Some hours passed. Hours of dodging tentacle beasts, trying to track down what they were, where they came from. Having to hide on the lower levels, only in certain rooms. The heights seemed clear, but the desert wastes were no help. Their research simply wasn't there.
But she heard a new voice on the comm.
"Just looking in, to see if I can be of aid. Just because, neh?"
Emilly looked up from the book she was reading. Deebs was a belt miner they'd met in Haven. She was also a registered Companion with the Guild. She was also from at least some multiverse's version of Mars, she thought.
"Depends. What do you know about tentacle monsters?!" she asked, somewhat hysterically. "But barring that, on Haven-based things? I think things are fine. I did have a chance to ask Cody a couple nights ago about the plan to park the weaponry on the roof, and he said yes, that can't be done. Also reminded me that's what the militia is for. Also reminded me my best 'help' is to hide in the store, or hide in the church during Reaver attacks."
She heard Deebs laugh.
"They really are trying to keep this from being the WAR zone. Of course, they should be stomping on the Pryxians, but it's not my moon, not my 'benevolent' monarchy."
"Mmhmm," Emilly said, slightly distracted. "Of course, it depends on how much the Pryxians are paying the UAP in rent."
"It's why I have several perfectly good Cutter, Corvette, and Frigate designs, in a storage cube in my inventory."
She tilted her head quizzically. "Hmm?"
"Strictly speaking, they SHOULD clamp down on my Belter side action...because if you're used to living in the Belt, and mining its resources, well...there's a LOT of resources."
"They should!" Emilly said. She could almost see Deebs' wicked grin.
"But I am quiet, and deft, and don't rock boats. Even the boats as should founder."
"Ahem." But she grinned. "It is true, though." She closed the book, thinking for a moment. "Hiro's more of a...make ALL the waves guy."
"I saw the big hunter-killer boats he did for y'all. Justine was so happy. And now...tentacle beasts." She paused a moment. "Are we talking alien menaces, hentai fun, or...?"
She shook her head. "Interdimensional monsters from an unstable rift, I think. But that's not Haven, that's....elsewhere."
She suddenly realized that, stealthing into Haven as they did, even their business partners, like Deebs, may not know about Gearhaven.
"I know too many things, actually," Deebs said.
Emilly was startled until she realized Deebs was talking about the monster invasion.
"The latest ones came through when our security pushed an airship through a rift SHE opened...and we're going to need to talk to her about that, that is a HUGE power set to have...."
Deebs chuckled. "Okay, are the monsters in this reality-plenum?"
She shrugged instinctively. "Well, at Gearhaven. Which..." She sighed. "So far, we're keeping separate from the Haven line of things. Because--that opens a can of worms we do not want James, et al, to wrestle with."
"Sound. Were your dimensional beasts here, they'd shut down the invading monsters instantly."
Emilly nodded.
"They had problems, BIG ones, with godmodders and power-stackers back when this was splintered rock. The sim owners and senior stakeholders Don't Want Warfare and HYPERPOWER anything. But I travel all manner of places."
"And the thing is, we don't want to godmod, we don't want to be superpowered, we just want to PLAY without James stomping on everything. Because if ANYTHING drives us into smuggling? That man will."
Deebs chuckled again. "As to the Duchy being planetary/system nobles, meeting the UAP on treaty terms--that would be a long time coming."
"It would. Though we are tempted to check into sovereign nation status, and what it would entail."
"Hey, are you in a locale that can receive visitors? Just for because."
She left the library, walking upstairs, carefully checking for tentacles, and moved to the study. "I think it's safe?" She brought her in.
"What's the dress code?" Deebs asked.
She grinned. "I'm standing in the public study of a steampunk tower on a sim with treehouses, a lighthouse, and face-shaped islands on a dark sea, I think we're fairly loose on dress."
Deebs appeared in front of her in a long, wine-colored ao dai patterned with flowers. She bowed deeply. "Your Grace."
Emilly shook her head. "Pish." She looked out on the balcony, wondering if it was safe.
"It's my first time in Gearhaven."
"Welcome to Gearhaven." She walked to the doors out to the balcony, stepping out and looking around. "Okay...I THINK it's safe."
She watched Deebs walk out, and take in the bay. The rifts, the arcing ball lightning, the bit of the Gray Area still burning. The tentacle beasts.
"That is quite a problem," she murmured.
"It is. And if you look towards the lighthouse, there's an...amalgamation of...things."
She looked, trying to peer around the bulk of the central tower. "No, can't quite see them from here. May be wise..."
(Continued in part L.)
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