Lunar Conspiracy

Superstition

Tava waited for a response to her warning that Kartk and his group should watch out for the last pirate group.  The radio clicked like he had opened the link, but he didn't say anything.  Instead, Tava heard a strange voice, distant and a little unclear.  Tava managed to make out the words anyways.

"Drop your weapons or he dies."

The hair on the back of her neck raised.  She quickly made an about face and started striding back the way they had come, determined to catch up to Kartk and provide backup before anyone was killed.  She barked over her shoulder at the soldiers looking confused and Yggdrasil fluctuating between a worried olive color and his usual vivid green.

"Move out!"

Then she was racing down the tunnels.

~ ~ ~

Kartk froze as the pistol tapped against the back of his helmet and a rough voice growled.  "Drop your weapons or he dies."  His eyes flicked up to the four others of his group, watching them carefully.  His breath caught when Garrett and Valco started to raise their weapons, disregarding the threat.

Then he let it back out as Jornea slapped Valco's gun down and stepped into Garrett's line of fire.  It appeared she, at least, didn't want to get into a fire fight over his dead body.  She had already holstered her twin pistols in favor of digging through the treasures in the chamber.  A wide brimmed feathered hat in her hands went twirling around her finger in apparent ease however.

"How do we know you won't just shoot him if we drop our weapons?  Pirate's aren't exactly known for their honesty.  No offense."

Kartk identified at least four individuals behind him when they laughed at her words.  The one holding a gun to his head answered.  "I'll swear it then.  On my life."

Jornea barked a laugh, startling them into complete silence.  "Your life?!  I wouldn't trust that even if my life depended on it."  She grinned, raising her free hand up to the face shield of her environmental suit helmet to tap over her mouth.  "Hmm.  No.  Let's pick something you'll actually honor."

She abruptly snapped her fingers, though it didn't make much noise through the gloves.  "I got it!  Swear on the Queen of Pirates herself.  Swear to Ignatia."  She whipped the hat up and plopped it on top of her helmet, cocking it at a jaunty angle.  It looked ridiculous perched on top of her helmet.  If she had been wearing her usual civilian clothes it might have suited her.  The Pirates did not appear amused at her image however.  Instead, they were shifting with unease.

"It can't be.  It's not possible!"  The leader cut off the mutters with a harsh growl.  "Don't you speak her name!"

Jornea only grinned.  Kartk noted the way her fingers lightly caressed her pistols and swallowed, hoping she wasn't about to do something reckless.  Then prepared himself for it anyways, knowing her better than that by now.

"Swear it then.  Swear none of us will be harmed should we drop our weapons."  A silence stretched, during which Jornea's grin only grew.  She abruptly shrugged.  "Alright then."  Her pistols whipped up, one sending a bolt whizzing by Kartk's ear while the other continued up, shooting out the light above the door and showering the Pirates with sparks.

Kartk whirled, dropping the radio in his hand to whip out his sword.  He took the one step required to close the distance between him and the nearest Pirate, slashing the strangely shaped humanoid down.  Another fell under his blade while the other three were dropped by bolts from behind him.

For a tense moment he took a moment to breathe, then a clatter of boots down the hall had him turning to meet the charge.  He huffed in relief as Tava and her group came charging around the corner and slid his blade away.  Tava did a quick check around to make sure everyone was alive and in one piece.