Guest Suite
It isn't clear if this room was originally part of the captain's cabin or was an officer's room that just got annexed. It's large, has its own bathroom and office and sports a very large (and very thick) window. The entire ceiling is made of solid-state lighting panels, which make for a nearly shadow-free environment when turned on, and instead of curtains there's a metal blast shield that can be slid over the window.

The bed is too big for one person. And too soft. The whirr of the circulation fans is the only sound to be heard, aside from the internal sounds of Tasha's own body. If not for the exhaustion, she might have trouble falling asleep - but she does sleep eventually. And once she's out, she doesn't have any dreams (at least, none that are remembered).

Morning comes with knock on the door. "Are you awake yet?" Katherine's muffled voice asks through the door.

Face buried in a pillow and body flatted out -- or splattered as might be more appropriate, Tasha murmurs a equally muffled but largely incomprehensible noise that sounds like it might be "yes."

The door is opened, and the draft brings with it the smell of coffee. Katherine sits on the edge of the bed wearing a bathrobe (and looks like she just got up as well) and offers a cup. "Some divine elixer to rouse the hero?" she offers.

"The hero has been defeated by the bed, go on without me," mutters the disheveled Tasha, who looks like she fell in to bed and that was that.

After a second or two though, she does paw weakly at the air in Katherine's direction, grasping for the cup.

Tasha grabs it with her taloned hand, making the grip look quite firm. She holds it in the air for a second or two before she rolls over, making a very non-commital-to-life sound as she does it. She then sits up, rubs her eyes, and asks, "Did I oversleep?" before taking a sip.

"I don't think so," Katherine says, and then looks at the room's clock. "It's only 0900. Still early-ish. Did you sleep well?"

"Um, a bit," Tasha hedges. She then reaches over to pat the pillow next to her with her free right hand and grinning lopsidedly. "How do you sleep on these? They're so soft!"

"I sometimes just pile two on top of one another," the Karnor admits with a grin, and then swings her legs onto the bed so she can sit back against the pillows. "And you get used it.. at least, enough that when you switch back to a cot and bedroll you really notice it!"

"I prefer a hammock," Tasha admits as she scooches over towards Katherine, then rests her head on her favorite pillow in the building: Katherine herself. "Of course, our ship doesn't rock at all, so there's not much need to one and it lacks the movement. It took me weks to get used to sleeping on the ground, and longer for sleeping in beds! I don't know how people handle walking and all this unmoving, soft bedding." She then takes another sip, looking increasingly alert.

"A hammock?" Katherine asks, and scritches Tasha's ears since they're in her lap. "How would you fit in one with those wings?"

The noises Tasha makes are much more pleasant this time around; She even cocks her head this way and that, avian style. "Oh I don't. I usually just let them flop over to the side, or, I tuck them in beside me and sue them as a pillow. It does make for a lot of preening some times," she explains.

"I still don't know how you keep your feathers.. orderly," Katherine admits, and gets an odd look in her eye. "I'd go crazy trying to deal with that along with everything else..."

"It's all very instinctive," the red woman admits, looking up such that her muzzle pushes onder Katherine's. "I just find myself doing it whenever and where-ever, like fidgeting or rambling! Plus it's not like I do a lot of flying anymore -- everyone insists on walking everywhere! Of course I insist they grow wings, but who listens to me? No one!"

Tasha grins a little more, then peers at Katherine and asks, "Are you alright, Katie?"

"I was just wondering.. what would happen if I scratched you right in the small of your back, above your tail?" Katherine asks. "It makes a Karnor kick their leg.."

"Um, I would probably do something that would make Mr. I. very unhappy with me. Lets not do that," Tasha insists, who casts a long and exageratedly worried look towards the door.

"Now I'm curious! What would you do?" Katherine asks. "Is that where your leg and spine tattoo trails merge?"

"As a JEF officer cadet, I must warn you not to play with strange alien technologies that could probably break your lamp or something!" Insists the hybrid, who then rolls on to her back with her paws up, waggling them in mock-defense. "Um, I'd probably buck. A man tried to spank me once, and um, I kicked a hole in the door. Mom was not happy and it was hard to explain!"

"Hah, I can't imagine you ever being spankable," Katherine says, and rubs Tasha's belly instead. Also a Karnor favorite.. but then just about anything like a belly-rub.

