"Where do they all get these machines?" Ramirez ground out between clenched teeth.
He kicked in his thrusters, jinking Corvus aside just as a spiked ball the size of his entire Trotmobile slammed into the ground where it had stood a moment before. Ramirez backpedaled his Trot quickly as the spiked ball retracted back into the arm of the bandit Trotmobile. It towered over his own, being twice as tall and colored green and steel; it possessed a spiked ball and a large club as it's arm frames, and the three lights positioned above a jutting steel jaw had earned the machine it's nickname - Triclops.
Ramirez could see the bandit piloting the Triclops grinning evilly in an open cockpit in the lower half of the Trotmobile as he brought it lumbering after him. Off to the side, Vanilla's Earl Grey II had already finished off the Triclops it had been facing and was watching the confrontation. He hadn't been happy when Ramirez had told him that he wanted to face one on his own, but had reluctantly agreed. Fighting in this world seems to require Trotmobiles, and I'll learn how to fight with them without someone holding my hand.
He kicked in his thrusters again as he charged straight at the Triclops. The bandit pilot's eyes went wide with surprise, and Ramirez tried to jink around the massive Trot to get to it's rear - but instead rammed straight into it. He tried to recover Corvus in time, but swore when the giant club swung down and smashed into it before he could.
Ramirez shook his head, dizzied from the impact, then quickly backed his Trotmobile off again. These controls are so slow! I can't react fast enough! Fighting was much easier when he had his sword in hand, or when he was calling on the Moons to cast magic. Controlling this lumbering piece of iron was something else entirely.
He glared at the Triclops through some strands of hair thrown forward over his face, breathing hard; he rolled his fingers off of the control sticks, then gripped them tighter, sparing a quick glance aside at the sword on Corvus' right arm. His eyes slid shut. I trained until my body and mind were one, my sword an extension of myself. He opened his eyes, moving a control and letting Corvus' sword arm rise; he felt his awareness spread to take in the mass of the Trotmobile below and around him. A Trotmobile is a vehicle. Corvus is a weapon.
One more breath. Corvus thrusted forward, speeding under the spiked ball ready to fire. Two slashes, forward and back. Dodge to the side as the club smashed through the air. Slash, slash, slash to the back. Dodge as the Triclops turned to face him. Slash, slash, and slash! The Triclops' torso exploded upward from it's lower half briefly, then smashed down to wrack the entire Trot with an explosion. The bandit hit the ground rolling, and Corvus thrusted forward with sword arm extended--
"Ramirez!" "Stop!"
Ramirez blinked, brought out of the exalted state he'd been in. The bandit let out a cry of terror as the Trotmobile's sword barely missed him, and ran for the nearest woods. The Silvite watched him go as his mind fully returned to himself. He turned his head and saw the Earl Grey standing nearby, Vanilla and Connie staring at him.
For a moment, he felt anger surge. The pirate got away! They cost me my kill! Then he remembered exactly where he was, noted the strange clothing the two wore, saw the fear in Connie's eyes--
Ramirez looked down, unable to meet her gaze. For the first time in many years he felt... ashamed.
"I... I'm sorry... I got caught up..."
He looked back up, saw Vanilla watching him doubtfully. In Connie's eyes... concern. "Are you okay?" she asked.
A stirring at the corners of his mouth. A smile? "I'll be fine," he replied.
"Okay..." She smiled at him. "Come on. Let's head into the city."
--
Vanilla looked around as he walked the Earl Grey II through the gate into Happy Garland. Woah... The street itself was a broad avenue with wide flagstone sidewalks on either side. In the distance, he could make out a cluster of buildings behind a fence, plumes of smoke rising from the stacks on top of them. Off to the left was the massive shape of what looked like a colosseum with bright lights shining up from the inside of it into the evening sky. Dense blocks of stone and brick buildings were visible from their vantage point, and it was obvious they stretched much further.
"This is Happy Garland, the largest city in the country," Connie said, smiling. "We're finally here!" She turned and spoke to both he and Ramirez, pointing into the city. "Park there, by the Lobster Inn."
Ramirez was just as astonished as Vanilla as the two Trotmobiles walked into the city. The streets were filled with auto and Trotmobiles, as well as trucks with fabric shielding their cargo from the elements. There were metal strips running down the center of the street, as well as pairs of wooden poles stretched across the street from each other and connected by a wire elevated above the level of traffic. He puzzled at that, until he saw a lozenge-shaped vehicle run along the metal strips, and used a metal apparatus on top of it to make contact with the wires overhead that, from the occasional sparks that were emitted, transferred electricity to power it. "That's a trolley," Connie replied when he asked.
So they have harnessed electricity, even without a Yellow Moon. Above sections where streets met strange metal devices hung from other wires; they had three lights facing in all four directions, colored red, yellow and green. The vehicles stopped whenever the light facing them was red, but continued on their way when it was green or yellow. Ah! They use those to direct traffic, like those men in the uniforms back in Nefroburg.
