Fandom Star-Crossed Striders | HSR

[Marlowe]

Noxsky Drowns, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Early evening
48 system hours until annihilation...

The oxygen she had sucked into her lungs in had turned into icy knives that burred deep within her chest.

Wet, yellow orbs stared back at her with radiating malice from the depths of the blackwood. A deep rumble thrummed through the crisp, twilighting breeze and echoed within Lark's ears. The shadow that had lounged out from the waxy thicket of leaves reared its bulk up onto its back legs, its two pairs of thick, talon-lined claws hanging clumsily from its broad shoulders as it took another step towards her. Its pensive growl heightened in pitch, a series of clicks emitting from the beast as it swiveled its eerily conical head to peer at her with its two pairs of eyes that shone like malignant stars. The Quarry loomed before her, long tongues slithering from its serrated beak, pressing ever closer-- and Lark still couldn't move from where she stood, frozen in place. Her prominent hand glided over the cool shaft of her throwing spear as her fingers twisted for a proper grip. She had to move, move--

"Move!"

A whip cut through the air, its edged tip licking towards the Quarry with all of the precision of an arrow. The beast whooped in fury and raised one of its bear-like paws to block the deadly blow, but the whip's bladed sides tore straight through its padded palm, sending a spray of dark blood onto the forest floor and forcing a screech of pain from the monster's throat before the whip whizzed about its girthy neck. Its hellish hide was far too matted for the bladewhip to cut through, but the strength of its wielder had obviously caught the Quarry off-guard. Lark watched as her ally, a blond young man that had seemingly materialized from the underbrush, heaved on his end of the whip and caused the Quarry to stagger to one side. The male's cat-like leer darted towards her.

"Lark!!"

The desperation behind his voice jolted her out of her stupor. Lark tore her spear out of its container and raised it over her head. Its smooth steel hilt weighed nearly nothing in her hand, even less so when she twirled it about her fingers and aimed the spearhead towards the writhing thing's chest. Her breathing slowed, her heartbeat leveled out, and mere seconds slipped by. An ethereal wind, pale-hued but shining bright in the depths of Noxsky Drowns, blistered about her before it engulfed the cold steel. The heaviness of the spear vanished from her hand as it shot through the void and splintered off into three pallid bolts. The first blasted a hole through the Quarry's right shoulder as the two others burrowed into its side. More of its ichor splattered onto the floor as its screams echoed through the black skies above. Its suffering drove Lark into a frenzy. Her teeth grit together as she heaved another barrage of wind spears in its direction. The wind spears blasted straight through the Quarry's pointed head, silencing its agony as gelantinous globules of gore rained down upon the ebon-hued leaves and roots.

Whatever quiet that fell over the forest cast a curse upon Lark's body. Her stomach churned, threatening to expel its contents where she stood. Vapor spilled out into the air in violent puffs as her chest heaved. She... almost died. She had come here to hunt, and she almost died! She was a damn fool. She should have heard the Quarry prowling about, but she didn't. And if wasn't for...

"Lark."

Lark turned on her heel. The Foxian boy in front of her had already reholstered his whip and was now staring hard at her, his arms crossed about his chest. His pointed, crimson ears twitched as his yellow gaze lingered upon her, unnerving her to the core. She glanced away, ashamed.

"Zhou Meng... I don't know what came over me," she stammered, "I should've--"

"But you didn't," he snapped as he pointed a judgemental finger towards her. "And for that, you almost perished."

"Zhou--"

"What if you were at the head of a hunting party, hmm? You would have not only gotten yourself killed, but your men as well. And then what would've happened? Our village would've been down a dozen hunters, and the Quarry would've gained more miles yet of territory."

Lark's tongue soured in her mouth. How she wanted to escape Zhou Meng's scathing glare... but there was no running from the top hunter in the heartland. All she could do was swallow whatever pride she had left and hang her head in shame. She averted her eyes to the soiled grounds, licking her dried lips. "I... am sorry, Captain Zhou Meng. There's no defending myself for what I've done."

A long moment passed. A night bird chirped in the distance. Flies began to buzz about the mangled corpse of the Quarry.

"You're forgiven for now," Zhou Meng broke the silence with a disappointed sigh. "Take the beast's head-- it'll serve as good stock for the stew tonight."

"Sir!" called a voice from the treeline. A young girl's head popped out from the bush, her features bright with fear. "IPC ships on the horizon! You're needed back-- ASAP!"

Lark's head snapped up towards the Foxian captain who had bared his teeth at the bitter news. IPC ships, in Biastea? Now, of all times? The sun was about to go down! That would mean they would have to serve them dinner, as was customary, and she certainly didn't want to be around for that. But Zhao Meng was already glaring at her again, jabbing his chin in the direction of the scout. "Leave the Quarry. Scout ahead for the others. We need to get back, now."

Her legs carried her forward before she could even think.

---

---

---

---

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

For the first time in the entirety of Lark's life, Stonehearth's dining halls were deathly quiet. And cramped. Insanely cramped. Especially now that there were faceless IPC guards lining the walls of the wooden shack that was meant to house twenty, maybe thirty individuals at once. Their rifles took up even more space, which meant that Lark had to tuck her elbows in so she could properly eat her watery soup. Her amber eyes flickered towards the front of the room, closest to the door. A few rows of benches had been aptly lined up next to one another to provide enough room for several higher ranking IPC members to take a seat near the hearth. Among them was a strange young man with a shock of white hair and eyes that pierced through her the first time she caught sight of him-- when the ships touched down at the shabby landing strip at very edge of Stonehearth. The IPC soldiers were always huddled about him... he had to be important, especially since Captain Zhao Meng was seated across from him. Lark spotted the narrowing of the Foxian man's brow as his hands clasped before his lips. Whoever this stranger was, he was causing the captain much stress.

