Post by drakadorchaos on Oct 11, 2023 22:57:42 GMT
Unknown System; Forlorn Spiral
It is an unremarkable system with a dying dwarf star, its dull red glow bathed small planetoids and a ringed gas giant in a tenuous orbit, devoid of most life but just enough of a pull to drag forth some unsuspecting souls...
Space split asunder with a velvet-red tear, the radiating fracture ejected a four-dozen meter winged shuttle into a far orbit from the singular gas giant, it tumbled end over end with a trail of ethereal threads that faded as the rift sealed behind them.
Tabitha reacted quickly as the other girls held on for their lives, she silenced the blaring buttons upon the controls as her skilled hands pulled the flight stick determinedly at a sharp angle, the shuttle's four engines shifted along their axis and flared to life with a quiet roar, the heavy spin of the Asmodeous M3 gradually stilled and all three let loose long held breath.
"See?" Remarked the grey-haired fairy as she fluttered up to stare out into the dark depths of space, "I told you we'd be fine!"
The towering Samantha loosened her grip upon the mottled slimy skin of her pet 'Janu', "My wings are all bruised..." she replied quietly as Tabitha wiped the sweat from her brow and laid back into the metal-bound pilot seat and remarked, "Well I've got no fucking clue where we are... Verci, what was all that?"
The half-foot fairy dropped onto Tabitha's brown hair and hung her head down, "We're safe aren't we?" she replied directly into Tabby's eye, "I'll be the judge of that..." Tabitha stated as she scanned her eyes across the console, various tripped annunciator buttons still flashed silently, "Alive yes... safe, I'm doubting it."
"You got a better idea Tabs?" Verci snapped back before she jumped down to stand upon the flight stick, "Just... give me a few to rest and I'll have us all the way to Moloch's lair!"
Tabitha unclipped her seat restraints and gently pushed off the seat, "I'm gonna check the ship... try not to cause any more trouble."
Travelling throughout the void of space, a single person craft, a ship of small design, it’s structure blocky, and seemingly patched together. It’s pilot, a lone figure, metallic in make, sitting at the control panels. They tap away on the desk as they admire the vast sway of stars surrounding them, before pressing a button, and turning towards a recording device strapped to their side giving a best capture of their portrait.
“Well, hello there now friends. Your old friend Apple here, travelling the expanse of our universe. Thank you once again for joining me on my travels. If you do like what you come to see, don’t forgot to like, comment, heck you may even consider subscribing if you are so obliged.”
‘Apple’ looks away from the camera for one moment, looking once again out into space before returning to speak.
“Would you just look at that. Space, it just really blows my little Akili Bandi brain you know? We’ve seen a lot of this journey so far haven’t we? But today I am hoping to bring you something real special like…I’ve heard rumours on the t’old ANCnet that there’s a very curious looking nebula out here…something I think you guys back home are gonna love now. But first, let me tell you a little bit about today’s sponsor, TIERZ…”
As they speak, a flash of bright light illuminates the cock pit. Out of nowhere, there a second vessel…Apple processes what they are seeing. They look at their dashboard, their array of scanners registering all information that is being poured at them.
“Well…I may sound a gosh darn fool, but it would seem like we have ourselves something unexpected here…let me just try something…”
They type away on the desk in front of them, opening a communication channel on all open frequencies.
“Hey howdy there friends. You came through there with a measure of speed and what looked like a bump. Say you all ok over there?”
These things need to make a better sound... Jenna thought to herself, sending a quartet of particle bolts hurtling at a rock with just a thought. White light erupted from the nacelles of the frigate, lancing straight for the rock faster than the human mind could comprehend without ungodly abstractions. The lances of light impacted the rock dead-on, and it collapsed immediately into a shower of debris.
["Warning: heat capacity nearing maximum,"] the ship's computer, a dumb ALI that nonetheless managed to sound like a nagging mother, barked at the woman. ["Safety protocols engaged. Disabling weapon systems."]
"Aw man... I was starting to feel better, too!" Jenna mumbled to herself, like a scolded child.
Before she could complain any more, the sensor board lit up. The tachyon detection unit they'd installed before Jenna's little joyride was detecting something--no, two somethings odd, just on the other side of the gas giant. She raised her brow, thought for a moment, and then pushed the throttle forward - she didn't exactly need to, with the neural command suite, but it felt nice, had more gravitas than just thinking "go forward".
The frigate lurched forward, its massively overspecced engines effortlessly pushing it forward at a leisurely 1G, lit up more brightly than one of those distant stars in the sky, even at this separation from her unknown contacts.
On the edge of the system something exits FTL, a small damaged ship moving about, a slight fire sparking in the back past the cockpit as sparks erupt from systems
"Holy shit that was close-"
A Quiet boom resounds as something explodes
"Fuck- That was the Engines"
The Mus'vanus Woman jumps up and runs to the back of the corvette-sized ship where a huge fire is burning away the engines, more small explosions going off as the ship sends an automated SOS out, but the damaged systems only allow the signal to go as far as the edge of the system itself.
"Fuckfuckfuck-
I've gotta get outta this shitbucket"
She rushes to the hangar at the bottom of the ship after grabbing her bag of stuff and slipping on an exoatmospheric suit, jumping into the small unarmed escape pod and flying out of the hangar as the ship silently explodes in the vacuum of space, when the fire hit the ancerium stores. She flips on the sensors and notices the 3 blips in system, she was getting ready to say something into an open comms channel when 'Apple' spoke into the comms first.
"Hello? My name is Enra, i was hit by pirates while i was in FTL and barely escaped, made it here and my ship went critical, ancerium stores blew. Right now im in a small escape craft near the outermost planet."
She sent this response over all comms frequencies as well, hoping for a response.
“You Coronan crossbreed of a toaster and a shitter!”
Sylvan cursed as he fumbled with the wires of the emergency generator, the wires throwing sparks as they touched and lights flickered on and off what could be the twentieth time already. The ship had been out of juice for a couple hours now, first the ftl drives then the sensors shortly after, followed by the transmitters until, eventually, the entire reactor gave out on him.
He was stranded.
...and he didn’t even fucking know where he actually was. Somewhere halfway towards Lost Star probably.
He stood up with an angered expression and kicked the wall of the damn tin can of a ship that shady idiot at the last station sold him. He began to wind up for another kick…
...and then instead just sat his foot back on the ground.
He sighed and sat back down, grabbing a new wire and began searching.
Somewhere should be…
Yes.
He pulled out a wire that had clinged somewhere to the wall so far and looked at the wire in his right hand or rather the patterns on his arm, switching the wire to his left.
He just had to… concentrate.
He put the two wires together, ignoring the sparks he concentrated on the patterns, on the wires and what he wanted to do, what he wanted to change.
“Just… a little.”
He felt the magical power flowing through himself, not filling the space in front of his outstretched finger and…
…he opened his eyes.
The two cables were now attached to each other, finally.
He wrinkled his nose, something smelled burnt.
“Don’t tell me…”
He sighed and leaned down, looking into the box, most of the cables inside were now a mangled mess of intertwining and deformed old cables. He looked at the faintly glowing patterns on his right arm, he had overdone it again, he should really get… a teacher or something.
The lights flickered on.
He sighed again.
‘Well at least it worked.’ He thought to himself, heading over to the control consoles and turning on the distress signal.
Tabitha was head deep in an access panel when a shout echoed through the shuttle's cabin, "TABS!... there's a... blippy!" came the distinctive tinny cry of Verci, "Going to have to be more specific!" Tabitha shouted back, "It's blue and sounds like BEEP BEEP BEEP." the fairy immediately replied.
"That'd be the RDF." Tabitha called back as she immediately kicked off the wall and drifted swiftly back to the cockpit, "Means people!... we can ask for directions!" she announced proudly as she arrived.
Verci had her face pressed up against the cockpit's windows, with Samantha seemingly mesmerized by the motions of her wandering catfish trying to process the lack of gravity, "We don't need directions." Verci replied with her muffled voice, "I just need to figure out..."
Tabitha planted a hand upon Samantha's shoulder, "What do you think Sam?", the towering woman made a startled jump before she stammered "I... uhh... yes, we should ask."
"Two on one, Ver... majority rules." Tabitha stated with a grin as she strapped herself back into the pilots seat, "Fuck you too Tabs." was the fae's immediate response.
Tabitha laughed as she picked up the receiver from the console,"You don't even have a map." Which prompted Verci to turn about and fold her arms, "You don't need a map, it's space!"
"Will they even speak our language...?" Samantha pondered quietly, "It's worth a shot..." Tabitha replied as she flicked a switch and began to speak...
"Hi... hello, this is the... well who... okay, sure... this is the Shining Sorceress to the... people who are here, we're kinda lost, need direction to the veil of darkness to which Moloch's lair resides."
Samantha gently grasped her pet as Tabitha began to power up the shuttle's engines, "Will they be friendly?"
Tabitha shrugged, "Flip a coin... we'll see."
On Jenna's screen, one of the - multiplying! - dots lit up. Incoming electromagnetic waves on a UHF frequency... it took her a moment to remember that that was nerd talk for "incoming message".
"Can't use plain fucking English in any fucking thing..." she grumbled to herself as she opened a channel. "This is Commander Jenna Cole, currently in charge of CSV Aurora. You're... asking for... directions to..." She hit the mute button. "What the fuck are these people on about? Moloch's lair?"
A quick search of the databases didn't turn up much apart from a few Talmudic and Biblical references, not that Jenna really expected it to - Commonwealth databases aren't exactly worth what they once were. She flicked the mute button again. "I haven't heard of any lairs around here. What exactly are y'all planning to do?"
The Screen goes alight with an incoming message, and Enra taps the screen. Listening to the message, she looks utterly confused and the hope she had for salvation dwindling.
"The hell..."
She taps to send a response.
"I have no idea what you're on about, but, if you would stop by and pick me up, that'd be nice..."
*She sends the response and leans back in the chair, sighing heavily as she watches the screens displaying all the information. Two days of oxygen, 1 day of fuel, 30 rounds in the small defensive machinegun... Not much. She mustve forgot to stock it up when she left the planet. Oh well, she should hopefully be out of here soon...
“Hey there y’all. There seems to be a lot of loud traffic on the networks today. We got some lost folks, some who’ve broken down. It seems all kinds of messy. Tell you what, my little boat maybe small, but I’ve room enough to come help you our Enra, how about that?”
Apple taps on their navigational chart, seeing the blip of light signaling the spot of which Enya spoke from.
“I am…well hey I am about 40 seconds away from you Enra, if I get my little speedy boots on. The rest of y’all, how about we set ourselves a rendezvous and have ourselves a conversation, see if we can help each other out?”
Apple presses the message button once more to turn it off momentarily before once again addressing their camera.
“See folks, it helps to be friendly out here in the universe. All kinds of strange things happening…”
"Thirty seconds off..." Tabitha muttered to herself, "What kind of delta they burning?"
Verci was slumped over in Tabitha's lap as she stared absently off into the stars ahead, "Oh who cares..." she announced with a bored yawn, "Lets just go make friends."
Tabitha turned her head back to glance at Samantha as she stated with a smile, "Pre-ignition check complete, please secure any and all luggage and fish before acceleration."
Frantically the towering Arankasi clasped the mottled catfish and held it close to her chest, "Really need to get a proper tank for him huh..." Tabitha observed, hand lazily rested upon the throttle, "Ver didn't give you much warning huh?"
Samantha shook her head, "N... no, not really, I got the... and I didn't really..." she mumbled out, "Yeah she's a little handful." Tabitha replied.
"I'll full your hand in a second, Tabs." Verci interjected as she pointed forwards, "MUSH!"
"What's that even mean?" Tabitha pondered as she eased forward on the throttle...
Energetic plumes poured forth from the heavy engines upon the shuttle's wings, the heavy thrust directed the craft towards the mix of signals in the long void ahead.
Sylvan looked at the screens and displays, at least, those which were still working.
They showed him…
Nothing.
It seems his sensors were still out.
He sighed and headed over to the cabinet and put on his spacesuit, better now than later when the ship probably got hit by some micrometeorite and leaked oxygen, would not even surprise him at this rate.
-
As other people started to exchange transmissions and moved from various points to others in the system. The little shuttle remained idle, at least until the distress signal activated, a tiny blip on the sensors of a repeating signal popped up orbiting the sun in a medium orbit. As the ship passed the ‘horizon’ of the the star it was now able to be received by other parties in the system as well.
-
One of the displays changed, notifying the young man, that there were apparently public transmissions going around nearby.
He cursed again.
He was apparently able to catch on to them, meaning his receiver was still working, however, the decoders (and most of the other transmission equipment) seemed to have passed on when the reactor gave out a couple hours earlier.
So he was not actually able to find out what they said… or answer, for that matter.
He sighed and laid flat on the ground, nothing left to do but wait.
Sylvan looked at the screens and displays, at least, those which were still working. They showed him… Nothing. It seems his sensors were still out. He sighed and headed over to the cabinet and put on his spacesuit, better now than later when the ship probably got hit by some micrometeorite and leaked oxygen, would not even surprise him at this rate. - As other people started to exchange transmissions and moved from various points to others in the system. The little shuttle remained idle, at least until the distress signal activated, a tiny blip on the sensors of a repeating signal popped up orbiting the sun in a medium orbit. As the ship passed the ‘horizon’ of the the star it was now able to be received by other parties in the system as well. - One of the displays changed, notifying the young man, that there were apparently public transmissions going around nearby. He cursed again. He was apparently able to catch on to them, meaning his receiver was still working, however, the decoders (and most of the other transmission equipment) seemed to have passed on when the reactor gave out a couple hours earlier. So he was not actually able to find out what they said… or answer, for that matter. He sighed and laid flat on the ground, nothing left to do but wait.
Jenna just stared at the screens as blips and bloops moved about on her sensor screen, planning her next move in this funny little encounter. "Alright, uh... listen, this little frigate isn't really equipped for rescue ops, or anything other than murdering the shit out of somebody, really, but, uh... I'm gonna do my best to help out, while I call in some friends to sort out exactly what in fuck is going on today."
Jenna punched in a few numbers, setting a course for the less fortunate shuttle - that is to say, the one not currently being rescued by the third shuttle - and an ALI calculated the best route. A short warp jump, barely even a second at 5 c, would put her well within range. With a tap of a holographic button, the ship lurched into a low warp, popping out a moment later - close enough to throw the disabled craft around from the gravitational wave emissions.
"Okay, hold onto something, I'm a fucking shit pilot," she transmitted. Fortunately, as far as manoeuvres went, matching course and speed with a completely disabled shuttle was pretty easy. Only a minute later, there was a thump from the shuttle's airlock. Then, three rhythmic thumps. A muffled voice from the other side - too muffled to make out, but it was easy to figure out what she was saying anyway. "Hello?"
Sylvan almost jumped to the ceiling as the ship suddenly rumbled, was he just hit by…?
He stood motionless, trying to determine if the ship was moving, would be easier if it actually had windows…
“Huh…”
Was he now doomed or saved?
After a while of silence, there were suddenly the sounds of an airlock, followed by the the knocking.
“Well, saved it is… I hope.”
He went over to the door, though he couldn’t quite make out what the person on the other side was saying, that they didn’t just kick the door in was already a good sign.
Raising his arm he knocked on the airlock from his side as well. Once more, three times. That being done he opened the panel to the side of the airlock, setting it to remote controlled instead of manual, in case the people on the other side tried to open it, at least that was still working.
"Heh, this ain't a game of Simon Says, bud," Jenna said to herself. She reached out and hit the door control, and the door slid open--and holy shit, she's huge. For a human woman, anyway, 6'2" is nothing to laugh about. And she looked strong enough to lift a fucking car if she tried, too, like a guardian angel of buffness. "Alright, let's get you out of there. Are you, uh, particularly attached to that thing at all?"
She responds to apple
"Good to hear, my pod is unmoving so i should be easy to grab up. I have ETA gear on if you need me to enter through some sort of hatch."
Quickly gathering up her few belongings, she looks back at her destroyed ship, her pride and joy, gone because of some stupid pirates looking for stupid money she didnt even have. In frustation she hits the seat and puts her head in her hands as she waits for the stranger to arrive and pick her up.
Apples vessel speeds towards the SOS signal. Before long, the clobbered together ship, itself looking like a wreck to any casual observer came into view of the escape pod, inhabited by Enra.
It pulls to a halt, as if pulling on a hand break in space, jumping and spluttering to a stop. It’s port side air lock lining up and attaching around the hatch. The quick process of air filtering into the air lock filled the void between them, before the doors of the vessel opened.
“Hey there now friend. If y’all want to come across now, I am all docked and locked with y’all.” Apple messaged to Enra.
As the Airlock opened with a hiss, Sylvan had to look up to see his saviours’ face, as Jenna was almost a head taller than himself. Looking at her he wondered what he had gotten himself into this time.
Sylvan himself was wearing a used looking EVA suit showing very little of his own body though the shape of the suit indicated he was of a rather slender figure in contrast to the woman's build, pupil-less light blue eyes looking up at her framed by hair of the same colour.
He looked back into the shuttle, stepped towards one of the lockers and took out a traveling bag the size of his torso and then came back to the airlock, apparently ready to leave.
”Yeah, no, I think we can leave this one here.”
This thing had got him stuck in the middle of nowhere and almost got him killed. No way in hell he’s going to get attached to it, he thought to himself.
Enra walks over through the airlock and into Apple's vessel as she looks around, her reptilian tail swiping along the ground as she removes the EVA helmet, looking towards apple.
"Hey, thanks for saving me back there, i only had 2 gal-standard days of O2 in that thing. If you want, you can undock and leave it behind, i got everything i needed off of it."
She peeks around the ship, looking over the interior
------
The station they had ended up in was… rather silent. Not in a concerning sense, it was likely just the region they were in, it was also somewhat run down, as many things in the Forlorn spiral, but it hadn’t shot at them when they approached so it was good enough.
A couple of traders and mercenaries were walking through the hangar, along with travelers and other people from various unknown backgrounds, tired and bored looking guards at the gates, dozens of different races but they all went their own ways. An engine hummed, pressure valves hissed, it had a certain decrepit charm to it, though none that would make you stay for long. Fortunately, they didn’t plan to.
After the… incident, in the far off solar system which brought them all together, they decided to head to the closest station, mostly to drop off their involuntary guests but also because nobody actually knew where the ‘Veil of Darkness’ or the ‘Molochs Lair’ was.
The odd visitors hadn’t found what they were looking for, regardless, they were now waving them goodbye, the odd muscular woman and the fairies on one side, Sylvan, Enra and Apple on the other. As the gates closed behind them, a thought Sylvan had somewhat repressed during the flight came up again.
He was now, once more, without a ship, stuck in the middle of nowhere.
“Fuck. Ah, well.”
There wasn’t much emotion behind his words, as it wasn’t the first time, still rather odd to call out like that in the presence of relative strangers though. He sighed and turned towards Apple, he and Enra were the only people he knew at least vaguely on this station and as far as he knew they didn’t try to shoot him yet, maybe, just maybe one of them could help him out…
“So, Apple?”
Sylvans eyes were narrowed, either unsure or curious.
The name sounded more like a question than anything else, he had picked up on the names during the flight over comms but apparently wasn’t quite sure if he was correct.
“Well and you too, Enra, I guess none of you are on your way to Lost Star and willing to drag me along for a while, by any chance?”
Asking strangers had gotten him in trouble before, though currently, they were his best bet.
Maybe they could employ him as an assistant for the time being, or something alike?
“You see, after that trash can kicked the bucket I’m now without a ride.”
The question hung in the air for a few moments, as he waited for an answer.
“Well, that’s exactly right y’all. Call me Apple, AP23, Apple Pie…I do not really mind you know? And correct me if I am not saying your lovely name correctly…Sylvans…right? Enra…I got that one, I think.”
The metal being surveyed the recent new additions to his life. It had certainly been a peculiar situation, and not at all the video they had planned, but “meeting space witches” however short a time it had been would absolutely be a great click bate title for their next entry on the Svyaz network.
This was also their first time on such a space station, and Apple found it fascinating. All the people, all the commerce, all the cultures. So much opportunity to explore.
“Now, I will be totally honest with y’all both. I am a traveller of sorts, and well, quite frankly I have no final destination currently planned…so if you are needing to find yourself some form of means of getting to this…Lost Star you say? Well hey…that sounds just like the kinda adventurising that would be up my alleyway.”
"Yeah, Enra is right. I also dont have a destination in mind, i was just travelling around seeing sights and pirates tried to steal my ship, but the ship is... destroyed to say the least. Im willing to go wherever apple goes, seeing as i dont exactly have the millicents to buy a ship or fuel right now. I should have enough to get some supplies though."
Enra scanned the area, seeing the few people in the quiet station walk by. 'How did i get into this situation...' she thought to herself. 'oh well, i'll make do'
she had only been on one station recently before, to refill her ship not too long before the pirates ended up attacking her, the last one was far more active than this one.
"Lost star sounds fun, i've heard stories of the place, a set of ringworlds, right?"
Sylvan looked at the two of them as they talked, listening. He sighed in relief when Apple said he would take them along. In the end he smiled, it was the first good news in a while.
"Yes, yes, Sylvan is the name, Sylvan Rayelle! That's great news actually, thank you! I'd say there'll be probably plenty to look at for you on Lost Star, too and yeah, it's more or less the informal capital of the galaxy, just uh... may be better to stay away from the bad spots but I can help you with that."
He paused for a moment, holding his chin between his thumb and index finger, apparently thinking about something. After a couple of momets responding to Enras other proposal.
"Yeah, I guess if Apple here is giving us a ride, we should probably get the supplies, anything special you need on your side, or do I just buy the usual stuff?"
“Well, a pleasure to meet your acquaintances on a name-to-name basis. You are both more than welcome to dally on over to my vessel and come on our wild journey.” Apple replied to his new friends.
They looked over them both, registering the details of their faces to his memory banks, processing their emotions as they went. They attempted their best smile. ‘This is my attempt to break the ice.’ They thought.
“Supplies certainly sound a treat. If we are gonna be out in space together, I’m gonna need to pick up some more bedding, and maybe food for you..er…organic types. What type of things you eat where you’re from?”
They began to look around themselves, looking for any form of market on the station.
"A pleasure to meet you as well. I can go out for food, if Sylvan can hed out for bedding. I havent been to the place im from for a very long time, so i eat whatever the places i go by have."
She looks around for a food market
"I'll start looking around, meet you guys back here soon."
She waves and walks off down the station, scouring it for a food market, once she sees one down a ways, she begins walking towards it, a slight hop in her step.
Sylvan simply nodded at Enra as she left, then answering Apple.
"Yeah, don't worry about that we can deal with that, in the meanwhile you can tend your ship, make sure it's all running fine."
'...and not break down like the rust bucket I bought before ending up here.', he added in his mind. He waved and walked off to another part of the station, getting bedding shouldn't be too hard... well if he didn't spend most of his money on aforementioned rust bucket.
He may have to get creative...
Looking around the station he came to the conclusion prices here were actually pretty awful, likely a result of being so far out from the galactic centre and most of the active trade networks, the Forlon Spiral wasn't exactly the centre of attention for most major factions. However, moving through halls and corridors, he eventually spotted a familiar looking symbol, maybe they could help him...
Only a small sliver of light shone upon subject’s 3 face as the ration crate they were hiding in was moved between the stars. Their lid was just slightly ajar to allow fresh air and a little vision for them. Their bright green eyes peaked out of the slit to try and get a bearing of where they are now. Subject 3 was supposed to be picked up at an earlier station, however as they peered through the crack they just saw more crates. Luckily their hiding spot was the most forward and not buried under more boxes.
The crate they were hiding in was labelled as a long storage ration crate. It wasn’t just them inside the box their was also a large amount of hermetically sealed individual meals. Their flexible body was easily able to squeeze in there and subject 3 had used their claw like fingernails to cut upon one of them for sustaining themselves. Only taking little bits at a time and relying on a semi hibernation state to live through weeks of travel.
As for entertainment subject 3 had very little time in between their escape from the facilities and into this crate so not much was taken along. Only a small music player whose batteries have run out by now and some various magazines. It was hard to read them comfortably but reading the text itself was no problem for their eyes even in the pitch black of a cargo hold.
They were almost going to try and climb out but once they saw someone approaching the crate subject 3 became dead quiet.
‘Tend to the ship, make sure it’s all running fine.’ Apple thought. ‘A fine task…’
Breaking away from their new shipmates, they made their way through the busy space station, back to the hanger where the messy vessel that was the “Wandering Star” was settled.
A ship that preferred function over artistry, the ‘Wandering Star’ was itself a cramped vessel. The patch work of piping and external panels a sure sign of the varying degrees of repair work conducted on the machine over time. The engines themselves a huge bulking mess at the rear, a totally different design to the general body of the ship, a transfer from another vessel some time ago.
Apple began to give the ship the once over on the outside, before unlocking the ships drop down door, and entering. The inside was as messy as the out, but Apple happily began to carry out a much needed clear and fix, as they patched the kitchen back into the power unit of the vessel for use by the “organics”.
Approaching Apple was a cloaked figure. Beneath a rugged cloak was the tanned skin of a Nocomal woman. Standing at only five feet tall, she was a rare sight among any outside of Prador. Rarer than any other Pradorian race, never having recovered from the ancient wars again Kane. This specific one was an exile from the last cycle. Having lived the last 100 years as a wanderer. From the Union, to Natar, to Ingen, to the now fallen Dominion. She was a traveler, and one whom had lost her own vessel several months ago. The tough brown cloak obscured much of her, but the hand sticking out holding the dull metal staff was tanned, the coloration of a light brown treebark. The staff itself was a Pradorian war staff. Spear, and bow in one, but otherwise appeared as a big metal stick. It served as little more than a walking stick now. The woman approached the vessel, and the figure now moving inside of it, but said nothing. Standing with support on the staff, lying in wait for them to show themselves again.
Her thoughts were on leaving this station, wishing for nothing but the freedom of the stars. She was willing to work for such a thing, and a new ship was a new opportunity. She was willing to join them if it meant travel.
In the meanwhile Sylvan was wandering down in the depths of the station, not a place he would usually run around in but he was looking for something, or more specifically somewhere special and he knew it was here.
After his suspicion about the areas prices had been confirmed he didn’t have much else of a choice anyways.
Turning another corner, following the sign, he pushed aside a simple looking curtain and finally arrived.
It wasn’t particularly big but the atmosphere in the room was cozy and somewhat exotic, a number of foreign people from various races were standing or sitting around in the room, half of which he couldn’t even identify, talking to each other, each one of them looking like a frequent traveler, some for longer some as if they had set out just recently and some like himself, waiting for a convenient opportunity to hitch the next ride.
The room itself was decorated, not opulent but with things almost as or even more various in culture as it’s occupants, reaching from carpets and pillows, over odd contraptions, to simple household appliances from various sources.
It was one of the Guiding Halls of the Wandering Paths.
One of the few places where he felt at home.
Stepping in he looked around, soon finding the halls Journeymaster who was sitting somewhere in the back and had apparently already spotted him.
“Greetings, young traveler.” The elderly human woman smiled.
“Greetings!” He responded, with a smile himself.
“So, what takes you here today? Since you found this place, you are likely not the first time in one of our halls?”
It was true, the Guiding halls had served him quite well on his travels and after a few years of travel he eventually learned to locate them and even became a member of the Wandering Paths himself, he explained his situation to her, how he got here originally and what he was looking for now. After a while of talk the woman nodded.
“So, you are on your way to Lost Star, yes? Looking for bedding for the ship you are going to travel with, yes? Well, we do have some here, but as you know, although we are trying to help out all travelers, even we can’t afford to give away things for free all the time.”
Sylvan nodded and sighed somewhat exhausted, it was annoying but she was right, usually guiding halls gave to travelers in need, but they also had to offer something in return, be it services, objects or plain money, which presented him, having spent his money on the ship he did not come here with, with a problem. Considering he didn’t really have any objects he was willing to part with and no time to offer services.
He scratched his head looking around the room, searching. Maybe there was someone around who could help him…
From somewhere deeper in the conclave a figure stepped forward. Shrouded almost entirely by large robes that covered his entire body. He stepped forward and without a word gently pressed a credit chip by the Journeymaster. Her voice was dry, and raspy. Like that of someone who had screamed so much their vocal cords couldn't keep up. Her robes were a flowing brown going over her entire body as one big piece that was connected all the way around. Like a ankle length poncho. No shoes, or anything for that matter under the garment. Two of her four arms sticking out the long baggy sleeves, her other two at rest within the inside of the cloak. To appear more human among the station. "Allow... Me." Was her only two words spoke. She was thinking over the hectic few days. Only a few months ago had the Weave, and the Order arrived in Ancerious and already. Pirates, slavers, and now having assimilated her own ideology into the Wandering Paths. Looking under the cowl-like hood her face was scarred heavily, some far more recent than others. She seemed completely unarmed as well, but that was far from the truth. Between martial arts, and psionics she was far from it.
The woman said only one more thing on the matter. Taking a couple of moments to get out all the words with her strained, raspy voice. "With permission..... I shall accompany you."
The Journeymaster nodded in response and the credit chip disappeared between her clothes.
“What you are looking for is in the third door in the back.”
Sylvan took a step back from the cloaked figure which approached them and looked at her, tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
“Um… huh.”
He was used to all sorts of weird individuals passing through guidance halls, and it wouldn’t be the first time he would travel with one, however…
There were also a couple of times when they would cause trouble and now he’d have to convince Apple to take another person with him, after all he couldn’t quite reject, after they just paid for his stuff. Even less so since he was in a guidance hall.
He sighed.
‘Well, shit.’, he thought.
There wasn’t much he could do about it now anyways unless he wanted to just charge out of the room and then hide in the station somewhere and did they did pay for him after all...
Usually these people turned out fine, so long as you didn’t ask too many questions. Hopefully this would be the same.
“Err… yeah, sure. I’ll see what I can do.”
He nodded towards the Journeymaster and headed to the back of the room to get what the hooded figure had paid for, if Apple would decline he’d be in real trouble now…
“So, what’s your name anyways? If you wanna tell me that is.”,he asked, trying to break the silence.
"Kael" She said simply. Her voice raspy, and hoarse. Pained to speak. She felt the awkward silence as well, but taking was pained. She leaned over and grabbed some of the supplies to help carry them. Her two lower arms under her robe rubbing against each other nervously. She was fairly new to the Wandering Path, and after her initial experiences with the wider galaxy she was weary. But the mission was first, and the weave did will it, no? She followed her maroon eyes hard to pinpoint the exact emotions. Her hairless brow furrowed in a semi 'sad' expression. Though even that wasn't easy to see under her hood. She gave a small dry cough, wiping just a bit of blood from her chin. Following her new comrad.
Enra walks up to the food market, crates full of rations sitting around as the merchant talks to customers who come and go from the shop. Enra scratches her hread and decides to buy a whole crate, seeing as its not too terribly expensive.
"the quality must suck though..." she thought to herself, then added 'but we just need something to eat on the trip, so its okay.."
Walking up to the merchant, she starts off with
"Hello there, im here on a stop to get some rations, going on quite a long journey, would you happen to have any food that could be stored for long periods of time?"
"Yes! right over here, follow me!"
the merchant says with fake excitement, leading enra over to the long storage rations. She pays him for the first crate she comes upon, leaving her with only a little bit more money. The crate has a small handle and the merchant attaches small, cheap antigrav devices to the side, allowing the crate to move.
Subject three feels a slight shake as the crate rises up and begins to move, Enra pulling the crate back to the ship, they hear chatter as the crate moves farther away from the food market and closer to Apples ship
After some time, Enra stops and uses the rest of her money to buy a tank full of fresh drinkable water for the trip at a shop not too far from the ship. After a minute or two of walking Enra arrives at the ship.
Subject 3 hears chatter outside the crate, meanwhile Enra has walked onto Apple's ship with the crate.
"Hey, apple, i got the food and some of the water, where do you want it?"
‘Well goodness me’ quandered Apple, as they rummaged through the ‘Wandering Star’, tidying. The kitchen was repatched, but Apple’s attempt at creating living space for so many ‘organics’ had led to a very cramped ship indeed. The cabins, 4 in total, had been previously used for storage of items Apple had collected on their travels, but now found themselves reverted to their original use. The items that had been stored away, now placed on various holds throughout the ship, making more of a tripping hazard than anything else.
With a sigh, a noise given more as an expression of dissatisfaction, rather than an exhale of breath, Apple put down the tool they had been using to make small fixes to the ship, and returned to the exterior, where the presence of a cloaked figure caught their attention. Apple looked in their direction for a moment. They seemed to be approaching, although not saying a word.
The person however was quickly overtaken by the familiar sight of Enra, who rounded the corner, carrying bundles of goods.
"Hey, apple, I got the food and some of the water, where do you want it?" Enra shouts over…
“Oh…umm…well…I made some space in the kitchen for you organic types…up the ramp and first door on the right…hey say…what do you make of this strange and interesting folk?” pointing in the direction of the cloaked figure.
“Hey!” Apple calls out. “Hey now…happy days to you my friend…say you looking for some kind of assistance?”
"alright, ill put it in there then i have to run back out because i dropped something..."
she drags the containers into the kitchen and sets it all down, turning off the antigravs and then reaching for the lid...
Subject 3 hears a clang as the container stops moving, then some rustling as a bright light enters from the top of the container being removed...
Three was definitely excited. Perhaps they just remembered it wrong and this was the station she was going to be picked up from. As the lid was removed they popped their head out and looked at Enra.
“Hi!”
Three said with an excited tone.
They were really squeezed inside that crate, a normal human would have needed their spine broken to fit. Subject 3 was a human of undefined gender. No clear sign of being male or female but the body shape leaned more towards feminine, which was helped by the lack of hair everywhere except for on the top of their head. They wore a white jumpsuit with green accents without sleeves for the arms and legs since from their limbs and through their skin spider silk extruded out. The box was filled with webbing. Their hair colour was a silver white which matched their pale skin. Subject 3 gave of an aura of being unfinished. They were tall and slender but the features looked incomplete, as if they still had to grow up. Their eyes were a piercing and slightly glowing emerald green.
At the bottom of the crate layer their paper magazines and empty music player. The magazines were a collection of punk music themed ones, those of the adult variety, fashion magazines and a genetic modification catalogue.
“You are with Young Metro right?”
"Holy shit-"
she jumps back in surprise, falling to the floor
"Who the hell are you and why are you in our food!?"
She looks over the thing and notices its 'unfinished' nature
"who's young metro??"
The cloaked woman slowly pulled down her head. Eyes with no white in them colored a deep red, hair down to her shoulders like that of autumn leaves, her actual skin akin to the coloration of bark. Her face was rounded strange red markings akin to warpaint on her face. She spoke her accent, and speech pattern both... odd. "This one is known as Aurshlae, and this one wishes to accompany you.... Vessels come and go, many decline this ones request. What say you, kin of metal?"
The woman didn't make any other movements save for taking down her hood. Her keen eyes looking over 'Apple', studying them keenly.
Apple gave the character a quick scan. They had never seen anything quite like them before. Attempting their best ‘smile’, or interpretation of a smile, they replied.
“Well, mighty fine to meet you there Aurshlae…my name is Apple…or AP…AP23 …Apple Pie…well now just about whatever you feel comfortable with.” They stopped once more, looking at Aurshlae, and then back to the Wandering Star.
“Well, we do seem to be collecting a real smorgasbord of a crew for the next endeavour. It would feel rather remiss of me if I didn’t run your proposal with my new friends now…kin of…skin. Say…Enra is aboard now, let us run things by her…HEY ENRA!”
They shouted as they walked back on board the vessel, seeking out Enra. In seconds Apple rounded the corner into the kitchen, where Enra was putting away the produce bought for the ‘organics’ on the ship. To Apple’s surprise, there, crouched in the box a human…of sorts.
“Oh..well…hey…pssssh…Enra. Now…I have seen some interesting cuisine choices on my travels…but I don’t think the Wandering Star is equipment for the..you know..slaughtering of live stock…and hey…I try my best not to judge but I am not entirely comfortable with you eating this hairless child…”
"Livestock!? I bought rations and this thing was stowed away in the box! scared the shit out of me!"
Enra stands up, a bit annoyed
"Ugh, i gotta go grab my holopad, damn thing fell out of my bag.. You handle... whatever that thing is"
She begins to walk off out of the ship, back along the path she took to get the food and water, after some time of searching she sees the holopad laying in the floor, then goes to pick it up.
Grabbing it off the cold metal floor, she walks back towards the Wandering Star, standing right in front of a closed door as she waits for the foot traffic to clear up...
There are shadows looming everywhere. And they have been since Teciro left the main systems of the CES. Initially, he thought that these phenomena were simply stress from the large confrontation he just took part of, and as such, he simply went away on vacation for a couple of days. He could not expect the insanity that’d follow him.
His initial nightmares were just a herald of a horrifying metamorphosis occurring within his mind, one that came upon simply by happenstance, but that lit up like a beacon, attracting the attention of beings most foul. From deep within their forsaken gallow they clawed out with eldritch might, and pursued Teciro through the winding hallways of his own mindscape, awakening him time and again. However, slowly, the split between dreams and reality started to fade out for the old security captain, and his mind fought back against its own fraying.
He was running. He didn’t know quite well from what he was running, but the presence was unbearable and dug deep into his temples. Through winding corridors of blackened rock that rose above, dwarfing him, unspeakable shapes flanked him through his corners, manifestations of some notion older than the society he grew up in.
Suddenly, a sliver of light, through the gap of one of the gargantuan masonry pieces. He bolted in a spur and the shapes drew closer as well, he clawed forth with might, as if dragging the world around him to close the gap, and then!
BLAM!
A disheveled lizardman flies through the metal door, swinging it on its hinges with tremendous strength, so much as it slams into the wall beside it and leaves a mark, bouncing back and closing quickly after. He knocks into a few people and loses balance, falling down onto the floor. He gets up in a split second of desperation and looks behind, only now processing the surroundings.
His tired hectic eyes dart around the room like crazy, accompanied by the hurried breath of someone that just ran for their life. Automatically he backs off onto the nearby wall, bumping into Enra as he does so. Startled, he turns around in an instant and looks her deep into her eyes, surprised to see someone of his own species, he says, in Musavian Script:
“Where the fuck am I?!”
Wandering Star
Subject three blinked a couple of times as Enra yelled at them in surprise. Three scratched their head and answered with much less excitement in their tone but still with a childlike innocence.
“Uh, hi. I am subject three. Well that’s what they call me anyway. You don’t know young metro then? They are the absolute heroes that got me away from the spooky lady who made my life not fun. Put me in this crate, and told me I would be picked up by on of their members at the following station.”
Subject three had no filter or concept of secrecy so when asked they gladly said everything they could to answer any inquiries. Upon seeing Apple enter the room Three’s eyes brightened with wonder. As apple talked about three being livestock their ears twitched, picking up on the whispers.
“WOAH! You are like metal skinned! That’s awesome, you are so shiny…. Wait, eat me? You think i am livestock!? Nooo, i don’t taste good honest!”
Subject three shrunk down back into their box. They saw a small bug which got stuck in their webbing and quickly grabbed it and ate it.
"Holy shi-"
enra is surprised as the door swings wide, the lizardman barely missing her on his initial barge out of the door, she thinks to herself.. 'is that another mus'vanus?'.. and she is correct, the man then bumps into her while frantically walking backwards, almost knocking her over.
"You're on a station in the middle of the Forlorn spiral"
she responds in Musavian Script as well, then blurts out a question
"And might i ask, who the hell are you? i havent seen another Mus'vanus in ages!"
Teciro takes a moment to gather himself looking around, before muttering to himself:
"Forlorn Spiral huh..."
He moved forward slowly and approched the metallic door he came in from. He grasped the handle firmly and opened in a swing.
It was a small cleaning closet. No entrances of exits apart from this single door.
He looked at the small closet for a moment, before quietly closing it and coming back towards Enra.
"I am Teciro, Security Captain of DeWalte.
Are you sure we're in the Forlorn Spiral?"
The feeling of being chased had died down within the soul of Teciro, it was if the shadows that loomed upon the corners of his eyes had receeded into nothingness, or perhaps, they pulled back to watch? Only time would tell.
Visually Teciro seemed like a capable Musavian male, average height. He sported a lightweight Standard Suit, and a handgun upon his belt.
"Yeah, im one hundre percent sure. What are you doing running around and bumping into people, you should be more careful.."
she regains her balance and shoves the holopad in her bag.
"ive got places to be, if ya wanna keep talking follow me."
Enra begins heading towards the Wandering Star at a slow pace.
In the Wandering Star
Apple watches after Enra as she leaves…
“I’ll…yes…I’ll handle it!”
Unsure what to do, Apple turned back to Aurshlae and Three. Processing what to do next, they look, from one to the other, before giving an audible “hmm”.
“Woah there now…Three was it? I do not have any intention of eating you…and I think I can vouch for Aurshlae as well. I hope I can anyway. Aurshlae…are you going to eat the child here?”
Depths of the Station
As the others and their new additions to the group were dealing with the situation at the ship, Sylvan was calmly heading back to the docking area, together with yet another travel companion the group didn't know of yet, considering it took him a while to get down here it would be the same for the way back.
”Kael, huh? My name’s Sylvan, nice to meet ya, well, obviously.”
As they were carrying the boxes both her expression and the fact she just wiped blood from her chin, both went past his attention, he wasn’t exactly built for heavy lifting, thankfully the bedding wasn’t particularly heavy.
Seeing that they still had a way ahead of them, he tried another time. His new companion didn’t seem too talkative, but hey, they didn’t try to kill or mug him either so far, so that’s a good sign, right?
“So, any questions you have? Like, y’know, we’re all heading to Lost Star and all which is probably all you really care about here, but… well, looking at the distance we’ll all be stuck together for a while I’d guess.”
He regained his bearing at last, Teciro really was in the Forlorn Spiral. He had no recollection of being there, last time he started running, he was close to the CES, in the Killian Verge. Was there a lapse in his judgement and mind? Or did he simply teleport? The thought, to him, was better buried in the back of his mind.
He felt around his belt and checked the equipment he had, before nodding to Enra and following her, after all, it was the only somewhat familiar face so far away from home.
Enra keeps her pace towards the wandering star, the vessel now in sight.
"so how did you end up here? i didnt expect to see another of my kind all the way here in the 'forlorn, let alone on some backwater station"
She points at the wandering star
"that's the vessel im on with a couple people i met out in space when my ship blew up. We're headed to Lost star after we load up on supplies, we picked up some weird kid lookin thing that i dont really know how to describe and some hooded figure who'll be flying with us as well. If you wanna go to lost star and get off this station, now's your chance."
Teciro checked himself. Technically, his DeWalte credentials were still a thing, they would be searching for him and he'd sure be defaulted and probably reprocessed, or just given as dead or dissapearing, but his credentials as captain still existed. He'd soon have to check the systems for an early retirement of sorts, but his experience with such processes within the CES were less then incentivizing.
"I can't disclose that. I'm with DeWalte, but I suppose I could stick around with you guys until my next assignment come in, maybe lend out a hand, yes?"
That'd have to work. Furthermore as much as it wasn't that common for the Mus'Vanus to help eachother for free, it also wasn't too much of a wild thing for it to be unbelievable. It'd have to roll for now, after all, his "teleportation" would surely be more insane than any kind of bizarre corporate expedition journey he could muster up as a lie. Thus, he stuck around with his kin.
"DeWalte, eh? been a while since ive heard that name. Sounds good, having another Musav' around wont be so bad, yeah?"
They get closer to the vessel eventually reaching it and standing outside of it, Enra looks into the doorway and calls out
"Hey, apple! Im back! Ran into someone along the way!"
she waits for a response from the android
Aurshlae raised a autumn orange eyebrow and paused for a long moment at the question. Her lips turned to a small smirk, and she replied with the slightest of giggles. "Only if this one kills him in battle. Otherwise Pradorian battle laws say nothing of what this one should do." She gave a small shrug, and said afterwards still a smile on her lips. "Does this one permission to come along?"
