[Video] [Atroma Network]

[tallasaking]

[Tyrion turns on the small communication device in his engineer workshop, which is filled to the brim with organized piles of different parts he has scavenged, bought, traded, or just out-right sweet-talked people out of.]

In the matter of 'do we have a suitable amount of materials that are not precisely Atroma specifications onboard this little Fleet of Damnation', your answer can be Yes, Yes we do. With these parts I've constructed new shields for our beloved little First Breath, as well as one medium range laser cannon, set on a swivel port.

[He smirks, faintly.]

For our next possible incursion with ... less than friendly species. I am willing to work with other engineers to help shore up defenses, as it were, or make them myself, but I will require coin or materials to do so.

[A completely innocent smile.]

So what have all of YOU been up to, lately?

Locked to Jim, Kitty, Riona, and Crowley.

I have a gift for each of you. Come by and see me at Malum or in my lab, when you have the opportunity.

Comments

[tallasaking]

[He is quiet for a moment, and a little sad smile touches his face.]

You are still here. I am still here. I want to protect those I care about ... while we are still together.

[passingthrough]

[She nods her head.] It feels like the fleet is shrinking recently, doesn't it? [Losing people has always been a thing. It's just a matter of how close they were and how much you miss them. But lately she's noticed some of the numbers on the ships dwindling. It hasn't impacted the Twin Roses greatly, but the recent fusion brought it all into focus.] I guess that's why the Starduck happened. I wonder if there will be more soon.

[tallasaking]

Possibly, if we keep dealing with fluctuation like this. I have to admit, I am not sorry that some of us have been freed but ... I am not sure if they actually are.

[Truly, the only way to know you are free is to free yourself.]

[passingthrough]

No way of knowing really. All we know is they aren't here. [She likes to think of Winn safe at home. She gets the motivation to just believe everyone is back where they "belong." But that isn't better for some people.] Everyone thought the same thing at the last place I was at and here I am instead. Not that I'm complaining.

[tallasaking]

Well, at least we are still breathing. I am not sure about you, but there have been a few times that I was unsure I was going to have even that.

[Tyrion mused, settling himself on one of his stools, gesturing for her to take one as well.]

[passingthrough]

I know the feeling.

[She moves in closer to put a hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze before sitting next to him.]

So, you got me hilts? [Not that she's ungrateful, but it does feel more like part of a gift.]

[tallasaking]

No no, I got you a specific kind of hilt.

[He took her hand and squeezed it, his eyes lighting up again.]

Flick the toggle on the side.

[passingthrough]

Oh, well, if it's specific.

[Smirking, she holds the hilt in her free hand looking at him curiously before she finds the toggle he mentioned. Here goes nothing. Based on her claws she expects a knife to pop up, but knowing Tyrion...who knows really.]

[tallasaking]

[It IS a knife ... a laser knife. Dark blue and lightly glowing, it protrudes from the hilt at a formidable six inches.]

That will cut through just about anything, except your own claws. I thought - considering all we have gone through - you would like a back-up method of protecting yourself and those you love.

[He put a hand to his chest, smiling.] Myself included.

[passingthrough]

[Her eyes open wider as the laser light issues forth instead of a blade springing up.]

Okay, that is officially not what I was expecting.

[She smiles at him pointing himself out.]

Anything in here I can try it on?

[tallasaking]

[Tyrion's smile widened, and he nodded as he went to get her a large piece of scrap metal.]

Please, be my guest.

[passingthrough]

[She balances the scrap metal on a work table and the back of a chair so that neither of them have to hold it and then flicks the laser knife back on and takes a slow pass through the metal just to get a feel for it leaving a notch in the edge before taking a faster swipe through it.]

Fun. Not as much stress on me to do the work as with the claws. [Though they they are very dense and sharp and cut easier than some things would and it would take a lot of practice before she was as comfortable with the laser knives as the claws. Plus, wearing them on her forearms frees her hands up as needed. Still, she could see a lot of use for these. She manages to look away from her new playthings to smile at Tyrion.]

Thank you.

[tallasaking]

[Tyrion keeps a close eye on the blade - he put together the circuitry with all the care of a mother caring for their sick babe - but still. Mistakes happen and he would never want them to happen to Kitty. He nods his head, pleased at her pleasure.]

Something to keep around for emergencies, or what have you. I wanted to help keep you safe, as you have helped keep me sane.