The Mirror: Matthew's Ship

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The shuttle that took off was guided to the dock of Natthew's ship. They were welcomed off with salutes and hard lined faces, although the welcome party was the only one that seemed so serious. Other Guards and pilots both on duty and off casual strode around, settled down, or chatted with fizzy drinks on their person. A bit came by with washing supplies, but was the unfortunate victim of a flying wrench. It's eye twitching, it keeled over and sparked, the culprit swearing and running over to make sure it was all right before quickly and with much care beginning to guide it to presumably someone who could fix it. The culprit's friend yelled something about reporting her dangerous antics to higher ups and harming a fellow member. The distraction was quickly interrupted by the all too serious escort leader. "Welcome." They all stood a little straighter when they spotted Inari. "Matthew and his guest, Hytar is waiting to see you in the office."

Luka came back in. "Three nearby have agreed to come assist with relocation, once you've processed and allocated the refugees." She told Matthew. Oblivious thankfully to the previous conversation.
She looked at the new fox and tilted her head.

"There's nothing honest about slavers." Esk spoke flatly. "the only way a moral man would stick with a job like that would be if he lied to himself about his motives. " He shook his head. "He's an arrogant prick who thinks he's better than those he hurts and deserves to be free while hurting others. It's better anyone else but him. Fuck him. "

Stellan tilted his head, then shrugged. "Doesn't really matter though does it, it's not like any of you intend to see or interact with him again."

"True." Esk shook his head. "As I said, fuck him. Let's go round up some ex slaves huh? Start ferrying them over or whatever."

Stellan nodded. "Good idea, do you need any help this end?" He asked matthew.

Hytar stood, putting a hand on Matthew's shoulder "You my friend, are rather inebriated." He laughed. "I'll gather my crew to help aid in preparationssss. I sssupssspect a few of them have already gotten themsssselvesss into a sssimilar ssstate and they don't carry themsssselvesss with nearly sssso much dignity when intoxicated."

"What, ho!" Matthew laughed at Esk, "I admire your tongue, lad! But doesn't it string a bit of hypocrisy on it?" He drunkenly waved a hand at Starr. "You ally yourself with an ex slave holder. So do you believe in atonement, fine fellow?"

"I don't ally with her." Esk spoke flatly. "We're just stuck with her. Doesn't mean I trust her. She wanted to run experiments on the lot of us before our universe's her got into her brain. " Yeah he didn't really understand all that, just that she didn't care, then she did. "She's not who she was, and I don't mean she atoned or whatever, I mean she quite literally isn't the same person."

Hytar laughed. "I like the kid, he'sss got moxy."

"Their minds merged, they are now both one and the same, indistinguishable. It's... unsettling." Stellan spoke up.

"Point is, we're one, stuck with the crew who claim they're on our side. Two, her situation is magical and confusing as all hell and three, i've worked with a lot of insufferable pricks in my time, one thing I can't stand is assholes pretending they have some sort of moral high ground. Your double plays the holier than thou card a little too often. At least the assholes i've worked with acknowledge they're assholes. They're honest in their awfulness. If you're gonna be an evil son of a bitch, at least be honest about it. Deluded people piss me off."

Starr frowned at Esk's words, but he spoke truth, so there really wasn't anything she could say against it.

"Vestia, can you tell everyone to start assembling so they can be processed?"

"Yes sir," Vestia said. She would tell the people on the ship.

"Luka wants to know if you want everyone who's staying to be processed, or just the slaves. For example, there are soldiers and infected test subjects, and androids," Vestia asked mirror Matthew.

"There are seven infected, but they are still locked up so they do not harm others" Starr said "The androids are mine"

"What about my brother's double in the brig?" Esk asked. "I vote we leave him there to rot."

"What will you do with the infected?" Stellan asked. "Can you help them?"

"I made it, did I not? I can make the cure for them, it just takes time to make it. It should be ready in three days" Starr said "The androids have been working on it since your Starr took over."

"Three days till a cure?" Esk looked suddenly interested.

"An engineered diseasssse and a cure." Hytar chuckled. "Lucrative. Sssuch a thing could be a devassstating weapon."

"It's a hideous way to kill someone. Bombs are way more effective." Esk told him flatly.

Hytar chuckled. "ahh true, but they don't have quite the sssame... fear and desssperation. "

"nice to know even in this universe you're a morally bankrupt asshole." Esk told him.

Hytar laughed. "sssuch a ssshame you can't ssstay, I think we'd have fun."

"Shouldn't you head back to the ship and help gather refugees?" Stellan asked.

"What will you do?" Hytar asked Stellan at last. "You're lissssted asss one of the freed sssslavesss."

