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“There’s got to be a way out of here.”

Kilroy shakes his head as you look to the hard metal door. You’re so blocked off from the outside, you wouldn’t be able to see Kilroy were it not for the small lights at the top of the cell.

“You’ve got the most powerful biochip around,” you tell him. “Use your BLACK MASS to get us out of this damn thing.”

Kilroy raises an eyebrow. “You’re quite right about my power. It would be a real shame if they happened to foresee this outcome and strap me in chains that sedate my powers, wouldn’t it?”

He jangles said chains just to make a point.

You shake your head. “Okay… think Matt… think...”

You snap your fingers. It should have been so obvious. “Lacey!”

“Who?”

“Lacey Electronica.”

Kilroy tilts his head. “I don’t see how the singer is going to help us.”

“She’s our co-pilot now.”

“Interesting, moving up in the galaxy...” Kilroy snarkily replies. “That or she’s moved far down in the galaxy...”

“She’s also a robot.”

Kilroy shakes his head. “Quite rude to refer to musicians that way, but I suppose the industry is-”

“I meant literally,” you explain. “She stayed on the ship, and I’ve got a communicator in my ear that I wired directly to her head in case we ever got separated like this.”

“Seems the kind of thing you would think of immediately,” Kilroy responds. “You aren’t your usual genius self today. What’s wrong? Perturbed knowing one of your all so trustworthy criminal friends stabbed you in the back?”

You shake your head. “That didn’t happen, okay? I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”

“I bet it was Dot,” Kilroy replies. “That candy-headed free spirit would gladly trade your life for her precious Marco’s.”

“Shut it,” you warn him, as you patch yourself through to Lacey. “Lacey, do you hear me?”

“GAH!” Lacey’s shocked voice replies. “Matt? Don’t startle me like that! Where are you?”

“I’m speaking through a communicator,” you reply. “You still back at the ship?”

“Yep!” Lacey replies. “Sorting through fanmail as we speak. A lot of marriage proposals in here, isn’t that cute?”

“Lacey, I need you to focus,” you explain. “I’m in a jail cell right now.”

Lacey pauses. “Well you should probably get out of there, you’ve gotta save Marco!”

“Yeah, I need you to help me get out of this cell,” you respond.

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“I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that,” Lacey replies.

You sigh. “It’s okay, I have a… really bad idea. The NOAH has a control panel for the main palace facilities, including the prison. You need to sneak in, hack that panel, and follow my instructions to… open every cell in this prison.”

“Won’t that release every single criminal down here?” Kilroy points out.

“You think you can’t handle them?” you reply. “The magnificent Kilroy?”

Kilroy smirks. “Good point… but one problem. How is the famous Lacey Electronica supposed to sneak in anywhere?”

“It’s risky, but I have an idea...” Lacey responds to you. “Sit tight. Kingpin Dong is about to see a surprise concert from a missing idol.”


>POV Shift: Sun Chen

You had that dream again.

There, on the street, scrounging the floor for food… when Sun Boros walks by. You reach your hand out to touch him… but he walks on. You call out for your father, but he never turns his head around. He leaves you there, back in the dirt.

You wake up in a cold sweat… and with red hair in your face. You sit up, letting out a sigh. Having to stowaway on this ship, sharing half a bed with Major Langley Fletcher… hard to believe she holds the rank of Major. You like to see the best in everyone, but this girl is… difficult. She’s not the brightest, or the nicest, and likely would have accidentally revealed your whereabouts already were it not for Zhu Kuang heading things… but surely she isn’t all bad, right? She has to have some redeeming qualities? You’re sure you’ll find something.

“Rough night?” you hear from Zhu, the ever confident major performing shirtless pull-ups as his morning exercise. A certain level of it you believe to be showing off for Sun Mao, who is watching him intently going about his routines. “I’ve barely been able to sleep, either. Bad enough that Langley snores, and sucks her thumb by the look of it… but I’m just chomping at the bit to get into action, y’know?”

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“Do you know if we’re on lock towards the NOAH yet?” you ask.

Zhu shakes his head. “For such a massive ship it knows how to move around. Word is we’ll be linking up with Boros’ ship soon for a rendezvous.”

“Boros’ ship?” you gasp.

Mao’s eyes widen. “If he finds out about us, he’ll be pissed!”

“And he won’t!” Zhu responds.

Just as he speaks, the door to the quarters swing open. Seems someone overrided the privacy setting. Amadeus Yu, the head strategist of Shinto enters with a slight smile. “I wouldn’t be sure about that.”

“Whoa!” Mao tries to hide behind the bed, but it’s too late. You’ve both been spotted.

“How did you know, sir?” you ask.

“Kasai informed me that Major Zhu Kuang had been bringing an inordinate amount of food back to his quarters.”

Zhu scoffs. “And I informed him that Major Fletcher is a big eater.”

“Yes, and anyone observant is also aware that Major Fletcher’s diet consists entirely of pancakes and maple syrup. Certainly not the vegetables you’ve been raiding.”

Zhu looks to the sleeping major and kicks her awaker. “Dammit, Langley you doofus.”

Langley jolts awake and rubs her eyes. “Hey! I…” she spots the General. “Quick, Chen! Mao! Hide!”

“Too late, Major...” Amadeus replies. “I’ll see to it that Jack Cutlass disciplines his two subordinates accordingly, as for the two of you...”

Amadeus sighs. “Chen, Mao… I’ve known you both for years. What possessed you to stowaway on this ship. When your father hears about this...”

>You can’t send us back. We’re too far along now.
>Please, don’t inform our father. Boros doesn’t need to worry about us.
>Amadeus please, we needed to come along. To help our sister.

>>3999013
>Amadeus please, we needed to come along. To help our sister.
All that pancakes and maple syrup goes straight to Langley’s Langleys.

>>3999013
>>Amadeus please, we needed to come along. To help our sister.

Calling for
>Amadeus please, we needed to come along. To help our sister.

Writing now.

>>3999013
>>Amadeus please, we needed to come along. To help our sister.

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>Amadeus please, we needed to come along. To help our sister.

Amadeus pauses. "Yes... that's perfectly admirable from the both of you. I can understand why you would want to look out for Sun Si... but you should have left that matter to us."

"I know, I'm sorry..." you reply. "We just couldn't sit by..."

Amadeus gives you a small smile. "In that case... I think you have the right attitude to enter this battle. Both of you."

"You mean it?" Mao asks with hopeful eyes.

Amadeus nods. "Yes, I do... though I am still going to inform your father. Sun Boros needs to be aware of this, and by all accounts you should be in his care."

"Oh come on!" Mao remarks. "Be cool, Amadeus!"

"He is being cool," you remind your sister. "Very cool. Thank you, sir."

It's not ideal, but you expected him to send you home outright. This way he's allowing you to continue with the mission.

Well... Boros may still overrule him when he finds out.

"For now," Amadeus motions you to leave the room. "You don't need to be cooped up in here. Help yourself to some proper breakfast."

"Dibs on the pancakes and-" Langley begins.

"Not you," Amadeus points out. "You and Major Kuang best get reporting to your general for your punishment."

Langley's eyes widen. "But... but he's gonna run us ragged! I can't eat before that!"

"You'll be sick if you eat before all that, idiot!" Zhu yells, pulling at her hair.

It's good to get a proper breakfast. And to bathe aboard the ship proper. Over breakfast, you hear Jafar and Kasai talking of the exercise routine Jack Cutlass laid out for his majors as their specific punishment. It... isn't pretty.

Mao chows down on bread and carrots as she looks to you. "Chen... do you think dad will accept us staying on board?"

You pause. "Maybe... I don't know."

