Valiant: Tales From The Drift
[Tails #29: S(Elf)less]
Log Date: 11/15/12764
Data Sources: Jazel Jaskolka, Lysanne Arrignis
Valiant: Tales From The Drift
[Tails #29: S(Elf)less]
Log Date: 11/15/12764
Data Sources: Jazel Jaskolka, Lysanne Arrignis
Event Log: Jazel Jaskolka
Pallus: Tainnryst Research Institute
9:35am SGT
âSo these liddlâ buggers are vampire fairies, eh?â Milor says, holding up a vial thatâs got one of the specimens in it. âIâll be honest with you, theyâre kinda cute.â
âThey ainât so cute when theyâve got their teeth in you.â Lysanne says over her shoulder. Both of us are meticulously checking the specimen vials that the Institute is giving us, to make sure all of the vampire fairies theyâve collected are in good condition. Weâll be taking these back to the Preserver Academy for study and analysis, so making sure that theyâre in good health is critical to that future research project.
âWell, they sure got a temper.â Milor says, giving the vial a little shake. The vampire fairy within plants its hands against the glass to steady itself, snarling at Milor. âFeisty little things.â
I hold my hand out to him. âWhy donât you give me that. Donât want to risk damaging one of the specimens.â
Milor hands the vial back to me. âDonât see what all the fuss is. I saw at least a few of the buggers outside on the way here. Seems to me like theyâve got a pretty healthy population; if you lose one, you can just go back outside and grab another.â
âJust because thereâs a lot of them doesnât mean theyâre easy to catch.â Lysanne says, slotting another vial back into the stasis crate weâll be using to transport the specimens. âProblem with lesser fairies is that theyâre small and fragile. And these ones, like you said, are feisty. The Institute has already done the hard work of capturing this specimen group for us; Iâd prefer not to go through the hassle of doing it ourselves.â
âIâm honestly surprised.â I say, sizing up the vial Milor handed me. The fairy inside is wearing black leaves as clothes, with thin blue veins running through them; their skin is a dusky blue, while their eyes are a brighter shade of blue. âItâs been just over a year since they were released on Pallus, but their population has exploded since then. Thereâs already reports that theyâve been sighted on other continents.â
âProbably because theyâve been hitching rides on cross-continental flights.â Lysanne says as I slot the vial into the crate. âAnd besides that, theyâre horny little shits that reproduce like crazy. A single female can lay up to fifty eggs in a single go, and once they hatch, they can reach maturity in two or three weeks. With the right weather and conditions, they can multiply like a plague.â
âWerenât these things almost extinct before the witless wonder fumbled and set them loose last year?â Milor asks, roaming around the lab weâre in and peeking at one of the microscopes.
âHey!â I protest. âI set them loose on purpose, thank you very much, to escape from Grimes when he tried to kidnap me.â
âYeah, they were almost extinct. The last specimens were held here in the Tainnryst Institute.â Lysanne says as we get to the last row of vials. âThey originally came from Rantecevang, but I hear Ranters hate them because vampire fairies donât just suck blood; they suck life and energy. Ranters naturally have excess energy production as a part of the magical system that originated on their world, so for them, vampire fairies leech off the energy they use for their magic. They tried to exterminate all the vampire fairies on their worlds, and they mostly succeeded, except for this batch that the Institute kept for research purposes.â
âSo hereâs my question.â Milor says as he continues sauntering around the lab, checking out the equipment. âIf these things have been hitching rides on cross-continental flights on this planet, itâs only a matter of time before they start hitching rides on interstellar flights, right? Theyâre gonna start spreading to other worlds eventually.â
âThatâs why the Academy wants a sample batch, so they can study them and figure out containment methods.â I say, checking another vial and slotting it into the crate. âSince theyâre a flying species that feeds by biting larger animals, they have huge potential as transmission vectors for disease, especially on planets that donât have strong public health programs, or adequate funding for those programs.â
âSuppose these little buggers would be good mascots for the blue fever.â Milor says. âNow, far be it from me to infringe upon yer scientific expertise, but you said the Ranters almost drove these things extinct. Why doesnât the Academy just ask the Ranters how they managed to handle the liddlâ buggers, instead of goinâ through all this hooplah with trying to reinvent the wheel?â
âBecause the Rantecevang Diaspora isnât part of the Colloquium, and so they donât follow Colloquium rules and regulations when it comes to species and disease control.â Lysanne says, slotting the last of the vials into the crate. âAnd itâs possible that whatever methods they took to decimate the vampire fairy population wouldnât fly on Colloquium worlds, and might also have a negative effect on the ecosystems of other worlds. Vampire fairies might be annoying, and they might be dangerous as far as disease transmission goes, but the goal is not to exterminate them, especially on worlds where they can be an important part of the ecosystem, as a source of food for other species.â
âThey are technically an invasive species, though.â I admit as I fit the lid onto the crate, and start securing it.
