{"id":421,"date":"2022-02-17T13:45:43","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T18:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/?page_id=421"},"modified":"2022-02-17T13:45:43","modified_gmt":"2022-02-17T18:45:43","slug":"chapter-38","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-38\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 038: Down and Dirty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg\" alt=\"Etherno\" class=\"wp-image-52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg 768w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm-300x113.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-heading\" id=\"chapter-38-down-and-dirty\"><strong>Chapter 38: Down and Dirty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai hummed to herself as she nibbled at her oatmeal. Yesterday had been so perfect. Hopefully, today would be just as great. Onin entered the kitchenette, made himself some toast, and sat down next to Kasai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAny news on the Natas?\u201d Kasai asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shook his head. \u201cNope. I checked the news this morning. There\u2019s been more looting in the kinless lands. Apparently just about anybody that delivers locally is getting held up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat\u2019s horrible.\u201d Kasai poked at her oatmeal. \u201cPurona said the locals were poor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah. Weird thing is that it doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019s the kinless that are stealing the stuff. The news holos showed a bunch of half-dressed kids, and the adults saying they couldn\u2019t buy anything because deliveries to the stores were stolen before they arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina stomped into the kitchenette and plopped onto a stool. \u201cSounds like the Natas all right. I\u2019m not sure exactly what they\u2019re up to, but hurting people is what they like to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCould be.\u201d Onin chewed on a bite of toast. \u201cWe just don\u2019t have any evidence yet. Also, I\u2019d like to figure out what they\u2019re up to so we can stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHave your servitors found anything?\u201d Kasai asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNot yet.\u201d Onin sighed and took another bite of toast. \u201cWe\u2019ll just have to wait, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Aiden sat on a relatively flat rock in the center of the bomb range. She closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. There still wasn\u2019t a sense of the host personality, but she could <em>almost<\/em> feel older memories floating around at the edge of her consciousness. She quieted her mind. Perhaps, if she was lucky, one of the host\u2019s memories would wander over for a visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">There was nothing for a while. Aiden let her mind wander. The breeze blew around her, insects chirped in the background. Eventually that faded away. The memory of a blue sky and puffy white clouds filled Aiden\u2019s mind\u2019s eye. A series of images\u2014memories\u2014flashed past; her, curled up in someone\u2019s lap by a fire; laughing with friends; eating a warm, gooey mouth-watering cinnamon roll in her favorite shop; her discovering her gift, using it for the first time to light a campfire with her parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The memories slowly faded away. It wasn\u2019t much, but it was better than nothing. Aiden smiled and hugged herself. The host personality was there\u2014some of her at least\u2014and it was starting to trust her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Aiden focused on that memory of lighting the campfire with an energy surge. What had Amaryllis said earlier, focus on feelings? What had young Shanay been feeling? Aiden ran back through the memory. Love. Love for her parents, love of the outdoors, the smell of woodsmoke, eating over the campfire, times with family and friends; and a desire to help, to contribute, to give something back to those which had given her so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">That was it. Over-pouring emotion. That was how to trigger her gift. Aiden pointed her finger at a fist sized rock in front of her. She concentrated on her feelings of wanting to protect, well, everything. The other Matari, the Kagoshi, her new friends. That resolve flared to life. A yellow energy blast zapped out of her finger and obliterated the rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Aiden smiled. The next battle with the Natas, she\u2019d be able to pull her own weight. For now, more practice.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah watched Tannin as he went through some sword forms. He\u2019d obviously had training. She grimaced. Her own form could use some work. She\u2019d learned the basics, but that was a few years ago, and more for sport than actual fighting. Wait. Ailah did a double-take. Was he holding chickens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat\u2019s hilarious!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWha?\u201d Tannin stopped mid-form. \u201cDid I miss a joke somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cChickens.\u201d Ailah pointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin shrugged. \u201cLong story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah dug her toe into the carpet. \u201cUm, actually I was wondering if I could spar with you. I\u2019m a little rusty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin\u2019s face broke out into a huge grin. \u201cI\u2019d love that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin tossed Ailah a chicken. She caught it and flipped it around a few times. It didn\u2019t quite flop over if you held it straight out\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah frowned at it. \u201cSo, how do you fight with this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh, yeah.