— The Pirate Queen Goes Shopping
The neon skyline of Solution 9 glowed brighter than ever.
Now that the war was over, the city had begun rebuilding itself—not as a machine sustained by stolen souls, but as a living civilization discovering what it meant to truly live again.
Vendors shouted from holographic kiosks.
Street chefs grilled exotic foods beneath glowing lanterns.
Music pulsed through the crowded plazas.
And walking directly into the middle of it all—
Boots heavy.
Coat flowing behind her.
A grin already forming—
Was Fyrswyn Stormreaver.
Captain of the Blackjack.
Queen of trouble.
And today…
A shopper.
Culture Shock
She stopped in the middle of the central plaza.
Neon billboards rotated overhead.
Flying delivery drones zipped between towers.
Mechanical vendors rolled past, offering drinks.
The pirate queen blinked slowly.
“…Well.”
She looked around with genuine delight.
“This place is ridiculous.”
Behind her, two nervous deckhands whispered.
“Cap’n…”
“…are we supposed to be here?”
Fyrswyn waved them off.
“Relax.”
She cracked her knuckles.
“We’re participating in commerce.”
The First Purchase
A glowing storefront caught her eye.
Rows of advanced Alexandrian weapons floated inside display fields.
Energy pistols.
Plasma blades.
Modular rifles.
Fyrswyn stepped inside immediately.
The automated shop attendant activated.
“Welcome valued customer.”
“Please select from our premium defense solutions.”
The pirate queen leaned on the counter.
“Question.”
“Yes?”
“Which one of these is the loudest?”
Nerressa’s Worst Nightmare
Several hours later…
Back aboard the Blackjack.
Nerressa stared in horror at the growing pile of advanced Alexandrian weaponry stacked on the deck.
“Where did you get all this?”
Fyrswyn proudly lifted a massive neon-blue energy revolver.
“Shopping.”
Nerressa squinted.
“…That’s a military prototype.”
“Yep.”
“And that one?”
She pointed at a long rifle with rotating energy coils.
“Experimental rail weapon.”
Nerressa pinched the bridge of her nose.
“How much did you spend?”
Fyrswyn smiled proudly.
“Everything.”
The Outfit
Then the pirate queen stepped out from behind a crate, wearing something even more outrageous.
A long cyberpunk coat glowing with neon trim.
Augmented eyepiece.
Magnetic boots.
She struck a pose.
“Well?”
Nerressa stared.
Thancred nearly choked.
“…You look like a nightclub bouncer from the future.”
Fyrswyn grinned.
“I look fantastic.”
The Real Reason
Nerressa crossed her arms.
“You didn’t just go shopping.”
The pirate queen smirked.
“Correct.”
She tossed a data chip across the table.
Nerressa caught it.
Her eyes widened instantly.
“Ship engine schematics?”
Fyrswyn leaned back.
“Your little moon bunny friends are building rockets.”
She tapped the schematics.
“Thought you might want a warship version.”
Nerressa stared at the designs.
“…You want a space pirate ship.”
Fyrswyn’s grin widened.
“Oh yes.”
Back in Solution 9
Later that night, the pirate queen stood on a balcony overlooking the glowing city.
Solution 9 shimmered beneath her.
For the first time since the war ended…
The place felt alive.
She lifted a glass.
“To the future.”
Then smirked.
“…and to upset at least one person tomorrow.”
Because no matter how much the world changed…
Pirate Queen Fyrswyn Stormreaver was still herself.
And that meant trouble was never very far away.
