Mira massages her temples, "Oooohkay no help there... ugh we're gonna have to visit the angry purple lady. Who I prolly stole a leg from, she could be nice right?"
Krizen huffs to himself, under his breath. Nice. Right. Maybe if we offer up our souls first.. Louder, he speaks to everyone. There's only one way to find out, and that does appear to be our only lead. He nods gratefully to Bravo and takes his shirt back, handing Bravo his own. Taking a moment to quickly run through some light grooming and straightening of things, Krizen feels much better as he begins to look presentable once more.
Vurg says, ”I don’t know. I make it a point to stay away from the Zeizerers.”
"That's good policy for anyone, business owner or otherwise." Bravo replies, putting his shirt back on. "Honestly, Vurg, you're probably lucky we bought that thing and went drinking with you. I imagine if we'd been a day late, this Ilyania may have just shown up at your store and shot you for it."
Vurg shudders, "You might be right. I'm not sure how exactly to help, but I'll do what I can if you need anything."
"I suppose we should find a place to regroup. It looks like we'll be on Apostae longer than we expected. Do we want to rough it and sleep on the Pipe Dream or try to get a hotel or something?"
Krizen shivers in reflection. We've already been ambushed once. I saw we sleep on the ship. We can find a bunk for Vurg, or meet up with you again in the morning. This last is addressed directly to Vurg, with q questioning lilt.
He is silent for a moment, before saying, "I'll meet with you in the morning. I've got the apartment above my shop, so I'd say we meet there. If I'm not there, look upstairs, door code is 19928. If I'm not in my apartment." He shakes his head, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
"We'll see you tomorrow, Vurg. Stay safe," Bravo replies.
Then he turns to the others.
"Do we want to tell Historia we f*cked up, or try to keep this on the DL?"
Mira groans a little bit, "Let's wait til tomorrow. If we haven't got the thing-a-ma-bob back by then we'll give her the good news."
"You think we'll be able to retrieve it as early as tomorrow? You're a lot more optimistic than I am," Bravo replies with a frown.
Krizen looks uncomfortable in response to Bonar's question. We may not be able to retrieve it by then... but at this point we haven't even tried. I am hesitant to report back that we have given up without any effort made to follow the thieves. If we have not made progress, we can ask for help then - but let us at least report more than only our failure.
Bravo sighs.
"Not so much asking for help as informing our superior of our failure. I'm used to keeping my superiors in the loop, good or bad."
The figure down the alleyway stirs and groans something unintelligible, though the word ”robotsh” is slightly noticeable.
Aye, robots. They definitely happened to us. You too? Krizen is wary, with his pistol drawn as he nears (keeping a healthy distance) the prone figure.
The figure rolls over to reveal a brawny orc woman staring with bleary eyes at the group, ”Yeah, robosh. That’s what I shaid. Don’t know what happened with ‘em. Jus saw ‘em last night.” She points down the alley, ”Think they went that way,” before looking around and pointing the other direction, ”Or uh. Maybe that way. Heard them talk about a temple.”
A temple, eh? Do you know where they may have been referring to? Our local guide just left, but we would be appreciative of any helpful information. Those robots likely stole an artifact whose existence puts this whole planet in danger. Krizen tries to inject a suitable amount of gravity into his voice, though he is still feeling the effects of the night before and is not running at 100% at the moment.
Bravo goes over to Krizen and the bum.
"He's in a worse state than we are...you sure he heard them correctly? Or that his memory's not fogged by booze?"
"I...I dunno exactly. Don't have mush experience with robots. Don't know any big temples in Nightarch, might be outside."
Bravo listens, but says nothing.
Krizen thinks a moment, then turns to the group. The temple lead isn't that solid, and we do not know where to start - this drow Vurg knows seems to be a better bet. Maybe we should start there?
"I think you're right, Krizen. We interview them tomorrow or try to find them now?"
The party heads back to the ship and spends the night in the crew cabins. Though familiar, they aren't the most comfortable lodgings the group has ever had. Before they head out Mira says to them, "I think I'll stay in the ship. Nightarch freaks me out."
The remaining members head toward Vurg's shop and find him at the counter, drinking a cup of some hot beverage. He smiles when he sees them, "Good to see you made it! Got to say, my head's still killing me."
Yours isn't the only one Vurg... I think we are all in the same ship. Is there anything else about this drow we should know before we go searching for her? Krizen winces at bright lights and then pauses, grabs a small container from his belt, and tapes two pieces of translucent plastic and some wire into some shoddy-looking but functional sunglasses.
"Mine too. Glad you're alright otherwise. Knowing our luck, I wouldn't have been surprised if the drow abducted you in the night," Bravo replies weakly to Vurg as they arrive.
"Don't want to impose, but you got any more of that, please?"
”I know she hung around the drifter bars near the docks. Might ask around there.” He pauses to sip his drink, ”I’ve got coffee if you want some.”
"Please. At least coffee doesn't dull your senses and leave you a target."
Vurg points to a coffee machine behind the counter old enough to be one of the artifacts he's selling. "Help yourself. Just try not to be too loud about it."
Krizen wrinkles his nose at the coffee-drinking beings, and mutters something about killing taste buds and shortened life spans. He goes about the business of checking all of his gear, making sure everything is ready for a bar crawl - but without drinking, this time!
Bravo takes a cup of coffee and drinks it straight, apparently not caring about temperature or flavor.
"Krizen, I live off military rations. My taste-buds died years ago."
After finishing, he refills and returns to the group.
"Ready when you are," he says.
