For two weeks, Tasha probably spent more time with Gabriel than ever before. At his side, she learned how to excavate, preserve and catalog artifacts, read the landscape to look for buried or overgrown structures, bathe under a waterfall, and even skin-dive for things that had fallen in the water. Both she and Hakeber got a quick education in jungle survival from Aaron, of all people, and Hakeber spent a lot of time with the Queen's own scholars and historians. And when things seemed to become too complicated for Tasha, there was always the fallback of moving heavy loads about.
It had given the half-Vartan time to think and decide on her next course of action, which was to return to Rephidim. Both to deal with the Temple and her own mother. An airship was boarded in Xenia and they were on their way. After several days of flight, the cloud-front marking the edge of Rephidim's pressure envelope appeared before them, and Tasha joined Hakeber on the deck. The scholar was mainly looking upward, past the edge of the envelope to catch a glimpse of the Procession in daylight, the arch spanning the sky from east to west as they approached the sky-island from the south.
"It must be strange for you, to see not a moon, but a band around the world?" Tasha asks as she walks up beside her friend and lays her hands upon the railing, leaning forward.
"It's what tipped the ancients off that this system was special," Hakeber notes. "A world like this would be wobbly without a big moon to stabilize its axial precession. The orbits, alignments, atmospheres... they were all impossible."
"From what I've gathered from our records and my time on these different worlds, that really seems to be the case. It's funny, but, a few weeks ago I thought the rest of the universe was abnormal." Smiling, Tasha leans forward until her hooves leave the ground, letting her stick her head out in to the breeze. She closes her eyes, and looks happy. "Home is home, though, no matter how weird it is. Did you know there's a torus around the sun?"
"The Disc of Eras talked about it, but nobody ever got a probe close enough to get a good look," Hakeber notes, and dares to look over the railing before pulling back. "The damage seen through the gateway portal shocked me," she admits. "So did the missing top of the Sinai Gateway tower. What could damage Sifran crystal like that?"
"I heard the gateway could open up to the sun, but I never got a look at that myself. Is it really that bad?" Tasha drops back, letting her hooves touch the deck again. "There's significant formations of Sifran crystal near my mother's place, and considering how valuable it can be, the fact that it hasn't all been stolen is what I think of, when I think of Sifran toughness. Though, I've never tried to break one myself. Are they really that durable?"
"We've found ruins nearly a billion years old," Hakeber notes, and shivers. "Just about all of the crystal that's been examined is indestructible to our technologies, although I don't have the details on just what they were subjected too. The planetary crystal is probably impossible to just break off."
Tasha's eyes widen, the young woman brushing her hair back and out of her face as the wind touseles it. "I had no idea," she admits with a hint of awe. "Billions of years old, and they still seem to work. The 'Boomer' device, which seems to have been some sort of faster than light transportation system, didn't even disturb the crystal on Abaddon. And here, I thought Harmonia and the time we've been here made me feel brief. A billion years ... I can't wrap my mind around it."
"Do you know much about the other ancient sites?" Hakeber asks. "I heard there were First Ones places here that are older than the Expedition but younger than the Sifras. Ancient Expeditions, I guess."
"Only rumors and heresay, but we used to get the stories now and then. So-and-so, friend of a friend stuff, but they all had a common element that's backed by Temple propaganda: bad things happen when you tamper with Sifran formations and enter old ruins. From what I've seen so far, I am willing to believe it's no lie. As it is, though, the Temple demands all Sifran crystals recovered and tends to interfere with exploration -- or tomb raiding as is more often the case," Tasha answers. She turns, leaning her back against the rail and folding her hands behind her head as she watches the Karnor scholar. "I know this isn't very scholarly, but I meant to ask: Is Hakeber your full name? Were you born in Expedition City?"
"New Zion girl," Hakeber says, and grins. "Scholar Hakeber is my Knights Templar name. We don't keep our original ones. My birth name is Rebekah."
"You have to give up your name too?" Tasha asks, ears perking. "I didn't know that! Now I'm going to think of you as all official; I thought Hakeber was just a cute and quirky name before!" She barks a laugh, then admits, "I like Rebekah too. Oh, and Tasha is my real name. Just Tasha. My mother wasn't anyone important, and I guess she didn't feel like taking a deed name."
"Anyway.. I haven't been Rebekah for years," Hakeber notes. "Back then I was a very prim and proper little girl. So when I became a Templar, I reversed my name and my personality!"
"Oh, is that how it was??" Tasha asks with mock-surprise, leaning forward to get a closer look at the other woman despite her accute vision. "I can't quite imagine you as prim and proper, but I guess everyone is that grows up in New Zion? Me, I was, well, a lot more like you before I started all this and forgot to relax." She laughs again.
