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“Sorry, what are you talking about?” Zeyram asks, briefly looking at Layla.
“ Right now, my main concern is not allowing one of Ow!” Zeyram’s reply is interrupted by Jasper’s shot.
He huffs out “Make that dodging friendly fire and not allowing one of those legs to skewer me!” as he dodges and swings again at that last pesky Jinsul.
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...And Red goes down in a batch of spells, knife cuts and gun fire!
With the base commander defeated, the biolock containment doors sealed, and the path to the reactor secured, you contact Radaszam and Historia-7 to inform them it's time to bring the explosives. "Ah, excellent! It's time that we end this party with a BANG!" Radaszam notes. However, there is no time to waste—you can hear the mad chittering of infuriated jinsuls as they pound on the other side of the containment doors, frantically searching for a way in.
"Oh, we can't have that." Histoiria-7 ensures the lockout on the door controls continues to cycle, preventing other jinsuls onboard the station from taking control before you finish their evacuation.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Within a few minutes of you alerting Historia-7 and Radaszam that the path to the inner reactor is safe and secure, the faction leaders come jogging up the corridor, each holding one handle of a large, circular metallic object. Historia-7 and Radaszam secure the device to the base of the reactor, Radaszam muttering under his breath, “I'm getting too old for this kind of work.”
Historia-7 raises an eyebrow. "And who was itching for excitement minutes ago?"
The tiny creature that has been hanging around on Zeyram's shoulder immediately takes a shine to Radaszam and quickly climbs up his leg and back to perch on his shoulder. Radaszam, known among Starfinders as an animal lover, smiles, and pulls some half-squashed rations from a back pocket. The creature gobbles up quickly, panting and nosing at Radaszam's pockets as it looks for more. Radaszam laughs. "Easy! I give you more on the ship." He allows the creature to ride on him out of the base, even reaching up to lay a securing hand upon it as you hurry down the corridors. "No matter. I'm thinking two things now. One, this creature should definitely be named Little Ziggy. Two, it is time for us to hurry out of here. Let's go!"
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Zeyram jogs alongside Radaszam, cheerfully noting “I hadn’t realized you were an animal lover. I think the medical people will want some time with this one though, considering he survived the Jinsul’s bio weapon!”
I’m really going to need to carry food from now on, in case I encounter other animals. Hadn’t thought this through!
“I’m glad I could rescue him!”
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It takes a moment for Ivok to start keeping pace, but once he hits is stride the soldier is able to keep a steady pace. Just with a few more stifles moans of pain among his breathing.
"He should be only the start. If the jinsul are targeting Little Ziggy's world with these weapons, then there might need to be a lot more saving. Besides, I think I like the idea of adding disrupting jinsul plots to my routine. Whatever they are up to, it likely won't be good for the Society."
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Navia sends Xallis to search through the jinsul commander as she holds her ground, keeping an eye on the door and assisting Historia 7 in keeping it closed. After the bomb arrives, she takea a brief moment to mark it.
From Absolam with love
~Spider
With that, she nods and tucks her rifle close to her chest and calls Xallia to her side, smiling as the team makes their escape.
As the jinsul starship pulls away from the starbase, dozens of small drones deploy from docking bays all over the giant base, frantically chasing after you and your escaping ship. Historia-7 turns, gives the base one final look, and presses the button on a small transponder she held in her hand. After a moment there is a blinding flash of light and the starbase disintegrates into an explosive purple disk.
Although there is no sound in space, you can almost hear the base-shattering
Not looking back, Radaszam engages the Drift engine, and the stolen ship slips into the Drift just as the first shock wave is about to engulf them. He only turns to you once the ship enters the Drift, his toothy grin wider than they've ever seen it before. “Starfinders,” he laughs, “that… is how it is done.”
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Libre is surprised about Zeyram's question.
"But, Zigtoria of course! Angel face, do you have difficulty to concentrate? You cannot listen and fight? Oh well."
===========================
Layla looks at the explosion with a grin on her face.
"Wow, that was a great adventure. Imagine how the press will react!"
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“Zeyram. My name is Zeyram.” he replies to Layla. “As far as my concentration, it was focused on the combat at hand.”
“Tell me, is Angel Face some sort of cultural term typically used for companions where you come from?” His interest seems genuine.
——
Once they are underway to the base, Zeyram finds Jasper.
“Jasper, I wanted to talk to you!” he says in a cheerful voice as he approaches.
“Have you ever considered putting a magical fusion on your arc weapon?” Patting the holster where his static arc pistol is, he adds “I put an Ominous fusion on mine when I discovered it was possible to engage or disengage it with each shot. It can avoid the situation where you accidentally hit a companion.”