\u201d Tannin grinned and scratched the back of his neck. \u201cMy gift is reinforcing things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGift?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah. That\u2019s what we Gesarans call our abilities.\u201d He smacked his chicken in the arm of the couch. \u201cI can make things I touch stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHmm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah bit her lower lip. The Natas that had captured her mentioned something about Gesaran DNA. Maybe that explained why she was so crazy-strong and could pull ginormous swords out of mid-air now. She shrugged. There\u2019d be time to worry about that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She tossed her rubber chicken into the air, caught it by the feet, and swung at Tannin\u2019s head. He swung his chicken to deflect hers, and lunged in for a jab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The door to Cerina\u2019s room opened. She stopped, mid-stride, and blinked. Cerina rubbed her eyes and blinked again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh great, now there\u2019s two of them.\u201d Cerina shuddered and ran down the hallway to the kitchenette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah looked at Tannin and shrugged. He shrugged back, then swung his chicken at her head.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona frowned at the stack of paperwork on her desk and sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat again?\u201d Nisha\u2019s voice came from the other side of the cubicle wall. \u201cYou\u2019ve, like, totally been sighing at that stack of papers since you got here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSorry.\u201d Purona stood and leaned her elbows against the top of the cube wall. \u201cIt\u2019s just after meeting new people, running around, and getting in fights, this paperwork is super boring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah, I, like, totes get it.\u201d Nisha spun around in her chair and pushed a strand of blue hair out of her eyes. \u201cBut it\u2019s part of the job. And, like, if you don\u2019t get it done, Rala might not let you go back out to field work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat\u2019d totally suck.\u201d Purona flopped down into her chair and sighed again. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll just have to suffer through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Most of the paperwork was just filling out forms about where she\u2019d been. <em>The government wants to know that I haven\u2019t just been slacking off, I guess.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Those took forever to fill out. There were so many of them. Then there were expense reports. Those were super boring. Math and numbers, bleck. And she even had to cross reference them with order and payment numbers. Everything went on the division\u2019s account. Why couldn\u2019t the computer just automatically pull that information and just have her confirm it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Wait a minute. Purona\u2019s jaw dropped open. Why was all this actual paper on her desk in the first place? It was probably just going to go to another division to be scanned back into the computer. Come to think of it, all of her schoolwork had been on the computer. She\u2019d just accepted that this was the way the government did things. Purona growled low in her throat at the memory of all the papers she\u2019d filled out over the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNow what?\u201d Nisha asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhy do we have all this paper?\u201d Purona thrust a random sheet over the cube wall. \u201cWe look everything up on our phones or a holodisplay. What\u2019s the point?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Nisha chuckled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona crossed her arms over her chest. \u201cWhy are you laughing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWelcome to government work, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona let her head fall down to thump against her desk. She sighed again, which elicited a giggle from Nisha, and cracked an eye open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWait.\u201d Purona jerked upright and snatched the paper off her desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cFind something interesting?\u201d Nisha asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Purona leaned over the cube wall again. \u201cThe dates here. We\u2019ve seen Natas activity here and there, then after the Gesaran\u2019s battle with that one super crazy Natas woman, activity ceases. And then all the issues in the kinless lands start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSo.\u201d Nisha popped a piece of candy in her mouth. \u201cProbably just a coincidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCould be.\u201d Purona shrugged. \u201cBut it\u2019s a super big one. I gotta go show this to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona snapped a photo with her phone and bolted for the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey, I\u2019m not doing that paperwork for you!\u201d Nisha shouted after her.