Burning Skies Saloon

[Shinkurex]

--Market District--

*Since the saloon was closed for the day, Shink decided that now might be a good time to visit the market, and pick up a few things that may have "Accidentally" broken in his apartment*

*Suddenly, a street urchin bumps into him, and before he could flee, Shink grabs him by the wrist*

"You might as well leave my money with me if you know what's best for you."

*Scared, the Urchin drops the purse, and sprints to the closest alleyway. Something about the entire incident sparked a memory deep in Shink's mind*

*It's raining.... A lone boy is weaving in and out of the market district trying his hardest to remain unseen. Hunger gnaws at his stomach, as his eyes remain locked on the prize. A juicy red apple in a small stall to which the owner has fallen asleep at*

'Now or never'

*he thinks as he darts from one stall to the next. He swoops in and snatches the apple from the stall. Unfortunately, his hand does not retract, as it is clutched in a vise-like grip of the stall owner.*

"Do you really think, I would let you get away with stealing from my stall? Now you will have to deal with the consequences"

*Terror fill's the boy's eyes, as surely this man in the doctor's mask knew all sorts of torture techniques*

*Shink walks up to the window merchant, and orders 2 new windows for his apartment, only saying a couple of words... lost in his memory*

*The boy had no hope.... Who was going to save a theif?*

"Let the boy go. Can't you see that he's hungry?"

*Saved! The boy turns to his rescuer, only to be met with a open-handed slap to the face*

"Idiot of a boy! I've see what you can do. what would make you think stealing was a good option?"

*Close to tears, the boy just looks at his savior*

*Exasperated* "Fine. Look, you have a steady hand, and speed I haven't seen in a long time. You should put it to good use. Find a ship that will take you on, and work until you can't work anymore. Now be gone with you, and hope that my friend doesn't catch you again."

*Having finished his errands, Shink found himself traveling in the direction of the Saloon*

'Oops'

*he thinks to himself, and turns around. He really missed that drink yesterday, and will have to wait till tomorrow to get his fix*

'Guess I'm stuck with the regular stuff'

*Heads off to his apartment*

[BdrLineAzn]

--Academy--
*BdrLine and Ny-Lee enter the main campus of the Academy and sees that its not that many people are around training, figuring that the Dean gave everyone liberty, only a small number of students and faculty remand*
*Both of the siblings walk over to the gun range and sees the range master being one of the few people here*

*Range master sees the two and greets them*
(RM) Why lookie here, isn't it BdrLine and looks like you have a guest as well. Close lady friend hmm Bdr

(Bdr) No Mac not a close lady friend per say in a sense like that, but she is my younger sister Ny-Lee. We are here to see if we can try out some new rounds I made yesterday. Willing to open up to us?

(RM) Sure I'm always open to you, knowing your history with your experiments. Glad you are doing it here so the city won't have to fix any more damages you caused *hearty laughs* But the range is open, I'm just stepping out for lunch and i doubt anyone will come here today. Stay as long as you want, I be back later.

*As Mac the range master leaves, Ny-Lee sets up by loading a few rounds into the rifle, while Bdr at a control panel controls the different pop up targets. both spends a few hours checking the properties of how well the rounds work*

[BdrLineAzn]

*After some more test firing, BdrLine and Ny-Lee started to pack up and head home*
*During the walk home, there has been a question on Ny-Lee's mind that she been itching to ask*

(Ny) Can i ask you something?

(Bdr) Yeah shoot.

(Ny) Well... Azn what did happen to you after your call from He Tower?

