A/N; Time for the meat of the tutorial area. Underlined dialogue is a direct quote from the game, some I just can't fudge when the writing is already there. Honestly all my playing of the game gives me serious Tsundere vibes from Lae'zel so I'm going to run with the concept.

The pair moved towards the door, a door that in Xander's opinion looked way to organic to truly be called a door. Placing a hand on the fleshy orifice Xander felt a small tingle in the back of his head before the door dilated open to reveal a multi leveled room with what appeared to be work tables in the same organic engineering as the previous room.

An almost tinny voice touched his mind and he noticed Neville looking around for the source. Placing a hand on his companion's arm Xander said, "Don't, these things are highly skilled in mental manipulation. I think it's based on distance, so don't go towards a voice in your head."

"What if it's a person though?" Neville asked.

"Based on the bodies on those slabs over there," Xander said pointing towards a dissected goblin corpse, "I don't think we are going to find anyone in this room. I think we were in the holding cells. I won't trust any telepathic voices though, not with these things in our heads."

Neville gave a shaky nod before moving forward with wand raised to cover Xander's back. Xander carefully moved through the room towards a section of the craft that showed open blackened sky. In the sky they could see small winged forms flying around, along with the red dragon that had torched the room earlier. Blasts of some purple energy flew across the sky that the dragon weaved out of the way of.

As the sky cleared of witnesses the pair began to make their way onto the damaged walkway when instinct caused Xander to pause and motion for Neville to wait. Looking back Xander caught motion above and he watched as a feminine form, with the yellowish green skin shearing ornate armor leaped high over head and twisted midair to land facing him with a sword raised to strike.

"Abomination. This is your end," the being said.

Both Neville and Xander winced and brought hands to head as they were assaulted with images: the wings of red dragons, a silver sword, and the disorienting sight of their own face as seen through the being's, a githyanki, eyes.

The gith held her own head as she said, "My head. What is this…ngh. Tsk'va. You are no thrall - Vlaakith blesses me this day! Together we might survive."

Xander shook his head clear and took a moment to see if he could grasp the history of the blade the githyanki held as she began to sheath the blade on her back. He wasn't able to glean much information, partially because of inexperience, but also because it's manufacture was more of a mass production than what he was used to. He did get the name of its current wielded though, Lae'zel.

Shaking the last of the tingles clear Xander asked "What made you think I was a thrall?"

Lae'zel answered angrily, "We carry mindflayer parasites. Unless we escape - unless we are cleansed - our bodies and minds will be tainted and twisted. Within days, we will be ghaik. Mind flayers."

Neville spoke up, "We are turning into mind flayers? Those creatures with the tentacles for mouths? There must be something we can do!"

The gith made a sharp motion with her hand and said, "We can do nothing until we escape- that must be our priority."

Motioning further into the ship ahead Lae'zel pointed out the next obstacle they faced. A quartet of the small red creatures were feasting on bodies in the only path forward as she said, "First, we exterminate the imps. Then we find the helm and take control of the ship."

Drawing her sword once more Lae'zel charged into the room shouting, "Htak'a!"

Xander shook his head while he thought that a stealthy first strike would have been a better idea, let alone getting some idea of what the two of them could do before she rushed in. Rushing through the steps of tracing as fast as he could Xander caught Neville's voice say, "Petrificus Totalus!"

A burst of light leapt from the tip of his wand to strike the imp Lae'zel was charging at as it began to raise it's hands, fire gathering around it's claws. When the light struck the beast froze in place, seemingly unable to move. Lae'zel didn't hesitate and swept her sword across in an economical cut that removed the beasts head. Xander's hand filled with a simple, yet powerful recurve bow he had originally made as a test for his instructors not even a week prior. Instead of a simple arrow though a strip of iron appeared in his hand and began to shift into the shaft with metal veins instead of fletching and a tri-bladed head. Drawing a deep breath Xander called on the instruction Archer had given him. Loosing the string Xander began forming another arrow from the cold iron he was projecting. He didn't know if it mattered, but he did remember that cold iron and silver were supposed to be deterrents to demonic creatures back on Earth.

Lae'zel seemed to sense the arrow coming as she didn't so much as twitch or guard herself as she rushed past the imp that had taken the arrow through it's eye moments before she reached it. She was already running down the next closest one. The problem was that the fourth imp was able to act and had a double handful of fire at the ready before he threw it at Xander. Before he could think to take cover Xander's vision was filled with the back of Neville's robes before the teen dropped to a knee with a raised wand and a shout of "Protego!"

