| Logs |
2006 November 07
| Hunter |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Hunter Logs |
Part Twenty-Three: An Itch of a Fight
Scarlet Chimera, Triumph
Moon of Eclipse, Georgia Quadrant.
The night passes otherwise uneventfully, and the next morning Molly is already up bright and early preparing some rations for what should be a plain and unadorned breakfast. She's anxiously awaiting the delivery of the proper foodstuffs later that morning, this being only temporary measures. The galley is filled with the sounds of her working industriously and carefully.
Elgyn, after he gets up that morning, spends some time pondering how exactly to go about doing what he and Solbiort discussed the previous night. He doesn't want to call a meeting and make it all official. He doesn't want to pull each of them aside and make it like he's trying to plan anything sneaky. So he decides that bringing it up casually is probably the best idea. He is nervous, though, because he's not entirely sure of what he's doing, or that he can be convincing enough. But he knows he has to try... and whether or not Solbiort was behind him, he might stay himself if no one else would. That wouldn't necessarily be smart, but... some odd compulsion in him makes him feel like he cannot turn his back on them, especially since it seems clear no one else will help them. So he steels himself for the conversation as he collects eggs from his chickens. Those, at least, are welcome supplement for Molly, and he brings them promptly to her.
Nigel wanders into the galley with a sort of stunned grin on his face. He's been extremely abstracted for the last long while, but the scrawny little doctor seems... well, not back to himself, because he's never been this sunny unless he was elbow-deep in the engine. Elgyn is about to bring up the subject with Molly when he sees Nigel come in looking... happy? "Doctor, are you feeling all right?" he queries after a moment.
Molly hasn't quite noticed Nigel yet, the morning coffee already set out on the table. When she hears Elgyn ask his question, she turns around curiously, noticing Nigel... and stares. "Who are you and what have you done with Doctor Nigel!" she asks flatly.
Elgyn looks at Molly. "I think we'd better check the medicine cabinet in the infirmary; see if he's gotten into the anesthetics..." he murmurs, half-serious.
Nigel scoops up his coffee mug and actually winks at Molly, he claps Elgyn on the shoulder as he passes and then flops into his normal seat, kicking his feet up on the table. "My name is George. Your doctor is chopped up in tiny pieces and mixed with the chicken feed."
Okay... at that Elgyn stops joking and starts to look... very startled. He tries not to let his jaw hang open and he looks at Molly with an utterly confused stare. Molly's own jaw hangs open for a moment, and she looks briefly at Elgyn. "That should make the first chicken dinner... interesting," she comments.
Nigel snorts through his nose and slurps his coffee, "Gorram. The way you two are actin', you'd think I never ruttin' smile!"
"You don't," the other two reply simultaneously. "Well, not unless you're about to upgrade the Chimera's systems with some new doohickey..." Elgyn amends.
Nigel rolls his eyes and makes a dismissive gesture with one hand, then attempts to ask casually, "Eh... we gonna be anywhere near Boros the next couple months?"
Elgyn blinks... and then everything makes sense. "Er... you'd have to ask the Captain or Raj, but I expect we might be heading back that way in a bit," he murmurs, the corners of his mouth curling up. Molly finishes heating up the hardtack and puts a bowl of fruit-substitute things on the table with the 'biscuits.' She lets Elgyn answer the question. Elgyn scratches his chin. "Actually... that kinda segues into something I wanted to ask both of you," he murmurs as he sits, picking up his mug of coffee.
Nigel snags a biscuit and faux-fruit, smearing the latter on the former and starting to munch on it with apparent gusto. "Ask away," he mumbles around his breakfast. Considering that there's only so many ways to ruin, let alone cook, hardtack auxiliary rations (which have less a shelf-life and more a half-life), the meal tastes pretty good.
Elgyn glances at Molly. "There's some folks that are getting hit awful hard by some bandits. They're in a bit of a pickle because they're too far away for the locals to provide any kind of help without hurting their own protection, and the locals, well, they're pacifists. We found out about them last night, going around trying to get help from ships' crews." He speaks his hands, deciding to come out and say it. "I want to help them. But the Captain won't go for it unless everyone is behind it... so I guess I'm asking if you'd be willing to give your support."
Nigel's cheerful mien goes sober quickly once Elgyn starts talking. He's nodding as he listens and finds himself smirking slightly, "So you're askin' us if we want to do the Alliance's job for 'em again?"
Elgyn doesn't know whether or not to be relieved or not that Nigel's behaving normally again. "No," he says firmly. "What I'm asking you is that... this crew, we're doing pretty well for ourselves. Even during the whole mess with Far Thunder, can you honestly say that we still haven't been able to make a profit, keep flying, and keep living our lives? We came out of that with no one hurt, and with a fat reward from the Alliance for doing nothing else than what came natural to us." He tries to keep from getting angry, and mostly succeeds. "The folk around here... they don't have the resources to commit to taking off this band of... of vultures, of jackals, who are taking advantage of these people because they know they won't fight back. But we do, and I'd probably suggest that any one of us is a match for ten of these bandits."
Nigel eyes Elgyn and licks fruit substitute off his lips, "Ain't sayin' we ain't good, but I don't know about those numbers you got in your head, Elgyn." Before that can be taken for his answer, he hurries on, "But I'm all for helpin' if we can. They got medical care?"
