Waking up is unpleasant for Tasha. Her mouth is dry, her brain is scratchy, and she feels stiff and sore in several places. The bed is unfamiliar, but Gabriel's heavy arm draping over her isn't. The snoring is relatively new though. It's been quite a while since she's felt hungover like this.
"Blarf," goes Tasha in a low, dry voice. She considers getting water, but also considers just staying where she is, and not moving, being the least effort, wins out. "What am I doing with my life ... " It has been something on her mind, in the back of her head, and lingering. An idea that popped up during the party, and now pops up in stark contrast thanks to the wonders of hungover regret.
Gabriel grunts in his sleep. There are probably easily available hangover cures beyond the bedroom though. Surely Jonas would have brought some before taking the boys out to a strip show.
Being smaller means she can sneak away easier. Gabriel gets a lick on the cheek before she wiggles her way out from under his arm, something she has extensive practice with. Once free she glances at her undersuit draped over a chair, but opts to just throw on a bathroom instead. The undersuit makes her feel hot and sexy, except right now she feels like hot garbage. She heads out in search of a cure.
The central area is a lot cleaner than it should be. All of the pizza boxes are gone, the chairs are set in order and there are no lingering smells. Tia is the only person present, and looks frazzled as she sits at the table and just seems to stare into space.
Tasha feels like she said good morning, but suspects she just made an unintelligible noise. She begins rummaging around, poking at wall controls, and otherwise searching for the means by which to make magic pills appear through the wonders of technology.
"Next to the coffee maker," Tia guides. "Jelly thing, take a piece of it."
Tasha stumbles over, then pops one in her mouth without hesitation, just throws it in there and starts chewing. She then walks over to sit beside Tia and, again without warning, just flops over against her and closes her eyes.
The alien lists a bit from the lean. "So... I'm surprised you can walk after last night," Tia notes.
"Walking it one of my many talents," Tasha grouses. At least she's comfortable; fuzzy and the bathrobe is nice too, though she does smell a little. "But it still hurts." She means the hangover, but doesn't have the energy to be so specific. "What am I doing Tia, I'm the progenitor of my kind and I'm still doing ... " her tail makes a vague, inclusive twirl, " .. this." Again she means more than the obvious and again she has not the energy.
"Well.. you were definitely doing a lot a progeneration last night," Tia notes. "I take it that isn't a common thing with you guys?"
"The sex..? No, that's common. I don't remember anything.I mean going to some run down dive club and flirting with a woman I just met and ignoring the mates I already have, why am I still acting like I did before I met everyone? I think I'm bad at relationships, I'm not used to having long-term partners, and now I'm a progenitor and I have the future to think about and I'm hyperdimensional space fighter and what am I doing ... "
Tia blinks. "What do you remember from last night?" she asks.
"I got back, I set suit to pajama-mode, I fell asleep," Tasha replies, squirming around until she's more comfortable. She even folds her wings in, appearing to be a ball of wing, ears, and tail.
"So you don't remember when the men returned?" Tia asks. At least her heartbeat sounds normal enough to Tasha.
"Noooo," goes Tasha.
Tia hmms. "Oh," she says. "They were drunk and randy. Except for Jonas," she explains. "It got a bit.. messy."
"De-tails," goes Tasha, who does sit up enough one ear pops from under a wing and rotates towards Tia's head.
"Well.. Shojo and Gabriel.. you were sort of awake then.." Tia says. "They were sort of impatient.. or maybe planned things on the way back. But you and Lacci.. umm. On the table. And Hakeber between you. But Shojo and Gabriel sort of alternated with her.. and Katie kept you busy. And Sam flirted with me, I think, but Jonas was interested. It was very distracting, probably because I don't have good control of my telepathy right now. I hid in Jonas' room, so I don't know exactly what happened after that. Gabriel and you went to your room at some point. Shojo and Lacci are.. busy.. right now in their room. Katie went to see Mr. Invention. Jonas took Dr. Sen and the Lightfoots back to the ship, so start acclimating the Lapi to the Tadpole. I cleaned up. I feel weird."
"Huh ... so Lacci and I were ... Huh." Tasha is silent for a moment. "Huh. Well, so much for that being memorable. And Katie left to find Mr. I." The woman lifts her head enough to peer at Tia with a yellow eye. "And you and Jonas..? Is that why you feel weird?"
"Nothing happened," Tia says. "Maybe because he knows I'm really alien. Or just isn't into flatlander type humans. I feel very human right now, being cut off from.. a lot of myself. I might need to go outside, if that's easy to do. I'm not good at being human. Even at the dance, I had to stick to the Nagas and Khattans because they were more interested in my clothes than in me. Some of the men noticed me but not many, really. Except for my dress I was ordinary looking. There are too many people here for me to think very clearly."
The hangover jelly is starting to work now, but the side effect is that Tasha is getting very thirsty.
"If it helps any, I felt awkward, too." Tasha's wings uncurl and she sits up, then rises to wander towards the bar. "Want something to drink? Not alcoholic." She sniffs, more snort than scenting, and rubs her face with the back of her hand as she arranges glasses. "Sometimes I feel like I want these things, and some times I feel like an bumpkin from a small world who doens't belong here, and sometimes I feel like a exotic alien from a fantasy, or maybe a fairy tale, or on the verge of becoming something that doesn't belong here. And I wonder who and what I am anymore. And maybe I should be. I don't feel like part of Karnors or Vartans anymore. Am I just a lie behind a mask, without a real identity ... "
"Make one for yourself," Tia suggests. "An identity, not a drink. Is there tea? You don't have to reinvent yourself as someone that fits into a mold. I did that a lot early on in my.. travels. It wears you out. So I just went where I could be whatever I felt like, for as long as I could maintain it. You don't have to be anything other than yourself among your friends and family, after all."
