CIRCE: “Mr. Hanaka, they’re guards.”
ERWIN: Erwin’s eyebrows shoot up as he passes the guards. He mouths “Wowsers”
RYO: Ryo frowns. “How very astute of you, Circe.”
CIRCE: “They don’t deal with the appeals.”
RYO: “Again. Can’t pull one past you. But they do have keys to the cell.”
ERWIN: “Oh, I thought he meant if they wanted a bribe they would let Loll out so they wouldn’t have to deal with an appeal.”
CIRCE: “So just offer them the bribe, rather than pretend you’re saving them work.”
CIRCE: “Is…is this your first bribe?”
RYO: Ryo laughs at both of them. “I’d rather not wind up in a cell myself.”
RYO: “And if they’re too dense to understand that I was offering one, then they aren’t going to take one.”
ERWIN: “It’s my first bribe.”
ERWIN: “But you probably knew that.”
RYO: “I guessed.”
STORY: Ryo! You’ve just wrapping up a long, tense negotiation with a trade organization local to the Odh system and are returning to the ship when you get a buzz from Astra on your walkie. “Mr. Hanaka, sir, message for you. Seems… urgent.”
RYO: Ryo picks it up. “Thank you Astra. Please put them through.” He goes to the nearest com station.
STORY: “Uhh… it’s a hologram? You’re going to need to come back.”
RYO: “I see. I’m on my way.”
STORY: When you arrive back at the Augusta King, her small crew is smooshed into the bridge, watching a hologram of Dr. Millicent Breedlove. You’re certain this ship didn’t have hologram capabilities. She’s finishing a sentence.
RYO: Ryo takes a seat and patiently waits for them to restart the message.
STORY: “–hopefully not dead, though the possibility certainly does exist. Anyway! Please do consider being owed a favor. We can talk details once you save us. Thanks!”
RYO: Ryo raises an eyebrow at this. “Seems exciting.”
STORY: It starts over from the beginning. “Mr. Hanaka! Good to see you, where ‘see’ is an approximation of what’s happening here. This is a recording – I confess, I rigged your ship to play this message if our beacon ever stopped pinging the Augusta King. Sort of a dead man’s rescue mission. This message is playing because our engine is off, and I don’t know if you know this, but our engine uses a type of fuel that means if it ever turns off while we’re in motion, we become a planet-killing asteroid unable to control our trajectory. Hoping you can help with that!”
RYO: Ryo adjusts his glasses and sits forward slightly.
STORY: “Given that I’m not making this call live, let’s assume, well.” Holo-Millie waves her hands. “You’re going to need to find the other person in the galaxy who can work on our engine – her name is T’chololl Thasht, and last time we saw her she was on her way to Mait to bring a few hundred maraas to judgment, whatever that means. She should be willing to help you if you explain that we’re all going to die and probably take out a lot of people with us. I’m… well, hopefully not dead, though the possibility certainly does exist. Anyway! Please do consider being owed a favor. We can talk details once you save us. Thanks!”
STORY: Figgan looks up at you. “It’s encoded with the ship’s location from their last ping.”
CIRCE: Circe bristles again when the Mait is mentioned. She has not yet come to terms with that part of the message.
RYO: Ryo inhales deeply and sits back.
STORY: Astra pores over a screen. “Statistically, it’s more likely they hit a sun than a planet.”
STORY: “Or just float until they run out of food or freeze to death.”
STORY: Astra has gained some confidence in the past year.
STORY: “Not that I’m saying we should.”
STORY: “You know, let them.”
STORY: “Do that.”
CIRCE: “Statistically it’s almost certain that they’re on the float rather than pancaking or burning up.”
STORY: “I’ll make coffee.” Astra leaves briskly.
RYO: “We had better let Esinam know we’ll be a little late. Let’s not, however, share details just yet.” He looks at Circe. “How long will it take us to get to Mait? Or a message to Mait?”
CIRCE: Circle looks at Ryo steadily. “This is still my ship.”
ERWIN: “Question.”