A translucent cerulean shield appeared in front of the pair that absorbed the blast of fire. Xander calmly drew back the shaft of the iron arrow before letting it loose to take the imp in the chest, the arrow driving all the way through to stick into the floor behind it.

Xander let the bow fade back into motes of magic as Lae'zel struck down the last imp. Rolling his shoulder Xander winced a bit. He hadn't quite gotten the hang of reinforcing his body along with the simultaneous tracing of weapon and ammunition, and the draw weight needed to fling a solid iron arrow was pretty high. The githyanki looked back to the pair and commented, "You were more impressive than i expected bowman. Boy, do you know no magics that would have killed the imps?"

Neville shook his head and replied, "The instruction in my school has been a little strange the past few years. Most of the spells I know won't do damage directly, at least not at that range. The ones I know I can cast will be more along the lines of distractions than direct damage."

Xander patted him on the shoulder as he moved forward saying, "Never underestimate crowd control. One of the greatest tacticians in our history said 'All warfare is deception,' or something like that. It's easy to defend against an obvious threat."

The githyanki woman considered that for a moment before she nodded, "I still think it is idiotic to go into battle without the ability to deal damage."

Xander shrugged and said, "Anything can be made into a weapon if you are willing to think outside the box. Imagine if he used that spell to keep someone still right as they were jumping over a hole."

Lae'zel nodded and said, "There are thralls scattered amongst the room. We should check them for weapons for you as relying on your magic alone is a great way to die if you can't create a weapon fast enough."

Xander nodded and helped her to search the bodies before he claimed a pair of short straight blades for himself. Neville moved past the bodies looking a little green around the gills at the gore. Xander lowered his voice and said to Lae'zel, "Go easy on the kid if you can. I don't think he's had much exposure to this level of violence. Our people are usually still studying lore at his age rather than much in the way of combat."

"I won't coddle him, if he dies he wasn't strong enough to survive," Lae'zel responded, but also in a low voice.

"I'm not asking you to, just don't expect the response you would get from a warrior culture. He doesn't seem like one to back down from a challenge, but also not someone with much experience," Xander said.

"You are not much older than him if i understand humans correctly," she replied.

"No, but I've spent almost a year and a half learning to face things that are at least four times faster and stronger than myself. My home is on a dimensional weak point that attracts trouble, so violence isn't something I'm unused to now. I'll hold up my end," Xander said.

Lae'zel seemed to consider his words before nodding, "He didn't hesitate, that is good enough for now, and a wizard brings options steel does not."

Xander used some salvaged leather, and a touch of alteration magecraft to rig a harness for his new swords that let them rest against his lower back so he could draw them downwards as opposed to over his shoulder. He hoped he could reach Archer's level of tracing to recreate swords mid swing, but that would require more time to practice.

The pair joined Neville and continued forward, using an exposed section of organic strands tho ascend to one of the upper decks of the ship.

Through another orifice door they found themselves in a less damaged section of the ship filled with the same organic metal engineering that seemed to make up the entire vessel. Four angled slabs, two occupied with bodies that showed clear evidence of experimentation, surrounded a central pillar that seemed to be filled with a red glowing fluid. In front of that was a strange console with writing that made Xander's brain hurt. A banging sound from the side of the room brought Xander's attention to one of the pods he had been trapped in, this one occupied by a dark haired woman who was aware and beating on the glass.

Moving over to the capsule the woman shouted loud enough for him to hear her words, "You! Get me out of this damn thing!"

Lae'zel made a negative motion with her hand and said, "We have no time for stragglers."

Resting a hand on the capsule Xander murmured, "Trace on."

A spike of pain shot through his head as he tried to understand the alien technology. It was different from anything he had seen before, though it was made by mortal hands rather than the divine. He was able to push through the pain and could sense that the pod was locked down, but connected somehow to a console a few feet away that was powered down. Moving towards that console Xander attempted to use his Structural Grasp spell to understand it. He was giving himself a migraine trying to understand the inner workings of the console but was able to feel that a security rune inserted would reactivate the console. A moment of focus on that part of the device allowed him to project a facsimile of the control rune and the console hummed to life. Xander placed his hand on the console and felt it thrum with something that was reminiscent of a heartbeat.