"So what's your mom like?" Hakeber asks, wagging her tail. "You're gonna introduce me right? I want to see Underside and your family tavern! Are there clubs and stuff?"
"Oh, mom is big and red, and taller than Gabriel. She can pick up most men in one hand and is louder than I am! She's been keeping the Fallen Friend tavern ever since she left The Rake -- the airship I was born on -- and decided to go her own way, away from her old friend Captain Eyeshine, who's been chasing her since forever. And, as you can probably guess," Tasha waggles a hand at herself, "she has a thing for Karnors." She grins, then rolls her head so that she can watch the approaching cloudfront. "You can meet her if she doesn't disown me or something. I'm really not sure how she's going to take all this. Of course even if thinsg go great, the Underside is, well, it's full of crime and just a bit better than Darkside. Like the name says though, everything's built upside down, attached to the bottom of the island with lots of bridges, fliers, and seedier places. We don't really have clubs like you do, most of them are taverns, bars, and drug dens, but a few are better."
"Why are we flying into that cloud?" Hakeber wonders, then asks, "Well, there clubs on the top of the island, right? Or should I ask Aaron - but he just doesn't give off the clubber vibe you know?"
"He really doesn't," Tasha agrees. "But he'd know, he keeps tabs on just about everything. As it is though, I think you might be in for a bit of a culture shock. Our way of life is different from your own, and we just don't have clubs like you're thinking of. But, maybe you'll find something else you like? Oh, and the island ... " Tasha pushes off ther rail, standing straight and nodding towards the looming cloud. "Rephidim's in there. The island produces that cloud where ever it goes, and usually rain. It's beautiful, though, the cloud and the island itself."
"So.. everybody arrives on Rephidim damp?" Hakeber asks, unsure if Tasha is pulling her leg or not. By then it's too late, as they're already hitting the edge of the cloudwall. It's like walking into a gradually thickening fog.
"Oh no, just the people under it. You can hear a lot of griping about Rephidim when it passes over someone's town -- all that rain and trash we drop has to go somewhere!" She barks another laugh as she slings an arm around Hakeber's shoulder and guides her towards the edge of the bow deckspace. "Eyes open! It'll be here before you know it, and it's bad luck to blink and miss it!"
"You just dump your trash over the side?" Hakeber asks in horror. Visibility drops to zero for a long moment, until the cloud starts to thin. Sounds seems dampened as well, until ears adjust to the change to higher pressure. Once the clouds thin enough, the sky island comes into view. Seen edge on, with the high mountain on top and the huge reverse-peak below it looks like something out of a dream, especially with all the rainbows. But those colorful arches fade once the ship is fully through the cloud wall. The crew hurries into action, using flags to signal to the docks ahead.
"Welcome to Rephidim!" Tasha declares, throwing her non-Hakeber holding hand wide. "The greatest power on Sinai, and home to the best docks in all the world. A diverse metropolis where you can meet or buy almost anything!" Her hand falls, and she leans forward to get a look at Hakeber's reaction to seeing Rephidim for the first time. "What do you think?"
"I.. didn't realize it would be so.. big," the Karnor admits, sounding overwhelmed. "It looks bigger than the Pit from here!"
"It is bigger than the Pit," Tasha confirms, looking back toward the island. "Can you see that giant building toward the rear of the city? The one that's sort of dark? That's the edge of the Ark, original flagship of the original Expedition Fleet. Inside is Rephidim's government."
"Intimidating," Hakeber says, glancing over towards the military docks. "I can see why it's the major power, even if it doesn't have as much.. territory as the ground nations. You can't shoot it down, and if it passes over.. I mean, you could just drop bombs over the side."
"Oh, bombs would just explode before they hit the ground. The whole surface has such a high SPF rating that anything more complex or unstable than a pocketwatch would explode," Tasha explains. Reaching out, she points downward, towards the hanging formations below the island. "That's Underside. When we get closer, I might even be able to see The Rake if it's in port."
As they get closer, more of the air traffic becomes apparent. It's crowded enough that a dock pilot flies out - an older Vartan Tasha knows as Buckeye - to guide the ship the rest of the way in.
"Rocks then," Hakeber suggests. "Although, at this altitude.. would even your garbage reach the ground, or be scattered by the wind?"
"Hoy Buckeye!" Tasha yells as the familiar Vartan comes out. "Long time no see!" It strikes Tasha a second after yelling it that the phrase of familiar greeting is Terran, but she just grins and waves anyway.
"It depends how heavy the garbage is," Tasha admits, glancing to Hakeber. "Metals are really uncommon on Sinai, but wood, clay, people, those can be pretty heavy."
