The next morning, Desdemona closes up the tavern (since morning isn't exactly the busiest time for drinking), puts Tashly into some clothes that actually fit a bit better, and meets Tasha. The elder Vartan had never been to the Scholar's Quarter before, and remarks on the nice houses and parks, while her Khatta ward looks around nervously, as if expecting someone to come and kick her out at any moment.
Since everyone had been told Tasha would be bringing her mother around, there weren't any surprised faces when she came through Aaron's front door. The Lapi and Gabriel were at the dining-room table, going through stacks of forms next to a plate of fresh scones and crumpets (some with cream or jam filling even) while Hakeber was still looking a big groggy and slumped into an easy chair wearing one of Aaron's bathrobes.
With the door closed, Tasha escorts her guests to the group and announces, "Most of you know her by now, but Hakeber hasn't yet met her and none of you have met my mother's new serving girl. So! Everyone, this is my mother Desdemona, but everyone calls her 'Desdi'. The young Khattan woman beside her is Tashly, who took over my job at The Fallen Friend."
After pausing a moment to let Hakeber wake up a bit, Tasha then turns to her mother's group and says, "Mom, Tashly, this is Gabriel, the older Karnor and the man I 'eloped with to travel around the world.'" She pauses to grin back at the man befor continuing. "He's also our leader, Captain Gabriel Akkers of the Joint Expeditionary Force. Beside him is Aaron, an apothacary who's helped us on many occassions including lending us his house to stay in; the sleepy woman in the bathrobe is Scholar Hakeber, of the Knights Templar of Abaddon. And I, of course, am Tasha, though now adays I'm Tasha, Pilot Cadet of the Joint Expeditionary Force."
Both men stand up to greet Desdi. "A pleasure to see you again, Desdemona," Gabriel says, giving a little bow.
"Ach, you can call me Mom," Desdi replies, perhaps a bit embarrassed by the formal manners.
"Wow, you really are a Vartan!" Hakeber blurts, leaving the chair to come over and offer her hand.
For her part, Tashly mostly hides behind Desdi, looking around wide-eyed at everything - especially the huge suit of bronze armor hanging in the living room.
"Isn't he charming? He always makes me feel like rough around the edges, even now," Tasha remarks of her man. "And to think he's still with me after I've burdened him with all this paperwork!" After barking a laugh, Tasha ushers Hakeber over and smiles at her. "Did you think I was just making it all up? That maybe my wings and hooves were more metal in my head?"
"Well.. I guess I didn't pay much attention to them," Hakeber admits, blushing a bit. "But I see where you get your color from now.."
"Please make yourselves at home," Aaron offers. "I've got some hot tea on the stove if you'd like, and the pastries are fresh as well."
"I've noticed a lot of Karnors focus on my, well, Karnor bits. When I first walked in to the ... Well, at one point I met a group of Karnors who didn't motice until I had been standing there a while. I think it's because I smell like a Karnor," Tasha tells Hakeber before she turns to walk towards the seats. "Have a seat! No use standing around."
"I'd like some tea!" Tashly chimes.
Gabriel pulls out a chair for Desdi, of course, while Aaron busies himself in the kitchen.
"Me, too," Tasha adds in as she takes a seat at the dining room table next to where Gabriel had been.
After the tea is served (with lots of cream for Tashly) Gabriel says, "Please excuse the mess. We're trying to get into the Temple to do some research, and the bureaucracy there is.. humbling."
"Captains and paperwork go together," Desdi notes, waving a hand.
Leaning forward, Tasha inspects the paperwork before she begins to neatly stack it before putting it aside, careful to hide anything particularly sensitive. "Bureaucracy is the regrettable monster we all must contend with as both a formal organization and a political entity," she laments, half-jokingly. "And the Temple has had six thousand years on us."
"I've had my fair share of it too, though I get the easy jobs like fighting monsters and flying in to Forbidden Zone. I'm still doing the manual labor, too," Tasha adds, smiling.
"I prefer you wield a pencil," Desdi points out. "You small and delicate, Tasha."
As if on cue, Aaron and Hakeber choke on their tea.
Tasha shoots her friends a look, then barks a laugh. "Ooh, I don't know about that. I may be small for a Vartan, but I'm big for anything else!"
Tashly offers a nervous laugh as well. "Big.. yes. I have to wear your uniform.."
"What sort of uniform?" Hakeber asks.
"You always be my little girl," Desdi claims, and reaches across the table to pinch Tasha's cheek. "My little Growly Girl!"
"I do my fair share of pencilwork thogh," Tasha adds quickly, but is unable to deflect the pinch. Wincing, she soldiers on and inists, "Most of my work these days is public relations, with a lot of general politics. Gabriel has been letting me take charge to build my leadership skills, too." Tasha then smiles to her stand-in, rubbing her cheek. "I'm sorry you have to endure that. You can probably understand why I took liberties on the tip, Tashly."
"I do pub relations too," Tashly announces, think it's some form of waitressing.
"You.. gots to be nice and not yell at people?" Desdi asks Tasha, tilting her head slightly. "Not pushy?"
Tasha raises her eyebrow at this, the mistake sinking in a moment later. "Oh, no, I don't mean pub relations, I mean ... Well, I convince people of our merits by talking to them." She then nods to her mother. "That's right. I did a lot of soul-seraching on my trip, and I've become better able to deal with my temper, my problems, and have been trying hard to grow in to a better person."
"So you're a preacher?" Tashly asks.
