Arsha and Elmar were called into Sick bay. Their confusion was clear on their faces until Marshii came in. \u201cAll right, you two,\u201d she began, \u201cgood news first or bad news?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat depends on which relates to what,\u201d replied Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, the bad news relates to something in the deeper parts of the Kurontar sea,\u201d answered Marshii. \u201cThe good news relates to the peculiarity you found in the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I think the good news is best,\u201d confirmed Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree,\u201d supplied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe peculiarity you found, Elmar,\u201d reported Marshii, \u201cwas the result of genetic experimentation. The DNA of the virus was artificially created. And that came with better news, artificial viruses only adapt to the drugs doctors are currently using. Any resistance to previous drugs, their genes deem as unneeded and so it is gone, making it easier to use an older drug to completely eradicate it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNew strains forget how to fight the rest of the drugs!\u201d simplified Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBingo!\u201d confirmed Marshii. \u201cAnd, thanks to the database of the Over-realm\u2019s Vorkath Monastery, the finest medical database in all the Realms, I discovered that our virus was eradicated before we were born.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo make the cure!\u201d urged Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s where the bad news comes in,\u201d winced Marshii. \u201cI have all the necessary ingredients to synthesize the cure except one. I need the mucus of a clownfish in the Trelfan Trench.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen let\u2019s get some!\u201d insisted Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIll-advised,\u201d countered Elmar. \u201cThe Trelfan Trench is a Mega-shark breeding ground and it is Mega-shark Mating Season here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf anyone is foolhardy enough to try and go there now,\u201d supplied Marshii, \u201cthe female Mega-sharks will use them as presents to attract the males. Both will then use them as ingredients for food or to seek pleasures of the flesh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Charming,\u201d moaned Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBesides,\u201d continued Elmar, \u201cthey don\u2019t recognize the authority of Realmfleet. They are rather xenophobic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t let Laverda die!\u201d insisted Arsha. \u201cWill a fighter craft get through their territory?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf escorted, I believe so,\u201d guessed Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I need to talk to Marianes now,\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cShe can loan me the best fighter pilot in her kingdom.” She headed out of Sick bay and practically jogged, not very effectively in her dress, to the Port Deck, a room with the floor covered with warp circles. \u201cThe Velnar Base, Central Stage,\u201d she directed to the transporter chief, a female Elf from the Under-realm. She was directed to a blue circle and all of the underwater survivals spells were rewoven onto her. She was then surrounded by green light as she teleported to the Central Stage Entrance. Marianes and her troupe were performing another routine to make up for the one that was interrupted by the merman. They performed at twice their usual excellence. When the routine was finished, the crowd gave off cheers and applause, raising the roof like never before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you everyone!\u201d called Marianes. \u201cWe hope you\u2019ve enjoyed the show and took advantage of the merch special to make up for the interruption earlier today! We\u2019re The Flowing Tails, and we hope you remember to\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGO WITH THE FLOW!\u201d finished the crowd, giving off one final cheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoodbye, everyone, and travel safe!\u201d cheered Marianes. The crowd dispersed, all except Arsha, who swam up to Marianes. \u201cArsha!\u201d called Marianes. \u201cHow\u2019s Laverda?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoing bad, but we know how to cure him,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cThe only trouble is, we need Trelfan Trench clownfish mucus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Did I hear that right?!\u201d quizzed Marianes. \u201cDuring Mega-shark Mating Season?! You WERE told about that trench being a Mega-shark breeding ground, were you?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know the dangers,\u201d answered Arsha, \u201cbut I can\u2019t let my best diplomat die!\u201d Marianes sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, you need a Combat Shellcraft?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m using one of my own fighter craft,\u201d replied Arsha, \u201cbut I need an escort. Do you know who\u2019s the best pilot here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t get far with just one person piloting a Combat Shellcraft,\u201d elaborated Marianes. \u201cThey seat two people, one to fly the thing and one to man the weapons. I\u2019m the best pilot and Troga\u2019s the best at handling the weapons. We need to talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTalk to who?