Lost in Transit

10

^^ Helen's Tribute to Yeera ^^

"Wow... gone native that quickly, hmm?" Rhea was the first to react to my reappearance, staring at the armor with a raised eyebrow.

"It offers some good protection, actually, from anything except guns, which, unfortunately, seem to exist here." I tossed Helen the rifle, and she examined it carefully while I placed the pistol and the ammunition next to her.

"It's a very odd invention, that's true... it seems like thermite is used to create an instantaneous expansion, replicating gunpowder ignition... and this crystal, I'll look at it under a microscope... it's definitely Silicon, but it's Metallic, and Pure... it matches the description you gave for that little crystal you took from that Slime..." she explained as she mused aloud.

"So the original owner was using magic stones as an accelerant, but the other idiots just sent a fireball made of thermite in there as a replacement... Interesting. Hey, Medea, how are you going with that Sonic experiment I asked about?" I looked at the girl wrapped in four different jackets and a blanket, smirking. She was from Florida, and she didn't like the cold not one bit.

She nodded, speaking quietly. "Going well... the emitters can't go past certain megahertz yet... but Helen is tuning one of them for me. Why?"

"Just checking up on you, there's no rush, my dear." I smiled gently, and she nodded, cuddling back into her pile of warmth.

"So what happened?" Clark asked, looking thoroughly confused.

"Hmm? Ah, sorry, Update! I found out that the Artists that were killed were ordered dead, a Hit was put out on them, and I took the money from the hit from the attacker's; it was, of course, an anonymous contract. And I think I know why; it had nothing to do with us at all, so we can rest easy about that part. These weapons were developed by one of the Artists who was killed." I nodded to the rifle.

"Hm. Corporate Espionage, even here, huh?" Helen clicked her tongue, muttering softly in Cantonese. "Zhè jiù shì wô lí kāi xiāng gâng de yuán yīn..."

"And I did speak to Luna's Chief, and a Branch Clan of the White Cliff Crafting Clan will be moving here, as well as the Red Band that was tricked by the Attackers." I added.

"Is that safe?" Johann asked simply. (His English had improved markedly since coming here and working with James all day.)

"They were uninvolved in what happened, and were misled by their Chieftain, who was actually the one who sent the Attackers without their knowledge. He even double-crossed them and tried to make them lose the battle, so that all the potential enemies in his clan would be dead or crippled. He was a piece of shit, no doubt, and they kicked him out once it was all out in the open." I nodded.

"But is it Safe?" He insisted.

"I believe it is, yes." I answered directly, which I knew was what he wanted.

"Hmm... Alright. We will be Wary of them, but welcoming, if you think that's best. Having more hands in the Forge would not be amiss." He nodded seriously.

"Thank you. Also, I took part in the Battle, the Challenge, and gained a lot of useful information; the Challenges, even the ones between full Clans, are largely non-lethal. Killing your enemies outright is generally not the way it goes, because, and I quote, 'it would be a horrendous waste of life otherwise'. I like it here, as much as going home would be preferable for most of us." I chuckled, and took a seat after unbuckling the plate armor from my chest, allowing my breasts to breath instead of being compressed under the armor.

Cassidy smirked at me, apparently in on some sort of joke I wasn't aware of, and then hummed. "And did you get any vegetables? Or alcohol?"

I paused, and then slowly rubbed my face. "No. No I did not, and I'm sorry for forgetting... but! The clans moving here will be planting crops around the rivers that lead away from our lake, so the lack of food diversity will soon be fixed! Also, Kindle will be bringing us some food, black dirt, and vegetables, as well as armor and weapons, and she's already been paid, so there's nothing to worry about on that front!" I grinned at having solved the issue in the long-term.