After the photoshoot, the ride back in the limousine and sheer effort involved in being around Katherine, Tasha excused herself to visit this high point, after Katherine had mentioned it. "Terrified me the first time I went up," she noted. "I'm not afraid of flying, but somehow, being in a tower made it seem.. higher."
Stepping off the elevator, Tasha takes a moment to look around as she walks towards the northwest corner of the tower. She's seen Expedition City from the air before, but no matter how many times she does it still strikes her how much the Fleet has changed -- and how much has been won and lost over the centuries it has languished here.
By the time she's standing in the corner, she's fished out her datapad, her left hand resting against the rail as she takes a moment to prepare. The situation between her, Gabriel and Katherine won't get any less complicated for waiting. She never thought she would ever cheat; but then, she never thought a world might balance on her choices. "So much has changed," she murmurs under her breath as she looks down at her datapad. "Well ... Lets get this over with."
"Datapad, Harmonia, please connect me to Gabriel," she directs her device, looking back up towards the city.
It takes a moment, and then the connection symbol flashes. And keeps flashing. Finally there's a lot of noise and a bouncy image of Gabriel, clearly outdoors and riding in one of those big vehicles used in the Pit. "Tasha! How are you?" he asks, smiling as best he can.
"Oh, um," Tasha risks a glance down at the screen, but the smiling face of her mate is too much for her heart to bear, forcing her to return her gaze to the skyline. "I'm doing okay out here, I guess. Um, Gabriel, are you alone? Can we talk privately?"
"I'm in the back of a rover heading for a well site," Gabriel notes. "Hold on." The pad shows the sky for a moment, and then the noise cuts out. Gabriel returns, clipping something to one ear, and adjusting a collar around his throat. "Can you hear me?" comes his voice, but his mouth doesn't seem to move. There's a certain tinniness to it.
"I can, thank you. What did you do?" Tasha asks, her eyes idly tracking the solo flight of a gyrocopter as it makes its way towards the edge of the city.
"Subvocal throat-mike," Gabriel explains. "Useful for just this sort of situation. What's up? Have you found out anything more?"
"Well, we've contacted the locate Kampfengruppe base and we're working our way through that lead now. It's a bit dicey, as it's all hush-hush on both sides, but the contacts seem trustworth enough. At least, Hakeber thinks so and I am inclined to agree," the red woman answers.
Tasha's eyes shift towards Primus, now simply a glow on the distant horizon. Sunset feels like where this city belong; no other time of day has ever seemed as appropriate to her. "But, that's not what I'm calling about, exactly. Um, you see ... I ... "
The young woman exhales, lowering her head. Gabriel can just make out her face in the corner of the screen as she turns to lean back against the railing, her free hand wrapped around herself as the cold wind of Abandon kicks up with the coming of nightfall. "I met someone. And ... we, w-we did some ... s-some things, to ... together.""
"Could you be more specific?" Gabriel asks. The subvocal translation doesn't do well at carrying tone, so it's hard to tell if the man is suspicious or not.
Tasha's ears lay back and she frowns, the feelings of shame and frusteration beginning to show through the cracks of her facade as she struggles with such a difficult issue. Her experience with politics has helped her mask what she's feeling most of the time, but this is hardly 'most of the time.' The situation is made all the worse knowing the failure was entirely her's.
"Things. Together," she repeats, doing her best to keep her voice steady.
"Who is this new person you met then?" Gabriel asks, still sounding and looking neutral (despite the jouncing about).
Deciding it may be betetr to show rather than tell, Katie being what she is, Tasha glances down at her pad long enough to forward the image of the twenty-something walking back to her limo.
After a few seconds and realizing Gabriel knows Abaddon culture about as well as she does, she adds, "Katie Kaboom -- Katherine Vesuvius."
"The girl in the posters?" Gabriel asks. "She's hanging in the barracks back at Tartarus, at least when Lt. Vesuvius isn't around."
"I-I know, she's, um, very famous on this world. We're friends now, we met yesterday and ... We met, um, more that night," Tasha explains, pulloing her wings close as another blast of cold air visits the tower. She never thought she'd have this much trouble talking about sex, or even cheating. Only a year ago and she wouldn't have thought anything of it, reminding her again, how much she's changed.
"We, um, well, we ... I spent the night. At her place," she tries.
After a moment of silent, Gabriel asks, "What about Hakeber?"
"H-hake's okay, um, I mean ... She knows, I told her I'd be staying and ... She knows. I mean, she probably knows, Hake is smart, like that. I haven't seen her since yesterday." The hybrid pulls a sharp breath through her nose, drawing in the tainted night air that says 'city' to her nore than any skyline. She needs it, to keep herself steady. "Gabriel, I'm s-sorry. I just ... I didn't want to go back home. Not to H-hake, and, not to my life."
"Not to your life? Aren't I part of that?" Gabriel asks. "Do you want me to come to the city?"
"N-no. I mean, yes you are, but you don't need to come." Tasha sighs, leaning back until her head thumps against the glass. She closes her eyes and explains, "I just couldn't take it. Between nearly being killed all the time and everything else, I just didn't want to be me any longer. I wanted to be someone else, to escape for a while. To just be another person in the crowd, not the woman who's trying to change the world. The world doesn't need me to change it."
Tasha shakes her head, and when she opens her eyes, she frowns ears down and looking miserable as she glances off towards the skyline. "It seems like we're always fighting because of me. The Archon things I'm about to bring a disaster on he world. The Expedition died because of what I'm looking for, along with countless people through the ages -- all up to us. Up to me. On top of that I never know when something else is going to try and murder me, and what am I even going to find 'up there,' in the Well? The world has become strange to be, Gabriel. I just wanted to feel like nobody again, if just for a little while."
"Well, you aren't 'nobody', and I'm not upset with you," Gabriel says. "Admittedly, only because it was another woman. I worry about how that would make Hakeber feel though. You sound miserable. Is your vacation bringing you any happiness at all?"
Tasha is silent for nearly a minute as she takes in Gabriel's response. She didn't know what to expect, but at least she knows she's relieved to hear that it's not teh disaster she had dreaded. She exhales a breath, letting the tension roll away in to the cold dusk air.
"It hasn't been that bad," the young woman admits, fishing out someting called a 'cigarette,' which she had bought in the city. "Katie's a lot of fun, and she's big here. She lives like a Queen, and everone loves her. Around Katie, I don't feel as important. It's nice. I just let her take charge and she takes me places, shows me things. I want to live in a nice apartment, Gabriel. Somewhere like this, where we can see the skyline. A place on the ground surrounded by people, where we can always come back to, to remind us we're still people."
"Well, I'd prefer New Zion then for that," Gabriel notes. "They've got parks. What else have been doing with Ms. Vesuvius then? I didn't think there was that much to do in Expedition City?"
"She's a racer, so we did a lot of that. Photoshoots, makeovers -- those were a lot of fun. She's even offered to do a whole set for JEF recruiting. As it turns out, she's huge on technology -- even more than I am. I'm tempted to try and recruit her, even," Tasha explains. As she doesm the anxiety seems to bleed away from her, until she simply looks like a tired woman day of work, escaping so she can enjoy a smoke before going home. Gabriel can just make out the sparks of a lighter in the background. "No one would appreciate a tech position more than she would, and she's probably an excellent pilot canidate. Not to mention the PR possibilities."
"I thought it was just the lighting.. but is that why you look so shiny now?" Gabriel asks. "And isn't she military already? I'm not sure how that works. Spokeswoman or whatever. But that's up to you. For someone who says she's trying to be nobody, you sure seem interested in taking your idol into your life." He's grinning again.
"I'm a troublemaker, that's all," Tasha insists, though Gabriel can just make out the hint of a smile. "Katie's ex-military. She technically has a rank still, but mostly she just does occassional PR work with a lot for-profit efforts. I think if we gave her a datapad we'd never be able to get rid of her," and here Tasha gives Gabriel a knowing look. "As for why I'm shinny, well, Mr. Invention -- Katie's agent -- did me up like this. Katie's, well, big on technology, and she knows my technological background, and, um, I'm kind of technology too, so, um, I'm shiny now. I think I like it. What do you think?"
"Well, it'd make you more popular with the Vartans I imagine," Gabriel claims, and mines laughing. "I sort of like you when you look a bit rough-and-tumble, admittedly."
"I'm sure you'll see that again, when the next adventure comes along. But while I'm home, I want to be part of the city. I know it's not much to you, but for me, the city is the place I could never be. No matter how many times I'd visit, I was always on the fringe, never able to climb the heights. But it's not just social standing, it's people. I want to be around them; I want to be in their lives. I want the blessings of culture and to taste what the nations have to offer," the young woman explains. She then lifts her datapad towards the city, showing Gabriel the skyline. "I want to feel the world we return to. Sometimes it feels like I'm about to vanish, or become something else, but as long as I have this to come back to I think I'll be okay."
