A couple of hours drifted away as the group journeyed through the cosmic vastness, exiting the Jorhak system and charting a course towards the system of Madek. Seeking to alleviate the monotony, Rhox, overcome by boredom, initiated a game on the radio, whimsically titled "Truth or Bullshit." Gel, engrossed in her communications, chose to be a listener, while Rhox, Gunn, and Vincent eagerly partook.
Rhox, the mastermind, elucidated the game's rules to the participants. "Each person will take turns sharing a story," she explained, her voice laced with excitement. "You have to declare it as 'True' or 'Bullshit.' Ready?" She kicked off the game, spinning a tale of an intense night with a prostitute in the lively Black Glen.
"BULLSHIT!" Gel erupted angrily over the radio, momentarily interrupting her ongoing communications. Gunn, with a slight chuckle, affirmed the story as true, claiming to be a witness. Vincent, however, remained silent, his expression thoughtful.
Gel, frustration evident, switched her radio channel to Rhox's private frequency. "Rhox, what the hell? Is that story true?" she demanded.
Rhox, laughing, responded, "Relax, Gel. It's all a game. You're the only one in my eyes."
The lovers' quarrel concluded, and the group resumed their routine activities. Rhox returned to the main channel, her voice cheerful. "Alright, back to the game! Who's next?"
Gunn, teasingly, inquired, "Is the love quarrel finally over?" His laughter echoed through the radio waves, joined by Vincent's soft chuckle.
Vincent, expressing remorse, added, "Sorry, Rhox. I didn't know what to say earlier."
Rhox laughed it off, assuring them that it was all a game to stave off boredom. "No worries, guys. It's all in good fun."
The trio continued with the game, sharing outlandish stories and wild tales, their laughter resonating through the radio waves. Gunn recounted a tale of wrestling a Void creature barehanded, declaring it as true, while Vincent shared a story of narrowly escaping a pirate ambush, labeling it as bullshit.
As the game progressed, the camaraderie among them grew stronger, the shared laughter and playful banter weaving a tighter bond. Rhox, feeling the warmth of their friendship, felt a renewed sense of determination for the journey ahead.
Just as Rhox was about to share another story, Gel's voice cut through the radio, "Guys, we're approaching the Madek system. Keep your eyes peeled."
The group snapped back to attention, their playful mood shifting to one of alertness. To their surprise, a solitary, gold-colored dreadnought-sized ship awaited them in orbit around one of the planets.
"That's not a friendly sight," Vincent remarked, his tone serious.
Rhox nodded, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the vessel. "Indeed. Stay sharp, everyone."
"Looks like a pirate ship," observed Vincent over the radio, his voice laced with curiosity.
"Because it is," Rhox affirmed, her tone carrying a hint of intrigue. She then turned to Gel, seeking insight into their next move in light of this unexpected encounter in the astral sea.
Gel responded with a calm assurance, "I've already communicated with the dreadnought's owner, Captain Joize Swifty. We're to land on the planet Gaun to discuss 'business' before any hostilities arise."
As the group proceeded cautiously towards Gaun, Gel elaborated, "The Vhulstrom Pirates have an intriguing proposition. We must approach with caution."
The landing on Gaun was marked by an air of tension. The vast terrain provided a stark backdrop as the pirates' launch pods descended nearby. When the launch pod landed near Rhox's ship, several armed individuals emerged, poised for battle. Simultaneously, Rhox, Gel, Gunn, and Vincent exited their ships, ready for any confrontation. The Vhulstrom Pirates promptly aimed their rifles at Rhox's group.
"Woah there, mates! Calm down for a sec!" exclaimed a red-haired female human, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "We're here to talk biz!" The pirates lowered their weapons but remained on guard. One of them muttered about looting the ships, prompting the redhead to fire her blaster near the pirate's legs, emphasizing, "Just like I said, we're here to talk BIZ!"
Approaching Rhox's group, the redhead woman bowed and introduced herself, "Joize Swifty, nice to meetcha!" She winked at Rhox, prompting Gel to approach Rhox, visibly annoyed, and question Joize about the proposed "business."
Joize walked towards Gel slowly, stating, "Well, we've seen your ships on our radars long before y'all entered Madek, and what do you know! Rhox, the ace pilot, and Gel, the notorious spymaster and data broker, are here!" She continued, "So I took advantage of the opportunity to make a proposal to these infamous individuals!"
Gel, crossing her arms, demanded, "Oh yeah? Then let's hear it, your 'proposal'." Joize attempted to move closer to Gel but was blocked by Gunn.
"Woah…you're damn huge for a Valkaryann," remarked Joize. Gunn responded with a nonchalant, "I get that a lot," accompanied by the distinctive mandible-clicking sound.
Joize, conceding to Gel's initial rejection, shrugged and proposed, "Well…I'll owe you a big favor…and favors are always kept in my books! Right boys!?" Her crew responded with a unanimous "Aye."
