And we're not little children
And we know what we want
And the future is certain
Give us time to work it out
♫ Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere ♫
Crimson Kestrel
John piloted the Crimson Kestrel and escorted the Fruna Ruica along the way through the infinite infinity of infinite space to Nepleslia Prime, the trip taking a couple of days. The lane towards Sargasso looked a little more crowded than usual on the radar. He got his headset on and tuned to Sargasso's Aerospace Control Tower.
Though, he was greeted with an automated message "Please tune backwards by 2 hz to reach the new Sargasso Aerospace Control Channel. This message will expire in 32 hours." Puzzled, John tuned backwards and heard a much busier sounding channel than what he'd normally hear on approach to Sargasso.
"Ech, you getting this?" John asked Echelon, who was another channel in their earpiece.
"Y34H." They replied back
"What happened while we were gone?"
"SP4C3P0RT, 3V1D3NTLY."
"Really? We weren't away that long."
"T1M3 M0V3S FUNNY 1N SP4C3 J0HN. 1T'S 4LW4YS B33N TH1S W4Y."
"Right," John replied back, shrugging. He knew this world was strange for reasons beyond his comprehension and he couldn't ever get a grasp on them. "Sargasso Aerospace Control Tower, this is Crimson Kestrel, looking for permission to land."
"Crimson Kestrel, this is Sargasso Aerospace Control Tower, we have a space reserved for you." The voice on the other side of the line replied. It was an unfamiliar voice. "Approach with these coordinates and vectors please..."
John received the vectors on his cockpit controls and console. The calculations were complex and varied, and included a few curveballs since Sargasso had become a lot busier since the introduction of this new fangled spaceport. He only heard of it now, and started bringing the Crimson Kestrel down and into the atmosphere.
Crimson Kestrel, Lounge
While this was happening, Luca had recovered, for the most part, from his injuries. He was no longer walking like a bowlegged Nepleslian longer than he was smart, most of his ribs were uncracked and he was no longer leaving bloody footprints wherever he went. He was also dressed quite comfortably and had an accoustic guitar in his hands Vita had been trying to teach him how to play.
"Hey, Ech, how are our bounties from the Ruica doing?" He asked as he thumbed out a couple of loose notes and chords.
Echelon replied over the intercom. "TH3 L1Z4RD 41N'T G01NG 4NYWH3R3," She said of Mr. Lizard Man's remains, which were currently in a number of cooler boxes. "W1R3 H34D 1S UND3R MY C0NTR0L - H3 W4S 4LL B4RK N0 B1T3 0N TH3 1C3 M34SUR3S." Of Wire Head, his firewalls sucked balls and Echelon had them penetrated harder than some of the things she saw on the Fruna Ruica.
Luca stopped playing for a moment. "And the Fyunnen?"
"1 G0T S0M3 K3T4M1N3 4ND CHL0RPR0M4Z1N3 FR0M 413SU. SH3'S R34LLY H4RD T0 K33P D0WN. TH4NK G0D W3'R3 N34RLY H0M3."
Down below in the cargo bay, Luca could hear Breaker swearing in their state of zoned out trance, while tied to the bulkhead with several metres of heavy durandium chains. Stripping their armour off turned out to be Allison's job, and for once in her life, Luca saw her get scared taking someone else's clothes off.
Especially someone so muscular who piloted their armour in their briefs. Even Luca had to admit that the crazy berserking Breaker had a nice training regimen. Though, when he remembered the video Zeta forwarded him when he asked for after action reports for DATASS to clear up, he wrinkled his nose in distaste - it was better for her to be tied down and pumped full of tranqs.
Luca resumed the jam session with himself, idly playing notes. "What about our new members?" He asked.
"TH3 BLU3 0N3 1S S3TTL1NG 1N BUT 1 TH1NK SH3 N33DS 4 SH1RT."
Naoko used to walk around naked, but she wasn't blue either, nor was she chilled and cool as a cucumber. "Think you have some spare clothing somewhere?" Luca queried.
"1'LL 4SK J0HN WH3N W3 L4ND."
"And the chef?" Luca asked.
"JUST D4NDY."
"Likes the new facilities?"
"Y34H, BUT M3L1SS4 S41D H3 N33DS T0 P1CK S0M30N3 UP FR0M N3PL3SL14."
Luca nodded. He overheard the chef's request shortly after they left the Fruna Ruica. "Gotcha. And everyone else?"
