Archive of Our Own

Etho swerved through the densely populated streets he’d known as home his whole life. He gripped onto the balcony of the second floor like a lifeline as he passed people who pushed their way through the traffic. Every player for themselves. That was the expected reality he faced.

He only wanted to get himself to the universal money centre. He needed his paycheque if he wanted to eat today. Even if it was small, in his hopes to make it to the centre he had to wade through the crowds of people trying to do the same thing. 

Flimsy copper shook and creaked under his weight every shaky step he took past another pushing hand or body.

There was some sort of event today he figured, even the usual big crowds of hurried people weren’t this rushed nor this big. Maybe in some way that's the flaw of not subscribing to the news. He’s lost at times like this.

Maybe it's some sort of sports thing, that usually seems to be the culprit of traffic in his experience. All in all he tries to not think about it in any excessive amount. He never goes to watch those tournaments anyway. Most smart, well educated civilians of Scrappers Street know that as well and choose to stay behind.

He managed to push through, to get to the surprisingly not busy universal money centre. A place which usually is a fight for his life to get into. He pulled up his mask adjusting it so it sat properly over his nose as he took a few steps forward. 

It looked almost abandoned and as he approached he can see why, a small paper is taped to the door. It reads in simple plain text. “Closed” in brackets beneath is a short explanation in simplified language “Closed for visitors, will open at a later date.” He sighed, banging a closed fist against the glass in a small gesture of frustration. 

In his life very rarely did this building ever close, the only other time he can actually remember was because an angry citizen of Scrappers threw a molotov cocktail through the front window. They had to close that day, but even then they were open again within 12 hours.

He dragged his hand down the glass trying in vain with the handle hoping that maybe the sign was a prank by an edgy teenager. Unfortunately it didn’t budge. Locked, closed for a reason he couldn’t imagine.

A voice picked up behind him, old and scruffy. That of someone who’d lived many more years in this shit hole then Etho. “Don’t subscribe to the news? Do ya?” The voice wheezes, a choking cough often found in these parts. Etho turned to the source of the voice with a quirked eyebrow and vague suspicion.

The man is old as he expected. White hair, not too different from his own, as is common in these parts. He leaned against the side of a building and a cane carried on his opposite side. He wore, like Etho, a sturdy black mask. The only filter that stood between his lungs and the retched black smog ridden air they breathed.

“No..The news is too expensive..” he is honest with the man, he has no reason not to be. Everyone here is in desperation, everyone here has few to their name. Most know the struggle. No one cares to lie at all. 

The old man hummed, nodded in silent understanding, as expected that was no crazy information, not here. “Well can’t blame no one for that.. All.. or.. er most businesses are closed today, to welcome visitors down by port” The man coughed several times as he spoke. Some things.. here.. were inevitable. Although they promised in a pristine white building not too far from here that they could fix it. They couldn’t and if they could? They wouldn’t unless you paid a fortune.

He doesn’t want to end up like the man in front of him, no one here does. It’s not just the cough that catches his attention, no that's too normal. “Visitors? This port hasn’t had a visitor in..” he trailed off but he imagined the other understood what he meant. “Who is it?” He hoped the man would know, he wanted to know who in what state of sorry mind would come here? Here of all places.

The man nodded his head shifting his weight off of the building and onto his cane. “Something like the Hermitcraft” He looked, almost with what could have been sadness over to the direction the people had all flooded. “You.. you should go see. Once in a lifetime opportunity.”

He would go, just to see what kind of people dared to visit a place so decrepit…and maybe just to catch a hint of the outside world. He paused for a moment. In that train one thought. Sparing a glance to the man’s cane. Some things need no explanation, just understanding. “I’ll see if I can make it through the crowds.” For Etho, who was young, by all other means fit. That would be easy. 

The man coughed again covering his mouth with his hand even though he wore a mask. “Go on kid,” he gestured when it subsided, voice gruffy. 

He nodded, “Take care,” a useless farewell here. Telling someone to take care was similar to saying good luck. Automatic, and useless. The man nodded, Etho turned away.

Sometimes it was grim to talk with the elderly of Scrappers street. It was unavoidable.. just a little over half of the population was elderly. That's the whole thing with it isn’t it? You could live your whole life working for the very country who leaves you behind the first opportunity they get.

He tracked back to the crowd he had escaped. People flock through thin paths, they push. Run each other over in the rush to get out of the overpopulated slums.

Etho has no interest in getting crushed to death.

Not now, not ever.

Luckily he is aware of the fault of the ‘perfect’ design on these streets. He slipped into an alleyway, he swung open the gate intended to keep the city's people out. The padlocks on them were flimsy at best and usually far beyond broken. He shimmied into the space. Pulled his mask higher onto his nose where it’d begun to slip. He tastefully ignored the person hunched over in the corner. Copper hair and cold blue hands. He doesn’t want to know what they are doing or what happened to them.

He might already know.

He turned to the dumpster, it wasn’t difficult to climb. He’d done it many times ever since he was young. It smelt horrible and everyday he did it he felt it weigh more than the last on his arms. He pushed up with his arms crawling onto the small surface. He hooked his foot into a gap where pipe met wall. Scaling the brick with an ease only practice could grant.

Once he got to the top it was only a challenge of grabbing onto the gutter that lined the building and pulling himself up onto the roof. The gutters which were always dry, he never rained, and it was a joke some buildings still had them. He took a moment to adjust his senses on the roof. He crouched behind the neon sign of a store, careful to avoid standing too tall and breathing in the thick black smoke above him he shuffled forward. 

Crossing the small boundaries between buildings with little hassle. Most were connected anyway. He tried to be quiet as he moved, to avoid the golems who were automatic in their prosecution, bots who did not give warnings to behaviour like this. He’s already spent his fair share sitting behind bars to know he's not interested in doing it again.

He reached the edge, where the first set of gates separated the lesser of the slums from the port and sports stadium. He could see the water, vaguely and obstructed but he could see it.

