Copyright J.B. Norman
The stunned and battered operatives of the Kraken Special Squad are hauled out of the Crystal Labyrinth and right to jail. Kathryn, Amarantha, and Dunstella watch as they’re loaded until one of the Ledu Security Forces’ transports.
“You haven’t seen the last of us,” Lieutenant Crem warns them over her shoulder. “The Kraken Special Squad never leaves a contract incomplete.”
“Yeah,” agrees Operative Slyce. “You’ll live to regret — Ow!”
His forehead collides with the roof of the transport.
The Penguinian guard loading him into the transport honks at him.
“He says to watch your head,” Kathryn tells me.
“I don’t need a penguin to — Ow! You did that purpose! You can expect to hear from the Kraken Special Squad’s legal department — Ow!”
Just for good measure, the old Eleftherian lady Operative Slyce pushed past on the tram platform earlier in the day runs up and gives him one last wallop with her purse.
“Arrest her!” he cries. “She’s hitting a defenceless man! Completely unprovoked! Look! She’s still doing it! What kind of security penguin to do you think you — Ow!”
The Penguinian guard honks one last time before shoving Slyce into the back of the transport and slamming the door shut.
He turns to the old Eleftherian lady and tips his hat to her.
After the transport lifts off, a large and gruff Penguinian with a badge waddles up to Kathryn, Amarantha, and Dunstella.
“Honk-honk-quack,” he declares.
The robotic assistant standing beside him speaks him. “Praetor Pendleton P. Palumbo would like to thank you for your service to Ledu.”
“I can manage,” Kathryn tells the robot.
“Then I shall stand over here,” the robotic assistant says.
“S’okay,” Dunstella assures the robot, reaching up to pat her shoulder. “I still like you.”
“Thank you.”
“What kind of cool weapons are you equipped with?” Dunstella asks eagerly.
“A, um, stapler,” the robot murmurs. “I am an administrative unit.”
“S’okay,” Dunstella assures the robot, reaching up to pat her shoulder. “I still like you. I’m not equipped with any cool weapons, either.”
Amarantha watches in bemusement as Kathryn and the Penguinian honk and quack back and forth at each other.
“This is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen,” the Alvaraean princess mutters.
“Right,” Kathryn says, turning towards Amarantha. “He says he’s put in a word with the Ledu Executive Council. And they’re going to give us all medals for protecting the Crystal Labyrinth and its visitors.”
Amarantha nods along.
“Also,” Kathryn continues. “He’s asking if we’d like a private tour of the Crystal Labyrinth with the Ledu Geological Survey.”
“Yes!” Amarantha exclaims. “Absolutely!”
She’s always wanted to see the Crystal Labyrinth without somebody trying to kidnap her.
“Also also,” Kathryn says. “The next time you’re talking to Alvaraean Royal Family, if you could please not blame this on the Penguinians, they’d appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Amarantha says. “This was hardly your fault, my good Praetor. You and your, ah… men… birds… forces proved quite capable. I’m sure I could put in a good word with the Three Houses.”
Praetor Palumbo puffs himself up and looks quite pleased with himself. He turns back to Kathryn and gives her one more inquisitive honk.
“N-no,” Kathryn answers. “I wouldn’t like a high-sodium fish paste sandwich.”
I’m still not entirely clear on what an old Eleftherian lady is supposed to be or look like, but at this point, I’m mostly envisioning the Archetypal Grandmother, except purple…
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