HoshizoraBoard

CHAPTER MELON

Iammelon wrote:

Lord Rauus put on his helmet at that point, the eyes of it starting to glow as he stood up and spoke clearly, "Just about. Stand up and prepare yourself, we're already inside the ghost world's barrier so the danger has begun. Speaking of which, brace yourself for impact." He took hold of a safety bar in the ceiling. Soon after the rather casual warning, the entire ship rocked and an explosion could be heard. If one looked out the window, they would see a great battle in city streets, people practically indistinguishable from the gunfire at this height. And there was a lot of gunfire. The thing that had hit the ship was a missile, and there were yet more coming.

Mayflower's blood froze at the sight and she instictively grabbed unto Rauus "OH SWEET MOSSY ANTLERS!" Realizing whom she was hugging she backed off appearing simultaneously annoyed and embarrassed, but speaking in a serious and cold manner "Oh, eh ..just, not used to gunshots is all. Got skittish." She looked down once more "Who are these people?"

-

Melon zedong wrote:

Azdrey smiled, "Well, I bet I could take a liking to this Dr. Froz myself. After all, I too am a winged reptile that occasionally fights gangs and pirates." He flapped his own wings a bit for emphasis, "But I bet he's got a couple powers that I don't, eh? Anyways, I bet we'll be landing soon, so we should get ready for that. Then you can show me around the capital, show me the sights once the official diplomat work is done."

Lizbet looked out of the window as Ashtart's Sun blazed her room "Hmmm? Oh, Yeah ..you're right that we'll be landing soon. Our Sun welcomes you to Tanit Ashtart!.." There was commotion in the planet's orbit with countless small and large space stations and giant trade vessels coming and go, while the malevolent shape of Golden Talon warships stood guard all around the planet ..it appeared to be as crowded and busy as Avalantus itself! Soon though the ship begun its descent... Lizbet sparked a smile and looked at Azdrey "And now is the best part ..I hope you'll like it! Ahh~ ...finally Home!" The ship went down the massive orange clouds and beneath those clouds a massive city of Palaces and towers made of gold and marble! Even the smaller residential buildings appeared to be of unparalleled wealth and beauty ..in the skies there were countless spaceship pods, as well as myriad shiny bronze monorail lines crossing each others like veins. The sun reflected upon the gold, producing a soothing sunny atmosphere ...finally the ship landed on a pod, next to what appeared to be the largest and most majestic palace of the all ..thousand columns of sculpted Gold depicting scenes of war, reaching up to a dome as high as the mountains of Heord!
Qalaspa entered the door and grabbed Azdrey by the hand "Come, they're expecting us!" leading to Lizbet making a terrible pout and giving Qalaspa the finger.
Nevertheless, in the pod there indeed were some Gryphons dressed in fineries and Gold expecting Azdrey...
A white-feathered one open his wings widely and smiled "WELCOME TO TANIT ASHTART! I hope your travel was satisfying... ..also welcome Lady Qalaspa ..and, ehm ...errr" Lizbet groaned and just stepped behind Azdrey.

Back in Heord...
As the enraged Watrike rushed at Aggasim he barely managed to evade him and he got hit at his side hard, both of them getting quite hurt and tired by now. Huffing Aggasim raised his hand at the Watrike to stop before attempting a second rush "I saw what I wanted. Your species are obviously tremendous warriors and more than strong ..but you lack a specific fighting style, which I'd love to teach to you if you wwanted. Nevertheless ..it was a real honor fighting you!" the gryph smiled and bowed his head, stepping out of the circle.

-

Melon zedong wrote:

Yani had drawn her own plasma pistol at this point, but after seeing the opposition that she was up against and the complete ineffectiveness of Vicky's own attack, she started thinking instead. This battle needed her head to be won, as well as her famous mouth, so she stood up and went to put an arm around Imhotep's shoulders. Both to shelter her and get the attention of the mummies, "Now, here's the thing about destiny. It's going to happen eventually, but that's the thing. It can wait. And what I mean by that is that you're not going to get off this planet as a mummy. The only way anybody is getting off this planet is alive, and the only person one can go to afterwards is the current High Lord. So instead of being an idiot and delaying your accession or whatever by another thousand years or so for when another Sored comes around, you gotta help us get this Sored off the planet in a state where she can actually help me break the barrier around this world. So here's the deal, Imhotep Senior, help us get off the planet and then we can follow through with your destiny when we come back with the tools needed to actually let you off the planet." Yani had to hope that her partners understood her real plan.

The mummy remained looking at Imhotep's eyes, almost ignoring Yani's insulting proposition ...Imhotep too had her eyes stuck at the mummy, slowly being intoxicated by their soothing spiraling core. Suddenly her great-great-granpa's ghost appeared, evidently tired, but making the mummy shriek and Imhotep to shake her head and stop being in a trance ...his otherwordly voice could almost make sense, such was the intensity of his feelings! "Leave them alone!" he then turned psionically speaking to Imhotep's mind and only "No one in your long line would ever want you to make her bidding ...A thousand generations of Sored ...We deserve better. But most importantly, you deserve better. " he gave her a kiss on her forehead that left a big white mark resembling an Ankh symbol "Be smart young one!". Imhotep raised her head full of confidence and shouted to the mummy "Yo! You heard her ..Yani like, gave you a pretty good offer. I mean ..what are we to do here? Rot with you? Besides, your, like, stupid eye trick doesn't work ..check your batteries."
The mummy roared and waived her chains left and right "INSOLENCE! AHHHH! RELEASE ME!" Imhotep however remained still "I don't think so..." The mummy stopped shaking and looked with her dead disappointed eyes at her descendant "Fine! I will release thee ..but you will have to pass my test if you are to leave all together ..or one will stay! ...A Twin, showing you the truth yourself could never see! What ..is it?"
Imhotep looked at Yani with confusion in her eyes, not really understanding anything of this ...Vicky also seemed to scratch her head. As for Dalya, her drooling was as much helpful.

-

Melon zedong wrote:

Charka smiled and nodded, "A good plan. It should work, too. My kind aren't too hard to satisfy, they just need something to do and everything will be fine. If worst comes to worst, just give them some errands. Like getting the groceries or some drinks. And Wilioa is indeed a pleasant girl, with a special innocence. But what other Watrike are you referring to?" Then she grimaced, but with a sigh decided to explain, "Of course not. He didn't last long enough to become remarkable. His name was Iox, and he was three years older than me, and the one who was supposed to be in my current position. But when he was ten, he was killed, along with my father and mother. A band of assassins did it." She snarled as she thought back to it, "The scum only won because they had numbers and surprise, but it was enough to take out my family and our guards. And you know what? They weren't even after us. They were after Lord Tyfrondor, but they just got lucky they accidentally attacked a target they could actually beat. They're all dead now, the Grand Drake saw to it personally. And the fact such despicable people were after him just further solidifies my dedication, because I've seen the face of those who oppose him. Evil, all of them, and none of them deserve mercy. That's why I am the Executioner, because I understand that simple truth."

The other Watrike merely nodded, but they felt no sadness. The cry got nothing out of them, because as far as they were concerned he was not one of them. He was wild and had to be put down, and that cry was merely that of his salvation from a tortured life. They didn't interrupt Nia however, as they understood she likely did not feel the same as them, and they would respect that. With a nod, they all turned to go. The Handler looked back at Nia, hoping she would follow.

