I think you broke it.
Ouroboros pats him on the shoulder before stepping forward to retrieve the notebook.
Perhaps don't mention this to the others. he says slyly, You wouldn't want them to be angry at you.
Gerome huddles up beside him to look over the teifling's elbow at the book the other was leafing through.
Do you think Gaia felt that?
The little gnome wasn't sure if the being was attached to the ship still, or simply the crystal attached to Salt's arm.
What if she's angry?
Let's not find out. Ouroboros said. I'm sure with her powers she could easily disintegrate a tiny thing like you...
He returned his attention to the book. Studying the language, and looking for clues.
But I didn't do anything, you're the one...his voice went up a notch but trailed off.
Ouroboros sighed, giving the gnome his full attention.
I'm the one who followed your instructions.
Gerome was turning green.
This is easier than I thought. He chuckled to himself.
Ouroboros wasn't sure if that thing was a living being like Gaia, which had died due to their mishandling, or if they had accidentally destroyed something of value. Maybe they had just witnessed something and weren't to blame at all. Whatever the answer, he wasn't about to tell Gaia, in case he'd accidentally stabbed her bestie with a sodding laser sword!
And if she already knew something?
Well Gerome had worked himself up so much, and looked so guilty, that it wouldn't be difficult to persuade crazy world destroyer that it was the gnomes fault.
Come on. He patted Gerome on the shoulder. Help me look for clues, then we can go outside and you can play the crew a tune or two.
Gerome took a deep breath, hopped on the spot, smiled, and then, as if no traumatic event had just occurred, reached for the book and started flipping through the pages.
Salt briefly lays a hand of Gaia's shoulder and smiles up at the beautiful evening. With a reassuring squeeze, she reaches deep into her coat and pulls out a well-loved silver hipflask. Salt takes a long draught, then looks around for BZZT and Markus.
I need to talk to the boss, get my guitar, and get hammered. In that order. Let's see... Illumi.
The armour shifts into a darker hue, tinting to a sandy camouflage pattern from it's previous pristine silver.
to spot Markus and/or BZZT.
She looks down at her kneeling golden companion.
Do you... Drink? Consume in general? And I guess we're somewhat inseperable now, if you're... in my shard?
I can’t metabolise alcohol in the same way you would Oathbearer, I’d only break it down into base components for use in my personal maintenance.
A somewhat shy smile graces her lips...
I can however get just as drunk as you do? The sharing of physical sensation is a very basic function of any shard...and it’s been a very long wait to get out of there...
She stands back up, no sand clinging to her robes of light and closes her eyes in concentration. Her clothes - formerly an encompassing set of robes - begin to shift. Drawing back to expose bare golden skin on her arms and legs, twisting into a decent semblance of the light tunics and shorts many of the crew are wearing in the heat of the evening. If still made of gold and amber light. Hair, suddenly unbound, flows down her back, a cacophony of golden filaments that seems to dance in its own breeze. A flick of her wrists leaves them jangling with bangles and glimmering with rings. A brush of her hand and a stylised tattoo of a snarling dragon climbs up one arm to descend down another. A jewelled amulet set with an exact replica of Salts shard swings from her neck to complete the ensemble.
The entire process takes a few seconds at most.
Yes Oathbearer. Drinking sounds like a wonderful idea...and so many new faces as well...might that Dwarf with master BZZT behind him be your “boss?” I suppose I should introduce myself as well?
Salt easily spots the approaching Caravan Master, he’s making no effort to hide and the crew respectfully parts around him. She also notices that one of the fliers - “Sash,” - her brain supplies, is taking pains to keep eyes on her and Gaia without seeming to.
Still - Markus is a far more immediate issue than certain cannon-obsessed Strix with no vocal filter and the ability to chug hard booze in time with the grouchy dwarf. Especially as he’s just arrived.
Well then... he says, stroking that magnificent beard. I’ll admit it, when your grey friend here started spinning this story I thought he’d gone plum cracker crazy...yet here ya are, gold lady n’ all...so maybe the rest of it ain’t so far fetched a tale neither...
Salt? Explain. Yer own words if yah could. BZZT wanting me to hook that chunk of black metal up to one of the girls on the off-chance that we can fix it? Gotta be a good story behind that one.
Salt smiled, then paused. For the first time in a while, she picked her words carefully. She tilts back her hat and drops her goggles to sit loose round her neck. Her black eyes look earnestly at Markus.