RYO: “Yes, Erwin?”
ERWIN: “What’s our benefit here?”
ERWIN: “I mean, those.” He stops, steadies himself. “That crew is responsible for. A lot. They’re just a chaos engine-oh you know what settle this first, I think.”
ERWIN: He leans in his chair with feigned casualness.
CIRCE: “You know the deal. You handle the negotiations. You’re a master when we’re docked.”
CIRCE: “But this is my ship on the float.”
RYO: Ryo smiles. “It is. I meant no disrespect.”
CIRCE: “So this is off the mission.” Circe settles back.
CIRCE: “But obviously important to you.”
RYO: Ryo nods at this. Then he looks at Erwin. “And in answer to your question, Erwin — an excellent question, by the way — Dr. Breedlove’s favor is benefit worth considering.”
ERWIN: Erwin tries to hide his warring pleasure at the compliment and anger at the answer.
CIRCE: “Ms. Doctor is the one with the brother, right?”
CIRCE: “Ms. Ya’Makasi’s brother, that is?
ERWIN: “Oh, he’s in jail. Captain.”
RYO: “Well, I believe that Tueller may not be serving out his sentence any longer, actually.” He smiles and looks back at Circe.
CIRCE: Circe gets a wry smile on her face. “Okay. You want to say this is part of your mission, whatever it may be, or that it overrules our mission, that’s your purview and I’ll get us there.” The smile fades a little,
CIRCE: We’ll just log that with Ms. Ya’Makasi and head on her way. Be sure to mention her brother, then, if you think it’ll help.”
RYO: “It definitely won’t. But I do think that, in the long run, this could be very profitable.” He nods. “And I am grateful for the support, Captain.”
CIRCE: “Oh, this is not really support. This is all you. I am but an extension of your will here, sir.”
RYO: “Well, I appreciate your assistance, in any event.”
CIRCE: “Refresh my memory, does Ms. Ya’Makasi still have a kill order on the good doctor?”
CIRCE: “I haven’t checked the bulletin board for awhile.”
RYO: “She does not.”
RYO: She smiles. “But I wouldn’t bet on her having warm feelings towards the Doctor. Or the other members of Peregrine’s crew.”
CIRCE: “Okay, sir. Esther, Amelie, please plot our route to Mait, then.”
CIRCE: Turns back to Ryo, “That is the order, correct?”
CIRCE: “Your excellency?”
RYO: He nods. Then frowns playfully and bows. “I’ll have Astra bring you coffee.”
CIRCE: “Have her order a shipment of capsaicin to meet us around Mait, as well. The Mait love their spice.”
RYO: “Very smart idea.”
CIRCE: “This is not my first rodeo.”
ERWIN: Erwin tries to signal Astra quietly that he’d also like a coffee if she’s making some, probably being more disruptive by hand signals and dramatic mouthing of words than just asking aloud would have been.
RYO: “Which is why you’re the best. And I wanted you on this ship.”
CIRCE: Circe looks at Ryo expressionlessly.
STORY: Astra, back with her tray, hands you a cup, Erwin.
CIRCE: “Huh. Is that why I’m on this ship?”
ERWIN: He unfolds and mouths, “Thank you, Astra.”
RYO: Ryo smiles and shakes his head enigmatically. “One of them.” He takes a coffee off the tray and hands it to Circe. “Thank you, Astra.”
CIRCE: “It’s good to know I’m not just here for my stunning good looks.”
RYO: “How long will our journey to Mait take?”
STORY: “Four days,” the helmsman reports.
RYO: “They certainly don’t hurt.” Ryo takes another two cups and hands one to Esther and one Amelie.
CIRCE: Circe smiles again, “See now that just across as sleazy when you say it.”
ERWIN: At the same time, “They’re killing me.”
ERWIN: Realizes he fumbled it, hunches into his coffee.
RYO: “My brand.” Ryo pats Erwin on the shoulder and smiles at him.
CIRCE: Circe smiles more affectionately at Erwin. “You’re doing fine, kid.”
