09-25-2016, 06:10 PM
Zack’s steps through the hallway of the cramped submarine were careful and deliberate. Room to move about was a premium commodity in the narrow passages and compact walls, and Zack was very self-aware of the massive slab of metal he carried on his back and the difficulties it offered in enclosed areas. It was a testament to his years of experience with the Buster Sword that his full awareness of his lack of space was masked by his seemingly lackadaisical stroll. He moved just as easily as anyone else might, even ducking over the low overhang of the doorway into Gary’s planning room. Not once did the Buster Sword come close to touching any part of the structure.
Such a feat went unnoticed as Zack entered, and unmentioned by him since he simply did not pay attention it anymore. Instead he marched right up to the table that Caira and Gary were looming over, taking one side for his own. Gary had a map sprawled out over the table, and Zack quietly wondered how many maps this dude owned. They always seemed to be looking over one or the other. He couldn’t fault him for it, though. After all, the scrolls were doing their job.
“So, the Empire,” Zack commented as he looked down at a detailed drawing of the island they were destined for. “What’s the best they could pull together from the infinite worlds that touch this ocean?”
Caira raised an eyebrow. That sure was a daunting way to look at the task at hand. Gary was unimpressed by Zack’s fervor, even though he expected such a statement. The older man had come to learn that Zack relished his status as an immortal prime in a vast and nearly limitless universe. It was oddly unique to see a prime like that, as many seemed to carry their own agendas or morals from their previous worlds. He sensed that Zack had changed greatly since his original realm.
“The Imperial impound near Cinnabar isn’t a truck stop, laddy,” Gary sternly rebuked Zack’s enthusiasm. “The opposition is deadly, and one slip up could be disastrous. Not only would it be the end of our little voyage, but it would alert the Empire to the value of what they possess.”
“If they don’t already know what the papers are worth, why take them?” Caira quizzically asked.
Gary shook his head. “All they know is that it’s potentially beneficial to Camelot. That’s enough reason to seize the ship.”
“Ah, politics,” Zack smiled as he sarcastically spoke. “All that time in the Steppes and I’d almost forgotten how petty people could be.”
Gary scoffed, but pressed on. “This outpost is well staffed, for sure, but the security is nothing compared to Coruscant or even Costa Del Sol. Stormtroopers, as well as the Imperial Navy, and probably some of Dr. Gero’s creations about the place, too.”
“Where would they keep the papers?” Caira queried as she looked over the layout of the impound.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been there,” Gary remarked. “I simply acquired these maps in case the need came up.”
“Lucky for us,” Zack nodded.
There was a beep, and Gary quickly departed, without a word. Zack figured they were getting close to their destination. It hadn’t been a long trip, but that was to be expected, considering the Empire didn’t want to set up their base of operations too far from the blockade.
Zack contemplated for a minute. They didn’t know where exactly to go, and only had some old maps for guidance. After all, they might have remodeled since Gary acquired the floor plans, and then even that advantage would be out the door. Though those were valid concerns, the immediate one was simply getting inside. Like the old man had said, security wouldn’t be loose.
“You ever been scuba diving?” Zack asked, suddenly.
Caira looked up, but quickly shook her head. “No…never even considered it.”
Zack nodded in understanding. “Me either. Want to?”
“To get in?” Caira asked, just to make sure Zack wasn’t on some tangent.
“I’m guessing there’s no security underwater,” Zack reasoned. “If we approach from down below, we’ll likely have a much easier time infiltrating. We get what we need, then get out the same way.”
“But we can’t let the water ruin the papers,” Caira countered. “That would defeat the whole purpose.”
“True,” Zack agreed. “Maybe we can summon up something waterproof to store them in? Or steal some uniforms and march right out on one of their boats?”
“The first idea is better, so long as we have time,” Caira decided. “Summoning isn’t a short endeavor. We might be spotted.”
“We’ll figure it out when we’re in there, then,” Zack reasoned. He was happy enough to know a way in.
Gary entered the room once more, looking between the two. “If we get much closer, they’ll detect us. Have you figured out a plan?”
Zack glanced to Caira, and she nodded.