Mica felt a bit intimidated by the Watrike Queen, she somehow felt that this particular lizard was not entirely sane and rather paranoid, but she wouldn't say that to her face... instead she just smiled and patted Charka with her little paw "Don't vorry ..not many people can hate zhe Grand Drake after all! He is loved by most. ..and even though some may disagree vifh some policies, zhey alvays smile at our good ol' Tyf. I'm also sad zhat your brozher did not manage to prove himself a great varrior. But at least, he died a very noble death many Vatrike vould be jealous of!" She then immediately rolled her eyes and sighed as she remembered the blue Watrike "As for zhe ozher Trike you asked? ...Zirona, hah! She is bad influence for my Remus; Not zhe kind of Vatrike dat vould make my dear Remus happy (or anyone really)! Vilioa vould be perfekt for him, she is adorable..." She smiled widely thinking of the funny clumsy trike.

Nia rather quickly regained her normal posture and followed the troop. While she wasn't smiling, she didn't seem depressed either ...she perfectly understood it had to be done. After a while of remaining silent she turned to her handler "Look Nia ..Eyes Weird!" She closed up and gaining her usual mischievous look, she slapped the poor Trike's behind as he looked at her, laughing a bit and shedding some tears simultaneously ..the slap would mostly hurt the handler's pride, rather than his tail. The white scaled troll then stopped and sighed "Far?"

-

Melon zedong wrote:

Quoi smiled at the interaction between the two sisters, letting it go on without interruption. She spoke up as they hugged, "Mohly, go ahead and say goodbye to the rest of your family as well. Take all the time you need. Me and Baguettie will remain here and plan out our return to Iammelon and the rest of Herod. Or at least I shall try, but something tells me I'll need to also ensure that none of the circus staff find their way into the mouth of our new pet croc, either by the croc's design or my comrade deciding the circus can afford to lose somebody she deems less than worthy..." This statement was not without credit, as Baguettie was currently attempting to locate food for her Croc.

Mohly nodded and took her sister by hand back to their family, she really wanted to at least properly bid them farewell. In the time she was gone the croc at least would manage to satisfy its hunger after a rather annoying passing Jalaor poked him with its beak...
Returning with a big serene smile she hugged Quoi tightly "We did it ...I'll never forget this." she then turned to Baguettie "You too ...thanks! I'm sure deep down you're the laor's meow, girl!" A janitor cleaning close lost his mind as he saw the standing crocs though, thankfully he just looked back at an empty bottle he had in his pocket and threw it away saying "I got to quit this damn devil.." and getting back to swiping, ignoring the Watrike.
Soon, the three heroes and the croc would be safe in Urx, were with a little luck a smuggler could pass them as cargo to Iammelonian Doth... ..hopefully without any more meals for baguettie's delightful new pet.

-

Melon zedong wrote:

Merrick, not being nearly as jaded, apathetic, or otherwise fearless as Fluffs, quickly jumped back and moved behind Jayaja, rather scared. The Valorian however simply moved up to support Jayaja, standing next to her. She took out her coin again, beginning to flip it into the air again as she spoke, staring down both the massive serpents, "You naga are really quite the troublesome people. I'm going to need another bath for these tears, because the last time I got covered in these it stuck to me for quite a long time. You, trident reptile, put that thing down. You look ridiculous. If you want to be a good father, actually start listening instead of yelling so loud. And you... While I am now absolutely certain you are Jayaja's real mother, as the tears are pretty much identical, you also need to calm down before I have to adopt a second Naga. Then, once you do that, let your daughter talk and actually listen. If I, a simple prey, can do it, I'm sure you'll be fine. A good predator knows how to be patient." She caught her coin and put it away again. The Valorian's stare now went from just jaded to intense, as she dared the Naga to back off from her challenge.

The giant black cobraman remained looking dumbfounded with his jaw dropped at the small fluffy prey and its enormous annoying and idiotic bravery "Y-you.. What the Void? I.. this.. ..she told me off! The prey.. ah!" He tilted his head in confusion, as if something broke down in there ..then suddenly he snapped! "THAT'S IT! YOU'RE OUR NEW PET, RACOON!" With a swift move he grabbed the Valorian by its waist and in the meantime pulled Jayaja by the hand, the poor young snake crying inconsolably. The Naga mother also rather quickly snapping into her predator mode, was now helping to push her daughter to where her husband led ..however, as she was terrified and frustrated, Jayaja had grabbed poor Merrick with her tail ..being in a shock she couldn't really hear him, or even notice him, just carrying him along.
Soon all three would wake up in a giant girl's room adorned with pink snakes in the walls and lots of snake dolls and plushies ..there was also a desk with quite many dark colored doodles and a few Iammelonian female emo bands. Jayaja realizing the situation, she paralyzed ..but when she also realized that Merrick was in her room and could witness her embarrassing tastes in music and silly depressing doodles, she felt terrified beyond belief.

CHAPTER 2 LIF

The lost imperial fleet wrote:

Skyla was mystified. A magic on this scale existed? Or at least from her perspective, could be wielded easily on such a cosmic scale? "So is it, say, something along the lines of that Buddhist sort of stuff? What is Samat anyway?" she asked, curious about this strange spider-lady's seeming rejection of her current vampiric state.

Mi, the spider lady, derped her eyes again and almost stumbled her feet at the question ..then let out a loud laugh "AHAHAHAHAHA ..what is Samat? ..oh by the world wide web, you're fun! Ehem..." straightening up, she reached close to Skyla and forced her head against the pony empress', immediatelly Skyla felt her body being paralyzed and her mind concentrating solely on the now colourful background. All these pretty little lines and dots! ...she hadn't noticed how detailed it was. It was just her and the background wall.. Mi appeared again before her however, ruining Skyla's idiotic stare, the pony practically having her face stuck on a white wall "Ehem, this is Samat ..short of. You have to reach it yourself for it to truly count! It's ...well, it's the further you manage to detach from your body and concentrate on being a soul. Now if you manage not only that, but also to unite with all the other souls in the universe, then ..well, that would be amazing." She spit web all over Skyla and the pony found herself back on Mi's throne room; Mi casually drinking her soda "So, any more questions?"

-

The lost imperial fleet wrote:

"Well, er, you see Ms. Vanhelsyn..." stammered the official before a stern voice interrupted him.

"It's fine," sighed a tired voice, "I'll handle this mess."

Should Van turn around, she could see a human female in what looked like a battered and torn version of an admiral's uniform. The bags were noticeable under her pink eyes as bruises, burns, and scrapes marked her skin.

Van grabbed Terra's hand rather tight, having a rather bad hunch.. her heartbeat increased and her voice begun breaking "Wh-what happened? Why ye all act like bloody m-madmen? Are we at war? ..Is Skyla alright?"
She had never felt that before; a fear for her loved one's whereabouts ...all scenarios crossed before her, but her mind couldn't avoid the worst. Could she be so damn unlucky?

-

The lost imperial fleet wrote:

"I have no intention of handing you over to the Talmyrox, Torsyen," said Sakura, "On the contrary, I'm here to give you my blessing." She sat down upon her own chair and sighed. "The Imperium is currently undergoing a time of crisis, I'm afraid. There's been a major succession crisis and the Reichstag has declared for Terra. Unfortunately, some dragons seem to believe otherwise. Scharlagel is back over in the 'home-verse,' unable to come here due to our inability to cross universes reliably and a need for her to help coordinate matters against the rebellions at home. I've declared martial law here to maintain order, but things have largely calmed down and your revolution is the perfect place to let some of the rowdier elements of my administration blow off some steam."

She reached over to Torsyen's hands and grabbed his pipe out of his hands, hands glowing as the smoke disappeared from the pipe. "And this is a no-smoking zone, Mr. Torsyen."

