Disclaimer: Just in case you weren't paying attention in the first two chapters: NOT MINE! Outlaw Star people are NOT MINE! Right? Right.
Short chapter this time, but it fits in what needs fitting in. Also, I'm dreading waking up Aisha 'cos I'm probably going to mischaracterise her horrendously.
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Drax Elite molTare Erda:
Back on the Outlaw Star, I filled Suzuka in on the situation. Melfina was listening in as well from the confines of her column. I had left Jim and Gene at the hospital with Aisha, having ascertained that the combination of Ctarl-Ctarl healing and decent hospital equipment would have the young lady back on her feet within days.
'And I'm afraid that simple assassination won't suffice for this bloke - the finger I shot off of him was regrowing even before I left, and I'm sure he's got some tricks up his sleeve.'
Suzuka looked puzzled.
'If he's dead, regeneration won't be a problem, surely? Nothing can heal death.'
I shook my head. The number of places I've been, I've seen some hefty tech, and death can be healed.
'Have you ever heard of the Boardies? I'm a member of their Fleet from time to time... they developed a system some months ago known as the REsidual SPirit Advance-Warning Node or RESPAWN, which can bring people back to life. All memories intact, all equipment still with, the whole works. If he's got one of those in the bowels of his facility somewhere, killing him won't help at all.'
Suzuka was unconvinced. It was easy to tell.
'I'm not convinced. If that's so, why not just bust into the place and blow it up?'
'It won't be that simple. That Eya has an evil empire at his disposal the extent of which would impress even the Boardies...and besides, anyone with the firepower readily to hand to down a Type-7 Feltariate with a single shot needs dealing with carefully. Even the four of you together wouldn't be able to sort him out without significant losses, and losses in this situation are unacceptable.'
'I still don't like skulking. And what do you mean by Type-7 whatever?'
'Supernatural entities. Type seven refers to the general classifiacation of 'werewolf' or similar - anything that can shift forms to increase strength, dexterity and so on - under which the Ctarl-Ctarl race in general and Aisha specifically falls. Generally accepted as the third most powerful type, after Types One - deities - and Two - greater demons. Look, I don't have time to give you the full dossier. Just accept that for now a confrontation is unadvisable, until we find out something more about him; his organisation; and his intentions. Then we do whatever's necessary.
'Above all, it's essential that he doesn't know the crew of the Outlaw Star are investigating him - all he knows at present is that he killed a catgirl and that an armoured individual stole the body from him, and I'd like to keep it that way. He has sufficient power and influence to inconvenience us all very badly, both directly and indirectly, and so if we lose the element of surprise we could all be in severe tro-'
Gene Starwind chose that moment to reenter the ship, grinning triumphantly.
'It's not a problem at all! I went down there just now and sorted him...'
I closed my eyes in gloomy prophecy of what was coming next.
'...with a caster shell.'
Hell. Bloody, bloody hell.
Short chapter this time, but it fits in what needs fitting in. Also, I'm dreading waking up Aisha 'cos I'm probably going to mischaracterise her horrendously.
**************************
Drax Elite molTare Erda:
Back on the Outlaw Star, I filled Suzuka in on the situation. Melfina was listening in as well from the confines of her column. I had left Jim and Gene at the hospital with Aisha, having ascertained that the combination of Ctarl-Ctarl healing and decent hospital equipment would have the young lady back on her feet within days.
'And I'm afraid that simple assassination won't suffice for this bloke - the finger I shot off of him was regrowing even before I left, and I'm sure he's got some tricks up his sleeve.'
Suzuka looked puzzled.
'If he's dead, regeneration won't be a problem, surely? Nothing can heal death.'
I shook my head. The number of places I've been, I've seen some hefty tech, and death can be healed.
'Have you ever heard of the Boardies? I'm a member of their Fleet from time to time... they developed a system some months ago known as the REsidual SPirit Advance-Warning Node or RESPAWN, which can bring people back to life. All memories intact, all equipment still with, the whole works. If he's got one of those in the bowels of his facility somewhere, killing him won't help at all.'
Suzuka was unconvinced. It was easy to tell.
'I'm not convinced. If that's so, why not just bust into the place and blow it up?'
'It won't be that simple. That Eya has an evil empire at his disposal the extent of which would impress even the Boardies...and besides, anyone with the firepower readily to hand to down a Type-7 Feltariate with a single shot needs dealing with carefully. Even the four of you together wouldn't be able to sort him out without significant losses, and losses in this situation are unacceptable.'
'I still don't like skulking. And what do you mean by Type-7 whatever?'
'Supernatural entities. Type seven refers to the general classifiacation of 'werewolf' or similar - anything that can shift forms to increase strength, dexterity and so on - under which the Ctarl-Ctarl race in general and Aisha specifically falls. Generally accepted as the third most powerful type, after Types One - deities - and Two - greater demons. Look, I don't have time to give you the full dossier. Just accept that for now a confrontation is unadvisable, until we find out something more about him; his organisation; and his intentions. Then we do whatever's necessary.
'Above all, it's essential that he doesn't know the crew of the Outlaw Star are investigating him - all he knows at present is that he killed a catgirl and that an armoured individual stole the body from him, and I'd like to keep it that way. He has sufficient power and influence to inconvenience us all very badly, both directly and indirectly, and so if we lose the element of surprise we could all be in severe tro-'
Gene Starwind chose that moment to reenter the ship, grinning triumphantly.
'It's not a problem at all! I went down there just now and sorted him...'
I closed my eyes in gloomy prophecy of what was coming next.
'...with a caster shell.'
Hell. Bloody, bloody hell.