He took a deep breath, he had only ever gone over this fence a.. few times. It reached just barely into the smog. It was enough to deter any normal stupid person from attempting it and for a long time it prevented Etho.

Until it didn’t and then Etho climbed it like every other fence that hadn’t stopped him. He held his breath, closed his eyes as if going into water. Climbing just high enough that he could roll over the fence falling with little grace once the other side. The roof caught him, not softly but it was better than nothing. He gasped for air like he usually did. The smell, gasoline and burnt rubber was strong but tolerable. 

The scenery opened up.

He didn’t have to be so careful now.

At least not like before, there were just far too many people for noise to matter here.

He rose to his feet, brushing off the debris of rock and dust he picked up from the floor. He didn’t have a doubt that his shoulder would remind him of that fall tomorrow.

He took a moment to take in the picture in front of him. 

Just outside the gates was much different then Scrappers street itself. It wasn’t clean or pristine and there was still a crowd of buildings. Smog still hovered like a cloud over his head but just vaguely in the distance, something like sunlight peaked through it all, illuminating the farthest buildings in reflective brightness he didn’t get to see so often. The smog was contained to this area. Legally it had to be, can’t have the whole planet.. nor country coughing up a lung from the pollution. 

So it was pumped here, till it could be disposed of properly. 

The port could be seen from here too, murky waters that weren’t the prettiest. In the distance he could see the first row of ducts. Meant to contain the filth within borders. He’s not sure if any of those five gates have ever opened in his lifetime.

He slowly moved forward again, walking over the small gaps between each building they would slowly widen into alleys as he went closer to docks.

He tried to still hover low.. avoid peering directly onto the street beneath him. To the staircase that blended the upper floor with the street level or the crowds encased them. He tried to focus. Tried to make out details, or maybe a ship docked down there. He couldn’t not from this far. If his eyesight was any good maybe he’d have better luck..

He settled to move closer, hopping between buildings till he could make out what he assumed was the ship that carried the visitors. 

It wasn’t small, but it was no grand vessel. It wasn’t an air ship as what he was more used to but a more versatile seafarer. He didn’t imagine it could comfortably carry hundreds of people. Maybe at most fifty although that would be cramped. It waved a white flag with some kind of emblem he couldn’t see, as is standard from what he's read or heard about.

Wandering closer slowly, he took in the sight. Something more than he’d ever seen.  The commercial small fishing boats were at most the limit of what could be seen in terms of seafarers and those boats were in disrepair. There were no fish in these waters. So they were left on dock, growing black algae and only taken out by those who do not have an interest in fish but something darker.

He drew closer, till the splotches of people grew more pronounced.. and the buildings fizzled off to water. He sat there on the edge. In awe at the vessel and the glimpses he caught of his inhabitants. He focused down to the dock. To the two men who talked to a well dressed man who wore a gas mask, clearly a richer member of society tasked with handling the visitors. It was easy to tell who was from here and who wasn’t. The others shared none of what was familiar here. 

Down to the clothes they wore. 

One wore a full mechanical suit like a thing, green, a helmet. No one here could get something like that and no one needed to wear it and the other beside him clearly couldn’t be from here. Fiery hair? He’d never seen that before. 

Netherborn were simply just that. Netherborn and this was the arctic, seeing the heavy jacket he wore he imagines the cold is very unfamiliar. Even in the mild summer like what it is right now.

It was attention grabbing just those two alone and he wished he could be close enough to hear them speak. Would it be Common? Galactic? Enchanting? Voidling? Maybe they were from the nether and so spoke those languages? They were expressive and talked with their hands in a slightly more unfamiliar way to how most talked here.

He turned his attention to what others he could see. There were a few people on deck. Looking to be talking to each other. Most wore no mask or type of air filter.. interesting choice considering they certainly didn’t give an appearance of not being able to afford it.

Maybe, they didn’t have to wear one where most of them came from. He could tell now they must not be from the same place. One of them was covered in greenery only fitting more middle ground hybrid then the deep nether. And he did spot some northern looking people. What an odd group.

He studied over everything he’d seen again. So why are they here? There was no celebration.. no welcome. Just crowds of people looking to see. While the officials talked to the strangers. This couldn’t be planned. Which made far more sense than a planned visit. Who would want to be here?

So that begs the question, what was wrong?

He didn’t see any obvious issues. 

He wasn’t a professional in boats though nor did he have the best eyesight. He’s just an automation maintenance teacher, a mechanic if anything.

He looked back to the group of the deck and observed the way they talked to one another, he wished he brought something to aid in him seeing closely. He didn’t even know when leaving his room this morning he’d need that. He just went to pick up his money.. shit right. How is he going to afford food for tonight? 

He shook out his head, maybe it's worth getting going.. He’s seen the cause of the excitement he doesn’t need to be here anymore. He spared one last glance at the group at the way they pointed towards the dock. With that he got up. Dusted off his clothes and turned on his heel before he could convince himself to stay. He needed to find a solution to the food situation before anything else.

—

He sat on his bed, papers littered across a small rolling table he had perched in front of him. Schematic’s covered almost every available spot in the small space. Cold ramen occupied a place beside him on his bed. He ate it lazily as he obsessed over problems and redstone machinery he’d designed without his name on the papers. He graded assignments with a dull sense of frustration.

Basic patterns and mistakes he couldn’t bribe into improvement no matter how long he preached to empty seats.

He can’t blame them.

He shoved the papers aside into an unneat stack. He rose, took his ramen with him. Shoving the rest in his mouth with a tired sigh. He solved the food problem..! He pressed the garbage on his wall, repeatedly. Waiting for the wall to pop open, when it did he dropped the container into it with its plastic one-use utensils.

He took the moment to stretch out his back.. and his hands. Rubbing at his eye that may or may not hurt from the strain he’s forced onto it as his one good eye.