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin leaned back into the chair in his room and closed his eyes. He reached into his connection with the servitors that were in the kinless area. Images came back, slightly blurry from the distance. Roads were barricaded off everywhere. Trucks were being stopped in other areas and looted. Beyond that, deeper into the kinless territory, half-naked children cried and clung to their mothers skirts. Their bellies were bloated, and their bones were starting to show through their skin. In the towns, store shelves were empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin re-focused on the servitors nearer the raiding groups. Most of them were Nekotians in old, worn clothing with angry expressions, but a few were smiling. Not happy smiles. Malicious. Like they enjoyed what they were doing. That didn\u2019t fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">A flash of black caught Onin\u2019s attention. He directed that servitor higher to see over the crowd. There was man in a black suit. A Gesaran. Onin\u2019s eyes snapped open and he leapt from the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin yanked his door open and ran out into the common room. And stopped short. Tannin and Ailah were dueling with rubber chickens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina leaned around the corner out of the kitchenette. \u201cHey, what\u2019s with all the\u2026 Oh. They\u2019re still at it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGuys, I think I found something,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh?\u201d Tannin lowered his chicken and turned away from Ailah to face Onin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah bonked Tannin on the head with her rubber chicken, making it squeak. She giggled, then cleared her throat and also gave Onin her attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSo, spill it already,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOne of my servitors spotted Suit-man in the kinless lands!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat!\u201d Kasai popped out of her room. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t know, in the middle of one of the looting parties.\u201d Onin pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Purona. \u201cI had it look around to get some street names, and hopefully we can track them down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOkay.\u201d Cerina waved her phone in the air. \u201cI\u2019ve sent a message to Amaryllis and Ryogin, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">There was a popping noise, and a blue portal swirled open. Amaryllis and Ryogin stepped out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI got your message. We\u2019re ready to go,\u201d Amaryllis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin frowned and looked around. \u201cHas anyone seen Saija?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai and Cerina looked at each other and shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ll go check her room!\u201d Kasai ran off down the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The doorway to the hotel suite flew open and banged into the wall. Purona burst in and ran down the hall, almost bumping into Kasai. Purona darted around her and waved her phone in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI think I\u2019ve got something!\u201d she yelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWoah, tone it down, we\u2019re right here.\u201d Cerina winced and dug at her left ear with her index finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh? I did, too,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cReally?\u201d Purona\u2019s ears drooped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin leaned over to look at her phone. \u201cWhat\u2019d you find?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh!\u201d Purona pointed to the picture of what looked like a bill on her phone. \u201cWell, admittedly it\u2019s not much, but there\u2019s some correlation in Natas activity. I think this might be enough evidence to let the government allow us to go there to look for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat\u2019s great. My servitors saw Suit-man there, too.\u201d Onin grinned. \u201cI know it\u2019s hard for them to just take my word for it, but do you think it will help your case?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona nodded. \u201cSuper! Between both of those, I think Rala will let us go.\u201d She bit her lower lip. \u201cShe might have to check with Xironi, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cShouldn\u2019t you, you know\u2014\u201d Cerina gestured with her hand. \u201cAsk her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona gasped and her ears and tail stood straight up. \u201cOh no! I have to get back the office before it closes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t just call her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHmm. I could.\u201d Purona pulled the corner of her mouth to one side. \u201cBut this is super important, so I should ask in person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Amaryllis hid a smile behind her hand. \u201cI\u2019ll open a portal to just outside the office for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSuper!\u201d Purona bounced on her toes. \u201cThanks!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai re-entered the common room, dragging Saija along behind her. Saija\u2019s hair was down and sticking out all over. She wore a t-shirt, and not much else, and her eyes were mostly closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cJust wake up?\u201d Cerina asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Saija yawned. \u201cWhat\u2019d I miss?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin and Ailah filled her in. Onin sat down on the couch, and brought up a map of the kinless lands. If he could find those street names, or one of the buildings his servitors found, they\u2019d know where to start looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin closed his eyes and concentrated on the connection to the servitor. There\u2019d been a street sign near Suit-man\u2026 The servitor was still in the area, though it looked like Suit-man had left. The servitor moved around until Onin could get a good look at the street sign. <em>Fourth and Second? What crazy city planning let those intersect?