Story: Meanwhile... Blindsided Me with Scientific Delays!

The skies over Aether City are filled with pink and orange hues, filtering the lands below in a weak but brilliant golden light. Merchants and citizens alike use the last fleeting moments of a lit sky to finish their errands and business for the day, whilst guards either prepare themselves for their night shift, or eagerly wait to be released for the evening.
At the eastern gate, a young Chespin squire is among those eagerly awaiting their replacement, and regularly steals glances at their gatehouses in hopes of catching sight of their replacements. He gazes away from the gatehouse and back towards the road, and sees a few caravans approaching in the distance. His nose twitches and he gives it a small scratch; one last convoy to inspect would give him something to do before night fell and he was able to return to the barracks.
About a score of minutes passes before the convoy is upon the gate. Several Gogoat decorated with the crest of a transport company the squire didn’t recognize pull three large wagons. They stop a couple of meters away from the gate, and a tall Sawk dressed in a gambeson and overcoat steps out of the leading wagon. He adjusts a fine silk scarf, then pulls out a few sheets of paper and makes his way to the gate.
: Good evening, (he inclines his head politely) my name is Witek. Our maester bezeeched’ us to deliver zome’ equipment and other materials to him. (He offers the paperwork to the Chespin.) You zhould’ find that zhese’ cover all of our credentials to enter za’ city with our goods, signed by za’ good Maester Bál himself.
: Ah, alright-- (he takes the papers and quickly leafs through them; at a glance, they looked official) --we will need to inspect your wagons before you enter the city though.
: Zhat’ zhouldn’t be a problem.
: Very good! Tarik-- (He nudges his head towards the wagon)
From out of the gatehouse stalks a tired looking Luxio. As they work their way around the leading wagon and looks at the cargo area in the back, the Chespin reads over the documents again--
By the decree of Free Swords, and with the support of her Royal Majesty, Queen Tara Nic Nessa Adonai, … the Squared Circle is given legitimate sovereignty to important goods at its discretion… for non-commercial purposes, and without the right to redistribute their goods… so long as the goods in question do not pose any potential threat to Aether, its officials, or its citizenry in body, mind, or spirit… all shipments are subject to search… any contraband goods found to be smuggled in via the Squared Circle will lead to an immediate termination of its contract with the Free Swords…
The Chespin frowns, and his nose twitches again. The documents weren’t unofficial; if anything they were the complete opposite, but the attention to detail and specifics of the contract between the Squared Circle and its employers in Aether City were so exact compared to other merchant guilds he had seen in the past… not to mention the amount of big political players they had validating their business--
WHUN-TUNK!
: Careful vith’ zhose’!
The Chespin glances at the comotion. A Throh dressed in a gambeson and overcoat almost identical to the Sawk’s now stood near the back of the leading wagon, arms crossed, one foot tapping the ground, and a pointed look on their face as they watched the Luxio look through the contents of the wagon.
: You better hope zhat’ nothing in zhere’ gets damaged -- even if you don’t end up breaking zome’ of za’ more dangerous items zhat’ could burn the zkin’ off your ears, Mindaugas vill’ have your head if anyzhing’ is delivered to him in any condition less zhan’ pristine!
At the Throh’s words, Tarik throws the squire a nervous look. At the Luxio’s panicked visage, the Chespin glances at the Sawk anxiously. The Sawk, who had been side-eyeing the Throh’s activities, looks back at the squire and offers him a small smile.
: He’s zimply’ joking.
The Chespin’s nose twitches, but he quickly buries it back into the paperwork. He reads each page carefully, every paragraph at least twice, and it all seems as official and legitimate as a shipping company’s contract could be.
: Everything looks fine, sir, but I’ll have to send someone to run by the Free Sword’s guild to confirm this contract-- it’s just not common for anyone other than the Artificer’s Union to hire out companies and lesser guilds, so we need to check.
: (his face remains as neutrally pleasant as ever) Underztandable.
The Chespin quickly ducks into the gatehouse, and hands the Breloom by the window the documents. They nod, already aware of the situation, and leave through the side exit to run to the Free Sword’s headquarters. With them gone, and Tarik still searching through the contents of the three wagons, the squire is left with nothing to do but look between the Sawk and the wagons.
