143: First Worst Dread – Four
Elytra had only allowed herself enough time to get out of her Kith armour and back into her pyjamas before she booked it to the armoury, specifically to the studio space within it where they kept the sets for repeat locations that weren't actual fixtures within the ship - the windowed corridor where the Hand and Bathory often sparred, the Knight's bare living quarters, and the circular meeting room where Queen Kaizoku held court. It was in the last of these that she paced, waiting for the others to arrive.
Mercifully, the people she wanted to see showed up not long after her, Nevara following after Rhea and Malakh, while Viatrix threw her avatar onto the circular table in the centre of the room.
"I know it was just via text, but your message over the Longan sounded dire, and with the way you're pacing…" Rhea left hanging, pulling out a chair and having a seat.
Groaning into the hands she threw over her face, Elytra said, "It's nothing bad, it's just… Pryseia and V'tala are so loud! I feel like I'm going out of my mind!"
Sharing a confused look with the other two, Nevara said, "I assume you mean empathically loud, because V'tala is more laconic than I am, and though she's verbose, Pryseia is quite soft spoken."
"Yeah, emotionally their volume is cranked to the max!" Elytra huffed, throwing herself into a seat, "I talked about it with Rhea before, but those two have romantic feelings for one another, but they haven't clued in that the other feels the same."
Malakh snorted out a laugh at that. "Yeah, I brought that very subject up with Nevara and Vi not that long ago."
Leaning her head on her fist, Rhea gave Elytra a sly look as she said, "I do believe you told me that it would be in their best interest if we didn't interfere in any kind of matchmaking capacity?"
"That was before I had a front row seat to Pryseia pining like a lovelorn heroine in a period piece, and V'tala actively wrestling her sexual urges into submission! They can focus on the task at hand, for the most part, but the instant their thoughts aren't distracted by something else? The longing is so thick at this point that I'm surprised that none of you are getting bombarded by it!" Elytra grumbled as she sank down in her seat, looking exhausted.
"Honestly, with the intensity of their eye contact every time they speak to one another, I'm shocked that they haven't realized it yet." Viatrix chirped as she spun her avatar.
Nevara slumped down into a seat of her own, heaving a sigh as she explained, "The Thalatte caused more than physical harm to us. In our youth, Pryseia had no qualms about seeking out either romantic or sexual partners, short or long term ones. She found pleasure in that sort of company that I can't understand. Such relationships didn't seem to hold conditions to her back then. But now, it's as though she finds herself… unworthy of that sort of relationship, which is heartbreaking, as she confided in me that she was envious of the bond that the two of you have."
"Pryseia," Rhea sighed, sounding on the verge of tears, placing a hand over the one Malakh had set on her shoulder, "She told me that she's worried that the effects of the dlegh between her and V'tala left some kind of trace, that V'tala has to follow her orders because of it. There's no way she's going to make the first move, because some part of her's just going to think that V'tala's with her because she commanded her to be."
Elytra's shoulders fell at that revelation. "I have no idea what a working, proper dlegh was supposed to feel like, because whatever it was between the two of them wasn't anything more than an open wound. It didn't feel like any kind of thrall."
"Right? And V'tala was hardly an obedient little slave while they were stuck like that!" Rhea said, swallowing thickly, "She was ordering me around, making demands. It was so fucked up, because it was like she was trying to force us into putting a leash and muzzle on her? She didn't know how to be a person without her dlegh."
Leaning into Rhea's side, Malakh said, "She's come a long way from that, thankfully. I just hope it's enough to get her to do something about her and Pryseia, because with the way Pryseia is, she won't broach the subject of a relationship unless V'tala brings it up first."
"And I think we need to do something about that, to help her along, at least, something covert enough that she won't realize what we're hinting at," Elytra said, slouching forward over the table as she asked, "Vi, are you able to bring up that dossier on the charity event?"
"Yeah, anything in particular?" Viatrix asked, already filling the table with the documents in question.
"The requirements for attending, like the dress code and that stuff. I think I saw something there we can build off of."
It didn't take long for Viatrix to find the requested document, copying and translating them into the written language of the other's preferences, and tossing them across the screen to come to rest before each of them.
Leaning over her copy, Rhea began to summarize for them all out loud. "Okay, formal attire, Iistunsk style - that just means they want the colours of your outfit to match with the colours of your body, it's a Necupole trend - simple short range communicators are allowed but not higher powered ones like our Longan - we can use subdermal comm chips like I used for our heist with the Sudoxe, in that case - no recording or transmitting devices, no outside drugs or alcohol as the venue will be providing those for a fee. Oh. And no solo attendees. Everyone coming has to have one or more partners."
