+ Reid +
Lycra rose a hairless eyebrow at Reid. "The changes. Everyone gets them when you go through a jump. They'll be in your notifications... What were you so upset about if it wasn't that?"
Reid ignored the question and brought up his notifications.
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WARNING! Exposure to volatile mana detected
NOTICE: Exposure to volatile mana has affected skill, petrification [rare]. Skill removed.
NOTICE: Exposure to volatile mana has imparted new passive skill, Accelerated Growth [undefined]
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He swore. Reid wasn't exactly planning on using petrification again, but he thought he'd be able to get access to the proper version of it, at least, by visiting a beacon. Which - he realized - he now wasn't supposed to do until Nyx woke up. His life was getting too convoluted.
The other notification, for the skill, intrigued him. He brought up the details.
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Accelerated Growth [undefined]
Passive Skill. Improves the rate at which user earns experience or increases stats and skills commensurate with Achievements. Increases chance of new skill unlocks commensurate with Achievements. Automatically sets all system events encountered by user to highest challenge level.
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Reid flashed back to his status screen, and confirmed accelerated growth was listed under his skills. Petrification was gone. And he'd gained a new, blank area called Accolades that was just waiting for him to earn his first achievement.
The skill sounded entirely great. If achievements worked like videogames, he just needed to find something rare or difficult to do, and then he'd be able to grow more quickly. The second part... Reid had already faced the Crimson Titan as a low-leveled fighter. There wasn't too much he could imagine that he'd be afraid to fight against. If he was right, harder challenges might also mean more opportunities to gain achievements. If the amount of experience he needed for each level continued to rise, he was probably going to need every assist he could get.
"Lycra, what do you know about achievements?"
The alien's mouth hung open. "They are rarely given, but grant boons to powerful warriors that showcase feats of strength and skill during quests... why?"
Reid read his skill off.
"Storm of Fate...." Lycra rose and grabbed Reid by both shoulders. "Thank you."
"What?"
"Reid, things like this don't happen. Zero skills - like your accelerated growth - are supposed to be useless, random things. It's just fact. Except you and I both got things that are incredibly useful to us, at the same time. Mine makes me better with Mana Reactor Tech. Yours will help you see your growth goals. Luck, that seems to be centered around you. Storm of fate."
Reid nodded. "I don't think I did anything, but it sounds like we both lucked out, mostly. More importantly, I got levels, and I can power myself up if I have enough time to rest. Once that's done, I bet we can take Thad out, and then we can fly the ship wherever we want."
Lycra was still holding Reid's shoulders. "How strong...?"
"Level 23 now, and when I get through everything, I'll have 62 power and 62 constitution. Bet Thad can't stand up to that."
Lycra's yellow eyes swelled and he staggered back, then fell onto the floor. "We could actually... no, you could actually-"
Thad's voice crackled through an overhead speaker. “Kid, make sure my bumpkin is presentable, then stow yourself. Clean off the box if you haven’t already. I set down in 3 minutes.”
A series of heavy metallic thunks sounded out from the three doors, then other points above them. The lights on the cargo bay walls and control panel dimmed. Lycra looked like he was going to be sick.
“Okay, if we land in three minutes, I won't have time to rest, but can still escape when the doors open, right?”
Lycra shook his head slowly, and looked longingly towards the door controls on the far wall. “I am sorry... I thought we had more time. It is landing protocol - for thieves. The cockpit is sealed, all other controls are turned off. We can’t open the door from in here.”
Reid nodded slowly, then asked again. “But we can still escape when the doors open, right?”
Lycra looked back at Reid. There were tears welled in his eyes. "The wires... they are still crossed."
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<]]) Thad ([[>
Thad inhaled sharply when Denduram came into view. The planet was a muddy jumble of reds and browns, a mostly barren surface dotted with heavy metal refineries, petrochemical processors, and mines. His first few times here, he’d still had a nose, and he remembered the acidic, oily smell that clung in the air. He missed it.
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He flew towards one of the larger mines. A massive circular pit was stepped as it descended into the ground, with a shaft disappearing into darkness at its center. Ships flew in and out of the hole, ferrying their payloads to the gleaming facility that wrapped a third of the way around the pit. Thad shuddered. There were some things you just shouldn’t do, and piloting a ship through deep rock was one of them. The hole went nearly as far down as the atmosphere went up into the sky. Things like that just weren't meant to be.
His destination was a landing zone that butted against a midsized square office building, with a blast wall protecting the structure from any errant engine wash. DenWu liked to keep up appearances, so his city was clean, and his “unofficial headquarters” were discreet. He even had real data jockeys working on the first floor. It was effective camouflage, and had let him survive half a dozen audits over the decades.
Thad grinned. It had been a rough trip, but he had made it. He was still on guard for the exchange, but DenWu was solid, and Thad honestly liked the leathery old armadillo. He paid fairly well, had ample open jobs for pilots to work, and he always needed more bodies for the mines. Selling the kid and the bumpkin to him would net Thad a happy bonus. More if he actually let DenWu know what the man was capable of. He still hadn't decided whether he'd set up a bidding war or not. Getting that monster off his ship felt like the best course of action, even if it lost Thad a little money in the long run.