"Are you saying you want to visit all of the cities?" Gabriel asks. "Confederates and Imperials and Silent-Ones cities?"
"Eventually. I'm content to try and set us up in the ones we've been to, for now. I really like Expedition City, admittedly; it's a free city, full of factories and machines, and no one really cares to much about who you are. It has the Knight's college -- do you think I could attend it, some day? -- and the remains of the Fleet. It's our kind of city. A JEF city, literally of course, but also in soul," the young woman replies.
"You're thinking of setting up our main base there, aren't you?" Gabriel asks, still smirking.
"Maybe I am," Tasha admits, her smile unmistakeable. "And as an added bonus, no one can tell us we're playing favorites, because Expedition City is largely neutral. Plus, it's already got our name on it, and one if it's big stars just loves us!"
"But do they have the industrial base to support us?" Gabriel asks. "I got the sense it was more of a 'college town', but you're there and check things out."
Tasha shifts the datapad to show the outskits -- and even some of the core -- busily churning out the black smoke of a thriving industrial complex. "This place feels like it's made of factories. A lot of the people here seem to be involved with industry of some sort, and many of the old ships are used for that purpose. It's also wired -- power generation doesn't seem to be a problem, though flying can be. I can't tell you how many wires I've dodged since I arrived." She turns the datapad back towards herself, still smiling. "And Gabriel? I know I said I wanted to escape, but the truth is, after I'd done it, I just realized how far apart that made us. I missed you, so, I decided to tell you as soon as possible. Katie's life is frantic, so this was the best time I could manage. She's probably getting bored below deck as we speak."
"I'm nearly to the drill camp now," Gabriel says. "Of course, you'll have to make it up to me later, unless you want me to join you and Katie.."
Tasha chuckles. "Honestly I'm not sure she's attracted to me as much as my circuitry and my datapad, but we'll see. I'm sure I can convince her to do a special recording between us, for your review. just for gods sake, keep it away from Fred!" The young woman laughs as she pushes off the rail, walking back towards the elevator now. "And Gabriel? Be safe, okay? I do love you, I'm just ... Just a mess, really."
Then, Tasha suddenly pauses, looking ill at ease as she frowns, ears askew. "And ignore the rumors if you hear them. I'm not sleeping with anyone you haven't heard of. Not Raehab, and not any Kamp officer. It's just, certain insinuations are needed to maintain the facades," she adds.
"I'm not much for gossip," Gabriel notes. "That's Fred's thing. Just be careful, and don't lose sight of who you are deep down. And call more often!"
Tasha smiles again as she calls the elevator with the push of a button. "I will. I'm still getting used to being able to do this, I mean, I know how it works and it still feels a bit like magic. When we talk again, I'll tell you about how I've given up on trying to change the world. I had a long talk with this Eeee Ambassador," she offers.
There's a ding, the elevator door sliding open. "I think this thing is going to block our signal in a moment, so before it does, I love you!"
"Love you too!" Gabriel replies and blows a kiss, just before the signal breaks up.
Tasha catches it even though her mate can no longer see her, closing her hand around it and resting the hand against her heart. "End transmission, return to standby," she orders as the lift begins to descend.
The elevator is cramped and shaky, but it delivers Tasha back to the main bridge access, which leads to the luxury suite where Katie stays. "Enjoy the view?" Mr. Invention asks as he greets Tasha at the door.
"I did, thank you," Tasha replies as she joins the stylish wolf. "Do you mind if I ask you a question, Mr. Invention? Do you mind if I call you Mr. Invention?"
"I don't know what else you might call me, Miss Argentine," Mr. Invention notes smoothly as he leads Tasha inside the suite. "What is your question?"
"I was just wondering if that was Katie's nickname for you, and if using it might be rude," Tasha explains as she joins the man as they walk back toward's Katie's place. "What does it mean to have an agent? One of the attendants back during the shoot asked me if that's how I met Katie, but until I met you two, I'd only had a vague idea of the concept."
"Hmm," Mr. Invention says, and produces a card. It says 'Mr. Invention' in gold letters on a black background, with 'Talent Coordinator' below his name. "And Agent, Miss Argentine, is a parent for grown-ups," he explains. "Secretary, nurse, bodyguard.. someone who stands between his charge and the rest of the world and ensures that their movement through that world is smooth and without problems."
