Beyond Outlaws and the Stars

[Helbaworshipper]

To mecilessly attack the colony was one thing. It was another to use the Colony to attack people by using the people on it as bait. Closing her eyes, Agatha held Serenity's trembling hand. "We need to get out of here before the Colony itself becomes debris." She spoke towards the Captain. There was little she could do otherwise, she looked at the woman with a serious, though weakened expression. There was no guarantee they could get out, even if they could save the colony in some way. The air already was being compromised as a satellite. A distress signal would only attract more attention to the ship they were in. "Either that, or get away before the space forces hunt this ship and try to destroy it." She spoke softly, feeling that almost frail form attempting to think of something to do.

[nekoryuuha]

((Sorry for the delay, everyone))

"Well.... Damn..." Sakura said to herself as she watched the colony be torn apart behind them. "The procedure? We Run!" the Ctarl-Ctarl stated as she signaled Leo who Launched them immediately afterwards. "If they're really after us, then the fact we're not dead yet means that they want us alive. In theory, they shouldn't be too rough with us, so we should have that as a bit of advantage," she finished. Even as derelict as their ship was, in didn't change the fact that they were in a Scout ship, a small craft meant for speed & maneuverability. Even still, they were buying time, mostly. "Agatha, Serenity, get yourself strapped down and get ready for a bumpy flight. Zorlo, go apologize to Ash and tell her I'm about to get rough on the engines fore me. Leo..." She jumped over to the secondary flight controls. "...Let's go...!"

[Zorolo]

Zorlo nodded as he rushed into the engine room. "I know I'm not supposed to come in here, but the Captain wants me to pass on her apologies for what is about to happen. We're about to push the engines as hard as we can to try and escape some huge ship coming after us. If we don't take the course of action of the Captain... we'll likely all die, methinks," Zorlo said, sighing. He was SO bad at this. He'd never had to give bad news before.

The gigantic ship continued to push forwards, finally simply tearing the entire satellite apart. There was naught but space debris left in the wake of the massive ship's ascent from the wormhole it had appeared from and now it had stopped. The slightly smaller ship sped up suddenly. It would bridge the gap between itself and the small ship. "Remember now, boys, we gotta catch the girl and her hag mother. Everyone else is expendable!" the ship's captain said as he adjusted his hat. "It is finally time. THe Hundred-and-Eight Sons shall rise again! Our Senjutsu is greater than ever. Woe upon these fools who oppose us."

[GamerKale]

Ashley gave Zorlo a bored look, her arms crossed in front of her chest. "Sorry, I stopped listening after you started whining. If you're going to have thoughts of dying, keep them to yourself." She turned her gaze back to an amalgam of monitors displaying information in what didn't look like any language, but made somehow sense to the mechanic. Ash's tone was surprisingly calm and passive, "We're under attack and we're pushing the engines sooner than expected, message received. Unless you have some ideas we can implement right the hell now to boost engine power with your magic, shouldn't you be making sure the other passengers are safe or something?" Until things started breaking there wasn't much she could do beyond watching her readouts.

[Helbaworshipper]

Agatha knew that there were many people interested in her research. She had spent a long time combating interested parties and just focusing on what her project was supposed to achieve. She had had countless vocal arguments with people who felt that her work could be used in more profitable ways. She knew that Serenity was much like a child in a sense. Even if she had grown up as a normal girl, the world had not been so kind. Sitting down with the belt, she felt her hand slowly shaking along with Serenity's. She didn't like this idea of always being hunted, but there was little she could do as a person to stop it. 'We had a lot of friends on that colony too. I wonder if... If they'll forgive us for causing them the trouble we have.'

[Zorolo]

Zorlo smiled at the woman as he stepped forwards and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Lady Ashley, that's a great idea! My magic is actually ideal for such a thing. I just need you to set up the interface for me to do so," the elf said as he smiled at her. "We'll easily get away and be able to regroup in that way! You're absolutely brilliant! I guess the Ctarl-Ctarl are both very beautiful and very brilliant!" Zorlo said as he smiled at her. "Let's see what this ship can do with magical powers," he said, magical energy beginning to spin around him.

[kai the pkk]

Leo: Hold on to something! { he pushes the ship to it's max} just try to catch me! { he grins playfully} so our priority is to make an escape now right? { he pilots the ship on a dangerous path} Ash is gonna kill me if the engine fries........{ he speaks over the speaker} ladies and gentleman this is your pilot speaking I am sorry but I regret to inform you that our ride is going to be a rather bumpy one Asteroids on the same flight path along with being pursued by a angry space ship we will have to make a slight detour off of our current path please be sure to fasten your seatbelts while the captain and I try to bring us back on a smoother course. { he takes a different route as he accelerates}....Captain get ready to go full throttle on my mark!