"JUST F1N3 L4ST T1M3 1 CH3CK3D."
Then Echelon paused. It didn't take long for Luca to notice this. "What?"
"TH3 BLU3 0N3'S TRY1NG TO D0 S0M3 B1G N3TW0RK D0WNL04DS 4ND R3QU3STS." She replied. Luca looked over at the viewscreen and nodded at her to continue. "4LL S0RTS 0F TH1NGS, L0TS 0F KN0WL3DG3, R3F3R3NC3, 4ND N3WS, 1NCLUD1NG S0M3 R3S34RCH 0N US."
"She wants to know more about her employer, she's doing her homework," Luca shrugged.
"4ND TH3N S0M3. SH3 TR13D D0WNL04D1NG 4 L1BR4RY."
Luca blinked. "Do we have that kinda bandwidth and storage?"
"0F C0URSE W3 D0."
Luca then looked up at the corner of the lounge room to Echelon's intercom. "Tell the others to get ready to disembark and stretch our legs for a bit. I'm thinking DATASS will be getting back to me pretty soon with some info about Handler's Reach."
"G0TCH4, B0SS."
Crimson Kestrel, Engineering
Allison was hiding and trying to take her mind off of Luca's threat to give her a stern talking to by 3D printing more O&O figurines. Echelon was there in the metal to be her consoler. "How pissed is he." Allison tried to get to the brass tacks as she noticed that a figurine of a skeleton had come out with a gammy leg, and discarded it into the scrap pile.
"W3LL Y0U D1DN'T SH0W 4NYTH1NG T0 V1T4." Echelon tried to comfort her friend and the ship's engineer, putting one of her metal hands on her shoulder. "1 TH1NK SH3'S JUST D1CK1NG W1TH Y4."
"You know, I wonder if she's even a teenager," Allison said as she transported the new batch of monsters over to the laser cutting tray. "She's the brainiest teen I've ever met anyway."
"WH0 KN0WS? M4YB3 1NT3LL1G3NC3 SK1PS 4 G3N3R4T10N 1N TH3 P4V0N3 F4M." Echelon shrugged. "LUC4'S DUMB3R TH4N 4 B4G 0F H4MM3RS BUT H3'S G0T H1S W4Y."
"His way or the highway, yeah."
Allison watched the cutting laser separate each skeleton from the mold, and now they were ready to be given a low-sheen, stain resistant finish. "Hey Ech," Allison queried. Echelon beeped at her. "Why do you think Aiesu always looks at him funny? Do you think she's tsundere for him?"
"F0R LUC4?" Echelon did not miss a beat. "0H, T0T3S."
They continued the girl talk together as the Crimson Kestrel started touching down on the newly constructed Sargasso Spaceport. Allison and Echelon bent their knees and felt the ship land, absorbing the impact. "Did you really have to put Aiesu in the rabbit body though?"
"W3LL WH4T 3LS3 D1D 1 H4V3 T0 W0RK W1TH 0N THE FRUN4 RU1C4, 4LLY?" Echelon shrugged incredulously. The fact that the robot she'd picked out pissed off Aiesu so much was just icing on the cake for her.
"Good point." She shrugged. "I am so jealous of you guys right now. You got to party on the Fruna Ruica."
"0H D0N'T W0RRY, W3 3SC0RT3D TH3M H3R3 4ND TH3Y'LL C0NT1NU3 TH3 P4RTY."
Allison just vibrated in place before placing the completed skeletons down on the table in the centre of the room and heading towards the doors with long strides. "Welp I know where I'm spending this time off see you bye bye put my calls on hold because there's a convention with my name on it!"
"1'LL T3LL TH3 0TH3RS." Echelon replied flatly.
Crimson Kestrel
Throughout the ship, the order to get it together was heard from Luca. "Attention Phoenix Crew. We're touching down in lovely Sargasso to rest, restock and take inventory of things. I'm currently waiting for some news from DATASS this week." Luca announced to all throughout the ship. "Feel free to explore Sargasso, stay here and work on tools and equipment. Do whatever as long as you stay in contact. I hear the Fruna Ruica is docked too."
He got up and brushed himself off, keeping his guitar held by the neck as he walked back to his cabin. "Now, I've got an after action report to write. I've got all the data I need thanks to you guys and the Fruna Ruica." He opened the door to his cabin, put the guitar down on the bed and sat down at his desk. "You all take care, and have fun. Pavone out."