Mao thinks to herself. "He's travelling with Chou... he definitely won't be happy to see us."

"When is he ever happy to see me?" you ask.

Mao shakes her head. "I don't get it. He's a real jackass... but he at least gives a damn about me. We're half-siblings after all, just like me and you. But with you, he... I don't understand why he hates you so much."

"Neither do I, Mao..."

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Later that evening you return to the quarters you still need to share due to a lack of space, finding Langley by her dresser table, brushing her hair. "Am I interrupting anything?" you ask.

"Easy to ask that after you enter, you deviant pervert!" she replies, but continues to fix her hair in the mirror. Her hair is frazzled, her breathing heavy from exhaustion, and her eyes red and raw, like she was crying.

"I heard you didn't give up during your punishment exercise," you tell her.

"Why would I give up?" Langley replies. "It was my duty, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, but it sounded really difficult."

"Zhu didn't struggle with it."

"Did you?"

Langley pauses, before scoffing unconvincingly. "Pft, of course not! There's no way I would struggle with-OW!"

He attempts at gesticulating seem to have put pressure on one of her many aching muscles. "Look..." she admits. "It's not easy, but I'm a major! I have to do this stuff no matter how much it hurts! I'm sure you have no problem running drills all the time in Boros' home!"

>No offence, but you don't seem cut out to be in the military. Why do you keep up with this?
>I never was made to run drills. Boros never wanted me to be a fighter.
>Are you jealous about me being part of the Sun family?

>>3999090
>I never was made to run drills. Boros never wanted me to be a fighter.

>>3999090
>I never was made to run drills. Boros never wanted me to be a fighter.
Chen was trained to save the universe with the power of funk

Calling for
>I never was made to run drills. Boros never wanted me to be a fighter.

Writing now.

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>I never was made to run drills. Boros never wanted me to be a fighter.

Langley scoffs. "Sure, you just got those perfect abs by working out yourself."

Perfect abs? "First off, thank you. Secondly, it's true. Boros never wanted me to be involved in battle, so I... trained myself. I received guidance from our usual teachers on combat and tactics, but he saw me more as a diplomat at best, like Si."

"You're one of Boros' kids!" Langley protests. "Boros! The big guy! The warlord of Shinto! You're telling me he didn't want one of his kids to be a fighter? His family lives on fighting!"

"Well... I'm not fully..." you sigh. "Look, you're the daughter of Jack Cutlass, right?"

"Sure."

"Does that mean you're gonna be a bloodthirsty pirate?" you ask.

Langley pauses. "W-well... I could be, if I really wanted. But instead I choose to be a fighter for justice, and-"

"Will you two shut up?" Zhu replies, stepping out of the quarter's showers, drying off his hair. "You talk like a pair of kids. You're royalty, and you're a major... a major doofus, but a major nonetheless."

Zhu then turns to you. "Come on, Chen. Let's get ready to join up with your pops."

As you step out, you walk slightly behind the confident Zhu. "Damn, can you believe that girl?" Zhu responds. "You know, I consider myself a bit of a ladies man, but I lost all interest the minute that idiot started talking and-"

"Hey, Zhu..."

He turns back to you. "What's with the family name? Call me Kuang."

"Kuang..." you reply. "Can you go a little easy on her? She's clearly trying hard."

"Only because she's too dumb to know when to quit," he replies. "What's all this about, anyway? You guys friends now or something? I thought you hated her guts, and she definitely doesn't like you."

"I don't hate anyone," you reply.

Kuang stops in his tracks, placing his hand on your shoulder. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... that's a stupid thing to say."

"Why?"

He raises an eyebrow. "You kidding? I've heard enough from Mao, who by the way I'm taking out to dinner after this I hope you don't mind-"

"What-"

"-To know that your big bro Chou is a real piece of work. Especially to you."

You pause. "Yeah, so?"

"You're telling me you don't hate the guy who's tried to make your life a living hell ever since you got adopted into that family?"

>He's my brother. How could I hate him?
>Well, I didn't say I love him...
>Can we just move on? I don't see how this is important.

>>3999121
>Well, I didn't say I love him...

>>3999121
>>Well, I didn't say I love him...

>>3999121
>He's my brother. How could I hate him?
Then Chen pulls out a thesaurus and starts to list off all the other words and phrases that imply hatred

Calling for
>Well, I didn't say I love him...

Writing now.

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>Well, I didn't say I love him...

"Ah-ha!" Kuang snaps his fingers. "That just means you can't admit it to yourself, man. You're really going to sit there and tell me you don't hate him?"

"There's a world between love and hate..." you explain. "It's... complicated."

Kuang shakes his head. "Sounds pretty simple to me. You just want to keep up that image as the super nice guy who doesn't get angry or hate anyone, when in reality everyone gets pissed at everything, and you're no exception to that rule."

"Well... what about you?" you ask. "You hate anyone?"

Zhu Kuang pauses. "Just about everyone, dude."

You make your way to the control room aboard the ship, where Amadeus and Jack Cutlass are sitting in wait for you and Mao. "Time to patch through to Boros," Amadeus remarks.

He makes his way to the control panel in the main hold and presses a few buttons, calling up Boros and Chou's ship.

"Amadeus!" Boros' booming voice calls out as he appears in holographic form in the centre of the room. "Your travels going well, my friend?"

"Indeed, they are." Amadeus nods. "However, I-"

"We got a surprise for you!" Jack Cutlass laughs, as he pushes you into frame. "Look who it is!"

Boros stares at you with a stern face, taken aback. "Chen."

"Hello father."

"I'm here too!" Mao is sure to point out.

Boros eyes widen. "You children of mine..."

"What do you think you're doing, runt?" Chou's voice picks up on the transmission. "You think you can just risk this entire mission by-"

"Pipe down!" Boros yells at him. "Chen, you know how far we've travelled, and how long it will take to get you back to Shinto, right?"

You nod. "Yes."

"And Mao," Boros replies. "You can't help but drag him into your stubborn, tempestuous ideas, can you?"

"This... was my idea, actually..." you admit.

Boros scoffs. "Dammit... and you're supposed to be the good one. Alright, we'll be convening our forces soon regardless, but I want the two of you on my ship. Jack, have your two majors escort my children over on a fighter as soon as possible."

"I'm sorry, father..." you remark. "We just wanted to make sure Si was safe."

Boros nods. "I know... I understand. You kids are good-spirited, just as I raised you."

"So we're not in trouble?" Mao asks with a tone of hope.

"You're in big trouble," Boros replies. "You won't be out of trouble until your 25th birthdays!"

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Boros signs off with Amadeus, as Kuang lets out a sigh. "Why do I have to play babysit escort, I'm too high ranking for that."

"Then why'd you play stowaway holder?!" Jack smacks him across the head. "You're almost as dumb as my own kid!"

Langley enters the room at that point, still gasping for air. "My ears were burning. Apologies for the lateness, what did I miss?"

"We're going," Kuang tells her.

"Wow, quick meeting," she remarks as she turns back around.

As you move to join them, Amadeus quickly stops you, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Chen, I have been providing your father with guidance since before he even had the first of his children. Allow me to impart some upon you."

"What is it, sir?"

"No matter what," Amadeus informs you. "Be smart. Compassion is a virtue, but it can also be your downfall. It's good to think of the health and safety of others, but know when to watch out for yourself."

You pause. "I don't see what that has to do with anything."

Amadeus lets out a small laugh. "Of course you don't. I just know how you are, Chen. I watched you grow into the man you are today... plus I study the behavioural psychology of everyone I meet in the event that I need to use that."

That sounds creepy, yet he says it with a kindly smile. "And me?"

