“Ash! Ash! Wake up!” Kit’s voice? Ren tried to wipe the weight from his eyelids, struggling to lift his limbs. “We’ve got possible threats.”
Ash groaned and rolled from his bunk, hitting the cold metal floor hard and groaning in pain. The intercom above again sounded, Ren finally realizing he was back on the Pigeon and not falling through the air again.
“Seriously, Ash. They’re flagging me and sending a transmit signal. I can’t see the ship.” Kit sounded more worried now, deciding Ash wasn’t coming, they immediately switched gears. “Captain! Your brother’s being useless again and we have company.”
“I’m on my way, damn.” Ash pulled himself off the floor, making his way out into the hall as the Pigeon suddenly pitched hard to the side, throwing him against the wall as Ren tried to drag himself from the bunk.
He could hear Aeris squawking from her roost in protest as he clung to the wall and kept moving, finally pulling his way into the bridge as Robin and Ash gathered around the pilot seat. A message popped up on a small projected screen in front of them, a cross emblem embroidered in rosary.
“Ah fuck.” Ash groaned while Kit simply sighed, rubbing their temples with both hands while Robin stepped forward and pressed a button. “No, don’t engage them. If you don’t answer they’ll go away.”
“Who is that?” Ren asked, standing next to the back wall as Poe made her way up into the cabin. Upon seeing the emblem on the screen she gave a high pitched laugh of joy.
“Damned if I ain’t seen holy rollers in years. Thought they all gave up and did one of those group suicide things.” Poe laughed. “Want me to answer, Cap’n?”
“Be my guest,” Robin stepped away from the console, allowing the still cackling Poe toward the comms. She hurried over and hit a small green button to the side of the pilot's controls.
“Evenin’ fellas!” Poe was surprisingly jolly. Ren still had no idea what was going on or who the visitors were, though he knew he had seen the cross in some areas around the schools and arks growing up. He and his mother weren’t religious though, so he had never investigated them much further. “Lovely afternoon we’re having. Or morning. Can’t really tell cuz of the whole man-made darkness thing.”
“Hello, friends!” a voice came back before an image came on the screen of a clean-cut guy in suit and tie, holding a small book in front of him. “Well, have I got the solution to the darkness outside and inside for you. Y’all want to connect up? I would just love to talk to you.”
“Well, sweetie, I wish I could but I just don’t think I can be redeemed in the eyes of god.” Poe said back. Ash groaned as Kit leaned back in their pilot's seat, giving a sigh as Poe leaned in further. “See, I’ve been what many of y’all would call a harlot, slut, whore… there’s been a lot. Some I’ve enjoyed, some not so much.”
“Please don’t start on your conquest list again.” Kit said, now putting their head down and covering their ears. Ren noticed he became visible on screen when Kit leaned down, apparently catching the eye of the missionary.
“Say, you look familiar. Are you a child of god?” Ren could almost feel his eyes piercing from over the monitor. He shuffled off meekly, shaking his head. “Hm… I’m sure I’ll place it later. Well, if you’ll just be insulting me then I’ll be going.”
The monitor flipped out as Poe laughed again. Ash and Kit were exchanging a look, a telepathic agreement that something was off. Robin looked to the floor and pondered for a moment.
“Too easy,” Robin remarked, looking up at Kit and Ash.
“Yeah, the shortest interaction I’ve had with those assholes was at least half an hour. They never shut up.” Ash moved to a side window in the cockpit, craning to try and see the other ship. “He’s still following.”
“Kit what’s our armor at?” Robin asked, looking to the pilot, now furiously pressing buttons on the console before them and flipping through diagnostics.
“Armor’s fine, she’ll take some hits.” Kit replied, tilting the throttle forward and making the Pigeon gain ground. Ash continued looking from the window, keeping track of the other ship as it moved to match. “Heard some rumors that the Parade was taking up some of the Church members since they dissolved.”
“Sounds about right. Two death cults find common ground.” Poe muttered. Ash quickly moved from the window and down the stairs, heading for the door at the very end.
“Another ship just joined and flanked.” He called after, climbing into a chair just through the door. Ren could barely see into the small room beyond, faintly illuminated by buttons and screens.
An alarm went off on the pilot console, the screen flashing with the Church emblem again as the clean cut man appeared once more. Robin looked straight into the screen, daring him to make a move. His cold smile didn’t waver as he gave a friendly wave.