"As long as we... Can help people." Kael struggled out. Her voice as ever hoarse, and strained as the first time she spoke. In truth she was getting annoyed at the questions. Normally she wouldn't have minded, but when it felt like swallowing nails? And the guy keeps asking them? She stayed silent for a moment before struggling out her last sentence on the trip. "Apologies..... It is hard for me to speak... Throat is.... Damaged." She got out. Giving off three vey dry coughs, and following the man through the twisting caverns that was this space station.
Sylvan stopped for a brief moment, realising his mistake.
"I.. um... sorry about that."
He sighed and began moving again, this time in silence.
After a couple more minutes they reached where Apples ship was docked, only seeing Enra and Teciro outside.
He turned his head towards Kael.
"Well, we're here, wait for a moment, I'll try to sort things out."
Sylvan put his box down to show he wasn't just going to run off with it and theurned to look at Enra and the newcomer, lifting one eyebrow and then walking up to them.
He had a somewhat odd feeling, it seems he was not the only one who came back with new company.
"Enra? Is Apple inside?"
...he turned towards the other lizard person looking at him up and down a couple times.
"...and you are?"
“I’m here! Inside…we have…er...lots more company!” Apple shouted, hearing the conversation outside. Turning back to Three, Apple hunches down, level so their face is at the same height as the lid of the crate, attempting to appear more naturing.
“Now…see we aren’t going to eat you,...say why don’t you get yourself out of that damned crate now, you must feel real cramped up.” Offering a hand to help Three out of the box, whilst turning once again to Aurshlae.
“I’ll be completely honest with you now Aurshlae…there is a real cornucopia of folks wanting to get on this here ship. It is going to be a tight little squeeze. I hear the others coming now, so again, it would be remiss of me to not get their say on the matter…my advise would be to just be your happy self now.”
Three listened intently as everyone else was talking. When Apple hunched down to meet their gaze three looked back with fierce green eyes. They were so intensely bright that they casted a dim light.
“Ok then, you seem nice!”
The concept of stranger danger was… barely a thing for them. So Three took Apples hand happily and clambered out of the box, the spider webs they have woven clung to their arms and legs as they were the origin point of the silk. Three had to tug a little harshly to get them loose.
“Oh! Well I can make my home in anything, on the ceiling, or in the vents, or in crates. I don’t mind!”
Three absent mindedly played with the spider like silk coming out of her arms.
The lizardman took a time to think, also scanning Sylvan up and down as he did before blasting off a reply.
"I am Teciro, DeWalte security captain. I'm here on an assignment, I can't tell you what it is, but I'm accompanying Enra now, it's safer to travel in groups when you're so far away from your home.
I can pay the owner of the ship for the ride, or... I could also be of service, I know proper security procedures and whatnot."
There was a clear anxiety within the lizardman, he had just gotten out of some kind of high-octane situation, for some reason or another. However, he seemed to have calmed down for now. Quietly, he peered further into the ship accompanying Enra if he could.
Sylvan frowned and then looked at him for a couple more moments then simply nodded.
"I... I... see."
...and then headed off into the ship.
"Apple? Apple!"
He walked in and looked around the corridors, the ship wasn't too big so it didn't take him long to find Apple, well and everyone else in the room.
He looked at the tall hooded lady, the second one already, and the half naked spider... human... thing?
He paused for a moment, it wasn't exactly the first time he met an odd species but it was an experience every time.
He shook his head and sighed.
More importantly... This place had gotten a lot more crowded than he anticipated.
"Apple, would you come out for a moment, there's... uh..."
He looked at the hooded figure and three:
"...another person that we may have to take along."
"Let's head into the ship."
Enra follows behind Sylvan and looks onto the 4 standing there
"Hey apple, uhh..."
She looks over at Teciro and then back to Apple with a slight sight
"We've got another one. It's sure gonna be crowded in here haha."
Walking over she looks at three
"So this one coming too?"
Hearing their name once more being shouted from outside the ship, Apple looks upon Aurshlae and Three.
“Now, you two wait on here now…I will be right back.”
Apple moves through the claustrophobic space, towards the entry ramp to the ship, and to the noise and commotion of the outside space station.
“Who is shouting me? I am here.”
As Apple looks down from the ramp, they spot the familiar sight of Sylvan.
"Ah Sylvan it is you…oh and you Enra…and…guests? Guys, I think we need to have a sit down and a little conversation. I got two more folks on board. One of them gives me some real interesting vibes now, the other…well I am sure it is literally a child in a box. I am not entirely sure we have the space…although the child did say they can fit in vents and small spaces, so I guess that is less of a problem…” their words mumble off as they start to contemplate the validity of the idea.
Sylvan had already been on his proverbial toes seeing how many people had arrived since he left but at the words 'we need to sit down and have a little conversation' he winced internally.
Now he had surely done it, there would be not enough space on the ship and he would be stuck on another backwater station in the middle of nowhere for months.
He sighed. Wouldn't be the first time.
"Alright, uh...", he turned around and waved Kael over into the ship.
"That's Kael, she paid the bedding and... well, doesn't talk much, issues with the throat."
With these words he followed Apple.
"This one can be put anywhere that is breathable." The small woman replied. Standing barely at chest height to most. She paused for a long moment, her hearing was quite excellent evidently. "Though if this one is a bother this one can leave. I have waited two decades in your time, more time is... regrettable, but I can endure." The hooded woman said. A small faint smile curling up on her lips.
Kael gave a small pause at Apple. Not sure how to feel about an AI, but regardless after a moment she gave a small bowel. One of her four fingered hands pressing to her chest to not reveal herself under the loose robes. She rose and struggled to speak. Voice hoarse, and rough. "I.... Am.... Honored...... May I...." The woman gave a loud cough not able to finish the thought. Holding her throat gently she spoke again. "WIll.... Heal.... In... Few... Weeks...."
"Alrighty.."
She pointed over to Teciro
"This guy's another Musav' like me. Been months since ive seen one of my own, and he claims to be the Security captian of DeWalte. wont tell me why they sent him out here, but we bumped into eachother and i thought i'd bring him along, if that's fine with you, as the owner of the ship"
She said all this with a slight, semi-faked smile as she awaits apple's answer
“Hey Sylvan, I know that look.” Apple states, reading the reservation in Sylvan’s face. “You are going no where…no one is getting left behind here on this station. I just…I need a second to compute where we are going to get the space.”
They pause, as the internal workings of their memory think through the varying situations where the Wandering Star could support so many people. Each situation seemed so untenable. Finally, a revelation thrust itself to the forefront of Apple’s mind.
“Well now…I have an idea.” Apple rushed into the ship, and started clattering around in the back storage compartment. Seconds later, they emerged once more into the Space Station light, a collection of green fabric and metal stands in his arms.
“I guess if I…ditch my greenscreen…well then we have an extra compartment to the ship” they said with a reservation. “It’ll knock the production value of the videos for a while…I’ll have to rethink how I shoot my intros…but I guess a whole crew of guests would be interesting to the subscribers. Do y’all mind being in the vlogs? I’d quite like your consent.”
Sylvan sighed and was visibly relieved he wouldn't be left behind.
"...thanks. Well, I don't mind being on screen, don't know about the others though."
He seemed to be thinking a couple moments looking at the room they were in.
"So, I could sleep in the cargo hold, if it's heated that is, wouldn't be the first time."
"If I must sleep in a bed with three others...." A loud cough, and pause as the woman caught her breath. Finishing with a simple. "Then I will." She moved forward only when Slyvan would. Staying next to the companion that had brought her here. She was quite comfortable with the rest of them yet, her two hidden arms under her cloak crossing over her chest, and rubbing against her skin nervously. She was out of her comfort zone, but she would do as the weave guided. She need to help people, and as far as the tug went she should be with this group of people.
The Nocamal woman slowly walked down the cramped quarters surprised that the robot was a... vlogger? She slowly said, but genuinely. "This one thinks you should not have to move your own stuff around. I can sleep in the hall if necessary, or as the strange one says, if this one must share a space with another I do not mind.... This is your ship, not mine." She moved to look over the equipment her double iris' looking it over intently, but the woman grew a small smile on her face. Prador taught that AI were false creations of man, unnatural. But she? She quite liked this strange robot.
Three was sitting on top of their box simply listening in to the current conversation about where everyone is going to sleep. They looked at the ceiling and then back at their own arms out of which the spider web was coming from.
“Oh! I can hang myself from the ceiling! I did that before, just making a little hammock with my webs. It’s out of the way and I can catch insects which happen by.”
Three stood up and looked at apple as he moved the greenscreen.
“Video’s? Yeah! That sounds exciting!”
Three was excited about anything to be honest. Having spend their life so far in a lab and a box this whole scenario although chaotic was very appealing to them.
"That could work.. I'll sleep wherever so long as it isnt cold."
She thinks for a moment about the vlogs, cocking her head a bit.
"And about being on screen. Sure, i'd probably be fine with it."
"I guess we can figure out sleeping arrangements once we're on the move so we dont accidentally pick more people up haha" she says half jokingly
Kael paused at the influx of words. She took a moment looking over each one. Slyvan seemed trustworthy, the only normal one. Aurshlae seemed pragmatic, and cute. Three was utterly odd, and she had not formed anything on the other two. She spoke again her rasping voice croaking out. "I agree.... If the bark coloured... One is okay with it we can keep each other warm... I am not picky.... As she is... Where to sleep... Keep your things.... In place... Have slept..." The woman was losing breath finishing the sentence. Pained to go on such a long sentence. "In worse... Places... If she is willing... I.. Ugh... I am willing to share a space..." She stopped in a fit of coughs. This time hunching over a bit blood coating her hand when she moved it away.
Ever since Teciro's arrival, he had found himself a small box to sit on or perhaps a chair, and was selectively unloading his equipment to check if it was all still functioning.
"Video?" He says, caught a bit by surprise with the question. It wouldn't be wise to appear in videos if he was to keep his security job, however, the likeliness of him keeping his job at all was very slim, with this whole ordeal happening with him. He'd more than likely be sent to an asylum, or whatever hellish place the CES could conjure for non-functional people.
"Sure. But I'll wear my helmet to not show my identity." The trick might work. It wouldn't if they were really looking for him, after all, body type and the likes would likely give away his location after thorough checks by the immensely complex neural networks that the megacorporation employs on the daily. But this might make him pass under the radar.
“No no, no one need go anywhere. We can make it work here on the Wandering Star, and heck, the company will be more than welcome! I will let y’all know when I’m planning on filming so you can…wear your helmets and such.” Apple tried to reassure his new crew mates.
They processed their situation. This collection of strange individuals that had seemingly been thrown together were not what Apple had thought a usual crew of a space craft would look like, but then they couldn’t think of anything better. They gave their best impression of a smile to the rest of the group, their metallic face creasing up in strange folds.
“Listen up crew mates!” they announced to the group. “Welcome aboard the Wandering Star. Now y’all are all very welcome. The kitchenette is back there, help yourselves to foods and preserves and whatever else you organics need for nourishment, just try not to over indulge. I do not know when we will next be able to buy supplies. Now if any of you have any skills in space flight, I would certainly like your help in keeping this thing ship shape…that ok? FINALLY…where the heck are we setting a course to?”
Sylvan looked at Kael in bewilderment for a couple of moments, seeing the coughing and the blood, a theme which had been going on since they first met, even though he didn't notice initially.
He shook his head.
"You know... you could just use a holopad with a speech function or something like that, right?"
He sighed.
"Here, I'll..."
He took his bag off and began rummaging through it. From what little glance the group could catch it mostly contained weird trinkets and a couple of things one would commonly use when regularly travelling. Eventually he pulled out a holopad, after a couple of flicks from his fingers he handed it to Kael, the display prompting her for input.
"There."
Upon Apples question Sylvan raised his eyebrows.
"Well, I was headed to Lost star before the rustbucket gave in on me, I'm in no hurry though, so... probably let's hear what the others say first. That aside, I can do basic repairs and I'm not too bad with starmaps and navigation."
"Keep each other warm....?" She paused for a long moment, her tongue rolling in the phrase like nostalgia was hitting her. "Like in the rolling hills of Northern Gradon, or the ruins of Axis.... Yes this one has no issues with this." Arushlae paused again before looking over to their mechanical captain. "This one is but a humble tinkerer, and engineer. I can fix your vessel, you if you let me inside, or anything you point me towards.... I can also cook." She added slowly, grasping both her hands on her metal 'walking stick.' Slowly leaning against one of the walls.
Kael raised an eyebrow at Sylvan wordlessly gesturing to her very limited one piece rough robe as her only garment. A wordless 'Do I look like I have a holopad with a tattered weathered robe as my only clothing.' Her gesture softening as pulled out a datapad. She only nodded to the small pointed eared woman. After a quick look over the holopad, she typed in a sentence, and the holopad spoke for her. "I am a pilot, priest, and warrior. I can fulfill most roles amongst this vessel, just tell me what I need to do."
The woman paused at the device never having used one before. Her two hidden arms under her robe rubbing against each other nervously. This group was very... Interesting, and she wasn't too sure about it.
Enra breathes in, thinking onto the situation a bit more, looking onto the group of 7 with a sigh.
This was going to be a wild ride.
With Apple's question, she thought onto what Sylvan had said. Lost star.. the name is familiar. Pondering on it for merely a moment or two she then remembers the triple ringworld, unofficial capital of the galaxy. She had always dreamed of visiting it, but never thought she would be able to.
"I think sylvan has the right idea. Lost star is somewhere ive always wanted to visit, and i had no real destination before now, so, im fine with going there."
“Lost star? Why is the star lost?” Three looked puzzled when the name was mentioned. “Did it forget to bring a map? If it’s lost then how would we know where it is?” It was an innocent kind of stupidity. Simply from lack of knowledge rather then an issue of intelligence.
As apple asked everyone what their skills were Three thought long and hard. They were unsure of their abilities but they do remember some important bits told to them. “Oh! The spooky lady kept telling me that I was made for great carnage or something. I don’t know what she meant by that, she was very weird, kept feeding me live animals constantly.”
Teciro, though a professional by craft, could not help but show a bit of question through his stare at Sylvan. Lost Star? He could be involved in something shady if he was headed there, at least that's what his debrief in certain high-value locations of the galaxy told him once. Still, his mind shivered for a moment, a reminder of his mortality and those who pursued him.
It was a bizarre collective action. His mind wanted to avoid this thought in the back of itself, a dark broth which seeped upon the cracks of the brain, a worm the, feeding on every small sliver of attention, dug itself a little bit deeper down into the nape of the lizard. He had to run from this unspeakable shadow that loomed over him, and this very unnatural thought had him to stay quiet about the situation.
"Lost Star... Sounds fine to me. I can't disclose where I'm headed, but that place ought to give us a little bit of everything possible."
Sylvan silently took a step away from Three at the mention of 'made for great carnage' and eyed...him, her... it...warily.
"I... I see."
Listening to the others and after a short pause he looked at Apple.
"So, what's your verdict, what do you say?"
As it looked currently it would be likely they would actually head to Lost Star, they would just have to keep Apples viewers entertained on the way, which shouldn't be too hard.
That would also mean he would finally be able to make his delivery, maybe he'd pay the Eysra district a visit to look for some information as well.
"Well, I guess this 'Lost Star' is our destination. Right?" Apple announced to the group. They seemed to have come to some form of consensus, and it was a plan at least. Apple ruminated on what was to come. The ship seemed as ready as it would ever be, albeit cosy and cramped for his new ship mates. They had fuel (although they had were shocked at the price of fuel these days!), and supplies. Everything seemed ready.
"Ok folks...all aboard. Let us go on a magical adventure....does anyone know the way to this Lost Star?"
—
…and so the ‘Wandering Star’ made its way out of port, towards a new destination, filled to the brim with a collection of rather odd individuals, each with their own past and plans.
As the engines burnt, slowly the station disappeared from the sensor range and as it vanished when they jumped to ftl, a couple of the new crew members silently sighed in relief at the premise that they would no longer be stuck in the middle of nowhere… for now.
Fortunately for them, with Sylvan as their navigator and Apple as their pilot, they did indeed find the way towards ‘Lost Star’ rather easily and soon enough, not counting interruptions from ‘Three’ asking about what various appliances on the ship were doing, they were on the correct course. Now, theoretically, all that was left was waiting.
However, as things were, with Apple being a streamer and the ship being a rather tight fit for the oversized crew, people were bound to run into each other eventually, if not constantly and as Lost Star was quite the way away from the Forlorn Spiral, Sylvan made a proposition…
---
Deep Space; Aboard the ‘Wandering Star’
Sylvan had spread out his bedding in the cargo bay just fine, (with a decent security distance to ‘Three’ that was,) with the few possessions he had hidden somewhere under the sheets. Not exactly an excellent hiding place but at least it was likely he would know when someone messed with it, they probably wouldn't just run away anyways, given they were, well... in space.
So far, he had done routine maintenance with Kael and Aurshlae, was correcting the course when Apple was busy and was checking sensor data and systems…
Aside from that, there wasn’t much to do.
There was likely even less for some of the others. ‘Three’ had been wandering around the ship like it was some foreign wonderland and was constantly asking questions. Kael and Aurshlae had likely been meditating most of the time in their chamber, judging by their looks and Teciro and Enra had probably been talking about memories from home or something alike, he wasn’t quite sure about half of it, he didn’t see them too often even though the ship was so small.
It had always been his least favourite part of space travel, the endless waiting.
However, as he observed Apple in the cockpit once more, an idea began to form in his head, to stave off the endless boredom and get people out of their shells and cabins, even if just a little.
---
He gathered the crew in the room with the most space and began to lay out his idea.
“So, as we are all aware, this is Apples ship we are on.” He chuckled.
“Obviously.”, he rolled his eyes.
“...and I would argue, many if not all of us do owe him…” He scratched his head somewhat awkwardly… “...some more than others, for getting us off that station.”
He paused for a moment for effect.
“So, what I was thinking about, to get the crew together a little and pay Apple back some of his generosity, what we could do is having a bit of an introduction round on one of his streams or vlogs, maybe tell a bit about how we got here…”
His eyes shifted to Teciro and he raised an eyebrow.
“...if we want to, that is. Just to entertain his viewers for a bit and maybe get to know each other a little, can’t be sitting in our cabins the entire way, now can we?”
He finished and waited.
“So, what do you all think?”
Kael raised her hairless brow at Slyvan. Sitting fairly close to the pointed eared woman she had been bunking with. The only among the crew who really knew she was a four armed creature, and a psionic at that. Her two lower arms under her simple garb as they had been since she had joined. She slowly mused at the idea in her head, before finally speaking. The woman's voice was softer than when she first joined less raspy, and coarse though a hint of that still remained in her throat. Without the healers of the Order it was unlikely that would ever change.
"I have nothing to hide, I do not see why not, though my story is not that interesting I must say."
Enra, leaning against a nearby wall with her legs crossed over one another, flicked her tail slightly and looked over, slightly smiling with a quiet scoff as she thought on the idea. do an introduction? sounds... interesting. After a few seconds she spoke.
"sure, why not. been quite some time since ive talked about myself like that."
she leaned forward off the wall and righted her legs, walking over to where sylvan stands.
"well, what are we waiting for?"
Aurshlae held her only real possession besides her clothing. Her staff between her legs, leaning back next to her four armed companions. The similar backgrounds made them fairly close in the last week or so. Her eyes flicked down the womans garb, then back up to Sylvan.
"This one is just a little concerned, my background may bring controversy." She mused, but shrugged. "I am willing to do so though, if you are willing to take such a risk."
Three was hanging from the ceiling, using their spiderweb to swing around playfully like a chandelier in the wind. They were still wearing their white and green jumpsuit with no sleeves for their legs and arms. The webbing was around their legs and three used her arms to give themselves some swing.
“That sounds fun! Oh! Maybe my friends in young metro will see the video and will know that I am doing okay!”
The journey had been relatively pleasant for Apple, despite what they had assumed would be a very cramped condition for their new crew mates. Apple had undertaken the majority of the flying, leaving some FTL travel to the ships on board navigations system, whilst they stayed in statis, or chatted with their new colleagues. Apple thought long about this collection of rogue individuals they had been placed with, and the strange bond of kinship they now felt to these apparent strangers.
‘I must remedy this…’ they thought, as they heard the group chatting to one another behind them deeper in the ship. Apple touched the control panels, setting the Wandering Star on auto-pilot, and got up, leaving the pilot seat behind.
“Hey Y’all!” Apple bellowed to the cabin…”Hey, I’ve been thinking, well…we hardly know one another and…why…it might be fun to do one of those there team building exercises…wait…I am sorry I interrupted your flowing conversation. What were y’all discussing?”
It had been a long minute since they had left the station, and in the time, Teciro calmed down and collected himself, putting away his equipment into a box he found that could be locked, and spending time with the other Musavian.
Hearing the congregation, he stretched to alleviate the claustrophobic nature of the ship, and moved into the room with the others.
"Introductions? Yeah, I think it's only fair. I half expected to have been pulled into a vlog already. Plus, the trip will be a while, and boredom can easily turn a man insane."
Sylvan had listened to everyone's points, it seems, although there were some concerns, the general consensus seemed to be in favour of the idea, even Teciro who he had actually expected to decline. At Aurshlaes point he frowned regardless.
“Well, don’t need to tell everything if you don’t think it’s right I guess and uh… yeah, Three, maybe your metro people will see it… maybe not.”
'...and maybe it would be better that way.', he thought to himself.
Conveniently Apple came into the room at just about the right time, before anyone could go into details or make objections.
“Well, funny you’re bringing that up actually…”, Sylvan noted in return to Apples idea.
He looked into the round of people which had gathered in the room.
“You see, we were just talking about making a sort of introduction round for your viewers.”, he left out the part where he was the one who suggested it to everyone else.
He paused for a moment, apparently remembering something.
“Well and everyone else here in the room as well, I guess. Probably wouldn’t be too bad to know each other, considering we’ll be sitting on this ship together for a while.”
They were a funny bunch, this collection of individuals, Apple thought. How lovely that they would be so willing to “help” in Apple’s videos. Apple registered this as kindness.
“Well, that is mighty fine of y’all, truly. I can imagine that some of you ain’t 100% on the whole “video journal” thing, which is fine…I don’t right want to subject you to a camera in your face if you don’t feel comfortable. I figured if we all get in a circle now, go around and find out some stuff about each other, it might help us discover our needs.”
Apple ushered the group to form a circle, using their fingers to draw a circle in the air whilst they did so.
“Right now…” Apple began. “Where I am from, we do this little exercise with the freshly batched Akali Bandi (that’s the life form I am by the way) to find out what personality they are adopting at young ages. All we do firstly is go around the circle in the first round, say who we are, where we are from, and our favourite thing. So, let me begin:
I am AP-23. That is short for Apple Pie 23. I am the 23rd Akali Bandi to choose that name for themselves. heh guess it is a popular one.
I am from a small town within the Socialist Republics of Imaginarium called Guvsk. Straight out of birthing site 19. That’s what we call the assembly units that well…birth us.
My favourite thing…hmm well I just love travelling…”
Apple looked towards the group, waiting for someone to pick up the mantle.
Sylvan watched and listed to their android host, he hadn't heard of the Imaginarium so far, though he had admittedly been stuck in the Forlorn Spiral for a couple months. News travelled slowly in that Area.
Seeing as nobody else picked up from there he made the next step himself, maybe the others would follow suit.
"I am Sylvan Rayelle and... well, I don't know what species I'm from. I have spent most of my life on space stations and space ships and grew up that way."
'Well, guess that is out now.', he thought to himself when mentioning he didn't know what he was.
"I, too, enjoy travelling quite a lot and tend to look for fancy places I haven't been at yet."
He looked around for the others reactions, waiting for the next one to speak up.
Three swung from side to side as they listened in, once Sylvan was done with his introduction they decided to keep up the momentum and speak themselves. Three had a soft smile on their face almost the entire time. They didn’t know anything about the galaxy so the names of nations where inconsequential to them.
“I am… well I am subject Three! I come from the consulate of Astril and was born in a lab. Don’t where the lab was exactly I never got a real explanation… Huh… well I am not sure exactly what I like yet, didn’t do much for most of my life. Oh! I like hunting! Little bugs or cute pigs or cats and weaving my webs of course!”
Three swung a few time before shooting out web out of their arms and onto the ceiling. They began weaving a little hammock.
Enra listens in to all the introduction, popping in on her turn with a slight smile as she prepares to keep the pace of introductions going.
"Hey, Name's Enra, I was born in the CES and raised there for a while before my family moved out a very long time ago, i think when i was... five or six? Not sure. I dont remember much of it, but i was raised on a station and since then have left there adventuring around the galaxy; so far ive not left much farther past the forlorn, Tuvian, and Avarian regions of the galaxy. Favorite thing is definitely travelling and seeing new things."
Teciro's ear perks up at the mention of Imaginarium, continuing interjutting, he says:
"Imaginarium? The CES has an operation going on there, something about a kind of R&D mixed with fabrication. I looked into potentially running security there until, well, a few things happened.
Me and Enra here come from the same place, in the end. Well, not exactly, you see, the CES is a megacorporation, the place once had countries and all that but, well, that illusion's been shattered before I was even born.
I'm here on...."
Teciro stopped for a moment to let the thoughts seep through his mind. What was he here for with this odd group of people?
"Vacation. Yeah. I generally run security, can't say much more cus, y'know, NDAs. " He gestures broadly, as if this bureaucratic process that latches onto his normal life is mundane to others too. "Oh yeah, and I like to just dedicate myself to something fulfilling. I guess travelling will have to do, since I'm off work for now, heh."
Kael paused for a long moment. Glancing to her companion for a moment. Taking a long moment of 'who will talk first' before finally sighing and speaking up. "I am Kael, Knight Weaver of the Order of the Weave. It was... is my mission to help out those that need it, and serve the weaves will for us all.... It is what led me to the wandering paths, and to stumble upon you." She gestured towards Slyvan. Pausing for a long moment then speaking again.. "My kind, and the Order they belong to have only recently arrived in Ancerious. Fleeing. You all seem.... humanoid, save for Apple Pie, so perhaps..." She paused again pressing one of her four digit hands to her lips before speaking again. "I am a Kaal'Tae, we are the most psionically inclined of the order if you don't include our progenitors Don't be alarmed by the extra appendages, I am not trying to hide them just... My clothing is limited."
To emphasize she pushed her lower two arms against the robes, and nervously with one of her two upper arms pulled a small piece of spare parts further from the cargo bay. Starting to float it in her hand as some sort of calming fidgit.
"Favorite thing? I do quite like helping, but besides that? Flying... It has a sense of freedom like nothing else. In fact this is my trial so I may become part of Sverlinn, and bond with a Voshrae... Though so far it has not gone... to plan."
The Nocamal woman gave a long sigh, and began herself. She did not stand up though, but her gaze turned to the staff she had held fairly close for the journey so far. "This one hail sfrom the Kingdom of Prador, and the marks on my face, and body declare me as a crimson exile.... This one was once known as General Andoran left hand of the Queen in Red, her majesty Seraphiel... This one is a Nocamal we number fewer than even Uri'el's chosen warriors... Most of my kind tend to Etro, and the trees that keep Pradoria alive..."
The woman paused her face pained. Still not aware that her exiled Queen had taken the throne in last year. Memories of the end of the first civil war coming to her head. "This one grew up in a nation of Knights, magic, and honour unlike the wastes I travel now. I studied under the Dart Staff..." She paused, and finally looked back up.
"This one enjoys precious little. Perhaps verdant views to remind me of home? Anything I can learn of my kin is also much enjoyed...." She gave a small shrug, and a small look around the room "I suppose this one is just glad to have friends, however... strange some of you are." Her face slowly cocked into a smile. Her tone cheering up. "A creation of metal, who took us in. A wayward traveler with no memory of himself, a former mercenary, a bio-engineered... spider?... Lastly a adventurer." She smiled warmly, and though her solid eyes couldn't show it to the rest of him she rolled them, and gave one final sentence. "What a merry band of losers we all are."
Sylvan raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement at the mention of Prador then frowned as they called their group a 'merry band of losers', that was almost a bit harsh.
"Prador, eh? That's quite the way from here, haven't been there myself yet, although I've obviously heard stories. On the other hand, I heard neither of the order nor of the CES, or the imaginarium for that matter, though I admittedly haven't been around much as of late, so I might've missed things."
He did not mention he had actually heard of Astril as well, given their reputation was... rather questionable, although it was certainly an interesting place.
Most of the group seemed to share a passion for travel or new things though, to some degree, which was reassuring at least. He turned back to Apple.
"So, what do you say? Seems there is a bunch of people with us new to the wider galaxy."
“Well hell…” said Apple, having listened intently to the stories of the group. “We have ourselves a real collection of individuals here, don’t we?”
Apple looked on the group, they agreed with Sylvan, it did seem that everyone was fresh and new to the galaxy, and had an open curiosity that Apple found endearing. “Merry band of losers” certainly could be deemed as offensive, but Apple felt it fit their ragtag group no better than anything else they could come up with. They attempted their best smile, before running through the backstories of everyone once more. Something bothered them about Three’s story.
“Hey…Three. You say you’re…uh…from a lab…and we kinda found you accidentally in a box right? Are you like some escapee? Are there going to be people looking for you?”
Three was lying down in their hammock which they had made with their web and stuck to the ceiling. The pattern of the web was quite intricate and seemed incredibly sturdy, three didn’t have much to do in that box except weave her web constantly. Three was not bothered by the losers insult since their seemingly endless positive mindset was not easily cracked. They actually found it a little funny and a little chuckle escaped them. As apple looked at them Three spun the hammock around so they were upside down and looking back.
“I don’t know? The people who got me free said something about fuel being so pricey that it would not be worth it. I mean, they made one of me so why couldn’t that spooky lady make another one of me? Seems less tiresome then trying to chase me. I am sure it’s going to be fine! If it does concern you I can just change my appearance some day. Guess I will have to stay out of your vlogs until that point then.”
Three was a little sad at the prospect of not participating in Apple’s shenanigans.
Apple listened intently and couldn’t help but register the disappointment across Three’s face.
“Oh me oh my. No No! If you wish to be a part, I would gladly accept! I just didn’t want to cause you any trouble is all.”
Hoping that Three was relieved, Apple looked back over the group.
“Well, you really are interesting. I have SO many questions for y’all, but hey we’ve got all the time in the world to chat haven’t we? Speaking of…my calculations are correct, we should be coming up on our target in the next 20 minutes or so. Anything y’all need to do before we get there?”
Enra had returned to her spot off to the side, listening to everything.
" 'merry band of losers', eh? Cant argue with that"
She cracks a slight smile and chuckles softly.
"Twenty minutes to lost star?" She says questioningly, stepping a bit closer to apple and the group as a whole. "We'd best get stuff ready, then. I'll make sure ive got all my stuff together."
She waves slightly and heads off to the other room where she rummages through her luggage, checking to make sure everything is there.
Kael paused for a moment looking over to the Nocamal woman, and gave a small sigh at her. They had simlair backgrounds, and quite frankly it was nice to have someone to lean on. Even if the order may disapprove. She gently turned back to the rest of the group, tugging at her robe to make emphasize. "I could probably use some clothing. What exactly is in store for this, Lost Star? I've never been." She had about 10 credits worth of any sort of money, so frankly not like she was going to be shopping too much. But some new clothes that weren't so airy would be nice.
"Twenty minutes?!"
Sylvan wondered, quite obviously baffled by the ships apparent speed.
'What sort of ftl drive does this thing have?'
He shook his head in mild disbelief but quickly regained his composure.
"Anyways. Lost Star... is sort of the inofficial capital of the Galaxy, it's a triple ringworld and built in the place of a former pirate hideout, which has now moved to the 'End of the Line', if you're familiar with those."
He eyed her clothes, though more out of concern than... other reasons.
"You should be able to get some clothes on Lost Star, there is so many places and traders there I would be surprised if you didn't. Though... if you are there the first time it may be best to get a guide or stick to the group, since... uh... yeah, crime rates haven't really decreased from when this place was just a pirate riddled asteroid. Better avoid the more nasty places."
He would've walked off now to check for his belongings since they, apparently, would arrive soon but it's not like his bag would go anywhere while he was standing in the room here and people seemed to have questions which he was fine with answering anyways as the more experienced traveller.
"Yeah, twenty minutes? I find it more likely it to be twenty days and your navigation is freaking out. Either that, or your vessel outpaces anything that even the .38 special has, heh."
Teciro gets up and stretches out a bit, however much the confined space will allow him, and quickly dwelves back into the other parts of the ship to find a place to get some shuteye. At the same time he wished he'd turn back, he was content to have run away from that unsurmountable feeling.
Arushlae paused for a moment glancing over the group, then lingering on her four armed companion. "This one will find work in Lost Star, this one has been once before... This one needs no preperation, as long as my staff is in my possession I will be fine." She turned, and headed into Kael, and hers quarters. Taking a seat on the bed, or what passed for one. She also wanted to check the status of Prador while there. Talking of her past made her wonder.
Kael said nothing. The woman slowly standing, one arm pressed against the chest of her robe as she did so. She glanced at Arushlae as she left, then looked over Three for a moment. Not saying anything however she turned, and headed into the private quarters. Closing the door, and pulling her robe over her head. Letting all four arms stretch out she moved around Arushlae and layed down. Opting to sleep unless woken up.
Three glanced back at Kael for a second before returning to expanding their ceiling hammock.
“Twenty days, well at least I don’t have to spend those days in the box. That would get boring quickly.”
After seeing people beginning to leave three tore the webbing from the ceiling, letting themselves and the remains of the hammock fall down. They landed a little roughly but were unharmed. The webbing was torn to pieces and three took some time to grab it all together before standing back up. Then three just stood there, looking around confused. They thought they heard something.
Sylvan watched the others leave, that was... a rather short introduction round.
If they were to travel together longer in this confined space they still had ways to go, otherwise they may have some quite unpleasant run-ins on the ship.
Nonetheless, it was a good start at least.
He headed to the cockpit of the ship to check on the 'twenty minutes' Apple mentioned and whether they were still on course. Whilst doing so he turned half towards Apple who was still in the other room.
"So, what do you think Apple? Well and what are you going to do on Lost Star, while we're on that topic?"
As he half turned he saw Three out of the corner of his eye, apparently intently listening to... something?
"What is it, Three, something wrong?"
“I thought I heard someone call out to me.”
Three shook their head and then shrugged
“Probably just misheard something…. Why did everyone leave already by the way? I thought we were just getting started?”
They went and sat upon one of the empty chairs. Three did not wish to return to their room alone and do… nothing. They were quite excited about the prospect of meeting everyone more closely. They leaned their head to see Apple and hear his response to Sylvan.
Arushlae eyed Kael as she entered. Raising a brow, and then growing a small faint smile. She didn't lay down with the four armed woman, staying sitting on the bed. She was looking over the datapad Kael was given reading. But after a long moment setting it down, and pulling her own tunic over her head to lay down. Getting some sleep with Kael before they got to Lost Star. Arushlae was not looking forward to Lost Star, having had one too many bad experiences from the place.
“Wait…I think I may have got something confused up in my neural processor. Two moments…”
Apples disappeared off following Sylvan, back to the cockpit of the vessel, checking over the charts of the course laid in once more. They kicked themselves and tutted before verbally exclaiming “Oh what a silly goose you are now Apple.”
Hearing Sylvan’s question, Apple whilst they tapped once more on the course, spoke.
“Well, forgive my misunderstanding, I think my course projections were all wrong here, and I was simply going to “A Lost Star”, not THE “Lost Star”. I have a chart over here of Stars systems no mapped, and…hey I must have got confused because, truth be told I don’t know anything about THE “Lost Star”. So, in answer to your query, I have not got the foggiest what I will do. If any of you are…how you say…experienced with the place…well I would be obliged to follow…”
Apple pointed to the amended course. “Does that there look more like the time scale we expect?”
Sylvan looked at what Apple had pointed out and what he had already expected.
"Ah, yeah I knew something was off but I guess that makes sense, don't worry about it."
He began to check the new coordinates and then nodded.
"Yeah, that looks more like what we were looking for, should be about..."
He began putting the new coordinates into navigation and searched for the corresponding values.
"Should be about... ten more days? Maybe fourteen if you want to preserve fuel and all. Up to you really."
Then he began to address Three. He didn't know too much about Astril, just a bunch of rumours as he had never been himself. Did he hear something about psionics? he couldn't recall.
"Someone calling out for you?"
He turned towards Apple with a questioning look then back to Three.
"Say, your... 'people' haven't mentioned anything about 'psionics' have they?"
Apple’s shenanigans made Three chuckle, they looked genuinely happy towards even the most trivial of things. Then Three looked Sylvan directly into his eyes as he asked them his question. Their bright glow green eyes almost piercing. They looked confused and puzzled for a while before slowly pulling up memories.
“Uuuuh…. It sounded like that. Nothing else though.”
At the mentioning of psionics Sylan saw Three staring dumbfounded at him before snapping out of it.
“No no, never heard of of psi…fsi…psiun… the thing. Never heard of the thing!”
Inside the room Enra and Teciro had been staying in, enra has her stuff gathered up as she checks over it, making sure its all there. Bored, she turns to Teciro.
"Hey, so whats been going on in the ol' CES as of late? Havent been there in so long i dont even know whats been happening"
She zips up her bag and sits down on the edge of the bedding, and awaits a response, curious as to the state of her birthplace.
Though the initial plan was to get some rest, it seems that the recent events forbid the awakening lizard from peace. He lay down on whatever thin mattress of some kind of synthetic weave there was, with his equipment close by, though eyes open and staring above into the strutted ceiling of the spaceship, watching a few loose wires from behind a panel dance around with the periodic jerks of the travel.
The disturbance of this momentary distraction was much appreciated. He broke a look towards Enra, and his eyes turned pensive for a moment, before finally producing a reply.
"Not much."
No, that was too dry, she definitely would want more information.
"Well actually, the corpos grew a lot. Contact with the exterior and all. Some of that may have been partially due to things I've done... Buuuuuut I'll leave that up in the air for you to wonder about.
I'm sorry... sometimes you grow so absorbed into your work that you don't notice what happens outside of it. Oh, I can surely say that nothing bad's happened!"
Enra smiles slightly and exhales slightly, looking up at the ceiling
"I get it, haha. I cant say i miss the place, but someday i wanna go back to where i was born and see what it looks like today, yknow?"
She brings her legs up to sit criss-cross on the bedding, trying to get a bit more comfortable as she sits around, her hand reaching up and rubbing the back of her head.
"I wonder whats going on with the galaxy right now.. Its been quite a long time since ive seen any semblance of news, not since i left that one station a couple months back."
"Well..."
He takes a moment thinking about the last news that he heard about the galaxy at large, it had been a while since he had to bother about such large scale stuff.
"Oh, yeah. Huge ancerium crisis. That was the last thing I really was aware of before coming over here. I don't think it should be a problem for us though."
His eyes danced around looking for anything else that jumped to mind, but he was a small island of men isolated from news inside this relativistic tin box.
"Ahhh, ancerium crisis... Heres hoping we can afford the stuff."
She ponders a bit, thinking on what to say next
"Ugh, im bored. You got any idea of what to do? If not, im sleeping."
Teciro darted a look at her for a few seconds, before looking back onto the ceiling.
Once again the little wires jeered at the soft shaking of the vessel.
"No idea. I'll try to rest too."
With that, he huddled his stuff, and curled up against the corner. Obviously not trusting others to not steal his things, but also trusting them enough to sleep. Seems like the journey ahead will be long.
"Same.. night, i guess."
She crawls into her bedding and huddles into a little ball, resting for the long journey...
Apple looked back at Sylvan, as Three peered at them in a bright green hue. It was like nothing Apple had ever seen, and by far one of the oddest things they could have imagined. This strange child. Apple felt so sorry for them and their “condition”. It was clear to them that something had befallen this small individual, and that three had been treated in a way Apple considered “most inhumane”. For starters, the name “three”, felt peculiar and impersonal, something Apple did not associate with living beings. Then there was ‘everything else’ about this person.
Apple tried to give three their best smile, or at least something resembling a smile.
“Say…umm…Three. Your eyes went all a bit glowy there…is that another thing that you…do?”
Three looked up to Apple. While their eyes did glow it was not anything extreme. It was more comparable to a dim bedside nightlight then anything which might light up the world around it. They didn’t seem very perturbed by anything that has happened. This was mostly since Three lacked any context. Their life had always been one of being in a lab and experimented with so they just assumed that normal.
As apple smiled Three responded back with a smile of their own. Theirs was genuine.
“Oh! Yeah yeah! When things get dark and scary I can still see a bit! Very handy, it’s how I was able to read my magazines while stuck in the box.”
"I... I see..." Sylvan half answered, still somewhat bewildered. He was used to all sorts of odd people but even for him it was the first time travelling with someone who said of themselves to be some sort of weapon and at same time being genuinely believable to be so.
However, in the end there seemed to be no threat coming from Three, so he shrugged it off, after shaking his head.
"Well, back to work I guess."
---
...and so it came that the now not-so-strangers-anymore got to know each other just a little bit better, although it didn't quite work out as initially intended, it was a step in the right direction, at least in Sylvans books.
As the travel now, with the corrected course, would likely take a while longer still, there was plenty of time left, to learn more about each other, as the stars passed at superluminous speeds across the endless voids of the galaxy.
Alas, a different sort of 'issue' was soon at hand, one which many of the crew sought to bring their input to, as to how to solve it...
---
Sylvan stared at the coffee machine with a tired look, it was morning... probably... possibly? He wasn't sure, he knew he had slept and was awake now at the very least, he always was a bit tired when he was away from leylines, oddly enough. That aside, they were still on course, people were going about their usual little schedules, Apple was checking the systems, Enra and Teciro would likely come out of their room soon to get food, Aurshlae and Kael were probably meditating... or something like that.
...and then there was Three.
He turned around, looking at the ceiling where they were hanging upside down, staring at one of the displays that showed the stars passing by.
Sylvan looked at his cup and then Three as a thought slowly became apparent to him.
They... they didn't really have a proper name... did they?
He walked over to the table and sat down, taking a sip from the cup, before looking back up at Three.
"Hey, morning..."
He paused, not sure how to start.
"So, uh... do you have any other name, like anything you've called by other than 'Three'?"
Three was silently looking at the stars flying by. Their attention was very much grabbed by this In it’s entirety. But as Sylvan spoke up to them Three looked back and decided to descend down to eye level. Webbing came from their limbs as they began to lower themselves to Sylvan’s level.
“Hello!”
Three’s tone of voice was one of excitement and enthusiasm again. It was either infectious or obnoxious depending on the type of person they were talking too.
“Nope! Just Three! Number Three officially. Or sometimes Subject 3… maybe occasionally project three.”
Apple had enjoyed the last few days. Getting to know this thrown together group had been a pleasant experience, the company on the Wandering Star proving to be something Apple never knew they needed. They still had not yet decided to introduce them within one of their blogs, deciding that whilst the group had seemed comfortable with the idea, Apple wanted them to feel as comfortable aboard the ship as possible, and knew shoving a camera in their face was not exactly “relaxing”.
As Apple sat, checking over the systems within the cockpit, when they heard a small conversation coming from the back. Getting up and walking the short distance to the kitchen time, they found Sylvan and Three engaged in chats. Apple regarded their conversations, before interjecting.
“So…Morning morning…so are you “happy” being called “Three”? I have found that humanoids don’t usually like the impersonal nature of numbers for names.”
Three twisted around to see apple approach and smiled brightly at him. Then once he stated his question three pondered for a good minute before answering. It was a hard question since they never knew what it was like to have a real name. Nevermind being a normal person. So they just shook their head.