"More like a missionary," Hakeber offers, then hides behind her tea cup.
"In a sense, but more secula- ... Not in a religious way. I'm more like a ... " She eyes Hakeber again, then continues, "That's close enough. I talk to people, I try to get their support and spread our message. Sometimes I act in more direct ways by utilizing the skills and technologies we possess to benefit the people."
"I also do research," Tasha adds, smiling.
"You never like reading much before," Desdi notes. "Is that why you have you own scholar?" she asks, pointing her beak to Hakeber sitting next to her.
"Partly. I also have her because she's cute," Tasha replies while maintaining a completely straight face. "But yes, I read. Although ... not from books. Most of the learning I do is, well ... It's complicated. We have machines, and we can share information with them and learn in that way. I do have a few books, though, and I plan to buy more while we're here."
"Romance novels?" Tashly asks, then looks at Gabriel. "Maybe not.."
"I'm not sure anything in my library will help," Aaron admits.
"Gabriel is all the romance I need," Tasha insists, reaching over to pat the man's hand. "We've been through a lot together, and gods and fate willing, I hope we'll be through a lot more. There were times I thought I'd never come home again, though."
"Aiee! What times?" Desdi demands, making the table jump when she slaps her hand down. "You no taking stupid risks, right?"
"I like to think of them as calculated risks," Tasha answers, ears laying back at the thump. "Our work is often dangerous and I'm usually at the forefront of the field research as well as defense efforts, because I'm well, the least qualified for the other departments and I've been through a lot and survived. Gabriel's a better leader and has more organizational experience. The doctors -- you remember the two other Karnors, don't you, mom? -- are much better at science and research. If I can take the risk so the others don't have to, if that makes me most useful, that's what I'll do."
The Vartan woman calms down, and explains, "You my girl, I never be really comfortable with stuff like that. Won't stop you though."
Aaron gets a cloth to catch the spilled tea. "Ma'am, I'm not sure anything can stop Tasha.."
"No, it never does," Tasha admits with a bit of a laugh. "I've gotten much more careful and plan better, at least!"
"You grown up a lot," Desdi says, with a mix of pride and sentiment. "You no a little girl getting into trouble all the time. Unlike Tashly here.."
Tashly mews at the description.
Tasha smiles, and even looks a little embarassed at the compliment from her mother, looking down in to her tea and stammering, "I .., well, I just learned from experience, and I had good teachers, that's all." She then looks up and over at Tashly, taking a moment to look her up and down, as if really seeing her for the first time. "Sometimes we just need a helping hand, and a reminder of how we need to change. I'm sure Tashly will come in to her own sooner or later," she offers supportively.
"If she doesn't, I'll beat it into her," Desdi proclaims. Hakeber shrinks a bit, not wanting any motherly ire focused her way.
"I'm sure she just needs a little cleaning up," Gabriel says. "Tasha cleaned up well, after all."
"Oh I remember those lessons," Tasha groans without a hint of hyperbole or teasing in her tone. "There was this one time where mom and I got in to a fight, which I don't remember the details of anymore, probably because she knocked me unconcious once we got in to a fist fight. I think that was the one where I threatened to run away and become a prostitute. She made me eat the steak she put on my eye, too!"
"I can show her the shower!" Hakeber offers. "I need to use it myself.."
"You took on your mom?" Aaron asks, sounding impressed. Given his mother however..
"I took on my mom and lost. Badly! I sort of remember sliding across the floor, then waking up in my bed with terrible headache. And oh no," Tasha points at Hakeber, "I still want to hear how you grew up!"
"Didn't I already tell you that?" Hakeber asks, clutching at her bathrobe. "I'm a Templar, we're supposed to put our past behind us and all that.."
"See, that's what we need," Tasha turns to tell Gabriel. "Join the JEF and forget your past, including all of those embarassing stories your friends always bring up!"
"Well, we would want to know their pasts, I'm sure.." Gabriel chuckles.
"Besides, my childhood was dull!" Hakeber claims.
"I could change my name to Nora, that would completly distance me from my past and all trouble," Tasha insists to Gabriel, straigt-faced.
"Actually," Tasha says a second later, "that wasn't as funny as I first thought it would be, I apologize, Gabriel." She ducks her head.
"We have enough Noras right now, dear," Gabriel says, patting the back of her hand.
"Tasha a good name," Desdi says. "No change that one, please."
"What's a shower?" Tashly asks, a bit timidly.
Tasha sighs, then shakes her head and smiles. "Oh, don't I know it. And to think, the children ... " Looking suddely a lot older, the half-Vartan glances to her mother and says, "Oh I was just joking; I have considered taking on a deed name, though. After all I've done it feels like now is a good time for it, and it will put and end to all the 'no last name' questions I get on Abaddon."
"You deed name is Akkers, yeah?" Desdi asks. "Why it need be something else?"
Turning her head again, Tasha tells Tashly, "A shower is that thing Hakeber likes to talk you in to," she explains before turning back to her mother. "Oh, we're not married," she reveals. "And there are personnel problems with emphasizing my relationship with Gabriel. It's not a problem now, but it might be in the future when we have more officers and I'm no longer directly under his command. It might suggest we're playing favorites even if it's not true. I'd also like to stand on my own two feet as my own professional person, even though I'd like Akkers to be part of my official records and, of course, eventually get married if that's what Gabriel would like, too."
"Good for you," Aaron says - but then he's a big proponent for independence.
"Then just use Vartan name," Desdi suggests. "Tasha Desdemona."