"I don't have to be anything other than myself ... That's hard, I'm still figuring out who I am, I might be grasping at who I was, just to find out it's not me anymore. I'm really seeing the value of peoples and traditions, when there's nothing there it all becomes your responsibility to create. To define. But after last night I know ... I know maybe I don't want to lower myself anymore, I don't want to be making desperate plays at people I just met out of fear and uncertainty, grasping at who I was without feeling like who I was. I have Gabriel, Katie, and Hake. I should treat them with more respect than I do. And I should rise higher, so the 'me's that come don't know shame." Tasha looks around, finds the tea, and starts that brewing. She then turns to lean back against the counter. "You have the same problems." It's not a question.
"Your younger self is always going to embarrass your current self," Tia says, watching the preparations. "So it is likely that your current self will embarrass your future self. If it doesn't, I suppose that means you've stopped evolving."
"It's nice to know I am evolving. Sometimes I wonder." Tasha glances at the tea, sees it's not ready, and looks back. "Persephone told me I'm something new now. Just like your mother, she decided to answer uncertainty of self and change by effecting change and changing us in to what we either feared or wanted. I also want to become this new thing, but I'm not sure who I should become. I'm feeling it out. All I know is there are things I now know I don't want. Also ... " And here she glances towards the doors, " ... I'm worried how people treat me, and how taken care of I am, is undermining my resolve and, uh, mental toughness. Or my wild side? I'm cute and a bit delicate now, but I can't be that inside, not entirely. I am still someone who is fighting."
"It's hard," Tia agrees. "I.. early on, after seeing what my mothers went through, I decided to actively avoid becoming like them. But.. I'm just like my mother in a lot of ways. Afraid of power. Defining myself by my failures. Running away. My reasons might be different for all of those, but the effect on my identity is the same."
"I was isolated from everything for a long time too, and now that I'm surrounded by people I suddenly feel lonely," she adds. "I want cake. Terran birthday cake."
Tasha nods to this, and she seems to agree. "I can see the similarities. For my part, I liked -- like your mother not because she's together, but because she isn't. I can identify with that. There aren't a lot of pan-dimensional exotic alien crusader with serious emotional problems and a history of disaster-inducing decisions I can relate to, it made me want to look after her. I didn't feel alone, not in that way I always had." And then Tasha pauses, holds up a finger, and punches in something on a wall. There's a response, she reds, punches in more, and then confirms with a thumb print. Then she turns back. "Even with what she did to me I don't hate her, and that was more than anyone has ever done to me. As for being lonely, sometimes I feel smothered, and other times I feel alone, and often it's just right."
"It's weird and doesn't seem to depend on one's physical circumstance," Tia says. "I don't like feeling randomly bad. Or feeling what everyone else around me is feeling. Like inebriated. Or horny. Or just.. small. I didn't think I could feel any smaller but here I am. But if I go outside I might never come back in. I should just put up with it until I can get past it, right?" she asks.
"Maybe consider it a learning experience, something to provide perspective. It seems to me contrast is the basis of a lot of growth," Tasha suggests, holding up a hand. "I know that sharing my mind with a machine, meeting Charon, becoming a leviathan, and now the spore and the anisble have broadened how I think of possibilities and who i could be. Maybe you need to feel sad, and small, and horny, and the other things to decide how you feel about them, so you can make a decision if you want them, and move forward knowing you investigated your options."
Tasha says, "Next to the coffee maker," Tia guides."
"I was big for the three years I was alive as Lothrhyn, and I've been smaller ever since," Tia says, sounding frustrated. "It's been a thousand years and that's still something I haven't gotten past. But I can get through this, it's not.. that much smaller. Why is it so hard? Is it just because of the guilt?" The thinks for a moment. "Add that to the list of similarities with my mother: survivor's guilt."
Tasha has to draw on Nora's memories to understand survivor's guilt, which is not hard: Nora possessed it at the time of her internment, even if she did not expect to survive much longer. "I see. Nora felt that way too, but she didn't expect to survive and ... didn't." Another pause as Tasha seems to gather herself, at least internally, because her expression doesn't change much. "I assume your mother feels the same way, though. As for feeling small ... " She turns her head, thinking. "I've experienced being large a few times. Twice through machines, and once through Charon. It still calls to me. Part of me wants to go back. Big means, or at least has the illusion of, security. Power. Options. When you're small you feel so vulnerable, inconsequential, it's like smallness takes on a life of it's own like a ... " She struggles. "Sad culture. A melancholy. All you can't change, or touch. A kind of defeatism. It's hard to describe. But I feel it too. And when I saw bigger, it never left me. No more than Charon's weird paradise, or the call of doing whatever I wanted through the Titanian ideals. Why is Terran life so sad?"
"I think it's life in general," Tia says. Then she grins. "Proof that we're alive then, isn't it? What are you going to do today? Do you want to try and wake up Hakeber or let her rest? She's.. probably sore."
Tasha smiles back. "I think that's the first time I've seen you smile since I've met you." And then there's a beep and Tasha is puring tea. "We can head out if you want. Maybe we can go check on Kai if you need to step away? I can pilot the Horse that far. But first ... " Tia gets handed a cup of herbal tea, it's a bit minty with other flavors mixed in, "We have a delivery coming."
"Unless you'd rather it be delivered to the horse," Tasha adds as she sits back down with her cup of tea.
"A delivery?" Tia asks. "We shouldn't need to go that far, I just need to step outside.. the inside.. of this place. The docking platform, or anywhere else on the surface."
