Lunation of Fate

SWEET-16 is considered an armored flight vehicle by national standards. It has a thin metal alloy for its exterior, and thick fabric panels for its interior.

There are offensive and defensive mechanisms attached to the aircraft like the plasmic EMP barrier (for repelling thunders and sun flares), bomb assemblies and small firearm mounts.

SWEET-16 stands for Sky Wings Embedding Etherial Technology, with the number as the successful prototype count of the said flight vehicle. It runs on Etherial fuel, an easily melted mineral deposit harvested under the sands of Ham Desert.

Bunny Lang was the chief designer for the SWEET-16 project. But because of its high-cost and maintenance, the aircraft was scrapped off by witborn military.

She overhauled the last prototype to make it stealthy, and was had finished upgrading it when Maxill and his friends popped out of nowhere.

Bunny welcomed them inside the aircraft’s cabin. Inside, there was a small round table with four chairs around it. The company of four sat around the table to discuss about their business.

“So, why do you need SWEET-16 for exactly? So many interested renters call off the deal when they find out about the leasing costs of this airship. Did Maxill tell you how expensive this baby runs on?”

“Is this for rent?” Juste quickly asked to confirm his million dianor question (dianor is the universal currency in Dianium).

Surprised at Juste’s high-adrenailne urgency, Bunny decided to reply in a calm manner, “Yes, sir, SWEET-16 can be leased, but-”

But before the brunette pilot could continue, Juste quickly stood up and smacked his leather hip bag on the table, revealing diamonds, gold, and paper money when the zipper slightly opened.

Chastine and Maxill were both flabbergasted at Juste’s impulsiveness, with Maxill understanding that the athletic fellhound is indeed royalty and is loaded, but he still has idiotic tendencies.

‘He sure gets what he wants’, thought the handsome bloodhunt.

Bunny’s eyes were glistening from the reflection of the diamonds and gold before her. When Juste shook off the bag to empty it, she almost drooled from the value it possessed as she mentally counted their total amount.

It amounted to 98 diamond pieces, 121 small gold coins, and a thick stack of bonds estimated to be 2 million dianors.

“Wait, Juste, you serious?” Maxill looked at Juste’s face reminded him about spending on impulse. Maxill thought that the fellhound must’ve fell in love at first sight to the SWEET-16.

“Juste, are you going to lease the ship or buy it?” Chastine was a little bothered about her boyfriend’s lack of self control.

Juste, on the other hand, was looking directly at Bunny and was waiting for her answer.

Bunny cleared a lump on her throat. She carefully thought of what she was going to tell the anticipating fellhound.

“Alright, sol-I mean leased. Leased!” She stretched out her hand to seal the deal between her and her lessee.

“Good.” Juste was about to shake his hand with Bunny’s.

“Wait, just wait!” Chastine butted into their conversation, extending her arm and gesturing to stop their handshake to clarify the details of the deal first.

Juste glanced at his girlfriend, who was now looking at him furiously at his senseless burning of cash.

She asked the money-mongering pilot about the specifics, “How much are you going to lease it for?”

“A hundred thousand a day.”

“WHAT?!” Chastine couldn’t believe what she just heard.

“It runs on Etherial fuel.”

Maxill exactly knew what Bunny was up to. She was often hungry for coin to keep her airship up and running. Her greed for money was sometimes overcome by her feelings for the bloodhunt.

He tried to read her mind to know the actual cost of the airship’s overhead.

It confused him that she wasn’t thinking about anything at that moment.

Maxill then tried to hypnotize her, so that he could look into her memories for the actual cost of the operating expense.

He was suddenly surprised that his magics were not affecting Bunny at all.

She looked at Maxill and taunted him, “Hah, try harder, hunnybun.”

‘D*mn pesky witborn’, Maxill murmured a cuss under his breath.

Chastine realized what her bestfriend had been doing, and she surmised that he failed at his attempts.

It was up to her to find other ways so that the bargain was done fairly.

Chastine began her inquiries.

“What’s Etherial fuel?”

“It’s a special kind of fuel discovered under Ham Desert.”

“Why are you using such kind if it’s expensive?”

“It’s the engine’s fuel, and for the plasmic EMP barrier to run.”

“Why do we need the barrier for?”

“It’s quite important. It’s to keep off solar flares and thunder from hitting the airship.”

“Can’t you just soar higher to avoid thunder while fly lower when sun flares show up?”

Bunny laughed at Chastine. “Oh, dear pretty, you don’t know anything about flying an airship.”

Chastine was insulted at Bunny’s retort. She knew she was going to pull off her game plan.

Lasty, she asked, “OK… how many bed rooms are in here?” She knew this already but asking about it was part of her scheme.

“Two rooms.”

“Since we have only two rooms, one of us is going to share a bed with you.”

Bunny was confused at Chastine’s sudden proposed idea. “What are you on about? You want to share a room with me?”

“That’s the first choice. BUT-there’s a big but-but that is if you’re only going to use the EMP barrier.”

Bunny was starting to become interested at Chastine’s idea and was going along her ride, “…and what if I won’t use it?”

“We pay half of your rental fee and Maxill will share a room with you.” Chastine grinned at her proposed idea.

“Chastine!” Maxill’s blood pressure suddenly burst out high like a geyser. “I can’t believe you’re going to sell me out. Screw you!”

But Chastine was just looking at Maxill in a calmly manner. She was staring at him and gesturing at the bloodhunt to read her mind.

‘Maxill, don’t worry, I got this.’

‘What are you up to, you sly witborn? I certainly do not want a p*ssy for a f*ckbuddy. Eww!’ He replied to Chastine telepathically.

‘Sorry, but I’ll explain later, OK?’ Chastine winked at her gay best friend.

After pondering on Chastine’s win-win situation for Bunny, the pilot replied, “Deal. I’m in.”

“Alright, 50, 000 dianors a day, and Maxill for your bed mate.”

“Heh. Chastine, can I shake her hand now?” Juste tilted his neck to look at Chastine.

“Wait, no contract?”

“Yes, only word of honor.” Bunny commented on Chastine’s by the book method.

The pretty witborn heaved out a sigh. “Alright, seal off the deal.”

Juste and Bunny shook hands to strike at an agreement.

“OK, I’ll warm her up now, then we fly in no time. Where to, by the way?”

Chastine was the one to reply, “Ham Desert. And don’t ask. It’s none of your business.”