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin opened his eyes and shrugged as he tapped at his phone. Sure enough, the intersection did exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI think I\u2019ve got something.\u201d Onin held his phone up to the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSweet, let\u2019s go!\u201d Tannin ran for the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina grabbed the back of his t-shirt as he passed her. \u201cHey, hold on there. We\u2019ve got to wait for Purona.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin frowned and his shoulders drooped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai bit her lip and glanced at the door. \u201cCouldn\u2019t we wait out in front of her office building?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Amaryllis and Saija nodded at each other. They both gripped her staff and blue portal swirled up from the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin blinked as the portal faded away. He and the others stood in front of a building painted an eye-meltingly bright shade of neon something. He blinked and looked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh, for the love of\u2026\u201d Cerina sighed and pointed at Saija. \u201cDid you forget something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHmm?\u201d Saija looked down at her over-sized pink unicorn t-shirt and bare feet. She swore and disappeared in a purple flash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat\u2019s great!\u201d Ailah laughed and slapped her thigh. \u201cCan you imagine the look on the faces of the serious raiders when they get attacked by that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin laughed and high-fived her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin rolled his eyes. \u201cCome on, guys. Be serious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai nodded and leaned against Onin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cHow long do you think Purona will take?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019m not sure, she\u2019s in a hurry, but it still could\u2014-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The door flew open and Purona sprinted out. A fully-dressed Saija dropped out of a portal at the same time. Purona\u2019s ears perked up when she saw them, and she skidded to a stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSuper, everyone\u2019s here!\u201d Purona brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. \u201cI found Rala, and she said to go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSweet!\u201d Tannin pointed a rubber chicken in the air. \u201cTo the Natas!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Saija turned to him and raised an eyebrow. \u201cMore like, to the train station, as that\u2019s the only place in the kinless lands that I\u2019ve been.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ryogin cleared his throat. \u201cI\u2019ll head back to the <em>Potato<\/em> and monitor everyone from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Amaryllis leaned in and kissed Ryogin on the cheek. She stepped back, and everyone else huddled around her. Saija gripped Amaryllis\u2019 staff, and a blue portal swirled up around them. When it disappeared they were at the train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona glanced around. \u201cOkay, so, uh, now where?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cFourth and Second.\u201d Onin pointed down the street. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing there now, but that\u2019s the last place my servitors saw the Natas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin led the way down the street. The place was deserted. No one was on the street and all the shops were closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Saija looked around. \u201cSo, is it just me, or is this kinda creepy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cA little.\u201d Tannin pointed a rubber chicken at a store front. \u201cFor example, that sandwich shop still has all the glass in its windows, chairs and stuff inside, and it looks clean. Why aren\u2019t there any people in it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHe\u2019s got a point.\u201d Cerina looked up and turned around, her hand shading her eyes. \u201cDoesn\u2019t look like there\u2019s any people around. Do you think they\u2019re hiding or something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin frowned and glanced up and down the street. The servitor had shown Suit-man and a group of ruffians gathered around a truck filled with crates. The truck had been facing the direction to his right. He headed that way for a few paces. Nothing. Onin tapped his finger against the side of his leg. The Natas had to have left some trace, right? He held up his right hand, generated a servitor, and pulled it over his head. Tire tracks glowed a faint blue in the servitors infrared vision. They headed off down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey, guys!\u201d Onin waved a hand in the air. \u201cI think I found something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai was at his side in seconds. Her soft fingers curled around his, and she leaned up against him. The rest of her was even softer\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">SQUEE! A rubber chicken bonked Onin over the head. He whipped around and took a step toward Tannin. \u201cWhat was that for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cFocusing chicken!