Tasha winks at her Lapi friend. "I learned the hard way how badly trying to live in someone's shadow can be," she explains, then she tells her mother, "Wellll, I had actually been thinking of two. I want a name that reads well in papers and sounds adventerous and heroic while also being related to who I am and what I do. I was thinking of 'Tasha Starwings,' after the symbol on my Titan and as a reference to space, but I'm concerned with the religious implication -- although that might go over well with the Silent-Ones if they don't think it's too much. The other thought is 'Tasha Ironwings,' after our metal machines, and Abaddon, a planet rich in iron. It also sounds tough, though maybe too tough?"
"Ironwings? That make no sense," Desdi suggests. "Sounds made up, boastful. No say anything about who you are either, just.. what you do. Like Cooper is barrelmaker."
Tasha's ears flick at the assessment, but she presses on. "I pilot a machine shapped like an airship sized Vartan, and its wings are made of metal. Abaddon is so rich in iron the soil is red and the animals have toxic levels of the metal. It ... " She just shrugs helplessly, looking to her friends for support.
"I didn't know the name had to mean anything," Aaron admits. "I liked Aldara Tasha, since.. it seemed appropriate at the time. I suppose it's all in what impression you want people to have?"
"I think ... I'll table the idea for further research," Tasha says, relenting. She takes a deep breath, then asks, "Has anything interesting happened with the tavern, mom? Or The Rake?"
"Rake is busy with bunny-stuff most of time, so Eyeshine happy," Desdi notes. "Tavern no change much. New faces every so often, but not any really big fights since bunnies kill what's-his-name.."
"I'm glad the Captain and the old ship are doing well. It's nice to know that home will keep flying for many more years," Tasha says. After taking a sip, she looks across the cup and asks, "That reminds me: Hakeber had wanted to see what Rephidim night life was like. Would you be willing to look out for her if she spent an evening in the tavern? And speaking of being reminded, is old Scarwings still alive?"
"Is she trouble?" Desdi asks, looking at the bathrobe-clad Karnor, who can't help but look guilty about something. "Rawk! Scarwings still around. Got hurt though. Arrow in leg or wing or something. No sure if she flying or laid up until she at full strength."
"She's just not used to our culture ... No, wait, she is trouble, but not that kind of trouble," Tasha replies, grinning. "Hakeber wasn't born on this world, you see. Abaddon has a very different culture than ours; there's no magic, everything is made from rock and metal, most of the world is a dusty, cold red desert, and the species tend to stay apart, sticking to the nations they were part of back when the Ark arrived. She might not notice the dangerous we'd see coming. It was the same for me on Abaddon. As for Scarwings, I should go apologize. I owe her that much. There was one other person ... But, I don't know if I should bring him up."
This causes Desdi's eyebrows to rise up, but she doesn't pursue it. "Apologize? For what?" she asks instead.
Hakeber isn't really paying attention to the conversation at the moment, as she's busy scribbling something in her notebook.
"For being ungrateful. I owe you that apology, too: I'm sorry for being difficult, and for all the anger I was throwing around, along with my fists and the ... other things," Tasha answers, canting her ears.
Desdi blinks and.. laughs! "Hah! Tasha, you a teenage girl! All of them like that! I was like that! It normal."
Tasha chuckles too, but insists, "That doesn't mean I shouldn't apologize though! When I put my hoof in my mouth, I try to apologuze if I can. I know I do it more than I'd like. It's humbling, and it should be. Now, as for the other person ... " Under the table, Tasha gently reaches over to gently press against her friends feet, as if trying to push them back. "Well, do you remember a man called 'Thorn'? A Cervani man?"
"Thorn?" Desdi asks, scowling in thought. "No, I no.." she starts to say, then pauses. "Oh, that Cervani. He want to poke at you as a child! Like you some thing to be put on a shelf in a big jar!"
"I seem to get that a lot these days, too," Tasha admits, muzzle twisting. She pulls in a breath, then asks, "Well, was that his name? It's been a while, and for some reason I had a dream about him. Since I'm here, I'm thinking of asking him what he wanted with me."
"Mages.." Desdi nearly spits the word. "They steal the spirits from people. You.. you no let him do magic to you, yah?"
"It's ... They're not that bad, mom," Tasha insits, putting her cup aside and leaning forward. "Without mages, I'd have lost Gabriel, and Eli and Remy too. We'd have never completed our last archaeological recovery mission without them. It's why we even live on Sinai. I know what's said about them, but I've never seen any of it; I don't even know why we Vartans hate them so much. What di they do to us to make us hate them so?"
"It not a thing, it.. they damage the spirits of things," the Vartan says. "Magic. All things have spirits, and magic uses them up."
"Is that it? I'm not sure that's true, though. I may not be the most knowledgeable person on this subject, but I know and have seen things that touch on magic and how it operates, and as far as I can tell, it's just some sort of technology mages are utilizing. Magic doesn't even exist on the worlds where our acnestors came from. It only exists on these weorlds, around this sun, and from Sifran artifacts. I don't know how or why they do what they do, but it seems like this same technology somehow copies things -- even living things -- and can produce echoes of them. I've never heard anyone else say that spirits are used up. These worlds have existed for so long it makes my head hurt just thinking about it, and there were beings here far before us, and it's all still here. There's still power in magic, and in people. At the very least, as an explorer, I owe a duty to try and understand what I'm delaing with, and if this mage can help me, I want to find him," Tasha explains.