"You would die for a stranger," he replies. "Strangers who would never do the same for you. Don't be that naive fool, your life has a great value to it. Running off into war like this... I don't want to see you cremated before an old man like me."

>I won't. I promise I'm not that reckless.
>If I can save another's life... I'm sorry, but I'd make any sacrifice to do that.
>Thank you, Amadeus. You've always been a mentor to me.

>>3999145
>Thank you, Amadeus. You've always been a mentor to me.

>Langley enters the room at that point, still gasping for air. "My ears were burning. Apologies for the lateness, what did I miss?"
>"We're going," Kuang tells her.
>"Wow, quick meeting," she remarks as she turns back around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkJehlr1tEw

>>3999145
>>Thank you, Amadeus. You've always been a mentor to me
I'll change

>>3999145
>I won't. I promise I'm not that reckless.
We've got our first volunteer for the suicide run

Calling for
>Thank you, Amadeus. You've always been a mentor to me

Writing now.

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>Thank you, Amadeus. You've always been a mentor to me

Amadeus gives a proud nod as he nudges you along. "I appreciate the gratitude, but above that I want you to genuinely listen. Good luck with your father, you'll be working off a great debt when you meet with him, no doubt."

You nod back, before turning and leaving with the others.

"We'll be taking my slick ride," Zhu Kuang informs you as you enter the docking bay for the fighters aboard the ship.

"Is it the one with the pin-up model painted along the side?" Mao asks.

Kuang nods. "Yeah, which else would it be? Look, it's more than just a fighter. It's spacious, plenty of rooms, kitchen, bedroom-"

"We'll be travelling for an hour at most," you point out. "I don't think we'll need to live in there."

Zhu shakes his head. "Well, my transport is way better than riding out in a regular fighter. The four of us crammed into a tight cockpit for the journey? No thanks."

You all board Zhu's ship, as you let out a forlorn sigh. "Not looking for to meeting your old man, huh?" Kuang replies.

"It's not that," you respond. "It's just..."

"He'll want to keep us on the sidelines," Mao notes. She knows your thoughts well. She likely shares them. "We came here to help Si, not to sit back and have to be protected ourselves."

"I don't see why you two aren't used regularly in battle," Langley points out. "You've got Biochips and everything! Ooh, dibs on driving-"

"I will kick you in the ribs if you even enter the cockpit," Kuang warns her. "You go anywhere close to those controls and you'll know true pain."

Kuang makes his way into the cockpit, as Langley turns to both of you, intimidated. "He's, uhh... very protective of his ship."

Mao nods. "I remember in school, he was the ace pilot in every class... and the ace wrestler... the ace everything now that I think about it... gosh, he's perfect, isn't he? There's gotta be a catch."

"He's a jerk?" Langley notes.

"Nah, that can't be it..." Mao ponders.

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You try to get comfortable aboard Zhu's ship, finding a seat and trying to rest your eyes.

Except you have that dream again.

"Dad!" you call out as your eyes shoot opening, panicking. You see Mao and Langley staring. "How... how long was I asleep?"

"Fifteen minutes," Mao replies.

"Oh..."

"Best to grab more shut-eye!" Kuang calls out from the cockpit. "We'll be with Boros before long."

Mao throws her hands behind her head, fidgeting. She's clearly bored. "Hey... you know all about us since we're royalty and all. But what about you, Zhu?"

"Cut it out with the family name," he responds. "Just call me Kuang."

"That sure irks you, doesn't it?" Mao asks. "Why?"

"I'm trying to focus on flying here."

"Oh come on!" Mao replies. "I want to know more about you!"

"I don't know you all that well myself," Kuang responds. "How about we save all this info until you and I have a nice dinner at-"

Mao shakes her head. "What a cop-out! Come on, Chen! You want to learn more about him, right?"

>Yeah, Kuang. Feel free to share, you're among friends.
>I actually want to know a little more about Langley.
>Why don't you share with him some stuff about yourself if you're so eager for conversation?

>>3999178
>Yeah, Kuang. Feel free to share, you're among friends.
Yeah, got to share the tragic backstory before LB and Dong curbstomp half the Shinto fleet.

>>3999178
>Yeah, Kuang. Feel free to share, you're among friends.
My guess is orphan or has a disgraced family member

>>3999178
>>Yeah, Kuang. Feel free to share, you're among friends.

Calling for
>Yeah, Kuang. Feel free to share, you're among friends.

Writing now.

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>Yeah, Kuang. Feel free to share, you're among friends.

"Oh, am I?" he asks. "Where are they? All I see is a bunch of strangers."

You sigh. "It's always good to open up. This clearly bothers you, so-"

Kuang pushes a button, and the door to the cockpit slides closed. Langley lets out a sigh. "He doesn't like to talk about it..."

"About what, exactly?" Mao asks.

"I don't know, he doesn't like to talk about it," Langley reiterates. "I know it has something to do with his parents. Something about the Zhu name... he hates it."

Mao pauses. "But he still uses it. He seems like a complicated guy. Maybe I should try talking to-"

The ship starts to rumble.

"What was that?"

Suddenly, Kuang's voice calls out over the ship's speakers. "EVERYBODY GRAB SOMETHING NOW! WE'VE GOT ANOTHER SHIP ON OUR TAIL!"

You don't even have time to grab something before you're rendered half-deaf from a blast, as Kuang's ship goes hurtling out of control.

"Chen!" Mao cries out, but the inertia proves too much, as you spin out of consciousness.

You come to beneath some metal bars... and an unconscious Langley shielded beneath you. You moved just in time to protect someone, at least. But... where's Mao? You can't see a damn thing here.

Finally, a lightsource arrives, as the cockpit doors are pried open and Kuang stumbles into view. "Mao!" he calls out, seemingly finding your sister. He helps her to her feet and dusts her off. "You good?"

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"Yeah... you?" she asks.

"Seen better days..." he grunts. "Chen, you good? Where's the idiot? Don't tell me we lost-"

"She's here," you respond, as Langley comes to, wiping her eyes.

She lets out a small cough as she tries to pull herself up in the now cramped hold covered in twisted metal and sparking wires. "What in the... you're bleeding. Bad."

You look down at your abdomen, realising some rebar is lodged into it from behind. Mao notices the trajectory instantly. "If you didn't get in the way, that would have went straight through my friend's head," she points out. "Lucky her... not so lucky you. Kuang, you got a first aid kit?"

"Somewhere around here..." he notes. "Chen... you're gonna be in pain for a while."

"At least nobody is dead," you point out.

As you get patched up, Kuang assesses the situation. "Looked like one of the Kingpin's Elite Ships, no doubt piloted by one of his Bullet Club squad."

"The who?" you ask.

"The elites among his crew, they all think they're some kind of bar gang... only this bar gang are among the top soldiers and killing machines in this galaxy."

Mao mutters to herself. "If they knew we were an important crew, they must be going straight for Boros as well. The element of surprise..."

"We have to help!" you protest, but then wince in pain from your wounds.

"Are you kidding?!" Langley points out. "Boros can handle himself! You've already taken a bar to the belly for one person, what can you do to save anyone else?"

"I have never hated anything more, but I agree with Langley," Kuang points out. "Our best bet is to sit tight and wait for rescue. It's a miracle we weren't instantly destroyed, who knows if we can even lug this ship anywhere now?"

>Langley, aren't you supposed to be a hero of justice? You can't sit idly by while the leader of our fleet could be in danger, can you?
>Kuang, this is your chance to prove to Boros himself just how great you are. Forget Major, you'll be General if you pull this off.
>This ship isn't fit to wait that long? We need to move to a stable ship or we're dead waiting out here!

