SarthDarah had talked fast, but Jorn and Duerlin took in all the information without interrupting. This game wasn’t a game, it was reality. Somehow they were linked directly into these vessels through Kuru’s power. Jorn didn’t understand it, but he grasped the idea that dying was permanent.

Duerlin asked how the souls were being tethered, but SarthDarah didn’t know. Other than what Kuru had shown her, it didn’t leave a mark of any sort that they could find.

“I can still log out.”

SarthDarah and Jorn looked at him sharply. They had been trying to figure out if they could just eject themselves and be free from this, but the menu buttons had all disappeared.

“How?” Jorn asked.

“My rigged headgear. It has a manual override that I can trigger with a thought process.”

“Well, are you getting out?” SarthDarah asked.

Duerlin’s face fell, then he shook his head slowly.

“My brother died here, and his body wasn’t in our apartment back home. I need answers first, then I will decide.”

The trio looked back and forth between themselves, the implication hanging heavy. Duerlin put his hands in front of him, studying them like he was relearning what his body was. This moment of realization that their lives were on the line and that so many had already been lost sobered all of their feelings about the rest of it.

SarthDarah sat, which prompted the others to sit as well. The swaying of the ship, the sound of waves crashing against the hull around them, and the blank darkness all rolled up to a quiet atmosphere that was lulling them to sleep. It had been a long day for Sarah before she got in the game, then SarthDarah had spent the last several hours in a battle for her life.

Barely surviving some of those instances she nearly died rang back to her now. In hindsight, she was extremely lucky to still be alive. She should’ve been splattered at the bottom of that first mountain peak she leaped from. It was the only proof she needed that Kuru hadn’t been lying to her about being in a different body.

Having Duerlin confirm his brother's disappearance only seemed to back her story up even more. Kuru had shown her the expanse of her domain for only a moment, but that was all it took for her to realize that she held more power than SarthDarah could yet imagine. All of those souls trapped within her, for what? How?

Sleep came to SarthDarah while she pondered over those thoughts. Her dreams kept getting interrupted by the laughter of an unseen female. The dark corridors of an unknown cityscape sprawling on forever in front of her. Each time she ran out to find the person behind the voice, more long and dark hallways stretched on.

The dark purple walls with navy blue trimmings were something she had never seen before. They almost felt alive, like they watched her as she went. The laughter kept drawing her around corners and farther into the city.

Looking up, SarthDarah saw no sky. The walls stretched upwards until they were obscured by a heavy fog. The dense pink clouds could have been a ceiling for how dense they were. There were no sounds other than the laughter, and only when SarthDarah called out did she notice that she made no noise here.

Her words never came out, and her feet never made so much as a scratching sound as she ran. Farther, closer, the laughter was getting louder as she went.

SarthDarah ran, picking up speed as she careened around sharp corners. She felt like she was closing in on the laughter, it came louder and louder. When it was so loud that it had to be right around the next corner, SarthDarah felt her feet stride into open air.

The sudden lack of surface to run on made her heart drop out. The buildings around her were gone in an instant. She fell, plummeting like she had from the mountain top. Only this time it was into a blank void of darkness.

She had to be moving towards something, the wind was rushing past her face and flying her short hair like a flag. A pinprick of light came into view, slowly becoming the outline of a person.

This time the voice that she heard wasn’t a girl’s laugh, it was a booming male screaming in rage.

The pinprick of light that had taken the shape of a human, suddenly twisted into that of a creature with hundreds of legs on either side of its elongated body. It was no longer the light, now it was a silhouette in front of the light. It reared its head, two large incisors grew from atop the head of the creature. The scream of rage was replaced by a cacophony of high pitched wails.

SarthDarah put her hands to her head to try and block out the noise, it had very little effect. Her eyes were glued to the creature, watching as it grew larger and closer. She could do nothing as she free fell towards the opening maw of the beast. Her heart raced, panic would do her no good; but what could she do?