He settled back into his makeshift work station, he had to look over an incident report from prospect hunters.. then he could have a break. A knock interrupted that small hopeful thought. Of course. He stood again, walked the few steps to his door. Glancing through the peep hole. Unsurprisingly it was two of the otherside people. Was he late with a report? Did he get caught where he wasn’t supposed to be?

He took a deep breath, took one step back and pulled up his mask. Swinging open the door the least he had to he stood in the crack and leaned against the door frame. “What is it?” He asked plainly, they were never here for good reason and the less time he had to spend in the presence of people disgusted by him the better.

One of them cleared his throat, “We need you to survey a problem-“ he didn’t even let them think about finishing their sentence.

So maybe he was late on a report, “I’ll look at it right now, I haven’t sorted through all the reports yet.” He spoke fast not warmly like he had earlier to any fellow citizen of Scrappers. He didn’t have patience for these people. He tried to close the door they unsurprisingly stopped him,

“No Mr. Slab it’s a problem by the docks” They continued, as they pulled back on the door. 

He immediately shot back again, because he doesn’t want to speak to them anymore then they want to him. “Send me the report.” He never usually did in person calls anymore, he taught his classes! He reviewed their reports. Licked the boot more then anyone making as much as he did should. 

The other seemed to get frustrated, and their buddy beside them shifted in equal parts annoyance. “Can’t do that you have to come with us” he hated the tone every one of them carries and sometimes he wondered if he ever carried that in the brief days he was good enough to be one of them or maybe he never did because he was never as good as them.

He sighed, dragged his own feet out of his room fully as he closed the door behind him, the automatic locks clinging behind him. “Fine.” 

They nodded once grabbing the other person's shoulder as they turned. They gestured for him to walk ahead of them. He did so with absent minded muscle memory. “Thank you for your cooperation” they said in a mocking sort of tone. Why did they always have to act like they were so much better than him? If only they could act like normal human beings despite the system they are all suffering under.

He tried to be annoyed as he walked. Frustrated that he wouldn’t get a break like he wanted, if he went along the faster he could be home and he was curious too. What could be so important they actually need him in person? Then it clicked “Where did you say it was again?” He asked, the slightest furrow in his brow as he waited for the answer in anticipation. 

“The docks.” One of them answered dryly. That's all he needed though. His mind flickered back to the morning, sitting on a roof staring in awe at what was the first visitor ship Scrappers has experienced in years. If there really was an issue with that ship, and he was being called to it. Maybe he’d get to talk to the visitors.. or.. even just to be close.

Sure it could be something else, the ancient gates that lead to port but he wants to believe it's not that. Why would they need him for that? When there are bound to be thorough maintenance instructions from his father laying somewhere around.

It's a stupid long walk from where he lives to the gates to the docks. It’s just past curfew too. If the silence in the streets is any kind of giveaway. No crowds not street beggers.. or none that you can see. At the gates the people behind him go forward unlocking him by hand and showing a card to the golem that slowly opens the gates.

They walk through. It is more than eerie, the lights that line as the street opens. He’s pushed, silently reminded to keep moving when he stops to stare. 

There are people out here, unlike in the streets. Othersiders who glance at him in disgust as he passes, they don’t like to see a Scrapper. Not even Etho. There’s a sort of scramble that only increases as they draw closer to the docks. People move, frantically, talk to each other in louder whispers. 

Where the docks begin a woman he is all too familiar with stood. She had a resting face of annoyance and anger that only felt more angry now. “You’re dismissed” She ordered the ones who brought him here away. A simple wave and they are scrambling back to what post they’d been assigned to before. 

Etho had never dreaded a conversation more. “I’m not up to argue so you are going to listen to me Etho and trust me there are no tenth chances.” her jaw is clenched as she speaks, her voice is low, as threatening as she can make it and as awfully non impactful as it's always been to Etho. “They need help, you are going to fix their engine and send them away and I swear if you say even a word beyond directly necessary I will take your life and your sight.” She pointed at his good eye for what he assumed to be emphasis.

As if she hasn’t sworn to do so many times before.

Her threats aren’t hurtful, he doesn’t believe her, but his pulse does rise just a little bit because he has never heard her so stressed.. and that only makes him more curious. She grabs Etho’s wrist from where it hangs at his side. “Understood?” She squeezes his wrist.

“Understood.” He muttered as he tried to yank his arm back; she didn’t let go. That didn’t surprise him. She dragged him along the docks to the very end where someone he had seen earlier stood. Fully suited the person leant against a poly of the doc. Maybe she had made him wait a long time.

“Hey, Captain Void,” she said to get his attention. The so called captain looked up, he stood up straight almost immediately. She let go of his wrist, shoving him forward just the slightest bit. Undetectable if you weren’t paying the most attention to it. 

“Ah, thank you, you are Etho Slab I presume?” So the crew at the very least spoke common, although the accent beneath it seemed to highlight something else. He wished it was something he could name. He blinked a few times, he had been addressed right.

The man had extended a hand so Etho followed, “That would be me yes,” he was very used to his name already being known but when it was he was not used to the friendly warm tone not unless they lived in Scrappers. They didn't. They shook hands. A feeling and experience that was so odd..

“Right, well I have things to do but Etho.. is very good at what he does. So you’re in good hands.” She was clearly trying very hard to not say his name in disgust or to in some way slander him as she spoke. She was awful at it. It leaked through in waves. She turned too fast, practically speed walking away. She couldn’t stand being in his presence for even a few minutes.

“Of course, thank you!” The captain thanked her again as she was already leaving. After a beat he cleared his throat. He couldn’t see his expression but he could feel in his tone there was some level of dislike that had built between them. Not surprising.. She was difficult to like. “Well If you don’t mind this ladder is really the only way on deck, apologies."

He gestured for him to go ahead. Etho has climbed on less sturdy ground then this and for taller heights. 

