Perl Jam: Hey, people, I’ve got a solution to OurMess(™)
Bryce: I can’t wait to hear this
Leo: It’s about time!
Izzy: He showed up at the track! I had him blocked, but Zipadee banned him because he was being a dick
Aggi: Wow, I got put on the shuttle crew chat?
Mike: You are the captain, aren’t you?
Aggi: Don’t you want a space to complain about me without me hearing it?
Izzy: Girl, we didn’t add you to EVERY group chat
Aggi: :-P
Jessie: Then why am I here?
Leo: Because you’re cool?
Izzy:I found videos of some of your derby races, and we’ve been watching them. OMG I want to try it. Where do I sign up?
Perl Jam: Do you want my solution or not?
Mike: Let’s hear it
Perl Jam: I just sent everyone a scripted object. Wear it at all times. If ImaMess gets within 20 meters of you, blocked or not, he’s gonna have a hard time. And you can add other names to it if he gets his friends or his alts involved
Aggi: So you’re saying this is our Perlsoner Jammer?
Jessie: So why do you want Aggi here? She makes comments like that ALL THE TIME
Izzy: We’ll add you to the other list. I want alll the gossip.
Jessie: ‘*evil grin*
Aggi: Perl, please make sure Phoebe gets a jammer, too. It seems she’s my actual friend and I don’t want her to get hurt.
Phoebe: I’m here, too. Thank you, Perl.
Bryce: Is this legal?
Perl Jam: It’s not technically specified as against the rules.
Mike: Perl . . .
Perl: This is mild compared to the other steps I’ve taken, and don’t ask about the legality of those, either.
Jessie: But will it be painful?
Perl Jam: It will be endlessly frustrating and confusing
Bryce: Note to self: be extra nice to Jessie and Perl.
Leo: Bryce, we gotta get you to the gym, learn how to box or something
Mike: Rowan, are you with us? Where are you?
Bryce: I am NOT fighting Rowan
Jessie: I will!
Aggi: Gonna nibble on his ankles, shortcake?
Phoebe: It worked on Achilles!
Izzy: and Queen of Die-monds!
Jessie: LOL, I forgot about that
Rowan: I am on the shuttle platform.
Mike: OK, Leo and I are coming over in a bit. Aggi? You too, if you have a few free minutes.
--------
I was still trying to figure out how to add the small wooden ball Perl had sent to Elorhyn’s bracelet when Mike and Leo arrived. Leo was grinning broadly, and Mike looked rather pleased, himself.
“Hey, this won’t take long. We’ve got a little gift for you,” Mike said.
“You have already given me so much,” I replied, surprised.
“You’ve got plenty of time to pay us back if you feel you need to.”
Aggi appeared, shrugging and waving her hands to indicate she had no idea what was going on.
“I suppose this is for both of you, really. Leo, do the honors?”
Mike held his hand out to Leo, who produced a large wooden box from his viewer.
“A steampunk radio?” Aggi asked.
Setting it down, Leo said, “I wanted something with a non-metal body that was big enough to contain all the parts, so I ran with the theme a little.”
We both stared at it, Aggi as equally confused as I was.
“We successfully removed the comm system from the shuttle,” Mike finally said.
“You did what?” I gasped.
“Don’t worry, it still works! Now you can take it with you while we work on the shuttle. It’s a bit easier to use now, too.” Leo said. “Bryce labeled everything and wrote up a manual for you. On paper!” He waved a shiny card and set it on top of the radio.
“Are you certain it works? Have you tested it?” I asked, still concerned.
“Yes! We tested it here and on ground level with Wahlford earlier. He’s standing by, you can test it again if you want.”
I took the card Leo handed me, scanned through the instructions, and then turned to the machine. The labels were large and simple. I pushed the plastic button labeled ‘power’ and made sure the switch labeled ‘long range’ was in the right position. Then I picked up the receiver and pressed the button on the side.
“Alpinia reporting,” I said cautiously.
“You have to release the button in order to hear the reply,” Mike prompted. I did so.
“Ah, there you are! Wahlford here, hearing you louder and clearer than before.”
“They have made some changes to the comm system. It is now portable.”
“Yes, we spoke earlier, it’s wonderful news! I’m glad they’re making progress. And I understand that one of the crew members is succeeding in translating the manual?”
I glanced over at Mike, who nodded. “That is correct.”
“The captain is delighted and would like a copy at first opportunity.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. Signing off for now. Good work signing on that team!”
There was only one button now to end the transmission. I liked it. “This is a great improvement,” I told Leo.
“No biggie,” he said, waving his hands. “Just let me know if it has a problem.”
Mike and Leo left, but Aggi stayed, eyeing me carefully, probably not believing my text message assurances that I still felt well.
But I did, well enough that I had taken up my weapons training exercises again. The close quarters of the Voice of Lyra had clearly affected my range of motion, and I would need to train much harder now that I had the space - and the motivation.
Finally nodding in satisfaction, she came closer to examine the new radio and the instruction card. “This is great! Now we can talk to Milo more easily! Oh wait, no, now we have to talk to Milo more.”
“Perhaps you should take over those duties. I am, after all, a simple creature.”
“You just want to watch me give your old boss a hard time.”
“You are much better at it than anyone else is.”
“I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, I’m afraid I do have an assignment for you, if you’re up for it.”
“What is it?”
“Now that we can roam without dealing with ImaMess, our first order of business is to find some land to purchase, especially if we intend to set up a hall. It’ll involve a lot of traveling around and deciding if the available places will work, and I want your opinion. Are you up for it?”
“Yes, I will help you.”
“Good! Plus, now that you’re no longer tied to this tin can, we can find a place for you, too!”
I looked over at the shuttle, and considered not having to look at the awful thing every day. “Yes!”
She laughed. “Is there anything I can help you with? I’ve got a whole list of dance instruction videos ready if you haven’t found any other methods that work.”
“I have been testing sword forms, but I need a sparring partner. One I can work with that cannot be hurt as easily as a human.”
“You want to spar - with me?”
You learned short swords and quarterstaff while serving in the forest patrol, did you not?”
“Yes, but . . . you want to? Maybe you should ask Milo about that idea, because, uh, nobody else ever did more than once.”
“I did. He recommended it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Well, I already promised to kick his ass, I suppose I better be ready,” she mused.
“Perhaps you will do better with a better trainer,” I replied.
She grinned. “Only one way to find out! Looks like I’ll be keeping you pretty busy after all. The time will just fly by.”
“Good. I do not enjoy being idle.”
She left, and I resumed my alteration of Elorhyn’s bracelet. It was hard to concentrate, but this time, it was because my mind was humming with . . . excitement? There were new places to explore, new fighting techniques to learn, and, as far as I could tell, no long, dull lectures about etiquette and history.
And then there was a certain elf with bright red hair, quick smile, and a way of looking at me that made time stand still.
I had also made an enemy, or enemies, ones who crept by in the night and left dark messages on my doorstep. However, if that was the worst they were willing to do, then my time here would be very easy, indeed.
I put the bracelet back on and reached for my notebook. There was much to write down for Elorhyn. I was looking forward to giving someone else notecards.
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