\u201d asked a voice. It was Troga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTroga, sweetie,\u201d called Marianes, \u201cwe need to take a Combat Shellcraft to the Trelfan Trench.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo WHERE?!\u201d yelped Troga. \u201cNot when the Mega-sharks are breeding, we\u2019re not!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to get the mucus of the clownfish that live there!\u201d insisted Arsha. \u201cIt\u2019s needed to make the cure that Laverda needs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t risk anyone, especially royalty,\u201d answered Troga, \u201cgoing off into that trench!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven if your WIFE is a royal family member?!\u201d asked Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cESPECIALLY that!\u201d replied Troga. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but if you\u2019re that hell-bent on getting to the trench, you need to convince Palmanar to authorize this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026All right, we will!\u201d declared Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere is she?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s find out,\u201d replied Marianes. \u201cComputer, locate Major Palmanar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMajor Palmanar,\u201d answered a masculine voice, \u201cis taking dinner at Rokanth\u2019s Family Diner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Northern side of the base,\u201d elaborated Marianes. \u201cCome on!\u201d She and Arsha them swam in that direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palmanar was enjoying her Rakurian Crab Cake, finally catching a much-needed break after Thangred and Layto fixed the base\u2019s problems. The main problem was Layto. His instructions weren\u2019t written in layman\u2019s terms, thus confusing the poor Engineering crew. Thangred helped simplify things and now then Engineering crew understood how Layto kept Under-realm tech functioning with Mid-realm magic, thus fixing any problem while Layto geeked out at the site. Marianes was about to take another bite when she heard the Diner\u2019s doors ring. She saw Arsha and Marianes swim over to her table. \u201cYour Highnesses!\u201d she called. \u201cPlease, sit!\u201d They did so. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d asked Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need Troga\u2019s help to pilot a Combat Shellcraft,\u201d explained Marianes. \u201cHe\u2019s reluctant to assist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy do you need a Combat Shellcraft?\u201d asked Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You don\u2019t want to ask that,\u201d gulped Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToo late,\u201d replied Palmanar, \u201cI just did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to know,\u201d insisted Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t loan you a Combat Shellcraft,\u201d answered Palmanar, \u201cor order Troga to man its weapons unless I know where you plan on taking it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe needs it to escort my fighter craft,\u201d revealed Arsha, \u201cto the Trelfan Trench so we can collect the mucus of the local clownfish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You\u2019re right, I DIDN\u2019T want to know,\u201d sighed Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLaverda\u2019s dying!\u201d begged Arsha. \u201cThat fiend-ice was laced with an artificial virus that\u2019s shutting down his organs. He\u2019s got 5 hours left in medical stasis. Once that spell wears off, the virus will kill him in six hours flat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat DOES change a thing or two,\u201d mused Palmanar. \u201cBut I can\u2019t loan you a Combat Shellcraft.\u201d Arsha and Marianes couldn\u2019t believe it. \u201cAt least, not without my help on this venture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re coming with us?\u201d asked Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe I just said that,\u201d confirmed Palmanar. \u201cLaverda\u2019s an old friend of mine. I\u2019ll be damned if I let him die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMajor, you have no idea how much this means to me!\u201d cheered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me order Troga to help and we\u2019ll get started,\u201d assured Palmanar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll inform you when my fighter craft is ready!\u201d called Arsha. As both Marianes and Arsha swam out of the Diner, Palmanar brought out her shell-shaped communicator and called someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTroga, I need you for a mission,\u201d she directed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Arsha and Elmar were called into Sick bay. Their confusion was clear on their faces until Marshii came in. \u201cAll right, you two,\u201d she began, \u201cgood news first or bad news?\u201d \u201cThat depends on which relates to what,\u201d replied Elmar. \u201cWell, the bad news relates to something in the deeper parts of the Kurontar sea,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,94],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-1979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-1-her-highness-the-captain","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1979"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1980,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1979\/revisions\/1980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}