âIâm just sayinâ, if the Ranters didnât want to deal with them, what makes you think that any other world in the galaxy wants to deal with them?â Milor says. âI mean, Ranters are pretty relaxed about their flora and fauna. These are the people that let gryffins and greatwolves just wander up and down the streets of their colonies.â
âThat is a myth.â Lysanne says as we each grab one side of the crate, and carefully lower it onto the hovercart thatâs waiting to the side of the lab bench. âRanters do often bring Rantecevangâs ecosystem with them whenever they set up a new colony, but they donât have giant predators roaming the streets in broad daylight. Just because theyâre not part of the Colloquium doesnât mean itâs complete anarchy. Each colony has laws and ordinances they use to keep society functioning.â
Milor reaches into his jacket, pulling out a toothpick. âIâm just sayinâ. If the natives hate vampire fairies so much that they almost drove them extinct, doesnât seem likely to me that anyone else is gonna like them.â He points the toothpick at the loaded hovercart. âWe ready to hit the road, then?â
âJust about, yeah.â I say, moving around to grab the cartâs handle to I can start pushing it to the door. âThink we just need to check in with the department head before we leave, right?â
âYeah. Just need to sign some forms for the authorized transfer of invasive species over system borders.â Lysanne says, moving ahead of me to open the door. âAfter that we can get lunch here in the city, then head back to the starport. Palladiumâs got a lot of good places to eat, and Iâve got a craving for some Wereckwoods curry.â
âI, personally, could go for a burger.â Milor declares, following us out of the lab. âA proper Venusian burger, with all the fixinâs. And since weâre on a Venusian world, thereâs no better place for that.â
âYeah, why am I not surprised. What about you, Jazel? What are you feeling like?â
âMmm⊠funnelcake.â
ââŠJazel, funnelcake is only sold at fairs and holiday events.â
âYeah, I know. Maybe donuts instead?â
âOkay then. Burgers, curry, and donuts. Guess weâre turning todayâs trip into a Palladium food tour.â
Event Log: Lysanne Arrignis
Pallus: Tainnryst Research Institute
10:18am SGT
ââŠand the sun goddess is a little desert fox with biiiiiig biiiiiiig ears like this!â
I slow to a halt near Dandy, whoâs standing on the edge of the loose crowd in front of the steps of the Institute. Kayentaâs on those steps, casting up a massive construct of yellow light that takes the shape of what looks like a fennec fox, probably standing at about fifteen feet tall or so. While Milor, Jazel, and myself were inside packing the vampire fairies for transport, Ozzy, Kayenta, and Dandy were outside waiting for us. When Kayenta got bored, she started creating illusory constructs and piloting them around, then got the attention of some passersby and started telling stories with the constructs.
âSheâs still at it, mm?â I say, folding my arms and watching as the fennec construct trots around in front of the steps of the Institute, crouching down to shove its nose at some of the watchers.
Dandy glances at me. âI thought you were taking the hovercart back to the van?â
âMilor said he could handle it. Sent me back to help wrangle the witchling and the fox, in his own words.â I say, watching the construct flatten itself against the ground and flit its ears up and down as its tail swiffs back and forth behind it. Iâve seen a couple videos of fennec fox behavior, and this seems to track with what Iâve seen. âWhat story is she telling now?â
âRadiance, the Rantheon goddess of the sun. Apparently she was once a wereckanan Vixili prior to her apotheosis with the rest of the Wildcat mercenaries.â Dandy explains.
I rub at an eye. âI do not have the xenohistory degree needed to understand half of what youâre saying.â
âIn short, itâs one of the myths of Rantecevang. Not something you could be expected to know without being deeply steeped in the culture.â Dandy says. âIf you would like to learn more, I believe Ozzy may be able to offer an academic perspective on the topicâŠâ
âNo, no. God, no.â I say immediately, prompting a small smile from Dandy. âYour sense of humor has come a long way.â
âThank you.â she says, returning her attention to the stairs of the Institute, where Jazel and Ozzy are sitting and watching while Kayenta shows off her image-casting skills. âAre you ready to grab them so we can head on our little lunch circuit now?â
âI think we should, yeah. It looks like Kaya could keep going for a while if we donât rein her in.â I say, starting to move towards the stairs.
âIt seems she certainly has enough material for it.â Dandy remarks, following me.
âKaya! Itâs time to go, we finished what we came here to do!â I call to her as I reach the stairs. âWeâre gonna go get lunch now. We have a bunch of different restaurants weâre going to be visiting, so you can pick which one you want to order from. We can explain in the van.â
Her silver ears perk as she looks at me, then at Jazel, whoâs starting to get up. âWeâre all done here.â he confirms to her as he helps Ozzy to his feet. âWeâll be grabbing lunch, then going back to the Drift.â
She lets her hands drop, and the fennec image she was casting collapses, fading away into nothing. âI gotta go now. Bye!â she calls, waving to the sparse crowd before skipping down the steps to join us at the same time that Jazel and Ozzy do. âWe are eating? What sort of food will we be getting?â
âWell, that depends. What do you feel like eating?â Jazel asks. âEveryone wants to eat something different for lunch, so weâll be visiting five or six different places.â
Kayenta mulls that over, then declares, âI want a little bit of everything.â
Ozzy chuckles at that. âSheâs clever. Why choose when you can just choose everything?â
âThat sounds to me like she wants to polish off our leftovers.â I say, starting to walk back to the streetside parking where our van is, with the others drifting along with me.
âNo! I wanna try everyoneâs food, and then Iâll figure out what I like and have more of that.â Kayenta insists. âI canât know if I want something if I havenât tasted it yet.â
âActually, we can tell you the restaurants weâre planning to visit, and what kind of food they make.â Jazel points out. âThat way you can order ahead of time, and the food will be ready for pickup when we get there.â
Kayenta wrinkles her nose. âOkay then. Well, what are you having?â
âExcuse me â are you all the Drifters?â
It takes a moment for me to realize that the question was directed at us, and I pause to look in the direction of the voice. A couple of women have peeled off the crowd that was gathered to watch Kayentaâs image-casting, and judging by the matching hair and the facial similarities between the two, Iâd assume theyâre related â either cousins or sisters. I slow to a stop, with the others doing the same. âI donât know anyone that refers to us like that, but we work aboard the Dandelion Drift, yes.â I answer. âCan we help you with something?â
âWe were hoping youâd be able to, yes.â the woman on the right says. They both look pretty young â late twenties, early thirties or so, like Jazel and myself. âMy name is Tinker, and this is Amagi, my cousin. Weâre Ranters from one of the colonies, and we work in the magical supplies market.â
âOh. Okay, look, if youâre trying to sell us somethingââ I say quickly.
âNo, no no no! Itâs not that!â Amagi says just as quickly, putting her hands up. âWeâre not trying to sell you anything; we want your help with finding someone, a friend of ours that has gone missing. We think we know where they are, but weâre not⊠we donât have the skills to go in and get them.â
Dandyâs attention sharpens at this point. âWhat do you mean when you say you lack the skills to retrieve your friend?â
Amagi looks at Tinker, who takes a deep breath and shrugs. âI mean, whatâs the point in hiding it? We might as well just be up front with it.â Tinker says, then looks to us. âWeâre pretty certain our friend got taken by a parting ring when she was out on a supply run. Sheâs a lepidopteran.â
âOh.â The soft sound comes from Ozzy, who immediately follows it up with âHow long ago was this? When was she taken?â
âAbout a week back.â Amagi says. âOur colony police werenât able to do anything about it since we think she got taken offworld. We went to the Vaunted, but since weâre from the coloniesâŠâ
âTheir jurisdiction over colony affairs is limited.â Dandy deduces. âSo youâre coming to the Preservers because the Vaunted and the colony police couldnât help you.â
âYeah. We donât know who else to go to.â Tinker admits.
