The colony world of We-Made-It does not look habitable from orbit. There are no forests, open bodies of water or even hills. It appears to be a flattened desert with dangerously high winds and a slow rotation giving it the equivalent of a 60-hour day. "Would you believe there's a thriving tourist industry here?" Yue notes from her spot on the bridge.
"Is there a thriving something interesting to justify that?" Tasha asks, feeling hot just by looking down at the world. Deserts towns were never her favorite port of call, heavy labor, fur, and a lot of surface area being the main contributors to the feeling. Abaddon's red, cold deserts are well and good, but the hot deserts like the Sea of Sand could be unpleasant. Yet she's traveled enough to know everyone has their own interests and desires and despite her words she could see the beauty in a place like this, at least through someone else's eyes.
"It's one of Terra's first colonies, from back when the interstellar survey robots didn't always work very well," Yue explains. "And slower-than-light colony ships were one-way affairs." As Dark Horse descends towards the barren surface, it soon becomes clear that his is another subterranean biosphere world, since the landing area is a set of giant hangar doors flush with the surface. It's the first time the sound of the atmosphere reaches inside the ship - the hurricane winds are moving at hundreds of kilometers per hour. "The winds prevent a space elevator," Yue continues to explain. "So everything has to be brought to the surface from orbit."
"I guess I'm not showing enough pro-Terra spirit here." Tasha wonders what it must have been like, to come all this way and end up on a hot, endlessly sunny desert world with no greenery or even mountains. Even the air is hostile! To have to live underground, unable to fly, she suspects Vartans would have tried their luck elsewhere, if they even could have. It makes her wonder if the furless, wingless, cunning species that is Humans found the world any more palitable than she would have. That the Humans still exist here tells her a lot, she isn't sure Vartans would have managed. "It must have been an immense challenge to survive here in the early years. Though now that I think about it I really don't know Humans that well, maybe it was better than I think?"
"It was horrific," Yue says cheerfully. They begin their descent into the underground port.. and pass what appear to be giant metal kites. The port itself is large, which different areas set for different sorts of propulsion. Kaa takes them to the "reactionless drive" zone, which is an open area with no floor. The docks are actually mobile gantries that swing out, which gives a commanding view of the city.
In contrast to the surface, the city is like a fairyland. With no need to worry about weather, the structures a winsome, some of them are even suspended from the ceiling of the artificial cavern. The city is deep, going down several kilometers, but with hanging gardens and parks scattered seemingly everywhere. Waterfalls fall only to turn into mist before reaching the bottom, and even flow through wall-clinging glass buildings. All of the light is artificial, of course.
"I think the city's pretty neat," Tasha observes, trying to sound more positive lest she be accused of anti-Terranisim and promptly teased by her mostly Terrangens crew. "Underground cities with large open areas like the last world don't seem that bad. At least there's room to fly. The Silent-Ones base did interetsing things with holography and light work to make their underground commons feel less ... underground."
"This is old school.. everything is real," Yue says, and grins at the mention of 'room to fly'. The gantries take hold of Dark Horse, and they are officially 'docked' according to some holographic symbols projected outside.
"And now that I get a better look, they've done a lot of amazing things here, too. It makes me think that with enough options, time, and work, you can make almost anywhere an interesting place to live." Tasha gives Yue a puzzled look at the grin, she knows Humans can't fly, after all. At least none of the ones she's seen can, and she isn't sure their 'angels' were ever real whatever some of her crew tell her. "Well I, for one, am going to go walk -- and fly -- around once offical business is handled. Is there any kind of dress code? Anything I should avoid?"
"Time to stretch our legs," Gabriel says, getting out of his chair. "But try to avoid the casinos. And don't get talked into a kite race."
"No gambling, no kites. Got it." Tasha, who was already standing, turns and regards the door. She takes a step, then glances towards Shojo and Lacci. "Want to come with me?"
"Of course," Lacci says. "This looks like.. an Aerie, but.. with a roof." Shojo doesn't add more to that, but nods.
"Wear light clothes," Gabriel says. "Don't be surprised by the appearance of the locals if you can avoid it."
Tasha waves them to follow, figuring the Terragens might like to immerse themselves in Terragens history and culture a while without the weird hybrid and her alien friends to make them stand out any more than they already do. She can always meet up with them later, after they've had some time to relax. Besides, she can't help but feel Shojo and Lacci might feel isolated if she sticks with her Terragens crew and leaves them to their own devices. It's not easy, managing people's needs.
"Wow, are you saying there are unusual people in the galaxy?" Tasha asks Gabriel, walking backwards off the bridge. "Shojo, Lacci, better keep an eye out. They could be anywhere."
After changing into 'light clothes' - something of a challenge for Lacci with her limited wardrobe, they head to the airlock.. where Dr. Knight and the Lapi are waiting. This is probably the first time Tasha has seen the Belter leave the ship since he signed on. "I have friend that retired here," Jonas explains to Tasha.
Tasha gives the man a mock salute. "I cannot turn down the wish of my doctor who asks for so little. You know how to reach us, if you need anything while you're away. We're probably going to split up a bit, so you can stick with Gabriel's party at lest part way." She then turns to Liza and considers her. Stricly speaking, she belongs in the Terragens group being of the same overall design intent as the Karnors, Phins, and Pans, but very few people in the universe know of Terra's lost children. "Liza, may as well stick with me, unless you'd rather not be..?"