This dock wasn’t made for boats like this and it's obvious. Still it's not a terrible thing to climb and he makes it easily onto deck. The captain followed. The deck wasn’t empty per-say, it wasn’t like the crowd he saw earlier but he spotted some familiars, a netherborn which chatted with the green moss blanket one he saw earlier.

“Ah ok, Uhm.. I would introduce you to the crew but I’ve been told you’re very busy so I can bring you to the problem if you want?” He turned to face the captain as he spoke.. which was.. if he had to be honest quite a lot of words. “Oh silly me! I’ve forgotten to even introduce myself, I’m Xisuma Void the captain of this ship.. don’t worry about calling me captain mate, it's really just too much.”

Like a lot of words. Ok.. nice test of Etho’s listening abilities. He nodded slowly, “Right.. Xisuma, nice to meet you.” He was being sincere.. it was. Within every inconvenience that could have blessed his night this is by far the best. A chance to meet someone outside of this hellhole? Amazing! “So.. the problem” 

He shifted uncomfortably in place, he won't lie or pretend to not be awkward or socially anxious. This is a very new scenario he's never encountered before. He’s owed a bit of processing time. 

“Yes of course, this way.” The captain, or Xisuma like he had said his name was, gestured to him to follow. 

He saw the other crew members on the deck, the way they stared at him. For all the times he had been stared at in his life, he didn’t think this time was because of his eye. Instead it seemed general curiosity. The look of someone who was as much a stranger to him and he was to them.

He’s brought down into the hall then to what he assumes is the heart of the ship.. “it flies?” He remarked almost in awe as he stared at the meticulous red stone ropes and contraptions.

Xisuma chuckles, a laugh that sort of sounded proud in its own way, “not right now it doesn’t.” He stepped to the side, his expression was difficult to read. His helmet only had a visor to peer through but the lighting was never quite right to see through.

He put his hand against the side of what looked to be a metal frame. He took a deep breath. The artistry in this.. is this what the rest of the world has.. “Wow..” he muttered, in honest disbelief. With this thing on? He could imagine it to be.. unbelievable. To feel like a real heart beating. 

“Dont tell me you have no clue either?” Xisuma spoke up, there was a positive edge to his voice but behind it he could sense desperation. They likely had no hope of getting home, if they had such without a fix.

He looked around, took his hand off the piece. Carefully walking further into the inner workings. “I.. haven’t seen something like this before” he replied honestly. Watching a stalled cart of its track. Imagining where it would go. Hope maybe this thing was powered. Item transfer? Clever.

He heard a sigh behind him, “So.. nothing you can do?” He felt odd climbing his way through someone else’s creation, one he’d never worked on before but.. it was still made using the same tools. Built from the blocks he knew well.. and maybe given time he’d be able to do something good for it..

Time. Will she give him that? Part of him wonders are what point her promises to kill him would be true.

“Uhh…” an apology hangs on his tongue. He could feel the words. He puts his hand on the back of one of the dispensers. A small frown on his face. “I think.. I might be able to get it ticking..” he responded finally. A stubborn man he is and he refuses to give up so easily. 

“Oh Thank voids!” The captain sounded almost ecstatic even though he had done nothing worth it yet. “I’ll go grab Mumbo and Tango, they are our mechanics. Maybe you can figure something out with them.” Xisuma is gone before he can even formulate a response. He’s stunned, left in the complexity of still parts that should be moving.

There is no obvious problem and if there were he’d not know. Without seeing it on it’d be hard to figure it out.

Maybe that’s why the captain went to grab the ones who’d likely had the most experience with the mechanics. Etho had rarely if ever worked on things like this in person. He spent hours analyzing the schematics, sketching designs and building rudimentary designs for a class of empty seats.

He fixed bugs and reviewed the physical implementation of his work. He shadowed in the fame of his parents, long dead and continued what work he could with what time he could. 

He brushed his hands over a piston, stuck in extension with the closure of the whole. They may have the wrong person for this job. He’d give it a shot.

He heard pairs of footsteps behind him. When he turned there were three, two he had seen before, Xisuma and the netherborn that had been beside him in the morning. The third wasn’t one he was familiar with. A tall avian with a moustache and obviously wings. He was hunched over, this space was clearly not designed for someone of his stature.

“Etho this is Tango, and Mumbo” Xisuma pointed to both of them, which waved at him. They both seemed awkward or at the very least like they’d rather not be introduced to some stranger. He couldn’t blame them for that. He returned an equally awkward wave. “Well I’ll leave you three be, message if you need anything.” Xisuma seemed to be a lot more.. warm? Welcoming than any other visitor. 

If he could see the captain’s face, he pictured him to be constantly smiling. He seemed like that type. Friendly, and social, very social. He turned away, walked back out through the door again after an affirmative nod from both the mechanics he’d brought here. Etho wiped off his hands on his coat. “Well..” he muttered sort of awkwardly as the two looked between each other.

“So.. uhm I can start her up.. but uh. So..” the netherborn spoke up, shimmying past Etho who turned to face wherever the shorter was going. He watched the other climb through the system a lot more daring than he’d been. “She’s supposed to boost herself off, uh water to air you know? Like switch modes but.. her windcharge system is broken..” The man, Tango, rambled a common theme amongst the crew it seems.

He tried to vaguely follow Tango into the workings but he in no way wanted to mess things up barely knowing what anything did.

“She’s old.. so honestly it's a miracle we’ve made it this long without running into something we can’t go without.” The man behind him spoke, still awkwardly hovering near the door.

Tango which had apparently settled into climbing the metal bits onto a whole different level chuckled. “More than a miracle,” He replied, walking above where Etho was. “Uh so.. Etho feel free to move around.. uh Mumbo did ya grab the schematics?” 

Mumbo, or the tall avian one fiddled around in the pockets of the utility belt he wore. Eventually he pulled out some mildly crumpled folded pieces of paper. “Yeah.. yeah.. I did!” The man approached now ducking his head in an awkward way as he approached Etho, he unfolded them as he walked. He attempted to smooth them out which of course did not do much for the papers.