“Well, I knew he looked familiar. Apparently you’ve strayed from your flock.” He was addressing Ren, still standing by the back wall of the cockpit. “Normally I would say we can get you back to your people, but it seems you’ve really made some of my superiors upset.”
There was something icy about his voice, with the words coming out sounding nice and eloquent but the underlying malice churning Ren’s gut. Robin looked directly into the screen at the man.
“Man of the Church trying to kidnap a frightened young boy? Don’t think you’re hitting too many stereotypes with the whole teaming up with murderers and scum thing?” She said, a tension growing in the room as the anxiety stretched and thinned. “‘Less you aren’t working for the Church?”
“Oh, I believe myself a man of the cloth, simply leading stray flock back to His loving arms.” The man continued, still with that voice that sounded like cold detachment. “That said, funding our mission work hasn’t been easy, so we’ve adapted.”
“Now they adapt,” Poe mumbles, making her way back down the stairs again, “I’ll be in the galley prepping. Let me know if y’all need me.”
“I’m ready in the chair,” Ash’s voice came cackling over a smaller speaker next to Kit. “There’s two Parade ships trailing behind him. They’re just small speeders so they can’t have much manpower. What do you want me to do, Robin?”
“Hold.” Robin said, matching the icy tone of the man with fiery indignance from her own. “I’m telling you once to call them off. One chance, or you’re responsible for what happens if you keep following.”
“I just want to talk is all.” The man responded, his voice giving Ren a shiver. “Please, we can be amicable about this. I do everything in the name of peace and His love.”
Robin shrugged off her long coat, revealing a sleek glider pack nestled firmly between her shoulders. Nodding to Kit, she walked toward the door. The ship began to decelerate as Robin looked back to the screen. The Church man pulled beside them, matching as they slowed.
“I could easily take care of this in one shot.” Ash’s voice came over the speaker nearby. “Just let me know.”
“He’s asking Robin to talk,” Kit replied. Ash groaned loud enough to be heard from the bridge without the speaker.
“He’s the one that’s so adamant about this. So, let’s talk.” Robin said, the hatch opening before her and wind rushing through, drowning out any noise they made. The Church cruiser was still pulled beside them, matching speed as they flew. Robin raised her left arm, focusing it for a moment before flicking her wrist upward, a small, tensile cable barely visible zipping quickly to the Church ship’s hull.
Robin zipped over, deftly swinging through the air between speeding ships and reeling herself into it in a crouching position. With her free hand she threw herself over the ship’s deck, standing at the cockpit door and knocking, withstanding the speeding winds like they were a light breeze. She knocked again impatiently before the hatch slid open and she walked inside.
The Church ship’s feed was still on their monitor in the Pigeon. They could see Robin approach as the preacher turned to greet her.
“So, you just want the kid?” Robin said, taking a look around his ship and making herself at home, inspecting whatever items that caught her attention. If the preacher was uncomfortable he didn’t give any sign, but before he could speak Robin cut him off. “How much can you tithe for him?”
“Tithes are only spent for holy undertakings, child. Don’t think a bunch of kidnapping pirates really have much share in those.” He was grinning at her, lacing his hands together. Something about it gave Ren a shiver, even with rushing winds and solid metal between them. “Now, if you would like to submit you and your crew to the service of the church, we may be able to secure some… indulgences.”
“Tithing seems to go really far in those underage brothels you men of god love so much.” Robin remarked.
“I believe we may be able to arrange a payment…” The preacher’s voice went more taut, the venom beginning to sizzle through the ice. Robin apparently sensed where it was going, raising an eyebrow at him. “Off the books, of course.”
Robin picked up a small book, flipping through the pages and studying whatever was contained within. She quickly snapped it shut, putting it back on the stack of others. She finally turned toward the preacher, crossing her arms and leveling an intense stare. There was no hatred, no anger, more of a weak pity.
“I have your word upon turning the boy over that neither he nor any of my crew will be harmed.” Not even a question, this was a solid command. The preacher’s facade broke a little. “I also have your word that you will follow to a safe and public landing spot before we hand him over.”
The preacher swallowed, a dry gulp audible over the transmission. He croaked out a weak “You have my word.”
“Very well.” Robin looked to the screen behind the man, at her own crew. “Kit, open up I’m coming back.”