After his warning from the Throh, Tarik is far more careful in his search, and the sounds of rustling and objects being bumped and slid decreases greatly. A moment or two later, Tarik emerges from the wagons and walks to the Chespin, offering a simple report of, “I didn’t see anything bad, Tucker, just a bunch of raw material, stuff blacksmiths and masons would use.” The Chespin nods and returns to his half-hearted staring contest with the Sawk. About ten minutes later, the Breloom returns, whispering, ”It’s all authorized” to the Chespin as they slide him the papers, and then Tucker offers the Sawk his papers back.
: I’m sorry for the wait, sir, but everything is sorted out now.
: Vonderful’, (the Sawk inclines his head again) zhank’ you for your azzistance’.
The Sawk tucks the papers back somewhere between his gambeson and overcoat, adjusts his scarf once again, and then climbs aboard the wagon beside the Throh. Offering one last polite nod to the guards, the Sawk nudges the Throh gently, and he spurs the Gogoats. They travel in silence as the convoy draws into the town, but once they are away from the gatehouse, the Throh speaks up.
: Zhat’ ‘mon in za’ vindow’...
: Zuspicious’ of uz’ but nozhin’ dangerous, you need not vorry’.
: If you zay’ zo, Witek.
: Tell me, Emil, how iz’ za’ package? Zhat’ Luxio didn’t touch it, did zhey’?
: No, but he came close.
: I vas’ able to scare him off zhough’, poor fraidy cat vaz’ too vorried’ about lozing’ zheir’ vhizkers’ to look too hard into anyzhing’.
: Zhat’s vas’ quick zhinking’. I’m not sure how Mindaugas expected uz’ to get zhat’ zhing’ zhrough’ a guard checkpoint vithout trouble.
: (he wets his lips and looks at the Sawk nervously) About za’ package, you don’t zhink’ zhat’ he--
: No, (he places a hand on the Throh’s shoulder) I don’t. I doubt zhat’ very much, Emil.
: I don’t know, Witek, he’s an odd one, zhat’ Mindaugas.
: Ya, he iz’. (he sighs) But he’s not able to do zuch’ zhingz’ vhile’ under za’ zhumb’ of ‘mons like Bál.
Emil hums thoughtfully and the conversation lulls into silence. The Gogoats pull the wagons towards the southernmost district of the city, traveling down increasingly dirty streets lined with debilitated buildings. They come to stop in front of a large building, several stories high, each lined with several windows, many of which are blocked out, with no visible entrance or exit.
: Here iz’ fine, zhank you. (He climbs off of the wagon and helps the Gogoat pulling his wagon remove their harnesses) Zhank’ you for your azzistance’ with za’ delivery. Again, I apologize for za’ detour we had to take, but I azzure’ you zhat’ I vill’ pay extra for your zervices’.
The Gogoat nods and thanks Witek for his kindness. The Sawk smiles pleasantly and continues to assist the goats in removing their harnesses. Once the entire herd was free of their harnesses, Witek offers a large pouch of coins to the head Gogoat. Once they are content with their payment, and Witek had assured them that he and his brother would not need help unloading the contents of the wagons, they head north out of the outskirts. Not seconds after a they had turned tail, a large, pounding noise followed by an exasperated groan echoes through the street.
: Who is interrupting me now?
Witek looks over and sees that Emil has already made himself comfortable by the entrance to the lab, leaning up against the wall near the hidden opening. Witek rolls his eyes and taps the Throh’s head lightly.
: You could have vaited’ for zhem’ to have gone furzher’ before getting hiz’ attention. (He clears his throat and speaks louder.) It’z uz, Mindaugas!
: Oh, you two.
There is a series of muffled clicking and clacking noises from behind the wall, and then the wall slide forwards, opening large enough for the scientist to slip half of his form out of the door, casting hurried glances both directions of the street for eavesdroppers before turning harshly on the two Fighting types.
: Where have you been?! I expected you months ago! What, did you decide to take a small pilgrimage along the coast before coming to report to me?
: By Entei’z flaming azz’-fur, I vish’ ve’ had, it vould’ have been more exciting zhen’ collecting everyzhing’ for you.
: Watch your mouth, boy.
: Vhat’ he means-- (he steps between Emil and Mindaugas) ve’ had to visit all of your previous labs to find everyzhing’ you vanted’, and even zhen’ zhere’ vere’ zome’ zhings’ mizzing’, and ve’ had to find merchants villing’ to zell’ zhem’ to u--
: Is everything accounted for?