SarthDarah did the only thing she knew she could do at this point, she tried to fire off an attack at the thing. She punched hard with her left and right fist, over and over. The fire never sparked, nor did the wind bend to her swings. She was left as inherit as she had been as Sarah.

‘This is just a dream, you just need to wake up.’ SarthDarah tried to reassure herself, but again the words did not come out. Her brain knew what needed to be done, but not having control over her physical self left her more panicked than she had hoped to be.

Long trails of smoke started wafting off of the creature, obscuring the remaining light that was behind it. Dread started to creep in as SarthDarah realized she couldn’t escape her fate. She was going to fall into that monster’s hungry maw, and never even be able to fight back. Now she would also be blind to when it would happen.

With a last string of desperation holding her to sanity, SarthDarah felt around herself for anything to use. Something she could fight back with. She hadn’t gotten any weapons since she came to this world, just her fighting ability. SarthDarah felt around her waistband, finding a large lump there.

‘Shit! I totally forgot I had this, I don’t even know what it does.’

Even though she made no noise, the speaking helped calm her slightly. Trying to be normal in an adverse time was a key to being successful. She studied the pistol for a short moment, still feeling the doom of the creature she was closing in on.

Kuru had given her this. The black barrel was smooth, but still had small lines of detail running along it. Small branches and designs that made swirls that lead back and forth from one another. The dark cherry wood that encased the trigger housing and firing mechanism was fascinating.

It had so many rings to the wood age that SarthDarah would have to spend hours to count them. Without a clear idea on how it worked, and no apparent opening to load a shot into, SarthDarah aimed the barrel at the creature.

She had seen Kuru fire it without doing anything more than pulling the trigger. Would it fire off blasts of dark energy like it had for Kuru?

‘Only one way to find out.’

BLAM!!

SarthDarah felt the recoil as she was sent flying back upwards away from the creature. The large flower of napalm fire hurtling towards the suddenly still creature kept growing as it flew. It had started as a mere rose bud, barely large enough to fit the barrel. Then grew immense and insanely fast as it blossomed out into a white and orange flower of fire.

It grew large enough to consume the shadow creature blocking the light. Once it had burned out, SarthDarah felt safe as she dropped past where it had been. She also felt tired, even in the dream she was exhausted.

“I wonder what that thing was.” SarthDarah wondered aloud, surprised to find her voice back.

She let out a cry of joy, feeling her heart still racing from the encounter. The pinprick of light had become a giant disk. She landed softly, her feet feeling the warmth of the light.

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“Do you trust my power now?” Kuru’s voice came from behind her.

SarthDarah turned, seeing the girl in a new way. Her gift had been the only reason she could beat that thing. It was also an incredible way to focus her power.

“You will learn that your body will react to how much danger you are in, and accommodate the appropriate power to the attack each time you pull the trigger. So make your shot count.”

Kuru was standing in a long dress, the soft purple trim on the silver gray fabric reminded her of the walls she had been running through. SarthDarah looked her up and down, taking in her eyes before stepping in closer.

They both had similar bodies, slender and lean with a slight amount of muscle. SarthDarah noticed the soft white of Kuru’s shoulders, the dress she wore left them bare. Even with her suit jacket, SarthDarah had thought that Kuru might have had more color to her skin. Kuru’s face was at least a handful of shades darker, and still pale compared to SarthDarah.

The sleeves that Kuru wore were pulled up from the fingerless gloves she wore and didn’t attach to the dress. The silver gray stood out as a dark tone against her skin, but the purple seemed to draw her attention again. SarthDarah found herself staring down at Kuru’s hand, lost in thought.

“Find something you fancy?” Kuru finally asked after a minute of silence.

“I did.” SarthDarah mumbled without thinking about it.

Kuru giggled, bringing SarthDarah back to the present. She blinked a few times, then blushed as she realized what she had said.

