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The jump to Mesa Roja was long and uneventful. Ridley hardly cared much for the sand-ball, but it was good to get back to business harvesting the desert world’s resources - it’s physical resources, population, and influence alike. The trip through warp-space was uneventful, and took only a few hours for the Dreadnought to make, but Lilith seemed to at least appreciate the flow of unrestricted color and shapes as they travelled through space at an accelerated pace.
He’d been forced to Pick her up and move her to the arm of the throne when a call from Olivia came in, though the little biohazard seemed to just enjoy the rough handling, as the Dragon leaned forward.
“Doctor.”
“Ridley. I’m picking up some strange readings on the planet’s surface. Something valuable that hasn’t shown up on my sensors consistently.”
“And?”
“And, it’s a power-source. The type that could run the dreadnought’s system by itself. But it’s unstable.”
Ridley’s interest was piqued as the old bird’s eyes snapped wide.
“...Continue.”
Olivia gave a smile. “I am convinced its power must be concentrated in a small area, so this might be a handheld device. It’s caught in one of the great canyons, deep in the wastelands. Quite near where some of our maps from the Qiraji place their territory. Its instability might be due to damage.. Which is something I can fix, with a proper sample.”
Ridley raised an eyebrow. “Is the brat uninterested?”
“I am busy with the dozen or so products you’ve already asked for me, not to mention the upcoming robotics tournament.”
Ridley’s eyes clasped shut briefly at that. Robotics tournament. “...Speak of this later.” He snapped to Omelette, who seemed curious, if irritated. “Where will I retrieve our new prize, Doctor?” The great Wyrm asked, before a beeping noise emanated through the ship.
“Another call from a… secret admirer, sir.” Ratt spoke, in his usual irritating voice.
Ridley gave a groan, talons clacking against his crocodilian jaws.
“On-screen then, Ratt.” The titan snapped.
A massive, armored form appeared through a hazy mirage filter that seemed to emanate sparks of what Ridley assumed were magic, as a massive, chitinous form appeared in front of him. The Beetle-like hierophant wore his signature purple robes, his Mandibles clacking causing Liith’s spinte to stiffen as she observed the creature, as she seemed to finally be paying attention to the conversation. As she looked the creature up and down, the look on her face suggested the massive insectoid might be quite to her tastes.
Ridley curled his lip in disgust at the notion. Truthfully, he found the mammalian interest disgusting in the first place, but it seemed Lilith still had new lows to sink to.
“Greetings, Wyrm of the stars. C’thun bids me speak with you on a mutually beneficial matter.”
Ridley simply blinked in response. Sektiliss was a prophet of C’thun, and even from what little he absorbed from the Qiraji in the past, while they may occasionally take a conversational tone, they didn’t call about a few nasty Kodos. No, Sektiliss wanted something, and if he called Ridley, he wanted something big.
“Prophet Sektiliss.” Ridley enunciated, keeping his tone and words deliberate. “Speak quickly, then. I’ve other matters.”
“A warrior made of light and stone, one of Jasper’s soldiers, has been injured in the area. The beast has killed dozens of qiraji in the long war, and possesses uncommonly high power, even for one of her kind.”
“Kind?” Ridley asked, eyes narrowing.
“A gem. Blue as the sea and cracked halfway down the middle. She has been wounded by one of our soldiers, deep outside her territory. He will be sung of, but his spirit rests with C’thun, now. I bid you to track her down and finish his work.”
“Psh, I'll beat down that blue bitch, no sweat!” Lilith volunteered, enthusiasm filling her voice. “No need to waste your time with easy prey, master.!”
Ridley snapped one eye to Lilith, then Sektiliss. “Do you require the gem’s carcass?” Ridley asked, as the thought made sense. He’d heard of these gem’s powers, but he assumed it was some other form of magic. If it was an energy source, however…
“No, merely assurance of it’s death. These creatures’ paltry technology does not interest us.” Sektiliss replied, and Ridley was quick to notice the hidden haughtiness in his tone.