As the group discusses, Bravo gets a communique from Historia, "Starfinders. A few local agents have been assigned as your backup. They should be near the docks. Meet them there, if you would?"
Bravo gets the message and looks at Krizen.
"Looks like we better return to the Dream. Historia sent us some more Starfinders."
He gets another cup of coffee and gulps it down.
"Thanks for the coffee, Vurg, and the info. Keep your head down and stay safe."
Krizen looks up in surprise. New Starfinders? I guess the experience shook the group up more than I thought, if the rest of the crew are going home. Well, I guess the Society isn't for everyone. Krizen takes a moment to look around, nods to Vurg, and then heads for the door.
|
As the veteran Starfinders arrive, they see a young fit man in his early 20's with long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. He wears brown robes over his Second Skin spacesuit, and the telltale golden glow of a Mote glows near his right shoulder.
He spots the newcomeers and raises a hand in greetings.
Hail. Well met. The Cycle brings us together, as it will one day push us apart.
Bravo walks forward and extends his own hand for a handshake.
"Hey there. Bonar Vizetelly's the name. Call me "Bravo." You one of the reinforcements Historia sent?"
Another priestly type, and a solarian too. That'll be helpful since our casters left, he thinks.
"Call me 'Bravo.' Everyone else does." Bravo replies. "We'll talk about it, but...not here, not in public. That's gotten us in enough trouble already. Come aboard the Pipe Dream. We'll introduce you to Lexie and brief you on the situation."
Suddenly, someone calls out the group from the right. "Hey! You there, hey! Please- Please wait for me!"
From across the docking bay, a lone female figure quickly paces towards you, dragging a large hover-backpack behind her. When she finally reaches you, she throws he head back slightly and leans herself back to rest against her luggage, panting. "Are you... Are you the starfinders who needed backup? Did... Did I make it in time?" she manages between breaths.
From up close, you see a blond-haired half-elven woman in what you guess are her early twenties. She wears what appears to be fairly luxurious travelling attire, including a brown-reddish overcoat lined with some type of fur, a pair of black silk gloves and fairly stylish if practical black boots. Given that she seems to be far above-average in the looks department, she might have been a decent occupant for the catwalk of some fashion exhibit.
...if it wasn't for that her accompanying backpack was absolutely packed to the brim with what appear to be travel rations, some of which were coming out over the upper edge. Eye-balling it, there appear to be at least five weeks of those in there, if she planned to eat them all alone.
Bravo blinks in surprise as the next person arrives.
"Yeah, you're in time. We're the Starfinders you're looking for. What's your name?"
He looks her over as they talk.
Fancy outfit, but prepped for long periods away from civilization. Clearly has been around the block a few times, maybe over-preparing.
She sighs in obvious relief. "Hah... that's... that's good. I got the message to prepare for departure less than an hour ago. An hour! , " she emphasizes, putting a few strands of hair back in into place. "I barely had any time to pack anything though they knew it'd be my first time off world and I wasn't sure If I brought enough but I figured 'better safe than sorry!' and -"
She blinks. "Oh, but you didn't ask that. Right!"
Folding her hands, she gives a smile and a small, polite bow. "I am Elisys. But you can call me Lisa, Elly, Elise or Alice. I was taught that a lot of human names were derived from mine, so I suppose it is only fair that you can use any of them. Pleased to meet you all; what are your names?" she asks everyone in attendance.
"Actually... now that we're talking anyway, I do not mean to impose, but I wasn't given any information on what we would be doing. So... permission to come aboard for a briefing?"
Krizen laughs to himself as the exuberant half elf stops for a breath. Name's Krizen. A briefing aboard couldn't hurt, and we might be able to plan out the best way to proceed with more heads to bounce ideas around. He turns to the boarding ramp and proceeds into the Pipe Dream.
"Um, greetings, good sir. What is this about 'a cycle' bringing us together?" Elisys asks Nalun, a little confused. Then her eyes widen. "W-wait. No no no no no! It's not my Cycle! I can assure you that! Though I'd rather not, and I really don't want to think about how-" She shakes her head, blushing. "S-such a bold proposition to make to a lady outright... I'll have you know I am most happy about 'my cycle' right now without outside interference, thank you very much!" she mutters, looking away. Then she frowns and re-establishes eye-contact, her earlier embarassment temporarily absent. "Hold on. Did you just call me by my full name? How do you know my surname? Have we met before...?"
She is obviously relieved when Krizen introduces himself and offers a way out of this awkward mess. "Well met, master Krizen! Yes, talking about relevant ideas and whatever is required of us seems most grand right about now," Elisys replies, quickly following him up, and dragging her suitcase behind her.
As she leaves, she throws an apologetic glance to Bonar.
'I guess introductions between us will have to wait until after the briefing. ...Hm... I wonder, could that have been handled better? I still don't know two of their names. But I did ask them, right? Did I miss something? Is it some off-worlder human thing to be secretive about your name?'
"Glad to meet you, El. My name's Bonar Vizetelly. You can call me 'Bravo.' Come aboard, we'll start the briefing," Bravo says, shaking Elisys' hand before boarding. When he does, he heads over to the console.
"Wake up, Lexie. We got new crew members for you to meet."
The party heads into the ship, the boarding ramp getting stuck part of the way down as always. As they enter, the smooth digitized voice the party has become accustomed to can be heard through the ship, "Good afternoon. I am LEX-13, though many have come to call me Lexie. I am this ship's AI. It seems that there are several new faces."
Krizen waves in the direction of Elisys. Lexie, meet Elisys and Nalun. They are here to help us recover that artifact before someone lets loose an angry AI virus ... again.