Intermission

Before the party leaves Wigdala to Manaki...
You all notice Callow heading towards the infirmary with the briefcase in Wigdala fortress before leaving.
Tank looks around. "Should we... follow her?"
“Follow who?” Jeb says while picking the dirt out of one of his horseshoes
"Callow. She just took them Neox thingies and went downstairs."
"Oh, absolutely, someone needs to make sure we don't kill anyone who doesn't need to die."
Callow arrives at Gavlin's bedside. He is sound asleep.
Tank runs fast enough to keep up but not to catch up.
Knowing she’s being followed, Callow is opening the case and removing a syringe as she steps into the infirmary, so she’s able to be ready by the time she actually gets to Gavlin’s bedside.
Tank talks softly enough not to wake him up. "Callow, just wait. Think about this. This fella is innocent, helpin us in fact. Do you really wanna risk hurting him?"
“Oh, that fellas Gavlin, c'mon Callow, you punked him hard enough in that other timeline, let the fella rest.”
“We don’t even know if it’ll kill him,” Callow retorts as she arrives at Gavlin’s bedside and (maybe) sticks his arm with the syringe.
Corrin drops her invisibility spell she was using to follow Callow. "And you don't know that it won't. So until we know what it does, no injecting people. And if you can't handle that, I can always disintegrate it."
Tank gives Corrin a pointed look before saying gently, "That ain't how the dragons raised you, is it? Using a man for science while he's down? All I'm saying is, let's ask him first."
Callow seems to consider Tank’s words more than Corrin’s - she just kind of scowls at Corrin - before stepping back and gesturing to the man. “Go on. Be my guest.”
Tank walks up and gives Gavlin a gentle shake. "Hey there, bucko. It's us. Listen, we ain't making progress on this disease fast enough. But Callow's got somethin' here that might help. Maybe it won't help you right away, but it could give us answers that'll save a lot of people. Your people, people in this here building. Will you let us try it?"
"Did Rao send this?" He asks, obviously extremely tired, not just from being woken up but from the disease draining his life.
“Yes,” Callow said, looking at Tank pointedly. “He had them sent to the Lighthouse. We picked them up while we were there earlier today.”
“No, it absolutely was not," Corrin snaps. "The drug is from Neox.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t from Neox. I said Rao sent it to us," Callow argues.
"Whoa there, let's all keep it real with the man here. The point is they were made by someone with a vested interest in seeing this thing cured. Rao would take one for the team himself if he were here right now."
Gavlin seems concerned at the mention of Neox tech. "If there is any Neox involved, even if it were just on the shipping, I'd rather not. No. Nothing good will come from this."
Callow turns to punch Corrin and makes contact with Corrin’s nose. “God, no wonder you’ve gotten nowhere with the disease! You have no understanding of germ theory, just barely enough understanding of the Void to justify calling yourself a ‘teacher’, and no willingness to take the risks necessary for this kind of advancement! How long are you going to sit by and run around in circles before you actually do something about it?! At least Caveson is trying! At least she hasn’t been stuck in a time loop of the same month like I have!”
“You are asking me to trust a psychotic woman with a history of violent and terrifying human experimentation to create something that won't just make things worse?”
While they're duking it out, Tank says, "I understand, and we don't know all it'll do. But I assure you of one thing, Gavlin. We're gonna find a cure to this disease, but it'll take all of us. It don't have to be you, but we have to work with 'em."
“If she wants to save the world so she can destroy it, fine, that’s her prerogative, but she’s not going to have any people to experiment on if they all die of this disease. I was brought to Hitorik to help save people— at least, that’s what you made me think. But we haven’t done a whole lot of that as of late. This could finally be a step in the right direction, but you all—“ She gestures to Corrin and Gavlin. “— are too much of a coward to see the world get better!”
Tank fully ignores them and keeps talking to Gavlin, "and to be honest, I would too, except I'm scared. Scared of gettin' the disease, scared of trustin' these jackasses with the fate of a world I seen destroyed one time already. I don't know who in their right mind would take this thing."
"Callow, have you ever failed before? Have you ever had to try literally anything more than once, or have you always been completely perfect? Literally even once."
Gavlin shakes his head. "Can you all just leave, please. If this is your idea of helping, I'd rather die to the disease."
"We're sorry for disturbing you, sir. And thanks for all you did for your land."
Callow scoffs at Gavlin and yanks the syringe from his arm, turning to get in Corrin’s face. “My existence was handcrafted by gods to be perfect. I’m not designed to fail. But I guess if failure is more your style, I should be throwing my lot in with Neox instead.” She shoulders past Corrin sharply and storms out. And if Jeb, who I think is in the doorway and between her and the exit, tries to stop her, she points the syringe at him threateningly.
“Yous don’t need to go around makin' a threat pardner, and if you do maybe bring the right tools for the job, that rinky dink lil thang is like usin a can opener on a silo.” Jeb steps out of the way, gesturing her forward while pulling his hat off his head
Specifically after leaving the room Gavlin's in: "If you were designed to be perfect, why are you acting like a child?"