"I want to try flying," the Lapi doe replies. Aaron doesn't comment.. but he's wearing shorts. And his shiny vest.
"We'll see if that can be arranged," Tasha says, somewhat cautiously. She glances at Aaron and decides he can pick his own party, then turns towards the hatch. "Well, off we go! Try not to destroy this world, it's an antique and our budget doesn't cover it." She knocks on the hull for good luck, and then she's heading out.
Stepping out of the ship onto the gantry immediately tells Tasha something about this world. First, it smells very clean. Secondly, the gravity is only about 60% of what she's used to. Thirdly, Shojo does not adjust quickly and nearly falls over. Slowly. And finally, the locals on the dock are wearing very colorful (and often clashing) clothing. This may be due to them all being reverse-Belters: tall, but albino.
Tasha stoops to catch Shojo, but finds she doesn't need to -- and that she almost falls over herself for pulling such a sudden move. She uses the monoliyhic Vartan to steady herself, then makes a show of straightening his uniform and then her own before turning to beam a smile at the locals. I really should practice gravity environments before exiting in front of the clients, she chides herself as she steps forward.
"Hello, you're here about your shipment, of course? I'm Aldara Tasha Argentine, and these of course are my crew members." Tasha gestures behind herself with care, not wanting to spin around for the effort. "Captain Akkers here .., " another gesture, " ... will handle the specifics of transfer, but I do like meeting our clients pesonally when I can."
"Well, I'm just with customs," the tall woman before them notes, and checks her electronic clipboard. The motion causes her breasts to wobble under her shirt - low gravity is kinder to the chest-heavy. "Ah, the new kite lines. I'll get the loaders over for you. Do you have any fruit, insects or exotic animals to declare?"
"Other than myself and my two assistants?" Tasha grins. "No, nothing like that."
The woman takes another look at Tasha, and finally asks, "Are those real wings, and not just your own wing-pack?" She then notices the Lapi, and her eyes go big. "My daughter would adore one of those.."
"Sometimes I think I'd make more money if I charged people for spending time with them. Perhaps a line of holos, some toys? Aren't they cute?" The hyrbid woman reaches over and pinches Aarons cheek, then pats it affectionately before leaning back. "But they're both very sentient and very alive, and, well, I'd have to hear about it later I'm sure. Besides, Liza does my hair, and without her where would I be?" She shrugs with her hands: lost, surely. "And yes my wings are quite real, and I'm afraid I have to disappoint your daughter again as they're quite permanent."
"Oh, she has her own wings," the woman says, and turns the clipboard towards Tasha. "If you've got a card, just wave it over the board," she says. Luckily Gabriel has one read and swipes it through the air, eliciting a beep from the board. "Enjoy your visit to We-Made-It," she says, singing it like a jingle.
"I'm sure we will!" Tasha gives a little finger wiggle as the woman heads off, then turns to Gabriel. "I really have to identify people better, don't I? Well, do you need me to come with you for unloading?"
"No, it's mostly automated," Gabriel says, and makes a shooing motion. "Go have fun. Just don't poop on any statues."
"Ha, ha. I don't need that from some 'monkey-dog'." The young woman then leans over and gives Gabriel a kiss on his muzzle. "Besides, I have much better taste these days. Go catch up, have a drink. If you feel you can't live without me, you know how to reach me!" He gets an exagerated version of the same finger wiggle, then she turns and begins walking towards the city. "Squad Two, move out."
"Are we Squad Two?" Lacci asks. She does just fine adapting to the lower gravity. The Lapi.. jump over Tasha. The probably weren't trying to land on her head though. Either way they end up in front of her. "Where do we get the wings?" Aaron asks.
"Let me see ... " Tasha pulls out her (by modern standards) antiquated and antique datapad and thumbs through a few menus, browing the local stores and advertisements until she finds several listings. "There's a few stores available, most of them on the upper levels, and a few below us. How about you pick?" She holds up the menu for him to take a look at.
"Fairy wings or bird wings?" Aaron asks Liza, who suggests, "Whichever one has a parachute too."
So it's off to the level below, which is basically a shopping mall. It is nothing like a bazaar, so something new for Tasha. There are shiny stores, with shiny displays, and nothing smells strange and nobody is lurking in shadows.
It's like a safe bazaar, if the bazaar was also made of plastic, glass, and other materials Tasha can't idenify. And the lights! Holos and flashers and everything in-between. It brings a smile to Tasha's face to see Humans appreciate a good bit of shininess. "I bet Katie would have liked this," she notes as she peers in to a shop full of new clothing as they pass by. "I'll have to bring her here so we can do some shopping, later. I wonder if I could use anything new?" It's a trick question, as the answer to 'does she need somerhing new' is always 'yes'. "So where's this store?"
"Over there," Aaron says. "With the naked people wearing holograms." There are indeed some young (tall) people wearing nothing but light.. and wings. Dragonfly wings, angel wings, and wings that look like they're made of pinwheels. They're not doing anything with them but loitering in the way of teenagers across the galaxy. They aren't all human either; there's a Khattan boy that's probably 'native' as well from his height.