As the pipe was confiscated, Torsyen gained a rather flirty and snarky smile ..fitting with his soothing voice "You filthy tyrant!", then sad but accepting the admiral's no-smoking policy, he laid back and awkwardly played with his fingers as he spoke "Nevertheless. As things have turned out, I guess this could work for the benefit of both of us for the time being ..of course this doesn't change the fact that we will try to topple you as soon as we topple the Talmyrox. We are still separated by class and power!" He leaned closer to Sakura, looking at her rather directly "So, dear enemy ..what do you propose? Arming the Liga yourself and sending them over to help us bring down the Saaryn? If so, I'd gladly aid you ..we posses a rather vast web of smugglers and secret routes. I have one demand though..."
-

The lost imperial fleet wrote:

"Ah- Okay, I won't ask then..." whispered Astra back. Crew members were entitled to some secrets. So long as they didn't harm the ship of course, but this wasn't a ship. "And I do celebrate the Fall Eq- Nightmare Night!" replied Astra, tripping over her tounge, "It's just that, I haven't celebrated it with friends for awhile. And uh, harmony to you as well!" She waved back at the griffon, trying not to gawk at the half-avian.

The griffon majestically flapped her wings and landed directly in-front of Astra, bopping the pony's snout with her beak by accident "Ugh, ehm ..sorry ..I'm a lousy flier, sister." she said and rubbed her beak "Anyway.. I'd be very happy if you joined our celebration! ...We don't do fancy parades and parties here like in Celunestia, but the berry muffins and costumes are to die for!" Mellow Lemon shook her head in agreement and stomped her hoof for emphasis "Damn right! The Lemons always win for best cookies too; Lemon-flavored classic Equestrian cookies! You ain't have tasted such delicacies in the big city for sure! But ..you will stay right?" neighed Mellow with her big sad eyes, expecting nothing but a yes for an answer. The old bearded stallion pushed Mellow a bit to the side "Now, now ...she might want to honor Princess Morningstar's celebrations. Imagine if all Celunestians spent their Nightmare Night in the countryside; ...our Princess would be left all alone! You two fillies don't need to guilt her in to staying..." Mellow whined rather loudly "Oh come on! No city filly has ever tasted our lemon cookies!"

CHAPTER 3 TRIP

Triporea wrote:

His eyes widened as he looked at the cabby. Quickly stepping out of the cab. He preferred to find something else, perhaps so he wouldn’t have to deal with “her” again.

-

He just listened closely to the bickering between the two. Not really sure what to say or what to do. But once he boarded the ship, he looked at Bor, when he asked him the question. “Uh... no, being big lizard, not many people like.”

Before he could step out, the evidently mistreated and beaten cabby grabbed his hand hard and pulled him right back. Striking his face with her other hand, she shouted at him "Where do you think you're going you fool? After all you made me go through? ...you owe me big time!" She then swiftly pressed a red button in the steering wheel and the doors locked ...as the pedal was pushed down, the old taxi roared in the foggy alley and was soon lost in the undergrounds. An underground city beneath, a miserable complex of old buildings and suspensions, engines and squalor.
As they entered the giant tunnels they bypassed many homeless people, piles of garbage, rodents and destruction ...and beneath all the minor sounds, that one dominant sound; The sound of giant never-stopping powerful engines shaking the miserable pillars that held the proud city of Tharr standing.
The cabby turned to Victor with a rather sardonic smile "Someone wants to see you apparently... ..I don't know why really, might as well hand you to the robocops and be done with it."

Zozzy patted the big lizard "Now, now ...many people didn't like me either, that's no matter to get that sad frown all over your face! You're going to fit right in with us" She winked at Borfiar who nodded and brought out an old pin with the words "F OR B RE VERY" on it and a rather unfitting image of a cartoonish Shyrite drinking beer, sticking it on Scaleback. Borfiar smiled and gave the new recruit a friendly hit on his back "COME ON NOW! WE GONNA WRECK THOSE BANKER LOSERS! YEAH?? YEAH!!". With such a brute by his side, Borfiar was sure he would finally make it ..no more damn beans for dinner he thought.

Taurgha wrote:

CHAPTER 3 TRIP

Before he could step out, the evidently mistreated and beaten cabby grabbed his hand hard and pulled him right back. Striking his face with her other hand, she shouted at him "Where do you think you're going you fool? After all you made me go through? ...you owe me big time!" She then swiftly pressed a red button in the steering wheel and the doors locked ...as the pedal was pushed down, the old taxi roared in the foggy alley and was soon lost in the undergrounds. An underground city beneath, a miserable complex of old buildings and suspensions, engines and squalor.
As they entered the giant tunnels they bypassed many homeless people, piles of garbage, rodents and destruction ...and beneath all the minor sounds, that one dominant sound; The sound of giant never-stopping powerful engines shaking the miserable pillars that held the proud city of Tharr standing.
The cabby turned to Victor with a rather sardonic smile "Someone wants to see you apparently... ..I don't know why really, might as well hand you to the robocops and be done with it."

Zozzy patted the big lizard "Now, now ...many people didn't like me either, that's no matter to get that sad frown all over your face! You're going to fit right in with us" She winked at Borfiar who nodded and brought out an old pin with the words "F OR B RE VERY" on it and a rather unfitting image of a cartoonish Shyrite drinking beer, sticking it on Scaleback. Borfiar smiled and gave the new recruit a friendly hit on his back "COME ON NOW! WE GONNA WRECK THOSE BANKER LOSERS! YEAH?? YEAH!!". With such a brute by his side, Borfiar was sure he would finally make it ..no more damn beans for dinner he thought.

Victor yelped and tried to break free of the cabby's hole on him, but he was too late. The doors slammed shut and he looked nervously around. He held on for dear life as the car raced away from the point where he had been picked up and to the underground. He sighed as he recognized an all too familiar environment. A proud metropolis standing on wobbly supports of the poor. It was really like he was back on BP, so he removed his pack of Bezi cigarettes from his jacket and sighed. Sliding one of the familiar cigarettes into his mouth. He light up the spiced and sweet flavored cigarette, filling the cab with the unfamiliar smoke for the cabby. "Fine... Let's get this stupid meeting over with... maybe my day of reckoning has come..." He said as he clutched the small figure with one hand, and used his other hand to grab his cigarette between his index and middle finger like a woman.

-

Scaleback's face light up as Zozzy reassured him, and he finally stood up straight. "Thank you, pretty lady! Me feel better now!" He said rather proudly. He grew suspicious of Borfiar coming at him with a pin, and his body tensed up, but once he looked at it, he relaxed again. "Yes! We show bankers we good and they bad!"

Triporea wrote:

She took her food and water, going to Trumoni and sitting down next to him.

-

Culum emerged about ten minutes later. “Can I get you anything?”

-

The shuttle and tank rocked. Until finally, there was an alarm noise. And the tank jolted again. The whole thing shaking as Dana stood up. He went over to a periscope. “Damn, already entrenched.”

Trumoni simply started eating without comment, allowing Rose to do the same. All around the room were other Gradrix Cultists, properly converted ones. And it was a surprisingly civil and normal place despite the circumstances. Friend groups were sitting together, composed of the three main races here. Those being humans, Fatimazda, and the occasional Gradrix Watrike. Everybody seemed to doing rather alright, though seemed to make little prayers after they were finished eating to this statue of Tyfrondor in the center of the room.

-

Dosk shrugged, "I dunno. Lunch would be nice I guess. Don't know what I'm allowed to eat though."