"Well, we certainly have the ability to link up into pairs, especially if you sneak in via one of your drones." Nevara said, tapping Viatrix's avatar on the table.
"Oh I would be more than happy to do so, especially if it gets those two together quicker!" Viatrix trilled, "Skimming promotional recordings from past charities, it looks like there's a fancy dance that's something of a centrepiece event in these things. Now wouldn't that kind of close proximity be just perfect for some people to maybe come to some realizations about themselves!"
"Okay, that's something actionable!" Malakh said, her gears already turning, "Once we have a proper planning sit down and come to these requirements, the two of you call dibs on each other so that Pryseia and V'tala have to go together. And if this ball is going to be a big focus, then that will probably be the ideal time to sneak off to get at the security system."
"I think we should save that for the morning," Nevara raised her hands, her voice going fond over Malakh's exuberance, "You may become more energized by a lack of sleep, but I certainly do not."
"But this is a good place to pick up from when we get into it tomorrow," Elytra said, letting out a quiet laugh, "We make the two of them spend time together in a non-combat setting and they hopefully figure out that they're both into each other. And if they don't get their shit sorted here, then I'm gonna be wearing that psychic dampener you made for me back on Trowsorab, because if I have to be subjected to their yearning for each other much longer, I might go insane!"
Morning brought with it the actual planning session, and so after they'd gotten through their regular routine to begin the day, they made their way to the rec room, Viatrix already having the documents from the dossier brought up for their perusal.
"I had a look at the ticket site last night," she began as everyone settled into their seats, "They're pricey, but we've got more than enough to cover admission for all of you. I also did a little more digging into the security measures in this place, and unless Slake and her pirates aren't as thorough as all this documentation makes them out to be, then my Hyttan drone should have no problem sneaking in undetected."
"That's good, because it's gonna be you and I breaking into that security room," Malakh said, enlarging one of the blueprints, "Going off of the route the pirates mapped out, our point of ingress is going to be this bathroom here. There's a vent in the ceiling that will allow us to get into this part of the infrastructure of the building. I could probably scramble up into it myself, but it would be very conspicuous. Much easier if your drone can hoist me up."
Shooting her a knowing look, Pryseia said, "You were coming up with a plan before bed, weren't you?"
Throwing an arm around her wife with a long suffering sigh, Rhea told her, "You know how she gets when a project lands in her lap. Once she got those brain juices flowing, she couldn't stop herself."
"Yeah, well…" Malakh tried to defend, but even she couldn't bullshit her way out of that fact.
Scooting forward from where she was sitting on the floor, Elytra leaned over the table as she said, "Getting to the bathroom shouldn't be a problem, but I doubt you're going to be able to get through this network and to the security room before you're in there too long to explain it away with the excuse that you're taking a massive dump or something. We'd need a distraction to prevent the security guards from knocking on the door and not getting a response."
"Don't worry, we figured that out too," Rhea grinned, "We go with the most believable reason to take too long in the bathroom - we went in there to fuck."
That surprised a bark of laughter out of Nevara, and a quieter huff from V'tala.
"Believable indeed," Pryseia said, biting back a grin of her own, "In my own overview of events scheduled for the gala happening in a few day's time, I saw that there will be a period of socialization before our meal is to be served, to allow guests to arrive fashionably late, I'm sure, after which there will be a series of performances during the dinner portion of the evening, followed by a more formal dance in the ballroom. Guests will be encouraged to mingle during this part of the night, so I believe this would be the opportune time for the pair of you to sneak off and engage in your rendezvous smokescreen."
"I was thinking along similar lines," Malakh said as she leaned towards the table to bring up the dress code and list of requirements and prohibitions for the event, "We won't be able to use our Longan, but subdermal comm chips are allowed - they're too low power and minimalist to be much of a threat to any security system. And this thing about the dress code being in Iistunsk style, it's a Necupole trend where whatever you wear has to pull the colour palette from stuff like your skin and hair, which is weird, but what else can you expect from Necupole fashion? If our auto-tailor doesn't have the subroutines for this, it won't be an issue to get them installed. No outside consumables, because they wanna make more money off their guests, and everyone's gotta come with a date. Guess it's a Lacertus standard - no single ladies."
"If I have you on my arm, would you be able to weather the brunt of socializing?" Nevara asked Elytra, leaning forward enough to place her elbows on her knees to look at her.
"I would be more than happy to," Elytra replied, leaning back enough to bump her fist against Nevara's shin, "Gotta play the part of a social butterfly while Rhea and Malakh are getting down to business other than each other. For once."
"You're such a brat." Rhea accused, kicking out vaguely in Elytra's direction, but there was absolutely no heat behind it.