I feel a tap on my shoulder, and turn to see Jazel behind me. He tilts his head towards Ozzy, whoâs nervously fidgeting a little ways behind us. âOzzy has something he wants to tell us. I think you should hear what he has to say, since heâs worked in the arcane black market for a while.â
I glance at Dandy. âWould you mind talking to them and getting more information while weâŠ?â
Dandy nods. âGo ahead.â She then turns to the pair. âWe need a bit more information so we have a better grasp on the situationâŠâ
I turn and make the short walk over to Ozzy, where he glances nervously at the two Ranters, then leans in towards me and Jazel. âLook, I donât mean to be a downer or anything, but I, I, I think thereâs a pretty good chance that lepidopteran is dead. And if she isnât dead right now, sheâs gonna be dead soon, probably before we can get to wherever she was taken to.â
âWhat makes you say that?â Jazel asks.
âYou guys know what parting rings are, right?â Ozzy asks.
âYeah, theyâre poaching groups that hunt magical creatures for their parts, which can be used in arcane products.â I say. âWeâre Preservers, Ozzy. We know what a parting ring is.â
âAlright, then do you know what lepidopterans are?â Ozzy follows up.
Jazel glances at me. âA little bit, I think? Theyâre one of Rantecevangâs humanoid species, right? I canât keep track, thereâs like seventeen of them.â
âYes.â Ozzy says quickly. âSpecifically, theyâre a subspecies of the ectognathan line, which has four main subspecies, and technically you could divide it even further down into dozens of subgroups under each of those subspeciesââ
âOzzy. Stay on track.â I interrupt him. âTell us what a lepidopteran is.â
âI mean, I mean, theyâre, theyâre butterfly people.â he stutters. âTh-th-thatâs basically what they are. Like, take one of those vampire fairies in the crate, and just scale it up to human size, and thatâs a lepidopteran. I mean, well, th-thatâs not technically accurate, thereâs major differences in biology, obviouslyââ
âSo theyâre people with butterfly wings.â Jazel says. âPeople-sized fairies, basically.â
âYes, I mean, yeah, on a very reductive level, that pretty much sums it up.â Ozzy says.
âAnd why do you think this lepidopteran is dead?â I ask before Ozzy can start rambling again.
âWell, lepidopterans â honestly ectognathans generally, but lepidopterans especially, and maybe noctidopterans too â theyâve got really high, like, how would I put this? Magic density? Saturation? Production? Like, theyâre very magical creatures; a lot of the myths of the fae or the fey or however you want to spell it, those myths spring from ectognathans, mostly from the lepi community.â Ozzy explains, his hands gesturing frenetically. âAnd on a side note â lepi raves? Stuff of legends. Almost impossible to get into. And the rave nectar? Oh my god, Iâve seen the stuff go for thousands of credits per bottle. Itâs insaneââ
âOzzy. Focus.â Jazel interrupts. âYou were saying â lepidopterans are very magical creatures. And so it follows that their parts are very valuable on the arcane black market. Is that what youâre trying to tell us?â
âI mean, well yes, basically, thatâs what it boils down to, isnât it?â Ozzy says. âLike, donât judge me or anything, but lepis in the black market are like a zero-waste product, and thatâs rare. You can put almost every part of them to use in something or another. Wings, eyes, heart, organs, bones, the chrysalis, even the muscles and skin. The whole package will sell if you part it out. Thereâs buyers for everything that comes out of a lepidopteran.â
âSo the parting ring would probably prioritize parting out a lepidopteran.â I say, folding my arms and glancing back to where Dandyâs still getting information out of Tinker and Amagi. Kayentaâs over there as well, listening in curiously. âHow do you propose we break it to them that their friend is probably already dead, or will be before the authorities get there?â
Ozzy shrugs. âI mean, not really a way to sugarcoat that, is there? Could tell it to them straight up. Probably wonât make them feel good, but honestly I donât know how else you would do it. Someoneâs gonna have to tell them eventually.â
âWe donât know that for sure, though.â Jazel says. âShe might still be alive, and we are Preservers. Busting a parting ring, especially one that parts out magical creatures, is the kind of work that weâre supposed to do.â
I already know where heâs going with this. âYou remember what happened last time we tried to bust a pelt mill?â
âThatâs different. That was supposed to be handled by the Vaunted or the planetary police, and we were just doing it because CURSE told us to help out with it.â Jazel says. âThis isnât that. Itâs actually relevant to the kind of work we do.â
âYeah, but⊠itâs still dangerous.â I mutter, glancing back at Tinker and Amagi again. âBesides, weâd need to know where this parting ring is first, and get an idea of what weâd be going into. I wonder how those two were even able to find us. Itâs not like weâre public figures; the only people that would recognize us on sight are friends and family. Weâre not big names, even in the Preserver community.â
âWell, maybe not in the Preserver community. But yâall gave one of the Four Ravens a pretty thorough drubbing, and that kind of stuff doesnât exactly fly under the radar when it happens.â Ozzy points out. âWord about that probably got around the arcane black market when it happened, and some of those ripples mightâve washed up in the gray market and the white market. At the very least, Iâm pretty sure you guys made yourself an enemy.â
âYeah, I donât imagine Medukat was happy after we wrecked his joint.â I sigh. âI was hoping we wouldnât get into this sort of stuff very soon again. Honestly, Iâm not even sure weâre equipped for it. We donât know the when, or the how, or the where yet, just the what. We might not be able to help, depending on what we find out.â
âWell, if we canât help, we canât help. But if we can help, then we should.â Jazel insists. âWeâre Preservers. Protecting magical creatures and busting people that are poaching or trafficking them is what we do. Even if we canât save the lepidopteran, we should at least bust the ring that was parting them out.â
My first instinct is to point out that weâre arcanologists first, and enforcers second. Perhaps not even second, but third or fourth. But after what happened to Jazel at the start of this year, getting kidnapped by a morally bankrupt sorcerer that made a business out of harvesting peopleâs souls, I can understand why heâs pushing on this so hard. He knows what itâs like to be taken and used for someone elseâs capitalistic greed, and hearing about it happening to someone else probably hits a nerve with him.