-

Cirece tried to find a periscope of her own to look through so she could get a look at the defenses for herself.

Honour guard

1st zerg hive wrote:

She didn't know how she would feel with that, it wasn't like she felt any huge loss from it, her change in character being recent she isn't exactly torn up by the idea about eating a cadaver to become more than herself. Though she may also gain the memories of the essence she will be using... But still Mierl has a point just so no one gets upset that they are doing this. "Very well. The old me would be rather against integrating inferior genetics into my design. But Perhaps it is what I need for a new perspective and to move forward. Lets go ask then."

Mierl nodded and kept walking, but seemed confused on one point, "We shall. But I am curious as to one thing. You mentioned inferior genetics. Why do the Zerg strive for physical perfection in such a fashion? Is there is a greater goal in play, or are you merely working to provide the best service to your overriding controller?"

1st zerg hive wrote:

Looks like he's not all that Intimidated... Damn. I was hoping he'd at least be wary or something but now he's more of an assho- Now that he was involving what she was protecting here this Warlord made himself #1 on her sh1tlist. Already thinking up some options involving all the free layouts she now has thanks to this jerkoff threatening to Bazaar Security on the school.

Piper listens carefully before crouching down to look the warlord in the visor. "Fine, you got it right that I'm not really a wanderer. You can saw I have a rather personal interest in this building. That only makes it all the more dangerous for you to try and mess with that. Oh I'll run your alittle errand. But if this a set up to get me to leave this place and just one Apex pirate sets a foot in here. You and me and going to have a lovely little chat after I rip all the info I need out of their little heads. Got that #43?" Seems she will persist in the beratement of his position in apex as nothing more than another henchman. "Now, what's the job? I don't have all day. I still need to interrogate the trash you left in my house." She will have the teens watch the Apex she's captured so far, now that Apex might be watching the place she can't have the place be evacuated just incase they capture the kids and use them as leverage later for her to do more stuff for them. She can't let it come to that, she promised them a better life. And if they try it, there will be hell to pay, corporate lackeys in power armour be damned she'll do what she needs to and go through whoever she has to to keep those kids safe.

The Warlord laughed as she admitted her interest. He had been completely unsure if she actually cared about the place, but now he knew he had a real piece of leverage to work with. Still, he grunted, as he wasn't fond of being treated like the henchman, and decided to just get to the point, "I really don't care for the threats, or your time. Now, my errand. As you are no doubt aware, my safehouse in the area just got raided. Obviously that means somebody tipped Bazaar Security off, and I think I know who based on reports I've gotten. So I want you to go and kill the snitch. I'd do it myself, but as you might expect Bazaar Security is keeping an eye out for Apex right now, and I don't have the patience to kill him a year from now. Her name is Almi Usasx, a Valorian and former Apex Racer. I know it's her, because her sister is in Bazaar Security and it means she has somebody to safely go to for snitching, as well as making sure they get a reward. Easy job for an unknown like you." He chuckled as he said the next bit, "Plus you know that you've got everything to lose from this, so plenty of motivation too! Have fun."

Iammelon wrote:

Mierl nodded and kept walking, but seemed confused on one point, "We shall. But I am curious as to one thing. You mentioned inferior genetics. Why do the Zerg strive for physical perfection in such a fashion? Is there is a greater goal in play, or are you merely working to provide the best service to your overriding controller?"

She did not need to think very hard for an answer, even if such an answer may not explain much. "We strive to evolve because we must. So in some sense I suppose you can say we evolve because we have no choice. The overriding will, be it the Overmind, The Queen of Blades or whatever dark god rules us chooses what path we follow... This time it is my choice. I must become something more and become more like your people."

Iammelon wrote:

The Warlord laughed as she admitted her interest. He had been completely unsure if she actually cared about the place, but now he knew he had a real piece of leverage to work with. Still, he grunted, as he wasn't fond of being treated like the henchman, and decided to just get to the point, "I really don't care for the threats, or your time. Now, my errand. As you are no doubt aware, my safehouse in the area just got raided. Obviously that means somebody tipped Bazaar Security off, and I think I know who based on reports I've gotten. So I want you to go and kill the snitch. I'd do it myself, but as you might expect Bazaar Security is keeping an eye out for Apex right now, and I don't have the patience to kill him a year from now. Her name is Almi Usasx, a Valorian and former Apex Racer. I know it's her, because her sister is in Bazaar Security and it means she has somebody to safely go to for snitching, as well as making sure they get a reward. Easy job for an unknown like you." He chuckled as he said the next bit, "Plus you know that you've got everything to lose from this, so plenty of motivation too! Have fun."

Piper was going to enjoy wearing that helmet once she killed this smug asshole. Though now that she knows the who but not the where. But now she had to kill someone's sister... Having a sibling herself she didn't know if she could rip a family apart like that. But... If she didn't then this jerk would rob the kids of the chance to grow up and make their own lives all the better.

She should have played it off instead of admitting it... Nothing she could do about it now. All she could do was try to work something out. Piper reached out and took hold of the emitter for the Warlord's holographic image, lifting it up so he was now face height with her. She sure as hell didn't care for his backchat just like he didn't care for hers. It was a very hate hate relationship. One she would be all too happy for letting it go up in flames along with him. "And I don't care for yours or your dumbass taunts. Just gimme the damn location before me and you play manhunter for wasting my time #43. Sooner I can get this done and never have to see you again the better."

This is just great... Now I have to deal with the bazaar... Hopefully I can sneak in and talk to this girl and her sister... He might have eyes and ears but he doesn't know too much about my powers... I can make a barrier to stop anyone watching from looking in... If I can chat with them... Get them to help me find this guy and get them to fight each other while I get the kids offworld to some nice remote colony... It's better than doing the job and having him go through with attacking the place anyways... Maybe it would be better to hold out here and wait for him to come to me... Ugh. Either way I go about this... It's going to get the bazaar on my case. Something I really don't need... Piper started to think of everything she could do... She couldn't let anything happen to those in her care. But now she was stuck... She needed a way out.

Triporea wrote:

She shook her head and smiled. “No, your faith has not been misplaced. I was just worried that the disintegration grenade would have gone off and we’d have a problem on our hands.”

-

She shrugged. “I’m on painkillers finally. Strong ones. Not that pussy crap they tried to give me back on the ship.”

He had to admit he wasn't expecting to hear about her having a disintegrator locked away in that suitcase. If he was going to be honest he didn't check because he didn't want to go through a lady's things. Reaver's being rather chivalrous like that, now the Lord commander is wondering if he should have steeled that side of his and checked to see what she was packing away. "I-I see. Well no you will find everything as you left it. We owe you that much for what you have done for us so far."

-----

Harlock blinked for a moment before letting off a light chuckle, starting to unhinge his jaw so he can reveal his mouth and drink 'normally' "Good to see the painkillers haven't numbed your attitude.Though yeah we do have stronger stuff down here, the stuff we keep on the ship is weaker cause its normally just the drones that get hurt doing maintenance. They can't handle the strong stuff, they go into a fit." He says uninterrupted as he downs the glass of white wine. "The docs should be prepping the surgery now, it'll be a day before they have everything ready. They want to get this right first time. If they don't you might need a bionic spine. Which just sounds cool really. An unbreakable spine."

Iammelon wrote:

Trumoni simply started eating without comment, allowing Rose to do the same. All around the room were other Gradrix Cultists, properly converted ones. And it was a surprisingly civil and normal place despite the circumstances. Friend groups were sitting together, composed of the three main races here. Those being humans, Fatimazda, and the occasional Gradrix Watrike. Everybody seemed to doing rather alright, though seemed to make little prayers after they were finished eating to this statue of Tyfrondor in the center of the room.

