[hr][center][h1][color=gold]Nacia Jarno[/color][/h1][/center][hr]

[center][i][color=#50C878][b]"...Why, what did you bring?"[/b][/color] he asked, a little defensively...[/i][/center]

"Uh, well, it's a painting." She said. "Made by orphans. A God Child can't dislike something made by orphans, right?"

Nacia nodded her head as if she were answering her own question. When doubt started seeping through, she deflected back to the herald's gift.   

"Did you bring silverware?" Nacia asked, staring at the cooler then back at the helmeted man. "You know, just in case the God Child wants to eat the cake right then and there. Come to think of it, I've never seen a God Child eat anything. Hope it likes cake." 

The enhanced-hume was beginning to feel a little better about her gift. She nodded to the man, extending her cybernetic arm out for a handshake. 

"Sorry, I've got shit manners. Nacia Jarno. Gunner." She stared at the familiar-looking patch etched onto the man's shoulder pad. "I've seen that before. Back when Zaitsev was running me through combat trials, he had me spar with a couple of guys that had that same patch. Tough SOBs I tell ya. What's it supposed to represent anyway? The globe, the parachute, the lightning bolt, and the star?" 


[center]***[/center]

Albert Gentry sighed as he was getting drone reports about his passengers, how the Südkharri gutted the center console of his seat, and how the A.I. hacked one of the drones to lock itself inside one of the restrooms. Al wanted to put The Sky Mariner on auto-pilot and give them a piece of his mind, but these were the heralds of the Sixth. Still, he couldn't resist. Nobody messes with his ship and doesn't, at the very least, get an earful for it. But just as he was about to initiate the auto-pilot, a communication frequency beeped in. 

[i]"Sky Mariner this is Icom. Do you read me? Over."[/i]

"Sky Mariner to Icom, I read you. Over." Gentry frowned. Icom? The Snowstone Commander and Fragment of the God Child? 

"Hostiles are attempting to intercept your flight path from ground level. Request that you alter your course, dramatically. Sending recommended flight coordinates to you now. Over." 

Albert's eyes widened, his many years of piloting instincts kicked in as he manned the controls. A private message winked into his eye, confirming that it was indeed Icom of Snowstone, Shirod's daughter and potential successor.

"Better strap in folks, might be some turbulence." Is all Albert said. He read the coordinates and made the adjustments on his console. The Sky Mariner rolled up and slanted to the side, its metal hull groaning as it lurched onto its newly altered course. Some of the drones lost equilibrium and spilled beverages everywhere. The exterior cameras of the ship zoomed down to the top of a canyon where a firefight was taking place. Albert enhanced the zoom even further. A group of unknown hostiles was seen opening fire on one individual. 

Icom. 

The ceiling projector showed the white-haired Snowstone Commander engaging the group. There were at least a dozen hostiles, some of which were armed with anti-aircraft weapons. The holographic stream momentarily glitched. Or did it? Was there a delay in the camera feed, or was Icom just that fast? The gunfire stopped. Bodies were laid broken on the ground. 

[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d9/5d/5e/d95d5e2c389b731277f6b0e91e29ed9b.jpg[/img][/center]

All that could be seen was the lone woman in white, who turned and watched as the Sky Mariner flew away from potential danger. 

"Uh, sorry folks. Just had to take a minor detour to avoid some... unpleasantness. We've got about 30 minutes or so left before we arrive at The Lotus Mirage. Try not to hack anymore of my drones, or rip out anymore center consoles until then, please."