Elgyn was about to launch into a further argument, but as his mouth opened he suddenly realizes that Nigel said yes. It takes him a double handful of seconds to recover from that. "Uhm... I don't know. But it certainly couldn't hurt -- especially if they don't have as much in the way of meds. And anyway... you're an integral part of the team, Nigel. Knowing you, you'll likely find any number of ways to use that noggin of yours to be of aid," he replies.
Nigel makes that same dismissive gesture with his hand and snorts through his nose, "Hell, I just don't like watchin' people get preyed on."
Elgyn is still bemused, but gratifyingly so. "Well... thank you, Nigel. I appreciate that," he says softly, probably feeling the warmest towards Nigel that he ever has. He glances over his shoulder at the quiet Molly. "What about you?"
Molly is thoughtful and quiet for several moments while Nigel talks. "I'm going to stay neutral here," she says carefully. "I support the idea in principle, and I'm not one to deny anyone help, not after you-all helped me. I'm just cautious, is all."
Elgyn blinks. This is an answer he did not expect. "Cautious about what, exactly? Do you actually think a ragtag band of bandits could stand up to us? I mean... well, maybe the Captain won't let us use the mounted weapons on the Chimera, but... we're not talking about the elite cadre from Far Thunder," he replies.
Molly fidgets. "Well... yes. But... how many bandits?"
Nigel clears his throat, "Elgyn, you ever study much history? Like really ancient history?"
Elgyn purses his lips at Molly's words, then inclines his head to concede the point. "From Earth-That-Was? Some, Nigel. Sort of. Stories passed down by the elders of my tribe, mostly of the many different ancestors that make up the people we now call Ulundi. Why?"
Nigel smiles a bit bleakly, "Because we shouldn't go in too overconfident. A rag-tag bunch of bandits that know the territory might slaughter a highly trained," at that he snorts slightly, "group of whatever-we-are."
Elgyn shakes his head. "I'm not suggesting we blindly charge in, Nigel. I am a tracker and a scout. But to be perfectly honest I am not all that afraid of a group of folk, however many there are, that can beat up a group of pacifists," he says firmly, his expression dark as his skin.
Solbiort wanders in, stretching and yawning, and settles into her chair, grumbling, "Coffee..." Molly has the coffee already out, as well as hardtack and some tasty Blue Sun fruit-substitute globules. It's temporary rations until the 'real' food (such as it is) comes in later that morning.
Elgyn makes his expression more neutral when Solbiort comes in. "Good morning, Captain. Did you sleep well?"
Solbiort sips coffee, starting to look more human and less grumpy as she does so. She sighs, snags a hardtack and starts gnawing on it... pauses with a surprised look, and stares at the biscuit while she chews on her bite... swallows, looks around, and said, "Hokay, who cooked?" Her eyes narrow, staring at the others -- then she brightens, focusing on the practically cheerful looking Nigel, "Ah! She say ya? Congratulations, di-di!"
Molly says sheepishly, "I did, Captain. But there's not many ways to screw up hardtack."
Solbiort blinks at Molly, suspiciously studies the hardtack... then grins, shrugs, and looks back at Molly, "Did nice job, mei-mei." She looks back at Nigel interestedly, "Vell? Did she?" Elgyn grins affectionately at Molly, then looks back to Nigel, looking fairly interested in his response.
Nigel tries to keep a smirk on his face, but the fact that a blush is visibly climbing up his throat and over his face makes that hard to pull off, "Well, she didn't say no." He pauses and takes a long sip of coffee, trying again for casual, "We goin' anywhere near Boros in the next couple months? Providin' we don't get ourselves killed playing cavalry."
Solbiort beams broadly, reaching a long arm out to lightly slap Nigel's shoulder, "Yi ming jing ren, di-di -- great news, und goot for you! Many blessings on you both." She has another slurp of her coffee, then nods, "Ya, few months. Currently schedule is Midgaard, dock there for veek, then 2 veeks to Ulundi for Elgyn. Don't know how long that vill take, but am guessing at least von veek, maybe more. Haf to do shipping to continue pay for ship, but haf already loaded printing press for Raj's friends Oleg und Odessa on Boros. Vill also be heading to Einsort und Skamandrios before Boros, vhich is about 2, 3 veeks travel too. So... be a few months, ya." She adds carefully, "Nigel di-di, is hokay to send her schedule, but von: tell her is likely to change vith vagaries of shipping, und two -- und more important, ching -- is to tell her tell no von else our schedule. Ya?"
Nigel squints as he does some mental calculations, "Nah. I'll just let her know when we plan to be around there." His smile goes strange for a minute, "Besides, I can brave the Central Planets for a week or two sometime down the road."
Elgyn blinks, his brow creasing. "Do you think we're still in danger from Far Thunder, Captain?"
Solbiort nods to Nigel, "Remember takes month chust to go from this area to middle moons too, di-di," then says to Elgyn, "Neh, but think eventually locals may figure out voice on comm saying Vintarsen lives, pretty. Also don't vant Tong thinking ve're available."
Nigel nods, "I know, captain."
Elgyn considers that, and nods solemnly. "That's why you're the captain," he murmurs softly, more to himself than anyone. That's a thought that would never have occurred to him.
Raj clumps into the room, takes an unclaimed mug of 'coffee' from the table, and drops into a chair. He eyes the 'food substitute,' shrugs and begins working on the hardtack, saying, "Could be worse..." Solbiort grins and nods a greeting to Raj, then hungrily devours several other pieces of hardtack with her coffee. Raj says, "Has there been something new from the Far Thunder folks? I thought what's left would be hiding best they could."