Whatever hunger that once riddled her belly had been whittled away by the tension that permeated the room. She rose up from her seat, nearly elbowing a wary scout in the face as she turned about to stride towards Captain Zhao Meng's flank. At her approach, some of the IPC men turned their heads in her direction, but made no move to stop her. She had taken her place at Zhao Meng's side, and he simply acknowledged her with a tense flick of his bushy tail. His unwavering golden eyes reflected the fire of the hearth as he stared straight at the white-haired man who was dressed oh-so-differently than the rest of the armored IPC soldiers.

"It's not every day that we get visitors. Tell me, why are you here?"

Lark's gaze fell back on the strange individual. There was something about him that she didn't like-- he didn't seem as battle-hardened as the rest of his men. He reminded her of the kings within her storybooks, who only ruled from a throne and have never seen a day of bloodshed. Her eyes hardened into a glare as a frown creased her lips, the warmth of the fire curdling the heat that steadily built up in her stomach.

"Best show Captain respect. Just 'cause you're all dolled up in fancy suits and armor doesn't mean you're worth your skin," Lark blurted out before she could stop herself. Zhao gave her a look of warning, but said nothing. She didn't care. She'd back up her brother, even against these outsiders with their fancy guns and fancy hair.

 

[Serei2477]

Planet Biastea's Orbit
Early evening
48 system hours until annihilation...

--------

A manila folder laid open in front of him with various papers scattered across the elegant black table. A man appearing to be in his early to mid 20s gazed over the text, a look of stoicism ever present. His hair was white and stylized, his eyes a touch more silver than the strands that rested on his head. He wore a navy blue button up shirt with a black vest adorned with shiny blue gems. His slacks matched his vest, though had a blue gem where the hem of his pants met the tops of his blue and silver shoes. They were clean and polished, much like the rest of him. Hanging on the chair behind him was his large black and blue coat lined with silver.

'You must look the part~', his boss had always told them. The ten stonehearts were the cream of the crop, and so, must look it. Lazuli himself wouldn't dare walk around looking like he lived under the bridge, and with enough funds to support his lifestyle, he wouldn't have to.

Lapis Lazuli had been given the task to come to Biastea for a debt collection. They'd borrowed a good sum of credits, reason not listed, and now it was time for him to make his monthly run. It was the same song and dance for the IPC with multiple planets just like the one below him. Some planets used their loan wisely and ended up paying back their debt in no time, while others... weren't so wise. Such as Biastea.

This wasn't the first time Lazuli had come to this planet in particular, and by the looks of their outstanding charges, it wouldn't be the last.

Though he had to wonder... What did the planet do with the money they were loaned if they still lived so primitively? Had their leader gone and gambled it all? Was it used to pay another debt?

It didn't matter, did it? In the end, they owed money and he was there to collect.

"Sir!" An IPC grunt stood at attention in front of him, lance at his side. "The ship is ready for touchdown, at your command."

Lazuli simply waved his hand at him, eyes still glued to the reports. "Go ahead. I should be finished by the time we leave."

"Yes sir!"

With that, the grunt ran off to deliver the order, leaving Lazuli to his devices.

Just another day of business...

----------

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

Tension filled the air heavily since the moment the doors of the IPC ship welcomed him to Biastea.

The planet was... to put it kindly, a shithole.

Lazuli had been to an array of different planets, each with various levels of culture, architecture, and technology. Most of his stays were pleasant. The people always knew who he was, why he was there, and he would see who he would need to see promptly. Sometimes he might even take a bit of leisure time to explore the area a bit and see what they developed with the loan they took. When the money was handled well, it always became something beautiful, and the profits that came with it were nothing to scoff at.

Being on Biastea only made him want to go back to the other planets.

He and his soldiers had been received and informed that they would be leading them to the dining hall and a complimentary dinner would be served. Lazuli politely declined their kind gesture, informing them that they would not be here long enough to enjoy such a feast anyway.

Not like anything they served would be worthy of his palette.

Their "dining area", by the looks of it, was nothing more than a wooden shack whose handiwork left a lot to be desired. The citizens were seated elbow to elbow at the tables eating what looked to be colored water. Looking at the slop, Lazuli knew he'd made the right choice. He didn't even have to look at his soldiers to know they had no appetite for the "dinner" on the table either.

Lazuli took his seat, crossing one leg over the other as he stared at the man he'd come to see. Captain Zhao Meng; a foxian man with a gaze of gold. Compared to him, Lazuli looked like royalty. A fitting contrast.

Judging by his body language, he was nervous. Tense.

'As he should be.' Lazuli thought to himself, his gaze unwavering on the other. It was psychological warfare between the two without a word being said. The man across from him held a higher rank, had seen more bloodshed and battles than Lazuli had, surely. In a hand-to-hand brawl he could take Lazuli down no problem.

And yet, the white haired man was stoic. Calm, and collected. Zhao was in control of his people, but at this moment, he was nothing. And Lazuli would make sure he knew that.

That is, until he heard movement that strode from their place until the source perched themselves right next to the captain's side. A blonde woman by the looks of it, with eyes of a hunter. She looked like she'd stab Lazuli at any moment, but he heeded her no mind.

If she wanted to show her support, then fine. The power imbalance did not change.

The captain began the meeting with a question, one Lazuli thought was obvious but a necessary one to move things along. But before things could go underway, the silent woman at the captain's side spoke up.

"Best show Captain respect. Just 'cause you're all dolled up in fancy suits and armor doesn't mean you're worth your skin,"

His gaze trailed over to the woman for only a second before going back to the captain. He'd completely dismissed her, and barely gave her a glance to acknowledge what she'd said.

He wasn't getting paid to speak to her after all.

"If you can't control your peanut gallery, I'll have to mark your planet as hostile in my reports as per protocol." He explained to the Captain, his icy stare never leaving the other's. "Physical and verbal abuse is not tolerated in a professional environment, but I'll be generous and give you your first and only warning."

With that, the white haired man leaned back into the chair, keeping his eyes on Zhao Meng. Lazuli's stoicism never changed, making it harder for Zhao or Lark to read what he was thinking.

"I'm here to give you an opportunity to pay this month's payment early, otherwise I'll return within 48 hours to collect." He began, "Of course you could always pay in full now. You still have time to avoid the interest rate."

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

The man's voice cut through the tense silence like frost on a quiet morning. Lark bristled at his words as she leaned slightly over Zhao Meng and slammed down a heavy hand against the dark wood of the table as her mouth opened, at the very edge of launching a heated retort. "Why you--!"

Zhao Meng's glower smothered the words in the depths of her throat. Lark's shoulders tensed, and her fingernails burrowed into the woodwork of the table before she straightened her back. She hated being quiet. She hated standing by and doing nothing while this man sat there, refusing their food and referring to them as if they were ignorant mongrels. She would like to see him in their shoes. He would never survive out in the wilds. Maybe they should just throw him out into the Noxsky Drowns and see if he lived through the night. The corner of Lark's lip curled upwards as she took delight in his imaginary suffering. However, those thoughts soon ebbed away once she caught sight of Zhao Meng paling at the presentation of the Stoneheart's direct question. It was enough for Lark's chest to tighten as the atmosphere in the room became even heavier than before.

"Let me reiterate how much we appreciate the IPC's generosity when it comes to aiding such a small, umimpressing planet such as ours. The 500 million credits you lent us were highly beneficial to our elders," Zhao's voice was firm, though Lark could see the beginnings of sweat trickle down the side of his face. He cleared his throat before continuing. "So much so that they took the money and bolted once we had our backs turned. Where they are now, no one knows for certain, but we are confident that they left the planet not long after their betrayal. I've been left in charge since then, training whoever is willing to pick up a sword and fight against the beasts that threaten to wipe out our people."

There was a stir across the row of IPC soldiers. Lark glanced nervously back towards their scouts, who had taken a break from their feasting and instead turned their full attention to the conversation at the head of the room. Some of them looked angry. Others shoulders deflated as they chose to stare down at the floorboards. Even the warriors, young men and women with whom she fought alongside in the abyssal depths of the Noxsky Drowns, averted their gazes in shame once they noticed her staring. They were the only ones left. The only ones that held some sliver of hope for a better life.

Zhao Meng chuckled, obviously trying to make light of their dour situation. "As you can see, our people are fighters. We don't plan on losing hope that easily. That's why I'm going to be bold and ask you for another loan-- this one smaller than before. One hundred million. If not, fifty. I promise you, Lazuli, that we'll be able to pay you back twice-- thrice, even-- the original amount before the end of the year. We just need the IPC to give us another chance."

And then, Lark witnessed her adoptive brother do something that he hardly ever did before. He bowed, lowering his head so much so that his forehead nearly touched the table. She clenched her fists at his shameless display, knowing full well that bowing so deeply was a common sight on the nomadic ships of the Xianzhou Alliance, where people who had lost their honor lowered themselves until they were almost flat against the ground as they begged for forgiveness. It was enough to make her breath stifle on the hot lump that formed in her throat.

"Please, Lazuli. We will not fail you again."

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

Silver eyes stayed on the woman, daring her to continue her outburst. He was more annoyed that he would need to make sure these outbursts were recorded in the transcription of the meeting for their records. Then he'd need to have to sign off on it, make copies, put it into the system, then have Diamond sign off on it... It was a whole hassle that could easily be avoided if the woman would just keep her mouth shut unless she had something actually important to say.

Thankfully, the captain was able to keep her quiet with a glance.

That's when Lazuli heard the explanation about what happened to the money lent to this planet. The elders had gotten the loan and abandoned their planet to deal with the consequences. The stoneheart's gaze broke from the captain's momentarily to take a look at the others in the room, catching the citizens' varied reactions of anger, shame, and disappointment... Then the captain asked for another loan; one for 50 million at the minimum. He'd even gone so far as to bow his head so low that Lazuli was just about able to see the nape of his neck. From what he'd heard of their culture, it was an act of apology and humility. In other words, the man wasn't outright saying it, but showing that he was begging for this loan.

Lazuli stayed quiet as he gathered his thoughts, calculating his next move... Then, he spoke.

"Tell me," He began, "How do you plan to accomplish such a grand feat when your planet is unimpressive at best? The only planet I could believe to accomplish something like that would be the land of dreams itself and, as I'm sure you know, that planet is far more developed in just about every single way."

An IPC grunt had more business sense in their pinky than Captain Zhao did his entire body, that Lazuli was certain of. The planet itself was uninspiring at best, and to turn it into anything worthwhile, they would need to tear down everything these cavepeople worked for and rebuild from scratch. Not only that, but judging from what the captain had said regarding "the beasts that threaten to wipe out our people", they would need to go through the trouble of eliminating a dangerous and invasive species.

The IPC was better off just waiting for those beasts to wipe out this civilization then take over the planet once it was up for grabs.

"Promises mean nothing to me, Captain Zhao. And neither does your excuse." His hands crossed in front of his lips, the dazzling gold and silver rings on his fingers shining while the colorful embed jewels sparkled when the light hit them just right. "If you're serious about the loan, the man you want to ask is Ruby of Credits, but... even if you begged or offered favors, your only saving grace would be if your signature is not on the original loan agreement or if you had something to actually show for the previous one... You realize how this looks, yes?"

Lazuli was certain he'd made his point. This caveman was promising to make 10 times the profit of 50 million credits when the man had probably never seen concrete before. What, was he planning to run off too?

He knew Ruby had his reasons to sign off on such a loan to planet of hardly civilized cavepeople, ones Lazuli didn't understand. Perhaps Ruby gave the loan because he knew the citizens would never be able to pay it back, thus allowing them to seize the planet once it was time to collect? That did sound plausible...

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

It was evident that Lazuli wasn’t pleased with them. What could they expect from greedy corporate snakes like the IPC? The only thing they cared about was profit; they didn’t give two damns about commonfolk of people who were down on their luck. Lark seethed in her spot, wishing that she could just throw herself across the table and wring the pretty boy’s neck in frustration. It wasn’t their fault that the elders had abandoned them to their fate. It wasn’t Zhao Meng’s fault that they were practically alone on this planet!

It took a few long moments for Zhao to lift his head. Although he never looked his two hundred-and-fifty years, it was now when fatigue had gotten the best of him. Lines had formed beneath his eyes, and his bright gaze had dulled to a mundane yellow. His lips had creased in a deep frown and he shook his head slowly, as if he hadn’t any energy for even a subtle movement. ”I’ll look over the ledgers and see what paperwork was left behind,” he muttered. ”All I ask of you is that you give me a day. Two, even. I promise we can come up with something by then.”

Lark stared down at him in disbelief. ”Captain– Zhao…!”

”One must always settle their debts.” Zhao told her, though he had raised his eyes to meet Lazuli’s anew. ”For now, make yourselves at home. It’s late, and the nights here get cold. It’s best if everyone turns in for the night. Lark,” he finally turned towards her, ”escort Lazuli to his sleeping arrangements.”

Why me? Lark wanted to exclaim, but Zhao had read through her. His lips pursed together as his dull gaze momentarily steeled, as if to further assert his command. Lark scoffed, turning on her heel and practically storming towards the front of the dining hall. She could feel the eyes of her brothers-in-arms boring into the back of her head as she arrived at the doorway. The door swung open into the darkening night and let in a deathly chilly breeze that made the hearthfire flicker. She turned to glower at Lazuli, all of the hate that brewed within her finally spilling into the fire in her eyes. All she uttered was a singular word. “Follow.”

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

Captain Zhao's tale of woe may have tugged the heartstrings of certain grunts, and it wouldn't surprise Lazuli if the weaker ones wanted to donate a few credits to the cause. The higher ranked soldiers knew better than to blindly believe what they were told.

The story was well and good, but there was always a chance for dishonesty. Especially when they spin the tale to make it not their fault. Lazuli was not going to be taken for a fool, nor would he show any weakness. The most he would do is provide them their options, but he would not provide a way out.

Wait, had he heard that right?

Sleeping arrangements? In this shithole? And they would be sending the noisy woman to show him those accommodations?

He was almost amused. So were they planning to corner and kill him? Maybe slice open his neck while he slept in whatever hay stack they assigned as his bed?

They were delusional if they thought he wouldn't sleep on the IPC ship, but he would at least humor them. Just what did they deem acceptable for a visitor, he wondered?

The angry woman waited by the entrance and demanded that he follow. Lazuli gave her a little scoff, but uncrossed his legs and stood from his seat. He seemed undisturbed by the blaring hatred in her eyes.

"Keep an eye out." He told the IPC soldier close to him, who gave him a nod in acknowledgement to the command.

With that, Lazuli walked up to the woman, the stoneheart standing about a head taller than her.

"Come on then."

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

Lark's eyes narrowed at Lazuli's approach, her lip curling slightly as she realized she had to look up at the bastard. Now that he was closer, she realized that he was actually quite young. If he was older than her, it definitely wasn't by much-- maybe a year or two. A punk like him, thinking he was better than everyone else. By the Reignbow Arbiter, that shit pissed her off. But Zhao watched her warily from afar, and she stifled the venom that threatened to spill from her tongue. A light tsk left her lips as she spun around and led Lazuli out into the darkening streets.

Her kimono was thick enough to protect her from the night chill that had fallen over the cobblestone streets of Stonehearth. The small buildings on the side of the roads appeared smaller than ever underneath the starry sky above, though they maintained their homey charm with their flickering fireplaces and the candles that swayed at the windows. Warm vapor puffed out from her lips as she led him further down the road, down to where the trees began to cluster the gaps between the houses. Little by little, the the houses became more spaced apart, and sconces were placed alongside the path when the shadows and pines ran too thick. Crickets chirped and night birds sang out into the frosty air, slicing through the haunting quiet of the night. Eventually, they arrived at a larger homestead with stone steps leading up to the door. Though the windows were dark and void of any candlelight, Lark knew that the visitors' quarters was fit with a tub and a hearth for a warm fire. A house fit for a king and even more fitting for a pompous asshole.