âIf itâs within our power and within reason, weâll see what we can do.â I say. âBut for now, we need more information. We canât commit to something without knowing what weâre dealing with first. Letâs find out what we can, and then we can make an informed decision. Together.â I emphasize the last part, because I know Jazelâs got a stronger instinct to go it alone when he feels he needs to.
âTogether, yes. Best way to do it. Dangerous to fly solo on things like this.â Ozzy agrees quickly. âItâll take you a lot further than trying to bust a ring on your own.â
âLetâs go see what Dandyâs found out, then.â Jazel says, motioning to where the others are. âIf we canât help, the least we could do is see if we could call in a favor at the Academy.â
I nod, starting back in that direction. Jazel and Ozzy follow, and Kayenta tugs at Dandyâs sleeve when she notices weâre coming. Dandy asks Tinker and Amagi to wait for a moment, then she and Kayenta move to meet us halfway.
âSo what are we looking at?â I ask Dandy.
âIâve only had a few minutes, but from what I can tell, the information is actionable.â she says. âWeâll need a proper sit-down to gather as much detail as possible, but theyâve provided names, locations, and a timeline up to this point. We will have to do research of our own, but the request does not appear, at the moment, to be outside the realm of possibility. The general parameters and travel required seem like they are within our means.â
I bite back a sigh at that. I think Iâd been hoping, deep down, that it wouldnât be something we could help with; last time we had to deal with something like this, it had been a difficult experience for everyone involved. But if Dandy thought it was possible⊠âAlright. Can we bring them back to the ship and have a proper talk about all this? If we end up helping them, weâre going to need to loop in CURSE.â
âI can arrange guest clearances.â Dandy says. âThere are also plenty of spare quarters aboard the Drift if they end up traveling with us.â
I nod, then move past her. âTinker? Amagi?â
The two Ranters turn towards us, Tinker looking uncertain and Amagi looking hopeful.
âWeâll need you to tell us more about how your friend got kidnapped.â I say. âBut we think we might be able to help you.â
Event Log: Jazel Jaskolka
Dandelion Drift: Common Room
2:44pm SGT
âA couple of elves, huh?â Milor says, walking around the counter and moving towards the wide window that overlooks the Driftâs biosphere. âWell, Iâm not exactly opposedâŠâ
I look up from my data slate, giving Milor a flat look. âYou know Lysanneâs gonna have your head on a plate if you try to flirt with them, Milor.â
He places a hand to his chest in a fit of faux indignation. âMe? Flirt? With two damsels in distress? Well I never! Iâll have you know I am a veritable Venusian gentleman, thank you very much, and I would never take advantage of a womanâs distress in such a lascivious and churlish manner.â A sip of whiskey, and he goes on. âTinker and Amagi, right? Amagi sounds like a properly elvish name, but Tinkerâs a little strange.â
âI think Tinker might be a nickname. A shortening for something longer.â I say, shifting on the couch as I go back to skimming the file on my slate. âAmagiâs half wood elf, so thatâs probably where her name comes from.â
âOh?â Milor says, his curiosity piqued by that. âSuppose that explains why sheâs so tall. I was wondering.â
âYeah, wood elf biology strays slightly from standard humanoid limb proportions.â I say, waving a hand. âTheir arms, legs, fingers, and toes are all just a touch longer than you usually see with normal humanoids. Youâd probably notice it more if she was full-blooded.â
âMmm.â Another sip of his whiskey. âAnd Tinker, sheâs⊠high elf?â
âFull-blooded high elf, yeah.â
âNice.â
I glance up from my slate. âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
âOh, nothing.â he says quickly, glancing back to the window. âSo whereâs this organ harvesting ring that weâre supposed to be bustinâ?â
âSoiruxia. Eplekaker System.â I say, setting my slate down on the coffee table and pushing it over to him. Iâd been skimming the wiki information on the planet.
âSoiruxia? Thatâs a mining planet.â Milor says, brows furrowing as he reaches down to pick up the slate and look it over. âSurface is cracked and riddled with volcanic canyons and giant magma chambers; the whole planetâs a bubbling cauldron of lava. Didnât strike me as place to run an organ-harvesting outfit.â
âYeah, I was thinking the same thing. But itâs in Mercurial space.â I point out, leaning my forearms on my knees.
âAh. Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.â Milor concedes with a grimace. âEasier to run illegal outfits when the government is a bunch of corporations that only care about removing regulations and increasing profits. So long as the money keeps flowingâŠâ
âIs it really that bad?â I ask as Milor hands the data slate back to me.
âEh. I mean, itâs not like itâs a complete free-for-all.â Milor says. âThe corporations that make up the Mercurial Consortium still need some form of order and control. On the surface, the Consortium follows the rules and regulations of the Colloquium, because being a Colloquium member means having access to a ton of markets where they can sell their product. But Iâd say they do only what theyâre required to, and nothing more. Itâs an open secret that the Consortium is not very proactive about ferreting out criminal enterprises that operate on the down-low in their territory, especially if those enterprises are kicking some of the profits to the right people.â
âSo theyâre willing to let the crime slide so long as itâs profitable, and being done quietly.â I surmise.