"I remember a place on the surface where a Vartan man likes to paint. Lets go there. I'll redirect the delivery, and maybe some drinks." Tasha pulls up her sleeve and enters the new info in, pays the bill, and then adds a note to Gabriel and Katie she's heading out, and where. "I should probably get dressed."
"We have to wear clothes outside too?" Tia asks. "What about shoes?"
"Society and it's expectations, what can you do?" Tasha puts her tea down and waves as she heads back in to her room. "Be out in a second, wear something comfortable."
And so Tasha does the same. She's wearing a rather plain knee length dress, short booties and long Karnor-designed stockings. She has a large hat and she smells like a field of grass and flowers "It reminds me of home," she notes before questions can be asked. "Besides today is special."
Tia is dressed nearly the opposite, wearing a uniform-like tunic and trousers (which only go to mid-shin) and her boots, which may be the only footwear she owns from what Tasha's seen. Or shoes are hard to fit into the little containers. "What's special about today? I haven't seen an outfit like that in.. a very long time. Are there gardens on the surface?"
Tasha hooks her arm in Tia's. "It's the first day I've seen you smile, and you'll see. Off we go!" And she does just that, heading for the door. "And yes there's a garden, I think? It ws before ... " she runs a finger across her neck, " ... so I might be missing some memories, but I do know it has a view of the Pendant."
So on they go, and out through the passage that Kem likes to use for the view. The surface is the same odd 'forest' of crystal structures as before, along with other terrain that doesn't seem to serve any purpose. As they go, Tia bobs her head to and fro, as if seeking out the zones of least interference.
"That's very Vartan of you," Tasha says of the head bobbing. "And I don't know what any of this does. Sifran architecture is a mystery to me, I don't even know what they look like, if they look like anything."
"I suspect that when an advanced civilization is getting close to extinction, they deliberately destroy anything that could shatter the mystery they leave behind," Tia says. "Or go on a binge of creating deliberately mysterious things that don't do anything."
"Ugh," goes Tasha with the air of one who has dealt with entirely too many inexplicably mysterious ancient civilizations -- not to mention beings. "And all the obscure and indirect clues. I hope I don't start doing that. I might exist in some form for a long time. I don't know yet. I know stone's a good building choice though, and it's very classy in the ancient design chic."
"It's the sort of thing my mother would do," Tia claims. "I remember her having a sardonic sense of humor at times." She starts following her invisible path, until they happen to come upon the same 'clearing' that Kem uses. Although this time there's naked human woman draped on one of the more horizontal outcrops of crystal, nor whalesong summoning up a sound-image of an ancient goddess. There's still a picnic blanket though. And the view of the nebula.
"As her student, I think I feel that confirmation at a deep level." The tone is somewhere between ominous and uncertain, as if Tasha had just reviewed all her interactions wit Kainudy and learned something new.
Upon seeing the picnic basket Tasha blinks. "I didn't order that exactly, I did order food. Maybe it's a bonus? If so I should tip them more, that was thoughtful."
"Food?" Tia asks. "Is it donuts?" She does sit on the blanket though and looks at the nebula.
Tasha sits as well, but has to stand up again and briefly fuss with her skirt until she remembers how to sit with a dress like this, which is legs tucked under her. She slides the basket over and peeks inside. "The nebula's really nice. I wonder if it meant something to the Sifra, if they appreciated things like that."
"The star probably hadn't gone nova back when this place was built," Tia suggests. The basket is empty, except for some napkins and unused sauce packets.
"Empty, maybe it's always here and they just leave it. I suppose no one comes to steal an empty basket. I hope we don't get in trouble for sitting here." But Tasha doesn't seem about to get up, either. "Well, our food should arrive soon."
"I feel a little better out here," Tia claims, and gestures to the Pendant. "Feeling small isn't so bad when that makes feeling small worth it. I think I can contact Kai."
There's a beeping noise that gradually gets louder, as a robotic delivery cart homes in on Tasha's comm id.
"I think it's an important thing to feel, so you remember the value of being larger, and maybe the benefits of being small, too." Tasha turns to look up to the pendant and appreciate it's natural beauty, wondering if anything interesting lurks within the slowly expanding cloud of stellar effluvium. When she hears the beep, she raises her hand to indicate she's the one the robot seeks.
The wheeled box rolls up to Tasha and plays a little jingle before opening up.
Tasha reaches back and, with a quick, dramatic sweep, places the birthday cake right in front of Tia. There she lights up, mouth wide in a smile, ears up, wings out, and hands in a "ta-da" gesture of delivery revealed.
The cake has white frosting and green tree-like frosted trim. It is two story and has the following written on it:
"Happy birthday"
"To the daughter who never gave up"
It looks and smells like raw sweetness, with Tasha in her Sunday dress perhaps intentionally adding to the effect.
"I'm surprised at how much radiation is being blocked," Tia notes, still looking skyward. Her nose isn't as sensitive as Tasha's.
Tasha makes a face, then reaches over and, gently, nudges Tia's head down to have a look.
Tia turns and looks at the cake in silence for a moment, and then starts to tremble before breaking out in tears and sobs.
Tasha scootches over and wraps Tia in a hug. She had expected something like this, but also believed it had to be done. Done for Tia, and done because Kainudy isn't here and maybe doesn't even realize she should. It's her responsibility as Tia's friend and Kainudy's apprentice. She doesn't say anything, she just stays there and lets Tia get it all out.
It doesn't last overly long - it's not like she's letting out a century's worth of anguish. But it's been a stressful two weeks.
