\u201cSo, let me get this straight,\u201d muttered Hunmur as she spoke to Arsha, Latinora, and Denstra after she was healed, \u201cYOU TWO,\u201d she pointed to Latinora and Denstra, \u201ctricked me to find out what was going on with the sudden leeching of our people and YOU,\u201d Arsha was the next to be pointed at, \u201chired a Scarlet Stream pirate as your First Officer!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFORMER Scarlet Stream pirate,\u201d corrected Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps in YOUR eyes!\u201d hissed Hunmur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour Majesty!\u201d admonished Latinora. \u201cWe have no proof she\u2019s still working for them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s served a sentence and joined Realmfleet!\u201d supplied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo gain better profits!\u201d dismissed Hunmur. \u201cWho\u2019s to say SHE didn\u2019t bring the mist in?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never even heard of that mist!\u201d argued Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost likely a flimsy lie to cover your tracks!\u201d countered Hunmur. \u201cI say, once a pirate, ALWAYS a pirate!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough, Hunmur!\u201d shouted Arsha as she removed her hairpiece. \u201cYou\u2019re just flinging accusations left, right, and center! Denstra did nothing wrong!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSays you!\u201d snarled Hunmur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right, says me!\u201d growled Arsha. \u201cYou really want to argue with the one who\u2019s trying to SAVE your city?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLADIES, PLEASE!\u201d shouted Latinora. The arguing stopped as everyone turned to Latinora. \u201cSweet Glaktem, it\u2019s hot!\u201d swore Latinora as she mopped her brow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Yes, I suppose it is,\u201d sighed Hunmur. \u201cI apologize, Arsha.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo do I,\u201d replied Arsha as she refastened her hairpiece. \u201cElmar said he\u2019d keep me informed of his progress on studying the mist.\u201d Just then, her communicator chirped. She checked the i.d. of the caller. \u201cSpeak of Oyed!\u201d she gulped. \u201cIt\u2019s Elmar!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, even a Seer would consider that to be spooky!\u201d remarked Denstra as Arsha put Elmar on speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo ahead,\u201d she directed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaptain, I believe I have a theory on the mist,\u201d reported Elmar. \u201cYou know how life began for all species, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cIt\u2019s common knowledge. Sentriam and Benthe wanted life and so literally breathed it into various shapes. That\u2019s what sparked the Great Fracturing and made the Realms what they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we all have little particles of their breath,\u201d continued Denstra. \u201cThey contained it all for fear of abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat if they managed to miss a bit?\u201d asked Elmar. \u201cYou see, the mist seems to be constructed of those same breath particles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cElmar, are you saying…?\u201d quizzed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe pink mist is the Breath of Life?!\u201d yelped Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a theory, but I believe so,\u201d replied Elmar. \u201cAs it mainly affects machines with their own motive power, I need to test it on such machines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf that IS true,\u201d mused Hunmur, \u201cwhy can\u2019t we talk to them? Why is the mist just making our machines go haywire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that IS an interesting query,\u201d answered Elmar. \u201cI\u2019ll need to study it further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, guys!\u201d gulped Latinora as she pointed to the door! The pink mist was seeping into the room!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh no!\u201d gasped Arsha. \u201cElmar, lock down the ship!\u201d All she heard was static. \u201cElmar?! Damn! It must already be affected!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope he got the message,\u201d sighed Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regretfully, it was chaos on the Endeavor<\/em>. Though Elmar ordered a lockdown when he heard the static, the mist had already entered through an exterior hatch that was closed too little, too late. Main Engineering was the first to report a fault. The engine core\u2019s power was fluctuating to unacceptable levels. Marshii\u2019s Sick Bay was faring no better. Thankfully, she had no patients, but she was losing patience with her equipment not working correctly. \u201cStupid, rust-ridden, spark-showering…!\u201d she griped. \u201cCan\u2019t you work right?!\u201d Her legs then shut down. \u201cNot you too!\u201d shouted Marshii. Bashoon then dashed into Sick Bay, stopping at the door to catch her breath. \u201cWhoa, kid, where\u2019s the fire?\u201d called Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGrease burns!\u201d panted Bashoon. \u201cMom! At bar!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet me onto that gurney!\u201d ordered Marshii as she grabbed her medical kit. Bashoon obeyed, then pushed the gurney to the Barmek\u2019s restaurant. There was a crowd of people gathered around. \u201cGET OUT OF THE WAY!\u201d shouted Marshii. \u201cGive her some air, for Freemal\u2019s sake!\u201d The crowd parted as Marshii let herself drop to the floor near Mrs. Barmek. As Bashoon reported, she had severe burns. \u201cWhat told you they were grease burns?\u201d Marshii asked Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDad saw the grease hit her as the ship rocked,\u201d explained Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s a good indicator,\u201d remarked Marshii. \u201cIs the source dead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlready snuffed out,\u201d replied Mr. Barmek. \u201cWe tried to run cool water to stop the burn, but the water\u2019s off!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood thinking on the water,\u201d praised Marshii. \u201cThat tells me what I need to do next.\u201d She took out a pair of phials, one with green liquid and one with blue liquid. She mixed the green liquid with the blue one ten to one, then summoned a tiny flame and held it under the phial. \u201cAnyone know a good lighting spell?