âRight on.â Milor says, taking another sip. âAnd before you ask, the Colloquium canât put very much pressure on them because the Consortiumâs mining corporations provide a huge chunk of the refined materials that power the rest of the galaxy. Mostly metals, which goes into everything from starships to skyscrapers to spoons.â He lifts the hand with the glass, motioning to the common room around us. âThe very metals that make up the frame of this room probably came from one of two places: a Mercurial mining world, or a Cyber mining world. A lot of nations do have their own mining industries, but the Mercurials and the Cybers do it better, faster, and cheaper than anybody else. Hard to compete with that unless you want to pay a premium for locally-sourced metals.â
âI mean, isnât part of that due to the fact that Mercurials and Cybers donât mind ruining a planet to get at the metals in it?â I point out. âTheyâll strip a planet down to the mantle if they find itâs got rare elements in it.â
âEh. I wouldnât say they ruin planets.â Milor shrugs. âColloquium rules. Habitable planets with extensive biological ecosystems are just straight-up off limits to planetary strip mining. Mercurials usually tear up dirtball planets that havenât got much going for them, and Cybers mine out planets that donât have atmospheres. Plus, it takes them millennia to strip out a planetâs crust and get down to the mantle, so. Thereâs that.â
âMm.â I say, starting to scroll through pictures of Soiruxiaâs magma superchambers, and the little districts built on the cooled sides of the massive caverns. âBit of a tangent. Anyhow, Dandyâs getting more information from Tinker and Amagi, hopefully so we can narrow down where the parting ring is, and what weâd be up against.â
âWell, Iâm down for it. Bustinâ traffickers and organ harvesters is my idea of a good deed.â he says, draining the last of the whiskey in his glass. âItâs the sort of thing I wouldâve done in my old job; I donât mind doinâ it again. Especially now that Dandy managed to get me on payroll.â
I look up at that. âWait, CURSE agreed to add you to our contract? But you used to be a Challenger; I figuredâŠâ
Milor shrugs, pushing off the window. âI took the resettlement agreement back when the program collapsed, and I stuck to it. Didnât break any of the rules. So they donât got anything they can peg me on, and besides, I figure they donât think Iâm smart enough to be a threat to them anyhow. Fer better or worse, the redneck reputation precedes me. Plus I donât got any powers, no magic, no special tech, no bio advantages⊠I ainât nothinâ special to them.â
That silences me for a moment as I process that. ââŠthat is a good point. How did you end up becoming a Challenger if you didnât have anything special?â
Milor shrugs again as he walks back to the counter to wash out his glass. âIâm good at throwinâ hands, making connections, and shootinâ people. You didnât need to have the sparklefingers razzmatazz to be a Challenger, yâknow. Common sense, good work ethic, and a steady hand are all things a Challenger needed back in the day. We had plenty oâ people in the program that didnât have powers and were still worth their salt. Hell, some of âem were more useful than the ones that did have powers.â
âReally?â I say, turning on the couch to face him properly. âI didnât know that. I thought you had to have powers or be really good at something to be a Challenger.â
âYou had to have powers or be really good at something to have a codename.â he corrects me, rinsing out his glass in the sink. âOnly the elite Challengers got codenames. Those were the ones that went above and beyond, the ones that earned it. You went by your number until you earned a codename.â
âSo did you have a codename?â I ask.
âEh. I guess.â he says, starting to dry out his glass so he can put it back in the cabinet. âThey called me Trickshot. I earned my codename because I was quick on the draw and pretty handy with a gun, but I was never famous like the other ones were. Jackrabbit, Nova, Songbird, Echo, Gossamer⊠alla those. I was never a big name, and I was okay with that. Never much liked the spotlight, anyhow.â
âHuh.â I say, racking my brain. Seems like heâs right, because I donât ever recall hearing about a Trickshot from the Challenger program. âSo whyâd you join?â
âJustice or heroics or something like that.â he says, closing the cabinet. âIt was⊠mm, lemme think. Almost two decades ago now? When I joined, that is. Man, itâs been a long time. But yeah, I was just a little past twenny. I was a young hotshot that wanted to leave his mark on the galaxy, and I figured the best way to do that was sign up with the most famous peacekeeping group in the galaxy. Thinkinâ back on it, Iâm surprised I made it in.â He hangs the handtowel back on the rung, turning around. âI suppose Iâve always been pretty good at talkinâ my way into things, but if Iâm being honest with myself, those were the programâs last years, and the recruiting departmentâs quality control was probably slipping as well. They ended up hirinâ a lot of folks they shouldnât have hired, and I mightâve been one of them. Take that how you will, but for better or worse, I got in, and I was a Challenger, if only for a few years.â
Iâm quiet for a bit, soaking that in. âInteresting. Iâd never heard you talk about it before.â
He chuckles at that, leaning on the counter. âYeah, no, I donât talk about it with most people. It is a big part of me, but⊠it just wasnât something I could discuss with people. Like in job interviews? People hear youâre a former Challenger, it tanks the whole thing. Out on the street, or in the bar⊠you never know how people are gonna react. After the programâs corruption was exposed, a lot of people hated Challengers, even though most of the corruption was at the higher levels. But that doesnât matter to normal people. Challengers were the face of the program. The part of it that people could see and could recognize. So we took the flak, even if we werenât guilty of anything personally.â
âIs that why you ended up working a cop job out on the edge of frontier space?â I ask, resting my arm on the back of the couch.
âPretty much. People out on the frontier donât care as much. So long as you can do the job, theyâre willing to overlook a lot of stuff.â He straightens back up with a deep breath. â âSides, everyone out on the frontier has a past. Itâs usually where people to go to get away from their past⊠and I guess I was just another one of those people, lookinâ for a fresh start.â
âSo why did you leave with us when we came to Vissengard?â I ask, furrowing my brow.
