Exiting the station and taking note of the light left in the sky, Wooj gathered the squad together.

"Squad fall in. We're too far behind to try and catch the targets by foot. We wait for the next ride to come in. We'll catch up to them in no time at all that way." The squad members turned to each other.

The Swiftsong stepped forward, speaking up on behalf of the squad, "Sir...there's, uh, a problem regarding that, sir..."

This is turning into a series of misfortunate events… I'm going to fry that stupid plant in the hottest oil imaginable. "Speak up, squadmate, what's the issue?"

The Swiftsong pointed over to the sign by the beachfront. "They were on the last ride of the day; there's no other available for at least 12 hours."

Wooj picked up a table and launched it to the sea, screaming as he did so, "YOU LITTLE SHIT, I WILL FIND YOU, I SWEAR IT!" The squad stood there, shaking a little from the officer's rage. The Swiftsong spoke up again.

"Sir, perhaps travelling by foot would be a terrible idea at this point. We may have a chance if they stick around long enough."

"Squad captain, if we do this, and we DON'T GET ALL THREE OF THEM, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE DEMOTED TO DESK JOCKEY."

"You're not in our department, but good luck with that, asshat," said the Sharpshot.

Wooj wasn't used to others speaking up against him, but he knew he was, in fact, totally powerless; the squad was following his orders out of courtesy.

"Let's just get them alright…" Turning and charging towards the next island bridge, back on the hunt.

***

The trio were having a blast on the speed blimp. Dillee discovered being out at sea at high speeds was something of a trigger, and the seasickness began to grip at his soul, or essence; who really knows? He's an enigma.

"The gods be damned, I will never make it across these treacherous waters, 'BLEgh'."

Hmm. This one smells and looks different. It's got kind of a spicy scent to it, and it's yellow too.

"Hey, this one smells exotic. I'm going to save some."

"MC, you're not, ARE YOU!? THAT'S GROSS, MAN!"

MC shushed Horace, trying to get him to quiet down. "Don't say it so loud, lad, shush. What's so bad about taking this? It's not like we're going to use it for ourselves, hehehe."

"THE DROOLI was one thing; this is SO BAD."

"I do not care what the 'blArH' master does with my exports, young Horace, so long as it aids in my recovery from this blasted journey."

"That's what I'm talking about, zing-zing! Horace, go ask at the bar if they've got any bottles with screw cap lids; buy em, even if they're unopened."

Horace shook his head as he wandered over to the bartender.

Trying to hold Dillee up by the tip so he didn't vomit all over himself, MC stared outside the window. The Tusan Atolls looked beautiful at this time of night; the purple sky turned orange as the journey went along. The cold of the night would slowly creep in elsewhere, but in this part of the world, the summer weather lasts all year long. It will be a nice warm breeze when we get out

***

Horace returned back with two partially opened bottles of Jeen, a strong spirit.

"you OWE ME FOR THIS."

"Yeah yeah, no worries, I got you, man."

The bartender called over to the trio as Dillee began to dry heave.

"I hope you're going to clean up that mess on the floor; it's not my job, pal."

"Yeah, no problem, mate, I'm dealing with it. First time travelling, wasn't what he expected."

"No, BlecCH. ABSOLUTELY NOT, SIR."

"We are slowly approaching the Mankini Atoll. Please press the bell if you wish to depart." A loud automated announcement rang out.

"Horace, shall we get off here? I know you want a green mankini for yourself, like your favourite Chazaki journalist, Grolat Yederschmev."

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"PISS OFF, IT WAS YOU WHO SAID THAT, NOT ME!"

"Slanderous words, you cur!"

"Sirs, PLEASE; I cannot enjoy the humour in this state."

***

The boat continued towards the island pier, docking up. A group of drunken adventurers came on board, staggering, dropping things on the floor.

One of them spotted Dillee, and shouted at the conductor

"OI conductor… Whys… Why's a fucking plant on board with two randoms and, uh, hicc."

"Sit down, miss, or you'll be asked to leave."

"FFF-fine~. I see how it is, you judgemental arse."

"Come on geezers... let's hit the boozer in the middle, WOO."

"Hell yeah, Thada! Come on, Lars, and you Mancra, let's get more bladdered!" [drunk]

Watching as they started hammering away at the drinks, MC spoke to the other two, "I really hope they don't bother us. Dillee's out of action until we're off."

Horace kept his mouth shut, nodding along instead.

The vehicle is now departing. Please hold on to the safety rail; takeoff will commence shortly.