In a friendly manner, he offers “Would you like to see mine?” gesturing in a non-hostile way towards his still holstered pistol.
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Ivok keeps involved in the convesation in the run out just to keep his mind off of his burns. "I haven't seen many angels, but the ones I have seen have had a well balanced physique and well defined muscles. I don't recall their much of their faces though. Zeyram has an angel's arms at the very least."
~
On ship, Ivok watches the explosions vaporize the station before he finally takes a moment to relax, removing the bulkier portions of the armor to get some better access to tend to his wounds.
"So how many hostile stations have you blown to bits before this Radaszam? This is definitely my first, although I would be up for another. After a long break in a sauna first." He gives a bit of a hiss as he puts a bit too much pressure on his burned arms. "Maybe I'll spend more time in the medbay until I heal up."
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Navia relaxes in her seat, rubbing a sore shoulder and resting after a mission hard fought and a few close calls with fireballs. Her drone watches the explosion in silent awe, recording the event. She may as well have it on record, if only to look back and remember the good times.
"So!" the hacker says as she playfully nudges Historia 7. "What's this about H-Six looking down their nose at you? Talking trash like I wouldn't find out."
She grins and clasps her hands together. "So, what's the plan? Dig up some dirt? Maybe look at whatever irons Six had in the fire while they were stuck in that planetary hamster ball? Oh! Maybe we could throw together a fake lead and see how long we can get 'em to follow a wild featherbeast chase!"
Her mind reels with all sorts of ideas. Meanwhile, her custom rig begins to sift through the data she downloaded along their journey. Especially those stealth missile plans.
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Looking to Navia, Zeyram asks “Don’t you think Historia-6 has learned to cross check their data sources?” Folding his hands before him, he adds “After getting caught like he did in the Scoured Stars, I would certainly be more careful in checking information sources.”
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Libre speaks with a soft voice.
"You know.... Trauma exist in this world and those Who heal people cannot heal the mind."
She glances back at historia-7.
"But i think that doesn't concern any of us. This is a job for the professionals. When you are in relation with others, the only thing you can change is yourself."
"Thank you for your assistance," Radaszam rumbles on the way back. "Layla, I would distinctly prefer if the media were never notified. The Society's Forum may not have directly approved the mission, but the outcome is a victory the Society sorely needed."
Historia-7 nods. "I intend on analyzing all the data that you retrieved during your mission."
"Good." Radaszam grins. "This will prepare the Society for future encounters with the jinsuls." Then he pauses. "One more thing. Little Ziggy seems to have cloned himself. Did you know he could do this?"
As you all watch, five... or is it six...? Yes, six. Six octopups bounce around the cabin, each eager for your attention. "Do you think you can take some of these? This may be more than I can handle," Radaszam admits.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
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"Thank you for your assistance," Radaszam rumbles on the way back. "Layla, I would distinctly prefer if the media were never notified. The Society's Forum may not have directly approved the mission, but the outcome is a victory the Society sorely needed."
Historia-7 nods. "I intend on analyzing all the data that you retrieved during your mission."
Buddy removes his pirate hat as though giving respect for the dead, "If this needs to be secrety, No vid-cast special of 'Jim Jams it up the Jinsuls' then I suppose?" he asks, as though he already knows the answer. He hands over a copy of all the footage to Radaszam "I watched what I needed to so I could know more about the menace" he casts a sly eye over Jims laptop on which Jim had been passionately working on the ONLY footage for the special episode "Jim is going to be sad, no worry, I bake him a cake later", draws his water pistol full of salt water and sprays the laptop - immediately shorting out the device and ruining it beyond repair. He tucks away the water pistol, points accusingly at the strange little creature a"LITTLE ZIGGY DID IT!" and then walks away again leading his pet frog on a leash to go tell Jim who is busy in the cargo bay repairing Buster.
***
"Well howdy folks at home, today I want to talk to y'all about backing up your data, I had a terrific surprise for you all, but due to technical difficulties a lot of the episode was tragically lost in an unforeseeable accident. Now would also be a good time to talk about house training your pets, we know you all love your little critters, but make sure they do their business in the right place, or all sorts of bother might kick off"
"Welp, me and a new pal of mine Ivok are heading off to do another charity episode of Jim's Jams, this one should be great - there are some kids in need and we look forward to giving them some great life skills, and our pals at Bamford Tools™ are going to help us out with a whole bunch of supplies, so remember SAFETY FIRST, back up your data, and house train your pets"
Jim gives a thumbs up to the camera while Buddy waves, and Buster waves a robotic arm.
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Ivok looks at the little pups with a mix if amusement and wariness.
