Law, Jannali, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Kaburo appeared on the dock just as Bepo burst forth from the Pluton's hatch.
Law was about to move toward Marya when he heard Bepo's voice.
"Captain!"
Law paused. "Bepo!"
Then Law stumbled backwards when Bepo leaped into the air and wrapped his massive arms around him.
Law attempted to protest, but his voice was muffled against the polar bear mink's fur.
Penguin and Shachi walked over. Shachi told Bepo, who was smothering Law, "Geez, Bepo. Let him breathe. You're smothering him."
Jannali, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Kaburo stood watching Marya press Master Gaius Vesper.
Kaburo asked, his hand still on Kalamaru's hilt. "Should we intervene?"
Atlas shrugged.
Bō-Zak jerked his head toward the sparring pair. "Looks like that old man is having a good time."
Jannali replied, adjusting her headscarf. "She's just cruising. I'm starving. Reckon I'll go grab a feed."
Penguin told her, "You should head to the beach. Eliane is barbecuing. There's already a big group down there."
Law gasped for breath when Bepo finally pulled away. "Is that what you have been doing the whole time?"
Shachi grinned. "Gotta eat, Captain."
Bepo interrupted, his ears perking up. "No, Captain. The Pluton—it's almost finished. And there are upgrades."
Law's brow furrowed. "Upgrades?"
Bepo nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Come see!"
---
Galit, Bianca, Alistair Reginald Finch, and Emmet Pascal were in the engine room of the Dreadnought Thalassa.
Bianca was bent over, fully submerged in a console. Her grease-stained overalls hung open over her floral-print blouse, and her magnifying goggles had slipped down to her nose. Galit pressed buttons on a console, his long neck arched in concentration. Emmet pressed buttons and read a monitor, his sharp green eyes tracking data. Alistair inspected an energy conduit, his bespoke Marine uniform immaculate despite the engine room's grime.
Bianca announced, her voice muffled from inside the console, "Like, OK, that should like do it."
She stood, looking at Emmet. "Like, go ahead."
Emmet nodded, turning a dial. "Looking good so far."
Alistair announced, "The flow is consistent. No fluctuations."
Galit was about to reply when the room rocked.
Bianca stumbled. "Like, what the hell?"
Galit groaned.
Alistair asked, his crisp posh accent carrying over the noise, "What is it, my boy?"
Galit rolled his eyes. "He didn't tell her."
The room rocked again.
Emmet asked, "Tell who what?"
Bianca snapped, "Are you like serious right now?"
Galit nodded. "It told him to tell her."
The room rocked again. Bianca used a console to steady herself. "So like, she is like out there like right now?"
Emmet raised a brow. "This is Marya?"
Bianca tilted her head at him. "Like, yeah. Like, who else would it like be?"
Emmet whistled.
Alistair told her, "You had better get out there before she damages everything we just fixed."
Bianca threw her rags down. "Like, yeah. Like, on it!"
---
Whack. Swing. Whack. Crash. Sparks flew.
Master Gaius grinned. "You know, we could discuss this over a drink."
Marya's eyes narrowed. "I could also take your head."
Master Gaius replied, his voice calm and warm. "You don't mean that. You would have done it already if you did."
He gestured with his head toward the Pluton. "Look. Your friends are already inspecting our work. We even—"
Galit, Bianca, Alistair Reginald Finch, and Emmet Pascal burst onto the deck of the Dreadnought Thalassa and paused as they saw Marya and Master Gaius Vesper fighting—or more like sparring.
Galit saw Atlas walking toward the beach and yelled, "What the hell, fur ball?"
Atlas looked over his shoulder and shrugged. "I forgot! You got this!"
Galit's jaw flexed.
Jannali yelled to Galit, "Carn, where's Charlie?"
Galit scoffed. "I don't know. Check the beach!"
Jannali nodded with a wave. "Righto."
Galit turned his attention to Emmet, who was standing slack-jawed. "I had no idea."
Bianca ignored him, throwing her hands in the air. "Like, what the hell?"
She began marching toward Marya and Master Gaius Vesper.
Alistair called out, "Maybe we should—"
But Bianca was walking with too much purpose to stop.
---
Whack. Whack. Swing. Zing.
Marya was about to land the killing blow when Bianca appeared, standing in front of Master Gaius Vesper, hands on her hips, a firm scowl on her face.
Nisshoku's edge stopped at Bianca's throat.
Bianca glared. "Like, what the hell?"
Marya glared back. "Is this because of you?"
Bianca's hands flew into the air. "Like, yeah! Like, I like tried to tell you like a million times! I like can't fix it all like by myself! I like need a team, and we have like two subs now! Like, I had to like get help!"
Marya's eyes narrowed.
Bianca cocked a hip. "Like, chill. Like, no one is like trying to like take the subs or like make you like stop or like go back or anything. They are like here to help and stuff, and they like want to like claim the facility or whatever."
Marya scowled. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Bianca's hands flew up again. "I like tried to, but you like left! Then you were like on that island for like ever, and like we told Atlas and stuff, so like yell at him."
Marya's head snapped around when she heard Galit.
"It's true," Galit said, standing with his arms crossed. "I told him, and he forgot to relay the information."
Marya's lips pressed together.
Master Gaius chuckled. "We done already? I was just getting warmed up."
Bianca looked over her shoulder at Master Gaius. "Like, chill. For real. Like, don't go breaking stuff we just like fixed."
Master Gaius shrugged, sheathing his blade. "Fair point."
He looked at Marya with a cavalier grin. "What do you say, kid?"
Marya's eyes narrowed. She sheathed Nisshoku. "Fine."
She turned her attention to Bianca. "How much longer do you need?"
Bianca replied, "Like, three days, tops. Then we can like go and do whatever."
Marya nodded.
Master Gaius lit his pipe. "You didn't tell her the best part."
Bianca rolled her eyes.
Marya raised a brow expectantly.
Galit announced, "They gave us three new minisubs per vessel."
Marya looked at Master Gaius. "That is awfully generous of you. What's the—"
Master Gaius blew out a stream of smoke. "Courtesy of your uncle."
Marya rubbed her face. "Of course."
Master Gaius chuckled, walking past her. He clapped Marya on the shoulder. "Come on, kid. Everyone will want to see you."
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