Maintaining her swagger, Lark led the way up the stairs and threw open the wooden door. The dark room laid there, waiting. She turned to face him for the first time since their departure from the dining hall. Glowering, she took a moment to bow deeply towards him, as if she were a courtly maid escorting a lord to a castle. "Your suite, your Highness."

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

Lazuli paid attention to their surroundings as they passed through the Stonehearth's central, his shoes making light tapping sounds on the cobblestone path. The town itself reminding him of one of those medieval stories he read when he was a teenager. The candlelit streets, the shabby wooden homes, the cobblestone paths... If those beasts the captain had been talking about weren't a problem, they could have dressed this place into a "medieval experience" type of area. Or they could capitalize on the invasive beasts and invite people to come and hunt, then take home whatever they kill. Certainly hunters looking for sport would be willing to take them up on that?

You could sell anything if you were creative enough, though Captain Zhao didn't seem like the creative sort.

He shoved his hands into his coat pockets as the frosty air made itself known. They'd been walking for quite a bit now, it made Lazuli wonder if this woman really was taking him out back to kill him. He'd have to his phone to alert the guards in case she had any funny ideas...

Eventually they made it to a large house that seemed a little promising compared to the rest of the houses. It actually looked inhabitable, with a few features that made the area feel a little more relaxing. A place befitting a King... to cavemonkeys.

The woman bowed to him, welcoming him to what is supposed to be his room. The place, albeit better than the dining hall, was still much more primitive than what Lazuli was accustomed to. No electricity to get his work done, nor anything to pass the time with. He was also certain he wouldn't be able to sleep in this room for... reasons other than the woman standing next to him.

"The accommodations, as primitive as they are, have a nice feel to it. Your hospitality is impressive." He told the woman. "But I've been led here by someone who so obviously wants to kill me, so I'll be sleeping elsewhere. Thank you for your time, and feel free to take my place here if you want."

Lazuli took out his phone and sent a quick text to tell those still aboard the IPC ship to have the doors ready to open for when he or other soldiers arrived. If the woman didn't want to sleep here, then he could perhaps ask around and see if someone would be willing to trade warm food and electricity for the freedom of their own room for tonight. He doubted it, but it was worth a try.

"Oh, and one more thing. Do you know what Captain Zhao had planned to do with that money? Or how he plans to make his payments? I'm asking out of curiosity." He wanted to know if Captain Zhao even had a plan or if he was simply making false promises. This woman seemed close to him; a colleague? A friend? Wife, maybe? Regardless, she seemed to know more than the usual hunter.

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

Disappointment. That was the first thing that Lark saw upon the Stoneheart's expression, and Lark wasn't here for it. His presumptions only brought more ire to her features. Though his words were laced with honey, she could tell that he was being condescending. Straightening her back, she leered down at him with half-lidded eyes as her lip twisted into an irritated scowl. Just like the IPC to decline an extended hand. "Do you really think I'm that stupid to try to kill you? If I so much as raise a hand against you, your people will rain fire down on the forests," she muttered, putting a hand on her hip. "But if you really want to sleep in your fancy ship, you can go ahead and walk yourself over there. Hope you know the way back."

Of course, the man wouldn't leave without his fair share of questions. She raised a brow, huffing a long sigh into the cold night. "He wished to focus on rebuilding the homes and barracks first, then draft different types of revolutionary weaponry to fight the Quarry that plague our planet. And I don't know how he plans to repay you. Speaking of which, doesn't the IPC have enough money, anyway? Why come here and hound after us like beggars? Don't have anything else better to do?"

She knew she was jabbing at him without any distinct reason, but Lark figured it was best to let some hot air out before she went to sleep. She cocked her head down at Lazuli and huffed. "Must be a sad life, coming after planets like ours and hoping to ruin them. Does it ever keep you up at night?"

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
47 system hours until annihilation...

At the question of whether Lark thought she was stupid enough to actually try to kill him, he simply gave her a look that told her all she needed to know.

She was at least gracious enough to answer the question he hoped she would answer. And as Lazuli thought, the captain had planned to use the money to revitalize the civilization a bit and fight off the beasts that threatened them. In other words, purely for survival with no plan for some sort of way to bring in income... At least, that's what he had to assume until the captain decided to tell him what the big moneymaking plan was.

'Good luck trying to persuade Ruby into donating that much money to charity...' Lazuli thought to himself, knowing full well that Ruby would grace Captain Zhao with an automated rejection email while the first debt was still active.

Yet the woman kept going, seemingly taking jabs at the IPC and Lazuli himself. He waited for her to finish before he started talking.

"Your planet came to us first. Your planet agreed to the conditions. And your planet is expected to pay what it owes. Just like everyone else." His tone of voice calm, cool, and collected. Nothing Lark threw his way seemed to hit a nerve. "You might not know this, but to the rest of the more civilized planets it's common knowledge that someone who borrows money has to pay it back, even if it was stolen from them. The debt doesn't magically go away because you got screwed."

He turned on his heel and moved to head to the door, the tapping of his shoes following suit with each step. He paused at the doorway to look over his shoulder behind her.

