Mid‑morning, and a small Kasai aircraft lands deep inside the Midorioka, fifty miles from the last known location of the Absolution. Two vehicles, an ATV and a motortrike, speed down the lowered embarkation ramp and head deeper into the grasslands, the aircraft taking off moments later. The ATV drops back to allow the trike to take the lead, following off to the side just a few feet behind.

An hour later, both riders pull up behind a grassy knoll, kill the engines, dismount, and scramble to the top of the knoll, remaining in cover as much as possible.

"Well, there it is," Danny confirms. "The Absolution."

"It's the same ship we saw in Jade Creek last year," Hanna realises.

"When I was here with Kaede, we were in and out with little trouble," Danny informs. "There were some robot mooks, but nothing we hadn't already faced on Tenshijima."

"Ah, a mild warm‑up," Hanna smiles.

"We're not here to eliminate Brevon," Danny reminds. "We're only here to assess his combat forces."

"Y'know, if we did take him out, we'd be saving Avalice a whole lot of trouble in the future," Hanna theorises.

"You're not one‑upping Lilac," Danny insists. "The last thing we want to do is kickstart another war."

"I know," Hanna accepts. "Recon only. After all, he was humiliated by three children: he'll be prepared for anything."

Danny looks through his binoculars. "I don't see any mooks this time."

"Shame," Hanna confirms, looking through her own binoculars. "Was looking forward to a bit of exercise. Come on, let's get this over with."

On the bridge, Brevon watches the two Scarves approach on the security camera. "Hmm… This is interesting," he thinks aloud. "One of those three from before has returned, and he's brought a new friend with him."

++Shall I kill them for you?++ Syntax asks.

"No," Brevon decides. "Let them board and have a sniff around. Then, just as they're about to leave, we'll say 'Hello'. How are your new extensible tentacles functioning?"

++Perfectly.++

"Excellent. Time for a test run."

Hanna and Danny arrive at the bottom of the open boarding ramp at the back of the Absolution.

"He's expecting us," Hanna concludes.

"Will that stop you?" Danny asks.

Hanna answers by walking confidently up the boarding ramp.

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Danny thinks aloud, following Hanna into the ship.

Once inside the ship, Hanna heads straight to a narrow pillar about two‑thirds her height, on top of which sits a pair of nunchaku made from materials she has never seen before. Curious, she picks them up, and is surprised to find they weigh almost nothing, especially when compared to her standard wooden set.

"Hanna, we're here for recon, not shopping," Danny hisses.

"Hey, Brevon!" Hanna suddenly yells. "I'm in your spaceship, touching your shit!"

"Hanna!" Danny snaps. "We're meant to be stealthy!"

"And I told you he's expecting us," Hanna reminds. "Why be stealthy when he already knows we're here?"

Danny makes to object, but stops himself when he realises Hanna's right. "Fine. I just hope we haven't walked into a trap."

"We have walked into a trap," Hanna confirms, casually tossing the lightweight nunchaku to one side and walking further into the ship.

"Great," Danny replies sarcastically.

"Stop worrying," Hanna instructs. "If Brevon wanted us dead, do you think he'd let is board his ship so easily?"

"I guess not," Danny admits. "But why let us on at all?"

"Because he wants to talk," Hanna concludes. "Isn't that right, Brevon?"

The boarding ramp clangs shut, causing Danny to jump in surprise.

"You don't scare me," Hanna states defiantly. "That pissant dragon whipped your arse soundly a year ago, and she's just a kid. Me, I'm a Red Scarf Veteran, one of the best, an elite warrior, and a far greater threat to you than she ever will be. Show yourself, Brevon. Or do you prefer Bando now?"

"'Brevon' will suffice," a deep voice booms from the open cockpit.

Suddenly, both Hanna and Danny find themselves wrapped shoulder‑to‑ankle by constricting steel tentacles. Unable to break free or even move, they're both lifted helplessly from the floor by Syntax.

++I have them secure,++ Syntax informs Brevon.

A gargantuan shadow fills the cockpit door. "Excellent," Brevon acknowledges as he strides towards the captive Scarves.

"Let me go or I'll… I'll…" Hanna begins, tailing off as Brevon gets closer, revealing his true size. "OK… You're a lot bigger than I thought you'd be," she adds meekly, her earlier confidence having deserted her.

"Why are you here?" Brevon asks, his calm voice hiding a terrible potency.

"We just wanted to say 'Hi'," Hanna lies.

"You're here to assess my military capability," Brevon guesses.