“Because I was abandoned at birth by my Human parents and raised by beings much older than me so I was never properly socialized to meet mortal expectations!”
"If you know about it, then why the hell aren't you choosing to learn then!?"
"Now look here, you two," Tank interjects. "Fightin' ain't gonna get us a willin' test subject."
Jeb nods. “Tank's right, we can make some adjustments without putting all our eggs in one basket. Let’s get creative, try something new, but without taking on everything that makes Caveson the monster she is. We can take the best aspects from her approach and make it our own without goin' over that edge."
Callow stops and turns to stare at them, still visibly angry. “Because it wouldn’t change anything, Corrin. I could be more diplomatic about it, but the truth of the matter is, everyone here is too scared of Neox to willingly test these. I’d have to behave slyly in order to get what I want. I could change my approach in a million and one ways, but I’m still just some foreigner sticking her nose in someone else’s business.” She turns away. “But the others are right. Besides, there’ll be more sick civilians at Manaki. Ones that might be more willing to put stake into the vague promise of a cure.”
"So we're just going to run the risk of killing anyone who volunteers?"
Tank casts cure wounds on Corrin's nose.
"I would've been fine... You really didn't need to do that, Tank."
"Now, if I can trust y'all not to break any more body parts, I'll go 'round and ask the other sick folk if anyone is willin to try their luck. But I need something from you, Callow. We need you to be honest with us about what this lady is tellin' ya. If this stuff is safe, why don't she just test it on her own sick 'n dyin'?"
Callow pauses. "… when I asked, all she told me was it’ll send her data. Which she claims you destroyed when you blew up her labs.”
"Have any of us even ever been to Neox?" Corrin huffs.
"My son has sorta..." Tank mutters.
"You have a son??"
"It's a great story. I'll tell it over grits."
“I’d like to," Callow insists. "I’m interested in seeing what medical technology they have ready access to. I’m sure I could reverse-engineer some of it for our personal research uses.”
“I’ve grown accustomed to teary goodbyes while someone heads off to the unknown, but if I recall correctly, last time you was with Caveson in a physical capacity, she tortured ya?” Jeb inquires.
“A little. Nothing too serious. Nothing worse than the electric river, at least..." Callow mutters.
“Is that a dance move?” Jeb asks.
“Sure, if you think people being electrocuted looks like dancing.”
"Oh, yes, just light torture, because that's the important part there," Corrin scoffs.
"Now I'm betting you didn't have a slick tongue on yer side. Maybe we're gettin' somewhere here. What if some of us took a trip on out to Neox? A parlay, if ya will."
"I...Might be a little out of my element here, emotions running high and all...-" Kali cuts off, her tail flicking and wings 'fluffing' up.
There is laughing coming from one of the rooms.
Before Callow can respond in ascension to Tank’s proposal, she goes to see who was laughing at what.
It's Isafni. She looks at Callow and smiles. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Keep on arguing if you want."
“I’m just curious as to what part of our conversation was amusing to you.”
"All of it." She laughs again.
Callow squints. “…. Aren’t you sick?”
"Oh, sorry. I forgot sick people can't laugh."
“Callooooow…" Jeb laments. "We just had this talk."
“At least this one’s already awake!”
"I have a name, you know."
"I thought we were going to Manaki now?" Corrin attempts to insist.
Tank pokes her head in, "But do you have a moment to talk about our potential savior, Neox?"
Callow sighed heavily and, rather dejectedly, held out the syringe to Isafni. “Do you want to try it?”
"Huh. I thought this group was fighting against Neox. Seems the smart ones if your team leave and the stupid ones come out."
Tank sighs. "Fightin' Neox ain't gotten 'em much except a headache. If you ain't interested, we'll leave you be. But there's no need to condescend to someone trying to save your tail."
Jeb nods along. “Sometimes they make some nifty stuff. If water was invented by some asshat, I wouldn’t just dry out. They even made ol' Jimmy boy, and he’s the sunshine behind a rainbow.”
Callow straightens stiffly. “I just prefer Caveson’s approach to problem solving. Unlike the Circle, she actually gets results. That’s all I’m responding to.”
Tank goes around and sees if anyone can be persuaded to be a guinea pig.
A small firbolg sighs. "What was your name again?"
"I'm Tank. And what might I call you?"
"Millie. Tell me about this... Shot of yours. How sure are you that it will work?"
"Well we're confident that it'll work--most everything I've seen come outta Neox does. It's how much it'll help we're less sure of. It's intended to gather data on the disease, not cure it."
"Ok. Look, I owe Rao a lot. He somehow managed the impossible and saved my loved ones in Luvia. I know he's out there working hard to find a cure. So I at least owe it to him to try this."
"Well, thank you, Millie. I'll let 'em know." Tank goes and finds Callow and Corrin and gives them the news. "I'm still not too sure about this, though--I mean, what if this thing lets Caveson control her mind? I'd feel better if we could get in touch with her and work out some sorta agreement..."
Callow rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, staring at a point at the wall.