>>3999231
>This ship isn't fit to wait that long? We need to move to a stable ship or we're dead waiting out here!
It's like Amadeus said, we've got to be smart

>>3999231
>>This ship isn't fit to wait that long? We need to move to a stable ship or we're dead waiting out here!

>>3999231
>Kuang, this is your chance to prove to Boros himself just how great you are. Forget Major, you'll be General if you pull this off.

Calling for
>This ship isn't fit to wait that long? We need to move to a stable ship or we're dead waiting out here!

Writing now.

>>3999231
>This ship isn't fit to wait that long? We need to move to a stable ship or we're dead waiting out here!

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>This ship isn't fit to wait that long! We need to move to a stable ship or we're dead waiting out here!

Kuang mutters to himself, clenching his fist. "Dammit, you're right..."

With a grunt, he climbs back into the cockpit, and calls out to the rest of you. "We need to get moving! Hold onto something!"

As you quickly grab onto what seems to be a solid metal pipe, Langley looks down at your wound. "Why didn't you ask for a thank you?"

"A thank you for what?" you ask.

"... Never mind."

You hear the sound of the thrusters of Kuang's ship firing up once more. "Oh yeah, baby!" he calls out. "Talk about luck! Let's move!"

You start flying through the vast expanse, while you try to avoid the sparking wires swinging in the hold. As you start moving, you hear Kuang's voice call out. "Dammit, we're leaking fuel! We can't make it to Amadeus or Boros..."

"As long as we can close some of the distance, we should-"

"But I see where we can land..." Kuang mutters.

You raise an eyebrow. "Where?"

"That son of a bitch's ship."

That son of a... wait, he can't possibly mean... the hitman?

"Kuang, are you crazy?!" Mao yells. "We'll be-"

"We've got no choice!" he fires back. "It's time for some payback, strap in!"

There's no reasoning with him, and you struggle to move in your current condition. You feel the thrusters sputter and and cough out one last burst... before you feel the ship scraping along a metal floor. You're thrown from your chair, with Mao managing to catch you before you injure yourself worse, as Kuang brings the ship to a stop.

"You really just docked on an enemy ship?!" Mao yells.

"They're heading to Boros anyway, right?" Kuang asks. "Now we can stop them before they do."

Langley crosses her arms and nods. "Yep... we're gonna die."

Kuang joins the rest of you, readying his blaster, while handing a spare to Mao. "Doofus, you stay back and take care of Chen for this one."

"Why?"

"He's injured and you're braindead," he explains. "You'll only get in the way."

You shake your head. "No, I'm not staying behind."

"Well you sure as heck aren't leading the charge," Kuang points out. "You're hurt. If you're coming with, you'll stick behind me."

>Hurt or no, I have a Biochip. I'm still fit to handle myself.
>You're right... I'll follow your lead.

>>3999308
>>You're right... I'll follow your lead.

>>3999308
>You're right... I'll follow your lead.
This isn't going to end well is it?

>>3999308
>>You're right... I'll follow your lead.
Wonder if it'll be the one that turns people into water balloons we'll be fighting

Calling for
>You're right... I'll follow your lead.

Writing now.

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>You're right... I'll follow your lead.

You press onward, allowing Kuang to take the front of the group as you stay behind... well, second from the back, that is.

"Hey doofus, stop hiding behind the guy who's already injured," Kuang points out. "You're the Major here, stop being such a coward."

"Pft, me?" Langley scoffs, as she hides behind you, hesitantly gripping her blaster. "A coward? Please..."

"Get up front!" Kuang yells at her, as she moves ahead of you.

As you step forward, the clang of your shoes against the metal echoes throughout the ship. "Odd... I expected more men on a ship this large," you reply. "Any at all, really."

"We get our own private luxury ships," a voice calls out from ahead, filling you with a sense of unease. "Didn't I kill you? That's what I was going for, y'know."

Kuang readies his blaster, gripping it tight. "Show yourself!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sZ9ib3W4uU

From a railing above drops a young blonde man in a leather jacket. Landing on his feet in the centre of your party, he causes all four of you to scramble. Mao leaps back with the power of his chip and pulls you with her, while Kuang points his blaster at the man. The young man kicks the blaster out of his hand with a speedy roundhouse, sending it flying out of his hand... then turning in mid-air to fly into Langley's blaster, knocking both guns aside.

"What?" Langley mutters. "How did-"

"Name's Jackson," he replies in a cool, confident tone. "They call me the Young Buck of the Bullet Club."

"So, you're the newbie?" Kuang smirks.

"You're one to talk," he replies. "You look like you just celebrated your thirteenth birthday."

"Twenty-one, dick."

"Ooh, I take it back. You're clearly a big boy."

Mao yells out. "Kuang! Stop trash talking with the elite assassin!"

Kuang nods. "Oh, right. No blaster needed, bring it!"

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Kuang goes for a punch, but Jackson parries, before hitting Kuang in the gut. The major doubles over... but then sees his face whiplash to the left before he finally flies to the right, collapsing on the floor in pain.

"What the heck?" Mao mutters. "He only touched him once..."

You pick yourself up off the ground. "That's his Biochip..."

"You're damn right!" Jackson cracks his knuckles.

Name: Jackson
Biochip Class: MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Jackson's Biochip allows him to triple the force from any physical contact he makes with an item, changing the momentum of the physical force with all three iterations.

POWER: C
SPEED: C
DURABILITY: E
PRECISION: B
RANGE: E
POTENTIAL: A

"So... you were here to kill us?" you ask.

"To kill Sun Boros specifically," Jackson explains. "But I scanned two Biochip users on your little ship so I figured I could do a little extra. I'm always getting ahead of myself like that. Devitt always tells me I need to slow down, but what does that old man know?"

You stand tall, clutching your injured abdomen but staring down the assassin. "You can't kill Sun Boros. He's my father."

"Then I'll just have to kill you first then, won't I?" Jackson notes. "Simple solution."

You take a deep breath. "Then bring it."

And that will be all for tonight. Will hopefully be free to continue this thread for a while tomorrow, stay tuned! Thanks for playing!

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"Chen you reckless idiot," Mao warns you. "That's a professional hitman, part of Dong's galaxy elite! You can't fight him!"

Langley nods. "Doesn't he have a Biochip of his own?"

"He can control fire, but only fire that's there... and only small amounts..." Mao explains. "I don't see any fire around, do you?"

"Who said I'm fighting him myself?" you remark. "Lu Ran taught us both to fight, right?"

Mao nods, before using her Biochip to leap clean over Jackson.

"Oh, I'm feeling it!" Jackson writhes his body, removing his leather jacket as he prepares to fight. "That spirit, the beat of the soul. Feel that beat!"

"Weird guy..." Langley remarks. Wait, she's saying that?!

Mao reaches the end of the docking bay, where she sees some supplies, including a stun baton. Grabbing it, she tosses the melee weapon your way and you catch it... noting that Jackson allowed that. This guy... he's younger than you thought. Not much older than yourself, and he seems just as tempestuous. He doesn't just want to fight, he wants a good fight. That cockiness might cost him.

"Alright, bring it-" Mao begins, before Jackson stomps on the ground beneath him. The force he applies travels horizontally until it's under her feet, then travels upwards, catching her in the chin and sending her flying back.

Jackson gives a cocky smirk. "The third iteration is always the strongest. All that build-up, until it just overflows! Oh, it's JUST TOO SWEET!"

You grip the stun baton as you ready for a fight.

"You coming for me, kid?" he asks. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Chen."

"Heh... now we're buddies," Jackson notes. "Come fight me, Chen."