“Uh, well. I mean I trust you. And I found a power that I like, from you.” SarthDarah paused, then stammered. “Because of, from, thanks to you…”

Kuru just laughed a little harder, then put both hands on SarthDarah’s shoulders. She giggled for a few more moments, then let her hands fall free to her side again. When they were gone from SarthDarah’s shoulder, a new set of armor wove its way around her.

“A present, if you can get me off of this planet. And if you care to join me in taking another one.” Kuru winked, then in a bright flash of light the dream ended.

SarthDarah’s sleep drifted into rolling waves and clear blue ocean. She felt like she drifted alone in the endless waters, staring up at the lightly tinted sky. The auburn streaks mixed into the deep purples of the clouds as the starlight dropped beneath the horizon.

She gazed out, thinking about the path her life was taking. Her mind went back to her previous life, and found it hard to focus on her memories of being Sarah.

A faint recollection of a bedroom she had when she was younger took her away from the water. She found herself standing in front of the dresser and searching the collection of knick knacks upon it. The odd figures and random shiny items she had been enamored with as a kid stood proud.

Turning, she saw herself in the mirror. The first time she had really seen herself in her new body. Her mouth opened and she couldn’t help but raise her hands to her face. It was hers, but it was her face after it had been enhanced and tanned. She felt the soft skin and sharp lines of her face, it was just as sensitive as her real body had been. She found the spot under her chin that always gave her goosebumps when someone ran their hand softly across it, and the skin pricked up like she expected.

Her bronze eyes gleamed in the bright light of memory, the flecks of silver around the center shimmering. A hint of flame danced at the edges of her eyes, wisping slightly and keeping the tails mostly transparent.

Cherrywood brown hair tied up into a tight bun on top of her head was the metaphorical cherry on top of her character. She was already forgetting that she could barely remember her past, SarthDarah was distracted with the possibilities of her future.

She woke, still feeling the swaying of the ship beneath her. She also felt the pillow-like muscle of someone's thigh under her head. Opening her eyes, SarthDarah was met with a close up view of Jorn’s crotch. She quickly turned over to face the other way, nearly face planting herself into Duerlin’s legs.

SarthDarah twisted, sitting up and looking around. Jorn was sleeping with his legs straight out and torso against the wooden wall. His soft snores echoed in the room and relaxed SarthDarah a little. They were still in the prison cell, and they must have all ended up curled up on the floor sleeping. Jorn was too tall and had to sleep sitting up.

Duerlin had his legs crossed over Jorn’s shins and was silently snoozing next to her. He had one hand draped over SarthDarah’s leg and seemed to be trying to reach for something with the other.

“You all look comfortable.” Kuru’s voice sounded out.

SarthDarah spun, looking for her, but saw only the darkness of the ship's belly. Duerlin’s hand had stopped moving, almost like he heard the voice and froze in reaction. Jorn let out a snore that echoed softly throughout the whole chamber.

“Where are you?” SarthDarah asked quietly.

“In the captain’s quarters. The young girl became much more receptive of me after we talked and had a meal.”

“How are you there, and talking to us?”

“With words of course.” The sarcastic reply was followed by muffled giggles.

SarthDarah felt like punching the woman, of course simple questions get simple answers. Kuru enjoyed toying with people a little too much, at least that’s what SarthDarah thought.

“You can’t get me out of this cell with any of those words, can you?”

There was a moment of silence before she heard the response. Listening for it this time, SarthDarah realized that the voice was coming from inside her own head.

“No, the princess of a pirate captain refuses to let any of us go as of this moment. What I really needed was to get you aware of the next move I plan to make. Sit still and listen for a moment; and don’t worry about including the overstuffed bag of muscles, or the one of anxiety, in on all the details. They’ll play along and do what they need to do better if they just stick with following our lead.” Kuru seemed annoyed by the tones in her voice.

SarthDarah was already giving herself to Kuru, so why should she question any of what she said at this point? Jorn would stand as a shield for her, she knew that much already. The big man had happily attached himself to her when he saved her in that field. SarthDarah smiled as the memory intruded into her thoughts.

