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Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Afternoon


So, this is how it was.

The Antimatter Legion foot soldier's sword had entered through right underneath his right breast and sliced straight through flesh and muscle. Zhao Ming spluttered in agony, the sheer pain that razed his body so intense that he couldn't even muster a scream. The blade streaked violently upwards, streaking through sinew and tendon and lopping off the entirety of his right arm. The severed limp landed with a sickening thump a few feet away to his right. His mouth hung open as he took a step backwards, his body already losing its warmth at the expulsion of his blood. His bow clattering to the floor as his quivering left hand reached up to try and stem the flow. Crimson gushed between his fingers, burning hot against his cold and pale skin as it poured down his side and splattered upon the stone at his feet.

It was just like back then on the Xuling. He was useless now just as he was back then. His breath came out in wild gasps as he fought the shadows that crept in the corners of his vision. The ivory soldiers and the Legion crept closer and closer. Though his body was wracked in shudders, he took another step back. His right heel hung off the edge of the cliff.

So cold. He was so, so cold. Zhao's vision blurred as the soldiers raised their rifles and aimed down their sights. Another rain of gunfire fell upon him, and Zhao anticipated the rest of his body to be torn apart by the bullets. But they cracked against a veil that fell over his form and clinked harmlessly to the ground. Someone had helped him, an Aeon or spirit, maybe. But it was no use; the fury of the gunfire never ceased and cracks began to form over the aura that had shielded him.

Lark was safe. She had finally gotten off this damn planet. Zhao couldn't save his people-- not now, not ever --but he had saved her, and that was all that mattered. It was time for him to rest at last.
 
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Stonehearth, Biastea -- the Endless Pursuit
Afternoon



He had heard of this mysterious planet known as Biastea for quite some time during his long, lonesome adventures across the sea of stars. He had heard that it was very behind in danger of succumbing to a strange beast known as "Quarry", and their very limited technology was hindering their progress for survival. That was what made him decide to steer his ship in the direction of the planet in the first place. He wanted to provide his aid where he could and perhaps mingle with the locals. Wren knew very well that his glistening armor would attract all sorts of attention, but he would be happy to explain to them the significance of such masterful craft. He was without the armor for now, but he'd be more than happy to put it on and show off its beauty once he landed.

Unfortunately, the knight of beauty quickly realized that upon entering the planet's orbit that Biastea was about to be no more.

The Legion was in the middle of annihilating the planet for some reason and Wren sprung into action. He turned off his radars and signals and laid his ship low to avoid being spotted by the Legion's large ship and scoured for any survivors. All he could see was the destruction of IPC ships, the executed innocents being left in the snow, and strange creatures running around terrified of the sudden activity.

They were all dead... He didn't make it in time.

Or did he?

He flew his ship North and barely managed to eye something. The remaining survivors standing at the edge of a cliff. A foxian man, a blonde woman, and a white haired man who seemed at a loss. There was also a large train barreling in just off the cliff, with what looked to be someone opening the door.

That's when Wren witnessed it. Something so beautiful...

The foxian man said something, and his two comrades jumped into the arms of a man on the train. He'd caught and taken them into safety, but the foxian stayed put. He was fighting a hopeless battle in order to save his comrades. The man lost his arm, and was about to be at the mercy of the Legion's guns...

Such beautiful heroism. Such comradery. Such bravery... To sacrifice his own life for the safety of his friends. And now he was about to be executed...

Not if Wren had anything to say about it!

The knight applied directions to his ship's autopilot to loop around and venture close to the ground, enough so that Wren could play a risky and dangerous game. He grabbed the fasteners near the entrance and quickly clipped himself in multiple places to the safety bar next to the door. Then, he undid the hatch and opened the large metal door, seeing that the robotic horses of his "chariot" were approaching the ground and approaching quickly. He hung his body outside, keeping one foot on the step bar and putting all his faith into the safety fastens.

The black and white clad soldiers all turned their attention to the noise that stampeded towards them. In a sudden, startled motion they moved to try to dodge the oncoming ship or try to fire at the metallic stallions but instead they were barrelled through. The sickening sounds of bones crunching on impact and bodies being trampled were drowned out by the ship's engines, thankfully. Meanwhile, Wren opened his arms in a hugging motion and scooped the man into his arms, holding him tight. The action was enough to knock the wind out and maybe break a rib or two of Wren's, but the foxian man was in his hold.

He quickly dragged the man into his ship and redid the hatch. The autopilot would begin to fly them out of Biastea's orbit and to... anywhere really. They just needed to get away from this place and quickly!

Speaking of quickly, the foxian man needed treatment!

Wren would then take the foxian to his bed, where he would begin his songs of healing. The young man had taken a lot of damage, but not enough that the knight's powerful spell wouldn't at least put him on the track of recovery.


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Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


Darkness... Everything was dark when his consciousness first arose... Lazuli, for a brief moment, thought he had died. That he was floating through space, awaiting the hands of Xipe to take him to paradise. But... he did not feel such a thing.

Underneath him he felt an uncomfortable hospital bed and the silky bedsheets were cold under the pads of his fingers. He could feel his muscles were in pain, but not because he had been injured. Lazuli had exerted himself and used much more of his strength than usual in such a short period of time. He was exhausted, but his only injuries were the ones he'd received from the Quarry.

The Quarry... Biastea...

Suddenly the memories of Biastea came rushing back to him and Lazuli's eyes shot open. He sat up quickly and he looked around, his heartbeat on the monitor quickened in pace significantly; no doubt it would get someone's attention. He was in an infirmary-- but whose? And where? He remembered a man had said something to the blonde cavewoman but at the moment he didn't recall what it was. All he knew was that the man had saved them from being executed, but Zhao Meng had stayed behind.

Zhao Meng...

He shook the saddening thoughts from his head, looking around for someone--anyone-- to talk to.
 
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Infirmary Room -- The Astral Express

A whistling tune drifted from Rhys as he trotted down the lengthy corridor of the express. Within his hands was a large tray topped with a spread of food: two sets of slightly overcooked toast and jam, a pair of cups three quarters full with apple juice, poached eggs, and other fixin's that might delight their guests. He was never much of a cook (he was more likely to burn water than produce a decent meal) but Evie was willing to help him, as always. Surely, the pair of survivors wouldn't appreciated burnt toast and sour jam when they woke from their extended rest. No, no, they needed something pleasant after waking up from their nap of two days.

Twili told him that he should be the one to deliver the food, though. He had little problem with it; Rhys was accustomed with meeting new people, as with everyone else on the Express. Though, it was different when such individuals were survivors of heinous war crimes. These two almost died. One of them lost someone close to them. They would have to be dealt with delicately, unless he stepped on their toes and offended them. As an ex-Galaxy Ranger, he was more than accustomed to interacting with people under extreme distress, but even then it was still a tricky thing to deal with.

His song didn't falter even as he stepped through the sliding door of the infirmary. It wasn't a large room-- there was enough space for some rudimentary machines and cots -- and so they had taken note and provided enough space between the pair. The blonde girl who had given his forearms a good clawing was curled up on her side, obviously still asleep. However, the other one-- the white-haired young man -- had woken up and was currently wriggling about in his cot near the corner of the room. Rhys approached with a lop-sided smile.