Ramirez parked beside the Earl Grey II in a space set just past the sidewalk. After they descended, Connie said, "The others should be inside. C'mon, this way." She hurried around a stone staircase topped with a fancily-wrought iron railing that led to more buildings further back from the street. He and Vanilla followed along and found her waiting at the double doors to a building that held two electric lights on either side of the doorway and held a red sign that read 'Hotel & Bar'. As they approached, she turned to face them. "Welcome to the Lobster Inn." She smiled and continued mock-formally, "Shall we?" They all went inside.
Some things don't change, wherever you go, ran through Ramirez's mind as he looked around at the interior. There were sets of tables and chairs around the room, the tables draped with cloths and a candelabra set in the center. Over to the side was a bar with two men standing behind it, while in the back was a raised wooden stage with instruments set up on it. A woman with blonde hair that splayed out along it's bottom edge in a low-cut purple dress with red belt looked over as they came in. "Hey guys, look," she said, her voice sultry sounding.
Two others looked over, teenagers around Connie and Vanilla's ages. One was heavyset with his black hair in an odd hairstyle, both sides of his head shaved and the hair in the middle slicked upward with it low in the back and projecting upward towards the front. He wore a yellow flannel shirt and brown pants. The other was shorter, with a brown workman's hat worn backwards, glasses, a green flannel jacket and brown pants. "Hey!" the shorter one in green exlaimed. "Connie, you're alright. Thank goodness," the heavyset one in yellow said, his tone relieved.
"Sorry for making you guys worry," Connie replied, her tone abashed, as the three of them walked over to the stage.
"Wasn't there some kind of train accident?" the heavyset one asked. "How'd you get here?"
Connie gestured to Vanilla and Ramirez, saying, "Vanilla, Ramirez and I crossed the Sabbia Desert in their Trotmobiles." At their confused looks at Ramirez, "Vanilla met Ramirez at Vision Ranch."
A quick round of introductions followed; the woman in purple was named Savory, the heavyset one in yellow was Marjoram, and the short one in green was Basil. Ramirez frowned as he tried to get the names and appearances straight.
Before long, though, Basil turned to look at Vanilla and Ramirez, his eyes wide behind his glasses. "You crossed the Sabbia Desert? Are you serious!?"
"I was just trying to help," Vanilla replied. Behind him, Ramirez folded his arms and remained silent.
"There's no need to be modest," Marjoram said. "Connie wouldn't be here without you two."
Connie had been looking around. "Huh? Where's Fennel?"
Savory, Marjoram and Basil exchanged looks. "Uh..." "Well..." "Er..." They hemmed and hawed, looking uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?" Connie asked, looking around at the three of them.
"Fennel's gone," Marjoram replied reluctantly. "He... doesn't really want to play in the band anymore."
"What!?" Connie's eyes went wide with surprise.
"He's been acting up for a while," Basil chimed in, "and when you left--"
"This is all because I went to Nefroburg on my own," Connie half-moaned, looking miserable. She suddenly straightened and nodded firmly. "I'll go talk to him."
Marjoram shook his head. "It won't do much good... We've already tried."
"But... I should apologize, and--"
"Well, he's at the Station Hotel if you really want to," Marjoram said.
"Then I'll be back later," Connie said decisively, nodding. She turned and ran out the doors of the Lobster Inn, the eyes of her bandmates, Vanilla and Ramirez following her.
"Vanilla..." Ramirez and Vanilla turned to watch Savory approach the edge of the stage. "I know we've asked a lot of you, but... Could you keep an eye on Connie?" she asked. "She tends to take things personally."
"I'm concerned too," Vanilla replied, nodding. "Don't worry, I'll help."
"Thanks so much," Savory said. "Take good care of her, okay?"
"Fennel's at the Station Hotel," Marjoram added, "probably in the restaurant. I'll mark it on your map. Let me know if you get lost."
Vanilla hurried out. Ramirez started to follow him, but was stopped when Savory asked, "Ramirez, right? How did you get end up traveling with Connie and Vanilla?"
He paused, watching the doors shut behind Vanilla, then turned and looked at Savory. She was smiling in a friendly enough way, and was a little older than her bandmates, closer to his own age. She had a blue eyes and wore a small pink scarf around her neck, which served to accentuate the low cut of her dress.
Ramirez suppressed a surge of annoyance; it was understandable that she'd be curious about a stranger showing up with two of her friends. "Well, I had just crossed Lake Luminoso when I met Vanilla, who was on his way to see Dr. Nutmeg, and..." He found himself relating the story to her - carefully edited - as Marjoram and Basil set up the band's instruments on the stage.
Savory listened attentively, smiling. After he recounted his story up to the point that he agreed to travel with them to Happy Garland, she tilted her head to the side slightly, considering him. After a bit, she said, "You know, I think I'd like to hear about your trip. ...Maybe over dinner...?"
Ramirez eyed her as he mulled it over. Eventually, he nodded slowly. "Alright, I don't have any plans."
"We have some time before the concert starts," she replied, smiling slightly. "Why don't we go to the Riverside Hotel Restaurant?"
"...Alright."
