Sere's newest inventions were a long bar of metal with a handle and an old fashioned, almost World War II styled rifle. Victoria struggled to read Sere's scribbles, so Dante had to step in and read for her. The sword utilized the same technology as Sere's reflection shields, so not only was it more durable but it could now cut just about anything. A switch on the handle would allow a temporary reflection screen in front of the user, so long as they cast it on flat ground. The rifle's description was less specific. It was capable of firing different types of high energy rounds. The bolt action was required due to the force, but even the standard energy based ammunition was enough to damage the hull of a tank. The wood and tin finish was a nice touch, “She always did like the classics.” Dante attached the crude strap Sere made to the rifle and slung it over a shoulder, “But she never could sew anything.” Victoria was holding the new blade in one hand, even though it was just as long as her current one, “This feels like I'm holding air. Is this really strong enough to cut anything?” Dante gestured for her to follow, “Well if I have a t-shirt that can stop cannon fire, I think that sword can cut what it said it could. Let's figure out what this is all about.” The two made their way up, but were stopped by the members of Zero Unit, which were blocking the entrance, “Can't be...” Star was the only one to talk. They parted when they noticed Dante, who immediately walked up to Angel. He stopped about a foot short and just stared into her eyes, “Hello Dante. Thanks to Zed I now have a physical form again.” Dante hugged her tightly, a tear welling up in his one eye. A few seconds later he broke off the hug, “Zed, I owe you one. Angel, you're the new full-time pilot. The rest of you, where are the damn drinks?” He wiped away the tear. “Don't get me wrong, I'm as thrilled as anyone here,” Jill murmured, “But how do we know this is really Angel?” “I know. That's enough. Just for that, you have to get mixing. Get moving!” Jill jumped and ran to the bar. “Bloody. Hell. I still can't believe it.” Zed hadn't recovered from her shock, “No favors needed captain, just... uh... not sure what I saw here today.” Sere grabbed Angel from behind and held her tightly, “Angel's back! We're golden again, let's kick some ass!” Dante held out a hand, “Welcome back, Angel.” “It's good to be back, Dante. Though I never really left.” ….............................................. A week passed, and while the other captains were working on a bomb and location, Zero Unit did a whole lot of nothing. That is, until an unusual message came through, “Dante, a message from the Jolly Roger.” “That's Isa's private ship, the one only a handful of people know about.” Dante rubbed the stubble on his chin, “What's the signature?” “Surprising. Not airborne. A watercraft.” “Open it.” A video message, Isa's cheerful face was expected but not seen. Instead, a sorrowful but hopeful Isa made an apperance, “Hi Dante, long time no see. Listen, I should have stood up to the others a little better. I know that. Hell, if I did you might still be around and they wouldn't have gone off the deep end. Seriously. It's damn near martial law now. Teenagers are getting recruited as soldiers now. So, I left with the men and women still loyal to my original cause. I can't outright tell you where we are, but I left a riddle in text at the end of this message, keyed only to your computer. I could really use a huge favor, so if you feel fit to help a pirate out, send a beep back. I really hope you do.” Jill and Ratchet were now on the bridge, “Never seen Isa so gloomy.” “Damn, this might be big. What's your call, Dante?” Ratchet slapped his shoulder. Dante opened his computer, “This? This is her riddle? God damn idiot. Fine, we haven't done shit in a while. Angel, send a beep back then use these coordinates.” “Roger.” Angel was directly interfaced with the Albatross, “Dante, another section of the message opened.” “I thought so, I knew I could trust you. See, thing is, you might be in... danger. Sort of... I mean, I'm going to do what I can, but keep your eyes peeled and your head screwed on tight. You ever hear of Lamia? Freaky chicks, can't resist men, hate women with a passion. So uh, only men allowed to start. Except Titus, I mean he's good with a gun but damn is he stupid. Well, reason I mention is that all lamia are female, and they need males to reproduce. They also have a habit of killing their mate during sex, so... nah, you'll be fine. See you soon.” Ratchet sighed, “If Isa wasn't such a wimp I could swear this was a trap.” “Isa isn't like that though. She never said what the favor was though, that's suspicious.” Dante stood up, “Angel, get ready to go, leave when able. And you two, don't worry so much. I doubt a snake woman is going to seduce me.” “Snake woman? Is that what a lamia is?” Ratchet was trying to figure out what was so attractive about a snake. “You two really need to read up on mythology. The top half of a beautiful woman and the bottom half of a serpent. Like a mermaid, but land based.” Dante lost them again, “You know, I'm really getting sick of explaining this stuff. Look it up while I'm on the planet.” It turns out that Angel was a much better pilot in a body than as the ship, though she couldn't explain it herself. It took a solid day of flight, but they eventually arrived and entered orbit, “I can tell why Isa wanted to be here.” Miss Star was gazing out of the lounge window. “Too wet.” Victoria and Jean shared the sentiment. The