Solbiort finishes and sighs, leaning back in her chair, "Better. Neh, Raj. Am more vorried about idealistic 'freedom fighters.' Hokay, vhat is plan for day? Need bit more cargo, can take a few passengers... vhat else. Anyvon?"
Elgyn steeples his fingers, nodding to Raj as he sits, tapping his fingertips against each other as he ponders how to face this far more difficult hurdle. "Not exactly, Captain... but that might change. Raj... can I speak with you outside for a moment?"
Raj says, "Cargo and passengers we can do. How many passengers do you think we can comfortably handle? It would be easy for them to outnumber the crew if we get ahead of ourselves, and I'm not sure I like that idea."
Solbiort nods to Raj, "Ya, this vould be too much for me too, am thinking. But maximum of four perhaps... how that vould sound?" She gives Elgyn a curious glance, then nods amiably. "All right. Before you go, vill throw out qvestion for you all -- vhat you all think of hiring few more crew to help out?" She adds an aside to Nigel, "Sheh-sheh for additions to ship so ve can safely enclose or restrict passengers, di-di."
Raj looks to Elgyn a moment, then nods and says, "Sure."
Elgyn's brows knit and he looks thoughtful. "I'm not against the idea, provided proper vetting, Captain. We're doing okay right now, but if we want to take on bigger and better jobs, more hands might not be a bad idea."
Nigel looks skeptical at the captain's question, "Well, I dunno... I'm about as crowded I like to be with people I have to trust." He nods to her second comment.
As Raj rises to leave, he says, "More crew might be a good idea. You have someone in mind or are we looking to interview? We're actually stretched pretty thin on a ship this size. If we want to handle more cargo or more passengers, it would be much easier with more crew. Finding good folks might take a while, though."
Solbiort says, "Is goot point, Nigel. Vould indeed reqvire careful vetting." She glances at Raj and shakes her head, "Neh, chust vaguely realizing ve are spread very, very thin here. This is sufficient crew for Firefly, vhich is smaller than us." Then she laughs as Raj and she pretty much repeat each other, and nods with a grin, "Go, Raj, talk to Elgyn. Ve talk more about this later, ya?"
Elgyn stands. "Thank you, Captain." He looks at Raj and gestures to the door. Solbiort rises with her coffee mug and stretches. If no one else needs her, she wanders off herself for the bridge, humming quietly under her breath. Molly fixes up the galley, prepping it for the foodstuff delivery later that day.
Elgyn moves with Raj to a little out-of-the-way niche, trying to think of some glib argument. He fails, but squares his shoulders as he faces his new second-in-command. "Raj... this is about the folk we heard about last night. After all we heard and saw, I'm feeling like these folk are getting a raw deal. It's not likely that any of the locals will be able to help them, and if they keep pestering crews they may get themselves beat up again. I was hoping I could convince you that we should step in," he starts, speaking honestly.
Raj gnaws off a bit of moist hardtack, thinking. After a moment he says, "What makes you think we can help folks that won't help themselves? You have any idea what it is they want?"
There could be worse beginnings. "Just a guess, but I expect they'd like to stop having their possessions stolen and their people taken advantage of. Besides that... it's true that I find their unwillingness to take up arms confusing. But from what I'm told that is their way... their belief. And it impresses me that they are willing to hold to that belief even in the face of these jackals. I'm a man of strong beliefs too, Raj... and in my gut I think these folk should be allowed to live unmolested."
Raj nods, "Well, I think so too, but don't the locals have someone to deal with bandits and such? Why aren't they helping out here?" He sips the coffee a moment, chewing, then continues, "...and it's not like there's a limited supply of bandit types. If nobody here's dealing with the existing bandit problem, what makes you think simply knocking these over will change things? It's fine to knock down a bully, but... then what? What really solves this problem?"
Elgyn folds his fingers together. "By all told, Raj... the locals did try, and lost good men and women as a result of it. The town is too far away for them to send a posse and not shoot themselves in the foot in regards to their own protection. And I can appreciate that. I don't blame them. And it's not as if I think this ship should become the Anti-Pirate ship, going around and atomizing bandits everywhere." He leans against the wall. "But this is different, Raj. It's different because I think these people are being targeted specifically because the bandits know they won't fight back. That's wrong, that's indecent, and my blood boils at the idea of it."
Elgyn spreads his hands. "Look, I'll admit we don't know the whole story. But... I feel that my ancestors would look down on me in disgust if I just walked away from this without trying to do something. And if this sounds a little like what I told you in regards to that crew back on Newhall... well, you've got a point. But it is different. There, I was reacting out of frustration and anger for my own actions. This time innocent people are getting hurt, and there's a clear enemy. That said... if you don't want to get involved, then I'll just ask you to swing back around and pick me up in a couple weeks, while I do what I can."
Raj says, "No need to puff up, Elgyn. What you've described is a bit different than riding in and saving the day for someone that won't help themselves. If the locals need a bit of help fighting a particularly well-heeled group of bandits we might be able to provide enough help to tip the scales, and that makes a lot more sense to me. You think they want some help? You said you don't know the whole story. Do you think there's anything going on that might make this more difficult than it seems?" He pauses and looks down the corridor a moment, then says, "...and I have to ask the obvious question here. Other than personal honor, why should the ship get involved? Where's the profit? Is that important here or is this charity work?"
