| Logs |
2006 November 14
| Hunter |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
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| Realms: Hunter Logs |
Part Twenty-Four: How Changes The Winds
Dinner and breakfast pass by uneventfully. Molly at least has a chance to show that she really has been practicing, and the meals are fit to be eaten, albeit nothing to write home about. The new provisions are edible and show no sign of going bad anytime soon. The crew has been considering new cargoes to haul from Triumph to their next destination. Thus it makes for an interesting morning when, shortly after breakfast and just before the crew splits up to do their assigned tasks, they can hear a shout raised up in the docks just outside their berth, and can see a large crowd gathering rather hastily.
Solbiort glances over at the screens, wondering what's up and if she can see from here. The view isn't visible from the ship; the fuss is apparently happening around the corner, but it's already gained a good crowd of about a score of people and growing. There's a lot of discussion going on, and raised voices, but no arguing or fighting, at least yet. Solbiort sighs, smiling ruefully, "Hokay, lock our boy up, Molly." She glances around, "Anyvon vant to come vith to see vhat is up?"
Raj shrugs and says, "Beats work. Let's go take a look."
Elgyn's brow knits. "If Raj is going, perhaps I should stay to help Molly guard the ship," he muses.
Solbiort nods to Raj, murmurs to Elgyn, "Up to you, pretty," then checks her autolock, straightens her vest, and heads out. She comms up to the bridge as she heads out, "Mei-mei, no von in or out but us, ya?"
Molly replies, "Nobody in or out; aye, Cap'n."
Elgyn glances at Nigel. "You want to go? Maybe there's someone hurt that you can insult," he murmurs teasingly.
Nigel smirks slightly, he's already got his portable med kit sitting by his feet, "I figured I'd sort of inured all of you to me, so fresh victims will be good." Was that actually a joke?
Elgyn actually smiles in response to that. "Go on, get on with you. If there's no one hurt, call the ship and I'll make a special point of twisting my ankle for you," he drawls, eyes glittering.
Nigel shakes his head, "Nah. I just got it out in case I do have to be called out."
Elgyn ohs! "Okay then, fair enough. You can sit and keep us company," he replies, looking at Nigel fondly. Elgyn is being awful perky today.
The crowd is gathered around what looks like Angel (from two nights ago), with a wushu armlock on a disheveled guy who's kneeling on the ground and trying not to let her twist his arm out of the socket. It's made all the more surreal by a deputy being present with a young, petite girl who looks about midway into her teens, wearing ragged and dusty, loose white jacket and leggings, and bare feet. The deputy is talking quietly to the girl. On the other hand, the raggedy man is trying not to let on how much Angel's manhandling must be smarting.
As the two get closer, they can hear the conversation going on under the din of the crowd. Angel is in the process of asking pointedly, "-should probably answer the deputy, hey?"
Solbiort folds her arms and watches silently over the heads of the crowd. Then she frowns, murmuring quietly to Raj, "Zat voman vas the von who vanted to kick the Jains around."
Captain Solbiort Skialdmeyjar is definitely a burly and intense woman, standing an assertive 6'6". Her deep green eyes study the world with confident amusement. Flame red hair frames her pale-skinned face, falling behind her in a long, thick scarlet braid that reaches below her hips. Her battered leather tunic is vividly embroidered on the back with fiercely snarling, winged heraldic beasts tangled in battle, leaving her well-muscled shoulders and arms bare. Her left wrist sports a wide, intricately patterned bracelet gleaming with brilliant jewel-tones. Snug breeches are tucked into tall black boots, and the battered pommel of a large knife protrudes from the left boot. Riding low on her right hip is the holster for her heavy autolock.
The man winces as the arm gets twisted a little more. "Grk- argh! I just wanted to see her get here safe, gorrammit!"
Solbiort glances around, trying to pick out Angel's crew and where they're placed in the crowd. Angel's known crewmembers are apparently gathered in a group together to one side, watching Angel and her new special friend impassively and a bit boredly. The deputy raises his voice, "Angel, would you mind easing up on the guy. I still need to get a statement."
Angel does so, though it's not immediately noticeable and is probably only minimal. At that moment, there is a sharp voice from the other side of the crowd, "Juhi!" The three Jains are scrambling through the crowd, bee lining for the girl.
Solbiort sighs quietly, watching, and only nods once as Raj murmurs, "Oh, this isn't going to turn out well..." She glances back at the kneeling man in the arm lock, and frowns. It bothers her to watch someone pretty much abuse an unresisting boy. She shifts her weight, and reminds herself firmly standards are different here... mostly...