Watch the scope of your vision isn’t betrayed by your undisciplined, flapping tongue, mongrel.
Ridley blinked, and looked to Lilith. “You can kill this creature. But I don’t trust you to retrieve such a small power source on your own.”
Lilith gave a pouting response. “"Oh? You don't want me to do it? By myself? All alone in the desert… Well I suppose if I have to go solo again…"” the acid woman replied, giving a flip of her hair in response.
“Those missiles are large and durable. I need sensitivity and finesse in the final blow.”
"Have I not demonstrated myself? I'm sure you were watching closely. I understand my precision is not to your standards… But trust me, I'm very sensitive." The acidic woman said rubbing along her leader's shoulder as if to convince them. Ridley suppressed the urge to bat her across the room and waste further time.
“If you are pressured, you’ll be likely to fail.” Ridley replied, giving her a look. “I need guarantees this power source will be mine. I will go…”
Lilith looked disappointed for a moment, as Ridley spoke.
“...And you will accompany me.” Ridley stated flatly. “Are we clear?”
"So we're going out? Just us, no distractions?"
“The dreadnought’s rank and file would get in the way on a mission like this.”
Ridley had no words, but for the first moment in a long many, seeing the spider-like smile and visible shiver across Lilith’s features…
Well, the Wyrm finally recalled the feeling known as ‘uncomfortable’
"Of course, Lord Ridley. We'll hunt that whore together. Hmhm… Alone~"
Sektiiss fluttered his wings in the background, a buzzing echoing through the ship’s bridge.
“Then the pact is set. I shall inform my brothers that we have one problem less to deal with, and entrust the matter to you. Naturally, you will be compensated. If that is all, I have no interest in seeing mortals… copulation process-”
“Ratt.” Ridley snapped, and the officer, to his credit, didn’t need to be told to hang up on the Insectoid Prophet.
Ridley stepped out of his chair, and already Lilith was by his side, humming to herself. The old dragon’s hatred mounted at the cavalcade of annoyances, but something smaller brought him joy. It had been some time since he had dirtied his hands personally. It was time to get back in the field, doing what he loved:
Enforcing the natural order.
He’d been forced to Pick her up and move her to the arm of the throne when a call from Olivia came in, though the little biohazard seemed to just enjoy the rough handling, as the Dragon leaned forward.
“Doctor.”
“Ridley. I’m picking up some strange readings on the planet’s surface. Something valuable that hasn’t shown up on my sensors consistently.”
“And?”
“And, it’s a power-source. The type that could run the dreadnought’s system by itself. But it’s unstable.”
Ridley’s interest was piqued as the old bird’s eyes snapped wide.
“...Continue.”
Olivia gave a smile. “I am convinced its power must be concentrated in a small area, so this might be a handheld device. It’s caught in one of the great canyons, deep in the wastelands. Quite near where some of our maps from the Qiraji place their territory. Its instability might be due to damage.. Which is something I can fix, with a proper sample.”
Ridley raised an eyebrow. “Is the brat uninterested?”
“I am busy with the dozen or so products you’ve already asked for me, not to mention the upcoming robotics tournament.”
Ridley’s eyes clasped shut briefly at that. Robotics tournament. “...Speak of this later.” He snapped to Omelette, who seemed curious, if irritated. “Where will I retrieve our new prize, Doctor?” The great Wyrm asked, before a beeping noise emanated through the ship.
“Another call from a… secret admirer, sir.” Ratt spoke, in his usual irritating voice.
Ridley gave a groan, talons clacking against his crocodilian jaws.
“On-screen then, Ratt.” The titan snapped.
A massive, armored form appeared through a hazy mirage filter that seemed to emanate sparks of what Ridley assumed were magic, as a massive, chitinous form appeared in front of him. The Beetle-like hierophant wore his signature purple robes, his Mandibles clacking causing Liith’s spinte to stiffen as she observed the creature, as she seemed to finally be paying attention to the conversation. As she looked the creature up and down, the look on her face suggested the massive insectoid might be quite to her tastes.