This makes Tasha make more sounds, and squirm! "I'm spankable!" She insists as she tries -- but not really -- to stop the belly rubbing. "I'm really very delicate!"

"You are?" Katherine asks. "You're a warrior though! What bits are the delicate ones?" she teases.

"According to my mother, I'm all delicate. Which she tells everyone all the time," Tasha replies, arcing her wings in as Katherine hits a sensitive spot. "And besides, just because I'm a warrior doesn't mean I can't be fragile some times! Or a lot of times. Most of the time? You should know that! I mean, would you ever have made jokes about farting in public?"

"Well, no.." Katherine admits. "Katie Kaboom is.. well, like a Titan, just one made of clothes and makeup and public relations. I'm her pilot."

"Well, that's me, you know? I'm the same way," Tasha explains as she reacts to Katie's contemplative pause to roll back over again, resuming her lap-laying. "Of course, it's all a bit blurry these days ... Who I am ... where the line is drawn ... But everyone likes the new Tasha, so I am the new Tasha. Easy, isn't it? Isn't it the same way with Katie Kaboom?"

"Not really," Katherine says, a bit more somberly. "I didn't create Katie, after all. I'm not as connected to her as you are to Melchior I imagine. I mean.. could you pilot Melchior all the time? Day and night? Never come out or let anyone know there's a pilot?"

"But Mel and I are different," Tasha notes. "What I mean is, um, well, this me you know? It's not the original me. To do what I'm doing, I had to give up that me -- but it's not bad, because no one really liked her anyway, you know? Then I absorbed Nora's memories, and cybernetics, and merged with Mel, and now look how far I've come -- I speak to senators, I fight for an entire world and explore the stars. I'm in bed with a very pretty starlet. Sometimes, the 'us' we hide just isn't very likable or very useful, so I never really take the mask off anymore. I think I'm becoming the mask, but, it's not bad -- even nice. So, why not?"

"As for piloting Mel all the time, well, I've though about becoming more like a machine. I've been thinking, there's many ways to learn -- you can learn by hard work and study and hope you can comprehend it and retain it, which is the usual way, or you can integrate with things -- memories, mechanical parts, and so on. Either way you grow and increase, and I have to keep growing. It's not as satisfying to do it the way machines do it, but, I've thought I'd be okay with it so long as I can remain relevant and get stronger," Tasha then adds.

"Because the mask hides all the insecurity and loneliness and.." Katherine starts to say. "I couldn't become the mask. I need someone I can be me around, so all that stuff doesn't just build pressure until something breaks. And while I like machines.. I mean.. they're predictable. It's power, but.. you still need skill to control it. I crashed a lot learning to ride a motorcycle! I.. don't know if you can learn.. really learn.. without failing first."

"But that's the irony: only real people can fail," Katherine adds. "Masks can't."

"The road to the stars is rough, Katie. It asks things of you you never even knew you could do, it tries to destroy you mentally and physically, it asks you to grow until you barely recognize yourself anymore, then it asks for more. It shows you things both wonderful and disturbing," the young cadet says as she closes hr eyes, taking comfort in Katie's presence as she relates the unpleasant side of exploration. "I can't fail. Not really. So, I guess I'm just half a real person -- which makes sense because I'm part a machine and part other people, I guess? I can fail the little things, maybe, but not the big ones. The price is too high -- so I'll trade parts of myself away to make sure I can win."

Tasha pauses, then adds, "I hope you feel like you can be safe around me. Maybe I can't let go of the mask, but, that doesn't mean you can't around me. I know I was kind of, um, well put off by the joke about farting, but, um, if it's any consolation, it was because a part of the me behind the mask needs the illusion."

"Be wary of illusions," Katie says. "I probably encourage that too much. I'm not used to ... being normal around anyone. Mr. Invention is determined to 'cure' me of it, I think. But I worry about you, Tasha. Is it worth all the risk if you're going to lose yourself anyway? At that point.. what will success even mean? The part of you that wants it won't be there anymore to enjoy it."