What kind of data are you gathering? Genetic data? Particle data? And why did you need me to do that extra step with the orbs, which I didn't get, by the way, if the syringe is effective?
Vitals and magical counts. The orb transfers the data back to me. How else do you think I'll get it? Unless you're willing to bring the sick to Neox.
I think Corrin would have my head if I even suggested that.
We don't want that. So this is the only way, without exposing myself to danger, that I can get that data.
She looked back at the group. "It's just tracking data points, like I said. Like a heart rate monitor, or a blood pressure cuff." She pauses. "A thermometer...? You guys have these things, right?"
"Are you talking to her right now?"
Callow tapped her temple. "She speaks to me in my head. Stella thinks it has something to do with the glove she gave me, but it was her instructions in my head that led me to the glove. I think it's some residual effect from the parasite I got." She rubbed the back of her neck.
Jeb raised a brow. “You been drinkin' puddle water? One sec, I’ll rustle up Uncle Clem’s 6-star dewormer in a jiffy. You’re probably gonna wanna stay away from any maternity wards or particularly dry hay for a minute afterwards though."
Callow looks bewildered and mildly disturbed.
"Look, all I'm after is collaboration. If we're going to share these data points with her, I want her to share information with us. Or at least let us into Manaki."
“She said if I can get her data from two other people- though she’s angling that one of them be Kali-“ Callow points to the Tiefling. “-she’ll tell the Neox forces occupying Manaki to let us through.”
"And she's...Guaranteed this? I'm willing to do this on one condition. She lets us through first, unharmed. I think we could all do with some...Certainty."
“It’s why I have the syringe labeled ‘For Katherine’.” Callow pulls out the case and shows the syringe label. “Caveson claims if I can inject one other person, and Kali, she’ll let at least me into Manaki, close enough to Lady Katherine to give her a dose.” Callow snapped the case shut. “Of course, I’ve considered the notion she’s going to try to frame me for Katherine’s assassination if I do do that. On the other hand, I doubt she’d let me try the other two and find out they would kill the person, and then trust I’d publicly do the same with Katherine. The only way she could accomplish that is if the serum in Katherine’s syringe is different than the others.”
Tank rubs her head. "Not much of a bargain for us. But I did what I said, and Millie is willing."
Callow clenches her fist around the handle of the case, appearing to show her first signs of uncertainty about the situation, but steeling herself rather quickly. “Take Millie and Kali to the ship. If something does go wrong, I want it to be contained in a vessel that can be moved away from Wigdala, so no one else but us has to get hurt. I need to get one of those orbs from Stella, and if my hunch is right, it’ll transmit area data back to Caveson. I’d rather it be data of a room in the ship, like the sleeping quarters or an empty cargo bay, than one of the rooms here in the fort.”
Tank nods dutifully and goes to help Millie to the crew quarters.
As Callow places her finger on the plunger to inject Millie, a jolt of electricity shoots out and hits your hand. Callow’s finger twitches in response to the shock, but it doesn’t stop her from giving Millie the injection.
Despite a dagger being tossed at Callow's hand from seemingly nowhere, you manage to inject Millie. After a second, Millie lets out an ear-piercing scream. Her body jerks violently as she begins coughing up black bile. Her eyes become bloodshot as they roll back in her head. Corrin is hurriedly taking notes.
Tank cringes at the scream and does her best to keep her from hurting herself.
Kali simply watches, her arms crossed, heavy cloak draped over her arms as she holds it close to her.
Tank is busy lying through her teeth that, "it'll only be a second, sweetheart. Corrin, you're a smart person, right? That's basically a doctor, help!"
"I'll see what I can do."
Millie stabilizes but is knocked out.
"I swear to whatever gods care to listen, Callow, if this goes poorly, if this is playing directly into Caveson's hands, I will make sure you never live this down."
Callow shakes out her hand, eyeing the dagger that had grazed her, and frowns at where it hit the floor, obviously distracted. “Duly noted…”
"Well, that was... somethin'," Tank says nervously.
“It went better than I expected,” Callow murmured as she went to investigate the vent.
"I'll cut 'em off." Tank rushes outside to try to catch the attacker if they flee.
Tank rushes up and on the roof of the ship Astra pops up from the vents. She looks at you before putting a finger up to her lips and motioning Tank to follow quietly.
Tank hesitates, but clip clops as quietly as she can.
Astra continues running to the edge of the cliff where a glider has just taken off, carrying its passenger away from the fort.
"Who was that? It weren't you who threw that knife, was it now?"
Astra seems confused. "What knife? And I was hoping to catch the person to find out who they are."
Tank sighs, gives Astra a hat tip, and goes back to the ship.
As much as Corrin probably hates to see it, upon getting the verdict that there was no conclusion, Callow set about making Millie as comfortable as possible. Blankets, water, cleaning the bile from her face, and whatnot.
Tank comes back as the cleaning up is happening and says quietly, "someone was gliding away from the ship. couldn't see who. but Astra--that's the Neox gal's name right? she was in the vents."