Storm's Brewing (E 1.1, C 1.2)

I nod urgently. Edmund is walking some kind of line here.

I walk over to Blue Light as Edmund heads up the dock, "looks like the fine gentlemen over there might wanna..." I pause before the next word, "confiscate our delivery." I step back up onto the Refuge, "Edmund's tryin' to smooth things over peaceful-like. It's your cargo... you willin' to stand and fight over this?"

Part of me wants to just unload all this drelk on the docks and hit the horizon, but Blue Light here has proven to be a stand up guy and that's just not my way.

First off, here's a rough map of the exterior of The Tower and the docks:

Notice The Refuge is docked at the main dock to the south and Dremmer is up north - he's watching you all right now.

Edmund, he's been watching you since you arrived He knows you're Princy's man and he knows you've worked with Canary, so he strongly suspects you have the cargo there.

Dremmer's "team" (yes, he calls them a team because it sounds more civilized) is a small gang that numbers about a dozen. They are well-armed (3-harm, 1 armor) and well-heeled (they know how to play nice for the rich folk of The Tower). To this point, Dremmer's team has never done double deals like this, so it's unexpected that Dremmer is throwing away his good name for this cargo.

So what's the cargo?
Four crates of Chateau Cheval Blanc 1947 (Princy told you he suspects these might be the last bottles of this vintage in the world).
The crates look like this, more or less:

An able body can carry a pair of these crates stacked, but they're pretty heavy. Lucky for you - they're well-packed and shouldn't break under normal jostling.

Edmund, your Sixth Sense tells you a couple of things.
1. You could slip out of the main docks on the Refuge, probably take some fire, and GTFO. The turrets on top won't fire on you - this is a Dremmer team conflict only. If you can slip back later into the Vassal Pier where the lower servants and sycophants to the families live, you can easily sneak the cargo back home there.
2. Dremmer's Team may not be 100% on board with throwing away their security gig. Roark, for one, has a mate and kids and wouldn't easily throw their lives away by burning Princy like this. You could seek him out and try to turn him against Dremmer. Risky, but possible.

I do my best to project my voice from here. "I have a hunch there are those here who are conspiring to throw your livelihood away tonight. Surely the family that put you up to this must be paying you enough to retire comfortably? But, I assure you doing honest work here will be better for you. Better for your families! Maybe they have something on you, threatening something or someone you care about. Come to me and I will help you!"

It’s difficult to tell if my voice is carrying at all or if it is entirely being swallowed up by the water splashing against the wharf. I feel like an idiot shouting like this, but this hunch scratching at the back of my mind tells me someone can be swayed. Maybe if I can make them confront each other for a while…

"But if you think you can survive in this world by casting aside propriety, morality, and your dignity - you are and will be dead wrong. It is worth fighting for the right thing. It’s how we will eventually carve our way back out of these flooded streets and drowned dreams. If you wish to resort to coercion and robbery, constantly sleeping with an eye open and wondering when you will be next - go join the Rafters or Sips. Or the Talons if you happen to have a bird name." I mutter at the end.

Let’s hope this works, I think to myself.

"It will take me about 30 minutes to inspect the product, at which point I will be making my way from this dock, back to the lifts. I hope you’ve made up your mind by then."

I turn and walk back to the refuge, hands clasped gently behind my back to mask the shaking the adrenaline has caused me. As I make my way toward Canary I say, "I know it isn’t my place to say, but would you mind preparing to slip out of here? I would like to try to break sight, and slip around to the other side and dock at Vassal Pier to finish this job. Hopefully while they decide whose futures they are want to throw away. Then I’m going to come back here and collect some names. We’ll improvise as needed, and you’ll be compensated for the additional complications. If you’ve another idea, I’m open to it. This manner of tactics was not covered at the Buttle Academy."

I cock my head to listen to him, and Edmund... what a silver tongue he has. He makes me want to straighten up my little life.

"That's not how the Talons work..." I tease, then smile. Edmund killed it back there.

But to the question, I first share a glance with Blue Light, then answer, "yeah, sure thing. You're the boss, Edmund. Come aboard, gentlemen."

