"The only conclusion I can come to is that they must have wanted to drive us away from the ship, without killing us. To leave us alive...for what? To bring the message back? But the message is unclear." She shakes her head.

"In any case, they're tough and well-armed, but at least they're not, as far as I've seen, some sort of ungodly immortal horrors. They're creatures, beings, that can be fought and hurt and killed. I'm not afraid to face them again."

Furiosa returns the salute with a variation of her own, a cross between the V8 clasp and the Vuvalini salute, a two-handed gesture that ends with one hand on her own sternum. "I'm Furiosa. It's good to meet you. Let me know if I can help with getting the equipment set up."