The pilot waves back to Tasha, but is too busy to talk. There are lots of forms and such to sign, after all, unlike Underside.
"Do you have a favorite bar Topside?" Hakeber asks. "How do people.. hang out? All together, or do Vartans stick with Vartans and Karnors with Karnors and all that?"
"The upper dock is a form and taxation nightmare," Tasha explains as the older Vartan passes them by. "Rephidim is very particular about its forms and taxes, and you'ld better have both -- or be prepared to hand over bribes -- if you want to dock and leave again. Sometimes you get some really power hungry inspectors that'll want the bribdes anyway, but at least it's a far sight safer than Underside."
Tasha pauses a moment after, considering the question aftergiving her brief review. "Well, it depends on who you know, your social status, and what species you are. Gallee -- the dog people -- they usually stick together and won't even bother with the rest of us. Karnors -- they're called Jupani on this world by the way -- stick together a lot, but mostly because they are usually in the military or guard. The flying species tend to group together for obvious reasons, and we're really common down below and on the docks. Lapi like Aaron stick to the middle class areas. um, you get a lot of everyone else who fall in with their social group more than species. We have titled nobles, too, and they stick together with the Gallee."
"The government workers would probably stick together then too," Hakeber surmises. "They don't all live in the Temple, do they?"
"Oh no, they live all over the city. The higher ups have mansions in the countryside which is also called the Nobles' Quarter, and I assume the lower level people live around the Government District and the Public Quarter; maybe other places. There's also the two Crafters' Quarters and the Scholars' Quarter, where the universities are -- I'm sure you'll want to see it. I've only been there once, myself," Tasha answers, then adds, "Before started my adventure, I was pretty firmly in the lower class, and wasn't welcome in the nicer areas. You have to be careful who you talk to and where you go, at least until our papers clear."
"So is Underside lower class? Or does that exist in the city too?" Hakeber asks. "Aaron says we're staying in the Scholar's Quarter. And yeah, I'd like to see the universities!"
"I'm sure they'll be happy to meet you too, once we have the proper introductions. As for the lower class, we mostly keep to the worse areas of the docks, the lower Crafters' Quarter, Darkside, and Underside. Darkside isn't a place you should go, and neither is Underside unless I'm there with you. Oh, and there's old ruins just outside the city," the half-Vartan points to the far left, to some old, ruined walls, "and that's the Old City. It's worth a look, but the Old City is where the dregs of society end up. We won't be going there without an armed escort."
"What makes it Old?" Hakeber asks. "Is it from a previous civilization, or just the first place they established after the crash?"
"I really don't know, to be honest. I wasn't exactly the 'thinking sort' before I began on my journey, so I never gave it much thought. To most of the people here, it's just that place that's best avoided," Tasha replies, frowning as she watches the distant walls pass behind the airship. "We may want to ask about them later."
"You make it sound so tempting," Hakeber says. "I bet Gabriel has checked it out before."
"He didn't, not while we were here, anyway. But, he may know more about it than I do. I never thought to ask. It's funny, but home is the place I seemed to least want to know about. I guess I was comfortable thinking of home as always being the same, and never thought to question it," Tasha admits. She turns her attention back to the approaching dock, and points. "We're almost there. Speaking of strange, I feel really strange just sitting here and doing nothing as we dock. For most of my life, I was one of those people rushing around, getting the ship ready. It's a little sad to consider, but my life is a lot more interesting now, right?"
"Terrifyingly interesting," Hakeber claims, grinning. Then she looks to the city and the distant Temple, and sobers. "There's a Templar fortress here too. I would really like to visit that, but I don't know the status of the Knights here or what sort of permission is required."
"Bad," Tasha admits bluntly, following Hakeber's gaze. "The Temple and the Knights had a falling out, so be careful who you tell your associations to when by yourself. You may still be able to find one or more of their representatives here -- you know how politics are -- but I heard their base was abandoned and some new organization took over. Their base was really nice, from what little I know about it."
Tilting her head, tasha begins to slowly scan the docks, steadily passing her gaze from right to left, first low, then the reverse as she levels it. "I wonder if The Rake is in?"
"Or Dagh's Chibix," she mutters a second later, barely audible.
"What kind of name is that?" Hakeber asks at the mumble.
"What?" Tasha asks, blinking. She had apparently been so engrossed in her search she may have overlooked the slip. It takes her a second to catch on. "Oh. That. It's nothing to worry about," she insists as she keeps looking, "just forget I mentioned it."
"Should I be worried?" Hakeber asks. "Do you have enemies here?"