Well Boss, it makes business sense. Gaia's Solaris is a very powerful starship. Aside from anything else, short-range haulage operations become a piece of cake, we can airlift rather than having to divert the girls too close to city defenses. Not that bandits really present an issue, the girls see to that, but having a scout ship to use to take out potential ambushes could be a real benefit.
As for the practicality, the ship would easily fit in one of the repair bays. BZZT seems confident we could repair the structural damage, and as for power, there’s a small bird with a big charge up top already.
I’ll take responsibility for the project in my spare time. Anyone who wants in can join in, also in downtime. If it all goes to hell...
She shoots a meaningful look at Gaia.
If it all goes to hell, it’s on me. And you can deal with me accordingly.
Hmm...
Markus glances at Gaia. At the ship. At his girls.
Yer right it'd be possible, Bessie's got the space for it - and the damned bird-woman's crew's been chomping at the bit for a new challenge...
There is an ever so slight hint of a grin beneath the tide of red hair.
That'd be a coup wouldn't it? Anythin' from the dead Archaeomancers is a damned good catch - none o' the other paranoid buggers wanna touch it ya see? Too scared that whatever finished off one of em' could kill another. So I doubt we'd catch much flak for it - specially since we ain't going back to Gold anytime soon.
He closes his eyes in thought for a few seconds, a shake of his head to clear his thoughts.
Screw it, the thing ain't goin' anywhere and I already gave up half a pint of the good stuff to come over here. Where's the green gnome? The harpy was right - we need better music here! I'll make me decision tomorrow. You and yer...friend? You enjoy the party - I know you wanna.
Gaia remains respectfully silent as Markus says his piece, only when he makes his way back to the crowd does she glance longingly at the party before turning back to Salt - what she wants to do strikingly obvious from the way her feet keep trying to shuffle in the direction of the crowd.
Salt nods respectfully to Markus as he turns and walks away. Once he's out of sight, she turns to the less-than-inconspicuous Strix...
Hey! Sash! Could you save me a five minute trip and grab the old guitar in my room up on Bessie? If you look under the pillow there's a bottle of something I brewed a while back on the road. Might turn you blind, but I'd be willing to share for the favour! You still know the song about the old Jewelled Cat? I could use a rousing tale of adventure!
BZZT wanders back toward the Solaris, hoping Markus was convinced...
Ouroboros, Gerome? Party's in full swing, an'the people're needing some levity. You run the risk'f a drunken Salt with'a guitar...
He shouts through the hole, enjoying the cool shade of the ship's hull.
They were both studying the book silently when Bzzt’s voice could be heard echoing down the corridor from outside.
Gerome thrust the book back into Ouroboros’s hands without a word, smiled and turned on his heel.
It was time for a song. OB would know what to do with the book.
He found Bzzt coming towards him.
Hey ho! Gerome called to the on coming Gnome. Ouroboros will be along in a moment.
He grabbed Bzzt by the tiny calloused hand and started skipping towards the disappearing day light.
The sun was falling fast when they reached the outsides, twilight was almost upon them and the party was in full swing.
Just as you would expect from a horde of desert techno pirates.
Gerome knew exactly what to to do. This was his moment to shine. He was a beached merman diving back into the ocean. He blew one loud and clear note on his trombone and waited for quiet. It didn’t take long for eyes and ears to turn towards him expectantly. He had this crowd well trained.
He began to sing.
His arms are strong
His scythe is steel
He’s like a nightmare
But scarily real
He roams across
A distant land
A bringer of death
With his merry band
When bad children
Come out to play
He’ll eat their hearts
And bring night to day
His name is...
And he bursts into a jolly trombone jig.
There were 7 more verses of this tune, each equally more weird and juxtaposed as the last. They were all awesome.
As he sang he felt the tension leave his body. They could discuss what they had learned from the book, tomorrow.
Salt nods along to the first verse, gets a feel for the rhythm, then starts clapping along and drumming, looking around for Sash with her guitar...
Still waiting on the instrument, she instead grabs the nearest bipedal creature and starts dancing around the fire, gesturing to others to join in.
BZZT does not stand up to dance immediately. After a few verses, he shuffles to his feet, shuffles over to Gaia, and bows deeply.
M'lady Gaia. Would you do me the honour of a dance?
The Black-winged Strix has the grace to look slightly ashamed at being caught out on listening in - for all of 2 seconds anyway. A wink to Salt and a beat of wings sends her rocketing into the sky.
Then just as the first verse of Gerome's song finishes...
