With bright spurts of crimson manaflare, three cloaked figures descended on a temple floating along the far side of the maelstrom. Two landed nimbly while a third collapsed, panting through his silver mask.
"Do not embrace weakness, brother," one of the standing figures said to the one on the ground. "Razzar needs our unwavering courage. Especially now."
The third figure stood up on wobbly knees. "Praise Quezaat... I did not think our packs would have the fuel for that last trip."
"It matters little. This place presents new danger. We need air superiority again."
One figure spoke into his wrist communicator. "Vaughan, we have arrived, brother. Razzar remains on the central structure. We need to rendezvous with him as soon as possible."
Silence... save for the constant hush of rain.
"Vaughan. Come in, brother. Are you there?
"We landed on the right platform, did we not? Shouldn't the ship be here?"
"And it is," another said, gesturing past a throng of granite columns. "Look." The three masked reptiles gazed upon the glossy, bulbously shape vessel parked amidst the debris. "It lies dormant."
"As Razzar commands it."
"I mean all of its lights are off. I detect no power from within the vessel whatsoever."
"Perhaps it is for the best." One Lounge member trotted forward, approaching the starboard side of the vessel. "Those vicious creatures are out there, and unnatural lights might attract them."
"All the better for us to take off and assist in our brother in need."
"I whole-heartedly agree. Vaughan!" One figure snarled into his communicator. "Show yourself! This is urgent!
POW! A stream of crimson energy flew in from behind, ricocheting off the Lounge's wrist and disentigrating his communicator.
"Aaugh!"
The other two spun, unholstering their weapons—
P-POW! A figure squatting in the shadows fired a manarifle again.
One reptile was knocked back to the ground while the other had his weapon melted within a blink. He hissed in pain, being forced to drop the pistol.
"How good of you breeders to finally join me," the figure from the shadow droned.
The naga on the ground sat up with a rattling mask. "Vaughan?! Is that you, brother?!"
"No, brother. And yet... yes..." The figure stepped forward and peeled its mask off. Roarke's scowling face glared at them. Moisture clung to her eye-lenses as she said, "Our romp through the clouds is over. However, I need you for one last task."
"One last task...?
Another reptile shook his fist and snarled. "We will not follow the rules of a scale-less pony—" An energy blast burned the hood off his cloak. He shrieked with a shrill breath and struggled to cover his exposed scales.
"Quite frankly, I don't need all three of you alive. So don't tempt me anymore than you already have..." Roarke cocked her rifle. "Razzar's stayed behind where the monsters are spawning, yes?"
The other two naga slowly, slowly nodded.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised." She tapped a button at the waist of her cloak.
With swirling bands of amber light, the Lounge's skystone ship came alive. Its forward dome rolled back, exposing the interior platform and the entrance beyond.
"Get on board," Roarke grunted, waving with her rifle. "Our business in Stratopolis isn't over."
While two naga nervously scampered on board, the third who struggled with his hood glanced down to scowl at the bounty hunter. "Quezaat frowns on you for this deception, Vaughan."
"The name is Roarke Most Rare," she grunted, training the rifle's sight on his chest. "If you like, I'll carve that into your corpse's chest, and we'll see how happy that makes your bashful lizard god."
"Again!" Prowse shouted.
"Nnngh!" Props yanked a lever along the far end of the Tarkington's engine room.
The mana crystals on the center dais pulsed with purple light, fluctuated, and faded. All was dark once more in the center of the rain-pelted ship.
"Bollocks!" Prowse spat, hobbling over on his prosthetic. "I don't bloody understand! The crystals are fully charged! They should provide plenty of power!"
"Uhhhh..." Props glanced over nervously. "Unky Prowsy?"
"Thrust the lever again! Better yet! Let me do it—" He moved to shove her out of the way.
But Props shoved back. "Hey! Cool your sexy head!"
"We c-can't fail now!" Prowse spat. "I promised Aatxe that I'd fly the survivors to safety on this hunk-o-junk! I won't let the lad down!"
"And you're not gonna!" Props slid her goggles up and gazed at his eyes. "We just gotta go about it more gently, is all!"
"Say what, lass?!"
She smiled. "I know it sounds crazy, especially for you, Unky Prowsy, but there's a lot to be said about delicate engine work."
Prowse squinted at her. "Who are you and what have you done with my niece?"
"Shhhh..." She tapped his stubbly chin and backtrotted to the lever array. "Just watch!" Taking a deep breath, she gripped the lever, counted down to herself, and gave it a yank.
Sparks flew. The crystals fluctuated once more, their purple light intensifying and fading within seconds.
Before Prowse could say anything, Props was diving across the room, sliding to a stop beneath the center dais. Using her teeth, she yanked a panel open, reached in, and pulled out a cluster of wires. She detached a few of them, sweating from the supremely intricate work.
Gradually, the manacrystals stopped dimming. The mana conduits weren't overloading this time. Finally, as the light became a constant glow, Props reattached the wires with a splash of tiny sparks. Holding her breath, she scurried back over to the wall, retracted the lever, then pulled it back halfway.