And he got to work on writing that engagement report. He still remembered all the details and witness accounts, as well as his crew's data submissions. This'd help smooth things over with DATASS, and avoid any international incidents. Heroism, but backed up with the relevant paperwork, so even better heroism.
Sargasso, Space Port
Standing on the top deck of the space port, it appeared to be a large hexagon built near the edge of the bay, built through the sand and into the harder rock beneath. Spaceships seemed to be able to land on top of the structure or inside one of its six entrances in the middle, and they could also moor their ships in the calm bay water if they chose, and take a little of Sargasso with them where ever they went.
Looking immediately to the southwest, newcomers to Sargasso were treated with a view of the sandy beach. Most of it had been cleaned up and gentrified, now looking more attractive to laze on during a hot summer's day without fear of stepping on sharp rubbish or a corpse. The Fruna Ruica was parked just over the road, struts down, bottom-level shuttle bay acting as an entrance point, and advertisements out facing the beach.
The vessel was in the middle of repairs delivered by robots, professionals, citizen contractors and helashio, but the show had to go on - there were still a couple of days of the convention left before its rude interruption, and most of the vendors and presenters had opted to set up a street market of hedonism and debauchery, changing their events schedule to fit the new outdoor venue.
Looking out into the town northwest past the ruined Wayfield Offices, a new structure could be seen. A candy factory, built as Seiren Isbala had specified it. Its colourful advertising dotted around the grounds and exterior were waiting for the main man to come along and declare the place opened to start creating the first round of new jobs in Sargasso.
In the heart of the city, Commercial Lane had gotten a much needed spit and polish. Lina's Palace looked so much more warm and inviting rather than dilapidated. Karl's Threepenny Bullets had expanded its arsenal significantly, and added a couple of new lanes to its underground range. The Ori-Mart had expanded its consumer electronics, while Mr. Neppies was still the same, but with new menus and new ways to clog one's arteries inside.
It was a warm Monday morning in Sargasso, with the sun high in the sky and a gentle breeze from the west to cool down the city with its second wind. Sargasso Community Radio was playing some gentle synthesiser music for citizens until the 6:00 bulletin with Karl happened. The weather was broadcast to be hot and warm for the next few days.
And we know what we want
And the future is certain
Give us time to work it out
♫ Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere ♫
Crimson Kestrel
John piloted the Crimson Kestrel and escorted the Fruna Ruica along the way through the infinite infinity of infinite space to Nepleslia Prime, the trip taking a couple of days. The lane towards Sargasso looked a little more crowded than usual on the radar. He got his headset on and tuned to Sargasso's Aerospace Control Tower.
Though, he was greeted with an automated message "Please tune backwards by 2 hz to reach the new Sargasso Aerospace Control Channel. This message will expire in 32 hours." Puzzled, John tuned backwards and heard a much busier sounding channel than what he'd normally hear on approach to Sargasso.
"Ech, you getting this?" John asked Echelon, who was another channel in their earpiece.
"Y34H." They replied back
"What happened while we were gone?"
"SP4C3P0RT, 3V1D3NTLY."
"Really? We weren't away that long."
"T1M3 M0V3S FUNNY 1N SP4C3 J0HN. 1T'S 4LW4YS B33N TH1S W4Y."
"Right," John replied back, shrugging. He knew this world was strange for reasons beyond his comprehension and he couldn't ever get a grasp on them. "Sargasso Aerospace Control Tower, this is Crimson Kestrel, looking for permission to land."
"Crimson Kestrel, this is Sargasso Aerospace Control Tower, we have a space reserved for you." The voice on the other side of the line replied. It was an unfamiliar voice. "Approach with these coordinates and vectors please..."
John received the vectors on his cockpit controls and console. The calculations were complex and varied, and included a few curveballs since Sargasso had become a lot busier since the introduction of this new fangled spaceport. He only heard of it now, and started bringing the Crimson Kestrel down and into the atmosphere.
Crimson Kestrel, Lounge
While this was happening, Luca had recovered, for the most part, from his injuries. He was no longer walking like a bowlegged Nepleslian longer than he was smart, most of his ribs were uncracked and he was no longer leaving bloody footprints wherever he went. He was also dressed quite comfortably and had an accoustic guitar in his hands Vita had been trying to teach him how to play.
"Hey, Ech, how are our bounties from the Ruica doing?" He asked as he thumbed out a couple of loose notes and chords.
