The first mate turned to face the girl that approached him. It was surprising running into someone already, given he and Varren hadn't reached the town yet. [color=darkorange]"Yeah, that's our ship,"[/color] Weston answered, crossing his arms over his chest. [color=darkorange]"The solar rails finally gave out and the aura generator hasn't turned on in years. We coasted for miles to make it here and survive."[/color] Weston motioned for the girl to follow him as he continued walking toward Krukow. [color=darkorange]"Would you happen to know any mechanics or people who know a thing or two about generators?"[/color] he asked as the party exited the woods and began crossing a grassy field. [color=darkorange]"I can pay, though sadly not much. Thankfully it isn't a rush job."[/color] As the three walked through the field, Weston stopped and looked to his left as if he heard something. For a few seconds he continued staring at the ground several meters away but soon relented and continued walking. [color=darkorange]"As I was saying, we aren't under any pressure to-"[/color] The sound of a distant gunshot echoed across the field. It was hard to hear, given the distance from Krukow, but the low ambience let it carry easily. Weston paused when he heard it and looked to Katherine. [color=darkorange]"That came from the town,"[/color] he commented. [color=darkorange]"Is everything okay here?"[/color] --- The assistant with thick glasses fell over, grabbing his side. The gun in his hand clattered to the floor harmlessly. The other Rift Hunters around the square looked on in shock, surprised to see the assistant try to attack the Crucible officers. Lieutenant Armstrong stood over the assistant menacingly, cracking his knuckles. The captain began to chuckle, bringing his attention back to Vladmir. [color=teal]"That was rather foolish. I can't believe anyone would be stupid enough to try and shoot me,"[/color] Storm taunted. The mayor's expression began to contort in anger. He was livid. [color=teal]"Looks like we have a volunteer. Lieutenant, finish him."[/color] The Rift Hunters began shouting in complaint, some even stepping closer to the weapon pile with the idea of preparing a surprise attack. The scary Lieutenant grabbed the assistant by his head with one hand, lifting him entirely off the ground before standing him upright. Apparently that itself was painful too, as the bespectacled man winced when he was lifted. Now that his target was standing, Armstrong brought both his fists together at the man's neck. Blood leaked from the man's lips as he made a wheezing sound. When he hit the floor his glasses bounced off his head and landed almost perfectly on top of the gun her dropped earlier. The crowd drew silent, surprised to see a man killed right before them in such a simple and brutal fashion. [color=teal]"Men, take positions."[/color] The soldiers behind the captain and lieutenant fanned out across the town square, creating a circle around the crowd of Rift Hunters and aiming the rifles towards them. [color=teal]"If any of you have any hidden weapons, I'd throw them on the ground if I were you. Wouldn't want to find out what happens to people who have knives or guns on them..."[/color] [color=olivedrab]"We have already gathered all of the town's weapons."[/color] The two officers looked surprised to see the mayor speak up so suddenly. His expression didn't hide his feelings either, and the captain raised an eyebrow. [color=teal]"Is that so? I hope you don't mind a thorough search for illegal items then if you're so confident. Most of my men are already doing that."[/color] A vein began throbbing on Vladmir's forehead now. [color=olivedrab]"We have done everything we could to keep this peaceful. Already you are breaking into our homes... killing our people..."[/color] His gaze went down to the fallen assistant nearby. [color=olivedrab]"This isn't an annexation. You're getting your kicks out of our misery."[/color] The devilish smirk vanished from Storm's face. Instead, he now looked offended. Then furious. The short man shaped his right hand like a pistol and pointed it towards the mayor. [color=teal]"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that very well. That almost sounded to me like you were insulting me..."[/color] --- Aubrey rushed after Emery, joining her by the wall where she used her goggles to get a better view on the ship. She only confirmed what he feared it was. He had only ever seen that red symbol before in Kuiper, he couldn't remember where but he knew what it stood for. This ship was undoubtedly from the Crucibellia Empire. [color=yellow]"Oh no..."[/color] The teenager had never imagined the Crucible would come to Krukow. It was far out of the way from the major trade routes. There were plenty of sovereign islands they could take, but why Krukow? [color=yellow]"We..."[/color] He couldn't think of what to do. He wanted to get his mother but he knew she wasn't going to be able to run away. And where would they run to? The skiff at the north, maybe. That could take them to Kuiper. But if Krukow was being annexed, Kuiper would surely follow. Possibly even on the same day. [color=yellow]"We have to do something..."[/color] His last words were more of a mumble than actually talking to Emery. The teenager held back his fear and a look of determination suddenly appeared on his face. [color=yellow]"First I need to see if I can get my mother out of here,"[/color] he said. [color=yellow]"I've heard stories of what they do to sick people that can't afford medicine. I have to at least try to get my mom on the skiff to Kuiper. We need to see if there is anyone else that can be evacuated. Then we need to get out of here too."[/color] Aubrey rushed back towards his house and burst in the front door. Faster than he ever had before he ran up the stairs and screeched to a halt at his mother's bedroom door. [color=yellow]"We don't have much time,"[/color] he began. His mother sat up slightly, but didn't seem the least bit surprised. [color=yellow]"The-"[/color] [color=deepskyblue]"Yes, I know."[/color] Aubrey was surprised by his mother's interruption and suddenly lost all his steam. [color=deepskyblue]"The Crucible is here. You and Emery should leave. Go to the ship that crash landed, Aubrey. The skiff can only take you to Kuiper and you know that island will be taken by the end of the day too."[/color] The teenager was surprised by his mother's insight. How did she know all of this? It would've been impossible to hear the Crucible ship from inside the house and a single gunshot doesn't mean they are being annexed. [color=yellow]"How do you know?"[/color] To further his surprise, his mother rotated around and slowly got to her feet, standing up entirely of her own power. Granted it seemed she was having a hard time. [color=deepskyblue]"I've seen it, Aubrey. I saw it a while ago."[/color] Her explanation hardly answered the question. Was she psychic? [color=deepskyblue]"Don't worry about me. I'll be just fine. But you must hurry. Once the soldiers see you... you won't have a chance at leaving."[/color] She walked over to Aubrey and gave him a light shove, to get him to start moving. [color=deepskyblue]"Go straight north. You can-"[/color] [color=yellow]"Wait. Hold on. This is going too fast. You have to come with us. It might be hard to move but we can go slowly and sneak our way over there."[/color] His mother ruffled his hair. [color=deepskyblue]"I'll only slow you kids down. And besides, it's better this way. If I stay here I can distract the soldiers rather than be a moving target."[/color] By now they had reached the front door, mostly by Melanie pushing her son towards the door. They stopped right next to it and there was a moment of silence between them. [color=deepskyblue]"Don't worry, Aubrey. We'll see each other again someday. Have faith."[/color] The older woman embraced her son in a hug. Aubrey was so confused and felt several emotions inside. He came here to try and rescue his mother but now she was bombarding him with information and commands and in the end she wouldn't be leaving. Once she released him from the hug, Aubrey simply stood there. [color=deepskyblue]"Now go."[/color] Aubrey's eyes watered slightly as his look of determination returned. He nodded his head and ran out the door. [color=yellow]"Emery, I have a new plan,"[/color] he told the girl, after wiping his eyes with his sleeve. [color=yellow]"We need to get whoever we can and head north. Not to the skiff, but to the ship that crashed earlier. That's our only chance at making it out of here."[/color]