“I don’t know, depends on how many numbers there are. I wouldn’t even know what other name I could have. Are there like rules to names? Is there a name law? If I gave myself a name would that technically mean I am my own parent? Only parents can give names right?”
Sylvan sat down and listened, slowly sipping from his coffee, the mention of names and parents made him think.
Would that mean the old woman in the backwater station would be his mother?
Not like he'd still know or particularly cared where the place is.
He shook his head.
"No, not quite, many people give themselves their own names these days, even if they already have one and no, there isn't really any 'name law', at least none I know of."
He paused for a moment.
"...but, I mean, we could gather some suggestions or go searching for some from Astril."
Three was silent for a moment but then suddenly had a bright spark of inspiration. While still smiling brightly their eyes suddenly had a sparkle which indicated a less artificial happiness. In their excitement three began to swing around on their rope of web. Despite it looking precariously thin the web was strong enough to support the weight of Three, not that there was much weight in the first place.
“Oh oh! OH! I still have those pictures books from my time in the box. Maybe they have a cute name for me to steal? Oh my goodness this is exciting! My very own name! Yippee!”
Three did one final swing before letting go of their web rope and doing a double front flip before landing on their butt with a hard smack. However they stood up on their own two feet right away, not looking hurt or if they are then not showing it.
With a yawn and a stretch enra comes striding out of the room, a tired look on her face as she places her hand on a random coffee mug, pouring the steaming liquid into the cup and drinking a sip, searching around for some food to eat.
"Hey, Sylvan, would you happen to know where any food is..?"
She says as she approaches the trio, coffee in hand. She wonders what is going on, thinking over the journey ahead of them and many many other things swirling around in her still half-asleep mind. Eventually she picks up on the conversation happening between Three, Sylvan, and Apple, and chimes in.
"Hmm, names. Maybe something like Tracie? sounds kinda like the word three, i guess?" She says, tiredly.
"Eh, nevermind."
Sylvan looked at Enra for a couple moments after having watched Three head out of the room to get their picture books and then resorted to pointing towards the cargo area.
"Well uh, suppose we stored most of it in the freezers."
He scratched his chin in contemplation.
"...guess we should've taken some out yesterday?"
He wasn't quite sure what name to suggest.
What gender was Three even? Did that matter? He pulled out his holopad, gently placing his mug on the table and began searching for names and naming schemes in Astril.
She takes another drink of coffee and sighs. She's still hungry but it'll have to wait a while, she guesses.
"I'll go get it out and let it thaw"
She then turns around on her heel, her coffee sloshing in her cup, almost spilling out onto her, and then she walks off out of the room, heading towards the freezer where she begins setting out food to thaw for when the rest of the crew wake up.
"Breathe, feel the galaxy, the life of the crew flow through you. We are all bound by Etro... Breathe, don't think. Rising... Falling."
The Nocamal woman started sitting legs crossed on the floor of the shared quarters with her lover. Going through the motions of meditation for the younger woman, to cope with all that had happened. The Nocamal's orange eyes closing, hands resting on her lap against the tunic she wove herself nearly a century ago, her war staff resting on her lap as well.
She was used to this, surprised she was teaching a monk to meditate, she understood why. Her magic could not heal harm to the mind, as much as she wished she had that power.
Three eventually returned to the mess hall with some of their paper magazines in hand. They had a bit of skip in their step and then proceeded to sit down next to sylvan. The magazines were various and old. When three went into the box they were simply tossed some of these as entertainment and it showed in their less then ideal state. What they put on the table were an outdated genetic modification catalogue, a fashion magazine and one magazine of the adult variety.
“Here ya go! Look at these! Aren’t they fun?”
Three opened the gene mod catalogue to her favourite page. It showed and described a procedure for changing one’s cardiovascular system to augment daily energy and physical performance. The advertisement used a cute cartoon duck as it’s mascot. Three pointed to the duck. The ducks name was Guffy.
“I like this one a lot, he is very cute. Seems like a fun friend to have.”
Three was so excited to talk about this duck. To them it was the most interesting thing they have ever seen and sharing the fact of its existence to their new friends was so fun. They already forgot about the whole naming thing, three just wanted to show the duck.
Slyvan exchanged a somewhat uncertain look with Apple as the first thing which caught his attention was the adult magazine, not the duck, and he wasn't quite sure if three should have that. Then again, he didn't really know much about them or Astril, could just be normal.
Evidently, he didn't know what a duck was either.
He smiled anyways.
"I mean, sure seems like it. Seems like a... fun guy."
From what he could tell it was some sort of fluffy avian, looked nice enough.
"Sooo... Is Guffy a name you'd like to have?"
He asked, as he went through the list of suggestions he got when searching up, as a rather important question with that sort of thing came to his mind...
"Uh, so... Three, what... what gender are you, if I may ask? Girl or a boy?"
Three was not really aware of the implications of the adult magazine. They didn’t have the right mental or bodily faculties to truly understand what they were looking at. While quite saucy the contents were not too explicit.
“Huh? Oh!” It took three a moment to process that Guffy was the name of the duck. After all, they were illiterate. Three just liked looking at the pictures. “That sounds very cute but wouldn’t it be confusing if we both had the same name?”
At the matter of gender Three became quite stumped in their thoughts. It took a while for a response to form.
“I don’t know, people called me both before so… why can’t I be both? That means everybody is correct and happy!
Kael stayed silent. All four of her hands resting on her bare lap, eyes closed. She followed Aurshlae's instructions, quieting her mind. And inadvertently using her psionic abilities on most of the crew. Depending on their willpower, and how guarded they were it was likely not much would come of it. But regardless the four armed woman abrubtly stood not okay with the intrusion of privacy she just did. Quickly moving over to the bed, and grabbing her cloak. Slipping it over her head and moving to the door. "Sorry... I just can't do this right now... Not again, it's too risky." She situated her lower two arms in the robes, and pushed open the door. Walking out, and heading over to the cargo area to see if anyone was inside.
Darkness, he felt himself afloat in a kind of vat of imiscible liquid, floating unto the nothingness. He focused on what he found real, the ends of his fingertips, the ache in the joints, he slowly realised a cold feeling on the side of his face, then the soft cold-wetness around his lips, was he on the floor?
He snapped into awareness and rose up, he found himself in a large trapezoidal corridor, three stories tall. It stretched forever in both directions. He felt an initial confusion, then a sharp chill down his spine: The Gallows.
That is what he had named this strange dreamscape that haunted him. At once, the memories of the looming presence flooded into his mind, he became hyper-aware, and soon felt that such presence had never been stronger than right now. One of the ends of the corridor was darkness, purer and blacker than any night, a darkness manifest of his very mind, masking an incomprehensible form, beyond the grasp of his awakening brain.
It moved towards him, and closed this gap faster and faster. Infinity was stretched down into a moment of hurry, as Teciro bolted the other way, however, it seemed as if he was dragged backwards. He forced his eyes shut in desperation, in vague hopes to control the outcome of this nightmare with his mind. For a moment, he felt lifted upwards softly, then suddenly, a sharp pain in his chest.
He awoke with a gasp in the corner of the room. His eyes darted around, outpacing his mind which spun around in a whirlwind. He grasped his chest and felt a pulsing pain that dissipated quickly. He focused, he was back on the ship now. Though the sleep was short, he felt rested somehow, much more rested than he had been in the previous month.
Apple followed Slyvan’s eyes, staring at the inappropriate nature of the adult magazines that Three presented them with.
“I…umm…well sure. If Guffy is a name you like, it doesn’t matter where you get the inspiration. And Gender, well that is a complex issue, and is why when I was given the choice, I decided to stay clear and just keep it real with a they/them type situation”
Apple smiled at their new friends, kneeling to Three (or Guffy) and placing a reassuring hand on their shoulder.
“Listen, I just want you to feel safe and secure. We, well me and Slyvan here, are curious about you. You give vibes of someone who has been through a lot, and well…you seem chipper enough…you…you…you…you…you…”
Apple’s voice trailed off, as if a record had become stuck, the same phrase repeating. They stood abruptly, throwing themselves to their feet, and standing rigid, staring off into the distance, their eyes turning a sudden purple hue. Ignoring their shipmates, they spoke with a voice that seemed alien. Gone was the jonty melodic twang of Apple, replaced with a hard, metallic, alarming call.
“SYSTEM ERROR. COGNITIVE PROCESSING IN DANGER. ORGANIC TISSUE INCOMPATIBLE.”
As quickly as the switch occurred, Apple returned to normality. Their face resumed the attempted smile, their eyes returned to normal, and their tuneful tone resumed.
“…but just let it be known, we care a lot…” They looked around. Unsure as to how they had returned to their feet. Apple paused. “Hey…umm…do you hear the others waking?”
Enra had been messing around with the food, having gotten it all thawed as she places it to begin cooking. She walks towards the rooms of the others and quietly knocks, if she is let in she lets them know that she is going to be cooking food, and that it should be done in about 10 or so minutes.
She passes through the cargo area, and turns to Kael, quietly saying: "Hey, im heading back to the kitchen to cook up some food. Everyone's in the mess hall if you want to join us for a while."
She then nods to kael as if asking her to follow then passes back into the kitchen, heading towards the pair gathered around three and it's magazines.
She arrives just as apple stiffens up into their stance, and Enra quickens her pace a bit.
"Hey apple, you okay? What happened there?" She says after apple had returned to what seemed like consciousness.
“Guffy…. Guffy…. Ok! You can all call me Guffy until I can think of a better name!”
The more three repeated the name to themselves the more they began to like it. It had a nice ring to it and was also quite cute.
“Well I don’t see a reason why I can’t be both. Maybe one day I dress like a girl and the other day like a boy. Why would I want to pick one? That sounds like it would get boring!”
As apple kneeled to get to Guffy’s (previously three) level they became quiet and listened intently. Especially after he put a hand on their shoulder. But the sudden and strange noise made by Apple scared Guffy immensely. As the robot shot upward back to their feet and spoke in that awful robotic tone Guffy immediately hid themselves behind Sylvan and hugged him from behind.
Only once Apple’s cheerful tone returned did Guffy peak from behind Sylvan. They were quiet.
Sylvan sighed silently putting away the list of names he just brought up.
"I guess if it's going to be Guffy in either case it won't really matter anyways."
He shrugged, watching Apple kneel down to Guffy and then promptly shoot up moments into his small speech.
He leaned away on his chair, almost stumbling off it in the process just about able to catch himself on the edge of the table as Guffy hid behind him. Just about everyone in the room stared at Apple now, even Enra who just entered the room.
After a brief pause Sylvan was second to break the silence.
"Uh... yeah... You good Apple? 'Organic tissue incompatible', does that... tell you anything?"
Sylvan was... visibly cautious, but not exactly afraid.
“Haha, what now?” Apple looked at Sylvan and Three/Guffy. Their concern registered in Apple’s emotional processor, and they realised soon that something was not right. They paused, look inward and ran an internal diagnostic to reply the last few seconds, in an attempt to find the reason for their change in tone. Indeed, a few seconds of missed data showed themselves, like a broken chain stringing Apple’s history together.
“Huh…that is bizarre. I seem to…have blanked out for a few seconds? Organic tissue incompatible you say? Was that something I said?” There was a small level of panic which registered across Apples metallic face. “I…I don’t right know. That’s…that’s not something that has happened to me before. I should, umm, probably go look this up, right?”
They turned on their heels, leaving back towards the cockpit of the ship, their motions in a hurry.
Sylvan waited for a couple moments as he watched Apple leave, looking at Enra and then Guffy afterwards, lifting an eyebrow.
He patted Guffys head and stood up.
"Just... wait here for a moment, I'll see if I can help him, alright?"
He stood up and offered Enra the seat instead, heading off to the cockpit after Apple at a steady pace, trying not to alarm Guffy.
Once he was out of hearing distance of the kitchen he spoke to Apple.
"So... any results, anything we could help you with?"
He admittedly wasn't exactly well versed in any sort of robots or genetics though even he could connect as much when a robot said that 'organic tissue is incompatible' that something was off. Was Apple... actually some sort of demi-human?
Enra leans down quietly beside Guffy, reaching out and patting them on the head.
"You okay, guff? Looks like you got scared there a little bit. Im sure apple is okay, probably just something with their coding. Until then, why dont we find something to do? Do you want something to eat?"
Guffy was still a little in shock after the whole Apple going haywire debacle although the pat on their head helped a bit with comforting them. They made themselves purposely small even as Sylvan stood up and walked away they kept hiding behind the chair for a little while. As Enra leaned down and gave them some extra pats on the head Guffy relaxed but was still visibly nervous, their eyes darted around and their body was shivering. As if they just received an immense shot of adrenaline.
“… me is fine… just a little shaken” Guffy slowly managed to get back up onto their feet. “F-food… food! Yes food! Is there meat?” Their tone shifted rapidly to excitement at the prospect of eating something. A big smile full of sharp teeth presented themselves to Enra.
"Yeah! I can make you some ham or bacon or something. Want anything to go with it?"
She stands up fully and walks towards the front of the kitchen where the cooking areas are, motioning for guff to follow her. She grabs out a pan and some ham and turns on the little burner, letting the pan heat up.
“Bacon! Pig! Yum yum!” Guffy did a little jump of excitement with every word as they scuttled over to Enra’s side to watch her cook. “… i don’t know what I want. As long as its not that gross liquid stuff they fed me. Blegh! It was always a good day when I could eat pig.” Guffy stared at the flames as the pan heated up.
"Well then, i guess you'll be having a good day!" she slightly exclaims, chuckling softly as the Ham hits the pan, a slight sizzling of oil as it cooks, the smell of it wafting through the kitchen as overhead ventilation drinks up the excess steam.
"Dont get too close now, dont want you to get burnt or hit by any of the popping oil"
Apple hurried into the cockpit, throwing themselves down into their pilots seat, before slouching down, pulling their display screen around on its holder to directly in front of their face. Apple typed furiously, scanning screen after screen as they searched a variation of sources, taking in all information before they heard the quiet approach of Sylvan into the room.
“Any results? Yeah…yeah…somethings.” They said, frantically, not turning away from the screen “Some good…some bad. Lots of things really.”
They stopped typing, but continued to stare at their screen. Apple paused, an element of calm creeping over their entire demeanour.
“So, the first thing you should probably know. Akili Bandi; that’s what I am…well, we are in a constant state of evolution. We’ve made it our cultural mission to continually advance and be accepted as by our organic brethren, and as such…we’ve looked to incorporate organic matter, in the hope that synthetic life could be…achievable. We are all kinds of mixed up bags of things. I…well, I had some organically grown neural components put in my…brain…for want of a better word. Experimental stuff, you know…”
They turned to face Sylvan.
“It…haha…well it seems like that there is breaking down…”
Slyvan went silent for a moment trying take in and process the information with a mixed look on his face.
So... what did that mean? Was Apple actually dying right in front of them? Is he just going to stay the same?
"I... I see. That is... hm. I'm sorry to hear that."
He looked at Apple absentmindedly, from what he gathered none of the crew were able to deal with this sort of thing, they may be able to do something about it on lost star but he didn't know how much time Apple had or if he was even in danger.
"So, what are the good news then?", a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“Well, the good news is that it will be fine.” Apple gave a reassuring smile, seeing the concern on Sylvan’s face.
“All we need to do is find a suitable organic or…I guess…a mechanical component to replace the incompatible one. So, you know, all we need to do is find a replacement part compatible with a cybernetic brain. I am sure those things can be found at this ‘Lost Star’, right?”
Apple had no idea whether it would be easy to find a replacement part, but they knew that keeping things chipper would help moral remain high.
“Hey, now I don’t want a fuss now, so maybe we keep this between us for now, yeah?”
Sylvan went with his hand through his hair and sighed in relief, so... it wasn't an immediate issue at least.
"Sure, no problem."
He went silent for a moment and stroked his chin, mumbling under the whitenoise of the ship as displays blinked int heir usual patterns int he background.
"Cybernetic brains. Cybernetic brains..."
They would certainly find that sort of stuff in Lost Star, where else if not there? Question is... where they would have to go... House Asterion maybe? They more or less owned the Ancnet if anyone had cybernetic brains they should, question is, if they could afford that.
"Yeah, we should be able to get you your parts no problem. Just a matter of the right place." He half-turned his head back to the entrance of the cockpit and then back to apple.
"Should we go back then?"
A calm came over Apple. ‘Things will be ok’ they told themselves, repeatedly. Sylvan seemed confident that the Lost Star would be a place where they could find the parts needed, and with that confidence, Apple shoved away their fear that such a part may still be incompatible.
“You’re right, it’ll all be just tickety-boo, wont it. Yes, let’s go back to the others.”
Brank
"Well then, i guess you'll be having a good day!" she slightly exclaims, chuckling softly as the Ham hits the pan, a slight sizzling of oil as it cooks, the smell of it wafting through the kitchen as overhead ventilation drinks up the excess steam. "Dont get too close now, dont want you to get burnt or hit by any of the popping oil"
Back in the kitchen Guffy stared at the sizzling ham in awe. As if they were hypnotised by it. Their lips were curled in a wide smile. Guffy’s trance however was broken as a drip of hot oil jumped from the sizzling pan and onto their forehead.
“Aaah! Hot stuff! Ow ow ow!” Their tone was clearly panicked.
Taking a step back from the cooking ham Guffy flailed around to try and pat the oil away. Which lead to them tripping over their own feet and falling down onto their butt.
“… ouch…”
Enra finishes up the ham just before the oil had popped onto Guffy, pulling it out into a plate and letting it drained.
Then when they yelled out, she practically tossed down the cooking equipment, swerving on her heel and quickly moving over to guff, kneeling down and checking him over.
"Guff, are you okay??" she says worriedly, noting the small burn on his forehead, and looking closer at it.
"Did the oil get you?" she asked.
“Me fine, it’s just a little burny…”
Guffy was a little in shock but it quickly faded. Their eyes glowed a lot brighter for a second as the adrenaline came and subsided. The burn was minor, nothing some cold water couldn’t fix. However Guffy seemingly recovered quickly, getting back on their feet and looking around.
“Woah! It looks fantastic! Can I eat it now?”
They said as they looked at the cooked ham in awe. Any sadness from the burn had already faded away.
She smiled and shook her head, standing up and walking over to dab a little cold water onto a napkin. Shortly after she turns back to guff and gently takes their head close to the napkin and taps at the burn, making sure it doesnt get too bad. Afterwards she backs away a bit and turns to the ham, setting it down in front of a chair at the table.
"sure you can!" she offers, sitting down nearby and letting out a deep sigh
—
...and so it occurred that former-three-now-Guffy received their name (and their ham) and journey continued. Truly, it been quite eventful for what should have been a quiet ride to the capital of the galaxy but fortunately for the crew, the rest of the travel went by relatively eventless, most of them living in blissful ignorance of Apples ailment, supplemented by Guffys smile which could have made a shark envious.
Alas, eventually the time came, when Lost Star came into sight, marking the destination, perhaps even the final one for some and soon it would time part ways, be it temporarily or permanently.
On this day it was once more, Sylvans task, to bring everyone together, who walked around the ship, knocking on doors and spreading the news...
---
"Dear ladies and gentlemen, we have almost arrived at out destination, Lost Star, make sure to gather all your stuff and clean up behind you if you're leaving the premises of the ship...", Sylvan imitated one of the various announcements that tended to play on long-range civilian transports, after he had knocked on every door in the corridor.
Once more he was astounded by how fast time passed, it had been a full two weeks already and Lost Star was finally in sight, although, he peeked into the cockpit where Apple sat, well, it could've ran better.
"So, Apple."
He stepped into the cockpit and began tapping on one of the displays as he waited for the others to get out of their cabins, promptly zooming in on lost star with one of the visual sensors.
"THAT, is 'Lost Star'. Capital of the Galaxy, the place where you can get almost anything and meet almost anyone this world has to offer..."
He coughed slightly and continued under his breath.
"...and a hive for scum and villainy whenever you take a wrong corner."
Displayed on the screen was the partial view of Lost Star, a massive, silvery, partially finished triple ring world, slowly rotating around a yellow main sequence star.
"What do you think?"
The journey to Lost Star since “the incident” (as Apple referred to it) was relatively inconsequential. Monitoring their status, Apple maintained regular checks on their system, hoping that another outburst would not emerge in front of the entire group, and whilst no major breakdown occurred in public, they couldn’t help but feel a slight loss of cognitive functions here and there, making them realise the speed at which the problem needed to be fixed.
The Lost Star produced a stunned cocktail of wonder and wanderlust from Apple. The world was like something they had read in fiction, and Sylvan’s own description conjured images in Apples mind of adventures yet to happen.
“I mean, wow, what is there to say? The thing is HUGE! It looks…wonderful. I’ll…I’ll need my camera for sure. I gotta get videos of this. And you say we can get ‘anything’?”
"Well, sort of, really depends on what you want and where you go to get it but since it's a pretty central point in the galaxy a lot of merchants and factions have a presence here or are at able to be contacted so..."
Sylvan paused his explanatory tone for a moment, looking at the screen.
Seems Eysra was on the other side today and they have to move to... and then Asterion, and the Guidance Hall...
he caught himself staring off into the non-existent distance.
"Errr... yeah, pretty much."
“Well, hell…I think it is just pretty neat.” Apple said, a sense of satisfaction portrayed as they spoke.
“Say, we should probably make sure the rest are ready to depart. Do you think we need to like, register for parking or something? Is there a good place to park to get access to the shops quicker? Oh man, this is just such an exciting time!”
"Ah, you usually do that around the areas where you actually want to dock considering the place is pretty big."
Sylvan shrugged.
"I can do that if you want or you can do it yourself. It shouldn't be too much of an issue getting around as there's an extensive hyperloop transit system."
He turned his head in direction of the cockpit entry.
"Well, I did tell them we'd be there soon, so I guess they should be coming out of their holes any moment."
Kael awoke from the knocking with a soft jolt. Looking down to her companion curled up in the tiny bed with her. She sighed softly, and stood up. Grabbing her robe and throwing it over her head. She headed right outside to Slyvan and silently followed him to the cockpit with Apple. Saying softly. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy..."
As the knocking rang through the door, Enra quickly got up and ready, stepping out of the room in the same outfit as she had started with- granted, it had been washed a couple times since them- and walked towards the cockpit.
When she walked in, she spoke to sylvan and apple.
"So, we're finally here, eh? Quite the sight."
She stared on towards the beautiful ringworlds, and let out a deep sigh.
Theyve arrived.
Upon hearing that they arrived at Lost star Guffy shot out of bed and rushed to the cockpit. They did a standing triple front flip as they arrived out of excitement.
“Oh wow! Oh WOW! It’s so big! So shiny!
Guffy was mesmerised as they stared at the display in the cockpit.
“You said you can get anything there right? Maybe I can get a cute dress! Like in my picture books!”
They were incredibly hyperactive, not being able to stand still and shuffling around constantly.
Sylvan half turned his head towards Guffy and nodded, whilst keeping an eye on the displays as he waited for Apples answer.
"Yeah, I'm sure we can get you a dress."
He frowned to himself for a moment, noticing how they apparently all just Accepted that they were Guffys caretakers now.
"So, what about everyone else, you gonna stick together or go to your own places you have to be?"
He shrugged.
"I mean, if you want to share, that is."
"Well, that sounds like a plan, guff," she remarked to the little one, smiling and shaking her head softly.
"If you want, I can take you to look for your dress. Maybe get myself an outfit or two while i'm at it. How's that sound?"
She then turned to Sylvan.
"I've not quite got anywhere to go in specific. I'll try and stick with you guys the best i can. Though, if we have any sort of communication devices, maybe i can take guffy to look for their dress they want while you guys look for anything you need."
“Yes yes! Dress dress!”
Guffy was absolutely beaming with happiness. To them this was all so exciting! And not to mention the that they could finally get rid of that stuffy tight jumpsuit they still had.
“I would love to look around, this place is so big I bet they have exactly what I want!”
Once they were not spoken to anymore Guffy returned to staring at the screen which showed lost star.
Kael turned to glanced over at 'Guff', but said nothing. Turning around and leaving the main cockpit as no one seemed to even realize she was there. Rather she was going to wait at the exit of the vessel for them to land, and then head towards the Wandering Path here. She had been here once before, and was not found of even being here. But there was always solace in other wanderers.
Slyvan head turned as Kael left, watching her walk down the corridor.
Did she not hear him or did she just not want to answer?
He shrugged, in the end it was none of his business. Well, probably. Still unfortunate, not often he got to travel with someone from the paths.
As Kael, wandered towards the exit, Aurshlae opened the door and left their room, looking towards the cockpit but then her gaze stopped on her.
"We are... almost there, this one heard?"
There was mix of joy and melancholy in her eyes, maybe a hint of sadness.
"Are you... leaving?"
Apple reared their head from the Cockpit, whirling around as he heard the conversation behind them in the Wandering Star.
“Wait now, who is leaving? I thought we were all going to this Lost Star together? I was starting to think of a little itinerary for our time here; I got thoughts on going shopping for parts, umm…seeing some multicultural cuisine…”
As Guff went back to looking at the screen, Enra places a small pat on their head before turning towards the others. She catches Kael leaving in the edges of her vision, the woman already gone by the time Enra had fully turned back around.
"Seem's she's gone. Hope she changes her mind."
She clicks her tongue slightly and then continues.
"Trying some new foods sounds nice, been getting bored of the same ol' food over and over, honestly. Maybe a couple of us could try and pick up a few odd jobs to get some more money before we leave the place? Depends on how long we plan on staying."
Kael glanced at her Nocamal companion and gave a soft chuckle. "Of course not. This is my home now, and my journey is not yet completed. I merely have nothing to say to those who have nothing to say to me. I will await our landing, and head to Wandering Paths. I am sure at least one other will come along."
She shrugged, and sat down near the exit door, and began to meditate.
Sylvan looked at her for a couple moments longer at her remark, then turned away and rolled his eyes, though moments later he seemed to remember something.
"Oh, yeah, if you are headed that direction anyways, could you tell the journey master of the 'Seven Stars' hall that I'll be coming around later? There are some things I need to catch up on but a couple other things I need to do beforehand elsewhere. So, yeah, I'd appreciate if you could help me out there."
Aurshlae seemed to be slightly amused about the interaction between the the two but didn't interrupt, as they were finished she turned towards Kael again.
"This one would like accompany you to this 'Seven Stars' hall, though I would like to find out what has happened in my home whilst I was in exile, do you think we could find one like me there?"
In the meanwhile the conversation in the cockpit continued.
"I mean, yeah, we do have a couple things to do now it seems. If you want you can go ahead and look for clothes together with Guffy or tag along with Kael and Aurshlae, Kael did say she was looking for new clothes after all."
He paused looking at Apple.
"In the meanwhile me and apple are going to head to House Asterion and get some parts for the... ship. We could meet up the guidance hall afterwards and then go from there if everyone is good with that."
He looked around himself, seeing if anyone had any objections and where they would all go.
"Alright then, it's settled on my end. Good luck looking for parts for the ship, you two. Im going to go get ready to take guff out, wait at the airlock and all," she said, before turning her head towards guffy, and smiling
"Alright, Guff', lets go wait so we can take you to find your dress"
With that, she began to walk out of the cockpit and to the main airlock out of the vessel, ushering guffy along with her.
"I also need some clothing... I am not sure if your kin will be here, from what you told me Prador is rather... Insular." She started walking without word. Heading to Seven Star's Hall.
“Sure, well that seems to settle it, now. Me and Sylvan will go look for…parts…for the ship obviously, why would you think anything different?” Apple said with a nervous twitch.
“Y’all go clothes shopping. HEY! Before you go…y’all mind doing me a favour. See if you see any interesting places, give me a hoot. Would be great for the channel you know?” Apple held his camera aloft, before turning it to face both themselves and Sylvan.
“Now…we are here at ‘The Lost Star’…some of you viewers may not be aware of what an amazing place this is…” Apple began, blogging to their audience.
Sylvan, somewhat surprised stayed silent for a moment before finding his words and continuing with a cheery voice.
"The center of the Galaxy, melting pot of cultures and cradle of wonders, good day to everyone out there!"
He waved into the camera.
In the meanwhile the ship had docked, Sylvan had apparently already dealt with the formalities when they arrived in the system, It was already rather busy outside, as expected thousands upon thousands of different individuals coming in and out from uncountable different cultures, races and origins. The ever present Humans, some Carnaithians, the occasional Telirans and Mus'Vanus and many many others known and unknown moving between concrete and metal buildings reaching to the skies, where sun burnt down, each their own destinations, stories and goals. Ships coming and departing some silent, some with roaring engines from all spectrums of technology and purpose.
They truly had arrived.
Kael was already standing outside with Aurshlae following shortly after, as Enra was still waiting on Guffy who had been captivated by the images of Lost Star on the screens.
"It is indeed so."
The Nocamal woman noted in response to Kael, becoming painfully aware she may not actually find anyone she was looking for on Lost Star, though there was no point in losing hope before trying, she had been idle in exile for long enough.
"Though this one thinks that, if any were to know where to find one of my kind, it would surely be the wanderers, would it not?"
There was a strange questioning mix of confidence and uncertainty in her voice.
It took them a good hour, even with the transit systems to get where they wanted. Well, or rather into proximity of where they wanted, ring worlds were vast and not every transit system led to the doorstep of where one wanted to be.
In the end, the group of Kael, Aurshlae, Enra and Guffy, who was stopping at every corner to point at something whilst Enra tried her best to stop them from running off, paid a clothes shop on the way a visit. It was somewhat wedged in between the various tightly stacked buildings and, conveniently, had a lot of second hand and other cheap clothes mostly left behind by other travellers and local inhabitants, likely courtesy of the nearby Guidance Hall. The shop despite being well frequented by customers was somewhat cosy and although everything seemed to be decent quality, there was a lot to look at and try out. Luckily the shop keepers didn't give them any weird looks when they came in, they were likely used to far more unusual individuals than even they were, instead one of them approached them and nodded curtly.
"Ah, hello dear customers."
He looked at them, somewhat curiously then, nodded.
"Travellers, I see, do you need any help or will you be fine on your own?"
In the meanwhile, Sylvan and Apple had already reached their destination despite having done a scene for the vlog beforehand. The service halls of House Asterion were considerably closer to the hyperloop stations as they were frequently used and pretty much one of the few notable things here. The place was despite its higher popularity oddly calm, almost deserted even, white sandy beaches with palm trees and the occasional rock were bordering a somewhat oddly coloured ocean, gently waving back and forth. The sky was a clear blue, so clear in fact one could actually see the thin band of the ring world in it, beyond the upwards bent 'horizon' which wasn't one due to the nature of the structure. The whole scene was starkly contrasted by the clean white and modern building standing amidst the beach, which had the occasional traveller coming in and out, although it was still modest in size.
Sylvan nodded to Apple and then to the building.
"Well, this is house Asterion, or rather, one of the public sides of it. Haven't been here before actually, so that's a first for me as well."
Apple turned the camera off, having got one final shot of the constructed horizon, flipping the view finder away, and folding the device into storage. They looked at the luscious sand, the lapping water, all constructed. It was a wonder to behold.
Apple stood for a moment, watching the small number of passers-by, before finally casting their gaze onto Sylvan.
“Ok…House Asterion. This is the place right? We can find…well…we can fix me up here?”
Sylvan nodded.
"Yeah, they should be able to, I think. Come on, let's head in."
As the two headed to the building Sylvan was thinking, he was not actually sure if these people had what Apple was looking, for that's just how it was with cross-compatibility or whatever it was called, however if there was any place that could have it, it was likely here. These people were master of cybernetic engineering and hosted the Anc net, where else would they search?
Silently the automatic doors slid open in front of them, revealing behind a room that was equally sterile as the outside of the building again in stark contrast to the beach surrounding it. A couple of holo-displays were on the wall showing images of deep sea creatures nobody could ever imagine, news and ads. The room temperature was perfectly regulated and a couple of people were sitting on benches at the side apparently waiting, a perfectly round and smooth white reception table with three, quite similar looking women, stood in the middle of the room, framed by a couple of small palm trees, each of them somewhat odd-looking black hair, a friendly look on their face and almost porcelain like skin.
Sylvan had a faint shiver run down his spine, it was all a bit eerie to him, this sort of people he rarely met on his travels that looked almost perfectly like actual 'people' but were likely 90 percent cybernetics beneath the surface and were essentially just a brain in a jar and all sorts of horror stories.
But that didn't matter now, they were here to help Apple not ponder on weird urban myths that ultimately were irrelevant.
"A good day gentlemen, how may I serve you?"
The woman called out as the two of them approached, in a perfectly friendly and regulated tone. Sylvan nodded again.
"Ah, yes, a good day. We are... Err... Well. My friend here is having a bit of an issue with his cybernetics and we wondered if you could help him."
He nodded towards Apple and the woman turned his attention to him.
Enra stopped at the little shop, eying the clothes and dresses and various other things as she passed through, hand practically stuck to the top of little Guffy's back to keep them from running away and make sure the little one is still with her the whole way through.
"Hello," she replied, smiling, "I'm here to look for a dress for the little one."
She then leaned down a bit to speak to guff.
"Do you want to go look around 'till you find something?" asked Enra, the polite smile still on her face. Afterwards she stands back up and speaks to the shopkeep.
"We should be fine, just going to have a look around. Thank you, sir!"
Apple stopped in their tracks, as the full beauty of House Asterion caused them to be overcome with emotion. The horror that Sylvan experienced was missed completely, as Apple saw before them a physical embodiment of a dream they had not realised had been there until now.
The porcelain skinned woman, sat behind the desk was wonderful, Apple thought. She looked so real, so unique, this was everything Apple wanted. They could not stop staring, as their words, their conversation with Sylvan, mused over them like calming background noise. Only when the silence became awkward, and attention was focused on Apple, did Apple realise they were involved in the conversation.
“I…umm…hey there. Yes, I could use some assistance.” Apple’s voice was desperately trying to hide the excitement and rush of what they could only describe as an adrenaline type rush, under a veneer of calm. “See…I’ve got some…well, organic components that seem to be…well…failing. I was hoping that this here place maybe able to help…”
Apple gained confidence, stepped forward, leaning on the desk. “Can I just say that…you are incredible. I mean, truly. How are you possible? You are so…advanced. Wonderful…Sylvan, am I being rude? Stop me if I am being rude…”
Kael walked into the shop dirrectly behind Enra, and Guffy. Saying nothing, but giving a polite nod to the greeter. She did a quick lookover the clothing to see if there was anything that was both a robe, and had four arms. Though the likihood of finding something that fit her with those very specific details she doubted.
She was thinking of just cutting out the sides of her robe to allow her to use all four arms.
Aurshlae said nothing. Just tapped away with her staff close by Kael's side. Looking over the mass of manufactured clothes, but largely having a bit of a look of disgust at them. Saying with a soft grumble to her lover. "Why don't I just cut a hole in your current attire? When we get to Prador I can make something that isn't so.... Flunm. My kinsman would want to burn this place to the ground." She said. Quite frankly uncomfortable at the sight of this store. And Lost Star as a whole.
Sylvan gave Apple a bit of a weird but amused look from the side then he just shrugged, he knew everyone had a different taste and he had come around a lot, maybe he shouldn't judge the cybernetic ladies that early.
"I mean, you do you, just keep in mind you still need those parts so you shouldn't get yourself thrown out."
Even the motion of her facial muscles looked almost perfectly realistic as the woman just laughed lightheartedly but at the same time somewhat reluctant, in the end she was still on her job, whatever that meant to a being like her.
"I am afraid we are not allowed to distribute any details about our technology without proper contracts, company policy. However this frame is not unlike a lifelike Android in regards to being mostly artificial and replicating lifelike motion and functions."
She stretched out one of her arms and turned it a few times as if displaying it.
Then she proceeded to look off at something only she could see for a moment, likely owed to one of her many implants, follow by a nod.
"Yes, we are capable of repairing and engineering organic-anorganic interfaces, however, we will require more detail than that, do you have any construction schemes for your model or implants? Alternatively you could sign a contract for direct interfacing with your internal systems, you would declare your consent with the procedure as well as extraction and saving of information about your affected systems and bio material for replication."
Despite his outburst only moments ago she stayed friendly and professional.
---
"Yes, yes!" Guffy exclaimed, gazing at all of the fancy clothes in sight, wandering off immediately afterwards into the first rack of clothes in range, "...dress like in the magazine...", was the next thing they heard from somewhere between the clothes before they left hearing distance.
In the meanwhile the shopkeeper answered Enra with a smile.
"Very well, if you are looking anything specific just ask whatever employee is closest and doesn't look busy."
The brows of the man furrowed his brows at Aurshlaes comment and turned towards her, his voice was firm but not aggressive.
"I would greatly appreciate if you would not try to burn this place to the ground and I'll also have you know that we are honourable establishment, even if we're not selling all of the top of the line fancy new clothes you may be looking for."
He paused for a moment and then sighed, shaking his head. "Apologies if I should have offended you, there are a lot of travelers coming here everyday, many from the local guiding hall and although most of them are usually rather friendly not all them are. If your culture may find this place offensive or repulsive can only offer you to wait outside."
He nodded without waiting for a reply and then walked off to the next group.
Interestingly enough, in the brief time they had talked, Kael had actually spotted a rack clothes most of which did indeed have four arms, it seems although the majority of inhabitants of this galaxy seemed to have a human frame hers wasn't too rare either. She could see a variety of things in various colours and various sites, from only tops, to robes and even dresses, though picking out what exactly she was looking for would probably take some sifting through the racks.
Arushlae's eyes glare to the shopkeep and her tongue is sharp. "This one cares not for fancy clothing, it is how it is made that matters." She followed by Kael but only mumbled the rest under her breath. "Mass production, carelessness for your planets... Savages."
A cold sense of shame and embarrassment crept of Apple.
“I…Sorry. I didn’t mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable. I…just…my people just strive to be closer to our organic comrades, and well…”
Apple paused. They knew that what they wanted to say was that this cybernetic woman on reception was the physical embodiment of all the dreams Apple had. However, Apple knew there was no way to say that without coming off a little too strong. Apple instead chose to move on briefly.
“Yes, if I am honest all schemes and blueprints are kept on my internal storage, so, I guess plugging into your direct interface might actually be the best way forward? More than happy to sign whatever you need.”
An attempt at a restrained, professional smile grew on Apple’s face, one which he shared with the lady, and Sylvan.
"I will," she replied to the man, "thank you for your help, sir."
Immediatley, she turned to follow Guffy, wherever the had went, her polite smile shifting to a happy one, the small thing she had come to watch over never failing to amuse her with their blissfully unaware commentary. She might just keep them, she told herself with a chuckle, as she went to go look for the dress in the magazine, just like the little guff wanted.
"Don't run off too far, Guff!" she called out in a half-whisper after them, trying to catch up.
The woman before Apple gave him a smile before she shook her head.
"No, no, that is alright. We were simply not expecting such a... enthusiastic greeting."
She looked at another screen that didn't exist for them as Sylvan looked at some of the frames on the wall. A door opened on the to what looked like an elevator and a couple of people came out, leaving the building.
She nodded.
"Very well. Now if you could sign here."
A holographic screen appeared in front of him waiting for his input.
"When you are done you can sit down and wait for your turn, we will be calling you shortly, then you will be allowed enter the elevator and be brought to processing."
“That I can do!” Apple said with enthusiasm, reaching to sign the holographic screen. They paused, hovering over the screen.
“We…umm…we haven’t said how much all this will cost?”
There was a nervousness to their question. Apple had gotten ahead of themselves, seeing this "House Asterion" as a place of unbridled potential that they had forgotten that all things came at a cost. Not being a wealthy android, Apple suddenly was struck with worry.
The woman was still looking at him but seemed to scroll through something with her eyes, then answered moments later.
"The price range is usually manageable as this is amongst the standard repairs in the civilian sector, however if you feel concerned about the cost we can set up a payment plan."
She waited patiently as Sylvan subtly turned away at the mention of money, whatever qualities he had otherwise, money certainly wasn't one of it. As they waited Another group of people approached one of the other women behind the table, though interestingly enough he didn't hear a single word of them despite visibly seeing them talking.
---
It didn't take Enra too long to catch up to Guffy, although it wasn't without difficulties, as Guffy was considerably more flexible and also shorter than her. With quick steps she manoeuvred around the mounds of used but clean and neatly folded clothes, shoving aside shirts, dresses and other more delicate clothes hanged up on racks.
As she was navigating the shop she saw Kael and Aurshlae out of the corner of her eyes, looking at some of the dressed and robes in one of the corners of the shops, with Aurshlae showing a clear disdain for the establishment but still giving Kael advice diligently.
Eventually she stopped, seeing Guffy standing infront of her, standing upright with an open mouth and bright eyes, swaying in front of a rack full of various child sized dresses like grass in the wind.
“A payment plan?” Apple’s mind raced with possibilities. “You mean, I could, in theory of course, pay things off…later?”
The theory of credit was unheard of to Apple, having come from the Socialist Republics of Imaginarium, where such loaning of capital did not happen. Here in the big wide universe, where the free market reigned supreme however, things were expensive, and Apple had struggled to understand how people could possibly afford the finer things. Now it all made sense; buy now, pay later!
“So, I need this procedure, but…I mean while I am here, there’s a few things I could want. Do you have maybe a menu of upgrades? In particular, anything that makes me more…organic?”
Enra walked up to guffy and let out a tired breath.
"Looks like you found what you want, didn't you?" she said to the child, smiling. She walked up to the rack and began to shuffle through the dresses slowly. Each time she looked at a new one, she would look towards Guff. Eventually, she said something to the kid, trying to get them out of their mesmerized state.
"Tell me the one you want when you see it, and i'll pull it off for you to look at." she said, continuing to scroll through the selection.
The woman looked at him for a moment then stared into the distance for a couple more and nodded.
"That likely depends on how much of you is organic and how your model is built and made up. We can offer to replace individual bodyparts with synthskin and muscle counterparts, such as arms or legs, however torso and head can be more complicated depends on what hardware they house.
We also offer fully body conversions of various kinds most notably we could sell you a fully customised android body which you can transfer your software to, if you are able to do that, or build a custom option for your internal systems, though this may take some time and obviously the more is being replaced the more it will cost and in any it will be more costly than the repairs you requested."
She paused for a moment, looking at Sylvan who looked somewhat... unsettled.
"Are you alright?"
Sylvan looked at her for a moment, he had his reasons to dislike augments, that of course shouldn't stop Apple to do some 'upgrades' to himself, after all he has had no issues with him so far. Though he couldn't shake the feeling Apple wasn't quite aware of what he was getting himself into.
"No, no, I-I'm ok."
He waved her off, she nodded and continued.
"Very well then. In regards to your other question, yes, with a payment plan you would be paying in either monthly or yearly rates until your due is fulfilled. House Asterion retains the right to null your contract should you miss your payments by a significant margin."
She paused and seemed to be finished. After a brief moment of silence she smiled friendly.
"So, what will it be? Would you like us to work out a contract, do the repairs you needed or do you need more time to think?"
---
Blissfully unaware of all of what was transpiring at the House Asterion building Guffy and Enra were looking through the clothes together.
"Uh... no, no..."
Guffy had been sitting on the ground cross legged as Enra passed through the dresses, pointing at each one individually, they been sitting here for at least ten minutes now only accompanied by the voices muffled through all of the cloth in the room, the rustling of clothes and the faint whirring of electronics, though Guffy was astoundingly picky.
Well, at least after Enra told them they couldn't take all of them. Which had stopped her streak of saying yes to each and every one of them.
Enra was about to go through the whole rack again as she pulled out a white piece of clothing around Guffys size, it was just a tad bigger than her current size though would still fit her, a one-piece with cute frills on the dress.
GUffy jumped up almost immediately with the same sparkle in the eyes as when she came here.
"Yes! Yes, this one!" She laughed with joy.