Thad feathered the throttle and deployed the landing struts, taking pride in the minimal shake that went through his ship as it contacted the ground. This dance was one he'd done countless times. Land at the agreed location, with external comms off. Lock down internal access panels in case of a double cross. Wait for the buyer to arrive before ever risking someone seeing the cargo you carried, and only then open up the cargo bay. Stay in the locked cockpit while the stash gets unloaded, then - and only then - come down for credits and handshakes.
If DenWu's men didn't show up, it meant scrubbing the deal, and hoping for a chance to complete it later. There were times that had happened - when unexpected visitors prevented DenWu from completing a transaction. All the risk in those instances were on Thad, though. DenWu was nothing if not good at insulating himself from the consequences of his business.
When he finally saw DenWu's men assembling behind him, Thad celebrated with a swig off his flask, then hit the button for the cargo bay doors.
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(((..-- DenWu --..)))
DenWu was pacing in the corner office overlooking the pad when Thad landed. It was time for answers. The databoys had found official CCE communications mentioning Thad’s ship. Not unheard of, but the message also said that the ship had dumped its cargo and jumped away to escape an enforcer. Three issues there. One, it put the ship on a wanted list that was best kept away from DenWu’s holdings. Two, it tied any surviving cargo to DenWu if enforcers tracked the ship to its current landing pad. Three, it meant Thad had still decided to show his face on Denduram, when DenWu's cargo was slagged in deep space.
DenWu’s ears flicked and he gave the order for his men to act normal, then take Thad in by force. No matter what, he was going to need to scrap the ship. The pilot and crew, he wanted to question. He knew Thad wouldn't like the idea of getting rid of the Wheathop.
He’d enjoy the penance for his failure far less. The man had always been afraid of the deep darkness.
As his men arrayed themselves around the cargo bay door, an assault group with weapons drawn waited behind the blast wall, ready for a fight.
The seconds stretched on. DenWu found himself tempted to break his own communications blackout rules. Then - there was movement from the tail of Thad's aged, poorly-maintained hauler.
Four circles of metal came off the ship with a ‘thump’ and clanged as they fell to the ground.
A second later - chaff, a wave of red hot barrels, and even crystal dust blasted out from the four openings. His men screamed and fell as they were shredded and burned by the anti-missile countermeasures. The blast wall cracked as projectiles thwumped against it, then ricocheted back into the ship. They tore holes through the hull, peppered the engines, and pinged off the cockpit. Pieces bounced up and out of the landing pad. They landed on DenWu's office buildings and elicited screams from the workers inside. One engine split in half from the damage, and the other sagged on weakened mounts. The cargo door sported a few holes, but was still shut.
When the rush of projectiles finally stilled, DenWu slammed his tail into the floor and set his communicator to the assault team still hunkered down behind the blast wall. He worked hard to keep his temper out of his voice. “Get the doors open, then scrap the ship. Try not to kill the crew. But do not kill Thad. His life is mine.”
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+ Reid +
Reid was shackled, laying sideways on a debris-littered metal pad. A large wall in front of him was marred with dents, cracks, and viscera. A hulking guard in polymer armor held a long rod connected to a collar around Reid’s neck. They slammed Reid back to the ground when he tried to stir.
A few feet away, a bipedal armadillo in ornate leather stood over a mangled Thad. Another guard held a pole attached to Thad’s collar. He didn’t need to do much to keep Thad prone. Both of his arms were limp, bent in too many places. Thad was letting out quick, raspy whimpers. He blubbered out something Reid couldn’t make out, and the guard twisted a section of the pole. Thad spasmed violently at the electric shock from the collar. He didn’t try speaking again.
The armadillo’s voice was terse and low. “Enough. You killed my men. You failed to kill me. Your crew failed to kill me. Your shame is not washed clean, and your endeavors come to nothing.”
The armadillo stomped on one of Thad’s legs until it bent with a sickening crunch, then did the same with the other. Thad was electrocuted when he screamed. The armadillo gestured to a thin woman with a bald head. She knelt over Thad, hands emitting a faint green glow. When she stood, Thad’s arms and legs were knitted back together, but his eyes were closed. The woman’s voice was surprisingly gentle.
“He has hit the limit. I will not be able to repair further damage until a week from now. He is also unconscious - my apologies for not waking him before the limit was reached, I assumed he would last to eight cycles.” She bowed her head at the armadillo. “I suggest smelling salts if you would like to continue.”
The armadillo shook his head. “Thank you for your services, Maven Indira. I must allow my anger to be sated. Now - I must be repaid.” He looked at Reid, then at an unconscious Lycra beside him. Reid tried to speak, but he managed a single syllable before the shock collar engaged and sent his muscles tearing themselves in frantic motion.
The armadillo held up a hand, and the shock stopped. Reid panted into the dirt. He realized he was still wearing one of Thad's flight suits.
"All members of Thad's crew will repent for their crimes. Your captain has given me all the lies I can stomach, but I will give you a fair deal all the same. You will work in my warrens, and you will pay your debts to me - with crystal, or through death."