After rubbing her temples to push back the feeling of exhaustion after feeling with Drusnock-Prime's gravity, Mallura enters in the captain's access code into her command station, and replies to the shipboard computer. "Coordinates approved. Engage drift drive. Jarix, take us in."
JD smiles now that the dull white noise of the engines fills his ears again. As he transitions back to normal gravity he settles into his station with a sigh and relaxes for a moment, putting his feet up and keeping one eye casually on the readouts.
"We may need the week to recover. I for one have big plans. If there are no objections, I'm going to turn one of the empty cargo bays into a drone workshop for a few days. But not today. I think I'll take the rest of the day off once we're underway."
After a day, Jarix will try to enlist JD's aid in repairing the buggy. "That storm damaged the steering. Not yet sure precisely what's wrong, but your help would be appreciated."
Lih arrives on the bridge just after the ship enters the drift, and approaches the captain.
"Captain, as you can see, Verne and Jarix seem to be recovering nicely from the stardust plague. I'm going to continue to monitor them for the next few days, but for now they seem to be over the worst of the symptoms.
Nat, however, has become quite ill. She's sleeping now, but is quite weak. If she doesn't recover soon we should consider utilising the gem on her.
In the meantime I suggest we continue your quarantine measures until we are sure the plague has passed for good."
He attends to them at the end of the first day in the drift with the advanced medkit.
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After a day, Jarix will try to enlist JD's aid in repairing the buggy. "That storm damaged the steering. Not yet sure precisely what's wrong, but your help would be appreciated."
"I'd be happy to help. Let's get started on it before I dig into these drones. He heads to the cargo bay with Jarix, and rolls up his sleeves.
"Looks like it's just worn bushings, shouldn't be a problem. We'll grease it up and it should be good as new."
He spends a better part of the morning with Jarix on the buggy making sure it's in top shape, and thanks him for his help.
Afterwards he digs into a bland MRE with the usual disappointment, however the powdered coffee is somehow more palatable after the ordeal at the colony - at least it's almost coffee.
He drags the collected parts of the drones into the other cargo bay and spends the rest of the afternoon setting up an area to work and inventorying the parts.
The next morning he wakes, checks in with the captain, and locks the door behind himself in the impromptu workshop.
"Thanks, Lih."
Verne sits at his console. He turns to the others.
"Glad to be back in action," he says, and swings around as the stars blend and the ship slips into the Drift.
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JD spends his first day within the Drift setting up his impromptu engineering bay (within the largely-empty second cargo compartment) and fixing the exploration buggy . He then considers placing riding boards on the vehicle in order to double the vehicle occupancy (to six people) .
Nat spends the first day convalescing (hopefully) in her quarters while Mal, Verne, and Jarix populate the main bridge. Mayhem sleeps in a chair on the bridge, having signalled that he'll take off-hours piloting duty. Lih spends a good deal of time researching Stardust Plague; by the end of the artificially-signalled 'day', Lih feels prepared enough to treat the three ailing crew members.
*****************************************************************
On the next morning, Jarix pops out of his quarters bright-eyed and clear-minded as he eagerly moves to the bridge to take over Drift duties from Mayhem.
A solemn Lih Soloroh enters the bridge after completing his 'morning' rounds. He informs the captain and the others that Nat has not fared well during the night.
Jarix will spend some time working on a song inspired by the drusnock and their way of communicating.
Upon hearing the news, Verne attempts to help Lih as best he can with tending to Nat.
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Verne awakes on the second day with a painful burning throat and a fever. Despite his desire to assist the others, the android feels as if the illness has won the upper hand today and remains in his quarters.
Lih also informs the captain and the crew that Verne isn't feeling well and has been confined to his quarters for the day. Mayhem shrugs and shuffles off to his quarters to sleep. Jarix hums to himself at the helm most of the day while JD goes unseen.
In other words, JD, you get a +6 to Computers and a -6 to your Constitution (effectively a -3 penalty to Fort saves and your HP max) for 7 hours. I'm assuming that you're working on building a new Sh-Ux. You've got the parts that you need from salvage (i.e. no need to use UPBs).
