TH - Book 2 - Chapter 18 - Starchaser

This might need to go through some adjustments to dialog, and names, but nothing major to the outline. If you're not aware this is a slight crossover with Fata Morgana so I need Alia to double check some of the details.

It didn’t take long to get to the harbor once we were airborne. 

Even though there was a lot of traffic in the city center, there wasn’t much out near the ocean. It was mostly commercial ground traffic, and Cascadian PMCs trying to fortify the coast or resupply the naval blockade.

We came in low, over the water, bypassing most of the fortifications before swinging inland to land at the previously bustling samurai peer. 

Now that Warspite, and the other aquatic samurai, were out on the ocean the area was practically abandoned. The dock workers and sailors had probably been evacuated in the face of the incoming horde, and the Cascadian government hadn’t moved any troops into this area yet.

There was some life though. As we came into the area, swooping down towards the pier, we found a samurai warship moored to the pier where the Retribution previously sat.  Unlike the Retribution, which looked like a futuristic human warship, this one looked like a more classical sailing ship. It was much sleeker than the larger vessel, with a long curved wooden hull. 

It was obviously the same ship we saw last night, from a distance, but now that it was day I could get a much better look at it. 

Despite looking more traditional, I had no doubt that the ship could hold its own in combat. The wood was obviously non-terrestrial, being both unnaturally pale, and glowing slightly. In addition to that, I couldn’t see a single joint anywhere, like the entire hull was a single piece. The top deck had several samurai grade weapon emplacements, which made it look more like a modern destroyer from the air, along with a number of high-tech communications and defensive systems clustered around the bridge.

As we swooped low a figure in red stepped onto the deck, and started waving at us.

{Athy: We’ve been asked to land directly on the Starchaser, approximately mid-deck.}

“Is that a smart idea? Leaving our car on the deck of a warship during combat seems… unwise,” I said as we circled.

{Athy: We’ve been informed that the Starchaser has a lift, and automated storage system. Your vehicle will be quite safe while you’re at sea.}

“Well, I guess our hosts would know best,” Skyler whispered, before turning towards the ship.

Once we got closer I could clearly make out the girl on deck. She had pale-white hair which draped all the way down her back, massive black glasses, and was wearing a red maid’s uniform. I actually recognized her from the briefing a few days ago, she and her partner had sure made an impression. As we got closer to the deck she gestured animatedly at an empty section of the deck, while a small pack of dogs ran around her. 

As soon as we touched down she practically pranced over to the car, humming quietly to herself the entire time. 

“You two must be Cleansing Rain and Honorable Wind, it’s nice to meet you!” she exclaimed happily as Skyler and I climbed out of the car. “I’m Lime-Light, Captain of the Starchaser, and this is my crew!” 

I glanced around the widely empty deck, before looking at the frenzy of activity at her feet. “You mean the dogs?” 

“They’re not just any dogs, they’re enhanced samurai dogs!” Lime-Light exclaimed, before turning towards the mob. “Attention!”

Almost instantly the dogs settled down, sitting in orderly rows in front of her.

“Our guests have arrived, so playtime is over! All crew to positions! Prepare to cast off!” she declared. 

The dogs immediately scattered, sprinting to various positions on the ship. I watched in amazement as a Golden Retriever and a German Shepard pair expertly unhooked the moorings by shaking the rope in just the right way. They wound the rope using a pulley system that was obviously designed just for them before running off to the next rope.

“If you follow me back to the bridge, I’ll introduce the others to you. Don’t worry about your car, or gear, for now. It’ll take us a couple minutes to reach the harbor entrance, and Achys will work with your AIs in make sure everything is prepared for you,” Lime-Light explained with a smile. “Now come on, everyone’s waiting!”

Skyler glanced over at me, and I just shrugged, before following the slightly odd girl. 

As soon as we stepped off the slightly raised, central area which we’d landed on one of the dogs ran past and yanked a leaver. Within seconds Skyler’s car had disappeared below deck, and a massive armored hatch slammed shut over it. 