: Ya’, it’z all zhere’. Az’ I vas’ saying, vhen’ ve--’
: You brought my aludel, yes?
: Ve’-- ya’, ve’ did, and--
: And my athanor! You didn’t leave that behind, did you? Because size has never been an issue with you two before!
: Ya’, zer’, everyzhing’ you azked’ for iz’ zhere’.
: Well, then at least you two were able to follow fifty-percent of my instructions: you got everything I asked for, now if only you could make deliveries by the times I tell you to.
: Zhut’ your jellied-noize’-bladder-pipe, you unmuzzled pignut! You zend’ uz’ out for dayz’ to collect all your zhings’ you vere’ too lazy to bring yourzelf’ za’ firzt’ time, you zend’ uz’ out AGAIN to bring back anozher’ zhing’ for you, and zhen’ you don’t even let uz’ explain our trip to you!
: Well, firstly--
: If you ever speak to me like that again, I will blow a hole through your chest, rip your intestines out of said hole, and use them to fashion a noose to hang you with so everyone can have a very charming public display of what happens when tickled-brained clouts like you don’t learn to address their superiors properly.
: Secondly, you mentioned the… other thing I sent you out to get. You did get it, yes? It took me a long time to arrange for Itzal and his goons get me this mystery item, I cannot stand to let anymore time slip away from me.
Witel and Emil both let out sighs, causing Mindaugas to quirk a brow at them.
: ...What is it?
: Zo’ you didn’t know vhat’ it vas’ beforehand…
: I’m not zure’ zhat’s any better, Witek.
: If the two of you bundered-headed skuts would cease your theatrics long enough to tell me what you acquired from Itzal’s goons and why it has caused you two have the reaction you just did, I might find myself so inclined to actually allow you to keep your positions.
: Za’ zhing’ iz’, ve’ didn’t know vhat’ za’... item vaz’ vhen’ ve’ picked it up--
: But you did get it from one Itzal’s goons, yes? You know, the Croagunk, the Murkrow, the Scraggy, one of them?
: Ya, ve’ followed za’ crow back to zhat’ “base” in Voluntaz’--
: Volunt-- Itzal told me that they obtained the item in Khetmaat!
: Ztolen, you mean.
: It took za’ mezzenger’ a vhile’ to find uz’, he had gotten zidetracked--
: Probably from zcamming’ zome’ ‘mons along za’ way, no doubt!
: Once he did find uz’, he told uz’ zat’ he moved za’ item to Voluntaz’ for zafety’. He claimed zat’ za’ ongoing zivil’ var’ between the rebels and za’ Pharaoh’s army in Khemaat vould’ make tranzporting’ za’ item difficult, zo’ he had his partners take za’ zhing’ out az’ zoon’ az’ za’ chance aroze’.
: Itzal’s messenger did claim that the item was fragile and valuable, so in a shocking and very rare turn of events, those three idiots made a smart call…
: Nevermind, they made the only one with the slightest of mental capabilities leave the rest of his clay-brained associates with the item in their care; horrible call, actually the worst.
: But that’s beside the point: show me the item now! I need to begin immediately!
: Ya’, vell’, zhat’s za’ zhing’... it’z not really an item.
: Excuse me?
: Zhis’ entire deal felt zhady, but we didn’t put too much zhought’ into it at za’ time becauze’ all of Itzal’s deals are… but ve’ zhould’ have been able to tell zhat’ zhis’ one vas’ different.
: Ya’, given zhat’ za’ “item” in question looked drugged to all nine hells.
Witek throws Emil a pointed look, causing the Throh to shrug and the Reuniclus’ eye to twitch.
: Vhat’?
: What -- exactly -- did you bring back?
: Zupose’ ve’ll zhow’ you, ve’ just vanted’ to give a fair varning’ before you blamed uz’ for anyzhing’ zhat’ vazn’t our fault.
: Come inside then, the alleyways have eyes and ears, and we’ve already said too much for those with any brains between their skulls to want to learn more.
: Vhat’?
: Vill’ zhat’ be a problem?
: Not if I have the materials necessary to finish my protect -- it could be completed sooner. (He pushes the door open further.) If nothing else, it sounds as if Itzal has given me something interesting to work with, especially if he was able to get the two of you to trip over your own feet with such ease.
Witek and Emil share a look.
: Bring everything inside--
: Vhat’? Everyzhing’?
: Everything.
Category:Meanwhiles
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether