Prologue: Just another day

By way of explanation Steve happily declares, "We got engaged!"

Mihai's jaw drops a little, then his eyes wander down to Zelk's left hand. His jaw drops a little more.


"....Congratulations...!(?)" - he manages, kicking the black eye out of his mind as he tries to sound as upbeat and supportive as he imagines one must sound in such an occasion.

Zelk blushes a little, but she's smiling just like Steve. Fedler and Amber are shocked to learn that this is really happening and they spontaneously congratulate the crazy couple.

"I'm happy for you," Fedler tells them with a smile.

"Yeah, this is amazing!" Amber says.

"Uh, what's with the...?" The redhead gestures at the black eye.

"Uh, I almost messed it up. I bought the ring as a gift and it kind of spiraled from there. Anyway, it worked out!" He smiles some more.

Mihai blinks.

Close enough now to hear the group tittering away about the engagement, sporting his long coat and beneath it his breastplate and finery, Konrad goes in for a handshake with Steve.

"Congratulations on a fine catch, mate!"

Then he sees the shiner. "Woof. What, did ya stumble down the wrong alley, comrade?"

Breeze arrives just in time with Konrad to hear Steve tell everyone he's now engaged to Zelk. She flies through the hair and stops right in front of the crazy couple.

"You're engaged?" she asks. "Really!?"

"Uh, yes," Zelk says, still a little shy.

"That's super awesome! I'm so happy for you!"

She proceeds to hug their faces.

Steve returns the handshake and hug. "Almost. Though the engagement probably saved my life this time. Not complaining at all Zelk. Just saying."

"So Ollie gets his happy end with Fiona after all."

Konrad squints a little at his answer, then raises an eyebrow in Zelk's direction. He breaks silence with a chuckle. "You look a little tougher now. Saves you from having to apply permanent marker."

"Hey, I guess you don't need an armband anymore," Amber says with a grin. "A black eye means you're a black mage."

"Oh!" Breeze exclaims, a serious expression on her face. "Oh yeah, you're right!"

"Does it hurt though?"

"I made sure he would still be fit for duty," Zelk answers. After a short pause, she adds, "And... thank you everyone. For everything you said."

She looks at the whole party with a wide smile.

Steve gives Mihai a thumbs up. "It's not so bad. I'll get it looked at after we are under way."

"Speaking of, sorry to break the bliss but we should get to that."

"Right." He turns to face Zelk and takes both her hands in his and says, "I already miss you. Stay safe. I left something for you in the cookie jar. I hope you like it."

Very skeptical, she asks him, "It's not another bug is it?"

"I think you'll find it's way better than a bug, love, though you have to admit the beetle was cool."

Zelk sighs, resigning herself to take his word for it, and looks up to him again. "Just stay safe." She turns towards the party. "All of you."

She then kisses Steve goodbye.

The crates are now being taken into the hold. The captain of the Barracuda, the same one who relieved Konrad many months ago, is leaning on the railing of the ship and greets the party with a friendly wave of the hand.

"Everyone ready?" he asks.

"Yeah!" Breeze replies. "I'm all fired up for this!"

"That you are," Fedler says. She turns to Zelk and tells her, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on your fiance."

Zelk nods at her. "Thank you. And I'm sorry in advance for whatever shenanigan he's going to pull. He tends to act stupid when he's happy."

The hunter laughs. "I'll keep both of my eyes on him then."

Mihai shrugs - "Morale shouldn't be a problem, at least." - then notices the Captain - "If you'll excuse me, i'll need a word before we go."

He goes to speak to the Captain.

Captain Jim and Mihai are now speaking together, and the middle-aged man looks at Amber with curiosity. He shrugs and tells something to Mihai, to which he seems to agree. The whole conversation didn't last more than ten seconds.

"So can we go?" Amber asks with anticipation.

Steve and Konrad both notice that she's carrying a little bag on her back.

Mihai looks back at Amber and nods for her to get on.

"Hold on." Konrad looks between the girl and the captain. "What business does she have aboard the ship?"

"She's a passenger," the captain replies with a shrug. "Everyone, come aboard."

He then goes back to work.

"Well, let's go," Fedler says as she climbs up the ramp.

With a big grin, Amber follows her.

Without a word, Konrad ascends the boardwalk with the others. "I didn't know we were escorting civilians as per detail."

"Well, you know what they say: 'Experience is the best teacher.' It will be nice to have someone else to play cards with." He smiles at Amber.