planet was at least 80% liquid water, an almost uncanny blue. The rest was very green with few mountains. Dante was waiting by the airlock, “Shut up Anima, you know we shoot first.” His assault rifle and the new SR-097 were on his back (It was Sere's 97th attempt at making the rifle) while his pistol and Anima were on his belt. A back pouch on his belt held some survival tools and a canteen of water, “Take it down Angel, I'll jump to avoid raising alarms.” Angel did as instructed, “Optimal jumping height. Specific coordinates located. Good luck Dante.” He took a running jump out of the airlock and immediately triggered the parachute. The land was filled with greenery and old trees, but felt too empty to be real, “This will be fun... great going Isa.” a long minutes passed before he landed in a small clearing filled with tall grass and surrounded by forest. “Come on, there's one!” “Every Sister can do it, go for it!” “You aren't one of us until you do!” “That ship isn't coming, go snag him!” The four voices came from behind some brush, “Come out, all of you.” Dante didn't draw a gun yet, he simply waited. Only one lamia emerged. A glistening blue serpent half, but her top half was light blue. Reptilian fanned ears on her head stood out only until Dante noticed the long pink sweater she was wearing, “I'm guessing the others were talking to you.” “H-H-Hello there, would you... would you... like to...” She was terribly nervous, even with her cute voice it was embarassing. “Listen, I don't have time for these games. My name is Dante, Captain of the Albatross. Have you heard of Isa?” “Oh!” She hopped, giving Dante a chance to measure her with his eyes. Her torso was average, but her tail was at least twelve feet long, “I feel silly now- I mean, I'm sorry! Please, I can take you to her now!” She swiveled and slithered into the dense, swampy forest with Dante following at a safe distance. Dark browns and greens nearly blocks out the sun, leaving everything in a dull shade. The heat easily gathered under the canopy and the humidity was at least twice as high as in the clearing, “How long will this take?” “Oh, uh, a little while.” “Dammit Isa...” “You musn't say that! Isa is a wonderful cat!” She sounded irritated, but didn't stop moving, “She gained the favor of our queen and has brought many men here for our more... amorous sisters.” Dante knew that Isa wasn't purposely sending anyone to their deaths, “You mean headhunters looking for her, don't you?” The lamia nodded, “Figures. I at least gave notice.” “You worked together?” This girl sounded young, but without a frame of reference she could very well be older than Dante. Still naive at least, “I was on the board of Fallen Sky after helping her take down the original. If anything, I outranked her in both leadership and combat skill.” She mumbled something, then said out loud, “So it's true. Isa told our queen that you were the very best of the best. The most influential man in the galaxy. Isa would know first hand.” “I've killed a lot,” he ducked under a broken branch, “I've destroyed a lot more. I'm no hero, and I'm no villain. Isa's perception has always been off.” The dense air was irritating, and the building sweat was making him itchy, “How much longer?” “We will be there shortly.” Dante took a second to look around. The trees, vines, and leaves made the forest look empty, but just beyond the mask were carved out homes on the ground level, and maybe even below. Upon closer inspection Dante discovered that he was in what could only be considered the outskirts of the city. “You can stop hiding, I'm not a target, I'm here on business with your queen.” The young lamia froze, “No point interfering with daily operations. I want to get out of this swamp as fast as possible. Double time snake girl.” “What does that even mean?” “Just move faster...” A small, but humid, clearing with a wooden dome dead center. Two lamia in armor were just outside the opening carrying rifles, no doubt a gift from Isa, and whispering to each other, “I've brought Dante, Captain of the Albatross. Are the Queen and Isa ready?” “We're ready young one, please come in, both of you.” The young lamia was worried, but none loyal to any leader would disobey a direct order. She walked in first, followed by Dante. He didn't ignore the threatening looks from the guards. Isa in her stupid hat was sitting opposite of the Queen. A rather tall lamia with green scales and a light green complextion. She wore what could be described as fantasy armor, but with a lamia's biology it allowed for maximum movement without reducing defense, “About time, I thought you got lost!” A seat was open, so Dante sat down quickly, “And I thought you had common sense. Leaving Fallen Sky so abruptly was stupid for a leader.” “Well, I mean, it did tell them what I thought about things. And it's more complicated than you think.” “You sold me out! Put my crew on the line for your own gain!” Isa was fumbling around with a gold coin, “Please, Captain Dante, Isa has explained the situation to me in great detail and I would suspect that it would be no surprise to you.” The Queen sounded majestic, that much was certain. A mature charm in the tone of her voice. “Nothing surprises me. Things just piss me off now. I thought I could rely on Isa at least. Maybe even Mira. But no, they both chose those other assholes over me. By the way, aren't you even a little curious about them? The things they've done?” “Please, calm down. From what I understand, Marie and the Goddess were both adamant about signing on this