Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

2.32 Spidy Stratergy

“Yes, that would be no problem.” Shade responded instantly everyone else’s expression was basically a sum of ‘I don’t know do you know?’ Luca focused on Shade wit ha raised brow. They have the same intelligence as the Harpies, a fully functional society and hunting process that would be more than sufficient from what I understand of the operating requirements.

“Yes, the control process is really not that complicated as long as they had the opportunity to see it being worked then with that degree of thought they would be able to replicate it.” the Matron nodded thoughtfully as she spoke. Luca sighed in relief it would have been unfortunate if their ruse was blown just on the basis of a lack of intelligence of the supposed operators. Though to be far he doubted any of the Harpies on board would be likely to think that hard about it.

Satisfied with that Luca moved on to his second question he’d put it on the back burner earlier because there was nothing that could be immediately done about the issue. “The slave collar, can it be used to force a person to provide information?” the question got Luca a lot of blank looks before the Elder Dwarf shook his head firmly.

“The collar essentially only limits a wearer from moving outside a set area. It has no other feature.” Luca and the others stopped in place and stared blankly at the Dwarf for a long moment.

“Its glorified manacles? That’s it?”

“Yes?” the confusion from the natives had Luca inhaling deeply and affirming to himself that foreign words really were foreign they seemed to take for granted the strangest things and be completely ignorant of other matters. They completely didn’t seem to realise that that single limitation left it open for the wearers to kill anyone that entered their limited movement zone.

“How is the designated Zone determined?” Tails demanded.

The Elder Dwarf flinched and then held up a hand about ten centre metres apart, “A Talisman about this size is pasted on the exterior walls of the designated zone.”

“Ghost.”

“Da, I get.”

“Declan you go to check for magic hoodoo.” Luca waved a hand and the pair hoped into one the shafts and disappeared off to take the locks of Lady’s cage. Still shaking his head Luca started dividing people up and designating a person for them to watch. When the person moved off alone, they needed to signal to either Luca’s group or the replica group. Luca wasn’t sure how they would manage the signalling save for sending one of his group with each party which limited them to five groups. However the Dwarfs assured him that they would have something ready by the next day.

“What about sleep?” Luca’s question was met with frenzied eyes that Luca associated with game addicts. Apparently, sleep was one of those things that other people needed. Alright not arguing. He could only assume that they knew their own bodies well enough by this point.

Luca got up the next morning and looked suspiciously at the jewellery on the table. He couldn’t decide if this was meant to be the Dwarf’s solution or if they’d suffered a mental break and just decided to make fun accessories instead. Honestly, he felt it could have gone either way. Though as Luca stepped into the room the Elder Dwarf materialised in front of him with a manic smile. Luca restrained his need to flinch thanks to years of association with Ghost.

It was only the obvious sleep deprived look about him that made Luca realise that the hadn’t used some unknown means of stealth. The Elder had probably just been passed out on the floor partially hidden by the table and general mess.

“We succeeded. Its not as good as the ones Rӓv has, but they will allow for basic signalling without being picked up by the Harpies.” The Elder continued to smile and even chuckled. Luca tossed up between offering his congratulations and checking that the Elder wasn’t going to keel over in the next side. Luca decided to go with the first as it wouldn’t cause an offence and just react to the second if it came about.

“That is excellent, it will make the day go much easier.” Luca caught sight of Rӓv out of the corner of his eye. He’d watched with an eagle eye that she went to sleep the previous night, so she at least mostly rested.

“It really is quite ingenious, a three light systema bit like stop lights. Amber for a holding position. Red for a problem stop. Green for go ahead. And an amber then green for support needed.” Rӓv held up one of the ring trios. There were three clear crystals. Once Luca put them on a mesh spread out over the back of the hand and between the rings so the hand could still move freely.

At Rӓv’s gesture Luca picked up a copy himself and put it on. It felt fine to ware. As he glanced back a Rӓv he felt a slight tingle on his middle finger glancing down Luca watched an amber light appear from the middle crystal at the same time a light spec appeared on the back of his hand in a pattern much like a radar viewer. Luca tapped the amber light, and it went out. Experimentally he tapped the crystal on his index finger. It flicked green before flickering off. Luca glanced at Rӓv to see a green glow on her hand as well as a ping on the back of her hand.

“Simple but effective. This way if we spread out, we can just have the closest person to react to the pings. Prioritise moving right I think.”

“Yep, to make things more specific I’ll give a butterfly to the other groups.” Rӓv held up a box and Luca nodded, that was a productive use of them at the moment. Though between them and the ones Holly had scattered around that would leave only a handful on hand for people. Seeming to sense Luca’s concerns Rӓv raised a hand and added, “I can mobilise the ones Holly placed if there is something, since they won’t have much of a role in this process.”

Luca nodded in response and then quickly discussed the division of labour. At some point Ghost appeared with Lady, Mio and Mi in tow. Lake and River had remained behind. After Ghost had moved the Talismans the five had gotten free rom and so had managed to have a proper meal and use the bathroom.

Half an hour after dawn when the ship had settled into cruising speed Luca’s groups where all in position. Lady and her group had returned to their ‘cell’ and where prepared to try and delay anyone that entered their room. Luca wanted the Harpies as separated as possible when they struck it would prevent mishaps as much as possible. Luca was hopeful that they could get away with just killing half the crew. Though the premise for that was that the second half fled and that no one in that half spotted anybody but the Mygalomorph replica.