As Salt's arm extends into the crowd to grab at a dance partner she finds a feathered palm in hers. Sash is back. Her cheeks ever so slightly flushed with effort. A guitar strung across her back and a bottle of...something in her other hand. Barely a whisper of wind to indicate the speeds at which she had to have shot up and down from Bessie's back.
A fanged grin.
Oh no no no no no Salty. You take me out of the party? You owe me a drink - got that. But you bring something so very interesting out of that black hunk of metal? Well now you owe me a dance.
A whirl of sand and Salt finds herself jerked upwards by the grasped hand, pulled perhaps uncomfortably close to Sash as the Strix gets a strong arm around her shoulders to hold her in place, dropping the bottle into one of Salts free hands.
Hold tight.
And Sash whirls into an aerial dance, her wings seeming to beat in time with the rhythm to send herself and Salt careening across the sky to the cheers of everyone below. But high up enough that you can talk virtually uninterrupted.
I wanna know about the inside of that thing, I wanna know about your new golden friend! I really really wanna know...
A taloned hand flicks the shard around Salts neck, a kaleidoscope of golden light playing from it as she does so.
About the brand spanking new jewelry and the thing that looks very much like a gun in your pants...
Before Salt can reply Sash whirls in the sky and sprints back towards the ground at breakneck speeds. So fast that it's barely possible to catch a breath of air to speak. Huge wings flaring out at the last moment to arrest the fall to deposit Salt back next to Gaia.
BUUUUUUUUUUT!!! That can all wait until tomorrow! We've got a party to enjoy! Hey Goldy! Want a go?
Salt slugs the bottle, shudders visibly, then takes her guitar and starts strumming along to Gerome's performance.
Melodically in time with the strumming, she half sings to Sash:
Honestly, anyone would think you were flirting...
She winks theatrically.
BZZT's voice is lost in the flurry of wings and sudden guitar. With a slightly heavy heart, he grabs the bottle from Salt and takes a deep slug, resigned to Gaia taking the more interesting (and competent) dance partner.
Gaia smiles at BZZT, and looks about to reply when a sudden impact to the sand immediately behind her catches her attention and Sash makes an offer.
The chance to be off of the ground again evidently appeals, Gaia's eyes widening in surprise and anticipation.
To fly again? Oh yes, yes please Mi-
She doesn't have the chance to finish her sentence before a golden wrist is clasped by a black feathered hand and she jerks upwards into the sky, golden contrails forming behind her. Leaving behind a dumped deep-gnome and a throughly mussed-up looking Salt, now clasping her guitar.
Salt's observation nets her a cocked eyebrow and a blown kiss before a blur of black and gold streaks into the sky.
Salt notices the little man's dejection. Switching to knocking percussivley on the hollow body of the guir, she ruffles his white hair and passes him some Gnomish Deep Mead from a nearby keg.
Ouroboros didn’t find anything of note in the book. He signed, enjoying the calm and the dark. Eventually he’d have to return to the outside and right now outside seemed very loud. He carefully stowed the notebook in a belt pouch and made his way outside. He wasn’t one for dancing, though he did quite enjoy the lyrics of the song.
Jade of scale and gold of eye
but why did it have to be paired with
I so wish that he was bi.
It was night time now but tiny fairy lights had been hastily erected along with small pit fires burning brightly providing area of oasis in the dark.
Drink he thought, deal with the book tomorrow.
Gaia evidently says and does...something, because Sash suddenly spirals much higher, before beginning to spiral down in an ever-widening circle. Golden light suddenly splashing out in all directions, forming fireworks of snakes, dragons, eagles and whales that dance across the sky in time to the music.
BZZT wanders slowly back toward the ship, a bottle of Infernal Firewhiskey in hand. He hands it, and two glasses to Ouroboros, cracks a dark smile, and nods to a high rock overlooking the party.
Salt leaps to her feet, whoops loudly at the fireworks, then slugs another shot from the bottle.
With the fireworks and music what had been a mere celebration turns into the potential riot everyone is far more familiar with. Someone throws something onto the fires to make them flare up into massive pillars of flame. The tribal beat shifts into overdrive to match the rhythm of Gerome's song, the pounding now loud enough to reverberate inside everyone's chests.
Markus has climbed back into his cable-seat and seems quite determined to stay there. The Outriders throw back their heads to sound out the ululating tone of their war cries. A stumbling halfling walks straight into the pile of golden jawbones - sending the whole structure tumbling to the ground in a cloud of chipped gold and sand - nobody seems to care.
