Vasilia was still. The cannon was not. 

It was a large thing. Worthy of the name. Half as big as her, covered in whirring gears, leaking some hideous green concoction that ate into the deck. It hardly seemed the spindly limb - straining and twitching - could lift it, and yet here it was, and here she was, and they may well have kept at it until Alexa stepped between them.

The cannon drew off of her. And it was all the opening she needed.

Vasilia stomped the worn deck with her heavy boots, and flipped a loose panel skyward as the cannon wheeled back and took the shot. A dripping cloud of vitriolic toxin ate the metal instead of her, melting it clean in half. With a sweep of her hand she snatched one of the falling chunks of metal and hurled it at Iskator, center of mass. They swayed, under and around, arms twitching and waving wildly but never once losing balance. The spent cannon whirled away. The flicker-flame took its place, and-

*BANG*

Sparks flew from the arm’s joint, and it fell limp. But then came the caustic perforator, and-

*BANG*

And it too fell useless. The cannon, by now reloaded, took the fore and-

*BANG*

Vasilia shot true. Step. Shoot. Step. Shoot. Limb after limb spun to her, and each one fell before they could strike. 

With a hideous, grating shriek, Iskarot took aim once more. All of its eyes watched the flicker-flame swing by on a broken arm.

*BANG*

And finally - finally - Vasilia had a clean shot at a leg. The remaining two legs scrabbled furiously for purchase, but to no avail. Down went the arsenal. Down went the bundle of rags. All in a great, deadly heap on the floor.

Captain Vasilia knelt by the wreck, turning her pistol over idly in her hand. Grimacing, as she saw the barrel already choking on its own fumes. She had not broken stride once.

“Counter-offer: You work alongside our engineer to repair and maintain this ship. We make a stop at the first Hermetician outpost or ship that we pass, and no manipulating our course. You will be allowed to go and work as you please, but must heed the orders of your ranking officers.” A tilt of the head to her crewmate. [i]“Her[/i] name is Alexa. You will treat her as you would any member of the crew. Your study of her may only continue with her direct, willing, and [i]uncoerced[/i] permission. And…” Her voice turned to ice. “...you [i]never[/i] do this again.”

She flashed him a perfectly bright, perfectly cheerful smile to the newest member of her crew, that was in no way connected to the loaded firearm in her hand. “Do give your answers to Artemis, won’t you?”

[Rolling to Overcome: 5 + 1 + 1 = [b]7[/b], paying 1 Ammo to get the 10+ result.]