>Go head to head with him, try to get the upper hand.
>Drag him out of the hangar of the ship, you can't win in a fight this spaced out.
>Distract him long enough for Langley to grab the blasters.

>>4000125
>Drag him out of the hangar of the ship, you can't win in a fight this spaced out.

>>4000125
>>Drag him out of the hangar of the ship, you can't win in a fight this spaced out.
The important thing is not to get into Close Combat with this guy, 3 times force is a fucking doozy.

Calling for
>Drag him out of the hangar of the ship, you can't win in a fight this spaced out.

Roll 1d20, BO2.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4000140
aaaaaAAA

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4000140

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>13 [MODERATE SUCCESS]

You take a swing at Jackson, with no intention of hitting. Just a statement of intent, to draw his ire and dictate the pace of the fight, just as you were taught by Salma, the master of strategic thinking. Jackson throws a kick, but you dodge back, manoeuvring back towards the main holds and corridor's of the Bullet Club member's ship.

"Langley, keep Mao and Kuang safe!" you call out.

"W-whoa..." Zhu Kuang groans as he picks himself up. "Nobodies babysitting me, don't count me out yet."

"Don't join in, I've got this!" you reply, as Jackson gives chase to you in the winding corridors of his ship. This is a risky move, this guy clearly knows the layout of the ship better than you, but in a straight fight... especially with the wound to your abdomen, there's no chance you can take on a guy with that power without getting him in a tight enclosed space first.

"You afraid to fight, Chen?" Jackson asks. "It's good we're on a first name basis now, by the way."

You shake your head. "Never. I'll never be afraid."

"That ain't what I'm seeing," he replies as he kicks a pipe in the corridor. The force travels along the pipe and causes it to rupture next to you, a stream of steam hitting you in the face. However, you use this to you advantage. You escape in the steam, climbing into a nearby cranny aboard the ship, to catch the elite unawares.

"You know..." Jackson calls out as he walks through the winding hallways. "I've never had the patience for this kinda fighting. Old man Devitt, he... always called me out on it. Tells me I need to use my brain more than my heart. Figured you'd have been told the opposite, considering your old man."

You swoop down as you spot him, grabbing a railing and hitting the man with a thrust kick as you swing along which sends him flying back. You land on your feet, and ready your baton. "Sun Boros never taught me... gah!"

You grip your abdomen as a jolting pain shoots through it.

"Re-opened your wound? Bleeding again?" Jackson laughs. "Maybe you are reckless and wild. We have a lot in common in that case, ya know?"

Jackson smashes his hand into the grating below him, and the ripples of force find their way shooting up to hit your wound like a twisting punch. You double over, as Jackson stands tall. He goes again, but you hold up the baton in time to block it.

"Chen!" a voice calls out, as Jackson is tackled from the side by a leaping Mao. She takes him down, whacking his head against a pipe, as she checks on you.

"You okay?"

"Been better," you reply. "Look out!"

You pull Mao aside from a swinging attack by Jackson, and Mao leaps towards the main hold so as not to be caught by the redirecting force. You're both starting to get used to this ability.

"Okay, what's the plan?" Mao asks. "Kuang's ship is totalled, if we're getting out of here, it'll be aboard this thing."

>We need to hit him with a pincer attack, trap him.
>I go in for the attacks, you pull me out of the way of his, okay?

Getting a couple updates in before heading out for the day. Keep voting open, I'll be returning to this either late tonight or early tomorrow.

>>4000167
>>We need to hit him with a pincer attack, trap him.
Close in is bad plan as I said
I dont wanna see what 3 punches to the jaw at the same time looks like.

>>4000167
>We need to hit him with a pincer attack, trap him.
His biochip might be good against multiple opponents, it beats a frontal assault while we have a hole in the stomach though.

>>4000167
>>We need to hit him with a pincer attack, trap him.

>>4000167
>We need to hit him with a pincer attack, trap him.

Calling for
>We need to hit him with a pincer attack, trap him.

Roll 1d20, BO2 please.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>4000717

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>4000717

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>18 [DEFINITE SUCCESS]

You and Mao begin your charge, with you gripping the stun baton while Mao readies her sabre. You head one direction, Mao heads the other, attempting to trap the criminal. You both catch him in the hallway, cornered between the two of you, and you charge. He throws a kick, which catches you, and the force bounces behind him to hit Mao and send her flying back for the second iteration, but you manage to dodge the third just as it comes firing back at you.

You slide through, and hit Jackson with a firm shot from the stun baton. He staggers back, before going for another attack, but Mao is there to cut him off with the pincer attack, grazing the Young Buck's shoulder.

"Dammit!" he yells before attempting another shot which you block with your baton, allowing Mao to graze his arm again.

Jackson stamps on the floor, and uses the travelling force to clear some distance as you and Mao dodge out of the way. "Okay, time to take some of old man Devitt's advice..." he mutters. "The time of young Jackson being a hothead are over! I've finally matured enough to-"

He doesn't finish his sentence before sprinting in retreat.

"Hey, get back here!" Mao yells.

You pause. "We've got him on the ropes, but now he's learning to think through his actions."

"I'll kick his ass for that!" Mao fires back.

You shake your head. "Mao, we can't afford to act rash as usual-"

"Are you kidding?" she raises an eyebrow. "Acting rash is what the Sun family is all about. You should know that, you're one of us."

You're... one of them.

"Let's get him then."

You chase down Jackson, as he runs to the main hold... where he finds Kuang making his way to the cockpit in an attempt to hijack the ship. Jackson doesn't hesitate to hit Kuang with a jumping kick, which sends him flying into a wall. This... has not been a fortunate fight for the major.

"Eep!" Langley lets out a squeak as she readies her blaster. "Take this, villain!"

Langley... does not shoot her blaster. Instead, her hand trembles as she stares at the cocky Jackson, slowly approaching.

"Oh, what's wrong?" he smirks. "Afraid?"

"N-no!" she yells back. "I'm... I'm a hero of justice, who vanquishes villains and... and..."

Her hands continue to tremble, as Jackson comes into your field of vision.

>Attack Jackson and try to pull him away from the others.
>Pull Langley out of the way before she gets hurt.
>Langley, fire! Be brave!

>>4001783
>Pull Langley out of the way before she gets hurt.

>Using a blaster in the first place
>Not using a spoon to scoop out her enemies eyes
SHE'S NO DAUGHTER OF JACK CUTLASS

>>4001783
>>Pull Langley out of the way before she gets hurt.
~~I genuinely really like Jackson and hope he can make a face turn~~

Calling for
>Pull Langley out of the way before she gets hurt.

Writing now.

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>Pull Langley out of the way before she gets hurt.

As Jackson prepares his next attack, you rush in and grab the shaking Langley and pull her to safety, tackling her to the ground before she gets taken out by the criminal. In turn, Mao charges and catches Jackson with her sabre in one of her supercharged leaps, sending both flying into a wall. Jackson in turn smashes the walls, using the force to cause the grating beneath them to crack and collapse, sending him and Mao both falling below.

"Mao!" you call out as you see your sister fall to a lower floor of the ship, continuing in her fight with Jackson.

Kuang dusts himself off and prepares to leap down the hole. "I'll back her up! You talk some sense into that doofus! She could have gotten herself and us killed!"

As Kuang leaps down, you turn your head to Langley. "Why didn't you pull the trigger?"

"I... I froze up!" she explains. "He was a scary guy!"

"You think Jack Cutlass would freeze up like that?" you ask. "Aren't you trying to impress your father?"

"He's not my father!" Langley admits.

The two of you go silent.

Langley lets out a sigh. "Well... he could be, but it's not likely. He was one of the men my mom was romantically involved with around the time I was conceived... but she told me it couldn't be him for some reason that she wouldn't say... the other candidate... the guy who probably was my real dad..."