"Good mornin', bud," he sang out as he placed the tray next to the man's nighttable. "The universe says hello!"

Rhys squatted next to the bed in order to peer closer at the new face. His features were delicate, his nails quite taken care of... it was evident that this man hadn't come from the planet that was just destroyed. Interesting. "You're on the Astral Express," he explained, already predicting one of the first questions that would be asked. "Probably've heard of it before, right?"
 
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Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


An unfamiliar tune accompanied by the light sounds of footsteps became louder and louder as it approached the door of the infirmary. The stoneheart didn't calm down; rather, he wasn't certain if this person's presence would be a threat to him or a source of relief. Was it the man from before? Lazuli didn't exactly get a good look at their savior so he wasn't sure what to expect, but friend or foe they would at least be able to answer some of his questions, right?

The person that came in was a tall man with long black hair and maybe some scars, carrying a large tray with an assortment of foods. His whistling didn't stop even after he entered the room which made Lazuli confused about how he should feel. Should he be concerned? Happy? Afraid? Was this man going to hold him hostage? Kill him?

The lop-sided grin told Lazuli that perhaps he should calm down a bit.

"Who hasn't heard of the Astral Express?" Lazuli asked the man in kind.

He'd heard of the train many times in passing from colleagues. It was supposedly created by an Aeon, destined to travel all around the galaxy. So this man was a trailblazer then.

Lazuli relaxed a little. At least it wasn't the Legion.

The planet, Biastea. It's no more, correct?" He asked the other man for confirmation more than anything. "And it was you that caught us... Thank you for that."
 
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Infirmary Room -- The Astral Express

Ah, the man had sass in him. That was always a good sign. His question, however, was concerning. Rhys' smile faded away from his lips.
"The Legion called their Doomsday Beasts not even five system minutes after we departed," he explained carefully. "Pair of them. If there is somethin' left of Biastea, it's no longer habitable. 'm sorry."

Perhaps the young man did hail from the planet after all. He was dressed a little different than his other half. Maybe he was a lord, or high-ranking officer. It wouldn't surprise him, judging off of his delicate features and dainty form. Ah, well, here he went assuming things again. There would be time for questions later.
"Your friend still hasn't woken up yet. Sleepin' pretty deep. But she'll be up and at it before you know it, so you don't need to worry your pretty lil' head," Rhys' smile returned as he lifted up the tray once again and held it closer to the man. "Now, what's important is that you eat. You've been out for a day or two, so you need the energy. 'sides, I worked pretty hard at cookin' this!"

He wiggled the tray in a tempting fashion, his eyebrows following the motion. Rhys didn't know if this man shared his sense of humor or if he was a sour son of a bitch, but hey, might as well keep the mood light. "Name's Rhys by the way. I'm one of the Nameless on board here. 'n you are...?"
 
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Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


So Biastea was nothing more than a few rocks in space. Brilliant. Surely the IPC would love to hear how not only a 500 million credit debt disappeared with the planet, but even worse, a whole crew of soldiers, personnel, and many more had been killed by the Legion. Surely the IPC knew by now what had happened... He was certain one of the crew members or the pilots themselves would have sent a distress signal or a message before they were killed...

He would need to report this soon.

"That woman is not my friend." He made very clear. He doubted the two were anywhere close to friendship, not to mention he didn't even know her name.

What really caught his attention was that he had not been asleep for an hour or two, but a day at least!

Lazuli immediately shot up onto his feet, "Two days?!" Though before he could question further he suddenly felt his head start to swim and his eyes lose focus. He forced himself to sit back down. Damn it all he needed to speak to Diamond, but the man--Rhys--was right. He wouldn't be able to focus or get anything done in his current condition. He'd have to eat first then go about his work.

He looked over at the breakfast that Rhys, admittedly, made look more tempting. It was a plain, simple meal but to Lazuli it looked downright heavenly.

Lazuli picked up a fork and started with one of the eggs. It tasted amazing to his starving body, so much so that he had to force himself to eat with manners.

"Call me Lapis Lazuli, or Lazuli for short." He said, eyeing the man as he spoke. Would he see anything concerning on the other man's face? Or perhaps metaphorical credit signs in his eyes? "How many Nameless are here?"
 
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Infirmary Room -- The Astral Express

There was heated denial behind his words, almost too heated, but they nonetheless surprised him. Ah, so they weren't friends, then? They were simply within the vicinity of each other during their rescue out of sheer luck? Rhys was about to question him further, but realization seemed to hit the man like a load of space trash. Yes, yes, he was out for two days, but at least he had a bed and some medicine to prevent any mental stressors from overcoming his body, and now he had a warm plate of food. It was better to look at the silver lining of such things. At that, the man stabbed his fork into the poached egg's gooey form before he finally went ahead to introduce himself. In an instant, it seemed like Rhys' entire demeanor changed as a jolt of surprise ran through his spine.

Wait. Lapis Lazuli. Did he mean the Lapis Lazuli? By the Aeons, did they have a damn Stoneheart on the Express without their knowledge until now--?!

Rhys choked on his words for a moment, sweat trickling along his brow as his hand absentmindedly scrambling for the phone in his pocket. After a split moment of tense silence, he mustered a nervous
"oh?" from his lips, his thumbs rapidly tip-tapping across the screen.

"Evie, kinda need your help in the infirmary. IDK if I can handle this by myself '~'"

At least he wasn't the only one on the Astral Express. Then he would really be caught between in a rock and a hard place. What does one even do when they have to return a wayward Stoneheart back to the IPC? He didn't think people could just politely say, "hey, I found one of the Stonehearts, sorry I didn't show up any sooner than two system days." It totally wasn't suspsicious in any way. Something told him that this whole situation was much more complicated than they first thought.

"So... like..." Rhys muttered, pouting down at Lazuli in an almost disappointed fashion. "You're actually from the IPC? Like, for real?"
 
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Passenger Room -> Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


Poor Rhys was so clueless when it came to basic kitchen duties~

Unlike him, Evie had taught herself how to cook! She was quite the avid reader when she was just a little girl, so much so that she'd practically memorized all the recipes in her books. And when she was finally free to touch kitchenware and stoves, she put those recipes into action. With practice came perfection, and Evie proved herself to be quite the chef!

Buuuut it wouldn't be much fun to send Rhys into the infirmary with a breakfast she cooked, would it~?

After the Astral Express managed to pick up the two survivors and put them on medical watch, Rhys had insisted that he be the first face that greets them. He was more familiar interacting with people undergoing severe trauma and would know how to navigate their emotions. Evie herself had experience listening to someone going through trauma, but she'd never interacted with someone like that. Evie and Rhys both agreed that the rescued individuals should wake up to a nice breakfast and their phones charged so they wouldn't have to worry about anything!

But the lady didn't have a phone, and the man did and it was going off almost nonstop for the first day. She figured it was family who heard about Biastea's destruction on the news or something and wanted to find out if he was okay. Evie would have loved to send them at least a text to reassure them, but the man's phone was locked with not only a password but a fingerprint scanner. Someone did try to call him, but when she saw the name on the caller ID, she tilted her head a little in confusion. She wondered if the man was married to a woman named 'Diamond', or if Diamond was the girl he came with and someone had her phone.

