10-12-2015, 02:32 PM
"Here we go."
AndrAIa's words summarized the exact thoughts in Matrix's head as they approached the dock at Cinnabar. There was no telling what sort of welcome they would receive. Zlick had directed them to a much closer pier than the one they had previously used. Getting by the half-hearted Imperial blockade hadn't been too much extra effort, but there was no creeping up on the civilization. Indeed, there was a large crowd gathered at the dock. It was an absolute hodgepodge of monsters like they had never seen before, but Matrix could easily make out the Machamp and Golem standing at the front.
Matrix looked over to AndrAIa, a little apprehensively. "If this goes bad, get ready to throw the kids on the dock and take off," he said in a low voice, so their three passengers wouldn't hear.
AndrAIa wanted to voice her disapproval with that line of thinking, but recognized that it was probably right to be prepared for that option. So she simply nodded, and looked to the front of the boat. Coal, Zlick, and Kero were standing on the front, waving wildly at their friends and family.
Matrix guided the boat up to the dock, and several creatures with wildly varying appearances were already grabbing the dock lines and helping to pull the boat in. The Charmander and Jawa leaped from the boat, while someone else had to grab the Tonberry and lift it off. AndrAIa watched and smiled as they disappeared into the relieved and celebrating crowd.
Matrix wasn't looking at the children, though. Instead, he stepped from the boat and onto the pier, directly before two of the council members that hadn't wanted him to know of this problem in the first place. He kept a serious expression as he looked between the two.
"You found out," Golem simply said.
"Yea," Matrix gave a gruff reply. "And we rescued them."
"You have to understand our hesitance to trust strangers," Machamp said. "We've a civilization of creatures that have been taken advantage of for as long as any of us can remember. Even now the Empire looms off shore, ready to enslave us at the first opportunity."
"We've done our part," Matrix responded, looking at the various creatures standing around, and briefly turning to glance at the sea monsters behind their boat. "You know we don't mean any harm, now. If you want us to leave, we'll leave."
"No, you've proven yourselves friends of Cinnabar. We do not make friends or welcome outsiders easy, but you two are skilled, capable, and above all, loyal," Golem said, extending his odd hand. "Welcome to the island."
Matrix reached out and shook his hand, and then Machamp's. A wave of relief surged through him. They could rest and relax for a little bit, and even set up shop somewhere on the island. It would be nice to have a place to fall back to, as the Omniverse was a large place and getting lost was more than possible. He looked back to AndrAIa, who was stepping onto the dock with a large smile at that news.
"Thank you," AndrAIa warmly said, shaking their hands, as well. "I really think we can help you all just as much as you can help us."
Golem gave a nod, and then looked to the boat as he got down to the business of logistics. "What supplies do you have that need moving? We will help get your belongings situated."
"Everything we have, which isn't much, is on that boat," AndrAIa explained. "As long as there is somewhere we can dock it, we'll be alright."
"It will be fine there, for now," Machamp nodded, deciding that they probably didn't want to get straight to the business of moving in. There would be time for that later. "Follow us into town. You can rest a bit, and then we will find a proper place for you to use as a residence."
Matrix simply gave a nod of agreement, then Golem and Machamp turned and began to head back towards the civilization. He took AndrAIa's hand in his and followed after them. That had gone much better than he expected, to his great relief and surprise. For once they didn't have to think about their next move in this strange world, and could simply relax and unwind.
AndrAIa's words summarized the exact thoughts in Matrix's head as they approached the dock at Cinnabar. There was no telling what sort of welcome they would receive. Zlick had directed them to a much closer pier than the one they had previously used. Getting by the half-hearted Imperial blockade hadn't been too much extra effort, but there was no creeping up on the civilization. Indeed, there was a large crowd gathered at the dock. It was an absolute hodgepodge of monsters like they had never seen before, but Matrix could easily make out the Machamp and Golem standing at the front.
Matrix looked over to AndrAIa, a little apprehensively. "If this goes bad, get ready to throw the kids on the dock and take off," he said in a low voice, so their three passengers wouldn't hear.
AndrAIa wanted to voice her disapproval with that line of thinking, but recognized that it was probably right to be prepared for that option. So she simply nodded, and looked to the front of the boat. Coal, Zlick, and Kero were standing on the front, waving wildly at their friends and family.
Matrix guided the boat up to the dock, and several creatures with wildly varying appearances were already grabbing the dock lines and helping to pull the boat in. The Charmander and Jawa leaped from the boat, while someone else had to grab the Tonberry and lift it off. AndrAIa watched and smiled as they disappeared into the relieved and celebrating crowd.
Matrix wasn't looking at the children, though. Instead, he stepped from the boat and onto the pier, directly before two of the council members that hadn't wanted him to know of this problem in the first place. He kept a serious expression as he looked between the two.
"You found out," Golem simply said.
"Yea," Matrix gave a gruff reply. "And we rescued them."
"You have to understand our hesitance to trust strangers," Machamp said. "We've a civilization of creatures that have been taken advantage of for as long as any of us can remember. Even now the Empire looms off shore, ready to enslave us at the first opportunity."
"We've done our part," Matrix responded, looking at the various creatures standing around, and briefly turning to glance at the sea monsters behind their boat. "You know we don't mean any harm, now. If you want us to leave, we'll leave."
"No, you've proven yourselves friends of Cinnabar. We do not make friends or welcome outsiders easy, but you two are skilled, capable, and above all, loyal," Golem said, extending his odd hand. "Welcome to the island."
Matrix reached out and shook his hand, and then Machamp's. A wave of relief surged through him. They could rest and relax for a little bit, and even set up shop somewhere on the island. It would be nice to have a place to fall back to, as the Omniverse was a large place and getting lost was more than possible. He looked back to AndrAIa, who was stepping onto the dock with a large smile at that news.
"Thank you," AndrAIa warmly said, shaking their hands, as well. "I really think we can help you all just as much as you can help us."
Golem gave a nod, and then looked to the boat as he got down to the business of logistics. "What supplies do you have that need moving? We will help get your belongings situated."
"Everything we have, which isn't much, is on that boat," AndrAIa explained. "As long as there is somewhere we can dock it, we'll be alright."
"It will be fine there, for now," Machamp nodded, deciding that they probably didn't want to get straight to the business of moving in. There would be time for that later. "Follow us into town. You can rest a bit, and then we will find a proper place for you to use as a residence."
Matrix simply gave a nod of agreement, then Golem and Machamp turned and began to head back towards the civilization. He took AndrAIa's hand in his and followed after them. That had gone much better than he expected, to his great relief and surprise. For once they didn't have to think about their next move in this strange world, and could simply relax and unwind.