-

Dosk shrugged, "I dunno. Lunch would be nice I guess. Don't know what I'm allowed to eat though."

-

Cirece tried to find a periscope of her own to look through so she could get a look at the defenses for herself.

She sighed and finished her food. Looking at Trumoni to see if they should go to the statue. She knelt before it, and closed her eyes falling silent to simulate praying.

-

“What do you want, and I can get it for you? Anything, I want my dragon to be happy!”

-

There was only two, and both were being used. Dana returned to the table after a few minutes. “Driver! Advance to forward point six point one two!” The tank jolted forward again.

Honour guard wrote:

He had to admit he wasn't expecting to hear about her having a disintegrator locked away in that suitcase. If he was going to be honest he didn't check because he didn't want to go through a lady's things. Reaver's being rather chivalrous like that, now the Lord commander is wondering if he should have steeled that side of his and checked to see what she was packing away. "I-I see. Well no you will find everything as you left it. We owe you that much for what you have done for us so far."

-----

Harlock blinked for a moment before letting off a light chuckle, starting to unhinge his jaw so he can reveal his mouth and drink 'normally' "Good to see the painkillers haven't numbed your attitude.Though yeah we do have stronger stuff down here, the stuff we keep on the ship is weaker cause its normally just the drones that get hurt doing maintenance. They can't handle the strong stuff, they go into a fit." He says uninterrupted as he downs the glass of white wine. "The docs should be prepping the surgery now, it'll be a day before they have everything ready. They want to get this right first time. If they don't you might need a bionic spine. Which just sounds cool really. An unbreakable spine."

She shrugged. "Don't worry about it. That grenade is only there as an anti theft device. So I won't use it, but I do arm it every time I travel. Just in case someone wants to try and steal from me." She smiled. "So, what's a war hero got to do to get some food around here?"

-

She laughed. "That sounds fun, but I dunno. Can you guys not get an Ayurveda specialist to come and heal me through traditional methods? You know, massages and healing ointment?" She nervously chuckled.

Triporea wrote:

She sighed and finished her food. Looking at Trumoni to see if they should go to the statue. She knelt before it, and closed her eyes falling silent to simulate praying.

-

“What do you want, and I can get it for you? Anything, I want my dragon to be happy!”

-

There was only two, and both were being used. Dana returned to the table after a few minutes. “Driver! Advance to forward point six point one two!” The tank jolted forward again.

Trumoni seemed a little confused himself, and when he finished he sorta just mimicked Rose at the statue. Regardless, this seemed to warded off suspicion, as nobody was watching them. Trumoni carefully got up and moved away from the statue.

-

"Some meat would be a nice. A big old steak. Haven't had one of those in a while."

-

Cirece tried to get a look for herself now, since Dana had gotten off, as she really wanted to know what the heck was going on outside.

Iammelon wrote:

Trumoni seemed a little confused himself, and when he finished he sorta just mimicked Rose at the statue. Regardless, this seemed to warded off suspicion, as nobody was watching them. Trumoni carefully got up and moved away from the statue.

-

"Some meat would be a nice. A big old steak. Haven't had one of those in a while."

-

Cirece tried to get a look for herself now, since Dana had gotten off, as she really wanted to know what the heck was going on outside.

After what felt like an appropriate amount of time she stood up and sighed. Walking slowly and casually to her room. Trying to not raise suspicion.

-

She nodded and quickly pulled out a comm device. She opened up a chat. "Yes, Generalissma?" "I need a steak, with sides, a vegetable curry, and two cups for tea." "Yes, Generalissima." She returned the comm to her pocket and smiled at Dosk. "So, want me turn on the tv?"

-

Cirece saw tranches. Lots of them, plus a massive base behind it. The base had an airstrip on top of it, but one of Culum's ships was hovering above delivering a hell storm to the airstrip. The trenches had tons of fortifications, like bunkers, gun nests, and many other cannons. Dana's tank was situated on top of a hill, just in front of a friendly bunker to their rear. She caught glimpses of soldiers scarring in the trenches.

Triporea wrote:

She shrugged. "Don't worry about it. That grenade is only there as an anti theft device. So I won't use it, but I do arm it every time I travel. Just in case someone wants to try and steal from me." She smiled. "So, what's a war hero got to do to get some food around here?"

-

She laughed. "That sounds fun, but I dunno. Can you guys not get an Ayurveda specialist to come and heal me through traditional methods? You know, massages and healing ointment?" She nervously chuckled.

Sephus chuckles as he stands in the doorframe to her room "You're hardly a war hero for taking out a leviathan and a Broodmother. Unless you were part of a war we're unaware of?" He says before pointing to the holopad "Plus you can order room service from the pad. If the VIP treatment isn't your style you'll be allowed into the guard messhall if you really want"

-----

He caught on to that nervous tone in her voice pretty quick, putting his glass down and covering his mouth as it disappears again he looks to her "If you're seriously hung up on oils and massages a professional doesn't need to come down." He says as a joke to lighten the mood before he sighs "Nervous about the surgery I take it? Don't be, I'd be a pretty sh1tty friend if I didn't ask the best to do what they can for you. You're not getting some back alley doctor or whatever. You're getting the best of what my people can offer, you and Liline are the first friends I've ever made outside of my little bubble of family. I'm not really set on letting you or her suffer."

He spoke plainly and truthfully, he may as well. Since lying will do no good, saying its no biggy would ruin it. He pours himself another glass as he looked over to her again "If it'll make you feel any better, the procedure is painless. And your body will be doing most of the work. Our Medical tech enhances natural healing, we're going to align your spine back up and your body will heal back good as new, if not stronger. The worst that will happen is that you'll be tired as hell since what we basically did is raise your metabolism to stupid heights for a small length of time. But nothing some coffee, junk food or a scary movie can't fix huh?"

Triporea wrote:

After what felt like an appropriate amount of time she stood up and sighed. Walking slowly and casually to her room. Trying to not raise suspicion.

-

She nodded and quickly pulled out a comm device. She opened up a chat. "Yes, Generalissma?" "I need a steak, with sides, a vegetable curry, and two cups for tea." "Yes, Generalissima." She returned the comm to her pocket and smiled at Dosk. "So, want me turn on the tv?"

-

Cirece saw tranches. Lots of them, plus a massive base behind it. The base had an airstrip on top of it, but one of Culum's ships was hovering above delivering a hell storm to the airstrip. The trenches had tons of fortifications, like bunkers, gun nests, and many other cannons. Dana's tank was situated on top of a hill, just in front of a friendly bunker to their rear. She caught glimpses of soldiers scarring in the trenches.

Trumoni went with her, but kept some distance so they didn't seem too associated. He sat down on the bed when they got back, sighing, "That was almost quite bad. I was not expecting the prayers."

-

Dosk nodded, "Sure! Put on the news, so I can see what's going on while I'm stuck here."

-

Cirece sighed and sat back down, "Damn, they really are quite entrenched. So, are we going to try and find a way to sneak by, or are we doing the direct approach?"

Honour guard wrote:

She did not need to think very hard for an answer, even if such an answer may not explain much. "We strive to evolve because we must. So in some sense I suppose you can say we evolve because we have no choice. The overriding will, be it the Overmind, The Queen of Blades or whatever dark god rules us chooses what path we follow... This time it is my choice. I must become something more and become more like your people."