"That too," Hanna admits. "But since it looks like just you and your… robot squid thing, how about you let us go, and we'll leave you alone, yeah?"

"I had anticipated my presence in this area would become known eventually," Brevon continues. "I had expected it to take longer, however."

"Does that mean you're going elsewhere?" Hanna asks.

"You talk too much," Brevon decides, signalling to Syntax.

"I do have a bit of a‑" Hanna begins, only to be silenced by Syntax inserting the end of the tentacle wrapping the vixen into her mouth.

"That's better," Brevon smiles, sending a shiver up Hanna's spine, the vixen only able to emit a muffled gargle in response. "Now, where was I?" Brevon continues. "Ah yes. You're here to recon my military capability. I'm afraid that it is a wasted journey: I have no army to speak of, and indeed intend to travel elsewhere to continue my research. Yes, I have a few robots guarding my ship, but that's all. Less now since your last visit," he finishes, looking at Danny.

"You have the Shade Virus," Danny states.

"That is correct, my dear badger," Brevon confirms. "Both the strain I gave to that pika friend of yours, and the one I let her steal from me."

"Kaede Himura is not my friend, and never will be," Danny corrects. "Also, why?"

"I needed someone to field‑test my creations," Brevon explains. "I would go into details, but that would spoil the surprise. I will however confirm that both strains performed admirably."

"Whatever you're planning, you won't get away with it," Danny states defiantly.

Brevon smiles slightly, sending a shiver up Danny's spine. "If I was in your position, I wouldn't be making idle threats."

"It's not a threat," Danny corrects. "It's a promise."

"She was just as foolhardy as you," Brevon recalls, referring to Sash Lilac. "And it so nearly got her and her friends killed. One day, it will get them killed, and so many more besides. But that day is still to come. Right now, I need to decide what to do with you two."

"Killing us won't achieve anything," Danny states.

"Agreed, which is why you both shall live," Brevon decides. "I was going to give you a gift before you leave, but unfortunately, I cannot spare any on insignificant insects such as yourselves."

"You're just going to let us go?" Danny asks, not quite able to believe it.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Brevon confirms. "Syntax, pack them in a crate and toss it off the ship."

As Brevon retreats to the cockpit, Syntax bundles Hanna and Danny into a storage crate just big enough to hold them both, seals it shut, then tosses it down the reopened boarding ramp. The crate bounces hard several times before hitting the ground and rolling several feet, coming to a rest upside‑down. From the cockpit, Brevon closes the boarding ramp, then takes off and flies into the distance, disappearing over the horizon.

"That went well," Danny comments.

"Danny, if you value our friendship, you'll move your hand this instant," Hanna demands.

"I would, but I can't move," Danny informs.

"Bullshit." Hanna tries to shuffle into a more comfortable position, only to very quickly realise she is also completely unable to move. "On second thoughts, that's a good excuse."

"Especially as you'll be using it too," Danny comments.

"Or we could simply not tell Rob and Sally," Hanna suggests.

"Who do you think will be coming to rescue us?" Danny asks.

"Fuck."

"At least we have air."

"Yay."

Four hours later, a Kasai aircraft lands close to the inverted crate. Rob and Sally disembark as soon as the boarding ramp touches down, sprint over to the crate, and work together to right it. It takes several attempts, but they eventually get the crate on its side. Rob then prises the lid off with a crowbar.

"About fucking time!" Hanna snaps, squinting hard in the sudden light. "Get me the fuck outta here!"

"I could use a hand too," Danny adds.

"You're gonna need a bigger crowbar," Sally quips to Rob.

"I see," Rob smirks, noticing how inadvertently intimate Hanna and Danny currently are.

"A pretty compromising position they're in," Sally observes, unable to resist the opportunity to take a photograph.

"Not by choice," Danny affirms.

"I know," Sally smirks.

"Rob, I swear to the Ancients, if you don't get me out of this crate in the next five seconds, I'm divorcing you!" Hanna growls.

"Shall we get them out?" Rob asks Sally.

"We probably should," Sally agrees, yet neither move.

Hanna takes as deep a breath as she is able. "Please get me out of here," she asks calmly.

"There we go," Rob smiles.

It takes a fair bit of effort, but a few moments later, Rob and Sally successfully pull Hanna and Danny free of the crate.

"Feel better?" Rob asks.

"I have terminal paraesthesia," Hanna replies, rolling stiffy onto her back, her arms and legs limp.

"A bit over‑dramatic, no?" Rob teases.

"A bit," Hanna admits. "Gonna be a while before I can walk properly though."

"Let's get you on the aircraft," Rob decides.