With the appearance of the Jains, some of the crowd starts to disperse a touch disgruntledly. The rest -- including the Chimera's crew -- watch as Amodini comes up to the girl (who is facing her now), and leans down, hugging the girl tightly and speaking rapid-fire Gujarti to her. Angel looks up at the Jains for a moment, then returns her attention to the disheveled guy she has in the arm lock. Raj steps a bit closer to Solbiort and whispers, "New woman asking the girl how she got away from Devon. That's the bandit, right?"
Solbiort nods to Raj, "Leader, ya. Interesting. Vould seem that von there," she nods towards the kneeling man, "is not Devon, then." She calls quietly to Angel, "Think he is not going anyvhere. Is truly necessary to harm him now?"
Angel looks up sharply at Solbiort, and her eyes narrow a bit. However she only says, "Soon as he tells the deputy what he was doin' sneakin' into the docks with the girl just past dawn, friend." Someone possibly never told Angel the definition of 'friend.'
Solbiort rumbles quietly, "This he has already done, therefore might vant to release now, ya?" She smiles, although it's not pleasant, "Am sure he can figure out vould be unvise to attempt to run."
Angel seems to chew on this -- if not disgruntledly tear its throat out -- for a few moments, before shrugging and letting go of the man. She stands and brushes her hands. "Suit yourself," she says simply, and steps back with her crew to watch. Solbiort shifts so she has a clear line of sight on the boy. If she's going to suggest releasing him, she figures she should also be able to prevent his escape.
The deputy finally fixes his eye on the disheveled man. "So let me get this straight... you escaped from Devon's camp two weeks ago, taking this girl with you, and made your way here?"
The man rubs his arm, wincing and clearly favoring it. "S'right, deputy. I've had enough. If'n you want to lock me up for consortin' with that rum hundan lot, you won't get a complaint out of me. I'm through."
Once more people hear it's regarding the Jains and their troubles with Devon, more people disperse, leaving a sparse group around the deputy, the Jains, Angel and her crew, and the Chimera's crewmembers. Amodini is looking at the man icily. The deputy rubs his eyes. "And you're turning yourself in... why?"
The man glowers faintly. "What he's doin', 't'ain't right, deputy. Buddha help me, but a man can only do so much. I'm right sick, and 'nough's enough. If you want him, he's yours. I can tell you how to get to him."
"And the girl?"
The man's face goes ashen, and he looks away. "Ain't gonna speak 'bout her an' the others in public."
Solbiort notices that at the man's comment, the younger Jain poises himself to go for the disheveled man on the ground. She raises an amused eyebrow. Looks like that one, at least, isn't buying into pacifism. She shifts slightly so if necessary she can deflect the excitable young Jain, and shakes her head slowly once at Angel, a faint smile curling the edges of her lips. Angel has just started brightening and took a half step forward, before noticing Solbiort's headshake. With a snort, she folds her arms and stays in her place.
The younger Jain snarls something in Gujarti (Raj can tell it's something particularly vile that you wouldn't exactly say in front of your mother) and launches himself at the downed man. The man has enough time to go "-eep!" before the Jain's hands are around his throat and his head hits the dirt. Solbiort steps forward and leisurely grabs the young Jain by the scruff of the neck, raising him up so she can growl flatly at him, "Let. Go. Now."
The young Jain glares up at Solbiort... up, and up, and up, and after hesitating a moment reluctantly lets go of the coughing and choking brigand. Amodini has already stood, one hand on Juhi's shoulder, and says clearly in Lingua, "Kaushal... get back over here. And do not do that again." The brigand himself remains on the ground, dazed and confused.
Solbiort releases the kid once he lets go, and politely steps out of his way so he can return to Amodini. Then she crouches next to the bandit, studying him thoughtfully as she runs a hand lightly over his front, checking for any damage. The brigand is only apparently strong enough to rub his throat weakly, blinking to clear his vision. "Oi, bloody thousand hells," he grimaces. "Guess I d'served that, though..."
Raj steps up to Solbiort and looks down at the avowed ex-bandit, "We could have the Doctor check them both, if you want to get him off the street."
Solbiort nods, "Might be good, ya." She straightens, turning towards the deputy, "You vant medical checkup on both?"
The deputy scratches his head, then nods, "Yah, please. It'd be quicker, the docks doctor is busy with a coupla surgeries this morning. We'd appreciate it. 'Course we'd recompense ya."