I step back aboard and offer Edmund a hand up, should he need it.


---

As the three of you board The Refuge and start to leave, Dremmer moves forward, down the dock toward you. He starts to call his team to attention, but then Roark moves up to intercept him. It buys you enough time to start up the Refuge and slip away from the docks. Dremmer may still want that cargo, but at least some of his team isn't completely on board.

Blue Light seems on edge about this risk and sudden change, but he is committed to getting the job done. He keeps his rifle at the ready, just in case there's trouble.

If the two of you want to dock at Vassal Pier, you can do that. You'll need to Act Under Fire to do it. You've caused some dissension in Dremmer's team, so you can take a +1 Forward on the roll.

I take Canary’s hand as she helps secure me on board the Refuge. Her hand is surprisingly strong, yet something about it is more gentle than I expected. She does appear much more relaxed than I feel at this moment. I’m grateful for such a composed and unflappable ally.

I about-face, prepared to offer similar assistance to Canary’s companion. However, from the way he slings the final mooring lines away from the dock, and effortlessly bounds on deck leaves me rather slack-jawed. It may be possible that I’ve been neglecting some attention to personal calisthenics.

Feeling less than helpful, I immediately shift my attention back to Canary, but she appears to already be making preparations at her pilothouse. Indeed, I am out of my element.

I look for a place to sit, somewhere out of the specialists’ way, but what isn’t occupied by cargo (or useful people) seems to have some combination of dirt, barnacle, or spume. On second thought I’ll stand - I wrap a kerchief around my hand and grab onto a rail near the helm. "Ms. Canary, if there is anything I can do to help, just say the word."

The Refuge does sit higher in the water than many of the barges and skiffs of the area, so it can be a bit treacherous coming aboard if you're not used to it. But once aboard, there's a largely flat deck just behind the pilothouse... with a hips-high rail and a machinegun mounting ring in the center... minus machinegun at the moment but it's good to hold onto if one is a little unsteady at sea. It's also where the wine crates are arranged, nearer the stern, and secured by polymer rope.

Edmund can probably find a good place there, good handholds and near enough that we can converse.

There's also a pretty large area belowdecks, accessed by a covered hatch at the rear of the raised deck, about 2/3 of the way to the aft of the boat. There's more storage down there, but it's also where I call home, my personal things, bed... but I often as not sleep in the cockpit anyways.

---

By now I'm in my perch in the pilothouse, which I often just call the cockpit. It's got two seats side-by side, though I often as not stand or just perch on the edge of one or the other. I have a few personal belongings arranged up here as well.

"Aren't you the best," I smile over my shoulder as I maneuver toward the Vassal Pier. "Just handle your people, all right? We're a little... big... to be coming this way."

It actually takes some concentration, though I try not to show it.

As said otherwhere, Canary, you could pilot The Refuge through a spaghetti strainer right now. The chop is smooth and you've got a solid hand on the wheel as you pull her up to the smaller dock at Vassal Pier. Vassal Pier is a bit rougher-looking than the main dock. It's peopled by the servants and minions of the families who aren't lucky enough to get a warm spot in The Tower proper. Some of their shacks sit on long poles that are fastened to The Tower a few floors underwater, while other huts are floating free and lashed to the others like a little brother holding onto something sturdy.

The Pier is far enough away from the main that Dremmer's team hasn't made it over. Together, you can easily carry the cargo into The Tower before they manage to give you trouble.

What do you do?

Every now and then there's just a groove, and right now, somehow, I'm in it. The Refuge slips right up to the docks with hardly a bump.

"Lemme give you a hand," I offer to the others. I shut off the engines and start locking up the cockpit. It's pretty much an armored box when it's closed up and it's pretty secure. As a general rule, there's someone at any given docks who can watch your boat for you. Probably that's Dremmer at the mains, but here... well, if someone presents themselves I toss them the usual bit of scratch and go to help the others.

Whopper comes up to offer to watch your boat. She's a bit wild off the clock, but reliable enough and folks on Vassal Pier won't frell with her.