*BdrLine stops in his track as he looks back at his past after he left home*
*In his memories nothing really stands out as most were him doing basic maintenance on the different merchant ships, but one memory stands out in his mind*

--Dunes--(3 years ago)

*Simple merchant ship just out carrying goods from Yunin to Nalm*

*Its being flanked by a scout squid sent to escort the merchant ship as well as protection*

*Out of a sandcloud, two raiding pyramidions charged out towards the small group.*
*The squid went out and distracts one of the pyras, but while one was on the squid, the second headed for the merchant ship*

*During that whole ordeal, the ships only engineer, BdrLine, was struggling, he wasn't used to being shot as well as the massive damage the ship was taking. A few times the ship went down if it weren't for the ships gunners to finally kill the pyra. After that ordeal, he vowed to never cracked under pressure again*

*From Nalm, he heads out to Anvala, where he meets the friends he has today while gaining the experience that he has now*

--Presant--

*As both siblings were walking home, Bdr recalls all the events to his sister, feeling like a load has lifted out of him finally able to talk about his past experience*
*While Ny-Lee listens, she grows a stronger respect she has now for her brother*

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Narrator-

Zill shakes his head and peers through his dusty mask. In what felt like an eternity in his mind, was only a few minutes. People were about their daily lives. He bowed his head and took a heavy breath. All these years and the wounds still feel fresh.

He gets lifted up by a familiar face. Jun'ko was standing above him. She got Zill to his feet and they walked the better part of the entire City Center. She knew he was down from the previous night. Even Skyraider would of seen that. But she hated seeing anyone, especially her captain, down in such a dark place.

After the day's events, they parted ways and Zill made his way to his "lavish" accommodations. He had his own place outside of the Center, where he could relax away from the lifestyles of so many who thought themselves "better." Still, a few flasks later, Zill was fast asleep.

[Yiski]

--NARRATOR--

As the day went on, Yiski found himself wandering around the entire city. Usually if the saloon was temporarily closed, Yiski would crash at Roland's place, but today, he felt as if he needed to walk.

Many thoughts come up in his mind. Surprisingly, it's not about the recent events which have taken place in the past few weeks. Rather, Yiski looks back to his past when he served with the Baronies Military and before.

He thinks back when he first joined the academy. The memory brings a smile to his face. He was the best the academy had seen and even today still holds majority of the records.

He thinks about the first time he and Zill had teamed up. It causes him to chuckle in an almost melancholy tone. The two had been a terror in the skies (and still are), but remembers the event which caused Zill's current face disfigurement.

What he thought about most though was he first met Micheal. The two had been childhood friends and joined together in the military. The two had a hell of a competitive streak against each other.
By the skies, the only reason I was the best gunner was because he was always right behind me waiting to surpass me.

He also remembered how heartbroken was when Micheal's wife died giving birth to Roland.
He never really recovered after that day.

Eventually, Yiski stopped walking when he remembered the day when Micheal died. He still remembered that day. Yiski was on leave and watching Roland because Micheal was sent on a scouting mission for raider activity. A knock came on Yiski's room in the barracks. When he opened the door, there were two officers standing before him. Roland stood shyly behind Yiski. Before the officers could speak, Yiski preempted them.
He's not commin' back.

Both officers nodded in acknowledgement and simply walked away. Roland, only about 7 then, tugged on Yiski's arm and asked.
Who's not coming back?

It would be a few years before Yiski could answer, but eventually Roland came to understand. Since then, Yiski became (and arguably still is) Roland's primary guardian. Initially, Roland pressed Yiski about his father since he didn't spend to much time with him, but against Yiski's silence, Roland stop pushing the issue.

Yiski gives a long sigh.
I guess I should tell Roland.

By the time Yiski gets back to Roland's house, it early in the evening. Yiski knocks on the door and, moments later, Roland opens. Before Roland can get a word out.
I think it's about time I told you about your dad.

Roland's eye widens as if he was always anticipating the day Yiski would tell him all the stories about his father.

As Yiski retells of his past with Roland's father, the night goes on.

--NARRATOR END--

--END OF DAY 28--

[Yiski]

--START OF DAY 29--

--NARRATOR--

Roland and Yiski leave Roland's house and head for the saloon. What waited for them at the saloon was a surprise. Not only was the wall fixed, but apparently the foreman added a few "extra" reinforcements to the wall to prevent future holes.

Yiski gave a nice chuckle.
Well, looks like paying the foreman a little extra gold went a long ways.