Solbiort nods calmly, "This vay, then." She stoops, slings the brigand easily over her shoulder, and heads back towards the Chimera. The bandit seems surprised by the rather burly treatment, but aside from yelping a little as Solbiort picks him up, seems to be too surprised to do anything. To the deputy and Amodini Solbiort murmurs, "Can accompany if you vish." Then she adds to Raj, "Comm ahead, ching?" Raj fiddles with his comm a moment, alerting the ship and waiting to see who's going to join them.
Angel clearly takes this to not include her group, and though it apparently rankles, she shrugs and ushers off her crew. The deputy and the three -- now four -- Jains accompany, Amodini looking like it'll be a cold eon in the thousand hells when she lets go of Juhi.
Solbiort paces easily into the ship after Molly undogs the hatchway for them, heading for sick bay. She sets the brigand on one of the examination beds and grins quietly, "Be still, don't cause any trouble, ya? Make my doctor happy vith you, or else." The two male Jains and the deputy are waved back so they're out of Nigel's way... and Solbiort does so also, only making sure she's within a long arm's reach of the former brigand, if necessary. Then she frowns thoughtfully... "Nigel, check zis boy first, ching, ya? Zen ve send out all ozzer boys for check up of girl."
Elgyn leaves Molly on duty at the bridge and comes down to the cargo to keep an eye on the man entry hatch just in case. He figures he should stay out of the way as well, though he's wondering what is going on.
The exam of the brigand takes place fairly quickly. He's a typical outback Fringer, which is to say he's rough about the edges in terms of health, has a couple of (non-contagious) infections or parasites, has a touch of malnutrition, and has some symptoms of exposure. A week of being in shelter and eating decent food -- even in a jail cell -- will do wonders for him. Nigel is quiet and efficient and not exactly gentle. "Eh, he'll survive." Solbiort nods, then firmly has all the men leave the room, with the exception of Nigel. She shuts the door behind her, then sighs, "Hokay. Juhi, you vant me to leave too, or no?"
Juhi bites her lip, then nods once, speaking briefly in Gujarti. "She would like just myself and the doctor present, please," Amodini says atonally.
Solbiort nods and steps out silently. She closes the door behind her, then paces over to the brigand, now sitting in Cargo with the other men. "So... vhy you decide to turn on Devon?" Elgyn's head jerks at that, giving Solbiort a shocked look. That name gets his attention, and his eyes narrow at the one Solbiort is speaking to.
The brigand, who is under the attentive, watchful, and armed eye of the deputy, is recovering a bit. He nods towards the infirmary. "I got sick, ma'am. Raidin' towns... well, for a starving outlaw it's one thing, for a time at least. But what we did to them Jains... there's a line you don't cross, y'know? Past that line, yer a Reaver. Hells, worse than a Reaver. Reavers are animals. Some things humans shouldn't do to one another, y'know?"
Solbiort folds her arms and waits for him to continue. Elgyn feels bile in his mouth. You crossed that line long before, scum... he growls internally... but he stands his post, turning his head back so he doesn't have to look at the now-identified bandit.
The man looks away. "A year ago we'd swung around to the Jains' village from one of the other towns out there that we raided. That's when we ran into the deputies there. Big-ass fight. But Devon won. An' he took a bunch of the Jains' young adult folk. Said they was going to be hostages. I even half-believed him. But...." He shuts his eyes and looks away. "Gorrammit. I couldn't get them all out. But when I had the chance to get one o' 'em out of there...."
Nigel emerges from sick bay after a while, jaws clenched so tightly and hands clutched so hard into fists that his knuckles are white. His gait is purposeful, as opposed to his normal almost-clumsy slouch. He puts his hand on Solbiort's arm, "Captain, can I speak with you privately?" His rough outworld accent is gone, a crisp Londinium lilt in his speech. Solbiort nods, a faintly worried look on her face as she follows Nigel.
In Cargo, Elgyn doesn't know what the bandit is talking about... at least that's what he tells himself. But the implication in his words, the change in Nigel's tone... he knows. But he can't permit himself to accept that in his mind. If he did, he's not sure if he could stay in control. It's strange how he's gone from despair to joy to barely contained fury in just a few hours.
Nigel pulls Solbiort away to a quiet place and says to her in clipped tones, "These kids, Solbiort, they've been raped. I'd say these gorram sick bastards have been havin' themselves a fine old time." The little doctor's eyes are snapping with near-rage.
Solbiort nods quietly, "Figured rape vould be least of it. How is girl now? She vill survive? She tell you if zis guy telling ze truth? Or he abuse her too, on vay in here?"