Elgyn looks abashed at Raj's words about getting 'puffed up.' "I think I'd at least like to ask them. It's clear they want something if they're willing to risk disappointment and bruises day in and day out. But as far as why the ship should get involved... I don't have a good reason. Of course, it's not like we're hurting. We've had steady cargo, steady income, and we just got a fat bonus from the Alliance. And perhaps we may end up earning some more good will. You can't spend that, sure... but it can come in handy in unexpected ways. Access to cargo and supplies we might not have gotten otherwise, for example. Folk on the border can be mighty provincial. But there is no clear benefit. I'm asking you to do this because it's the right thing to do. Please."
Raj's brows knit and he asks Elgyn, "Are you asking me to go with you or asking me if I think we should get involved? Have you spoken to the Captain about this?"
Elgyn pauses as he thinks about how to put this. "I don't want to split up the crew on this matter. I think the captain will go along with what the crew wants to do. So far Nigel is on board, and Molly as well. But you're the second in command now. If you don't want to do it..." He trails off suggestively, then adds, "Raj, I don't want to put anyone in the line of fire. If you say no, I'll understand. That's why I didn't want to do this in front of the others. I didn't want you to feel... pressured."
Raj says, "I can see how having folks on Triumph think well of us might be a good thing. I am not against helping folks that want or need it either. I just don't want to get in the habit of sticking our nose in other folks' business just because it's there. If you want to look into this, find out a bit more about what needs to be done, I won't say no. I just want to know we have a good reason and a good plan first, that's all."
Elgyn blinks. "Thank you, Raj. With your permission, I'll go do that now," he gushes slightly, oddly feeling more warmth for now two of his crew members than he ever has.
Raj says, "I appreciate you took me aside to discuss this, too. It's always better to find out before the battle what the terrain's like. If the Captain has given her approval, go and find out what's what. Then we'll know what might be done."
Raj's approval is oddly heartwarming to Elgyn. Ever since they left Newhall, he's still healing from the open wound left by doing the wrong thing three times in a row. He never thought he'd feel like that about anyone but Solbiort. "Yes, sir!" He therefore moves swiftly to the bridge, trying not to skip along the way.
Solbiort is on the bridge, sipping her coffee and casually reviewing the Chimera's boards, making sure everything is shipshape. She mm?s in idle interest as Elgyn practically bounces onto the bridge. Elgyn beams at Solbiort. "You have set me to a task, Captain, and I am happy to report that I have succeeded," he informs her. Solbiort settles back in her seat and raises an interested eyebrow, waiting for more information.
Elgyn blinks, then realizes he might be being a little obscure. "I have spoken with the crew. They are willing to support the Jains provided I first learn more about the situation, and can provide a preliminary course of action. With your permission I will arrange to speak with them so I might do exactly that."
Solbiort chuckles, setting her coffee aside and beckoning to Elgyn, "Ah, goot for you, pretty -- knew you vould. Come, sit vith me a moment." She'll draw Elgyn onto her lap, cuddling him gently if he'll do so.
Elgyn blinks and flushes slightly at the idea of affection on the bridge... and during working hours. But he responds to her urging nonetheless, looking curious. "Is there something on your mind, Solbiort?" He's also further warmed by her approval... he was not so certain of his success, which only makes such success that much more gratifying.
Solbiort smiles, stroking Elgyn's short fuzz as she thinks, "Ya, of course, pretty... let's see. You are going to talk to the Jains, ya? So... vhat you vill ask them? Might be goot to find out vhat exactly they are expecting from us... und maybe also vhat they vill do vonce ve have left, ya? Is von thing to have valkyrior fly in und help you out... but is anozzer entirely to figure out you need to live vhere valkyrior live too, ya?" She considers a bit more, then adds, "Any maps or satellite views of their village vould be goot also, to try to figure out vhere bandits are laired. If they are coming only vonce a year, may be they travel a vays to arrive. Also might vant to talk to only surviving deputy, since she vill have combat knowledge of bandits' techniques. Vhat you think, pretty?"
Elgyn does not shy away from Solbiort's touch -- not at all -- but he does glance a little nervously at the door now and then. "You're saying you don't want to put this ship in a position where we have to keep bailing them out."
Solbiort says, "Ya, is important consideration. Ve help folks here on Triumph, but ve help zem help zemselves, ya?"
Elgyn nods. "I understand and agree. Thank you for your advice, Soli... in spite of my excitement I admit that there was some small trepidation in terms of how to best arm myself for this challenge."
Solbiort says, "Is not a problem, pretty. Zis is project ve all do as a crew, vorking togezzer... or ve do it not at all. Make sense? You have any ozzer suggestions or qvestions? Vant to have thought this out before Jains talk to you, after all, ya?"
Elgyn nods softly, nuzzling into Solbiort's touch and becoming relaxed in spite of himself. "It would help to know what kind of munitions the bandits have. It is not likely they would have anti-aircraft weaponry... still I sadly doubt either the Jains or the deputy would know this. Which reminds me... in considering our plans, what should I make of the capacity of the Chimera? Do we not wish anyone on this planet to know we have shipboard weapons?"