Echelon replied over the intercom. "TH3 L1Z4RD 41N'T G01NG 4NYWH3R3," She said of Mr. Lizard Man's remains, which were currently in a number of cooler boxes. "W1R3 H34D 1S UND3R MY C0NTR0L - H3 W4S 4LL B4RK N0 B1T3 0N TH3 1C3 M34SUR3S." Of Wire Head, his firewalls sucked balls and Echelon had them penetrated harder than some of the things she saw on the Fruna Ruica.
Luca stopped playing for a moment. "And the Fyunnen?"
"1 G0T S0M3 K3T4M1N3 4ND CHL0RPR0M4Z1N3 FR0M 413SU. SH3'S R34LLY H4RD T0 K33P D0WN. TH4NK G0D W3'R3 N34RLY H0M3."
Down below in the cargo bay, Luca could hear Breaker swearing in their state of zoned out trance, while tied to the bulkhead with several metres of heavy durandium chains. Stripping their armour off turned out to be Allison's job, and for once in her life, Luca saw her get scared taking someone else's clothes off.
Especially someone so muscular who piloted their armour in their briefs. Even Luca had to admit that the crazy berserking Breaker had a nice training regimen. Though, when he remembered the video Zeta forwarded him when he asked for after action reports for DATASS to clear up, he wrinkled his nose in distaste - it was better for her to be tied down and pumped full of tranqs.
Luca resumed the jam session with himself, idly playing notes. "What about our new members?" He asked.
"TH3 BLU3 0N3 1S S3TTL1NG 1N BUT 1 TH1NK SH3 N33DS 4 SH1RT."
Naoko used to walk around naked, but she wasn't blue either, nor was she chilled and cool as a cucumber. "Think you have some spare clothing somewhere?" Luca queried.
"1'LL 4SK J0HN WH3N W3 L4ND."
"And the chef?" Luca asked.
"JUST D4NDY."
"Likes the new facilities?"
"Y34H, BUT M3L1SS4 S41D H3 N33DS T0 P1CK S0M30N3 UP FR0M N3PL3SL14."
Luca nodded. He overheard the chef's request shortly after they left the Fruna Ruica. "Gotcha. And everyone else?"
"JUST F1N3 L4ST T1M3 1 CH3CK3D."
Then Echelon paused. It didn't take long for Luca to notice this. "What?"
"TH3 BLU3 0N3'S TRY1NG TO D0 S0M3 B1G N3TW0RK D0WNL04DS 4ND R3QU3STS." She replied. Luca looked over at the viewscreen and nodded at her to continue. "4LL S0RTS 0F TH1NGS, L0TS 0F KN0WL3DG3, R3F3R3NC3, 4ND N3WS, 1NCLUD1NG S0M3 R3S34RCH 0N US."
"She wants to know more about her employer, she's doing her homework," Luca shrugged.
"4ND TH3N S0M3. SH3 TR13D D0WNL04D1NG 4 L1BR4RY."
Luca blinked. "Do we have that kinda bandwidth and storage?"
"0F C0URSE W3 D0."
Luca then looked up at the corner of the lounge room to Echelon's intercom. "Tell the others to get ready to disembark and stretch our legs for a bit. I'm thinking DATASS will be getting back to me pretty soon with some info about Handler's Reach."
"G0TCH4, B0SS."
Crimson Kestrel, Engineering
Allison was hiding and trying to take her mind off of Luca's threat to give her a stern talking to by 3D printing more O&O figurines. Echelon was there in the metal to be her consoler. "How pissed is he." Allison tried to get to the brass tacks as she noticed that a figurine of a skeleton had come out with a gammy leg, and discarded it into the scrap pile.
"W3LL Y0U D1DN'T SH0W 4NYTH1NG T0 V1T4." Echelon tried to comfort her friend and the ship's engineer, putting one of her metal hands on her shoulder. "1 TH1NK SH3'S JUST D1CK1NG W1TH Y4."
"You know, I wonder if she's even a teenager," Allison said as she transported the new batch of monsters over to the laser cutting tray. "She's the brainiest teen I've ever met anyway."
"WH0 KN0WS? M4YB3 1NT3LL1G3NC3 SK1PS 4 G3N3R4T10N 1N TH3 P4V0N3 F4M." Echelon shrugged. "LUC4'S DUMB3R TH4N 4 B4G 0F H4MM3RS BUT H3'S G0T H1S W4Y."