So many questions!

When the time came, Evie had Rhys cook the breakfast so it would be a little more personal when he brought it to their guests. When he was finished, she wiped off any dust and unsightlies from his clothes with her hands and told him to send her a text if he needed anything.

It wasn't even 5 minutes before she got one from Rhys asking for backup.

Huh. Was the man being rude? Nervous? Would they have to sedate him?

'On the way manta ray ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧'

Oh! She should probably grab the man's phone in case it was him that woke up.

With that, Evie grabbed the phone and quickly made her way to the infirmary to give Rhys a helping hand.

---

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Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


As if Lazuli had said the magic word, the man's whole demeanor seemed to change. He'd gone from relaxed to tense in an instant. There was a slight glisten on his brow, and he seemed eager to send whatever message he wrote on his phone to the recipient. So there was at least one more person on the train... it'd make him more comfortable to know just how many Nameless were present right now, but Rhys seemed much more interested in confirming Lazuli's identity.

"Yes... You took my phone but you didn't search my wallet? My badge would be in there." He asked the other, putting the breakfast aside for a second to grab his wallet and look through it. All of his cash, his debit card, credit card, IPC purchase card... everything was in place. It didn't really make sense to him for the Nameless to take his phone away but not steal anything of value.

That was when a new character opened the door. A...shapely woman with long pink hair and a big smile on her face. She was definitely much brighter and happier than her counterpart; polar opposites just by looking at them.

"Hiya hiya! Good to see you're awake~" Evie greeted cheerfully, waving her hands in a 'hello' motion to Lazuli. "And sorry about Biastea... But welcome aboard the Astral Express. I'm Evie, one of the Nameless on board. And you are?"

Lazuli, at the question, looked into his wallet for a second and pulled out two black cards with an all too familiar logo printed on the upper right corner. He handed one to Rhys and one to Evie, basically to confirm his identity.

"Lapis Lazuli of the IPC, or you can call me Lazuli for short. My thanks for your timely rescue."

Evie held the business card with both her thumbs and index fingers. Her eyes had widened, her smile remained but it no longer met her eyes. She looked over at Rhys to meet his gaze. A people reader like Rhys would be able to tell that Evie was screaming internally, but not for the reason one might think.

"You're a Stoneheart? For truly?"

"It says right there in black and gold, doesn't it?"

With that answer, Evie clasped her hands together in front of her happily. "Yay~! That's one off the bucket list~"

'Bucket list?' Lazuli thought to himself but didn't care enough to question her about it. He had more pressing questions to ask. "Where are you taking me? I need to contact the IPC and let them know everything that happened."

Evie pulled out the blue and white phone and handed it over to Lazuli, mentioning to him that they had set it to charge. Lazuli would take it from her, awaiting an answer to his question while he looked over the many messages and calls that he had received during his miniature coma.
 
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Infirmary Room -- The Astral Express

Rhys blinked down at Lazuli as he stated his qualms. As if he would go through someone's wallet... that was a huge breach of privacy! Knowing his luck, the man would've woken up while he had his fingers all up in his personal belongings. He was just about to retort Lazuli's words when the person he was waiting for waltzed into infirmary, brightening it up with the cheer of her presence. Having her around in the room was much better than dealing with this man on his own, especially since he seemed to have quite the swagger about him. Rhys felt his smile crawl back onto his lips as he took a step back to allow more room for Evie to approach. The look that she had given him at Lazuli's reintroduction had said it all. Harboring an IPC officer within the Express was no joke, but an entire Stoneheart was a different story. Rhys half-expected the train to be bombarded by a whole regiment of IPC ships at any moment.

Lazuli's business card felt as stiff and glossy as the man himself. Rhys pocketed it without a second look as Evie conversed with the white-haired man. The more he spoke, the more he realized just how uptight he was. Just how could he remain so stoic in Evie's presence? Her warmth was enough to make anyone relax. It was evident that the guy didn't give a rat's ass about them-- he just wanted to get back to where he had to be. Reasonable, but still...

"We're on the way to the Luofu to get ya'll some treatment. Better to be safe than sorry," Rhys explained as he crossed his arms. "'specially when we have the well-bein' of a damned Stoneheart in our hands. Don't want the IPC to lock us up if one of their own nabs a cold."

"U-ugh..."

A groggy moan lulled through the air and Rhys couldn't help but perk up in alarm. His eyes darted to the blonde woman that stirred in her own cot across the room. Giving Evie a knowing look, he peeled away from Lazuli's bedside and crossed the infirmary in only a handful of bounds. By the time he reached her, she was already sitting up in her bed. Her face was pale and her features stiff from sleep, and her hair puffed up in wild tufts. The young woman's head turned this way and that as she scoured the room.
"Where... where am..." Her brows furrowed, and she raised a palm to her forehead as her face scrunched up in apparent pain. "I... I can't be here... Z-Zhao Meng needs help--"

Rhys was almost afraid to touch her. To her, he was nothing more than a stranger, and doing so would probably spur a violent reaction on her end. Still, he knelt by her bedside and placed a hand on her forearm. She flinched, but much to his relief, didn't pull away.
"Hey, now. Don't worry. You're safe here with us on the Astral Express," he mumbled. "You've been out for quite a while, friend."

Her amber eyes finally rested on him as her mouth gaped in disbelief.
"I..." she stammered. It was evident that she wanted to prove a point-- perhaps even argue with him -- but her mouth snapped shut and she dropped her gaze back down to the white bedsheets. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she covered her face with her palms and her body soon became wracked with sobs. Rhys raised a hand to her shoulder and squeezed gently before tossing a mournful look over at Evie.
 
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Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


Ah, so they were going to the Luofu. At least, that's what the man was saying. Could he really trust them though? Evie seemed a little too... friendly, for his liking. The only reason he could think for such friendliness is because she thought he would wake up devastated about the loss of "his" planet.

In truth, he was devastated. The lives of his workers were all gone; evaporated with Biastea. He didn't get to know the locals of the planet either, but what he did know was that they were innocent people just trying to survive. They didn't deserve to die the way they did. None of them did... But he wouldn't show that weakness to these people. The second he did, they'd see that he was vulnerable, maybe even ripe for manipulation.

He needed to contact the IPC. Diamond had been calling him the most while he'd been out, and he had other Stonehearts who'd messaged wondering if he was even still alive. No doubt they believed he'd been killed on Biastea.

Lazuli heard the groans of the blonde woman from Biastea and he, like the other two, turned to look at her. Rhys had slipped away to her bedside and Evie was already next to him ready to greet the mystery Biastea woman. However, her demeanor, Rhys's words, and Evie's shift in emotions told him everything he needed to know. The woman was mourning her losses, and he was certain the last thing she wanted to do was to talk to the main whose only purpose on Biastea was to collect money from them.

And so, he quietly slipped out of the room to begin making phone calls.

Evie's heart hurt for the poor woman. She'd lost her family, friends, and her home all in one day... Well, she had one friend, right? The man she was with when she was running for her life? Maybe the two of them could come together and help each other out through this trying time?