"Enemies?" Tasha leans back, ears flattening. "Well ..," she cocks her head to the side as she purses her muzzle, then she shrugs a little and admits, "Probably. I wasn't a very nice person before I decided to change -- in fact I was a jerk. There's going to be people who still remember me that way, and others I didn't get on well with. Most of them were small time, and not a big danger except individually, but a few are more serious and I'll be trying to avoid them."
After the admittance, Tasha grows quiet a moment, eyes staring forward, a pained look on her face. "You have to understand, Hakeber, I tried very hard to change once I knew I needed to, but for most of my life I was a terrible person. I'd use people and be used, steal, beat people up because I just didn't like them, and I ... had a lot of partners. It's part of why I try so hard to make sure that isn't the me people see on Abaddon, and only old Rahab really ever sees that side of me anymore. But here ... " she sighs, head shaking as she brushes her hair back, " ... here it lingers."
"I guess that why Templars shed their names," Hakeber says. "A lot of them were probably like you. They joined for the discipline and because.. they really burned their bridges behind them, I suppose."
"I really can't blame them," Tasha says, turning to watch Hakeber's reaction. "But nothing really changes when you do that; the scars linger and those you wronged don't disappear. But, I guess sometimes we need to cut ourselves from our past if we're to grow in to our future. Past a point, there's not much you can do, so it's better to focus on the future. I just thought I should tell you, in case something happens. I think you're enough like me that you always knew I wasn't always the 'little miss hero pilot' I try to seem."
"I once did a striptease on top of a table at a party," Hakeber admits. "I never beat anyone up, but I've probably done a few wild, thoughtless things besides that."
"Well, despite how horrible you are, I like you," Tasha insists, smiling again. "And besides, some of those people I beat up really deserved it. And there's no harm in a good tavern brawl, right? Ready to grab Gabriel and disembark?"
"And how much alchohol for a striptease?" She adds a second later, smile only broadening.
"I did it to get free drinks, actually," Hakeber mutters and blushes.
"All passengers below decks for docking, please," the bosun calls out.
Tasha folds her arms, leaning back. "Oh?" She seems about to say something about that, but pauses at the call, nodding towards the stairwell. "That's our call, time to set foot on your first sky island. Try not to strip until we get on the docks!"
The docks are crowded and busy, but Aaron is able to vanish into the mass and return with a wagon drawn by an old Dromodon and a hunchbacked Kavi. He's quick enough that they beat the other mob of roving Kavi offering guide services, porting and hand-drawn maps. The port area is fairly extensive, and full of things that pander to both tourists and sailors, at least along the road they take. Hakeber is all eyes and ears when the pass through the Bazaar into the city itself. It's still some time before they reach the Scholar's Quarter and Aaron's townhouse. There's a pile of mail on the other side of the door, and the house looks a bit dusty - apparently his housesitter, Spring Meadow, got called off.. to Abaddon! "I know what I'm going to be doing the rest of the afternoon," the Lapi sighs, and looks for the feather-duster.
"Be sure to record any relics you uncover," Tasha quips as she stands by the doorway, looking around. Once Hakeber enters, she pulls her to the side and says, "This is where we stayed first, after leaving our original excavation site. You've been with us long enough to know enough secrets that telling you we left the TSS Fenris shouldn't come as a surprise. We held over here to treat our injured at the College before we headed for the Tower. This was, oh, several weeks back."
"This is like the fanciest house I've ever seen," Hakeber says, and her eyes seem torn between what is clearly a wet bar one side of the building and a library with interesting curios on the other.
"I suppose we'll need to get groceries," Gabriel notes from the kitchen. "And you refrigerator isn't working.."
"I'll have a mage come by and charge it back up again," Aaron notes, quickly looking through his mail. "I have to check on my store, and with the guild, and.. see if my maybe-girlfriend is back from whatever adventures she's been on.."
"Aaron's been around the world and apparently made a decent income as an apothacary before helping us out," Tasha explains. "I'm sure he won't mind you looking around. Um," she casts a glance towards Gabriel and his mention of the 'refrigerator', ears flicking, "I think I'll leave you all to settle in and learn more about how we live from Aaron. I'm going to head out for a while." She tilts her head back towards the door, thumbing back to it.
"Back to see your mother?" Gabriel asks, looking concerned.
Tasha nods, hand falling. "That's right."
"Okay, you know how to stay out of trouble," Gabriel notes, coming out of the kitchen. He's wearing an apron and has a mop in his hand. "Give your mother my love!"
"Everyone's being productive.. so.. uh.. I'll go check the library! For cobwebs!" Hakeber volunteers, and gives Tasha a wink.
