Arsha and Marshii were briefed on the situation with the Ralandren government and what parts were needed to fix the Realmgate. They met with Aldarval and Norvorok. “The way I see it,” mused Arsha, “we have two methods of attack for this situation. First off, we DO have the supplies needed to fix the Realmgate. Second, well, that depends on Marshii.”
“We’ve got the medical staff we need to help,” replied Marshii.
“Perfect. Then Marshii and her staff will help with the petrification virus while Thangred and his team can sort out the Realmgate repairs. We’ll have security teams round the clock for any saboteurs. Any sighted crooks, the security officer that catches them is to immediately teleport the perp into a brig cell and tell me about it so I can personally question them. Aldarval, is there a timetable attached to this?”
“I would like to have Heenda unpetrified in three days,” answered Aldarval. “The Council’s about to meet again and they would prefer all members to be in attendance. He can call for a second vote on keeping the Realmgates closed, and we should be able to reconnect the Realms without any interruptions.”
“We can try and free him in that amount of time, but I can’t guarantee anything,” remarked Marshii.
“Do what you can,” directed Aldarval. “Now, unless there’s anything more, I’d call this meeting adjourned.” No one said anything as they got up. When they rounded a corner, Marshii DID say something to Arsha.
“Captain, can you send someone to investigate your parents’ quarters?”
“Why?” asked Arsha. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s been a funny smell emanating from there the past few days.” Arsha arched her eyebrow.
“I’ll…see what’s up personally.” She left Marshii and made her way to her parents’ quarters. The instant she reached for the door, she smelt the smell. As she sniffed, she sighed and thought of Rokanth, Foresna’s home. Mainly Halfling inhabited, there was always the scent of tobacco in the air…tobacco…Arsha then realized that the “funny smell” was tobacco smoke! She rang the door chime.
“Come in,” called her dad. She opened the door and found Elgrad and Hanako each smoking a tobacco pipe!
“MAMA! DADDY!” she cried. “WHAT’S ALL THIS?!”
“Arsha, what’s wrong?” asked Elgrad.
“What’s wrong?! When did you two start smoking?! You know what, forget it! You can explain this to Marshii!”
“Arsha-” began Hanako.
“Don’t wanna hear it! You! Me! Sick Bay! Now!”
“Really?!” snapped Marshii when she heard the story. Arsha simply stayed silent, glaring at her parents, and having transferred her hairpiece to her waist. “Really, you two?! Three days?! You started smoking the instant Arsha retook command of the ship three days ago?! That’s really all it takes for a land-dweller to start smoking?!”
“It’s well within our authority to do so,” rumbled Elgrad.
“Don’t talk to me about authority!” grunted the old mermaid. “Even if we forget every single risk associated with smoking, do you realize how much it costs?! It’s 100 golds per tobacco pouch right now! Higher for Rokanth-grown tobacco! Talking to me about authority?! You know, I have the authority to quarantine your asses from the rest of the crew!”
“…We’re well-aware, Doctor.”
“Marshii, is there precedence for this?” asked Arsha.
“Not within their families, no,” replied Marshii. “No Royana has smoked since Mortak took control of the Mid-realm and the Rotanos haven’t smoked since the First Age. This is new territory for them.”
“Are we in any immediate danger?” asked Hanako. Marshii bit her tongue before she went off. It was time for information gathering, not a tirade.
“What happens if you don’t puff on your pipe for, say, a half-hour?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Oh sweet Ones!” groaned Arsha as she put her head to the wall. This wasn’t a headache she expected.
“Yesterday,” explained Elgrad, “I was stuck in one of the elevators for ten minutes due to a power fluctuation during maintenance. I didn’t have my pipe on me, and I started shaking. I couldn’t stop until I smoked.”
“Well, medical analysis (and a little bit of common sense) says that if you two keep it up, it’s only gonna get worse,” remarked Marshii. “Worse case and the likeliest scenario at this rate, you won’t be able to go ten seconds without a puff.”
“Can’t you just give them a potion to get them to kick the habit?” asked Arsha.
“Those kinds of potions have to match their biology. In this specific scenario, your parents are Patients One and Zero. Given that they came from really healthy families, it’s gonna take a while to whip one up.”
“How long’s that gonna take?” asked Elgrad.
“Hours, days maybe. Nurse Raltin’s good at whipping up potions. He might offer a better estimate than me. Until then, we need a cleaning crew to get rid of the tobacco smell in their quarters.”
“I’ll assign one right away,” declared Arsha. “I won’t have people become second-hand smokers. Mom, Dad, you can stay in mine while that’s going on. You’ll return to your own once they’re clean. And while you’re crashing in mine, I’m gonna lay down a ground-rule here: you two need to support each other through this. No smoking in my quarters or anywhere on my ship!” Just then, Dalengor’s voice came through the comms.
“Brig to Arsha,” she called. Arsha took the call.
“Go ahead,” she replied.
“We’ve got a saboteur in a brig cell. You’re not gonna believe this, but it’s Admiral Conso.” Arsha’s eyes went wide.
“Conso?! Sabotage?!” asked Marshii.
“On my way!” declared Arsha. She then turned to Marshii. “Can Nurse Raltin work on the smoker potion without you?”
“Easily. He can mix potions in his sleep, not that he should.”
“Have him keep me abreast on progress. I’m heading to the brig. Oh, and Mom? Dad?”
“Yes, sweetie?” asked Hanako.
“Malnar and Lardeth’s parents are gonna hear about this as well as my lovers.” She then left Sick Bay and made her way to the brig.