The pink haired woman exchanged a mournful look with Rhys then looked back at the weeping blonde girl in front of her. Evie truly hated the sounds of crying, she really did. She'd grown up hearing people reacting to devastating news all the time... It wasn't something she could a avoid, but damn it all she wished she knew the right words to say!

"Mind telling us your name? I'm Evie..." She gently, cautiously, placed a hand on Lark's hand. Her purple eyes looking at the other hoping to meet her gaze. "We're here to listen or lend you a shoulder whenever you need one." Evie began, her voice soft and sympathetic. "Do you want to talk to Rhys or me? I'd be happy to listen... Oh! Or maybe--"

Much to her confusion, the pink haired girl looked over at the other bed only to realize that it was empty. The man had slid out of the room... Weren't they friends? Wouldn't he want to comfort her?

"M-maybe you want to be alone instead?" Evie tried suggesting instead. "If that's what you want, we'll take the hint. But... if you want to come with us to grab medicine in Luofu, or even just walk around, we'd be happy to have you..."

Evie knew nothing about this girl save that she'd just gone through one of the most traumatizing events anyone could ever go through in their life. Her heart hurt so much for this poor woman, and all she had to show for it was keeping the door open for her. She knew Lark wouldn't want to step anywhere outside of this room at the moment, but she wanted the other girl to know that Evie and Rhys were not going to ignore her, or shut her out or anything. She wanted Lark to know that she had a helping hand ready for her to take whenever she was ready.
 
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Infirmary Room -- The Astral Express

It pained Rhys to see Evie so distraught. In reality, they could do little for the woman in their care other than offer her a room until they arrived on the Luofu. It was evident that she didn't even want to speak to them, judging from the way she ducked away her head and refused to even look at them. Rhys understood the signs of shock within a person quite well, and that was exactly what was going on with this poor woman. As Evie went on to question her, Rhys reached under the cot and pulled out a set of heavier sheets. It was important that the woman retain as much body heat as she could, unless she fell unconscious again. And if she did, well, who knew if she would wake up...

"L-Lark... m'name's Lark," the girl mumbled around her hands.

"Lark's a good name." Rhys was already wrapping the warm covers about her as he spoke. "It's important that you get more rest. Ya can worry about eatin' once you're feelin' a 'lil better, m'kay?"

Lark's hands finally fell away from her face, and for a moment Rhys thought that she had mustered the strength to answer Evie's questions, but all she did was heave her body onto its side and curl up into a ball beneath the covers. Rhys gave Evie a downtrodden look before he raised himself back to his feet and walked back over to Lazuli's bed. Of course the man had decided to leave most of his food. The hell did he meander off to anyway? Rhys sighed and plucked a thermos and spoon from the tray. Plain, warm oatmeal. Nothing special to most people, but to someone whose stomach couldn't tolerate much, it might as well be an Aeonsend. He brought it over to Lark's nighttable and set it down near the edge. Hunger would strike her belly soon, whether she liked it or not; she'd be scrounging for food in a short while, so might as well have it nearby for her.

"We should be nearin' the warp point for the Luofu. Where'd this guy even go?" Rhys muttered under his breath towards Evie before he turned on his heel and strode back out of the room.

Lo and behold, the Stoneheart hadn't wandered far. He had settled against the wall near the doorway to the infirmary room, his newly reaqcuired phone lifted up to his ear. Rhys gave him a judgemental glare as he motioned back towards the entrance with a lazy hand.
"C'mon man, seriously? You can't just leave a girl cryin' like that. Did your pa ever teach ya some common courtesy?"

"RHYS!"


Rhys' shoulders gave a jolt at the sound of his name being called by an all-too-familiar, high-pitched voice. He turned his attention to further down the corridor, where a small, pitifully fluffy figure stomped towards them. To most people, Twili was a harmless little creature in a conductor's uniform, but in the short while that Rhys had been a Nameless, he very much knew this wasn't the case. Yes, Twili was a kind ferret... thing. Yes, Twili worked hard-- probably harder than Evie and him combined. But Twili loved keeping everything in order, from the black-and-cream patterning of his fur to the books on the shelves. If things weren't carried out the way that they should be, well... that meant Twili was going to bite your ankles. And ferret fangs were sharp as all hell!

"Y-yeah, Twili?"

The ferret stopped right by Rhys' boots and put his stubby paws on his hips. Rhys cautiously took a step back.

"You didn't tell me the guests woke up!"

"Well, uh... that's 'cause they just woke up a few minutes ago," Rhys said. "We were trying to get them to eat somethin'..."

"Hmph,"
Twili grumbled, raising his beady eyes up towards Lazuli as he jabbed a paw up towards him. "He should still in bed! We're warping soon, and I don't want him throwing up everywhere. You did that last time, and I had to spend--"

Rhys flinched again at the beginning of another of Twili's embarrassing stories, and he raised his hands to silence the weasely conductor.
"Okayyyyyyy Twili, I'll get 'im comfortable," he spluttered out before reaching forward and taking Lazuli by the elbow with a firm hand. He flashed a smile in Lazuli's direction as Twili pointedly crossed his arms. "C'mon, buddy. Let's get ya back in the infirmary room..."
 
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Infirmary Room -- the Astral Express


Evie tried, she really did... But there was only so much they could do. The blonde woman would not even look at them. Instead, she opted to roll over onto her side and bury herself under the heavy sheets that Rhys so kindly put around her shoulders. How would Evie even try to navigate this situation without him? There was only so much talking could do...

She gave Rhys another pitiful look as Lark hid herself away from the world. Evie supposed they would have to leave their guest alone, but for how long? It wouldn't be healthy to let Lark die from starvation and depression...

"I think he's making phone calls... Maybe to tell his family he's safe?" Evie suggested though wasn't exactly too sure of that herself. Was he calling his parents or was he trying to phone in at his job? She herself truly couldn't imagine calling her job before calling her parents after such a horrifying experience... Maybe he was just a big workaholic..?

Regardless, she looked down at the balled up woman. "Try not to get out of bed during the warp, okay? Our conductor will make an announcement when it's safe to get up..."

Evie knew Lark wasn't gonna go anywhere, but she wanted to at least make sure the other girl knew what was about to happen. Evie's first warp jump made her feel nauseous the first time around, and Rhys had blown so many chunks when his first time happened. The last thing she wanted to do was force Lark out of bed because the sheets were covered in vomit.

A part of her had the feeling Lark wouldn't move even if she'd gone that far...


Meanwhile, Lazuli had just finished leaving a voicemail to Diamond. The call had gone straight to voicemail, which told him that his superior had turned his phone off or it had died. No doubt the man had forgotten to charge his phone again...

Before he could begin to mull over any ideas, Rhys had approached him with quite the glare. The look was met with Lazuli's stoic gaze, wondering what he'd done wrong. Though before he could explain himself, a strange little furret creature in conductor's clothing came up and started scolding the taller man next to him.

Was... this the conductor? Lazuli had seen creatures like the furret before. Not all the time, but he'd seen them once or twice of different species. But... the conductor to the Astral Express? He wasn't judging; rather he was intrigued.