CIRCE: Getting back to business. “Any of you know this Maitri? Or what to say to her when we get there?”
CIRCE: “Or just what we should cook for her when we see her?”
CIRCE: Looking at Ryo, “You seem like the type who will wind up getting fed worms by her in the end.”
ERWIN: “I ah. I served with her aboard the Peregrine.”
ERWIN: “I know her.”
CIRCE: “Excellent! Give it some thought, be prepared to brief the rest of the crew by the time we’re a day or so out.”
ERWIN: His eyebrows fly up. “Yes Captain.”
CIRCE: “Schedule something with Esther so you time it right.”
STORY: Circe! A day later, you’re all prepping to see the Maitri homeworld when you’re called to the bridge.
CIRCE: Circe stands around the bridge.
CIRCE: Not wearing a sweater, but dressed really quite nice, as her tendency.
STORY: “Captain, subspace response from Mait: they say T’chololl is not on the planet and our request to dock is denied.”
CIRCE: “That’s it? That’s the message?”
CIRCE: “Page Mr. Hanaka, please.”
CIRCE: “Get him up here.”
STORY: Helm nods.
CIRCE: “Mr. Hanaka, Mait is denying our request–they claim T’chololl is not home.”
RYO: “That’s disappointing.”
RYO: “Let’s try sending a reply saying simply that Peregrine has stopped moving. We think T’chololl will want to know.”
RYO: “Then ask politely if they can get the message to her.”
ERWIN: “Could we maybe ask where she is?”
ERWIN: “I don’t know if that’s rude to the Maitri.”
RYO: “It might be. They can be very . . . private about some things. What do you think, Captain? I lean towards letting her contact us. If she gets that message, and if Dr. Breedlove is right, she should contact us.”
CIRCE: “That seems much less decisive than I was lead to believe I should expect with you, Mr. Hanaka. I’m rather disappointed.”
RYO: “Your ship. Your rodeo.” He smiles.
CIRCE: “No no, this is your op. I take no responsibility for it.”
RYO: He shrugs. “Send the simple message. Let the game come to us.”
RYO: He looks at Circe and smiles lightly. “Decisive enough?”
CIRCE: “‘Peregrine has stopped moving and needs Ms. T’chololl, please pass that message along to her,’ that’s the message?”
CIRCE: “But in polite-to-Mait fashion?”
CIRCE: Circe does not look impressed.
RYO: “Please.”
CIRCE: “Your will be done.” Circe goes to do so.
CIRCE: shaking her head as she goes.
STORY: “Sending. Response expected in approximately 20 hours.”
CIRCE: “Amelie, please run diagnostics on our countermeasures today, just in case.”
ERWIN: “Hey, uh. I’m going to uh. I’ll be in my bunk!”
ERWIN: Erwin exits at a brisk trot.
ERWIN: Erwin heads to his room with A Plan!
RYO: “That sounds ominous.”
STORY: “It sounds like he’s going to masturbate, sir.”
CIRCE: “It certainly did, Esther.”
RYO: Ryo laughs. “If only.”
ERWIN: But masturbation is the furthest thing from this two year old’s mind.
CIRCE: “I wonder which one of us is doing it for him.”
STORY: “Definitely you, sir.”
ERWIN: Spacemarster, I’d like to try our my Clairvoyance.
RYO: Ryo looks over his glasses at her. “For sure. You,” he agrees.
CIRCE: “Again, creepy.”
RYO: Ryo laughs again and shrugs.
ERWIN: Erwin sits on his bunk criss cross style and closes his eyes. After a couple of minutes he starts swaying and a gentle, not-really-there breeze ruffles his curly hair to show the audience that he doing Psychic Stuff
ERWIN: Spacemarster, can I make this roll?
STORY: Please do!
ERWIN: /roll 2d6 + 2
STORY: josh rolled 8 + 2 = 10
STORY: Erwin, you see Thasht sitting in a cell with stucco walls and bars about five inches apart. She looks to be meditating. There’s a small window, also with bars, but no glass in it – this must be a temperate location. You smell a salty ocean breeze.
