Party of Millions (C 1.3, E 1.4, L 1.5)

Sitting there on the rail pulling on my second boot, I hear Kamae's raised voice as he accuses Edmund.

Dren!

They're close, just over there, but the ramshackle floating houses of the Vassal Pier block my view. I'm about to hop off and run over when I hear Litch's unmistakable voice...

Ok, we may need a getaway...

In one smooth motion, I toss the mooring rope overboard and leap down to the cockpit, then throw the Refuge into gear... reverse... and punch the throttle to swing her nose around to port. A quick burst forward, then, should pull me up and around the bulk of the pier and into view of the docks.

The orbs that I now notice hovering in the air might be aimed for Edmund, but I'm not taking any chances. With a flick of my wrist, I send a hatchet in Kamae's direction. It's quick and inaccurate, but maybe I'll get lucky. At the very least, I intend to distract him as I launch both myself and Kestrel behind the nearest shipping containers, angling my body so that if one of us is hit, it's me and not her.

Litch,

Two of the floating metal balls with wicked red eyes emit searing red lasers. One hisses past your ear [targeting unsuccessful - recorded for analysis], burning the inch of flesh it touches. The other hits you right in the chest [center mass - highest strike rating]. It burns like a cigarette on bare flesh and eats through (3-harm AP).

Litch and Edmund,

You hear the whistle of your hatchet fly and strike true - right in Kamae's shoulder to the bone. Blood spurts from an artery and he screams in sudden pain and shock. Without thinking about it, he grabs the handle to wrench it free from his pristine body. An explosion of blood from the wound leaves him staggering and falling on the dock right by Edmund's barrel. He's dying.

Those floating balls are still tracking each of you.

You hear the Refuge has started up and Canary's pulling her around for a quick GTFO.

What do you do?

I don't have time to revel in the sight of my axe hitting true. The flying ball bearing also hits its mark and I clench my teeth as the laser burns through leather, cloth and flesh. That'll be another second degree burn. I conclude wryly. As soon as we hit the deck, I'm pushing Kestrel onward. Adrenaline and experience kick in and the pain fades slightly. It's like a perverse form of mindfulness. We've got a goal; survive. That is where our focus goes.

I hear the sound of a ship engine and the lapping waves caused by the great wake of a large vessel. Unfortunately, she's on the other side of the death orbs, blocking our exit across the docks. But there's another escape route. "Kestrel! Dive!" I tap her leg and spring up with her, racing for the edge of the jetty and plunging into the waters.

Litch,

You move for the waters and Kestrel is only moments behind. You hit the cold water and swim down, hoping the last breath you gulped is enough. The water diffuses the laser lights as they brighten your darkness and cast the pier's tethers in crimson light.


Edmund,

You witness as Litch flings a hatchet at Kamae while Kestrel flings a dagger at one of the metal orbs. They run and jump into the waters and swim down, escaping the floating eyes. You see as one of them hums and watches the two Talons retreat into the water, then it floats away, towards the Fountain.

Meanwhile, Kamae is still dying on the Vassal Pier, in the filth he despises. Canary has pulled the Refuge nearby and seems ready to help you escape.

What do you do?

I watch the bloody scene unfold before me. It all seems so sudden, and yet as if it is happening in slow motion.

The gaping wound in Kamae’s neck has eerie similarities to the situation with Blue Light mere hours ago.

Still… Kamae is moving. Someone could still tend to them. Someone might still be able to save them.

I look back to where Litch and Kestrel were standing just a moment ago but they are gone. I catch a blur of motion out the corner of my eye and hear a pair of splashes hit the water.

My legs are numb. Even if I made it over the edge of the dock, would I be able to successfully swim to safety? Would they hunt all of us?

I look back to Kamae - their leg is pushing at the dock as if trying to find some purchase to go get help. Their hands are hovering over the wound.

My attention shifts back to the Refuge, now pressing closer into the dock. If I were to have a chance at making it aboard I would have to leave now.

A scared sob from Kamae pulls me back to them. If I left them here - would I just be the fool, or traitor, they think me to be. Will I be blamed for all the drelk that has gone wrong here tonight. If I leave, will I just put a target on Canary and her operations, or Litch and his family? If I stay and help, maybe Kamae will see that I’m not the problem they think me to be. Or maybe they’ll hold court, and judge me not worthy to live anymore.

I muster up what energy I have left and slide over to Kamae, bundling up my suitcoat and pressing it over his open wound with as much pressure as I can.

What is that light? I hear fighting, even over the sound of the Refuge's engines, but what the frell was that? Flashes of red light reflect off the shacks and structures of the piers, and something I really... really don't like the look of hovering in the air.

As I pull the Refuge around, there's a splash and a blur in my eye to starboard.

Someone's in the water!

It's a totally different thing when someone's in the water... you gotta watch out. I slow the Refuge and flip on her floods, cry out, "What the frell was that?" Is that Edward over there in the dock? Yeah... what is he... There's blood... can he hear me? "Edmund!"

I set the Refuge still in the water... still drifting slowly forward... and try to find whoever's in the drink. I leave the cockpit and hit the starboard rail. Grab a coiled nylon line to drop down.

Barely recognize the ol' wolf all wet.... and pretty sure he's not the only swimmer we got here, "hey! Litch? You need help?"

Edmund,

You're able to remove the hatchet and stop the flow of blood. With pressure, you feel the blood coagulate and his breathing starts to return to normal. He won't die, not from that hatchet, at least. You really should stay here to make sure he's carried somewhere safe, but Canary is calling for you and safety likely isn't here.

What do you do?