He shrugs. âIâunno. You were the only guy on a ship with two sexy ladies and Fluffy McFoxtails, so I figured Iâd tag along to balance things out and make sure you didnât end up building a harem.â
I give him a flat look. âHar har, very funny. You know Lysanneâs basically my sister and Dandy is⊠Dandy.â
âYeah, Iâm just messinâ.â he smirks. âBut I guess⊠if you really want to know⊠I figured fifteen years was long enough and it was time to come in from the cold. Figured no one would remember me this far down the line, and I might get the chance to do a little bit of good here and there. May not be the big fancy heroics I was hoping for twenny years ago, but Iâm okay with that. Means I can work on the small stuff. Like what our two elven ladies are asking for help with. Since the Vaunted wonât help them and their planetâs police canât do anything, itâs a perfect place for people like us to fill the gap. Make a difference where nobody else can or wants to.â
âYeah.â I nod softly. âI think Dandy and Lysanne are hesitant about it, but I think we should do it. Itâs just⊠afterââ
âYou donât have to convince me, kid. I get it.â Milor says, coming out from behind the counter. âSame thing happened to you and you want to make sure it doesnât happen to someone else. I understand. And I agree. We canât save everyone, but I donât think thereâs any harm in going out of your way to do some good in the galaxy every now and then.â
I smile. âThanks. Iâm glad you understand.â
âHey, donât sweat it.â he says. âSpeaking of which, I think we should be getting on to the conference room with the others. I heard we were supposed to be making our case for a detour.â
âYeah. We have to get permission for that sort of stuff ever since Vissengard.â I say, pushing off the couch and standing up. âNot that I think we need it, but⊠yâknow.â
âAttaâboy. Stick it to the man.â Milor says, gesturing to the door. âAfter you.â
âYou say âstick it to the manâ, but youâre taking a paycheck from the people that forced you out of your job fifteen years ago.â
âIf my revenge is that I get to leech off their resources while babysitting you lot, Iâll take it. As much as Iâd like to be their mortal nemesis, sometimes ya just gotta settle for being a minor annoyance.â
Event Log: Lysanne Arrignis
Dandelion Drift: Conference Room
3:30pm SGT
âThe Eplekaker system would be a bit of a detour, but nothing too drastic. Itâd tack on maybe a few dozen lightyears onto the route, but it still takes us in the general direction of the Academy so we can make the specimen dropoff later.â Dandy explains. âThe two Ranters understand that once we arrive in the Jesserkat system, they will be responsible for finding their own way home from there.â
SCION, whoâs up on the big screen on the wall of the conference room, doesnât give much response beyond tilting his head slightly. His expression remains neutral, and for once, I actually wish that I was dealing with Nazka instead. At least with Nazka, he telegraphed emotions (mostly disdain and aloofness) and readable responses. SCION, on the other had, had all the feeling of a machine that was trying to mimic organic mannerisms, like a mechanical wolf trying to blend in among dogs.
âWe also have a fairly good idea of what district the parting ring is in.â I add from my seat on the side of the conference table. Dandyâs sitting beside me, while Kayenta, Jazel, and Milor are seated on the other side. âNarrowing down the location shouldnât take too long, and we might have it pinpointed before we even arrive. If things go well, weâd be in Eplekaker for less than a week before moving on.â
âAnd youâre sure youâre adequately equipped to handle this kind of challenge?â SCION asks, his fingers neatly laced together on his desk. âThey may be armed. Mercurial and Venusian systems are known for being more lax about armament regulations.â
âWe did this before in the Primsex, and made out with all our limbs intact. Doing it again on a Colloquium member world will be a cakewalk by comparison.â Milor says. âThe kids are capable, and weâve got an ace up our sleeve. Weâll be fine.â
âDo the others in your group share your optimism?â SCION asks, turning his head towards Milor.
âWe do. We expect thereâll be some resistance, but we have the tools we need, weâll come prepared, and thereâs not a lot that will be able to compete with Kaya.â Jazel says. âAll we need is permission from CURSE to take action on the matter, so that Soiruxiaâs government doesnât get huffy about it.â
âI will review the request.â SCION says. âThe Mercurial Consortiumâs relationship with CURSE has cooled somewhat, and so we are taking care in how we interact with them right now.â
âWith respect, sir, this is not something where we can afford to wait for a formal review.â I speak up. âThe request is time-sensitive. The parting ring will probably prioritize the kidnapped individual once they arrive, and begin processing as soon as itâs feasible to do so. We need to be able to get underway in the next day or so.â
âWhile I appreciate the urgency, I cannot approve a mission request without first reviewing the risks and parametersââ SCION begins.
âYou know weâre going to go anyway, right?â Jazel interrupts. âLast time we waited for you to help us with something like this, I spent three weeks having my soul siphoned and bottled by a sorcerer who was fixated on profit margins.â
âJazel.â I hiss. While heâs raising a valid point, getting combative wonât help get us what weâre asking for.
âWhy canât we just go?â Kayenta asks. âThis is what CURSE is supposed to do, yes? They are supposed to replace the Challengers and protect people.â
âKaya!â I hiss. I swear, between her and Jazel, diplomacy doesnât stand a chance of making it out of the room alive.
âI suppose that is technically true, while largely reductive.â SCION say, appearing none too ruffled by Jazel and Kayentaâs statements. âI understand, given the context and background of the request, why you are pushing for immediate approval; however, that does not change the fact that I cannot grant full approval without a thorough departmental review of the request. That being said, if you would like to undertake this mission without approval, CURSE will allow it; simply be aware that we can provide no resources in the absence of approval, and are likewise not liable for any adverse outcomes resulting from the undertaking.â
âSo basically, if we chase this, weâre on our own.â Milor surmises. âCURSE wonât stop us, but they wonât help us either, and if thereâs a bad outcome, yâall are gonna wash your hands of it.â
âThat is the cost of shortcutting the process. These procedures and protocols are in place for a reason, to protect both you and CURSE.â SCION says calmly. âIf you are willing to accept the risks that come with shortcutting the process, you are free to pursue this⊠side project of yours.â
I glance at Dandy, then at the others across the table. Itâs pretty clear that this is the best that we can get at the moment â a compromise that frees us up to do what we want while releasing CURSE from being responsible for our actions.