As he was touching the console he felt a squirming sensation from his skull, like the parasite was moving. As the discomfort faded he could feel another sensation, connection to the console and authority. A focus of will and he felt the console accept the command to open the pod. As he did that though he felt a pleased and sated sensation from within. "Worse than the bloody Hyena, at least that was straightforward," he muttered.

Turning he saw the pod open and the dark haired woman dressed in a dark tunic and breeches fall out. Xander could see the slightly pointed ears of one with elven blood as he got closer. As she stood she said, "I thought that damn thing was going to be my coffin. Thank you."

Another mental lurch struck him, similar to when he encountered Lae'zel earlier. He could feel her gratitude and wariness of the gith that traveled with them.

"You keep dangerous company," she said.

Xander smirked, "It's good to have dangerous company when your in trouble."

The woman smiled and replied, "Fair point. Looks like there's plenty of fighting ahead. Let me come with you. We can get off this ship, and watch each other's backs along the way."

Xander nodded and said, "Works for me. I'm Xander, this is Neville."

The woman introduced herself, "Shadowheart, one moment…"

Lae'zel introduced herself as they watched the half-elf dig through a nearby pack before tucking a strange geometric object into her tunic. Before Xander could ask what it was Lae'zel interrupted, "Finally. Let us make for the helm - we've wasted enough time already."

Shadowheart motioned towards a nearby door, "That leads to another section of the ship. I saw some of the thrall's take various bags that direction. I think it's the gear of the captives. Armor would be a good thing to have when we go into a fight."

Lae'zel was about to speak when Xander cut her off, "A few minutes to arm the rest of us shouldn't be a problem. It would be better than failing to take the helm because of a lucky blow."

"The ghaik do not use conventional weapons. Armor will not stop an attack on your mind," Lae'zel said.

"No, but they also use telekinetic force, and armor will help with impacts. Not to mention if they have Thralls with conventional weapons," Xander argued.

The githyanki huffed but didn't argue further. The group moved towards the door, only to stop as they witnessed the scuttling form of what looked like an oversized brain on bone-like limbs moving back and forth. Neville said, "It seems distracted. It feels like the voice I heard earlier, but also like it doesn't know what it should be doing."

Xander said, "Keep an eye on it, but don't attack it. If it's not focused on us it might think we are under the mindflayer's control. Let's grab the gear and get to the helm."

As they entered the room they found another pod with an elderly woman within and clear power lines to a nearby console. Above the screen on that console was a sigil of what Xander assumed was the illithid language. The difference now was that after having grasped the earlier console he felt like he understood it. If he was right the marking was labeled as 'Perfection.' "Stay clear of that console, I don't think it's going to open up. If I understand this correctly she's on the cusp of changing into one of them."

Shaking his head, anger at the injustice of the situation rising in him Xander moved to the racks of containers he found in the back of the room. Each was filled with clothing, bags, armor, and weapons. After a few minutes of searching he found a set of leathers that would fit and a bow that was in decent condition. It wouldn't fire the iron shafted arrows without being reinforced, but there was enough standard ammunition that he wouldn't be helpless if it didn't take special equipment to fight. Shadowheart was nearby strapping on a set of armor that had a combination of larger rigid plates over the major points and metal scales where flexibility was needed. She also claimed a shield and a long handled mace. Lae'zel was keeping watch, but Neville was the odd one as he was pulling out a heavier robe like coat of a red leather that resembled snake skin. At Xander's inquiring look Neville answered, "My father's Auror coat. It's enchanted with protections and some utilities that makes it more comfortable. My grandmother insisted I wear it to honor him when the Fixer gave me a new wand since he would need his back."

"And he won't need the coat?" Xander asked.

Neville shook his head, "He's been in the care of healers for over a decade after being tortured. He won't be able to rejoin the corps until he fully recovers. Hopefully I'll make it back by then."

Xander caught an approving look from the githyanki that she quickly hid when she caught him looking. Xander simply smirked as he stood and said, "Everyone grab an empty bag, we don't know where we will end up if we can land this thing, and it never hurts to have something to carry supplies in."

As they moved towards the other hallway they had bypassed when gearing up Lae'zel spoke up, "We are nearing the helm. Once inside, do as I say."