"Are we about to feel our wings are boring?" Tasha asks Lacci, mostly just to confuse her as that's always a diversion. She heads that way, reminded of how the Vartan youths met her when she had exited the Temple of the Source in what feels like ages ago. She's dimly aware that she still is a teenager, but travel (including time travel), Nora's memories, and responsibility all find it a little hard to believe. "Well, do any models stand out to you?"
"The boy with purple hair," Liza replies, until Aaron nudges her. "Oh.. wings. The.. not-feathered buggy ones, I think." The story display does show that they have children's sizes that would fit the Lapi.
"Not-feathered? I sense a traitor. I always suspected." Tasha manuvers her entourage inside, which ends up being a kind of wedge with her at the tip and the two Vartans flanking like body guards as they approach the nearest person she thinks looks like a sales agent. They're not exactly hard to miss, on approach. "Hello. My assistants would like to try on, and possibly purchase, some of your local wings." She gestures to the two Lapi.
"Assistants?" the sales-girl asks, looking at the Lapi with wide eyes. "We do offer rentals if you're just visiting. They come with limited AI for safety."
"I dont know, would you like them permanently? We do visit some low-G worlds, this is probably not the last one we'll see," Tasha tells the lapi, looking between them. "I know I never bought you a gift before, Aaron, and you've been good to me Liza."
"I suppose they'd be good souvenirs if we don't get to use them again," Liza says, but looks pretty pleased at the notion of getting a gift. "I have not fallen from enough heights to meet my quota, so I'm sure I can use a permanent pair," Aaron offers.
"Then consider this Boss Tasha's Exciting Gift Day; please make your selection and try not to empty my accounts." Tasha copies Gabriel's shooing gesture, waving the two deeper in to the store to browse and try things on.
Since they get children's units, there are some special features like a virtual-tether and follow-the-leader mode to keep kids from straying too far from their parents. They aren't particularly pricey, thankfully. There's also a channel to tune their comms to that will provide some traffic control if needed.
At the edge of the mall, Tasha's cornea-display shows safe routes to follow through the air of the city. There are several other flyers and groups of flyers in a wide variety of wings moving through the air as well.
"Well, here we go. Your first flight, my little fledglings." Tasha backs up to the edge, holding her arms out. "This is a big day for Vartans. I hope you remember it fondly." She then cocks her head to the side and turns to glance over the ledge, before kicking off and plunging over the side.
Only to emerge in the air a good fourty feet away. "Liza, Shojo, would you mind helping them? I've set our landing point to an eatery down towards the bottom, something called the 'Center of the World.' They say it overlooks active lava caverns -- plus they serve drinks! And have a grill. It's a long way down, at least a few hours, and falling is always easier than rising!"
There's some.. adjustment. Vartans are not exactly gliders, and flying normally would smack them into the roof - or the buildings hanging from it. This time Shojo has the advantage, since he doesn't have to worry about reflexes. The Lapi aren't really flying, so much as guiding where they want to go. But after a few minutes the Vartans adjust and things go more smoothly. There are virtual goals and games that appear in their displays, should they want to fly through them to score points.
Tasha gives the Lapi some times to adjust before moving on to games. As a Vartan who also happens to have ended up as a space faring den mother of sorts, she feels it's her job to teach flying at a quality level -- or at least gliding. Unlike her fellow Vartans, she's also spent time flying in what was literally cross-country, taking off from Abu Dabi and flying over a continent over the span of a week during what she believed was a real emergency. Conserving energy, therefore, was a must even if the abyss plunging was of the decidedly semi-figurative style, unless one counts the Source's prison. And so, soon they've gone from training, to following a route, to games as they head ever downward.
The purpose of the wide balconies and parks is obvious now: landing zones. The target destination is part of a plaza with a central landing zone connecting to the businesses and restaurants via what appear to be transparent glass bridges. "That was exciting!" Liza claims when they land and her wings fold up.
Tasha shakes her own wings out. The fligth wasn't exactly taxing, but she also doesn't get to fly as much as she used to. Sometimes, she wishes her wings had rockets. It's thoughts like that, that make her understand why she gets along with Titanians. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself! If you want, we can do it again when we head back up." She glances aside, then checks her retinal display. The resturant she chose is in an upscale area somewhere off the main hub, down several corridors and past a number of shops with more exclusive clientelle. The only reason she noticed the restuarant at all was due to targeted advertising, which matched her up with it in what must have been the world's easiest algorithim. "Sooo, this way. It's upscale, but it's We-Made-It style upscale, so our uniforms should fit. They might even be too formal."
Of course, things are predictive enough that they have a table waiting once they arrive. Since the establishment is popular with Galactics, there are plenty of configurable chairs to accommodate people that aren't born in low-gravity. They even adjust for the shorter Lapis. The waiter brings actual printed menus (although the one given to the Vartans is written in Vartan) and appears to be either an advanced robot or a Khattan-style progmat puppet.
