[b]Solarel[/b]

Priestess Hethar misses a step as she accompanies you. You can see she almost exclaims out loud in front of the Terenians before putting a hand to her face. She hitches up her robes and hustles to catch up with you. 

[i]Truly?! I…truth be told that was only a guess because of the focus you requested but I didn’t really believe…you’d betray the empress, your service, your knighthood, surrender perhaps the greatest god the Zaldarians have ever seen for love?![/i] 

She shakes her head as if to clear it, cocking her head like an owl as she considers you. [i]You know[/i], she signs rapidly, trying to recover from her shock. [i]The most popular version of the story on Zathar is that the empress sent you on a secret mission to infiltrate alien societies, your banishment was a cover so they’d accept you, and when you win the tournament everyone believes that you’ll make a spectacular show of donating your prize to the empress to request what she wishes. They’ll never believe me if I tell them the truth.[/i] 

***

[b]Isabelle[/b]

You’ll definitely want to check on Emberlight later. Novasurge is a strong mecha though, and nothing to sneer at. Your setup is a heavy one. The rifle is too-handed, autocannons need to take up the shoulder mounts, so you need to mount the missiles on the back of novasurge. Adding on point defense and shielding as well means that you’ve filled up pretty much every hard spot with no excess power to spare. 

There’s an art to fighting heavy, especially at range. If you do it poorly, you’re setting yourself up to be exploited. A faster, lighter opponent can outrange, outlast, or outmaneuver you, bringing their weapons to bear at ideal range while frustrating whatever you’re trying to do. But some of the best pilots prefer this kind of setup (Marcina Villajero, the previous champion, is particularly known as a master of this fighting style, though Adriana does not favor it). 

The key is to get into the right flow state in combination with near-perfect knowledge of your capabilities and your own body. You have to know exactly how much you can take. When to direct power to the deflectors or the drive system and when to simply lean into the hit so that you can line up a perfect shot of your own. 

You’re really getting into it and the Lozano pilots have stepped up to fighting you 2v1 when the jarring explosion of a missile going off near you sends Asil’s little message pod rolling out of your jacket.

In front of you a small hologram appears, and since you’re actively in mecha with no reason to have turned off your comms before now, her speech is broadcast to everyone listening or watching the match. 

Message: [i]“Isabelle Lozano. Why did you sponsor me? Was it just for the drones? They’re good, but not great. I thought…when we met it seemed like you saw something in me that you cared about. I certainly did in you, unattainable as you are. Maybe I’m just an idiot, huh?” *the small hologram stops and shakes its head. “I could have just sent you a mesh, let you directly experience how I feel, but that lacks a certain something. It’s why I got into doing this, our tech has such blindspots. But, I have my own blindspots and maybe you do too. If I’m…if I’m wrong, come see me. Come to me, find the time, tell me you want me to be here. Otherwise, well..” She speaks suddenly more coldly, as if finally coming to a conclusion: “If it’s just the tech you’re after then I’m grateful for the sponsorship but go fuck yourself for leading me on. I’ll be gone the second I find a higher bidder.”[/i]

***

[b]Dolly[/b]

“Aw, poor thing” comes Valynia’s voice, blurred through the tears welling in your eyes from the pain. You just need to breath and drink some water, but you can’t get up because who knows what the pirates would do. Sitting here and being brave is the greatest challenge you’ve ever faced.

Which does not prepare you at all for the sudden ambush of Valynia coming up behind you and licking your face. Her tongue is rough and hot as she comes up the cheek, and she ends with a nip on your lip, the spice of the soup mixing with the salt of blood for a whole new round of spice. 

“You missed a spot” she says, the grin audible through her voice even though you can’t turn around. You absolutely must not turn around suddenly. Or yell. Or jump up and give her a reason to further restrain her “escaping” prisoner. How are you going to seduce this dastardly pirate captain for Jade if you’re not only reduced to muffled moaning but you’re also so restrained that you have to be carried around the station helplessly?

***

[b]Jade and Mirror[/b]

There’s the soft sound of scurrying paws from the cult. None of them have the temerity to disobey Jade’s wishes as to how Mirror should be presented to her. None of them would dare interfere with the goddess. But they absolutely, absolutely want to have the best view of what’s going on. And that means that a whole group of them are shifting positions in the elevated walkways, trying to keep up with the angles as Mirror had jumped and climbed, looking for the best view as she slashes the memory weave for her own bindings, and then making haste to keep up as she slides down and strips the goddess of her ceremonial wraps. There’s a swiftly hushed gasp from someone in the gallery. 

Once Mirror is in, they’ll all make yet another rush to make sure the hangar is prepped for launch, as best they can for a one-armed goddess.