“This isn’t everything but.. uhm for this part it's a decent amount” he extended his hand out for what Etho assumed for him to take them. He did so gently, the paper wasn’t exactly the strongest looking. A faded blue instead of what should be bright.

Etho looked over each of the pages and the messy handwritten notes that covered them. “Thanks..” once glance at the original dates labeled on the pages told him really all he needed to know. Old would be an understatement. At least for something like this.

“We don’t really know why she’s not working.. Everything looks intact and you know.. you can only stare at something for so long.” Tango said from up above, he looked to be fiddling with something. Maybe the start panel who knows.

Mumbo who was beside him carried on forward following the same path Tango had gone. He figured maybe that meant he should follow. “She's not meant for long distance water transport, and if one system is not working other things may break too.. so not really in the business of being lost at sea.” Mumbo explained.. as etho climbed up beside him, to Tango who stood at a panel like Etho had expected.

“I’ve.. not really seen something like this before.. its.. very impressive” Tango hummed, he had put on safety glasses.. or goggles. Something like that. He hadn’t even realized he had it but apparently he did. 

He clicked buttons on the panel, he couldn’t see the reason behind it but there probably was something at least. “Not.. surprising.. I hadn’t before Mumbo reached out for help when they initially tried to get her up and running.. she sat in a scrap yard for a long while.”

Mumbo nodded, walking.. or better pacing around the small area they had. “No clue why the original creator never released the design.” The avian pulled on his own eye protection.

Etho didn’t really have any of that.. but then again he already only had half his sight. “Maybe she already had this issue, and the maker knew that.” He theorized, although considering she’d worked for a while according to those two, he doubted that's actually the reality.

Tango turned away from the panel for a moment, “Maybe! Honestly anything is possible.” He must’ve decided to play into the silly idea anyway. “Okay, She’s ready to start.. so don’t touch any active lines? Yes, ok great.” He watched the way Mumbo grabbed onto a pole and he figured he should do the same.

Tango clicked one more button before flicking a final switch. She clearly did not power easily, she was loud. The engine came to life though. Singing like he’d expected. It did feel much like he was inside the heart of it. He steadied into a rhythm after only a few moments. Which allowed him to safely let go of the pole he’d chosen as his anchor point. 

He took a moment to stare, she was by all accounts beautifully crafted. The more lit room allowed him to see more than he had before. Like a clock with all its moving parts. 

“I know right..” drawled Tango who had found his way beside Etho. The man beside him lent against the small, untrustworthy railing on the platform. He definitely had more faith in that than he ever would.

Behind them laughed the avian, who.. maybe wasn’t as transfixed as him. “You guys look at her the same way.. wow Tango.. think you’ve finally met someone as in love with redstone as you.” It sounded almost like a tease and from how quickly Tango turned around it seemed it took it that way.

“You’re just too young to admire fine craftsmanship” he defended himself although really he didn’t look so much older than the avian. Although by the offended gasp this was probably like a common thing between them.

“I’m 19! I’m not even a child anymore, this is unfair!” If he wasn’t wearing a mask the expression on his face would be priceless. Jaw dropped in shock because that is crazy young.

Etho’s not.. old he’s 24, pretty young by the industry standards but 19? 19 is so young. “Yeah yeah, come back when you’re age doesn’t end in -teen” Tango replied much to Mumbo’s offence. Tango turned back to Etho ignoring the grumbling from apparently the still technically teenager. “Well I can go show you how the windificator works! And maybe you can piece something together?” He gestured down to some part of the mechanism.

Etho hummed, “yeah, yeah good idea.” He followed the other back down, and Mumbo followed behind still mumbling to himself. He’s more than glad things didn’t stay awkward the entire time. He’s not sure he could deal with that. 

They walked and at times climbed until they made it to what they guessed wasn’t working, beside it was another similar looking panel. Tango again walked over to it. 

“While the actual navigation controls and such are.. well.. where the steering is. There are other controls over here too you know.. test the thingy.” Tango explained as he flipped a glass cap over. “This switch is supposed to switch from water to air.. etc you know blah blah blah.” 

He shifted over around the panel where the metal was pulled aside to reveal wiring. “This links to.. uhh? The piston system, and dispensers which quickly expel air and boom the flight systems take over.” 

Etho unfolded the schematics he’d briefly folded up. On the surface he couldn’t see a reason for it not to be working either but how was he really supposed to know without familiarizing himself with the system in the first place. 

Mumbo walked forward to the machine itself, “It’s the most sustainable propulsion system available.. and it’s irreplaceable.” He sounded at minimum tired, hopeful but tired. This was far too important to them and.. far out of Etho’s scope. He tried to not shift his eyes. To show he wasn’t as confident as maybe they thought he was.

“Well..” he walked over to the mechanism's dispenser and the chamber that he presumed held the air. It only took a few moments and reflections on the creased and torn papers before he realized what he was looking at, or rather a familiarity in the design. “Oh! This system, uhh this is just one of those Elytra, long distance launcher things!”

He had never personally taken a trip on one of those, he had no reason but they littered around the country and he could only presume farther. It wasn’t exact, this didn’t launch people it lifted and propelled an airship. It was tied and deep rooted into a navigation system. However it was.. similar and within a monster of a machine he’d never so much as heard about let alone actually worked with, one component was enough.

“A what?” Tango asked in confusion, confusion that coupled well with the excited response of Mumbo.

“Yes! Those!” He clapped his hands together, a small hopeful smile spread into something wider. “You’ve worked with those?” Mumbo asked, maybe he was hoping Etho would just know what was wrong based on that alone.

He made a so-so gesture with his hands, “I’ve reviewed them..” because thats all he ever did. Review and suggest. If they misinterpreted his word he couldn’t fix it. He just had to pour over more papers. Mumbo’s expression dropped slightly, that wasn’t the answer he was searching for. That much is obvious.