"Magic belong to First Ones then," Desdi grumbles. "I no can help you find him, if he no at the old campus. Think his name Thorn though. Don't remember what kind of mage he was."
"I'm still confused about what kinds mages come in, too," Tasha admits. "I know there are 'Shadow' mages and 'Light' mages, but there seems to be more to them than shadow puppets and magical flashlights. Maybe someone can explain it to me. Anyway, I'll stop mentioning magic now." She smiles, and asks, "How about we have lunch and enjoying some small talk? We talk enough about work, anyway, and Tashly looks like she could use a good meal!"
"Lunch sound fine," Desdi says.
"Good! I'll help cook, and it'll be just like old times," Tasha says, rising. "Why don't you relax and enjoy yourself, mom? I know you don't get a break very often. It's the least I can do."
"I need to take my shower still, but.. here, Tasha. You might get some ideas from these," Hakeber says, and pulls the page she's been writing on from her notebook and passes it to Tasha. It seems to have a bunch of notes on it relating to Hermes.
"Tasha can cook?" Aaron asks, looking surprised.
"Oh?" Tasha takes the notes, brows raising as she looks. "I'll read this while things simmer. Thank you, Hakeber!" She smiles, then reaches over to heft Aaron out of his seat. "Come on bunny, I'll show you."
Desdi couldn't stay topside all day - after lunch she needed to get back and open up the Fallen Friend for business. So that afternoon, Tasha decided to try and look up Mage Thorn at the old Collegia Esoterica campus that was conveniently within walking distance of Aaron's townhouse.
"I have to admit, I feel like the world's worst Vartan," Tasha admits to Hakeber as they walk along the well-kept roads towards the sprawling campus, damaged ever since the Plaguebringers attacked and a far cry from its hayday. "But at the same time, this doesn't bother me like it used to. I still feel awkward, like I'm grudgingly accepting a mistake I've made while still wondering if it was a mistake, but at least I can work with it. How about you, Hakeber? How are you holding up?"
The young scholar is practically skipping. After her shower, Hakeber tried on a light dress - the first time she's worn one since childhood. She spins around, and says, "Great! The weather is nice, and I'm not worrying about sand storms or wind or burning or freezing, and I'd forgotten how nice it feels to wear something that didn't have to be custom-fitted to my butt and legs!"
Patting her side pouch with its notebook and other supplies, she notes, "This is the only piece of leather on me, and it's not even against my fur!"
Tasha smiles at that, craning her head up to look in to the blue, blue sky. "It is nice, isn't it? I've been so focused on the work infront of me I'd forgotten what a beautiful place Rephidim can be." She looks over at the motion and asks, "Do you think I could try that on later? I know I'm too tall for it, but it's been a while since I've worn a dress, and seeing you makes me miss it. It looks very good on you, too, by the way. I'm jealous of how your straight legs make it hang. You can try on my undersuit too!"
"I'd prefer to try some Zolk underwear," Hakeber giggles. "Did you have a chance to look at those notes I gave you?"
"I was too busy trying to not burn everything," Tasha admits, sheepishly. "I'm really only good with sandwiches and soup, but I know other recipes. Someof the guys used to tease me, so I stopped." Tasha, who's wearing one of her new outfits that are fit for comfortable exploration, reaches to her own bag and fishes the notes out. "Lets see ... "
Hermes - Mercury
Sacred hawks of Hermes: Hierax and Daidalon
Herald's Staff of Hermes, in role as messenger of the gods: kerykeion or caduceus
Companions of Hermes: Oreiades - mountain nymphs, Oneiroi - dream spirits that delivered messages into dreams, serving Hermes Kthonios, herald of the underworld
"The talk about names and their meanings got me thinking," Hakeber says. "Since Hermes was a herald, and Tisiphone was a herald, and.. you get the idea. I thought they might inspire you or something, while still being kinda subtle."
"That last bit came to me when I remembered you having dreams and the Abaddon thing," the scholar notes. "Herald of the Underworld seemed.. fitting?"
Tasha peers at the notes, tiltig her head towards Hakeber and saying, "That was very thoughtful of you! At first I thought they were research notes pertaining to the mission -- I'm not fun at all anymore!" She barks a laugh, then holds up the notes and reads through them again. "I'll think about these. You know Hakeber, you ... You're really a nice person. I've never had a friend like," she waggles her free hand, not having the words, " ... like this."
"Like what?" Hakeber asks. "A girl your own age that you aren't having a torrid passionate affair with?" she asks with a grin.
Tasha pauses a second, then anwers, "Yes?" She holds up a hand to forestall comments, adding, "In my defense it was less about love and more about power and low self-esteem; or is that worse?"
"I'm in it for the fun and adventure," Hakeber notes. "And to relieve the monotony of having my nose buried in books most of the time."
The gates of the Collegia Esoterica are just ahead. There's a guard shack as well, although the guard isn't visible just yet.
"When you put it that way, I think I'm in it because I want to help people, but also because I want them to like me," Tasha admits as she walks along, nose buried in the notes. "For what it's worth, though ... I'm really glad you came. I'm going to miss you when go back."
"Go back?" Hakeber asks, as if the thought just hadn't occurred to her. "There are still Knights here on Sinai.. somewhere! I shouldn't go back until I've found them." She eyes the guard shack and whispers, "Do we need special passes or anything?"
"Of course not -- I am a master at convincing people I belong!" Tasha winks, then puts the note away before advancing towards the guard house.