Enra headed over to give to her to try on as a human man wearing a worn down trench coat almost stumbled over her.
He stopped, regaining his balance, looking at Enra.
"Ah... apologies, I did not see you there."
He helped her up but didn't say anything else, just shuffling away to another spot in the shop as Guffy, watched him wide-eyed.
“Oh, umm, one minute please. Can I consult with my dearest friend for a moment?” Apple nervously said, registering the uncomfortable energy that Sylvan emitted. Apple held his arm, dragging him to the side “Come on Sylvan, I must garner your opinion!”
Once away from the desk, Apple hushed their voice.
“Hey buddy, you seem a little concerned. On edge even, or uncomfortable, I have difficulty reading the difference in those tones. Is everything ok? Is there an issue? Am I missing something sinister going on here?”
19 September 2022
Enra smiled, picking out the dress from the rack. She eyed it over, nodding. "This one, eh? Well, i'll get it for you t-"
She was stopped, as she fell over from the bump, allowing the man to help her up.
"Its alright. Who are you?" she spoke back to him, although she trailed off with her last word as the man walked off.
Shaking her head, she turned back to guffy, reaching out her hand towards the little one.
"Let's go, then. C'mon."
Guffy had a wide smile as Enra picked the dress from the rack.
“Yeah! That one! It’s so cute!”
As Enra fell down Guffy’s entire body language changed, from a fun loving kid to an instinctual predator. Wide eyes turn to a deathly gaze as Guffy watched the man walk away with an expression so sharp it could cut a pie into the most precise slices imagine. Did he seem familiar to them or was Guffy merely a little spooked? It certainly was not the norm for the strange child. For just a moment there was this intense focus, completely shedding away any signs of childish innocence. But as the man left their sight Guffy returned to their usual self, although it took a moment to register.
“Ah… yes yes! I want to wear this dress as soon as possible!”
A little bit of webbing had secreted from their limbs, not enough to be noticeable to passerby’s but Enra could certainly see it. Guffy pulled a bit on their old lab jumpsuit they still had. They wouldn’t keep it for much longer and with that they could begin a whole new life.
The woman smiled as friendly as ever and then nodded, waiting patiently for their return.
Sylvan looked at him for a couple moments then took him a couple steps away from the counter.
"You know, a new android body does cost quite a lot and I mean a lot, like 'I'm buying myself a new car fresh out of the factory' expensive or 'I'm buying myself a small house' expensive and..."
He paused for a moment.
"...you know, when you say, 'you can pay things of later', that's not some vague 'oh yeah I'll pay eventually', you'll have to make your payments in the intervals you accepted. Admittedly, from what I've heard they are not quite that barbaric, usually consult you if you can't make your payments."
He took a side glance at the woman, he seemed to be... cautious about what he said next.
"...but do you have any idea, what happens if you fall behind in your payments and they find out you probably won't be able to pay? When you're stuck in a body you don't own? They'll sell off your debt to Severogorsk, or stars forbid, Anjou. That means you'll be turned into some brainfarm or they'll use you for experiments!"
Sylvan sighed, he seemed to be somewhat exhausted by his little speech, he didn't seem to go into these topics too often.
"See, I'm not saying 'don't do this, don't do that', I'm not in any position to tell you what to do. However, if you're doing this, you should be aware of what you're getting yourself into, right?" He lifted one of his eyebrows on the last note and then waited.
---
Having, at long last, come to a decision in regards to the dress, Enra and Guffy began heading back to the reception area where presumably also the cash desk was. The man was already further away, he had hurriedly gotten distance from them after Guffy had their episode of 'weapon of great carnage' which Enra was already used to at this point.
As they looked over the various clothing racks and customers, they saw that Aurshlae and Kael were apparently still discussing the clothes on the rack, judging by the Pradorians former behaviour it was likely owed to her. People that passed notably seemed to make an effort to keep their distance, for two people which had been mediating for days in a room, they seemed to be astoundingly picky with their clothing.
As they started to approach their goal, one of the cashiers tiredly waved at Guffy and then waved them over, in the meanwhile Enra absentmindedly reached into her pockets, only to find them... strangely empty. Something was missing.
It was her creditcard.
Apple was dumbfounded.
“I honestly had no idea. So, it isn’t just a case of me paying what I can when I can? It is more, how do you say…regimented?”
There was a prang of sadness to their voice.
“Oh, well I guess I, um, should calm myself down. I wouldn’t want to be some experiment as you say. I just really thought this was a way of becoming, I don’t know, you’ll think I am silly…but, becoming close to real. That has always been my dream, or at least my primary drive, to use a more artificial tone.”
“You’re right, you are. I should focus on why we came. Get my little nugget here fixed, hey?” Apple said, with a lilt in their voice, pointing to their head. “But, you know, just for a curious mind; how DO I make that much money?”
Sylvan sighed. Great, now he actually felt bad for him. He continued in a more calm tone this time.
"Yeah, you usually have to pay back in fixed intervals if you can't pay you tend to get into trouble with whoever you owe money."
He paused and tried to think, what sort of work could Apple do which would get him that much money anyways?
"Errr... Hm. I mean..."
He gazed off into the distance for a moment.
"Well, I heard freelancers make pretty good money but, uh, yeah that's usually the kind of freelancer with weapons n'stuff like that, pretty dangerous. Ancerium harvesters and haulers though you need the ships for that, same with Qanis runners..."
Oh, yeah and then there was...
"Well, entertainers, artists and such also make pretty good money if they're well known. So... I guess if you're lucky you might actually make that some day?"
He knew himself he didn't really sound convincing,he'd have to cheer the man up, somehow, it was his fault he ended up like that even if it was necessary to save him form worse.
"Look, Apple, like... See, I get where you're coming from, you think you're a hunk of metal and some pieces of artificial personality and all that but you gotta look at it this way: I never once considered you 'not real', you know? You're just a guy like all others of us and I'm willing to bet the others think the same, you're just built a tad different than us and that's all there is to it. You're a great guy regardless of what you look like!"
Sylvan smiled, somewhat uncertain if he 'hit the right spot' so to say.
"What the-" she whispered to herself. "Sorry, I seem to have dropped my card," she spoke louder to the cashier. "Do you think you can hold this dress until I can find it?" she asked. When the cashier took the dress off her hands, she told guffy to follow her and looked around, before coming to a conclusion.
"Aw Sh-" she almost said, stopping herself as she remembered the presence of Guffy: "-eesh, I think I know where it is."
Stepping around the room, she began to search for the man that had bumped into her.
Apple returned the smile.
“Thank you Sylvan. I do appreciate your kind words. I don’t know why, but I just have this burning desire to be something. But you are right, perhaps that is a dream to work towards. Focus should be fixing up this old brain of mine before I, well…expire.”
Apple looked to the floor, taking in the pattern of the sleek, clean, floor tiles, their mind considering his options.
“Money though…Oh boy. Yeah I am not designed for weaponry and all that…violence. I do like the travel blogging, but if I am totally honest Sylvan, I’m not too sure how to grow the channel, expand my reach. You have all these young hyped up bloggers from all over the galaxy on the ANCnet doing their games and their tricks and flips. I don’t know if there is space for a simple old travel android.” There was a sad, resignation to Apple’s tone.
“Originally my kind were made as processors for economic planning, so I guess I could do accounts? Do people need, what do they call them, accountants?”
The cashier simply nodded as he took the dress and waited.
Guffy looked at Enra in confusion, tilting their head but following. The shop was rather busy and rather large. Her gaze moved over racks and boxes and people, but...
...she couldn't see him, did he already leave? No, she would've seen him, though it didn't change the fact she could not find him either.
"What are you looking for?"
Guffy piped up, visibly confused, understandably so.
As she looked past them even Kael and Aurshlae looked at her, they must've felt the distress with their weird powers, Kael tilted her head much like Guffy in a questioning manner.
___
Sylvan patted Apples shoulder.
"C'mon now I'm sure we'll find a way somehow, we'll... well, just have to focus on what comes next and then go from there."
He paused for a moment apparently thinking.
"I mean, we do have a bunch of rather odd people on the ship, which could be interesting to your viewers we have uh..."
He remembered Kael and Aurshlae who were not particularly camera friendly or talkative, he remembered Guffy who... probably had a huge 'wanted' sign on their head from their government and there was Enra and Teciro who were just... well, them.
"Uh..."
Oh yeah and himself. He sighed. An idea formed in his head and he didn't really like it though it seems he didn't have a choice either.
"Do... do you think your viewers would be interested in stuff like magic, sorcery and stuff related to it? Landmarks, nations,other places? I think that's not too common out there, so that might be a niche to fill. Who knows, maybe your government gets interested in it as well and you might get some grants for doing stuff?"
“Yeah, there’s something there, surely?” Apple surmised. “I’ll umm, I’ll speak with the others maybe, work something out. There maybe grants or something that I could apply for. They gave me some money back home to get me started, back when they thought this maybe of interest to the kids, maybe I could ask for more. I still have some left.”
Apple rustled through his satchel, producing a datapad, on which they tapped away, unlocking it, and what appeared to be banking app, the logo of “IMAbank” blazoned across it.
“I don’t know, I guess it isn’t important right now. I need to get my head fixed, that is the main thing, right? I mean, this is how much I have currently, but it’s so small…I guess I’ll need more, right?”
Apple showed Sylvan the screen. The current balance of his funds on the Universal Market:
4 SIGEC
—
Enra gestured her hand towards her pocket, then splayed it out in front of her in a wide sweeping motion of her arm, showing it to be empty.
"Pretty sure I got picked. Bumped into some dude, thought nothing more of it, then get up to the register, and my card isnt there anymore."
She pondered on the man's looks, before speaking again: "He had a scruffy looking trench-coat on, and turned away before I could see his face after he helped me stand," she scoffed and shook her head, "I should've checked 'soon as I fell, damnit!" she cried out, scolding herself as she continued to look around, before promptly tapping her wrist for having cursed in front of a child, and muttering an apology to the kid.
Sylvan took the satchel and looked over the account and his eyes promptly widened.
"4 whole...?! APPLE YOU...!"
He paused looked around and remembered they were in a public space and lowered his tone.
"Apple you're... well. Y-You're basically rich. Man... You could probably buy the whole group android bodies with this! How did you not...?"
He stopped mid sentence, as he realised why Apple didn't know. He had barely interacted with the galaxy at large and was basically fresh out of his own nation. They probably even had their own currency there. He... probably would have to watch so he didn't throw his money at random scammers.
He tried to calm down and explain to him. Apple probably had money right now than he'd earn in his whole life...! He leaned in to talk to him in a more private manner.
"Ok, so, Apple. You see, the commonly used currency on Ancerious market is the 'SIGEC', which is in fact what you have on your account right here. It's based on some weird crypto currency stuff I never really understood and then there's this...
Anyways!
So... SIGEC as a currency is far to large to use in day-to-day purchases. You could buy a car or a house with a SIGEC, a proper ship even, not one of those scrappers they sell at Backbreaker Cove..."
He seemed to trail off for a moment.
"...well or an Android in your case. Which is why a lot nations still have their own internal currency and why when paying for things out in the open you usually use 'MilliSIGEC' which is... well, a hundred thousandth of SIGEC."
He paused and waited for his reaction. Sylvan still had his hand on his shoulder and was visibly excited.
___
As Enra looked around there was still no sign of the man, however, Kael and Aurshlae talked to each other for a moment and then began fan out into the shop, apparently looking for him as well. Some people passed by and looked at her somewhat strangely but passed without further notice.
Guffy in the meanwhile seemed to be more confused than anything else having likely no concept of money or that you had to pay for things. Luckily it seemed they didn't pick up Enras curses either. As they sat on the ground whilst the others were searching, Guffy started sniffing the air.
"What is 'being picked' Enra? What is card? Is it one of the playing cards from the magazine?"
It was all news to Apple. The currency had been thrust into Apple’s account, and off they had popped, thinking little more about it, the figure being so small. Or at least, that was what Apple had thought. But now, as Sylvan explained the terms of the universal crypto-currency, Apple realised that they had vastly underestimated the situation. So excited were they to get off and see the universe, that even basic research over the economic situation of the galaxy had been skipped.
“Oh…my. So, what y’all saying is that 4 SIGEC is…well, a lot. How could I have not known…what a naive little goose I am.” Apple chuckled, the absurdity of the situation striking Apple as comical.
“So, let me try and understand this now. A ‘MilliSIGEC’…if I wanted to buy say something common…a meal…soup. How much would soup cost? I’m just trying to ascertain the true value of what my people gave me. I did think they had been a little on the cheap side. Now I am concerned that there was an expectation of greater standards!! Ha!”
Enra smiled in spite of everything, shaking her head at Guffy's innocence.
"being picked, Pickpocketed. It's when someone distracts you so they can steal your stuff, and they usually pick stuff up from your pockets without you noticing," she said, twiddling her thumbs and pacing around a bit, still keeping her eyes sharp for the man.
"A card as in, my credit card. It's what helps me pay for everything, and has all my money on it. I need it to get the dress you wanted, so i've gotta find it, alright?"
Sylvan stroked his chin and seemed to thinking for a moment, looking for a suitable comparison.
"Well, you see stuff obviously varies from place to place quite heavily especially now with all the tensions and all that but..."
He paused.
"...so, the thing people are usually saying is that with a millisigec you can buy yourself a burger and with a sigec a house or a really good car and stuff like that."
He paused for another moment observing Apple.
"So, what are you gonna do now? I mean, money wise there's no problem with you getting a new body anymore I guess. So, that's up to you really."
He turned his head to the reception for a moment, the woman they had been talking to was sitting there idly, she didn't have any new customers at the moment though neither did she seem to be really 'waiting' for them.
"Oh and don't worry about having to decide now or anything, I believe we'll be around Lost Star for a while and the reception people usually just, I don't know, save the session or something like that, I'm admittedly not really familiar with that stuff."
___
Enra felt as if she saw Guffy ears twitch at what she just told them and their head slightly tilted.
"So... he's a bad man?", it had a somewhat questioning and confused tone to it.
There was again the strange sniffing, like they really were some sort of predator, though Enra had no time to question their behaviour, before she could react, before the cashier could react and even before Aurshlae or Kael could react, Guffy stormed off into the shop in a very specific direction.
Aurshlae and Kael followed them immediately, to the best of their abilities, though even they were not entirely able to keep up, suddenly Enra heard a high pitched male scream from on of the corners of the shop, followed curses and pleads for help shortly after.
"Help! Please! Someone help! Get this... THING off me!"
The cashier and several other staff turned their heads and stared off into the same direction before one of them seemed to make a call, as some of the other more brave ones cautiously followed the sound.
“Oh man…” Apple sighed, incredibly loudly. “I…I just don’t know. On the one hand, what you’re saying is I have a very large budget, and that could afford me what I dream of!!! On the other, well the folks back home gave me this for a reason, right? Maybe they are wanting something a bit more up market than the home-made videos I have been giving them.”
There was careful consideration and anguish in Apple’s voice, as they looked from Sylvan, to the receptionist, and back to Sylvan.
“I should…” there was another pause, as they attempted to use reason in their decision. “I need to get my head fixed. I have this money burning a metaphorical hole in my pocket and if the folks at home WANTED something more from my videos, they would say. I am, perhaps, more valuable as a film maker and as an Akili Bandi, if I can bring something truly revolutionary to the forefront of my people, and that would be to…well…go ahead. Yes. Let’s. Let’s do it!”
They turned with enthusiasm.
“Lady, I am ready and willing. I want to fix up my head, and transform my body!”
Enra winced, and hurriedly chased after Guffy.
"Guff, hey! Be careful!" she called out, rounding the corner. She probably shouldnt have said anything, she thought to herself. Maybe guffy'd found the guy, but hopefully the kid didn't hurt him- or more importantly get hurt themself.
She walked up and placed a hand on Guff's shoulder.
"Hey, hey, get off of him, I can handle this, guff, thank you-" she spoke, in an assuring and a falsely frantic voice.
The receptionist turned her attention back to Apple and nodded, bringing up the menus and contracts again.
"Very well! Have you decided on a payment plan then or will you pay in full? Have you considered which models and operating systems you want? Modifications? Aesthetic alterations and over all design? When would you like to make the conversion? If you so wish these decisions can be made and discussed in the backrooms if you desire more privacy."
The woman looked to Sylvan for a moment who still looked somewhat nervous, though at least his major concerns seemed to be out of the way for time being, the only thing left to do now was to decide what Apple actually wanted from his new body.
___
The sight Enra was greeted with when arriving in the corner where guffy had run off to was almost comical.
The man who had been screaming for help sat huddled up in a corner, a panicked look on his face. Aurshlae and Kael in the meanwhile were standing a bit behind Guffy and had apparently opted to observe for the time being, seeing no need to interfere just yet.
Guffy themselves on the the other hand stood on all fours, the hindside and back reared up like a mix of an angry cat and dog with a ravenous look on the face they actually growled at the man who looked rightfully terrified.
As Enra came into sight his eyes wandered to her.
"HERE, TAKE THE DAMN CARD JUST GET THIS THING OFF ME!", he screamed and threw the card off himself.
As Enra put her hand on Guffys shoulder she just sat down cross legged on the floor, exclaiming gleefully "I found him Enra!", with a beaming smile on their face showing an eerie amount of teeth.
Enra already saw one of the shop clerks approaching from the front of the shop.
Apple looked from Sylvan, to the receptionist, and back to Sylvan, giving him a smile as he did so, a subtle nod of thanks, before returning to conversation.
“Yes. The whole kit and caboodle. Seems I don’t need to be worrying about payment plans, just need to take a big old look at what you’ve got in store for me. So, maybe you’re right, let us go somewhere to discuss this in private?”
They turned once more to Sylvan. “Hey, you pop along, I will find you in a while, ok? Don’t want you waiting around or little old me…and hey! Thank you.”
Enra leaned over and picked the card off the ground, eyeing it over and confirming it was properly hers before placing it in her pocket once again. She reached down and scooped the kid up into her arms, adjusting her around to put the weight on her hip, then lifting herself back up.
“Thank you for finding him, Guff,” she said, offering a smile to the child. “Just, next time, stay with me when you go to find something, okay? I dont want you getting hurt or lost.”
After that, she began to walk back over towards the counter, purposefully ignoring any store clerk that went towards the scene, unless she was to be directly prompted by them. In the event that she wasnt, she instead found her way to the front counter, pulled out her card, and began speaking to the man at the front desk.
Slyvan looked at the receptionist then at Apple another time then he nodded.
"Alright, I'll be heading to the guidance hall then, I'll send you the address so you can come over later."
He patted his shoulder then turned around, though stopped at the the entrance once more.
"Don't let them, y'know, mess up your brain and stuff." He left through the same entrance they entered through what strangely enough felt like ages ago, though had likely been only minutes. So many new possibilities Apple had found here, so many new things he had learned.
---
Aurshlae and Kael followed her in her step as she left for the front desk, she wasn't interrupted, meaning the place likely had camera surveillance, which wasn't unsurprising considering the fact all sorts of people ended up here.
As they approached the desk the man was still looking in the direction the noise had come from, he turned his head to look and them, pulled the dress over the counter and made the payment with her card.
After a moment of silence he frowned then lifted an eyebrow at her.
"I think it may be best if you leave now for the day."
Notably, neither Aurshlae nor Kael ended up buying anything in the end.
After they left the shop, they made their way to the guidance, which wasn't actually too far off, a lot of strange peopel from all sorts of backgrounds and species were hanging around the entrance either watching, waiting or just talking to each other. There were no guards, no police or anything and above the entrance hng seven stars arranged in a constellation none of them recognised. The front door led straight into a large room.
It was... very busy. Even more so than outside, many people young and old alike, though they had in common they all looked like travellers in one way or another, there were no fights and they couldn't even hear any arguments over the sound of all the conversation held in the massive room, there were small table with stools, chairs and armchairs around them, stairs leading to upper levels, visible from the bottom, doors or doorways covered with hanging cloth leading into back rooms, carpets and banners hanging from the walls, trinkets and photos on shelves, none of them looking like any of it had the same origin, yet a lot of it looking like it was handmade or left here on purpose, it had something terribly unorganised, though also cosy. It was a place where one could find an understanding ear to listen, have a jolly conversation with someone from the other end of the galaxy to exchange experiences or even be just by themselves whenever they wanted. The hall itself seemed to be telling stories from uncountable places across the galaxy by simply standing in it. Somewhere deeper in the hall was a middle aged woman, looking elegant with greying black hair. She sat at a table with some others, they all seemed to stand out in a way that everyone seemed to have a certain respect for them, keeping a small distance from the table as they were talking.
It was a curious place, though not a bad one, Even Aurshlae and Kael who were not the ones for large masses of people didn't seem to mind the atmosphere.
Unrelated to all the events that had transpired thus far and deeply related to those that would come to pass in the future was a little figure, standing upon the shoulder-height hardlight transit balconies for the Hall's Little-Lighters and Fairvae. They were about average height for someone smaller than a hand, made of a fine basalt, and cloaked in a cheap tunic and trousers. Their wide and narrow ears had been dulled, their dark, iron-colored hair shot through with the multicolored metals of Lost Star, and their scowl deep. The only hint to their profession was a golden frame hovering over their chest and back, with a C-shaped band covering their right shoulder and something like a set of organs or a pile of gramophones curling atop their left.
The little figure's mercury eyes watched the proceedings of the table with quiet attention, their elbows leant up against the railing of the Lightway. They were only half-listening, half-eavesdropping; and the rest of them was still stuck in the dull slump of a lifelong prisoner let out in an open field.
They silently questioned for the umpteenth time that week whether or not slipping away had really been a wise decision.
Still holding Guffy upon her hip, Enra continued on into the surprisingly welcoming crowd of the Guidance Hall. She made her way through the crowd, peering around her and looking over the people in the hall. Faivae, Humans, a Carnaithian or two, a bunch of species she'd never seen before, a little rock person on a shelf-like thing, and- the table where the conversation was happening.
"Wonder where Sylvan is..." she asked no one in particular, while stepping towards the table, joining in the crowd hovering a distance away from it, and eavesdropping in.
It took a bit of effort listening to the conversation, given all the noise around but Enra eventually managed. The woman seemed to be who owned this place and was called 'Veleya', whilst the other seemed to be travellers which recently returned...
"So where is Rae?", one of them inquired during the conversation, he had been talking about how his son had decided to settle down in the Union, usually not a bad place to be but he felt like something had been off as of recent and the war didn't make it any better.
"Oh, she actually left to go on a journey."
The laughed lightheartedly.
"I don't know what it was that turned her around but a couple weeks ago she just came back home and said she'd like go."
Another man frowned for a moment.
"Wasn't she always the one who'd rather stay home on lost star? Strange."
He shook his head.
"Well, so long as she's fine I'm sure it's gonna be alright."
The conversation continued wandering in other directions, there was a lot of talk about, certain planets one or the other of them had visited, how one of them actually had been at the Hyperes wormhole but then decided to turn around. Notably they talked astoundingly little about the war, aside from how it made travelling to certain places harder. Things continued like this for probably about half an hour and none of them seemed to tire from the conversation, whilst even guffy just sat on the floor in awe of all the many strange people.
Until at some point sylvan suddenly stepped into the circle and sat down at the table.
"Hello Veleya!"
The woman looked at him for a couple of moments with skepticism, but none of the people at table seemed to be offended by his intrusion, in fact they seemed to be welcoming him.
"Ah, Sylvan. Welcome.", she eventually noted. "As per usual, you've been away longer than you expected."
He nodded and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Yeah, yeah, that seems to be an ongoing theme. Got stuck in the Forlorn Spiral and then had to buy some scrapper of a station to get out, which then broke down."
Veleya lifted an eyebrow. "How did you get here then?"
He laughed.
"Well, a bunch odd folks picked up the distress signal and brought me back to lost star. They should be somewhere around the hall actually!"
He paused and turned around looking for Enra and the others.
"Err... Musavian called Enra, small humanoid called Guffy, a Nocamal called 'Aurshlae' and another woman with four arms, I don't know the race of, have you met them?"
Coming from around the corner is what appeared to be a woman, a man, and strange blob. Matching the various species in the Guidance Hall in each individuals eyes. The paragon of everything the beholder saw as beauty. An extra set of limbs, usually four at their sides, but for races with multiple limps already more. Both connected at the shoulder blade. Six moth like wings folded back, and most notably. Glowing white skin. near radiant in appearance. They wore nothing but a simple cloak to allow their arms, and wings to come out of. Hardy, and a bit worn but nonetheless made of good quality. Brown, with a simple velvet like interior. The figure smiled softly having been listening into Sylvan talking of his new crew. They moved to sit speaking. They were a sight amongst the guidance hall. Having arrived but two weeks ago. The Voshkanreen having only opened into the galactic stage proper in the Diplomatic Summit called by the Union of Worlds. Before that they were but an old spacer legend. The Angels soaring the stars without ships near the Hochlands. Their voice was radiant, almost seeming to repeat softly in the back of the ear. Anyone who could sense such things. This indvidual had quite potent psionics. Most currently focused onto themselves to not be crushed by the stations gravity though. "I have seen them once before. Of an elusive order of warrior monks as I understand it. Slyvan was it? I am known as Eluvanar." The figure pulled down their hood with a gentle smile on their lips.
Enra stepped forwards as sylvan said her name, with Guffy in tow not far behind. She wore some semblance of a smile on her face, and nodded towards sylvan.
"Y'said my name? Nice little posse you've got going on here, sylvan."
She eyed over the others of the group sylvan had found himself a part of and pondered for a moment. They seemed fine enough, the atmosphere still one of calm and joy. "Ah," she quipped, "where are my manners? Name's Enra, the Musavian that Sylvan was talking about, and this is guffy," Enra said as she waved a hand politely back towards Guff.
"Err..."
Sylvan half turned towards Eluvanar, enough to see her, not enough to see Enra yet. He stopped.
His eyes widened. The elegant curves of her body captivating, her skyblue irises with a faint glow, a blue pattern running down her pale arm, hair the colour of her irises falling down her shoulders.
This woman she looked like...!
He frowned.
...but how? What was she? He felt... Confused and a slight headache seemed to creep up his spine.
He noticed his mouth still stood open from when he tried to answer.
He smiled uncertainly.
"I... uh... Yes. Yes, hello, that should be them. Who... ah, yes, Eluvanar. I-I'm Sylvan, pleased to meet you!"
One of the men at the table nudged another with his elbow and the exchanged a few words in a language none other at the table understood then they both laughed heartily.
Sylvan wasn't quite sure what it was but something about this woman... it was strange, was she really one of his own race? Where did she come from? Were there more like her and him somewhere out in the galaxy? What had she been doing all this time? Could he get her number...? For... exchange of information of course.
His head spun with questions, as Enra chimed in Sylvan tried to turn his head further still rather dazzled by the Voshkanreen, only to almost fall over as he forgot to turn his body with the head.
"Ah! Enra! Guffy! How has your shopping trip gone, found something nice? Yeah, this is Veleya Iris, she is the owner of the guidance hall and a friend of mine. Feel free to take a look around the hall and talk to people, Apple will be with us in a couple hours likely.", he paused, his gaze already wandering away to the Voshkanreen again.
"...he still had some business to attend to."
Eluvanar smiled softly at Sylvan. They were used to the looks, and didn't seem to bat too much of an eye out of an amused, and a bit coy of a smile. They simply just hoped no one started arguing over how they looked. That was never fun. They spoke softly, almost heavenly to the group at large.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Sylvan." They giggled softly, continuing. "You are new to Lost Star, yes? I have not seen you at the Guidance Hall before." Her wings fluttered half open for just a second in excitement. It had been so long since someone interesting had showed up. They gently put all four arms onto the table folding them over each other. Resting their head on them casually and closing their eyes. Quite childlike in nature. Or perhaps silly, or immature depending on perspective.
"It was... Interesting," she replied to sylvan. "Got pickpocketed and guff went ballistic on the guy. Both of em were alright in the end, dude gave my wallet back, ran off screaming like a madman. And yeah, we got the dress that the kid wanted."
She turned to Iris and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Miss Iris." she thanked the woman, before peering around, waving a bye, and heading off to look around the hall.
Sylvan waved back, smiling, he was confident they would be fine around the hall, if anything they would learn a couple new things about various places and people across the galaxy. At worst someone would invite them to gamble a couple of their belongings away but these things were relative tame here, it was just about acquiring a couple fancy trinkets for most people here.
Sylvan laughed in response to Eluvanars question.
"Ha! Well, you see, I've been here a couple times before, though as dear Iris here already noted I tend to disappear for longer than I planned for so there's that!"
He then proceeded to do what the others at the table had apparently already been waiting for, tell them what he'd done in his absence and where he'd been.
About how he travelled on a freighter to the borders of the Forlorn spiral, about how he hired on a civilian exploration cruiser, about how he visited numerous planets, about primitive spacefaring species, pirates and freelancers, about how he got stuck on a backwater spacestation and found his way off on a self-bought ship, about how it shut off after the first couple jumps and the strange muscular woman and the fairies that picked him up and finally about how he met Apple and the others and travelled back to Lost Star. As he was talking he was pulling trinket after trinket from his bag, one looking stranger than the next, though each one without any particular value to it besides the sentimental one.
In the meanwhile, Enra wandered the halls with Guffy, she soon noticed that Aurshlae and Kael were no longer following her, it was not unlikely they had seen something that piqued their interest and went to investigate, with how silent they were she didn't even hear them disappear. Though she was confident they would be able to take care of themselves. As expected, she didn't find any other Musavians here, however, instead a multitude of other species from all across the galaxy, many of which she had never seen before
After all storytelling and exploration was done, it had been a couple hours as everyone had gathered around the table again, although Aurshlae and Kael were as silent as usual something still seemed to be up with them as everyone listened to the closing sentences of Sylvans story.
"...well and that's how we all ended up back here." He paused and took a breath, looking around. Iris was the first one take the word after that.
"So, what are your plans going from here then? All of you. I know that you never stay long in a place Sylvan."
She laughed.
"Well, at least not voluntarily!", she added in a comment to how he got stuck twice on his journey this time.
"...but what about your companions?"
There was something strange about the question, as if she probing whether she should ask them for a favour.
A man stepped onto the floor. He stood, upright, his long legs and arms projecting his height as he surveyed the room. Piercing blue eyes looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the people he recognised. Medium length, bleached blonde hair was swept backwards, contrasting with the black, leather like jacket that was zipped up, snug across his chest.
He spotted Sylvan, sitting at the table, and a broad smile broke across his face. He lurched forward, almost skipping across the room, as he tried to garner Sylvan’s attention, interrupting the conversation ongoing.
“Hello Sylvan!” the voice was clear, a pleasant tone to it, the accent ‘proper’, the pronunciation correct. As they stepped closer, their appearance became clearer. Along with the bleached hair, their skin was unnaturally clear, the eyes, wild looking, almost as if electricity poured through them.
They held out a hand, ready to shake.
“So, What do you think?”
"...who...?"
Sylvan looked at the strange man for several moments with a rather confused look on his face which reflected in his voice, there was a moment of silence, then it clicked in his head and a wide grin entered his face.
"APPLE!"
He took his hand and shook it, stood up in a hurry and opened his arms wide by Apples side as if presenting him to the group.
"Well, I've told you about Apple, he's the guy who picked me up and brought us here! Not quite what you expected, eh?"
He laughed.
"He decided he'd have a bit of an upgrade! Impressive, isn't it? I'd say so at least, looking great man!"
He took a step back and left the 'stage' to Apple as he had attracted quite some attention, in part because he wanted to give him the opportunity to talk to everyone, but in part also because he still had his reservations about the artificial lifelike body. He'd watch him for a bit. Yeah. Maybe the feeling would pass? He was a nice guy after all.
The little figure on the Lightway was practically drenched in the story. They were leant with their elbows upon the solid half-wall, their scowl having faded to a dull expression of resting discontent. These people have a lot to do with their lives, they thought, looking on in incomprehension at the cyborg's sophisticated body.
I wonder if I could do something like...
They leant forward just a hair further, peeking open their little stone lips to speak, and then opened their eyes wide as a passing Little Lighter bumped them from behind. The poorly-dressed little golem came tumbling off of the catwalk, yelling in a panic. I don't want to die yet! They realized, recalling the hours Sylvan had spent unwittingly showing them the wonders of the universe. I don't want to die! The irony!
After quite some time, Enra and Guffy had seen all there was to see in the place. New species she'd never heard of, telling stories she never couldve dreamed of. She struck conversation with a few, listening to the wonders of their travel around the galaxy, only strengthening her resolve to go and see more places.
Quickly, though, she found time had passed quickly, and there were no more people she could bring herself to talk to. She checked to make sure the kid was with her, then finally returned to where Sylvan was. She arrived just in time to see apple be introduced. Then, to her left, she caught a glimpse of something falling- no, someone. Without hesitation, she sidestepped closer and shot out her hands, letting go of guffy for a moment- and instead using her tail to keep track of the child- cupping them to catch the falling Golem.
“Aha!” Apple began, “That’s me! A pleasure to meet you all, I am sure.”
The demeanour was so different from the robotic being Sylvan had been used to, but beneath it all, there were small hints of body language that suggested the same, yokal being who had picked the group up on his rusty ship.
“Sylvan, let me tell you, the whole experience was remarkable. Firstly, rest assured, the corrupted networks within my memory unit were completely replaced. They were surprised with how ‘bad’ it actually was, and by all accounts, we were lucky to have gotten there when we did, otherwise the situation could have been unsalvageable.”
“Secondly, they were so very kind. Of course they were, I was paying of course, but they allowed me every wish and courtesy. I was even allowed to film the process and produce a live blog through the whole thing. That has totally blown up back home! Subscriptions amongst ‘my kind’ especially have sky rocketed, and from what the centre was saying, they are already fielding hundreds of requests for information from Imaginarium and the Ancerious region.”
He looked down at his new body, smiling to himself.
“You know, this really feels…special. If I am right, I am the first of ‘my kind’ to undergo anything like this. The next step in our development, that is for sure."
Eluvanar stayed realtively silent for the renunion. The space faring being smiled to all that percieved them at the encounters. One in bemusement at the creature falling from the cieling, and a more genuinely joyful one at Apple. Even they knew nothing of him.
To apple though Eluvanar looked strange, almost horrific. Milk white skin that was impossibly thin, almost seeming to stretch over what looked like a body without bones. Their face had no eyes, mouth, nor nose instead the same white skin stretching across it tightly. Six moth like wings at their back, four arms two connected to each shoulder blade. Along with a multitude of long tendrils coming from their back with hardened ends, and almost flower like glowing purple things in-between those pincers. Their arms and legs both very thin, and tendril like themselves, like they had no bones themselves. They glowed at a decent brightness. Enough to be more than noticeable. The fact none were acknowledging the horrific monster sitting amongst them was remarkable.
Sylvan laughed.
"ha, well threw quite the waves in your homela...", then was promptly interrupted by the tiny figure falling from a higher floor, he wasn't quite close enough, though luckily, Enra caught it, whatever it was. He moved over to look at it only to tilt his head in curiousity.
"Huh, you... are not a fairvae. Are you alright?"
In the meanwhile Guffy sat down besides Eluvanar, looking at her with big eyes and apparent genuine amazement, though what they saw in Eluvanar was a question likely nobody present could answer. Curiously enough Kael and Aur'shlae watched her with skepticism and mildly wary looks.
Veleya watched the fall relatively calm and shook her head as the tiny golem was caught by Enra.
"You have to be more careful. We would install higher railings up there but the fairvae and little lighters around the hall are always very insistent on keeping them low, they really like just flying off from one floor to the other."
She sighed, then turned her attention back to Apple.
"I see, so Sylvans little horror stories didn't manage to change your opinion on changing your body, I congratulate you, it's not often we see someone with a full conversion around here, but those I met seemed to be always quite satisfied with the results.", she nodded to herself and watched the entnrance for a couple moments as if remembering something or looking what new people were coming in.
One of the men at the table, the same one who commented to another about Sylvan looking at Eluvanar earlier, squinted at Apple with a rather odd look on his face and then he grinned.
"So, you went for the 'full package' man?"
He laughed jovially wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and then elbow bumped his neighbour again as Veleya rubbed her forehead and shook her head as if saying 'Not this again.'
"Anyways. So what are all of your plans for now? It seems you've travelled quite a distance but didn't see too much so far, any places you planned to visit... or do you perhaps want some suggestions?"
The questions fired in thick and fast, and Apple realised with polite horror that he had been most rude, interrupting the conversation to garner Sylvan’s entire attention. Eluvanar, was new to the group, and a most interesting design, or at least that is what Apple thought. The universe was full of strange and mystical beings, and whilst Apple had never seen a creature quite like them, Sylvan and the rest seemed to not bat an eye lid, so Apple assumed the normality of the situation.
“Oh, I am terribly sorry, I realise now, I just interrupted this entire conversation. The excitement of it all made me lose my manners there!” he reached a broad, natural smile, that he presented to the group.
“I don’t mean to speak for the group, but I am somewhat of a traveller, and I would LOVE some suggestions on places to go, things to see.”
"I think I'm alright," the figure offered, though - no, wait. Sylvan and the others weren't understanding their words. What they said was music notes in varying harmonies and tones, like a Gothic hymn or Sumerian chant: but what they thought of them as became words. Not just a psychic phenomenon - but one of shocking subtlety. What was that thing?
"I'll have to watch, um..." They blinked their gallium eyes, staring uncomprehendingly at those assembled, and fell silent again as Sylvan and his men continued. The metal-haired creature in Enra's hand opened their mouth after Apple's request, recognizing a chance, and piped up in tritone.
"Can-" They reached a discord of two poorly-placed notes, winced, and tried again. "...Um, well, I- I fell partly because... You, you see, I.... W-When it comes down to it, I think... Um...."
The tiny basalt golem stood up, dusted off their cheaply-made wire-twine clothes, and tried again with a firmer bass. "W-What the once-Toyfolk said. Would- would it be possible for me to come along with...." They waved a hand around, at once wavering in their confidence. "...W-Well, this... group? I-I don't have much I can offer, but.."
Enra shook her head and chuckled as the music-tones of the golem sounded out, the words shifting into the minds of those around it. She lifted her arms up slightly and placed the thing on her shoulder, then slowly turned to make sure guffy hadn't run off, then she turned her head back to the group.
"Its good to see what everything went alright, Apple. Im sure you'll enjoy this new body of yours," she responded to apple first, seeing that he had stumbled into the conversation.
Then she listened to the golem's chirpings- come with them?
"Seem's a lot of people like us, seeing this is what, the... fifth? seventh?- person to ask to hitch a ride with you, Apples," she first commented, then moved on to actually answering the question.
"I'd have no issues with it, but then again, it is Apple's ship, so I think he'd have final say," Enra answered- it wasnt her place to say 'Yes' or 'No', but a 'maybe' wouldn't hurt.
Sylvan simply shrugged in response to the question of the little golem.
"I don't have issues with that but it's not my decision. So...yeah."
He turned around to Apple and started talking before Veleya could.
"Well, there's a couple of places which we could visit on lost star, if you wanna stay nearby, after all we just arrived."
He paused to think for a moment.
"You've already seen the House Asterion customer area, but you've probably also seen the images in the lobby, their deep sea servers are quite interesting if not quite everyones thing, there's loads of museums and showing the history of Lost Star and how it was, the unfinished sections have actually quite a spectactular view..."
Veleya frowned at him.
"...uh... yeah, but I would stay at a distance, folks around there are not very welcoming. There’s a number of artificially built vistas made to attract tourists, superstructures made to maintain infrastructure..."
He laughed.
"I mean, I'd show you White Maginot but that's not a place the like sof us aree going to get even close to! Shipbreaker cove is interesting, would stay away from palces like Brasstown and I heard the Grindstone is actually warzone right now, there's..."
This is where Veleya cut in with a mischievous smile.
"Nala asked for you."
Sylvan flinched at the words suddenly falling silent. He turned his head to her and frowned, a hard to read expression on his face.
"You should show them Eysra, it's probably the most interesting place you will be able to show them around these parts."
Sylvan remained silent for a moment his shoulders had dropped and his enthusiasm seemed to be gone.
"...can't someone else?"
He stuttered, his voice uncertain.
"She asked, for you specifically and you are the only one who can get them into Eysra. You're not going to say you refuse helping your friends, are you?"
Sylvan sighed.
"I... fine. I... I will do it.", he muttered.
He looked around for a couple moments, then seemed to remember something or maybe just pretended to change the topic. He began digging through his bag and then pulled out a weird looking little statue.
"Oh yeah! I brought you the thing you asked for had to search for a quite a while, but one of the traders in the western end of the forlorn spiral had some, probably a scam but still looks like the real thing."
He placed the statue on the table, it was about as tall as a hand and looked like an idol from some primitive civilisation, it was all covered in gold but that was hardly a indicator of its value given space age resource extraction.
Veleya smiled, this time genuinely.
"Thank you, thank you, I appreciate it."
As the whole scene was going on, Eluvanar had been watching patiently, where as Aurshlae and Kael seemed to be discussing amongst themselves.
“Hey, the more the merrier as the saying goes. I ain’t got a problem with this little cherub joining our little band of adventurers.”
The more yokal tone was returning to Apple’s voice, as they fluctuated and adjusted their tones, seemingly still wrestling with their persona after the upgrade. The return made Apple’s face relax, and smile once more, as if he suddenly realised who he was, which gave him comfort.
“Well, you’re certainly right Sylvan. I know that House of Asterion quite well, and I do not wish to spend that kind of small fortune again.” he was happy to be jovial, but the look on Sylvan’s face concerned him, as he followed the back and forth between Veleya and Sylvan.
His friend was showing discomfort, and Apple didn’t like it. He didn’t let it be known across his face, as he felt a whole wider range of emotions than he had ever experienced cross through his robotic brain, but he watched, hawk like, to see if he could understand the situation. He decided to jump in, and save his friend.
“If this…what was it, Eysra? If that ain’t a place you wanna go Sylvan, you don’t need to go there. We only want good vibes on my ship, you hear?” he addressed his statement to Veleya, with a smile and stern stare.
Enra nodded as apple responded to the metal-golem. "Well, there you have it," she turned her head towards the golem, "you can come with us. I can try to carry you around if you want, so you dont get trampled.
She offered her hand up once more, while listening intently to the ongoing conversation between Sylvan, Apple, and Veleya. Something about Esrya, and Sylvan not wanting to go.
"Yeah, I'm with apple. Unless there's a really good reason, you dont have to go; although I am interested to hear what exactly 'Esrya' is."
The golem, meanwhile, seemed transfixed on the idol: nodding half-consciously to Enra's offer for carriage as they examined the thing carefully. The little creature sniffed, frowning, and their eyes shimmered an octarine sheen.
"That thing's got alchemical properties," they muttered, peering at it from the edge of Enra's hand. "I-I don't know the white stuff, but I know gold; and both smell and look like potent ingredients. Where was this from?"
Eluvenar watched thier visage growing a small smile at the bickering. Apple saw no smile, just a curious tiliting of their head. Finally they spoke after watching curiously the vents unfolding. Kicking off from her seat to gracefully flying over the table and touching down net to everyone proper. Her wings unfolding into what looked like a six point star as she flew.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble. I've never been in a spacecraft before, and it does sound lovely."
Sylvan looked into the round as everyone left their comment on the matter, he even had a brief look at the tiny Golem though more in confusion, after all he only saw the surface of the statue and not that it was actually carved from ivory. Eventually he looked like he had given up.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Look it's... it's not like it's a bad thing going to Eysra. I just... Nala is a good..."
He seemed to be looking for a the right words. "...friend. ...and I haven't visited her in quite a while. So... hey, all good, right?"
Veleya smiled triumphantly, clearly satisfied by her work.
"Well, there should be no issues then!"
She looked at Eluvanar for a couple moments then laughed.