"His way or the highway, yeah."
Allison watched the cutting laser separate each skeleton from the mold, and now they were ready to be given a low-sheen, stain resistant finish. "Hey Ech," Allison queried. Echelon beeped at her. "Why do you think Aiesu always looks at him funny? Do you think she's tsundere for him?"
"F0R LUC4?" Echelon did not miss a beat. "0H, T0T3S."
They continued the girl talk together as the Crimson Kestrel started touching down on the newly constructed Sargasso Spaceport. Allison and Echelon bent their knees and felt the ship land, absorbing the impact. "Did you really have to put Aiesu in the rabbit body though?"
"W3LL WH4T 3LS3 D1D 1 H4V3 T0 W0RK W1TH 0N THE FRUN4 RU1C4, 4LLY?" Echelon shrugged incredulously. The fact that the robot she'd picked out pissed off Aiesu so much was just icing on the cake for her.
"Good point." She shrugged. "I am so jealous of you guys right now. You got to party on the Fruna Ruica."
"0H D0N'T W0RRY, W3 3SC0RT3D TH3M H3R3 4ND TH3Y'LL C0NT1NU3 TH3 P4RTY."
Allison just vibrated in place before placing the completed skeletons down on the table in the centre of the room and heading towards the doors with long strides. "Welp I know where I'm spending this time off see you bye bye put my calls on hold because there's a convention with my name on it!"
"1'LL T3LL TH3 0TH3RS." Echelon replied flatly.
Crimson Kestrel
Throughout the ship, the order to get it together was heard from Luca. "Attention Phoenix Crew. We're touching down in lovely Sargasso to rest, restock and take inventory of things. I'm currently waiting for some news from DATASS this week." Luca announced to all throughout the ship. "Feel free to explore Sargasso, stay here and work on tools and equipment. Do whatever as long as you stay in contact. I hear the Fruna Ruica is docked too."
He got up and brushed himself off, keeping his guitar held by the neck as he walked back to his cabin. "Now, I've got an after action report to write. I've got all the data I need thanks to you guys and the Fruna Ruica." He opened the door to his cabin, put the guitar down on the bed and sat down at his desk. "You all take care, and have fun. Pavone out."
And he got to work on writing that engagement report. He still remembered all the details and witness accounts, as well as his crew's data submissions. This'd help smooth things over with DATASS, and avoid any international incidents. Heroism, but backed up with the relevant paperwork, so even better heroism.
Sargasso, Space Port
Standing on the top deck of the space port, it appeared to be a large hexagon built near the edge of the bay, built through the sand and into the harder rock beneath. Spaceships seemed to be able to land on top of the structure or inside one of its six entrances in the middle, and they could also moor their ships in the calm bay water if they chose, and take a little of Sargasso with them where ever they went.
Looking immediately to the southwest, newcomers to Sargasso were treated with a view of the sandy beach. Most of it had been cleaned up and gentrified, now looking more attractive to laze on during a hot summer's day without fear of stepping on sharp rubbish or a corpse. The Fruna Ruica was parked just over the road, struts down, bottom-level shuttle bay acting as an entrance point, and advertisements out facing the beach.
The vessel was in the middle of repairs delivered by robots, professionals, citizen contractors and helashio, but the show had to go on - there were still a couple of days of the convention left before its rude interruption, and most of the vendors and presenters had opted to set up a street market of hedonism and debauchery, changing their events schedule to fit the new outdoor venue.
Looking out into the town northwest past the ruined Wayfield Offices, a new structure could be seen. A candy factory, built as Seiren Isbala had specified it. Its colourful advertising dotted around the grounds and exterior were waiting for the main man to come along and declare the place opened to start creating the first round of new jobs in Sargasso.
In the heart of the city, Commercial Lane had gotten a much needed spit and polish. Lina's Palace looked so much more warm and inviting rather than dilapidated. Karl's Threepenny Bullets had expanded its arsenal significantly, and added a couple of new lanes to its underground range. The Ori-Mart had expanded its consumer electronics, while Mr. Neppies was still the same, but with new menus and new ways to clog one's arteries inside.
It was a warm Monday morning in Sargasso, with the sun high in the sky and a gentle breeze from the west to cool down the city with its second wind. Sargasso Community Radio was playing some gentle synthesiser music for citizens until the 6:00 bulletin with Karl happened. The weather was broadcast to be hot and warm for the next few days.
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