Blue Light intends to enter The Tower and make sure Princy gets the hand-off. Canary, are you satisfied leaving Edmund and Blue Light to it, or are you going in with them?

Whopper is good, just in case there's any trouble she's got a reputation that should provide some security.

I get right down to it and help lug these crates.

---

Blue Light picks up a pair of wine crates with the intent to carry them all the way to Princy's hands. Edmund, I'm guessing you lead the way with Canary grabbing at least one if not both. Coming from Vassal Pier, home for servants and lesser associates of the families, means you need either a key or the right eyes (ocular scans). You have at least one of those - right, Edmund?

After walking down a clean and dry hallway with electric lights, you take a service elevator down to enter the throughway to the elevators which will take you up to Princy's floors. The throughway opens into Crystal Court, one of the wonders of the Sunken Age.


Crystal Court, an engineering marvel. In the beforetimes, it was a shopping center and a place for all the people of downtown to gather to eat together, sharing the plenty of pete-sah and cow sandwiches. When the rivers overflowed and the world flooded, the waters covered the entire court and it was submerged, but the windows that once let in sunlight held against the water pressure. Whether by incredible construction or infernal magic, Crystal Court is still dry. Today, the place is still a gathering spot for denizones of The Tower.

The gang that watches over Crystal Court report to Millions. Millions can always be found at The Tower - he's like a casino boss strolling up and down the halls making sure evryone is happy. And everyone is. Only a fool would say otherwise.

Canary, Millions owes you a favor for something or other - what was it again? Why haven't you called in that debt?

Edmund, what beef does Millions have with Princy's family, and by extension - you? What keeps the peace between them?

Hopefully we can borrow a hand cart at some point along the way, or Edmund can requisition some strong backs, cause these things are heavy! And between us, it's going to be a tretch making it in one trip.

I follow Edmund inside, it's interesting how he seems to know everyone, many by name, and how he just... knows his way. Maybe it's a little like I am with the Refuge, but here there's... just more.

I can't help but look up as I walk into Crystal Court. A little low whistle. I don't get much call to come inside here, and yeah, selfishly, I wanted the chance. I feel a little... unsteady whenever I first enter a dry place like this. It's unsettling how still the ground is.

By now my head is bare, dirty blond hair pulled back in a ponytail secured by a thick rubber band that used to be part of something else.

I wonder where Millions is. There's a party or something going on if rumor holds true. I hope he'll be happy to see me. Couple years ago now, a small freighter went under a couple of miles up the sea road. I kept the Refuge on-site for the better part of a week as Million's people dove for salvage. All the while with a storm whipping up the surf. Looked like guns, maybe... something valuable to go through all the trouble of bringing it all back up from the bottom.

We never settled up for the work... it was a confusing and busy project and we just never had the chance. And I figure the favor in my pocket's worth more come a rainy day.

The way the sound opens up when you move from the tower hallways into the open Crystal Court, is astounding. The urgent echoing of our footfalls in the narrow hallway suddenly become lost in the open space of the Court. The immensity can be dizzying; however, I have to stay on my toes here.

I feel the attention of Millions’s men fall on me. Like a thick cloud blocking out the sun, it’s subtle but undeniable.

Perhaps they all know something I don’t. Something about what should have happened on the docks I wonder? Or maybe I’m just becoming paranoid. Okay, more paranoid. Of course it could also just be that Millions won’t turn down a chance to make things challenging for any member of Princy’s family - which extends, to some extent, to me. It seemed like simple gossip at first, but I’ve heard from other housestaff that Millions made a move on Princy’s wife, Parker, and was rejected. Something he must not be used to.

Still, none of Millions’s men would dare to make a move here. At least that is the lie I tell myself hoping that the rest of our path goes without conflict. There hasn't been open animosity outside of standard politics in years - it would mark the start a whole new era.