"I'm always heer somewhere. Even when we wear the mask, we do it because we chose to. I'm here because I /want/ to be here/ I /want/ to succeed, and I /want/ to grow and go further. It's just, I've seen the price and paid it. Sometimes it /scares/ me, that price. Sometimes I've paid it without ever knowing what I was buying, and I think, some day, maybe soon? Some day I'll pay it again, and things will change, and the world I've grown comfortable with may be left behind -- just as it was before. I just hold on to the hope that I will find my way, and, that the jounrey will always be there, showing me new things, taking me to new places, and helping people along the way." The cadet takes in a deep breath, exhaling as she rolls over again, this time laying her head against Katie's arm. "Illusions are nice. Nothing is ever really illusory, just, um, incorrect as to the reality. But they still have meaning. But I don't think you're an illusion. Whetehr you are Katie Kaboom or Katherine Vesuvius, you are yo

ur masks and yourself, and you are one of the hearts of this world. Culture and people gather around you like a flag. You coalesce the essence of a part of Abaddonian culture; A part I like. Because I so desperately want to be close to it while I can be. I want the world to like me, but, I'll take that like by proximity if I must. It's like fire ... Warming fire to light the dark and help me find my way home."

"Where is it you're ultimately going, Tasha?" Katie asks. "Does your journey have a destination, or are you just trying to see how far you can go?"

"I keep going," Tasha answers, iopening her eyes as she looks up. "For as long as I can, as far as I can. Maybe, some day, I'll grow tired of it and decide I've found the end of the journey, but, for now, I keep going. The idea of stopping scares me, I think. When everything settled, when the JEF was established and I had nothing to strive for, just, um, peace and rebuilding, I got anxious -- I'm still anxious. I just, um, I just want to keep going -- and not hurt anyone along the way, if I can help it. Maybe even help them."

"Who are taking with you then?" Katherine asks. "That's the important question."

"Whomever wants to come along. I just hope they, like I hope for me, that they can handle it. But even if they can't, um, I hope that the journey was worth it for them," Tasha answers, who then leans in and sniffs Katie for a moment before settling her head back down. "I've considered going alone, though. There have been times I've wondfered if I'm really good for the world. If my presence here is, in itself, irresponsible. Power comes with responsibility -- the Knights taught me, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," and "To have great power is to have great responsibility." I don't know about the first one -- I think that's actually an evasion of personal weakness -- but the latter is very true. When you have the power to change the world, suddenly everything you never thought you could change is now your responsibility -- whether you act or don't. Either way, it remains your fault. The results are always yours to carry."

"Oh Tasha.. everyone has the power to change the world," Katherine claims. "And they do it. All the time. Every change from day to day is because of the decisions people make. Big or small. You don't have to worry about everything or bear all the responsibility. Nobody does, because nobody can. No mask, no person. It's impossible. You just can't know the outcome of everything you do. Not even for yourself."

Tasha lifts her head up to look at Katherine, staring at her a moment before frowning. "I keep hearing that. You say you're afraid no one will get you? Well, I feel the same way. No one gets me because I can't let them. I know I just look like the little girl that followed Gabriel along and bumbled in to some relics, that I'm mostly harmless except for my Titan, but, I'm not. People keep saying to me, "Tasha you're young and you don't have to try so hard, the world doesn't rest on your shoulders." But they're wrong -- not always of course, but at several moments, the world balanced on me. I've had in my hand the whole world, more power than any senator, or nation, or even all of you combined together. I could be fantastically wealthy, or rule a nation. I could have reduced Abaddon's people to dust. And I could have all done it under my own power, with a bit of help. No, Katie, I'm not like the people you're talking about. But no one understands that. I can't relate to anyone because who has t

Tasha shakes her head as she drops back on to a pillow, head shaking. "Everyone thinks I'm just a little kid. And they're right. But I'm a little kid with the power equal to a world. But I smile and I bow and push it all down until I look harmless. I put aside my power to serve. But i think most people just see that mask. They don't see the shadow of a dragon."

"But you didn't use it, did you?" Katherine says. "And you know what? It doesn't matter. Once you have a single life in your power, that's ultimate power. You're obsessing on it. Gabriel commands the power to destroy any city on this planet too, doesn't he, based on what I've heard of Tesla's destruction. Does he lose sleep over it? You have one Titan. One of many that used to exist. When the Expedition came, it had the power to wipe out worlds too. But it didn't. Any captain of a fleet ship had the power to wipe out anyone who landed. Don't think it's such a huge burden - you just haven't been trained to deal with it."

"If you focus on that too much, you'll never get anywhere," Katherine says. "Just remember that the easiest path with power is not to use it."

