Aubrey was about to break into full-sprint alongside Emery when Varren appeared. Like Emery, he also stopped and grew suspicious. The blonde teenager was moderately surprised to see Emery get defensive so fast, particularly that she was protective of him. Her courage had to be repaid. Aubrey stepped past his female friend and approached Varren. Though this outsider was older and noticeably larger than him, he kept his face of determination. [color=yellow]"You aren't one of them, are you?"[/color] he asked, pointing at Varren for emphasis. This man was clearly an outsider, as Aubrey didn't recognize him and the community was relatively small. His inquisition for a mechanic was particularly odd. [color=yellow]"Wait, are you from the ship that went down earlier?"[/color] Suddenly his tough attitude seemed to fade away as an optimistic facet took hold. [color=yellow]"That ship is our only way out of here."[/color] He looked back to Emery. [color=yellow]"This guy's our ticket."[/color] He looked back at Varren with a grin on his face. [color=yellow]"We might not be the best mechanics but with our lives on the line I'm sure we can get that thing flying."[/color] While Aubrey had some mechanical knowledge, it was Emery that was the superior mechanic, unquestionably. But his confidence was too high to make an immediate distinction between the two. --- The one-eyed first mate watched silently as Katherine and Varren took off in their separate directions. It was clear to Weston that the Crucible had sent an annexation regiment to this part of Aurelia. [color=darkorange]"Damn,"[/color] he muttered to himself as he began walking towards the town. [color=darkorange]"Should've brought my swords."[/color] He scratched at the stubble on his chin as he casually walked into the town, making his way to the densest part. The town square. --- [color=olivedrab]"It is one thing to acquire new territory for your country, but to be so malicious in the process is completely unnecessary and I will not tolerate it."[/color] The mayor looked rather intimidating, considering his grizzly appearance and large stature. But the small officer only chuckled at his words. [color=teal]"You won't tolerate it, you say?"[/color] He steadied the aim of his hand, pointing his finger at Vladmir's chest. [color=teal]"I suppose you won't be mayor of this hamlet any longer."[/color] Storm's hand recoiled like a gun, though no noise was made. A blast of pressurized air slammed into the mayor, sending him flying backwards like a rocket and crashing into the town hall. In fact, the impact was so powerful it entirely brought part of the building down. The Rift Hunters in the square did not approve of this, and it appeared the crowd was about to riot. The lines of soldiers all took aim at the Rift Hunters, preparing for imminent combat. [color=teal]"Do not worry, people. We will assign a new mayor in due time. But first..."[/color] The sound of shifting rubble interrupted the captain. Turning around, he saw Vladmir picking himself up from the wrecked town hall. He was clearly hurt and breathing heavily, but alive. [color=teal]"You survived? Well then, I hope you're prepared for seconds."[/color] As Captain Storm began to take aim at the mayor again, the sound of footsteps broke the silence that had fallen over the town square. All eyes looked towards the newcomer. Weston continued walking until he was only a few meters away from the Captain and Lieutenant. [color=teal]"You..."[/color] the captain said, bringing his hand down. The mayor let out a sigh of relief that he wasn't about to be attacked again, but he felt uneasy about the newcomer. [color=teal]"If it isn't the man himself. I recognize that face anywhere."[/color] While the officers and soldiers seemed excited now, Weston seemed almost entirely uninterested. [color=teal]"I wouldn't have guessed you would hide in some backwater town like a scared dog but I suppose it is fitting for scum like you, Two Hand. For having the highest bounty in the world it would only make sense to hide here and hope we never come. Why-"[/color] [color=darkorange]"Are you ever going to shut up?"[/color] The interruption seemed to stun the Lieutenant and all the soldiers. Storm looked furious. And all the while, Weston seemed to hardly care. [color=teal]"I would've taken you alive but now you're asking for it! Lieutenant! Kill him!"[/color] The large man, Lieutenant Armstrong, dashed forward in the blink of an eye. With both his fists raised over his head, his arms began to glow blue as he swung them down in a smash. His attack only hit air as Weston stepped to the side with impressive speed but casual form. Before Armstrong could get another chance to attack, a fist came up into his chin, sending him flying into the sky. The Rift Hunters and the soldiers looked stunned as Weston stretched his fingers out. His eye settled on the captain now, who looked moderately frightened. After a moment of silence, Lieutenant Armstrong landed on the ground with a thud and stopped moving. [color=teal]"Uh..."[/color] The captain began stuttering for words. [color=teal]"What are you fools waiting for!? Shoot him!"[/color] As the soldiers began aiming their weapons at Weston, a strange sensation swept over the town square. A wave of intimidation spread across the yard, freezing the soldiers in place. While their weapons pointed at the man, not a single soul fired. Even the Rift Hunters in the square felt the fear and couldn't take their eyes away from Weston. [color=darkorange]"You picked a bad time to visit,"[/color] Weston spoke up. [color=darkorange]"I happened to be in town."[/color] Fury overcame his fear and Storm swiped his hand in front of him like it was a blade. Weston ducked low and grabbed the gun that the mayor's assistant had dropped earlier. The invisible attack from Storm sliced a building in half across the courtyard, and as it began crumbling down Weston made his move. The glasses that had rested on the gun were flung forward, pelting Storm in the face and distracting him briefly. With that opening, Weston aimed the weapon at the man and fired two shots. As the gunshots echoed across the square, Storm smirked. [color=teal]"You must not know who I am,"[/color] Storm said. The two bullets were floating in the air in front of the captain, slowly losing their spinning motion. [color=teal]"Guns can't overcome my power. I am one of the world's strongest Wind Mages. I can harness the power of the very air around you and slice you to rib-"[/color] The bottom of the gun smacked into his forehead after leaving Weston's hand. While Storm stumbled backwards, Weston grabbed him by his collar and tossed him at the pile of weapons that were in front of the Rift Hunters. [color=darkorange]"If you spent less time talking you might actually get a point across one day,"[/color] the Free Wind's first mate commented. While Storm began picking himself up, he noticed he was surrounded by Rift Hunters. And they all looked at him threateningly. Weston stretched the fingers on his hand again before turning around to leave. Vladmir, however, stopped him. [color=olivedrab]"I don't know who you are, but you might've just gotten Krukow into more trouble than it already was in,"[/color] he began. [color=olivedrab]"Your intervention wasn't helpful at all."[/color] Weston's eye looked into both of his and he too became paralyzed with fear. [color=darkorange]"Your town was in more trouble than you think, buddy."[/color]