Whirrrrrrrrr-Crk-Crk-Crk-VRMMMMMM!!!
The lights of every console flashed on throughout the ship. The Tarkington came to life, its engine maintaining a constant hum.
"Bloody hell..." Prowse grinned wide. "Where'd you learn to operate like that!"
Props hopped up with a bright smile. "Nancy Jane's smile!"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Uhm..." Props rubbed one leg with another, blushing. "It's a long story." She gulped. "And most times a sweaty one."
"Hey Blondie!" From outside, Josho's voice could be heard shouting, "Are we a go, yet?!"
"Rest your bulging flank, ya tyke!" Prowse hollered in Props' place. "We still gotta test the main control system—"
"Buck that! It's now or never!"
"Look, ya trigger happy buffoon! You can't rush this—"
"A new wave of those freaks is coming! Our window has come and gone!"
To that, Props gasped with wide, glistening eyes.
Out of the frying pan, into the oven in the center of a volcano.
I wonder what Roarke is up to. What would be the use of three naga?
4480443 Roarke's gonna try blasting a hole in the center of Stratopolis, isn't she?
...(pulls out binoculars and reclining chair) I do like a good fireworks show!
Most Rare indeed, and slightly bloody.
4480443 Soup?
And here I thought Roarke was gonna get in some trouble for all her sneaking. Guess she ain't the damsel-in-distress type.
Aw, Props to Gadget, shes learning to hotwire alien ships so quickly.
Well, called out Razzer too easily, but now theres four way sandvich with relish?
4480855
What did you think?!
This is the mare who went five rounds with Rainbow Dash, and could still walk afterward.
The only distress around Roarke comes from her enemies.
now we have three ships in the air... almost
And so the apprentice has surpassed the master. But we all knew that already. Prowse just didn't.
Roarke's always up to something, isn't she? It'd be real nifty if she could nip Razzar in the bud before he has a chance to be a pebble in Rainbow's horseshoe.
4481393 And that fight is probably the second epic-est fight in the entire story.
Presumably Roarke needs some crew to man the guns while she drives, or vice versa?
Go go go!
the scene description is beautiful and this isn't even a scenic part!
the hush of rain to remind you it's raining, the debris pile making it hard to see the lounge ship, the further reminder of rain in the engine room scene
un-needed, but they make the story better, more immersive
also, had a sudden tardis image when props slid under the center dias......
4481393 Could've gone a lot differently had she attempted to maintain her disguise is all. A swift incapacitation from behind received from a dastardly liege of suspicious lizards woulda complicated things immensely. Although, I got no idea what'd contain her. Probably can't get knocked out, considering all that machinery's gotta do something. Bondage would simply end in lasers and pew pew. Whatever, I'll leave the thinking to someone who enjoys enjoyment.
4482518
Second? Which fight do you consider the most epic then?
4483539 That sixty-ish chapter battle in Odrsjot. If I can't count the whole thing, then Dash versus Nevlamas. It was a freaking DRAGON.
4483838
Yeah, I'll give you that. That dragon fight was pretty badass.
But, no, you can't count the whole thing.
that's a war, not a fight.
Pre-flight checks are for sissies and regulators.
4480443 Breeding?
4485318 Don't worry, a few more marathons and you'll catch up with the whole story.
-Spirit
Nice to see Roarke has a plan, likely to blow stuff up I'm assuming. Looks like Props still has some stuff to learn
Out of the frying pan and into the pot.
-SPirit
For some reason I know have an image of Roarke whipping her pet lizards all over the place. No really, whipping - while riding them, of course.
4480443 Sex slaves. ... ... ... come on, she's a Searonese. Don't look at me like that.
4483838 Yup, this was all as great as it was only and solely because of my unbelievable awesomeness, I know. You're welcome.
And now I predict bad things to come from not checking on the engine. Unfortunately, it's a necessary risk due to their current situation. Let's hope years of rust and wear didn't affect the ship.
I hope the tarkington has weapons, else this could be a real short flight.
Honestly, I forgot The Lounge were even contenders. It appears as if there's only about four of them left though, so that's a small blessing. Hopefully Roarke can whittle that down to two or one should the need arise.
4497501 Out of the frying pan and into the fire
You had one job...
Oh man, IC missed a great opportunity in the last paragraph for Josho to yell, "Hurry up, Goldenrod, or you're gonna become a permanent resident!"
I like that Props has improved in her time on the Jury. It gives some more depth to her being firmly stationed in the engine room for so many chapters, and it's a nice payoff in general.
oh man, her lines never get old. The puns are real in this one. She's one of my favorites asides from our wall-breaking Zaidmeister
YEAAAAAH ROARKE BACK IN THE GAME!
Woof, we're in the final stretch of this one, I can feel it.
Badass incarnate, back at it again.
4483838
Odrsjot was my fave in the series so far. If the rest manages to just live up to it, I know my time was well spent.
10499549
But BOY, DID IT END ON A SOUR NOTE!!