Avean Captain
Ugh...
Today has gotta be the worst one this cycle.

The Captain and the Pilot chat on the flight deck among the shuttlepods.

  Avean Captain
It's like everyone decided to steal our shit at once.
I hate the exciting days.

  Avean Pilot
I hope we can get my doodads back...

  Avean Captain
Yeah, I wouldn't bet my credits on that.
Last I heard, all those feral wing-things have been stripping the tech they steal for parts, doing who knows what with it.

  Avean Pilot
No... no, that can't be!

  Avean Captain
Start the grieving process now, kid.
At least we managed to keep the shuttlepod...

The Captain spots it out of the corner of her eye -- a trolley with a crate on it just like the one Sunny had. She whips around--

  Avean Captain
Whoa, HEY!! What you think you're--

--and then calms herself. It's only a grunt pushing a cart, an unremarkable sight.

  Avean Captain
--Oh, sorry. Thought you were someone else.

  Glard Gorpnan
What? Me? Ha ha! Why would you think that!
I'm just a normal grunt, performing my assigned tasks!
Tasks that I have authorization to do!!

  Avean Captain
Yeah. I caught that much.
As you were.


Captain turns around again to resume her chat with the Pilot.

  Avean Captain
I swear they get jumpier every year.

  Avean Pilot
I'm tellin ya, they don't train 'em right.

  Avean Captain
I think it's cultural. We're losing the edge.
Whole institution's diseased.
And meanwhile every Consul we get only wants to talk plumage...


Behind them, a shuttlepod's engines roar to life!

  Avean Captain
What...?

  Avean Pilot
Is... is that ship cleared for launch...!?

  Avean Captain
No, no, not AGAIN!!!


The Captain and Pilot are both knocked flat on their arses by the shockwave of the shuttlepod blasting off and away!



Glard attends the controls of the shuttlepod with Sunny and Jiro hovering behind him.

Sunny
* THERE we go!!
* Warmed up those engines for you, ay mate?

—Jiro—
...
I guess we're finally leaving
Remember, you're looking for a hole in the world that leads to a realm of spikes and cathedrals
I'm going to miss this place
Am I just going back to the island after this? Is that the only way?

  Glard Gorpnan
No.

—Jiro—
...
No!?
You didn't just sneak us out just to betray us again, did you!!?

Sunny
* Fuck you mean, "No"!?

  Glard Gorpnan
I know where we're going.
The malfunctioning hyperspace node-- the alternate Earth!

Glard watches the sky through the cockpit window, past the clouds and the haze to the stars that peek just barely through the atmosphere.

  Glard Gorpnan
We're taking you home!





Lum says:
Hey everyone! My game Jamhouse now has a release date: the 30th of March. See you then!!