"I do?" Tasha asks, brows raising and a lopsided grin crossing her face. "And, I'm sure she'll be delighted to hear that; you know I had to fight her for you, don't you?" She returns Hakeber's wink with one of her own, then gives the group a wave. "Wish me luck!"
Looking in from outside, Tasha realizes the mirrors aren't as dazzling as she remembers. But Desdi is still behind the bar, and two airship crews are locked in a dart-throwing match (although there's also a stiletto stuck to the target). It seems a normal start to the evening, without anyone getting too rowdy yet. Although the Khatta girl in Tasha's ill-fitting wench costume is certainly having difficulties, as she has extra rags tied around the sleeves and no matter how tightly the bodice is laced up, she still can't risk bending over.
Having landed a block or so out, Tasha took her time in reaching the Fallen Friend. Despite trying to convince herself shes doing it for the nostalgia, she knows, deep down, that a part of her is dreading what might happen. When she finally rounds the corner and spots her mother's place, she stops.
How long has it been, since I was last home? It's only been a few months, and yet it feels like a lifetime. How much have I created with my own hands? How many people have I met? I've come so far. And, there were times I thought I'd never see home again -- times when my life flashed before my eyes, and feared it was all over. So much has happened since I decided to leave The Rake and follow Calligenia, then Gabriel, out in to the wider world. Out in to the stars. And now ...
She looks down at herself, now armed, her modest, but no less expensive, clothes hidden under the light cloak she wears. She thinks she must look a bit nobby, with her fancy swords and upscale travel clothes from another world. It's who I am now. Whatever happens, I'll still be me, and I'll keep going. No more stalling. She takes a deep breath, throws her cowl over her head, and heads for the door.
"Hey, Tashly, I dropped me mug," one of the seated patrons calls to the Khatta wench, who grumbles and takes out her rag to sop up the spilled beer. The table she's facing whistles and catcalls.
Now there's something I don't miss, but Tashly? Tasha risks a glance from under her hood, watching the new serving girl a moment with quiet curiosity before she heads further inside. Rather than approach the counter, she decides to take a seat at one of the booths in the back, where she can watch things and keep a low profile, waiting for the serving girl to come over.
After cleaning up and adjusting her bodice again, the serving girl approaches Tasha's booth. Her demeanor seems to improve when she catches a glimpse of the clothing hidden by the cloak. "Welcome to The Fallen Friend," the girl says, and.. curtsies! "I'm Tashly. How may I serve you this eve?" she purrs.
Tasha finds herself chuckling despite herself, knowing she'd have done exactly the same thing. "I'll have your best," she answers, keeping her head down. Her hand disappears under the table, rising with the dull clatter of coins, which she soon pushes across the booth at an angle to prevent the other patrons from getting a look at them. There's exactly twenty wooden shekels, the price of the tavern's best. "In a clean glass and not watered down. And here," she lifts her hand, revealing a copper shekel! "This is for the service, from one serving wench to another."
"Don't let them see it," Tasha adds, settling back.
"I.. yes, of course!" Tashly says, scooping up the coins without seeming to. She bounces back to the bar and puts in the order. Desdi casts a suspicious eye towards the booth, but with the hood and shadows there's now way to recognize Tasha as anything by a short Vartan.
When Tashly brings the glass (real glass, not leather) back, she bends over low. "Is there anything else you want?" she asks coyly.
/My good deed for the day, and worth twice as much for the novelty. How many times did I wonder about the mysterious strangers, hoping beyond hope, that they'd be my lucky chance?/ Despite herself, she looks up enough to enjoy the show. /I never thought /I'd/ be that mysterious stranger for someone. What a funny world.// She enjoys the view a moment more, then says, "How about some bread, a sandwich, and some peace? Not that I mind your company." And she doesn't. The whole experience is soothing and nostalgic; she could almost fall asleep here despite the noise, settling in to the comforts of home and success.
"Do you want cheese?" Tashly asks, swishing her tail. "We have hard cheese, and soft cheese, and do you prefer your meat sliced or slabby? Kyootcumber mustard?"
Tasha pauses. The answer could give her away, but she's not so attached to her diguise as keep it at the expense of a good meal. "Soft cheese, Gallisan blue if you still have any. Sliced would be wonderful," she replies.
"With mustard dip," she adds after an indecisive pause.
"Right away!" Tashly says, and vanishes behind the bar into the kitchen area. Desdi shakes her head, but then three sailors are there to get her attention, even if they're all getting the same cheap grog.
After returning with the sandwich, Tashly continues to loiter. "So.. new in town?" she digs.
Settling in, Tasha sips her mug in the way she's learned from Gabriel, the motion by now a habit. The simple peace of just sitting here, where little has changed and everything is familiar, is something she can't undervalue. Her adventures have taught her to savor these moments, as she knows full they never last long enough.
