The Briefcase

As Shiro navigates the ship away from the Leviathan's territory, her right hand still throbs with lingering pain. She grips the wheel tightly, focusing on the horizon to distract herself from the discomfort.

Meanwhile, Friend waddles across the deck, her curiosity piqued by an unusual sight in the corner - Skimmer's briefcase, left slightly ajar. The chicken approaches cautiously, head tilted as she peers inside.

The case is filled with an array of shiny, metallic objects - Gull parts of various sizes and shapes. Friend's eyes widen with excitement, and she glances back at Shiro to ensure the captain is preoccupied.

Seeing Shiro's attention fixed on steering the ship, Friend hops closer to the briefcase. She pecks at a small, cylindrical piece, causing it to roll out onto the deck. The chicken chases after it, feet pattering against the metal surface.

Friend manages to catch the part, holding it triumphantly in her beak. She struts around the briefcase, head held high, as if showing off her prize to an invisible audience.

Emboldened by her success, Friend dives back into the case, rummaging through the Gull components with enthusiastic clucks. Her beak brushes against a sleek, elongated piece. Friend's eyes widen as she pulls out a Gull that resembles a handle, its surface cool and smooth to the touch.

Intrigued, Friend examines the Gull more closely. Suddenly, her beak accidentally presses against a hidden button, and a brilliant blue plasma blade erupts from the handle with a sharp hiss.

Friend squawks in surprise, nearly dropping the activated Gull. She hops back, the plasma blade humming and casting an eerie glow across the deck.

The chicken's initial shock quickly transforms into fascination. She experimentally swings the plasma blade, marveling at the way it slices through the air with a satisfying whoosh.

Emboldened by her newfound toy, Friend begins to prance around the deck, wielding the plasma blade like a miniature knight. She lunges at invisible foes, her movements becoming more exaggerated and comical with each passing moment.

As Friend spins and twirls, the plasma blade accidentally grazes a nearby barrel. The wooden container splits cleanly in half, its contents spilling onto the deck with a loud clatter.

The sudden noise catches Shiro's attention once more. She whirls around, her eyes widening as she takes in the scene before her: Friend, frozen mid-pose with the plasma blade held high, surrounded by the remnants of the destroyed barrel.

Shiro releases the wheel and strolls across the deck, hands in her pockets. "You know better than to play with strange objects," she says, eyeing the plasma blade still humming in Friend's beak.

The chicken drops the weapon with a clang, puffing up her feathers in defiance. Her waddle bounces back and forth as she struts away from the scene of destruction.

A glint catches Shiro's eye - the cylindrical piece Friend had rolled out earlier. She bends down to examine it, then freezes. Beneath the metallic surface, microscopic dots swarm and pulse with an ominous red glow. Nanobots.

"Friend, what did you do?" Shiro snatches up the cylinder. Heat radiates from its surface - the bomb activated from Friend's touch.

Without hesitation, Shiro hurls the device as far as she can. It arcs through the air, plunging into the dark waters with a splash.

The explosion rocks the ship sideways. A massive plume of water erupts skyward, raining down on the deck. Friend flaps her wings in excitement, hopping up and down as spray patters against her feathers.

The chicken races to the railing, neck stretched out to watch the churning waters below. She clucks with delight at each new ripple, as if demanding an encore performance.

"You're going to be the death of me, you know that?" she says, shaking her head.

Friend just shakes herself dry, sending water droplets flying, before waddling back to investigate what other treasures might be hiding in the briefcase.

"Don't even think about it." Shiro steps between Friend and the case.

Friend circles around Shiro's legs, her head bobbing with determination as she tries to peek at the briefcase. Each time Shiro blocks her path, the chicken darts to another angle, like a feathered boxer looking for an opening.

"No." Shiro plants her feet wider.

Friend puffs up her chest and lets out an indignant cluck. She hops onto a nearby crate, gaining the height advantage, then launches herself toward the briefcase.

Shiro catches the chicken mid-air. "I said no."

The chicken wriggles free, dropping to the deck with a flutter of feathers. She fixes Shiro with her most pitiful look - head tilted, eyes wide and pleading.

"That doesn't work on me."

Friend's expression shifts to something more calculating. She struts to the ship's railing and perches there, threatening to jump overboard unless her demands are met.

"Really?" Shiro raises an eyebrow.

The chicken inches closer to the edge, one foot dangling dramatically over the side.

"Fine." Shiro grabs the briefcase and hurls it into the sea. "Now we're both unhappy."

Friend's beak drops open in shock. She races along the railing, following the briefcase’s trajectory as it splashes into the waves. Her head whips back to Shiro, then to the water, then back to Shiro - the perfect picture of betrayal.

The chicken paces the deck, stopping occasionally to shoot accusatory glares at her captain. Each pause is punctuated by increasingly dramatic sighs and huffs, her feathers ruffling with theatrical flair.

"You'll live." Shiro says, returning to the wheel.