STORY: And hear waves.
STORY: You turn to your right and see two more cells. One has a tenant, though you can’t get a look at them – they’re laying on a bunk.
STORY: Turn to your left and you see a sign, written in a script you don’t recognize.
STORY: You gain a data point about springing Thasht from this mess.
ERWIN: Erwin does his best to memorize some of the script.
ERWIN: Or all of it, really.
STORY: Okay!
ERWIN: Is that the end of the vision?
STORY: Yes!
ERWIN: And does Erwin have a console in his room?
STORY: Ryo, how luxurious is this luxury craft you’ve stolen?
RYO: It’s luxe, although understated. Chandra wasn’t ostentatious, but he had very, very expensive tastes. Some of the art has “disappeared,” but the basic set up of the ship remains fancy.
RYO: Consoles in most of the staterooms.
RYO: “Twenty hours. Sounds like we need a good dinner. I’m going to make something. Call me if there are developments.” Ryo turns to leave the bridge.
ERWIN: Erwin flips over onto his stomach and pulls himself up to the console at the edge of his bed
ERWIN: An extremely 20 year old move if ever there was one
ERWIN: He searches online to translate the text he saw on the wall
ERWIN: Space Google Translate
STORY: You spend an hour on it, but get there.
STORY: What’s the name of the planet that script is from, Erwin?
STORY: Circe, what are the people like?
ERWIN: Huizo.
CIRCE: The people of Huizo are extremely chatty and friendly people living in a military dictatorship. Picture the people of Turkey, basically. Super friendly, open, but committed genocide a century ago, force everyone to go through a term of military service, and have complicated history of repression and attempts to reform. They’re currently in a quiet period after an unsuccessful coup five years ago left the dictatorship in power but attempting to liberalize to placate the citizens.
STORY: Oh boy!
STORY: That’s what you learn in your room, Erwin.
ERWIN: Erwin runs to the bridge.
ERWIN: “Huizo! Loll is being held prisoner on a seafront prison on Huizo!”
RYO: Ryo bumps into him on the way.
ERWIN: “Hey boss.” Pant pant. “Huizo.”
ERWIN: “Seaside somewhere.”
CIRCE: “Loll?”
ERWIN: Erwin nods.
RYO: “What?” He pulls Erwin to the side. “How?” He looks at Erwin. Nods. “Right.” He smiles. “Good lad. But . . .”
ERWIN: Not mad, just making it clear he doesn’t like being touched.
ERWIN: Erwin slides out of his hands, steps back, reasserting his boundaries.
ERWIN: “Something I’ve been working on.”
RYO: Ryo nods reassuringly. “And you’ve done an excellent job.”
RYO: He turns to Circe. “Huizo. Close, yes?”
ERWIN: Pant pant. Nods.
CIRCE: “Well this is novel.”
STORY: Wrong direction, Circe, but you could get there in roughly the same time if you turn back now.
CIRCE: Circe doesn’t even address the question yet.
CIRCE: “Sure, we can get there soonish.”
CIRCE: “It would add a lot of time on our trip to the planet of the warrior race sandbagging us, though.”
ERWIN: “Cool, good.”
ERWIN: “Huh?”
CIRCE: Circe looks at Erwin with fresh eyes. “Your bunk time was productive, then.”
ERWIN: He nods, not getting it.
RYO: “Captain, if you please, let’s make all due haste to get to Huizo.”
RYO: Ryo smiles at her. He gets it, but is clearly not interested in addressing it.
CIRCE: “Esther, make it happen. Launch a skip drone to log it with Ms. Ya’Makasi, too, please.”
STORY: “Roger that, sir.”
ERWIN: “Yeah, I uh. I can kind of feel my way to someone’s mind. Sometimes I can find objects too.”
CIRCE: “Well. That certainly sounds like a useful trick.”
ERWIN: “First time I’ve been able to use it for something practical.”
ERWIN: “I’ve been using it to find my data pad.”