"In a sense. I've been gone a while, you see," she answers between the sips, taking her time with both.
"You have an interesting name -- didn't someone named Tashy work here before?" Tasha asks.
"Oh, the owner's daughter, Tasha used to work here sometimes," Tashly claims. "But she eloped with a rich Jupani and went gallivanting around the world.. so I've heard.."
Chuckling all over again, Tasha shakes her head. "Well, she always was full of more daring than sense, at least from what I remember. Has business been good? Is The Rake in? Golden Pheasant? The ... " She carefully steadies her voice in to that 'political neutral' tone she's become so accustomed to. "Dagh's Chibix, perhaps?"
"I think the Rake is supposed to be here in a few days," Tashly says, scrunching her brow in thought. "Pheasant left a few days back. The 'Bat out of Hell'.. err.. Dagh's Chibix.. doesn't really follow a known schedule. They tend to just show up at random."
"Isn't that the truth?" Tasha grimaces, although the serving wench can't see it. She takes another sip, longer this time, then settles the mug between her hands, watching the foam ripple. No more hesitating. As much as I'd like to sit here forever, I shouldn't waste time. After a second more, she says, "Tashly, would you mind asking that pretty woman behind the counter to come join me?"
"Desdi?" Tashly asks in surprise and disappointment. "Who should I say is asking for her?"
"The other serving girl." Tasha then reaches over to pat Tashly's hand. "Don't be disappointed, now. Chin up, aye?"
The Khatta slinks back to the bar and whispers to Desdi, whose eyebrows rise up. She waits for Tashly to take her place behind the bar, and comes over to the booth, sitting where she can still watch the tavern. "Okays, you got my eye and ear," she says. "What this about my daughter?"
"You sound so suspicious," Tasha remarks, finally looking up to reveal a Karnor face, well kept with her hair still holding some of its style despite the wind. "Not that I was being very open, but can you blame me for wanting to see how things have been before I jump in?"
The face is the same, even if she looks the part of the young girl who elopped with a rich Jupani -- but the voice is a different matter. Refined and precise, she sounds like she spent her last few weeks in the world's most stringent charm school. Her drinking is little better, a messless sip. "Are you disappointed to see me?"
"Tash!" Desdi yelps and then pulls the girl into a smothering hug! "You back for good? Where your man? He not leave you did he? You can come home if you need to. Did he make you go to school?"
"Hrrk!" Tasha wheezes as she's pulled across the table and nearly smoothered, which also reveals she's armed by the large stretches of something now jutting up from both sides of her hips. After disentangling herself a bit, she grins up at her mother and pats her cheek. "I'm just back for a while. It's a long story -- want to go to the back? Can I have my head now? And yes!"
"Okays," Desdi says, happy. She looks like she's about to announce Tasha's return to the crowd, then thinks better of it. "Tashly, watch customers. No skimming! No drinking on duty!"
Tashly thumps her forehead on the bar top, and says, "Yes, of course Miss Desdemona."
Desdi all but drags Tasha into the back room, opposite the kitchen, which serves as her apartment. "Sit, sit!" she tells Tasha. "I make some tea!"
"It's OK, I bribed her already," Tasha whispers to her mother as she gathers up her food and follows her to the back room.
Once seated, Tasha sheds her cloak, showing she is indeed armed, and well dressed to boot. "Whew," she breathes, as if just having learned she's going to live. "I'm happy to see you too. I really wasn't sure ... Well. No need to worry about that now. I see you got a new serving girl? Tashly. Did you miss me that much?" She pulls a comb from a leather case at her side, and begins to use it.
"I catch her rooting through garbage, take pity," Desdi claims. "Had to punish her once, but she stuck around anyway. Might keep her. She purrs nice and lets me pet her."
"I bet she does. She was rather shameless once she saw my clothing, and more so later." Tasha says with laughter in her voice. "Poor girl, I can sympathize with her. I passed her a copper piece, from one serving girl to another, so that should help a bit if she doesn't squander it -- though I really don't mind if she does. It's her's now. Anyway ... You're probably wondering why I sound all nobby, right? And where I've been?"
"You handing out coppers as tips?" Desdi asks, and seems to really look over Tasha's outfit. "You no pirating are you? You are, I wear the bottom out of your pants with my palm!" she warns.
This just makes Tasha bark a laugh. "Me? A pirate? Not that I wasn't tempted at one point, but all that yelling from ol' Eyeshine must have sunk in. No, I'mm not a pirate. I'mm, well, I'mm an explorer, and politician. Let me explain." Returning her comb to its pounch, Tasha settles her hands on her lap and explains, "You might not believe this, but after I left this world, I joined an organization. Or, well, founded one, if that's not even harder to believe. I'mve been working for them ever since. We're recognized by the major nations of Abaddon, and I'm actually back in Rephidim on a exploratory and political mission."