They left the Lobster Inn and headed through the city in his Trotmobile to the Riverside Hotel, across the street from it's perennial rival, the Station Hotel.
"Ah, welcome," a waiter in a suit with a piece of cloth hanging over his forearm said in greeting as the two of them walked into the open-air restuarant facing the Shrike River. "Madame Savory, how very nice to see you again. I see you have brought a friend. Greetings, monsieur. I have a table ready right over here. Right this way, please."
After they had been seated, they looked at a menu the waiter held out for them. "I will have this," Savory said, pointing at the menu. "With white sauce and vinaigrette."
"Excellent choice, madame," the waiter said, and turned to Ramirez. "And, for the gentleman?"
"I'll have the filet mignon with truffle sauce," he replied after some thought.
"Very good, sir," the waiter replied, bowing slightly.
"So, do tell..." Savory began as the waiter walked away. "How was the desert? I've never been there myself, but I hear it's a pretty rough place."
Ramirez took a sip of the wine in front of him as he thought it over, then replied, "It's a barren wasteland swarming with thieves. The caravan we were guarding was attacked constantly."
"Oh my, that does sound dangerous," Savory said, eyes widened slightly. She smiled as she continued, "I'm glad you're okay. How can they expect decent people to travel without the train, anyway?"
The waiter soon returned with their orders, and the next several minutes were taken up with the sounds of chewing and cutlery. After Ramirez wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin, Savory asked, "Well? How was the food?"
"Delicious," he replied honestly.
"I'm glad you liked it," she replied, smiling. "We should probably get back... The concert will be starting soon." She smiled as they stood from the table, resting a hand on his arm briefly. "This was a lot of fun. Thanks."
Much to his surprise, he realized as they headed back out to his Trotmobile that he'd had a good time as well. The food truly had been excellent, and Savory was good company. She had neither the infuriating greed and snobbiness of Upper City Valuans, nor the pathetic hopelessness of the residents of the Lower City.
When they got back to the Lobster Inn, they found that Connie and Vanilla had returned before them after unsuccessfully trying to get Fennel to rejoin the band. "So who's going to play guitar?" Savory asked.
"I could try," Connie replied.
"Okay, let's start rehearsal then," Marjoram said.
"Wait..." Connie said suddenly. The rest of the band looked at her, confused. "I think Vanilla should try playing with us today," she continued, gesturing to him.
"Whaa!?" Basil exclaimed.
Vanilla rubbed the back of his head. "I'll do it, if you think it will help."
"Sure it will," Marjoram said soothingly. "Don't be so nervous."
"Okay," Savory said, stepping up onto the stage, an edge of urgency in her voice. "Let's start rehearsal."
--
...Let go of all your troubles
Be free of your mind and let it go.
It's funny how things turn around
Just by singing out loud."
Ramirez clapped with the rest of the crowd among the tables as they whistled and applauded when the last notes of the song faded. He got to his feet and approached the stage as the audience started to disperse, chatting excitedly over the performance.
"Whew... I'm glad everything went so well," Basil was saying as he got nearby. He suddenly glanced aside and did a double-take at Vanilla. He suddenly pointed and said, "Huh? ...That pendant is--"
"Huh?" Marjoram also looked over, then started in surprise as he saw it.
"It can't be him," Connie said. "He doesn't remember the pendant at all!"
"Oh yeah," Marjoram said, nodding. "Your memory..."
"But that's definitely Mallow's pendant," Basil insisted. "Maybe this guy knows him?"
"Why don't we discuss this some other time?" Savory cut in, sounding uncomfortable.
"Yeah," Marjoram agreed, "after all, we just had a rocking concert." He turned to Basil and continued, "Your bass was still a little off-tune though, Basil."
"You could tell!?" Basil thought for a second. "I'll ask Dandelion to check it out tomorrow. Any of you guys want to come?"
"I have to book our next gig," Marjoram said, bringing a hand to his chin as he began thinking it over.
"Sorry, I got a previous engagement," Savory said.
"...Connie?" Basil asked.
"I'm sorry, Basil," she replied, bringing her hands up. "I still need to brush up on guitar."
"What about you?" Basil asked as he turned to face Vanilla.
There was a short pause, then Marjoram chimed in, "Someone needs to go--there's been a lot of robberies near Dandelion's lately. Basil's Trotmobile hasn't worked right since Nefroburg. Could you give him a lift?"
As Vanilla started to open his mouth, Ramirez cut him off. "I'll take him there," he said. The Globetrotters looked over as Ramirez stepped up onto the stage.
"You will?" Marjoram said in surprise, then nodded. "Thanks a lot."
"Aww! I could have handled it myself, y'know!" Basil said irritably.
"It's not worth taking chances, Basil," Savory said.
Basil looked at Savory and immediately stopped grumbling. Ramirez hid a smirk as he saw the look in the young bassist's eyes. If that isn't a serious crush, I've never seen one. I should know after seeing Belleza around Lord Galcian...
He watched as the Garland Globetrotters, now including Vanilla, headed upstairs to their rooms. Dandelion... Perhaps I'll learn something when I go there with Basil tomorrow.