"Well, it seems you are gathering quite the crowd, as per usual!"
Sylvan looked at Eluvanar then back at Apple, seemingly somewhat conflicted, whether to feel good or bad about the mysterious new stranger entering their group, though more calm now than when the old Journey Master suggested them going to Eysra.
"I mean, I have no issues with her coming with us but... do we even have enough space? It's been pretty tight as is. I have no issues with sharing MY personal space with others but I'm not sure about everyone else."
Before anyone could answer, Aur'Shlae raised her hand as if asking to take the word and so she did.
"About that. There are a few things this one has learned when talking to the inhabitants of these halls. About the place where this one came from, our home...
We... will be parting ways with you and Kael will be coming with me." She looked over to her and Kael nodded affirmingly, Aur'Shlae continued.
"There is no need to ferry this one further, you need not worry, we will find our own way to our destination. This one would like to thank you all, it has been a short but pleasant journey."
“Oh.”There was disappointment in Apple’s voice, as his head slung, and a his newly christened face dropped to show a range of sad emotions. “Well, hey if that is what y’all want or need to do, then heck I am sure we wish y’all all the best, right gang?”
It would be sad, they had gathered quote a group, and Apple was loving it. He adored this band of misfits that they had gathered together, and to see it split and separate would be tough, though even Apple admitted to himself that he did not know where everyone was going to fit on the ship (he had even toyed with the idea of buying a new vessel altogether).
“Listen, before you go, I think we should have one big picture together…for memories sake, you know? And you would always be welcome in…in…say, everyone, what are we calling our little group here? I think all adventuring parties need some form of name, right?”
Enra frowned as the news came from Aurshlae and Kael broke the news of their departure from the group. She nodded. "It'll suck to see you guys go, but I wish you the best, and good luck. May not of known eachother long, but, still; was nice having the two of you around.
Having not said much until now, guffy raised their hand and waved a good-bye to the two, their eyes curiously looking over them. It was clear in their expression they werent fully comprehending this 'goodbye', just yet.
Enra didnt pay much mind to the stranger- once again, it was Apple's decision, and she didn't have much of an opinion on them just yet.
"A group photo sounds great," she responded to apple, a smile returning to her face as she moved over closer to the android. "As for a name... Hm. Cant think of anything that isn't dumb and cheesy- 'The Lost Stars'? Nah..." she seemed to get lost in her thoughts for a while, not able to come up with any good suggestions, for now.
Sylvan looked at the two for a couple moments and nodded.
"I see, well, I wish you good luck on your journey. No telling beforehand when you need to change paths so no worries!"
Kael looked looked at Aur'Shlae as if communicating with them without words who nodded in return, this time it was Kael talking her voice now considerably less raspy than when they first met her.
"We... would not be opposed to a photo, no."
"Well, I guess we can do it right here, right now, though I'm afraid in regards to the group name I'm clueless as well."
He rubbed his chin, apparently giving it a second thought. He hadn't named anything in a while, maybe he should just give it a try?
"I mean, 'The Stargazers' maybe? We DID meet somewhere in the middle of nowhere and haven't seen much other than stars since, until we arrived at Lost Star, which is, in a way, also a 'star' I guess, in the farthest sense."
Before waiting for an answer he moved over to Kael and Aur'Shale, standing in front he noticeably looked almost like a child in before the the two tall women.
He looked over to the Golem and Eluvanar as if out of reflex.
"Oh yeah, I guess if you're going to come with us, you should probably go onto the photo as well Eluvanar and..."
He focused on the tiny Golem and squinted.
"...what was your name?"
Enra huddled in for the photo, standing to the right of sylvan. She bent down and heaved guffy into her arms, so the short kid wouldnt be out of frame on the photograph.
"Shame that the... other Mus'vanus, whatever his name was, left before we could get the photo in. He seemed interesting."
Waiting for the photo be taken, Enra got into a good standing position and quietly fussed at guffy as they shuffled around in her arms, eventually getting them to sit still through some back-and-forth arguing, and even some semblance of a smile from them for the camera.
“The Lost Stargazers? I don’t know, we can thought shower it sometime, I am sure. Alright everyone, huddle in.”
Apple set down a device, a jutting stand popping out and holding it at waist height. A deep lens looked towards the group, a camera of some sort, and Apple retreated to the group, gathered.
“Ok, I got the trigger here ok, so when everyone is ready…on 3, say ‘Happy!!’, 1….2…..3….HAPPY!”
FLASH, the device emitted a bellowing light, blinding and dazzling the group. Apple jumped up with a cheer.
“Aha! Excellent. Ah man, this is wonderful. It has been so good to meet y’all.”
The little golem Enra had picked up—at this point, standing on the table so as not to get in the way of what they were doing—stumbled with a dissonant squak at the brilliance of the camera's flash. It rubbed its eyes, making a miserable theremin-like noise and staring uncertainly at the aperture off to the side.
"...W-What was that?"
Sylvan looked at the golem with mild confusion or rather in its general direction, still partially blinded from the flash.
"What's what? The camera or a name? Never seen a camera? Takes images of you, can keep them for later as a memory."
He paused. Pondering on the other possibility, if it really was the name it was already the second member without one, weird theme they had going on there.
"Well, with the name...that's just what people call you, y'know, like, I'm Sylvan, this is Apple, that's Enra...", he continued, pointing at the corresponding party members.
"N-No, not the name, sorry—" It gestured warily at the camera, clutching the odd gramophone-like tube hanging over its shoulder with the other hand as if it were a safety net. "W-why... Is there a creature behind that eye, then? Oh, Saints; is everything going to be this confusing...?"
Sylvans expression changed from confused to dumbfounded. Creature? Saints? On one hand, he had of course heard stories of stuff like slavers abducting primitives from planets, but actually meeting one... If it even was that.
"Okay... So."
He paused.
"There is no creature inside. It uh... The 'eye' catches the light and then..."
He rubbed his chin.
"...it remembers an image of it to save for later. In form of a code that it can read, like a machine."
"Incredible," it breathed, staring at the camera with renewed interest. "It can perform such miraculous feats even when no lifeblood fills its body?"
"Yeah... Almost like magic, huh? I'm sure Apple can explain it to you in detail later."
Sylvan shrugged, looking at Apple and Enra, realising or maybe remembering for the first time in ages how fascinating it had once been to learn about technology even though he had actually grown up with it, then turned back to the golem.
"So... About your name?"
"My name!"
It blinked, frowned, and then folded its arms. "...I don't... I am a Toyfolk, and I am a Phone, however. Does that answer your question." The little stone creature frowned, furrowing its metallic eyebrows. The question itself seemed alien to the thing—like Sylvan had asked it whether light was bright, or gravity had a pull.
"Phone? Like...like the device, Phone? Like, the thing folks use to be speaking to one another, phone?"
Apple registered a slight moment of confusion, if only because he wasn't sure whether the little creature meant their name was Phone, or that they were literally a Phone.
The golem tapped the gramophone over its shoulder, closing its eyes. As Apple spoke, the words simply didn't come out of his mouth—as if something had plucked the voice from his throat. From the now-glowing horn over the golem's shoulder, he heard the rest of his question;
"Like, the thing folks use to be speaking to each other, phone?"
It released its hand from the... speaker, nodding. "Yes, that."
Apple looked from the Golem, to Sylvan, back again, and once again to Sylvan.
"Well, this just raises more questions for me..."
Sylvan frowned, he had joked about magic only moments earlier and now there was actual magic involved. They also had another member with seemingly no name.
"So, how do you tell two of you apart then, where you come from?"
"Why would you want to tell two of us apart?" 'Phone' chuckled, giving Sylvan a strange look. "Each one of us works the exact same, with a few variations."
Enra blinked and rubbed her eyes after the camera's flash, and turned to see Guffy complaining and whining about the bright light. She allowed the golem to go onto the table, turning away to speak to the young one. After some time, she turned back to realize a whole conversation had happened mostly without her.
"Your name is phone?" she asked rhetorically. "And, was Individuality just not a thing where you came from?"
Sylvan still looked puzzled. He just imagined an army of tiny same looking golem people, all looking the same, all saying the same thing, all doing the same movements. He felt a bit stupid, maybe a tad awkward.
"So... do... you want a name then or should we just call you 'phone'? Variations is the stuff that makes each of us individual, I mean, depending on how things go you may travel with us for quite a while, so... uh..."
"...well, only if want to, can of course just stick with 'phone' if you prefer that."
He paused looking into the assembled group and eventually focusing on Apple.
"What do you think Apple? You got any input on that?"
“I honestly have no idea right now.” Apple said, a bemused expression laden across his face. “But, maybe, for the sake of a name, we could just call them…’Phone’. I mean, it is not exactly conventional, but none of this little group of ours is conventional is it?”
He stepped forward towards the Golem.
“Phone, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
The little golem nodded eagerly, bowing to Apple and looking up to Enra once it'd processed Enra's question. "It is," it explained, pointing to itself with a frown. "I'm not custom-built, though: I'm mold-cast. A Toyfolk. I'm not a person, I'm a tool. Is that really so strange?"
"Seem pretty personable to me," Enra stated. "Not a tool anymore, seeing as youre joining us as a 'friend', so to speak. Better get outta that mindset sometime soon, eh?"
She peered down at it for a moment. Finally, she nodded. "I think i'll call you Pho."
“Pho, now that there is a good name. If you’ll have it, Pho? Phone?”
Apple turned to the group, looking upon each and every one of the assembled travellers.
“So, are we a group then? Ready to explore the galaxy?”
Sylvan lifted both eyebrows with a somewhat resigned look on his face. On the one hand he knew there were all sorts of cultures out there and everyone was entitled to their own opinion and name, on the other hand... 'phone'.
He wasn't exactly adept in the culinary arts, so he wasn't aware Apple was also named after a fruit.
He shrugged and his smile finally returned. "Well, personally I'm ready, I've done everything I needed to do here, we heading off to Eysra then?"
He paused looking around for a couple moments a quizzical look on his face, as if searching for something in the crowd, eventually turning to Veleya.
"Sooo... Rae not around today or is she out 'exploring' again?"
She gave him a smug smile in return, her closed hand in front of her lips as if supressing a giggle.
"Oh wouldn't you like to know?"
He rolled his eyes in response.
"I mean..."
"She left a couple weeks ago, I#m not sure what drove her to the decision but I'm glad she finally found her way."
There was a bit of a pause, as Sylvan seemed to be processing the information with mild confusion on his face before a somewhat melancholic-sad smile entered his face that had something deeply genuine.
"Oh.
...
Well, glad to hear she's alright then! Maybe we'll meet somewhere out there, you never know."
'Pho', not quite invested in Sylvan's conversation, but still curious about what was being said, trailed off at a "That sounds fine" to listen in on the goings-on. Unsure of how to handle itself, it meekly asked Enra for another hand up: as it was unable to really travel with the group otherwise.
The Lizard nodded firmly and let her hand fall down to pick up the golem, once more setting it atop her shoulder. She looked towards sylvan and listened into the conversation, waiting for a lull to speak up.
"Figure im just outta the loop, but who exactly is Rae?" she asked, shifting her weight as she now carried both the engineered child and a small rock golem on her shoulder, her tail laid flat against the ground to try and serve as a tripod to put less constant weight on her knee and hip joints.
"And should we get heading back to the ship, now? Everyone else at least; im sure you have a couple conversations to finish before you leave."
"Rae is..."
Sylvan started, then promptly stopped to think, as Veleya observed him and what he was about to say with seemingly great interest.
He seemed to be very cautious about what to say.
"She is... a good long time friend, she's also the one who brought me to this place when I first arrived on Lost Star, she likes exploring places and wandering around and is more often away from than in the hall, even though she's the daughter of Veleya here. May have seen her if you've... oh."
He scratched his head with an expression of realisation.
"Ah, yeah, none of you've ever been here before, right."
Veleya nodded, apparently satisfied with what he said but made no further comment.
"Oh well. Yeah, unless you've got anything else to do here we're good. I'm done, I'll come back here eventually, always do. Well and you probably wouldn't get into Eysra without me anyways."
Phone shrugged, awkwardly settling onto Enra's shoulder and collarbone in an angled seat. Despite being made of stone, it wasn't particularly heavy: maybe the weight of a glass of water at most.
"What exactly... is Eysra," it finally asked, frowning a little. "I thought that was the name of someone important before I got here—or, is that place you were talking about named after them? I heard about the Judge on the way here." Pho awkwardly tugged at its tunic, not quite sure what to do with itself. "And, why are we going there if that man—" ...and it pointed to Apple... "—says it's so dangerous?"
"Far as I know, Esrya is a district here on lost star, something to do with magic and all that buzz. Sylvan-" she nodded towards him, as if indicating who the name belonged to, "-seems to find it familiar, so i'm already down for it. Pretty sure Apple-" she did the nod again, this time towards the android. "-Was just concerned 'cause of the way Sylvan was taking the news, m'sure it's not all that Dangerous," Enra replied to the golem.
"As long as we get to adventure, go places, see things- I'm happy. Whole reason I left my home; aside from the poverty; was to see the galaxy, y'know? Sure that applies for a lot of people here too," she paused, looking around.
"Well, at least two of us," she half-joked- her eyes particularly crossing over to Apple.
Sylvan sighed, Eysra, was not per se dangerous, you just had to look out where you were going and what you were doing but...
Well, that was true for a lot of places.
"Alright so Eysra is..."
He began and atarted telling stories about it that would last them another couple hours combined with a slew of ever renewed questions from the group and remarks from the other guests of the hall, in the end, they never got out of the place before the next day, some of them taking a rest in some of the backrooms, as others continued exploring and sharing stories.
Only on the next day they actually left, though it did not seem that anybody had any issues with the delays, in fact it seemed to be rather common for that to happen as many if the other guests confirmed.
Reinvigored and well rested they began their way towards Eysra, waving the journeymaster Veleya and their former companions Kael and Aur'shlae goodbye as they departed, finding the other Musavian and all his pissessions gone when they arrived back at the ship.
Though what they would consequently find there in this magical place called Eysra, would be a story for another day...
It is an unremarkable system with a dying dwarf star, its dull red glow bathed small planetoids and a ringed gas giant in a tenuous orbit, devoid of most life but just enough of a pull to drag forth some unsuspecting souls...
Space split asunder with a velvet-red tear, the radiating fracture ejected a four-dozen meter winged shuttle into a far orbit from the singular gas giant, it tumbled end over end with a trail of ethereal threads that faded as the rift sealed behind them.
Tabitha reacted quickly as the other girls held on for their lives, she silenced the blaring buttons upon the controls as her skilled hands pulled the flight stick determinedly at a sharp angle, the shuttle's four engines shifted along their axis and flared to life with a quiet roar, the heavy spin of the Asmodeous M3 gradually stilled and all three let loose long held breath.
"See?" Remarked the grey-haired fairy as she fluttered up to stare out into the dark depths of space, "I told you we'd be fine!"
The towering Samantha loosened her grip upon the mottled slimy skin of her pet 'Janu', "My wings are all bruised..." she replied quietly as Tabitha wiped the sweat from her brow and laid back into the metal-bound pilot seat and remarked, "Well I've got no fucking clue where we are... Verci, what was all that?"
The half-foot fairy dropped onto Tabitha's brown hair and hung her head down, "We're safe aren't we?" she replied directly into Tabby's eye, "I'll be the judge of that..." Tabitha stated as she scanned her eyes across the console, various tripped annunciator buttons still flashed silently, "Alive yes... safe, I'm doubting it."
"You got a better idea Tabs?" Verci snapped back before she jumped down to stand upon the flight stick, "Just... give me a few to rest and I'll have us all the way to Moloch's lair!"
Tabitha unclipped her seat restraints and gently pushed off the seat, "I'm gonna check the ship... try not to cause any more trouble."
Travelling throughout the void of space, a single person craft, a ship of small design, it’s structure blocky, and seemingly patched together. It’s pilot, a lone figure, metallic in make, sitting at the control panels. They tap away on the desk as they admire the vast sway of stars surrounding them, before pressing a button, and turning towards a recording device strapped to their side giving a best capture of their portrait.
“Well, hello there now friends. Your old friend Apple here, travelling the expanse of our universe. Thank you once again for joining me on my travels. If you do like what you come to see, don’t forgot to like, comment, heck you may even consider subscribing if you are so obliged.”
‘Apple’ looks away from the camera for one moment, looking once again out into space before returning to speak.
“Would you just look at that. Space, it just really blows my little Akili Bandi brain you know? We’ve seen a lot of this journey so far haven’t we? But today I am hoping to bring you something real special like…I’ve heard rumours on the t’old ANCnet that there’s a very curious looking nebula out here…something I think you guys back home are gonna love now. But first, let me tell you a little bit about today’s sponsor, TIERZ…”
As they speak, a flash of bright light illuminates the cock pit. Out of nowhere, there a second vessel…Apple processes what they are seeing. They look at their dashboard, their array of scanners registering all information that is being poured at them.
“Well…I may sound a gosh darn fool, but it would seem like we have ourselves something unexpected here…let me just try something…”
They type away on the desk in front of them, opening a communication channel on all open frequencies.
“Hey howdy there friends. You came through there with a measure of speed and what looked like a bump. Say you all ok over there?”
These things need to make a better sound... Jenna thought to herself, sending a quartet of particle bolts hurtling at a rock with just a thought. White light erupted from the nacelles of the frigate, lancing straight for the rock faster than the human mind could comprehend without ungodly abstractions. The lances of light impacted the rock dead-on, and it collapsed immediately into a shower of debris.
["Warning: heat capacity nearing maximum,"] the ship's computer, a dumb ALI that nonetheless managed to sound like a nagging mother, barked at the woman. ["Safety protocols engaged. Disabling weapon systems."]
"Aw man... I was starting to feel better, too!" Jenna mumbled to herself, like a scolded child.
Before she could complain any more, the sensor board lit up. The tachyon detection unit they'd installed before Jenna's little joyride was detecting something--no, two somethings odd, just on the other side of the gas giant. She raised her brow, thought for a moment, and then pushed the throttle forward - she didn't exactly need to, with the neural command suite, but it felt nice, had more gravitas than just thinking "go forward".
The frigate lurched forward, its massively overspecced engines effortlessly pushing it forward at a leisurely 1G, lit up more brightly than one of those distant stars in the sky, even at this separation from her unknown contacts.
On the edge of the system something exits FTL, a small damaged ship moving about, a slight fire sparking in the back past the cockpit as sparks erupt from systems
"Holy shit that was close-"
A Quiet boom resounds as something explodes
"Fuck- That was the Engines"
The Mus'vanus Woman jumps up and runs to the back of the corvette-sized ship where a huge fire is burning away the engines, more small explosions going off as the ship sends an automated SOS out, but the damaged systems only allow the signal to go as far as the edge of the system itself.
"Fuckfuckfuck-
I've gotta get outta this shitbucket"
She rushes to the hangar at the bottom of the ship after grabbing her bag of stuff and slipping on an exoatmospheric suit, jumping into the small unarmed escape pod and flying out of the hangar as the ship silently explodes in the vacuum of space, when the fire hit the ancerium stores. She flips on the sensors and notices the 3 blips in system, she was getting ready to say something into an open comms channel when 'Apple' spoke into the comms first.
"Hello? My name is Enra, i was hit by pirates while i was in FTL and barely escaped, made it here and my ship went critical, ancerium stores blew. Right now im in a small escape craft near the outermost planet."
She sent this response over all comms frequencies as well, hoping for a response.
“You Coronan crossbreed of a toaster and a shitter!”
Sylvan cursed as he fumbled with the wires of the emergency generator, the wires throwing sparks as they touched and lights flickered on and off what could be the twentieth time already. The ship had been out of juice for a couple hours now, first the ftl drives then the sensors shortly after, followed by the transmitters until, eventually, the entire reactor gave out on him.
He was stranded.
...and he didn’t even fucking know where he actually was. Somewhere halfway towards Lost Star probably.
He stood up with an angered expression and kicked the wall of the damn tin can of a ship that shady idiot at the last station sold him. He began to wind up for another kick…
...and then instead just sat his foot back on the ground.
He sighed and sat back down, grabbing a new wire and began searching.
Somewhere should be…
Yes.
He pulled out a wire that had clinged somewhere to the wall so far and looked at the wire in his right hand or rather the patterns on his arm, switching the wire to his left.
He just had to… concentrate.
He put the two wires together, ignoring the sparks he concentrated on the patterns, on the wires and what he wanted to do, what he wanted to change.
“Just… a little.”
He felt the magical power flowing through himself, not filling the space in front of his outstretched finger and…
…he opened his eyes.
The two cables were now attached to each other, finally.
He wrinkled his nose, something smelled burnt.
“Don’t tell me…”
He sighed and leaned down, looking into the box, most of the cables inside were now a mangled mess of intertwining and deformed old cables. He looked at the faintly glowing patterns on his right arm, he had overdone it again, he should really get… a teacher or something.
The lights flickered on.
He sighed again.
‘Well at least it worked.’ He thought to himself, heading over to the control consoles and turning on the distress signal.
Tabitha was head deep in an access panel when a shout echoed through the shuttle's cabin, "TABS!... there's a... blippy!" came the distinctive tinny cry of Verci, "Going to have to be more specific!" Tabitha shouted back, "It's blue and sounds like BEEP BEEP BEEP." the fairy immediately replied.
"That'd be the RDF." Tabitha called back as she immediately kicked off the wall and drifted swiftly back to the cockpit, "Means people!... we can ask for directions!" she announced proudly as she arrived.
Verci had her face pressed up against the cockpit's windows, with Samantha seemingly mesmerized by the motions of her wandering catfish trying to process the lack of gravity, "We don't need directions." Verci replied with her muffled voice, "I just need to figure out..."
Tabitha planted a hand upon Samantha's shoulder, "What do you think Sam?", the towering woman made a startled jump before she stammered "I... uhh... yes, we should ask."
"Two on one, Ver... majority rules." Tabitha stated with a grin as she strapped herself back into the pilots seat, "Fuck you too Tabs." was the fae's immediate response.
Tabitha laughed as she picked up the receiver from the console,"You don't even have a map." Which prompted Verci to turn about and fold her arms, "You don't need a map, it's space!"
"Will they even speak our language...?" Samantha pondered quietly, "It's worth a shot..." Tabitha replied as she flicked a switch and began to speak...
"Hi... hello, this is the... well who... okay, sure... this is the Shining Sorceress to the... people who are here, we're kinda lost, need direction to the veil of darkness to which Moloch's lair resides."
Samantha gently grasped her pet as Tabitha began to power up the shuttle's engines, "Will they be friendly?"
Tabitha shrugged, "Flip a coin... we'll see."
On Jenna's screen, one of the - multiplying! - dots lit up. Incoming electromagnetic waves on a UHF frequency... it took her a moment to remember that that was nerd talk for "incoming message".
"Can't use plain fucking English in any fucking thing..." she grumbled to herself as she opened a channel. "This is Commander Jenna Cole, currently in charge of CSV Aurora. You're... asking for... directions to..." She hit the mute button. "What the fuck are these people on about? Moloch's lair?"
A quick search of the databases didn't turn up much apart from a few Talmudic and Biblical references, not that Jenna really expected it to - Commonwealth databases aren't exactly worth what they once were. She flicked the mute button again. "I haven't heard of any lairs around here. What exactly are y'all planning to do?"
The Screen goes alight with an incoming message, and Enra taps the screen. Listening to the message, she looks utterly confused and the hope she had for salvation dwindling.
"The hell..."
She taps to send a response.
"I have no idea what you're on about, but, if you would stop by and pick me up, that'd be nice..."
*She sends the response and leans back in the chair, sighing heavily as she watches the screens displaying all the information. Two days of oxygen, 1 day of fuel, 30 rounds in the small defensive machinegun... Not much. She mustve forgot to stock it up when she left the planet. Oh well, she should hopefully be out of here soon...
“Hey there y’all. There seems to be a lot of loud traffic on the networks today. We got some lost folks, some who’ve broken down. It seems all kinds of messy. Tell you what, my little boat maybe small, but I’ve room enough to come help you our Enra, how about that?”
Apple taps on their navigational chart, seeing the blip of light signaling the spot of which Enya spoke from.
“I am…well hey I am about 40 seconds away from you Enra, if I get my little speedy boots on. The rest of y’all, how about we set ourselves a rendezvous and have ourselves a conversation, see if we can help each other out?”
Apple presses the message button once more to turn it off momentarily before once again addressing their camera.
“See folks, it helps to be friendly out here in the universe. All kinds of strange things happening…”
"Thirty seconds off..." Tabitha muttered to herself, "What kind of delta they burning?"
Verci was slumped over in Tabitha's lap as she stared absently off into the stars ahead, "Oh who cares..." she announced with a bored yawn, "Lets just go make friends."
Tabitha turned her head back to glance at Samantha as she stated with a smile, "Pre-ignition check complete, please secure any and all luggage and fish before acceleration."
Frantically the towering Arankasi clasped the mottled catfish and held it close to her chest, "Really need to get a proper tank for him huh..." Tabitha observed, hand lazily rested upon the throttle, "Ver didn't give you much warning huh?"
Samantha shook her head, "N... no, not really, I got the... and I didn't really..." she mumbled out, "Yeah she's a little handful." Tabitha replied.
"I'll full your hand in a second, Tabs." Verci interjected as she pointed forwards, "MUSH!"
"What's that even mean?" Tabitha pondered as she eased forward on the throttle...
Energetic plumes poured forth from the heavy engines upon the shuttle's wings, the heavy thrust directed the craft towards the mix of signals in the long void ahead.
Sylvan looked at the screens and displays, at least, those which were still working.
They showed him…
Nothing.
It seems his sensors were still out.
He sighed and headed over to the cabinet and put on his spacesuit, better now than later when the ship probably got hit by some micrometeorite and leaked oxygen, would not even surprise him at this rate.
-
As other people started to exchange transmissions and moved from various points to others in the system. The little shuttle remained idle, at least until the distress signal activated, a tiny blip on the sensors of a repeating signal popped up orbiting the sun in a medium orbit. As the ship passed the ‘horizon’ of the the star it was now able to be received by other parties in the system as well.
-
One of the displays changed, notifying the young man, that there were apparently public transmissions going around nearby.
He cursed again.
He was apparently able to catch on to them, meaning his receiver was still working, however, the decoders (and most of the other transmission equipment) seemed to have passed on when the reactor gave out a couple hours earlier.
So he was not actually able to find out what they said… or answer, for that matter.
He sighed and laid flat on the ground, nothing left to do but wait.
Sylvan looked at the screens and displays, at least, those which were still working. They showed him… Nothing. It seems his sensors were still out. He sighed and headed over to the cabinet and put on his spacesuit, better now than later when the ship probably got hit by some micrometeorite and leaked oxygen, would not even surprise him at this rate. - As other people started to exchange transmissions and moved from various points to others in the system. The little shuttle remained idle, at least until the distress signal activated, a tiny blip on the sensors of a repeating signal popped up orbiting the sun in a medium orbit. As the ship passed the ‘horizon’ of the the star it was now able to be received by other parties in the system as well. - One of the displays changed, notifying the young man, that there were apparently public transmissions going around nearby. He cursed again. He was apparently able to catch on to them, meaning his receiver was still working, however, the decoders (and most of the other transmission equipment) seemed to have passed on when the reactor gave out a couple hours earlier. So he was not actually able to find out what they said… or answer, for that matter. He sighed and laid flat on the ground, nothing left to do but wait.
Jenna just stared at the screens as blips and bloops moved about on her sensor screen, planning her next move in this funny little encounter. "Alright, uh... listen, this little frigate isn't really equipped for rescue ops, or anything other than murdering the shit out of somebody, really, but, uh... I'm gonna do my best to help out, while I call in some friends to sort out exactly what in fuck is going on today."
Jenna punched in a few numbers, setting a course for the less fortunate shuttle - that is to say, the one not currently being rescued by the third shuttle - and an ALI calculated the best route. A short warp jump, barely even a second at 5 c, would put her well within range. With a tap of a holographic button, the ship lurched into a low warp, popping out a moment later - close enough to throw the disabled craft around from the gravitational wave emissions.
"Okay, hold onto something, I'm a fucking shit pilot," she transmitted. Fortunately, as far as manoeuvres went, matching course and speed with a completely disabled shuttle was pretty easy. Only a minute later, there was a thump from the shuttle's airlock. Then, three rhythmic thumps. A muffled voice from the other side - too muffled to make out, but it was easy to figure out what she was saying anyway. "Hello?"
Sylvan almost jumped to the ceiling as the ship suddenly rumbled, was he just hit by…?
He stood motionless, trying to determine if the ship was moving, would be easier if it actually had windows…
“Huh…”
Was he now doomed or saved?
After a while of silence, there were suddenly the sounds of an airlock, followed by the the knocking.
“Well, saved it is… I hope.”
He went over to the door, though he couldn’t quite make out what the person on the other side was saying, that they didn’t just kick the door in was already a good sign.
Raising his arm he knocked on the airlock from his side as well. Once more, three times. That being done he opened the panel to the side of the airlock, setting it to remote controlled instead of manual, in case the people on the other side tried to open it, at least that was still working.
"Heh, this ain't a game of Simon Says, bud," Jenna said to herself. She reached out and hit the door control, and the door slid open--and holy shit, she's huge. For a human woman, anyway, 6'2" is nothing to laugh about. And she looked strong enough to lift a fucking car if she tried, too, like a guardian angel of buffness. "Alright, let's get you out of there. Are you, uh, particularly attached to that thing at all?"
She responds to apple
"Good to hear, my pod is unmoving so i should be easy to grab up. I have ETA gear on if you need me to enter through some sort of hatch."
Quickly gathering up her few belongings, she looks back at her destroyed ship, her pride and joy, gone because of some stupid pirates looking for stupid money she didnt even have. In frustation she hits the seat and puts her head in her hands as she waits for the stranger to arrive and pick her up.
Apples vessel speeds towards the SOS signal. Before long, the clobbered together ship, itself looking like a wreck to any casual observer came into view of the escape pod, inhabited by Enra.
It pulls to a halt, as if pulling on a hand break in space, jumping and spluttering to a stop. It’s port side air lock lining up and attaching around the hatch. The quick process of air filtering into the air lock filled the void between them, before the doors of the vessel opened.
“Hey there now friend. If y’all want to come across now, I am all docked and locked with y’all.” Apple messaged to Enra.
As the Airlock opened with a hiss, Sylvan had to look up to see his saviours’ face, as Jenna was almost a head taller than himself. Looking at her he wondered what he had gotten himself into this time.
Sylvan himself was wearing a used looking EVA suit showing very little of his own body though the shape of the suit indicated he was of a rather slender figure in contrast to the woman's build, pupil-less light blue eyes looking up at her framed by hair of the same colour.
He looked back into the shuttle, stepped towards one of the lockers and took out a traveling bag the size of his torso and then came back to the airlock, apparently ready to leave.
”Yeah, no, I think we can leave this one here.”
This thing had got him stuck in the middle of nowhere and almost got him killed. No way in hell he’s going to get attached to it, he thought to himself.
Enra walks over through the airlock and into Apple's vessel as she looks around, her reptilian tail swiping along the ground as she removes the EVA helmet, looking towards apple.
"Hey, thanks for saving me back there, i only had 2 gal-standard days of O2 in that thing. If you want, you can undock and leave it behind, i got everything i needed off of it."
She peeks around the ship, looking over the interior
------
The station they had ended up in was… rather silent. Not in a concerning sense, it was likely just the region they were in, it was also somewhat run down, as many things in the Forlorn spiral, but it hadn’t shot at them when they approached so it was good enough.
A couple of traders and mercenaries were walking through the hangar, along with travelers and other people from various unknown backgrounds, tired and bored looking guards at the gates, dozens of different races but they all went their own ways. An engine hummed, pressure valves hissed, it had a certain decrepit charm to it, though none that would make you stay for long. Fortunately, they didn’t plan to.
After the… incident, in the far off solar system which brought them all together, they decided to head to the closest station, mostly to drop off their involuntary guests but also because nobody actually knew where the ‘Veil of Darkness’ or the ‘Molochs Lair’ was.
The odd visitors hadn’t found what they were looking for, regardless, they were now waving them goodbye, the odd muscular woman and the fairies on one side, Sylvan, Enra and Apple on the other. As the gates closed behind them, a thought Sylvan had somewhat repressed during the flight came up again.
He was now, once more, without a ship, stuck in the middle of nowhere.
“Fuck. Ah, well.”
There wasn’t much emotion behind his words, as it wasn’t the first time, still rather odd to call out like that in the presence of relative strangers though. He sighed and turned towards Apple, he and Enra were the only people he knew at least vaguely on this station and as far as he knew they didn’t try to shoot him yet, maybe, just maybe one of them could help him out…
“So, Apple?”
Sylvans eyes were narrowed, either unsure or curious.
The name sounded more like a question than anything else, he had picked up on the names during the flight over comms but apparently wasn’t quite sure if he was correct.
“Well and you too, Enra, I guess none of you are on your way to Lost Star and willing to drag me along for a while, by any chance?”
Asking strangers had gotten him in trouble before, though currently, they were his best bet.
Maybe they could employ him as an assistant for the time being, or something alike?
“You see, after that trash can kicked the bucket I’m now without a ride.”
The question hung in the air for a few moments, as he waited for an answer.
“Well, that’s exactly right y’all. Call me Apple, AP23, Apple Pie…I do not really mind you know? And correct me if I am not saying your lovely name correctly…Sylvans…right? Enra…I got that one, I think.”
The metal being surveyed the recent new additions to his life. It had certainly been a peculiar situation, and not at all the video they had planned, but “meeting space witches” however short a time it had been would absolutely be a great click bate title for their next entry on the Svyaz network.
This was also their first time on such a space station, and Apple found it fascinating. All the people, all the commerce, all the cultures. So much opportunity to explore.
“Now, I will be totally honest with y’all both. I am a traveller of sorts, and well, quite frankly I have no final destination currently planned…so if you are needing to find yourself some form of means of getting to this…Lost Star you say? Well hey…that sounds just like the kinda adventurising that would be up my alleyway.”
"Yeah, Enra is right. I also dont have a destination in mind, i was just travelling around seeing sights and pirates tried to steal my ship, but the ship is... destroyed to say the least. Im willing to go wherever apple goes, seeing as i dont exactly have the millicents to buy a ship or fuel right now. I should have enough to get some supplies though."
Enra scanned the area, seeing the few people in the quiet station walk by. 'How did i get into this situation...' she thought to herself. 'oh well, i'll make do'
she had only been on one station recently before, to refill her ship not too long before the pirates ended up attacking her, the last one was far more active than this one.
"Lost star sounds fun, i've heard stories of the place, a set of ringworlds, right?"
Sylvan looked at the two of them as they talked, listening. He sighed in relief when Apple said he would take them along. In the end he smiled, it was the first good news in a while.
"Yes, yes, Sylvan is the name, Sylvan Rayelle! That's great news actually, thank you! I'd say there'll be probably plenty to look at for you on Lost Star, too and yeah, it's more or less the informal capital of the galaxy, just uh... may be better to stay away from the bad spots but I can help you with that."
He paused for a moment, holding his chin between his thumb and index finger, apparently thinking about something. After a couple of momets responding to Enras other proposal.
"Yeah, I guess if Apple here is giving us a ride, we should probably get the supplies, anything special you need on your side, or do I just buy the usual stuff?"
“Well, a pleasure to meet your acquaintances on a name-to-name basis. You are both more than welcome to dally on over to my vessel and come on our wild journey.” Apple replied to his new friends.
They looked over them both, registering the details of their faces to his memory banks, processing their emotions as they went. They attempted their best smile. ‘This is my attempt to break the ice.’ They thought.
“Supplies certainly sound a treat. If we are gonna be out in space together, I’m gonna need to pick up some more bedding, and maybe food for you..er…organic types. What type of things you eat where you’re from?”
They began to look around themselves, looking for any form of market on the station.
"A pleasure to meet you as well. I can go out for food, if Sylvan can hed out for bedding. I havent been to the place im from for a very long time, so i eat whatever the places i go by have."
She looks around for a food market
"I'll start looking around, meet you guys back here soon."
She waves and walks off down the station, scouring it for a food market, once she sees one down a ways, she begins walking towards it, a slight hop in her step.
Sylvan simply nodded at Enra as she left, then answering Apple.
"Yeah, don't worry about that we can deal with that, in the meanwhile you can tend your ship, make sure it's all running fine."
'...and not break down like the rust bucket I bought before ending up here.', he added in his mind. He waved and walked off to another part of the station, getting bedding shouldn't be too hard... well if he didn't spend most of his money on aforementioned rust bucket.
He may have to get creative...
Looking around the station he came to the conclusion prices here were actually pretty awful, likely a result of being so far out from the galactic centre and most of the active trade networks, the Forlon Spiral wasn't exactly the centre of attention for most major factions. However, moving through halls and corridors, he eventually spotted a familiar looking symbol, maybe they could help him...
Only a small sliver of light shone upon subject’s 3 face as the ration crate they were hiding in was moved between the stars. Their lid was just slightly ajar to allow fresh air and a little vision for them. Their bright green eyes peaked out of the slit to try and get a bearing of where they are now. Subject 3 was supposed to be picked up at an earlier station, however as they peered through the crack they just saw more crates. Luckily their hiding spot was the most forward and not buried under more boxes.
The crate they were hiding in was labelled as a long storage ration crate. It wasn’t just them inside the box their was also a large amount of hermetically sealed individual meals. Their flexible body was easily able to squeeze in there and subject 3 had used their claw like fingernails to cut upon one of them for sustaining themselves. Only taking little bits at a time and relying on a semi hibernation state to live through weeks of travel.
As for entertainment subject 3 had very little time in between their escape from the facilities and into this crate so not much was taken along. Only a small music player whose batteries have run out by now and some various magazines. It was hard to read them comfortably but reading the text itself was no problem for their eyes even in the pitch black of a cargo hold.
They were almost going to try and climb out but once they saw someone approaching the crate subject 3 became dead quiet.
‘Tend to the ship, make sure it’s all running fine.’ Apple thought. ‘A fine task…’
Breaking away from their new shipmates, they made their way through the busy space station, back to the hanger where the messy vessel that was the “Wandering Star” was settled.
A ship that preferred function over artistry, the ‘Wandering Star’ was itself a cramped vessel. The patch work of piping and external panels a sure sign of the varying degrees of repair work conducted on the machine over time. The engines themselves a huge bulking mess at the rear, a totally different design to the general body of the ship, a transfer from another vessel some time ago.
Apple began to give the ship the once over on the outside, before unlocking the ships drop down door, and entering. The inside was as messy as the out, but Apple happily began to carry out a much needed clear and fix, as they patched the kitchen back into the power unit of the vessel for use by the “organics”.
Approaching Apple was a cloaked figure. Beneath a rugged cloak was the tanned skin of a Nocomal woman. Standing at only five feet tall, she was a rare sight among any outside of Prador. Rarer than any other Pradorian race, never having recovered from the ancient wars again Kane. This specific one was an exile from the last cycle. Having lived the last 100 years as a wanderer. From the Union, to Natar, to Ingen, to the now fallen Dominion. She was a traveler, and one whom had lost her own vessel several months ago. The tough brown cloak obscured much of her, but the hand sticking out holding the dull metal staff was tanned, the coloration of a light brown treebark. The staff itself was a Pradorian war staff. Spear, and bow in one, but otherwise appeared as a big metal stick. It served as little more than a walking stick now. The woman approached the vessel, and the figure now moving inside of it, but said nothing. Standing with support on the staff, lying in wait for them to show themselves again.
Her thoughts were on leaving this station, wishing for nothing but the freedom of the stars. She was willing to work for such a thing, and a new ship was a new opportunity. She was willing to join them if it meant travel.
In the meanwhile Sylvan was wandering down in the depths of the station, not a place he would usually run around in but he was looking for something, or more specifically somewhere special and he knew it was here.
After his suspicion about the areas prices had been confirmed he didn’t have much else of a choice anyways.
Turning another corner, following the sign, he pushed aside a simple looking curtain and finally arrived.
It wasn’t particularly big but the atmosphere in the room was cozy and somewhat exotic, a number of foreign people from various races were standing or sitting around in the room, half of which he couldn’t even identify, talking to each other, each one of them looking like a frequent traveler, some for longer some as if they had set out just recently and some like himself, waiting for a convenient opportunity to hitch the next ride.
The room itself was decorated, not opulent but with things almost as or even more various in culture as it’s occupants, reaching from carpets and pillows, over odd contraptions, to simple household appliances from various sources.
It was one of the Guiding Halls of the Wandering Paths.
One of the few places where he felt at home.
Stepping in he looked around, soon finding the halls Journeymaster who was sitting somewhere in the back and had apparently already spotted him.
“Greetings, young traveler.” The elderly human woman smiled.
“Greetings!” He responded, with a smile himself.
“So, what takes you here today? Since you found this place, you are likely not the first time in one of our halls?”
It was true, the Guiding halls had served him quite well on his travels and after a few years of travel he eventually learned to locate them and even became a member of the Wandering Paths himself, he explained his situation to her, how he got here originally and what he was looking for now. After a while of talk the woman nodded.
“So, you are on your way to Lost Star, yes? Looking for bedding for the ship you are going to travel with, yes? Well, we do have some here, but as you know, although we are trying to help out all travelers, even we can’t afford to give away things for free all the time.”
Sylvan nodded and sighed somewhat exhausted, it was annoying but she was right, usually guiding halls gave to travelers in need, but they also had to offer something in return, be it services, objects or plain money, which presented him, having spent his money on the ship he did not come here with, with a problem. Considering he didn’t really have any objects he was willing to part with and no time to offer services.
He scratched his head looking around the room, searching. Maybe there was someone around who could help him…
From somewhere deeper in the conclave a figure stepped forward. Shrouded almost entirely by large robes that covered his entire body. He stepped forward and without a word gently pressed a credit chip by the Journeymaster. Her voice was dry, and raspy. Like that of someone who had screamed so much their vocal cords couldn't keep up. Her robes were a flowing brown going over her entire body as one big piece that was connected all the way around. Like a ankle length poncho. No shoes, or anything for that matter under the garment. Two of her four arms sticking out the long baggy sleeves, her other two at rest within the inside of the cloak. To appear more human among the station. "Allow... Me." Was her only two words spoke. She was thinking over the hectic few days. Only a few months ago had the Weave, and the Order arrived in Ancerious and already. Pirates, slavers, and now having assimilated her own ideology into the Wandering Paths. Looking under the cowl-like hood her face was scarred heavily, some far more recent than others. She seemed completely unarmed as well, but that was far from the truth. Between martial arts, and psionics she was far from it.
The woman said only one more thing on the matter. Taking a couple of moments to get out all the words with her strained, raspy voice. "With permission..... I shall accompany you."
The Journeymaster nodded in response and the credit chip disappeared between her clothes.
“What you are looking for is in the third door in the back.”
Sylvan took a step back from the cloaked figure which approached them and looked at her, tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
“Um… huh.”
He was used to all sorts of weird individuals passing through guidance halls, and it wouldn’t be the first time he would travel with one, however…
There were also a couple of times when they would cause trouble and now he’d have to convince Apple to take another person with him, after all he couldn’t quite reject, after they just paid for his stuff. Even less so since he was in a guidance hall.
He sighed.
‘Well, shit.’, he thought.
There wasn’t much he could do about it now anyways unless he wanted to just charge out of the room and then hide in the station somewhere and did they did pay for him after all...
Usually these people turned out fine, so long as you didn’t ask too many questions. Hopefully this would be the same.
“Err… yeah, sure. I’ll see what I can do.”
He nodded towards the Journeymaster and headed to the back of the room to get what the hooded figure had paid for, if Apple would decline he’d be in real trouble now…
“So, what’s your name anyways? If you wanna tell me that is.”,he asked, trying to break the silence.