ERWIN: “Sometimes I’ll leave it somewhere and forget, you know?”
CIRCE: “That’s very practical.”
RYO: “Excellent work. Putting talents to good use always feels nice. Speaking of good use, join me in the galley? I was about to make dinner and could use your help.”
RYO: “Thank you, Captain. Dinner in about an hour. Will you be joining us in the Galley or would you prefer for me to have it brought to you on the bridge or in your stateroom?”
ERWIN: “Sure, I could eat.” Erwin heads for the galley.
CIRCE: “I’ll join you in the galley. We still have time for civilization here.”
RYO: He bows. “See you in an hour.”
RYO: He turns and goes to the galley.
RYO: “Erwin, thank you. That was so very helpful. I’m proud of you.”
RYO: He begins pulling out some ingredients.
ERWIN: Tight lips, hiding a smile, furrowed brows. “Yeah. No sweat. It’s all. Cool.”
RYO: “You can smile.” Ryo does so.
RYO: “You should feel very happy.”
RYO: He hands Erwin some veggies to cut, a cutting board, and a knife.
RYO: “Please.”
ERWIN: Nods, “Yeah, very happy. Cool, right.”
ERWIN: Erwin starts cutting veggies. “Hey, boss?”
RYO: “Yes?”
ERWIN: “Do we have to rescue the Peregrine?”
RYO: Ryo pauses, thoughtfully.
RYO: “What do you think we should do?”
ERWIN: “I don’t know, boss. I think it’d be cool if we could spring Loll. She’s in some kind of jail cell. And she was always good to me and.”
ERWIN: “Boss, they got Tux killed.”
RYO: Ryo nods solemnly. “I am sorry. That must hurt.”
ERWIN: “Death follows them. It’s, it’s like a smell they carry around. Or more like oil on their fingers. It gets on everything they touch.”
ERWIN: “I don’t want them to get it all over us.”
RYO: “Nor do I.”
RYO: He keeps making dinner. “So, my friend, we’ll have a pact, you and I. We’ll not let them get it all over us.”
ERWIN: Erwin thinks for a while.
ERWIN: “Okay, yeah. I can roll with that.”
RYO: “Excellent. Thank you.” He keeps working for a moment, letting there be quiet between them. Then, “Erwin, one thing.”
ERWIN: “Mmmmm?”
RYO: “We need to be careful with our other crew members. I want to keep you safe. They might not completely understand who you are. So, they now have a sense of some of your many talents. But we should keep some of your history between us. For now. Alright?”
ERWIN: Curious frown, “Sure, boss. I’ll keep a lid on it in the future.”
STORY: Okay! Moving on?
RYO: Yep!
ERWIN: :thumbsup_all:
STORY: You arrive at Huizo two days later. They run a tight ship there, but Ryo talks you into a 24 hour permit to land.
STORY: Where to?
ERWIN: Erwin has been searching Huizo public records for info on a seaside prison
STORY: You found one! You’re pretty confident from the records you were able to check that you know the specific location.
RYO: Who else do we have for crew? What sort of people of muscle do we have, if any?
CIRCE: Circe looks bemused at this entire thing, but is taking it seriously.
RYO: “A prison break is always fun.”
CIRCE: Circe also looks like she’s never been in a fight in her life.
STORY: You have the three of you, plus Figgan if you need her
STORY: The other crew are not muscle.
CIRCE: Circe does not carry a weapon.
RYO: “Let’s see what we can find out about our future guest and why she’s in lockup.”
CIRCE: “I’m coming along to see where this goes.”
RYO: Ryo adjusts his glasses and straightens his tie. “Excellent!” He looks at Figgan. “You have the ship. We’ll contact you if we need, well, backup.” He smiles broadly. “Time for an adventure.” He leads the way off the ship.
CIRCE: “And to get us all back in one piece, of course.”
RYO: “Erwin, you have the directions?”
RYO: “Things go south, I’m counting on it.”
RYO: He gives her a knowing look.