"It came suddenly," Tasha admits, frowning as she pushes back in to the pillow, head saking. "And it disturbs me, because, I used to be powerless. A nobody. But now I have so much of it, I wonder, why isn't anyone afraid of me? And I'm afraid they will be if they ever knew. They won't trust me. And I wonder, why doesn't it bother anyone? How can people be comfortable with me?"

Tasha tilts her head at that. "Power that isn't used is just potential. Queen Jade-Eyes feared to use the power she possessed because she mentioned things like that. I'm not like her -- I want to use my power, but for the better. I don't believe power should be avoided or feared -- and yes I know that's completely contradictory to what I just said. The difference is, one is fear and the other is conviction. And they like to fight. A lot."

"So, you're paralyzed by the thought of using your power to do anything.. but the idea of not using it is also out of the question?" Katherine asks, one eyebrow raised. "You've been using it for good. Titans are for fighting monsters. You've done that. You mapped out the pit so they could find water. In what way are these things inadequate achievements? Because they didn't use all of your power? Remember also that your 'power' comes from technology - and thus is limited. The more you use, the less there is left to you. Your Titan needs fuel after all, and I don't imagine you have an infinite supply on hand."

"I didn't say it made sense. I guess I fear the repercussions. But like you said, I don't have any training. And I'm afraid of making mistakes -- but I don't let that stop me. Can't I be afraid? See? This is why the mask has to stay on. Whenever I talk about it people just call me weak, or insecure. They're probably right. Well, it's good to know what I should do then: It has to go." The red woman pushes herself up, then fumbles around until she produces her datapad from under a pillow, checking the time. She stares at the screen, frowning, and looking a little harder of expression than she had a moment ago.

"What has to go?" Katherine asks, sitting up. "And.. uh.. is part of this that all those things you've done where because someone else asked or told you to do them?"

"My weakness. I'm tired of being insecure. I share it, and people just point out how silly it is. And they're right. I'm going to get rid of it." The datapad gets set on Tasha's chest as she lays back. "Believe it or not, I chose to do most of these things. The JEF was my idea -- I'm the founder. I took the Seraph. I tested it. I wanted to fight and protect Abaddon, and help it. Gabriel doesn't order me very often. I think he thinks I'll figure it out on my own, and is letting me grow. Or did you mean something else?"

"I was thinking about the survey and fighting the monsters," Katherine admits. "The stuff that actually did some visible good for everyone."

"Well, of course. I can't very well stick my Titan in to problems no one wants me to help with. At that point I just become, at best, unwanted assistance and at worst an invader and a tyrant. I want to help, and I want to show that I'm willing to be controllable -- the other way of doing things just causes resentment," Tasha answers.

"So what's this weakness you're 'getting rid of'?" Katherine asks. "You know, it's important to have weaknesses."

"Apparently, it's not that important," Tasha notes, glancing over. "Everyone says they like to see them but when you show them they just tell you how foolish they are, or, how you need to be tougher. No one wants to see Katie Kaboom blow her nose or trip on stage." She frowns a little more, then offers. "Sorry, that was a bit mean of me. But you understand, don't you? I want to get rid of my insecurity. I want to get rid of this creeping, gnawing doubt ever since the battle in which the Seraph was lost. That battle took my face, and my friend, my promise, my faith, and made me a liar and a murderer. And now I see, it took my confidence too. At least I can be glad, that he paid for it."

"No. Maybe? I don't know. I just feel like I could have done more. I suspected Abaddon existed -- we had met before, and he told me his plan -- but no one believed me and I believed them in thinking I was wrong. I should have known that everyone would have wanted Balthasar. I was the one charged with protecting him, and I failed. That's it. I failed. It wasn't the worst failure -- he at least got to die in a way that I'm sure pleased him -- but I still feel like I failed him on some level. And I resent that no one believed me, and that I didn't believe myself," the red woman replies.

"Well.. it's a bit hard to believe," Katherine admits. "This isn't Sinai. We aren't used to having gods wandering around causing trouble. It's still hard to believe."

"Even for me, from Sinai, and someone who speaks with gods it was a bit difficult to fully grasp. But I believed it early on. I put in to place precautions in case I was seduced or corrupted, which should still be on file with our doctor. But I could have done more. It's just, um, how do you fight something like that? I tried to fight it through conventional means and he just laughed at me. How do you kill a god without luring it in to a sacrificial trap first?" Tasha asks, turning her hands up in a uncertain shrug-like gesture. "I don't know. No one here seems to, except maybe the secret magical research projects and certain religious people, but, religion isn't really an option for me anymore. But I think I know who would know. I'm going to ask him to teach me -- I think his tutorship should help me regain confidence and gain an insight no one else can give me. If I survive, then I know I'll be stronger. That's Nora's way."

