“Babel?”

“Babel!”

“Ooh Babel! That’s home base for me!”

“That the new planet?” Think I saw an update.”

“U-um is there a level requirement for it? It seems pretty high levelled…” Torell piled the 29 items on the ground. Wu took the opportunity to sit on it cross-legged.

“No no no there is no level requirement.” Clark waved his arms. “No requirement for any planet in fact! It’s just, ya know, you could die and stuff.” Clark shrugged.

“R-right.” Torell gulped. He tapped the structure to make sure it was stable.

“Why do we need to go to Babel?” Zein asked.

“Whaaaat you don’t wanna see my headquarters???” Clark exclaimed.

“No.”

“Cold.” Jejj shook their head.

“Right! Thank you.” Clark threw his hands out in relief. “But to be serious for a sec. It's to meet Himmel. We need him to see this shit so that prick can make a move.”

“Himmel…” Skada brushed her chin. “Guild Chivalry's Leader!?? Like the guys who runs the number one guild?”

“Yessir. The one and only. Stop Recording. Close Camera. Also, the man who got my dear friend here killed.” Clark wrapped an arm around Zein.

Zein tapped his thumb with rhythm. “ He’s a good person. But Babel huh…” Zein stared at the clouds floating by. “Fine, let’s go.”

“That’s my boy!” Clark ruffled Zein’s fur.

“Oogie?” Wu placed his finger on his lip.

“You’re coming too, Wu.” Zein confirmed

“Oogie! Oogie!” Wu hopped from his throne of items and perched on Zein's shoulder.

“H-how do we distribute the items?” Torell examined a pair of boots.

“Hmmm… eenie meanie mineie mo?” Clark batted his eyelashes.

“No.” Zein said with no hesitation.

“Okay, Zeizei, you think of something.” Clark stepped away from Zein, crossing his arms.

“Listen, It's a lot of gold and silver coins and like potions with only a couple of weapons, armour, and leather here and there. So, let's evenly spread the coins and if someone needs something let ‘em have it.” Zein shrugged. “I'm taking the sword by the way.” he waved the sword.

“I don’t wanna do it, Zezei.”

“Not it.”

“Not it either!”

“U-um should I do it?”

“Oogie!” Wu scolded the orc, wagging his finger.

“I’ll do it, Torell.” Zein sighed. “We still have to distribute the other gems, so if you can calculate that, I'll work on this.”

“Got it.” Torell replied, checking his bag. Zein began mumbling numbers while storing the items. He changed from tapping his thumb to scratching it as he stared at his inventory. Clark held the cat's shoulder, attempting to bring him back to reality.

“Huh?”

“Calculate in the aircraft, Zeizei.” Clark released his hand. “We don’t know if more Skull Kidds are coming.”

“More items if they do.” Jejj balled their fists.

“Hehe, I like your confidence, cutie.” Skada booped Jejj’s nose. “But, I don’t have any more rockets to support so it’ll be a bit harder.”

“You right, you right.” Jejj yielded.

“Alright! Vamanos.!” Clark announced.

Jejj rolled their eyes, resisting the urge to comment, even if it itched all over. Their neck. Their head. Their hands. But they held firm.

Clark, noticing, grinned. “You’re falling behind, Jay.”

“I’m a saint. I’m a saint. I’m a saint.” Jejj repeated to themself as they caught up to the group. Skada threw her arm around Jejj as they disappeared into the foliage.

Outside the station, Zein watched his friend list grow in number.

“Wait. Skullcracker is online.”

“Ohh that kid! I like him.”

Zein pondered for a second. Eyes looking away. He clicked on Skullcracker's profile and messaged him. Typing led to more led to more led to more. Silence...Zein closed their chat.

“Didja message him? What were ya sayin’?” Clark brought the party to a halt.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“If we are meeting Himmel, we might as well take some witnesses.” Zein said with nonchalance.

“Ooh smart smart. Smart boy you are, Zeizei. You’re a lil’ smarty pants, aren’t you? Lil’ smarty pants. Lil’ lil’-”

“Alright zip it.”

In the distance, a large silhouette emerged from the crowd waving his hand.

“There he is.”

“Oogie gie!”

Zein and Wu returned the gesture.

“Hello, Anodos. Hello, Mr. Kalel. Hello everyone else.” Skullcracker met everyone’s eyes.

Pfft. “Mr.” Jejj snickered.

“Mr!?” Clark’s jaw dropped.

“Skullcracker, how are you? You okay to leave right now?” Zein shook Skullcrusher’s hand.

“I’m okay. I’m ready to go.” Skullcracker’s hand trembled slightly.

Skullcracker bowed to the other 3. Jejj and Torell matched the gesture. Skada simply waved with a smile.

Walking into the crowded station, Clark submitted his ticket at the counter. Summarily, he was directed to the end of the tunnel.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Their shoes echoed arhythmic. Skullcracker and Torell lagged, examining the dark corridors while Clark led the charge.

“You boys ever fly?” Clark asked.

“N-no. Is it scary?” Torell wondered.

“I guess you’ll find out if you’re afraid of space.” Clark winked. “What about you skully?

“No, not really. I think I am more excited. I can’t wait to tell my little sister about it. I recently read The Little Prince to her, so I’m sure she’d be happy hearing about it!” Torell replied, relaxing.