As Tasha browses the menu with the other Vartans, she can't help but admire the view. While she and lava have had an uncertain relationship, she always found it to be strangely aluring. Aluring, but best not to be taken in by that lure and viewed from a distance. The last time she was so close to the stuff, she was kicking boulders and scaring Shojo, something she hopes he has forgotten. The panoramic sapphire window overlooks one of the old lava flows, products of the same geological activity that produced the city's depths in what she suspects is long-stalled plate movement. "See anything you like? I'm leaning towards the skewers made from something called 'cave dragon', and I guess the pinapple and the green fruit-- vegetable? The green thing is okay, too," she inquires in Vartan.
"Skewers for sure," Lacci replies. Vartans prefer their meat (and other edibles) in convenient chunks on beak-friendly skewers after all. There are plenty of vegetarian options for the Lapi - three-quarters of the menu seems to be vegetarian. Skewers are also easier to deal with in low gravity. Shojo also opts for a similar dish, with a wide variety of meats. "Dragon meat sounds spicy," Aaron notes.
"It's apparently flame retardent, or at least heat resistant. They have to prepare and cook it a special way, otherwise it's also heavy in metals. The menu says creatures live down in the lava tunnels and probably migrated there tens of thousands of years ago and evolved to deal with the heat, descendant from tough reptile-analogues that has originally evolved to endure the fierce surface winds." Tasha's a little skeptical of the history lesson, wondering if it's a Terragens staple meat that's been marketed-up to appeal to gullible rich people (such as herself), but she keeps that to herself. No need to spoil the mood with more conspiraces, or get Aaron going for that matter. "Skewers it is then." She tapes the entry so the server can see the motion and hands the menu to Lacci.
"It may be cooked with spices then, so.. spicy," Liza agrees, given the description. The waiter collects the menus and brings some wine selections to go with the orders, offering the choices to Tasha.
The whole arena of wine selection remains one of those areas of her training she understands on its face, yet has trouble wrapping her head around in practice. All her young life she'd been drinking some form of alcohol, even the water aboard ship had alcohol in it to keep it safe. There was then the realm of dockside bars, taverns, and later diners and resturants which emphasised more on sipping. Now as she ascends the social ladder she's found alcohol is served with increasing price, and decreasing volume, such that the finiest example of the vinter's art appears to be buying and selling alcohol you never drink at all. It puzzles her greatly, seeming like some sort of trick or pan-galactic form of insanity, but then a lot of high culture strikes her that way -- she has learned to just go with it.
Thankfully this time her training has paid off. She uses what Liza went over with her, picking appropriate wines from memory, thinking that should also please Liza. Once that's done she digs out her datapad and puts in a little note to the others, should they wish to meet up with them here.
There's a response almost immediately, as Gabriel replies with a note of his own: Cargo offloaded, Crashlander bureaucracy dealt with. Heading your way. Don't have fun until we get there.
Tasha arches and eyebrow as she types in her response, then looks up. "The captain has ordered us not to have fun until he arrives. I am the ship owner," a grin, " ... so he can't order me, so mostly it's all of you who can't have fun." She wiggles the pointer finger of her Karnor hand at the others, indicatingly. "So lets discuss our work a bit? Lets see ... " The finger drops and her head switches to rest on the hand, tilted. "Any suggestions or complaints? Anyone want to get off the crazy train? Have an idea of what you want your crew role to be? Anything at all?"
"It has been rather placid for the most part," Shojo claims. "Very few injuries. The food is good. Less shouting than I am used to."
"It has been very eye-opening," Lacci offers. "I liked the island. Sometimes the ship feels a bit cramped though."
"Can't complain," Aaron adds in. "Always keeping busy."
"I enjoy my work," Liza says. "I don't know what I could do beyond what I already do for you though, Tasha."
"I know, I know, you thought 'this is a Tasha operation' and expected there'd be a lot of yelling. I'll try to make up for it in the future," Tasha assures Shojo, while also scooching ever so slightly away from Liza. "I'm glad you're finding it relaxing. I'll see about ensuring your continued education as a medical officer." She turns then to Lacci and nods. "Eye-opening is what I thought too, when I first started. I agree about the lack of space, but haven't come up with a good solution. Maybe I'll talk to our allies and see what can be done without compromising our ability to get somewhere." Another not to Aaron, but no comment, and one to Liza as well. "I'm glad! I didn't expect you'd wnat to do more, you already do a lot, but if you ever need something please let me know."
"I suppose I could help straighten up the beds, other than yours," Liza notes. The Dark Horse doesn't exactly have a housekeeping staff.
"No.. do not try to make Hakeber's bed," Aaron tells the doe, his fur fluffing out slightly.
"If you want. I'm not expecting you to do more than you do, this is just a little 'Q&A'," Tasha says Q and A like it were foreign word she was getting a feel for, not quire certain what to make of it, " .... to see how everyone's feeling. And yes do not try and make Hake's bed. Or, well, clean her room. It's deeper and scarier than it looks, like hyperspace."
"Yue keeps her half clean," Aaron says. "I.. assume Gabriel and Katie have a military sense of order, along with Shojo and Lacci for that matter. And Jonas is a doctor. I.. have no idea who cleans up after the kittens though."
"Rock and Rainbow take care of them," Shojo says. "They also clean up after the Phins."
