“Alright, so, I’m coming with you two, Arkay has gone with Galyn and Itaviir.”
Litvir hesitated, not quite getting Vikalos’s statement. The many Trios who had been invited to the Justar’s gathering were all leaving now, mostly in protest of Truthtalker’s actions and the fact that Peacebringer and Lawruler hadn’t really offered a great apology. But also because the Pentathax were planning a small party elsewhere as double protest against the Justar. The Tattered Navigators and the Missing though had things they needed to do but required different people.
“Why?”
“I am taking you and Retvik to the Stranger’s Armoury to get you both some new armour, mainly Retvik because he only has his nice gold set, but you could do with a freshening up too. Arkay’s accompanying Galyn because they’re meeting up with the Ventra Gales to see if they can fix that nasty wound on Kahlos’s side. Also so that if anyone tries to follow them, thinking I’m on board, Itaviir can finally punch someone in the face.”
“Ah…” Litvir let out a little snort. “To his credit, Itaviir did VERY well at not punching anyone. I had no idea how many Justar deserved it.”
Vikalos tutted. “The final reason is that you will not let anyone else fly your ship.”
“No, just Galyn!” Litvir immediately tried to explain himself. “He keeps on telling that stupid story about how I hit the only asteroid in a square kilometre, it was LITERALLY my first time flying a ship, and it was a black rock floating in a black void! My not allowing Galyn to fly my ship is a simple revenge because of that! I did not have a driver’s license when I was mortal and people expected me to fly a ship perfectly?!”
“Well, you do now!” Retvik added in defence. “You are a very good, if unconfident flyer. And I am certain you will make the same jokes at Kuta when they start their flying lessons.”
Litvir snapped his fingers in annoyance. “You and Kuta walked into the cockpit to laugh at me when it happened, while Arkay fixed the hole. And you undermined my very good emergency stop.”
Vikalos eyed both Retvik and Litvir somewhat, then shrugged. “I forgot that Kuta was a Decayling for a bit with you four when I was back at Deathven Sector Ypsilon. Explains why they are flying through their studies far faster than the others. That being said, they are all learning very quickly. Anyway, we should get going. The others have already left.”
“They have?”
Retvik patted Litvir on the back then led him to the ship. “Yes. Do you not remember Arkay saying “see you later, my sexy bitches” to us?”
“Oh…”
Litvir calmed down, then got to work getting the ship sorted out. To his surprise, Vikalos sat down next to him, and not behind him.
“Excuse me, that is Retvik’s and/or Arkay’s seat.”
“I don’t see their names on it.”
“…. Good point… But still!”
Vikalos strapped himself in. “I have faith in your piloting skills.”
Litvir sighed, went through preflight procedures, got some coordinates off Vikalos, and, finally, Souldrainer’s Plight set off. But not back towards Savepoint. They headed east, away from it. But they didn’t seem to go that far either.
After about an hour’s flight, the ship switched back to manual control, and Litvir directed the ship towards a massive arch shape connected to a massive, volcanic meteor. Vikalos called it a unicornshoe for some reason. They swiftly parked then headed inside.
The rest of the place was covered in deadish palm trees and large, orange crystals. But the main feature was a large warehouse with a booth at the front. As soon as Vikalos approached, someone stepped out of the warehouse, arms in the air.
“Lord Vikalos! Long time no see!” a fiery phoenix with both wings and a long, gangly pair of clawed, thumbed hands, shouted loudly.
“Heya, Ifestus!” Vikalos hugged the phoenix back, not caring that it was literally on fire. “How you doing, old friend?”
“Oh, busy as always! You out of vests and jackets again?”
“Actually, for once, I still have a good ten or so left!” Vikalos beamed. “I also do not turn my fur into flames as much any more so my gear still survives. Although you know me well, I can always do with a few more!”
“Of course, of course!” Ifestus clicked his beak with delight. “And you have brought friends!”
“I have. These are Retvik and Litvir, I wanted to treat them, mostly Retvik, to some armour.”
“Oh! A Flame showing off his fiery abilities, eh?” Ifestus immediately summoned a tape measure. “Mind if I measure you up? I might have just the thing you need. Is that fire hot?”
Retvik hesitated a little. “The flames are cosmetic, to hide my missing organic plating, they are not hot.”
“Can I measure you?”
Retvik glanced at Vikalos, then nodded. “Yes. Go ahead.”
In the blink of an eye, Ifestus was already done. He then turned his attention to Litvir.
“Soooo! Purple glowing tattoos. First guess was maybe a Grav-Mag, maybe a Fae, but I’m gonna say you’re a Psion, right?”
Litvir nodded. “I am, yes.”
Ifestus suddenly paused. “Huh… A Flame and a Psion… who look like adolescent Beh’evok… Ah! You’re two thirds of the Missing! Where’s the other third?”
“Looking after Vikalos’s boyfriends!” Litvir smiled. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“A pleasure to meet you both too! I am Ifestus, codename Magmaforge. My job’s to make armour for all sorts of folks who have dangerous powers! Mostly Flames, like Retvik, Vikalos and myself. But I do custom gear as well, and Litvir, my new friend, I think you would look woooonderful in a little gold!”
“We really do not need more gold-plated Rethans wandering around Savepoint…” Litvir frowned slightly.
“We don’t have that many!” Vikalos countered. “Elkay normally wears silver, Kuta wears black, you wear gunmetal, Ret seems to switch between white, gold and silver… Although, weirdly, his sharper armour plating is gold somehow.”
“That has always been a rare Rethan trait,” Retvik explained. “I have it myself, but mine is a mixture of silver and gold.”
“Not a trait the Kaldieridoi had…” Litvir tutted. “But sure, I suppose I can try a few things on. I am overall happy with my look though.”
“Oh, don’t you worry, friendo! We’ll find something you like!” Ifestus grinned. “Come along now, I will make you both beautiful!”