Even with all of the uncertainty, there are so many faces in this magnificent structure that I recognize. So many stories we have shared. I greet each one we pass by name, mostly a trick to calm myself. I spot Jasper, an old friend - one of the long-term employees of the Crystal Court, and one of Millions’s men. He is near a cart, and I know that with a nod he would be willing to rush it over and allow us to continue on our path, unburdened.

But in this moment, there are only six hands that I have the capacity to trust, and each one is holding a crate of wine.

We continue at a brisk pace, heading for the Tower lifts.

As the three of you walk across the hallway that opens to the wide space beneath with... trees? And people - clean people - just sitting and eating too much food and drinking clean water like only members of the families can do. The air is filled with pleasant, wordless music. It's surreal when you compare it to the tumult just outside the doors. Canary, you follow Edmund while hauling a heavy craft in your shaking arms. He's leading you to a set of lifts where you spot a pair of guards wearing shades. One of them puts a hand to his ear and looks around the hallway. He sees the three of you.

"Mr. Sterling," the guard says with deference. "Millions would like to talk to you." He pauses when he seems to recognize you, Canary, and says into his hand, "Canary is with him. Yes. Alright." His attention shifts back to the three of you, "Canary, Millions wants to speak with you as well. Would you three please follow me? John, get a cart for them - there's no reason for you to lug those heavy crates all the way up the elevator."

He sounds firm but polite - almost nice? But you notice the holster under his jacket - he's armed. So is his partner, a rough-looking girl that looks like she's a ganger despite the nice clothes trying to hide it.

What do you do?

Relieved to be able top put this thing down... I'm pretty tough, really, but brute strength is not my thing.

They have working comms here, too. I wonder to myself about the electricity... try to follow any exposed wiring... might be solar? I don't hear gennys going... or they might be on the upper floors or something. The guard says my name to Millions, and that gets me to stop speculating and pay attention.

"Yeah, of course... Millions is the man," I smile at Edmund, who looks more than anxious enough for the both of us. These guys don't worry me. Far as I know I'm well on Millions' good side.

What is happening this evening!? I eye the two guards and internalize the futility of me making it up to Princy. Of all the fahrbot ways today could go. Most people are happy with a kind word to remind them how important they are, or a good meal to remind them what the world has to offer - and I’m excellent at offering both of those. Even outside the Tower, it must be similar - even if there is nuance regarding the magnitude of kindness and meals. But these last thirty minutes have gone off the zarking rails. Right now, it seems that Princy and Millions just want what is in these crates... and maybe to ruin each other. Part of me wishes they would just deal with each other the way the Rafters or Sips would and just let the rest of us get on with our lives.

I look over at Canary as she is gently shaking the feeling back into her fingers now that she has passed the crates to John. I smile kindly at John, and thank him for relieving us of the load. Looking back at Canary, she seems almost excited to see Mr. Millions. I wish I felt that way. I guess nervous and excited are simply two sides of the same coin - which side of that coin shapes whether you want to run toward, or away from the source of that feeling. Blue Light seems to still be captivated by the Crystal Court. I don’t blame him, after all I still marvel at it as well, or I would if I weren't so distracted.

With a resigned sigh, I admit to myself that options are severely limited. It is likely I will fail at getting these goods to Princy, and if I am to succeed, I’ll likely have to make a deal of some sort. And I hate to imagine what a deal of this magnitude will cost me.

"Thank you for your consideration," I bow to the guard. "Please, after you."

(another pic of Crystal Court)


John starts leading you to the metal staircase that leads down to the huge tiled floor. John looks over her shoulder as she casually walks down the stairs, "You guys are lucky. Mr. Millions is eating at People Organic. It's the best. Are you hungry? Mr. Millions will offer food and it's best to eat."

She has a brief conversation with her earpiece as you walk across the wide open space. The people stand by trees and sit on giant smooth rocks like they have nothing better to do. They watch you surreptitiously, Canary, you feel very much the outsider here. When you reach the restaurant, John waits outside like she's been asked to wait for you.

---

People's Organic is clean glass walls and a sleek front counter with metal carafes of various drinks. There are six people standing in here wearing the livery of workers, but only Millions is seated at one of the tables. When you enter, he stands up to greet you.