“Aye aye, cap’n.” Kit pushed a couple of buttons, the Pigeon’s hatch sliding aside again easily, wind rushing back in as they could see the preacher looking after Robin in fear.
Robin slammed the hatch of the Church ship open, looking back at the preacher. “You keep behind us along with them until we get there. Try anything and I’ll gun you down to the depths.”
The preacher nodded as Robin stared him down, raising her arm to grapple over without even looking, ziplining straight into the cockpit of her ship. The Church vessel decelerated and joined the two Parade ships behind, flying in formation and trailing behind the Pigeon.
Robin looked at the screen, picking up her coat and slipping it back on. She looked at the projection ahead, where the Preacher was still visible. He wasn’t aware he was still on the comm screen, and could be seen loosening his collar and sweating from fear. He pressed a button on his console to engage the autopilot.
“Pleasure doing business with you.” Robin held up a small controller, giving a small grin as the preacher slowly realized he was still on the call before registering what was happening. “Tell the Parade they can burn.”
She pressed the button as the preacher jumped up from his chair, furiously searching for something. The ship shook on the transmission before it cut out, digitized pixels before fading to black. Ren looked through the window to see behind them, but the ships weren’t there.
“Look down.” Kit said, moving next to him. Ren followed their pointing finger downward, seeing the Church vessel and both Parade ships free falling to the ocean below. Ash came running back from the gunner seat.
“Was that the mini EMP?” He asked excitedly, rushing in breathless and excited like a child showing a good grade to a parent.
“Looks like it worked.” Robin nodded and smiled at him as Ash pumped a fist in the air. “Can you make more?”
“I’ve got five in a drawer.” He replied, smiling and doing a little happy dance. “It worked, it worked, I build cool shit and it works and it’s taking down fascist dickheads. THE FUCKIN’ DREAM, BABY!”
“Calm down.” Kit said, shushing him.” They looked down to the ocean below, seeing a small plume of smoke and fire briefly illuminate the darkness as at least one exploded. “Well, if we weren’t in the shit with the Parade already then we are now.”
“Time to make a call, Ren.” Robin said, looking over to him and pushing her hair back from where the wind had thrown it into her face. “Parade is just going to come after us more. Might as well use it to our advantage.”
“Did you just kill them?” Ren could still see the faint orange glow from the sea below, rapidly becoming a fading point behind them. Robin looked over at him.
“Is there a problem with it?” She said, her tone was sharper than the reaper of death’s scythe, and cold enough to freeze the oceans below. Ren felt like he had been dunked in the depths at her stare.
“Do they really deserve death? You just sent them crashing into the sea, there’s no way they could survive even if they make it through the crash.” Ren found himself yelling now. He had seen more death in the past few days than he had his entire life. He never knew how fast life could be snapped away. The blood spraying from that man at the port had started his dive into morality, now a fiery end had just tied a brick to him. “Was that necessary?”
Robin turned to him, going from frosty cool to the raging flames of hell in an instant before snapping back to calm and cool.
“You’re new. You don’t know the pain and suffering those people have caused. You don’t know what they do to people.” She was speaking through gritted teeth as Ren was paralyzed in fear, unable to speak without his throat catching from her icy stare. “I just saved you from a fate worse than death. I know that you don’t know a lot about how everything works, so I’m trying to be gentle about this, but these are bad, bad people.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“S-sorry.” Ren said, looking at her eyes soften, coming down from the fury of just seconds before. “I just… you killed people.”
Robin turned around, heading down the stairs as her words trailed behind back to him.
“Taking a life isn’t something I do lightly, kid. There comes a point where the harm you do outweighs the value of your life. If it comes down to it, I’ll soak my hands with your blood if it means others won’t suffer at yours.”
Ren couldn’t find words to respond, only staring at the stairway as Robin made her way into her cabin.
The air became solemn as Robin called back to them, “Get yourself camera ready, Ren.”
She came back a moment later, hair now fixed and swept back as she had it before her jump. The rest looked at her as she approached the console before Kit, pressing buttons in front of her as the screen responded in kind. Moments later, a small feather embroidered in stratus clouds popped up, the sigil of the Strat Delegation Committee.
“Little warning would’ve been nice.” Ash mumbled, joining Ren still standing by the wall. Kit sighed and leaned back, watching the beeping screen as Robin stood back with her arms folded.