The muffled sound of rythmic music eminating from JD's custom rig is all that can be heard through the door of the cargo bay. After being sequestered for 8 hours, JD briefly stumbles from the cargo bay to the water ration. He appears sweaty, slightly disoriented, and wearing only his second skin armour. He drinks two large glasses of water and makes his way wordlessly back to the cargo bay.
Very late the next day he emerges once again, fully dressed this time. Behind him floats a familiar shape, similar to the last design but obviously cobbled together from the components on hand. A sphere with a large central iris stolen from the XO comps and once again modified to display multiple colours based on emotional state. They enter the bridge and JD announces the return of the drone.
"May I present Shimoda-Uxbridge the fourth."
The drone bobs up and down in a greeting
"γύρισα"
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In his quarters, Verne shudders with a coughing fit, then sighs and leans his head back against his pillow.
It's been a hell of a first week on the job. I hope I survive the next...
He reaches into the bin on the floor beside his bunk. With his tablet held in front of his face, Verne selects the recording function.
“Bron...sorry I haven't been returning your messages. I thought it was for the best for both of us, but...perhaps I was wrong. If anything happens to me on this mission, I want you to know...you should know that...”
Damn it.
The tablet is left abandoned as Verne curls in on his side and pulls the covers over his head.
Lih chimes the door to Verne's room, advanced medkit in hand.
"Verne, you awake? I thought I'd come check on you, but I can come back if it's a bad time"
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Mallura keeps to her station, her mood grave as Nat and Verne's condition worsens. How the hell are we supposed to complete our mission if our team is down so many people? she wonders to herself as she stares into the Drift-space ahead of the Brilliance.
The captain sits in frustrated silence for a long while, but eventually begins to feel so useless simply sitting there that she has to get up and do something before she drives herself mad. Standing suddenly from her captain's station, Mallura heads toward the door leading off the bridge. "Jarix, you have the bridge until I'm back," she says as the bridge door slides open ahead of her and she steps out.
With quick, decisive steps, Mallura makes her way down the central corridor of the Brilliance, then turns off to the side passage leading to Nat's quarters. She stands outside the door for a moment, unsure of whether or not she truly wants to enter in. Finally, she seems to make up her mind, double checks her wrist-mounted display to confirm that her environmental protections are up, then enters in the code to open the quarantined quarters.
Mallura steps into the dimly lit room with slow, gentle steps. Her eyes scan the room for a moment, as if she is looking out for some enemy that must be lurking in here, slowly killing her crewmember and friend, but she sees nothing. She closes the door behind herself, then moves toward Nat's bed. She pulls a chair from the desk nearby and takes a seat.
Sitting beside the ailing strixian is heartbreaking for Mallura. Nat glows softly with the effects of the plague, but the glow is fuzzy, like lights shining through a dusty bulb. It would almost be beautiful, if she didn't know that it was the effect of the disease. "You have to get better, Nat," she says as she gently lays a gloved and armored hand on Nat's. "You have to get better so you can fly through the stars again. You have to get better so you can stand beside your crewmates and friends. You have to get better so...so..." Mallura's voice cracks and trails off as tears well up in her eyes. "You have to get better so I can get you all back safe. That's my job, Nat. So do as your captain orders, Nat, and kick this disease's ass already."
The captain passes several minutes after that in silence, wishing for her friend to get better. Eventually, she stands again, heads back out the door, and, after a quick blast of frigid, sterilizing air, returns to the bridge and her duties.
"Thank you, Jarix. I've got the con again."
"So, Captain, when do we, you know, use the magic rocks to make them all better?"
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"Verne, you awake? I thought I'd come check on you, but I can come back if it's a bad time"
Verne turns around in his bunk to see the medkit-carrying human.
"Oh..hello Lih, thank you for coming by. Unfortunately this disease seems to be getting the best of me lately. Seems like there's nothing I can do but rest and...reflect."
medkit-carrying Lashunta
"Oh..hello Lih, thank you for coming by. Unfortunately this disease seems to be getting the best of me lately. Seems like there's nothing I can do but rest and...reflect."
Lih gives a knowing nod. "I often find that I do my best reflecting when I'm supposed to be sleeping as well. We don't often reflect on our high points in the middle of the night. Anything you want to talk about?" As he speaks he sets opens the medkit and scans over Verne, doing what he can to attend to the illness.