group, what was their name again, Isa?” “Right, they go by a few names. I think their current name is the Black Legion. Get it?” The Bloody Legion was an infamous group of mercenaries known for their brutal ways and high price. They always completed a mission to the letter, but on occasion an “incidental” would occur. The nature of the job was never a problem either, just so long as the pay was good. Isa was implying a rivalry between the two, which was understandable. Taking the name was a slap in the face though, directly calling them out. “You know Liasteri won't give into that bait.” Isa nodded, “Yeah, but she's super pissed. If I didn't know any better, the Black Legion did whatever they did to avoid Fallen Sky getting involved. You always did know how to get on her good side.” Liasteri was a rabbit, though nobody knew her fur color. She always looked dirty or dusty. She also dressed in a way that showed off her ample bosom and curves, much to the annoyance of her enemies, but the visuals were simply because she liked to. In reality, she was as strategic and deadly as Dante. Some even joked that if they ever joined forces the galaxy would implode from fear. Dante only met with her a few times, always when Zero Unit and the Bloody Legion had opposite goals on the same mission. Needless to say, Zero Unit was always successful. Why Liasteri didn't hate Dante was a mystery to everybody. “I'm hot, sweaty, and sticky. Not to mention I left a bunch of incompetants with a bomb plan, so out with it. Why do you need me here?” Isa smiled in her goofy way, something she never grew out of, “Well, I need a BIG favor.” Dante sighed, “You already owe me too much to ask for another favor, moron.” “The favor is for me, Captain.” The Queen spoke up, “Someone with your experiences and vast network of acquaintances is just what I need. So would you grant me a favor?” “I don't owe you either, so why should I?” She smiled, “For one, you have not been harrassed by my Sisters. That alone should be enough. Kiya.” The young lamia snapped to attention, “Yes your highness?!” “Dante, I would like you to take Kiya with you.” That was too much for the already irritated Dante, “I'm not a damn babysitter, and you do realize the bounty on my head alone is higher than on Isa and her entire crew, right? Hell, I had Fallen Sky soldiers attack me a day or two after I left. From what I hear, you could buy a small planet for my head on a plate. So why ask me to take this clearly non-violent girl onto my ship?” The room was stifling, even Isa was fanning herself with some sort of fan made of leaves, “My Queen, I must protest! I belong here, with my family!” “Kiya, you are different from us. This is a good thing, it means that you have a unique purpose in life, in the world, perhaps even in the galaxy. You choose to study rather than seduce, you cook rather than hunt, you think rather than act. Young one, this will help you reach your true potential.” Dante waved his hand, breaking the eye contact between the Queen and Kiya, “I am here and I have my own opinions. I'm full up as it is.” “Isa has told me that you have only lost one crew member in your career, that makes me think that you are smarter and kinder than you let on.” Dante turned to Isa, “No, Angel's back.” “Oh, cool beans.” “So, you've never lost anyone then? Very impressive, if Isa's accounts of your missions are accurate.” “Depends. Plenty of injuries though. Lots of hangovers. Impossible odds, mad scrambling, and my unique strategies that don't make any sense to the casual observer. Right, and the crazies.” Isa smirked, “I haven't lied about a thing. Dante took down a massive walking robot solo, destroyed a large unit of Bloody Legion mercenaries with only a pistol, among other things. Plus that whole Goliath thing you're working on.” “Word spreads fast, even here Captain Dante. We are not so-” “Yeah, saw the city. You're advanced, I get it.” “This plan to take down a ship so massive, do you truly believe it will work?” Dante shrugged, “Could. Short of a perfect shot from the Siren II, it's the only other option. Speaking of which...” “No problems.” Isa spun her hat on a finger, “The ship is operational, but the cannon is coded to my biometrics. Still deadly as can be, but a bit gimped as long as I'm not at the helm.” “So yeah, Goliath is indestructible as it is. My plan is to create doubt.” The Queen smiled, “Kiya, you will be in good hands. No matter your bed, you will always have a home in the hearts of our Sisters.” “Haven't agreed yet, and don't you dare-” Isa shut her wrist computer and flashed a devious smile, “Dante, you think I wouldn't plan ahead?” The Queen was curious, if her expression was any indication, “You said Kiya could cook. Titus was on the damn bridge, shit. Angel!” “Yes, Dante?” “Why did you let Titus answer?” “He saw the message on screen and replied yes. I have him subdued for punishment.” Titus was whimpering in the background, “Well fuck me.” Dante lowered his head, “You know, Isa, getting real sick of your shit. Kiya, you better be packed already 'cause I'm not waiting. I have a dragon to slap around.” Dante stood up. Isa quickly jumped to her feet, “Dante... I know this won't mean much, but good luck. Mira may be trustworthy, but the others... watch your back.” “You have no idea who has been begging for my help now if you think Fallen Sky is questionable.” Kiya was stationary, “Kiya, do you not wish to pack?” “My home is here, I will not need to take my belongings. Captain Dante, I am... reluctantly in your care.” “You and a colony.”