\u201d she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m a Lightning Dragon,\u201d offered a Lieutenant as he raised his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven better,\u201d declared Marshii. \u201cI need this mixture continually electrified until it turns ice-blue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it,\u201d answered the Lightning Dragon as he took the phial. He electrified his hands and kept up the treatment until it turned the required color. \u201cDone!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGimme!\u201d ordered Marshii. She took the phial and uncorked it as she turned to Mrs. Barmek. \u201cThis is gonna sting like the Depths,\u201d she warned as she poured the contents onto her. Mrs. Barmek drew in a breath in pain as the potion stung her briefly. Marshii rubbed it all over the burn sites on the skin and it turned transparent. \u201cAll right, give it five to ten minutes,\u201d she directed. \u201cIt\u2019ll evaporate on its own once it\u2019s done. Mr. Barmek, Ensign Barmek, good thinking on the first aid before getting me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe all had first aid training before I joined Realmfleet,\u201d replied Bashoon. \u201cI\u2019m just mad I couldn\u2019t follow through on it with the water off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou did what you could,\u201d assured Marshii. She then glared at the crowd. \u201cAs for the rest of you, don\u2019t crowd someone who\u2019s hurt! You make it harder for the doctor to give treatment! Clear off and help to fix the ship!\u201d Everyone decided now was NOT a good time to not heed Marshii and moved off to do what they could to fix the Endeavor<\/em>. \u201cIdiots,\u201d muttered Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI never understood that kind of mob mentality,\u201d sighed Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou won\u2019t understand it when you\u2019re my age,\u201d replied Marshii. \u201cNow, get me back to Sick Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan we get a message out to the Forge<\/em>?\u201d Malak asked Shalvey on the bridge. \u201cThis mist WILL affect her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve been trying on all frequencies,\u201d sighed Shalvey. \u201cWe can\u2019t get a message out. Roozay\u2019s gonna meet the same nasty surprise as us.\u201d Dalengor arrived on the bridge. \u201cAny luck with the flare?\u201d asked Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Scarlet Stream pirates snuffed it,\u201d replied Dalengor. \u201cThey\u2019re playing for keeps. Nazay should have fired off a second flare.\u201d Nazay then slithered in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Forge<\/em> was just within visual range of my flare,\u201d he reported. \u201cThey got the message and are landing away from the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank goodness,\u201d sighed Dalengor. Just then, they all heard groaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was…behind me,\u201d gulped Malak. Everyone turned to see a woman with silver skin, grey hair in curls, and a grey dress. She was clutching her head in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan\u2019t…can\u2019t…\u201d she whimpered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho in the Realms?\u201d asked Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnyone recognize her?\u201d quizzed Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t say as I do,\u201d remarked Malak. \u201cShe looks to be in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll talk to her,\u201d offered Shalvey. She tried to make her chair move, but it didn\u2019t. \u201cOh, great,\u201d she muttered. \u201cEr, could one of you…?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI got you,\u201d called Malak. He picked up Shalvey bridal style and brought her over to the woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello,\u201d she began. \u201cAre you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPoking!\u201d whimpered the woman. \u201cProdding! Can\u2019t…can\u2019t…think right!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan you tell us your name?\u201d asked Shalvey, fearing this woman was abused rather badly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan\u2019t…think I…!\u201d The woman went back to groaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCurse it all,\u201d sighed Shalvey. \u201cShe\u2019s in some sort of pain. Dalengor, help her to Sick Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Senior Staff had returned to the Endeavor<\/em> and were asked to meet in Sick Bay. \u201cI can\u2019t get an accurate reading on her without my instruments,\u201d muttered Marshii as she used various spells on the woman. \u201cWhat I\u2019m getting from her is that she\u2019s a newborn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe doesn\u2019t look that young,\u201d mused Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know,\u201d replied Marshii. \u201cBlasted crisis! Blasted Reb! Robbing me of combining magic and tech!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Reb\u2019s not letting us get to the Forge<\/em>,\u201d muttered Denstra. \u201cShe\u2019s Depths-bent on keeping us here by bombarding the outskirts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrying to panic Galthar into paying up,\u201d summed up Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA classic Rojam maneuver,\u201d replied Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou were the Chief Engineer of her old flagship, correct?\u201d asked Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was,\u201d confirmed Denstra. \u201cThe best way to get her to make a mistake first, thus making the venture unprofitable, is to do something completely unexpected. Unfortunately, that requires technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething we don\u2019t have at the moment,\u201d grumbled Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ll just have to find a way to scuttle her without tech,\u201d declared Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone, we\u2019re all going to brainstorm ideas,\u201d directed Arsha. \u201cNo one\u2019s leaving the ship until we figure something out.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cSo, let me get this straight,\u201d muttered Hunmur as she spoke to Arsha, Latinora, and Denstra after she was healed, \u201cYOU TWO,\u201d she pointed to Latinora and Denstra, \u201ctricked me to find out what was going on with the sudden leeching of our people and YOU,\u201d Arsha was the next to be pointed at, \u201chired […]<\/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":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583","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=2583"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2584,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583\/revisions\/2584"}],"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=2583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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