The morning after establishing a truce with the Kaigun Dominion, Roy stepped decisively from his quarters, already mentally preparing himself for the uneasy second truce he intended to make once Caliban returned.
Almost immediately, an alarm sounded on the ship and Serenity's voice broke through his thoughts. "Captain, scouting drone confirm prior reports of six inbound signatures plus their beasts. It's Caliban and the other traitors."
Roy paused, a faint smile on his lips. "Send the invitation to meet in the large clearing of the far forest, by the mountain, Serenity."
"Understood," she replied, clearly amused.
Just then, back on the Nightshatter, a large commotion erupted near the brig after the alarm sounded. Kaelor pressed his body against the bars, shouting urgently. "Father Skeleton! Please, let me speak to Roy! I'm begging you, I can't take another second here listening to Riven's fat ass crunch snacks all day! I'll aid in whatever fight is going on!"
Father Skeleton threw back his skull-like head, laughing with exaggerated mirth. "Big Pickled Fish, your desperation is hilarious! But no, you stay put."
Kaelor, undeterred, softly pressed his luck. "Your majesty, I beg you. Sorrowclaw got two chances already, it's my turn, I promise I won't let Roy get even a single scratch."
Father Skeleton tilted his head, genuinely considering. His eyes glowed bright as he look away. After a dramatic pause, he sighed theatrically. "Fine, Kaelor. Considering the enemy coming, I'll allow you to ask Roy yourself."
Kaelor's excitement barely fit within the cell, and after he emerged, a nearby Presidroid led him toward a communications terminal. Kaelor stared at the phone perplexed, repeatedly pressing random buttons.
"Your ear goes here," the Presidroid explained calmly, holding the receiver to Kaelor's earholes by his collarbone, simultaneously dialing the bridge, "and speak loudly, since your ears are…uh, a bit high up."
Roy, walking swiftly toward the bridge, answered the unexpected call. "Hello?"
"Captain! It's Kaelor!" came the booming reply.
Roy blinked in confusion. "How are you even speaking on a phone right now? Your mouth's on your stomach, and your ears are practically by your non existent neck."
"The Presidroid said to yell a bit louder!" Kaelor shouted earnestly. "Listen, Captain, please let me join this battle! Just this one time, I promise I'll return right after!"
Roy considered briefly, then shrugged. "Honestly, I can't see why not."
"Please, Captain, I be-...oh, thank you," Kaelor followed, expecting a rejection.
Back at the brig's entrance, Skellbro rushed out, making a quick cut into Kaelor's shoulder. A faint, dark glow pulsed briefly beneath the skin. "You behave, Fishy" Skellbro chuckled. "Now go!"
Soon Kaelor lumbered awkwardly onto the bridge, making Roy feel momentarily nervous by his sheer imposing size. Roy quickly hid any unease and led him to the Infinite Wardrobe in the captain's quarters. Tossing Kaelor some magazines, Roy gestured casually. "Pick something out and meet us in fifteen."
Exactly fifteen minutes later, Kaelor emerged. Roy stared incredulously: Kaelor wore a tight wrestling singlet, a huge trench coat, a comically oversized fedora, and no pants. Most notably, his massive feet were adorned with fluffy bunny slippers.
Roy ignored most of the outfit, only questioning the slippers. "Really?"
Kaelor shrugged earnestly. "They looked comfortable."
Takara, nearby, was bright red, visibly trembling to hold back laughter. Kaelor approached her suddenly, and she braced nervously.
"I'm sorry," Kaelor said gently, "for injuring you during our fight."
Roy clapped slowly, mockingly impressed. "Ah, winning points already. Good start, Kaelor."
Takara finally lost it, bursting into laughter as they exited the Nightshatter.
Walking toward the Elven restaurant in the first sector of Otherrealm, Chronova, only two minutes from the dock, Roy dispatched Takara and Lutrian ahead to inform the chefs there of the plans for an elaborate mean to hopefully dissuade Caliban from attacking.
As they walked, Roy spotted Neverran leading a brisk march of Presidroids. Roy's eyes widened briefly, he glanced at Kaelor quickly, whispering sharply, "Your new name is Gigi."
Kaelor immediately frowned, uncomfortable.
"Captain, that's—"
Roy sighed, irritated. "Fine, your name is Fish, then."
Kaelor opened his mouth to protest again, but Neverran appeared, eyes bright with excitement.
"Roy, my boy! I've never had this much fun teaching in all my life! These Presidroids will soon be among the greatest mages ever seen!" His gaze suddenly locked onto Kaelor, and he nearly collapsed laughing. "Good gods, Roy, who's your new friend? He looks utterly ridiculous!"
Roy bit his tongue, choosing not to comment on Neverran's own eccentric appearance. He gestured pointedly at Kaelor.
Kaelor, uncertain but committed, bowed slightly. "Fishthen. Nice to meet you."
Roy immediately groaned in annoyance, rubbing his temples.