“Strat Central Communications, Missing Persons Hotline. My name is Glenn and I’ll be assisting you today, how are you doing?” The man who had suddenly blinked on screen was seated against a beige background with a small headset sitting snug. on his ear. Typical corporate office drone suit against a pale, withered complexion Ren had seen on corporate ark workers during some of his class field trips back in school.
“How do we look like we’re doin’, Phil?” Ash said.
“My name is Glenn.” He said meekly.
“Shut the hell up,” Robin snapped at him before turning back to Glenn on the screen. “Glenn, I’m going to skip the usual bullshit because today’s been exhausting already. I have Clarence Calvert.” She points back to Ren, still standing at the back wall. “Now, unfortunately for you I’ve got demands. Let’s talk about how you’re going to meet those demands for me today, Glenn.”
She was stone faced the entire time, while Glenn became obviously flustered as he realized that really was Clarence Calvert standing behind the imposing woman onscreen. Ren waved to confirm his authenticity. Glenn desperately clicked around whatever pre-written script they had in front of him, searching for any option saying ‘kidnapped by pirates’.
“Well, we’re just happy to see Mr. Calvert is safe. May I have him confirm some details for me please, to ensure this is truly him?” Glenn’s voice was shaking, odd rushing and dragging. He was stalling, panicking, and the entire Pigeon could see it. “Would you confirm your ark of residence please?”
Ash pushed Ren forward, surprising him and causing him to trip over feet and words at the same time.
“Uh, yeah. Alexandria University Ark.” Ren said, “My mother is Clara Calvert.”
“Y’all have some dumb thing about alliteration up there above the Veil?” Ash looked quizzically at Ren, who just shrugged in return.
“You know what alliteration means?” Kit offered at Ash, who just gave a sarcastic laugh back.
“I’ve finished Infinite Jest, bitch. I read.”
Glenn finally looked a little relieved. He cracked a smile, “So sorry, I’m going to have to get you to one of my supervisors since Mr. Calvert is a very high priority missing persons case. Is it okay if I transfer you?”
“Oh my god, you’re kidding.” Kit groaned, leaning back in their chair. “See, this is why I got into piracy. No bureaucracy, right captain?”
“I apologize ma’am, but-“ he tried. Tried, but failed.
“Not ma’am, buddy. DISCRIMINATION. You guys hearing this shit? Now, supervisor. Let’s move, I’m being that bitch today!” Kit began making hurrying motions with their hands.
“Apologies sir, one moment,” Glenn said before the screen clicked off and was replaced by the feather sigil again.
“Okay, that was just being petty, I kind of respect it honestly.” Kit sighed, leaning back again. “Anyway, y'all can go nap and I’ll call when some asshole picks up.”
“They’ll pick up.” Robin said, still staring straight at the screen. Ren hadn’t noticed her blink through the entire call, never breaking the intense stare she had at whoever would inevitably pop up on the screen. “Eyes up, stand here Ren. Play victim.”
“Uh, okay. Here?” He awkwardly shuffled next to Robin a couple steps ahead. Robin nodded without breaking her laser focus. The feather blinked in and out between hazy stratus clouds as they waited. “Cool. Cool cool cool.”
He looked at Robin’s serious expression over to Kit’s amused one on his other side, almost comical in comparison. Kit looked at him and made a face as if she didn’t know what was going on, almost making him laugh.
“Want my plas dagger?” Kit offered to Robin, who simply waved her hand away, still not breaking her stare.
“Kit,” Robin said as the monitor blinked and Ren’s mom blinked into view. She looked no different than he had seen her days ago, the same gray streaks going through her hair while wrinkles had been synthetically zapped away by her publicist team. The picture of a straight-laced politician.
“Clarence, are you okay?” Her voice was diplomatic as always, not even a hint of worry and all business. Ren caught his eyes before they could roll into the back of his head in disgust.
“Great mom. Why wouldn’t I be?” He responded, looking up and shrugging. His face had begun to grow out a thin beard by now, His normally neat hair required by Ark standards now unkempt and standing out after just a couple of days. “Sorry if I distracted you from a meeting.”
Robin elbowed him in the ribs hard, making him wince and step enough for his mother to see. Neither woman wavered, each keeping a steady contact and daring the other to break it.