“Woah.. ok slow down, explain?” Tango interrupted whatever brief insiders only conversation they were having. He wondered if maybe the nether world didn’t have those devices and if Tango hadn’t seen them. Mumbo definitely looked more northern.

He thought for a second on how to explain one of those machines without just showing. “In the city they have windcharge launchers which basically just boost you if you have an elytra so you can get places faster” It's the simplest way he can think of, ignoring the argued teleportation factor that he’d not love to explain.

Tango still looked puzzled, “Huh..” He mumbled with a nod, staring at the contraption past them like it was suddenly changed. “Northener tech..” he jabbed although he guessed it was light hearted and overall positive.

”Jelous much?” Mumbo teased, and patted the side of one of the dispensers. 

”No! No.. not at all” Tango replied, in the most unconvincing way. Then again he’s not sure if it was supposed to be in any way convincing. He put his focus back on the panel. “Anyway, want me to test it? Maybe it is a good idea for you to see how it fails?”

Etho couldn’t see an issue with that, he could assume they already have done a detailed look at everything to make sure the problem wasn't a leak. “Yeah, go ahead” Mumbo backed up from it. From how these things normally behaved that was a great idea. Etho took to hiding behind Tango, as he figured the panel was the best place to be.

”Ok, 3.. 2..” He flicked the switch before the countdown ended, which is.. very fitting from what he’d seen. He hadn’t realized there was a pair of the propellers. Logically that made sense. Maybe he hadn’t paid much attention. The switch did do something. After a few moments it made a sound much like the opening of a compressed air can. The redstone lines lit up in a pulse that barely lasted two seconds and then. Nothing else.

It was disappointing.. and exactly what you’d assume a broken thing would do. A cog that is shifted out of place. 

After a moment Tango flipped the switch again and although everything around it returned to its past state. They did nothing. “Wow.” He mumbled and the two let it sink in around them all. 

“Well..” Tango cleared his throat, “what do you think?” His voice was uncertain and he’s not sure if it was his reaction to the rather sad failure to do its thing or to having to witness it for himself. 

Etho, didn’t know what he was even thinking or how to reply. His first thought was a combination of swear words he’s sure he shouldn’t say. “I think I’ll give it my best shot.” He decided on those words. Although he wasn’t the most confident in himself to be able to do anything, he’d give himself some time. All he does all day is fix problems or correct others' answers to problems.

This wasn’t different, just challenging. 

—

He’d been pouring over this for hours. He’d tried some different things, all were duds, he couldn't even figure out what was wrong in the first place. Tango, him and Mumbo had thrown around ideas until eventually they retired for the night. He was offered a place to sleep by both mechanics and the captain. He denied them. Respectfully but adamantly. 

This would not be the first time he stayed awake to finish something and it wouldn't be the last. Sometimes he found he worked better under the pressure of heavy eyes and blooming headaches. 

He had kept himself awake over the threat of not having enough time and that was enough. That combined with the energy drink Mumbo had given him.

He heard the door click open, and the light footsteps of an approacher. He figured morning had come quicker than he thought. Tango or mumbo, possibly even Xisuma to come tell him its a lost cause. Instead who rounds the corner and climbs to his little area is the moss blanket natureborn he saw earlier.

He is a surprise of course not who he expected but not unwelcome. Despite his exhaustion, part of him still wants to meet the strangers. Still wants to have that once in a lifetime opportunity. 

“Oh! Hi, you’re awake, I kinda expected you to be sleeping” he said, kinda sheepishly. He hovered back just by where it turned. In his hands was a plate. Of what he assumed to be food.

He set down the paper he was holding onto the floor. He was sitting there and he bet he looked a little crazy surrounded by all the papers.. and then there's the shulkerbox of redstone stuff he was given. “Good morning.. uh.. yeah, no.. what time is it?” He asked, and then tried not to cringe at the grogginess in his voice.

He didn’t carry a watch but it seemed the other did, he pulled out a small gold pocket watch from inside of the blanket. Which now that he was looking closer only seemed to rest like a shawl over his shoulders. Rather than being connected to him physically. He glanced at it before saying, “Goodmorning, yes! Uh.. just passed 6..” He slipped it back into the shawl.

At least it was early, he figured. “Oh.. well, not the first all-nighter I’ve pulled.” He stretched out his hands as he spoke. 

The other sighed, made a noise that was very familiar in terms of disapprovement. “I brought you breakfast.. but you really should sleep. How much can you do half awake and sleep deprived?” He moved closer, extending the plate out for him expectantly. “Oh.. and Uhm my names Bdubs- sorry forgot to introduce myself”

Etho took it and listened to the others' mini lecture on sleep. He appreciated the concern, although he would never take it seriously. “Thank you, uh I’m Etho” he mumbled an introduction he would have completely forgotten if the other hadn’t introduced himself first. He had rarely eaten a proper breakfast that wasn’t ramen or those microwaveable meals. It was a warm welcome to have something, even as simple as plain waffles and cut up slices of a banana.

“Nice to meet you! Oh.. Do you have any allergies? I figured I’d play it safe on ingredients but.. uh..” he trailed off. Awkwardly wringing his hands before he sat down onto the metal. Just in front of Etho’s paper moat he’d made. 

He shook his head, he’d forgotten he had his mask on. You can’t necessarily eat with one of those. “No.. no allergies.” He replied with the hint of a laugh. He fidgeted with the utensils he’d been given for a moment, it’s not like he was opposed to taking it off.. but.. 

“Oh.. oh! Silly me.. uh mask.. i- can go? If you’d like?” He realized, eyes going wide as he scrambled his way into standing.

Etho barely heard any of the words before he quickly cut in, “No- no It’s ok i don’t mind.” He’d always been told he'd have to get used to it eventually. So might as well. 