Inside is a sleepy looking Jupani guard with a thick thermos in his hand. He blinks as the two women approach. "Oh, do you have business with the College?" he asks, sucking in his gut a bit. Then he notices Tasha's wings and adds, "Or are you business of the College?"
"I'm a magical creature who has escaped to kidnap this woman and bring her back to take her spirit, or something. Can I go in?" Tasha asks, all while smiling sweetly and wagging her tail.
"It would help if you had a name or School you were going to, so I can fill out the passes," the guard says, without batting an eye at Tasha's claim.
"I'm here looking for a Mage Thorn, or failing that, a reference desk." As far as Tasha is concerned, reference desks are magical. A mystical place where all her questions are solved and maps are given.
"Hold on, just a moment," the guard says, and pulls up an exotic looking book (actually a three-ring binder made of wood) and starts searching through the oft-marked-and-revised pages. "Is that 'Thorn' with a TH or 'Pthorn' with a P?" he asks.
"Thorn with hooves and antlers," the half-Vartan answers.
"School of Life," the guard says, finding the proper place in the directory. He starts filling out some passes, and asks, "Your names and the nature of your visit, please?"
"Life?" Tasha asks, but abandon the question to answer, "I'm Tasha, this is Hakeber. We're here to answer an inquery the mage placed."
"Alright," the guard says, and hands over the passes. "Those are good for today. If you need to come back again, have Mage Thorn stamp them. It saves time. Do you know the way to the School of Life?"
"Um, yes," Tasha answers, sounding embarasssed for some reason. "So Mage Thorn is actually here?" She exchanges a look with Hakeber, then smiles. "Thank you for your time and your hard work."
"He's listed as being here," the guard says, then steps out of his shack and opens the gate.
Hakeber gives her tail an extra bit of swish as she follows Tasha through the gate. "No armed guards or anything? I guess nobody would consider messing with wizards," she whispers to Tasha.
"This should be interesting. Thank you!" Tasha gives the guard a wave as she heads inside, turning once in to angle off towards the School of Life. "Well, here we are. The College Esoterica campus. Or, well, it used to be, but I herad most of the mages left after the war, and now they're off somewhere called 'Caroban.' I think it's a sky island, but I've never seen it on maps."
"You have maps with the sky islands on them?" Hakeber asks. "I thought they moved around randomly?"
"Only Rephidim produces aps with sky islands on them. After talking with Priest-Queen Jade-Eyes, I learned this is a function of fleet technology that somehow predicts them. Otherwise, maps from other places can't reliably be used to reach Rephidim -- no matter what the sellers claim," Tasha explains. She cranes her neck to look at all the peculiar buildings and trees that line the approach to the Hall of Life, head shaking. "Now that I'm not on edge or worried about Gabriel, this place is kind of interesting, and that guard acted like I fit right in."
"Well, this is Rephidim," Hakeber says. "I heard that everyone comes here - every race, species and even aliens! A guard at a school for magic must be used to seeing the out-of-the-ordinary. Especially when the students try to sneak back in after curfew.."
The School of Life is pretty familiar to Tasha - at least, the hospital part of it. There are lots of other buildings though, some of them looking abandoned but others showing signs of activity.
"It's nice. The one thing I miss about Rephidim is that no one -- well, a lot fewer -- people look at me like I'm some oddity. Speaking of which," Tasha lifts a hand and points at a building nearby, "we're almost there. This is where we took Gabriel, Eli and Remy for treatment. You've been with us for a while; did they mention anything about their past?"
"Dr. Z talked about a scary deer woman and scary bunny priestesses," Hakeber admits. "Not.. any details per se. Was he just pulling my tail about all that?"
"Not at all! The deer woman is on Abaddon right now, but you'll meet a deer man in a moment. The bunny priestesses I know very well; they're who helped me get started on this whole mess, and without them, well, it'd be a much sadder story," Tasha answers. As she nears the doors, she stops a moment to say, "It's been a long time since I last saw this man, so I'm not sure what to expect. I do know a few rules about mages, though: don't interupt them when they're chanting or followed around by lights or what-have-you, and that they all seem to have specialities. Anyway, lets head inside!" Turning, the half-Vartan pushes the double doors open and heads in.
Here, there is a reception desk, with a Lapi doe on duty (and dressed as a nurse, so likely not a magical bunny this time). "Can I help you?" she asks perkily. Her ears are dyed pink for some reason.
Tasha smiles as she walk up to the counter and presents her pass. "Hi, my name is Tasha, and this is Hakeber. We're wondering if we might see Mage Thorn?"
"Mage Thorn of Life, I presume?" the girl asks. "Not Mage Pthorn of Chaos?"
"Mage Thorn of Life," Tasha confirms. "A cervani man."
"Oh, you'll want the laboratories then," the doe says. She takes out a piece of paper (possibly a napkin) and scrawls a map on it with a pen. "The Gorgo Wing of the Applied Life Building, right here.." She also gives detailed directions.
"I can only imagine what goes on in here," Tasha murmurs as she studies the map. "I guess we'll find out. Thank you for the help, I think we can find our way now." She glances back to her companion and asks, "Ready?"
"Lead on, shiny-tail!" Hakeber says. After a bit of searching, they find the proper building and the proper door, which is labeled 'Abnormal Fertility Lab' above 'Please knock before entering.'
Tasha stares at the sign for nearly ten seconds before just shaking her head. "I'm not sure if I should make a joke about this or be offended," she admits, but then smiles lopsidedly. "I'll live. Here goes." She reaches forward, rapping her knuckles against the door.