“Quiet. Now, obvious we’re not faking, right? Robin remarked as she reached for Kit’s dagger and held it to Ren while still holding the battle, refusing to break. Clara nodded in kind, “So, let’s talk about how you get him back.”
“Are you insinuating my son is being held hostage?” Clara inquired, a cold edge coming into her voice. “Because that would make you an enemy of the SDC, at minimum.”
“I didn’t sign up as a pirate because I wanted to live a long life.” Robin was smiling now, enjoying just a slight crack in her opponent's stone exterior at the reaction. “Now, you have one of mine, I want him back. I’m feeling generous so I’ll just do body for body. Sound agreeable?”
“You will not harm him!” Clara’s exterior broke over her use of the word body, something finally hitting whatever motherly instinct she had in a long stagnant puddle at the bottom of the deepest depths of her heart. She composed herself quickly, now speaking curt and hurried, “Who?”
“Sunny.” Robin said, Clara stared back at her, unblinking again.
“Sunny? Sunny who? I need an actual name.” She was getting angrier by the moment.
“Ain’t got one. Pirates have one name.” Robin says back, getting heated in sync with Clara. She brings up a picture of a man in his early 30s, tan skin set against dark eyes. “No last names.”
“That’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.” Clara huffed. Robin kept looking at her, not steering away from the contempt emanating from Mom.
“Well, keeps us from naming our kids Clarence Calvert.” Ash said from the back, making Kit snort and Ren nod a little in agreement.
“Quiet, Ash.” Robin said, immediately bringing a hush to the whole room. “This is Sunny, and he was last seen being attacked by government officers while we were attempting to deliver a refugee to her family. Give him back, we give your son back. He may be booked under Sen Ishida if they were actually able to find some identification on him.”
“We don’t negotiate with pirates.” Clara said, icy again. “I refuse. We will take my son back by force if necessary.”
Robin flipped the dagger Kit had handed over,, holding it backhand to Ren’s throat as he yelped in surprise.
“I really don’t like this.” Ren said through gritted teeth as his mother maintained a chilling staredown with Robin.
“Fine. Name your terms and place.” Mom said, pulling a stylus out and scrawling on the table in front of her.
“Atlantic Outlook Gamma. Tomorrow at noon.” Robin said, letting Ren go and holstering the dagger.”Bring Sunny and we bring Ren. Trade, and let us go.”
“Agreed. We will send one of our representatives to conduct the exchange.” Clara nodded, looking to Ren finally instead of Robin. “Ren, I will see you when you get home.”
“Me being held hostage can’t even get you away from work, can it?” Ren said, almost in tears at the sudden realization of his mother’s detachment. Sure, he had known she was more business than family but her cold approach when he was seemingly mortal danger stung. Ren felt unwanted, an annoyance at best. His mother simply gave a small sigh before the screen cut out.
“Well, she seems like a real bitch.” Ash said, turning around and heading down to his cabin. “Wake me when we get there.”
“I’m sorry, kid.” Robin said, looking over to Ren and setting the dagger on a nearby counter. His eyes had a shiny gloss over them, tears that just couldn’t quite form. He raised an arm and wiped the traces away before standing resilient.
“Don’t worry about it.” Ren said, turning around and rushing back to his cabin before anything more could let loose. Robin looked to Kit, who simply frowned and looked after Ren with concern.
“Doesn’t seem like she’s the nurturing mother of the Strat they advertise.” Kit noted, turning back to the screen and pulling back on the controls, pressing dials all the while and resetting course. “Crazy to think he’s her kid. Like polar opposites.”
Robin nodded, looking from Kit back to the hallway. She noticed the galley door open as Poe poked her head out, Aeris hopping over to her cabin now after apparently feasting on whatever Poe was preparing for the crew.
“All set?” Poe asked, looking up at Robin in the cabin, who simply nodded again in response. “Alrighty. I’ll have dinner ready here in about two hours.”
“Smells great!” Kit chimed from the pilots chair, still flipping buttons and dials. “We’re set for nav too, captain. We’ll get there around nine in the morning.”
“Good. Don’t land when you get there, just hang back so we can scope things.” Robin said, now turning to walk down the stairs. “I’m going to prep and check on Ren. Raise sails about an hour out so we don’t look obvious.”