Nigel's voice is low still, "Survive, yeah. But there ain't much better way to make someone into a non-human like systematic rape." Taking a deep breath, he shakes his head, "I asked about that one. Didn't know if we could trust 'im. She seems to think he's decent enough for a ruttin' bandit."
Solbiort gently puts her hands on Nigel's shoulders, "Di-di, deep breaths. Need you to save girl from going catatonic. Ve'll take care of brigands best ve can, ya? Und vill count on you to help if anyvon gets hurt in process. But for now... save poor girl, ching." Nigel nods and stalks back toward the infirmary, still looking like he could spit fire.
Solbiort heads back out to Cargo, and sighs, "Hokay, former brigand, am assuming you haf name, ya?"
The man nods to Solbiort. "Ives Liao," he says simply.
Solbiort nods once, then says, "Elgyn, clear space on floor of Cargo, ching. Deputy, you have any aerial maps of mountains, or ve only haf drawn vons to vork vith? Kaushal und you, ozzer boy whose name I forget, you know area around your village at all vell, or not familiar viz mountain area?"
Kaushal nods, looking grim. "I know the area very well." Elgyn is so mired in his own emotional state that at first, he looks at Solbiort uncomprehendingly... then the words translate and he moves into action to do as ordered.
Solbiort waves a hand at the former brigand, "You, Liao, help clear space. Raj, comm sheriff und invite her to come here, ching?" Raj nods and moves off to make the call. Ivers nods and starts to help clear out the area.
The deputy nods. "We've got the last satellite survey done of Triumph. About three years out of date, but I think if we ask the magistrate's office nicely they'll move one of the weather sats a bit to get something more up-to-date."
Solbiort says, "Excellent. How soon to get it here to spread out on floor?"
The deputy straightens, "I can have another deputy bring over hardcopies of jus' about any size within the hour. What are you planning, Captain?"
Solbiort shifts out of the way as boxes start being moved. She folds her arms and muses, "Am thinking... brigands vork best vhen they haf somevon in place... somevon who can say vhen deputies arrive, und schtuff like that." She tilts her head at Liao, "Am I right?" then adds to the deputy, "Und smart leader like Devon not tell all his insiders to his people. So am thinking qvite possible is Devon haf even somevon here... und if big planning happen in sheriff's office, whole town soon vill know." She bares her teeth in a grin, adding, "Harder for insider to get in here, though..."
Ivers nods to Solbiort. "I suspected as much, cap'n. Devon never told his sources. Seemed to be thinkin' that there would be an ambush at the Jain village, though. Thought it was just luck at the time that he thought about it beforehand." Solbiort nods to the former bandit, unsurprised.
Raj gets the sheriff's office on the horn. The sheriff sounds... dubious. Interested, but dubious. Devon's been a relatively minor thorn in the side of the moon for some time, compared to other things. The sheriff is involved currently with the roundup of the pirates on the other side of Triumph, but she does recommend Lisbet to come over to help plot, as one of the deputies with the most outback experience at the docks -- which is probably the reason she managed to survive the disaster of the year before.
When Raj relays the news, Solbiort nods, pleased. She considers a moment, then adds to Liao, "Vhy you come to port city viz girl?"
Ivers is brushing off his hands, and sighs. "Devon might think I'd go to the Jain village once he saw who else was missing. Figured it'd be better to come here and try to get the girl to the deputies."
Solbiort nods, "Hokay." She quietly and privately adds to the deputy a few moments later, "Is also possible Liao is insider for zis place, so ve should keep zis in mind, ya?"
The deputy nods discreetly. "I've been considering that. Also considering an impromptu strip search of him might be in order. Hell, burning his clothes'll go far towards improving the scent, and a steam bath sounds like it'll be jus' dandy."
Solbiort chuckles quietly and offers the deputy use of one of the passenger cabins as a temporary cell for his prisoner. He should go take care of that, and bring Liao back once he's done... that should give everyone else time to prep. She also quietly lets the prisoner know that he doubtless realizes he should be on best behavior, ya? Then she comms the bridge, warning Molly to keep an eye out while the deputy and the prisoner are moving about the ship, and to close off all of the ship except Cargo from the passenger section.
Ivers nods soberly to Solbiort. "I know I'm scum, ma'am," he says quietly. "Dregs o' th' world. I've done some damnable things in my time. Jus' glad I can be over an' done with 'em; make amends. I'll not be makin' any trouble, ma'am." The deputy approaches Ivers shortly, and with utterly no resistance Ivers lets himself be led to the temporary cell.
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