Ouroboros thanks Bzzt for the drink and the pair fell into companionable silence. It was nice to see Salt and Gerome lose themselves in the music and enjoy themselves. Gerome seemed to be attempting to play the trombone one handed whilst a young good looking lizard span him around and around by the elbow. Salt was whooping and dancing, not a care in the world.
It was nice.
Ouroboros didn't like nice much. It was hard to break a person if they were having fun. But he couldn't help the bubble of affection he felt for the pair.
His attention moved to a nearby fire. A small group of lizardteens were drinking and laughing, rough housing.
Awfully close to the flames for that to be safe really. Shame if something were to happen to them....
The Strix and Gaia smack into the ground, sending up a cloud of miniature golden dragons and griffins. But these ones don't explode - or fade. Floating merrily amongst the crowd.
The black Strix and the Golden figure glance at each other...then collapse apart onto the ground, both laughing their heads off.
Sash recovers first, staggering back to Salt and company. Snatching the bottle out of Salt's hand to take a massive quaff of the stuff, just about finishing what was left in there.
WOOOOOH!! BOY!! SALTY!!! What did you put in this stuff!?! I like it!!
Tiny golden dragons scatter in a panic as Sash lurchingly grabs at Salts shoulders, her free hand pointing at Gaia.
And where'd you find her!?! I like her!! She knows...she knows how to PARTY!!! Lookit!! Lookit!!
She cups a hand around a tiny golden gecko made of light, evidently enthralled by how cute it is.
She said, push hard, use the kinet...kine...kin...kin...use the pushy stuff to make these little beauties. HIC!! So I went WOOOSH!! up and WOOOSH!! down and she goes allllllllll blah! boom! bang! yeh! And then hundreds! So AWESOME!!!
KINETERMATIC NERGIES! MAKES THE WHOOSH!
Salt reached for the bottle, saw it was empty, and pulled another from inside her coat.
Emergency stash. SSSSSHHHH! Don’t tell anyone! I’ll share it with you though. You have pretty wings. And eyes. They nice. One day I’ll have wings. They’ll be big and puuuuuuuuuuuuurple. And a LITTLE blue. Just a bit. Like mah hair. I’ll show all’a’dem holies how y’be an angel.
She looked at Sash with big, multi-faceted black eyes.
Y’d be a good angel. You got the wings, an’ y’can blow up stuffs. Here drink more stuffs for the bottle unit. S’good. S’all good stuffs.
Hey, bet y’can’t lift me over Bessie...
Ouroboros stands in silence for a long while, drinking a steady flow of alcohol. He wasn't sure how, but his cup seemed to top up by itself...
Eventually he said;
If this was a True Immovable Rod, staging accidental deaths would be so easy...
He was still watching the teen lizards.
Best case scenario, I could boop them into the fire, and they'd die screaming... Worst case it impales the lot of them...
He swirled his cup like a pro and downed the contents.
Maybe we could trick them into a game of limbo... Accidents always happen when playing competitive sports... He pulled Bzzt close and whispered loudly in his ear.
No one would need to know...
Ouroboros didn't think Markus would be too happy about him picking off the crew, but kids die all the time right? One less mouth to feed... Besides he was quite drunk and feeling like it was time for a real party...
It's not a real party unless there are at least 3 deaths...
For the first time in a while, BZZT smiled. Agreeable quiet, sat on a very sturdy rock, watching his friends enjoy themselves, good drink in hand a quiet, penseive companion who felt no need for small talk.
He watched Salt intently, she had come a long way from the angry teen who had glitterdusted that guy in the alleyway a year ago. The anger had given way to a carefree attitude that BZZT was a little envious of but couldn't understand entirely. What if the Paladins came after her here?
He mused on his own pursuers. Hopefully they'd given up by now, but he could never be sure. Markus had declined to know the full story, just knew that BZZT was being pursued. He'd been pretty reasonable about it too, considering it was a potential risk to his livelihood...
Relaxing again, the little Svirneblin followed Ouroboros' thoughtful gaze down to the nearest fire. To the frolicking Lizardfolk. His heart froze. The older lizard near the flames, the one throwing the others around. He'd been in the same town where BZZT had met Salt. He was looking off into the distance, and occasional glance sideways up at the pair on the rock.
This is bad...
Then BZZT remembered his companion's proclivity for pointless death.
Ten GP and a plate of that firecracker chicken you like says you can't make the big guy look like an accident...
A sly smile spreads across Ouroboros's face. He snatches the bottle from Bzzt's hands and chugs a few mouthfuls. Handing it back, he wipes his mouth on his sleeve and slurs;
You're on.
