Vox Machina Book 3: Heroes Become Legend

Chapter 14: Always Festers Always Blacken

"Welcome to your factory."

She states with pride as they walk down the catwalk "A production line powered by a magnificent battery that combines the arcanum of Cabal's Ruin, steam locomotion, and Whitestone residuum." she announces as they stood before the power battery that kept everything running.

She looks over at the prince that was held a gunpoint, "All inspired by your design." she informs, Percy's eyes widen for a moment before glaring at her. "So this is what you've been up to. Apart from decimating my home." he growls.

"I did you a favor." she states, walking up behind him her hand trailing on his shoulder, his eyes trailing after her, with that glint of hate. "You always despised your noble duties." she retorts.

The glint became a spark, "How dare you--" he shouts as she steps away and held out an orb before him, "and once my delirium gas tears through the minds of your friends, you'll be free of all obligation." she informs as the orb powers on and shows him how the rest of the party was withering on the ground in pain.

"A clean slate for our partnership." she informs as his friends were clutching their heads and whimpering in fear, but his eyes were lock on Vex as she was the last thing he saw before the orb's images fades away. His eyes widen for a moment before snapping to Ripley.

His hands lock onto the collar of her shirt and yanks her right at him, "After Whitestone, you're mad if you think I'll have anything to do with you." he snarls as the mercenaries just lock in their aim him.

Then the power battery hums with power as it drew his attention for a moment, a flair of light sets off and pulls out a soft pulse of air that brushes right through them.

Percy braced himself from the blast as Ripley wasn't bothered. "A minor inconvenience. I had to improvise when I realized the Plate was a fake." she informs as she looks over at the plate that was laying off on the side.

"The only issue is the power surge, once an hour, like clockwork." she informs as it was an irritation. But it was something that never interrupted progress.

Percy walk towards the steaming pipes, the mercenaries aim their weapons, but Ripley stops them and watches as Percy kneels before the pipes and turns the valve, calming down the steaming.

Ripley chuckles as she watches Percy work, "Look at yourself. Always trying to solve it." she states walking before walking behind him.

"Way do you fight this, Percy? The thrill of discovery, the ambition... this is who you are." she declares, Percy looks away from his shoulder. "I've changed. I'm rid of Orthax now." he assures.

But the black mist lingers from Ripley, catching his attention as he stood and faces his demon.

"A costly on your part. But this partnership is unbreakable."

Orthax declares as he reappears behind Ripley. "When we found each other, I didn't resist like you. I welcome the insight, the clarity, the power. I accepted who I am. And I am s much stronger for it." she informs.

"Now Orthax will receive the souls of those slain by your weapons." she informs as the demon appears over the weapons and the illuminate with his orange like his eyes. "And in return, everyone will have power of their own." she spoke.

As they both stood over the railing as they look down at the weapons, "And it will be up to them how to they use it." she spoke leaning against the railing.

"But at what cost? Your soul?" Percy asks, this only angered Ripley as she turns to him, pulling off the railing as the smoke ripples from her body "Mages took both our families away. That thirst before payback, it's not why Orthax was drawn to us-- its why we were drawn to Orthax." she declares.