Tasha is relieved when it's not everything but also a little concerned. Still, she accepts she can't solve everyone's problems over night, nor always easily through violence -- or cake. Tia gets patted, and Tasha leans back. Seconds later a fork and knife are pressed in to Tia's hands along with a plate.
"You can just cram your face in and eat it that way too, it's your cake," Tasha insists with a tail wag.
Instead, Tia uses a fork. Once her hand steadies. "This is really good," she says, still a bit quavery. "Now I don't need to have sex," she then claims.
"I mean, I can step away if you want to do both," Tasha says with a laugh and a mock-salute. "I've done worse. I also ordered this with real ingredients, so if Mr. I shows up to kill me, you'll know why."
"You can bake a cake with fake ingredients?" Tia asks with her mouth full. "Like the fake matter in Dark Horse?"
"Apparently you can make anything with fake ingredients if you try hard enough," Tasha explains, hands spreading in a shrug. "And you're right we could try making fake cakes in the Horse! We should absolutely make fake cakes, all the taste, none of the weight gain."
"Where do the real eggs come from?" Tia asks, reaching for another slice of cake.
"I think they have space-farms with real animals, or planets. Planet farms. You know, farms." Tasha shrugs with her shoulders this time. "They're towards the homeworlds though, so the ingredients are expensive. I had the cake made by a machine service so no one would know we went with the expensive purchase, and I know you'd prefer not think think about too many people making it."
"I wouldn't think any number of people could make it in the time given," Tia says. "Does Mr. I not like cake?"
"he will ask me why I bought an expensive cake, I assume he likes cake, but he tries to teach me responsibility. I will write it off later as a 'morale critical purchase'." And so Tasha winks. "Can I have some?"
"Yes! We should get rid of the evidence.. and if not, bribe him with the rest," Tia says.
"An excellent idea." And with that Tasha pulls out another plate, showing she does think ahead and is still Karnor enough to expect food when food is imminent.
Later in the day (as such can be measured in an artificial structure), Tasha heads to the office to see if Katie is still there. She is led inside to one of the conference rooms, where Mr. Invention, Katie and Mrs. Teatime are.. having tea.
"You found us!" Katie claims, smiling.
"I did! It was tough, too, I had so much to deal with." Such as eating a whole cake with Tia. She its herself rigth down without preamble, crosses her arms, and nods. "I am ready. What are we doing?"
"Plotting mischief, and drinking tea," Mr. Invention replies. "Isn't that right, Mrs. Teatime?"
"That does sound like something we do," Tasha agrees, nodding slowly as if this required deep review.
"Yes, yes," the elderly Khatta says. "Do you take cream and sugar, Miss Silver?" she asks Tasha.
"I've had enough sugar for today, I'll just take it straight." But Tasha smiles at the offer. "I take it you've made discoveries?"
The tea is poured for Tasha, and Mrs. Teatime says, "House Khomen is very secretive. Especially the main House, at Daltoona, which controls the broader clan. The true heads of the clan are said to never leave the estates at Daltoona."
"Well that's not ominous at all. We may not even be dealing with Khattans, they could be anything." Tasha takes a sip, frowns, and then tilts her head. "I didn't realize Daltoona was their capitol either, so to speak. That wasn't related to me by the agent I met. A contact was also offered, but given how long it's been they may not be useful, and I'm not sure I trust the connection anymore anyway."
"Oh, a contact?" Mrs. Teatime asks. "Someone within Daltoona, perhaps in Khomen?"
"Per Wynless is the contact. I also met a House Khomen agent named Ibrahim Warloq, if that's even his real name," Tasha replies between tea sips. "This was several years ago."
"Ah, she is one of the fronts to Khomen's black-market enterprises," Mrs. Teatime states, and sips her tea. "Or the name given to the one who handles them. It is an old name, apparently."
"And this woman would be our key to getting in? Because she sounds more like a trap. There's little reason to side with us other than revenge or some other problem with the House. But, who knows what she knows, or has seen." Tasha arches her brows as she sips; what indeed.
"She is only a name that you know right now," Mrs. Teatime says. "We would need something more. A passphrase, or other form of identification to show we are there to do illicit business."
"Ol' Warloq said " In ancient Avalon did the sun silver shine with dawn, and deepest gold with dusk," as the the passphrase, but Warloq and I weren't exactly allies, and while he seemed to have broken ranks it's not like he liked me much either," Tasha explains.
"So, one more likely to want others to burn with him?" Mrs. Teatime asks. "Bitter? Angry?"
"Both, and power hungry. He seemed to think the world was doomed and he was going to seize what power he could using the modifications given to him. It makes me wonder how and why he was even chosen for the mission." Tasha sips ans shrugs. "Bitter is definitely the best description, that and condescending."
"Do you know what his mission was?" Mrs. Teatime asks. "He was an agent, but did not call himself Khomen, so likely seen as expendable."
"To take control of a Sifran technology augmented Galactic relic." Tasha holds up a hand. "A humanoid weapon, it was related to the attempt to replace the Silent-Ones Archon and seize mroe power that way, but I believe the artifact was valuable on its own."
"Ah, much is rumored of that attempted takeover, but.. nothing that could be traced conclusively," Mrs. Teatime notes. "The new Archon did not see reparations from Khomen, not publicly. So I don't know if it was a plot by the main House, or one of the lesser ones. Power is concentrated in the core of that clan."
"I'm not sure either, but I am aware that there was indeed a plot and both agents and infrastructure was developed -- at great difficulty -- to enable it. Beyond that I know little; I slew Warloq rather than allow someone with his skills, abilities, and motivations to persist as a threat in the region." Tasha holds up a hand in a shrug; what can you do. "As for Khomen, House Khomen, have the others elaborated on our suspicions as to their production lines?"