Tasha purses her muzzle. "The kittens are a mysterious lot. I think the 'string' they play with helps keep them in order." There's a knowing brow raise that comes with the words. "Rock and Rainbow. I never really thought of how aquatic beings would take care of their quarters. That's been interesting."
"They have adapted to gravity without issue," Shojo says. "They sometimes will watch people going about their business with a disturbing amount of concentration."
There's some commotion at the entry when the rest of the crew arrive - probably because the Phins are with them, looking rather pleased with the reduced gravity. Jonas is not with them, still visiting his local contact apparently.
"Oh they're probably watching your three-dimensional workings. They can 'see' through us and draw mental three-dimensional maps with their sonar. That's why Phins don't care about clothes and think Galactic interpersonal standards are silly, because for them everyone is naked. More naked than you or I can see, even when someone is naked. I think it can be a bit disturbing, but also, when you get used to it it makes them some of the easiest people to get along with," Tasha explains, gesturing here and there to indicate sonar, body shapes, and general shruggery. "So they're probably assessing you. You might be especially interesting to them. I bet Lacci is too, for other reasons." She winks at Lacci.
"I in no way resemble a fish," Lacci begins to protest, until she realizes the Phins have just arrived. As if on cue, their table.. transforms, with their own chairs being moved outward as it seems to split into slices, only to have other slices rise up to fill the gaps.
"Speak of the devils," Tasha remarks, looking up even as she slides away. 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear' is one of the Karnor Elite's sayings from old Terra, which Gabriel explained to her and she thought made a certain amount of sense. Now adays, as she rubs shoulders with actual demons -- and demon gods! -- the saying has become less fun and somewhat hokey joking and much more real and useful advice.
Katie helps herself to a sip of Tasha's wine as she sits next to her, opposite Gabriel. Hakeber looks a little less disheveled today, and seems to be grinning madly for some reason. Yue sits with the Lapi, as if to keep the size gradient consistent.
Tasha smiles and pretends not to notice, thoguh she does scoot a bit closer to Katie. "Well at least one of you looks pleased. Did something happen? Hake, you look almost respectable!"
The Karnor just grins, and notes, "Low-G makes things bounce." It isn't clear if she means that her things are bouncing. Hake isn't the sort to wear a bra after all.
"May you never change Hake-bear," Tasha says fondly. She considers dragging the 'Bear in to her lap, but decides not to so that Gabriel won't feel lonely on his half. "So, we were just discussing if anyone has questions or concerns, if they needed anything. I can tell you, Gabe, that no one has asked to leave the ship. But, how about you new arrivals? Questions, concerns, need anything? Want to switch ship roles?"
"I'm not sure what my role is, actually," Lacci admits. "And.. uh.. who is watching the passengers?"
"Sam is watching Parsu," Katie answers. "Egypt is.. out and about.. somewhere."
Tasha's ears flatten to the sides. "We did assign someone to watch them, did--" She looks around, then takes a deep breath and exhales. "Well I'm sure they're fine. Our Naga-nanny doesn't seem like she wants to go anywhere. Egypt ... Who knows with Egypt. I'd better go check on her later, though. And, um, we may want to be ready to leave, uh, quickly. Just in case." She blinks, then turns to Lacci and switches topics without missing a beat. "So what would you like to do?"
"Well, so far I've just been tutoring people on galactic history," Lacci admits, "Which isn't so bad, really. It suits my.. temperament? I'm sure I could help out some on the bridge though, if someone is willing to teach me what to do."
"We probably should try to train everyone in basic operations," Gabriel notes.
"Fussy and likes to tell people what to do?" Tasha arches her brows and perks her ears to the point of comedic, then she wiggles them and grins. "I don't mind seeing people learn basic operations, I'll leave the selection to you mate-Captain Gabriel. Lacci, I want you to keep working on the Grunt with me, I may need you as support and salvage ops and Mel doesn't fit everywhere, more is the the pity. You can decide if you want to specialize more after you've had your basics and finished with the Grunt."
"There'll be plenty of time for training for those who stick through the Long Slog Into Nothing after we've finished this tour," Gabriel says.
"I guess I'd better bring a book." Which is a joke, because Gabriel knows Tasha looks at books in the same way she looks at sitting through lectures, and is immediately undercut anyway as she turns to Hake and says, "You you a lot, right Hake? So you're like a book."
"I'm still working on my thesis too," Hakeber claims. "But if you need me to read you bedtime stories.."
"Oh. No." The hybrid turns to Katie instead. "Want to read me bedtime stories? Or should I get back to being serious? It's boring, you know, but I apparently have to do it."
"I'm more into acting out bedtime stories you know," Katie claims with a straight face. The food begins to arrive, so they either entered their orders before they arrived or the restaurant is just that good. The kabobs-come on large platters that hover over the surface of the table, moving in a clockwise motion so people can take what they want. There are also regular plates and utensils as well, and carafes of wine and water.