Rhys seemed like he could easily punt this tiny creature, and yet he behaved like he was scared of it... Why? Did this creature have some sort of political influence? Were they a pathstrider of epic proportions? Or were they just extremely strict and would kick them out at the first rule infraction?

Oh?

Lazuli's lips twitched, forcing himself to stifle a chuckle as the creature freely exclaimed the taller man's first warp drive. He actually threw up? Seriously? Lazuli had felt ill after his first time, yes, but he wasn't so weak that he would actually vomit.

The man feigned a big smile and grabbed the stoneheart by the elbow, forcing him along with a grip so tight that Lazuli wouldn't be able to pull away with just a normal tug.

"Not the infirmary. Take me anywhere else." Lazuli told Rhys. "I doubt that crying girl would want to see the face of her planet's debt collector."

Maybe now Rhys will understand why Lazuli was so intent on leaving the girl alone. Lazuli's only purpose had been to take money from her planet; that was all. He was no friend, family, or even acquaintance of hers.
 
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Corridor -- The Astral Express

To his surprise, he was met with some resistance. Rhys was tempted to yank Lazuli along with him in response, but before he could mull over his options, Lazuli spoke up first. The taller man's face lit up with a flash of shock at Lazuli's revelation: he had been on the now destroyed planet of Biastea in order to collect a debt. Slowly but surely, the pieces were falling into place, and something clicked in his head. His eyebrows furrowed together as he scrunched his nose down at the other male, setting his hand on his hip while he glanced him up and down. "Whatever you might be or might've been, what does it matter now?" Rhys was careful in choosing his words, though his voice had clearly dropped a few octaves. If he didn't acknowledge Lazuli's choice of career or methodology, then the whole thing would eventually blow up in his face. Still, it was somewhat amusing to see that this princely man was frightened of a girl. After letting his words sink in for a moment, his mutter darkened into the beginnings of a snarl. "And the girl has a name, y'know. Her name's Lark, so best start addressin' her as such. Show her some respect."

Twili gave a dismissive wag of his long and fluffy tail.
"I don't know what's going on, and I don't think I want to know anyways. Just put him somewhere."

The ferret had turned and sauntered off before Rhys could utter a word in response. He turned back to look at Lazuli before nodding in the opposite direction of where Twili was headed.
"This way," he said as he began to lead the way to the parlor car.
 
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Corridor -- the Astral Express


The man seemed to finally process the situation between Lazuli and the cavewoman in the infirmary; or at least, that's what he thought, but it seemed that Lazuli's expectations were too high.

What does it matter now? It matters because that's the reason Lazuli couldn't just go in there and console the damned girl! Because she hated him! He was the representative of the people causing her planet grief! If he went in there, he was more likely to get stabbed than do anything productive! Why did this man not see that? Was he stupid?!

Hearing the man's snarl and his insistence that he use the girl's name, Lazuli was ready with his own retort but was interrupted by Twili. Right, Lazuli would need to find a seat, and soon, unless he wanted to feel sick to his stomach and possibly get tossed to the other side of the train.

He followed alongside Rhys, but their conversation wasn't over.

"I didn't know her name because she never gave it to me. She was rude since the moment I stepped foot on her planet. Uncalled for, but understandable." Lazuli said. He wasn't trying to blame Lark for anything, just telling the taller man the facts. "The only reason she was even around me was because her brother made her do it. I'm certain she would have let me die otherwise."

His gaze trailed over to Rhys, giving him a patient look as if waiting for the dark haired man to get on the same page. However, Lazuli had had those expectations before and Rhys let him down, so he chose to spell it out for him.

"As you can see, she doesn't like me. Would it not cause her more pain if I went in there and offered condolences after everything? Would you want to hear my condolences if you were in Lark's position?"
 
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Corridor -- The Astral Express

Rhys' long legs carried him down the corridor as Lazuli maintained pace with him. This didn't stop Lazuli from stating his case, however. He went on to explain his grievances with the blonde girl, ending his conversation with a pointed question. A very good question, to say the least. His lips tightened into a thin line, and he held his tongue for the time being. The pair entered the parlor car with no other words between them, and Rhys remained quiet even as he flopped down at the end of one of the red, velvety couches with a small "oof". Kicking up his feet, he made sure to lean deep into the soft corner as he stretched his arms above his head. A pleased groan finally left his lips as he lowered his arms, resting his right arm atop the headrest. "Honestly... I dunno. Would piss me off even more if I know you're up and strollin' about like nothin' ever even happened," he drawled out as he settled deeper into the couch and scratched the raspy stubble at his jaw. "Y'know, for an IPC goon, ya really ain't fond of conflict, are ya? Ahhh, whatevs. 'm not judgin'."

Rhys buried his hand into the front pocket of his bright yellow jacket and pulled out a carton of cheap cigarettes. In a deft, well-practiced motion, he slipped one of the thin paper cylinders out from the box and placed it between his lips before holding the open box out to Lazuli. It was an offering-- perhaps of peace, perhaps of friendship. Right now, even Rhys couldn't figure it out. "You smoke?" he asked, already fumbling for his lighter with his free hand.
 
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Parlor Car -- the Astral Express


Lazuli wasn't met with an answer to his question right away. To his displeasure, the taller man seemed to be really thinking about it, leaving him in the dark. Was he really-truly-thinking about it or was he just doing this to fuck with Lazuli?

An answer didn't come until the two arrived in a rather spacious and cozy looking parlor car. Lazuli was pleasantly surprised, actually. The parlor car not only went beyond the stoneheart's expectations, but it reminded him of something the IPC would have set up for the soldiers and personnel during travels. All that was missing were some vending machines and an area to play billiards...

Now that he thought about it, how did the Astral Express make money? They were Nameless, and their whole gimmick was to travel around to different planets. Did they sell their labor? Sell things? No way they worked online jobs and pooled their money together for travel expenses. This parlor car looked updated and well kept; serious money was involved and it had to come from somewhere.

Perhaps the little ferret conductor was a tycoon overlord and these two were the hired help. Maybe someone here was a trustee. The pink haired girl could be getting a huge allowance from mommy and daddy if he had to make a guess.

Lazuli chose to sit on the velvet couch next to Rhys, making sure to leave some space between them. The cushions were comfortable... moreso than he thought they'd be. He was tempted to lay on one and take a nap.

Rhy's answer from earlier... Lazuli wasn't quite satisfied. He had more to ask but before he could, he was being offered a cigarette.

Just by looking at the stick he could tell it was cheap dirt wrapped in notebook paper, but... Lazuli wasn't exactly picky at the moment.

He took one of the paper cylinders from the carton box with a "thank you". Lazuli patted around his coat pockets and touched a familiar metal piece inside. He took it out, revealing a chrome metal lighter decorated with a dark blue and silver design imprinted on it. If Lazuli really wanted to show off, he could turn a switch and change the color of the fire.

A quick flick of the wrist opened the lighter and revealed the spark wheel. He reached forward and sparked a flame, lighting Rhys' cigarette before bringing the lighter back to light his own.

A puff of smoke escaped Lazuli's lips, and an all too familiar sensation burned the back of his throat. He normally only smoked during social events or when he really needed some sort of stress relief. There was just something about sucking in then blowing out a puff of smoke that was strangely relaxing.

