Say goodbye to the light...

🧪 ~ Experiment #42 ~ 🧪 (Artem Podrez)

"... A little damage is okay. It's not like INTERPLAN won't repair it. To an extent. And damn right you're counting on me, I'm counting me too. I mean, I know my own capabilities, as well as those of my own equipment."

Moronic, overconfident platitudes aside, Nero had to be a little honest. Mainly because while he did have field experience with combat, he was still an ass-paralyzing coward.

"Platitudes aside, I'll be honest: I've seen live combat. But I'm not above a... tactical retreat. On occasion."

It was like he took his own writer's comedic description and paraphrased it to make himself sound cooler. In any case, Nero managed to get close enough that the shuttle would remain within the stolen battleship's forcefields, but unnoticed. He started programming the onboard telepad to punt them both aboard in an area no one would think to patrol regularly: a library. Just a whole cabin filled with data devices and more old fashioned books.

"Now we work our way through..."

The woman then raised a brow when Nero was talking a bit more honest about his own capabilities. He has seen live combat? Huh, that sounded as if the tactical retreat wasn't just beeing used on occasion. But at least he was being honest here. Lilli really wasn't going to judge him if he wasn't really good at combat. But she needed to know so she can keep an eye on the technician so he won't get himself killed.

" Hm~ Alright, I see. Vell, zhere is no shame in a tactitcal retreat one in a vhile~! I just hope it doesn't involve leaving me hanging later. Zhat could make getting dinner after a little awkward~! "

And anything that happens after dinner included. But for now, Lilli rather focused on the mission. She had to admit that Nero did a pretty good job at bringing them as close as possible to the warship. And he even managed to teleport them into an area where none of the pirates seemed to linger around. Now they just need to-

" Holy shit! Are zhose books?!? "

The lone spacefarer immediately went to pick up one of the old fashioned books in the room and starts to browse through it. It's a rare thing to have an actual book in her hands. Most is written on data devices these days. So Lilli can't but be excited.

It was definitely going to give her much to think about until the next shadow practice session. Erica watched Lilli intently as she chose to ignore her offerings. The truth was hydration and snacks were not up for debate.

"Yes. I call them portals because real shadow doors are supposed to have a nice swirl. We just came through one and I opened a tiny one in my hat so I can grab things from home. They say it's something hard to master, but I've been using them for years."

Though it was nice to know now her powers had always been with her and she wasn't beginning to turn into a more messed up zombie. Erica had been happy so far with that turn of events. Some shadow users apparently struggled with the concept of having that sort of power, thinking it meant they were intrinsically evil. She saw nothing wrong with it. After all, darkness was part of nature as well.

"Yes! They're the most vicious mittens and they're really good when you really shouldn't touch your opponent."

Such as in Five's case. Erica watched as Lilli kindly set up the watermelon for annihilation.

"So, it turned out Five can fly and we had to have this whole fight all the way up there with him. He's really strong, though. He kept up even when he was alone against all of us. But then we got him right where we wanted him and we squished him!"

A couple of shadowy platforms made their appearance to help Erica gain the high ground between flips and leaps. The shadow paw stretched further before it came down hard on the fittingly green target, landing without a scratch a moment later.

"And with 'we' I mean Antonio, his magic beans and I. You should have seen him. He had a war cry and all!"

She of course found it very endearing. But to finish her demonstration, the shadowy paw was raised to reveal a perfectly sliced watermelon.

"Do you want some?"

People told her how that looked like when she does that. When she steps into the shadows, it looked like as if they swallowed her whole before she was completely gone from sight. With no trace of her or the shadows left. No doors nor portals.

" Oh! It is a hard zhing to master for sure! Took me a long time to figure it out as vell. I usually let zhe shadows bring me stuff instead of me opening up any portal or something like zhat. "

It was actually pretty interesting to talk to someone who has the same or a very similar magic like herself. Shadowmagic wasn't exactly a common thing. At least not from what she knew.

Lilli also listened closely when Erica talked about their fight with Five. What? Poison magic and now the guy can fly too? Ugh, how bothersome. Hm, from what she had heard, they weren't out to kill the hunter. So that made her wonder how quickly the fight would have been over if they had actually wanted to kill Five.

" Heh, I vould have loved to see it! Zhough I guess I can imagine given zhat I have seen his magic beans before. "

The mage said while watching Erica as she got into the air and sliced the watermelon up. And at the reveal of the perfectly sliced up fruit, she started clapping.

" Zhat vas amazing! Heh, if you had wanted to, I bet zhat hunter vould have been just as perfectly sliced I assume. "

A shame she hadn't done it.

" And sure! Guess zhis little kitty also wouldn't say no to some juicy watermelon~ "

Rex nodded. Better to know a little bit than nothing at all. But it did make him a little sad. Mersharks were probably fine as solitary creatures. He could relate: He wasn't 100% about Nypardia 24/7. He had his own life and other pursuits. But he did still want to honor that place and its culture as best he could. Even if he had a complicated relationship with his Assembly-family.

The image that pops up in her head at the tought of a boat that could fly like a bird looked... very far from reality. But they, apparently the sharkmer got a general idea of what he was saying now.

" Hmmmmm.... Why did your people come here? And have you ever been in your peoples home place before? "

A valid question is it not? Perhaps they were a little like her kind. No set home place. Always travelling. She too wandered off from the place she was born after being born and left on her own.

But being called 'cool sea creature', and yes she knew what that meant, Lilli gave him a big sharp toothed smile. And the mighty part made her feel so proud suddenly.

