Anak was again sealed in RX's dome section's cockpit before they returned down the lift. Out of sight and, hopefully, invisible to prying eyes. Whomever they may be.

Staska, Josh and Sen’s toe-headed junior attendant/bodyguard was waiting for them at the lift's platform when the doors opened. She bowed to them and delivered her message. "Your Eminence, Heir Marztanak, helmsman Shiruba has ordered me to bring you and your..." She unflinchingly eyed RX. "...Companion to his shuttle immediately." The look in her eyes was deadly serious. Josh could only nod and silently follow her with Sen and RX in tow as she created a tunnel through the busy hangar bay that would have been impressive for a team of secret service agents guarding the President.

Jishin and his two junior helmsmen were waiting outside a transport at the edge of the hanger bay’s opening. The senior helmsman paced back and forth as he grasped his hands with an anxious look in his eyes. Josh hadn't seen the unflappable helmsman worry about anything this much since he had accidentally been mind-jacked at their first meeting. And that included being the target of a legit zombie-pocalypse. Upon seeing Josh, Sen, and RX, Jishin raised his hands and ran to them. "Your back! Praise be to the Pharon of wayward starmen! There is no time to lose! We've been summoned to parley with Clan Talan. No less than Shisoka h'self has asked!" Jishin grabbed Josh's arm and Zurui Sen's. Then they half led, half force-marched them up the back ramp of an awaiting shuttle.

Amnaki, the most junior helmsman, consciously slowed his rapid approach to RX when he saw that he was about to manhandle an iron giant. Dead in his tracks, Amnaki looked up at the menacing grasper dangling above his head and then back at his own empty hand. Outclassed but quick-witted, with the confident smile of a showman plastered on his lips, he executed a slight bow and indicated with pointing hands the direction they were all going.

Smart man! Josh couldn't help but think.

RX chuckled deeply and complied, leading the way.

Josh entered the shuttle and took the seat Jishin shoved him into.

"Eminence, I'm sure I don't have to tell you the significance of this meeting..." Then unsurprisingly, Jishin proceeded to do just that as he stared at Josh with wide-open eyes, shallowly nodding in agreement to his own words. "...Shisoka is the most decorated battle commander in Kaizuko history. His ship, the Leviathan, was once the pride of the Kaizuko fleet! It's quite an honor to be summoned there. We canna refuse—"

Josh interrupted with a crooked smile. "Jishin... You're a Shisoka fanboy! Aren't you?"

The large, burly pirate captain grew red in the face and tensed up like he was getting ready to strenuously object. Then the thunderheads cleared, and a wistful look took their place. He leaned into Josh, winked conspiratorially, and spoke under his voice. "Aye... That I am y’Eminence. Ha’been since I was a young'n. What Shisoka's actions inspire: Standing up against those who are wrong n'matter who or how powerful they are. For all Kaizuko to be free from oppression regardless of the personal costs. Chasing your true passions never mind the risks... He is a hero for all of us!" Zurui, next to Sen, nodded in agreement. The same starry-eyed look as Jishin plastered on his face.

Amnaki did the same from the closing rear door as he added, slightly dejected. "But... some of us get to go meet the legend, and some of us have to wait here to keep the engines burnin'... Bring me a holovid Jishin!"

Jishin grinned. "On that, ya can be sure!" Then his face grew grave, and he balled his fist, pointing an index finger at Amnaki through the sealing door. "Don't you break my ship while we're away! You hear me Amnaki Wakai!” Amnaki rapidly shook his head as he stooped to maintain eye contact with Jishin through the lowering gap.

The door finally sealed, and the shuttle lifted off, following a vector under the Brigantine's platform horizon.

Josh looked at Jishin and asked seriously. "He'll be alright being in charge alone, won't he?" Jishin raised his eyebrows in a querying way. "Well, yer Eminence, I'd say that really depends on you two." He pointed at Sen. "Since underway, we've been nearly incinerated flying into a sun, had three nuclear detonations, and undergone a moderate-scale surface firefight with our childhood hero's Clan.” Jishin’s stubbled cheeks bunched under the Kaizuko system tattoo on his right cheek as he smiled a gem-studded grin that dropped into a grim expression. “What else do you two have planned for us, m'lord?"