"Who are you going to ask to teach you?" Katherine asks. "I know a few good tutors. Or is this someone a bit more mystical?"

"Do you?" Tasha asks, ears perking as she looks over. She then considers how to explain Lord Yama, and decideson the simple but accurate, "An angel. That's what he is."

"An angel of death," the red woman adds a second later, feeling the need to be a bit more descriptive when faced with such an exotic descriptor.

"Uhh.. are you being literal?" Katherine asks, taking a sip of her coffee and making a face because it's gone cold. "There's really such a being you can just.. go and talk to?"

"We just talked about a demon of destruction, why is an angel of death so diffrenet?" Tasha asks, head tilting and ears perking. "I suppose you could say they're the same, just they serve different masters and whether they are angel or demon depends on your point of view, but, well, yes, he's very real. He tried to murder me when we first met."

Tasha then holds up her coffee for Katherine, which may still be warm as she's had it beside her the whole time. "You look like you might need this more," she explains.

Katherine takes the offered cup, and downs it quickly. "So.. you want to go back to the supernatural being that tried to kill you and ask it.. what, exactly?" she asks.

"Well, in some ways we both follow a similiar purpose. The beings it serves are known to be able to combat spirits and the like. It's also very old -- probably older than the Celestial Empire -- and has played a significant part in history. To do this, it must have vast stores of knowledge, great experience, and immense capacity to adapt and learn -- and maybe, to educate. he also approves of me; Well, maybe tolerates me is more accurate. But he might help, because he does tolerate me. Because he may want to see me grow, too, and um ... Do other things," the hybrid explains, taking another glance at the time as she does. "He saw something in me even I couldn't see, and he saw it quickly. He may be harsh, but like Captain Frane, harsh makes us think and try harder. Besides, he seems kind of haughty, so, maybe if I suck up to him he'll like it."

Tasha blinks at this, looking over and opening her mouth -- her face then contorts in a sudden confusion and consternation, then her mouth snaps shut and she just folds her arms and lays back. "I can convincing," she insists, sounding doubtful and more than a little petulant.

Katherine wags her tail and grins. "Alright.. suck up to me then," she challenges. "Get me out of my bathrobe with flattery.."

Tasha looks back over, ears perking. She then puts her datapad aside and sits up fully, facing Katherine. "When I first saw you, I believed you were out of my league -- and when you smiled at me, I couldn't think of a thing. Except, I knew, when you took my hand, that I was right. And I'm still right; And when you smile at me, I still can't think of a thing, except I know, I was right."

Katherine blinks and her ears blush a bit. "That's.. pretty poetic!" she admits.

"But it's the truth!" Tasha says, smiling and wagging her tail. "Archon Strength-of-Stones aid I was poetic, you know." She smiles even wider, eyes closed like a puppy basking in the sun.

"How can I look at the sun when it's covered in clouds?" Tasha then asks, reaching over to tug a little at the bathrobe.

"Alright.. but only because I haven't had a shower yet," Katherine claims with a smirk, and takes off her bathrobe.

"Let me clean you up then." Murmurs Tasha as she opens her eyes, dropping on to all fours and moving closer ...

Breakfast is large, as usual - which is fine, since Tasha has worked up an appetite! Midway through a bell chimes, and Mr. Invention excuses himself to see who is calling.

"You ... You don't think he knows do you?" Tasha asks, the slice of purple meat she was about to eat hanging next to her mouth, forgotten in the face of Captain Frane showing up.

"He knows we left together.. I mean, he brought you over to me," Katherine points out. "As for anything else.. why would he even suspect?"

"He's a clever old bird. He reminds me of my, um, my father figure Captain Eyeshine. He knew everything. It was like he could see the future," Tasha notes in a supicious, omnious sort of tone before she snaps her breakfast off the fork. After wiping her muzzle, she notes, "I've been trying to keep our relationship a secret for both out sakes, I hope that's okay?"

"Hoping I'll tell or keep secrets?" Tasha asks, head tilting. "Oh, um, Gabriel knows of course. Hakeber does too. Hake's the one I really worry about, actually. I'm a bit afraid she might be vindictive because I ... well, I turned her down for you, didn't I? Did you know she and Gabriel slept together while I was in the tank?"