Dillee's nausea had stopped whilst we docked up, and MC took him over to what was hopefully a toilet, but it turned out just to be a stock cupboard of sorts. Horace just kept his head down, trying not to draw any attention to himself.

"Dillee, we're gonna hide away in here. You're too loud when you're sick, alright, buddy." Dillee had turned blue in the face; if this is how he is when he's sick, at least we can always tell.

"It'll be alright, bud. Here, have some of my vann [water]. You've been sick a fair bit; it may help." or it won't.

"Thank you ki~"

The boat boomed away from the island. The force of it starting up, made the pair hiding in the closet slam around as it hit the waves and the pair groaned loudly as they continually tossed and bounced, slamming against the sides and doors

Thud

"AH fuck, that hurts."

Crash

"OO, that's tickling me. I'd rather OOF this than be vomiting. Sir."

Thud, thud, thud

"My frigging head. It feels like it's going to burst!"

Bang bang bang

"This is my first time riding a mighty steed; this is EXHILARATING.

Horace continued to hide by moving further down the seating area towards the conductor. I'm not with them; I'm not getting INVOLVED

The drunk adventurers, however, couldn't help but take notice as the loudness increased further.

"Ey, w-w-what's going on in there, barkeep? Sounds like some frisky business, HEH."

"Miss, I'll have you taken off the boat if you keep this up, and you'll spend the night at the nearest jail."

"Pff, feck off, you baby-faced git, I-i-i-i-m dealing with these perverts."

We will shortly be arriving at Witches Falls. Please press the button to signal for a stop

Horace pressed the button as soon as the announcement ended; he wasn't going to miss the chance.

The banging against the doors still had not ended. "I never thought I'd be taking a tumble when I went inside here. AH, oo, ahh, bastard!"

Thud, bang, crash

"Neither did OO, I sir. My appendages are going to be bruised tomorrow, that's for certain, OOOO!"

"OI~ get the fuck out, you dirty perverts!" shouted Thada the adventurer

"Huh? Who said that? "That's you, Horace," MC shouted out.

The boat began to slow down as it connected to the pier. Waves had slowed, and taking it as a sign they could leave, the pair exited the cupboard panting and sweating, slightly keeled over from the event.

"Well, we can tick that off the bucket list, buddy."

"I hope we never have to speed-blimp again, if I may be so honest, sir."

"That's GROSS! You bloody Terrahuums are so weird; agh, it makes me want to vomit!" Thada growled at them.

Mc looked at the drunken adventurer confused. "What's your problem, pisshead?" Hey barkeep, call for a guard to come over; this one's had one too many."

"Don't touch meeee, you bastards. I earned hucc my drunkness todayyyy~" Not wanting to see a fight break out, MC hurried Dillee away from the scene, scooping what he could from the floor into the bottles and rushing towards the exit. Horace had already left and got a bit of a telling off for doing so.

"Thanks for sneaking off ya sod. What if a fight broke out? Dillee's gonna be in a sleep mode soon."

"Ahhh, I would have STEPPED IN WHEN I heard it kick off. Besides, their gear was shit; ONLY ONE OF THEM had even made it past THE BASE CLASSES."

"Can't argue with that; I'm only paying for that one bottle now, though, you sod."

The trio took a moment before leaving the pier; Dillee was still looking blue in the face, and he was noticeably worn out.

"How are you feeling, buddy?"

"Can't say I'm feeling much better. The ride has ended, but the sun has gone down. This old chap is feeling the sleep work its way into the old noggin."

"Horace, you can carry him this time; let's stick to where the streetlights have been set up."

"Pff, Alright man, come ON THEN, BUDDING BUDDY."

Dillee jumped up onto Horace's back, and Horace held onto him as the three began making their way to the old familiar Witches Falls. It runs along the southern cliffs of the continent. The route is a long, continuous stretch, with some climbing around rope bridges and ladders.

***

MC in the house!

A dungeon exists here, and it's famous since the place had been affected by some special curse back in the Malicore Middle Ages, whenever that was. I'm too lazy to open a history book. Anyway, when a few witches burnt at the steakhouse in a bout of rage, they said, "YE SPILLETH HOT SOUPETH ON THEE? THY WATERFALLS SHALL FLOW UPWARDS, PEASANT BASTARDS!

That's what I was told one time. But you see why the gods are so incompetent, I hope? Can create people out of stardust in a knitting circle, but they can't remove a basic-ass curse? That's no zingeroni!

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