The world of Noha-3 spun above the Brigantine, giving the table Josh, Sen, Jishin, and Alysa sat at a ringside seat of its desolate southern pole through to its equator. Yellow, brown, and dark orange bands of dry surface stretched across the arid planet. An enormous haboob was moving against the planet's rotation as its winds carried Noha-3's sands along predominant gravity currents. Entire deserts were reshaped before their eyes. A very bad day for anything in the storm's hurricane-force path of scouring pebbles and dust.

Jishin raised his glass in a toast to the planet.

"The Lover's Trove. That's what we call this beautiful ball o'dust." The helmsman's rhotic tones accentuated now that he had ‘wet his whistle.’ Jishin leaned into the table on his elbows and talked under his voice as if sharing a deep secret.

"Long before our time, m'lady and lords—" Jishin sketched a seated bow to Alysa, "The story goes that two danshaku, much like y'three selves, fled here to avoid the wrath of Kotei Stuado's uncle. The infamous Kotei Daibosu. Now, Daibosu was a very... rigid Kotei. He was largely affectionately known by all who loved him, which were few indeed, as 'The Cudgel.' T'was on account of the meter long, Essence enhanced thighbone he would bash the brains out'a whoever ran afoul of his temper. Enemy an' Clansmen alike, if'n it pleased him—Gods bless the day Kotei Stuado stood in the gap for all Clansmen—" Jishin hurriedly said under his breath as he flexed his fingers in a twisted pattern that Josh's interface registered as 'warding off evil intentions.'

The helmsman continued,"...Well, Shisoka had been sent by Daibosu to capture the rogue battle leader Utsuki, who had apparently pilfered Daibosu's treasury to finance a group of mutinous danshaku who wanted Daibosu to, let's say... take an early retirement. It came to pass that Shisoka had disabled Utsuki's ship and boarded with full intention of bringing her back to his Kotei. But upon seeing her cornered, standing in front of the last of her crew ready to die protecting them, he dropped to his knees and exposed his chest. 'You are far too beautiful for me to raise one hand against... I could never live with myself if I did. Take m'life and ship instead.'

Jishin finished with his left hand held aloft, and his balding head bowed to the tabletop. "So, the story goes, at least!" Jishin half rose from his seat in defense from their apparent disbelief of his tale. Then he winked, a widening grin appearing as he plopped back down to his stool.

"Of course, as happens to all dashing Kaizuko—" he nodded to himself, "She fell in love with him as well, and they came here. Hid most of the Kotei's stolen treasure in the sand and fled to the ends of the galaxy. No doubt, to return in better times. ’be sure y’mark me," Jishin raised his index finger, pointing to the desert planet through the saloon's transparent dome and walls,"...No one has ever been able to find that trove to this day! Not and lived to tell the tale, that is." He downed the rest of his silver-silk rum and folded his arms over his massive chest and belly.

Then the pirate raised his brows and continued smiling warmly as he gazed out the viewport. "At least, 'be the tale we tell each other when our cups are empty, and we need a glimmer of hope to brighten our journey."

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Surprising even himself, Josh had closely followed Jishin's telling. He couldn't help but let the romantic idea of finding a time-forgotten treasure take him out of his day for a second. Without serious thought, his mouth spoke, "Kaizuko treasure, you say?"

Knowing his hooks had been set in at least one of them, Jishin nodded and leaned back in his chair. A smug grin covered his face. "Tis true! Or I'm not a loyal servant of the Kotei!"

Setting her mug down after a sip of fruit-flavored grog, Alysa glanced at both men from the corner of her eye. Then cut in, "I've watched far too many men turn into boys after a few cups... But I wouldn't have taken you for a treasure hound, Joshua Tanner!"

A sheepish smile spread across Josh's cheeks as he sat back from the edge of his stool at the mild chiding. "When I was a boy, my father took me to see a movi—historical record—" Josh looked at Sen. "This record told me the tales of my first hero. He was a professional treasure hunter who studied the lost relics of ancient peoples for their historical value... And for fortune and glory!" Josh shouted, raising his mug, which Jishin and Sen joined in. All three laughed heartily at the dream of finding vast riches thought lost. The moment passed, and Josh wiped at the side of his mouth, bowed his head, and apologized. "Sorry, Alysa, I got a bit carried away in Jishin's tale."

She slyly eyed him with a side glance and an impish grin, "Just a bit... Like my Baba, I suspect there is a part of you that will always be a boy!"

Chuckling, Josh conceded. "You know us too well."

Sen nodded, sending a mental message over. ~I would like to see the historical record of this hero if you would guide me to the report from your youth?~

Josh offered a conspiratorial grin. ~The tales of Indian Jones! Absolutely, brother!~

A busy server hurried by their table and dropped another round for Jishin and Josh. Strategically using the slight distraction, Alysa prodded the helmsman with the original topic. "And there are feral spirit beasts on the Lover's Trove to advance our Cores?"

Still smiling in wistful remembrance, Jishin took a second to remember that this was the true purpose of their meeting. "...Oh... Aye, ma'am. There be plenty of beasties down there. You might not guess it just by looking, but it's crawling with life. On the surface... And definitely below it." A distasteful look fell over Jishin. "His disgraced Eminence Dezain—may none other follow his steps—Went down there with all his private guards and two full squads of elite fighters when he needed to advance his Core. They barely made it back. I wager you will find what ye be looking for."

"What we all are looking for. Remember, I promised to enable all our leaders and fighters to their maximum Cultivation potential. That includes you Jishin! We're going from the top down. Sen and I have already awakened the Core of eighty-three of Alysa's junior officers. For the Brigantine's troops, this means expanding your Cores.”

Obviously seeing a leadership opportunity, Alysa leaned forward into Jishin's personal space. "How many layers have you expanded your Core helmsman?"

"I... err... I mean... it's... respectable... two full expansions..." Jishin trailed off and seemed to quickly sober up at having failed in Alysa’s eyes to lead the men below him with a better showing in acquiring the six expansions to advance his Core.

Alysa sat beam-straight on her stool and adopted a commander’s tone. "Before we leave Noha-3, we will have all the Brigantine's command structure, especially the three helmsman, at the full six expansions and ready for Attunement should we find any such Cultivation treasures. Do you understand me, helmsman?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Jishin stood up and saluted so fast that his stool fell over.