Look - up in the sky...!

[thespaceopera]

Suddenly, the SS Pathstone and the SS Golden begin to move on their own... slowly, calmly, they drift to two different points, a certain distance apart, away from the other ships of the fleet. Then, just as slowly, they turn to face each other.

And that is all the warning there is before the engines engage -- full speed ahead.

Like a pair of rockets, the ships torpedo toward each other, perfectly lined up for a head-on collision, and there is nothing to stop them. No matter what buttons the crews press, no matter how much they might panic, nothing is going to stop the inevitable. Any other ships watching will not have time to attempt any sort of interception.

CRASH!!

As if to shield spectators' eyes from the horrors of ships colliding in space, there's a blinding light upon impact -- and once it gradually fades, the results can be clearly seen by all: There is no wreckage. Nothing is broken. But where there were once two ships... now there's only one.

One ship that is... very clearly made up of parts from the SS Pathstone and the SS Golden, but somehow seems well put together, at least!

-----------

On the bridge, the crews of the SS Golden and the SS Pathstone arrive, along with the usual pop! of Atroma confetti and ridiculous jingle music upon a successful shuffle. Sitting in the captain's chair is a round cake, just large enough for everyone to have one slice. There's a single candle, and the following message scribbled on top in yellow icing:

"Congratulations - SS Goldstone!
Happy Fusion!"




... What, did you think you were going to die? Sorry about that.

Comments

[halfbloodhatchling]

And whether we want to prevent it or encourage it in the future.

[ahappylie]

Well...other than the strangeness and initial panic, it seems the only change for us is the makeup of the ship and the crew expansion.

It hasn't been so bad meeting new people though. I find it rather fun.

[halfbloodhatchling]

That's good to hear, for now. Do you have a single captain now, or...?

[ahappylie]

I--

[Huh. He goes quiet for a moment, thinking.]

I don't actually know. Perhaps we have two now? We had a first mate before as well. I'm not quite sure how they will divide the duties now.

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ If Kai's being honest, he doesn't really know what precisely a captain does, other than that his holds his loyalty. But having two would be a problem from that standpoint. ]

If you have two, or this is a fancy way to demote someone... Either way it'll be interesting.

[ahappylie]

We used to have a commander and vice commanders where I am from. Perhaps that will be what we do here. Vice...Captains?

[He pauses]

Although, to be fair, one of our captains is a young child still.

[halfbloodhatchling]

One of them still has to be the one you turn to in an emergency.

A young child..?

[ahappylie]

Yes. He looks to be about 5 or 6 years old, but he acts much older.

[Sort of. He's still a child.]

I'm sure we'll sort it out somehow. Perhaps we'll have a new ship meeting and figure out whom among us has the most battle experience.

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ Hmm. Curious. Not really Kai's problem at the moment, at least. ]

Good luck. If you need help from the Caprine, I'll do what I can.

[ahappylie]

Thank you. Might I ask your name?

[halfbloodhatchling]

Kai Gracen.

[ahappylie]

[Okay, he has no idea which part of that is the first and last name.]

Gracen-san, then? Thank you. I am Soujirou.

[halfbloodhatchling]

Just Kai is fine. Better, even.

[ Kai doesn't mind his last name, since it came from Dempsey and not his actual father, but it was weird to be called only by it.]

[ahappylie]

Ah, I apologize. I'm still having trouble learning first from last names in foreign cultures.

[He gives an apologetic bow of his head.]

[halfbloodhatchling]

It's no problem. Where are you from?

[ Probably Kai won't recognize it, but he looks human at least. ]

[ahappylie]

A country called Japan. It seems only a few people know it. Are you from Earth?

[halfbloodhatchling]

I've heard of Japan, certainly.

I'm from Southern California. On earth.

[ahappylie]

Ah... Well, then you know of my country, but I do not know of yours.

Where is "Southern California?"

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ At least the assumption that southern California is its own country isn't wrong, for where and when Kai comes from. ]

East of you, the other side of the ocean.

[ahappylie]

Oh, I see. [So...somewhere south of "America"? The home of the black ships.]

Is it a very large country?

[halfbloodhatchling]

Not that large, but it's surrounded by wastelands with dragons, so not too likely to expand.

[ His voice is light, so it may be hard to tell if he's teasing or not.]

[ahappylie]

[Welp, he's never visiting that place EVER.]

Mm...that would make it difficult indeed. Dragons are...normal in your world?

[halfbloodhatchling]

Pretty much, yeah.

[ Nothing is 'normal' about his world. ]

The elfin worship them as ancestors.

[ Kai doesn't count himself as one of 'the elfin' though. ]

[ahappylie]

["Elfin" sounds like "elf" which is both related to Maglor and to Tempest, so now he's curious.]

What does "elfin" mean? I just learned what "elf" is since coming here, but that is a new term.

[halfbloodhatchling]

[ Kai is perhaps one of the least helpful people to ask about this. ]

They're pointy eared cat bastards.