Kit nodded as Robin headed off, stopping in front of the now shared cabin. The door slid open as she stepped in, low red lights illuminating walkways.
“Nobody invited you, vampire.” Ash mumbled as she passed, Robin swatting him in return over his blanket. He gave a slight yelp and punched an arm out at his half sister, though she simply swatted it away and gave him a stern look under the red lights.
“Hey, Ren.” She went to approach him, curled up and turned on his side in the small bunk. As she leaned in though Aeris pecked down at her from the bunk above with a squawk.
“Please just leave me alone.” Ren mumbled, not even trying to be heard.
“Okay. Just know… you don’t have to go back there. You’re welcome to stay.” She said, turning to leave. “I’ve got a plan either way.”
She stepped out, sliding door closing behind her and leaving Ren in the dark again, new tears beginning to mist his eyes as his throat choked up. He almost jumped from the bunk when Ash spoke up through the quiet.
“You know, she’s a bitch a lot of the time. She’s been a good big sister though.” Ash remarked, “Loves picking up strays. Odd ones, too.”
His snoring almost immediately took over the sound of the humming engine.
Ren continued to cry, mourning what felt like the death of his mother until briefly drifting off to sleep to the sounds of Ash snoring and Aeris preening her feathers.
————
Dinner was eaten in relative silence amongst the crew, everyone except Poe sitting in strained quiet. Robin finished her meal before looking all of them over.
“We’ll be there at nine in the morning. Ash, since we’re at Gamma outpost I want you on top of the tower being our watch.” She took a drink, pointing to Kit next, “I want us ready to fly any time. We don’t know what they’re planning or what they might do.”
Kit and Ash both gave nods, confirming.
“I’ll be sittin’ my ass right here.” Poe chimed. She was sharpening her knives in her seat now, Aeris hopping around her in curiosity every time she ran one of her kitchen blades through the small device.
“Ren, you’re going with me to the meeting point for the trade. Keep your brace and grapple on you, assuming you’d like to stay with us instead of going back to that.” Robin said, now looking at him for confirmation. He simply nodded with a slight smile, garnering cheers from the rest of the crew and cheerful screeching from Aeris. Robin nodded and continued on. “When we get Sunny he’ll pretend to hold you hostage so we can get back to the ship.”
“How will he know the plan though?” Ren asked as everyone except Robin burst into laughter. “No, seriously.”
“He won’t know.” Ash said, laughing again,
“Just trust us.” Kit said, also laughing but doing their best to hold it. “He won’t mean you any harm. He’s just an asshole.”
“Great. Good to know.” Ren muttered, looking back to Robin as she continued on. Aeris was nuzzling up next to him, preening and pecking at her feathers and Ren’s hair with abandon. He tried to wave her down but she persisted.
“I’ll relay what we’re doing to Sunny and once he has you we’ll make a run back to the Pigeon, where Ash will meet us. I mean it, Kit, I want this bird off the ground the second the last of us touches it.” She was staring intently at them, eyes meeting as Kit nodded her agreement, hair bobbing along. “Ash, I’m serious as a goddamn heart attack. You be up on that tower scoping everything. They’re not above ambushing us and taking him.”
“I really don’t think my mom is going to have everyone on standby just to get me back.” Ren said, finally speaking up after hearing just how dramatic Robin was being. “She doesn’t give a shit about me. There might be one of her interns there at most to pick me up.”
“You may not be a valuable target, Ren,” Robin said, staring pointedly at him now and leaning in, staring into his soul, “Sunny is dangerous though, and if they realize who he is, then they’re more than likely going to try and kill us all.”
Ren felt his throat dry up, choking a little as she looked through him. By the sound of Sunny, Ren was better off just going with the flow and hoping not to get a hole punched through him. Robin began to go on before Ren cut her off, suddenly catching up with all of her words.
“What do you mean if they realize? They have to know who he is to swap him for me.” It seemed so obvious they would already know he was a pirate.
“Again, history.” Kit said, leaning toward him. They put a hand on his shoulder, gently reassuring. “Captain will explain anything you need to know after we’re back in the ship, right Cap?”
They looked expectantly at Robin, who just maintained eye contact with Ren through the entire exchange. She finally nodded.
“When we get him back we can tell stories all we want, but we have to be alive to do that.” Robin said, still to the point and firm as Ren had always seen her. “Until then we all stay vigilant. Ren, can the bird scout ahead for anything?”
