For the briefest moment, Salt almost blushes...
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For all the revelations, Salt leaned back in her chair, a slightly slack jaw as she processed the new information. As if buying time for her brain to put it all together, she points and excitedly proclaims: SQUIRREL! Her demeanour returning, she half smiles at her companions, I want one. S’pretty.
Beyond the world... Salt let out a low whistle. I’ll follow if you take us. Hell, I’d just like to see the world. F!!* it. Let’s go see the hole to escape the bubble!
Salt took in the details, a spark of recognition in her dark eyes. The Claw... He was a terrorist. At least that’s what my father told me... He’s a leader of the city?
Yes. Very yes. Many drinks. Salt smiled gently at the idea. Removing her hat and goggles, she looks around for said drink...
Salt went ramrod stiff as the golden blur enveloped her, feeling the transit from Sash’s vice-like (and supremely comforting) hold to the amber glomp of Gaia. With a forced breath, Swear it. We’re sticking together from now on. But there maybe won’t be a next time if you... Absorb me? Not sure if I can... Breathe through you... Salt’s own breathing is starting to get a little ragged as her black eyes cast around for some help...
Salt blushes slightly as ideas cross her mind as to what fun could be had with big Sash... Pocketing the wand, she smiles gently. Well, I already nearly died today, what’s one more time? Sweetie for a drink? Then you and I can take a look inside the pretty thing? Wouldn’t mind some quiet time later... Her words trail suggestively, black eyes almost shy under the brim of her hat.
Salt stood and grabbed Sash’s hand. Drink! Yes! Yes please. Can we get the bike back topside? A drink sounded like a hell of a thing, followed by a tour of Solaris. She breathed heavily, letting the tension from her shoulders. The breath still burned a little, but the cool of the potion had taken the edge off. You in, little Grey?
Salt gladly quaffs the cool liquid, feeling the instant relief, like a fire quenched by fresh spring rain. Meeting Sash's gaze, she smiles again. Thanks. How'd you get it to taste like Fangberries? With a wink: I'll try and keep this look intact. And I don't like the idea of you getting hurt either...
Salt took a few moments to take it all in. Sash just ate the Manticore. For some reason, this was far more of a turn-on than it should've been. And the cannons on Daphne... DAMN. One day. One day I'll get to play with those... Removing her scarf to reveal a somewhat fixed smile, goggles up to let her wide, black eyes take things in without dust-smeared glass clouding the scene, Salt tried a confident wink at Sash. What, I thought the ladies loved scars? The effort of speaking bought a hacking, rasping cough to her throat. Her breath felt hot too, like ash from a fledgling fire. Actually, this hurts like hell. Please can we go fix me now? Salt caught herself mentally. She was OK being vulnerable? Well s!~~.
Salt felt the bike slow, saw the golden whoosh of Gaia departing. Hey BZZT! We need to give them time to get the guns firing. Let's go do something F&%$ING STUPID BECAUSE REASONS! With that, she slams a hard turn and makes for Daphne.
Hearing Gaia's words, Salt's heart sank. I can outrun it, maybe... But if we don't warn the Caravan, we may lose people, then what's the point? What if something happened to Sash? What should I do? F$*!!? Salt was suddenly back with her aunt, sat by the sea steps near the grand temple. White marble cut into the dark surrounding rock, shot through with gold and blue fissures, the same blue of the cloudless sky and gently lapping sea. There'll be a day, her aunt said gently, between mouthfulls of frozen fangberry sorbet, when the world expects you to do the right thing. People will tell you this and that, oh so many opinions and thoughts. They'll say "it's for the good of the kingdom!" and other things that soundimportant. The old Aasimar, blue-purple wings still damp from their swim, smiled gently at her niece's confused look.
F~~@ you, Aunt Flappy. F@&@ you for being right. Salt swallowed hard, realising what she was about to do could mean death for her and BZZT. Worth it to save her and the others... Gaia, go. Fast as you can, warn them. Get Sash to bring the big guns round, we'll need them! And tell her... Salt's face flushed red beneath her scarf.
Turning to BZZT and mustering a message spell: Get the rifle ready, little man. We may need some accurate shooting before the end of the day...