Kaelor continued, "Are you by chance Neverran the Reverter?"
Neverran smacked Kaelor's torso playfully, nodding proudly. "Indeed I am!"
"My father respected you deeply after his twenty year prison sentence in your prison," Kaelor said solemnly. "He called you a legend of legends."
Neverran laughed heartily, curious. "Your father? Who might that be?"
"Ferqa," Kaelor replied simply.
Neverran's jovial demeanor vanished instantly, he eyed Kaelor up and down, noting his size. "Ferqa? Wait a moment…Ferqa had only two children as far as I know. Wef and... Kaelor…." He turned, incredulous, eyes wide as they fixed accusingly on Roy. "Roy Gunn! Are you completely insane?! You're parading around with Kaelor, one of the missing Abyssforged Alliance members!?"
Roy waved his hands frantically, shushing Neverran. "Keep your voice down! It's a secret! He wants to leave piracy behind, he's defecting. But it must remain hidden."
Neverran groaned dramatically, scratching his forearm in frustration. "Roy, I ought to incinerate him immediately! If the Drowned King learns of this, we're all dead men!"
Roy smiled confidently, gesturing to Kaelor's absurd ensemble. "Come on, Neverran, look at his disguise. It's immaculate."
Neverran sighed loudly three times in rapid succession. "At least let me fix this properly." He muttered a bizarre sounding spell, summoning three spectral eyes that swept Kaelor from head to toe. Light enveloped Kaelor, morphing him into a muscular yet ordinary human, albeit still towering nine feet tall.
Satisfied, Neverran turned back to Roy. "Where were you headed anyway?"
"Meeting Caliban and his traitors at the clearing near the mountain," Roy answered casually.
Neverran grimaced, shaking his head as he departed. "First Kaelor, now Caliban? Roy, you'll be the death of me."
Roy simply chuckled, shaking his head. "Drama queen."
While pacing left and right, Neverran stared up to the morning sky. "Caliban..., he isn't close to the strongest student of mine, but he was... different. Of everyone I have ever taught, he was the only one I could never break."
"Do you think bragging about your record of consecutive broken students makes you look good?" Roy asked, genuinely annoyed.
"Listen, Roy, that boy is not normal. Every time I shattered his bones, or slowly burned him to ash, he came back smiling, always ready for more," Neverran continued.
"What the hell are you doing to your students!?" Roy yelled.
Neverran continued to ignore him. "If you think 'maybe he is a freak who likes pain', you'd be wrong. I could tell he genuinely suffered, but none of it mattered."
As he continued to ramble, the elves came with Takara and they all loaded up onto the Heavy Cargo Helicopter with all the supplies they needed and made their way to their destination, leaving Neverran rambling to himself.
At the clearing, the Presidroids quickly set up the enormous round table and kitchen area. The elves set down numerous runes in the kitchen and a box appeared around the kitchen and time started to accelerate.
Minutes later, a shadow fell across them as Caliban's dragon landed with a massive thud, eighty feet long and thirty feet tall, not including its tail. Beside it rose Corvvy's colossal spider, towering thousands of feet into the sky like a mobile mountain, but not even causing a single rumble with it's footsteps. Roy didn't even notice it approaching.
Caliban dismounted gracefully, eyes cold and focused solely on Roy. "We're here to either kill you or take your ship. Why talk?"
Roy offered a nervous smile, hiding the tension. "Do you really want to do that on an empty stomach, Caliban? Dinner's ready in mere minutes!"
Caliban narrowed his eyes. "It's Brask now, you know this."
Greg stepped forward casually, breaking the tension. "Might as well eat while we're here. I'm sick of those gross Dominion meals anyway."
Brask relented begrudgingly, seating himself at the table. He immediately fixed Roy with a piercing stare. "What is it you actually wish to discuss?"
Roy leaned forward earnestly. "The Dominion called off their attack. Why continue fighting us? That technically violates the truce. Why not come home to Otherrealm?"
Brask sneered. "I have greater ambitions than playing city planner among weaklings like you." His eyes drifted knowingly to Roy's neck. "How's your burn these days? Still painful?"
Roy ignored the jab smoothly. "About as painful as your fruitless search beneath the ocean, I'd imagine. Did you have fun chasing ghosts?"
Brask scowled, but before responding, elegant Elven chefs placed sumptuous dishes on the table, their time-magic accelerating a century long cooking session to mere seconds. As the rebels eyed the meal cautiously, Greg swiftly produced his request, a small Silversmith's Magical Auto-Forge, pressing a few buttons before it instantly created and enchanted shimmering rings for his allies.
"Anti-poison and curse protection," Greg announced plainly, handing them out. "Just a precaution."
The Elven chefs shot Greg outraged, offended glares, deeply insulted by the implication.
Roy sighed quietly, his smile forced. Already this negotiation felt more complicated, and potentially explosive, than he'd anticipated.