Mierl nodded, "Understood. I was just quite curious, but that does make sense. Regardless, I am pleased that you have been able to make the choice for yourself now. Hopefully we can keep it that way." They finally arrived at the ship's morgue at that point, and it was as one might expect. A white room filled with refrigeration units, filled up with the dead from the battle at Duxton. Oddly however Yaj and Mierl were not alone in here, there was somebody else. It was an Anubite Mystic, in full armor with a staff, and he was wandering between the rows of preserved bodies. Until he came across one that was unmarked, likely due to their body being too damaged to be recognized, and then he stopped. He started to focus, just standing there.

Honour guard wrote:

Piper was going to enjoy wearing that helmet once she killed this smug asshole. Though now that she knows the who but not the where. But now she had to kill someone's sister... Having a sibling herself she didn't know if she could rip a family apart like that. But... If she didn't then this jerk would rob the kids of the chance to grow up and make their own lives all the better.

She should have played it off instead of admitting it... Nothing she could do about it now. All she could do was try to work something out. Piper reached out and took hold of the emitter for the Warlord's holographic image, lifting it up so he was now face height with her. She sure as hell didn't care for his backchat just like he didn't care for hers. It was a very hate hate relationship. One she would be all too happy for letting it go up in flames along with him. "And I don't care for yours or your dumbass taunts. Just gimme the damn location before me and you play manhunter for wasting my time #43. Sooner I can get this done and never have to see you again the better."

This is just great... Now I have to deal with the bazaar... Hopefully I can sneak in and talk to this girl and her sister... He might have eyes and ears but he doesn't know too much about my powers... I can make a barrier to stop anyone watching from looking in... If I can chat with them... Get them to help me find this guy and get them to fight each other while I get the kids offworld to some nice remote colony... It's better than doing the job and having him go through with attacking the place anyways... Maybe it would be better to hold out here and wait for him to come to me... Ugh. Either way I go about this... It's going to get the bazaar on my case. Something I really don't need... Piper started to think of everything she could do... She couldn't let anything happen to those in her care. But now she was stuck... She needed a way out.

The Warlord laughed, at this point feeling very in control of the situation and not even pestered by the continued pushing at him, "Same here, lady! Just doing this so people understand that Apex always pays people back! Now then, I'm afraid I don't have exacts, but I know that the rat is hiding out somewhere in Elros Square, near the local Bloodmoon Outpost. Should be easy to find. Up to you to find and kill Almi. Shouldn't be hard, even for you, just gotta find the Valorian that Bazaar Security has an interest in protecting! You got a day and a half before I burn that place to the ground. I look forward to never speaking with you again!" With that, he cut the line and disappeared from the comm link. Thus leaving Piper with the concussed Psi-Op and a time limit. Though the kids were getting a bit restless now, as the whole situation had them scared and Piper's extended absence wasn't helping.

Honour guard wrote:

Sephus chuckles as he stands in the doorframe to her room "You're hardly a war hero for taking out a leviathan and a Broodmother. Unless you were part of a war we're unaware of?" He says before pointing to the holopad "Plus you can order room service from the pad. If the VIP treatment isn't your style you'll be allowed into the guard messhall if you really want"

-----

He caught on to that nervous tone in her voice pretty quick, putting his glass down and covering his mouth as it disappears again he looks to her "If you're seriously hung up on oils and massages a professional doesn't need to come down." He says as a joke to lighten the mood before he sighs "Nervous about the surgery I take it? Don't be, I'd be a pretty sh1tty friend if I didn't ask the best to do what they can for you. You're not getting some back alley doctor or whatever. You're getting the best of what my people can offer, you and Liline are the first friends I've ever made outside of my little bubble of family. I'm not really set on letting you or her suffer."

He spoke plainly and truthfully, he may as well. Since lying will do no good, saying its no biggy would ruin it. He pours himself another glass as he looked over to her again "If it'll make you feel any better, the procedure is painless. And your body will be doing most of the work. Our Medical tech enhances natural healing, we're going to align your spine back up and your body will heal back good as new, if not stronger. The worst that will happen is that you'll be tired as hell since what we basically did is raise your metabolism to stupid heights for a small length of time. But nothing some coffee, junk food or a scary movie can't fix huh?"

She laughed. “You think I’m not a war hero with these skills?” She said as she walked over to the pad and started typing things into it. She went especially high class, seemingly out of spite. Champagne, cavier, fois grois, beef wellington, and napoleons.

-

She still seemed on the fence. “B-but... I-I’ve always had Ayurveda for every proceedure I’ve had... I don’t want some new fancy crap for a very serious illness! A Bezi physician can heal me right on up!”

Iammelon wrote:

Trumoni went with her, but kept some distance so they didn't seem too associated. He sat down on the bed when they got back, sighing, "That was almost quite bad. I was not expecting the prayers."

-

Dosk nodded, "Sure! Put on the news, so I can see what's going on while I'm stuck here."

-

Cirece sighed and sat back down, "Damn, they really are quite entrenched. So, are we going to try and find a way to sneak by, or are we doing the direct approach?"

She shrugged. “Hey, but we didn’t get caught and we learned that they pray after every meal!”

-

She hesitated. “Well, uh... We’re in hyper space right now! We don’t really have any channel reception, I’ll put on youe favorite movie!” She said as she started playing it.

-

He thought as he looked down on a map. “Hm... well, we could try and... Hm, I think I have an idea. That main bunker ahead has heavg cannons. It is stopping my advance. So, I want you to sneak in and disable it. Allowing my tanks to crush the trenches.” He said as an artillery barrage shook the hill. “They have artillery too... damn, puts me further back. Right, two objectives. Disable those artillery cannons on the base’s walls, and that bunker. Bunker should lead you into the base and you can climb until you reach those two...” Another barrage. “Three cannons. Sound good?”

Triporea wrote:

She shrugged. “Hey, but we didn’t get caught and we learned that they pray after every meal!”

-

She hesitated. “Well, uh... We’re in hyper space right now! We don’t really have any channel reception, I’ll put on youe favorite movie!” She said as she started playing it.

-

He thought as he looked down on a map. “Hm... well, we could try and... Hm, I think I have an idea. That main bunker ahead has heavg cannons. It is stopping my advance. So, I want you to sneak in and disable it. Allowing my tanks to crush the trenches.” He said as an artillery barrage shook the hill. “They have artillery too... damn, puts me further back. Right, two objectives. Disable those artillery cannons on the base’s walls, and that bunker. Bunker should lead you into the base and you can climb until you reach those two...” Another barrage. “Three cannons. Sound good?”

Trumoni nodded, "Quite true. We also have an idea of what meals are served. I suspect we will be doing many of these learning experiences, until we can finally fit in. I only hope that in learning to emulate, we do not accidentally begin to truly believe."

-

Dosk found the excuse a bit odd, but shrugged. His favorite movie was a corny Iammelonian action film about a Dragon, and as usual he was quite happy watching it, "It's still a nice movie. I guess I can wait to see the news until we arrive at our destination."

-

Cirece sighed and nodded, "Sure. They won't be expecting a Sergal I suppose, so it shouldn't be hard. And I bet this suit probably has a cloaking device, so even easier. I'll deal with the artillery and the bunker. See ya later." She moved to get out of the tank, looking for the exit hatch.

Iammelon wrote:

Trumoni nodded, "Quite true. We also have an idea of what meals are served. I suspect we will be doing many of these learning experiences, until we can finally fit in. I only hope that in learning to emulate, we do not accidentally begin to truly believe."

-

Dosk found the excuse a bit odd, but shrugged. His favorite movie was a corny Iammelonian action film about a Dragon, and as usual he was quite happy watching it, "It's still a nice movie. I guess I can wait to see the news until we arrive at our destination."

