act12d0

Keh, they have a point.

Gavial, what're they saying?

Hm? Ah, right. I forgot you guys don't speak the language.

We're in Sargon, but no one here speaks standard Sargonian.

I'll translate anything anyone says to you.

And for the rest, just use your intuition!

...&*# (What are you whispering about, you bastards!)

I said: if this stuff is yours, I just have to beat you up and it'll all be mine!

&&......! @ (What? This woman is so damned full of herself. Get her, boys!)

Cue. Titecuani! She... she's something.

Whaddaya know, you guys are pretty strong! Shame you had to run into me, Gavial!

Wait... wait, what did you say your name was?

Ga-vi-al!

Gavial?!

Wait! Look close! That face, that hair! You're Gavial, aren't you?!

I feel like I just said I was!

It-It's Gavial! Gavial's back! Brothers! Go, hurry! Tell Clan Leader Eunectes!

What? Eunectes? Hey! Get back here!

Tch. Ran off.

Thank goodness! If you'd been just a little later, they would've taken me.

Where's our pilot guy? Uh, his name, uh, Dylan! Where's Dylan?

He tried to fight some of the Archosauria in the middle of it all. They knocked him out.

Oh! Gavial, I found Dylan here!

Good. Drag him over. I'll take a look at the damage.

Okay!

Say, Lancet-2, you can fix this aircraft, right?

Yes! Closure input lots of aircraft knowledge into me before we left.

In principle, following a successful emergency landing, the tools provided should be sufficient for a repair.

Only...

Kay, I asked you to drag him over, not to LITERALLY drag him over.

Oh. Sorry.

...Looks like they didn't get any kills on us, huh? Wow, who knew this guy's underwear would be so gaudy... heh. Yeah, let him have his beauty sleep and he'll wake himself up.

Lancet-2, you were saying? Only what?

Only, the Archosauria we just met stole the engine.

Hah? The engine?

Correct. Before they noticed me, I sighted them from the deck. They found the aircraft's engine, pulled it out, and carried it away with them.

Come see for yourself.

Hoo, boy. Yeah, that's a hole. I don't really get how these things actually work, but, uh, I'm guessing this means it won't fly now?

Yes, it won't fly now.

Oh? Doctor, you don't look too good.

None of this looks too good.;......;Kal'tsit's gonna kill me!

A short while back

A letter?

Yeah. From my homeland. They're holding the Mahuizzotia again soon.

'Mahuizzotia.' Strength and honor?

Huh, you know it? Yeah, it's what they call the ceremony where they choose the next Great Chief.

I haven't heard anyone use that language in a long time.

As I recall, though, you left your homeland and then came to Rhodes Island.

Yeah, but there’s this li’l kid I knew who still keeps in touch with me. She’s the one who sent the letter.

I also recall you saying that you left because you were ostracized. If so, the election of the chief shouldn't concern you at all.

Yeah... hell, no, I'm not going out to be the next Great Chieftain. Just, the brat seems like she really wants me to come back for a bit, and I haven't been back in a bit, and...

Homesickness?

Maybe a little, yeah.

And why are you requesting to bring Dr. {@nickname}? From a biological standpoint, the Doctor couldn't pass for one of you.

The Doctor's been working so hard, y'know? I figured it'd be a nice little vacation.

And what was the purpose of this aircraft requisition form, Blaze?

Gavial's old place is way out in the middle of nowhere Sargon! Who'd walk that far?

So instead of walking, you want to use a low-altitude aircraft and risk detection by the Sargon authorities.

Wait, lemme explain! When I say nowhere, I mean we looked at the maps and Gavial's is one of the lest densely populated regions of Sargon. From the intel we've gathered, Sargon doesn't even station any forces there.

You're correct that the region is Sargon's in name only. You've done your homework.

And now, seeing as you've made all your plans, why have you come to me?

B-Because any and all paperwork passes through you...

Are we good or not, Kal'tsit? If not, we'll forget it and move on.

(Quietly) Doctor, maybe we should just call it off. There's no way Kal'tsit's gonna agree...

Fine. I've approved it.

Seriously?!

Gavial, you've never properly introduced us to your hometown before.

And considering your standing as a core member of Rhodes Island, and the initiative you showed in making this proposal, we can afford to grant Dr. {@nickname} this leave, given accompaniment by an elite operator.

That's what I like to hear!

Further, I will treat this operation as an on-site field investigation. You may freely select any off-duty operators.

Amiya has been very busy as of late. She is not allowed to go, whether she wants to or not. You will have to tell her this yourself.

Keep in mind that you are technically entering Sargon territory. Rhodes Island has very few offices in Sargon. Don't make trouble for yourselves, or for Rhodes Island.

Further, Rhodes Island's low-altitude aircraft are tremendously important to us, and Sargon is a rough environment. I trust you to bring the vehicle back safe and sound, Dr. {@nickname}.

Ohhh. Now that you mention it, yeah, that sounds about right.

Hey, relax, Doctor! This is my homeland. I know it like the back of my hand. Lancet-2, we've just gotta find the kiddos who stole the engine and steal it right back, yeah?

Yes... They definitely seemed to have some understanding of technology, at least. They hardly damaged anything else in the removal process.

In the event we do get the engine back, I should be able to guide you through reinstallation.

On that note, there's some emergency maintenance I must carry out before any of this ends up exploding. Please hold...

Huh? Them? Technology? First I've heard of any of us getting along with technology. We're all knuckleheads by nature.

Specifically, only enough to know how to pull out the pipes and cables, but...

...Wait, hold on. I bet if they're her minions...

Gavial, I'm hungry!

All our food reserves should be fine, right?

They should be fine, yes.

But some systems were damaged by the emergency landing. The storage compartment is currently sealed. I'll need some time to unlock it again...

Hang in there a little longer, then, Kay.

But I'm hungry nowww!

Fine, then. Let's go and...

Gaaaaviiiiaaaaal!

Huh? Oh, crud. I know that voice.

Wow, Gavial! You're actually here!

Gavial, your hair's gotten long!

Gavial, your clothes look really good!

Gavial, you have a weapon now! How come? It doesn't look very good for hitting people!

Gurgh! Yes, Tomimi, it's me, you're not imagining it. Just let go of me first!

Okay!

Gavial, have you been eating okay out there?

Did you really become a doctor?

...*Sigh* What are you doing here, Tomimi?

So I saw a thing fall out of the sky, and I went to see what it was, and then I saw you!