It was a shame that these cigarettes tasted like Lazuli had grabbed a bunch of wood chips and set it on fire in his mouth, but again, he wasn't picky.

"If I were Lark, I'd be insulted if Lapis Lazuli was grieving about my planet. I'd call it crocodile tears and attention seeking. I might even be wondering if he was going to pin the debt on me as the next of kin." He told the other man, taking a puff of smoke into his mouth before lightly blowing it out into the air. "I don't know what you heard about the IPC, but the more levelheaded ones aren't out trying to pick fights. I try to avoid them cause there's no point. Just hand over what you owe and let me leave."

He took another inhale of smoke. This time he left it in his mouth for a few seconds, letting his mouth and throat tingle with the burn of the chemicals before letting it out in a steady stream.

"How long have you been on the Express? And what exactly do you do?" Lazuli asked, deciding to change the topic. He was more interested in learning about the Nameless and their purpose. He had, of course, heard of the Astral Express but he wasn't familiar with the finer details.
 
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Corridor -- The Astral Express

Not only did the Stoneheart accept his offering (and even thank him for it!), but he went so far as to light Rhys' cigarette before his own. Taken off guard by Lazuli's generosity, he tightened his lips into a straight line. Once again, he mulled over the pale-haired man for a few seconds, sucking on the end of his cigarette and savoring the menthol that sweltered at the back of his throat. A long sigh drifted from his partially-opened lips as smoke poured forth in a smooth stream. "Straight to the point, huh?" he commented, a shit-eating grin cracking over his lips. "I like it."

Rhys pulled out his phone, scrolled to Evie's number, and sent her a text asking if she was to be joining him in the parlor for the warp as Lazuli asked his next question. His eyes rolled up to the ceiling as a calculating glint shimmered in his gaze.
"Ah, 'bout six months? Hard to calculate days and hours when you're sailin' through space most of the time," he mumbled and lifted a hand to curl his thumb and pointer fingers about the base of his cigarette. His chest dipped inward as he drug deep from the paper cylinder before he pulled it away and puffed out a pattern of rings that rose up towards the ceiling. "The Trailblaze runs this engine, guidin' our journey across the stars. Our duty as Trailblazers involves planet-hoppin' and seein' the sights-- along with maintainin' the silver rails, o'course. We meet a lot of new people who have the craziest stories, ha! Ya wouldn't believe some of 'em."

"On here," Rhys lowered his gaze towards Lazuli and pointed his finger downward, "Evie and I run the show. We share workloads an' the like. Just some chores and menial work to take care of. 'm mostly responsible for fixin' up the Astral Express if she gets all sentimental. But..." he paused as a shadow suddenly passed over his features. "The Express got enemies as of late. We outran a legion of black-hulled ships yestermonth. The Express took a good few hits, the poor gal. Had to work through two nights in a row fixin' her up 'nough so she'd get goin' again."
 
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Parlor Car -- the Astral Express


As the Nameless spoke, he'd receive a string of dings to his phone coming from the pink haired woman one after the other. The dinging would be brief before it fell silent once more.

'I'd really like to but I'm worried about Lark'

'This might be her first warp and I'm scared she's gonna freak out (•᷄- •᷅ ; )'

'Definitely the next one though! ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )'

Meanwhile, Lazuli listened quietly as Rhys spoke about the Express and the crew's roles around the train. No doubt Rhys and Evie had met so many people and heard so many stories during their travels. Lazuli would often meet and socialize with quite a few people thanks to his profession, but the difference was he would have to meet them in a stuffy meeting room or a dinner party he and the rest of the stonehearts would be forced to attend. Meanwhile, Rhys and Evie would meet these people under more delightful circumstances. The freedom to roam space and travel amongst the stars did sound like a dream for a carefree fool or the wealthy. Maybe Rhys was one and Evie the other. Or maybe they were both.

That's when Lazuli learned that Rhys was not only a housekeeper, but also the train's mechanic. That was interesting. Especially considering the man himself didn't exactly look like he'd know a thing or two about mechanical engineering. Suppose the old saying was true.

But what caught his attention the most was about the enemies the Express apparently had. Black-hulled ships had attacked them... And if Lazuli had to guess....

"The Legion, then?" He took a drag of his cigarette, his chest gradually rising then falling as the gray smoke streamed from between his lips once more. Lazuli's eyes turned away for a second, as if he were inspecting the Express further. "If you were already a problem to them before, meddling with their annihilation plan and rescuing two witnesses might have made you and your friends a priority target."

That raised another question, one Lazuli decided not to ask. What did the Astral Express do to become a problem to the Legion before Biastea's destruction? There was always the possibility that some space pirates managed to somehow rob the Legion of their ship and was using it as their own, but just how likely was that?

None of that was his business. What the Astral Express did or didn't do didn't matter. All that mattered at the moment was getting Lazuli off this train and back into IPC property.

Speaking of which.

Lazuli felt his phone vibrate and took a look. It was Diamond sending a message.

'Lazuli, I am happy to hear you are alive and well. As of now, the closest IPC airship to your location is approximately 36 system hours away. We will be sending the airship to your location as soon as possible. For the time being, please remain on Xianshou and do not leave the premises until the IPC has made a safe landing. You will receive a notification once it is safe to board.

Thank you for your cooperation.'


Automated. And Lazuli knew perfectly well why Diamond would opt to have the message automated instead of writing it himself.

Because he would have broken protocol and become extremely emotional in the messages. Couldn't have the Diamond showing weakness now, could we?

"Hm. The IPC will come for me at the Luofu in three days." He informed Rhys. "A normal airship by the sounds of it. Looks like they won't be asking the Express any questions." Lazuli added, not that it mattered. He didn't doubt the Astral Express would just leave Lazuli on the Luofu if they needed to depart earlier than that anyway.
 
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Parlor Car -- The Astral Express

Rhys gave Lazuli a heavy shrug at Lazuli's so-called revelation. He didn't want to admit that he actually didn't know what were those ships. All that could be deciphered was that they could almost keep up with the Express, and their plasma-guns caused damage to the cars in the rear. From what the ex-Ranger recalled, the Legion focused on causing destruction on planets, satellites, and stationary spacecrafts-- definitely not vessels like the Express. They didn't have an answer, and they wouldn't have an answer for a while, Rhys figured. Since they were on the way to the Luofu, he might as well ask around. Sure, his days of a Galaxy Ranger were over, but it wasn't like he was going to turn a blind eye to an entire planet being destroyed. And it was like what Lazuli said. The Express had made an appearance at the height of Biastea's annihilation. They themselves had painted a target on their backs and they didn't even know what they were dealing with. He couldn't help but wonder if the Nameless in the past ever dealt with such terrible enemies.

"Good," Rhys grumbled at Lazuli's report in a pensive fashion, chewing on the end of his cigarette. "Don't feel like bein' questioned by any damn IPC. Let's just hope ya ain't as roughed up by the time they come to get ya."

"Ahem, ahem. Attention! AT-TEN-TION!" Twili's voice crackled over the loudspeaker. "We will be warping to the Xianzhou Luofu momentarily. For your own safety, please remain seated."

