Okay it's in the document title, but in case you don't want it spoiled, I won't say who the question mark in the subtitles are yet.

I will say it's a hell of an interview, and it would have been nice if we had a proper setup on this mission for it. As it is, we have to wait til next mission to get it!

 
“So tell me Dash. What’s your history with this band of rogues?” The elf smiled and flopped onto her back on Dash’s bed.

"Well, I met you a few months ago when .. just kidding." Dash started to unpack. For a pirate ship, they had some nice guest accommodations. "We're not moving yet, are we? They sounded like they were in a rush to hit the seas."

Aleena’s ears perked a moment as she listened to sounds made faint over the lapping of waves over the ships hull and the bustle of activity on the deck. “Nope, we’re still docked.”

Dash nodded. "As to how I met the pirates.. it was way back when Catrina had just arrived. She was a ball of energy back then. This was our first job in the Kingdom together."

“I don’t even really know who that is,” Aleena said, prompting for more information.

Dash sighed. "True point. I found her drowning one day after she'd been thrown overboard from a ship. She'd barely managed to swim her way towards south of Bordertown. I revived her.. and we started adventuring together."

“Sounds kind of like how we met.” Aleena paused for a moment and then giggled. “Do you fish all your friends out of the ocean, Dash?”

"Only the cute ones," Dash said almost mournfully. "I had no idea who she was, actually. Or what she was capable of."

“I still don’t really know who she is, other than she’s associated somehow with the group that took the princesses and I prisoner.”

Dash shrugged. "Not long before you and I met, Catrina was my closest ally. Then suddenly, not long after our trip to … well, another dimension, she betrayed me." Dash hung his head at the memory. "She just stood there while another former associate of ours, Raw Hide, nearly decapitated me from behind. If it wasn't for a timely intervention from.. I'm told it was Lapine, I wouldn't be here now. More likely, I'd have risen as a zombie and ended up sharing their ultimate fate."

Aleena gave Dash a look of sympathy, pulling him close to give him a tight huggle. “I had no idea she was so cruel.”

Dash shrugged. "Me, neither. As I said, she'd been my ally for years before! But as I said, we'd gone to this strange otherworld, almost like ours, but not quite. It had twisted, evil versions of myself and some of my allies.. the 'other' me referred to himself as Zedika Dark." Dash paused, looking around. "I've not told a soul, not even Todd or Konall. But I think he might be behind what happened to Catrina."

Aleena moved close and pressed a sweet, gentle kiss upon Dash’s lips. “Thank you for your confidence.”

"Hm?" Dash nodded. "Oh. Of course."

“Distracted a little?”

Dash smiled. "Just getting into the story. You'd have had to see this to believe it; we were pitted against a dragon who could control time itself.. sort of. Among other things, it .. er, he.. had a curse that altered my enemy, the ability to 'shift' through time, making itself faster and his enemies slower. Oh.. and it could summon a version of enemies from his foe's past."

“That sounds unbeatable! But you must’ve defeated it somehow to be here, aye?”

Surprisingly, Dash shook his head slightly. "Actually, it wiped most of us out of existence.. well, not permanently. Obviously."

“Eh? How did that work out?” Aleena asked, looking confused.

"Catrina, Coconut- that's Rebecca's nickname- and a hippie named Moonbeam managed to make their way to the dragon. I was either engaged elsewhere, or removed from existence when it happened, but they did something and worked their magic. Turned out the dragon was simply under a very old, spiteful curse."

“And she who tried to kill you, saved you?”

"She'd saved my life several times," Dash said. "Like I said, it wasn't until a few hours after our interaction with Dark that things went south. Tell me that's coincid.." Dash's mind seemed to blank for a second.

“Are you okay?”

"Sorry. I just blanked out for a second," Dash said, having remembered something. He wasn't quite sure what. At this point, there was a knock-knock-knock on the door. Door. Door. “Door” wandered through Dash’s mind, looking for a thought to connect with.

Also, someone was knocking on the door. Hmmm...

"Could you get that, Dash?"

"Okay," Dash said, answering the door, expecting news that they were about to take off.

Outside was one of the larger hands on the deck. He looked at Dash, then back past Dash to Aleena. He smirked and nodded to Dash. “Sorry to interrupt ye but the Cap’n’s got a bit of somethin’ he wants to show ye before we set sail.” His voice dropped conspiratorially. “Of course, I could always tell him you were.. busy- if ye want?”

He chuckled.

"I appreciate the offer, but if Captain Morgan wants to see us, who are we to refuse?" Dash answered. "Come on, Aleena. I'll introduce you to our swash-bucking captain."