Tasha watches her mother's face, inwardly bracing. She hadn't expected to just blurth things out so suddenly, but true to her Vartan roots, bluntness took over. Now she sits with apparent demeur patience, as her anxiety builds. Here we go ...
It takes time, but Desdi's brow slowly darkens. "A politician?" she squawks. "How is that not being a PIRATE! Do you collect taxes from people now?"
Tasha winces, but presses on. "No, no, nothing like that. I'm an explorer first and foremost. It's just that in order to do that, we nee the financial backing of governments. More importantly, we need their good will. By establishing relations of mutual benefit, we work to improve the lives of both groups and the people they touch. We explore these worlds, and we use what we find to answer questions and better peoples' lives. I ... I swear I do not collect any taxes!" At least not directly, Tasha realizes. One way or another, though, taxes end up in her pocket. Taxes paid for her meal. Her ears cant, making her look guilty despite her trying to maintain decorum.
After a second or too, Tasha breathes a sigh and nods. "I guess we do receive taxes indirectly, but they're for a good cause. I won't deny it, though. I've tried to live as openly as I can, so I'm not going to lie. I'm not ... that person anymore."
Desdi's feathers are still a bit raised. "You know I no care for government," she says. "That why I'm down here. It can be ugly, but I work for myself. What good things your group do, exactly? Why on Abaddon?"
Tasha nods to her mother's words. "I won't say it's not difficult, nor that every detail of everything we're involved in isn't the best it could be. We're sitting between four major powers who have fought since the Ark; we're lucky just to have their mutual interest, let alone their money. As for what we do, well, for example, I piloted the Tit- ship that helped locate ground water for the Pit of Himaar -- those will supply the people there with drinking and irrigation water for generations to come."
"You been to Pit of Himaar?" Desdi asks, calming a bit. "Helping the Pit.. that okay," she says, deflating slightly.
Tasha inwardly breathes a sigh of relief, glad her diplomatic skills are as useful at home as they are abroad. "That's right. I spent over a week there, helping to defend it, looking for water, and mapping the surrounding area. I also got to meet a lot of nice people, including other people with ... 'ships' like mine. I was honored for my contribution to the Pit's defense by an Archon of the People, in fact -- an Archon being a high ranking spiritual and political leader among the Silent-Ones."
"Silent-Ones?" Desdi asks, tilting her head. "They no talk?"
Tasha lifts her hands and signs as she answers, "No, the People do not talk. They are the same people we know as Savanites, but they are closer to what they were than the Savanites. Long ago, the Savanites were the Silent-Ones, and they came to these worlds in their own arks, with their own culture, and own nation, and they were a mighty people here on this world until their hubris caused them to fall and be enslaved, as they once enslaved others." Her hand falls, the younger woman tilting her head. "We recently left Safar, where we spent two weeks studying Savanite early culture and meeting with their Queen, Jade-Eyes."
"For reals?" Desdi asks, looking skeptical. "I no trust spotties. None down here, since the Friend left."
"Aye, for real. I thought you might have some difficulty believing all of this, so I've been anxious about my return, and really, I don't blame you for being skeptical, mom. Here," Tasha reaches over, taking a large leather bound book sfrom one of the cases on her belt and opening it. "I took these to show you." She reaches down and opens the cover, flipping through pages of neatly written script together with crude sketches, which must be her own. Finally, she flips to a stack of saphia colored paintings -- photographs. She pulls the top one off the stack and hands it over. "This is me, with my ship."
"Where ship?" Desdi asks in confusion. "You wearing Knights armor and gots something by your foot.."
Tasha leans forward and points at the 'something by her foot.' "Look closer."
Seemingly in minature, a beaming Tasha in similiar metal armor leans against what now appears to be a giant!
Squinting and then moving the photo around to get better light from the lone lamp, Desdi squawks. "You shrunk? Or you ride back of giant? No Vartan grows that big!"
"I ride inside the giant. You see mom, he's a machine -- what's known as robot, with robots like this being called Titans. Long ago, Titans fought battles in place of ships that sailed between the stars, so that their terrible and destructive weaponry would not need to be used. We managed to find some, and get them working again. My Titan is Melchior," Tasha elaborate, the pride in her voice unmistakable.
"Noble sounding name," Desdi says, but seems unhappy. "It for fighting? You a warrior too now?"