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Josh was momentarily silenced under Jishin's expression and the accusation that everything that had happened was due to him and Sen. Because... well... it really was all due to them! But Jishin's stern face crumbled into a wolfish grin, and his belly laugh was joined by Zurui. Even Staska chuckled, sitting next to Jishin at attention, her smile breaking through her all-business face. She caught Josh's eye and spoke. "Don't worry, Eminence. My guardian-oji's bark is worse than his bite. That I can promise."

"Now don't you be giv'n way any of my trademarked secrets o’leadership war-yojo." Jishin said through a tough guise while pointing the same thick-handed index finger he had at Amnaki.

Staska rolled her eyes and smiled angelically at him, batting her lashes until Jishin caved in and slumped his shoulders with a happy look on his face. The helmsman leaned into Josh again and stage-whispered. "Sadly, it dunna work on her any longer."

Jishin put his heavy arm around her and pulled her in a close side hug that she returned with both her arms around his bulging waist.

Josh raised his brows in question. ~War-yojo?~

Sen nodded back. ~It is Kaizuko custom to adopt children orphaned in battle. Staska must have lost her parents, and Jishin has taken her in as his adopted progeny.~

Josh nodded once in understanding. Her parents must have fallen victim to Kyon Shi on one of the destroyed Caravels or during the Brigantine's battle. Either way, it was good to see that the pirates who were becoming his people had such customs in place. And that there was sincere caring in the relationship.

Releasing Staska, the helmsmen turned back to Josh. There was no doubt that the serious look on his face was all business this time. "Now, let me share what Lady Alysa instructed me concerning the battle, her pursuit, and the request for parley..."

In short order, Jishin had related the details they knew so far. The resulting complex expression on Josh's face reflected admiration, awe, and a healthy twinge of fear both he and Sen felt at Alysa's commitment and determination.

Josh moved his hands in the center of the triangle he, Sen, and Jishin were forming across the aisle of the shuttle's compartment. "...So... just to be clear. Shisoka and Utsuki's son launched the nukes at us for an uncertain reason while he was stationed there to keep suspicious groups away from the Talan Clan's interests. Then, Alysa chased Radin down. Disabled his ship, and... " Josh raised his eyebrows. "Set him on fire with a deep-rock-bunker-buster. Shisoka showed up. Apologized for his son's actions and now wants to talk with us?"

"Aye, your Eminence. You have the gist of it."

Josh swallowed. ~Sen... Remind me never to get on Alysa's mad at us!~

Sen offered a small chuckle in reply. ~Agreed, brother. I am very glad she is on our side!~

Josh narrowed his eyes and looked at Jishin. "Why do we trust him? Shouldn't we consider this a ruse to get us out in the open and into a trap? I mean, they did try to blow me and Sen up. And then Alysa set his kid on fire...Where I come from, you would want to finish that fight, not bust out the Darjeeling. And why on his ship? Why not meet aboard the Brigantine? Or on Noha-3, for that matter?"

Sen, Jishin, and every Kaizuko, including Staska and the two pilots seated at the front of the shuttle, were shaking their heads. Jishin responded. "It is always wise to consider the possibility of a trap, your Eminence. I won't argue with you on that point concerning Kaizuko Clans or any organization in the galaxy, for that matter. But... it wouldn't come under the guise of a formal parley request. The need for safe discussions with those who aren't yet our friends is too great for any sane spirit being to desecrate the one way we all agree on t’attempt it. At least, that is how we, Kaizuko, feel about it. No, m'lord, baiting a trap with a parley request isn't done. As to location, the site of the parley is to be hosted by the local battle leader. When neither is local, the battle leader, acknowledged to be more powerful, has the privilege of hosting. In this case. Shisoka is both m'lord."

Sen weighed in. "And that fact makes creating a trap for us unnecessary, according to the analysis Intelligence has sent us of the region. Before his separation from the Kaizuko, Shisoka was an advanced Cultivator. Likely a bit farther along than the current Kotei is now. Most recent assessments have Kotei Stuado in the process of attaining his seventh spherical attunement. So, no brother, Shisoka would not need a trap to harm us. He could tear open the Brigantine with his bare hands and drag us out to, as you say..." Sen finished with a small smile, "...‘squash us like bugs.’"

Surprised look. ~Intelligence sends us reports?~

Equally surprised look. ~Of course, right to our digital inbox via electromagnetic conductance. Do you not read them?~

Stunned look. ~I have email!?~

Considering expression. ~Email? What a good name for it!~

Hooded eyes. ~We need to talk more, Sen...~