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Ailah giggled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDon\u2019t tell me they\u2019ve each got roles now.\u201d Cerina jabbed Tannin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWhat does that even mean, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou said you found something.\u201d Tannin poked Onin in the nose with a chicken. \u201cThen we get over here and you\u2019re staring off into space with this glazed doughnut look.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin slapped the chicken away and cleared his throat. \u201cYeah, well, uh.\u201d He pointed to the pavement. \u201cFresh-ish tire tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina bent down, peered at the pavement, straightened up, and raised an eyebrow. \u201cSuuuure there are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cInfrared.\u201d Onin followed the tracks down the lane and around a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The tracks led out of town to a highway. That was covered in a few sets of tracks from an assortment of vehicles. Onin frowned and pulled the servitor off his head. It floated up a few feet and cloaked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cLose the trail?\u201d Tannin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Onin flicked his fingers toward the road. \u201cToo many other tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Tannin got down on his knees and pressed his right ear to the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina prodded Tannin\u2019s hip with the tip of her shoe. \u201cNow what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cListening for traffic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cLet me guess.\u201d Cerina put her hands on her hips. \u201cYou learned that from some game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin lifted his head and raised an eyebrow at her. \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous.\u201d He lowered his ear to the pavement again. \u201cSaturday morning cartoons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. \u201cHow are we still alive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin stepped away from Tannin. Probably best to ignore those two. He looked up and down the road. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and brought up a map of the area. To the left, the road lead back to the Deka kinset\u2019s territory. The right led further into the kinless lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">A hand touched Onin\u2019s arm. He jumped, then blushed. It was Kasai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai glanced down and twirled her hair around her finger. \u201cDidn\u2019t mean to startle you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSorry, didn\u2019t see you there.\u201d Onin brushed his hair out of his eyes. \u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHi.\u201d Kasai cleared her throat. \u201cSo, which way do you think they went?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shrugged. \u201cNot sure. My guess would be further into the kinless area, but who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOoo!\u201d Amaryllis called out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin glanced over his shoulder. Amaryllis stood on tiptoe and waved her hand in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes, Amaryllis?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI could go scout ahead. If I find anything, I can come back and portal us all there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin glanced down at Tannin, who still had an ear to the pavement. \u201cWell, it sounds like a better plan than our current one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Amaryllis held her staff sideways, hopped up to sit side-saddle on it, and flew off down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona looked back and forth at everyone in the group. \u201cSo, uh, we just wait here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYup.\u201d Onin, with Kasai at his side, returned to the sidewalk to stand with everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin waved a hand at them. \u201cShh! I think I hear something!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Saija raised an eyebrow, then looked up and down the road. \u201cSh\u2014\u201d Her phone beeped. \u201cTannin, get out of the road, a car\u2019s coming!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She grabbed Tannin by the shirt collar and yanked him back onto the sidewalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey! That hurt, what\u2019d you\u2014\u201d Tannin went pale as a truck roared past. \u201cUh, I mean, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Saija glared at her phone and jabbed at the screen with her index finger. \u201cDang thing\u2019s always ringing when I\u2019m trying to say something important. And it\u2019s always a telemarketer!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin took an involuntary step backward, he and Kasai looked at each other, then back to Saija.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWait, what?\u201d Onin stepped forward and leaned in to look at Saija\u2019s screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI know!\u201d Saija tilted the screen so Onin could get a better look. \u201cI mean, how am I even getting signal out here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Saija\u2019s phone showed three bars of signal. Onin frowned at it for a second, then pulled out his own phone. Three bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHuh.\u201d Onin poked the screen. \u201cI mean, I think Amaryllis said something about setting something up on the <em>Potato<\/em> so they\u2019d work, but I thought she meant so we could talk with each other and the ship, not back to Gesara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Aiden leaned in over Saija\u2019s other shoulder. \u201cThat is weird.