Aeris gave a small squawk, offended at the use of ‘bird’ as if she didn’t have a name. Ren put a hand up to hush her, stroking her feathered crown with his fingers, she looked over to him in a question as their eyes met, her answering without speaking.
“Yeah, she can. Can you slow down before we get to the island? Think she’s feeling cooped up in here.” He said, looking over to Kit now.
“Yeah, of course. I can cruise the Pigeon down with an eagle.” They laughed at this, making Aeris move over and nuzzle into them. She flapped her wings and hopped off the bench, moving toward the door.
“Guess that settles it,” Robin put her hands on the table and pushed herself up from the bench seat, looking to each of them in turn before walking off. “Get some rest and double check whatever you need. Be ready.”
“Night!” All except Ren rang out in almost unison as Robin exited, heading to her private cabin. Kit stood up next, stacking dishes on the table and moving them to the nearby sink.
“Need any help tonight?” They asked. Poe, who was now standing and gathering various ingredients, some medical and others not so medical by Ren’s assessment. The older woman simply shook her head, shooing everyone away in the direction of the door.
“Y’all kids go get some sleep,” She muttered as she cleaned. “Lord knows I ain’t doin’ shit if I don’t have to tomorrow. Go, get out of my damn kitchen now.”
She rushed them all out, dispersing them in different directions. As Ash headed over to their shared cabin, Ren noticed Kit stepping up the stairs.
“Do you need someone to keep watch while you sleep? I can hang out for a while. I mean like, I’m not really tired, so-“ Ren was blathering now, feeling himself blushing along with the word salad currently spilling forth like an untapped reserve of stupid.
Kit just laughed and shook their head, waving a hand back at him as they walked.
“You know there’s a cabin upstairs right?” They shouted back, “The Pigeon knows what she’s doing. They were smart birds, you know. Knew their way everywhere.”
With that they hopped off to the side and out of view, a brief click signaled a door closing behind them.
“Someone’s got a crush,” Ash mentioned as Ren returned from the hallway. Aeris was already settling in on her claimed bunk, having torn up various pieces of the original cot padding and whatever else she could find to make a small nest.
Ren’s face burned and he wasn’t sure why, but it must have been visible enough in the dark for Ash to notice as he laughed and rolled over.
“You’re like a lost puppy they get to introduce everything to for the first time. It’s honestly pretty cute.” He said again before devolving quickly into droning snores. Ren flopped into his bunk, looking up at the dimly lit underside of the one above as he drifted off to sleep, anxieties racing for first place in his mind against the question of how Ash could sleep so quickly at any time.
——-
Ash kicked his bunk as KIt’s voice blared through the small intercom mounted in the ceiling.
“Wake up call, folks. Approaching Outpost Gamma in about twenty minutes. Ash can you make a jump to the tower as we fly by?” Kit’s voice was crackling through as the speaker tapped in and out. Ash groaned and grabbed his gauss rifle, heading over to slide the cabin door open.
“Just land! I’ve got shit I need to buy before everything goes to hell!” He shouted up the stairs to them, “This speaker is going out by the way!”
“Ash?” Kit crackled through again. He groaned and leaned his head through the door again.
“What?” He shouted.
“You’re the engineer. You fix it.” Kit crackled back. Ash groaned and shut the cabin door, going back to start stuffing various supplies in his pack.
“Hey Ren, wanna see something funny?” Kit crackled in again, not bothering to hear back before starting in. “Ash, guess what?”
Ash groaned, not answering. Kit persisted.
“Guess what Ash!!!!” They crackled through again, speaker fizzing even more as their voice got louder.”Guess whaaaaaat.”
Ash walked back over to slam the cabin door open again, shaking it in the small sliding track. “Wha-!”
“Chicken butt!” Kit cackled so loud Ren could hear it through the speaker on a delay after he heard them all the way from the cockpit. Poe could be heard laughing from the galley in kind.
“Are we done, now?” Ash asked, closing the door behind him again and heading grumpily back over.
“Love you” Kit whispered through the crackling speaker before a small beep signaled them hanging up. Ash just shook his head and put on the pack, cinching it tight around him.
“Doesn’t that mess with your chute?” Ren asked as he began walking out.