"Was it important for me to know?" the Khatta woman asks. "I'm to find the cracks in their security for you to exploit, and any other advantages you might need. I am still gathering information, as my own contacts within Daltoona are limited. I have begun arrangements for transport, however. No two people will arrive together, or from the same port. I have the necessary identities set up. But that I'm waiting to learn who else beyond the recent hires will be going there, and what sort of identification they may require."
"So, one red devil to two?" Katie asks Tasha.
"There may also be an in flow of people to the inner sectors that do not exit, or have falsified exists. Sentients who arrive but never leave," Tasha tells Miss Teatime before glancing at Katie with a "huh?" look.
"Do we need proper fake IDs for you and Kai?" Katie asks. "Or is that still to be decided based on what we hear from the others first?"
"Kai and myself... I don't know. I'll have to review with her. You will probably need me physically on site, because only I can locate the target aside from, maybe, Hake. Kai can act as my body guard, but I'll need be there in person. How I'm there in person is another matter. I might be able to opt for concealment and evasions, or some other method, to maneuver inwards. You could also clear the way for me." Tasha taps her forehead. "But I must be there to narrow down the location."
"Hakeber, I have several identity options for, depending on who she will be traveling with," Mrs. Teatime claims.
"And we don't know that yet. She might be best with my group, unless someone else has a better idea." Tasha glances at Katie and Mr. I. for confirmation.
"We can't know the situation ahead of time," Mr. Invention notes, steepling his fingers. "Once Shojo's men have finished their team training, they will be sent on to arrive at different times. Miss Batty should be arriving at Daltoona soon. We have various options to consider still."
"The front door, the side door, or the back door," Mrs. Teatime says, as if quoting something.
"Well I definitely can't go in the front door. The side door is for servants, and while I look like an expensive mezzode I am something else, and I won't stand up to detailed scrutiny. The mercs look like mercs, and might be able to walk in. I'm not sure any of us can go front door unless we're invited. The back door -- or the window -- is my best bet. Same with Kai." Tasha has another ship and rolls her shoulders. "Perhaps I can work to arrange special transport or other additional techniques to help us."
"We still don't know what all of those might be yet," Katie says. "Yue has been tight-lipped about Kai, and Jonas claims she is just a normal human being."
"And the addition of another ship of exotic origin," Mr. Invention notes. "It is hard to plan when everything we have is mysterious."
"At least we're also hard to comprehend for our enemies," Tasha says with a laugh. "I barely understand me, so how can anyone else?" That's an exaggeration of course, she knows Persephone understands her well enough to put her together again.
"If only we understood our enemies we'd be unstoppable," Katie adds with a grin. "Or if they are our enemies, or just.. nasty people."
"Well they will be after we do stuff to them, so clearly they are anyway," Tasha notes with a grin. "But I guess we've done what we can do. We'll need to sit down and review what we have, split out teams in to three or four, and proceed. I'll meet up with Kai and Tia later to discuss special methods. Sam might be of use, but given the areas of influence here, and how they interact, not to mention the special containment it may well be he can't do much, or has his own tasks."
"And the end goal is to get Hakeber into position to do.. something that another space monster programmed her to do for it's own reasons?" Katie asks.
"I will also be hand to handle things other ways, if it comes to that. I also want to speak to our space monster and review whatever technology contains it. There could be a lot of useful information and artifacts we could, uh, appropriate. For a good cause." Tasha nods. Saving the universe is a good cause, and no one will tell her otherwise.
"But we are not going to destroy the station, right?" Katie asks. "It looks a lot more expensive than a weird uninhabited world."
"We'll do our best, but I don't know what may come of things," Tasha answers truthfully. She lays her hears back and spreads her hands. "The last one wasn't even part of the plan, or any plan. I didn't even state it in the deal. It just happened."
"Which is genuinely more alarming than if it had been planned," Mr. Invention notes. "There are also the goals of Mr. T and Mr. H, shall we call them. Which may include blowing up Daltoona station."
"It might," Tasha admits. She scratches the side of her muzzle a moment, frowning, ears back. "But there's no way to know. We'd have a better time trying to guess House Khomen's goals than their goals."
"We at least have an idea of the sort of things Khomen wants," Mrs. Teatime says. "So, perhaps having something along those lines as bait would give us more options."
"They already seem pretty powerful and wealthy," Mr. Invention says. "We don't know how thinly that power and wealth may be spread, however."
"My instinct tells me they have centralized specific types of power at this station: artifact and arcane power, and leadership over convert and illegal activities. They can't afford to let anyone but the most trusted or most restricted know about this, as it would ruin them, and people like to talk. It may well be we could deal with the Ogdru'hem and neutralize large sections of their power structure without anyone knowing about it. If we can find a heir, or power player, maybe they'll help us topple the old guard and we can gain a friend along the way," Tasha suggests, spreading her hand as she is wont to do.
"Finding an heir is the hard part," Mrs. Teatime explains. "Khattan Houses don't always identify the ones who may be set to come into power, for the simple reason that it would make them targets. Tying up a House in a battle of succession is one of the ways Khattan Houses go to war with one another. Also, such heirs tend to be the only ones the current regime will trust with sensitive tasks. The recent attempt to take over the Silent-Ones Star Empire used the son of one of the House Khomen 'outer' families."
"Then it may be a lost cause. We can consider an attack on their power structure if it seems useful, but we'll consider that a secondary objective like acquiring artifacts, information, and other side-tasks. Our main goal remains the entity." And so Tasha nods, settling back.
"I'd also like Batty to accompany me. As the pure stealth group, having an invisible assassin would make for an excellent trump card," Tasha adds.