"What about him?"

"He died... many years ago," she explains. "So... I took my chances on Jack Cutlass, famous general. He might not be my real dad, but if he would accept me, I'd at least have a place in the fleet... instead of just being the braindead moron with no suture prospects. I... just needed someone to take care of me, after my mom..."

You frown. "Langley, I..."

Langley shakes her head. "Now's not the time. Besides, you wouldn't understand."

You scoff. "Hang on, what? You think I don't get it? You have no idea what I've been through!"

Langley pouts. "Oh yeah? Sure, you get it perfectly, I've heard you talking in your sleep. Calling out to your dad? Newsflash; you have a dad! And he's the most powerful and beloved person in Shinto! You're royalty! What the heck could you be losing sleep over?!"

"It's more complicated than that!" you fire back. "But you can't grasp that because you're... an idiot!"

"What?"

Well... that's not seeing the good in everyone.

You take a deep breath. "Sorry, I didn't mean that. I..."

Langley pauses. "Look, Kuang and Mao can't take that guy alone. Let's forget about this, okay?"

You nod. There are more pressing matters at hand than this argument.

>Come on. Be ready to fire that blaster next time.
>Hand me your blaster and wait here. I'll take care of him.
>Stay behind me. I'll keep you safe.

>>4001829
>Come on. Be ready to fire that blaster next time.

>>4001829
>>Come on. Be ready to fire that blaster next time.
Haha, life in space is suffering.

Calling for
>Come on. Be ready to fire that blaster next time.

Writing now.

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>Come on. Be ready to fire that blaster next time.

Langley nods and follows you as you as you lower yourself down the broken grating into the deck below... where you see another broken grating leading even further below. Damn, just where did this fight take them.

Langley nervously grips her blaster as the two of you head back down, finally reaching the lowest deck of the ship. There, you find Kuang, looking banged up and unconscious, his body embedded into steel wall, denting it badly. "Kuang!" you call out, shaking him into some level of consciousness. He groans and coughs, as your speak to him. "Where's Mao?"

"She was..." he gasps. "Still fighting..."

"Looking for this?"

Jackson's voice calls out, as you turn around to see him emerging from the shadows below, Mao held up in a vice grip, her feet hanging above the ground as Jackson keeps his hand around the back of her neck. Her eyes are closed, and you can see her breathing is shallow.

"You..." you mutter.

"She's still alive," Jackson replies. "For now, at least."

"Let go of-" you take a step forward, but Jackson holds his hand up.

"Whoa, buddy!" he laughs. "Kinda reckless, don't ya think? Did you forget my little power?"

He slightly tightens his grip. "I triple the force around her neck, and send that pressure in every direction, and she's likely to just... snap!"

"You wouldn't!" Langley yells. "That's a monstrous thing to do!"

"Well, duh!" Jackson scoffs. "That's kinda how we do things around here. You new to the galaxy, or just an idiot?"

"I'm not a..." Langley mutters to herself as she grips her blaster. Jackson pays her no mind, he doesn't even see her as a threat. It's you he has eyes on.

He knows you have a Biochip, just like him, but he doesn't know what it is. Unfortunately for you, the ability to control fire is very conditional on there being... well, fire. And having fire in a place like this would just be another major problem. Still, you doubt you could beat this guy without it...

Jackson laughs. "I thought so. You've got nothing, huh pal?"

>Langley, shoot him.
>Langley... can you shoot those tanks behind him? And, uhh... clear some space.

>>4001894
>>Langley... can you shoot those tanks behind him? And, uhh... clear some space.
TIME FOR FIRE TORNADO WOOO

>>4001894
>Langley... can you shoot those tanks behind him? And, uhh... clear some space.
We tried being smart, now it's time to be smrt

>>4001894
>>Langley... can you shoot those tanks behind him? And, uhh... clear some space.

>>4001894
>Langley, shoot him.
It's redemption time

Calling for
>Langley... can you shoot those tanks behind him? And, uhh... clear some space.

Roll 1d20, BO3.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4001914

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>4001914
aaaAAA

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>4001914

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4001914
Oh boy

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>13 [MODERATE SUCCESS]

"Uhh..." Langley mutters. "I'm not too smart, but won't they exp-"

"Do it."

Langley takes a big gulp, before firing her blaster at the canisters in the back of the lower deck.

As expected, they light up.

... More than any of you could have expected.

All five of you fly back from the blast, with Kuang mustering the strength to grab the barely breathing Mao and start dragging her back.

"Damn it!" Jackson shouts. "You just doomed my ship! We're all going to die!"

The fire rages around you all.

"Kuang, Langley..." you mutter. "Head back, fly this ship somewhere safe before it goes down."

Kuang nods, carrying the barely breathing Mao back. This smoke... it can't be good for her. She needs a medic, and fast.

You make sure the others have left, and you turn around... right into a kick to the collarbone from Jackson.

You fly around the hold, landing in the fire, as Jackson smirks to himself. "So long, Chen. You were fun while you lived," he notes, before turning to chase down the others.

Only for the fire to move, blocking his path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XxWx7IEb6s

"What the..." he mutters, before turning back to you, as you rise from the flames. "Oh... that is cool."

You step forward, straining as you control the fire... this is far more than you've ever handled, and your heart might not be able to take the strain. But if it can get Mao to safety...

"Let me remind you of my name," you tell him. "I am Sun Chen... the Dragon of Shinto."

"Dragon, eh?" Jackson smirks. "I like that. Come on, Dragon. First of us to die is a loser."

This guy... he's youthful and cocky to the end.

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Jackson throws a punch, the force blowing the fire away to clear a path towards you, but you're able to redirect it back, circling around him and trapping him. He swings again, but no matter how much force he can generate, you come back with the flames. Jackson mutters to himself. "You really are good."

"It's not too late to give up," you reply.

"Are you offering me an out?" Jackson laughs. "Hate to break it to you, pal. But when you're Bullet Club, you're Bullet Club for life. I'm not giving up, it's ride or die."

You shake your head. "There's good in everyone. I don't want to hurt you."

"And that's while you'll lose!" Jackson laughs, as he leaps through your flames. He knew you weren't turning up the heat. He throws a shot at you, but you dodge... and the momentum carries into another canister.

You do what you can to control the flames, but the concussive blast alone is enough to send Jackson flying back... and impaling himself on a loose metal railing. His eyes widen as the steel pierces his chest.

"No!" you call out, as Jackson coughs up blood.

"D-damn..." he splutters. "Thought I had more in me than that... Devitt was right."

He pauses for a moment, ruminating over his last words. "You see that old man, tell him... I'm sorry."

With that, Jackson's head slumps, and his eyes close.

And the fire burns out of control.

You climb your way back up to the main hold, exhausted. The fire is spreading throughout the ship, and there's too much for even you to control. "How are we doing?"

"I can't get this thing to move!" Kuang notes. "The controls are going haywire, the fire is making it's way up here... oh, and I had to apply CPR to Mao so she wouldn't die, and even then she's barely stable! Anything else come to mind?"

"You're bleeding a lot," Langley notes, as you realise the strain of your power caused your previous wounds to re-open. "That's another."

"You look like you're about to collapse, and I can't move this thing," Kuang remarks. "What's the plan?"

>You can do this. Flaming wreckage or no, you're an ace pilot!
>I'll try to control the spread of the fire, give you time to fix it.
>We need to take our chances with the escape pods. Hop in one, and hope we can send out a message to be picked up.

