Entering the Smog

It has been one night of travel towards Bastion. All of the crew are going around and making sure things are working right, but Vae seems to be under control.

Sakiran takes her Weapon Primer to the gym to read it, and notices the scorch marks are still there. She deduces she is able to finish it by the end of the journey.

Leoric takes the time to work on the weapon. He determines an extended pole would be quite fragile, so has the idea to make the gauntlet he has Sakiran-proof and replicate it to be tougher. Leoric measures the blade and has a burst of inspiration, working the blade with precision. He balances the counter weight and sharpens it to a razor point. He finds a monofilament wire that he can fit in the edge of the blade, with a power source within the hilt. He gets a static shock from the blade as he puts it together, then changes the colour of the blade.

Sakiran has been reading for a while and hears a high-pitched yelp, disturbing her focus but then goes back to the book. She has flicked through the book and learned a lot from it, learning patience and taking advantage of openings. She can riposte and ambush enemies.

Leoric decides to enlist Sakiran's help in removing his bionic eye. She agrees and follows him to the workshop. It smells like solder and oil with the faint smell of burnt flesh. She asks why he asked her and he said he's the only one with steady hands. She sees twisting indicators and twists it out. She points it back towards his face bemusedly and deduces not to cut the cable. She looks at it and can't see any way to disconnect it. She gives a tug and Leoric says ouch and she says she can't see any way to disconnect it. She points it back into the socket and Leoric sees smooth metal. At the end there is a clip with the wire inside. She asks if he is not disturbed by the process of her reaching into the eye socket and he says he is not and it brings them closer together. She gingerly reaches in, feeling the warmth and unclipping it quickly. Leoric feels static in his eye and it comes loose. He puts his eyepatch back on.

Sakiran decides to try and exercise after feeling squishy and fat. She starts to lift a medium-heavy weight at first, it is fine. She manages four reps before getting splitting pain down her side. She tries to push through it, getting harder and drops the weight on the floor, doubling over in pain from a split scar in her waist. She questions Vae as to why there is not first aid in the gym. She summons an orb to the medical bay. She is led down the corridor across two big holes in the floor to the left hand side of the ship. There is a small warning sign saying mind the step. She sees that Aria has converted the bunk room to a small medical room, with a pile of medicines. She is munching on a supply bar and waves to her. Aria insists that she stitch up the wound and treat her properly to avoid any more ugly scars. Aria asks if she would like any painkillers and Sakiran asks her not to insult her.

Aria treats her and asks how long it would it take for Walker to dig a hole. Aria says she wants to have him dig for scientific reasons and implies Sakiran is being lecherous. They enlist Nelalwe's help and Aria scolds Sakiran for not knowing Common very well. Nelalwe and Sakiran go to the galley and start preparing food. Sakiran admits she wants to help Leoric but isn't sure how to.

The crew gather in the galley and Sakiran accidentally insinuates that she has had relations with Walker. The crew rib her for it and she eats a burger in shame. She then heads towards the showers to wash away the sheer embarrassment. Thaunir says they may have been too hard on her. Jasmine shrugs and says she'll have to get used to it.

Leoric asks Aria and Nelalwe to help him with translations before Sakiran gets back so they can give her the weapon. He shows it to Nelalwe and says she will like it. Leoric says it is a gift from them both but she can't read Common so it needs to be in a gift box with Elvish on it. Nelalwe writes out a small message addressing her: "Our gift to you, from Leoric and Nelalwe."

They try to go to the galley again but see Aria giving a sermon. They decide to bow out. Walker leaves the room and says the girl can talk, really talk. Leoric agrees. Walker says he had three wives and none of them spoke so much. Leoric bets there are some stories there. Leoric asks how he managed to escape Aria. Walker says she is teaching Thaunir how to abstain from alcohol. Jasmine also manages to escape and says she is indeed talking and putting Thaunir to sleep. She offers to go get Sakiran, making her way down. She pokes the door chime. Sakiran cracks the door open. Jasmine is wiping away some of her makeup. They talk about Jasmine's romantic interest and how he died before entering the bridge.