The young, red woman hesitates a moment, then pushes the door open and slips inside.
"Hello?" A Cervani mage, wearing glasses now, looks up from a strange device that might serve the place of a microscope. The laboratory is all white and sparkling clean, with examination chairs and charts and other paraphernalia of magic and medicine. The man adjusts his glasses and blinks a few times. "Have we met before, young woman?" he asks Tasha.
"I believe so, although I was hiding under the table at the time and a lot shorter," Tasha answers with a hint of a grin. "You're Mage Thorn, I presume? I apologize for the late response to your inquery."
"My.. how late are we talking here?" the mage asks, and then notices Hakeber. Once he sees her standing next to Tasha the anomalies jump into focus. "My word, you're the Vartan-Jupani hybrid I was looking for ages ago, aren't you?"
"If I'm not, then we're both going to be surprised today," Tasha says with a laugh. "I'm sorry it took so long. We're not big on magic, but that's something I've managed to overcome. I'm an explorer now, you see. My friend here is Scholar Hakeber, of the Abaddonian Knights Templar. I'm Tasha, as you might recall? Pilot Cadet Tasha, of the Joint Expeditionary Force, also of Abaddon."
"I've never been to Abaddon," Thorn notes, and scratches the base of one of his antlers. "But I'm glad you remembered me! I'm very interested in the fertility of hybrids you see, and since you are the only known Jupani-Vartan hybrid there must be something special about your makeup. Would you mind being examined and asked a few questions?"
"No, I'd be happy to further the cause of research. Actually, I was hoping you might also be able to help me. I've been having mysterious and rather specific dreams, and my commander is concerned. One of our friends noted it might be a magical influence, so I thought we might be able to help each other." Tasha sweeps her gae across the room, then asks, "Do you need me to sit or lay anywhere?"
"Just make yourself comfortable in one of the chairs," the mage notes, as he begins to rummage through drawers. "I'm sure there's one that accommodates wings.."
"He seems a bit.. strange," Hakeber whispers to Tasha, unable to take her eyes off the strange (to her) creature.
Tasha nods, then begins a brief tour of the room as she finds a chair that's suitable. After settling in, she whispers to Hakeber, "He's a mage, they're all abit like that -- some more than others. They all seem to have odd focuses, or peculiar habits. They sort of remind me of Eli, who always seems so obsessed with his work he forgets to eat and sleep."
After her whisper, tasha leans back and folds her hands behind her head, getting more comfortable. "Mage Thorn, according to our own doctors, I'm perfectly healthy, and I recieve regular checkups after each mission and after any particular dangerous event, of which there have several. I also have metallic studs and strands in my brain, which are supposed to be there and shouldn't be adjusted."
"Oh, I'm sure you're healthy," Thorn notes, as he comes over with an armful of measuring devices. "Tell me, have you been sexually active with either Vartans or Jupani before?"
"Yes," Tasha answers, then she sticks her tongue out at Hakeber.
"Have you become pregnant at all?" the mage asks next, wielding a caliper device to measure features of Tasha's skull.
"Not yet," Tasha answers as she peers at the calipers now grabbing her head. "Our doctors said that it can be done with outside help, though."
"Really? What sort of outside help?" the mage asks.
"I don't really understand the process, but it seems to involve taking my 'eggs' -- I guess I have small ones because I'm part bird? -- and doing something to them, and putting them back in using surgical techniques," the hybrid explains.
"Has your mother ever had any exposure to supernatural forces, or where you conceived near a Forbidden Zone?" the mage asks next, then explains, "I myself am a 'miracle' baby, born of a Cervani mother and a Pantheon father - that is, a Vartan-Cervani hybrid that is fairly common. And the tests showed that I am his son."
"Really?" Tasha asks, leaning forward. "I had no idea! That's amazing!" She clutches her hands, tail wagging. "This is very exciting for me, I've never heard of another hybrid having a child. I can see why you're so interested in people like us." She blinks. "Oh, excuse me, you asked a question -- this is so exciting! Anyway: I don't think so but don't know so, on both counts. I think it happened here, on the docks."
"In Rephidim? There could have been any number of influences then," Thorn muses, as he measures Tasha's hooves. "Were either of your parent's cursed by any chance? Oh.. if you're curious, I'm just measuring to compare to baselines. Hybrids tend to favor one heritage over the other, but you're more.. evenly distributed."
"Not that I know of. She seems to really dislike mages, but that's not uncommon with us Vartans -- I was just as bad until recently," Tasha answers. She then leans forward to watch, and asks, "Would you be willing to share your research notes on this? I'd like to read them, and, well, I could use an overview of magic, as well. As an explorer, I've come to realize that to explore Sinai is to explore magic, and I may as well retire if I turn my back on it. Besides, magic has helped us on numerous occassions."
"Your mother traveled on an airship didn't she?" Thorn asks.
"That's right. I did too until I left to pursue my current path," Tasha replies.
"She may have picked something up," Thorn says. "Would you mind submitting to diagnostic ritual?"
"No, not at all. I may ask a lot of questions, though!" Tasha then turns to Hakeber and warns, "Rituals can take a long time to prepare and use, so we may be here a while. I won't mind if you want to wander around of go find something to eat."
"And miss THIS?" Hakeber asks, shocked. "I'll be taking notes the whole time.."