Salt draws a deep breath to clear the adrenaline. A weird clarity breaks over her form, feeling the trike's rumbling over the sandy ground, the rush of hot air from the engine, surrounded by a corona of cold, the dust pelting her goggles and facemask. It all came together as she focused on the next steps... Escape. Warn Sash and Markus. Gaia, if you can hear me, we need to warn the others at the caravan of that... thing. I can glitterdust, how much can you amp that up? Carry it a distance, make letters? Anyhting to get them some notice. And big guns aiming right...
Salt didn't seed telling twice. Gunning the engine, she barely gave time for BZZT to strap into the gunner's harness before they were off, great plumes of sand coming from the thundering wheels. Driving faster than she'd dared push the trike before. they made it easily to Ouroboros and Gerome. WE NEED TO GO! RIDE HARD FOR THE CARAVAN OR WE'RE F#%&ED! Without waiting for a reply, she gunned the engine again and took off back towards to colossal shapes on the horizon, hoping against hope they could make it in time...
Salt pulled the trike up to BZZT with a spray of sand, maybe a little too close for comfort... Need a lift? With a slightly laboured smile and heavy breath, You did great out there! You two make a pretty f***en great team!
Salt paused and caught her breath, raising her goggles and letting the engine idle gently. The burning in her chest was subsiding, but would need healing soon. Her armour had taken the brunt of it, and was re-meshing itself as she watched. After a few deep, calming breaths and she returned her goggles, raised the scarf over her mouth and nose, and shot the trike back toward BZZT's mound. He'd done a great job with his scary new rifle. Now she just needed to get to the same place...
Salt screams in pain, then slams the breaks on the bike, swinging it through 180 degrees to try and dislodge the creature.
Salt guns her engine and flies toward the nearest burning one. With a deft hand, she snaps off a single pistol shot before plowing headlong into the creature, the ram hammering into the searing flesh.
With BZZT in place, Salt checks the charge on her Inferno Pistol, kisses her other pistol for luck, then once again kicks the throttle open, riding directly at the columns of smoke. INCOMING, YOU SMOKY F$~$S! She flips a switch by the handlebars and engages the bike's ram. This is going to be fun...
Salt watches Ouroboros manoeuvre to flank and accelerates again toward the Sniping spot. Pulling up with a skid and a spray of sand, she shouts to BZZT: Get in position, use the sand for cover!
Salt peeled away from the others and accelerated, moving out in a flanking motion. In response to BZZT's inquisitive look: I'll drop tou on that rise, it's about six-hundred feet and should give you a clear shot. I'll take the cycle in close and pick them off. If they move towards you, I'll come get you. Understood?
Salt pulled down her goggles and secured her scarf over the rest of her face. Here we go... She gunned the engine once more, revelling in the power at her fingertips, then opened the throttle and with a spray of sand, rocketed after Robbit and Gerome. The sheer joy of going so fast, the wind whipping her hair behind her was exhilarating, she whooped and cheered but all sound was lost in the rush of air and the roar of the engine.
That was... SO F+*~EN COOL! Salt grins and guns the engine again.
Have fun! Salt has no worries letting Gaia interact with the crystal.
Robbit! Saddle up! Bring Waddle Flap and let's ride!
Salt salutes jauntily, then wheels the bike around. In time to see Storm Fury's display of... Aerobatics? Falling with style? Then the impact. Salt giggles, her bandanna the only thing stopping a mouthful of sand as it blasts past. Pulling up to the rest of the party, she shouts Robbit, your tiny lightning squawk is adorable! Turning to BZZT: Your station awaits, little man. She unlocks the clamp on the weapon mount. Yours too, m'lady...
Salt drives a little more carefully (but almost as quickly) with a passenger on board, pulling a slide to stop within reach of the cable. Here's your stop!
Salt hits the ground and is immediately moving toward the Bike. She guns the engine and pulls up alongside Alas. Shotgun?
Salt smiles back at the starship, pulls down her goggles, then leaps for a cable after Alas, whooping as she descends, one hand tightly on the descent handle, the other trailing in the breeze, holding her hat.