"I hear your captain wants the money for the survival of this civilization, but I hear no plans for its prosperity. For its future. Does this planet intend to live this way for another 50 or so years before civilization advances and maybe starts repaying its debt? Why should I take pity on a planet that begs for charity when I'm not hearing their plans to help itself in the long run? So to answer your question, I sleep quite well."

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
46 system hours until annihilation...

Though the night felt void of any warmth, Lark found herself sweltering in the presence of the pale-haired wretch. Some might have found sense in his statements; hell, she might have as well, if she spent any more time on what he said. But she had promised herself that she wouldn't fall victim to his snake tongue, and Lark was stubborn. Her arms crossed together over her chest as her fiery amber gaze remained steadfast on the back of his head. She decided not to say a word-- a man who would imply that her people were uncivilized was someone that one couldn't be considerate with. To Lark, Lazuli was the white fox that conned a farmer out of their crop-- a white serpent that whispered sweet words to unsuspecting prey. And that was a person that Lark wanted to avoid at all costs.

His fancy shoes tip-tapped across the floor until he stopped at the doorway. Lark leered at him at his last remarks, a scoff coming from her tight lips as she rolled her eyes. "Sleep well, huh?" she mulled over his words as her hand rested on the door. A moment passed as she seemingly pondered his statements. How quaint-- the little white fox could actually sleep well at night after he had spent his days sucking the blood and hope from his victims. And with little remorse, as well! "Well. Best you head back to whatever hole your bed's in before you get frostbite. And watch out for the Quarry on your way there. They like picking off stragglers that travel these paths."

Lark gathered a thick glob of saliva within her mouth before she spit it at Lazuli's feet. Before he could so much as react, she heaved on the wooden door and slammed it shut. She wouldn't open it again, not even if he changed his mind and decided to stay the night. No, that snake could freeze out there. Or be eaten. She wouldn't care. Lark heaved a sigh as she rested her back against the door, sliding down its length until she sat on the wooden floor. Finally, the fire within her had fizzled out, leaving her wanting for warmth. Her eyelids grew heavy and her stomach sickened, and she drew her knees into her chest as she huddled into her kimono. The dark enveloped her, urging her to sleep. But she knew that tonight, it would never come. Her only company would be the cold and the dread of tomorrow.

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
46 system hours until annihilation...

As the woman gave her peace, Lazuli only heard a feeble attempt to have the last word.

She "hoped" he'd make it back to his hole and then spat at his shoes, the wad of disgusting saliva landing right in front of him before she slammed the door on his face. A pity she didn't spit on them; it would have forced him to report it to his superior and temporarily mark the planet as hostile. She had no idea the brute force that awaited her and her people if Lazuli so much thought that he was not safe.

Regardless, now was not the time to fantasize putting the tantrum throwing child in her place. It was normal for someone who felt so powerless to act out.

He started to walk back to familiar grounds, keeping his hands in his pockets and turtling his head into the warmth of his coat's collar. The snow... the dark night sky... It felt nostalgic in a way. It also felt like a pit had just formed in his stomach. Anger. Hatred. And perhaps a bit of guilt. He hated this damned feeling. It's been years and it still wouldn't go away...

Lazuli let out a sigh, the fog of his breath quickly turning into a cloud before evaporating into the air. The woman had mentioned the Quarry, and that they liked to stalk stragglers at this time at night... It intrigued the stoneheart, enough so that he listened carefully to his surroundings. Would he get to see one? He wanted to know what specifically these people were dealing with. If they were as dangerous as these people said, then did they have a night guard? Or hunters that worked around the clock?

Curious, curious...

He'd have to do some investigating.


----- The Next Day -----

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
35 system hours until annihilation...

The white haired man slept on the IPC ship in his appointed room for the evening. The room had a twin sized bed within the corner decorated with a pillow, white bed sheets, and a large black comforter that was soft to the touch. The bed frame was simple yet elegant in its design, with a matching nightstand, bookcase, and desk for work. The office chair itself seemed to be of a more expensive brand, one of which he knew the people at Biastea would lose their minds should they sit on it.

It was simple, but you know what it had? Electricity. Heat. A comfortable blanket.

Compared to the room the cavepeople tried to put him in, his IPC room was a room befitting an Aeon.

The following morning, he called the IPC grunts assigned to him for a quick meeting. He informed them that today, he wanted to investigate the beasts that roamed in the forests. He, much like everyone else, had heard that these specific beasts were threatening to wipe out the citizens and he wanted to measure their strength should the IPC need to exterminate them in the future. And so, he asked for volunteers.

No hands, unsurprisingly.

"I guess no one wants an extra 8 hours of PTO."

Just like that, multiple hands were in the air.

Lazuli selected 5 field personnel to accompany him and instructed them that he did not intend on invading their habitat more than they already were or killing anything unless absolutely necessary. He expected them to be with him at all times and to only leave if he personally instructed them to do so. If they left without informing him or shot without good reason, he would rescind the PTO. Lazuli also explained that there was potential for these beasts to be truly dangerous. They were free to back out now and he would choose another volunteer, but he would not give them the PTO.

The 5 personnel nodded and confirmed they wanted to continue.

With that, Lazuli instructed them to bring a pack with consumables, ammo, and anything else they'd need for exploration and protection. They were also told to keep their phones on them just in case something went arie. He instructed the Team Leader of his staff that he would have his phone's location shared with him in case Lazuli needed to ping them for an emergency.

With that, they were ready to begin.