Tasha refills her wine, and also fills Katie's wine glass to show just what a great girlfriend she is. She then goes about stacking up a meat-heavy diet of kabobs, leaving the utensils out of the operation. "You know Gabe, Lacci was pointing out we're getting a little cramped. I've been thinking of talking to our allies and see what we can do about expanding the ship. We'll have to talk to engineering and our experts, but it might be possible. Doctor Bumpier noted the ship's drive would be suited to a larger vessel. She even said she mistook it for a drive section, incomplete."
"Well.. do you know what a camper is? Probably not," Gabriel says. "It's an ancient sort of vehicle that unfolds and expands when you get to your destination."
"I had been thinking we should carry some sort of decoy. For Titanians. You know how they are." Tasha cocks her head to the side and twirls a finger at her temple, straightfaced. "Something like that? Or is it like a tent?"
"More like a tent," Gabriel says. "In space. So.. not at all like a tend and more like a balloon. So, like other aspects of Dark Horse, it can't be used while in hyperdrive."
"I assume that means no walking outside during hyperdrive, either. I always wanted to see it for myself, but the whole falling off in to higher dimensions part is unseemly." The last part getting a particularly heavy emphasis on the cultured accent Tasha's been working so hard on, with Liza's help. She rolls her eyes to look at Katie, as if conspiring with her about how unseemly the universe can be. "Well, I have nothing against an inflatable base. It'll be even more useful if we need to stay on the ground or docked. The hangar is getting very crowded."
"A running track would be good," Aaron puts in. "Running up and down the main corridor is getting dangerous."
"If you get a good run you can slide under the Phins in their walkers," Tasha notes, ruining her culture yet again. "Don't let them grab you though, they're touchy-feely. We do need somewhere to exercise, I agree. Maybe we could set up sparring matches and inter-discinplinary cross-training. We have a lot of people with various martial backgrounds, we should spread that knowledge out and help the untrained catch up, don't you think?"
"Like.. boxing?" Hakeber asks. "I only know drunken brawling.."
"I can teach boxing to those interested," Aaron says.
"Well, exercise and training. Aaron knows boxing and many other low-tech skills. He can kill people with a straw! Gabriel and Katie are ex-military, Yue's a sneaky Human so who knows what she can do, and I know how to swing a sword around. Lacci's going to have some Clan training. I bet together we can come up with cross-training that'll surprise anyone," Tasha elaborates.
"My training involved a rifle," Katie admits. "And I've never killed anyone," Aaron insists. "I just didn't stop Calligenia from doing it.."
"Oh. Well. We'll get a few rifles and practice with those. I'd like the crew to be prepared. Um." Tasha's ears flick, and she looks around. "Has anyone ever killed someone before?"
"Not face to face," Gabriel says. "Dozens!" Kaa insists. "They died of shame when faced with my awesomeness."
"I killed a keg of beer once," Hakeber notes.
Shojo remains quiet, since any action he's seen has generally been with Tasha.
"Do I look like someone who's killed?" Yue asks.
"You look like someone who if I hadn't worked with you would steal my secrets, my beer, Hake cuddle-bear," Tasha insists, squinting at Yue. "But I guess that leaves only me as someone who has killed someone face to face. Well, hopefully you won't have to do that, but it's very good to know who has or hasn't. It's harder than it sounds, you know?" She picks up a kabob and pops it in her mouth, giving a big 'what can you do' shrug as she pulls a gobbet of meat off.
"It's much easier to just beat them senseless, or let something indirectly kill them," Aaron says. "Like this one rough sort I knocked out with a dart.. it isn't my fault he well into the ocean and drowned."
"Oh, indirectly killing people.. that's different," Yue agrees.
"You are all too scary," Lacci points out.
"Also I have some sword training," the Galactic Vartan admits.
"Well someone has to directly kill people, so I guess that's my job. This is how I show leadership skills." Tasha then leans in to Katie, tilting her head in a 'pet me, I'm showing leadership skills' sort of way.
Katie smiles at Tasha.. and steals her glass of wine to drink from, even though she still has her own.
Tasha's ears wilt, she lays her head on her arms and looks very forlorn. "I help everyone and they steal my wine, what an awful universe." She then picks up a kabob and nibbles on it, quite without sitting up. "Would anyone else like to steal from me, maybe there's something you want to steal from me and aren't sure how to do it? Or, or, we can discuss our missions."
"You can kiss me later," Katie offers. "My kisses are as sweet as wine, after all."
"Well, from here our last stop is Phryxus at Barnard's star," Gabriel says. "It shouldn't be a problem, and we'll be dropping off our passengers there as well."
"That's true," the hybrid woman agrees without a hint of decension. "So that settles that. Sooo, the mission. Once crazy bat lady and crazy snake lady are off and gone, it'll be the big black. With scientists. How well do our shields hold out against constant brainy lectures, Gabe?"
"That depends on if Hakeber drinks all of our shields," Gabriel notes. "In actuality, it will be about sixty days of nothing, with no place to stop once we've cleared the galactic spiral. Out in really flat space we may pick up more speed though."
"I'm still a bit uncertain what flat space is. I get the gist of it, it's space where there isn't much of a gravity well to bend things around, but everyone talks about it like it's some sort of sky full of storms and ghosts. And ghost storms. Is there something more to it than being without the heavy influence of stellar gravitation? I know there's the inter-galactic wells, so not nothing, but ... I mean, beside from being very empty, is there something more?" The young woman continues to nibble her kabab from stable height, ears occassionally flicking. Once comfortable, Tasha is often loath to move.