Solbiort smiles, enjoying seeing Elgyn relax into her arms as she slowly strokes along his head and back. "Deputy might know more than civvies, since she vas trained und not pacifist. Neh, ve tell no von here of ship's veapons, pretty. That is our secret."
Elgyn shakes his head. "I do not mean that I would tell them, Soli. I mean... can we use them, or would that be unwise?"
Solbiort hmms thoughtfully, idly nibbling on Elgyn's ear as she thinks. Finally she murmurs, "Am happy to help out, but no need to advertise veapons... so vill be dependent on situation und who is vatching who vill survive, pretty."
Elgyn's face flushes darker as Solbiort nibbles at his ear, but he says nothing about that... truth be told, he's enjoying it far too much. "I... cannot think of anything else at the moment, Soli," he murmurs softly. "Though part of that could be because you think I'm made of chocolate... again..."
Solbiort chuckles softly, "Is great pleasure to see you so happy again, pretty -- you are surprised I enjoy this?"
Elgyn smiles wide. "If I had any doubts, you dispelled them last night, Soli," he purrs, squirming as he remembers. "But I suppose I should get back to my duties. We can discuss our mutual enjoyment later." Solbiort grins lazily and teases Elgyn a little more before she lets go... she really does like seeing him this fidgety and buoyant!
Shortly thereafter Elgyn's off, and Solbiort is avidly reading her correspondence. The message from Five Dragons is warm and loving, which both thrills and relieves Solbiort. In it, Ji forgives Solbiort for telling Yuan about his son. She had not planned to tell him for some time, and had been waiting for the best time, but figures it might as well be now rather than later, even though she's not yet ready to seek out Colonel Yuan.
For as much as I once loved him, we do not and cannot share that anymore, and his departure was as abrupt as it was predictable considering the positions we had placed ourselves in. He did not know at the time I was pregnant, and if he had I am sure some sort of sense of duty would have kept him by my side, when it would have driven us both mad. I did not need his aid in raising my -- our son, as it was. And so I chose to never tell him, though he may have had some suspicions now and then over the years. That you told him is unfortunate, but I imagine it was inevitable he know at some point. Better he know now, when Liu is old enough to take care of himself, than never.
She notes she is also hard at work reestablishing herself after being declared legally "dead" following the Far Thunder attack. It isn't easy, and much of the more illegitimate aspects of her business will not be able to be brought back anytime soon, if at all. She thanks Solbiort again as well for telling her about Alexander Kali and for passing on his thesis to her. She intends to study the thesis closely, and has already made inquiries about Kali's credentials. Where did Solbiort meet him? She is hoping to migrate to Jormungadr at some point, if only to be able to provide for a homeport for Solbiort -- and, of course, to engage in the business of shipping, which is what she did for many years anyway. Also, she would very much like the chance to meet Solbiort's parents.
Solbiort is thrilled anew at that, and very pleased her lovely lady is so cleverly arranging things to allow her to gracefully bow out of the illegal trade, with no loss of face on anyone's part. After a few re-reads of Five Dragons' missive (for the simple pleasure of it), Solbiort excitedly composes her reply. XXX
Pickings are scarce on Triumph this season -- the crops were large enough to cover local needs but not large enough to spare much to ship off world. Raj only finds a single cargo of foodstuffs: sacks of rice bound for Ulundi. However, Solbiort's presence at the meeting with the shipper sufficiently impresses the woman that she asks if they can carry several additional pallets of sacks of rice. These are of a high-energy strain, and go for a commensurate increase in pay. Solbiort is careful not to get into Raj's way... but is still quietly pleased she could help.
As they approach the ship after their cargo expedition, just outside the ship's berth Solbiort and Raj encounter the three Jains from the night before. Solbiort raises an amused eyebrow, murmuring quietly to Raj, "Zat didn't take long..."
Elgyn is coming out of the exit hatch, smiling to the folk. "I take it you got my message. Thank you for coming. We sort of... met last night, as I recall. My name is Elgyn Musere," he murmurs in greeting to the farmers.
Solbiort's other eyebrow goes up, and she grins. To Raj she murmurs still quietly, "Vell, goot for Elgyn! Think ve leave him to zis, ya?" She'll walk with Raj around the small group, with a polite nod, and they'll both head on into the ship.
The Jains bow politely and not quite in the Sihnon manner common in the verse. "We wanted to thank you," the old woman says in her heavily accented, weathered voice. "If it had not been for you and yours, we would not have... fared well last evening." The three look a little surprised at Solbiort's and Raj's sudden appearance, but they nod politely in return to the two.
Elgyn folds his hands behind his back. "It was a pleasure to do it," he replies honestly, nodding to each of them in turn. "I don't want to take too much of your time, of course... but I sent the message because of certain rumors of why you are here. I was hoping you might be willing to share your story with me."
The older woman makes a slight face. "It's not a terribly good story, I fear. First, please let me introduce us. My name is Amodini. This is Kaushal," she indicates the younger man, "and Ekanga. Our village is several days' journey to the east, from the docks via foot or horse. For the past six years a bandit gang under a brigand named Devon has preyed upon our village. At first we did what our faith states we should: we offered no resistance, we remained passive, we did not fight. But three years ago Devon took most of our grain, and several of us died that winter from starvation."
Elgyn tries not to show emotion... he wants to deal with this as Solbiort would. But he gets a tightness around his face as anger wells up. He stuffs it back down, nodding at the woman to continue.