Tasha has become expert at sitting still. The difference now is that she's naked, the stone floor is cold, and there's a middle-aged Cervani man and several young apprentices chanting and moving around the magic circle around her, occasionally tossing powders into the air which sometimes explode. Beyond the candles and mages sits Hakeber, taking notes while sitting comfortably in a chair, and almost certainly unaware that Tasha feels like thousands of phantom fingers are fondling her from the inside out. It's been going on for hours now, and parts of her are beginning to glow different colors - some bright enough that her bones are visible beneath her skin and fur.
With her arms folded across her chest, Tasha waits with her eyes closed while she tries her best to tune out what's happening to her. It's not the first time she's been called to an awkward, undignified situation, and she has a sinking feeling it won't be the last. Rather than curse her choice in coming here, she decides to try and enjoy an opportunity to simply lay down and do nothing, mentally sorting through what she's already accomplished and what remains to be done while on Rephidim when she grows bored.
The chanting stops, and Mage Thorn enters the circle. He has various enchanted devices that he uses to examine Tasha with - none of which involve actually having to touch her. "You've had some abdominal trauma recently," he points out, before bringing a more complicated device to bear. "And you've been exposed to a Forbidden Zone as well. And there's the slightest trace of something further back. Enough to suggest that your birth wasn't entirely natural - there could have been a spiritual or demonic influence involved in your conception, but it's been too long to really pinpoint an exact cause."
Tasha's right eye pops open at the mention of 'spiritual or demonic influence'. "What?" She asks with more than a hint of surprise. "Are you saying the only reason I was born, ws because something else -- something magical -- caused it?"
"Influenced it," Thorn says. "Probably just enough to cause it to succeed. It isn't like you were created in some elaborate ritual or something. There is some precedent, usually involving the lingering spirits of parents who died wanting to see grandchildren. Or it could have just been the timing and location - not that astrology had anything to do with it. That's just made up nonsense after all. It may have been spillover from a nearby ritual that wasn't properly shielded, or a magical artifact of some kind. Was it likely to have happened in Underside, near Faraon's Dome perhaps? Lots of magic went on down there."
"It happened on the docks, that's all I really know. I assume it was Underside docks, but my mother doesn't really like to talk about the details, as it's an uncomfortable topic for her. The man who was my father never came back," Tasha answers. She sits up, taking a moment to stretch and flap her wings, shaking out the soreness before she adds, "The Forbidden Zone is on Abaddon. I flew in to it by accident while pursuing something else, as it was not on any map. The trauma is from early medical procedures from our own crew. Was there anything else?"
"Well, that's about it from this particular ritual, which focuses on fertility-related issues," Mage Thorn explains. "I could tell more if I had one of your eggs, but.. I don't know that it would shed any more light on your condition, really. There's been some progress with ex-vitro fertilization and hybridization, but that's mainly been used to make flying Drokars. It does sound as if you have an alternate means of aided conception available though."
"I see, thank you Doctor- Mage Thorn." Tasha reaches over to her pile of clothes and pulls her undersuit over, giving it a good wave and tug to straigten it out before she begins pulling it on. "About the ritual, is that how magic works? A repetition of phrases and the use of specialized symbology? I've seen Savanites use magic without the verbal component, though, so is that more like mnemonic, a focal aid, or symbology in verse?"
Thorn shoos off the apprentices first, then explains, "Beginners learn specific chants and incantations and require material components, but really that's just to build up their magical muscles, so to speak. Some never develop beyond that, or find they can manage a small subset of spells specific to the Sphere. As a Mage develops though, he or she tends to construct their own way of doing things. Magic is done with the mind, ultimately, with mnemonics and motions acting as a sort of focus. Spirits, after all, don't need to cast spells. It is theoretically possible for an extremely powerful Mage to cast a complex spell with a few words and a gesture."
"That's ... very odd," Tasha admits, propping her head on her knees. "As far as I'm aware, magic is a product of Sifran technology and doesn't exist beyond these worlds and Sifran artifacts, which appear to do things that defy basic physics. Things such as create events without a clear cause, or even suspend the laws of our reality, and yet mages use different methods ... It could be like different code achieving the same results ... or different access methods. They're not generating the power themselves, and I have a theory that artifacts, and perhaps mages too, aren't so much creating effects directly as ... 'calling them in' from one or more central sources, which are in turn fed by pan-dimensional and macroscopic generators that feed these central distributors. What do you think?"
"I've no idea what most of that means," Thorn admits. "The current most-favored theory is that mages access magic via their spirits, which are the magical part of all living creatures. It is mainly used to explain how a person might become capable of sensing or manipulating magic by having been exposed to a suitably high, wild source. It is not a guarantee however: there have been experiments where people have lived inside the borders of a Forbidden Zone in an attempt to gain magical abilities, but it seems that intent may actually block it from happening. Whatever force is behind magic, it seems to be choosy about who it gives access to."
"Choosy ... " Tasha frowns, looking uddenly intend as she stares across the room, clearly thinking about something. It's not long before that something is revealed, as she says, "I'll try and explain these things more clearly, and what you said about chosing its user makes me think of something I've come across. What I mean by 'central distributor' and 'calling in' magic, is that I believe there are extremely advanced machines that respond to Sifran artifacts -- themselves Sifran machines -- and mages, that these central machines are where the effect actually stems from, and that the smaller units -- artifacts and mages -- interface with these machines to get results. That would explain how small artifacts can generate effects that otherwise violate conservation of mass and energy, a rule of ancient Terran physics that states matter and energy may neither be created nor destroyed, only converted from on type to another in a universe with finite resources. There is also that I have ..," and here Tasha c
asts a glance towards Hakeber, " ... well, may have spoken to what I believe is a representative of these larger distributors. What do you know about Abaddon, the planet, and the deity?"