"The galactic halo is where a lot of dark matter hangs out," Gabriel notes. "It's a blank space on the map, since nobody has any reason to explore it. And there are rogue planets and other objects that have been ejected from the galaxy proper, but otherwise it's a sort of 'here be dragons' situation."
"'Beware of the empty places'," Tasha murmurs, ominously. She nibbles her kabob thoughtfully, then tilts her head. She pauses, as if reconsidering, then says, "I, um, I've been thinking of trying to talk to our ... sponsor's, sponsor's, sponsor. I think, uh, 'he' has become aware of us, and he, um ... he has an interest in such ... Such places." Glad she's already resting, the young woman hopes laying on the table helps mask her shuddering. Or worse, the shaking. The Null is head and shoulders above any other being she's encountered previous, what she's chosen to label a Fundamental. The only Fundamental she knows. A being whom she only knows through the scattered writings of godlike beings who, themselves, worship other beings so far advanced beyond her they swim through time and universes as easily as Galactics pass through the stars. A god even beings like Thotep fear, whom none may withstand. Just thinking about it makes Tasha wish she still has her drink. She grabs another one when the rotatry
presents one.
"You have sponsors?" Lacci asks, then more quietly whispers, "You mean the Titanians?"
Tasha blinks at this. She removes a finger from her wine glass to point upwards: think higher, expresssion a mask of seriousness.
Lacci clearly cannot manage this, so just look confused. She turns towards the Lapi, who she may see as being more sympathetic to her. "Cosmic Rabbit," Aaron offers, since he can hardly be counted on to keep track of Tasha's various deals with odd beings.
"Do you remember what I told you about our father?" Tasha asks Lacci, ears perking. "The one I met? Above him, then above the guy above him, and above the, uh, people behind that guy. Then above the ... other ... people those people look up to. Do you remember Praxx and that scary base around the neutron star? Those two? They're afraid of this, er, guy. I'm afraid of this guy. He's so far out of my league I don't even know what league he's in or what any of the rules are, and there may not even be any."
"So.. what could you possibly have to do with him then?" Lacci asks.
"We're on the same ... side?" Tasha tries, lowering her drink and kabab as she finally sits up, wiggling her hands in a very vague way to try and express equally vague understanding. "And whatever else I don't know, I do know he is aware of us. I just don't know what that means. I could try reaching out to the ones that work with him, or, um, around him and see what they think. I've been thinking about doing that anyway ever since Praxx and the whole 'hey I'm a man now' problem we had to deal with. It'd be nice to have better connected allies, and since we're all on the same team doing the same thing, well, why not? And if we're not on the same team, I'd really like to know so we can stop, because I do not want that kind of enemy."
"Well.. I don't understand the nature of the conflict then, maybe," Lacci admits. "All of these gods and they can't take care of it themselves?"
"Well, how do I put it ... " Tasha taps the pointer finger of her two mismatched hands together Mariel-style as she looks around for a moment, then she takes a deep breath and exhales. Sitting straighter, she folds her hands in her lap and her expression settles. She's paying attention; she's not fooling around. "I suppose I should give you the story, then, now that we're all here. I'll fill Jonas in later. You've seen enough to know we're doing more than just shuttling people and cargo around. So, here it is." The young woman spreads her hands. "I've been chasing after gods for almost as long as I've been doing this, maybe longer. The thing is, I actually caught up to them. Then I did it again, with higher beings, and higher and higher. Now, I sort of do odd jobs for them. Sometimes for pay, but often for nothing because I either agree with what they want or, well, we have an exchange or else it just seemed like the thing to do. Gods vary a lot, some are like us, some are more essential li
"Some of these beings I have a more lasting relationship with, but it wasn't quite what I expected. It turns out they looked at us the same way we look at them, and they have beings they see as above them. I've met them, but I haven't really approached them yet. But they are like us, originally organic in origin. Even from our universe and timeline. And they, they like this Fundamental. I've met it too, but we haven't talked."
But then Tasha spreads her hands. "Or maybe we have and it and they know everything about me and any question I could ever ask, and all the 'mes' across infinity and all their questions. Still, they like to do things in order, because they either know I'm linear or there's some other reason not to blurt out all the answers the first time we meet. Rules, maybe. Or propriety. Steps. So, that leaves it to me to make the first attempt to actually talk."
"Or they don't have all the answers," Aaron offers. "Half of being a god is acting like you know everything, isn't it, Tasha? You're the one with the temple training."
Line 1/3: ke wind or rocks or the concept of the number three. Some are from other universes, times, and places. Some have different rules, being from outside they must obey their universe's rules and ours. And some ... One ... appears to be Fundamental. A property of all the multiverse itself, across all times, all places, all rules." She takes another breath and eyes her drink, but forgoes it.
