“So, Reb’s working for us, huh?” mused Delselii as he and Bashoon got their food at Barmek’s. “That’s neat.”
“The woman who kidnapped the entire ship while I was an Ensign,” replied Bashoon, “is currently going through a petty squabble with another Protectorate Pirate. ‘Neat’ is not the first word that comes to mind!”
“Petty squabble?”
“Who’s gonna be the Head Protectorate for the mission.”
“Ah.”
“I tell you; pirates can act childish at times.”
“You’re not wrong. I mean, the pirates I dealt with threw a tantrum when things didn’t go their way.”
“…YOU dealt with pirates? Isn’t the Vorsholstein Estate somewhat isolated? I mean, you only installed that landing pad 20 months ago.
“I foolishly hosted the Rum-swiper Pirates a few days after its installation.” Bashoon snorted.
“Th…those guys?!” she asked, trying to hold her laughter back.
“Yeah, not really as scary as Reb is.”
“You know, I wonder how her argument with Patrica is gonna play out.”
“I see you’ve kept the GAPING hole in your quarters,” Reb mused as she looked at the Sailing Patch.
“I think it’ll catch on,” replied Patrica. “For me, it airs out the villainous smell of the previous commander.”
“I’d hardly call myself your commander if you were so VILE in betraying me after one job!”
“Yes, because kidnapping is SO profitable in the long run! You would have traded all that money away for zap-spice.”
“…My PREVIOUS crew would, yes.”
“Who was it who got them addicted to the stuff?”
“A HORRIBLE mistake I refuse to repeat with my new crew.”
“Reb Rojam,” called another voice. The two women looked to see Denstra come forward.
“Dear Denstra, we are in the middle of a VERY important discussion,” Reb waved off.
“This won’t wait, Reb,” answered Denstra. “Tell me the truth about this whole Privateer charade.”
“Charade?” asked Reb.
“Let me hazard a guess, you just want revenge against Dr. Borg.”
“…Oh?”
“Come on, Reb. If you really felt sorry for what you did, you would have stayed in Realmfleet Max, not joined Remsu in the breakout. Privateer, coat, new ship…cheap theatrical façade. I’m not buying it.”
“You weren’t there that night.” The two Cecaelia women then looked at each other, noticing that Reb didn’t emphasize ANY word or add one in that sentence. She was going to tell the truth of what happened, according to their experience.
“…When you were arrested?” asked Patrica.
“When we begged for help! Being arrested was merely a condition to ensure our safety at the time!” Denstra and Patrica were now captivated by Reb’s story. “It was a month before the Siege of Realmgate City. We were at the western coast of the Grilthan Forest, me, Melgem, and Jargoon, when we came under attack from one of Dr. Borg’s cousins, a Revenant Sprite man, no provocation, or warning, or offer of parlay! The three of us were peppered with magic blasts! …The ground beneath us roiled as if it were the sea during a violent storm!” Reb’s face betrayed the fear she felt that night. “Borg’s undead cousin then made one gesture…and the jungle came to life, thirsty for flesh! The trees tore Jargoon’s dorsal fin off, their vines tangling us, wrapping around my companions like crazed snakes…and wrapping around my legs! But my arms were free, and I had something that may have cost me my legs a week later but saved me in the long run. I only used zap-spice to keep my slime from eating my legs. Slimes of all types hate any form of electricity…as do plants. So, I did what needed to be done. I chucked my last remaining dose of zap-spice at the trees and fired a magic blast, causing lightning to strike the plants. The resulting actions caused the plants to release us, so we stole the shuttle Borg’s cousin came in on, our minds set on putting distance between us and the monster that perverted the natural world like that! We then arrived at the southeastern port of Realmgate City and surrendered.” Denstra and Patrica were stunned at the story.
“…So, the whole thing about revenge for Melgem, that’s not motivating you?” asked Denstra.
“We both agreed that revenge for the damage he suffered is his vendetta. I care not for the All-realm Royals or their rewards…but I’d give my right eye to see to it that ALL Fae remember the rules they have set for themselves to not pervert the natural world.”
“Not your left?” joked Patrica.
“I need my good eye to make sure my blade strikes Borg’s wicked heart!”
“Well then,” Denstra then poured some rum for all three and raised her shot-glass, “here’s to revenge against those who would attempt to take the laws of the natural world out of nature’s hands.”
“Here, here,” agreed Patrica.
“…I’ll drink to that HEIGHTS-BORN promise,” replied Reb.
A few minutes later, Denstra approached Arsha’s ready room. She rang the chime and was let in. “We’ve got our Head Protectorate, Captain,” she announced.
“And it satisfies both Patrica and Reb?” asked Arsha.
“Yep. Reb’s going to be part of the external assault while Patrica joins the internal team.”
“Patrica? I thought Reb would join us.”
“Reb’s more interested in making Dr. Borg hurt for perverting the laws of nature.”
“She told you this?”
“And the fact that she dropped her usual verbal tic told me that what she said was the truth.”
“That was her usual tell?”
“In all the years I served under her, it was.”
“…We’ve clearly dithered here for long enough. Tell everyone to return to their stations. I’ll tell Aldarval we’re ready.”
“Aye, Ma’am.” Denstra left the ready room and Arsha opened a channel with Aldarval.
Dr. Borg examined the new base. It was quite spacious. “Have to admit, the retreat DID have a bright side,” she mused to herself. “And I never really lived in a desert before. This would be a nice change of pace from the…” something then flew past her face from out of a room. She jumped back and examined the object once it hit the ground. It was a box, white, square, and advertised “Mama Alazina’s Pizza Parlor”. “…Yulduk!” she hissed to herself. His pizza addiction was starting to annoy her. She looked into the room, then at the pizza box, then got an idea. She checked the box’s weight, made some calculations in her head, then threw the box into the room. She then got proof of the results as Yulduk called “OOF!” He then stormed out of the room with a slice of pizza in his hand and looked out to see Dr. Borg sticking her tongue out.
“…Very cute. REAL cute,” he muttered.
“There IS a trash can in your room, yes?” asked Dr. Borg.
“Yes.”
“Use it!” Dr. Borg stormed off and Yulduk rolled his eyes.