[GamerKale]

"I am but," Zorlo found Ash's hand grabbing his face one second and the next he was laid up against the wall in the hallway. "I said right the hell now. There is no interface. I need Agatha's help completing my designs, so go make sure she's safe. And STAY OUT!" Ashley rushed to make sure nothing exploded that wasn't supposed to.

[Zorolo]

"A very forceful woman, that one, but she makes a good point," Zorlo said as he began to move towards where the rest of the group was. IF they wanted to escape, they would need to do it faster. Things weren't looking good as it was. Z's hand extended as he rested it on Serenity's shoulder and smiled at her. "Be calm. We'll be safe, so I swear you," he told her, smiling.

Chanting from the Tao Masters filled the ship as a powerful field engulfed the ship. The quasimagical energy that engulfed the ship allowed the ship of Tao Masters to pass quickly through the field and slowly close the gap. "Foolish fools! Who are they that think they can escape us! Pick up speed! We'll easily catch these bastards, I swear it!" the man yelled, Tao energy overflowing from his body as they began to pick up speed again.

[Helbaworshipper]

Serenity's other hand touched the one on her shoulder. Sure it was an awkward position, but it made her feel a little safe. A stream of what seemed to be magic flowed to him, but it was a small stream of magic that showed more of her emotions calming than an actual spell. Agatha was a bit concerned at the way her magic flowed naturally. 'The experiment was far too successful. Is there a way that she can exist normally at all?'

[Zorolo]

Zorlo looked at his hand as he felt her calming energy. Zorlo smiled as he watched the ship continue to move, rather dangerously, and continue through the astroid field.

The massive ship continued to barrel through the meteor field after the small ship with all the power it could manage, however, they were barely catching up. The man flipped open and closed his lighter as the annoying, small ship continued to place distance between them. "Darn... they're getting away. I can't allow th-" the Tao Master started to say as a figure appeared on the screen.

"Return. We have done all we can do for now. We shall find the girl later, do not fear," the shadowed figure said as the other man closed his lighter and sighed.

"WEll men, we're heading back to the main ship. Hopefully those losers crapped themselves! Congrats, everyone, but we've got hunting to do later."

Back on the ship, calm returned as the other ship began to turn around and leave. ZOrlo watched the monitor in silence and peace of mind as he pondered a few things. "Captain, we should land soon, yes? I'm sure Ash is going to be mad about the engine as is, but we should also prepare for another pursuit from... whoever those people were," Zorlo said as he sighed. These people were so peculiar... so very, very peculiar.

[GamerKale]

When they were finally away, the door to engineering opened and smoke/gas poured out. "Ok, I'm just going to let the air cycle for a bit." Ashley said as she sealed the door behind her. The engineer got some food, her data pad, and hunted Agatha down. "Dr. Morgan, is now a good time? This is a rough sketch of something inspired by one of your articles. It should allow someone with magic, like Zorlo, to use their magic to improve a ship's operations. I had a more complete version that I had been working on by myself for the better part of a decade, but I never had any way of testing my designs, not a whole lot of ctarl ctarls lining up to test the "freak's" crazy ideas, plus they kind of exploded. But with your help, I think we can complete the project."

[Helbaworshipper]

"I haven't been a doctor in years." Agatha stated, her eyes closing. She let the belt go off as she looked at Serenity. It would be okay if Serenity was around this rather strange presence for now. "I'll be back, Serenity." She gently pat her daughter on the head, looking at Ashley. "Miss Daye, correct?" She addressed the engineer with a wary, almost tired smile. "We should talk in a more private area if we are to discuss the contents of my papers. My daughter needs to have some peace and quiet for now." She didn't know exactly what papers she had based off the creation, but it would be hard to keep some people away if it was something that dealt with more integrated magical technology. So far the interface sounded alright, but there isn't much she could do other than establish if it could channel properly and what materials would make it possible.

Serenity looked towards Zorlo as her mother followed Ashley out. "Sorry, I'm not used to being around people capable of something my mother studied." She spoke softly, lowering her hand and letting go of the belt. Her head leaning lightly towards him as she closed her eyes halfway.

[nekoryuuha]

"If you need somewhere private, Go ahead and use the room we shared last night then, Ash-Dear," Sakura said as she rose and stood up to stretch. Leo could take it from here, so long as nothing blew up. "I'm gonna go get me something to eat and figure out something to do about all these people that suddenly seem to think we're interesting. I'll be in the Galley if anyone needs me." And with that, the Captain walked out, her stomach drowning out her foot steps.