"I didn't pry into.." Katherine starts to say, when Mr. Invention returns, and introduces their visitor. "Captain Gabriel Akkers here to see Miss Tasha," he announces. Gabriel is right next to him, in full dress uniform, and grinning. "Room for one more?" he asks, eyeing the breakfast spread. "I didn't have a chance to eat, was flying all morning.."

"Oh, speak of the devil! I guess Captain Eyeshine isn't the only psychic captain in my life," Tasha says as she stands up, holding her arms out for a hug. "You can have my seat, I was just about done anyway!"

Gabriel scoops Tasha up into a hug. "You must have been eating for awhile then! I talked Colonel Rapatia into loaning me her autogyro. Not the fastest thing in the air, but still beats waiting for the train. How've you been holding up?"

Tasha gives the man a kiss on his muzzle, shifting to lean in to him and then turn, so she's in the crook of his arm with her head on his side. "Oh, I'm okay! I'm rested from yesterday's battle, and we were just having small talk while we ate. I was going to head down to the depot later, to catch the train back. What brings you out here? Oh!" The red woman waggles her free hand towards Katherine. "And of course you know Katie, who has been taking care of me and helping me with not looking like a fool in public, which let me tell you, is a tall order."

Katherine stands and shakes Gabriel's hand. "It's good to see you again, Captain," she says with a smile.

"Train? I came out to bring you back myself," Gabriel tells Tasha. "I already cleared it with the Templars. Or was there something you had to do on the train? I'm sure Melchior will be alright. Just can't use the Picnic Basket here to pick him up."

"Oh! Well, I guess that saves time then. No, nothing else to do. We can talk along the way, there's some plans and other things I'd like to go over, and of course, you'll want to be debriefed," Tasha says with a grin, winking Katherine's way before escorting the man to her chair, then pulling a seat for herself. "I'm glad to see you! Did you come out just for me? Did you get the recording I sent you?"

"Yes, sounds like it was quite the celebration!" Gabriel says, and starts helping himself to the food and coffee. "I'm surprised you were able to stand up there in front of everyone. I used to hate that."

"I hid between the Silent-Ones. Being short has its advantages some times, you know? Katie saved me from having to do speeches," the cadet explains to her mate as she leans forward, helping to move food on to his plate. "Mel might have suffered some damage, though. I'll have to review that. I also spoke with Captain Frane about leaving the Knights for a time, maybe seeking a specialized tutor and returning to class when I'm ready to handle it. I'm afraid my confidence has been a bit low since the accident."

"Maybe you should talk to Remiel about it?" Gabriel suggests. "He is a psychologist. All I can do is hold you."

"Hmm," goes Tasha, who eyes the man. "I do like the holding, but, yes, I probably should, shouldn't I? You'll need to give it the nod though, as I'd probably need to draw a bit from our budget and, well, remember Yama?"

The Karnor shudders. "Yeah, I remember him. Thank God we don't have to deal with that again. What a nightmare," he says.

"Uh," goes Tasha, who glances towards Katherine a moment before looking back. "I was thinking, um, actually, I was thinking of ... going to see him," she notes in a delicate tone.

It is a testament to Gabriel's training that food isn't sprayed over the table. He finishes chewing, swallows, then turns to look Tasha in the eyes. "Why?" he asks, with forced calm.

"Because to kill devils, I need an angel's advice?" Tasha offers, mirroring the man's calm by keeping her expression very neutral. "He's also been in existence for longer than humanity has walked; The things I could learn from him would be extensive, and he clearly saw something in me -- otherwise I wouldn't be standing here right now. His remote location would be a good way for me to focus on learning, address spirits, and gain confidence again."

"Abaddon is gone though," Gabriel says. "What other spirits are there to deal with?"

"Abaddon mentioned others. Right now, we can't combat them without relying on ...um ... " Tasha glances at Katherine again. "Outside help. I don't like having to rely on that kind of help. Besides, understanding more about them is in our charter, and we may not be the only power to deal with them. The Council would be quite pleased if we could help reduce their fear of the power of magic. Maybe we can even do more with the knowledge than just combat them. Yama may know others things too; It's apparent my catching up in conventional teaching will be long and difficult, but maybe I can learn something no one else knows. I'm the only one who can ask him."

