[b]Solarel[/b]

When you confirm that Lareth can speak to you, her whole body language lights up. She’d clearly been worried that she had the whole thing wrong but didn’t. When you get to telling her that it talks with battles, she’s almost reverent, and you can see her hand fiddle almost like she’s imagining writing that in her head. 

“Of course, rather than try and force a more engaged interface, make the drones more autonomous. Trust the Kathresis.” She shakes her head. 

“You know I ought to know that lesson. I’ve got a son about your age on Zathar. Not a grand pilot or anything, he makes clay things, a lot of pots for storage and art sometimes. You probably wouldn’t have seen his sort much, with all that running about for the empress, and the…banishment.” She shifts awkwardly, cutting off her story for a moment and half bends to pick up her drone again. But she decides she’s not yet up for hefting it with a bit of a sigh. 

“So…anyway, when he’s bored and has nothing to do with his hands, he gets pretty irritable. We always had to find him something to be doing when he was younger till he decided he liked something. But when he gets going on a project, he’s a whole different person. Doesn’t want to be bothered by anything, but also not bothered by anything going on around him. It’s really something, he gets so intense, especially when he’s doing something he really finds beautiful and not just a quick job for someone else. He’s even got a piece in Halak Rasra’s new hold on Zathar’ak.”

She beams with pride. You wouldn't know the name she’s referencing. It’s an a general title for a new hold expanded from Zathar, probably into the system between Zathar and Styx based on the fact that their contingent is here. That system hadn’t been named when you were banished, so this would be a very recent establishment, with all its inhabitants being Zathar transplants. 

***

[b]Isabelle[/b]

For a few moments, there are no words. Asil hears yours, but her mouth is busy and her tongue has better things to do. She works her way down slowly, first the upper chest and then around to the back, savoring every second. Your skin goosebumps when the air suddenly touches it, and then she’s over that, heat and warmth running through you like electricity if electricity were also feather soft as it touched you. Each nip sends a jolt running through you and oh Asil is enjoying herself and never wants this moment to end.

It doesn’t have to end for a good while. But it does eventually, as your body adjusts and she starts to run out of new spaces to make you tremble. And she needs to breathe besides. She’s behind you now, hands around your waist, her chin resting on your shoulder. No marks where anybody could see them. At least as long as they don’t walk in on you in the shower.

“You really had me going there, princess. The high and mighty routine and how long you put me off. But I’m glad that we had this…business meeting.” She smiles and pulls your outfit up over your shoulder. One of you has been watching the time and it really wouldn’t do for someone to come looking for you because you went over your time block, would it?

Any final words for her? And where are you going after this? Where can you go after all that?

[Roll an entice for Asil]

***

[b]Mirror and Jade[/b]

As you approach the asteroid field, three mechas launch from the nearby station where Jade’s neural link has been guiding you. They are Hybrasilian designs painted in reds and oranges, but not the newest models. There’s nothing like the tails of the Nine Drive System, nor anything like the sleek and powerful figure of Jade’s mecha or the stone fist of Dishai that Erys Bander had been piloting. These are what you’d call standard Hybrasilian design: small and sleek coming in below ten meters in height, shaped to match the average Hybrasilian pilot for ease of movement, with basic cloaking and a choice of weapons systems as well as a generation-old crystal fire drive. 

One of them begins laser fire at you, weaving shots in between asteroid debris or simply shattering the smaller rocks to obscure vision. One draws a broad, two-handed spear and rushes you, using the pattern of laser fire and asteroid debris to shield its advance. A series of EMP net grenades are visible on its waist as well. The final one goes into cloak immediately to hide its armaments, though it’s an older cloak and imperfect at hiding its location as it advances. 

It seems that you’ve encountered a pirate den in earnest, if a small one. 

***

[b]Dolly[/b]

Jade is close! You can feel her enter the area where the station is housed. On her own? No, that’s not the impression you’re getting through the bond. She’s got a pilot! Around you a warning klaxon is sounding, but you’re so deep in sensory overload that the sound barely registers. Valynia has gotten up and consulted with a few of the pirates, who raced out. She’s still here though.

She returns and runs a hand along your stuffed cheeks. “Seems your goddess has come to join you. Good girl. Try to make sure she doesn’t break too much on the way in, okay sweetie?”