Tasha peers down at the card, nodding. I wonder what his name used to be? Probably something boring, she thinks before admitting, "That sounds really handy. I can't tell you how many times I've felt like I could be using my time better, or act more effectively, but have lacked the experience or the time to do so. I don't really need a bodyguard -- I think I can handle myself by this point -- but the rest sounds like a godsend."
"One in your position usually would have a secretary at least," Mr. Invention notes. "I assumed it was the young woman you had the message delivered to the other night."
"Unfortunately I don't have anyone like that. My datapad is the closest thng, but it's not very good at giving advice or coordinating my schedual. And my Titan, who would be, isn't very useful when I'm outside the cockpit," the young woman admits as they make their way down the corridor. "Oh, and Hake isn't my secretary, she's a professional contact and a friend. Scholar Hakeber, Knights Templar, ancient cults and religious practice expert."
"An odd specialty," Mr. Invention notes, taking Tasha to the lounge, where Katie is.. reading a book! "I'm sure your meeting must be an interesting tale."
"You have no idea," Tasha admits, grinning a little. "But then again, most of my meetings with people are odd tales these days. I could fill a book of odd tales, if I wasn't so busy. Frankly, I'm just glad to be back among people. I needed to reorient myself."
Stepping inside, Tasha's smile widens as she sees katie reading. it reminds her of Gabriel, making Katie's place feel a bit more like home. "Hi Katie, sorry about that. I managed to sort everything out with my commanding officer, um, about that actually ... " She glances to the dapper wolf, then asks, "Would you two mind hearing an idea we came up with?"
"Do you mean will I listen and give an honest opinion?" Mr. Invention asks, while Katie marks her place and sets the book down next a pad of paper she's been taking notes on, and takes off her reading glasses. "What is it, Tasha?" she asks, smiling.
"Your input would be welcome, since this will concern you, too, sir," the red woman explains. She steps forward and turns so the two can be infront of her as she speaks. "I've spoken with my CO, as I said, and I've relayed the JEF recruitment photo shoot, which he's thrilled with. As we were discussing the possibilities, I got to thinking that, well, I've met a lot of people in my travels. A lot of people who don't have anywhere near the assortment of skills you do, Katie, nor the sheer love of technology that's so important to maintaining our world's legacy. So, we were thinking that, well, that someone like you would be a good fit with us..If you're interested in that sort of thing, that is. We can provide the training of course, and you'll have a chance to see interplanetary space, and new worlds -- and of course, all the technology you can stand."
The woman's eyes go wide. "Well.. I can't say yes of course until I know more of what would actually be involved," she admits. "I assume you mean to make use of my public relations skills, right?"
"Well, yes, that's right. But that won't be the possibility -- The JEF doesn't use people just for what they can do for us. We also provide room for people grow and opportunities in avenues of interest for those who are seeking them. In particular, you're a top race, aren't you Katie?" Tasha asks. Inwardly she's impressed as her elequence. It's not easy to think straight when Katie Kaboom is smiling at you, she decides.
"Well, we don't have professional races," Katie notes. "It's all amateur until we can get a league going. There've been several through history, they just tended to fall apart whenever there was a war that lasted more than a week or so."
"About that: if a war were tio break out, you would need to comply with whatever decision command makes. Like the Knights, we maintain neutrality, though for different reasons. Our technology is such that we could easily cause an imbalance among the nations, leading to an even greater tragedy. That's why we don't supply weapons, and secure any dangerous artifacts for study before release. Anyway, what this all means for you, and what I'm getting at in all this, is that we could probably see a talented, charismatic pilot like yourself in something more complex than a motorcycle. A Titan, in fact. Though be warned, it will need effort if it's to be piloted," the cadet elaborates.
"I didn't realize the JEF had spare Titans," Katie says with a laugh, but then looks serious. "I'll definitely want the tour though. But I do have existing commitments and contracts, so.. I might be able to work with you without joining. It depends on my no-compete clause with the Expedition army and what the JEF's official standing will be: military or scientific. It sounds like you mean for it to be strictly scientific."
Tasha nods; she had suspected as much. "We have no interest in military affairs. If we were to involve ourselves in a war, it would be strictly because of an overwhelming danger to the world or its people. We do not take sides in political conflicts, nor do we provide aid for military technologies. That doesn't mean our good faith can't be misused, but there would be sanctions if that was the case. When I pilot Melchior, I do so for the benefit of the world and its people as a whole, or at least for widely accepted, mutual beneficial cause."
