The Queen’s Gambit showed up two days after the archangel had descended. Two days after Jed had learned what the phrase ‘hell on Earth’ truly meant.
He hadn’t even been involved in the fighting, yet what he’d seen still played back when he’d closed his eyes that night. Those days had been full of activity, keeping him from dwelling on it, Metsa quickly taking charge despite her near-death experience.
It’d been sorta heartwarming.
The Queen’s Gambit had paddled its way in and less than an hour later, much to the surprise of most of the town, it debarked.
Jate promised they’d be back soon, he’d just received a last minute offer he couldn’t refuse.
It was understandable. Metsa could be hard to refuse.
Water hit Jed’s face, an acceptable discomfort considering his position at the very front of the ship where he stood alongside Mythlyn and Gwen.
The archeotech lifts of Granite Hills sat just ahead of them, looming tall. And just off to the side was Cella and half the cybernetics lab.
Metsa had refused to leave behind what she’d called a ‘treasure trove of truly transcendent trash.’
Even the table had been removed, despite Jed insisting they didn’t have the right infrastructure to support it.
“Can you build the right infrastructure, with time and the right tools?” Metsa had asked while they’d been standing in front of the table, finger pressed against his chest.
“Yes, but-”
“And these are the right tools?” Metsa had interrupted, gesturing to most of the lab.
“Yes, but-”
“Then we’re taking it. End of discussion,” Metsa had said, crossing her arms.
And so they had.
Metsa was down on the deck, pacing back and forth.
Her nervousness was understandable. Not an hour after Jed had ferried her out of Granite Hills - the last person he’d needed to transport - a new dropship had flown in. With no one left to kill, the Imperial Guard had kept to themselves. Travelers had even reported passing them by without incident.
“Least her buggy’s still there,” Gwen said, leaning against him.
“And the rest. After the number of hours spent removing it, it would have been a shame to leave it behind,” Mythlyn sent, trailing her finger over the back of Jed’s hand.
“Guess they were after the site, not the gear, eh?” Jed asked rhetorically.
“Or they just couldn’t find it,” Gwen said, holding a hand in front of her nose. “Imperial Guard at their best.”
“The truly remarkable thing, is how little the Guard have changed,” Mythlyn said with a soft laugh. “Though they are created for a singular purpose, they do it well.”
Jed grunted, then squeezed each of them. “Best get ready to bring it aboard.”
The three of them turned away from the railing, though Jed hesitated as his partners left, looking up at the massive lifts one last time.
When he turned around again, Jed almost tripped over the pair standing just behind him. The two teenagers were holding hands, looking out over the water, though he’d blocked their view when he stumbled into them. It was no surprise he hadn’t noticed them. Neither could’ve been more than four-foot-six.
“Sorry about that,” Jed said as he regained his balance.
“No, no,” the one on the left said, waving their free hand back and forth. “It is entirely my fault. I just wanted to be closer to see.”
“It is a pretty remarkable sight,” Jed said, glancing over his shoulder at the lifts.
“The most remarkable,” they said, hand reaching upward.
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Jed chuckled, stepping to the side so as not to obstruct their view. “I imagine we’re going to see a lot of other remarkable things on this trip.”
“One can only hope,” the other spoke, reaching out to pat Jed’s hand. “May you have a good day, skyfaller.”
“Uh, you… too…” Jed said as the pair started giggling and ran off. “Wait, did they say skyfaller?”
…Isekai-eh…
Getting Cella on board went smoothly.
Convincing Jate to keep her there…
“This is a pleasure wheeler, Lady Huntress, not a maintenance yard,” Jate said, tapping his cane against the upper deck for emphasis. “It is no place to keep a Hunter’s Carriage.”
“It’ll just be for a month or so, till I get Cella fixed up proper. Then she’ll only be on board for the tricky sections,” Metsa said, arms crossed as she glared down at the man. Jed was pretty sure it was a new experience for her, ‘cause glaring down seemed to throw off the intensity a little. He hadn’t met many adults who were shorter than Metsa. “Besides, we’re paying more than enough to make up for any lost profit.”
“A pleasure wheeler is about more than profit, Lady Huntress. We provide a service to the people, and having your Cella aboard will impede said service,” Jate said, long thin mustache twitching as he gestured to the open space in the deck where the tip of Cella’s roof protruded.
“This service, what can we do to help?” Sotas asked, stepping forward. “In exchange for using space for maintenance, is only fair.”
“Hmm, I suppose that if you were to take part… Yes, that could more than make up for a little deck space,” Jate said, smoothing out his mustache. “Very well. Let us discuss the specifics.”
With that resolved, he and Metsa made their way towards the lower deck, already negotiating over how much of the deck she was going to be allowed to use and how many hours of performance they’d be contributing in exchange.
“Wasn’t sure they’d get it sorted,” Gwen said from nearby, where she and Mythlyn were helping Jed sort through some of the random tools and equipment they’d looted from the foundry. “Glad she didn’t shoot him.”
“Don’t think that was on the table,” Jed said about to return his own focus to the task, only to notice Sotas standing at the railing, staring blankly at the ruined buggy. “Speaking of tables, I’ll be right back.”
“That makes no sense,” Gwen called after him.
“I’m tabling the conversation.”
“Still doesn’t make sense!”
He waved it off as he stepped up next to the large man.
“It is small thing,” Sotas said without turning or otherwise seeming to acknowledge Jed. “When weighed against other losses. But this was last reminder of home.”
“I… that’s rough,” Jed said, patting the man’s arm.