Stellan tensed. "My brother is dead, the captain is dead, there's no reason for me to stay on Vestia and nothing but bad memories. Drop me off somewhere I can get transport and i'll get out of your hair."

Hytar smiled and came over to him, putting an arm around his shoulders.

Stellan tensed, it was clearly something he was completely unaccustomed to.

"Don't worry child, i'm immune." Hytar told him.

Stellan still looked wary.

"We have a lot of catching up to do my boy, How would you like a job?"

"Yes, that is what I was asked to make, a disease and a cure that had never been seen before and could continue on without interference." Starr said and looked out the window again with a frown at the stars

"Asked to make? By who?" Esk asked.

Stellan nodded. "Yes, who wanted it?" He wriggled out of Hytar's grip.

"Heny of course" Starr said then shrugged and wouldn't look at them as she finished off her drink again

"What the hell did she want with a disease?" Esk frowned, yeesh, he dreaded to think what someone could do with weaponised lycanthropy.

"What'll you do with it now?" Stellan asked curiously.

"Hopefully destroy it." Esk muttered.

Hytar looked to starr thoughtfully. "Worry not my dear, you have the benefit of the doubt with ussss. " He refilled her glass. "ssshe doesssn't need to be interrogated right now." He looked to his son and his son's double sternly. "right now, we have refugeessss to welcome, and my drunk pilot to ssssober up." He chuckled.

"I was never told what she wanted it for, and those that are infected will always carry a trace in their blood, though their blood could also be used to cure it once they are cured. They and any children they have will be immune from it, forever." Starr said and looked to Hytar, tilting her head a little then dipping it to him in thanks.

"That's useful." Esk remarked. Hmm, so his brothers blood really could be the key to saving all those lives? Bah.

Hytar smiled broadly to Starr. "Right, I have preparationssss to make. It hasss been an abssssolute pleasssure to meet you all, and Captain Alisssstair, asss alwaysss, a mossst gracioussss hossst." He bowed his head to Matthew. "Come child, I wissssh to get to know you a little better." Hytar nodded to Stellan.

Stellan shot a wary glance to Esk, who shrugged back.

"Of course." Stellan followed his father, looking faintly annoyed.

"A slaver with a moral high ground. Now there is something... perhaps he really is lying to himself." Matthew hiccuped again, before looking to Asher. "Everyone. Any captured prisoners will be handed over to the rightful authorities." He chuckled before looking at Esk. "Child of Serpent's Tongue, you are! Tell me, how is it that you are an incubus but cannot heal? A thestral, maybe? But you're not equine!" He suddenly giggled loudly and finished his drink. He was now incredibly intoxicated as he made a wobbly stand. "Nevermind, nevermind. Incubi, Thestrals, Reapers... Idle chatter not meant for idle ears. To the duties!"

Asher frowned, watching Matthew, "I can't help wondering if it's wise for you to be working in your current condition. You seem to be extremely drunk."

"And why should I not be?!" Matthew giggled in glee even more. "Two of the most monstrous people in the universe are dead, a Royal Star Dragon has renounced her ways and we've managed to gain allies who've apprehended an entire rather infamous slave ship! CELEBRATION!" He threw his hands in the air, stumbling a bit to the left.

Esk stared at Matthew, really struggling to keep up with his speech. "They don't heal in our universe, they kill." He told him briefly, eyes narrowing slightly.
He shook his head at the drunkeness.
"Maybe you should help him walk Asher, he looks like he's about to fall on his face."

Asher stood at Esk's suggestion, doing his best to not look amused as he went over to Matthew to see if he could help the guy. "Your celebration is understandable, but it's generally not a good idea to work while you're drunk," he told Matthew. "Perhaps you have someone less drunk who can handle your job for now?"

"Hmm... Ah!" Matthew instinctively began leaning in Asher's direction. "The previous Captain is retired, but he still lives in the ship! Talk to him if you insist I cannot handle my liquor... hic!"

"Trust him, he's a medic." Esk told Matthew flatly. "and he has to deal with drunks a lot." He managed a faint smirk.

Asher steadied the very drunk captain, still keeping a tight rein on his amusement. "That might be prudent. What's the old captain's name?"

"Markath Cobalt." Matthew slurred happily. "Treated me very kindly after what had happened to me when he found me. Good man, that one. Makes me think what he's like in your universe..."

Starr frowned and looked at Matthew then shook her head "My androids will stay on the ship, I will need them to get home along with my guards and those of the rest of the crew who would rather stay with me instead of being sent wherever you would send them. The one who refused my leadership is yours though"

Esk nodded to Starr. "Keep him chained up, or he'll just teleport away, or worse. Let's find Markath then. "