Lunar Conspiracy

The Market Planet

"Jornea. Come to the engine room." Kit's voice came over the ship-wide speakers with a good deal of irritation. Tava barely registered it. It wasn't uncommon for Kit to be in a bad mood. It certainly wasn't strange for him to want Jornea around.

It wasn't until a little later when Jornea's voice came over the speakers that she gave the com a strange look. "Kartk. Would you be a dear and join us in the engine room please?" Tava switched over to auto-pilot and slipped out of her seat to go see what was going on.

Jornea was more likely to call on Kartk but not to the engine room. Which meant she was probably calling on Kit's behalf. Tava wasn't sure if Kartk would answer those summons. He had become tolerant of the two perhaps, but that didn't mean he was ready to jump at whatever they needed.

Tava strode into the engine room and looked around. She raised a brow when she spotted Kartk's big form near the back and moved in that direction. "What's going on?"

Li'Coby swung around with a happy trill to grin at Tava, but didn't attempt an explanation.  Jornea's head popped around one of the bigger pieces of equipment that Tava couldn't have named if her life depended on it. Kartk twisted to look over one shoulder, revealing Kit wedged into a small crevice. Jornea grinned as she greeted her captain. "Hey Tava. Check it out! They're working together and they haven't bitten off each others heads yet."

Kartk rolled his eyes and turned back to shoving his arm into the crevice. "I'm still waiting for him to bite me."

Kit's muffled voice echoed out of the crevice. "There! That's it. Pull on this." Kartk's shoulders strained and he rocked his body weight into whatever Kit was having him pull on. There was a pause, then Kit spoke again. "Let go."

Kartk released and stepped back. Kit dusted his paws together as he peered at whatever they had accomplished and then wiggled out. He reached for Jornea when she offered him a hand and she swung him out and down to the floor.

"That should do it." His ears flicked back when Jornea tapped him between the ears and gave him an expectant look. One side of his mouth pulled back in a sneer before he sighed and turned to face Kartk. The Kitsune gave the large man a short bow. "Thank you for your assistance." Then he turned tail and disappeared into a tangle of wires.  Li'Coby hurried after the Kitsune with a clipping of hooves.

Jornea grinned in triumph and slid around Tava with a little shimmy of victory. Kartk just shook his head with a small smile.  "Did you need something?"

Tava shook her head and turned to follow Jornea back up to the bridge.  The pilot's limp was almost gone and her bruises had faded to the barest of markings.  Tava glanced over her shoulder as Kartk trailed along behind and smiled.  "I was just curious what would have Jornea calling you down to the engine room for.  I'm glad to see you three are starting to get along."

Kartk grimaced.  "More like tolerating each other."

Jornea put a little spring in her step, apparently excited.  "We should be approaching Herrick in a bit.  Can I put her down?"

Tava sighed, smirking a little.  "Fine.  But try to remember you should still be taking it easy and healing."

Jornea whirled around to give a mocking salute as she skipped backwards, then she was spinning forward again and hurrying off.  Tava could only shake her head and follow along.  She slid into the captains seat as Jornea took her place and took Athena off of auto pilot.  It wasn't long at all before she was skimming down beneath the atmosphere.  Tava eyed the pilot when she cocked her head.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to check out the merc's or the assassins first, but it looks like they've relocated."

Tava got a look out the shield as Jornea picked out a place to land and frowned at the sea of black covering almost a quarter of the planet.  "What is that?  It's not water is it?"