Ridley curled his lip in disgust at the notion. Truthfully, he found the mammalian interest disgusting in the first place, but it seemed Lilith still had new lows to sink to.
“Greetings, Wyrm of the stars. C’thun bids me speak with you on a mutually beneficial matter.”
Ridley simply blinked in response. Sektiliss was a prophet of C’thun, and even from what little he absorbed from the Qiraji in the past, while they may occasionally take a conversational tone, they didn’t call about a few nasty Kodos. No, Sektiliss wanted something, and if he called Ridley, he wanted something big.
“Prophet Sektiliss.” Ridley enunciated, keeping his tone and words deliberate. “Speak quickly, then. I’ve other matters.”
“A warrior made of light and stone, one of Jasper’s soldiers, has been injured in the area. The beast has killed dozens of qiraji in the long war, and possesses uncommonly high power, even for one of her kind.”
“Kind?” Ridley asked, eyes narrowing.
“A gem. Blue as the sea and cracked halfway down the middle. She has been wounded by one of our soldiers, deep outside her territory. He will be sung of, but his spirit rests with C’thun, now. I bid you to track her down and finish his work.”
“Psh, I'll beat down that blue bitch, no sweat!” Lilith volunteered, enthusiasm filling her voice. “No need to waste your time with easy prey, master.!”
Ridley snapped one eye to Lilith, then Sektiliss. “Do you require the gem’s carcass?” Ridley asked, as the thought made sense. He’d heard of these gem’s powers, but he assumed it was some other form of magic. If it was an energy source, however…
“No, merely assurance of it’s death. These creatures’ paltry technology does not interest us.” Sektiliss replied, and Ridley was quick to notice the hidden haughtiness in his tone.
Watch the scope of your vision isn’t betrayed by your undisciplined, flapping tongue, mongrel.
Ridley blinked, and looked to Lilith. “You can kill this creature. But I don’t trust you to retrieve such a small power source on your own.”
Lilith gave a pouting response. “"Oh? You don't want me to do it? By myself? All alone in the desert… Well I suppose if I have to go solo again…"” the acid woman replied, giving a flip of her hair in response.
“Those missiles are large and durable. I need sensitivity and finesse in the final blow.”
"Have I not demonstrated myself? I'm sure you were watching closely. I understand my precision is not to your standards… But trust me, I'm very sensitive." The acidic woman said rubbing along her leader's shoulder as if to convince them. Ridley suppressed the urge to bat her across the room and waste further time.
“If you are pressured, you’ll be likely to fail.” Ridley replied, giving her a look. “I need guarantees this power source will be mine. I will go…”
Lilith looked disappointed for a moment, as Ridley spoke.
“...And you will accompany me.” Ridley stated flatly. “Are we clear?”
"So we're going out? Just us, no distractions?"
“The dreadnought’s rank and file would get in the way on a mission like this.”
Ridley had no words, but for the first moment in a long many, seeing the spider-like smile and visible shiver across Lilith’s features…
Well, the Wyrm finally recalled the feeling known as ‘uncomfortable’
"Of course, Lord Ridley. We'll hunt that whore together. Hmhm… Alone~"
Sektiiss fluttered his wings in the background, a buzzing echoing through the ship’s bridge.
“Then the pact is set. I shall inform my brothers that we have one problem less to deal with, and entrust the matter to you. Naturally, you will be compensated. If that is all, I have no interest in seeing mortals… copulation process-”
“Ratt.” Ridley snapped, and the officer, to his credit, didn’t need to be told to hang up on the Insectoid Prophet.
Ridley stepped out of his chair, and already Lilith was by his side, humming to herself. The old dragon’s hatred mounted at the cavalcade of annoyances, but something smaller brought him joy. It had been some time since he had dirtied his hands personally. It was time to get back in the field, doing what he loved:
Enforcing the natural order.
1,130/5,000 words