"As long as they don't keep multiplying like that..."
***
Weeks later on a distant planet a pair of vesk bicker back and forth. Their low whispers slowly grow into yelling as they get ready to fight. Taking hold of both of them is Ivok as he reminds the pair of young vesk, "Settle down both of you. If you spend all your time snapping at each other you won't have strength for the rest of the hike unless you plan to conquer just your bunk rather than the mountain."
Moving the two apart Ivok watches the band travel up the untamed wilderness.
It has been a while since I've been to the Veskarium. After so much time to the Pact Worlds races, it feels much different coming back home and working with other vesk. It was much harder when I first arrived in the Pact Worlds and I needed to learn how to adapt to their cultures and styles. I have enjoyed the challenge and it has been a series of triumphs to learn about so many others. Helped me grow as much as I helped anyone else.
The flora changes color as the sun begins to crest over the horizon and Ivok keeps watch along the trail to keep all on track.
I should ask Kaladyne about using the brand in creating youth camps in the Pact Worlds. Seems like a worthy cause for me to carry on my back.
His ruminations are interrupted by the pair of vesk once again ready to break out in a fight. He makes for them to break them up as he wrestles down a grin.
And it would be a great challenge.
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Navia shrugs to Zeyram and leans back, her artificial eyes displaying a wink. "Oh, I'm sure the two of us can come up with something. Eventually...."
Her head tilts up as she sifts through her data a bit. "Either way, I'm looking forward to getting back and finding some time to relax. Get involved with some old friends. Do a couple side jobs, you know?"
She stands and excuses herself. "Anyway, I'm gonna hang out around the guts of this ship and take another look at what it's made of. Maybe cross reference the design with some of the data we snagged."
Before Navia leaves, she looks over the crew, glancing pointedly at Zeyram and Ivok. She raises one hand to give a two finger salute, smiling as she utters a few strange words.
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After a long travel, Layla Isabella Beatrice Radermaker Eight returns home. On her way back on her Energycycle, she doesn’t do any stunt or go over the speed limit as the previous mission was still weighting on her even if days has come to pass.
Historia-7, she thinks. She is too young for having to bear such heavy responsibility. Next time I see Ziggy, I will suggest they give her a present.
Arriving at her house, the android turns off her vehicle. Even after all those years, Layla still loves this red little thing. She bought it centuries ago, a few days after It was legal for an android to own, sign a lease or vote. It was a poor neighborhood at the time. Now, gentrification had transformed this place into one of the most highest-class places of the station.
She was starting to open her door when a flash blinds her.
-” ARGHH!” , she shouts by reflex. While she cannot see anything, a male voice close to her says:
-” Please excuse me miss. I am Antoine Désilet of the Homework. May I take a few of your time to ask you some questions?”
-” Yes, I heard about you.” , responds Layla with a frown on her face.” I even read some of your articles. Could you please not flash me before talking to me? It is very annoying.”
-” I give you my excuses", says the voice in a tone that mean something else." Can I ask you what your mission was was?”
As Layla’s eyes functions slowly return to normal, she sees who she was talking to. A handsome brown-haired middle man wearing a white shirt and a Kaki pant. A professional camera with a shoulder strap is in his hands.
-” No", responds Layla," I have been ordered to not talk to the press about it.”
-” By who? ", insists Antoine." Radazam?”
-”Look, I do not like it either but I not someone who break an order for just chaos sake ok? I need a good reason like the guy is a jerk so leave alone!” Shouts Layla with an angry tone.
A few moments of silence go as remorse submerges her.
-…I am sorry. I should not talk to you like this. You were just asking questions.
-” You look tired” , remarks Antoine.
-” Because I am. I have been stabbed and burned a lot of time. Horrible.”
-” Are you sure you don’t want to talk about this? “, asks Antoine.
-” I said…” , retorts Layla.
-” As your husband” , interrupts Antoine. ” Not as a member of the press.”
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Layla nods.
-"Are the children inside?"
-"Mother's place"
That what i love about him. He know what I want without saying it.
Layla opens the door and signs Antoine to enter. She lunge into the sofa giving just enough for Antoine's thighs to be under her head. Her eyes closed, she feels a soft and warm hand gently massage her neck while an other take off her social chip. A great burden is relived.
"Our mission was to bomb a Jinsul base to sent them a message.", she says in monotone voice more close to a text reader. They are as bad as you shown to all of us. They have created a disease against non-insectoid race. They actually sing song about her destruction! They are like cartoon vilains made reel.
A part of me is afraid...but this not the first time i have been in a war. I remember the time of the great plague or when Eox started a war against Absalom."
And She continues to talk until she felt asleep.