“Cute, no stop that and pay attention.” Kuru’s voice squashed out the memory from her mind's eye; and replaced it with one of when SarthDarah first met her as a guild associate wearing a suit jacket. “The captain was willing to talk. She wants the federation movement canceled and the empire that invited them to this planet brought to justice. The collapse and restructuring of a society is never easy, but stopping Mistress, that is next to impossible. We need an excuse to make the Federation High Council believe this planet is no longer worth their while. The captain has also given us a small lead to that goal, but it would be incredibly dangerous and she refuses to answer me fully on what that information might actually be.”

“Can’t you just connect to her soul like you did with ours? Or the way you do with all of those souls inside you?” SarthDarah felt a whip of pain in her head as she thought out those words.

“No, and I said don’t interrupt. I need you three to all be ready to go at any given moment. If this girl refuses me again over breakfast, we go on my signal. Subdue the people, there’s only two on board who are of any danger. The crocodiles are another issue, but if Jorn is capable of fighting back this time he should be able to hold them in the narrow halls. Duerlin is your way out, his blade is more of a master key then he realizes. I think if he survives I can grant him more knowledge in how to use it, maybe that will cement his soul a little better. Either way…” Kuru trailed off.

SarthDarah sat in silence for a moment longer. Her mind focused on visualizing Kuru. The dark hair, and piercing eyes. The way her smile had kindled a warmth in the cold body she now resided in. Kuru had brought her here, and as much as SarthDarah wanted to say it was against her will to be dropped into a new body on a distant world, she couldn’t.

Sarah had wanted to escape her reality, SarthDarah was her answer.

“She coming in, be attentive and wake the other two.”

SarthDarah blinked, her heart racing as she realized that at any moment now she would be fighting for her life. She kicked Duerlins hand away as it started to travel up and down her calf. He must have finally caught whatever he was chasing in his dream. SarthDarah briefly wondered if she looked like that when she chased things in her dreams.

“Wake up!” She shouted, hoping to alarm them into action.

Duerlin blinked a few times, never getting his eyes open more than a few millimeters, before rolling away from her and closing them again. Jorn’s soft snore turned into a snort. He coughed and choked for a moment before returning to the steady rhythm of sleep.

While they were sitting, SarthDarah realized she was level with the man for the first time. She was sitting up straight as an arrow and he slouched down the wall and was bent at a forty-five degree angle, but they were eye to eye. She watched as the big man took in a huge gulp of breath, and just as he went to let it out in a soft snore, she punched him square in the solar plexus.

“Ppwhhhaaaa!!” Jorn let out all the air in a rage of noise, then started gasping for air.

His body found it couldn’t take any in for a few moments. SarthDarah smirked and looked over at Duerlin, who’s eyes had cracked open and turned to look at what had just happened.

“Up, or your next.” SarthDarah challenged.

“I’m up! I’m good to go. Where’s the fire?” Duerlin was twisting around and trying to find which way gravity was pulling on him as the ship continued to sway.

SarthDarah’s head was yanked backwards as Jorn grabbed her by the hair. Even though it was short, he got a hold and pulled hard.

“Not cool, could’ve just poked me in the face, or maybe said something?” Jorn was still panting out in long gasping breaths.

“I did say something. And from where I woke up, I felt you deserved the punch.” SarthDarah gritted her teeth, she could pull away, but she didn’t want to lose half her head of hair.

“Where you woke up? You had been sitting in a trance for hours before I finally fell asleep sitting here.” Jorn let her go.

SarthDarah twisted away as she stood up. She managed to find her feet much quicker than Duerlin.

Had she fallen over onto the man herself? She had assumed they had pressed her between them on purpose. From the looks of Duerlin and his active sleeping, he probably had rolled around the entire cage during the night.

“Sorry, I jumped to an assumption. Kuru is trying to make a deal with the pirates. It sounded like it wouldn’t go well, so she said to be ready.”

“Ready for what?” Both men replied.

“Taking the ship.”