"Oh, I almost forgot. When JD gave me the advanced medkit, he suggested that I offer my old medkit to you. I can leave it here with your gear if you like."
After speaking with Verne, Lih stops in and checks on Nat. He quickly proceeds to the bridge and speaks with the Captain.
"Captain. I am growing more concerned with Nat's condition. At this rate I fear she will not be fully recovered when we arrive at our destination. He leans in to whisper to the captain, as not to be overhead "It may be just in my head, but it already smells of burning in her cabin. He leans back out to resume at full volume. "I recommend trying the spell gem we recovered. Or perhaps there is a medical ship or base somewhere in the vicinity to better care for her. Despite my best efforts, I feel as though I am failing her for letting her illness spread this far.'
Mallura takes a moment to consider Jarix's question along with Lih's opinion on the matter. She doesn't have to think for long, however, as she herself has seen Nat's poor condition.
"Right, let's use one of the gems on Nat. Lih, I believe we will need Verne's skill with the Mystic arts to activate the gems, so unfortunately we'll have to do a bit of the sick tending to the sick. At this stage, though, I fear we'll lose Nat if we don't do anything to help her more immediately."
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On the morning of their third day in the Drift, Verne awakes with trepidation, sending his electronic sensors along the neural pathways of his android body to determine what extent the disease has advanced. Though his throat still burns painfully, Verne does not note any further symptoms of the Stardust Plague.
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Later in the same day within the Drift, Mallura and Lih have a serious conversation about Nat's condition. Mayhem seems uncharacteristically quiet, working the off-hours shift as the Drift pilot and then returning to his quarters to sleep most of his time not on duty. Jarix spends a good deal of his time humming to himself as he pilots the Brilliance. It isn't until shift turnover that JD surfaces from his quarters with a new drone in tow.
"May I present Shimoda-Uxbridge the fourth."
JD looks around at the severe expressions on Lih and Mal's faces. Mayhem enters the bridge and gets down on his knees in front of Sh-Ux the fourth.
"Aren't you a cute little drone? Yes you are! Yes you are!" the odd astrazoan coos as he pretends to pet the stealth drone.
JD looks around at the severe expressions on Lih and Mal's faces.
Great timing as always....
"Aren't you a cute little drone? Yes you are! Yes you are!" the odd astrazoan coos as he pretends to pet the stealth drone
The drone makes an angry noise and backs away, flashing his iris an bright red. JD smiles at Mayhem. "Looks like he's working perfectly"
Jarix will make something for Nat to eat. Something that she taught him how to make. He hopes that a bit of normal will help keep her spirits up.
"We'll need to go shopping to expand our food options. With the money we've earned so far, it shouldn't be a problem." **small talk**
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On the morning of Drift Day 4, Lih makes his rounds on his patients beginning with Nat, the most desperately ill.
Before reporting to the bridge, Lih checks in on Verne.
"Ah, Mr Sevenstorm, you're looking better today. If you don't mind, the captain would prefer a quick checkup before you return to duty." He proceeds to unpack his medkit, and gives Verne a quick scan.
"Everything checks out. It would seem that the illness, or the symptoms rather, have gone. I would recommend not over exerting yourself for a few days to ensure a full recovery. Well, let's head to the bridge then and check in with the Captain, I think we could all use some good news.
He proceeds to the bridge, and motions for Verne to enter first.
He follows, and when prompted by the Captain he delivers his report. "Captain, Verne's symptoms have gone latent, and he is fit for light duties. Nat seems to have stabilized for the time being" He says as positively as he can to keep the mood light. "Her condition hasn't improved overnight, but her symptoms haven't declined any farther"
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"Ah! Good to have you back on the bridge, Verne! And Lih, nice work in treating him and Nat." Mallura directs everyone to their posts, then calls for the whole crew's attention.
"Alright, Brilliance crew, time to get down to brass tacks. We're more than half way through our present Drift voyage on the way to the Nakon system, so we need to begin making preparations for our arrival. First of all, we need to address Nat's condition. Now that Verne has recovered somewhat, I think it's time to use the spell gem to remove the disease from her magically. Verne, that will be your assignment for today. Study the gem as much as you can, then use it.