Turning to V'tala next to her, rolling her eyes fondly at these antics, Pryseia said, "I suppose that leaves us to partner up with each other."
"I suppose it does." V'tala replied, her tone as dry as ever, though a faint smile did tug at her lips.
Turning back to the table, her own smile far more apparent, Pryseia said, "Now, minutia taken care of, let us run through the plan that the pirates had been working on. I would like to see if it requires any improvements before we begin the operation, and if so, how many. Ideally we pull this off on the charity event happening in a few short days, rather than one later in the month, for the sooner we have that Omega scanner in our possession, the easier I will be able to sleep."
"I don't need to rest, but I agree with you anyway," Viatrix said, bringing forward other documents, "Okay, so since this is a private moon, there's a spaceport where we'll be able to park the Pelekys, with private shuttles that will bring us to Labhi's mansion…"
By the time evening rolled around, they'd hammered out the details of their plan, the initial one set out by the pirates substantial enough that they hadn't needed to alter much. With that squared away, they all reconvened on the bridge, Viatrix sending a signal out to Slake.
It only took a few seconds for the arakhne pirate to answer the call, the woman wearing a red leather jacket with black trim today, her bracelet already rolling through her fingers.
"You're ready to launch, aren't you?" She beamed at them from the shadows of her bridge, "You intend to strike at the event in a few day's time."
"We are indeed," Pryseia confirmed, "Unless you and yours need further time to prepare?"
Slake let out a chittering laugh as she came to rest on a black bead. "No, we're ready to act, and the sooner the better. We're operating on something of a timetable, and there's a lot to get in order before time runs out."
Without her helmet obscuring her features, Elytra had to school her expression into something neutral, because even without being in range of the empathic booster, Slake's statement was cryptic enough that it was clear she was talking about something other than the heist at hand. She could feel Pryseia's curiosity pique at that, like a sudden chill breeze, but the deupazing didn't let it show outwardly.
"Our intent is to infiltrate the charity gala as guests, as you suggested, and break off to subdue the security measures on the mansion during the ball towards the end of the evening. That will be your time to strike."
Slake nodded at that, her hands stopping on a charm that looked like it was carved from bone as she said, "We will be nearby and ready to act, rest assured. One request, however."
"Of course." Pryseia agreed, motioning for her to continue.
"Unlike you Kith, us run of the mill pirates don't take well to the spotlight," Slake said, a wry grin on her face and a bright yellow bead between her fingers, "Don't bring your cameras to this event. I don't want any trace of what we do here polished up for public consumption."
"A reasonable request," Pryseia agreed, "Have you any others, or is anonymity you primary concern?"
"In regards to this… collaboration, yes, to not be recorded as being a part of it is our only stipulation," Slake said, worrying an orange bead between her fingers, "Don't call on us unless something changes with the plan. We're trying to remain stealthy, after all. See you there."
And with that, Slake ended the call.
Rhea blew out a sigh as sat down on the arm of Pryseia's seat. "Kind of a bummer we won't get any footage out of this, but I guess that's a small price to pay for getting our hands on the device that will let us track the Omega."
"Oh no, I guess we'll have to come up with something to explain how we got it after." Was Elytra's sarcastic reply, but then her face fell as she asked, "What do you think she meant about being on a timetable? And acting before time runs out?"
"Could be that the thing her and her pirates are after is some kind of perishable good?" Malakh suggested with a shrug, "Maybe Labhi's got one of their own kept as a prisoner in jis mansion. They seemed dead set on getting in there, after all."
"And if it is a crew mate in dire straits, I can more than understand her urgency." Nevara agreed.
Letting out a low hum, Rhea added, "That bracelet she was playing with, I did a little research on that. Seems like it's some kind of Arakhne divination tool that showed up a lot in their more ancient religions. Each bead means something, but what that something is varies from person to person. Practitioners of this art make their own bracelets, and so imbue each bead with their own meaning. Going by the search traffic, there's been a real uptick in people getting into ancient practices like this as of late."
"Pirates are saddled with the stereotype of being a superstitious lot." Pryseia shrugged, "Despite her insistence that she would prefer to remain off screen, this could be a bit of performance to maintain the mystique of her profession."
"Or a nervous habit she sees no need to break." V'tala added.
Bringing her avatar up on the main view screen, now that Slake was no longer there, Viatrix said, "Well, either way, we've got a couple days to get all the gear we need for this job in order and head over to that moon. Want me to order us those tickets now?"
"Please," Pryseia said as she stood, "Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I need to do some research of my own. I need to see examples of what this Iistunsk style looks like if I'm to get an idea of what to wear."