“As said, it is small thing. Is important to acknowledge, so weight does not drag down, have found,” Sotas said, finally shifting to give Jed a sad smile. “Many years, many small things. Easy it is, to get too heavy.”
“Speaking of heavy,” Jed said, glancing towards the stairs. “Wait here a minute.”
Sotas’ eyebrow twitched upwards, but he otherwise remained silent as Jed raced down to their room.
A short time later, Jed walked up to him, holding out Sotas’ Guide to Surviving Hex Six-Oh-Six. “Figured we’re on our way out of the hex, so I won’t be needing this anymore. I, uh, I added a few notes.”
Sotas took the book from Jed, opening it slowly.
There were a lot of pictures inside, the sketches Jed had first noticed when he opened the book. The pages also had random formulas written on them now, thoughts he’d had on the nature of the warp as he read. “Sorry about the-”
He cut off as Sotas pulled him into his side, squeezing a bit too tight. “This is good gift, friend Jed. A treasure returned in time of great need. Much as you did with my love.”
“That was mostly the machines. And it was Gwen’s idea. I just-”
“Too humble is not good. Accept thanks,” Sotas said, chuckling as he released Jed, patting his shoulder. “Do not be jerk.”
“Right. You’re welcome,” Jed said, rubbing at the tightness across his chest. “I’m glad it helped.”
“Now, I see a man coming to talk to you who has something you have been waiting for, yes? I will see you later. Perhaps much later,” Sotas said, grinning and patting him on the shoulder before turning away and bounding down the steps to the lower deck.
Jed turned to find the Brewer approaching.
“Uh, hey?” Jed said as the man stopped next to him. “Can I help you?”
“It is I who can finally help you. And your partner. I understand that things have been quite exciting, but I thought you’d be happy to know your Lover’s Embrace is ready.”
“Yes!” Gwen said from where she was working, proving that her hearing was far better than Jed had realized. In two quick, very long, steps, she was standing at their side. “We’re ready, right partner?”
Jed couldn’t stop his smile from growing to match her own. “Yeah, I’m ready partner.”
“As am I,” Mythlyn said, getting a chuckle out of both of them. “No matter what comes next.”
…Isekai-eh…
What came next, at least in the short term, was retreating to their cabin with the Lover’s Embrace in hand.
“It was nice of the Brewer not to mention the Lover’s Embrace in front of Sotas and Metsa,” Jed said as he and Gwen stepped into their cabin, pushing the door closed behind them. “Even if Sotas did seem to know what it was.”
“Can’t believe we’re doing this,” Gwen said, her grin and the way she pulled his arm closer letting him know she wasn’t worried about it at all.
“I must admit to being somewhat envious,” Mythlyn said as she sat down at one of the seats in the small breakfast nook. Smaller than their shower. “Your warp signatures will mix most intimately. I do not believe this is a thing I could share for quite some time.”
“Is it weird that I’m okay with her watching what comes next?” Gwen asked even as they sat side by side on the bed. “Like, I think it’s weird that I don’t think it’s weird.”
“Mythlyn might not get aroused, but she’s still one of us,” Jed said, holding his hand out to the archangel, Gwen mirroring him a second later.
“I… did not wish to intrude,” Mythlyn said, stepping forward. “As I will not be partaking in your post-intermingling activities.”
“Did you want to?” Gwen asked, thumb running over the back of Mythlyn’s hand.
“I believe that I shall refrain, for now. Observing you two together has proven rather pleasant,” Mythlyn said, squeezing both Jed’s and Gwen’s hand. “As is your consideration.”
With that addressed, both Jed and Gwen’s gazes shifted to the small vial that sat between them. A mix of cyan and amber energies shifted within, swirling around as though constantly chasing each other.
Linking arms, they brought the special capsule upwards, setting it between each of their lips. Then, together, Gwen and Jed bit down, pressing their lips together.
The energy pushed out of the vial, into each of them.
And what happened next was… well, he suspected most people who used Lover’s Embrace didn’t have a warp-sensitivity over a hundred. Because the Brewer had listed off all the potential side effects, and he hadn’t mentioned anything about how clearly Jed could feel Gwen’s being vibrating next to him.
And not just through her lips which remained pressed against his, as per their instructions.
“Oh. Oh wow,” Gwen sent, the thought as clear as if she’d spoken the words aloud. Then she sent a burst of affection through the bond.
“Pretty incredible, eh?” Jed sent back, sending a burst of affection right back.
“Damn good thing we waited until we were in our room,” Gwen said, lips twisting upwards and eyes flashing mischievously. “‘Cause what we’re doing next, is definitely not for the public.”
Seemed like a pretty good way to end his time in hex six-oh-six.
It’d been quite the adventure.
...Author's note...
And that is the official end of B1 of Isekai-eh.
There's still one more interlewd to follow, but I don't consider either an official part of the story, though they are canon.
Now to buckle down and work on the next book. My next one is a little different.
Neko & Law
A Catgirl Lawyer/Detective in a very magical world. She's the first Neko to ever be approved by the Spirit of the Law, who governs all things legal in the city of Esteria.
Eldritch entities, mad archmages, and fairies who sell their own wings as commodities are only the most known of obstacles she must navigate her way through.
Turns out Cthulhu has one heckuva lawyer.
Just as importantly, Felicity must find a way to pay back her student loans, not default on her rent, and still find time to visit the orphanage that raised her once a week.
...Isekai-eh...
After that, we'll most likely be back to more Isekai-eh, though there's a possibility of another book in between. As I said, you can expect a full book dropped on Patreon once a month, no more daily chapters.
This author's note will be duplicated for the next chapter.
Thanks for reading!