Aleena smiled. “Aye, let’s go.”

It wasn't a long walk to the Captain's quarters. All around the two, the pirates bustled with activity. Dash figured it wouldn't be long before the ship set sail, though he wasn't sure why the Captain wanted to see them in person to inform them of the obvious. Unless, of course, he had relevant news (or two relevant degrees.)

"What do you think's up?" Dash asked the elf. Dash had his longsword at his side, just in case they ran into trouble at sea. Plus it calmed Dash's nerves a little.

“I’ve no idea,” came her reply.

"Guess it's possible he just wants to catch up," Dash said. "After all, we did go through a lot against the Chrono Dragon."

“Maybe.” But Aleena didn’t believe that line of reasoning.

Dash and Aleena entered Captain Morgan's room to see the Captain has company. Dash reacted to the company by pulling his longsword to the ready and assuming a battle stance while the beautiful and dangerous Aleena followed Dash’s cue with a martial stance of her own.

"Careful, Morgan!" Dash called out. "That isn't the same Catrina you once knew."

Indeed. Sitting on the other side of the cabinet was the Queen of the Feline Empire herself, Catrina Whiteclaw. Her brother Cattaras stood guard behind her, should any dare threaten his sister, and right now, there was a whole lot of that going on.

Catrina smiled and stood, stepping forward. Cattaras drew Bad Beats and brought it to the ready, not sure himself what his sister was up to. She showed no fear as she stepped up to Dash. “As I said, dear Captain, Dash had come to the opinion that I was somehow evil- no doubt influenced by others in the KOKOL who thought the same despite my good works. So I was forced to find my fortunes elsewhere.”

Her eyes narrowed at Aleena as she took her scent- but then she grinned and giggled, speaking low. “Oh, you will be so much fun to play with, girl.”

Aleena felt bad vibes from Catrina’s words -- harmless in their face, but dripping with malice. She only tensed, waiting for Dash’s signal.

"I could see how getting that brute Raw Hide to kill me would be essential to that fortune," Dash said. "And I want my sword back from your baby brother. Now, if you please."

Catrina shrugged. “That was not part of my idea. That was just Raw being Raw. You know him- you worked with him more that I did so you know he was always a bit... extreme."

Cattaras growled. “As for your sword- you’re welcome to take it, anytime.”

"Gladly." Dash prepared to fight, turning to motion for assistance. "Aleena?"

Aleena in her style leaped across the room -- elven in grace, almost feline in speed. Almost. Though she threw the first punch, Catrina resisted with a quick block. Just as quickly the pair were on the deck wrestling for advantage- with Aleena growling nearly as badly as Catrina!

"Last chance, Cattaras," Dash growled at Cattaras, who's attention was firmly on the fight in the ship's deck.

"Alright, enough of this nonsense, ya land locked lubberheads!" Rebecca's authoritative voice called out. When the two seemed hesitant to break up the fight, Rebecca added, "Or we'll be tossin' your arses over and into the drink. Isn't that right, Captain?"

"Wha?" Captain Morgan's attention snapped to Rebecca. "Ah, that be right, Coconuts. And belay the talk of the sword, Dash."

"You know it's mine," Dash said, turning his glare to the ship's captain as the elf and lioness pushed each other away simultaneously, both rolling to their feet and returning to their positions.

"I know for a fact it was at one point, but I hardly need to know the details of what's happened since," said the Captain firmly. "Catrina's brother here walked on the ship with it, so I be inclined to believe it be his. If you want to settle the matter another way, you can do so.. when you're off me ship! Not before, got it?"

Dash kept his glare on Cattaras. "Understood. Enjoy it, Cattaras. Just bear in mind; possessing the sword hardly makes you a master of it."

Cattaras just growled in response.

"We'll get your sword back, Dash." Aleena sighed.

Dash nodded. "We will. And if they're guests on the ship, I'll assume that means they're here to 'help' us with the princesses.. again. But I don't see any reason for you and me to stay here, do you?"

"Not unless they plan to kidnap me again. Let's go." With that, Aleena turned and exited the Captain's room, with Sebastian himself right behind her, eager to put some distance between himself and the Felines. As to what happened in that room, or next with Dash and the elf, well... that'll just have to wait, won't it?

Solid and powerful roleplay there! Yup, it was the Felines who were the mysterious question marks. Forced to share a ship, let's see how peaceful the ride turns out to be for them.

Next up, we're going to take a look at a new character to AIL as they edge their way into the main story...