Amodini says, "Two years ago we tried to resist." She closes her eyes. "But we were singularly unsuited to fighting. He beat us down easily, killing several of us and suffering no casualties on his own side. In punishment he took several of our young men and women." She hesitates, then continues: "We appealed to the Triumph magistrate for help. With his blessing, five sheriff's deputies and several freelancers came to our village to take on Devon and his bandits. Unfortunately all but one of them, a deputy, was killed. This year Devon will return again, but after the bloodbath of last year we cannot get any more help. And the nearest Alliance marshals are, we have been told, on the other side of the planet dealing with a pirate nest. We are on our own."
Elgyn breathes slow and even. "How many strong are this Devon's forces?"
"His gang has grown year after year. Last year, he came with a score of men and women. The year before, it was a dozen. This year, it is perhaps two dozen.
Elgyn considers the odds. "Well armed, with mounts?" he queries.
Amodini nods. "A mix of horses and mules, and they are armed well enough not to have any fear of what we might be capable of."
Elgyn purses his lips. "Tell me, Amodini -- because I'm sure my Captain would ask -- if we were to help you, what is it that you would have us do?" he murmurs gently.
Amodini nods quietly to Elgyn. "We cannot ask you to fight for us. We have... as much as I regret it, I regret what Devon has taken from us and what advantage he may yet take again of us, but we have started to put aside the teachings of our faith to preserve that faith for our future, and have tried to fight back against him. That has not worked. We cannot learn years of fighting in even a short time. And so we ask for your help in fighting him. As teachers and cadre and, if you can, then to fight alongside us. We cannot ask others to fight for us -- if nothing else, that is hypocrisy, and our hands do not remain bloodless just by asking someone else to fight for us."
Elgyn inclines his head in appreciation of Amodini's situation. "These bandits... I don't suppose you know where their lair is? What is the nearby terrain like?"
She shakes her head. "That we don't know. The surrounding terrain is mostly somewhat mountainous with several trails. The village occupies a central locale within the bowl. It is easy to defend, I am told, but it dissuades exploration and examination from us -- until now, that is."
Elgyn nods gravely... that would make things harder. He knows he works best in forest surroundings rather than mountain ranges. But it is not untenable. "Do you think an attack is imminent, or are they still hiding out? Understand... we do have other commitments to keep. We would not be able to aid you indeterminately, were we to do so," he adds quickly.
She nods. "We understand. You have not made any sort of commitment. And we do believe he will attack. He promised he would be back again for this year, and he had always kept such promises."
Elgyn nods thoughtfully. "Let us suppose, Ma'am, that we do help you... but the bandits are not squashed outright. Some of them -- this Devon, for example -- escape. Or not even that: let us suppose instead that we quell them entirely. What about the future? Do you plan to yet cleave to your ways? And if you do... what if bandits rise again in one form or another?"
Amodini is quiet for a few moments, then sighs. "Once I would have wanted us to go back to our ways before Devon came to us. Pacifism and non-violence. But I know that once we cross this line that we face, the line of defending ourselves, there will ultimately be no going back. Once I would have believed that we would suffer what the world subjects us to, thinking that the worst that would happen is that we died." She pauses again, then says with quiet fury, "But what Devon has taught us is that there is worse that can happen than to be killed. And though it hurts, the village has decided that we cannot just let the worst of the worlds happen to us and to our children any longer. Or ever, for that matter. So we will try to find meaning in our new situation once Devon and his brigands are gone, all the while trying to protect ourselves from others like him."
Elgyn listens quietly to the old woman speak, his expression solemn. It almost makes him sad... that they must give up their desire to live in a world free of violence, so that they might live at all. But it was likely a horrifying experience... not only to be killed by these jackals, but to watch more of them die because they no longer had the resources to support themselves entirely. He nods approvingly then, by the end of her speech. "Your bravery becomes you, Amodini. It is not easy to put aside a way of living," he murmurs, knowing the truth of that himself." He pauses, then adds, "I will bring your request to my captain and crew. But before I do, I would ask one more thing: do you have the name of the surviving deputy that once fought with you?"
Amodini glowers to herself. "It is no courage to not say, 'I will not kill today' in the morning," she says softly. "It is necessity. As for the surviving deputy, yes... it was Deputy Lisbet Gorner."
Elgyn's eyebrows knit, but he does not respond to her self-turned anger. "Thank you again for coming, all of you. I will contact you soon," he informs them. He would not give them false hope: though he wants to help, it is not yet a sure thing -- which is not to say that he will not work his hardest to encourage Raj's approval.
Amodini relaxes some, and looks somewhat deflated and emotionally exhausted. She nods, bowing to Elgyn. "Even if nothing comes of it," she says, "thank you for your time and for listening to us."
Elgyn inclines his head in return, and is about to retreat to the ship when he has a thought. "How many are there left of your people?" he asks gently.
Amodini says, "Before Devon came five years ago, there were one hundred and seventeen. After five years of depredations, and last year's... 'punishment' of us, there are seventy-three. Some of them left us on their own, though. They did not wish to stay, and of course we would not stop them. Perhaps ten to fifteen left that way."
Elgyn is actually heartened by this report. Though in part it depends on their condition, in numbers at least the rebels are far outnumbered. The Jains are also untrained and do not have sufficient weapons... but it is something at least. He bids them farewell and goes inside to think as he checks with Molly to make sure the ship will be secure and running smoothly in his absence.