Gel, expressing skepticism, retorted, "Owe us a favor? Hah! We don't need your help traversing the astral sea!"
Joize sighed, then suggested, "How about this? I could accompany your group to any destination of your choosing. Having a pirate dreadnought alongside would act as a deterrent against potential pirate raiders in the void."
Intrigued by the prospect of assistance from the Vhulstrom Pirates, Gel began to reconsider. "What exactly do you want in return, Joize?"
Joize grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, we would do this, of course! But with an exchange!" She then turned to Rhox with a playful smile. "I'll have to borrow your girlfriend for a while."
Gel, with a shocked and angry expression, exclaimed, "Hell NO!"
Joize, sensing the tension, quickly added, "Relax, it's not what you think"
Amidst the laughter, Joize reassured Rhox that no harm would come to her. She elaborated on the proposal, expressing the need for Rhox's mercenary expertise in assisting Joize and her crew in their quest for a lost sacred treasure, anticipating confrontations with other pirates.
Rhox, understanding the potential benefits, approached Gel, attempting to convince her. Gel, in a sad tone, expressed her frustration, "I already know that, Rhox, that's why I'm frustrated… I'm frustrated that you're leaving to who knows where yet again, with no way of knowing whether or not you're alive."
Sighing, Gel added, "Just be careful, okay? Let me know when you're in contact range," and kissed Rhox goodbye. Rhox patted Gel's head, reassuring her, "Don't worry, pirates are nothing in comparison with Corvi trained soldiers which I slaughtered countless times!" Gel chuckled and urged Rhox to go, acknowledging her quest.
"Alrighty! The ACE pilot is onboard!" Joize exclaimed cheerfully. She then motioned for Rhox to depart, to which Rhox agreed and nodded, but she returned her gaze to her group and gestured to Vincent.
"Vincent! Come on! I won't go anywhere without my wingman!" Rhox shouted, gesturing for Vincent.
"Wingman? Aye, a captain can't perform best without her right-hand man indeed," Joize muttered.
Vincent, with a bright smile, nodded at Rhox. Both boarded their respective space fighters to fly towards the dreadnought.
As Rhox and Vincent prepared for departure, Joize's crew maintained their guarded stance, but the tension had visibly lessened. The rest of Rhox's group began to make camp on the grass field of the planet Gaun, preparing for their wait. Gel instructed them to set up a secure perimeter and ensure all equipment was operational.
Gel then looked up at the sky for a few moments longer, knowing that her beloved was once again out of reach. The sky seemed vast and endless, a reflection of her own worries and hopes.
"Safe journeys, Rhox," Gel muttered towards the sky, her voice filled with both longing and determination.
Rhox and Vincent arrived at the dreadnought's landing ports after a few minutes, where they were greeted by more Vhulstrom pirate crew members. The crew members were a rugged bunch, each one looking more battle-hardened than the last. The air was filled with a mix of curiosity and wariness, as the infamous Rhox and her wingman joined their ranks. After a while, Joize returned from one of the launching pods, where she was greeted warmly by her crew.
"I welcome you to my home! It's not a particularly large dreadnought, but it's lightning fast!" Joize said with a broad smile, guiding Rhox and Vincent through the interior of the ship. As they walked, the ship's metallic corridors echoed with the sounds of bustling activity. Joize's crew members were busy at work, preparing the dreadnought for its next journey.
"All hands on deck!" yelled a crewman as he turned the cogs of an engine that stirred the dreadnought to a whirring sound. The crewmen turned the cogs in unison until the dreadnought reached full power and released a powerful sound.
"Prepare for Void warp!" exclaimed another crewman.
Joize smiled and said, "It's time we head back into the astral sea. May fortune be with us..." She then looked at Rhox and Vincent, her expression serious yet welcoming. "Y'all better brace yourselves, this journey will be a bumpy ride!"
She extended both of her hands to Rhox and Vincent, shaking their hands firmly. "Have me and my crew's back, and I'll have all of your group's back, savvy?"
Rhox and Vincent nodded in agreement, appreciating the straightforwardness of their new ally.
After a while, the dreadnought had fully charged for Void Warp. The anticipation was palpable, and the crew moved with practiced efficiency, readying the ship for the transition.
"Captain! Where to!?" shouted a crewman from outside, controlling one of the dreadnought's ship terminals.
"To the sea of the dead! To Dark Thorn!" exclaimed Joize with a mix of excitement and determination in her voice.
"Aye!" shouted the crewman, echoing the sentiment of the entire crew.
The dreadnought vibrated with energy as the Void Warp engines powered up. The whirring sound grew in intensity, culminating in a piercing bang as the ship was propelled into the horizon. The stars outside stretched into elongated lines of light, and the familiar view of the astral sea shifted into a swirling vortex of colors.