"Second, JD, I have a weapon I'd like to build for me. I've realized that I could use another weapon that gets past our enemies' physical defenses, so I'd like you to build me something along the lines of the Azimuth Laser Pistol. I have some schematics from Estex Corp's weapons division here on my comm unit that I'll forward to you. We should have enough materials from the sentries we took out in the AbadarCorp complex to build it.
"Everyone else, we do have some more materials available, so if you need anything else, let JD know. If you need assistance filling the orders, JD, I'll come down and help. It's been a while since I've built anything from scrap, but I should be able to help some.
"If no one else needs anything built, then we'll just continue with our present course. Jarix, you're our pilot while Nat is recovering. Mayhem, you'll stay on duty for off-hour piloting. Lih, you keep treating Verne and Nat until they're both healthy. You have your orders, everyone, get to it."
JD looks down at his custom rig after receiving the schematics from the captain. He looks them over and considers the job.
"I should be able to figure something out. I will get started on it right away Captain"
He heads down to the cargo bay where his work makeshift workstation is still set up. After starting another playlist from his forearm mounted custom rig, he begins tooling around with some spare parts and UPB's. The door remains open this time.
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Verne spends the majority of the day pondering the complexities of the pink spell-gem. Once he becomes convinced of his ability to use the gem, the android approaches Nat’s room, shivering with anticipation. Those in attendance to the ritualised procedure watch as Verne concentrates on the gemstone over Nat’s recumbent form. Nat smiles benignly through the procedure, a miasma of heat rising from her somewhat-emaciated form.
Verne completes the procedure by tracing the intricacies of the gold latticework on the spell-gem with his finger in a specific pattern. The gem glows brightly with mystic energy as the ritual crescendos, winking out to transparent uncoloured state as the spell discharges.
In the wake of the ritual, Nat coughs delicately from her bunk. She blinks slowly, her feathery eyelashes charred at the tips, then slowly shakes her head.
”I’m sorry, love. It looks like you know what you’re about. Maybe I’ll feel something tomorrow——“
Her words are cut short by her dry hacking cough.
Lih stares on with a dire look on his face. Taking responsibility for Nat's care and watching her slide further down into her illness has begun to take a toll on the emotionally involved lashunta. He continues to monitor her vitals long after the ritual, and finally heads back to his quarters to sleep.
The next morning he checks on Nat right away. He takes note with dismay that there doesn't seem to be any improvement.
Afterwards he heads to Verne's quarters to follow up on his condition.
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”Morning, sweetheart,” Nat says in a hoarse voice. ”I think Verne’s efforts - along with your tender mercies - might be putting me on the ride to recovery.” She smiles optimistically.
Later, Lih moves to check on Verne.
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JD emerges once again from the cargo bay with another new toy in hand. He brings the new pistol to the bridge and hands it to the captain, handle out.
"Here y'are Captain. One custom made azimuth lazer pistol to Estex Corps specs, with a personal touch"
He has engraved Captain Mal along the rear of the grip, and the serial number JDP0003.
"Surely they'll have a proper medical facility at the colony. We just have to make it there."
Mallura turns the weapon over as JD hands it to her. "This is fine work, JD! Thank you." She switches around the holsters on the belt of her Estex suit so that her new custom laser pistol is on her right hip, while her trust tactical pistol is on her left. "You know, Estex Corp actually has a patented modular belt design on their suits that make it much easier to switch around your gear like this. That suit of Estex II has a couple extra ports on it for different additions, and comes ready with a coin dispenser if you're in a system that relies on physical currency! A lot of people in the Pact Worlds like to use that feature for little treats for their squoxes, too!"
The captain talks cheerfully of her company's products.
The cheerful chatter about Estex Corp is just a distraction - for herself as much as for the other members of the crew - to take off the edge of Verne and Nat's continued illness.
I've got to do something...
Though the world feels fuzzy around the edges, Verne sits on the edge of the bed and holds the spell-gem in his clenched hand.
If I pull out of this, I'll do everything I can, Asenath.
Dax Thura