âWell, Iâm down with it.â Milor says. âWeâve got the tools needed to handle it, so I donât see any problem with it.â
âIf itâs a choice between this and having to wait, I think we should take this route.â Jazel says as Kayenta nods along with him. âItâs not ideal, but it seems like itâs the best weâre gonna get at the moment.â
I look back at Dandy, who speaks almost as soon as I look at her. âIt seems to be the only feasible option for making this work, but perhaps we should take a couple hours to think about it, discuss it, and come to a decision.â she advises. âThere may be things we havenât considered, things that we would miss if we made an immediate decision. We can always transmit our decision to SCION later; we do not need a face-to-face meeting to tell him what our course of action is.â
I nod; thatâs reassuring to me. I can always rely on Dandy for a measured, reasonable perspective. âI agree with that. Letâs take a couple hours, mull it over, see if thereâs anything weâve missed, then we can meet and make a final decision.â I look at the wallscreen that SCION is on. âWeâll let you know once weâve decided.â
âI will look forward to hearing from you, then.â SCION says. Aside from his head, his entire body has remained almost motionless during the entirety of the conversation. âIs there anything further to discuss while we are on this call?â
âThat should be all.â I say. âThank you for taking the time to meet with us, SCION.â
He gives a nod, and with that, the screen goes blank. As soon as the callâs over, I look over at Jazel and Kaya. âYou both need to work on your diplomacy skills. If that had been Nazka, he wouldâve shut down our request the second we gave him backsass.â I look at Milor after that. âAnd I know you know better.â
Milor leans back in his chair, giving a lazy shrug. âYou know me, blondie. Iâm a straight shooter. If the red machine slaps a slab of jargon down on the table, Iâm gonna shave it down until the bones are visible and everybody can see it for what it is.â
Jazel pushes back from the table without a word, standing up and heading for the door. Kayentaâs quick to follow him, and I call after them. âJazel, weâre gonna have to meet back here in two hours, so take some time and think about what SCION said.â
âI donât need to think about it. My answerâs not gonna change, and we donât need CURSEâs help. Theyâre next to useless anyway.â he says as the door spirals open for him. Both he and Kaya are gone within a moment.
I frown at that, then look at Milor. âYou know whatâs going on with him?â
Milor shrugs again, sticking a toothpick in his mouth. âIâunno. Probably has something to do with how CURSE was, as he so elegantly put it, ânext to uselessâ when we were trying to find and rescue him from Grimes.â
I canât help but grimace at that. I canât argue with it, because I know itâs objectively true, and I know it firsthand â this is the same room where I threw a chair when CURSE told us they were too busy to help track down Jazel after he was kidnapped. âSure, but he could at least pretend to be civil.â I mutter, pushing back from the table. âAlright. Iâll see you all back here in two hours; Iâm going to take a walk and gather my thoughts.â
âCould you do me a favor and gather mine while youâre at it?â Milor calls over his shoulder at me.
âGiven how dirty your mind is, I ainât touchinâ your thoughts with a ten-foot pole if I see any of them lying around.â
âSlander and libel, I say! I am a veritable bastion of virtue and purity!â
Event Log: Jazel Jaskolka
Dandelion Drift: Guest Quarters
6:55pm SGT
ââŠand hereâs your rooms.â I say as the door to the room spirals open, revealing a sparse room with two beds and an attached bathroom. âI know itâs not much, but we rarely have guests on the ship.â
âOh, no worries. We have slept in worse before.â Amagi assures us as she steps into the room and looks around.
âThank you, thank you, thank you again for helping us.â Tinker says, taking me by the shoulders and giving me a kiss on each cheek, then doing the same with Kayenta. I know itâs a custom among certain groups of elves, but still, it catches me a little off guard. âIt means a lot to us. People usually do not like helping Ranters because we are not part of your Colloquium.â
âWell, something similar happened to us a while back.â I say modestly. âI figured the right thing to do would be to help someone in a similar situation.â
âYes, we know. We heard.â Amagi says, setting her travel bag down on one of the beds. âThere were rumors that Preservers had killed a soul stealer in the black market. That is why we came to you.â
âYes, that was us.â Kayenta says quickly, brushing up against my side. âMy witchling killed the sorcerer. With his bare hands.â
âWith his bare hands, really?â Tinker repeats, looking at me with wide eyes.
âOh, itâsâ itâs a long story. Complicated.â I say hastily. âI normally donât do that. Kill people with my bare hands, that is. It was justâ Iâd had a long month, and was really stressed out, and yâknow how it goes. And most of my friends did the rest of the work; they broke into the facility and took down the guards.â
âSo this should be easy for you, then?â Tinker says, stepping into the room to set her backpack down on her bed. âSince you all have done it before.â
âWe have some experience with it, so that should make it easier.â I say, glancing at Kayenta, who gives a supportive nod. âItâs going to take a while to reach the Eplekaker System, but thatâll give us time to plan, prepare, and conduct research. Weâre hoping that weâll be able to find the parting ring and raid it within a couple days of arriving at Soiruxia. If everything goes well, weâll be in the system for less than a week before leaving for the Jesserkat System.â
âWe can go with you, help you find the parting ring.â Amagi offers. âWe know what to look for, since weâve seen them in certain areas of the arcane market before.â
âOnly find it, though.â Tinker says quickly. âWeâre not fighters, and we canât really help with that kind of thing.â
âI mean, I know how to hunt and use a bow and arrow.â Amagi points out. âI am not completely helpless.â
âYeah, well I am, at least when it comes to things like this.â Tinker says to her. âI am happy to brew potions, but I cannot throw punches.â
âThatâs fine.â I add. âWe wouldnât want to put you two in danger. If you can help us track down the building where the parting ring is, we can take it from there. Iâll let Dandy and Lysanne know that youâre willing to help us with the finding part.â
âThank you again.â Tinker says, moving back across the room to give me a quick hug before she steps back. âIf you ever need anything â potions, materials, components, elements, talismans â you are welcome at our shop. Lifetime discount, any time you want to visit. We canât thank you enough.â
âOur shop carries things you cannot find in the markets of Colloquium nations.â Amagi adds with a sly grin, sharptoothed grin. âWe are not bound by the Colloquiumâs regulations, so we can carry the good stuff.â
âOh! Thank you, thatâs very generous.â I say, pleasantly surprised by that. âMaybe once this is all over, we can come visit.â
âWe would be happy to have you.â Tinker says. âAnd we would be happy to show you to the other wonders of a Ranter colony.â
I smile at the offer. âFor now, weâll focus on rescuing your friend. Once weâve got her back, we can plan celebrations after.â I step back and out of the room, giving the pair a respectful nod. âI figure itâs been a long day for both of you, so weâll let you have some space and time to rest. If you need anything, just step out into the hall and call Dandyâs name, and sheâll be able to give you direction.â
The pair of them nod in return, murmuring their appreciation before the door spirals closed. In the quiet of the hall, I turn to Kayenta, and let out a breath. âThat was very nice of them, offering us to visit.â I remark as we start walking.