"Kael" She said simply. Her voice raspy, and hoarse. Pained to speak. She felt the awkward silence as well, but taking was pained. She leaned over and grabbed some of the supplies to help carry them. Her two lower arms under her robe rubbing against each other nervously. She was fairly new to the Wandering Path, and after her initial experiences with the wider galaxy she was weary. But the mission was first, and the weave did will it, no? She followed her maroon eyes hard to pinpoint the exact emotions. Her hairless brow furrowed in a semi 'sad' expression. Though even that wasn't easy to see under her hood. She gave a small dry cough, wiping just a bit of blood from her chin. Following her new comrad.
Enra walks up to the food market, crates full of rations sitting around as the merchant talks to customers who come and go from the shop. Enra scratches her hread and decides to buy a whole crate, seeing as its not too terribly expensive.
"the quality must suck though..." she thought to herself, then added 'but we just need something to eat on the trip, so its okay.."
Walking up to the merchant, she starts off with
"Hello there, im here on a stop to get some rations, going on quite a long journey, would you happen to have any food that could be stored for long periods of time?"
"Yes! right over here, follow me!"
the merchant says with fake excitement, leading enra over to the long storage rations. She pays him for the first crate she comes upon, leaving her with only a little bit more money. The crate has a small handle and the merchant attaches small, cheap antigrav devices to the side, allowing the crate to move.
Subject three feels a slight shake as the crate rises up and begins to move, Enra pulling the crate back to the ship, they hear chatter as the crate moves farther away from the food market and closer to Apples ship
After some time, Enra stops and uses the rest of her money to buy a tank full of fresh drinkable water for the trip at a shop not too far from the ship. After a minute or two of walking Enra arrives at the ship.
Subject 3 hears chatter outside the crate, meanwhile Enra has walked onto Apple's ship with the crate.
"Hey, apple, i got the food and some of the water, where do you want it?"
‘Well goodness me’ quandered Apple, as they rummaged through the ‘Wandering Star’, tidying. The kitchen was repatched, but Apple’s attempt at creating living space for so many ‘organics’ had led to a very cramped ship indeed. The cabins, 4 in total, had been previously used for storage of items Apple had collected on their travels, but now found themselves reverted to their original use. The items that had been stored away, now placed on various holds throughout the ship, making more of a tripping hazard than anything else.
With a sigh, a noise given more as an expression of dissatisfaction, rather than an exhale of breath, Apple put down the tool they had been using to make small fixes to the ship, and returned to the exterior, where the presence of a cloaked figure caught their attention. Apple looked in their direction for a moment. They seemed to be approaching, although not saying a word.
The person however was quickly overtaken by the familiar sight of Enra, who rounded the corner, carrying bundles of goods.
"Hey, apple, I got the food and some of the water, where do you want it?" Enra shouts over…
“Oh…umm…well…I made some space in the kitchen for you organic types…up the ramp and first door on the right…hey say…what do you make of this strange and interesting folk?” pointing in the direction of the cloaked figure.
“Hey!” Apple calls out. “Hey now…happy days to you my friend…say you looking for some kind of assistance?”
"alright, ill put it in there then i have to run back out because i dropped something..."
she drags the containers into the kitchen and sets it all down, turning off the antigravs and then reaching for the lid...
Subject 3 hears a clang as the container stops moving, then some rustling as a bright light enters from the top of the container being removed...
Three was definitely excited. Perhaps they just remembered it wrong and this was the station she was going to be picked up from. As the lid was removed they popped their head out and looked at Enra.
“Hi!”
Three said with an excited tone.
They were really squeezed inside that crate, a normal human would have needed their spine broken to fit. Subject 3 was a human of undefined gender. No clear sign of being male or female but the body shape leaned more towards feminine, which was helped by the lack of hair everywhere except for on the top of their head. They wore a white jumpsuit with green accents without sleeves for the arms and legs since from their limbs and through their skin spider silk extruded out. The box was filled with webbing. Their hair colour was a silver white which matched their pale skin. Subject 3 gave of an aura of being unfinished. They were tall and slender but the features looked incomplete, as if they still had to grow up. Their eyes were a piercing and slightly glowing emerald green.
At the bottom of the crate layer their paper magazines and empty music player. The magazines were a collection of punk music themed ones, those of the adult variety, fashion magazines and a genetic modification catalogue.
“You are with Young Metro right?”
"Holy shit-"
she jumps back in surprise, falling to the floor
"Who the hell are you and why are you in our food!?"
She looks over the thing and notices its 'unfinished' nature
"who's young metro??"
The cloaked woman slowly pulled down her head. Eyes with no white in them colored a deep red, hair down to her shoulders like that of autumn leaves, her actual skin akin to the coloration of bark. Her face was rounded strange red markings akin to warpaint on her face. She spoke her accent, and speech pattern both... odd. "This one is known as Aurshlae, and this one wishes to accompany you.... Vessels come and go, many decline this ones request. What say you, kin of metal?"
The woman didn't make any other movements save for taking down her hood. Her keen eyes looking over 'Apple', studying them keenly.
Apple gave the character a quick scan. They had never seen anything quite like them before. Attempting their best ‘smile’, or interpretation of a smile, they replied.
“Well, mighty fine to meet you there Aurshlae…my name is Apple…or AP…AP23 …Apple Pie…well now just about whatever you feel comfortable with.” They stopped once more, looking at Aurshlae, and then back to the Wandering Star.
“Well, we do seem to be collecting a real smorgasbord of a crew for the next endeavour. It would feel rather remiss of me if I didn’t run your proposal with my new friends now…kin of…skin. Say…Enra is aboard now, let us run things by her…HEY ENRA!”
They shouted as they walked back on board the vessel, seeking out Enra. In seconds Apple rounded the corner into the kitchen, where Enra was putting away the produce bought for the ‘organics’ on the ship. To Apple’s surprise, there, crouched in the box a human…of sorts.
“Oh..well…hey…pssssh…Enra. Now…I have seen some interesting cuisine choices on my travels…but I don’t think the Wandering Star is equipment for the..you know..slaughtering of live stock…and hey…I try my best not to judge but I am not entirely comfortable with you eating this hairless child…”
"Livestock!? I bought rations and this thing was stowed away in the box! scared the shit out of me!"
Enra stands up, a bit annoyed
"Ugh, i gotta go grab my holopad, damn thing fell out of my bag.. You handle... whatever that thing is"
She begins to walk off out of the ship, back along the path she took to get the food and water, after some time of searching she sees the holopad laying in the floor, then goes to pick it up.
Grabbing it off the cold metal floor, she walks back towards the Wandering Star, standing right in front of a closed door as she waits for the foot traffic to clear up...
There are shadows looming everywhere. And they have been since Teciro left the main systems of the CES. Initially, he thought that these phenomena were simply stress from the large confrontation he just took part of, and as such, he simply went away on vacation for a couple of days. He could not expect the insanity that’d follow him.
His initial nightmares were just a herald of a horrifying metamorphosis occurring within his mind, one that came upon simply by happenstance, but that lit up like a beacon, attracting the attention of beings most foul. From deep within their forsaken gallow they clawed out with eldritch might, and pursued Teciro through the winding hallways of his own mindscape, awakening him time and again. However, slowly, the split between dreams and reality started to fade out for the old security captain, and his mind fought back against its own fraying.
He was running. He didn’t know quite well from what he was running, but the presence was unbearable and dug deep into his temples. Through winding corridors of blackened rock that rose above, dwarfing him, unspeakable shapes flanked him through his corners, manifestations of some notion older than the society he grew up in.
Suddenly, a sliver of light, through the gap of one of the gargantuan masonry pieces. He bolted in a spur and the shapes drew closer as well, he clawed forth with might, as if dragging the world around him to close the gap, and then!
BLAM!
A disheveled lizardman flies through the metal door, swinging it on its hinges with tremendous strength, so much as it slams into the wall beside it and leaves a mark, bouncing back and closing quickly after. He knocks into a few people and loses balance, falling down onto the floor. He gets up in a split second of desperation and looks behind, only now processing the surroundings.
His tired hectic eyes dart around the room like crazy, accompanied by the hurried breath of someone that just ran for their life. Automatically he backs off onto the nearby wall, bumping into Enra as he does so. Startled, he turns around in an instant and looks her deep into her eyes, surprised to see someone of his own species, he says, in Musavian Script:
“Where the fuck am I?!”
Wandering Star
Subject three blinked a couple of times as Enra yelled at them in surprise. Three scratched their head and answered with much less excitement in their tone but still with a childlike innocence.
“Uh, hi. I am subject three. Well that’s what they call me anyway. You don’t know young metro then? They are the absolute heroes that got me away from the spooky lady who made my life not fun. Put me in this crate, and told me I would be picked up by on of their members at the following station.”
Subject three had no filter or concept of secrecy so when asked they gladly said everything they could to answer any inquiries. Upon seeing Apple enter the room Three’s eyes brightened with wonder. As apple talked about three being livestock their ears twitched, picking up on the whispers.
“WOAH! You are like metal skinned! That’s awesome, you are so shiny…. Wait, eat me? You think i am livestock!? Nooo, i don’t taste good honest!”
Subject three shrunk down back into their box. They saw a small bug which got stuck in their webbing and quickly grabbed it and ate it.
"Holy shi-"
enra is surprised as the door swings wide, the lizardman barely missing her on his initial barge out of the door, she thinks to herself.. 'is that another mus'vanus?'.. and she is correct, the man then bumps into her while frantically walking backwards, almost knocking her over.
"You're on a station in the middle of the Forlorn spiral"
she responds in Musavian Script as well, then blurts out a question
"And might i ask, who the hell are you? i havent seen another Mus'vanus in ages!"
Teciro takes a moment to gather himself looking around, before muttering to himself:
"Forlorn Spiral huh..."
He moved forward slowly and approched the metallic door he came in from. He grasped the handle firmly and opened in a swing.
It was a small cleaning closet. No entrances of exits apart from this single door.
He looked at the small closet for a moment, before quietly closing it and coming back towards Enra.
"I am Teciro, Security Captain of DeWalte.
Are you sure we're in the Forlorn Spiral?"
The feeling of being chased had died down within the soul of Teciro, it was if the shadows that loomed upon the corners of his eyes had receeded into nothingness, or perhaps, they pulled back to watch? Only time would tell.
Visually Teciro seemed like a capable Musavian male, average height. He sported a lightweight Standard Suit, and a handgun upon his belt.
"Yeah, im one hundre percent sure. What are you doing running around and bumping into people, you should be more careful.."
she regains her balance and shoves the holopad in her bag.
"ive got places to be, if ya wanna keep talking follow me."
Enra begins heading towards the Wandering Star at a slow pace.
In the Wandering Star
Apple watches after Enra as she leaves…
“I’ll…yes…I’ll handle it!”
Unsure what to do, Apple turned back to Aurshlae and Three. Processing what to do next, they look, from one to the other, before giving an audible “hmm”.
“Woah there now…Three was it? I do not have any intention of eating you…and I think I can vouch for Aurshlae as well. I hope I can anyway. Aurshlae…are you going to eat the child here?”
Depths of the Station
As the others and their new additions to the group were dealing with the situation at the ship, Sylvan was calmly heading back to the docking area, together with yet another travel companion the group didn't know of yet, considering it took him a while to get down here it would be the same for the way back.
”Kael, huh? My name’s Sylvan, nice to meet ya, well, obviously.”
As they were carrying the boxes both her expression and the fact she just wiped blood from her chin, both went past his attention, he wasn’t exactly built for heavy lifting, thankfully the bedding wasn’t particularly heavy.
Seeing that they still had a way ahead of them, he tried another time. His new companion didn’t seem too talkative, but hey, they didn’t try to kill or mug him either so far, so that’s a good sign, right?
“So, any questions you have? Like, y’know, we’re all heading to Lost Star and all which is probably all you really care about here, but… well, looking at the distance we’ll all be stuck together for a while I’d guess.”
He regained his bearing at last, Teciro really was in the Forlorn Spiral. He had no recollection of being there, last time he started running, he was close to the CES, in the Killian Verge. Was there a lapse in his judgement and mind? Or did he simply teleport? The thought, to him, was better buried in the back of his mind.
He felt around his belt and checked the equipment he had, before nodding to Enra and following her, after all, it was the only somewhat familiar face so far away from home.
Enra keeps her pace towards the wandering star, the vessel now in sight.
"so how did you end up here? i didnt expect to see another of my kind all the way here in the 'forlorn, let alone on some backwater station"
She points at the wandering star
"that's the vessel im on with a couple people i met out in space when my ship blew up. We're headed to Lost star after we load up on supplies, we picked up some weird kid lookin thing that i dont really know how to describe and some hooded figure who'll be flying with us as well. If you wanna go to lost star and get off this station, now's your chance."
Teciro checked himself. Technically, his DeWalte credentials were still a thing, they would be searching for him and he'd sure be defaulted and probably reprocessed, or just given as dead or dissapearing, but his credentials as captain still existed. He'd soon have to check the systems for an early retirement of sorts, but his experience with such processes within the CES were less then incentivizing.
"I can't disclose that. I'm with DeWalte, but I suppose I could stick around with you guys until my next assignment come in, maybe lend out a hand, yes?"
That'd have to work. Furthermore as much as it wasn't that common for the Mus'Vanus to help eachother for free, it also wasn't too much of a wild thing for it to be unbelievable. It'd have to roll for now, after all, his "teleportation" would surely be more insane than any kind of bizarre corporate expedition journey he could muster up as a lie. Thus, he stuck around with his kin.
"DeWalte, eh? been a while since ive heard that name. Sounds good, having another Musav' around wont be so bad, yeah?"
They get closer to the vessel eventually reaching it and standing outside of it, Enra looks into the doorway and calls out
"Hey, apple! Im back! Ran into someone along the way!"
she waits for a response from the android
Aurshlae raised a autumn orange eyebrow and paused for a long moment at the question. Her lips turned to a small smirk, and she replied with the slightest of giggles. "Only if this one kills him in battle. Otherwise Pradorian battle laws say nothing of what this one should do." She gave a small shrug, and said afterwards still a smile on her lips. "Does this one permission to come along?"
"As long as we... Can help people." Kael struggled out. Her voice as ever hoarse, and strained as the first time she spoke. In truth she was getting annoyed at the questions. Normally she wouldn't have minded, but when it felt like swallowing nails? And the guy keeps asking them? She stayed silent for a moment before struggling out her last sentence on the trip. "Apologies..... It is hard for me to speak... Throat is.... Damaged." She got out. Giving off three vey dry coughs, and following the man through the twisting caverns that was this space station.
Sylvan stopped for a brief moment, realising his mistake.
"I.. um... sorry about that."
He sighed and began moving again, this time in silence.
After a couple more minutes they reached where Apples ship was docked, only seeing Enra and Teciro outside.
He turned his head towards Kael.
"Well, we're here, wait for a moment, I'll try to sort things out."
Sylvan put his box down to show he wasn't just going to run off with it and theurned to look at Enra and the newcomer, lifting one eyebrow and then walking up to them.
He had a somewhat odd feeling, it seems he was not the only one who came back with new company.
"Enra? Is Apple inside?"
...he turned towards the other lizard person looking at him up and down a couple times.
"...and you are?"
“I’m here! Inside…we have…er...lots more company!” Apple shouted, hearing the conversation outside. Turning back to Three, Apple hunches down, level so their face is at the same height as the lid of the crate, attempting to appear more naturing.
“Now…see we aren’t going to eat you,...say why don’t you get yourself out of that damned crate now, you must feel real cramped up.” Offering a hand to help Three out of the box, whilst turning once again to Aurshlae.
“I’ll be completely honest with you now Aurshlae…there is a real cornucopia of folks wanting to get on this here ship. It is going to be a tight little squeeze. I hear the others coming now, so again, it would be remiss of me to not get their say on the matter…my advise would be to just be your happy self now.”
Three listened intently as everyone else was talking. When Apple hunched down to meet their gaze three looked back with fierce green eyes. They were so intensely bright that they casted a dim light.
“Ok then, you seem nice!”
The concept of stranger danger was… barely a thing for them. So Three took Apples hand happily and clambered out of the box, the spider webs they have woven clung to their arms and legs as they were the origin point of the silk. Three had to tug a little harshly to get them loose.
“Oh! Well I can make my home in anything, on the ceiling, or in the vents, or in crates. I don’t mind!”
Three absent mindedly played with the spider like silk coming out of her arms.
The lizardman took a time to think, also scanning Sylvan up and down as he did before blasting off a reply.
"I am Teciro, DeWalte security captain. I'm here on an assignment, I can't tell you what it is, but I'm accompanying Enra now, it's safer to travel in groups when you're so far away from your home.
I can pay the owner of the ship for the ride, or... I could also be of service, I know proper security procedures and whatnot."
There was a clear anxiety within the lizardman, he had just gotten out of some kind of high-octane situation, for some reason or another. However, he seemed to have calmed down for now. Quietly, he peered further into the ship accompanying Enra if he could.
Sylvan frowned and then looked at him for a couple more moments then simply nodded.
"I... I... see."
...and then headed off into the ship.
"Apple? Apple!"
He walked in and looked around the corridors, the ship wasn't too big so it didn't take him long to find Apple, well and everyone else in the room.
He looked at the tall hooded lady, the second one already, and the half naked spider... human... thing?
He paused for a moment, it wasn't exactly the first time he met an odd species but it was an experience every time.
He shook his head and sighed.
More importantly... This place had gotten a lot more crowded than he anticipated.
"Apple, would you come out for a moment, there's... uh..."
He looked at the hooded figure and three:
"...another person that we may have to take along."
"Let's head into the ship."
Enra follows behind Sylvan and looks onto the 4 standing there
"Hey apple, uhh..."
She looks over at Teciro and then back to Apple with a slight sight
"We've got another one. It's sure gonna be crowded in here haha."
Walking over she looks at three
"So this one coming too?"
Hearing their name once more being shouted from outside the ship, Apple looks upon Aurshlae and Three.
“Now, you two wait on here now…I will be right back.”
Apple moves through the claustrophobic space, towards the entry ramp to the ship, and to the noise and commotion of the outside space station.
“Who is shouting me? I am here.”
As Apple looks down from the ramp, they spot the familiar sight of Sylvan.
"Ah Sylvan it is you…oh and you Enra…and…guests? Guys, I think we need to have a sit down and a little conversation. I got two more folks on board. One of them gives me some real interesting vibes now, the other…well I am sure it is literally a child in a box. I am not entirely sure we have the space…although the child did say they can fit in vents and small spaces, so I guess that is less of a problem…” their words mumble off as they start to contemplate the validity of the idea.
Sylvan had already been on his proverbial toes seeing how many people had arrived since he left but at the words 'we need to sit down and have a little conversation' he winced internally.
Now he had surely done it, there would be not enough space on the ship and he would be stuck on another backwater station in the middle of nowhere for months.
He sighed. Wouldn't be the first time.
"Alright, uh...", he turned around and waved Kael over into the ship.
"That's Kael, she paid the bedding and... well, doesn't talk much, issues with the throat."
With these words he followed Apple.
"This one can be put anywhere that is breathable." The small woman replied. Standing barely at chest height to most. She paused for a long moment, her hearing was quite excellent evidently. "Though if this one is a bother this one can leave. I have waited two decades in your time, more time is... regrettable, but I can endure." The hooded woman said. A small faint smile curling up on her lips.
Kael gave a small pause at Apple. Not sure how to feel about an AI, but regardless after a moment she gave a small bowel. One of her four fingered hands pressing to her chest to not reveal herself under the loose robes. She rose and struggled to speak. Voice hoarse, and rough. "I.... Am.... Honored...... May I...." The woman gave a loud cough not able to finish the thought. Holding her throat gently she spoke again. "WIll.... Heal.... In... Few... Weeks...."
"Alrighty.."
She pointed over to Teciro
"This guy's another Musav' like me. Been months since ive seen one of my own, and he claims to be the Security captian of DeWalte. wont tell me why they sent him out here, but we bumped into eachother and i thought i'd bring him along, if that's fine with you, as the owner of the ship"
She said all this with a slight, semi-faked smile as she awaits apple's answer
“Hey Sylvan, I know that look.” Apple states, reading the reservation in Sylvan’s face. “You are going no where…no one is getting left behind here on this station. I just…I need a second to compute where we are going to get the space.”
They pause, as the internal workings of their memory think through the varying situations where the Wandering Star could support so many people. Each situation seemed so untenable. Finally, a revelation thrust itself to the forefront of Apple’s mind.
“Well now…I have an idea.” Apple rushed into the ship, and started clattering around in the back storage compartment. Seconds later, they emerged once more into the Space Station light, a collection of green fabric and metal stands in his arms.
“I guess if I…ditch my greenscreen…well then we have an extra compartment to the ship” they said with a reservation. “It’ll knock the production value of the videos for a while…I’ll have to rethink how I shoot my intros…but I guess a whole crew of guests would be interesting to the subscribers. Do y’all mind being in the vlogs? I’d quite like your consent.”
Sylvan sighed and was visibly relieved he wouldn't be left behind.
"...thanks. Well, I don't mind being on screen, don't know about the others though."
He seemed to be thinking a couple moments looking at the room they were in.
"So, I could sleep in the cargo hold, if it's heated that is, wouldn't be the first time."
"If I must sleep in a bed with three others...." A loud cough, and pause as the woman caught her breath. Finishing with a simple. "Then I will." She moved forward only when Slyvan would. Staying next to the companion that had brought her here. She was quite comfortable with the rest of them yet, her two hidden arms under her cloak crossing over her chest, and rubbing against her skin nervously. She was out of her comfort zone, but she would do as the weave guided. She need to help people, and as far as the tug went she should be with this group of people.
The Nocamal woman slowly walked down the cramped quarters surprised that the robot was a... vlogger? She slowly said, but genuinely. "This one thinks you should not have to move your own stuff around. I can sleep in the hall if necessary, or as the strange one says, if this one must share a space with another I do not mind.... This is your ship, not mine." She moved to look over the equipment her double iris' looking it over intently, but the woman grew a small smile on her face. Prador taught that AI were false creations of man, unnatural. But she? She quite liked this strange robot.
Three was sitting on top of their box simply listening in to the current conversation about where everyone is going to sleep. They looked at the ceiling and then back at their own arms out of which the spider web was coming from.
“Oh! I can hang myself from the ceiling! I did that before, just making a little hammock with my webs. It’s out of the way and I can catch insects which happen by.”
Three stood up and looked at apple as he moved the greenscreen.
“Video’s? Yeah! That sounds exciting!”
Three was excited about anything to be honest. Having spend their life so far in a lab and a box this whole scenario although chaotic was very appealing to them.
"That could work.. I'll sleep wherever so long as it isnt cold."
She thinks for a moment about the vlogs, cocking her head a bit.
"And about being on screen. Sure, i'd probably be fine with it."
"I guess we can figure out sleeping arrangements once we're on the move so we dont accidentally pick more people up haha" she says half jokingly
Kael paused at the influx of words. She took a moment looking over each one. Slyvan seemed trustworthy, the only normal one. Aurshlae seemed pragmatic, and cute. Three was utterly odd, and she had not formed anything on the other two. She spoke again her rasping voice croaking out. "I agree.... If the bark coloured... One is okay with it we can keep each other warm... I am not picky.... As she is... Where to sleep... Keep your things.... In place... Have slept..." The woman was losing breath finishing the sentence. Pained to go on such a long sentence. "In worse... Places... If she is willing... I.. Ugh... I am willing to share a space..." She stopped in a fit of coughs. This time hunching over a bit blood coating her hand when she moved it away.
Ever since Teciro's arrival, he had found himself a small box to sit on or perhaps a chair, and was selectively unloading his equipment to check if it was all still functioning.
"Video?" He says, caught a bit by surprise with the question. It wouldn't be wise to appear in videos if he was to keep his security job, however, the likeliness of him keeping his job at all was very slim, with this whole ordeal happening with him. He'd more than likely be sent to an asylum, or whatever hellish place the CES could conjure for non-functional people.
"Sure. But I'll wear my helmet to not show my identity." The trick might work. It wouldn't if they were really looking for him, after all, body type and the likes would likely give away his location after thorough checks by the immensely complex neural networks that the megacorporation employs on the daily. But this might make him pass under the radar.
“No no, no one need go anywhere. We can make it work here on the Wandering Star, and heck, the company will be more than welcome! I will let y’all know when I’m planning on filming so you can…wear your helmets and such.” Apple tried to reassure his new crew mates.
They processed their situation. This collection of strange individuals that had seemingly been thrown together were not what Apple had thought a usual crew of a space craft would look like, but then they couldn’t think of anything better. They gave their best impression of a smile to the rest of the group, their metallic face creasing up in strange folds.
“Listen up crew mates!” they announced to the group. “Welcome aboard the Wandering Star. Now y’all are all very welcome. The kitchenette is back there, help yourselves to foods and preserves and whatever else you organics need for nourishment, just try not to over indulge. I do not know when we will next be able to buy supplies. Now if any of you have any skills in space flight, I would certainly like your help in keeping this thing ship shape…that ok? FINALLY…where the heck are we setting a course to?”
Sylvan looked at Kael in bewilderment for a couple of moments, seeing the coughing and the blood, a theme which had been going on since they first met, even though he didn't notice initially.
He shook his head.
"You know... you could just use a holopad with a speech function or something like that, right?"
He sighed.
"Here, I'll..."
He took his bag off and began rummaging through it. From what little glance the group could catch it mostly contained weird trinkets and a couple of things one would commonly use when regularly travelling. Eventually he pulled out a holopad, after a couple of flicks from his fingers he handed it to Kael, the display prompting her for input.
"There."
Upon Apples question Sylvan raised his eyebrows.
"Well, I was headed to Lost star before the rustbucket gave in on me, I'm in no hurry though, so... probably let's hear what the others say first. That aside, I can do basic repairs and I'm not too bad with starmaps and navigation."
"Keep each other warm....?" She paused for a long moment, her tongue rolling in the phrase like nostalgia was hitting her. "Like in the rolling hills of Northern Gradon, or the ruins of Axis.... Yes this one has no issues with this." Arushlae paused again before looking over to their mechanical captain. "This one is but a humble tinkerer, and engineer. I can fix your vessel, you if you let me inside, or anything you point me towards.... I can also cook." She added slowly, grasping both her hands on her metal 'walking stick.' Slowly leaning against one of the walls.
Kael raised an eyebrow at Sylvan wordlessly gesturing to her very limited one piece rough robe as her only garment. A wordless 'Do I look like I have a holopad with a tattered weathered robe as my only clothing.' Her gesture softening as pulled out a datapad. She only nodded to the small pointed eared woman. After a quick look over the holopad, she typed in a sentence, and the holopad spoke for her. "I am a pilot, priest, and warrior. I can fulfill most roles amongst this vessel, just tell me what I need to do."
The woman paused at the device never having used one before. Her two hidden arms under her robe rubbing against each other nervously. This group was very... Interesting, and she wasn't too sure about it.
Enra breathes in, thinking onto the situation a bit more, looking onto the group of 7 with a sigh.
This was going to be a wild ride.
With Apple's question, she thought onto what Sylvan had said. Lost star.. the name is familiar. Pondering on it for merely a moment or two she then remembers the triple ringworld, unofficial capital of the galaxy. She had always dreamed of visiting it, but never thought she would be able to.
"I think sylvan has the right idea. Lost star is somewhere ive always wanted to visit, and i had no real destination before now, so, im fine with going there."
“Lost star? Why is the star lost?” Three looked puzzled when the name was mentioned. “Did it forget to bring a map? If it’s lost then how would we know where it is?” It was an innocent kind of stupidity. Simply from lack of knowledge rather then an issue of intelligence.
As apple asked everyone what their skills were Three thought long and hard. They were unsure of their abilities but they do remember some important bits told to them. “Oh! The spooky lady kept telling me that I was made for great carnage or something. I don’t know what she meant by that, she was very weird, kept feeding me live animals constantly.”
Teciro, though a professional by craft, could not help but show a bit of question through his stare at Sylvan. Lost Star? He could be involved in something shady if he was headed there, at least that's what his debrief in certain high-value locations of the galaxy told him once. Still, his mind shivered for a moment, a reminder of his mortality and those who pursued him.
It was a bizarre collective action. His mind wanted to avoid this thought in the back of itself, a dark broth which seeped upon the cracks of the brain, a worm the, feeding on every small sliver of attention, dug itself a little bit deeper down into the nape of the lizard. He had to run from this unspeakable shadow that loomed over him, and this very unnatural thought had him to stay quiet about the situation.
"Lost Star... Sounds fine to me. I can't disclose where I'm headed, but that place ought to give us a little bit of everything possible."
Sylvan silently took a step away from Three at the mention of 'made for great carnage' and eyed...him, her... it...warily.
"I... I see."
Listening to the others and after a short pause he looked at Apple.
"So, what's your verdict, what do you say?"
As it looked currently it would be likely they would actually head to Lost Star, they would just have to keep Apples viewers entertained on the way, which shouldn't be too hard.
That would also mean he would finally be able to make his delivery, maybe he'd pay the Eysra district a visit to look for some information as well.
"Well, I guess this 'Lost Star' is our destination. Right?" Apple announced to the group. They seemed to have come to some form of consensus, and it was a plan at least. Apple ruminated on what was to come. The ship seemed as ready as it would ever be, albeit cosy and cramped for his new ship mates. They had fuel (although they had were shocked at the price of fuel these days!), and supplies. Everything seemed ready.
"Ok folks...all aboard. Let us go on a magical adventure....does anyone know the way to this Lost Star?"
—
…and so the ‘Wandering Star’ made its way out of port, towards a new destination, filled to the brim with a collection of rather odd individuals, each with their own past and plans.
As the engines burnt, slowly the station disappeared from the sensor range and as it vanished when they jumped to ftl, a couple of the new crew members silently sighed in relief at the premise that they would no longer be stuck in the middle of nowhere… for now.
Fortunately for them, with Sylvan as their navigator and Apple as their pilot, they did indeed find the way towards ‘Lost Star’ rather easily and soon enough, not counting interruptions from ‘Three’ asking about what various appliances on the ship were doing, they were on the correct course. Now, theoretically, all that was left was waiting.
However, as things were, with Apple being a streamer and the ship being a rather tight fit for the oversized crew, people were bound to run into each other eventually, if not constantly and as Lost Star was quite the way away from the Forlorn Spiral, Sylvan made a proposition…
---
Deep Space; Aboard the ‘Wandering Star’
Sylvan had spread out his bedding in the cargo bay just fine, (with a decent security distance to ‘Three’ that was,) with the few possessions he had hidden somewhere under the sheets. Not exactly an excellent hiding place but at least it was likely he would know when someone messed with it, they probably wouldn't just run away anyways, given they were, well... in space.
So far, he had done routine maintenance with Kael and Aurshlae, was correcting the course when Apple was busy and was checking sensor data and systems…
Aside from that, there wasn’t much to do.
There was likely even less for some of the others. ‘Three’ had been wandering around the ship like it was some foreign wonderland and was constantly asking questions. Kael and Aurshlae had likely been meditating most of the time in their chamber, judging by their looks and Teciro and Enra had probably been talking about memories from home or something alike, he wasn’t quite sure about half of it, he didn’t see them too often even though the ship was so small.
It had always been his least favourite part of space travel, the endless waiting.
However, as he observed Apple in the cockpit once more, an idea began to form in his head, to stave off the endless boredom and get people out of their shells and cabins, even if just a little.
---
He gathered the crew in the room with the most space and began to lay out his idea.
“So, as we are all aware, this is Apples ship we are on.” He chuckled.
“Obviously.”, he rolled his eyes.
“...and I would argue, many if not all of us do owe him…” He scratched his head somewhat awkwardly… “...some more than others, for getting us off that station.”
He paused for a moment for effect.
“So, what I was thinking about, to get the crew together a little and pay Apple back some of his generosity, what we could do is having a bit of an introduction round on one of his streams or vlogs, maybe tell a bit about how we got here…”
His eyes shifted to Teciro and he raised an eyebrow.
“...if we want to, that is. Just to entertain his viewers for a bit and maybe get to know each other a little, can’t be sitting in our cabins the entire way, now can we?”
He finished and waited.
“So, what do you all think?”
Kael raised her hairless brow at Slyvan. Sitting fairly close to the pointed eared woman she had been bunking with. The only among the crew who really knew she was a four armed creature, and a psionic at that. Her two lower arms under her simple garb as they had been since she had joined. She slowly mused at the idea in her head, before finally speaking. The woman's voice was softer than when she first joined less raspy, and coarse though a hint of that still remained in her throat. Without the healers of the Order it was unlikely that would ever change.
"I have nothing to hide, I do not see why not, though my story is not that interesting I must say."
Enra, leaning against a nearby wall with her legs crossed over one another, flicked her tail slightly and looked over, slightly smiling with a quiet scoff as she thought on the idea. do an introduction? sounds... interesting. After a few seconds she spoke.
"sure, why not. been quite some time since ive talked about myself like that."
she leaned forward off the wall and righted her legs, walking over to where sylvan stands.
"well, what are we waiting for?"
Aurshlae held her only real possession besides her clothing. Her staff between her legs, leaning back next to her four armed companions. The similar backgrounds made them fairly close in the last week or so. Her eyes flicked down the womans garb, then back up to Sylvan.
"This one is just a little concerned, my background may bring controversy." She mused, but shrugged. "I am willing to do so though, if you are willing to take such a risk."
Three was hanging from the ceiling, using their spiderweb to swing around playfully like a chandelier in the wind. They were still wearing their white and green jumpsuit with no sleeves for their legs and arms. The webbing was around their legs and three used her arms to give themselves some swing.
“That sounds fun! Oh! Maybe my friends in young metro will see the video and will know that I am doing okay!”
The journey had been relatively pleasant for Apple, despite what they had assumed would be a very cramped condition for their new crew mates. Apple had undertaken the majority of the flying, leaving some FTL travel to the ships on board navigations system, whilst they stayed in statis, or chatted with their new colleagues. Apple thought long about this collection of rogue individuals they had been placed with, and the strange bond of kinship they now felt to these apparent strangers.
‘I must remedy this…’ they thought, as they heard the group chatting to one another behind them deeper in the ship. Apple touched the control panels, setting the Wandering Star on auto-pilot, and got up, leaving the pilot seat behind.
“Hey Y’all!” Apple bellowed to the cabin…”Hey, I’ve been thinking, well…we hardly know one another and…why…it might be fun to do one of those there team building exercises…wait…I am sorry I interrupted your flowing conversation. What were y’all discussing?”
It had been a long minute since they had left the station, and in the time, Teciro calmed down and collected himself, putting away his equipment into a box he found that could be locked, and spending time with the other Musavian.
Hearing the congregation, he stretched to alleviate the claustrophobic nature of the ship, and moved into the room with the others.
"Introductions? Yeah, I think it's only fair. I half expected to have been pulled into a vlog already. Plus, the trip will be a while, and boredom can easily turn a man insane."
Sylvan had listened to everyone's points, it seems, although there were some concerns, the general consensus seemed to be in favour of the idea, even Teciro who he had actually expected to decline. At Aurshlaes point he frowned regardless.
“Well, don’t need to tell everything if you don’t think it’s right I guess and uh… yeah, Three, maybe your metro people will see it… maybe not.”
'...and maybe it would be better that way.', he thought to himself.
Conveniently Apple came into the room at just about the right time, before anyone could go into details or make objections.
“Well, funny you’re bringing that up actually…”, Sylvan noted in return to Apples idea.
He looked into the round of people which had gathered in the room.
“You see, we were just talking about making a sort of introduction round for your viewers.”, he left out the part where he was the one who suggested it to everyone else.
He paused for a moment, apparently remembering something.
“Well and everyone else here in the room as well, I guess. Probably wouldn’t be too bad to know each other, considering we’ll be sitting on this ship together for a while.”
They were a funny bunch, this collection of individuals, Apple thought. How lovely that they would be so willing to “help” in Apple’s videos. Apple registered this as kindness.
“Well, that is mighty fine of y’all, truly. I can imagine that some of you ain’t 100% on the whole “video journal” thing, which is fine…I don’t right want to subject you to a camera in your face if you don’t feel comfortable. I figured if we all get in a circle now, go around and find out some stuff about each other, it might help us discover our needs.”
Apple ushered the group to form a circle, using their fingers to draw a circle in the air whilst they did so.
“Right now…” Apple began. “Where I am from, we do this little exercise with the freshly batched Akali Bandi (that’s the life form I am by the way) to find out what personality they are adopting at young ages. All we do firstly is go around the circle in the first round, say who we are, where we are from, and our favourite thing. So, let me begin:
I am AP-23. That is short for Apple Pie 23. I am the 23rd Akali Bandi to choose that name for themselves. heh guess it is a popular one.
I am from a small town within the Socialist Republics of Imaginarium called Guvsk. Straight out of birthing site 19. That’s what we call the assembly units that well…birth us.
My favourite thing…hmm well I just love travelling…”
Apple looked towards the group, waiting for someone to pick up the mantle.
Sylvan watched and listed to their android host, he hadn't heard of the Imaginarium so far, though he had admittedly been stuck in the Forlorn Spiral for a couple months. News travelled slowly in that Area.
Seeing as nobody else picked up from there he made the next step himself, maybe the others would follow suit.
"I am Sylvan Rayelle and... well, I don't know what species I'm from. I have spent most of my life on space stations and space ships and grew up that way."
'Well, guess that is out now.', he thought to himself when mentioning he didn't know what he was.
"I, too, enjoy travelling quite a lot and tend to look for fancy places I haven't been at yet."
He looked around for the others reactions, waiting for the next one to speak up.
Three swung from side to side as they listened in, once Sylvan was done with his introduction they decided to keep up the momentum and speak themselves. Three had a soft smile on their face almost the entire time. They didn’t know anything about the galaxy so the names of nations where inconsequential to them.
“I am… well I am subject Three! I come from the consulate of Astril and was born in a lab. Don’t where the lab was exactly I never got a real explanation… Huh… well I am not sure exactly what I like yet, didn’t do much for most of my life. Oh! I like hunting! Little bugs or cute pigs or cats and weaving my webs of course!”
Three swung a few time before shooting out web out of their arms and onto the ceiling. They began weaving a little hammock.
Enra listens in to all the introduction, popping in on her turn with a slight smile as she prepares to keep the pace of introductions going.
"Hey, Name's Enra, I was born in the CES and raised there for a while before my family moved out a very long time ago, i think when i was... five or six? Not sure. I dont remember much of it, but i was raised on a station and since then have left there adventuring around the galaxy; so far ive not left much farther past the forlorn, Tuvian, and Avarian regions of the galaxy. Favorite thing is definitely travelling and seeing new things."
Teciro's ear perks up at the mention of Imaginarium, continuing interjutting, he says:
"Imaginarium? The CES has an operation going on there, something about a kind of R&D mixed with fabrication. I looked into potentially running security there until, well, a few things happened.
Me and Enra here come from the same place, in the end. Well, not exactly, you see, the CES is a megacorporation, the place once had countries and all that but, well, that illusion's been shattered before I was even born.
I'm here on...."
Teciro stopped for a moment to let the thoughts seep through his mind. What was he here for with this odd group of people?
"Vacation. Yeah. I generally run security, can't say much more cus, y'know, NDAs. " He gestures broadly, as if this bureaucratic process that latches onto his normal life is mundane to others too. "Oh yeah, and I like to just dedicate myself to something fulfilling. I guess travelling will have to do, since I'm off work for now, heh."
Kael paused for a long moment. Glancing to her companion for a moment. Taking a long moment of 'who will talk first' before finally sighing and speaking up. "I am Kael, Knight Weaver of the Order of the Weave. It was... is my mission to help out those that need it, and serve the weaves will for us all.... It is what led me to the wandering paths, and to stumble upon you." She gestured towards Slyvan. Pausing for a long moment then speaking again.. "My kind, and the Order they belong to have only recently arrived in Ancerious. Fleeing. You all seem.... humanoid, save for Apple Pie, so perhaps..." She paused again pressing one of her four digit hands to her lips before speaking again. "I am a Kaal'Tae, we are the most psionically inclined of the order if you don't include our progenitors Don't be alarmed by the extra appendages, I am not trying to hide them just... My clothing is limited."
To emphasize she pushed her lower two arms against the robes, and nervously with one of her two upper arms pulled a small piece of spare parts further from the cargo bay. Starting to float it in her hand as some sort of calming fidgit.
"Favorite thing? I do quite like helping, but besides that? Flying... It has a sense of freedom like nothing else. In fact this is my trial so I may become part of Sverlinn, and bond with a Voshrae... Though so far it has not gone... to plan."
The Nocamal woman gave a long sigh, and began herself. She did not stand up though, but her gaze turned to the staff she had held fairly close for the journey so far. "This one hail sfrom the Kingdom of Prador, and the marks on my face, and body declare me as a crimson exile.... This one was once known as General Andoran left hand of the Queen in Red, her majesty Seraphiel... This one is a Nocamal we number fewer than even Uri'el's chosen warriors... Most of my kind tend to Etro, and the trees that keep Pradoria alive..."
The woman paused her face pained. Still not aware that her exiled Queen had taken the throne in last year. Memories of the end of the first civil war coming to her head. "This one grew up in a nation of Knights, magic, and honour unlike the wastes I travel now. I studied under the Dart Staff..." She paused, and finally looked back up.
"This one enjoys precious little. Perhaps verdant views to remind me of home? Anything I can learn of my kin is also much enjoyed...." She gave a small shrug, and a small look around the room "I suppose this one is just glad to have friends, however... strange some of you are." Her face slowly cocked into a smile. Her tone cheering up. "A creation of metal, who took us in. A wayward traveler with no memory of himself, a former mercenary, a bio-engineered... spider?... Lastly a adventurer." She smiled warmly, and though her solid eyes couldn't show it to the rest of him she rolled them, and gave one final sentence. "What a merry band of losers we all are."
Sylvan raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement at the mention of Prador then frowned as they called their group a 'merry band of losers', that was almost a bit harsh.
"Prador, eh? That's quite the way from here, haven't been there myself yet, although I've obviously heard stories. On the other hand, I heard neither of the order nor of the CES, or the imaginarium for that matter, though I admittedly haven't been around much as of late, so I might've missed things."
He did not mention he had actually heard of Astril as well, given their reputation was... rather questionable, although it was certainly an interesting place.
Most of the group seemed to share a passion for travel or new things though, to some degree, which was reassuring at least. He turned back to Apple.
"So, what do you say? Seems there is a bunch of people with us new to the wider galaxy."
“Well hell…” said Apple, having listened intently to the stories of the group. “We have ourselves a real collection of individuals here, don’t we?”
Apple looked on the group, they agreed with Sylvan, it did seem that everyone was fresh and new to the galaxy, and had an open curiosity that Apple found endearing. “Merry band of losers” certainly could be deemed as offensive, but Apple felt it fit their ragtag group no better than anything else they could come up with. They attempted their best smile, before running through the backstories of everyone once more. Something bothered them about Three’s story.
“Hey…Three. You say you’re…uh…from a lab…and we kinda found you accidentally in a box right? Are you like some escapee? Are there going to be people looking for you?”
Three was lying down in their hammock which they had made with their web and stuck to the ceiling. The pattern of the web was quite intricate and seemed incredibly sturdy, three didn’t have much to do in that box except weave her web constantly. Three was not bothered by the losers insult since their seemingly endless positive mindset was not easily cracked. They actually found it a little funny and a little chuckle escaped them. As apple looked at them Three spun the hammock around so they were upside down and looking back.
“I don’t know? The people who got me free said something about fuel being so pricey that it would not be worth it. I mean, they made one of me so why couldn’t that spooky lady make another one of me? Seems less tiresome then trying to chase me. I am sure it’s going to be fine! If it does concern you I can just change my appearance some day. Guess I will have to stay out of your vlogs until that point then.”