“Nah, I’ve got a wing-pack if I need one.” Ash said, pointing a thumb back to where the wing-pack was just visible under the backpack straps.
“Huh. They never let us near those.” Ren remarked as he finally sat up and started putting a pair of boots on. He had borrowed them hand-me-down from Ash but they fit a little too loose. He put on an extra pair of socks over the ones he had on, hoping it would make them shake around on his feet a little less.
“Good. You’d die.” Ash deadpanned as he walked from the room. Ren finished out any prep he needed, considering he didn’t have anything of his own other than the brace and a small plasma dagger Kit had given him. He looked at it before sticking it into a small sheath on his hip, covering it with the gray poncho Robin gave him.
The reflection as he stood up and finally saw himself in the dirty mirror on the wall wasn’t familiar. Ren studied it, seeing the features of his face that had been left to run wild in the few days he had been there. He thought they were days at least, with the Veil giving off an almost endless night it was hard to tell. He shook his head and walked from the cabin, keeping himself set on the events lying ahead.
Robin and Ash were already on the bridge, standing next to Kit as they all studied a schematic of the port. Ren noticed wobbly, towering skyscrapers off in the distance before them.
“That’s where we’ll land. Meeting will be right here.” She pointed at a small bar in the center of the town nestled on a wide street. “That’s Isshin’s place. He’s good, won’t let anybody drop in while we’re doing business so it’s safe.”
“Safe??” Ash remarked, looking up at her. “Not doubting you or Isshin but the Parade very likely has an on sight kill order for you and Ren.”
“Isn’t that the fun part?” Kit questioned. Ash rolled his eyes and nudged them in the shoulder playfully. “Come on, it’s like an escort mission!”
“Yeah, except if we lose in this game we’re fucking dead. Yay!” Ash echoed back, mimicking their tone of voice down to the very inflection.
“You do that too well.” Kit mentioned, giving him a small applause. “Captain, twenty out.”
Robin looked up ahead of them as Ren’s eyes followed, now seeing a small settlement poking up from the crashing ocean waves. Busy city streets and skyscrapers lined the buildings as people traded wares on the sidewalks. Kit began to decelerate as Aeris hopped over to the door, squawking her demand.
“Alright, alright,” Ren made his way over and opened the hatch to outside. Aeris flapped her way through excitedly, quickly picking up an undercurrent and gliding smoothly along beside them.
Ren stared in awe as the eagle spread her wings, easily keeping pace with how fast The Pigeon was still flying even as it approached a large port filled with other ships. He was in wonder of everything around him.
“People live on this thing? Shouldn’t a wave take it out?” He asked, pressing his face even closer to the window. Before stepping out to lean over the outer rail and stare. Kit began to descend, unfurling the ships sails to let them charge.
“It’s even bigger under the water than it is here, man.” Ash said, heading past him and onto the deck as Kit slowed their descent, approaching the flooded lights of the docks. . “Millions of people live underwater out here. They don’t teach you that in fancy school arks?”
“No,” Ren was in complete shock at everything. Now as he looked further a massive outline could be seen with blinking lights extending into the depths, but he couldn’t see just how far it descended. “I had no idea people were even living on the water, outside of like the boats and stuff.”
Kit gasped, turning to him. “You’re going to be so stoked when we get to hit Zeta 1 over in the north Pacific. Place is a massive hub for arts and stuff, theaters, museums, it’s awesome! Robin, can we go there next?.”
Ren smiled at them, feeling his cheeks burn hot again. Kit seemed to do the same and turned their head away to hide it.
“If all goes well that can be our next stop. Okay, so everyone knows where to be and where to go,” Robin said as Kit pulled back on the throttle, making their final coast to the ground. Kit guided it down as they felt a soft thump when the ship met the shallow waves, barely floating above the steel port. “Let’s go, Ren.”
“Wait we’re heading out already? It’s only ten.” Ren hurried after Robin as she walked through the doorway, hands in her coat pockets. Wind whipped into the cabin, chilling him to the bone through the poncho. Maybe it was the special clothing made in the Strat or just the different pressure, but the wind here was like a frozen blade being sliced straight through him. High winds were nothing new but these just made him want to recede into the nearest fire he could find to warm up.
“We’re going to Isshin’s.” She said behind her, hopping down from the ship onto the somewhat dry dock, water sloshing around in thin sheets on the hard steel below them.