"That's true. Like us, a lot of them are concerned with seeming, uh, vulnerable. Or otherwise less than they are. Weak or, um, they want to seem greater for some advantage. That's something we all seem to share, or at least a lot of them and us." Tasha nods, which gives her a moment to gather her thoughts. "And of course some may be omnipotent, but not omniscent or even sentient. Others may be omnipotent, but limited in what they can actually do. Some avoid doing things because they simply don't want to, or it breaks some rule or other, or it goes against their values. And like Aaron said, they may not even know. Or not comprehend. Our father's people has the problem of comprehension, by the way. They favor us because they want to understand us."
"Sooo.. you don't have any rules that you have to follow," Lacci says, and nods. "You're like a fixer."
Tasha wrinkles her nose. "That's not entirely true. I'm limited in ... Well, lets think of me as some sort of god. I'm usually bound to linear time, I'm usually bound to this universe, and I mostly obey the laws of this universe. I am co-incident with some other cross-dimensional and in-universe beings. I'm limited to Galactic standards for things like mentality and strength, unless I'm combined with Mel, then I can reach faux-AI level of cognition. I influenced by and touched by, but not bound to, any being. If you compare me to sam, Sam's more powerful in what he can do and how far he can reach, but he is bound and that limits him to one master. I know and can help many." She nods to Lacci. "So in that way I'm free, and can be a fixer."
"And you'll get your hands dirty if you need to," Aaron points out. "There's a reason gods need followers, so.. that's probably it. Or something."
"I find it easier to use the Kardeshev Scale of civilization advancement," Gabriel says. "Galactic Civilization as a whole is at about level 1 still: control the energy of an entire planet. Next would be controlling the power output of a star. So at the top, level 6, you get control of time and space and the ability to create universes."
"Well I'm not exactly a follower in the usual sense. Our friendly goat friend in the scary castle does, um, unpleasant things to actual worshippers so you really do want to know what the higher being is about before you go and worship them. Or, even follow. Following is okay, but pay attention. And that's part of what I mean here." The red-and-gold hybrid works her muzzle, then spreads her hands once again. "In order to work with, help, and understand if I should be helping I need more than old bits of religious thought -- because that's usually about as useful and accurate as guessing -- and some sudden appearances. Hake knows, you should ask her about the religion versus fact. But, anyway, I know of our sponsor's sponsor, and the being above them, this Fundamental. But only a little. To know how to act, I should make contact."
Tasha listens to Gabriel, then nods. "I think our sponsor's sponsor is level 5 or 6. Their uh, god, is somewhere above that, but I have this feeling there's more to it than that. Mising details, limitations, something. Or, maybe I just think so because it's so beyond me I can't understand it at all. That's something I want to know, too. Oh, and our -- well my -- direct sponsor is ... what level of the scale controls one universe's power?"
"Level 4," Gabriel says.
Tasha points at Gabriel and nods. "They're level 4, one big sentient universe and all their little self-sufficent pieces. Big and glowy, very impressive. I've only met the envoy-level smaller beings and their direct contact, the bigger piece, but if the big piece knows and works with me the universe will know too, sooner or later." She scratches her nose, frowning. "It's weird to think I might be friends with a whole universe, but that's just how my life goes these days. They're very nice, as universes go. They like us, but we might be bad for them. I'm still not sure how that goes. Anyway, I want to talk to the ones they look up to, and then to who they look up to. You might think, "what cna you possibly say or offer these beings, Tasha? You're like a tiny virus or a bug or something" and you're partially right, but also remember incomprehension includes not knowing what they may want or need. They're smart, they'll tell you if they can. Or, well, not. Plus, pets are fun right?"
"Pets?" Lacci asks.
"Carnival gold fish," Yue offers. "They come in little plastic bags and die in about three days.."
"Still beats being a toy," Aaron points out.
"That depends," Liza says.
"Ummm," goes Tasha at this train of thought, then she waggles the fingers of both hands at her part. "I know what you're thinking, and maybe you're all right, but I hope you are paying attention. My sponsors like me. I'm supposed to meet up with one of their fragments to go about a deal at some point, but I'd like to meet their sponsors and their god, just to see what's what. I'm not scared of the intermediaries, I've met a few of them and they're distant but not threatening. They remind me of a lot of ancient Galactic species, too advanced to be easy to know, but not hostile, just, um, thinking big thoughts and on another level. Busy. But they'll talk, usually. It's the Fundamental I'm scared of, but I'll work it out, uh ... somehow."
"We should stock up on some really good booze too," Hakeber says. "Just in case."
"In case we run out?" Katie asks.
"Or get bored," Hakeber adds.
"Most religious texts do seem to have a lot of wine drinking in them," Shojo offers.
Tasha then blinks, turning to Lacci when she realizes there was an actual question in the silliness, and not just anxiety-venting banter. "You know how we Galactics have pets? Robot pets and animal pets, those sort of things? 'Lower' beings who are cute and fun to ahve around? Well, we can be like that to higher beings." She then sticks her tongue out at Hakeber. "I'm finally being serious and everyone is being jokey. or, maybe it's like nervous laughter?" She smiles a bit haphazardly, looking either confused or strained, or both. "Or maybe I've done this so long I forgot about the fear part, I mean the original fear part where you ... Oh, I did, didn't I? I'll try and remember that next time. Lets, um, eat and think on it?"
"Nobody should face a god sober," Hakeber says, and probably is serious about it.