The legislacerator and her pretend captive stumbled through the doors of the spaceport, exhausted. They didn't even have time to catch their breath before a gunshot rang out and something on the ceiling exploded.

"It's just one thing after a-fucking-nother today, isn't it?" Karkat complained, panting. Terezi brandished her cane, quickly sliding off the end to reveal a dangerous-looking blade. No longer using it as a walking stick, it seemed like she might fall over. It was pretty obvious neither of them would be in any shape to fight if it came to that.

Terezi grabbed the shoulder of the nearest troll who wasn't running in circles screaming. It happened to be a yellowblood, taller than her, who had an almost pleased look on his face right before he saw her. "What's going on here?" she asked him.

"Pirate attack! They've dethtroyed all the ships…but I gueth it juth delayth my inthtallation. Well, at leatht this way I get to thay goodbye to my matethprit…"

"Wait a minute," Terezi said. "Any psionic who has at least one concupiscent quadrant filled can't be forced to become a helmsman right now. The psionic population is too low this sweep."

"I…I didn't know that."

It certainly smelled like the truth. "I think you can go h-"

"Will you two assholes just shut up? We're being attacked by grubfucking pirates, and you're just standing there jabbering on about the legal system!"

Terezi was about to retort that no one was attacking anyone at the moment, but just then there was another gunshot, followed by a few shrieks of terror, and the crowd in front of them began to part.

"Could it be? I think it is!"

Terezi squinted, although it certainly didn't help her hear. That voice was maddeningly familiar. People scrambled away and the source of the exclamation made her way towards them. It was a tall ceruleanblood, dressed almost to the nines in gold jewelry with hair down to her waist. She was noticeably shirtless under her extravagant topcoat, which had one sleeve torn off for no apparent reason.

Terezi growled. "Vriska Serket. I should have known."

"Well, well. Looks like our little neophyte is all grown up."

"Spare me the blackflirting, Serket. I'm here to transport a fugitive." That wasn't a lie.

"As if I would want to!" Vriska scoffed. "And besiiiiiiiides, I already have a kismesis, and he's much more detestable than you. Speaking of him…" She paused to shout over her shoulder, "Taaaaaaaavros! What's taking you so long?"

The troll in question rolled into view in a wheelchair. He was lanky with well-muscled arms, but something about his expression suggested fragility. The long curved horns on the sides of his head had wide slits cut through his hood to accommodate them. "Uhhh…s-shut up, Vriska," he stuttered, "I can only go so fast."

As soon as he was within range, she leaned down to pull him into a rough kiss, full of teeth. When she pulled away, there was a streak of brown blood on her lips, which she licked at thoughtfully.

"For the love of fuck," Karkat exclaimed, "will one of you nooksniffers please kindly explain this ceaselessly imbecilic situation before my fucking thinkpan implodes?"

Terezi sheathed her swordcane with remarkable swiftness and rapped him on the head with it. "Hush, criminal." She flashed her short, sharp teeth in a grin.

"Awwwwwwww," Vriska said mockingly, "has the little legislacerator got herself a plaything?"

Terezi spat in disgust, and Karkat bristled at the way she said that word.

"I would never."

"Ha ha ha ha. I don't beliiiiiiiieve you."'

"Uh…"

"Seriously WHAT THE FUCK."

There was a strange silence for a moment, then Vriska said, "Well, this is just pathetic. Are you going to arrest me or whaaaaaaaat?" She rolled her eyes.

"I'm afraid I have more important things to do right now." Terezi tapped her cane on the floor impatiently.

"It's, uh, it's not like you can really go anywhere…"

"Because the only ship left undemolished in this miserable little spaceport is ours."