Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

“Hey, looks like you at least got one guard in so far. More to come, you probably’ll get a dozen shots in by the end of the hour... well, if you get off the lower levels, at least. And honestly, I can’t blame him. If he didn’t bolt, I would’ve.”

 

The giant smiles with a toothy grin, his rotten teeth showing.
"Fuckin' asshole."
He shakes his head jokingly at the man.

 

“You ever been reborn before? Not as yourself, but as a phoenix, left to scramble in a mixing pot of fire for sustainence, only enough added for half of you... those who rise are reborn. If you can’t make it... well, if I could ever see my son again, he could tell you.” He sighs, reminiscing.

 

"I will." I say, albeit looking weak.


Tulia heads through the doors, keeping her own opinions to herself.

 

“You look like you could afford to join us... or are you going to let Artemis know where you’re headed?”


There’s a draconian and a catfolk cleaning off tables, the catfolk glancing up at Tulia as she touches the door.
“Ello, what can we do for ya?”


Kiin hops off the Crystal Ball and heads towards any nearby water guardians.
“Hey, are any of you pirates?” She calls out, curious.

 

"J-Join you?" I ask, stumbling a little. Blood seems to have pooled up beneath me.


"Uh, I'd like a cup of hot cocoa please." Tulia says, slightly nervous.


A couple of large, intimidating water guardians walk over to Kiin.

"Aye." One of the water guardians says.

 

“Okay, I’m no longer asking.” Alice says, stern. “You’re coming with me, to the med wing. No questions. Clear?”


“Rita, you heard the lady.” The catfolk says with a smile.
“One minute, miss.” The draconian nods, heading into the kitchen.

“So, a friend of the young admiral?” The catfolk asks, continuing to wipe down tables.


“Captains?” She asks, seeming more hopeful than intimidating.

 

"Yeah..." I say, leaning against the elevator wall.


"I was a member of her mother's crew." Tulia says.


"Well we wouldn't be here if we weren't, lass." The water guardian says.

 

You, Aquira, and Sidus are warped directly to the medical wing of the Shadow Palace, and Alice’s clone turns into shadow dust on arrival.


She stops.
“...If you were their navigator, I’d keep quiet about it. Nobody’s ever been ambushed with the nav system the Blue Amber had. It’s user error, and the engineer who designed that console is... both here and extremely irritated someone tainted the reputation of his work.”


“Do you have just one ship or a whole bunch? I wanna learn about commanding ships, but mama and daddy couldn’t find me stuck in a trench.” Kiin says, hoping a youthful smile helps persuade the guardians. “I got a whole bunch of ships, and not a lotta knowledge about being a pirate.”

 

I try to carry Katie's parents through, before collapsing at the double doors.


"We weren't entirely ambushed. They just...kept coming. They outnumbered us, surrounded us. We tried to fight back but they always had more ammunition that us. I couldn't repair the ship in time, they broke it faster than we could fix it. It got harder when they started getting on the ship and gunning us down, so many of us were killed. Then...everything exploded." Tulia says, seeming to have traumatic flashbacks.


"We've got allies, lass. T'was probably the 'ubris of the Blue Amber's captain that lead to their downfall." The water guardian says.

"Never let yourself be outnumbered." The other water guardian says quietly.

 

"And the delicious smell of freshly baked bread fills the air."

 

Alice’s actual body soon arrives, hauling you and the duo in.
“Three high priority patients!” Alice calls.


“A lone rogue amidst a swarm of lesser foes... ‘sa story told too many times. I’m sorry for your loss, but best you take numbers to heart. No battle is won by what is seen.”


“Well, that’s easy. I can’t even fit all my ships here.” She says, looking back at the ocean.
Pause.
“...I still always wondered why mama never bothered with a second ship.”

________________________________

“Or cookies. Or cake... but bread might have to be in order. It does smell good...” Anne says, seeming entranced by the thought.

 

Alice already finds doctors putting the three of us on beds, wheeling us in. She ends up just confusing the staff.


Tulia just nods, trying to forget the haunting memories.


"She thought one big and amazing ship would be better than many smaller less-amazing ships. She was right on many occasions, except for this one." The other water guardian says quietly.

 

Alice sighs.
“And this is what I get for overdoing it...”
She links with Katie.
“Hey, how’re you holding up?”


The draconian taps the table, a cup of hot cocoa sitting under Tulia’s nose.
“Forgive her, she’s not a particularly sensitive one.”


“I mean, why not multiple big amazing ships?”

 

"We would need to get some supplies then. Dough, chocolate, flour.. those kind of things."

 

“You’re assuming I don’t have access to those already.” She giggles.

 

Alice just gets sobs in return, Katie appearing still rather stressed about the situation.


Tulia sips the hot cocoa, trying to calm herself.


"Too expensive, lass. Buildin' 'em, buying s'plies, hiring yer crew, paying yer crew. I'm surprised if anyone can avoid losing all the'r money." The water guardian says.

 

“Hey... I found ‘em.”


It seems to be just cool enough not to scald her tongue, but hot enough to warrant the name.
...
The door swings open.
“Hey, lass, I got good news. You might not be out of your job.”


Kiin glances back at her small fleet.
“...Huh.”

 

"Oh, right. You're a princess and all.."

 

"H-Huh?" Katie responds.


Tulia looks up.

"Is the captain safe?" Tulia asks.


"You don't always need an army when you can crush those who can oppose you." The other water guardian says quietly.

"Aye, the blue amber got overwhelmed in this case." The water guardian says.