Lily Amarachi's Story

Hagane had immediately left the briefing after Ace gave her permission to stay on the ship. Repairing the engine was important of course. Hence why she hadn't really caught up on who was to stay with her.

“I don't hope it'll be Grumpy... Maybe Alley will stay? Or Miza...” The little Elfling shook her head, she'd find out soon enough. First things first, repairing the engine and make her shine bright and wide again.

“Sounds like I am going need to use you guys~!” Ichi exclaimed in a playful tone, dragging the bag she and Rusty had bought during their shore leave in Gyofu. It had been a while, repairing the engine that is. Aside from the major fix-up the mechanic had to do while in Nenza, she hadn't done any huge projects.

The engine was silent. Obviously, because it was turned down. It always made it that more lonely while in the engine room. All quiet and cold...

The little girl sighed, softly. Did she gather everything? Tools? Check. Components? Check. Goggles? More then check. She never left without those. “I'm ba-ack~! Time to patch you up, yes? Yes, of course.” The Elfling gently smiled, carefully touching the metal plates closest to the pumps, and the main engine. They've cooled off, good.

She reached for one of the ledges, clinging onto them as she attempted to climb up the large, metallic box. She failed at first, too short. “Hmpf!” Ichi grunted faintly at the engine. She needed a step up, time to move the chair...

Finally she could reach, and climb onto the metal ledge. Now to be careful enough to not fall off. “There, there. Let me see where it hurts~...” Like a mother caring for her child, Ichi carefully patted the machine to wherever she thought where its head would be.

Well, right off the bat, the main pump was nearly, completely turned to rust, and the pipes weren't having a good time either. Seeing how some of the rust must've splintered from the pump, and managed to get into the pipes. “Oh~ I hope there are still some filters lying around in my room~ They are going to need a replacement as well.”

Ah, nobody ever said mechanics needed to have a sixth sense for a precise damage calculation. Although it does help...

Ichi reached for her clip-book, and the pen and ink that were in her bag. She wrote down a few notes and tips to remember whatever needed to be repaired. “First thing, removing all that rusted metal off of you. Just look at you~” And so the repairing began, by removing all the broken, rusted, and dented metals.

And as she always does when working, or at least towards the engine. Hagane began to start a conversation to kill the silence. Aside from the noises of clinging metal, and the occasional hammer. It was her general way of dealing with things when she was done pondering about it, and it helped her relax.

“Yeah, I think you are right. He is sweet, that's why I like him so much. He's my best friend!” Ichi paused, throwing some of the rusted metal she had removed from the engine on the wooden floor.

“Well, best best friend, actually. Its how we called it, anyway... For now.” She began blushing a bit. Not only was she talking to a machine about her day-to-day struggles and interests, Ichi began to wonder if she hadn't blew it all. Nothing really seemed to work, and when the chance arose, they had little to no time to even hang around.

“Maybe I do, l-l--- Eek!”

She was so focused on her work and conversation, that the Elfling was startled by the feint knocking sound on the engine door. It made her loose balance, and the only thing she could hold onto, was one of the pipes. The one she had been working on to remove.

Hagane grunted at the door, tossing the few bits and pieces of screws that she was holding in her hand. “See? I almost fell! Are you happy now?!” The mechanic yelled, wiggling about as she excessively moved her hands about.

*Crack*

And there went the loose pipe, along with Hagane who now lay down on the floor. “Oww... Stupid, pipe...” Her head hurt from the fall, but that wasn't her main concern at the moment. With an angered expression on her face, she rose up, and rushed towards the door, ready to whack the one who dared to interrupt her. Slamming it open a she stood face to face with the one that was to guard her from anything dangerous.

“R-Rusty...! W-wha--” Ichi halted herself, her expression swapping from angry, to surprised in a nano-second. Then, immediately after that, her whole face turned as red as it could be. Along the angry expression.

Although, mad...? A bit maybe, this was more out of shame that there's a chance Jack might've heard her mumbling. “D-don't scare me l-like that! I-I was busy working on t-th-that engine, and y-you know it!”

Her ranting about how he made her fell, continued. And with the occasional 'Stupid Rusty.' and 'Idiot.' mixed within...

And then she just, stopped. Crossing her arms as she turned her head to the left, the angry expression still perfectly glued on her reddened face. “You scared me, Rusty...” Was all Ichi said, before glancing in at her best best friend with the corner of her eyes...

[~-----~]

Just a few seconds before they had left, and already they were spotting someone. Looked like an ordinary merchant, trying to sell her wears. Why the woman was travelling around was a total confusion to Ace though.

“You said this trip involved some smugglers, right?”

Lily inched towards the captain, a devilish grin forming on her face as she tried to confirm that they were really doing smuggling investigation. “Yes, why-?”, the Elfling interrupted him before he could comment on It.

“If so, then I think we’ve found our lead. Why else would a broad like that be out here, y’know? Can’t be any other reason, unless she’s just a nut.”

Ace shook his head, he had said to be careful. But being this suspicious would be rather... out of the ordinary. “She appears just like a regular merchant. If not a bit odd, dragging her wares in a cart.”

Somehow it felt like he wasn't in charge any more. “She always like that?” The captain asked, nodding towards the grumpy old artificial who didn't seem to be pleased with his assistant rushing over to question the woman.

Ace sighed in annoyance. Frowning almost as heavily as Rurik. With Hagane gone, he had thought the loud, and troublesome questioning/wanting-to-check-it-out business would be over. But Lily was just as bad, if not a bit worse. At least Hagane wouldn't be this questionable.

If the woman was a smuggler, she'd already have henchmen pointing guns at the crew from every possible angle.

“Or how about you? You seem like a fine man who would be interested in some fine things,”

Yeah, information that is. Not at all these bits and pieces of mechanical creations, he had Hagane for that bit of knowledge.