-

Cirece sighed and nodded, "Sure. They won't be expecting a Sergal I suppose, so it shouldn't be hard. And I bet this suit probably has a cloaking device, so even easier. I'll deal with the artillery and the bunker. See ya later." She moved to get out of the tank, looking for the exit hatch.

She sighed and nodded. "True. But won't the Gradrix priest get suspicious about you staying in this room?"

-

She smiled and pulled out her comm unit. Getting on the horn with some contacts at a news station. She closed it and put it down before Dosk could see what she was typing.

-

The hatch was opened for her once she reached the top of the ladder. The moment she climbed out, several sniper shots landed near her. Indicating she needed to be quick. The suit did have a cloaking device. "Be careful, I want to see you again alive."

Iammelon wrote:

Mierl nodded, "Understood. I was just quite curious, but that does make sense. Regardless, I am pleased that you have been able to make the choice for yourself now. Hopefully we can keep it that way." They finally arrived at the ship's morgue at that point, and it was as one might expect. A white room filled with refrigeration units, filled up with the dead from the battle at Duxton. Oddly however Yaj and Mierl were not alone in here, there was somebody else. It was an Anubite Mystic, in full armor with a staff, and he was wandering between the rows of preserved bodies. Until he came across one that was unmarked, likely due to their body being too damaged to be recognized, and then he stopped. He started to focus, just standing there.

Yaj was mentally evaluating the cadavers as they went from row to row. But she couldn't really make a decision based on names alone. Looking upon the names of the dead after the battle of Duxton... It made her feel... Prideful, alost happy. But that didn't sit right with her. This was slipping back to her old mentality. She couldn't slip back into the old sadistic drone she was. While she still had strength enough to use the brainwashing Castilin used on her fading now that he disowned her she would need to choose quickly.

That was all until she and Mierl came across the unidentified cadaver that the mystic was tending too... An unmarked individual... No way of knowing what species, age or even gender they were like that. She prayed that their death was quick and painless... "Mierl... That one will work. I can identify who they were once I have their memories. It helps for the record and I can also preserve who they were for any next of kin..."

Iammelon wrote:

The Warlord laughed, at this point feeling very in control of the situation and not even pestered by the continued pushing at him, "Same here, lady! Just doing this so people understand that Apex always pays people back! Now then, I'm afraid I don't have exacts, but I know that the rat is hiding out somewhere in Elros Square, near the local Bloodmoon Outpost. Should be easy to find. Up to you to find and kill Almi. Shouldn't be hard, even for you, just gotta find the Valorian that Bazaar Security has an interest in protecting! You got a day and a half before I burn that place to the ground. I look forward to never speaking with you again!" With that, he cut the line and disappeared from the comm link. Thus leaving Piper with the concussed Psi-Op and a time limit. Though the kids were getting a bit restless now, as the whole situation had them scared and Piper's extended absence wasn't helping.

After the projection disappeared she picked up Nolden and carried him to the sports hall near the assembly hall, she needed to make sure she could get their cooperation if things went south... She had a plan. But she didn't know if it would work. She didn't trust Apex, but she really had no other choice now that she was stuck with her back to a wall like this...

After moving all the pirates to the sports hall and locking them in without their weapons, and breaking Nolden's arms for good measure to make sure the pain will keep him from breaking the chains she had him up in, before going back to the kids with the weapons she confiscated from the Apex pirates and left them on the stage. "Its okay. You can come out now" The kids started to eagerly run out to practically tackle Piper to the ground, bawling their eyes out saying that they were so scared, one of the younger girls saying they thought they lost her. Piper just let out a hearty laugh before ruffling their hair "You kidding? You've need more than afew Apex grunts to take me down. You'd need the whole damn Bazaar to keep me down!" She says with a big cheesy grin on her face to cheer the kids up. It started to bring them around quickly.

The teens started to come out from under the stage, already checking the weapons. One of the eldest, a human male with a crimson red mohawk, tanned skin and green eyes wearing some mashed together armour over what looked like a mechanics jumpsuit, he couldn't have been any older than 16, started checking the weapons for Piper walked after the kids started to play amongst themselves. The male speaking up as she walked over "We're up sh1t creak right? We wouldn't have these weapons otherwise."

Piper slightly flinched at that, knowing it was a losing battle trying to lie to him. "... I hate you sometimes Thatcher, you know that? But... You're right. A warlord called the guys I knocked out, they're locked up in the sports hall but one of them is Psionic... I could stop if I stayed here... But I need to do a favour so the dickbag doesn't torch this place..."

Thatcher groaned and folded his hands behind his head "... What do you need to do?" Piper took a moment before spitting it out. "It puts me in the corporations crosshairs. He wants me to kill a tattle tail that destroyed the hideout across the street... She ratted them out to her sister who works for the Bazaar..."

Thatch dragged a hand through his hair before setting them down at his side. "Okay... As bad as the situation is. I know you can work around this. But if it comes to this, we need an out. Those pirates might just torch the place while you're gone... If they try. We'll start shooting and get the kids out of here. We aren't soldiers, but we owe it to you for everything your've done for us Piper. The kids won't ever forget how you've given us all a second chance... But maybe we can get some info out of the pirates. We may as well try. See if we can bargain with the Bazaar security to get us a ticket offworld and burn the Apex while we're at it."

Piper rubs the back of her neck as she takes all this in, Thatcher made some good points but she didn't think interrogating the Apex will go down well if this goes south. None of the kids were strong Psionics, only one with potential was one of the young girls. She could't overpower an Apex officer, not without a strong catalyst like trauma to trigger some hysterical strength response. But like that she'd hurt everyone and herself in trying to beat back the pirate. She ultimately shook her head before patting his shoulder "Just watch them. Keep them under close guard and only shoot them if they become difficult... Tell them their boss abandoned them. Anything to get them to backstab their boss... Until then. I need to go out again..."

Thatcher groaned again, Taking along moment to look out upon the playing children as they happily read their books and played games like hide and seek. Ultimately his gaze goes back to Piper before nodding "I'll hold down the fort. If Apex show up, we'll give them hell just like you taught us." Patting his back, Piper made her way out the school and out for Elcros Square. With luck she could get this job over with quickly before anything bad happened to the kids...

Triporea wrote:

She laughed. “You think I’m not a war hero with these skills?” She said as she walked over to the pad and started typing things into it. She went especially high class, seemingly out of spite. Champagne, cavier, fois grois, beef wellington, and napoleons.

-

She still seemed on the fence. “B-but... I-I’ve always had Ayurveda for every proceedure I’ve had... I don’t want some new fancy crap for a very serious illness! A Bezi physician can heal me right on up!”

Sephus chuckles under his helmet as he watches her spitefully order all the expensive stuff "You'd think war heroes would be more composed. And what skills? Anyone can shoot a broodmother and use engine exhausts to blow apart a Leviathan's face. It could be dumb luck, not skill. But we won't know until we have our bout." The Lord commander teased as the request for her food went through, a timer styled like a digital clock started to count down from 20 minutes.

-----

Perhaps it was best that he bites the bullet on this one, he knew she was extremely on the fence about this. But perhaps he needed to play into this to keep her in her comfort zone so she could get the treatment she needed. The healing oil could be changed for the medi-solution they were going to use... It was underhanded. But he would only do so as a last resort if he couldn't convince her. Letting out a sigh, he caved "Okay. I will send someone to go to the Bez embassy, ask if we can get a trusted Ayurveda and bring them here if it makes you feel any better. We'll bring them here so you don't have to leave the comfy bed." He knew she wouldn't want to go back into space, so bringing one to Castameer was a better option if it was possible. "Though if it doesn't help. Will you please talk to me about what has you on edge about the surgery?"