Of course, they could have asked the captain if they had hunters willing to cooperate with the IPC's investigation, but why would Lazuli do that? He didn't trust any of these people and there was no guarantee that any of them would be willing to work with him after he showed no sympathy to their tale of woe. So long as they followed the IPC ship's location on their phones and made sure to not spin around in circles, they should be fine.

And knowing his luck, the captain just might send that rude woman from last night to play their "protector"...

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Afternoon
35 system hours until annihilation...

"WHAT?!"

Lark gawked at her brother, dumbfounded at his command. Zhao Meng sat behind his captain's desk as he fingered through a stack of papers. He didn't muster so much as a glance upwards as he sorted through them anew, separating them into two halves before plucking a yellowed sheet from the pile closest to them. His fingers tightened around the ridge of his nose, a muffled groan coming from his lips as he glanced over the words upon the page. From where she stood at the head of his desk, she could see the beginnings of bags under his eyes, and his crimson hair was ruffled and knotted. She wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't slept at all last night. Maybe he wasn't thinking right. He couldn't be, after he had asked her to--

"Keep an eye on Lazuli," Zhao grumbled, not bothering to tip his head up towards her in acknowledgement. "He decided to head off into the Noxsky Drowns with his men in tow. I'm not sure what he's planning, but we certainly can't have him getting killed out there, now can we?"

Lark's jaw remained slack for a moment longer before she forced her mouth shut. She rested her hands on Zhao's desk as she leaned towards him for emphasis while she sought the golden glint of his gaze. "Zhao... shouldn't we just let the Quarry have him? They can have their breakfast, and we don't have to--"

He finally looked at her. Lark was taken aback the anger that flared to life within his glower. "Sister," he began, the tone of his voice carrying an edge along with it. "If something happens to the Stoneheart, then we will all be held responsible. I'm trusting you with the task of keeping him safe. I would go in your place if I didn't have to rummage through all of this dusty paperwork, so let me restate: keep an eye on the boy and make sure that he isn't killed. Is that understood?"

Lark knew better than to stoke Zhao Meng's fire. Instead of uttering another word, she bowed her head low before she departed from his captain's quarters. Her body felt tense, pained; her chest hurt at the thought of having to deal with the Stoneheart again. There were other hunters that could go in her stead. The scouts could go, even. But Zhao wanted her to go-- the one with the blessing of Lan. Indispensible, adaptable, and highly prized among their ranks. She was the second and only of them that could deal with the Quarry nearly single-handedly. If there was anyone that could protect the Stoneheart-- protect her planet -- it was her.

Her realization didn't make the walk to the forest any other pleasurable. They had left behind tracks: footprints in the snow. Far too easy to follow and track down. Lark had entered the vicinity of the wood within the quarter hour, and heard their voices upon the wind before the half. She crested a small hill before she spotted them in a snow-covered clearing just before the treeline. The blonde woman let out a long whistle as she approached them, practically ignoring the presence of the gun-toting soldiers. "Wow, you guys really have a death wish, huh?" she asked, only coming to a stop right in front of Lazuli. She set a hand on her hip and raised a brow up at him, a snide smirk coming across her lips as she studied him from head to foot before her sight rested coolly upon his features. "If you wanted to feed yourself to the Quarry, I could have stuffed an apple in your mouth to make you more tasty-looking."

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
35 system hours until annihilation...

Lazuli had been doing last minute preparations with his men, making sure that all supplies were accounted for. He'd seen plenty of beasts and hostiles, but he'd never seen the "Quarry" the captain had been talking about. Asking the locals would result in nothing considering he was there to make them miserable. Why would any of them answer his questions? On top of that, Lazuli didn't feel like getting looks or cold shoulders today. The civilization was running out of time to give their first payment, after all.

Everything seemed to be going well. His soldiers all came prepared, seemed to have a good rest, eaten a full course meal, and were ready to work. All Lazuli needed to do now was mark their location and ensure they knew where they started and how to get back.

That's when they heard the long whistle. The personnel quickly aimed their sights and surveyed the premises, only to see a young woman walking right up to Lazuli.

Aeons above....

As much as Lazuli wanted to say otherwise..."Hold your fire, but don't let your guard down. Make sure the beasts aren't nearby."

The soldiers did as instructed, peering around the forest and watching for any slow or sudden movements. Meanwhile, Lazuli had the woman right in front of him, smirking at him like he was the stupid one. Silver gaze met hers, the practiced stoic gaze he always wore sullied with the angry twitch of his eyebrow.

"All we're going to do is a brief observation from afar with no intention to engage or intrude too far into their territory. Now run along before you throw another tantrum." He told her, staring her down. "And tell your captain we appreciate the thought, but he should send someone a little more... professional next time."

 

[Marlowe]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Afternoon
35 system hours until annihilation...

Sheesh, this asshole's bitchy face never changed, did it? Lark wondered if the guy ever smiled. Despite his stony facade, she could tell that he was more than upset at her presence. Even his voice sounded more tense than it was when she first spoke with him. She cocked her head up at him, meeting his stare quite evenly before a teasing laugh came from her lips. "What? You're not even going to go and see if you can find them?" she asked. There was a lilt to her words, almost as if she were mocking or belitting him for his hesitation in stepping too far into the Drowns. She reached out with her right hand, patting him roughly on the shoulder as she shook her head in pity. "Don't worry. You don't need to be scared anymore. Captain Zhao Meng sent me to protect you lovely ladies~"

She lowered her hand back to her side and turned away from Lazuli, sending a vicious glower over her shoulder as she took a few steps towards the treeline. "If you want to catch a sight of the Quarry, north's where you want to go. Guns aren't going to help you too much against them, either. They're all about adaptability. By the time you take aim and fire, you're already halfway down their throats," Lark explained as she steadily approached the thicket. Her eyes scanned the forest from the safety of the clearing, once again setting both of her hands on her hips. Lark wasn't sure why these idiots wanted to see the Quarry. Not only were they unpleasant to look at, but it wasn't like they knew what to expect when fighting them. Knowing their luck, they'd come across one with skin as hard as diamonds, or one that struck from the shadows... she heaved a hefty sigh and shook her head before she swiveled her body around to partially face the gathering of IPC soldiers and their leader. A wild grin came across her lips as she lifted an arm to point directly at Lazuli.