The natureborn, froze in his scramble to get up. “You sure?” He asked, as he slowly settled back into his place on the floor.

Etho waved off the other’s concern, “It’s just to filter the air.. Don't worry.” That was partially true. It was to filter air.. and you know to cover the scars.. multiple surgeries as it turns out does that.

The other nodded slowly.. “ah, yeah.. air quality here isn’t.. exactly the greatest.” He said it with a wince. One that he knew was of attempting not to offend. Etho took no offence. He’s not oblivious to the fact the air is poison and he lives every day in horror seeing how it affects the older population who has no access to the potions or respawn technology flaunted by the rich.

He pulled down the fabric of his mask, he didn’t really have an interest in cold waffles.. or.. well.. hm. “It’s bad.. can’t even see the sun.” He said in a deadpan voice. To which the other hummed.

He saw the way the other messed with his hands fidgeted in quiet anxiety.. but he didn’t look away. “No kidding.. I’m getting dead spots!” He exclaimed pointing at a slightly yellower spot on his shawl

He hummed, took a bite of his food. While he usually didn’t have conversations while he ate, he remembered vaguely hearing that it was rude to talk with your mouth full. “Scrapper’s has never been known as being especially photosynthesizer friendly..” He hadn’t really considered before on how an environment like this would affect a natureborn.. even more a reason to get this fixed. The faster they leave the better.

Bdub’s sighed, “It’s not player friendly period..” he was trying to still be polite. Although Etho could catch that tone from anywhere.. and like that he could instantly catch the exact moment he wanted to change the topic. “So.. how’s it going?” His tone was back to bubbly and optimistic. Interested as he leaned over the plans in front of him.

“I got nothing,” he set down his fork and the plate on his lap for a moment. His exhaustion seemed to return tenfold even thinking about it. “What about you?” He didn’t think the person in front of him was a mechanic but he seemed comfortable enough to walk in here.. and know where it was. Maybe he had input to provide.

The natureborn vaguely looked through the papers, he picked one or two up before ultimately he said “I don’t know anything about redstone, I'm the plant guy.” 

He expected that answer, it wasn’t surprising. He could imagine they pulled in everyone they had for this already and while Tango yesterday had mentioned that they had another mechanic. It didn’t seem like that one could figure it out either. Neither could Xisuma, who was also familiar with redstone.

He lifted his fork back up. The waffles were good, something he hadn’t had in ages and bananas? Fresh fruit was unheard of. “Well.. worth the ask.. anyway when do the other’s normally get up?” He had resigned to  breaks in between words for bites. Oh well whatever works.

Again Bdubs pulled out the watch, although not long had passed at all. “Not any time soon.. Impulse and False may be up.. but I don’t think that's the people you were referring to.” He studied the clock like it might hold the exact answer he’s looking for. Their names on the glass. For all he knew, maybe it did. “I think it’s got some sort of delay.. Switching time zones so often throws it off by a few minutes.” He mused as he shook the clock back and forth as if maybe that’d fix it.

Etho’s mid bite when something makes it pause. Clocks off.. happens to almost every timing mechanism over time. “Wait, I haven't checked that..” he’s easily distracted and knows he’s probably wrong. He’ll screen for a delay that doesn’t exist.

He shuffled through the pages until he got to the one that manages how the timing worked for the windcharges. “Checked what?” Bdubs cut in, serving a reminder that there was actually a whole person in the room. 

“Uhh..” he put the plate to the side, temporarily abandoned as he walked past the panel to where what he needed to look at resided. Bdubs followed like a shadow. “So.. your clock has a delay? Yeah? Well this thing has.. like a clock and it might be off and that's hard to see because nothing is broken.. it’s just a little bit off.. that is if I’m right.”

Bdubs didn’t say anything for a while, just stared at him as he climbed up a metal frame. “Wow.. you are smart..” he said in awe after a moment. If he looked he could imagine his jaw fell open in slight shock.

Etho laughed, awkwardly.. a little bit embarrassed. “Thanks.. uhm.. Can you pass me that crowbar looking.. thing.. please?” He vaguely pointed to the box where it should rest. He couldn’t see where he was pointing from how he was facing but he hoped it was at least close to the actual box.

“Yeah.. yeah here.” He heard shuffling behind him until something was eventually placed into his hand. When he pulled it in front of him it was what he asked for luckily.

He pried open the metal that hid the delicate timing beneath. “Thank you..” he murmured as he set it down. 

Was it safe to stick his hand straight into the wiring? No. That wasn’t enough of a deterrent for him though. He was a ‘professional’ after all. He pinned the paper to the frame with his right while he carefully dug through the spaghetti code for.. ah yes. There wasn’t a lot of ways to check for a delay that didn’t include turning it on but the most simple one he could think of is triggering the observer in charge of the timing system directly. He’d know if it was off by even just a little if the light to the side never turned on.

Which theoretically isn’t the best way and isn’t the safest way but it's the easiest less deadly one. So he held his hand on the observer.. and.. and? Nothing.

He breathed out a sigh of relief. Leaned his head against the metal as he pulled his hand out. “Well.. I know what it is..” was it life threatening to him if it didn’t get fixed? No but.. to them? It was everything and in the small long hours he’d talked to Tango and Mumbo and even Xisuma he had grown the want to fix this even more.

“You do?” Bdubs asked, as he walked forward. He could hear the excitement in the other tone.

He nodded, “It’s not hard to fix.. I’ll change the system to be item based so it doesn’t fall out of sync again hopefully.. and.. uh.. well that’s that!” He’d fixed time delays in launchers like this before and he should have thought of it sooner but he didn’t. Really he’s embarrassed the problem slipped over his head.

Bdubs stood there for a moment unmoving. His expression was neutral. “Thats that?” His tone was unreadable. Etho figured it must’ve been shock.. and he understood that. Something he assumed they’d been working on for a long time.. wasn’t actually hard to fix.