"Note, I can't release control of a Titan to a non-member, due to the aforementioned weapons technology," Tasha explains. "We technically have three, though one is unstable and the other two are in disrepair. I'll actually be returning to pilot the unstable one in a few days, which brings me to also note tghat JEF membership can be dangers. Very dangerous. Take that in to account."
Mr. Invention finally speaks, saying, "At this time, Ms. Vesuvius would not be able to join, simply because your organization hasn't had time to prove itself true to your goals. However, that does not preclude the ability to consult. We can certainly make you into a spokesmodel and show you the ropes, provide PR assistance and the like."
"I would like that, thank you." The young woman inclines her head to her hosts, then says, "I hope you don't think I'm too forward with this. As you say, we haven't had a lot of time, but we also need people to move forward. We have the means, but lack the bodies."
"Recruitment is always a tricky thing, and almost never succeeds by mere word of mouth," Katie notes. "You need a campaign to let people know who you are, who you are looking for, and where to find you. You also need to know your demographics as far as were to focus your efforts the most, and how to tailor the imagery and message for different audiences."
"It is a military undertaking, in short," Mr. Invention notes. "As you are not a military organization, it would be understandable for you to seek outside aid."
"Demographics?" Tasha asks, ears perking. "I admit I'm very new to this. The job tends to fall to me because our other members have technical or leadership experience that makes them more valuable in other roles. Technically, I'm just a pilot-cadet, but I've had to take on many roles in order to fill the gaps."
"Well, you can be the face then," Katie says. "And your CO, the alpha-type from that picture. Rowr. You'll want to study some with the Knights as well. They've sort of outlived their military purpose, but continue as a multi-culture neutral organization."
Tasha's brow raises at the 'rowr,' and for a moment she almost thinks to be jealous. Hypocrite, she chides herself, almost laughing. "I'll do that, then. It should help our CO out a lot, as he's already overworked with all the other needs of our organization."
Tasha looks between the two, then offers, "How about his. Katie wants a tour, so we'll be headed back to the Pit anyway. There we can meet with my commander and discuss the details. He'll know exactly who he wants and how he wants them, while I can handle carrying out that 'face,' as you said. And speaking of which, I need to meet one of my associates soon, at the college, as well as a porfessor. Want to join me?"
"Do I have time?" Katie asks Mr. Invention, who nods. "You are clear tomorrow, as the crew will be busy developing and editing today's footage."
The hybrid's tail wags. "One of our new recruits is a big fan, so I'm sure he'll enjoy meeting you. We'll be meeting my associate then takiing her to see a professor. I'll need to speak to them in private a bit, si as long as that won't be too boring, it should be fun. Do you need time to get ready? It won't be too uncomfortable, going out?"
"I'll need to wash out the shiny," Katie notes, running a hand through her metallic-looking hair. "Don't want to make a scene!"
"Oh, will I need to do that too? I admit, I really like it," Tasha says with a bit of a grin. "but that may be the Vartan half of me talking!"
"Well.. you're pretty distinct with or without Mr. Invention's special grooming," Katie points out. "But I can almost pass for a regular person if I need to!"
"I think I envy that. Well, get ready, I'll be here keeping Mr. Invention company while we wait." Tasha smiles at the star as she makes her way in to her bathroom, then turns to assure the man, "I can protect Katie if that becomes necessary, so don't worry. Despite whatever my mother tries to tell people, I'm pretty good in a fight."
"Your mother sounds like an interesting woman," Mr. Invention notes.
"You aren't going to come help me scrub out my fur?" Katie asks, and pouts before giving a wink. "I'll grab Miss Necessity to help, if you're going to be keeping Mr. Invention busy!"
"She's a big Vartan, owns a tavern in Darkside on Rephidim. keeps telling me I need to eat more and fight less, then tells everyone I'm fragil-" Tasha pauses at the invitation, then she shrugs to the man apologetically. "I'm not a strong enough person to turn that offer down. I'll see you in a bit," she admits, then winks and waggles her fingers as she heads for the shower.
"Ah, youth," Mr. Invention says, and heads off to oversee dinner preparations.
"So, um, Katie, about that the 'rowr' wolf. You see, we're actually together. That's why I was up top, I needed to report in, but I also needed to, well, explain what happened," Tasha says as she heads in to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. "And he's okay with it, but I wasn't sure. I thought, well, he deserves something special for putting up with me, and all, and well you wanted to see more about my datapad, so ... we could ... you know," she nods towards the stall, "for the camera."