"Good thing you have me. My spears always find their mark. Stay close, pretty boy, and you won't get yourself killed."

By the grace of Lan, how Lark wanted to throw up. Still, if she was responsible for these goons' lives, she might as well have fun.

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Evening
35 system hours until annihilation...

Nothing good would come from saying anything he truly wanted to say to this manic little girl. If he stooped down to her level, she'd take pleasure knowing that she managed to get a reaction out of him.

Perhaps this was the captain's revenge for yesterday. But, as much Lazuli didn't want to admit it, he needed a hunter who was familiar with the landscape to guide him. That was why he took many preparations to ensure they would make it back safe. And now, looking at the personnel he brought with him, he could almost feel the doubt coming from them. The fear. The uncertainty about this mission now that the woman had poisoned their minds about the beasts.

But what if she was telling the truth? If guns didn't work, then why would he bring them to what was potentially their doom?

He wouldn't risk it.

And so, he turned to the personnel, and pointed them in the direction of the city. "Go back into Stonehearth and keep watch for my pings. I'll rendezvous with you once I'm finished."

The faceless personnel looked at one another, then to Lark, then back to their superior.

"Are you sure you'll be alright, Sir?" The one on the farthest left asked him.

"If something happens you know who is responsible." He didn't need to look at Lark for them to know he was talking about her. Lazuli could see that the personnel had another question but seemed to scared to ask, so he answered it for them. "And yes, you will still get your PTO."

With that, Lazuli turned and started walking until he was by Lark's side. He stood patiently, waiting for her to take the lead. "Come on then, brave warrior. I don't have all day."

 

[Marlowe]

Noxsky Drowns, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Afternoon
35 system hours until annihilation...

So it was just going to be them two, then. Lovely. Lark eyed the soldiers behind Lazuli as he approached her, only focusing back on him once he reached her side. Ugh, she had almost forgotten that she had to look up at him in order to meet him in the eye. If only he could have been a bit shorter... she could've found an easy way to "accidentally" elbow him in the face. The blonde lowered her hands to her sides and nodded curtly over at the Stoneheart before she led the way deeper into the underbrush.

Noxsky Drowns was an enigma within itself. The entire sea of forest was akin to a labyrinth with winding paths that seemed to change with every passing moment. If a green hunter were to step foot within the wood, then they would be rendered lost before they knew it. Dozens and dozens of unwitting scouts had dared to enter that wood, only to never be seen again. Luckily for Lazuli, Lark was not one of such people. She had been raised by Zhao Meng since she was a babe, and when she was old enough to pick up a bow or sword, had taught her the lay of the land. Zhao showed her how to distinguish between the main paths of the Noxsky Drowns and which paths veered off like tiny veins, leading one to the heart of the forest.

What Lark never got used to was the darkwood branches that criss-crossed above their heads. The thick canopy above drowned out almost all light from the sun that orbited the planet, casting deep shadows over the forest floors. Individuals that descended from hunter bloodlines had superior vision in the dark-- and Lark was one of such people. She trodded the dirt path they meandered down as if she knew every stone, every root that lined it. She didn't know if she could say the same for the white fox. As she carefully picked her way over a giant root slick with violet moss, her eyes glimmered back at Lazuli from over her shoulder.

"How's the brave princess fairing?"

 

[Serei2477]

Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Afternoon
35 system hours until annihilation...

The forest was not only dark and dense, but a damn labyrinth in and of itself. Lazuli watched as the paths seemed to wind around different ways, leading into different directions. He'd been taking mental notes about where they'd been going, but the more they continued, the more he saw just how dangerous this place was. Lazuli personally didn't understand why these people's ancestors would build a civilization around this forest in the first place. No wonder these people were dying! They decided a spot next to a dark maze where man eating beasts lived was a wonderful place to set up home!

Regardless, if man eating beasts swarmed the location, then the IPC could simply burn down the whole forest. They'd have to let the planet heal for some years afterwards, but at least the biggest threat would be gone.

Another part of him couldn't help but find the forest fascinating. He'd never seen so many trees in one location, and the atmosphere gave him the same chills that his first horror movie had given him. Just how did these people sleep at night knowing that danger lurked around the corner? How did they manage to get into the forest and find their way out? What was stopping the beasts from just invading that shoddy city and killing everyone? Especially when the beasts were winning the fight?

Would this cavewoman even entertain him if he asked his questions? Probably not, so he didn't bother asking.

Lark would look over her shoulder just in time to see Lazuli take a photo of the forest. He'd turned the sound and flash off from his phone for obvious reasons.

"This place is fascinating." He answered her with a bit of astonishment in his voice. "Bold choice of your ancestors to build their home next to a murder maze with man-eating beasts. Are these "Quarry" everywhere?"