Three was a little sad at the prospect of not participating in Apple’s shenanigans.
Apple listened intently and couldn’t help but register the disappointment across Three’s face.
“Oh me oh my. No No! If you wish to be a part, I would gladly accept! I just didn’t want to cause you any trouble is all.”
Hoping that Three was relieved, Apple looked back over the group.
“Well, you really are interesting. I have SO many questions for y’all, but hey we’ve got all the time in the world to chat haven’t we? Speaking of…my calculations are correct, we should be coming up on our target in the next 20 minutes or so. Anything y’all need to do before we get there?”
Enra had returned to her spot off to the side, listening to everything.
" 'merry band of losers', eh? Cant argue with that"
She cracks a slight smile and chuckles softly.
"Twenty minutes to lost star?" She says questioningly, stepping a bit closer to apple and the group as a whole. "We'd best get stuff ready, then. I'll make sure ive got all my stuff together."
She waves slightly and heads off to the other room where she rummages through her luggage, checking to make sure everything is there.
Kael paused for a moment looking over to the Nocamal woman, and gave a small sigh at her. They had simlair backgrounds, and quite frankly it was nice to have someone to lean on. Even if the order may disapprove. She gently turned back to the rest of the group, tugging at her robe to make emphasize. "I could probably use some clothing. What exactly is in store for this, Lost Star? I've never been." She had about 10 credits worth of any sort of money, so frankly not like she was going to be shopping too much. But some new clothes that weren't so airy would be nice.
"Twenty minutes?!"
Sylvan wondered, quite obviously baffled by the ships apparent speed.
'What sort of ftl drive does this thing have?'
He shook his head in mild disbelief but quickly regained his composure.
"Anyways. Lost Star... is sort of the inofficial capital of the Galaxy, it's a triple ringworld and built in the place of a former pirate hideout, which has now moved to the 'End of the Line', if you're familiar with those."
He eyed her clothes, though more out of concern than... other reasons.
"You should be able to get some clothes on Lost Star, there is so many places and traders there I would be surprised if you didn't. Though... if you are there the first time it may be best to get a guide or stick to the group, since... uh... yeah, crime rates haven't really decreased from when this place was just a pirate riddled asteroid. Better avoid the more nasty places."
He would've walked off now to check for his belongings since they, apparently, would arrive soon but it's not like his bag would go anywhere while he was standing in the room here and people seemed to have questions which he was fine with answering anyways as the more experienced traveller.
"Yeah, twenty minutes? I find it more likely it to be twenty days and your navigation is freaking out. Either that, or your vessel outpaces anything that even the .38 special has, heh."
Teciro gets up and stretches out a bit, however much the confined space will allow him, and quickly dwelves back into the other parts of the ship to find a place to get some shuteye. At the same time he wished he'd turn back, he was content to have run away from that unsurmountable feeling.
Arushlae paused for a moment glancing over the group, then lingering on her four armed companion. "This one will find work in Lost Star, this one has been once before... This one needs no preperation, as long as my staff is in my possession I will be fine." She turned, and headed into Kael, and hers quarters. Taking a seat on the bed, or what passed for one. She also wanted to check the status of Prador while there. Talking of her past made her wonder.
Kael said nothing. The woman slowly standing, one arm pressed against the chest of her robe as she did so. She glanced at Arushlae as she left, then looked over Three for a moment. Not saying anything however she turned, and headed into the private quarters. Closing the door, and pulling her robe over her head. Letting all four arms stretch out she moved around Arushlae and layed down. Opting to sleep unless woken up.
Three glanced back at Kael for a second before returning to expanding their ceiling hammock.
“Twenty days, well at least I don’t have to spend those days in the box. That would get boring quickly.”
After seeing people beginning to leave three tore the webbing from the ceiling, letting themselves and the remains of the hammock fall down. They landed a little roughly but were unharmed. The webbing was torn to pieces and three took some time to grab it all together before standing back up. Then three just stood there, looking around confused. They thought they heard something.
Sylvan watched the others leave, that was... a rather short introduction round.
If they were to travel together longer in this confined space they still had ways to go, otherwise they may have some quite unpleasant run-ins on the ship.
Nonetheless, it was a good start at least.
He headed to the cockpit of the ship to check on the 'twenty minutes' Apple mentioned and whether they were still on course. Whilst doing so he turned half towards Apple who was still in the other room.
"So, what do you think Apple? Well and what are you going to do on Lost Star, while we're on that topic?"
As he half turned he saw Three out of the corner of his eye, apparently intently listening to... something?
"What is it, Three, something wrong?"
“I thought I heard someone call out to me.”
Three shook their head and then shrugged
“Probably just misheard something…. Why did everyone leave already by the way? I thought we were just getting started?”
They went and sat upon one of the empty chairs. Three did not wish to return to their room alone and do… nothing. They were quite excited about the prospect of meeting everyone more closely. They leaned their head to see Apple and hear his response to Sylvan.
Arushlae eyed Kael as she entered. Raising a brow, and then growing a small faint smile. She didn't lay down with the four armed woman, staying sitting on the bed. She was looking over the datapad Kael was given reading. But after a long moment setting it down, and pulling her own tunic over her head to lay down. Getting some sleep with Kael before they got to Lost Star. Arushlae was not looking forward to Lost Star, having had one too many bad experiences from the place.
“Wait…I think I may have got something confused up in my neural processor. Two moments…”
Apples disappeared off following Sylvan, back to the cockpit of the vessel, checking over the charts of the course laid in once more. They kicked themselves and tutted before verbally exclaiming “Oh what a silly goose you are now Apple.”
Hearing Sylvan’s question, Apple whilst they tapped once more on the course, spoke.
“Well, forgive my misunderstanding, I think my course projections were all wrong here, and I was simply going to “A Lost Star”, not THE “Lost Star”. I have a chart over here of Stars systems no mapped, and…hey I must have got confused because, truth be told I don’t know anything about THE “Lost Star”. So, in answer to your query, I have not got the foggiest what I will do. If any of you are…how you say…experienced with the place…well I would be obliged to follow…”
Apple pointed to the amended course. “Does that there look more like the time scale we expect?”
Sylvan looked at what Apple had pointed out and what he had already expected.
"Ah, yeah I knew something was off but I guess that makes sense, don't worry about it."
He began to check the new coordinates and then nodded.
"Yeah, that looks more like what we were looking for, should be about..."
He began putting the new coordinates into navigation and searched for the corresponding values.
"Should be about... ten more days? Maybe fourteen if you want to preserve fuel and all. Up to you really."
Then he began to address Three. He didn't know too much about Astril, just a bunch of rumours as he had never been himself. Did he hear something about psionics? he couldn't recall.
"Someone calling out for you?"
He turned towards Apple with a questioning look then back to Three.
"Say, your... 'people' haven't mentioned anything about 'psionics' have they?"
Apple’s shenanigans made Three chuckle, they looked genuinely happy towards even the most trivial of things. Then Three looked Sylvan directly into his eyes as he asked them his question. Their bright glow green eyes almost piercing. They looked confused and puzzled for a while before slowly pulling up memories.
“Uuuuh…. It sounded like that. Nothing else though.”
At the mentioning of psionics Sylan saw Three staring dumbfounded at him before snapping out of it.
“No no, never heard of of psi…fsi…psiun… the thing. Never heard of the thing!”
Inside the room Enra and Teciro had been staying in, enra has her stuff gathered up as she checks over it, making sure its all there. Bored, she turns to Teciro.
"Hey, so whats been going on in the ol' CES as of late? Havent been there in so long i dont even know whats been happening"
She zips up her bag and sits down on the edge of the bedding, and awaits a response, curious as to the state of her birthplace.
Though the initial plan was to get some rest, it seems that the recent events forbid the awakening lizard from peace. He lay down on whatever thin mattress of some kind of synthetic weave there was, with his equipment close by, though eyes open and staring above into the strutted ceiling of the spaceship, watching a few loose wires from behind a panel dance around with the periodic jerks of the travel.
The disturbance of this momentary distraction was much appreciated. He broke a look towards Enra, and his eyes turned pensive for a moment, before finally producing a reply.
"Not much."
No, that was too dry, she definitely would want more information.
"Well actually, the corpos grew a lot. Contact with the exterior and all. Some of that may have been partially due to things I've done... Buuuuuut I'll leave that up in the air for you to wonder about.
I'm sorry... sometimes you grow so absorbed into your work that you don't notice what happens outside of it. Oh, I can surely say that nothing bad's happened!"
Enra smiles slightly and exhales slightly, looking up at the ceiling
"I get it, haha. I cant say i miss the place, but someday i wanna go back to where i was born and see what it looks like today, yknow?"
She brings her legs up to sit criss-cross on the bedding, trying to get a bit more comfortable as she sits around, her hand reaching up and rubbing the back of her head.
"I wonder whats going on with the galaxy right now.. Its been quite a long time since ive seen any semblance of news, not since i left that one station a couple months back."
"Well..."
He takes a moment thinking about the last news that he heard about the galaxy at large, it had been a while since he had to bother about such large scale stuff.
"Oh, yeah. Huge ancerium crisis. That was the last thing I really was aware of before coming over here. I don't think it should be a problem for us though."
His eyes danced around looking for anything else that jumped to mind, but he was a small island of men isolated from news inside this relativistic tin box.
"Ahhh, ancerium crisis... Heres hoping we can afford the stuff."
She ponders a bit, thinking on what to say next
"Ugh, im bored. You got any idea of what to do? If not, im sleeping."
Teciro darted a look at her for a few seconds, before looking back onto the ceiling.
Once again the little wires jeered at the soft shaking of the vessel.
"No idea. I'll try to rest too."
With that, he huddled his stuff, and curled up against the corner. Obviously not trusting others to not steal his things, but also trusting them enough to sleep. Seems like the journey ahead will be long.
"Same.. night, i guess."
She crawls into her bedding and huddles into a little ball, resting for the long journey...
Apple looked back at Sylvan, as Three peered at them in a bright green hue. It was like nothing Apple had ever seen, and by far one of the oddest things they could have imagined. This strange child. Apple felt so sorry for them and their “condition”. It was clear to them that something had befallen this small individual, and that three had been treated in a way Apple considered “most inhumane”. For starters, the name “three”, felt peculiar and impersonal, something Apple did not associate with living beings. Then there was ‘everything else’ about this person.
Apple tried to give three their best smile, or at least something resembling a smile.
“Say…umm…Three. Your eyes went all a bit glowy there…is that another thing that you…do?”
Three looked up to Apple. While their eyes did glow it was not anything extreme. It was more comparable to a dim bedside nightlight then anything which might light up the world around it. They didn’t seem very perturbed by anything that has happened. This was mostly since Three lacked any context. Their life had always been one of being in a lab and experimented with so they just assumed that normal.
As apple smiled Three responded back with a smile of their own. Theirs was genuine.
“Oh! Yeah yeah! When things get dark and scary I can still see a bit! Very handy, it’s how I was able to read my magazines while stuck in the box.”
"I... I see..." Sylvan half answered, still somewhat bewildered. He was used to all sorts of odd people but even for him it was the first time travelling with someone who said of themselves to be some sort of weapon and at same time being genuinely believable to be so.
However, in the end there seemed to be no threat coming from Three, so he shrugged it off, after shaking his head.
"Well, back to work I guess."
---
...and so it came that the now not-so-strangers-anymore got to know each other just a little bit better, although it didn't quite work out as initially intended, it was a step in the right direction, at least in Sylvans books.
As the travel now, with the corrected course, would likely take a while longer still, there was plenty of time left, to learn more about each other, as the stars passed at superluminous speeds across the endless voids of the galaxy.
Alas, a different sort of 'issue' was soon at hand, one which many of the crew sought to bring their input to, as to how to solve it...
---
Sylvan stared at the coffee machine with a tired look, it was morning... probably... possibly? He wasn't sure, he knew he had slept and was awake now at the very least, he always was a bit tired when he was away from leylines, oddly enough. That aside, they were still on course, people were going about their usual little schedules, Apple was checking the systems, Enra and Teciro would likely come out of their room soon to get food, Aurshlae and Kael were probably meditating... or something like that.
...and then there was Three.
He turned around, looking at the ceiling where they were hanging upside down, staring at one of the displays that showed the stars passing by.
Sylvan looked at his cup and then Three as a thought slowly became apparent to him.
They... they didn't really have a proper name... did they?
He walked over to the table and sat down, taking a sip from the cup, before looking back up at Three.
"Hey, morning..."
He paused, not sure how to start.
"So, uh... do you have any other name, like anything you've called by other than 'Three'?"
Three was silently looking at the stars flying by. Their attention was very much grabbed by this In it’s entirety. But as Sylvan spoke up to them Three looked back and decided to descend down to eye level. Webbing came from their limbs as they began to lower themselves to Sylvan’s level.
“Hello!”
Three’s tone of voice was one of excitement and enthusiasm again. It was either infectious or obnoxious depending on the type of person they were talking too.
“Nope! Just Three! Number Three officially. Or sometimes Subject 3… maybe occasionally project three.”
Apple had enjoyed the last few days. Getting to know this thrown together group had been a pleasant experience, the company on the Wandering Star proving to be something Apple never knew they needed. They still had not yet decided to introduce them within one of their blogs, deciding that whilst the group had seemed comfortable with the idea, Apple wanted them to feel as comfortable aboard the ship as possible, and knew shoving a camera in their face was not exactly “relaxing”.
As Apple sat, checking over the systems within the cockpit, when they heard a small conversation coming from the back. Getting up and walking the short distance to the kitchen time, they found Sylvan and Three engaged in chats. Apple regarded their conversations, before interjecting.
“So…Morning morning…so are you “happy” being called “Three”? I have found that humanoids don’t usually like the impersonal nature of numbers for names.”
Three twisted around to see apple approach and smiled brightly at him. Then once he stated his question three pondered for a good minute before answering. It was a hard question since they never knew what it was like to have a real name. Nevermind being a normal person. So they just shook their head.
“I don’t know, depends on how many numbers there are. I wouldn’t even know what other name I could have. Are there like rules to names? Is there a name law? If I gave myself a name would that technically mean I am my own parent? Only parents can give names right?”
Sylvan sat down and listened, slowly sipping from his coffee, the mention of names and parents made him think.
Would that mean the old woman in the backwater station would be his mother?
Not like he'd still know or particularly cared where the place is.
He shook his head.
"No, not quite, many people give themselves their own names these days, even if they already have one and no, there isn't really any 'name law', at least none I know of."
He paused for a moment.
"...but, I mean, we could gather some suggestions or go searching for some from Astril."
Three was silent for a moment but then suddenly had a bright spark of inspiration. While still smiling brightly their eyes suddenly had a sparkle which indicated a less artificial happiness. In their excitement three began to swing around on their rope of web. Despite it looking precariously thin the web was strong enough to support the weight of Three, not that there was much weight in the first place.
“Oh oh! OH! I still have those pictures books from my time in the box. Maybe they have a cute name for me to steal? Oh my goodness this is exciting! My very own name! Yippee!”
Three did one final swing before letting go of their web rope and doing a double front flip before landing on their butt with a hard smack. However they stood up on their own two feet right away, not looking hurt or if they are then not showing it.
With a yawn and a stretch enra comes striding out of the room, a tired look on her face as she places her hand on a random coffee mug, pouring the steaming liquid into the cup and drinking a sip, searching around for some food to eat.
"Hey, Sylvan, would you happen to know where any food is..?"
She says as she approaches the trio, coffee in hand. She wonders what is going on, thinking over the journey ahead of them and many many other things swirling around in her still half-asleep mind. Eventually she picks up on the conversation happening between Three, Sylvan, and Apple, and chimes in.
"Hmm, names. Maybe something like Tracie? sounds kinda like the word three, i guess?" She says, tiredly.
"Eh, nevermind."
Sylvan looked at Enra for a couple moments after having watched Three head out of the room to get their picture books and then resorted to pointing towards the cargo area.
"Well uh, suppose we stored most of it in the freezers."
He scratched his chin in contemplation.
"...guess we should've taken some out yesterday?"
He wasn't quite sure what name to suggest.
What gender was Three even? Did that matter? He pulled out his holopad, gently placing his mug on the table and began searching for names and naming schemes in Astril.
She takes another drink of coffee and sighs. She's still hungry but it'll have to wait a while, she guesses.
"I'll go get it out and let it thaw"
She then turns around on her heel, her coffee sloshing in her cup, almost spilling out onto her, and then she walks off out of the room, heading towards the freezer where she begins setting out food to thaw for when the rest of the crew wake up.
"Breathe, feel the galaxy, the life of the crew flow through you. We are all bound by Etro... Breathe, don't think. Rising... Falling."
The Nocamal woman started sitting legs crossed on the floor of the shared quarters with her lover. Going through the motions of meditation for the younger woman, to cope with all that had happened. The Nocamal's orange eyes closing, hands resting on her lap against the tunic she wove herself nearly a century ago, her war staff resting on her lap as well.
She was used to this, surprised she was teaching a monk to meditate, she understood why. Her magic could not heal harm to the mind, as much as she wished she had that power.
Three eventually returned to the mess hall with some of their paper magazines in hand. They had a bit of skip in their step and then proceeded to sit down next to sylvan. The magazines were various and old. When three went into the box they were simply tossed some of these as entertainment and it showed in their less then ideal state. What they put on the table were an outdated genetic modification catalogue, a fashion magazine and one magazine of the adult variety.
“Here ya go! Look at these! Aren’t they fun?”
Three opened the gene mod catalogue to her favourite page. It showed and described a procedure for changing one’s cardiovascular system to augment daily energy and physical performance. The advertisement used a cute cartoon duck as it’s mascot. Three pointed to the duck. The ducks name was Guffy.
“I like this one a lot, he is very cute. Seems like a fun friend to have.”
Three was so excited to talk about this duck. To them it was the most interesting thing they have ever seen and sharing the fact of its existence to their new friends was so fun. They already forgot about the whole naming thing, three just wanted to show the duck.
Slyvan exchanged a somewhat uncertain look with Apple as the first thing which caught his attention was the adult magazine, not the duck, and he wasn't quite sure if three should have that. Then again, he didn't really know much about them or Astril, could just be normal.
Evidently, he didn't know what a duck was either.
He smiled anyways.
"I mean, sure seems like it. Seems like a... fun guy."
From what he could tell it was some sort of fluffy avian, looked nice enough.
"Sooo... Is Guffy a name you'd like to have?"
He asked, as he went through the list of suggestions he got when searching up, as a rather important question with that sort of thing came to his mind...
"Uh, so... Three, what... what gender are you, if I may ask? Girl or a boy?"
Three was not really aware of the implications of the adult magazine. They didn’t have the right mental or bodily faculties to truly understand what they were looking at. While quite saucy the contents were not too explicit.
“Huh? Oh!” It took three a moment to process that Guffy was the name of the duck. After all, they were illiterate. Three just liked looking at the pictures. “That sounds very cute but wouldn’t it be confusing if we both had the same name?”
At the matter of gender Three became quite stumped in their thoughts. It took a while for a response to form.
“I don’t know, people called me both before so… why can’t I be both? That means everybody is correct and happy!
Kael stayed silent. All four of her hands resting on her bare lap, eyes closed. She followed Aurshlae's instructions, quieting her mind. And inadvertently using her psionic abilities on most of the crew. Depending on their willpower, and how guarded they were it was likely not much would come of it. But regardless the four armed woman abrubtly stood not okay with the intrusion of privacy she just did. Quickly moving over to the bed, and grabbing her cloak. Slipping it over her head and moving to the door. "Sorry... I just can't do this right now... Not again, it's too risky." She situated her lower two arms in the robes, and pushed open the door. Walking out, and heading over to the cargo area to see if anyone was inside.
Darkness, he felt himself afloat in a kind of vat of imiscible liquid, floating unto the nothingness. He focused on what he found real, the ends of his fingertips, the ache in the joints, he slowly realised a cold feeling on the side of his face, then the soft cold-wetness around his lips, was he on the floor?
He snapped into awareness and rose up, he found himself in a large trapezoidal corridor, three stories tall. It stretched forever in both directions. He felt an initial confusion, then a sharp chill down his spine: The Gallows.
That is what he had named this strange dreamscape that haunted him. At once, the memories of the looming presence flooded into his mind, he became hyper-aware, and soon felt that such presence had never been stronger than right now. One of the ends of the corridor was darkness, purer and blacker than any night, a darkness manifest of his very mind, masking an incomprehensible form, beyond the grasp of his awakening brain.
It moved towards him, and closed this gap faster and faster. Infinity was stretched down into a moment of hurry, as Teciro bolted the other way, however, it seemed as if he was dragged backwards. He forced his eyes shut in desperation, in vague hopes to control the outcome of this nightmare with his mind. For a moment, he felt lifted upwards softly, then suddenly, a sharp pain in his chest.
He awoke with a gasp in the corner of the room. His eyes darted around, outpacing his mind which spun around in a whirlwind. He grasped his chest and felt a pulsing pain that dissipated quickly. He focused, he was back on the ship now. Though the sleep was short, he felt rested somehow, much more rested than he had been in the previous month.
Apple followed Slyvan’s eyes, staring at the inappropriate nature of the adult magazines that Three presented them with.
“I…umm…well sure. If Guffy is a name you like, it doesn’t matter where you get the inspiration. And Gender, well that is a complex issue, and is why when I was given the choice, I decided to stay clear and just keep it real with a they/them type situation”
Apple smiled at their new friends, kneeling to Three (or Guffy) and placing a reassuring hand on their shoulder.
“Listen, I just want you to feel safe and secure. We, well me and Slyvan here, are curious about you. You give vibes of someone who has been through a lot, and well…you seem chipper enough…you…you…you…you…you…”
Apple’s voice trailed off, as if a record had become stuck, the same phrase repeating. They stood abruptly, throwing themselves to their feet, and standing rigid, staring off into the distance, their eyes turning a sudden purple hue. Ignoring their shipmates, they spoke with a voice that seemed alien. Gone was the jonty melodic twang of Apple, replaced with a hard, metallic, alarming call.
“SYSTEM ERROR. COGNITIVE PROCESSING IN DANGER. ORGANIC TISSUE INCOMPATIBLE.”
As quickly as the switch occurred, Apple returned to normality. Their face resumed the attempted smile, their eyes returned to normal, and their tuneful tone resumed.
“…but just let it be known, we care a lot…” They looked around. Unsure as to how they had returned to their feet. Apple paused. “Hey…umm…do you hear the others waking?”
Enra had been messing around with the food, having gotten it all thawed as she places it to begin cooking. She walks towards the rooms of the others and quietly knocks, if she is let in she lets them know that she is going to be cooking food, and that it should be done in about 10 or so minutes.
She passes through the cargo area, and turns to Kael, quietly saying: "Hey, im heading back to the kitchen to cook up some food. Everyone's in the mess hall if you want to join us for a while."
She then nods to kael as if asking her to follow then passes back into the kitchen, heading towards the pair gathered around three and it's magazines.
She arrives just as apple stiffens up into their stance, and Enra quickens her pace a bit.
"Hey apple, you okay? What happened there?" She says after apple had returned to what seemed like consciousness.
“Guffy…. Guffy…. Ok! You can all call me Guffy until I can think of a better name!”
The more three repeated the name to themselves the more they began to like it. It had a nice ring to it and was also quite cute.
“Well I don’t see a reason why I can’t be both. Maybe one day I dress like a girl and the other day like a boy. Why would I want to pick one? That sounds like it would get boring!”
As apple kneeled to get to Guffy’s (previously three) level they became quiet and listened intently. Especially after he put a hand on their shoulder. But the sudden and strange noise made by Apple scared Guffy immensely. As the robot shot upward back to their feet and spoke in that awful robotic tone Guffy immediately hid themselves behind Sylvan and hugged him from behind.
Only once Apple’s cheerful tone returned did Guffy peak from behind Sylvan. They were quiet.
Sylvan sighed silently putting away the list of names he just brought up.
"I guess if it's going to be Guffy in either case it won't really matter anyways."
He shrugged, watching Apple kneel down to Guffy and then promptly shoot up moments into his small speech.
He leaned away on his chair, almost stumbling off it in the process just about able to catch himself on the edge of the table as Guffy hid behind him. Just about everyone in the room stared at Apple now, even Enra who just entered the room.
After a brief pause Sylvan was second to break the silence.
"Uh... yeah... You good Apple? 'Organic tissue incompatible', does that... tell you anything?"
Sylvan was... visibly cautious, but not exactly afraid.
“Haha, what now?” Apple looked at Sylvan and Three/Guffy. Their concern registered in Apple’s emotional processor, and they realised soon that something was not right. They paused, look inward and ran an internal diagnostic to reply the last few seconds, in an attempt to find the reason for their change in tone. Indeed, a few seconds of missed data showed themselves, like a broken chain stringing Apple’s history together.
“Huh…that is bizarre. I seem to…have blanked out for a few seconds? Organic tissue incompatible you say? Was that something I said?” There was a small level of panic which registered across Apples metallic face. “I…I don’t right know. That’s…that’s not something that has happened to me before. I should, umm, probably go look this up, right?”
They turned on their heels, leaving back towards the cockpit of the ship, their motions in a hurry.
Sylvan waited for a couple moments as he watched Apple leave, looking at Enra and then Guffy afterwards, lifting an eyebrow.
He patted Guffys head and stood up.
"Just... wait here for a moment, I'll see if I can help him, alright?"
He stood up and offered Enra the seat instead, heading off to the cockpit after Apple at a steady pace, trying not to alarm Guffy.
Once he was out of hearing distance of the kitchen he spoke to Apple.
"So... any results, anything we could help you with?"
He admittedly wasn't exactly well versed in any sort of robots or genetics though even he could connect as much when a robot said that 'organic tissue is incompatible' that something was off. Was Apple... actually some sort of demi-human?
Enra leans down quietly beside Guffy, reaching out and patting them on the head.
"You okay, guff? Looks like you got scared there a little bit. Im sure apple is okay, probably just something with their coding. Until then, why dont we find something to do? Do you want something to eat?"
Guffy was still a little in shock after the whole Apple going haywire debacle although the pat on their head helped a bit with comforting them. They made themselves purposely small even as Sylvan stood up and walked away they kept hiding behind the chair for a little while. As Enra leaned down and gave them some extra pats on the head Guffy relaxed but was still visibly nervous, their eyes darted around and their body was shivering. As if they just received an immense shot of adrenaline.
“… me is fine… just a little shaken” Guffy slowly managed to get back up onto their feet. “F-food… food! Yes food! Is there meat?” Their tone shifted rapidly to excitement at the prospect of eating something. A big smile full of sharp teeth presented themselves to Enra.
"Yeah! I can make you some ham or bacon or something. Want anything to go with it?"
She stands up fully and walks towards the front of the kitchen where the cooking areas are, motioning for guff to follow her. She grabs out a pan and some ham and turns on the little burner, letting the pan heat up.
“Bacon! Pig! Yum yum!” Guffy did a little jump of excitement with every word as they scuttled over to Enra’s side to watch her cook. “… i don’t know what I want. As long as its not that gross liquid stuff they fed me. Blegh! It was always a good day when I could eat pig.” Guffy stared at the flames as the pan heated up.
"Well then, i guess you'll be having a good day!" she slightly exclaims, chuckling softly as the Ham hits the pan, a slight sizzling of oil as it cooks, the smell of it wafting through the kitchen as overhead ventilation drinks up the excess steam.
"Dont get too close now, dont want you to get burnt or hit by any of the popping oil"
Apple hurried into the cockpit, throwing themselves down into their pilots seat, before slouching down, pulling their display screen around on its holder to directly in front of their face. Apple typed furiously, scanning screen after screen as they searched a variation of sources, taking in all information before they heard the quiet approach of Sylvan into the room.
“Any results? Yeah…yeah…somethings.” They said, frantically, not turning away from the screen “Some good…some bad. Lots of things really.”
They stopped typing, but continued to stare at their screen. Apple paused, an element of calm creeping over their entire demeanour.
“So, the first thing you should probably know. Akili Bandi; that’s what I am…well, we are in a constant state of evolution. We’ve made it our cultural mission to continually advance and be accepted as by our organic brethren, and as such…we’ve looked to incorporate organic matter, in the hope that synthetic life could be…achievable. We are all kinds of mixed up bags of things. I…well, I had some organically grown neural components put in my…brain…for want of a better word. Experimental stuff, you know…”
They turned to face Sylvan.
“It…haha…well it seems like that there is breaking down…”
Slyvan went silent for a moment trying take in and process the information with a mixed look on his face.
So... what did that mean? Was Apple actually dying right in front of them? Is he just going to stay the same?
"I... I see. That is... hm. I'm sorry to hear that."
He looked at Apple absentmindedly, from what he gathered none of the crew were able to deal with this sort of thing, they may be able to do something about it on lost star but he didn't know how much time Apple had or if he was even in danger.
"So, what are the good news then?", a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“Well, the good news is that it will be fine.” Apple gave a reassuring smile, seeing the concern on Sylvan’s face.
“All we need to do is find a suitable organic or…I guess…a mechanical component to replace the incompatible one. So, you know, all we need to do is find a replacement part compatible with a cybernetic brain. I am sure those things can be found at this ‘Lost Star’, right?”
Apple had no idea whether it would be easy to find a replacement part, but they knew that keeping things chipper would help moral remain high.
“Hey, now I don’t want a fuss now, so maybe we keep this between us for now, yeah?”
Sylvan went with his hand through his hair and sighed in relief, so... it wasn't an immediate issue at least.
"Sure, no problem."
He went silent for a moment and stroked his chin, mumbling under the whitenoise of the ship as displays blinked int heir usual patterns int he background.
"Cybernetic brains. Cybernetic brains..."
They would certainly find that sort of stuff in Lost Star, where else if not there? Question is... where they would have to go... House Asterion maybe? They more or less owned the Ancnet if anyone had cybernetic brains they should, question is, if they could afford that.
"Yeah, we should be able to get you your parts no problem. Just a matter of the right place." He half-turned his head back to the entrance of the cockpit and then back to apple.
"Should we go back then?"
A calm came over Apple. ‘Things will be ok’ they told themselves, repeatedly. Sylvan seemed confident that the Lost Star would be a place where they could find the parts needed, and with that confidence, Apple shoved away their fear that such a part may still be incompatible.
“You’re right, it’ll all be just tickety-boo, wont it. Yes, let’s go back to the others.”
Brank
"Well then, i guess you'll be having a good day!" she slightly exclaims, chuckling softly as the Ham hits the pan, a slight sizzling of oil as it cooks, the smell of it wafting through the kitchen as overhead ventilation drinks up the excess steam. "Dont get too close now, dont want you to get burnt or hit by any of the popping oil"
Back in the kitchen Guffy stared at the sizzling ham in awe. As if they were hypnotised by it. Their lips were curled in a wide smile. Guffy’s trance however was broken as a drip of hot oil jumped from the sizzling pan and onto their forehead.
“Aaah! Hot stuff! Ow ow ow!” Their tone was clearly panicked.
Taking a step back from the cooking ham Guffy flailed around to try and pat the oil away. Which lead to them tripping over their own feet and falling down onto their butt.
“… ouch…”
Enra finishes up the ham just before the oil had popped onto Guffy, pulling it out into a plate and letting it drained.
Then when they yelled out, she practically tossed down the cooking equipment, swerving on her heel and quickly moving over to guff, kneeling down and checking him over.
"Guff, are you okay??" she says worriedly, noting the small burn on his forehead, and looking closer at it.
"Did the oil get you?" she asked.
“Me fine, it’s just a little burny…”
Guffy was a little in shock but it quickly faded. Their eyes glowed a lot brighter for a second as the adrenaline came and subsided. The burn was minor, nothing some cold water couldn’t fix. However Guffy seemingly recovered quickly, getting back on their feet and looking around.
“Woah! It looks fantastic! Can I eat it now?”
They said as they looked at the cooked ham in awe. Any sadness from the burn had already faded away.
She smiled and shook her head, standing up and walking over to dab a little cold water onto a napkin. Shortly after she turns back to guff and gently takes their head close to the napkin and taps at the burn, making sure it doesnt get too bad. Afterwards she backs away a bit and turns to the ham, setting it down in front of a chair at the table.
"sure you can!" she offers, sitting down nearby and letting out a deep sigh
—
...and so it occurred that former-three-now-Guffy received their name (and their ham) and journey continued. Truly, it been quite eventful for what should have been a quiet ride to the capital of the galaxy but fortunately for the crew, the rest of the travel went by relatively eventless, most of them living in blissful ignorance of Apples ailment, supplemented by Guffys smile which could have made a shark envious.
Alas, eventually the time came, when Lost Star came into sight, marking the destination, perhaps even the final one for some and soon it would time part ways, be it temporarily or permanently.
On this day it was once more, Sylvans task, to bring everyone together, who walked around the ship, knocking on doors and spreading the news...
---
"Dear ladies and gentlemen, we have almost arrived at out destination, Lost Star, make sure to gather all your stuff and clean up behind you if you're leaving the premises of the ship...", Sylvan imitated one of the various announcements that tended to play on long-range civilian transports, after he had knocked on every door in the corridor.
Once more he was astounded by how fast time passed, it had been a full two weeks already and Lost Star was finally in sight, although, he peeked into the cockpit where Apple sat, well, it could've ran better.
"So, Apple."
He stepped into the cockpit and began tapping on one of the displays as he waited for the others to get out of their cabins, promptly zooming in on lost star with one of the visual sensors.
"THAT, is 'Lost Star'. Capital of the Galaxy, the place where you can get almost anything and meet almost anyone this world has to offer..."
He coughed slightly and continued under his breath.
"...and a hive for scum and villainy whenever you take a wrong corner."
Displayed on the screen was the partial view of Lost Star, a massive, silvery, partially finished triple ring world, slowly rotating around a yellow main sequence star.
"What do you think?"
The journey to Lost Star since “the incident” (as Apple referred to it) was relatively inconsequential. Monitoring their status, Apple maintained regular checks on their system, hoping that another outburst would not emerge in front of the entire group, and whilst no major breakdown occurred in public, they couldn’t help but feel a slight loss of cognitive functions here and there, making them realise the speed at which the problem needed to be fixed.
The Lost Star produced a stunned cocktail of wonder and wanderlust from Apple. The world was like something they had read in fiction, and Sylvan’s own description conjured images in Apples mind of adventures yet to happen.
“I mean, wow, what is there to say? The thing is HUGE! It looks…wonderful. I’ll…I’ll need my camera for sure. I gotta get videos of this. And you say we can get ‘anything’?”
"Well, sort of, really depends on what you want and where you go to get it but since it's a pretty central point in the galaxy a lot of merchants and factions have a presence here or are at able to be contacted so..."
Sylvan paused his explanatory tone for a moment, looking at the screen.
Seems Eysra was on the other side today and they have to move to... and then Asterion, and the Guidance Hall...
he caught himself staring off into the non-existent distance.
"Errr... yeah, pretty much."
“Well, hell…I think it is just pretty neat.” Apple said, a sense of satisfaction portrayed as they spoke.
“Say, we should probably make sure the rest are ready to depart. Do you think we need to like, register for parking or something? Is there a good place to park to get access to the shops quicker? Oh man, this is just such an exciting time!”
"Ah, you usually do that around the areas where you actually want to dock considering the place is pretty big."
Sylvan shrugged.
"I can do that if you want or you can do it yourself. It shouldn't be too much of an issue getting around as there's an extensive hyperloop transit system."
He turned his head in direction of the cockpit entry.
"Well, I did tell them we'd be there soon, so I guess they should be coming out of their holes any moment."
Kael awoke from the knocking with a soft jolt. Looking down to her companion curled up in the tiny bed with her. She sighed softly, and stood up. Grabbing her robe and throwing it over her head. She headed right outside to Slyvan and silently followed him to the cockpit with Apple. Saying softly. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy..."
As the knocking rang through the door, Enra quickly got up and ready, stepping out of the room in the same outfit as she had started with- granted, it had been washed a couple times since them- and walked towards the cockpit.
When she walked in, she spoke to sylvan and apple.
"So, we're finally here, eh? Quite the sight."
She stared on towards the beautiful ringworlds, and let out a deep sigh.
Theyve arrived.
Upon hearing that they arrived at Lost star Guffy shot out of bed and rushed to the cockpit. They did a standing triple front flip as they arrived out of excitement.
“Oh wow! Oh WOW! It’s so big! So shiny!
Guffy was mesmerised as they stared at the display in the cockpit.
“You said you can get anything there right? Maybe I can get a cute dress! Like in my picture books!”
They were incredibly hyperactive, not being able to stand still and shuffling around constantly.
Sylvan half turned his head towards Guffy and nodded, whilst keeping an eye on the displays as he waited for Apples answer.
"Yeah, I'm sure we can get you a dress."
He frowned to himself for a moment, noticing how they apparently all just Accepted that they were Guffys caretakers now.
"So, what about everyone else, you gonna stick together or go to your own places you have to be?"
He shrugged.
"I mean, if you want to share, that is."
"Well, that sounds like a plan, guff," she remarked to the little one, smiling and shaking her head softly.
"If you want, I can take you to look for your dress. Maybe get myself an outfit or two while i'm at it. How's that sound?"
She then turned to Sylvan.
"I've not quite got anywhere to go in specific. I'll try and stick with you guys the best i can. Though, if we have any sort of communication devices, maybe i can take guffy to look for their dress they want while you guys look for anything you need."
“Yes yes! Dress dress!”
Guffy was absolutely beaming with happiness. To them this was all so exciting! And not to mention the that they could finally get rid of that stuffy tight jumpsuit they still had.
“I would love to look around, this place is so big I bet they have exactly what I want!”
Once they were not spoken to anymore Guffy returned to staring at the screen which showed lost star.
Kael turned to glanced over at 'Guff', but said nothing. Turning around and leaving the main cockpit as no one seemed to even realize she was there. Rather she was going to wait at the exit of the vessel for them to land, and then head towards the Wandering Path here. She had been here once before, and was not found of even being here. But there was always solace in other wanderers.
Slyvan head turned as Kael left, watching her walk down the corridor.
Did she not hear him or did she just not want to answer?
He shrugged, in the end it was none of his business. Well, probably. Still unfortunate, not often he got to travel with someone from the paths.
As Kael, wandered towards the exit, Aurshlae opened the door and left their room, looking towards the cockpit but then her gaze stopped on her.
"We are... almost there, this one heard?"
There was mix of joy and melancholy in her eyes, maybe a hint of sadness.
"Are you... leaving?"
Apple reared their head from the Cockpit, whirling around as he heard the conversation behind them in the Wandering Star.
“Wait now, who is leaving? I thought we were all going to this Lost Star together? I was starting to think of a little itinerary for our time here; I got thoughts on going shopping for parts, umm…seeing some multicultural cuisine…”
As Guff went back to looking at the screen, Enra places a small pat on their head before turning towards the others. She catches Kael leaving in the edges of her vision, the woman already gone by the time Enra had fully turned back around.
"Seem's she's gone. Hope she changes her mind."
She clicks her tongue slightly and then continues.
"Trying some new foods sounds nice, been getting bored of the same ol' food over and over, honestly. Maybe a couple of us could try and pick up a few odd jobs to get some more money before we leave the place? Depends on how long we plan on staying."
Kael glanced at her Nocamal companion and gave a soft chuckle. "Of course not. This is my home now, and my journey is not yet completed. I merely have nothing to say to those who have nothing to say to me. I will await our landing, and head to Wandering Paths. I am sure at least one other will come along."
She shrugged, and sat down near the exit door, and began to meditate.
Sylvan looked at her for a couple moments longer at her remark, then turned away and rolled his eyes, though moments later he seemed to remember something.
"Oh, yeah, if you are headed that direction anyways, could you tell the journey master of the 'Seven Stars' hall that I'll be coming around later? There are some things I need to catch up on but a couple other things I need to do beforehand elsewhere. So, yeah, I'd appreciate if you could help me out there."
Aurshlae seemed to be slightly amused about the interaction between the the two but didn't interrupt, as they were finished she turned towards Kael again.
"This one would like accompany you to this 'Seven Stars' hall, though I would like to find out what has happened in my home whilst I was in exile, do you think we could find one like me there?"
In the meanwhile the conversation in the cockpit continued.
"I mean, yeah, we do have a couple things to do now it seems. If you want you can go ahead and look for clothes together with Guffy or tag along with Kael and Aurshlae, Kael did say she was looking for new clothes after all."
He paused looking at Apple.
"In the meanwhile me and apple are going to head to House Asterion and get some parts for the... ship. We could meet up the guidance hall afterwards and then go from there if everyone is good with that."
He looked around himself, seeing if anyone had any objections and where they would all go.
"Alright then, it's settled on my end. Good luck looking for parts for the ship, you two. Im going to go get ready to take guff out, wait at the airlock and all," she said, before turning her head towards guffy, and smiling
"Alright, Guff', lets go wait so we can take you to find your dress"
With that, she began to walk out of the cockpit and to the main airlock out of the vessel, ushering guffy along with her.
"I also need some clothing... I am not sure if your kin will be here, from what you told me Prador is rather... Insular." She started walking without word. Heading to Seven Star's Hall.
“Sure, well that seems to settle it, now. Me and Sylvan will go look for…parts…for the ship obviously, why would you think anything different?” Apple said with a nervous twitch.
“Y’all go clothes shopping. HEY! Before you go…y’all mind doing me a favour. See if you see any interesting places, give me a hoot. Would be great for the channel you know?” Apple held his camera aloft, before turning it to face both themselves and Sylvan.
“Now…we are here at ‘The Lost Star’…some of you viewers may not be aware of what an amazing place this is…” Apple began, blogging to their audience.
Sylvan, somewhat surprised stayed silent for a moment before finding his words and continuing with a cheery voice.
"The center of the Galaxy, melting pot of cultures and cradle of wonders, good day to everyone out there!"
He waved into the camera.
In the meanwhile the ship had docked, Sylvan had apparently already dealt with the formalities when they arrived in the system, It was already rather busy outside, as expected thousands upon thousands of different individuals coming in and out from uncountable different cultures, races and origins. The ever present Humans, some Carnaithians, the occasional Telirans and Mus'Vanus and many many others known and unknown moving between concrete and metal buildings reaching to the skies, where sun burnt down, each their own destinations, stories and goals. Ships coming and departing some silent, some with roaring engines from all spectrums of technology and purpose.
They truly had arrived.
Kael was already standing outside with Aurshlae following shortly after, as Enra was still waiting on Guffy who had been captivated by the images of Lost Star on the screens.
"It is indeed so."
The Nocamal woman noted in response to Kael, becoming painfully aware she may not actually find anyone she was looking for on Lost Star, though there was no point in losing hope before trying, she had been idle in exile for long enough.
"Though this one thinks that, if any were to know where to find one of my kind, it would surely be the wanderers, would it not?"
There was a strange questioning mix of confidence and uncertainty in her voice.
It took them a good hour, even with the transit systems to get where they wanted. Well, or rather into proximity of where they wanted, ring worlds were vast and not every transit system led to the doorstep of where one wanted to be.
In the end, the group of Kael, Aurshlae, Enra and Guffy, who was stopping at every corner to point at something whilst Enra tried her best to stop them from running off, paid a clothes shop on the way a visit. It was somewhat wedged in between the various tightly stacked buildings and, conveniently, had a lot of second hand and other cheap clothes mostly left behind by other travellers and local inhabitants, likely courtesy of the nearby Guidance Hall. The shop despite being well frequented by customers was somewhat cosy and although everything seemed to be decent quality, there was a lot to look at and try out. Luckily the shop keepers didn't give them any weird looks when they came in, they were likely used to far more unusual individuals than even they were, instead one of them approached them and nodded curtly.
"Ah, hello dear customers."
He looked at them, somewhat curiously then, nodded.
"Travellers, I see, do you need any help or will you be fine on your own?"