âIt was.â she agrees, although she looks a little confused. âBut what is a discount, and why were they giving you one for life?â
âOh, oof, thatâs⊠right. You still donât know a ton about shopping and finance. Okay, uhm, how to I explain thisâŠâ
âIs it like politics?â
âNo, no, itâs simpler than that, thankfullyâŠâ
Event Log: Lysanne Arrignis
Dandelion Drift: Lysanneâs Quarters
11:06pm SGT
âI feel like I should be more supportive of it.â I say, standing in front of the mirror in my room and taking stock of the length of my hay-yellow hair. Itâs past my shoulders now, and Iâve never been much of a long-hair person. Itâs going to need a trim soon; itâs just a matter of deciding how much gets trimmed off. âI want to be more supportive of it. Just on principle, yâknow? I mean, we literally went through the same thing with Jazel being kidnapped ten months ago, so of all people, I feel like I should be more sympathetic to it. But I just⊠I canât bring myself to want to help very much.â
âWell, you are in a different position now.â Dandy points out. In the mirror, I can see her on my bed behind me, methodically sorting through my clothes that just came out of the dryer. âYouâre a degree removed from the situation, instead of being in the group of people immediately affected by the kidnapping. As such, it probably feels less urgent to you. Easier to write off as someone elseâs problem.â
âI mean yes, but, itâs not quite that?â I say, pulling a lock of hair around to the front so I can check the ends. âItâs like, I get it, I understand all of that. I know why this is important to Tinker and Amagi; I know very well what theyâre feeling right now. All the worry and the concern and the anxiety and the feeling of racing against time. I think the problem is that I donât look forward to the rescue. Like, when we went to rescue Jazel⊠yes, we succeeded, but it was hard, Dandy. It was dangerous. People got killed. Almost all of us got hurt. There were a couple points where I wasnât sure we were going to make it out alive. And thatâs even when we came prepared, and we had Kaya with us. Jazel had the worst of it because of how long theyâd been holding him captive, but all of us needed time to recover after that. It was rough.â I go quiet for a bit, then continue. âI guess itâs just⊠I donât want to repeat that experience again. I know helping them is the right thing to do, but⊠god, I donât look forward to it.â
Dandy pauses in sorting my clothes, looking at me. âThatâs understandable. Rescuing Jazel was a stressful experience, and probably one that most people wouldnât want to repeat. If it helps, I believe this will be different â the conditions are not the same as they were during our experience ten months ago. Instead of conducting this raid in lawless territory swarming with smugglers, traffickers, pirates, and criminals, we will be on a Colloquium world, where the law has power. There is less chance of this parting ring receiving reinforcements as a result, which in turn makes it more likely for them to flee during a raid, rather than stand and fight. The conditions should be more in our favor than they were during our raid in the Primsex.â
I drop the lock of hair Iâm holding, smiling at her in the mirror. âI suppose I should trust you, shouldnât I? Youâve got it down to the numbers.â
âProbabilities are not guarantees. But statistically speaking, we are more likely to find this rescue easier than the last one.â Dandy says as she finishes sorting my pants from my shirts, then begins folding the shirts.
âThat possibility of something going wrong, though⊠itâs still going to bug me.â I say, reaching back to bundle my hair at the back of my neck, and see how that looks. âI suppose I do feel a little better knowing that we wonât be doing this rescue in hostile territory. Also, you donât have to fold my laundry â I was planning on getting to it, itâs just⊠todayâs been a lot, and I havenât had the time.â
âI know. Thatâs why I was doing it.â she says, looking at me. âAre you thinking of getting your hair cut soon?â
âYeah. Although the thought of figuring out what kind of cut to get is just making me tired. Maybe Iâll just chop it insteadâŠâ I sigh, opening my hand and letting the bundle fall loose.
Dandy puts down the shirt she was folding, slipping off my bed; a moment later, I feel her arms wrap around my waist. âI could cut it for you.â she offers, resting her chin on my shoulder.
I feel some of the tension bleed out of my body with her pressed up against my back, and I let out another long exhale, tilting my head back some. âYouâre really too good to us sometimes.â I mumble, closing my eyes. âAdjutant, navigator, pilot, logistics, risk management, scheduler, accountant, and now barber. You really can do it all.â
âWell, Iâm no expert at cutting hair. Not yet.â she admits. âI would have to do some research, and see if there are any downloadable skill modules available for it. Iâm sure there are, itâs just a question of whether theyâre compatible with my OS. But I would be willing to learn, for you.â
For you.
Something about that strikes a chord. The simple, uncomplicated sincerity of it; the fact that itâs been a while since Iâve had anyone profess something like that to me. It felt nice to be the focus of someone elseâs love and attention. Opening my eyes, I raise a hand and run my fingers through the rich, strawberry locks along the side of her head, my palm coming to rest on her cheek as I tilt my head towards her, ever so slightly. âYou really are too selfless for your own good.â I murmur.
Her digital blue eyes linger on me for a long moment. Her silent reply is to turn her head to meet mine, peeling a small, brief kiss off my mouth. Her lips are soft, and warm, and the kiss is over all too soon; that brief moment is not enough for me.
I need more.
I drop my hand, turning about in her embrace; she loosens her hold just enough so I can do so. She doesnât move away either, staying close as I trace a thumb over her lips, then kiss her again, this time more intently. Her fingers snare in the back of my nightshirt as she holds me tight, and I donât break away until I start to run out of air. Catching my breath as I rest my head against hers, not wanting to pull away. âDandyââ
My panted question gets lost in her lips, another wordless answer as she presses back in with a reckless, fiery kiss.
This isnât how we usually do things; itâs usually more delicate, a tentative dance, but tonight is different. Tonight we feel like two planets locked in tidal resonance with each other, drawn together in an orbit that accelerates as it shrinks, and I donât want to let go. I donât want to think after the day Iâve had. I just want to do what Iâm doing now: Tangling a hand in her hair, holding her close, breathing in her scent as she pulls me back to the bed, losing our balance and ending up among the piles of warm clothes, fresh out of the dryer, clothes that are almost as warm and soft as Dandy is. Tonight, here and now, in this moment, I just want to lose myself in her, and never let go.
And as far as I can tell, she feels the same way.