Gabriel's face twitches a bit and his lips purse in thought. Finally he asks, "Did Yama seem like he'd be welcoming if you came back?"

"He seems honorable, if not friendly or empathetic. That I seek his wisdom may appeal to his pride and his nature as a judge," Tasha offers by way of an answer, if not a direct one. "He seemed pleased with my answers, and my character. He even warned me to be careful -- and he may have known about the ghosts or even Abaddon himself. He is, um, in touch with ... Them, if passively."

"It'll take some time to prepare," Gabriel notes. "A few things I need to take care of, especially back at Tartarus."

"I can wait. I doubt he's going anywhere, he seems to like being where he is. What did yiou need to do?" Tasha inquires, pausing after to give Katherine an apologetic smile for all the talk about work.

"Well, I'm told there's a matter of a bounty," Gabriel notes. "Which I'm probably going to have to turn over to Katherine's brother, depending on badly damaged the base is."

"Oh, that. Fred mentioned something about 'breaking' it but I didn't want to pry and ruin his moment. There wasn't much I could do about it, anyway." The cadet shakes her head, then asks, "Do you think it's time we started looking for a new home?"

"Not until Bellerophon is done with the refit," Gabriel says. "We need the facilities and security of Tartarus for some time yet, until we have enough people to handle things ourselves."

"I guess so. I could ask Harmonia to assist us when the time comes, however. Her ability to rapidly generate machinery would allow us to construct a base in the wastes if a suitable one can't be found amongst the national offerings. But that's for later." Scratching her black nose, Tasha thinks a moment, then says, "Tesla was almost annhilated. I have the samples in my bag over there," she points off to where her belt and pouches hang on a rack, "and I'll hand them to you or Elli to process. I'm particularly intrigued by its electrical abilities. Oh! Speaking of biomechanical creatures, I also met Villem -- Villem as in Viscount Villem, who helps run a bioroid corporation. If we need to consider biotechnolgies, I can set us up to speak to him. I also attended a party, but there wasn't much to report there -- just some Imperial rudeness over the dome capture. Oh, and I have pictures. Katie helped me dress for it!"

"And I missed seeing you all dressed up?" Gabriel asks. "I always miss out on that fun stuff with you two! As for bioroids.. they take a lot of organic matter to fuel. Remember how the Confederates in the Pit wanted some of the forests for fuel? It's something to look into, certainly, but no anything we could support short-term, unless that Imperials figure out how to replicate their life dome. Who knows, maybe it'll produce seeds?"

Katherine pointedly focuses on her toast at the mention of 'missing the fun stuff'..

Tasha glances at Katherine, biting her lip and grinning before she looks back to her mate. "Well, we'll see if you can't be included, now won't we? It's a problem that we're always so far away from each other, but, that's something else time and people will probably fix. As for the dome, well, who knows? I've never seen the thing, but ... Come to think of it, isn't it a giant, um ... energy-space-plant ... thing?"

"It doesn't seem to be a single plant," Gabriel notes. "If it is, it's a pretty remarkable one. They need to fix the little pod-people issue though before trying to grow more of them I think."

"Pod-people?" Tasha asks. She then blinks and inquires, "You mean what we saw when we first arrived? You know, the Mages Guild isn't going to be very happy with me if I use the time on Sinai to bring back potentially magical knowledge."

"You could always invite a wizard," Gabriel says. "I'm sure there are plenty willing to go into the Beast Lands and talk to a homicidal robot dragon that probably killed a few thousand people.."

"Umm, somehow I think that might just make things worse. Of all our, um, acquintances Lord Yama is probably the one we shuld keep to ourselves -- and don't think I've forgiven him either. It's just, he probably doesn't even care, and while we could try to punish him, it wouldn't bring anyone back or help us here and now. I am concerned with what his behavior means for our friends though, which I intend to ask about. I know he suggested it was for the greater good, but, I don't know," Tasha considers, propping her head on the table as she watches Gabriel. "What do you think? I wanted to hate him, but-" The younger woman rolls her head to look at Katherine, then shrugs. "Oh, why not? An angel destroyed the Expedition Fleet, and we've met. He's really quite scary, you know?"

"Lord Yama: angel, judge, weapon," Tasha murmurs, head shaking. "Extremely alien, and probably without ethics or morality that we understand. Perhaps, simply without them at all, save for what his masters ask."