\u201d She turned to Purona. \u201cWhat carrier wave do you use here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Purona blinked and her ears flicked back and forth. \u201cUh\u2026 KAT5e?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina face-palmed. \u201cReally! An acronym is all you\u2019ve got to explain all this weirdness?\u201d She whipped around and pointed a finger at Tannin. \u201cI swear, if I wake up tomorrow back at ABG with a mushroom hangover\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin pointed at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWHAT?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAcronominum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou said \u2018ABG\u2019. That\u2019s another one of those letter thingies you were ranting about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI wasn\u2019t rant\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">There was a loud pop, and a portal formed in the air above the sidewalk. Amaryllis dropped out of the portal and it snapped shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey, I think I found something, there\u2019s this broken down stone church a few miles out and\u2026\u201d Amaryllis\u2019 voice trailed off. She looked around the group. \u201cWhy does Cerina look like she wants to murder Tannin this time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin rolled his eyes. \u201cNever mind them. What\u2019d you find?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCome and see.\u201d Amaryllis pointed her staff at an empty space and a blue portal swirled open.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai stepped out of the portal into a churchyard. She couldn\u2019t put a finger on it, but something felt vaguely familiar about it. A waist-high crumbling stone wall surrounded the property. Rubble around the path that led out to the road suggested an arch once stood there. The building had a peaked roof. A pointed tower stood at the far left corner of the building. Piles of stones at the other corners were at each of the other corners. A large round hole was in the center of the front of the building, right above the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWait\u2026\u201d Kasai took a few steps forward and peered up at the hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The hole was surrounded by an iron frame. A few shards of multi-colored glass still clung to the edges of the frame here and there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIt\u2019s a window.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWha?\u201d Saija leaned in front of Kasai and looked up at the remains of the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Kasai pointed to the glass shards. \u201cIt used to be a stained glass window.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey guys!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai looked down. Onin and Amaryllis stood in the doorway of the building. A young woman that couldn\u2019t be that much older than Purona was with them. She was dressed in a black robe with a white inner bodice and white coif on her head. A black veil covered her hair, but left her face exposed. She wore a simple leather necklace with a carved wooden \u2018A\u2019 around her neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin waved them over. Kasai bit her lip, twirled her hair, and stared at the young woman. Saija sighed, grabbed Kasai\u2019s arm, and dragged her over to join everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin jerked his head at the young woman. \u201cThis is Sister Vera.\u201d He pointed to Kasai and the others. \u201cKasai, Saija, Tannin, Ailah, Purona, Aiden, and Cerina. Can you tell them what you just told Amaryllis and I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Sister Vera held up a hand. \u201cAll in Ard\u2019s time.\u201d She stepped closer to Kasai and looked her in the eyes. \u201cSomething troubles you, sister?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai twirled her hair some more. \u201cNot \u2018troubles\u2019, exactly.\u201d She picked at her nail. \u201cMore confused.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Sister Vera smiled. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Saija glanced back and forth between Kasai and Sister Vera. \u201cYes, what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHer question.\u201d Sister Vera inclined her head toward Kasai. \u201cWe, well, I, am a Nun of Ard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-37\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"413\">&lt;&lt; Previous Chapter<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/table-of-contents\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"34\">Contents<\/a> | Next Chapter &gt;&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarondemott.com\/newsletter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.aarondemott.com\/newsletter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/env_sm.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178\" width=\"33\" height=\"20\"> Be notified when the next chapter comes out!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.ko-fi.com\/cdn\/widget\/Widget_2.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">kofiwidget2.init('Buy me a cup of tea', '#29abe0', 'V7V05ASUY');kofiwidget2.draw();<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter 38: Down and Dirty Kasai hummed to herself as she nibbled at her oatmeal. Yesterday had been so perfect. Hopefully, today would be just&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-421","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":425,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/421\/revisions\/425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}