Once Molly confirms that things are shiny with the ship, Elgyn goes into town. The sheriff's office isn't hard to find -- Triumph has only a single sheriff, and thus normally will have several tiers of deputies. The docks have a large deputy force, with a rather solid-looking deputy-house. These aren't federales, so there's no profusion of purple-alloy armor and repeaters. The Triumph deputies are dressed almost casually. Elgyn enters the somewhat busy deputy-house and the desk-sergeant at the front looks up almost tiredly. "What can we do for you, friend," he asks absently, continuing his paperwork.
Elgyn rests his hands casually on the counter. "I'm hoping to find one of your deputies, sir," he intones respectfully. "Would you happen to have one 'Lisbet Gorner' still in your employ?"
The desk-sergeant looks up curiously. "Aye, Deputy Lisbet's still on duty. She's due to come back from her beat soon, actually, if you want to wait for her. What's this in relation to?"
Elgyn smiles grimly. "I'm told she's the only survivor of the massacre about a year ago against a group of bandits. I'm hoping she'd be willing to talk about it."
The desk sergeant makes a deep sound. "Gotcha. Aye, she was part of that mess. Not sure if she'll talk about it, we lost a lot of good folk then. Hey. I'd heard that the Jains are back in town this year. You're not thinkin' of helpin' them, are you?
Elgyn blinks, curious at this response. "Why not?" he queries, not giving an answer one way or the other.
"Jus' wondering. It wasn't a pretty sight. Lot of us girls weren't keen on helping them again once we heard they were back, but as it is we don't have the numbers to help."
Elgyn folds his arms across his chest. "What makes them so tough?" he queries, wondering if this fellow can shed some light on them. "For what I've heard there aren't more than two dozen of them. And it's hard to believe that bandits are better armed and trained than you and your, ah... girls."
The desk sergeant smiles a bit. "Maybe not better armed -- they're armed at least as good as us, though. Longarms, multibores, autolocks, a few repeaters, at least one prismlock. But they're brutal. They don't show quarter and they have ways of makin' a person wish for death. And they know tactics and they know the lay of the land."
Elgyn looks startled. Repeaters would be odd enough... but a prismlock? That changes everything. A prismlock could do serious damage to the ship without even trying. He suddenly wonders if he can get Solbiort to change her mind about using the ship's weapons. "If they're so good, why do they stay where they are? It sounds to me like they should be able to take on more than a town full of pacifists."
"Oh, they do. They rove all along that stretch of the outback. There are about half a dozen communities they terrorize or harass. The Jains are their favorite, though. They get enough food from them to last them through the winter. They're a menace, but as I said we just haven't had the manpower to sally out from the docks and take them out. And the feds always have different priorities."
Elgyn nods slowly, troubled by the sergeant's words. Things are much different than expected. "I don't suppose you know anything about this 'Devon' that's supposed to be leading them?" he queries as he continues to ponder the realities of this situation.
The sergeant scowls. "A right hundan he is. Some say he's ex-Indep military, deserted before the war broke out. Others say he's ex-'Liance. Either way he's got enough mil-spec trainin' to be dangerous, an' he and his rum lot picked up enough tricks in the outback to be right painful to folks. Also heard it said he likes hurtin' things. Sick sense of humor. Can't speak about that myself, an' all told I don't think Deputy Lisbet'll want to be forthcomin' about that."
Elgyn's eyes get steely. "I don't think I need to know specifics, sergeant. It's enough to say that he is," he mutters in return. Right now he's wishing he could turn in his Blue Sun stocks for one of Solbiort's Colonel's regiments, and stomp Devon and his gang into the mud. But that's not realistic, and he knows it. It's not even realistic that he'd be able to rally some of his own people on Ulundi to help. Even if he could convince them to help, even if they had time, he's not certain those young men could stand up to a war veteran complete with firepower that his people might never have faced in battle.
Behind him the door opens, and Elgyn can hear several sets of booted feet. The desk sergeant glances over Elgyn's shoulder, then nods. "Here she is now. Welcome back, Deputy. This gent'man here was askin' to speak to you."
Elgyn turns to look at the folk who've just entered. "Good day to you." he greets, less chipper than he was when he entered.
The trio of deputies that just entered is dressed much as any other Triumph denizen -- or any typical Fringer, for that matter -- would be, with the addition of sidearms and tin-alloy deputies' stars. Two are nondescript, one male and one female. The center one, though, is more distinctive, if for no other reason than the blue-lensed prosthetic eyepiece that covers what might have been her left eye once. Her face is pretty if a touch plain, and somewhat still- and stony-appearing. Her pale hair is cropped short, while her dark skin is weathered and lined; there's a subtle scarring around the prosthetic eye. She glances to the sergeant, then looks to Elgyn and nods. "Deputy Elizabeth Gorner," she says; her voice is pleasant but a bit atonal. "What can I do for you, Mister...?"
Elgyn expected something like this... first when he was told that Gorner might not want to talk about the bandits, and then again when Devon's 'sick sense of humor' was referred to. But that doesn't change the fact that his blood boils on the sight of the woman's disfigurement. "Deputy," he replies in a slightly clipped tone. "I was hoping I might prevail upon you for further details on the capabilities and tactics of Devon and his jackals," he adds with a little more acid than he intended.