Striding away with purpose is the last thing Ouroboros remembers of that evening. When he awoke, he was warm and cosy in a bed, with a pounding head and the warm body of something small and soft next to him.
Well this should be fun...
BZZT watched intently as Ouroboros strode off. Taking another long slug from the bottle, he leaned back against the stubby plinth behind him, ready to stagger over if he needed to join in.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BZZT coughed, and gingerly opened his eyes. IT was still pre-dawn...Or maybe that was the morning shadow of one of the girls... His vision wouldn't (or maybe couldn't) go that far yet. All he knew was that he had an empty bottle in his left hand, his trusted wrench in the other, and someone nearby was cooking bacon...
Gerome was having the time of his life! This was what he dreamed about when he was a young gnomling still saving for his first trombone. Well, not this situation exactly but very similar.
He was riding on the shoulders of a finely muscled lizardman who’s name he hadn’t caught. He had dark green scales (though not the deep emerald like Ouroboros) and yellow eyes (more green yellow than the familiar golden) that sparkled in the fire.
His laugh was addictive, bright and carefree, as was the circular motions the other was tracing up his leg . It was marvellous!
Gerome was so happy he needed to write a song, (whether it was about the absent Teifling or the as yet unnamed reptile, he didn’t quite know.)
He raised his trombone to his lips and played a song so fast and upbeat that his heart felt like it was going to explode and his head felt dizzy. Or maybe that was the alcohol. Or the company.
Yah yah... the strix’s hand wanders up from her shoulders to muss at Salt’s hair. I knowings you bees the angeli- an- anjelly? Bloods thing. Wings maybe? Not now though. No. No so. SO!!
A sudden spin and Salt finds herself in a rough piggyback position over the chiselled muscles of Sash’s back, the roiling tension beneath the skin as her wings spread out speak buckets as to just how strong a flyer the Strix is. The kind of experience and training she must have had to gain this sort of power at an age comparable to Salt is...somewhat staggering.
Then she flaps, and musings on how strong she might be go out the window as the prime concern becomes hanging on for dear life. No gentle lift-off here. Sash rockets into the air, almost seeming to ignore the additional weight she carries, taking no more than 15 adrenaline filled seconds to draw level with Bessie’s head. Another 5 to clear the carapace.
Then she stops. Roughly hovering in the silence of the air. Still very evidently drunk.
SO I!! I WILL!! WILL BE!!! YOUR!!! WINGS!!!! - she declares to the empty air.
Then the faint glimmer of the fires down below catches her eye. A toothy grin.
Hey. Hey Salty? Salty? You liken the boom right? Watchis!!
A gesture - and a pea-sized tiny mote of flame shoots up into the sky, it’s weak glow swiftly lost against the multitude of stars.
Then for a few brief seconds - the sky is lit by a second sun. A massive sphere of fire bursting out of nothing to fill the sky with light and blasting heat. Heat that brings up a sharp wind, knocking Sash off kilter and sending you both spiralling down onto Bessie’s head.
If the Diplotitanicus is at all bothered by the crash landing, she gives no sign.
Sash’s wings open up from the protective sphere she managed to wrap around the both of you. Leaving her and Salt lying side by side atop the head of a titan, staring into the sky.
She chooses this moment to have another swig of Salt’s creation.
This stuff is...this stuff is the goodness with the...with the worlds!! I like it!!
A valiant attempt to stand upright ensues...but gravity is a harsh mistress indeed to one who is no longer entirely certain of the locations of up and down and has cause to question the existence of left and right. She settles for an imperialistic kneeling position.
So! Miss pretty asimanana who is pretty and has the interestings things and says I am pretty too? YOU!! Will take ME!! Where I can has...MOARE!!!
The low light of the curtained cabin was blinding. Ouroboros opened his eyes a crack and the slammed them shut. The sliver of dim light bleached his retinas and caused an explosive chain reaction in his brain. It was fine, he could just rest here for a while in the warm comforting refuge of his cabin bunk. No one would need know about his weakness. He buried his face in the soft fluff of the pillow. The pillow gave a gentle “bah” in reply and shuffled it’s hooves.
Hooves?
Ouroboros leapt from the bed, his feet barely touching the floor!
Two thoughts ran through his head as he sailed through the air.
At least I have clothes on and what the Kuf did I do last night?
Salt burbled something about knowing where the MOAR was, gestured at Bessie’s city, then...
—————————————————————————
Tangled...
Salt couldn’t move her legs. Something was wrapped around her ankles, felt soft. Speaking of soft... A blow of air from her dry lips sent a cloud of small fluffy things flying from her mouth. She opened one eye as little as she could, and found small black feathers floating down back toward her face.
