Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

It had been a week since the tavern meeting. Oaklee had been planning intently for their little piracy cruise. The long days and nights of charts, equations, time tables and general strategizing had started to wear on her. Even with her super computer of a brain, the Ai felt like she had reached capacity. It made sense though. What they were trying to accomplish was considered by most to be impossible. It would take expert cooperation, impeccable timing and an immense amount of luck to pull of what Oaklee devised as the ultimate heist. The two rested the night before, watching a show about polar bears that Oaklee had been wanting to check out.

"You know they used to be white?" Oaklee chimed in. She sat next to Seiko in holographic form.

"They had to adapt to their new climate, or they would have died out. I wonder if they miss all the ice, or if they prefer how things are now in the forest. What do you think?" she asked Seiko.

"I think they just think about surviving. Their life was one way but now it isn't." He said flatly.

"I kind of feel like our roles are reversed here. That's the kind of answer an Ai would give." Oaklee laughed, settling next to Seiko as they continued to watch.

The next morning, the adventurers met up at the docks. Seiko and Oaklee were the first to arrive, followed by Shinobu and then Hendricks and his Ai, Marquis. There was a tangible giddiness/dread to the crew as they walked together to the docks. Oaklee took point, chartering a ship that would suit their needs for the journey. After she had finished, Hendricks approached tentatively. He brought to her attention his uncertainties about the mission.

"I fully trust in your theory of how this plan should work, but would you mind sharing just a tad more of the details before we do this?"

The Ai locked eyes with Hendricks. He felt a twinge of nervousness as her golden irises seemed to peer into his soul. She only relented when she saw him start to squirm. Oaklee grinned, clapped him on the shoulder.

"We are going to be raiding a merchant ship as I mentioned. But we won't be there to take any of the gold or trade goods on board." She said.

Seiko was amused by Hendrick's confused reaction. Unlike them, he was more accustomed to Oaklee's theatrical tendencies. As she continued to explain what they were after and what each of their roles were, the party became more hopeful of their success. However, Hendricks still felt unsure about at least one part of the mission.

"With his current equipment, I'm just not sure that our Ranger here will be able to keep up. No offense but without top tier items like Shinobu has, He might not be able to handle this type of engagement."

Another pointed stare from Oaklee caught the bard like a thrown dagger but before she could rebuttal, it was Shinobu that spoke up.

"You don't have an accurate image of what Seiko can do. As I remember it, you went down before he got as chance to show off. Trust me, he can handle it."

With that, Hendricks resigned to the others' judgement. Seiko felt a bit more nervous after the exchange. He didn't want to be a burden or be the reason the mission failed. However, he couldn't back out now and at the very least, he believed in Oaklee. If she thought, he was strong enough then he would trust her judgement. The team boarded their small vessel, set their course and set sail on the open seas.

A few hours in to travel, Shinobu joined Seiko who was sitting near the stern on a big barrel. She seemed calm, which put his nerves at ease as well. The two of them sat quietly, looking out at the shimmering blue waves. It was incredibly peaceful on the sea, a powerful reminder of just how beautiful the Ether could be when things weren't exploding or trying to kill you.