"She tends not to work well in groups, since it's hard to be invisible if you have someone with you," Mr. Invention says. "We'll wait for her report on things before inserting the rest of the forward team."
"She doesn't need to be with me directly, just nearby.Ideally she'd be between groups to provide emergency assistance or single-operative tasks, but we may not be anywhere near each other." And so Tasha nods, conceeding the ppint.
"We have to be careful," Mr. Invention says. "She may only be a single-use weapon if she's used as one. I don't know if her ability to remain hidden when people are actively looking for her is as effective when nobody is looking for her. I think Samael would be better used in certain circumstances."
"Then Samael can act as a floater. I am concerned about letting him arrive with us at the target, however, as his ultimate goals are unknown," Tasha notes.
"As far as we know, his 'faction' is in opposition to the Ogrdu-hem," Katie says, leaning against the wall. She always look good leaning against things. "But we do not know if he's his own agent, or still under the control of Thotep, or if that would even matter. Sadu-hem, the supposed monster at the heart of Daltoona, also has something to do with Mr. Yellow apparently. An obstacle of some sort."
"Yes, which, to be very honest, means my own motivations are suspect, including to myself," Tasha says with a wry tone, making a face. "And the same goes for Hake-bear. That is ... a problem. The same agents being sent to the target are all suspect, and I'm not sure whom among us is strong enough to oppose all three of us individually, or even as a group. Hake's abilities are unknown, mine are partially know, and Samael's the same way."
"We aren't even sure of what your new allies are capable of, other than disturbing Dr. Sen," Mr. Invention claims. "It's hard to put trust in them so soon, so I haven't accounted for them in any of our planning."
"They are probably more trustworthy than the two Mrs. It'd be a very dark world if that wasn't the case, even if one of them hurt me rather badly during a lesson." Tasha wrinkles her nose, and her ears flick. She leans back and folds her arms. "Not that the others are any less capable. Whatever the case, we must stare at the hard fact that several agents including myself have potential ulterior motives, and that we will be deep in enemy territory if anything goes wrong. And as threats go, I believe I could personally destroy Daltoona Station if provided the right assistance, though destroy may not be what actually happens. The others may have similar capability. I want all teams to have a way out, more than one if possible."
"We have options there at least," Mr. Invention says. "Though not to the degree we may hope. The Dark Horse has been able to 'dive' into the Maelstrom, where gravity shadows aren't as destructive as they are in hyperspace. Daltoona is no doubt using hundreds, if not more, gravity-stators. An effective shield against any sort of hyperspace torpedo. Which probably exist. It would be rough, but I think Dark Horse could get through those. That is assuming Sadu-hem doesn't extend into that realm itself. The 'dimension drive' on the smaller alien ship has been shown to work on a planetary surface and transport objects as massive as the Melchior. We don't know if it will be repaired or not for use though."
"We'll keep appraised of this possible assistance, then. It is being repaired. My own contribution to escape is limited, and we don't know if Hake has any. Samael may have options, as may our guests. All I can offer is devastation as a distraction, which I'd really rather not do." Tasha's face is hard, and her lips thin, ears back. "If it comes down to losing the people here or losing the station, I will pick the station, but I don't want to have to chose. Lets make sure it doens't come to that." She leaves out the unspoken 'this time'.
"Praxafallopus was easy to evacuate though," Katie notes. "We really need to know more. Especially on ways to trigger an evacuation ahead of time."
"We need to know if the Titanians will help in any way," Mr. Invention says, looking at Tasha.
"Maybe something like a gravitic destabilization of the station? The Horse shook up the Ningyo enough to make them panic by accident, if we pulse areas of the station it's very unlikely they won't be able to maneuver powerful gravitic sources ot counter it." Tasha then turns to nod to Mr. Invention. "Yes, we should. I heavy Titanian presence or expectation of such would panic the whole station. Likewise, their assistance in the invasion would be very welcome. I can contact them, and bring them to us, but I can't pick who answers the call. We can only hope the Mauler is nearby and comes as well, but I think I can get more than just them on board. This is a real Titanian adventure and target, they will be very excited to know the artifacts they have been unable to stop have a central distribution and collection hub and there's a Ogdru-hem there. The down side is they can be very ... excitable about these things."
"Let's call them in after we've gotten the mercenaries off of Caltrop," Mr. Invention suggests. "We don't want to expose them to too much up front. Supernatural beings are one thing, but Titanians are an enemy they've been raised to react to in a direct way."
"Titanians?" Mrs. Teatime asks, actually pausing with her cup half raised. "The ones who sell fish, I assume?"
"Yes, it will likely turn in to a conflict of some sort, even if just a stalemate between armed powers. If we get them on the station it will be become an armed conflict the second they are discovered and the alert goes out," Tasha agrees. She turns to Mrs. Teatime in turn. "Yes, among other ones."
"They only do business here on Caltrop, from what I've gathered," the Khattan granny admits. "I doubt they'd get into any actual civilized stations."
"They don't, and this may be beyond their desire to interfere with. It's the more ... mainstream Titanians that would want in on this, who are unfortunately much more violent." Tasha pauses, frowns, and then adds, "And if I fail to report this both groups may have words for me, and we know what angry Titanians words are. I have to tell them."
"Well, you probably can't call them from the outpost itself," Katie says. "Is there any sort of neutral territory that can be used?"
"Just put me anywhere in open space with the Horse, I can send out the emergency call. I was directly told to report. We can probably handle that now, in fact sooner is better than later if we want the Mauler crew to help arrange and negotiate things," Tasha explains, glancing towards the exit. "I'll need a skeleton crew at least, but we can probably do just fine with Kaa, myself, and Moka. Anyone who needs to be 'in' in initial planning can be there too."