I’ve done what I can for Kamae, they may certainly come back to haunt us, but at least my conscience will be clear. I hope. I finish securing my suitcoat to their wound as tightly as I can, and stand.

Canary seems to be helping Litch and is close enough that I can still make it to her. I snatch up Litch’s hatchet, as well as the .38 special that I dropped a few moments ago, and return the revolver to its place beneath my vest.

I ignore the remaining orbs as I run and jump to the nearby dock that will lead me as close to Canary’s ship as possible. Approaching the edge of the dock I leap with as much force as possible.

Edmund boards the Refuge and Canary helps Litch and Kestrel climb up as well. In a few moments, you're all on the ship as Canary pulls her away... leaving Dinero behind.

Where do you go? What do you do?

After helping Litch and Kestrel out of the water, I quickly return to the cockpit, business-like, flip off the floods and get us out of the immediate vicinity. Out of danger, at least...

I slow, to reduce the noise and talk, "there's towels under the bench there," I gesture towards a utilitarian bench along the side rail of the mid-deck. "Can someone tell me what the frell is happening?"

The cold water helped mitigate the sting of the laser wound, a bit. Kestrel easily boards the ship, but it's a slower process for me. With Canary's help, I'm able to swing my body over the railing, dropping heavily to the deck where I remain, gasping for painful breath. Now that we're out of direct harm, my adrenaline subsides and the pain increases. Teeth clenched, I focus instead on the cold sensation of my wet clothes covering my skin. It's unpleasant, but takes my mind off of the pain.

"O..of course Ms. Kestrel." I say, startled by her aggression, but not offended. Clearly her feelings for Litch’s wellbeing run deep.

I wonder if anyone at all would plead for me if I were in Litch’s situation.

Up until today, I’ve frequently been sought for my capabilities of providing others with medicinal remedies, or considerate hospitality; however, the horrific situations of this evening have made it apparent that I seem to have an almost supernatural capacity for helping in dire situations. My fear at this moment is that my ability to do such feats is feeding off of me somehow. Is that even possible? Am I consuming my own happiness to aid others? Is misfortune my reward for trying to elevate those around me?

What if my luck has run out? What if I’ve no happiness left to give?

I look at Litch’s strange wound. Perhaps what remains of a salve I keep with me could tide him over? It contains several medicinal properties from my private garden.

No matter what, I’ll do my best to try to help Litch here. As Kestrel's grip loosens, I move to Litch to do what I can.

I keep an eye on the dark water, but turn to look at the others. Litch is hurt worse than he let on as I helped him up... tough bastard didn't even complain. Glad Edmund is here for 'im.

Kestrel's... on edge.

"Let's keep it cool," I say quietly... also noting that nobody's filled me in yet, "what the frell hit him?" I gesture towards Litch... I haven't seen anything like that. And I've been around. "And what's whatever-the-frell-it-is doin' at the Tower?"

Dinero... I gotta get Dinero... disaster isn't it.

I don't want to distract Edmund, so I ask Kestrel. Maybe I can distract her and calm her down, "I take it we can't think of the Tower as a safe harbor given the current situation?"

I open my eyes as I feel strong, yet tender fingers spread a substance over my chest. "Thanks, Eddie." I rasp. I can hear Canary firing off questions and being ignored. When Kestrel questions Sterling, I close my eyes again. "I doubt it, Kes. His first rule is to do no harm, remember? Just tell us you didn't actively help him, Ed. There are enough people still breathing who don't deserve to, mate."

I’m so focused on Litch’s wound that I don’t really register the words that Kestrel is saying. I hear Litch talking too. After a long pause, I piece together that they are curious to the status of Kamae and my role in that.

I cover the salve and slip it back into my pocket. It’s still dark at this hour, and the chill is setting in from the wind and sea. Not to mention my suit jacket is now covering the bloody Fountaineer. My fitted dress shirt and vest have little to offer in the way of warmth. I take a deep breath, trying to find some comfort, but the chill just sets its teeth in deeper.

"I’m sorry." I look from Kestrel to Litch as I confess. "While you’re mistaken about my having a rule in which I refrain from harm, Mister Litch, I don’t believe that killing Kamae was the right thing to do there. However, I’m terribly sorry you were wounded so gravely on my behalf. Killing them may have been the easy thing to do. Or the safe thing. Or I could be wrong - and maybe killing them will turn out to have been the right decision to make."

I stand and offer a hand to help Litch stand so we can go offer our thanks to Canary.

"You say there are 'enough people breathing who don’t deserve to', and I’m afraid I can’t tell what makes someone deserving of life or not. I’d appreciate your input on the matter, though I may not adopt your stance."

I accept the proffered hand and rise to my feet, back hunched slightly as the pain, though muted, still exists. I listen politely to Edmund's ramblings. He's a good man. Naïve and longwinded, perhaps, but good. Someone ought to keep him safe so he doesn't lose that quality. He may be right. The Gray Wing is never late, nor early. Death comes precisely when it's meant to. And sometimes we help it along. And I'm still breathing. Perhaps I should have taken the cat for my sigil.

"That's fine, lad." I clap an arm on his shoulder, my tell-tale gesture of camaraderie. "I'll explain it to you when you're older." I turn away from him and tip the brim of my hat to Canary. "Thanks for the rescue, lass. Mind swinging around near the other side of the docks? Our skis our moored there and it's time we headed home."

Turning back to Edmund, I say, "The Roost can be your temporary sanctuary, Ed. The Refuge is grand, but you don't have your sea legs yet. Plus," I add. "I'm sure Shrike would like to see you again."