ERWIN: Erwin nods, points to his temple. “Got ’em right here.”
RYO: “We’ll follow you.”
ERWIN: I’m a little confused as to our location. Can I say Erwin leads the team to a small, seaside town with a prison overlooking the bay?
STORY: Yes!
RYO: Ryo will pay for whatever local transportation is needed.
STORY: You’re there!
STORY: It’s a small town jail in a resort town, one frequented by people from offworld.
STORY: There are three guards on duty when you get there.
STORY: They seem pretty chill.
STORY: Ryo, what race are these people?
RYO: One Aect. One Vitruvan. One human.
RYO: “Hello,” Ryo says politely. “Would it be possible for us to visit with one of the prisoners?”
STORY: “Mm. Which one?”
RYO: “T’chololl Thasht.”
STORY: The Aect laughs, a short surprised bark. “What, you here to soothe her in her final days?”
ERWIN: Erwin’s eyebrows shoot up
RYO: Ryo tilts his head. “Mmm. Final days? I didn’t realize. May I ask what she did?”
RYO: “I hadn’t realized she’d already been put on trial and sentenced.”
STORY: The human nods. “Destruction of state property.”
ERWIN: Erwin does his best to tsk.
RYO: “Oh my.”
ERWIN: Shakes his head disapprovingly.
CIRCE: “What’s the property?”
STORY: “State.”
CIRCE: Circe frowns.
ERWIN: “Ah, yes. State property.”
STORY: The vitruvan speaks up. “You her lawyer?”
RYO: Ryo nods solemnly. “Very serious, indeed. Usually this happens prior to the sentence, but as I understand it, if the property were to be paid for in full, plus the required penalty, it is possible to redeem the prisoner. That’s correct, yes?”
RYO: Ryo tilts his head again. “So, the question is whether we can reach some sort of accommodation. Quite clearly, there was an error. I didn’t get notice of her trial in time.”
STORY: “So that’s a no.”
RYO: “Do you think there’s an accommodation we might reach? Again, assuming the property is paid for in full, the penalty is paid, and . . .” He looks at each of them “I’m not familiar with local rules, but I presume perhaps there’s an administrative fee that would need to be paid. For your time and the prison’s resources.”
CIRCE: “You taking the long way around this conversation, Mr. Hanaka?”
STORY: “The prisoner has been tried and found guilty. Execution is in the morning. If you’d like to speak with her, feel free.”
STORY: He buzzes you through the door. “Cell 5.”
RYO: Ryo nods. “Thank you.” He walks though the door. Then turns. “Do think, though about the legal ramifications of an appeal. I imagine that could be very burdensome. For you. I imagine there are many other things you could do with your time, besides deal with an appeal. Particularly in a town like this. With some extra spending money.” He smiles. Then turns again and heads to the cell.
CIRCE: “Mr. Hanaka, they’re guards.”
ERWIN: Erwin’s eyebrows shoot up as he passes the guards. He mouths “Wowsers”
RYO: Ryo frowns. “How very astute of you, Circe.”
CIRCE: “They don’t deal with the appeals.”
RYO: “Again. Can’t pull one past you. But they do have keys to the cell.”
ERWIN: “Oh, I thought he meant if they wanted a bribe they would let Loll out so they wouldn’t have to deal with an appeal.”
CIRCE: “So just offer them the bribe, rather than pretend you’re saving them work.”
CIRCE: “Is…is this your first bribe?”
RYO: Ryo laughs at both of them. “I’d rather not wind up in a cell myself.”
RYO: “And if they’re too dense to understand that I was offering one, then they aren’t going to take one.”
ERWIN: “It’s my first bribe.”
ERWIN: “But you probably knew that.”
RYO: “I guessed.”
CIRCE: Circe shakes her head.
CIRCE: Waves them on.
CIRCE: “Let’s get on with it before they atomize your friend.”
STORY: You reach Thasht’s cell, and she’s sitting inside quietly with her eyes closed.
STORY: She opens them. “You are not my friend.”