As if an afterthought, Twili added:
"And if you have to vomit, please do so at the closest receptacle. Remember, you're responsible for cleaning up any--"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Rhys yawned as he sat up from his relaxed position and plopped himself straight against the sofa's backrest. Twili sure did like to lecture him, even if it was indirectly. He chuckled in amusement as he flashed Lazuli another lopsided, toothy grin. "See ya on the flip-side, bud."

"Warp drive initiated. Five... four... three... two..."





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Deep, deep in the darkest recesses of his dreams, Zhao Meng heard a song.

Visions danced before his closed eyes. The sight of starskiffs flying like paper kites through the never-ending blue skies. Warm smiles of comrades clad in cerulean and silver. The warmth of hearthfires in lively taverns and the cloud-like kisses of shy maidens on rainy street corners. Fierce, green eyes. The clash of steel and the heat of blood. Bodies ferried away into the never-ending blue skies. The laugh of friends, the soft, innocent babbling of a babe. The flash of hay-blonde hair and teary amber eyes. The screams of the damned and the stench of death. Fire that seared and burned and ate away at him, devouring him until there was nothing left-

In a sudden, violent motion, Zhao Meng jolted awake and his torso immediately carried itself forward. But agony was quick to grab the right side of his body, and a garbled groan tore from his throat as he slumped back onto something soft and cushioned. Everything was blurry-- he could hardly see-- but he could make out the basic structure of a ceiling hanging above him. Screwing his eyes shut, the Foxian forced himself to swallow. His throat was bone-dry and his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. He licked his lips to rectify it, and he felt blood bead across his chapped lips. Something, or someone, was sat next to him. His ears had picked up on the sound of their breathing. Of the song that soothed the frantic beating of his heart. It took all of Zhao Meng's strength to turn his head to the side in a feeble attempt to look upon the individual that had decided to visit him. A dainty figure sat at his bedside, one with long, violet hair and a voice ebbing the sweetest honey.

His eyes fluttered in a daze as a word fluttered from his parched lips.
"W... Where..."
 
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Main Room -- Heart and Soul Ship



~Tales of loss and fire and faith
Every word on our hearts engraved
In the dark, you will not stray
Forge ahead till the end, we pray~


Wren had no idea how long had passed since he'd recovered the foxian from Biastea. A day? Two days?

Ever since the stranger had boarded Wren's Heart and Soul, the Halovian had to do two things. The first was to put this mysterious hero on the infirmary bed and warp them... anywhere, really. The second was to do everything in his power to keep this man breathing.

The foxian had lost a lot of blood; his only saving grace was that whatever took off his arm had also cauterized the wound. He wouldn't bleed out, but no doubt it would reopen and become infected if Wren didn't properly close it. On top of that, the man's eye had been turned into practically mush from who knows what. If that was left in there then it ran the risk of toxic shock syndrome as well as a high risk for sepsis. And so, Wren had gone to work on brushing away the burnt scabs and flakes of flesh before sewing up the stub that used to be the man's arm. The eye socket was carefully cleaned of the mush and treated to ensure it would be on the proper track for healing. The Halovian strapped a black eye patch around the foxian's head to cover his wound, which admittedly made the man look much more heroic than he did before~

And now, day and night, Wren had been singing his song. His healing prowess came from his melodic voice; a powerful spell that nurtured wounds just as well if not better than most Pathstriders. It was all Wren had at his disposal to keep this valiant hero alive; to ensure his heart continued beating. Of course he would only stop to rest, eat, and drink some water, but when he was able to he would sing for this stranger sleeping in Wren's bed.

The Legion would not be pleased to know a Knight of Beauty had not only intervened an execution, but killed several soldiers in the process of rescuing the person to be executed. But did Biastea stay intact long enough for the Legion to know those soldiers were dead? For all they knew, that group had been attacked by the wild animals that had lingered on that planet.

But that didn't matter.

Wren could not let this hero die at the hands of such villainy...


~Whispers falling silently drift on the wind

But I hear you
Our journey, now a memory fading from sight
But I see you
Unbroken promises we made so long ago
You're still here
Unspoken requiem for a river of tears

Flowing, winding, toward eternal sea
And yet our hope remains
Guiding, lighting the way
No time for mourning~


Just before Wren could continue to the next verse, he heard it. It was soft and dazed, but he'd heard it! Wren's wide eyes immediately looked over to the Foxian, registering that the man was now awake. His lips curved into a smile full of warmth and relief. His palm touched Zhao's chest, a gentle command to tell the man to not get up.

"Easy, my friend. You're still wounded." The Halovian said with a smile, his voice gentle and sounding a bit hoarse from all his singing. It was worth it to see the other man awake though. "You've lost consciousness for quite some time. Two days, I think... Tell me, what is your name? What do you remember?"

It would do them both some good to see if Zhao hadn't lost his memory, and if he still had proper brain functions.
 
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???


The stranger's voice fell upon his ears in a muffled drone that threatened to split his head apart, though it was just enough for him to denote what he was saying. Two days... he had been out for two days. Zhao Meng's frown deepened, and he dropped his blurry gaze towards the foot of the bed. The very act of breathing felt unnatural to him. Every time he inhaled, it was as if he were fighting the sheer gravity of his surroundings. Though, the man's questions still went answered, and he wasn't intending on ignoring him. He had saved his life and mended his wounds. It wasn't like he was an enemy. "Zhao Meng. My name is... Zhao Meng," he grumbled between tightened teeth as if it pained him to say it. His very name was sour on his tongue. It was Zhao Meng who wasn't able to defend his people. It was Zhao Meng who was at the mercy of the Stonehearts. It was Zhao Meng who couldn't do anything right anywhere, anytime, ever-

A deep, distressed groan came from his lips as he thought back on those cerulean flames that ravaged their home. The Foxian man huddled deeper against the bed, wishing that he could bury himself beneath the cushions and die there.
"Fire... so much fire..." he whimpered. Nothing more than a helpless, sniveling kit. It was what he always was and what he would always be. "The Legion attacked my planet... my home... killed my people... my sister--"

The pain was too much to bear. Hot, sticky tears rolled down his cheeks and he grit his teeth to stem the ragged sob that tore from the depths of his chest. No matter how hard he strained to halt his cry, the tears continued to pour down his face and dribble down his chin. Zhao Meng raised his right arm to wipe them away, only for his palm to never come down upon his face. He raised the limb again and there was nothing. Was he tied down so that he wouldn't roll off the bed during their flight? He blinked the fat tears from his eyes before he glanced at the side of the bed to see if he spotted any belts or straps. He couldn't see anything underneath the sheets; everything below his shoulders had been covered by the blankets. A sweat broke out over his brow as his eyes flickered up towards the Halovian. "Help me, I-I can't... move my arm. I-is it... broken?"
 
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Main Room -- Heart and Soul Ship




Zhao Meng. It sounded similar to the names associated with the Xianshou. Did immigrants from there go to Biastea? No... Last he heard, Biastea was not a very... technologically advanced planet. Why would Luofu immigrants travel all the way out there for nothing but a forest and medieval innovations? Perhaps Zhao Meng moved to Biastea at some point, or perhaps his parents did for some reason and that was how he ended up there. Curious...