"Um.. it has a lot of iron and is rather hostile?" Thorn offers. "As for deities.. I confess to not having had much interest in them. Mages - well, most mages - consider 'deities' to simply be powerful spirits, created to personify a particular Sphere of magic in the case of the Olympians."
"Really? Does Abaddon have sphere, then?" Tasha asks, leaning forward.
"The Sphere of Fire is related to Abaddon," Thorn explains. "All of the Olympian gods relate to a Sphere."
Tasha's brows raise at that, and soon she's reaching for her pouch and jotting down notes. After catching her notes up, and with pencil in hand, she asks, "And Olypian mythology began with Khattans, didn't it?"
"Katthas, specifically," Thorn notes. "There isn't much in common with modern Khattan culture of the Himaat."
"Still, it's very interesting, and there may be a deeper connection. I feel like there's anaswers here that are just out of sight," Tasha says, pencil tapping against her leg. "Also, the planet Abaddon is red and cold, but there is active volcanisim in regions and there significant indication that this may be part of a planet wide occurence, along with the appearance of Forbidden Zone, one of which I flew in to directly over a volcano. Shortly after, I had a dream of something that identified itself as 'Abaddon.' I'd have dismissed it by now, except it told me something I shouldn't have otherwise known: that Abaddon will be green again, if the current release of water that eminates from the volcanisim and other elements continue. Another entity confirmed a contact by 'Abaddon' as well, seperate from mine."
"Volcanoes are often a source of wild magic on Sinai," Thorn notes. "I am not surprised to find the same thing occurring on other worlds. Wild Magic often seems to seek form and structure from the minds of those exposed to it, however. It may be shaped by the subconscious as much as influence it. That's what makes it Wild! Non-Mages may unknowingly guide such magic. It is why many sites of wild magic are often described as haunted."
"Is that so? Still, I have a hard time dismissing the dream, largely because another entity also experienced influence from an entity that identified itself as 'Abaddon,' and this entity neither dreams nor has a mind in the same sense we do -- it's not organic at all," Tasha explains. She jots something down, then adds, "Part of the reason I came back was to investigate this mystery. I don't want to take up more of your time than necessary though -- is there anyone else on the campus who might be interested in speaking with me? You said your ritual only focused on fertility?"
"Well, you may want to talk to a Spirit mage or Dream mage I suppose," Thorn suggests. "Neither is prone to giving very direct answers however."
"Oh, I'm used to that sort of thing. I research and explore ancient ruins and centuries old mysteries, and it sometimes feel like no one knew how to be direct." Tasha puts her notebook and pencil, then sstand and begins to get dressed. "I guess that's everything from me. I still don't think I understand magic, but at least I have a better idea about it."
"Many may claim to understand magic, and those are the ones who simply stopped learning about it," Thorn claims. "The Chaos mages are the ones who go really deep into it."
"Is that why they're so ... " Tasha waggles her fingers around her head.
"Well, you have to be a little bit crazy to try and wrap your mind around the deepest concepts," Thorn chuckles. "And perhaps to even think of new avenues of investigation. Of course, there is another theory that the Chaos Mages aren't discovering anything, but actually creating more complexity as a result of their study. It's all very confusing at that level."
"It sounds very complicated, but then it seems to me, that any science, sufficently complex, is indistinguishable from magic," Tasha observes. She pauses to pull her jacket on, and adjust her neckrchief, then she smiles. "Well, I hope I was able to help you. Would it be alright if I tried visiting the Dream and Spirit halls, to see if anyone would be interested in discussing my concerns? They do have their own halls?"
"Yes, although I'm not sure if any Dream mages are about," Thorn says. "Unless it's an emergency, Spirit tends to prefer appointments as well."
"It's worth a try. Thank you for your time Mage Thorn, and good luck with your research." Tasha smiles, then offers her hand to shake before she heads out.
The Mage seems confused at the gesture for a moment, then realizes what it is and shakes hands. "Please let me know if you get pregnant," he requests. "I'm very curious as to which parentage a second-generation hybrid would favor."
"I'll let you know as soon as I tell Gabriel and stop panicking," Tasha agrees, winking. She gives the mage another smile, then turns and heads out, waiting for Hakeber to catch up before she heads out.
Once out in the hallway, Hakeber whispers, "So.. ever seen a Cervani naked?"
Tasha peers at her friend a moment, then barks a laugh. "No, I haven't, sorry!"
"It's getting late," Hakeber notes once they're outside. The sun has begun to set. "Back to the flat for dinner and strategizing?"
"I hate to give up while I'm here, but if what Mage Thorn says is true, we probably wouldn't get anywhere anyway. Lets head back," the hybrid agrees. "Rephidim is beautiful at sunset if the clouds are thin enough, so would you like to walk, or take the Tasha Express?"
"You could carry me?" Hakeber asks, surprised. "That sounds like fun! But.. uh.. I don't have any underpants on.."
"You don't? I take it back, you're worse than I used to be." Laughing, Tasha hefts Hakeber up in to her arms and convienetly ensure her legs are pointing up rather than down. "Here we go," she warns before breaking in to a run, and with a surprisingly strong jump, takes wing in to the sky.
"Wheee!" Hakeber cries out!