Slowly following our host down the side of the ship, occasionally sidestepping one of the ‘crew’ as they rushed about, I marveled at the ship’s construction. The wooden parts of the hull looked like they’d been grown into shape, rather than assembled. I didn’t know if that was the case, or if it had just been constructed with some samurai grade construction technique, but it was impressive nonetheless.

Stepping off the deck, and onto the bridge was quite an experience. It was a fusion of traditional and modern design. The deck and walls were all created out of a darker, finished wood, and there was a traditional ships wheel, but there was also a host of modern monitors, including a holographic display to steer by, instead of a window.

There were two people inside. One was Lime-Light’s partner from the briefing, an actual mermaid with a head of short curly brown hair. She was literally swimming through the air, going from monitor to monitor. She had a cute yellow maid dress, which allowed her long white-scaled eel-like tail to move unhindered. 

The third girl, who was currently steering the ship, had black hair and was wearing a butler’s suit. Even though she didn’t turn to look at us I could see her left eye had been gouged out. She had a jagged scar which reached from cheek to ear, and the eye had been replaced by a glowing cybernetic.

Lime-Light clapped as she entered, drawing the attention of the other two girls. “Now that we’re all in the same place, let me introduce everyone. Girls, this is Cleansing Rain, and Honorable Wind. Rain, Wind, this is my partner Ghost-Light,” the red garbed maid said as she gestured towards the mermaid. Ghost-Light didn’t say anything, and instead half hid behind Lime, staring at me. 

Lime seemed a little surprised by her behaviour, but regained her composure after a few seconds. “And this is my sister, Shadow Puppet.”

As the second girl turned an entirely new figure popped into existence before her. It was hard to make out a lot of detail, but it appeared to be a dark violet female shape, with a gothic lolita style dress. 

The shadow girl flew forward, did a couple quick laps around Skyler and I, then disappeared again. Only after it was done, did Shadow begrudgingly say, “Nice to meet you.”

“What was that?” I asked suspiciously. 

Skyler, Lime and Ghost all looked at me confused. “What was what?” Skyler asked.

“You didn’t see that? There was a shadowy person flying around the room for a couple seconds,” I replied confused.

“A better question is, how did you see that? My hardlight avatar should be practically invisible to most people. It’s in the ultraviolet spectrum!” Shadow snapped.

“I can see the ultraviolet spectrum, due to one of my genetic upgrades,” I told the girl. “It’s actually been very useful when dealing with certain types of antithesis.”

“Lissa, I told you, you don’t have to check every single person that comes close to me,” Lime sighed. “Especially other samurai.”

“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” the shorter girl snorted, before turning back to the wheel.

“I’m sorry about my sister. She’s a little overprotective,” Lime apologized, bowing slightly as she did. When she stood up straight again she threw an arm around Ghost and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here though, things in the harbor were starting to get a little sketchy, we could use the help.”

“Yeah, well, don’t thank us yet,” Skyler said. “Neither of us have any experience with aquatic combat.”

“That’s why we’re here!” Lime replied happily. “I hear that Wind is quite an expert with a sword. While I don’t have any experience there, Ghost here has years of hand-to-hand training. I’m sure she’ll be able to get you up to speed in no time.”

“I appreciate the help,” I said humbly, nodding towards Ghost. The smaller girl blushed slightly, but didn’t come out from behind her friend.

“We’re approaching the anchor point!” Shadow declared. “Prepare for combat!”

Lime nodded, and turned to a cabinet at the back of the room. When she opened it I was surprised to see both Skyler and my gear, carefully arranged on the shelves. “I need to get to the cannons, and Ghost needs to get into the water, so we’ll leave you to get ready. If you need help, ask Shadow,” Lime explained before heading towards the deck. She paused right before leaving and turned back to us, “Good luck out there.”

“Thanks!” Skyler exclaimed, before lowering her voice and mumbling under her breath. “Hopefully we don’t need it.”