The end of the beginning

Rechiza tried to suppress her anger at the soldier, but it was not easy. Since that… The Accident, she had not been able to fully accept her condition, though it wasn't the loss of eyes that hurt her the most. Her eyesight ... Well, these implants had some advantages. She saw with a previously unknown depth and tenderness. However, her view angle was narrower and she did not perceive colors naturaly. She recognized colors but couldn't see them normally, so the world was gray and colorless to her. However, that was not the biggest problem. The implant had an artificial intelligence whose goals and objectives she could not define. She felt as if her eyes were telling her to notice certain things and they almost burned into her memory. But that didn't bother her, she was much more worried that they might have hidden certain things from her that were crucial to her work.

But in terms of eyesight, hers capabilities had improved. The loss of telepathy and the Lashuntian senses hurted a lot more. She felt as if someone had taken a piece of her soul from her, as if she had been torn from the world forever. No non-lashunta, with the possible exception of the Shiren, understood the pain, and at the same time it was their closeness that caused her the most sufering. Knowing that they could so easily touch the minds of other beings, and she was cut off forever... Perhaps she could somehow recreate their abilities through technological implants, but decided not to try. The risk was too great.

The problem was that about a quarter of the people of Saltmarsh were Shirens, mostly living on hydroponic farms or catching those damned flies. The rest of the population were Vesks, mainly those expelled from Veskarium or unable to cope with its strict, militaristic society. The same was true of the surprisingly large population of the local drow who preferred to live on that ball of salt rather than die on the Apostate.

Saltmarsh was colonized about a hundred years ago. Although due to the increase in sun activity, large tracts of land became deserts, and many seas turned into salt marshes ... The basis of the ecosystems were huge swarms of flies, butterflies and dragonflies, mostly eating algae growing in salt waters. The living conditions here were not easy, but compared to such an Akiton, not to mention Eox or Aukturn, it was quite a pleasant place. It was not the natural conditions that prevented the sapient beings from further colonizing the planet, but the fear of the unnamed menace lurking in the ravaged zone. Expeditions sent there usually disappeared without a trace. The few who returned told stories of white demons, or the lord of the seven heavens, or someone who dispersed the shadows. Most had no idea what was really going on there. In this universe full of demons and devils, anything was possible. Rechiza, however, knew the truth… which looked worse than one might imagine.

They came to a hotel, the most luxurious on the planet, which in a place like this meant that there would be no vermin here and no one would rob them. Mainly because the owner probably paid of the most dangerous gang in the city or was even a member of it. The building had eight floors, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city. At the reception desk a exaggerated polite drow waited an exaggeration, and the entrance was guarded by two menacing-looking Vesks. Dilayla smiled as she studied the bar, but Rechiza snorted. She avoided all kinds of stimulants, not counting herbal teas. Her job required an absolutely clear mind. After all, the enemy could be lurking absolutely anywhere. A girl with white hair, almond-shaped eyes, wearing gloves and glasses for the deaf, was waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. When she saw them, she waved at them and spoke in sign language.

- Hello! I'm Rosie Pearl! Everyone is already upstairs - translated the electronic translator wearing gloves.

Rechiza sighed. She hoped she would have some time to freshen up after the long journey and take a normal bath instead of the marineshower she'd had in recent weeks. She was used to discomfort, which didn't mean she liked it. Arkan must have already found a place where there is a bathhouse and he will sneak out to use it unnoticed, and Dilalyla has probably already had that one nasty, wet day of the year behind her. She laughed at this unintentional ambiguity. The half-elf scowled at her as if she understood what the Lashunti laughed at.

As they entered the double suite they had rented for them, they were greeted by a tall blonde girl, or rather a young woman, who hugged each of them, though Dilayla almost pushed her away. She was surprisingly strong for someone brought up in luxury.

- Hello! I am Lady Cala Grayskull from Carurystal. There is my teacher and homeroom teacher, Mrs. Daisy, - she pointed to an armchair in the corner of the room. An elf about forty years of her race sat on it. She had dark green hair and gray skin. She drank her tea thoughtfully, but when she saw them, she said.

- I am glad to meet my companions of such a wonderful journey ... - she said grimly.

Ysoka was standing in the doorway to the neighboring apartment, looking as if her life goal was to get rid of as many biological organs as possible. When she saw Rosie, she called out to her.

- Where have you been? We have so many boxes to open and my intern is wandering around somewhere!

- I do not hang around, but welcome rest of travel companions. And why do we have to open these boxes when we're going to be leaving anyway. - Rosie said.

Ysoka tapped the cybernetic eye.

- You are an intern and it is your responsibility to do what your employer tells you to do! - She crossed her arms over her chest and then, seeing the guests, ran to Miss Daisy and took the kettle with the cutlery from her.

- Please, take it, don't be shy, - said the elf resignedly.

- I'm Dr. Qin, and the other one is Rosie Pearl, - Ysoka said as she poured a cup for them and began to sprinkle sugar.

- And you asked if I wanted tea? - Dilayla snapped and sat down in the armchair, glaring at the other

-I don't want tea either, - Lashunti said, and sat a bit to the side to keep an eye on everyone. Only Arkan accepted a treat in the form of tea or more corectly sugar syrup with tea flavour.

- So the ladies got to the hotel ahead of us? -Verthani asked smiling gently.

- The ship is too damaged to repair it anyway, maybe I can sell the parts before departure. Without this, we have sixteen thousand credits for private expenses. Two times more if I can sell the ship parts well, - Cal said.

- A lot to drink, but the money will end quickly if we buy the right equipment. You probably don't know the prices of weapons, do you? - Dilayla asked with her perpetually sour expression.

- You took enough weapons to win a smal war anyway, so don't whine. - Rechiza said, carefully examining the apartment in which they will spend the next few days. Most of the furniture was imported, and although it was of fairly good quality, it showed signs of wear and was completely randomly selected. The windows were tight, which was to protect the members of the household against daily flies, which could theoretically lead to death by suffocation. There was a screen on the wall that was protected against breaking by an additional glass.

- I would like to remind you that we are flying to a place where the inhabitants were deliberately trying to destroy half of the known universe. In such a situation, there is no such thing as enough weapons. Dr. Qin said.

Miss Daisy smiled indulgently.

- If the inhabitants of that planet had weapons that could destroy worlds on such a scale, i doubt whatever you find on Saltmarsh or anywhere else will matter. - She said grimly.

Rechiza listened to her with one ear, because there was something strange in the face of the gray-skinned elf. As if her face had smeared, pixelated. It looked as if she was wearing a holographic mask.

- In my opinion, you always have to be ready for anything, just as a matter of principle. - the Lashunti replied, looking at the elf. "Do not trust anyone"'