They come upon Bastion and Aria notes that the towers are meant to be gleaming white. There is an alarm klaxon in the bridge, a voice coming through the speakers. Gratus control wishes to identify them. Thaunir said they are traders from the scrapyard. Control demands they submit for inspection. The line cuts off. Thaunir explains the entire ship will be searched and an AI onboard is trouble. Thaunir notes they will be boarded soon.

They feel turbulence as they see a ship rise up from the smog. It is a colossal anti-grav ship, with hundreds of weapons and multiple hangar bays. It's hull is a gleaming black with orange letters emblazoned with Olym's Vengeance.

Nelalwe asks if this is normal and Leoric says there are rules. They enter into a docking procedure into a hollow spire. As they enter into it there are dock clamps that clamp to the ship with a shudder and come to a harsh stop with grinding metal. They hear another transmission and open the airlock. Thaunir says to keep Vae quiet. The crew travel down and ask Leoric if the non humans are controlled and if the orc is neural controlled. Leoric says he is, and they do not press further. He asks about the elves. Leoric says they came from the continent. Aria begins to pipe up but Sakiran cuts in front of her and silences her.

The navy crew note that the ship is very damaged and asked what happened. Leoric says they got cut up in a storm. They ask if the AI is pulled out and Leoric says yes and notes they take any kind of ship they can get. They ask what cargo they have, Leoric says it is clothing. Leoric says there are weapons because they need to defend themselves from looters. The navy crewman notes something down. He says he keeps strange company. Thaunir says he is just an engineer. The navy crewman asks how the ship is running. Thaunir admits it is not running well and they have power problems if they could lower the throttle.

One comes back with Vae's body. Leoric says it is scrap and they found it off continent. The navy crewman says it is prohibited and they will be confiscating it. Sakiran sneaks past and uses Darkness to steal away the body with Walker's help. They hide her body inside a panel and Sakiran asks Vae what is going on. She informs them that the navy crewman wishes for Nelalwe and a bribe. Leoric takes her hand and says she is not up for sale.

They start reaching for their weapons. They hear a kerthunk as Jasmine rips through one of their necks, fading as she disappears behind Thaunir. Sakiran slashes across their light uniforms, giving an extra kick to the one who wanted to proposition for Nelalwe. Leoric draws his gun and aims towards the lech. Leoric says it is his last chance, pointing his gun at him. The official is indignant as Leoric fires, meat and bone splattering out of his gunshot wound. He is shot again, leaving a stain of blood as he slumps down the bulkhead. His third bullet cracks the bullet, a heavily scarred man as he grimaces at them. Jasmine jumps out of the shadows again, stabs once in the side of the man and pulls out, weapon sticky with green fluid. He spasms and dies in a lump. She wipes her dagger on her dress. The last soldier comes through and Sakiran stabs him furiously with the parrying dagger.

Leoric points his gun at him to threaten him, saying everyone has gone haywire. Walker grabs him and tells him he had an accident with absolute fury in his eyes. He drops him to the floor. Nelalwe is hyperventilating and Aria is rubbing her back. Leoric asks if Thaunir can get them any repairs.

They try the communications devices and Leoric speaks into it. There is the secretary for Mr Pryce on the line. She asks how they got the line. After some hold music, they are put through to Pryce. Pryce says he is surprised that Leoric is not dead. Leoric says they are indeed back. He is surprised that the crewmen didn't know his name then realises when they are in Dock 2 that they have been shaken down. Sakiran interjects with asking if her son is safe. He says it is lovely to hear her voice and he is indeed, and she will believe it when she sees it. Pryce commends her for doubting, and Leoric asks if they are safe to depart. He bids them farewell and hopes Sakiran is looking forward to seeing Ranabi. She breaks the communicator in her hand. Walker asks if she is okay and she says she is fine in a quiet voice.