Carpathia IV: Episode 221 - Sudden Exit
NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Getting a group together for a game night was a little trickier than Amenaru expected. Phobos fell asleep not long after entering his newly spruced-up quarters, his last words before nodding off about how he hadn't mastered this thing called being tired yet. Moments later, he was passed out right on his couch. Amenaru thought he might move Phobos to his bed, but he was heavier than he looked. Instead, Amenaru grabbed a blanket and tucked him in before returning to his own quarters.
Even the next day, it took some time to work out a time for a meet up. Amenaru managed to wrangle up a few for a game night, consisting of himself, Phobos, Kit, Teek, and Kau, still on the ship practicing with the communications equipment. Amenaru learned through Kit that he also played Stellar Sorcery, so that finished out the group.
Kau: Let's see... I'll play a magma mana card and activate lava sprites for defense. End turn
Teek picked at his chin spikes with his claw.
Teek: Hmmm... There goes my strategy. Okay, I'll play a nova mana and attack Kit with my Starlight Seraph.
Kit laid a card with a picture of a comet on the mat.
Kit: Comet for five instant damage.
Teek grimaced and removed his card from his playing field.
Teek: Should've known. Starlight Seraph to the graveyard.
With an audible snort, Teek removed his Starlight Seraph to the growing pile of cards to his right.
Amenaru: How are you liking the Falchion class ships so far, Kau?
Kau: Much roomier than the Sentinel. I can't wait to get on the Chrono Blade.
Teek: You'll do great!
Kau: Thanks for letting me borrow your cards. I didn't expect that Commodore Amaranth would have authorized stopping all our ships so that I could go back and get mine.
Amenaru: No problem!
Kit: It's good that you already know how to play. I didn't know this game was so popular until recently.
Teek: Maybe some of your new crewmates will know how to play. Do you know any yet?
Kau shook his head.
Kau: Only Commander Unas. I know of Captain Tyler and Lieutenant Sauron, but I don't know any of the incoming crew my age.
Teek: It can't be often that almost an entire ship gets re-crewed like that.
Kau: Chrono Blade was a special case, since it was used for training engineers on the new engines.
Kau reached up with his free hand and started to paw behind his ears.
Kau: There is one new crew, on helm... I don't know him, but there are lots of rumors. Riku Ascik, just graduated from the academy and he's 26 years old.
At this, all ears perked and bent towards Kau. All except for Teek, who did not have ears.
Amenaru: That's rare. Unless he flunked a huge number of classes, he probably entered the academy when he was 23.
Teek: Usually only medical staff enter that late.
Kau: There's more. He's a komodo and I heard he was with an escort service before he decided on a change. Rumor is that he can outlast most tokki in bed.
The others looked at each other with silly, expectant grins on their faces.
Amenaru: Ooo! Competition for Nalma!
Teek: He might not like that Riku is a komodo. I know tokki like competing with each other, but not other species.
Kit: Nalma is rather proud. That might dent his ego. I only care that Amenaru is satisfied.
Amenaru gave a wide grin, showing off all four of his most pointy teeth.
Amenaru: And you're good at it!
Kau: Phobos, you've been awfully quiet. Are you alright?
All eyes turned to Phobos as they all suddenly realized that, yes, he was indeed very quiet.
Phobos: Don't worry. I've listened to everything you said. I'm just also thinking about other things. It's not easy to process since there are actual physical chunks of my memory missing. I can feel that something is missing from my life but I just can't wrap my head around it being Baal.
All around were sympathetic nods.
Teek: That must feel weird.
Amenaru: For what it's worth, you brought out a side of Baal that I've never seen before. I suggest giving it time. Didn't Alka say that your mind needed time to adapt to your new brain? Maybe some things will feel a little clearer later.
Phobos: I hope so. I feel like I'm trapped in a fog. At least Deimos is doing well.
Kit: Completely different feeling for her, I think. Is everyone going to the party tomorrow night?
Teek: Wouldn't miss it! I hear Nalma is going to DJ.
Amenaru gave Kit a playful nudge with his elbow.
Amenaru: Captain Valro might have to pinch some crew from other ships again like the last time we had a big celebration.
Kit's ears turned red as he buried his face into his cards.
Kau: Whose turn is it anyway?
Teek cast a quick, forlorn glance at his conspicuously tall graveyard card stack and sighed.
Teek: Doesn't matter to me. I'm not going to last more than a turn or two anyway.
Amenaru: Teek, you were last. That means I'm next.
Kau: Go ahead, then.
Amenaru studied his cards, tentatively pinching one, and then another, before finally settling on what he wanted to do. He pulled out a card and placed it on top of one of his creatures on the field.
Amenaru: Dark matter enhancement on my antimatter troll and I will attack Teek.
Teek gave a grimace and a nod as he plopped the cards in his hand onto the top of his deck.
Teek: Less than a turn. I got nothing. Anyone want some chips?
Teek stood and awaited answers.
Kau: I'll have some.
Kit: Got any seaweed chips?
Teek: I think I have some in my bag. I'll check.
Before Teek could do anything else, Phobos's ears popped up on his head and his eyes widened, though he remained silent. The rest, noticing this sort of neko alert system, awaited news. None appeared forthcoming.
Amenaru: Everything alright, Phobos?
More time passed until Phobos slowly began nodding. After putting his cards back on his deck, he stood and started for the door.
Phobos: I'm fine, but I need to see the Captain. You guys just keep going without me.
And then Phobos was gone, leaving behind a befuddled quartet.
Kau: I wonder what that was about.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