STORY: She then leans to the side a bit, peering behind Ryo. “Oh. Hello, Erwin.”
ERWIN: Erwin waves.
STORY: “You are grown.”
CIRCE: Circe hangs back.
ERWIN: He nods. “I uh. Hit a growth spurt. Good to see you, Loll!”
ERWIN: “How are you?
ERWIN: Beat
ERWIN: “Aside from being on death row, I mean.”
STORY: “I will be fine. My people are in orbit, they will come get me tonight.”
CIRCE: “Oh my.”
RYO: “That’s a relief.” Ryo smiles. “As my colleague noted, I wasn’t having great luck with a bribe to get you out.”
STORY: “A bribe would be dishonorable. Who are you?”
RYO: “My name is Ryo Hanaka, by the way. We have common friends. The Peregrine crew.”
ERWIN: “Oh, sorry. I’m being rude.”
ERWIN: “And this is Circe. She’s the captain of the Augusta King.”
STORY: “Greetings.”
CIRCE: “Greetings.” Circe bows respectfully, hands flat out to her side in a Maitri sign of respect.
STORY: “You should leave before my screamers arrive.”
STORY: “I would not want you to be hurt.”
ERWIN: “I’m glad you won’t be dying tomorrow! That’s great news!”
CIRCE: “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
RYO: Ryo bows similarly. “Thank you. We are grateful. When you are free, Peregrine needs you. She’s stopped.”
RYO: “Dr. Breedlove. Well, you know her. She left a message and said you would know what that means. And you were the only one who could help.”
STORY: “Wait.”
STORY: “The engine is stopped?”
RYO: Ryo nods. “As I understand it. That’s a very big problem. And time is short.”
STORY: “Where are they?”
RYO: “We have the coordinates.” He looks at Circe.
RYO: “How far?”
CIRCE: “Sol.”
RYO: “Will you help me help them?”
STORY: “Get me out now. It cannot wait for tonight.”
STORY: She stands.
ERWIN: What kind of lock is on the door?
STORY: A big metal one!
RYO: Ryo nods. “We’ll figure it out, but you might not want to know how we do it. It might not be strictly . . .” He shrugs, “honorable.”
STORY: “Do it now.” She stands near the door, waiting.
RYO: Ryo turns and heads back to the guards.
CIRCE: Circe follows along with him, more engaged.
RYO: He knocks on the door.
ERWIN: Erwin follows
STORY: They buzz you back out.
RYO: Ryo walks out, far more boldly. “Thank you. I do hope that you’ve considered things. You could each be very rich. I just need a key and ten minutes.”
STORY: The human looks up. “Are you new to Huizo, sir?”
RYO: “I am.”
CIRCE: Circe smiles and works to charm as well, “We just want to handle things as smoothly as possible.”
STORY: “I suggest you honor our sovereignty, then, and carry on with your business elsewhere.”
RYO: “We have the utmost respect for your sovereignty. And your laws. And normally, if the galaxy wasn’t imperiled, I’d be far less insistent. But we need your prisoner to help us save . . . well, everything, including this town and your sovereignty. So, out of deep respect for you, I want to make you whole. More than whole. And save this place and every place. What do say?”
STORY: The vitruvan stands. “Sir, I’d say you must be stupid, given that you’re trying a third time to bribe us. Time to leave, or we’ll have to call for backup.”
CIRCE: Circe puts an arm on Ryo’s shoulder.
RYO: Ryo nods slowly. “Thank you for your time.”
CIRCE: “I do not know what Ms. Ya’Makasi sees in you.”
RYO: “Yeah. Sometimes me neither.”
CIRCE: To the guards, “Where is the local magistrate in charge of this case?”
ERWIN: Erwin slips back into the cell hallway while this is going on.
STORY: They give you an address. To save some time, you go see them and discover that you’re dealing with a military dictatorship and there’s no appeals process.
STORY: Erwin, what do you do in the hallway?
ERWIN: He squats against a set of bars and concentrates.