Salt takes a deep breath and addresses everyone talking to her in turn, starting by taking a vial from Ouroboros. Thanks, Robbit. Yes, we should head out. Go try out some new gar… The excitement is palpable, radiating like waves. Gaia, you’re very welcome to come with us, though right now the bike only has two seats, so I assume you can do the whoosh thing from my gem? Alas, if you can get down, and up on cables, I can drop you back at your home stompy. That work? And BZZT, you’re riding shotgun. Or, I guess, sniper?[b] She turns to ride the cable down, before quickly running over to Solaris: [b]Sash! I’m off to try out the Cycle! You find anything awesome in there, I want to hear about it, OK? Then, in a softer voice: And stay safe. RIGHT! ONWARDS! She strides toward the down cable.
Sounds good little Green. What're you thinking? Salt ha sfinished cleaning her guns and losing her s#@~ over transient ponies, and has adopted a quiet position against the hull of Solaris. For the record, BZZT and I are taking the Thunder Cycle, good stable platform for his new friend there to shoot from.
In spite of her attempt at professionalism, Salt doubles over laughing. Entirely up to how you ride, little Green... Turning to BZZT and Longstrike, containing her filth: Sidecar has a mount for something scary, want to try it out?
Salt's face contorts as if trying to contain the tide of innuendo at Robbit's comment. Yes. Let's ride. She turns to Markus: We'll make sure any scouting we do is well recorded, Boss.
After less time than Salt was happy with, the somewhat demonic-looking pony winked back out of existence.With a sigh, Salt slumped back to the floor, the full gamut of emotions now evidently run. But the rifle made a pony... Her voice was wistful, as if awakening from a beautiful dream.
F%&*EN PONY! Salt hugs the summoned pony, now entirely distracted.
Salt underwent two rapid changes in very quick succession. Initial sadness that Sash had suddenly gone whoosh out of the hangar bay, her usual wry smile faltering as she waved at the space where the Strix had been. This faded very quickly to a look of elation as she saw Longstrike. the noise that followed could be rendered as a "squeee", but of such a pitch and intensity as to be painful to creatures with both regular and ultrasonic hearing. She leapt forward, spraying water over the surrounding area, and slid on her knees to land near BZZT, moving manically to take in all angles. Holyf#@%enshitthat'stheprettiestrifleI'veeverseenpleasecanwetakeheroutsidet oshootsomethingpleaseandWOWsheTALKS!!! Her face starts to turn an unhealthy colour from lack of breathing...
Salt is still sat on the floor, absently cleaning her guns, when she hears the excited squeal of something from the depths of Solaris...
Salt smiles serenely, still enjoying the colours. You should go too, Robbit. This is the kind of power someone like you deserves... You are worthy of her grace. There's no edge to her voice, just a suggestion that she genuinely believes what she says.
Salt sat looking shocked for a minute, before turning to Sash. You know I'm Musetouched, right? Colours are kinda my thing... Still, insert comment about getting me wet. She winks up at the Strix, still smiling.
He green... And blue... Like the sea...
YAY! Salt claps excitedly as Gerome swallows the little rock. Juice? She offers him her canteen.
Salt is slightly taken aback by the gentleness, but smiles kindly up at Robbit. I'm good. I'm very good. I feel... Powerful. Like a little piece of the universe is burning in my heart. Like I'm connected to something bigger.
Seeing the doubt on the young Gnome's face, Salt softens her voice. Were Gerome to look carefully, he could still see the gleam of black fire dancing across the faceted onyx of her irises. It's the very power of the universe distilled into your hands. Nothing quite like what I just felt. The sheer power of it. But in a good way. Like, something grand and infinite, but warm and comforting...
Because the trip is F$*$EN AWESOME! Salt announces from her spot on the floor, still half-hugging Sash. AND THERE ARE COLOURS!
It was incredible. Anyone got a drink? Or some pipeweed?
Salt falls to her knees, gasping for breath. She winks at Sash, You'd know what that looks like... Yeah, I'm OK, just, She turns to Gaia. What in the name of the Tarrasque's pendulous armoured ballsack was that?
Salt looks dubiously at the crystal, then shrugs. Pulling a canteen from the depths of her coat, she smiles at Gaia. I've swallowed worse after being asked to trust someone. And at least you asked nicely. And I have my eyes open... A theatrical wink, and the crystal is chased by a long slug from the canteen.
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