>>4001955
>>I'll try to control the spread of the fire, give you time to fix it.
FIRE EVERYWHERE AAHHHHH
also fuck nice music
also fuck Jackson big sad times

>>4001955
>I'll try to control the spread of the fire, give you time to fix it.
Are we going to bite it in a literal blaze of glory?

>>4001955
>You can do this. Flaming wreckage or no, you're an ace pilot!
Rather like to avoid having our heart literally explode trying to firebend

>>4001955
>>You can do this. Flaming wreckage or no, you're an ace pilot!
Yeah I would rather not almost kill another PoV character.

>>4001974
Every odd PoV character dies and every even one gets crippled.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>4001960
>>4001967
>I'll try to control the spread of the fire, give you time to fix it.


>>4001972
>>4001974
>You can do this. Flaming wreckage or no, you're an ace pilot!

Rolling to break the tie.

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>I'll try to control the spread of the fire, give you time to fix it.

"What? Are you crazy?!" Kuang yells.

"Kinda, yes..." you admit, before rushing to the lower decks and doing all you can to repress the fire. It burns hard, but if you can just focus...

Your muscles ache, your wound is continuing to bleed, and you can feel your organs giving out... but you can't give up now. Not until your friends have made it to safety. You gather the fire as it comes into a ball directly before your chest... the heat is unbearable, as you continue to contain the fire within that lone sphere. You can't hold much longer...

"WE'RE IN BOROS' LANDING PAD SPACE!" Kuang announces as the engine sputters it's last coughs. "This is going to be a... hard landing..."

You feel the jolt as the ship scrapes along the ground, before coming to a complete halt. You breathe a sigh of relief, but can't give up just yet...

That jolt was too much, though, and you find yourself losing your grip. And once you lose an inch, you lose control entirely. The ball of fire before you implodes and spreads around once more, as you fly back into the wall. The flames spread around the deck, as you find yourself unable to move. You... you're not immune to fire. This could be the end for you...

Or it would be, if it weren't for someone rushing in and dragging you out to the safety of the landing pad... then dragging you some more to a safe enough distance as that ship lights up.

Your vision returns from the haze of smoke, and your saviour comes into focus. "Langley?"

The girl wipes sweat from her forehead as she rests you down. "I... thought I kinda... owed you one. After you saved me before, you know?"

You lie back, as you see Langley, her hair frazzled and her face drenched in sweat from the heat and her own nerves, as you breathe a sigh of relief.

>I'm... sorry about what I said earlier.
>I saved you twice, but this is more than enough for me.
>Where's Mao? Is she okay?

>>4002006
So we weren't cooked rare, better check Mao and Kuang aren't roadkill themselves.

>>4002006
>>I'm... sorry about what I said earlier.
The idiot saves the day.

>>4002006
>>4002016
>Where's Mao? Is she okay?
Helps if I actually vote as well

>>4002006
>>I'm... sorry about what I said earlier.
THE CUTE NERD SAVES THE DAY ONCE AGAIN

>>4002006
>>Where's Mao? Is she okay?

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>4002017
>>4002022
>I'm... sorry about what I said earlier.

>>4002019
>>4002023
>Where's Mao? Is she okay?

Rolling to break the tie.

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>Where's Mao? Is she okay?

"I don't know..." Langley mutters. You tilt your head up to see Kuang, carrying Mao in his arms and setting her down. He checks on her breathing, and grimaces to himself.

"Dammit..." he mutters.

You force your body to sit up, in fear of what might be happening to your sister. "Mao!"

"Don't push yourself!" Kuang yells. "She's breathing, barely. We need to get her to the medbay."

"What in the blazes is going on here?!"

You know that voice anywhere.

Bringing an exploding ship into his landing pad was sure to draw him out.

Your father, Sun Boros, is on the scene.

"Chen?" he gasps, seeing you. "What the... Mao?!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGFZHBK2lTs

He snaps his fingers, and quickly the medics rush to Mao's side, carrying her off on a stretcher. You reach your hand out, following her as she's taken away. You don't know why, it's not like there's anything left in your power that you can do for her. It's just... you feel like you should.

"What the hell?!" Chou rushes up to you, pushing Langley out of the way. "What happened to my sister?! What did you do, Runt?"

"Lay off him!" Kuang fires back.

"This doesn't concern you!" Chou yells, before pressing his forehead up to your, looking you dead in the eyes as you struggle to breath. "You drag my sister into this, and she gets delivered back to us half-dead! You piece of shit runt!"

"Chou!" Boros yells at him, but Chou doesn't let up, driving a fist into your stomach.

"Stay the hell away from my family," he warns you. "Go back to the gutter where you belong."

He raises another fist, but Boros steps in to catch it. "You lay another hand on him, son... and you'll be on sick leave nursing a broken arm."

"But... Mao..." Chou protests. "He-"

"NOW," Boros barks, and Chou drops you to walk off.

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You crumple to the ground, as Boros looks down at you. "Chen... I don't know what happened, but I can tell you did a good job. Can you walk on your own power?"

"Y-yes..." you sputter out, and Boros believes you.

He turns around and begins to leave. You try to pick yourself up, but fall flat on your face. You try it again, but you fall once more. You crawl along the ground, trying to move, as tears fill your eyes. You reach out to him, as you did every time in your sleep. "D-dad..."

But he doesn't notice. He walks on. Sun Boros has important business to attend to.

You plant your face in the cold metal of the landing pad, as Kuang steps in to help you to your feet.

"What's your brother's problem?" Kuang mutters.

"Yeah..." Langley responds. "And what's with his hair? Why does he dye half of it black?"

"The black parts aren't the dye..." you note in a gasp. "The red is."

Kuang pauses. "He was born with black hair?"

"The only Sun without the red," you explain. "Even his mother had the red hair... but he was born with hair as black as coal."

Kuang pauses in thought, as he carries you into the main hold for rest. Medics take care of your wounds, and you're provided with plenty of fluids to keep yourself awake.

"My, my... Sun Chen..." the voice of Salma calls out, as your former teacher approaches you. "I heard the report from Major Zhu. It seems you've learned nothing of what I've taught you... so reckless."

>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.
>Don't tell Amadeus... he'll be disappointed in me.
>Your general won't be happy to see you speaking with me.

>>4002061
>>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.

>>4002061
>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.
Ohh Chou’s deal is slowly being revealed.

>>4002061
>>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.

>>4002061
>Don't tell Amadeus... he'll be disappointed in me.
Me brain no wok so gud

>>4002061
>>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.
Ooooohhh he's the big self doubt
Still a cunt tho

Calling for
>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.

Writing now.

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>I'm sorry, but I couldn't let others get hurt.

"And you certainly did a fantastic job of that," Salma chuckles to herself.

You shake your head. "You don't have to rub salt in the-"

"That wasn't a jape," she interrupts. "You enter in a flaming wreckage after a battle with an elite assassin... yet there were no casualties. Chen... you are an odd one."

Salma places a hand on your head as she continues. "You seemingly didn't manage to retain a single thing myself or Lu Ran taught you... but you've managed to teach yourself wonderfully."

With that, she walks off, and you're found a bed to rest up in.

The next morning, you sit in the ship's canteen with the rest of the crew. A wide breadth is placed between you and the other soldiers. You don't know if they hate you, fear you, or just simply don't want to be around you, but not many are keen on sitting next to you.

Until Langley does.

"Hi."

You look at her plate. "No pancakes?"

She shakes her head. "All out. Good thing waffles still go with syrup."

"You don't eat a lot of traditional Shinto food."

She nods. "Well, my mom was from Camelot."

Langley pauses as she looks at your bandages. "Hey... I'm sorry. I can be a little slow, but... I get it now."

"Get what?"