Triporea wrote:

She sighed and nodded. "True. But won't the Gradrix priest get suspicious about you staying in this room?"

-

She smiled and pulled out her comm unit. Getting on the horn with some contacts at a news station. She closed it and put it down before Dosk could see what she was typing.

-

The hatch was opened for her once she reached the top of the ladder. The moment she climbed out, several sniper shots landed near her. Indicating she needed to be quick. The suit did have a cloaking device. "Be careful, I want to see you again alive."

Trumoni considered that, but shook his head, "We are merely taking the available room, no? So it is simply circumstance that we are together."

-

Dosk had just assumed it was something military-related, and thus not his business, so his focus kept on the movie. Culum's secret was kept for now.

-

Cirece looked back at him and smiled, "Don't worry yourself too much. You've still got a line of trenches to destroy when my job is done!" With that, she activated the cloaking device and jumped out of the tank, now looking for a good approach to the target bunker.

Iammelon wrote:

Trumoni considered that, but shook his head, "We are merely taking the available room, no? So it is simply circumstance that we are together."

-

Dosk had just assumed it was something military-related, and thus not his business, so his focus kept on the movie. Culum's secret was kept for now.

-

Cirece looked back at him and smiled, "Don't worry yourself too much. You've still got a line of trenches to destroy when my job is done!" With that, she activated the cloaking device and jumped out of the tank, now looking for a good approach to the target bunker.

She nodded. “That’s true actually... nevermind. I’m just very paranoid right now. Does that fit in with the theme of Gradrix?”

-

She sighed and kept watching the movie with him. They’d watch two movies after that, before she spoke. “And we’ve arrived! Let’s watch the news!” She put it on, but everything seemed normal. Just covering days old news with today’s date.

-

As she landed, there were two options. Following the trenches or trying to go over them. Going over would mean less encounters more crossfire, through meant more encounters.

Honour guard wrote:

Yaj was mentally evaluating the cadavers as they went from row to row. But she couldn't really make a decision based on names alone. Looking upon the names of the dead after the battle of Duxton... It made her feel... Prideful, alost happy. But that didn't sit right with her. This was slipping back to her old mentality. She couldn't slip back into the old sadistic drone she was. While she still had strength enough to use the brainwashing Castilin used on her fading now that he disowned her she would need to choose quickly.

That was all until she and Mierl came across the unidentified cadaver that the mystic was tending too... An unmarked individual... No way of knowing what species, age or even gender they were like that. She prayed that their death was quick and painless... "Mierl... That one will work. I can identify who they were once I have their memories. It helps for the record and I can also preserve who they were for any next of kin..."

After the projection disappeared she picked up Nolden and carried him to the sports hall near the assembly hall, she needed to make sure she could get their cooperation if things went south... She had a plan. But she didn't know if it would work. She didn't trust Apex, but she really had no other choice now that she was stuck with her back to a wall like this...

After moving all the pirates to the sports hall and locking them in without their weapons, and breaking Nolden's arms for good measure to make sure the pain will keep him from breaking the chains she had him up in, before going back to the kids with the weapons she confiscated from the Apex pirates and left them on the stage. "Its okay. You can come out now" The kids started to eagerly run out to practically tackle Piper to the ground, bawling their eyes out saying that they were so scared, one of the younger girls saying they thought they lost her. Piper just let out a hearty laugh before ruffling their hair "You kidding? You've need more than afew Apex grunts to take me down. You'd need the whole damn Bazaar to keep me down!" She says with a big cheesy grin on her face to cheer the kids up. It started to bring them around quickly.

The teens started to come out from under the stage, already checking the weapons. One of the eldest, a human male with a crimson red mohawk, tanned skin and green eyes wearing some mashed together armour over what looked like a mechanics jumpsuit, he couldn't have been any older than 16, started checking the weapons for Piper walked after the kids started to play amongst themselves. The male speaking up as she walked over "We're up sh1t creak right? We wouldn't have these weapons otherwise."

Piper slightly flinched at that, knowing it was a losing battle trying to lie to him. "... I hate you sometimes Thatcher, you know that? But... You're right. A warlord called the guys I knocked out, they're locked up in the sports hall but one of them is Psionic... I could stop if I stayed here... But I need to do a favour so the dickbag doesn't torch this place..."

Thatcher groaned and folded his hands behind his head "... What do you need to do?" Piper took a moment before spitting it out. "It puts me in the corporations crosshairs. He wants me to kill a tattle tail that destroyed the hideout across the street... She ratted them out to her sister who works for the Bazaar..."

Thatch dragged a hand through his hair before setting them down at his side. "Okay... As bad as the situation is. I know you can work around this. But if it comes to this, we need an out. Those pirates might just torch the place while you're gone... If they try. We'll start shooting and get the kids out of here. We aren't soldiers, but we owe it to you for everything your've done for us Piper. The kids won't ever forget how you've given us all a second chance... But maybe we can get some info out of the pirates. We may as well try. See if we can bargain with the Bazaar security to get us a ticket offworld and burn the Apex while we're at it."

Piper rubs the back of her neck as she takes all this in, Thatcher made some good points but she didn't think interrogating the Apex will go down well if this goes south. None of the kids were strong Psionics, only one with potential was one of the young girls. She could't overpower an Apex officer, not without a strong catalyst like trauma to trigger some hysterical strength response. But like that she'd hurt everyone and herself in trying to beat back the pirate. She ultimately shook her head before patting his shoulder "Just watch them. Keep them under close guard and only shoot them if they become difficult... Tell them their boss abandoned them. Anything to get them to backstab their boss... Until then. I need to go out again..."

Thatcher groaned again, Taking along moment to look out upon the playing children as they happily read their books and played games like hide and seek. Ultimately his gaze goes back to Piper before nodding "I'll hold down the fort. If Apex show up, we'll give them hell just like you taught us." Patting his back, Piper made her way out the school and out for Elcros Square. With luck she could get this job over with quickly before anything bad happened to the kids...

Sephus chuckles under his helmet as he watches her spitefully order all the expensive stuff "You'd think war heroes would be more composed. And what skills? Anyone can shoot a broodmother and use engine exhausts to blow apart a Leviathan's face. It could be dumb luck, not skill. But we won't know until we have our bout." The Lord commander teased as the request for her food went through, a timer styled like a digital clock started to count down from 20 minutes.

-----

Perhaps it was best that he bites the bullet on this one, he knew she was extremely on the fence about this. But perhaps he needed to play into this to keep her in her comfort zone so she could get the treatment she needed. The healing oil could be changed for the medi-solution they were going to use... It was underhanded. But he would only do so as a last resort if he couldn't convince her. Letting out a sigh, he caved "Okay. I will send someone to go to the Bez embassy, ask if we can get a trusted Ayurveda and bring them here if it makes you feel any better. We'll bring them here so you don't have to leave the comfy bed." He knew she wouldn't want to go back into space, so bringing one to Castameer was a better option if it was possible. "Though if it doesn't help. Will you please talk to me about what has you on edge about the surgery?"

She rolled her eyes and tossed her coat on the bed. Kicking her shoes off as she went to the bathroom. “I need enough ice to fill the bathtub, where do I get it?”

-

She shook her head. “Just call one up. No need to go through the embassy. I’m sure you could pay one to be flown out internationally.”