He listened quietly to the young man, watching as the memories seemed to return to him. Tears had begun to stream down his cheeks, the survivor's guilt settling in. The poor man... He'd witnessed his entire planet burn to ashes when it was supposed to be just another day for him, for his family, and his friends... But now, who did he have now? The only person he had at the moment was Wren, and Wren wasn't exactly someone the foxian could trust. True, the purple haired man did save Zhao Meng from his demise, but that didn't automatically make them best friends.

The Halovian gave the man time to cry and watched as the large tears fell down he cheeks. He felt a lump in his throat and his chest feel a little tighter with emotion, sorrow seeping into his heart for the man before him. Sorrow and pity. But, the moment the man asked about his arm, Wren visibly winced.

He knew the question was coming, he just wished he didn't have to be the one to give the answer...

Wren's pale and slender fingers reached over a metal table to Zhao's left, where medical tools caked in blood lied awaiting to be sterilized. There, the foxian would see a scraper with black chunks, a suture needle, multiple bloodied rags, a pair of dirty blue medical gloves that had been rolled into a tight ball, and a biohazard bag that needed to be disposed of. There would also be some food, water, and clean cloths sitting on another table separate from the contaminated items. He would grab a soft blue cloth and brought it to Zhao Meng's cheeks, cleaning away the other man's tears.

"Your arm..." Wren's lips pressed together, thinking of the words to say. "You... You no longer have your right arm. It was cut off and the item used immediately cauterized the wound, which saved you from bleeding out. Your eye was also mush when I began treating you. It would have been much more harmful if I allowed it to stay, so it has been removed."

The Halovian then smiled warmly at the foxian. "You are quite the valiant warrior, my friend. Never have a witnessed such a marvelous display of bravery. At the cost of your arm and your eye, the man and woman I witnessed you running with were able to board the Astral Express. I did not see any Legion ships give chase, so I am confident that they managed to get away." His smile fell into a frown. "Unfortunately, in order for us to make our grand departure, I had to throw in random coordinates and have us warp... anywhere. I cannot tell you where the Astral Express has gone, but thankfully we have lost our pursuers."

Wren fell silent to let the other process the information given to him. He had more to say, but feeding the other too much at once might chip at his psyche more than the events already had.
 
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??? -- ???
???


Instead of the man answering Zhao's question, he chose to reach over and take a piece of cloth from a small table. Dried blood tarnished the sheen of the metal utensils that laid to his left, which made the breath catch in his throat. Had he really lost so much blood? He didn't remember. During the battle, he had been shot a few times, but the amount of work that had been done on him suggested that he had gone through a more complicated procedure than getting some bullets or burnt skin removed. Then, as the man wiped away the tears that stained his cheeks, he began to speak. Yes, he spoke words, but either Zhao wasn't able to hear them or didn't comprehend them at first. His very being churned within his chest as his sight wavered down to the sheet that shielded him from the gruesome view. A bitter taste plagued his tongue as he raised his left arm to lift the blanket up ever so slightly. It was as if the thin piece of cloth weighed the same as a thousand stones, but he braved through the pain as the frantic beating of his heart thrummed within the depths of his ears. There it was-- a useless stump right where his dominant arm used to be. A quivering exhale passed through his lips. By the Aeons, how was he supposed to function this way? Sure, he could get a replacement, but how could even afford it? He'd have to live as a cripple until he somehow came across money, and even then prosthetics didn't always work like they should. Zhao sunk his teeth into his bottom lip until his fangs broke through the skin.

It would have been better if he died.

Silence accompanied the taste of blood. Zhao's attention was brought back to the Halovian who looked at him quite expectantly.
"I... I apologize," he muttered, his voice no longer bearing little warmth despite having the man a shallow smile. It took everything within him not to scream and howl in agony and in anger right there and then. His left fist fightened until his knuckles burned white, though his trembling half-smile still remained on his lips. "... It's... just a lot... Where are we going exactly... ?"
 
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Main Room -- Heart and Soul Ship


All he could do was sit quietly and watch as the information sank through. Many would go into denial, others would lose themselves emotionally. A select few would lose what little sanity remained and scream into madness or fall into depression. But the foxian stayed strong. He very much looked like he wanted to scream, but instead he chose to bite into his lower lip until he broke skin. Such a brave, valiant warrior...

"Breathe deeply. It is vital to your recovery that your heart does not spiral to oblivion... And please, do not apologize for a very natural reaction. Considering the events that transpired, I am simply pleased to know you have not gone insane." He told the man gently. The last thing Zhao Meng needed was to suffer cardiac arrest or have a panic attack. What would Wren do about that when they were at least a day away from their destination?

Speaking of destination, the other man asked about it and Wren was all too happy to answer. I believe, noble warrior, that heroic actions deserve heroic rewards. And because of your bravery and inspirational deed, I am taking you to Cuprum. There, I will call upon a favor and have a kind man lovingly known as "Old Man Jebby" build you a new arm. It may never feel like your old arm, and it might require maintenance you are unaccustomed to, but it will allow you to function as normal."

He got up for a moment and walked over to his refrigerator. There, he would grab a cup of water with a cap and bendy straw, something he'd prepared ahead of time for his guest. Then he would return to his seat and held it out for Zhao Meng to take.

"Small sips only, valiant warrior. If you consume too much at once your body might not appreciate it."
 
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??? -- ???
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The man was apparently surprised that Zhao Meng hadn't gone crazy. To be honest, it surprised him as well. The Foxian was well-aware that he teetered towards the edge; a little bit more and he would have certainly lost whatever sanity he had left. For a long, long moment, he didn't utter even a word-- which wasn't needed, as the other had gone on to say that he would help him get a new arm. Zhao Meng's head snapped up towards him in astonishment. Bio-mechanical limbs usually cost a fortune, at least where he was raised. It was almost impossible to get back on Biastea. And now this man claimed that he was to receive one for free? Zhao gawked at him in incredulity, not able to utter a word of thanks or rebuttal in the wake of the stranger's sheer kindness, and before he could stammer out anything, he had turned away to grab something from the fridge. He returned shortly after with a bottle of water, complete with a bendy straw. Zhao Meng stared at him as he accepted the water without much fuss. In the Cloud Knights, one was expected to care after themselves if they were the victim of a terrible accident. Sure, healers gave medicines and tended to them, but they never went out of their way to provide them with the amount of care that Zhao had been receiving for who-knew-how-long. Though Zhao was not too keen on being tended to like a child, he wasn't about to complain. It was... nice having someone around. He couldn't imagine having to deal with all of this on his own.

Zhao winced as he twisted his body slightly to his left and gingerly leaned upon his elbow. He leaned slightly forward to sip a few small gulps of the cool water. The liquid tasted sour on his tongue, though he forced himself to drink a little bit more before he plopped back onto his back. The ceiling still hung over him, and he focused on a specific spot above his bed.
"Why... why are you doing this?" His voice was light, as if it took all of his energy to utter the words, and his eyebrow narrowed as he nibbled on his bloody lip. "I don't even know you... and you've been so kind to me. I don't even know your name... I truly don't deserve your sympathy. So, why?"
 

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