“Aww, that’s so sweet! Aren’t you a good brother.” Skada pinched his cheeks.

“Ehehe thank you.” Skullcracker swayed with the pinching.

“With that being said,” Clark twirled. “Ta-da! We’ve reached our zone!” he showed off the bellhop. The uniformed man shifted to the side, allowing the door to open. He gestured to the station goers, letting them enter.

“Woah.” Jejj gasped, unable to describe what they were feeling. A ship engulfed the area hovering metres from the ground. Its wheels were the size of Skada and felt like impenetrable rubber. It had a flat, metal-tiled roof painted electric blue with saturated yellow racing stripes lined down the middle. The carrier's massive kite-shaped body had circular windows equidistant from each other to the side and a blue-tinted windshield adorned the front. Four thrusters as tall as the ship adorned the back with two on each side.

“It’s still as gaudy as I remembered it to be, huh.” Zein stared, holding back a smile.

“Of course it is! It’s the ship we bought!” Clark wrapped an arm around Zein’s shoulder.

“Nonono it’s the ship you bought.” Zein unwrapped himself. “I was just dragged along.”

“Rude! After all this time!” Clark huffed. “Do you guys see how rude he is? He's always like this! He even bullies me in real life. He made me clean the bathrooms today!” he gestured at the others.

“Anodos! Don’t treat your husband like that!” Skada chided.

“Yeah, that ain’t cool man.” Jejj concurred.

“Alright, time out.” Zein signed. “It's his job to do that. In fact, the man almost recreated Raccoon City with how he was mixing the chemicals.”

“Wait, so I am your husband!” Clark realised.

“No!” Zein kicked Clark’s behind. “Now let’s get going.”

“Yeah yeah.” Clark walked to the side of his ship and slapped a tile. It whirred. Lights came to life underneath the ship with a purple hue.

“That’s sick.” Jejj bent to check the lights. “How much you pay.”

“Hmm… Ya want one?”

“Uh-haha- think I’m good.”

“No one wants my ships!” Clark flailed his arms. “Even Zeizei with his shitty lil’ pod.”

“Come on keep it moving. We have no time to waste.” Zein stood beside Clark. A door flipped open from the roof and stairs shot out, making the perfect acute angle. Zein was the first to climb with Wu, followed by a grumbling Clark, an excited Skada, a marvelling Jejj, a content Torell, and a worried Skullcrusher.”

***

Boom, Biim and Buum knocked on their guild leader's door, waiting with anxiety. Buum held on to the sleeve of Biim's robe while Boom shook his leg.

“Enter.”

Biim nudged the door open and peeked in. Cyanide's head faced the ceiling- hands behind his chair and feet resting on the table. The trio shuffled in with Boom taking the centre.

“My guild’s three stooges.” Cyanide blew smoke. “The dumbest at the front.” he dropped his feet and faced the three.

“Brother I-”

“Boom.” Cyanide interrupted him, raising his finger. “Quiet. Biim.” he pointed to the robed man. “Explain.”

“Boom thought it smart to just plan an ambush on Anodos and the rest of the party.”

“And you didn’t do shit to help!”

“What would you want me to do? We'd be facing people who are 175 and 40 outside the restriction zone. It was just plain stupidity.”

“You can’t talk you piece of shit traitor.”

“Boom. I said quiet.” Cyanide said; his tone flat. “ Shut your goddamn mouth. Bastard.” he clicked his tongue. Boom retreated into himself. “Biim. Buum. Why didn’t the two of you help.” Cyanide huffed his cigar.

“I didn't want to die and lose an item for just no reason. Especially since Kalel was recording.” Biim responded.

Cyanide coughed. The noise of him beating his chest permeated throughout the helmet's mic. The orc collected himself and took another puff.

“He was recording?”

“Yes.”

“Ye-as.” Buum pursed his lips after he stuttered.

“Boom.” Cyanide rubbed his eyes. “You've put the entire guild in jeopardy with your stupid antic. Do you understand?”

“But I was doing it for-”

“Do you- understand.” Cyanide reiterated, his tone lowering.

“I-I-” Boom looked to his friends- Biim shook his head. Buum’s eyes were glued to the floor. “Yes.”

“You have two options, Boom.” Cyanide raised two fingers. “Either pay the gil you promised which is.. let's see…” he counted on his fingers, tapping each one. “90 gold coins and apologise. Or leave.” the orc pointed to the door. “But if you pick that option, know this is the end for your character.” Cyanide leaned forward.

“But I don’t have that many coins!” Boom cried.

“Then you won’t be getting paid.” Cyanide’s eyes pierced a hole through Boom’s skull.

“But brother-”

“Boom I’m showing you kindness. Accept it.”

“... Okay.” Boom fell to the back, almost hiding behind Biim and Buum.

“Now. Where’s the Blue Lightning Guild’s leader and our favourite veteran cat?” Cyanide changed topics.

“We don’t know Cy.” Biim answered for the trio.

“Then figure it out and bring them here. If that video gets out-” Cyanide’s eyes narrowed.

“Fine.”

“Good. Stupid Bastards. Get out.”

“Thank you.” Biim ushered the two of them to the door.

“Biim.” Cyanide called; his tar-ridden throat roughening his voice. Biim turned to meet his eyes.

“Watch yourself and those morons.”

Biim repressed his emotions with great effort and shut the door.