She sighs. "Just because you know your dad doesn't mean everything is perfect. Just because he's there, doesn't mean he's... there, you know? Am I close to being right?"

You nod. "Kinda. I'm sorry, too."

"Huh?"

"You're not an idiot," you reply. "I just lost my cool."

Langley throws up a hand with a smirk. "No need to lie, I am. I'm a total idiot! I pride myself on being the biggest idiot in Shint-"

"Don't deflect," you reply. "I mean it. You're not."

"But I am!" Langley insists. "That's what everyone agrees on! Coward, doofus, wimp, idiot, I'm Langley Fletcher, the absolute worst!"

"You're not the absolute worst," you tell her, giving her pause.

"That's... the nicest thing I've ever heard..." she admits.

You raise an eyebrow. "Really? Ouch."

"Thanks..." she replies. "Your sister is stable again, she's even eating food. As for me and Kuang... well, we'll be waiting here until we finally merge with Amadeus and my... dad."

>So, we're stuck with eachother for another day at least?
>Your secret's safe with me, Langley.
>That's nice... it'll be good to hang out some more.

>>4002127
>>That's nice... it'll be good to hang out some more.
THE GOODEST GIRL

>>4002127
>Your secret's safe with me, Langley.

>>4002127
>That's nice... it'll be good to hang out some more.

>>4002127
>Your secret's safe with me, Langley.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>4002131
>>4002136
>That's nice... it'll be good to hang out some more.

>>4002132
>>4002164
>Your secret's safe with me, Langley.

File: Langley Fletcher04.jpg (907 KB, 900x1020)

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>That's nice... it'll be good to hang out some more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8fSnMqQQYk

Langley pauses. "W-what? Hang out?"

"Yeah."

"Huh..." she mutters. "Not a lot of people want to do that with me."

You smile. "Then we're in the same boat."

Langley can't help but lose her composure. She snorts to herself, as her face begins to turn red. "A-ha!" she chuckles to herself, placing her hands on her hips. "I see what's happening here!"

"What?"

"The devious villain is attempting to seduce the hero of justice to the dark side with promises of friendship!" she boasts. "Well let me tell you it won't work!"

You let out a laugh, as a messenger comes by, informing you to meet with Sun Boros. As you rise from the table, you shoot her a smile. "See you later, Langley."

"Later... you finishing that syrup?" she asks.

"It's communal."

"So I can take it all?"

"It's in poor form, but-"

"ALRIGHT!"

That girl... you make your way to the helm of the ship, where your father stands in wait.

As he spots you, he shoots a proud smile. "How are you healing up, hero?"

"As best I can..." you reply. "Hero?"

Boros chuckles. "Taking out one of the enemy's elite soldiers, then rescuing a ship containing two Shinto majors and a member of the royal family? What the hell else would I call you?"

You shrug. "I was just doing what I had to. We wouldn't have ended up in that situation if I hadn't been so reckless in-"

"Wanting to save your sister?" he replies. "I'm not going to fault you for that. It's why we're all here. Chen, listen..."

He orders you to sit down, as he takes a deep breath. "Word of what you did travelled, and... well, a lot of recommendations were sent my way. Amadeus, Salma, Lu Ran... even Jack Cutlass pitched in. Chen... I never wanted to see you take part in this world. Fighting wars you never started... you're just a boy. Even now when I look at you... I see that scared child alone... the child I failed all those years ago. I couldn't let you get involved in something like this, lest I fail you again. However..."

Boros cracks his neck. It's not often you see him mulling over his words.

"Chen, you're going to be a hero just to spite me. If I can't stop you, I might as well encourage your good behaviour. You already have the Biochip... I'm offering you the role of a General in the Shinto army."

You almost choke on your spit in disbelief. "A General?! Skipping all the way to the top?"

"Chou did the same," he responds. "You've proven yourself a valuable leader in wartime, so... as much as it pains me to involve you in this... you deserve the role. I recommend taking Mao and Si as your majors, after one heals up and the other is rescued. That sound good?"

>I... yes, it's an honour. I won't let you down, father.
>I refuse. I'm not ready to be a General. I'm... just trying to help people as best I can.
>No, you should make Mao a general. She's the more measured of the two of us.

>>4002205
>>No, you should make Mao a general. She's the more measured of the two of us.
Chen is humble good boi

>>4002205
>>No, you should make Mao a general. She's the more measured of the two of us.

>>4002205
>No, you should make Mao a general. She's the more measured of the two of us.
Honestly I could see Chen being the exact opposite of Gawain and killing all his soldiers trying to be a hero, better one who is not almost suicidal make the big choices.

Calling for
>No, you should make Mao a general. She's the more measured of the two of us.

Writing now.

File: Sun Boros04.png (556 KB, 516x728)

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>No, you should make Mao a general. She's the more measured of the two of us.

"Mao?" Boros raises his eyebrow. "That's... a recommendation."

"I mean it," you reply. "She did most of the work, anyway. And she wasn't as reckless as me."

Boros chuckles. "Not as reckless? Mao's always been the wild child! And yet... I believe you. I'll... take it into consideration. But you will be selected as her major, just so you know."

"If she asks, I won't refuse."

Boros smiles. "Good, then it's settled."

The door to the main hold opens, as Boros ushers you to the hall. "Now, don't let me disturb your rest, son."

"That's it?" you ask.

"An offer to become a general and you say that's it?" Boros ponders.

You shake your head. "No, thank you for that, it's just... do you have more spare time to-"

Boros' eyes widen. "Oh... sorry, Chen. I have a war to fight. But we'll talk soon, okay?"

"Okay," you smile.

"In fact," Boros smiles back. "How about later tonight? I should reward my boy with a hero's feast for all his hard work!"

You smile, but shake your head. "Sorry, dad... I was already planning to spend time with friends later."

Boros pauses. "... Friends?"

"Yeah."

Now your father can't help but beam. "You finally have friends? Ha ha! My boy!"

Before you know it, your bones are being crushed in a bear hug from the chieftan of Shinto. "Dad, my wounds!"

"HAR HAR!"

Still... despite your protests... you couldn't be happier.


>Meanwhile

"Devitt... bad news."

The leader of the Bullet Club, Styles sits in their private game room, newly installed aboard the NOAH. Anderson plays pool, while the old man Devitt plays a game of solitaire. "Styles, if this is about the jukebox, you know that Gallows fried it... and then Fale smashed it."

"No..." Styles shakes his head. "It's Jackson. He's dead."

Devitt stops playing.

"Excuse me?"

Styles clenches his fist. "Shinto bastards. One of Sun Boros' offspring took him out. They took out one of us! Do they know who we are! The Bullet Club are the elite, and we are Just... Too... Sw-"

"Shut the fuck up," the old man growls. "I couldn't give two shits about our reputation... Jackson was a good kid. A little rough around the edges, but..."

Devitt overturns the table. "You say this was Shinto?"

"Yeah."

Devitt shakes his head. "That settles it, then. If Sun Boros thinks he can take away our kid... I'll be sure to take out one of his."

END OF CHAPTER 23

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>Ending Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6_wBQKDJMI

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Kingdoms%20in%20the%20Stars

>Twitter
https://twitter.com/bookerman32

>Patreon
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Thanks for playing! More KitS soon, follow the Twitter for any updates!

>Player Questions
What are your thoughts on the Shinto crew after this? And what were your thoughts on Jackson?

>>4002316
Jackson a cool boi who could have been better if not for being merc boi...
also chen the goodest boi and langley bestest girl and they should kissu

>>4002316
I like that we are learning more about what I am expecting is going to be the main Shinto group, also Chou and his backstory just in time for the Bullet Club to kill one of Sun Boros’ children.