“I think so,” Caira said. “We’ll go underwater.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll need to stay here with the vessel,” Gary seemed unimpressed, but accepting of the idea. “It’s only a single hatch, so I’ll need to surface so you can leave.”
Gary turned and left for the controls once more, and Zack grinned. One thing was for certain, he was surely getting to experience a little bit of everything.
Such a feat went unnoticed as Zack entered, and unmentioned by him since he simply did not pay attention it anymore. Instead he marched right up to the table that Caira and Gary were looming over, taking one side for his own. Gary had a map sprawled out over the table, and Zack quietly wondered how many maps this dude owned. They always seemed to be looking over one or the other. He couldn’t fault him for it, though. After all, the scrolls were doing their job.
“So, the Empire,” Zack commented as he looked down at a detailed drawing of the island they were destined for. “What’s the best they could pull together from the infinite worlds that touch this ocean?”
Caira raised an eyebrow. That sure was a daunting way to look at the task at hand. Gary was unimpressed by Zack’s fervor, even though he expected such a statement. The older man had come to learn that Zack relished his status as an immortal prime in a vast and nearly limitless universe. It was oddly unique to see a prime like that, as many seemed to carry their own agendas or morals from their previous worlds. He sensed that Zack had changed greatly since his original realm.
“The Imperial impound near Cinnabar isn’t a truck stop, laddy,” Gary sternly rebuked Zack’s enthusiasm. “The opposition is deadly, and one slip up could be disastrous. Not only would it be the end of our little voyage, but it would alert the Empire to the value of what they possess.”
“If they don’t already know what the papers are worth, why take them?” Caira quizzically asked.
Gary shook his head. “All they know is that it’s potentially beneficial to Camelot. That’s enough reason to seize the ship.”
“Ah, politics,” Zack smiled as he sarcastically spoke. “All that time in the Steppes and I’d almost forgotten how petty people could be.”
Gary scoffed, but pressed on. “This outpost is well staffed, for sure, but the security is nothing compared to Coruscant or even Costa Del Sol. Stormtroopers, as well as the Imperial Navy, and probably some of Dr. Gero’s creations about the place, too.”
“Where would they keep the papers?” Caira queried as she looked over the layout of the impound.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been there,” Gary remarked. “I simply acquired these maps in case the need came up.”
“Lucky for us,” Zack nodded.
There was a beep, and Gary quickly departed, without a word. Zack figured they were getting close to their destination. It hadn’t been a long trip, but that was to be expected, considering the Empire didn’t want to set up their base of operations too far from the blockade.
Zack contemplated for a minute. They didn’t know where exactly to go, and only had some old maps for guidance. After all, they might have remodeled since Gary acquired the floor plans, and then even that advantage would be out the door. Though those were valid concerns, the immediate one was simply getting inside. Like the old man had said, security wouldn’t be loose.
“You ever been scuba diving?” Zack asked, suddenly.
Caira looked up, but quickly shook her head. “No…never even considered it.”
Zack nodded in understanding. “Me either. Want to?”
“To get in?” Caira asked, just to make sure Zack wasn’t on some tangent.
“I’m guessing there’s no security underwater,” Zack reasoned. “If we approach from down below, we’ll likely have a much easier time infiltrating. We get what we need, then get out the same way.”
“But we can’t let the water ruin the papers,” Caira countered. “That would defeat the whole purpose.”
“True,” Zack agreed. “Maybe we can summon up something waterproof to store them in? Or steal some uniforms and march right out on one of their boats?”
“The first idea is better, so long as we have time,” Caira decided. “Summoning isn’t a short endeavor. We might be spotted.”
“We’ll figure it out when we’re in there, then,” Zack reasoned. He was happy enough to know a way in.
Gary entered the room once more, looking between the two. “If we get much closer, they’ll detect us. Have you figured out a plan?”
Zack glanced to Caira, and she nodded.
“I think so,” Caira said. “We’ll go underwater.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll need to stay here with the vessel,” Gary seemed unimpressed, but accepting of the idea. “It’s only a single hatch, so I’ll need to surface so you can leave.”
Gary turned and left for the controls once more, and Zack grinned. One thing was for certain, he was surely getting to experience a little bit of everything.