" Heh~ Yes, yes! We are pretty cool! And humans are always sooooo easily scared! They usually run away when they catch only a glimpse of us! "

She isn't only refering to mersharks but also to normal sharks. It's basically the same to her in the end.

" And I have seen a lot! I can dive pretty deep if I want to! And done? Hmmmmm.... Oh! I did sink this boat that was killing sharks once! Ripped those humans right to shreds! "

It was probably best not to dwell on that topic for too long though. Russell just didn't want to have to think about it. Hopefully Lilli wouldn't mind if he tried to subtly move on to nicer subjects.

"I, I don't doubt you'd, you'd give, give them an, an amazing ex-example of, of that," Russell said.

He still hoped that for Lilli's sake, she would never run into Five or Ratchet, even if she could hold her own. Just because someone could, it didn't mean they should have to. But then Russell awkwardly reached to tug at a sleeve.

"Heh, I'm, I'm still, still baffled that, that they, that they actually fell, fell for it to be honest," Russell said, "Then again, my, my brother's presence might, might have helped as well. He's. he's got, got some, some experiences in, in his past."

The Twins had seemed pretty starstruck over meeting The Pervert Mangler, as the papers had called him; Travis' title was one he wore with pride.

"I'm, I'm sure they'll, they'll realise later that, that I just, I just do, do this for, for a living and, and some-sometimes stream gameplay or, or drumming," Russell said, "Heh, and, and feel a, a little silly."

Although it was good to know that he could bribe them again if he needed their services for any reason.

"No, no problem, I'll, I'll get, get that made for, for you right away," Russell said, with a little nod. That was a simple drink to get put together.

But then his eyes widened a little with surprise, before he smiled.

"Th-thank you. I, I can, I can def-definitely do that," Russell said, as he got the two cups and the coffee ready.

It wasn't long before the scent of the brewed coffee wafted about in the air around them. The milk was steamed, syrup was pumped, and then the steaming cups were placed down. One was for Lilli, and one for Russell. On Lilli's, Russell had made the shape out of a cat on latte art, and used a dusting of powdered chocolate to give it a little face.

And while Lilli also didn't said it out loud, neither in front of Russell nor her other friends, she would so like to meet that Five and his little henchmen. Not just to give them a piece of her mind. They hurt her friends. They hurt Bill. And while she isn't showing it, the desire to beat the living shit out of them was big. If not more...

" Ah? Your brother? I zhink you mentioned him before! Zhe cheesy one, yeah? "

Well, Lilli thought about his oldest brother that he had mentioned before. She kinda forgot the fact that he had more than one at least... And didn't knew that the oldest of them was not there anymore... Made her wonder though what kind of past experience that brother of his had... with those kinda people even!

Then the mage smiles when seeing his surprise at her order. And when he scent of fresh coffee hit her nose, she can't but let out a content sigh. One of her favorite smells to this day. She also watched curiosly how Russell prepared the drinks. Of course she can make those too. But there is something special about having someone else make them for you.

" Oh my god! Is zhat a cat?!? Zhat's so fucking cuteeeee!! "

But a thing she was never good at was making latte art. That hadn't been her forte. So seeing this from Russell, and a cat even, made her even more excited. It was almost to pretty to drink! The woman quickly takes a photo of it, before taking her cup.

" Zhank you! It looks and smells amazing! And I hope you enjoy your own too~ "

Lilli says with a smile and places down the money, plus a little extra as tip, down on the counter. Just then Lilli finally takes a sip from the drinks.

"It's...uh...kinda a long story." Truth be told, out of everyone in Nevada, the Sheriff was probably one of the least threatening people there. He's more likely to run and hide than actually kill someone.

"...Hank and I used to date. And he's been pissed at me ever since I broke up with him. Bein' the sheriff it kinda looks bad on me if I'm dating a criminal. I'm not really surprised he didn't mention it before. He refuses to acknowledge it ever happened. Buuuut...he did also kill me. So."

Huh, this has gotten awkward pretty quickly.

" Oh... Vell. I mean... Zhis is kinda awkward now... Kinda shitty reason zhough to break up vith him. At least in my opinion. And- Vait, vhat? "

When the Sheriff mentioned that Hank had killed him, the woman starts to obviously look him up and down while raising a brow.

" You look pretty alive to me zhough.... But I mean... getting killed sure is a more valid break-up reason. "

"Eh...not really." Technically he did have a home. He just didn't feel like like should be going back there because it wasn't all that far from his parents' home. And his family loved dropping by for visits. And that wouldn't be good when there's some shadyass organisation on his tail.

"I just need somewhere to stay out from the rain for tonight." Not that there was any rain forecasted tonight.

Forgive her that accidental pun. Schatten then tilted her head at his answer. He wasn't homeless? Then why was he looking for a place to stay for the night? And there wasn't even any rain! It didn't even looked like it was suppose to rain this night! Hm, she could only guess...

" Hmmmmmm~ If you aren't homeless, zhen vhy not going home? Did you angered your girlfriend perhaps? "

A pause. And she adds:

" Or boyfriend! "

But then the vigilante simply shrugs, no matter what his answer is gonna be. She can show him one of the abandoned places where he can stay. She was on her way home anyway and didn't had anything else to do. So Schatten gestured the man to follow her... Though she did look back a few times if he was actually doing so.

" Alright, fineeeee~ Come on, Mister mysterious~! I vill show you a nice dry place~ "