Cages and Confessions (1/2)

You are now a level 10 Tinker!

DEX+1

INT+1

You have learned the Jury Rig skill!

Your Jury Rig skill is now level 1!

Threadbare sat on the deck and put his paws over his eyes.

He had just gained four levels in about as many minutes.

And it had taken almost every spare part that they'd pulled out of the dungeons to do so. At the end of it, when he was down to a few key bits and they were at the breaking point he'd chanted “Mend,” over and over to keep them from shattering. It hadn't been enough for some of them, but it had been enough. And now the ship had four working engines... for the moment, anyway.

But he'd refreshed all his spent sanity with this last level, and gained a new skill, so he called up his status screen and concentrated on jury-rig until it popped open.

Jury Rig

Cost: 40 San Duration: 1 Turn/skill level

Sometimes a broken object has to work RIGHT NOW. Activate this skill and punch, kick, or thump whatever broken item you desire, and it will spring back to life and function for a short time period affected by your skill level. An object can only be jury rigged once, though, and after its time is up it must be fixed properly if you wish to get any more use out of it at all.

Theadbare shook his head. So far he didn't think much of the Tinkering job skills. Oh, Tinkering itself was useful, and the Improvised Tools skill had let him at least have a chance at fixing the machinery. But Project Team was only good with groups of Tinkers, and this wouldn't be very useful at all until he trained it up.

He was beginning to see what Celia had meant when she'd referred to Tinker as more of a lifestyle choice than a job.

The ship shuddered along, and he could feel it gaining the speed. No more gunnery orders were being called from the decks above. He'd tried to time the engines to start right as the last fire order was given, but he wasn't sure he'd nailed the timing.

So he checked with his people on the outside.

“Wind's Whisper Cagna. Is everyone all right? Did they survive?”

The reply came immediately.

“We're fine. Good work on the jump. We'll catch up to you with Madeline as soon as possible.”

Madeline? Oh, there was no need for that...

“Wind's Whisper Cagna. She's in my party, I can call her whenever I need. So is Fluffbear.” There was one more member in his party he could call over, technically, but it was of questionable use in this situation. And it would certainly be a bad idea to summon it on a ship of this size.

There was no reply. Either he'd moved out of range, or Cagna had nothing else to say. But Threadbare had learned the important thing; all his friends had survived.

The last few days had been a series of ups and downs, variations, and so he just sat there for a second and clung to the feeling of knowing his hard work had been worth it. At least for now, anyway.

Noises from above drew his attention. The crew was getting things ready for a proper flight.

Threadbare recalled how messy it had been the last time he'd been above decks, and they were managing the hasty retreat from Cylvania City.

I have a little time here, he thought to himself.

And there was one person whom he hadn't spent much time with. One who the others were certain had answers.

He looked over to Renny. “Follow me please. I have some talking to do, with someone who's quite familiar with Celia.”

The cargo hold was empty of people when he got there. Empty, save for the beastkin in the cage, right where he'd left her a day ago.

And her red eyes blinked in the dim light, as a smile spread across her face at Threadbare's approach. “Oh thank goodness you are all right,” Jean said. “I heard the cannon. I was very worried.”

“My friends tried to rescue me,” Threadbare said.

“Did they survive?”

“Oh yes, everyone's all right,” Threadbare said, as Renny pattered up behind him, playing the part of a servitor golem.

“That is a relief.” Jean sagged back in her cage. “Anne is more formidable than I thought. I understand now why he sent agents across the ocean to recruit her to this task.”

“He.” Threadbare said, clambering up on a nearby crate, and surveying the cargo hold. Empty, as far as he could tell. “We have a little time before anyone comes down here, I think. Can you tell me why some man I've never met is kidnapping me?”

Jean's face twisted, and she bit her lip, looking away.

“What's wrong?”

“I do not know for certain, and it is safer for me if I do not speculate. Not here, not now.”

“We're alone down here.”