"So you turn into bees?" Reggie says to Ruv in the train car after the heist.

Ruv thinks back on the events of the last hour, shaking his head in wonder. "I'm just as confused as you are..."

It was only a few days ago that Ruv arrived in Bastion, with nothing to his name, his home destroyed by the bloom. The train job was supposed to be easy. Just a ride out to Highcliff and back.

"It's never easy," Ruv mutters to himself as Reggie looks up to see Sal walk past, shaped like a Gorilla.

Soon, Ruv is sitting alone at the Two Silvers Inn, nursing a beer and thinking about bees. Did he really turn into bees? How the hell is that possible! He remembers the moment that the Bluewater thug punched him, hanging off the side of the train. His body seemed to disincorporate around the thug's fists. If it weren't for that explosion, Ruv's not sure he would have ever turned back into himself... Shaking his head, he drains his cup and looks around to see if Sal or Reggie are in the tavern. Maybe they can help him find some answers...

Reggie talking to a someone at the bar, one hand coming out of a sling, the other holding a shot of dark liquor.

"...and he straight up just turned into a rat. I mean, know there's some crazy magic out there, but that's a new one for me."

He throws back the shot and slides the small glass into a small collection of them. The camera pans down as the glasses change to mountains, a train howling down the tracks in the distance. A flash of thick red lightning strikes down onto the trailing airship with physical force, splintering a section of the ship.

"And one of the new recruits—Miwa—absolutely crazy. Summon hellfire lightning on the Blue's Sloop. They're supposed to be fire proof, but this shit... this wasn't fire. It was more."

We see Reggie leap from the train to the airship.

"I saw some faces I recognized on that ship. Steele one of them. He was never just going to let me take over, but he was fighting like it was personal."

In the bar, Reggie swirls his 6th drink, watching a mesmerizing little whirlpool form in the middle.

"No idea what I did."

There's a pause.

"I didn't really know what to expect on a job like this, but..."

He seems like he's lost in thought for a moment, then remembers something.

"Oh, and did I tell you about the fuckin' BEES?"

Thunder roars afar

Transgressions future and past

A streak of crimson

- Reflection upon Justice.

"It was the journey most tedious in its irrelevance, no glory to be gained, not even the refreshment of a nice mountain stroll. Whelp got stuck with companions wondrously not fully incompetent, and somewhat amusing. One of them managed to hit himself on a head with thrown bucket. Anyhow, wretched pilferers managed to get ahold of cowardly charms to avoid confrontation with even lowlier commoners, disgrace the likes of which I haven't seen. I scared them off when finally a beast worthy of a challenge appeared, but darn whelp was preoccupied with saving the peasants, rather than carving her legend...can you imagine? At least she dealt with that thief right..."

- Ramblings of Aramasa, possibly few drinks in.

Rohan's mental notes as he tries to lie low for a while:

"I thought it would be a simple escort job with some weird companions. Suddenly, all the other passengers were in stasis. I thought there was a traitor among us. I went to check the cargo with Sal, a poor victim of the Blossom. He looks like a salamander but can transform into a rat and a gorilla.

Opening the cargo locks was easy, if a little time-consuming. Meanwhile, chaos was happening on top of the train, I don't know the details. I heard explosions and Ruv almost fell off the train but barely survived. Someone was shouting something about bees.

A guy tried to release the last car, but Ruv convinced him not to do that and to help us instead. He seems like a good man. I would have killed the guy, or controlled him so he wouldn't get in my way.

Some scoundrels got to the cargo before me, my cargo. I knew it would be something important, but I didn't know it would be pure Aeterithe. I chose the right job.

I took the spoils from one of the enemies, but the other died after being attacked by a Bloose, a creature with the power to cut through even steel. I wanted that power for myself.

I attacked the creature, but it was tough. Reggie finished off the cursed creature with a punch. He's a reliable companion.

After that, everything was resolved. I don't know what Miwa did during that time. They say she blew up the enemy aircraft or something. And she cut off the arm of one of the prisoners. The rest of the people reacted badly, but I didn't care much.
The rest of the people reacted badly, but I didn't care much. I just need to stay out of her way and away from that cursed sword.

I kept one of the pure Aetherite crystals for myself. I think I can extract power from it. Maybe forge something. I didn't think anyone would notice, as some of it had already been lost anyway. I think someone ratted me out. Was it Sal? He's kind of a rat. But it was probably the guy I looted. I should have killed him.

That's why I'm laying low, damn Imperials.

Anyway, great job. Easiest shard ever."

Dear Diary,

I tried to make some friends today. I think it went okay?

They were all at the Two Silver Tavern and were in need of extra hands for a job. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know some of them and learn how the people of Bastion act. We were tasked with guarding a cargo shipment, which turned out to be some sort of magical crystals. A group of vagabonds froze the whole place (!!!) and tried to steal the cargo, but we were ready for them. More or less. A large creature - one afflicted like me - was drawn to the train and struck down. I can't help but wonder: is that my fate? I hope not. I like the way I am. Most of the time.

Anyway.

My possible new friends.

I think I made Reggie uncomfortable. He seemed caught off guard when I turned into a rat. Maybe he is afraid of rodents? Ruv was attentive to my changes and wanted to talk more about them. I do not think we share the same powers, but I will have to discuss with him nonetheless. I couldn't get much of a read on Rohan, but he gave me no reason not to trust him. Perhaps I can try to have a conversation with him when I am not in rat form and perched on his shoulder. Miwa... made me nervous. She is dangerous. I will have to observe her further. Maybe she just needs friends, too.

It has been a long day, and I must rest. At least down here in the sewers I am as cozy as a rat in a cargohold. I could use a couch, though.

Sal