Shadowheart said with a bit of heat to her voice, "Who put you in charge? I'll trust my own judgement."

The gith woman spat out, "Kainyank."

The quartet looked to each other and after confirming they were all ready, triggered the door before rushing in weapons and wand at the ready. When they entered the saw a red skinned humanoid with dark hair, horns, and large reptilian wings swing a flaming sword at a mindflayer who seemed to drift out of the way before retaliating. Further past this fight near what seemed like the command deck another illithid seemed to appear from nowhere behind another demonic figure. That illithid's tentacles wrapped around the demon's throat before he bit into the back of its head with blood splattering over its face. As it dropped the corpse a small flight of imps dove down and raked their claws against its face and neck, making it fall in a pool of its own blood. Blasts of psionic energy, and the swings of a large fiery sword drew their attention back to the first fight as the imps began to circle back around. The mindflayer knocked his opponent back with a wave of psionic force before facing the group and an imperious mental voice commanded, -Thrall. Connect the nerves of the transponder. We must escape. Now."

Lae'zel raised her blade in preparation to charge through the oncoming imps as she said, -"Do it. We will deal with the ghaik after we escape."

Not having any argument to the plan Xander followed behind the two women who were rushing forward with melee weapons. As he swiftly drew and loosed arrows at the airborne imps his muttering was punctuated by the twang of the bowstring, "Just like high school. Follow an aggressive female against demonic forces, without any plans, and hope not to die."

Neville's voice from beside him came in between quick incantations of pseudo-Latin, "I really need to introduce you to Harry if you consider this normal. He seems to think he's the only one with a crappy school experience."

Xander drew one of his swords to block a diving imps strike before Neville's quick petrifying spell allowed him to kill it before he answered as he resheathed the blade, "Sounds like an idea. I'll get your phone number before we head back."

"What's a phone?" Neville asked.

Xander was so stumped by the question he almost failed to loose an arrow at the diving imps, before quickly refocusing, "That's a conversation for later."

While they were conversing the group was circling around the fight between the illithid and what was obviously one of the demonic leaders. Xander didn't recognize the type from any of Giles's books, but that didn't mean much here. As they reached the command console they found what looked like tentacles stretched floor to ceiling, with strange pseudopods connecting different tentacles together. There was one pair of tentacles that looked like they had been dislodged. Those must be the transponder. Xander turned back to the fighting pair and considered a course of action. He knew he could hold a grudge, but he also knew that leaving this enemy behind them would be a capital b Bad idea. "Shadowheart, Neville, cover me for a minute. Lae'zel, see if you can figure out how that works."

"What are you planning?" came Lae'zel's angry voice.

"A little revenge for our passengers," Xander said grimly.

He dropped the looted bow and traced the one he had developed based on Archer's black bow. Then he concentrated on what he wanted to create. At its core it was a sword of folded cold iron and silver. As the arrow formed he focused on the concept of kinetic force and could picture the sonic disruption caused by something moving at high velocities. He tried to implant those concepts into the sword-arrow. He also focused on not letting this creature infect any other person with those damnable worms. He could feel his arm steaming where his circuits were beginning to overheat. The concept crystallized in his mind's eye and he added the lightning of his earlier weapon to the concept as well, channeling the speed and striking power of a lightning bolt into the arrow. He could feel the crackling energy and smelled burning hair as he opened his eyes to see electricity crawling along the shaft of the arrow he aimed towards the embattle pair. Tendrils of the crackling energy kissed his arms leaving minor burns that he ignored as he took aim.

A moment later Xander saw the mind flayer dodge a thrust of the sword and then drive its tentacles into the eyes of its foe. The demonic foe slumped to the ground, blood leaking from the eye sockets and ears. The illithid turned and began to float towards them, it's mental voice saying, "I have no need of you,"

Its monologue was interrupted by Xander releasing the string of the bow, the electrified arrow launching with a crack of displaced air and shattering bow. It almost seemed like a beam of electricity flowed from his hands to the illithid's torso before a hole the size of a basketball replaced its chest, charring and smoke around the edges. The arrow impacted the back of the bridge causing a cascade of explosions to begin as a roar came from the side of the bridge.

Xander turned to see the dragon from before latch onto the bridge and he shouted, "Lae'zel now!."

Just as the dragon drew in a breath Lae'zel pulled the two tentacles together and Xander's stomach fell out as the world… shifted.