"We'll need to move the recovered Library unit to the asteroid," Mr. Invention says. "Other groups may see that as a dangerous artifact, even if we haven't been able to crack it yet. What else might they consider dangerous?"
"Uh, Tia and Kai, their ship. Maybe me, but I'm a known quantity," Tasha replies, palms up, "And we haven't picked up anything else, in fact we, um, loaned out several members who might have been an issue."
"So are you obliged to report about the alien ship and alien crew full of alien technology?" Katie asks. "Can Titanians tell when you're lying or trying to hide something?"
"Uhhh, maybe? The ship and aliens are associated with beings on the Titanian's 'approved' list, so I can just leave them out. More importantly they're outsides and not hostile ones, unrelated to their duties, at least directly. I can just say I didn't think they were relevant to mention," Tasha explains, head shaking. "I didn't report the others, either."
"They didn't try to put Sam into a jar," Katie concedes. "I think it's only technology and artifacts from the previous cycles of civilization that they care about, and not actual entities unless they're capable of being used like technology. And even that seems to have a cut-off point."
"They haven't acted against things from other realities before," Mr. Invention agrees.
"Yes, they already have a lot on their cosmic plate as it is," Tasha further agrees. She then glances around and brings her hands together in a silent clap. "So! Anything else or am I dialing the operator for Titanians?"
"I'd wait a bit," Mr. Invention says. "I'd feel better if have a prepared role they can play, and we don't have that yet. I'd like to keep the connection between you and the Titanians a secret from the mercenaries, even during the operation. If they aren't aware of it, then they can't reveal it."
"That would be good, I'm skirting being a dangerous occultist terrorist figure enough as it is," Tasha says with a heavy sigh. "At least I look good in a robe and a mask."
"I've never seen you in a robe and mask, I don't think," Katie says. "Just a robe and mask?"
"Well, I was wearing more, but I could do that," Tasha replies with a grin. "I was being honorary knighted."
"Does Hakeber know you what you were doing with those Silent-Ones?" Katie asks with a grin.
Tasha holds up her hands. "I just got kissed, and it's part of the ceremony." She pauses, then adds, "Well, maybe kissed a lot, I think some of them got back in line, but still."
"Cats will always try to mess with canines," Katie claims, and looks to Mrs. Teatime for confirmation. After sipping her tea, the elder notes, "They mess with everyone."
"Good thing I have a few, it's how I learn things," Tasha insists, beaming. "But I prefer to be inclusive."
"Well, I think we've gotten as far as we're going to until we start hearing from our agent in the field," Mr. Invention says. "There's still the space station exercise that Shojo is planning to use the old asteroid base for. Assuming it's still usable. Any word from the redecorator on that, Tasha?"
"Not a one. She isn't exactly communicative. I think it amuses her," Tasha admits, shrugging. "We can go check?"
"Isn't she a robot?" Mr. Invention asks. "I thought you had a means of contact?"
Tasha's shrug becomes even more shruggy, "It may be wise not to assume a limited or simplistic form of existence with outsider entities. What is a 'robot' to us may be rather different fro them, exceeding even what we are capable of, and with a higher form of sentience and ability."
"So unpredictable," Mr. Invention sums up. "Does the other girl understand it?"
"No, and believe me, it frustrates her. Kai is, in essence, an older prototype model, not unlike Gabriel to, say, a modern Karnor." Tasha waggles her hands. "But it's more than even that."
"Something that's been developed over a long time," Katie suggests. "Like a quilt. Or a journal. Who knows."
"Yes, a kind of heirloom. We have a responsibility to look after Kai, even if she may be greater than us," Tasha agrees, nodding. "And see she is returned, if possible."
"To another dimension," Katie points out. "That will depend on that weird ship being repaired."
"And if the 'original owner' is even reachable," Tasha adds, unwilling to be more specific about her various concerns there, "They may reach out to us in time."
"As long as Kai doesn't become a lightning rod," Mr. Invention warns. "I find it a little disturbing that I'm only able to consider these things now that she's far away."
"Do you suspect she's influencing you? She might be, she seems to maintain a certain passive-active self defense against detection," Tasha notes, spreading her hands in a shrug. "Though it doesn't seem to work on me. I may be 'in' as an ally as far as she's concerned, approved by her original owner."
"Or she thinks she can use you," Mr. Invention offers. "So we'll keep a close watch on you too, just in case Kai is trying to use you somehow. Does the Lost Girl trust her at least?"
Tasha's ears flick at being watched, not to mention having another reason to be watched. "Modestly. her lack of trust is more towards the original owner and what Kai represents than Kai herself, though the two can be hard to separate, and possibly not separable."
"So, was she even aware that the.. homunculus or android or whatever the term is.. existed?" Mr. Invention asks. "I haven't spent any time with her. Always seemed like she had some weird hangup about wolves.. at least that's the vibe I was getting."
"She has prior experience with wolf-like humanoid is, but they were apparently rather different from us. As for Kai and Tia, Tia found Kai somewhat by accident and, while she was aware of Kai prior to acquisition, she was not aware of how ... powerful, I suppose is the word, Kai is. The revelation of this power has casted its owner in a new light and Tia has difficulties with that light," Tasha explains further, tail flicking. "But I don't want to talk much more about this, it's not a pleasant topic for her. Lets just say she's something like disappointed."
"I was hoping she had a way to shut Kai down, just in case," Mr. Invention says. "But Tia has the same sort of invisibility that Miss Batty does, although it works even when you're looking at her, correct? It's not just 'ignoring' her, but something like actual invisibility?"
