seen before.
Earth finally drops away altogether, as a bright yellow star becomes centred in your field of view. The pulse of the drive increases, and you notice that the bright star ahead is becoming more blue tinged, as do the stars around it. Steadily it turns violet, then fades away. A growing dark spot appears where the star was...surrounded by violet stars which steadily fade out as the darkness spreads.
Finally, no stars are visible at all...just a black void.
"Preparing to Jump," says the voice of Bill Gates.
There is a slight jerk.