"I didn't really want to hear that," Katherine admits. "The past is the past and.. shouldn't still be walking around doing things," she says, then blushes and says to Gabriel, "Present company excluded of course."

Gabriel raises an eyebrow, but grins. "We aren't qualified to deliver punishment or judgment on Yama," he notes to Tasha. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared to take him down if we have to, especially if he doesn't want to play nice. I'll talk to Eli about what might be possible."

Looking back, Tasha notes to Katherine. "See what I mean about exploring? Not everything is a new and exciting adventure; There seems to be a lot of new and exciting horrors, too. They all like me, though, because clearly I am the universal constant." The younger woman winks, then turns back to Gabriel. "I wonder, who is qualified to judge him? The world council? Hauling him before the PHTO and the nations would be quite a sight, not to mention historical, but the idea of bringing him close to anyone makes me very nervous. As for taking him down, um, I hope you're not thinking of asking me to do it with a sword or something. He's right in the protected area, so we'd probably need to attack from orbit -- and whatever we do that would probably make them unhappy."

"Though," Tasha starts, pausing to purse her muzzle a moment, "I'm not completey convinced he works for them. Or at least, not all of them."

"What I meant was that it would be a bit like judging god for being god," Gabriel says. "Ants don't try to prosecute the giant stepping on them without a thought... unless they happen to have a linear cannon handy, it seems."

"I don't know, I think I could tell god off," Tasha says with a cocky grin. "Or tear him to little pieces. What's the worst that could happen?" She then sticks her tongue out and rolls her eyes, corpse style, holding her free hand over her head as if it were holding a gallows rope.

"See, I told you you aren't the type to suck up," Katherine claims, waving a sausage.

Dead Tasha recovers immediately. "That's not true! I will if someone deserves it, the other type I usually punch. Well, now adayas I punch them with words and occassionally high tech blades and energy weapons, but it's the same principle."

Tasha then looks to Gabriel. "She doesn't think I can suck up, you see? You believe in me, don't you?"

"Hmmmm," Gabriel ponders. "It's all in that 'deserves it' part. Nobody 'deserves' to be sucked up to. It's something you do that is inherently hypocritical in order to sway a person who has an undeservedly large ego."

Tasha blinks at this, leaning back and glancing towards Katherine. "Okay, maybe I don't know how to suck up," she admits.

"Thankfully, yes," Gabriel says, and leans over to hug Tasha. "You don't ever want to be good at it, trust me. It will ruin your life."

Tasha accepts the hug, but still looks a bit bewildered by what her expression says she isn't sure is a compliment. "Thanks?" She replies, blinking as she leans back. "I guess I do have enough other things trying to ruin my life."

"Speaking of which, um, Gabe, you saw Hake last -- what's your opinion on her stability with respective to our, um, situation and the knowledge she's gained?" Tasha then asks.

"She's still our primary liaison with the Knights Templar," Gabriel notes. "Most of our current candidates were directly recommended by her, and she's been working on cherry-picking from the Templar's integration and fealty guides to help us come up with a proper charter. I don't think this has interfered with her normal social life."

"That's a relief. I was worried that you two, um, you know, represented Hake letting her insecurity jepordize her relation with us and her work, which really made me worry because it would have been a big risk for such a petty act -- So I'm glad to hear that wasn't the case. If it was, Katie might have had problems, too." Tasha shakes her head, then spreads her hands. "Now I feel bad for doubting her. Strategy isn't a happy art, is it? Yes, lets."

"Hakeber is insecure?" Gabriel asks, surprised. "I.. hadn't noticed?" He finishes his breakfast quickly (but then he was always a fast eater anyway). "Thank you breakfast, Katherine! Maybe we can all do lunch or something before Tasha and I have to fly back to the Pit."

"Drop in any time," Katherine says with a smile. "I'm sure we'll think of something to do."

Tasha rises, also giving Katherine a smile. "Thank you for taking care of me. I'll see you the next time I'm in town, of course -- and you are always free to visit us, too!" She gives a little wave, then joins Gabriel, ducking under his left arm so that she can resume her comfortable spot there.

"Take care!" Miss Necessity calls from the kitchen, while Mr. Invention shows them out. "Do be careful in the dorms," he advises.

"I know, they don't have any liquor, it's awful," Tasha mock-whispers to Mr. Invention as she and Gabriel head out the door. "Horrible!" he can hear the young woman tell her mate as they proceeds down the hall.