“That’s that!” He said with a smile, he passed Bdubs back to the array of papers and food he’d left behind. He’d rather finish eating before he worked.. or maybe he’d just eat as he worked.

Bdubs hadn’t moved from where he stood by the open metal. He just turned on a pivot to face the other as Etho picked up his plate and set down the schematics. “How long is that going to take?” He asked, voice a little unsure.. maybe hesitant? At first, Etho considered the odd behaviour to be chalked up to wanting to get out of here as fast as possible.

So, he answered like he had to inpatient clients before, “Day at most don’t worry, you guys will be out of here by morning latest.” If Etho didn’t intend to sleep.. but even then with Tango and Mumbo? They’d fly through it.

“Oh.. ok” the other nodded, as he turned back to the exposed wiring. “Do you think you could fix my clock?” 

Etho tried not to laugh, because a clock’s delay was much simpler then this and really he could probably fix it himself if he wanted to but.. “Of course, yeah I can.”

—

He’d worked for a while, to the point exhaustion hardly was even a thought. Tango teased endlessly that they didn’t need another insomniac on board. Etho laughed it off.

Even down to the moment where he put in the last connecting line of redstone dust. “Done.” He said proud as he backed up. Wiping the remnants of dust from his gloves into his pants.

“Done?” Tango asked shuffling up to his side to look at the exposed wiring. Again like he had done throughout the entire process studying the system. He, like Etho, couldn't believe he missed something so simple.

Mumbo, the always distracted, came in just a second late with his own “It’s done?”

Etho patted the metal beside it, “Yeah! Just gotta test her.” There is nothing more nerve wracking than testing it. He could be so wrong, he could have broken it further and they wouldn’t know till they tried it again.

“I’ll let the others know..” Mumbo said immediately, he fumbled for the device they called a comm or a communicator. While something like that was far outside of his range of expertise. It was something apparently designed by Tango and Xisuma. It was an impressive little device.

Tango raced back to the control panel and Etho wasted no time following. “So.. if it does work..?” He asked, he’d never seen or felt how it actually was and part of him wondered how safe it was to be this close. 

Tango at least didn’t seem.. concerned. He just smiled like a mad man, “Well I’d suggest you hang on to something!”

Etho is not brave enough to not listen to something like that.. “Ok all set, False’s at the helm.” Mumbo called out as he held onto a pipe. Etho did the same as him. If this worked well.. maybe it’d be the best thing he’d ever done. Well at least he’d remember it for the rest of his dull life,

“Ok, ok.. 3..” Tango began to count as he had yesterday. This time he took care in holding on to the panel with at least one hand. “2.. 1…” he held his breath.. maybe not the greatest idea he’s ever had. “Go!”

Last time, nothing exciting happened, nothing big. Certainly nothing like what was happening now. It was louder, the building sequence took much more time. And when it clicked to announce it was done it fired. It did just what you’d expect a propulsion system to do. It lifted. He managed to keep his balance.. just barely until it stabilized and drew to a halt.

A best passed where no one moved or breathed or.. anything and then he was tackled into a hug by the netherborn. A high speed flash of bright colours was all he saw before it happened. He was laughing like a madman. “Yes! Yes yes yes yes!” Etho barely kept on his feet and absolutely did not have the reaction time to return the hug before he was letting go.

Mumbo stood to the side, smiling so bright he could only picture a star to be brighter. He didn’t get tackled by him but he did expect that in the first place. Instead he was just dragged along by Tango who grabbed onto his sleeve and didn’t let go. Maybe it was the disorientation speaking but the words just blended together in his head.

Mumbo rushed forward in the direction he was being pulled. He realized once they got to the door that they must’ve been going to deck. Which he was right because that's precisely where they ended up. He imagined the entire crew was there. Least it looked like it.

He was shocked, maybe a little overwhelmed.  Brought to the edge of the deck where railing stood between him and a solidly high fall. They hovered just above the water’s surface. Stared almost in awe for a long time and he only turned when quiet words broke through into his head. “Isn’t it great?” Tango asked.. he had to agree.

It was.

—

They’d celebrated for a long time, while crowds gathered onto the docks below. 

He had to leave, he knew that. He couldn’t stay, or leave with them even if the thought crossed his mind. But he.. didn’t want to. So he sat on a barrel just far enough in the group to be present without intruding. He watched the crew in their excitement. 

He’d been introduced to everyone yeah, between the thanks not many words were said. What was there to say to him? “You don’t want to go do you?” Asked the calm collected voice of the captain.

He shook his head, “No,” he admitted. Honest as he could be to be to worthwhile people. 

Xisuma clasped his hands together, “Well great because there are.. a few people who’d be sad to see you go.” He spoke so casually at first Etho completely missed what he had really said. Until he thought about it.

“What.. what do you mean?” He asked confused because it sounded like he was just told he could stay but that was silly.. he was practically a stranger and they wanted him to stay?

The other rephrased, “If you’d like to, there is space for you onboard, you are welcome.” He paused, maybe it was the exhaustion or the numbness he held for his life. The melancholy that is the pattern of discrimination for something he couldn’t change and was born with.

It didn’t take much thought in his head before he’d made up his mind. “I’d love to stay.” 

Xisuma nodded slow.. the fast, “Ok Thank the void, Tango wouldn’t leave me alone, I was worried you’d say no..” Etho couldn’t believe that he’d had anyone campaigning for him to stay at all. “Oh wait! I’m such a derp I’ve left my com in my room- we got to take a group photo..” he rushed away, was a photo that was important. “Dont move-“ the captain called out already halfway down the deck.

He watched with a quirk of an eyebrow and an expression of amusement. Beside him spoke a person he didn’t even hear approach. “You said yes I presume? Oh I hope you know what you’re in for Etho Slab” 

He turned to the voice, there Cleo or who’d he’d be introduced to as Cleo stood. Their arms crossed and a smirk on their face. “Wha-“

—