"Something like it, I don't know how it works. I might be able to use it, too, if she teaches. Of course, I'm more 'stand out'. I could also 'pilot' Kai in the field, but that has its own concerns," Tasha replies.
"What sort of concerns?" Katie asks. "You can't do anything else while you do that, can you?"
"That, and if Kai is trying to manipulate me it'd be even easier if my mental existence were tied to her, or if she could pilot my body in return. I'm also not exactly great at being Human, even if Kai is highly augmented versus my previous incarnation." Tasha wrinkles her nose. "I might act oddly."
"But she can play human all on own, can't she?" Katie asks. "I saw Dr. Knight's test results. She either is human, or can deceive galactic medical tech. Even tissue samples. While there's no chance of Tia doing that. But she wouldn't go on this mission anyway."
"She might want to go. Tia suggested it. I think she might be able to evade detections even I can't anymore," Tasha admits, shrugging in a 'sorry for being too alien' sort of way. "Which is why I want to avoid being detected at all."
"I wonder if Kai, Ti and I can sync up so that we all can hide," Tasha muses out loud, tapping her chin.
"You only need one of them to be a beacon point for extraction with that portal generator. I know Kai is built for infiltration and who knows what else. Tia might be able to defend herself, but I doubt she'll do more than that. Especially if there is going to be collateral damage from all of this," Mr. Invention says.
"We'll be leaving Tia on her or our ship, someone needs to be operating the vessel. So Kai and I will go. Who joins us will depend on how the teams distribute," Tasha suggests.
"Try to find out what Kai is up to," Mr. Invention says. "I'd like to know how literally minded she is about following orders, or using her 'imagination' in achieving goals."
"Lucky -- or not" Tasha's dire frown is very ominous at the not, " ... for us, Tia had the same idea and tasked Kai to renovate our asteroid. We will know a lot about the based on what has happened to our poor -- or not -- asteroid."
"Renovate without further instructions, according to how Kai perceived our needs," Tasha adds, brows up.
"Needs," Mr. Invention says, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling. "I suppose that will also show how much she's learned about us."
"I expect Hake's room to have its own beer tap and pizzeria," Tasha says with a laugh. "Who knows what the rest of us will get."
"Hmm," Mr. Invention mutters. "It's been two days. I assume she's set to contact us when she's done?"
"That depends if she thought we 'needed' it, I suppose. Tia would be the most likely person to be contacted,followed by me," Tasha answers, shrugging with her hands. She realizes the mysterious of the universe, such as contained within her own crew, requiring a lot of shrugging. It may be one of the Human's best inventions, she decides.
"I'm in no hurry to get back to work," Katie claims, and grins. "Waiting for the base to be ready gives us time to gather more intel, and then Shojo can do his team training there before we really get things going."
"I don't mind waiting, but I'm not sure what I should be doing," Tasha admits, flicking her tail in to her right hand so she can try curling it around her fingers. "I feel like I can't let myself go again, at least."
"Just let Gabriel try to get you preggo," Katie suggests with a wink.
Tasha rolls her eyes. "Lets all get Tasha preggo now that she can be preggo, nevermind she's about to wade in to an enemy base," she mock-complains. Despite her words she grins, and would probably be blushing if she wasn't already red.
"Or you could go to the gardening club you're looking for," Katie says, eyeing the hat and dress.
"IT'S CUTE," Tasha insists, leaning back and crossing her arms again. "This is very popular with young married women back home. I can't dress like danger every day! Plus it helps my image, who is going to suspect me with this hat? Imagine the holovid reports, "Cult leader terrorizes Khattan House," and then me. With this hat."
"Too innocent looking," Katie claims. "You need Gabriel in overalls next to you. There must be something wholesome on this outpost that isn't donut related. Fried dough can only do so much."
"Sometimes I want to be wholesome," Tasha says with an upturned nose and a sniff.
"There are book clubs," Mrs. Teatime says. "And probably gaming clubs."
"Sometimes I don't want to be that wholesome," Tasha adds, dropping her head. "I'm fine with the dress. It helps me relax. What can I do that's not too involved but also not too wholesome ... Should I go buy some new armor? Maybe a gun? I bet the Titanians would give me a gun."
"Don't you have a gun already?" Katie asks.
"And don't discount.. shopping," Katie suggests. "There's an actual upscale neighborhood area with shops."
"A lady must have a variety of guns for all occasions," Tasha insists, and her nose goes up again.
But her ears do perk up. "Upscale shopping, you say?"
"Not far from our hotel. I suppose it's technically the embassy district," Katie says.
"Then let us represent spending," Tasha says, rising. "I can always use more things."
"Within moderation," Mr. Invention requests. "Take someone to keep you in check at least."
"Hake seems ultra responsible and level headed right? I mean she is a scholar," Tasha asks Katie, grinning.
"Has she ever been shopping?" Katie asks.
Tasha considers this for a moment, then asks, "Do pizza or men count?"
"Only if they come with price tags," Katie claims.
"I'm sure she would then. If she could afford it, which I know she can't, now or before," Tasha says with a laugh. But soon she's up with her hat on right. "Well lets go find out just what she does. We can bring, uhhh ... " She looks around for a moment. "Lacci and ... Responsible, responsible ... My maid?"
"Liza and Aaron are back on Dark Horse to acclimate themselves to the Tadpole," Katie notes. "I've rarely been shopping myself. Miss Necessity always did it for me."
"I feel like together we amount of one responsible person, but maybe we can find someone along the way. Anyway lets go before something pops up and we can't," Tasha insists, snatching Katherine's hand. "And I'll change so as not to embarrass you."