The two enter the saloon.
Yep. Same ol' crap it was then. Hmm... maybe I should use the rest of the gold to fix her up.

--NARRATOR END--

*Yiski turns to Roland*
Looks like we got to make up for yesterday's break, you up for it?

"Always."

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Narrator-

Zill wakes up to knocking on his door. A messenger holding a parchment with the Council Seal on it. He begrudgingly took it from the man and sent him off. Upon opening the letter came a sigh of relief....

"Our Dearest Admiral,

After considerations from all parties involved, no further action will be pursued upon Citizen Yiski. All statements have been noted, and will remain here within the Council Hall.

Despite your reservations, we still request that you are ready for your next assignment to the North within the week. Failure to comply will force us to reconsider our previous judgements."

Saved one way to die another. Aint life grand?

Zill makes his way to the Burning Skies to check up on the place and deliver the news to Yiski

-End Narrator-

*Zill opens up the door and surveys the surroundings. He notices the newly reinforced wall and smirks*

Wonder how long that will last with ol' Spoon stuck to it.

*He walks up to Yiski and hands him the letter, followed by an order for No.3*

Looks like we still have some use to 'em. Me arguably more than you, thanks to that damned mission.

[Shinkurex]

*Excited. Shink walks into the saloon closing the door behind him.*

"Hey Guys! Yiski... I could really use some of your White Steam Whiskey"

*Proceeds to sit at his corner table. Oblivious to the serious demeanor of both Zill and Yiski*

[Yiski]

*Roland responds to Shink*
Wait a moment please.

*Roland hands Shink a WSW*

*Yiski reads the letter Zill handed him*
Figures, the Council couldn't bury you in sand, so now they try and attempt to bury you in snow. I don't know why you still listen to them. Hell, based on our reputations in Lord's Leap, even I could pull rank over the bloody Council and I'm a civie now. But knowing you, you're still gonna listen to those bastards.

*Yiski fixes up himself and Zill an mug of No.3*

[RearAdmiralZill]

*Zill blankly stares, taking a nice long swig of his No.3*

You pullin' "rank" after our little display wouldnt go over so well. You know we've been 'round the world, and theres not a better place than Anvala. They will have to kill me if they wanted me to stay away. Though they seem to like trying dont they? *Smirks*

But I also do it for these people. They werent on the wrong side of our guns at any point, so they generally dont try to kill us. *Laughs.*

[Shinkurex]

*The somber mood dawns on shink a little too late*

"Hey guys... What's happened while I was gone? Seems like a Burren Sand Slug has latched onto your innards"

*Takes a swig of the WSW. Steam starts to trickle out his ear*

[BdrLineAzn]

*BdrLine opens the door and sees that Zill, Yiski, Shink, and Roland are in*

Heyo guys. Good to see that this place is patched up. So anything new happen while since I wasn't here?

*sees Shink and the steam comin out of his ears*

Man and I thought Hellfires were rough, but since I'm here, Roland you can whip me up one of those.

[Shinkurex]

*Sees BdrLine*

"Hey... word of warning... don't chug it all in one go... not healthy, and qwerty isn't here to help"

[BdrLineAzn]

*To Shink*

Well It can't be worse then the other one right?

*BdrLine thinks back to his dream with Mr. Sunggles and really hope no one found out about him*

[Yiski]

*Roland sees BdrLine*
"Afternoon BdrLineAzn. And one White Steam."

*Roland hands BdrLine the WSW and turns to Shink*
"I would appreciate it if you did not turn into the Sgt. Spoon. I do not believe we can take another boarder."

*Yiski laughs with Zill*
They may not like it, but they know better than to make idle threats against us, even individually. For one, you'd be able to fly around the damn whole fleet in a galleon. Two, I have guns.

*Yiski takes a gulp*
But I'll agree with you, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than Anvala.

*Evil grin goes across Yiski's face*
Heh... maybe we should take over the Council and run Anvala. I'd imagine the higher ups in Lord's Leap would approve of it. Heard they're getting tired of our Council's bullshit.