ERWIN: He’d like to find every set of keys for Loll’s lock.
ERWIN: Maybe there’s a spare one somewhere.
STORY: Oh, I see. Interesting.
STORY: Make that roll!
ERWIN: /roll 2d6 + 2
STORY: josh rolled 3 + 2 = 5
ERWIN: wow
ERWIN: Tonight ain’t our night
STORY: You concentrate on it and get a bad, bad headache.
ERWIN: “Urgh ow this sucks.”
ERWIN: “Don’t think I even got anything.”
STORY: There’s definitely a set of keys that the Aect carries. That’s all you could find.
ERWIN: Erwin paces in the hallway for a second and then heads back for Loll’s cell. He wants to see who’s in that other cell.
STORY: They’re asleep, but Loll will tell you – she was sent to collect this guy, who is maraas, and he resisted. The fight got… kinda big.
STORY: They’re both set to be executed tomorrow.
RYO: Ryo goes to a local bar and hires three very large, very mean-looking, thugs.
STORY: Excellent! They are two humans and a mora.
CIRCE: Circe, realizing she’s committed by this point, throws in a bunch more cash to make sure we get quality and they assure us they’re carrying the proper equipment.
RYO: He also hires a pickpocket. The plan is to engage the guards in a fight while the pickpocket lifts the keys.
STORY: All right! You head to the jail then get that start fighted. Let’s have a Command check, Ryo
RYO: Influence, yes?
CIRCE: Yes!
RYO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: ablair01 rolled 9 + 2 = 11
CIRCE: Circe secretly feels her extra money made all the difference here.
STORY: Excellent! Describe the heist for me
RYO: Ryo returns, with the four new hires, to the prison and walks in. He waves at the guards, who are not very pleased to see him again. The human shakes his head and starts towards Ryo, like he’s going to arrest him. Then, the three thugs enter behind Ryo. One of them punches the human guard before he can react. He drops like Tueller had hit him. The other guards are a bit slow to react. They go for their weapons, but the other two thugs are in the room and engaging before the weapons are drawn. It turns into a brawl. Ryo goes to the security cameras and covers them. The pickpocket, stealthily waits and then, while the guard with the keys is getting kicked in the gut, lifts the keys and tosses them to Ryo. Ryo sort of awkwardly catches them, and releases Loll.
STORY: Loll walks briskly past him, a small smile on her lips. “Interesting, human.”
RYO: “Hmm. Rough day. Not my usual style. But . . . thank you.”
CIRCE: Circe just has a quiet smile on her face and says nothing.
ERWIN: “Oh hey so a prison riot? Wow!”
STORY: Okay! Loll agrees to come with you to find Peregrine, and instructs her crew to return to Mait with the prisoner – she’ll meet them there. It’s a quick four days before you find Peregrine drifting through space, during which Loll is curious about getting to know Ryo better, by which I mean she definitely is interested in banging him.
RYO: Ryo shrugs.
CIRCE: Circe is just happy he’s not creeping on her for a bit.
STORY: When you arrive at Peregrine, you are greeted by a woman who is definitely not comfortable in space and who has been drifting alone for a few weeks and is very glad to see you lot. Her name is Margarita Bolano, and the sequence of events she describes is basically: Tueller, Calixta, and Millie docked and left, then the ship pulled away from the dock and started flying on its own, so she went into the engine room and broke shit until the power went out, then the emergency lights came on and she’s been drifting ever since. She has no idea how you got here!
STORY: Loll boards and spends ten minutes alone in the bridge. She steps back out and asks for a moment with Ryo.
RYO: Ryo nods and takes the moment. “Please give us the room.”
STORY: “Noma is still onboard, but she has not made herself known to Dr. Bolano. She says a ship needs to go to the Sol jump relay to rescue the crew. None of this makes sense, but I will stay and repair the engine if you will meet the others.”
RYO: Ryo takes this in for a moment. Then he adjusts his glasses and agrees. “Thank you. I will meet the others. I am grateful for your help.”
STORY: She nods, and gives him a wink.