Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

2.30 Ways and Means

“What do you want to check?”

“I want to check that they are properly secured. The other slaves all disappeared how could their ones be left behind?” the two voices had a harsh screech to the tone that grated on the ears. Luca somewhat wished that the bird part of the Harpies was something easier on the ears though as far as he could tell any bird noise could be hard on the ears depending on the duration and time of day.

“What’s strange about it? the Dwarfs and Gnomes rescued their own and had no interest in the strangers.” Luca blinked and his lips twitched that was an interesting but unintended assumption they’d made. He could see how they’d reached the conclusion given that all the Dwarfs and Gnomes had been cleanly taken away. The door to the room opened and two Harpies entered the first a tall and solid women and the second a fine boned and lither male.

“Bah, how could those stumpy toolmen perform a rescue.”

“What else could be? They couldn’t just vanish unless you think a Nightwalker got them? Then will the allies turn into Bodak?” the undisguised horror in the voice gave Luca all sorts of ideas.

“Speak less nonsense, those things are just stories to scary children. Don’t you know that nightwalker is often used to describe vampires? Ridiculous.” Despite the ridicule there was an underlying tremor in the voice that caused Luca’s smile to deepen. He would definitely have to ask Shade. Superstitions where a wonderful way to deal with people.

The Harpies looked Lady’s group over before the Female waved a hand. “See, there no sign of corruption.”

“There is no explanation for where the Dwarfs went either.”

“At least I can see they are properly cowed though so I am assured. Come on let’s go rest.” The two left and Luca watched as the fearful and worried expressions that Lady and the others had worn vanished Luke snow in the sun. It was a good way to make the complacent.

Luca waited until the noise from outside had faded and then stuck his head outside to check “You guys right for food?” Luca asked.

“Yeah, they completely didn’t take what we had on us serious, aside from a few daggers we still have everything, got food for a couple of weeks at least. Though wouldn’t mind some fresh game.” Mio answered with a wave of her hand and a shake of the head. It probably felt a bit ridiculous for them to be caught and not practically stripped before holding.

Either the people here just weren’t as inventive, or they were very confident in the effect of the slave collars. That might be something worth looking into as well. Luca needed to know what the effect of the collar was really. In part to be aware of the threat to Lady and the group but also because Zeno was expected to be under the influence and unlike Lady, he would be understandable. If the collar could compel people to answer questions that would put them in an untenable position so far as rescue and movements where concerned. Particularly since Zeno’s position meant that he like Luca had worked hard to understand the other competitors.

Luca paused and gave them a thumbs up for their performance before he gestured to Declan that they should head back. Luca took a slightly circular path back to the group to map out the last of the ship. Luca returned to the main area and found that Rӓv had been industrious, creative and maybe a bit destructive.

“Rӓv?”

“Oh? Hey Lucky, these people are great we have all the plans. All. The. Plans.” Luca looked at Rӓv’s excited expression that was mirrored by the elderly Dwarf and the Gnome Matron beside her and gave consideration to going back out. He was sure that he might have missed something.

Tails must have noticed Luca’s intention though because he appeared at Luca’s elbow a firmly grasped his shoulder. “Not even,” Tails muttered.

“How are they even communicating?” Luca whispered.

“Apparently tech is its own language,” Tails responded as he dumped Luca at the table. Luca braced himself and looked over the projected skeleton model of the ship.

“Alright Rӓv what have you got for us?” Luca braced himself and asked the question.

“Access to all the major facilities of the ship and way to take control without them even noticing.” Rӓv’s expression was smug as she gestured to the Gnome Matron.

Luca smiled at the Matron in encouragement. “Hello, something about your ship designs?” The Matron blinked in surprise before smiled back. Luca imagined she was somewhat relieved that she could understand Luca.

“Yes, our original designs where more basic. But after the harpies started stealing them, we decided to add some things in the hopes of being able to retake them.” The matron tapped the floor with the heel of her shoe twice. “This ship is our latest creation we added a sub driver system down here. we just need to divert the controls from the crystal server.” Luca nodded slowly that would certainly be more convenient.

The Elder Dwarf sighed, “It is just that we are often all caught before we can get int other access shafts. We moved them up high so that the other races couldn’t move in them, but we struggled to enter them ourselves in a hurry.”

“Well that is not a problem for us, they are actually quite roomy and convenient compared to some of the options we’ve had.” Luca smiled and got nods from his friends even Declan nodded in agreement. Now that they had a way of controlling the ship, they needed a way to deal with the Harpies. Slaughtering them in their sleep seemed messy and untenable Luca could guarantee someone would wake up before they finished. Besides if they killed them all that would just make this ship a target for other Harpies for revenge or just convenience. No they needed a means of discouraging anyone from even approaching their ride if they hop[ed to use it for anything significant.

“Right then, piloting is taken care of now we need to deal with the existing crew. The leader has to die because we need the cuff to take the slave collars off.” Holly winced as Luca made that statement and shrunk his neck a bit in the crowd. Ghost approached from behind him and patted him of the back bending down the say something in the ear opposite e the coms unit. Whatever he said relaxed Holly enough that his shoulder’s loosened and he refocused on Luca.

“That being said it will work better for us if some of the other harpies can spread rumours that the ship is for some reason unusable. So I need to ask are their superstitions or horrors that can be used to make them avoid the ship.” Luca wouldn’t have considered the option since in a world of monsters what would the monsters be afraid of. However he had been given the perfect reminder earlier so now it seemed appropriate to ask. “I ask because I heard them muttering about Nightwalkers and Bodark earlier.” When Luca’s question was asked the Gnomes and Dwarfs all crossed themselves and shivered.