Gorner looks at Elgyn steadily for a few moments, then shrugs one shoulder. It takes Elgyn a moment to realize she'd had a large-bore autolock slung on her back, which she hands to one of the other deputies. "I'll be with you girls in a few minutes," she says simply to them; they nod and head off into the deputy-house as Lisbet looks back at Elgyn. "'Jackals' is 'propriate 'nough. Why for? You thinkin' of headin' off to help the Jains?"
Elgyn wants to put on a brave face. But he's not the 'invincible' young warrior he used to be... and oddly enough, he feels he has less to prove in front of this veteran that doesn't know him from Adam. "I don't know, Deputy. I want to. But hearing tell about them what I've heard so far, I'd be worried I'd be bringing my crew into the same kind of slaughter that you faced. They sound like they're far more hardy and equipped than I expected, for a group that preys on pacifists."
Lisbet makes what could be an approving sound. "They're punks and jackals and hundan," she says, "but they're wily, cunning, and downright evil hundan. They have some good equipment, but the main thing is they don't pull punches. You come after them to arrest 'em, they'll come at you to kill you. They're 'bout as mean and ornery as you can get without being Reavers. Think that's the only thing that'd put the fear of Kali in 'em."
Elgyn looks sour. "I don't have any of those in my back pocket, Deputy... and even if I did, that would be like using a nuclear hand grenade." He holds out a hand then. "Forgive my manners... I'm Elgyn Musere of the Scarlet Chimera. And yes... I invited the Jains to tell me their story, with the hope of convincing my captain to help."
She shakes Elgyn's hand. "Pleased. Well, if you do it, jus' so you know, don't come to the sheriff. Not gonna throw more lives after the ones we lost. We tried helpin' and lost five good deputies. Gonna have to wait till the federales get their purplebellies in gear and scour the badlands."
Elgyn shakes his head. "Wasn't planning on it, ma'am." It's clear what you've lost. "But I am curious... how did you face them? Did you try and fort up in the town, or did you go seeking their stronghold?"
"Forted up. We knew that they'd be coming to the village at some point, and findin' them in the badlands was impossible even with eyes in the sky. They knew the territory just too well. We had maybe an hour's warning that they were ridin' to the village before they showed up on the doorstep and kicked our butts up and down, left, right, and center."
Elgyn nods slowly. "How did they come? Did they just ride in all together, or did they circle around in small groups, attacking the town from different quarters?"
"They seemed to have two groups. One group rode in, the larger one, on horses and land-mules. Tried to parley with them, or they with us -- get us to let them take what they wanted. The other group set up an overwatch that we noticed but couldn't do anything about before it was too late. They're the ones who opened fire first. After that it became close-quarters combat."
Elgyn's brow knit. "Overwatch... how? Do they actually have air craft, or is the town near a cliff or on the side of a mountain?"
The deputy says, "The town is nested between a trio of hills. They had marksmen on two of the hills."
Elgyn shakes his head. "I don't suppose you have any good news, Deputy?" he murmurs with bitter humor.
Lisbet doesn't smirk; her expression is more like one of understanding humor, but not sympathy. "Sure. Devon's gang don't got a ship, so they're far from here."
Elgyn scratches his chin. "Do you think that Devon's the only thing holding together the group? That if he were to die, that the rest would fall apart? Or do you think they're too hardened after all this time?"
"Interestin' idea. Maybe. He's certainly got the charisma to be a leader of 'em. Dunno if any of his lieutenants are up to runnin' the gang, but he's the one who's certainly the main force 'hind 'em."
Elgyn grunts in response. "Deputy, I'd like to say that you've been a great help... I will say I appreciate your frankness and willingness to speak with me on the subject," he finally murmurs. "But there is one detail that tugs at me that I just don't understand."
Lisbet tilts her head to the side. "What detail's that, Mr. Musere?"
"These bandits would seem to have all the cards in that region. They're well armed. They've got horses, mules, sharpshooters, and the will to use them. And they've got an entire town of pacifists in particular that they seem to steal most of their foodstuffs and the like from. Which makes me wonder, then... why don't they just take over the town? Why spend the time and effort to raid it when they could just bend the town to their will entirely, and get far more in reward?"
"Because there are four or five other towns that they like to harass in that part of the outback, an' they're ornery enough that just rulin' somethin' isn't to their likin' -- too borin', I imagine. 'Sides... they've already proved they can take whatever an' whomever they want from the town."
Elgyn turns that over in his mind and finds he can't argue much with that assessment. "I see. Deputy... is there anything else that you can think of that I should know? Helpful things, mind... not that Devon has a penchant for wearing a necklace of ears around his neck, or something similar."
Lisbet smiles, and it definitely doesn't reach her eye. "No, he don't do anythin' like that. Only this, man: if you're thinkin' of takin' on Devon and his gang, you best have Guan Yu on your side. Him, or some mighty luck in the 'Verse. I know he can be beat -- just not by us, not right now. Beyond that, best thing I can suggest is to take him when he's not expectin' it, whenever that might be. An' keep the pressure up on him -- he's milspec but he ain't pro military. He'll break if you don't let up on him." Her smile fades. "An' expect losses."
Elgyn's expression is placid as Lisbet speaks the magic words without knowing that she's done so. Unfortunately, those magic words are not the ones that bring hope. "Thank you again, Deputy," he murmurs, offering his hand, and then heading back to the ship without a backwards glance.
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