I didn’t...
Opening the other eye and looking down her body, a mess of black wings formed a blanket of amazingly soft feathers.
Holy f~$&en shit... I did! That cannot be comfortable...
Salt’s heart fluttered, then she smiled, openly and genuinely. The weight of Sash’s head on her chest was comforting, being wrapped up in another being just felt... right.
She looked gingerly around the room. They weren’t on the bed. The cold floor was oddly sharp and angular. To either side, railings.
I know this place... This is the service gantry above the vehicle bay... Oh shit.
An overpowering smell of...honey? Is emanating from underneath the wooden door. Blurry golden shapes are gently floating around the room - upon focusing they are revealed to be several dozen exceptionally fat and very lazy looking bees. All of which are made out of a familiar amber light. They pay no attention to Ouroboros or the goat, content to spin in lazy circles in the air - occasionally clipping through bunks and walls.
Wait...that bacon smells...kind of...fishy?
But in the midst of such destruction...stands a thing of beauty. The rickety Thunder Cycle Salt had been slowly working on before has been...improved. Rust and collected sand has been replaced with a gleaming black frame, new handles and levers shine - almost eager to be pushed and used. A new sidecar appears to have materialised out of the aether.
And the heart...the ancient boiler that used to take hours to heat up enough to allow max speed has either been replaced entirely or worked on until it may as well have been, a streamlined black-metal thing flows out of the body of the bike, dark tubes and pistons seeking to harness the power held within...and someone/thing has fused what looks to be a rather large gem to the front of the tank. Even as Salt watches the gem seems to pulse, the hiss of generated steam and gentle movement of the pistons indicating a constant state of readiness.
Ah! Sir Ouroboro's! Good Morning!! How are you? I was wondering if I might have my bees back? I must say I'm impressed at your knowledge of Lizardfolk rituals and the significance of the honey. To the victor goes the spoils as they say! You know? I've never gotten to kill someone with bee stings before - the experience was thrilling!! And that maneuver you did for the children? I don't think they've ever seen that high of a blood geyser - you're practically a folk hero now! They're saving the best cut of the meat for you down below you know. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a dinosaur out of this!
HA! Friend BZZT! COME! COME! Join us! Where is the snake boy? His cut awaits!
He moves out of the circle of his folk - giving a brief glimpse of what they were gathered around...
The big lizard BZZT had been worried about before is in the process of being thoroughly spit-roasted. Quite dead and very cooked. The crowd is taking turns to carve off bits of his flesh, eating them with relish.
HAH! Never before have I seen a dance of the bees like his! Must thank you as well little grey one! Such a good idea! Your new golden friend has gratitude! Much gratitude!
Salt's stirring wakes the Strix. A bone-cracking yawn and a stretch later and she stands up, wandering over to the railing, apparently quite unconcerned with the lack of clothing.
Urgh...my head... Hey Salty! How's it going?
She looks down into the bay.
Huh...you know I was about 75% sure I dreamed about fixing up a bike - apparently not. Man though...we made a hell of a mess didn't we? Gotta say though - I like the end result.
Gonna get some fresh air quick alright?
Sash swoops down to one of the cargo hatches and throws it open. Blinking in the first rays of morning sunlight. Then she stiffens in surprise.
Holy...SALT!! HEY SALTY!! You gotta come see this!
And WELCOME! ONE AND ALL! TO LEVEL TWO!!!!!
YAY!
Salt’s pale face flushed. With the feathery blanket gone, she was very naked. Grasping around, she found her duster and hat, and threw them on. Salt didn’t mind Sash seeing her. That ship had sailed clean over the horizon. But if anyone else walked in...
Then she saw the trike. It was... Magnificent.
Salt briefly debated seeing if she could repeat last night by way of thanks, but settled for a massive hug instead.
THANK YOU! This is the nicest thing anyone’s done fore since...
Salt trailed away and settled for just nestling her face in Sash’s feathers.
She let the Strix go to get some air, then jumped at Sash’s exclamation.
What’s up? She asked, still searching for her underwear...
A massive tangleweb of cables, more than Salt has ever seen deployed, spills forth from the great central storage bay atop Bettie’s back, trailing down the vast distance to where what looks to be a crowd of hundreds are engaged in furious activity atop the comparatively small black hulk of Solaris. The full armament of 5 massive crane arms are already hanging in ready positions atop her carapace, ready and waiting to bear a massive load.