[GamerKale]

Ashley glanced at Serenity at Agatha's statement and shrugged. "That's fine." She smiled after the captain, "Sounds good, thanks Sakura-dear, I wanted to try on the clothes you got for me anyways." Ashley let Agatha review the data while Ash changed into her New Outfit. "She has a good eye. One of my main concerns is getting the magic to affect the entire ship. Do you think I'll need to do a massive overhaul to run power lines capable of channeling the magic throughout the vessel or will I just need to integrate the drive into the existing systems? Even if the former is necessary it shouldn't be too hard to at least make it operational enough to boost our engines until I can perform the necessary modifications."

[Helbaworshipper]

Agatha's mind was already working as she looked at the schematics. 'If the engine could convert the magic into energy it would be possible to hold the interface. However, that requires something being able to convert it. The interface won't work without that added aspect.' She used a finger to begin writing down what seemed to be a formula. She was in deep concentration as she continued using her hand to seemingly write on the pad. 'For a ship this size, Serenity's abilities aren't necessary, but... the other conversion methods aren't exactly going to guarantee in a fight.' "To convert this energy requires something that can change that magic energy into energy the ship can use for various functions. What are you planning to use to convert it properly?"

[GamerKale]

Ashley took a deep breath and then flopped on the bed. "I have no idea." She held her empty hands up, "No experience dealing with magic outside of periodically having it thrown at me." She took a turn at drawing/writing on the pad talking to herself and periodically referencing the new formula. "If that and that is true then, no that won't work. The easiest, and probably best method, would be to make something cybernetic, since we know organic beings can convert magical energy into other forms, but easiest is a relative term as we have neither the time nor the materials to do that. Of course, with all of that magic going through it even if we made something cybernetic as an interface I'm concerned that there's a chance that it could become, or even have to be, sentient to direct it properly and that's a disturbing thought. I'm actually kind of glad they never listened to me or let me have the proper resources to research this now. Oh, wait, I think I've encountered a material that could handle this work." She drew up a compound and started to draw up a new schematic and trashed it almost immediately. "No, that won't work. I feel like the answer is staring me right in the face and I just can't see it. It's like when I saw the ether drive of a capital ship for the first time as a kid, I simply could not grasp the scope of it. Actually, an ether drive. Could that work?" Ashley sketched up her new design and presented it to Agatha. "What do you think?"

[Zorolo]

Trust me, I'm not used to being around people who talk to me at all. Within the caste I was born into in my clan, we aren't expected to live long enough to make many friends or find a deeper purpose in life besides being the wall of the people. It is unfortunate, but it is the way of things," the man said with a somewhat sad smile as he looked at Serenity. " I still don't know why it is I exist, or what my purpose is, but I can keep searching for it now... since I can live free of a caste. Its unfortunate, that my old fate was lost, but I can replace it. I wouldn't have seen it that way... had I not met you... so thank you." His words were sincere, if not somewhat peculiar, but he couldn't quite stop them. Not quite at least.

[Helbaworshipper]

'An ether drive? It could work for basic threats, though how you could attach a magic converter there will be tricky.' Agatha seemed to be tracing something as she looked at the design. "It will work for any basic threats, but you will need to have the person casting the magic to convert it themselves. Somehow, it should work if they can put it in a form that the drive will know." Her voice sounded confident, handing the sheet without the invisible thing she was drawing back to Ashley. 'It's not nearly as reliable, but as long as the type of magic conversion is somehow programmed in the drive, it should work fine. I'm sorry, Serenity, but I can't allow you to be used as a conversion solution.'

"But it's my fault that you got into that fight. If you hadn't protect us, you could have gone free with your crew." Serenity admitted, her hands coming together in her lap. "All we're doing is causing you to be in more trouble than before."

[Zorolo]

Zorlo looked at her and listened. For the first time, the serious demeanor that he had managed to mostly maintain cracked... and out poured laughter. Simple, pure laughter erupted from him as he fell forwards slightly, hitting his head on the chair next to Serenity. Still, he continued laughing as he rolled over and sat up. "Your fault? You misunderstand. You didn't cause me to go into space. You didn't attack those guys back there. And you definitely didn't send that big ship after us."

He finally caught his breath and attempted to force his demeanor back into place. "Anyway, Captain Sakura is the one who forced me to leave my home by killing the creature I had been sent to slay... and I was the one who sought you out, so you share no blame in that either. As for everything else, the Creators hands guide fate, so who knows WHY it happened. All we have is the present, so let's focus on finding a way to help your mother, Miss Ash, Mr. Leo, and the Captain, yes?" he asked her, still holding in more laughter.