“I bet you don't even have an external power source for your engine in case it stalls, this can power a ship half the size of yours for at le-”

“Hold it there, miss. I don't think I asked for a story on how to take care of my ship. I've got a mechanic for that, thank you.” Ace glared at the female merchant, who was pointing at the bird with a slight grin. “I am actually wondering why a merchant, such as yourself, would even think about roaming these empty plains.”

The captain glared at his newly acquired crew member, Lily. The Elfling had a point. If she really was a merchant, why here? Unless she has regular customers, there'd be no logical reason for her to sell wares here. “Especially since this is a known danger-zone.” Ace watched as the merchant just casually continued her merchant-act. He looked at Lily. She started this, and she'd most likely knew how this would help them on their mission. Or at least end it, if it had no purpose...

Cassandra had closed her shop, Rurik had settled his arrangements with the merchant for the time being, Lily was still objecting to her minion's decision, Alleyson was there to listen to the elfling's ranting, Mizakiri and Aiden were silently following the crew, and Rict... Rict was leading the small group towards the town he had ventured in. (And most likely got lost in it as well...)

The town itself could be compared to Nenza. Just, a little more... hygienic. Well, if you'd find the smell of alcohol hygienic. Ace had thanked his navigator for his guidance, and halted the crew just before they were about to enter the tavern.

A tavern, not only a place for alcoholic beverages, pretty women, and rough barfights. But a place for valuable information and perhaps a guide that was willing to show the crew where to go for their investigation.

With Rurik as his.. bodyguard of sorts. The captain had entered the alcohol stench-filled place, while the rest of the group remained outside. Not that it was dangerous, but you never know who you'd bump into. Quite literally at times. With all that said and done, the two tough guys of the crew had began a casual conversation (Well, Ace did.) with one of the bartenders who pointed the two towards a scruffy old man sitting near one of the windows.

With a little 'payment', the man spouted out all he knew about the so called 'Smugglers' of this area. How they were low-ranked bandits that answered to a rather skinny, but royally dressed fellow by the name of 'Patch'. The bandits smuggled weaponry, and even information for this man. And in turn, they'd get paid a large sum of money.

Before Ace and rurik left the tavern, the old man passed them a map that pointed out to various places where the smugglers hideout may very well be hidden. As thanks, the captain tossed another bronze gear towards the man, and told him to keep silent about this conversation. And with that, the crew once again set off for today's task.

Upon their arrival at the path that was a few feet away from the rails, Ace ordered Rict to quickly draw up a few sketches of the map that was given to them. They were about to split up, and each take one of the three locations that were marked. “Okay, there will be no rendevouz point. Should your mark proof false, just make your way to one of the other marked areas.” The captain paused, handing every member their own map before continuing. “Be careful, keep eyes and ears open. You never know when there might be an ambush waiting for you.”

The mountain, a rather rough terrain that was filled with trees that reached high towards the sky. Some areas were bland, only alowing a few patches of grass to grow, or reveal a large part of stone that was the mountain. Animals, bandits, and possibly traps could hinder the crew in their task. But if they were to find the hideout as fast as possible, they needed to split. It was the only option.

Ace thought for a moment, carefully forging the teams. “Rict, Mizakiri, and Aiden. You three will take the first route. Cassandra, Rurik, and Alleyson. You'll take the second. And Lily,” The man paused, carefully eyeing the little elfling. For a split second, he tried to re-assign the teams. But choose not to. “You and I will take the final path.”

With the orders given, and the task clear in everyone's mind. They three teams set off for their own. “Good luck, and I will see everyone at the hideout.”

No, Ace hadn't bothered to safely settle on the teams. There was the option of choosing Alleyson to go with them, but neither Rurik, nor Cassandra seemed to type to simply... lead. Although there was no questioning that Rurik would've taken the lead if he only had Cassandra as his partner. Well, the teams were made, and they had already set off. Each in their own direction.

The captain simply shook his head at Lily's mumbling at her giant mechanical minion, as she stood next to him. Sure, Rurik's sudden 'job offer' came to everyone as a big surprise. But was it really that bad to make such a fuss about it? No matter, all the more reason to not have Lily paired with them.

The man did his best to keep his head on the scenery, and ensure Lily wasn't losing track of him. Although that didn't seem to be a problem, with her poking Ace for random, and not to mention irritating questions. Airships, weapons... colours? It did keep the elfling occupied, but at the cost of Ace's patience. With each response, his voice showed more and more annoyance of the unrelated questions Lily sprouted from her mind.

Geez, it was as if he was talking to Hagane. Only the mechanic had changed in appearance, and voice. Was this a trait Elflings shared? Or was this a pure coincidence that both Hagane, and Lily were... fond of pestering others? Ace sighed, making a stop-sign with his hand. “Lily, feel free to ask questions. But unless they're related to how we'll find this hideout, I want silence.”

Upon nearing the end of the path the led to a wide, and open grass field. Ace stopped in his tracks, holding on hand in front of his companion. A small pond, peacefully lay in the center of it all, the occasional bird landing in it to drink, a few fish jumping out of the water... Nothing really shouted 'Smuggler Hideout!'.

Slowly approaching the pond, the captain spotted the wrecked cottage that appeared to be crumbling underneath its own support, and the mouth of a cave in the east-side of the mountain. The cave was a likely place where smuggler's could be hiding a secret entrance. Then again, the shed was in a good position that it could hold an entrance into the mountain as well.

Deciding on checking out the shed first, Ace motioned for Lily to stay close. Who knows what may surprise them, and as far as Ace can tell, Lily wasn't equipped for dealing with violent situations. “Keep an eye out for anything odd, or unnatural.”