Lunar Conspiracy

Strange Encounters

Jornea smacked Kartk's shoulder when he started to try and cover up the band of silver around his neck. "Don't!"

His hands paused, still not quite ready to leave it alone as he snapped back.  "Nobody wants to jump into bed with a slave."

Jornea glared at him. "And you expect to be wearing a scarf to bed? Maybe that the person you pull into the alley for a quickie isn't going to touch your neck when they kiss you?" She shook her head and continued to lead him, pushing her way through the door of a club and aiming for the bar. "Leave it out. It'll avoid awkwardness later.  Now, I need to know your tastes in bed partners and drink.  A little liquid courage will do you some good."

~ ~ ~

Tava stepped out of the Guild building and looked around the market place.  The sun had begun to go down, but the streets were hardly emptying.  In fact, it was beginning to look more like a carnival.  Colored lights lit up the stalls and vendors were switching wares from useful items to baubles and trinkets.

She aimed for Athena, keeping an eye out for members of her crew.  She didn't expect to see any of them in the dense crowd, so she was a little startled when she spotted Li'Coby traipsing along.  Behind the horned creature came the winged form of Quorra.  The both of them were a little too far to catch, so she continued on, almost making it to the edge of the market place and out onto the pier.

"Tava!"

She skidded to a halt when she heard her name called and looked back.  Her eyes quickly scanned the crowd until she spotted the green form of Yggdrasil with Kit on his shoulder.  Kit had the skeletal version of a new prosthetic arm slung across his shoulder.  He slid down off of Yggdrasil's shoulder and waved the arm at her as he trotted closer.

"Whatdy'a think?"

Tava smiled.  "Looks like it'll give me another hand to work with.  Thanks Kit.  When should we install it?"

Kit bared his teeth in a grin.  "Temper your engines Captain.  This is just the frame work.  I'm building it from the ground up so we don't have to worry about shorts or faulty connections.  And I think I can make this one stronger than the last one too."

Tava raised a brow.  "You found everything you need for that?"

Kit nodded.  "I could find everything to give you a hand cannon if you wanted?"  The eager gleam in the Kitsunes yellow eyes made Tava believe he would greatly enjoy turning a simple prosthetic into a high powered weapon.

"Maybe next time I need an upgrade.  For right now, I just want two working hands."  Kit shrugged and trotted past her to get back on Athena.  Tava smiled at Yggdrasil.  "How about you?  Find everything you need?"

Yggdrasil nodded, lightly patting the bag hanging over one hip.  "Indeed.  I believe my endeavors were just as fruitful as-"

Tava blinked when Yggdrasil abruptly went still as a statue, his green eyes narrowing in concentration.  "Doc?"

Yggdrasil's eyes slid closed and he took in a breath, then all at once, his eyes flashed open as his skin went a dark green and razor sharp thorns exploded from his back.  Tava staggered back in surprise, trying to make sense of the abrupt physical change in the pleasant doctor and the scream of agony ripping through the night.

Yggdrasil ignored her, taking a quick step forward with a shudder as the thorns retreated back into his flesh.  She could see them disappearing without a trace as he turned to face the slight man that had been impaled.  The doctor quickly reached out and grasped the man's shirt before he could topple to the ground, holding the man off the ground with one hand.  His other casually plucked the pistol from the man's grasp and passed it back to Tava.