Tasha leans back, glancing at her weapons a moment as she thinks. When she looksback, she admits, "When I have to be. I prefer peace and diplomacy, but sometimes there's no other choice than to use force. The monsters on Abaddon aren't interested in any diplomacy I know of, and they're extremely deadly -- I've had to fight them in Melchior and on foot, and it could have easily gone badly. Since I didn't want to risk myself in such a way again, I asked the Knights Templar of Abaddon to teach me, and had these," she gestures to her weapons, "made for my use."
Reaching over, Tasha draws first one, then the other, swords and lays them gently in her lap next to the book. They're clearly some sort of refined metal, painted and oddky reflective, as if something on their surface distorted the light. With a little more shifting, the two swords seem to fit together, forming one weapon that looks like both a sword and shield, and heavy. Emblazened across its combined surface is sextant and motto of the JEF. "My shaard," she explains.
"Very shiny," Desdi admits, a bit grudgingly. "I never wanted you to have to fight, Tasha. I afraid for you when you were growing up."
"The Knights all go to Abaddon then?" she asks next.
Tasha places the weapon and book on the table so her mom can look at them as well as the pictures with them, her lap now free so she can rest her hands there. "I know, and I'm really sorry I had to go against your wishes. I understand now you were just trying to protect me from myself, and you were right to do so, because I remember how I used to be, and I know I'd have just gotten myself killed or killed someone else, all for nothing." She stares at her hands a moment, then smiles a little, looking up. "But I'm more responsible now. I fight for others as much as for myself, to keep them safe and stand fast against threats to what we would create. As for the Knights, well, they've always been there. It's where they came from originally -- they took a ship and came to this world a long time ago, but a lot of them stayed behind. I don't know where ours went, but we do have one of the Abaddonian Knight scholars with us, and their blessing."
"An egg-head?" Desdi asks, looking through book. "One of those weird old men like at the college up top? You still with Captain Handsome and Miss Mean Bunny though right?"
"She's pretty cute for an egg head, and a little older than me. She wants to meet you," Tasha answers, smiling. "Her name is Hakeber. And yes, I'm still with Gabriel and I haven't cheated on him or anything like that, before you ask. I've given that sort of thing up along with the rest; I couldn't stand to hurt him, especially not with everything he's been through. His previous lover died before he could say good-bye, did I tell you? It's really sad."
Taking a breath, Tasha then admits, "The bunnies have mostly gone their own way, but Aaron's still with us. We're staying up at his place, in the Merchants' Quarter. Maybe you'ld like to come meet everyone?"
"I need to close the bar for that," Desdi claims. "Tashly no can handle it herself. She rob me blind if I leave her.."
Tasha chuckles at that. "Oh, she certainly would. I know that attitude," she agrees. "But that does remind me, how are you getting on with ol' Eyeshine? I've thought of asking if you'ld want to come with me to Abaddon, where I could get you your own tavern in a nicer setting, serving the JEF, or you could even train for another position but ... Maybe you're happier here? And I can't help but feel like I'd be backstabbing the old bird if you came with me, though that wouldn't stop me, I'd feel really bad for him."
"I no so old yet that I need my child to look after me," Desdi notes. "Nor so old that Eyeshine isn't still giving me his full attention when he around. Now you gone off on your own, and not with either of us.. he look a lot better. I no feel like I competing with you."
"That's good -- I think we both had problems we needed to work out on that front. You probably know this, but part of that was being what I am, and dealing with my anger for that and other things. But, I've made my peace with who I am, and I'm glad to see that you are too," Tasha says, then sits up to give her mother a hug before asking, "Did you really see me as competition though? Do I remind you of him? Or, did if feel like because I was younger, I took away what should have been yours? There's another woman I have that problem with, too."
"It normal," Desdi says, hugging Tasha back. "Men fear their sons, moms jealous of their daughters. Bunny-money and regular business put Eyeshine in a good mood. More relaxed, confident. Less angry, less drunk. No one else look at me like he does anymore. So I no feel like I'm settling for him now. Unless you rich bunny friend up top like big women, hah?"
"Hah! Maybe! I think he's still pining for someone though, even though I get the feeling that maybe it's not returned. I don't have the heart to tell him, and it's not my business anyway. He's a smart bunny -- he'll know when to tell himself." After sitting, Tasha glances at her things, saying, "I'm glad you and Eyeshine are finally getting on. One of my worries in coming back was that you'ld want to come with me, and of course you can, but by taking you away I'd hurt the one man that actually bothered to be something like a father to me. Eyeshine was too full of what he felt he was owed, and too angry besides, but I guess he's starting to understand. He never realized that be looking down at your actions, he was spitting on your dreams. I hope he understands now. And if he doesn't, I'm going to tell him, since I need to hire him and he'll be mine to direct for once!"