In the meanwhile, Sylvan and Apple had already reached their destination despite having done a scene for the vlog beforehand. The service halls of House Asterion were considerably closer to the hyperloop stations as they were frequently used and pretty much one of the few notable things here. The place was despite its higher popularity oddly calm, almost deserted even, white sandy beaches with palm trees and the occasional rock were bordering a somewhat oddly coloured ocean, gently waving back and forth. The sky was a clear blue, so clear in fact one could actually see the thin band of the ring world in it, beyond the upwards bent 'horizon' which wasn't one due to the nature of the structure. The whole scene was starkly contrasted by the clean white and modern building standing amidst the beach, which had the occasional traveller coming in and out, although it was still modest in size.
Sylvan nodded to Apple and then to the building.
"Well, this is house Asterion, or rather, one of the public sides of it. Haven't been here before actually, so that's a first for me as well."
Apple turned the camera off, having got one final shot of the constructed horizon, flipping the view finder away, and folding the device into storage. They looked at the luscious sand, the lapping water, all constructed. It was a wonder to behold.
Apple stood for a moment, watching the small number of passers-by, before finally casting their gaze onto Sylvan.
“Ok…House Asterion. This is the place right? We can find…well…we can fix me up here?”
Sylvan nodded.
"Yeah, they should be able to, I think. Come on, let's head in."
As the two headed to the building Sylvan was thinking, he was not actually sure if these people had what Apple was looking, for that's just how it was with cross-compatibility or whatever it was called, however if there was any place that could have it, it was likely here. These people were master of cybernetic engineering and hosted the Anc net, where else would they search?
Silently the automatic doors slid open in front of them, revealing behind a room that was equally sterile as the outside of the building again in stark contrast to the beach surrounding it. A couple of holo-displays were on the wall showing images of deep sea creatures nobody could ever imagine, news and ads. The room temperature was perfectly regulated and a couple of people were sitting on benches at the side apparently waiting, a perfectly round and smooth white reception table with three, quite similar looking women, stood in the middle of the room, framed by a couple of small palm trees, each of them somewhat odd-looking black hair, a friendly look on their face and almost porcelain like skin.
Sylvan had a faint shiver run down his spine, it was all a bit eerie to him, this sort of people he rarely met on his travels that looked almost perfectly like actual 'people' but were likely 90 percent cybernetics beneath the surface and were essentially just a brain in a jar and all sorts of horror stories.
But that didn't matter now, they were here to help Apple not ponder on weird urban myths that ultimately were irrelevant.
"A good day gentlemen, how may I serve you?"
The woman called out as the two of them approached, in a perfectly friendly and regulated tone. Sylvan nodded again.
"Ah, yes, a good day. We are... Err... Well. My friend here is having a bit of an issue with his cybernetics and we wondered if you could help him."
He nodded towards Apple and the woman turned his attention to him.
Enra stopped at the little shop, eying the clothes and dresses and various other things as she passed through, hand practically stuck to the top of little Guffy's back to keep them from running away and make sure the little one is still with her the whole way through.
"Hello," she replied, smiling, "I'm here to look for a dress for the little one."
She then leaned down a bit to speak to guff.
"Do you want to go look around 'till you find something?" asked Enra, the polite smile still on her face. Afterwards she stands back up and speaks to the shopkeep.
"We should be fine, just going to have a look around. Thank you, sir!"
Apple stopped in their tracks, as the full beauty of House Asterion caused them to be overcome with emotion. The horror that Sylvan experienced was missed completely, as Apple saw before them a physical embodiment of a dream they had not realised had been there until now.
The porcelain skinned woman, sat behind the desk was wonderful, Apple thought. She looked so real, so unique, this was everything Apple wanted. They could not stop staring, as their words, their conversation with Sylvan, mused over them like calming background noise. Only when the silence became awkward, and attention was focused on Apple, did Apple realise they were involved in the conversation.
“I…umm…hey there. Yes, I could use some assistance.” Apple’s voice was desperately trying to hide the excitement and rush of what they could only describe as an adrenaline type rush, under a veneer of calm. “See…I’ve got some…well, organic components that seem to be…well…failing. I was hoping that this here place maybe able to help…”
Apple gained confidence, stepped forward, leaning on the desk. “Can I just say that…you are incredible. I mean, truly. How are you possible? You are so…advanced. Wonderful…Sylvan, am I being rude? Stop me if I am being rude…”
Kael walked into the shop dirrectly behind Enra, and Guffy. Saying nothing, but giving a polite nod to the greeter. She did a quick lookover the clothing to see if there was anything that was both a robe, and had four arms. Though the likihood of finding something that fit her with those very specific details she doubted.
She was thinking of just cutting out the sides of her robe to allow her to use all four arms.
Aurshlae said nothing. Just tapped away with her staff close by Kael's side. Looking over the mass of manufactured clothes, but largely having a bit of a look of disgust at them. Saying with a soft grumble to her lover. "Why don't I just cut a hole in your current attire? When we get to Prador I can make something that isn't so.... Flunm. My kinsman would want to burn this place to the ground." She said. Quite frankly uncomfortable at the sight of this store. And Lost Star as a whole.
Sylvan gave Apple a bit of a weird but amused look from the side then he just shrugged, he knew everyone had a different taste and he had come around a lot, maybe he shouldn't judge the cybernetic ladies that early.
"I mean, you do you, just keep in mind you still need those parts so you shouldn't get yourself thrown out."
Even the motion of her facial muscles looked almost perfectly realistic as the woman just laughed lightheartedly but at the same time somewhat reluctant, in the end she was still on her job, whatever that meant to a being like her.
"I am afraid we are not allowed to distribute any details about our technology without proper contracts, company policy. However this frame is not unlike a lifelike Android in regards to being mostly artificial and replicating lifelike motion and functions."
She stretched out one of her arms and turned it a few times as if displaying it.
Then she proceeded to look off at something only she could see for a moment, likely owed to one of her many implants, follow by a nod.
"Yes, we are capable of repairing and engineering organic-anorganic interfaces, however, we will require more detail than that, do you have any construction schemes for your model or implants? Alternatively you could sign a contract for direct interfacing with your internal systems, you would declare your consent with the procedure as well as extraction and saving of information about your affected systems and bio material for replication."
Despite his outburst only moments ago she stayed friendly and professional.
---
"Yes, yes!" Guffy exclaimed, gazing at all of the fancy clothes in sight, wandering off immediately afterwards into the first rack of clothes in range, "...dress like in the magazine...", was the next thing they heard from somewhere between the clothes before they left hearing distance.
In the meanwhile the shopkeeper answered Enra with a smile.
"Very well, if you are looking anything specific just ask whatever employee is closest and doesn't look busy."
The brows of the man furrowed his brows at Aurshlaes comment and turned towards her, his voice was firm but not aggressive.
"I would greatly appreciate if you would not try to burn this place to the ground and I'll also have you know that we are honourable establishment, even if we're not selling all of the top of the line fancy new clothes you may be looking for."
He paused for a moment and then sighed, shaking his head. "Apologies if I should have offended you, there are a lot of travelers coming here everyday, many from the local guiding hall and although most of them are usually rather friendly not all them are. If your culture may find this place offensive or repulsive can only offer you to wait outside."
He nodded without waiting for a reply and then walked off to the next group.
Interestingly enough, in the brief time they had talked, Kael had actually spotted a rack clothes most of which did indeed have four arms, it seems although the majority of inhabitants of this galaxy seemed to have a human frame hers wasn't too rare either. She could see a variety of things in various colours and various sites, from only tops, to robes and even dresses, though picking out what exactly she was looking for would probably take some sifting through the racks.
Arushlae's eyes glare to the shopkeep and her tongue is sharp. "This one cares not for fancy clothing, it is how it is made that matters." She followed by Kael but only mumbled the rest under her breath. "Mass production, carelessness for your planets... Savages."
A cold sense of shame and embarrassment crept of Apple.
“I…Sorry. I didn’t mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable. I…just…my people just strive to be closer to our organic comrades, and well…”
Apple paused. They knew that what they wanted to say was that this cybernetic woman on reception was the physical embodiment of all the dreams Apple had. However, Apple knew there was no way to say that without coming off a little too strong. Apple instead chose to move on briefly.
“Yes, if I am honest all schemes and blueprints are kept on my internal storage, so, I guess plugging into your direct interface might actually be the best way forward? More than happy to sign whatever you need.”
An attempt at a restrained, professional smile grew on Apple’s face, one which he shared with the lady, and Sylvan.
"I will," she replied to the man, "thank you for your help, sir."
Immediatley, she turned to follow Guffy, wherever the had went, her polite smile shifting to a happy one, the small thing she had come to watch over never failing to amuse her with their blissfully unaware commentary. She might just keep them, she told herself with a chuckle, as she went to go look for the dress in the magazine, just like the little guff wanted.
"Don't run off too far, Guff!" she called out in a half-whisper after them, trying to catch up.
The woman before Apple gave him a smile before she shook her head.
"No, no, that is alright. We were simply not expecting such a... enthusiastic greeting."
She looked at another screen that didn't exist for them as Sylvan looked at some of the frames on the wall. A door opened on the to what looked like an elevator and a couple of people came out, leaving the building.
She nodded.
"Very well. Now if you could sign here."
A holographic screen appeared in front of him waiting for his input.
"When you are done you can sit down and wait for your turn, we will be calling you shortly, then you will be allowed enter the elevator and be brought to processing."
“That I can do!” Apple said with enthusiasm, reaching to sign the holographic screen. They paused, hovering over the screen.
“We…umm…we haven’t said how much all this will cost?”
There was a nervousness to their question. Apple had gotten ahead of themselves, seeing this "House Asterion" as a place of unbridled potential that they had forgotten that all things came at a cost. Not being a wealthy android, Apple suddenly was struck with worry.
The woman was still looking at him but seemed to scroll through something with her eyes, then answered moments later.
"The price range is usually manageable as this is amongst the standard repairs in the civilian sector, however if you feel concerned about the cost we can set up a payment plan."
She waited patiently as Sylvan subtly turned away at the mention of money, whatever qualities he had otherwise, money certainly wasn't one of it. As they waited Another group of people approached one of the other women behind the table, though interestingly enough he didn't hear a single word of them despite visibly seeing them talking.
---
It didn't take Enra too long to catch up to Guffy, although it wasn't without difficulties, as Guffy was considerably more flexible and also shorter than her. With quick steps she manoeuvred around the mounds of used but clean and neatly folded clothes, shoving aside shirts, dresses and other more delicate clothes hanged up on racks.
As she was navigating the shop she saw Kael and Aurshlae out of the corner of her eyes, looking at some of the dressed and robes in one of the corners of the shops, with Aurshlae showing a clear disdain for the establishment but still giving Kael advice diligently.
Eventually she stopped, seeing Guffy standing infront of her, standing upright with an open mouth and bright eyes, swaying in front of a rack full of various child sized dresses like grass in the wind.
“A payment plan?” Apple’s mind raced with possibilities. “You mean, I could, in theory of course, pay things off…later?”
The theory of credit was unheard of to Apple, having come from the Socialist Republics of Imaginarium, where such loaning of capital did not happen. Here in the big wide universe, where the free market reigned supreme however, things were expensive, and Apple had struggled to understand how people could possibly afford the finer things. Now it all made sense; buy now, pay later!
“So, I need this procedure, but…I mean while I am here, there’s a few things I could want. Do you have maybe a menu of upgrades? In particular, anything that makes me more…organic?”
Enra walked up to guffy and let out a tired breath.
"Looks like you found what you want, didn't you?" she said to the child, smiling. She walked up to the rack and began to shuffle through the dresses slowly. Each time she looked at a new one, she would look towards Guff. Eventually, she said something to the kid, trying to get them out of their mesmerized state.
"Tell me the one you want when you see it, and i'll pull it off for you to look at." she said, continuing to scroll through the selection.
The woman looked at him for a moment then stared into the distance for a couple more and nodded.
"That likely depends on how much of you is organic and how your model is built and made up. We can offer to replace individual bodyparts with synthskin and muscle counterparts, such as arms or legs, however torso and head can be more complicated depends on what hardware they house.
We also offer fully body conversions of various kinds most notably we could sell you a fully customised android body which you can transfer your software to, if you are able to do that, or build a custom option for your internal systems, though this may take some time and obviously the more is being replaced the more it will cost and in any it will be more costly than the repairs you requested."
She paused for a moment, looking at Sylvan who looked somewhat... unsettled.
"Are you alright?"
Sylvan looked at her for a moment, he had his reasons to dislike augments, that of course shouldn't stop Apple to do some 'upgrades' to himself, after all he has had no issues with him so far. Though he couldn't shake the feeling Apple wasn't quite aware of what he was getting himself into.
"No, no, I-I'm ok."
He waved her off, she nodded and continued.
"Very well then. In regards to your other question, yes, with a payment plan you would be paying in either monthly or yearly rates until your due is fulfilled. House Asterion retains the right to null your contract should you miss your payments by a significant margin."
She paused and seemed to be finished. After a brief moment of silence she smiled friendly.
"So, what will it be? Would you like us to work out a contract, do the repairs you needed or do you need more time to think?"
---
Blissfully unaware of all of what was transpiring at the House Asterion building Guffy and Enra were looking through the clothes together.
"Uh... no, no..."
Guffy had been sitting on the ground cross legged as Enra passed through the dresses, pointing at each one individually, they been sitting here for at least ten minutes now only accompanied by the voices muffled through all of the cloth in the room, the rustling of clothes and the faint whirring of electronics, though Guffy was astoundingly picky.
Well, at least after Enra told them they couldn't take all of them. Which had stopped her streak of saying yes to each and every one of them.
Enra was about to go through the whole rack again as she pulled out a white piece of clothing around Guffys size, it was just a tad bigger than her current size though would still fit her, a one-piece with cute frills on the dress.
GUffy jumped up almost immediately with the same sparkle in the eyes as when she came here.
"Yes! Yes, this one!" She laughed with joy.
Enra headed over to give to her to try on as a human man wearing a worn down trench coat almost stumbled over her.
He stopped, regaining his balance, looking at Enra.
"Ah... apologies, I did not see you there."
He helped her up but didn't say anything else, just shuffling away to another spot in the shop as Guffy, watched him wide-eyed.
“Oh, umm, one minute please. Can I consult with my dearest friend for a moment?” Apple nervously said, registering the uncomfortable energy that Sylvan emitted. Apple held his arm, dragging him to the side “Come on Sylvan, I must garner your opinion!”
Once away from the desk, Apple hushed their voice.
“Hey buddy, you seem a little concerned. On edge even, or uncomfortable, I have difficulty reading the difference in those tones. Is everything ok? Is there an issue? Am I missing something sinister going on here?”
19 September 2022
Enra smiled, picking out the dress from the rack. She eyed it over, nodding. "This one, eh? Well, i'll get it for you t-"
She was stopped, as she fell over from the bump, allowing the man to help her up.
"Its alright. Who are you?" she spoke back to him, although she trailed off with her last word as the man walked off.
Shaking her head, she turned back to guffy, reaching out her hand towards the little one.
"Let's go, then. C'mon."
Guffy had a wide smile as Enra picked the dress from the rack.
“Yeah! That one! It’s so cute!”
As Enra fell down Guffy’s entire body language changed, from a fun loving kid to an instinctual predator. Wide eyes turn to a deathly gaze as Guffy watched the man walk away with an expression so sharp it could cut a pie into the most precise slices imagine. Did he seem familiar to them or was Guffy merely a little spooked? It certainly was not the norm for the strange child. For just a moment there was this intense focus, completely shedding away any signs of childish innocence. But as the man left their sight Guffy returned to their usual self, although it took a moment to register.
“Ah… yes yes! I want to wear this dress as soon as possible!”
A little bit of webbing had secreted from their limbs, not enough to be noticeable to passerby’s but Enra could certainly see it. Guffy pulled a bit on their old lab jumpsuit they still had. They wouldn’t keep it for much longer and with that they could begin a whole new life.
The woman smiled as friendly as ever and then nodded, waiting patiently for their return.
Sylvan looked at him for a couple moments then took him a couple steps away from the counter.
"You know, a new android body does cost quite a lot and I mean a lot, like 'I'm buying myself a new car fresh out of the factory' expensive or 'I'm buying myself a small house' expensive and..."
He paused for a moment.
"...you know, when you say, 'you can pay things of later', that's not some vague 'oh yeah I'll pay eventually', you'll have to make your payments in the intervals you accepted. Admittedly, from what I've heard they are not quite that barbaric, usually consult you if you can't make your payments."
He took a side glance at the woman, he seemed to be... cautious about what he said next.
"...but do you have any idea, what happens if you fall behind in your payments and they find out you probably won't be able to pay? When you're stuck in a body you don't own? They'll sell off your debt to Severogorsk, or stars forbid, Anjou. That means you'll be turned into some brainfarm or they'll use you for experiments!"
Sylvan sighed, he seemed to be somewhat exhausted by his little speech, he didn't seem to go into these topics too often.
"See, I'm not saying 'don't do this, don't do that', I'm not in any position to tell you what to do. However, if you're doing this, you should be aware of what you're getting yourself into, right?" He lifted one of his eyebrows on the last note and then waited.
---
Having, at long last, come to a decision in regards to the dress, Enra and Guffy began heading back to the reception area where presumably also the cash desk was. The man was already further away, he had hurriedly gotten distance from them after Guffy had their episode of 'weapon of great carnage' which Enra was already used to at this point.
As they looked over the various clothing racks and customers, they saw that Aurshlae and Kael were apparently still discussing the clothes on the rack, judging by the Pradorians former behaviour it was likely owed to her. People that passed notably seemed to make an effort to keep their distance, for two people which had been mediating for days in a room, they seemed to be astoundingly picky with their clothing.
As they started to approach their goal, one of the cashiers tiredly waved at Guffy and then waved them over, in the meanwhile Enra absentmindedly reached into her pockets, only to find them... strangely empty. Something was missing.
It was her creditcard.
Apple was dumbfounded.
“I honestly had no idea. So, it isn’t just a case of me paying what I can when I can? It is more, how do you say…regimented?”
There was a prang of sadness to their voice.
“Oh, well I guess I, um, should calm myself down. I wouldn’t want to be some experiment as you say. I just really thought this was a way of becoming, I don’t know, you’ll think I am silly…but, becoming close to real. That has always been my dream, or at least my primary drive, to use a more artificial tone.”
“You’re right, you are. I should focus on why we came. Get my little nugget here fixed, hey?” Apple said, with a lilt in their voice, pointing to their head. “But, you know, just for a curious mind; how DO I make that much money?”
Sylvan sighed. Great, now he actually felt bad for him. He continued in a more calm tone this time.
"Yeah, you usually have to pay back in fixed intervals if you can't pay you tend to get into trouble with whoever you owe money."
He paused and tried to think, what sort of work could Apple do which would get him that much money anyways?
"Errr... Hm. I mean..."
He gazed off into the distance for a moment.
"Well, I heard freelancers make pretty good money but, uh, yeah that's usually the kind of freelancer with weapons n'stuff like that, pretty dangerous. Ancerium harvesters and haulers though you need the ships for that, same with Qanis runners..."
Oh, yeah and then there was...
"Well, entertainers, artists and such also make pretty good money if they're well known. So... I guess if you're lucky you might actually make that some day?"
He knew himself he didn't really sound convincing,he'd have to cheer the man up, somehow, it was his fault he ended up like that even if it was necessary to save him form worse.
"Look, Apple, like... See, I get where you're coming from, you think you're a hunk of metal and some pieces of artificial personality and all that but you gotta look at it this way: I never once considered you 'not real', you know? You're just a guy like all others of us and I'm willing to bet the others think the same, you're just built a tad different than us and that's all there is to it. You're a great guy regardless of what you look like!"
Sylvan smiled, somewhat uncertain if he 'hit the right spot' so to say.
"What the-" she whispered to herself. "Sorry, I seem to have dropped my card," she spoke louder to the cashier. "Do you think you can hold this dress until I can find it?" she asked. When the cashier took the dress off her hands, she told guffy to follow her and looked around, before coming to a conclusion.
"Aw Sh-" she almost said, stopping herself as she remembered the presence of Guffy: "-eesh, I think I know where it is."
Stepping around the room, she began to search for the man that had bumped into her.
Apple returned the smile.
“Thank you Sylvan. I do appreciate your kind words. I don’t know why, but I just have this burning desire to be something. But you are right, perhaps that is a dream to work towards. Focus should be fixing up this old brain of mine before I, well…expire.”
Apple looked to the floor, taking in the pattern of the sleek, clean, floor tiles, their mind considering his options.
“Money though…Oh boy. Yeah I am not designed for weaponry and all that…violence. I do like the travel blogging, but if I am totally honest Sylvan, I’m not too sure how to grow the channel, expand my reach. You have all these young hyped up bloggers from all over the galaxy on the ANCnet doing their games and their tricks and flips. I don’t know if there is space for a simple old travel android.” There was a sad, resignation to Apple’s tone.
“Originally my kind were made as processors for economic planning, so I guess I could do accounts? Do people need, what do they call them, accountants?”
The cashier simply nodded as he took the dress and waited.
Guffy looked at Enra in confusion, tilting their head but following. The shop was rather busy and rather large. Her gaze moved over racks and boxes and people, but...
...she couldn't see him, did he already leave? No, she would've seen him, though it didn't change the fact she could not find him either.
"What are you looking for?"
Guffy piped up, visibly confused, understandably so.
As she looked past them even Kael and Aurshlae looked at her, they must've felt the distress with their weird powers, Kael tilted her head much like Guffy in a questioning manner.
___
Sylvan patted Apples shoulder.
"C'mon now I'm sure we'll find a way somehow, we'll... well, just have to focus on what comes next and then go from there."
He paused for a moment apparently thinking.
"I mean, we do have a bunch of rather odd people on the ship, which could be interesting to your viewers we have uh..."
He remembered Kael and Aurshlae who were not particularly camera friendly or talkative, he remembered Guffy who... probably had a huge 'wanted' sign on their head from their government and there was Enra and Teciro who were just... well, them.
"Uh..."
Oh yeah and himself. He sighed. An idea formed in his head and he didn't really like it though it seems he didn't have a choice either.
"Do... do you think your viewers would be interested in stuff like magic, sorcery and stuff related to it? Landmarks, nations,other places? I think that's not too common out there, so that might be a niche to fill. Who knows, maybe your government gets interested in it as well and you might get some grants for doing stuff?"
“Yeah, there’s something there, surely?” Apple surmised. “I’ll umm, I’ll speak with the others maybe, work something out. There maybe grants or something that I could apply for. They gave me some money back home to get me started, back when they thought this maybe of interest to the kids, maybe I could ask for more. I still have some left.”
Apple rustled through his satchel, producing a datapad, on which they tapped away, unlocking it, and what appeared to be banking app, the logo of “IMAbank” blazoned across it.
“I don’t know, I guess it isn’t important right now. I need to get my head fixed, that is the main thing, right? I mean, this is how much I have currently, but it’s so small…I guess I’ll need more, right?”
Apple showed Sylvan the screen. The current balance of his funds on the Universal Market:
4 SIGEC
—
Enra gestured her hand towards her pocket, then splayed it out in front of her in a wide sweeping motion of her arm, showing it to be empty.
"Pretty sure I got picked. Bumped into some dude, thought nothing more of it, then get up to the register, and my card isnt there anymore."
She pondered on the man's looks, before speaking again: "He had a scruffy looking trench-coat on, and turned away before I could see his face after he helped me stand," she scoffed and shook her head, "I should've checked 'soon as I fell, damnit!" she cried out, scolding herself as she continued to look around, before promptly tapping her wrist for having cursed in front of a child, and muttering an apology to the kid.
Sylvan took the satchel and looked over the account and his eyes promptly widened.
"4 whole...?! APPLE YOU...!"
He paused looked around and remembered they were in a public space and lowered his tone.
"Apple you're... well. Y-You're basically rich. Man... You could probably buy the whole group android bodies with this! How did you not...?"
He stopped mid sentence, as he realised why Apple didn't know. He had barely interacted with the galaxy at large and was basically fresh out of his own nation. They probably even had their own currency there. He... probably would have to watch so he didn't throw his money at random scammers.
He tried to calm down and explain to him. Apple probably had money right now than he'd earn in his whole life...! He leaned in to talk to him in a more private manner.
"Ok, so, Apple. You see, the commonly used currency on Ancerious market is the 'SIGEC', which is in fact what you have on your account right here. It's based on some weird crypto currency stuff I never really understood and then there's this...
Anyways!
So... SIGEC as a currency is far to large to use in day-to-day purchases. You could buy a car or a house with a SIGEC, a proper ship even, not one of those scrappers they sell at Backbreaker Cove..."
He seemed to trail off for a moment.
"...well or an Android in your case. Which is why a lot nations still have their own internal currency and why when paying for things out in the open you usually use 'MilliSIGEC' which is... well, a hundred thousandth of SIGEC."
He paused and waited for his reaction. Sylvan still had his hand on his shoulder and was visibly excited.
___
As Enra looked around there was still no sign of the man, however, Kael and Aurshlae talked to each other for a moment and then began fan out into the shop, apparently looking for him as well. Some people passed by and looked at her somewhat strangely but passed without further notice.
Guffy in the meanwhile seemed to be more confused than anything else having likely no concept of money or that you had to pay for things. Luckily it seemed they didn't pick up Enras curses either. As they sat on the ground whilst the others were searching, Guffy started sniffing the air.
"What is 'being picked' Enra? What is card? Is it one of the playing cards from the magazine?"
It was all news to Apple. The currency had been thrust into Apple’s account, and off they had popped, thinking little more about it, the figure being so small. Or at least, that was what Apple had thought. But now, as Sylvan explained the terms of the universal crypto-currency, Apple realised that they had vastly underestimated the situation. So excited were they to get off and see the universe, that even basic research over the economic situation of the galaxy had been skipped.
“Oh…my. So, what y’all saying is that 4 SIGEC is…well, a lot. How could I have not known…what a naive little goose I am.” Apple chuckled, the absurdity of the situation striking Apple as comical.
“So, let me try and understand this now. A ‘MilliSIGEC’…if I wanted to buy say something common…a meal…soup. How much would soup cost? I’m just trying to ascertain the true value of what my people gave me. I did think they had been a little on the cheap side. Now I am concerned that there was an expectation of greater standards!! Ha!”
Enra smiled in spite of everything, shaking her head at Guffy's innocence.
"being picked, Pickpocketed. It's when someone distracts you so they can steal your stuff, and they usually pick stuff up from your pockets without you noticing," she said, twiddling her thumbs and pacing around a bit, still keeping her eyes sharp for the man.
"A card as in, my credit card. It's what helps me pay for everything, and has all my money on it. I need it to get the dress you wanted, so i've gotta find it, alright?"
Sylvan stroked his chin and seemed to thinking for a moment, looking for a suitable comparison.
"Well, you see stuff obviously varies from place to place quite heavily especially now with all the tensions and all that but..."
He paused.
"...so, the thing people are usually saying is that with a millisigec you can buy yourself a burger and with a sigec a house or a really good car and stuff like that."
He paused for another moment observing Apple.
"So, what are you gonna do now? I mean, money wise there's no problem with you getting a new body anymore I guess. So, that's up to you really."
He turned his head to the reception for a moment, the woman they had been talking to was sitting there idly, she didn't have any new customers at the moment though neither did she seem to be really 'waiting' for them.
"Oh and don't worry about having to decide now or anything, I believe we'll be around Lost Star for a while and the reception people usually just, I don't know, save the session or something like that, I'm admittedly not really familiar with that stuff."
___
Enra felt as if she saw Guffy ears twitch at what she just told them and their head slightly tilted.
"So... he's a bad man?", it had a somewhat questioning and confused tone to it.
There was again the strange sniffing, like they really were some sort of predator, though Enra had no time to question their behaviour, before she could react, before the cashier could react and even before Aurshlae or Kael could react, Guffy stormed off into the shop in a very specific direction.
Aurshlae and Kael followed them immediately, to the best of their abilities, though even they were not entirely able to keep up, suddenly Enra heard a high pitched male scream from on of the corners of the shop, followed curses and pleads for help shortly after.
"Help! Please! Someone help! Get this... THING off me!"
The cashier and several other staff turned their heads and stared off into the same direction before one of them seemed to make a call, as some of the other more brave ones cautiously followed the sound.
“Oh man…” Apple sighed, incredibly loudly. “I…I just don’t know. On the one hand, what you’re saying is I have a very large budget, and that could afford me what I dream of!!! On the other, well the folks back home gave me this for a reason, right? Maybe they are wanting something a bit more up market than the home-made videos I have been giving them.”
There was careful consideration and anguish in Apple’s voice, as they looked from Sylvan, to the receptionist, and back to Sylvan.
“I should…” there was another pause, as they attempted to use reason in their decision. “I need to get my head fixed. I have this money burning a metaphorical hole in my pocket and if the folks at home WANTED something more from my videos, they would say. I am, perhaps, more valuable as a film maker and as an Akili Bandi, if I can bring something truly revolutionary to the forefront of my people, and that would be to…well…go ahead. Yes. Let’s. Let’s do it!”
They turned with enthusiasm.
“Lady, I am ready and willing. I want to fix up my head, and transform my body!”
Enra winced, and hurriedly chased after Guffy.
"Guff, hey! Be careful!" she called out, rounding the corner. She probably shouldnt have said anything, she thought to herself. Maybe guffy'd found the guy, but hopefully the kid didn't hurt him- or more importantly get hurt themself.
She walked up and placed a hand on Guff's shoulder.
"Hey, hey, get off of him, I can handle this, guff, thank you-" she spoke, in an assuring and a falsely frantic voice.
The receptionist turned her attention back to Apple and nodded, bringing up the menus and contracts again.
"Very well! Have you decided on a payment plan then or will you pay in full? Have you considered which models and operating systems you want? Modifications? Aesthetic alterations and over all design? When would you like to make the conversion? If you so wish these decisions can be made and discussed in the backrooms if you desire more privacy."
The woman looked to Sylvan for a moment who still looked somewhat nervous, though at least his major concerns seemed to be out of the way for time being, the only thing left to do now was to decide what Apple actually wanted from his new body.
___
The sight Enra was greeted with when arriving in the corner where guffy had run off to was almost comical.
The man who had been screaming for help sat huddled up in a corner, a panicked look on his face. Aurshlae and Kael in the meanwhile were standing a bit behind Guffy and had apparently opted to observe for the time being, seeing no need to interfere just yet.
Guffy themselves on the the other hand stood on all fours, the hindside and back reared up like a mix of an angry cat and dog with a ravenous look on the face they actually growled at the man who looked rightfully terrified.
As Enra came into sight his eyes wandered to her.
"HERE, TAKE THE DAMN CARD JUST GET THIS THING OFF ME!", he screamed and threw the card off himself.
As Enra put her hand on Guffys shoulder she just sat down cross legged on the floor, exclaiming gleefully "I found him Enra!", with a beaming smile on their face showing an eerie amount of teeth.
Enra already saw one of the shop clerks approaching from the front of the shop.
Apple looked from Sylvan, to the receptionist, and back to Sylvan, giving him a smile as he did so, a subtle nod of thanks, before returning to conversation.
“Yes. The whole kit and caboodle. Seems I don’t need to be worrying about payment plans, just need to take a big old look at what you’ve got in store for me. So, maybe you’re right, let us go somewhere to discuss this in private?”
They turned once more to Sylvan. “Hey, you pop along, I will find you in a while, ok? Don’t want you waiting around or little old me…and hey! Thank you.”
Enra leaned over and picked the card off the ground, eyeing it over and confirming it was properly hers before placing it in her pocket once again. She reached down and scooped the kid up into her arms, adjusting her around to put the weight on her hip, then lifting herself back up.
“Thank you for finding him, Guff,” she said, offering a smile to the child. “Just, next time, stay with me when you go to find something, okay? I dont want you getting hurt or lost.”
After that, she began to walk back over towards the counter, purposefully ignoring any store clerk that went towards the scene, unless she was to be directly prompted by them. In the event that she wasnt, she instead found her way to the front counter, pulled out her card, and began speaking to the man at the front desk.
Slyvan looked at the receptionist then at Apple another time then he nodded.
"Alright, I'll be heading to the guidance hall then, I'll send you the address so you can come over later."
He patted his shoulder then turned around, though stopped at the the entrance once more.
"Don't let them, y'know, mess up your brain and stuff." He left through the same entrance they entered through what strangely enough felt like ages ago, though had likely been only minutes. So many new possibilities Apple had found here, so many new things he had learned.
---
Aurshlae and Kael followed her in her step as she left for the front desk, she wasn't interrupted, meaning the place likely had camera surveillance, which wasn't unsurprising considering the fact all sorts of people ended up here.
As they approached the desk the man was still looking in the direction the noise had come from, he turned his head to look and them, pulled the dress over the counter and made the payment with her card.
After a moment of silence he frowned then lifted an eyebrow at her.
"I think it may be best if you leave now for the day."
Notably, neither Aurshlae nor Kael ended up buying anything in the end.
After they left the shop, they made their way to the guidance, which wasn't actually too far off, a lot of strange peopel from all sorts of backgrounds and species were hanging around the entrance either watching, waiting or just talking to each other. There were no guards, no police or anything and above the entrance hng seven stars arranged in a constellation none of them recognised. The front door led straight into a large room.
It was... very busy. Even more so than outside, many people young and old alike, though they had in common they all looked like travellers in one way or another, there were no fights and they couldn't even hear any arguments over the sound of all the conversation held in the massive room, there were small table with stools, chairs and armchairs around them, stairs leading to upper levels, visible from the bottom, doors or doorways covered with hanging cloth leading into back rooms, carpets and banners hanging from the walls, trinkets and photos on shelves, none of them looking like any of it had the same origin, yet a lot of it looking like it was handmade or left here on purpose, it had something terribly unorganised, though also cosy. It was a place where one could find an understanding ear to listen, have a jolly conversation with someone from the other end of the galaxy to exchange experiences or even be just by themselves whenever they wanted. The hall itself seemed to be telling stories from uncountable places across the galaxy by simply standing in it. Somewhere deeper in the hall was a middle aged woman, looking elegant with greying black hair. She sat at a table with some others, they all seemed to stand out in a way that everyone seemed to have a certain respect for them, keeping a small distance from the table as they were talking.
It was a curious place, though not a bad one, Even Aurshlae and Kael who were not the ones for large masses of people didn't seem to mind the atmosphere.
Unrelated to all the events that had transpired thus far and deeply related to those that would come to pass in the future was a little figure, standing upon the shoulder-height hardlight transit balconies for the Hall's Little-Lighters and Fairvae. They were about average height for someone smaller than a hand, made of a fine basalt, and cloaked in a cheap tunic and trousers. Their wide and narrow ears had been dulled, their dark, iron-colored hair shot through with the multicolored metals of Lost Star, and their scowl deep. The only hint to their profession was a golden frame hovering over their chest and back, with a C-shaped band covering their right shoulder and something like a set of organs or a pile of gramophones curling atop their left.
The little figure's mercury eyes watched the proceedings of the table with quiet attention, their elbows leant up against the railing of the Lightway. They were only half-listening, half-eavesdropping; and the rest of them was still stuck in the dull slump of a lifelong prisoner let out in an open field.
They silently questioned for the umpteenth time that week whether or not slipping away had really been a wise decision.
Still holding Guffy upon her hip, Enra continued on into the surprisingly welcoming crowd of the Guidance Hall. She made her way through the crowd, peering around her and looking over the people in the hall. Faivae, Humans, a Carnaithian or two, a bunch of species she'd never seen before, a little rock person on a shelf-like thing, and- the table where the conversation was happening.
"Wonder where Sylvan is..." she asked no one in particular, while stepping towards the table, joining in the crowd hovering a distance away from it, and eavesdropping in.
It took a bit of effort listening to the conversation, given all the noise around but Enra eventually managed. The woman seemed to be who owned this place and was called 'Veleya', whilst the other seemed to be travellers which recently returned...
"So where is Rae?", one of them inquired during the conversation, he had been talking about how his son had decided to settle down in the Union, usually not a bad place to be but he felt like something had been off as of recent and the war didn't make it any better.
"Oh, she actually left to go on a journey."
The laughed lightheartedly.
"I don't know what it was that turned her around but a couple weeks ago she just came back home and said she'd like go."
Another man frowned for a moment.
"Wasn't she always the one who'd rather stay home on lost star? Strange."
He shook his head.
"Well, so long as she's fine I'm sure it's gonna be alright."
The conversation continued wandering in other directions, there was a lot of talk about, certain planets one or the other of them had visited, how one of them actually had been at the Hyperes wormhole but then decided to turn around. Notably they talked astoundingly little about the war, aside from how it made travelling to certain places harder. Things continued like this for probably about half an hour and none of them seemed to tire from the conversation, whilst even guffy just sat on the floor in awe of all the many strange people.
Until at some point sylvan suddenly stepped into the circle and sat down at the table.
"Hello Veleya!"
The woman looked at him for a couple of moments with skepticism, but none of the people at table seemed to be offended by his intrusion, in fact they seemed to be welcoming him.
"Ah, Sylvan. Welcome.", she eventually noted. "As per usual, you've been away longer than you expected."
He nodded and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Yeah, yeah, that seems to be an ongoing theme. Got stuck in the Forlorn Spiral and then had to buy some scrapper of a station to get out, which then broke down."
Veleya lifted an eyebrow. "How did you get here then?"
He laughed.
"Well, a bunch odd folks picked up the distress signal and brought me back to lost star. They should be somewhere around the hall actually!"
He paused and turned around looking for Enra and the others.
"Err... Musavian called Enra, small humanoid called Guffy, a Nocamal called 'Aurshlae' and another woman with four arms, I don't know the race of, have you met them?"
Coming from around the corner is what appeared to be a woman, a man, and strange blob. Matching the various species in the Guidance Hall in each individuals eyes. The paragon of everything the beholder saw as beauty. An extra set of limbs, usually four at their sides, but for races with multiple limps already more. Both connected at the shoulder blade. Six moth like wings folded back, and most notably. Glowing white skin. near radiant in appearance. They wore nothing but a simple cloak to allow their arms, and wings to come out of. Hardy, and a bit worn but nonetheless made of good quality. Brown, with a simple velvet like interior. The figure smiled softly having been listening into Sylvan talking of his new crew. They moved to sit speaking. They were a sight amongst the guidance hall. Having arrived but two weeks ago. The Voshkanreen having only opened into the galactic stage proper in the Diplomatic Summit called by the Union of Worlds. Before that they were but an old spacer legend. The Angels soaring the stars without ships near the Hochlands. Their voice was radiant, almost seeming to repeat softly in the back of the ear. Anyone who could sense such things. This indvidual had quite potent psionics. Most currently focused onto themselves to not be crushed by the stations gravity though. "I have seen them once before. Of an elusive order of warrior monks as I understand it. Slyvan was it? I am known as Eluvanar." The figure pulled down their hood with a gentle smile on their lips.
Enra stepped forwards as sylvan said her name, with Guffy in tow not far behind. She wore some semblance of a smile on her face, and nodded towards sylvan.
"Y'said my name? Nice little posse you've got going on here, sylvan."
She eyed over the others of the group sylvan had found himself a part of and pondered for a moment. They seemed fine enough, the atmosphere still one of calm and joy. "Ah," she quipped, "where are my manners? Name's Enra, the Musavian that Sylvan was talking about, and this is guffy," Enra said as she waved a hand politely back towards Guff.
"Err..."
Sylvan half turned towards Eluvanar, enough to see her, not enough to see Enra yet. He stopped.
His eyes widened. The elegant curves of her body captivating, her skyblue irises with a faint glow, a blue pattern running down her pale arm, hair the colour of her irises falling down her shoulders.
This woman she looked like...!
He frowned.
...but how? What was she? He felt... Confused and a slight headache seemed to creep up his spine.
He noticed his mouth still stood open from when he tried to answer.
He smiled uncertainly.
"I... uh... Yes. Yes, hello, that should be them. Who... ah, yes, Eluvanar. I-I'm Sylvan, pleased to meet you!"
One of the men at the table nudged another with his elbow and the exchanged a few words in a language none other at the table understood then they both laughed heartily.
Sylvan wasn't quite sure what it was but something about this woman... it was strange, was she really one of his own race? Where did she come from? Were there more like her and him somewhere out in the galaxy? What had she been doing all this time? Could he get her number...? For... exchange of information of course.
His head spun with questions, as Enra chimed in Sylvan tried to turn his head further still rather dazzled by the Voshkanreen, only to almost fall over as he forgot to turn his body with the head.
"Ah! Enra! Guffy! How has your shopping trip gone, found something nice? Yeah, this is Veleya Iris, she is the owner of the guidance hall and a friend of mine. Feel free to take a look around the hall and talk to people, Apple will be with us in a couple hours likely.", he paused, his gaze already wandering away to the Voshkanreen again.
"...he still had some business to attend to."
Eluvanar smiled softly at Sylvan. They were used to the looks, and didn't seem to bat too much of an eye out of an amused, and a bit coy of a smile. They simply just hoped no one started arguing over how they looked. That was never fun. They spoke softly, almost heavenly to the group at large.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Sylvan." They giggled softly, continuing. "You are new to Lost Star, yes? I have not seen you at the Guidance Hall before." Her wings fluttered half open for just a second in excitement. It had been so long since someone interesting had showed up. They gently put all four arms onto the table folding them over each other. Resting their head on them casually and closing their eyes. Quite childlike in nature. Or perhaps silly, or immature depending on perspective.
"It was... Interesting," she replied to sylvan. "Got pickpocketed and guff went ballistic on the guy. Both of em were alright in the end, dude gave my wallet back, ran off screaming like a madman. And yeah, we got the dress that the kid wanted."
She turned to Iris and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Miss Iris." she thanked the woman, before peering around, waving a bye, and heading off to look around the hall.
Sylvan waved back, smiling, he was confident they would be fine around the hall, if anything they would learn a couple new things about various places and people across the galaxy. At worst someone would invite them to gamble a couple of their belongings away but these things were relative tame here, it was just about acquiring a couple fancy trinkets for most people here.
Sylvan laughed in response to Eluvanars question.
"Ha! Well, you see, I've been here a couple times before, though as dear Iris here already noted I tend to disappear for longer than I planned for so there's that!"
He then proceeded to do what the others at the table had apparently already been waiting for, tell them what he'd done in his absence and where he'd been.
About how he travelled on a freighter to the borders of the Forlorn spiral, about how he hired on a civilian exploration cruiser, about how he visited numerous planets, about primitive spacefaring species, pirates and freelancers, about how he got stuck on a backwater spacestation and found his way off on a self-bought ship, about how it shut off after the first couple jumps and the strange muscular woman and the fairies that picked him up and finally about how he met Apple and the others and travelled back to Lost Star. As he was talking he was pulling trinket after trinket from his bag, one looking stranger than the next, though each one without any particular value to it besides the sentimental one.
In the meanwhile, Enra wandered the halls with Guffy, she soon noticed that Aurshlae and Kael were no longer following her, it was not unlikely they had seen something that piqued their interest and went to investigate, with how silent they were she didn't even hear them disappear. Though she was confident they would be able to take care of themselves. As expected, she didn't find any other Musavians here, however, instead a multitude of other species from all across the galaxy, many of which she had never seen before
After all storytelling and exploration was done, it had been a couple hours as everyone had gathered around the table again, although Aurshlae and Kael were as silent as usual something still seemed to be up with them as everyone listened to the closing sentences of Sylvans story.
"...well and that's how we all ended up back here." He paused and took a breath, looking around. Iris was the first one take the word after that.
"So, what are your plans going from here then? All of you. I know that you never stay long in a place Sylvan."
She laughed.
"Well, at least not voluntarily!", she added in a comment to how he got stuck twice on his journey this time.
"...but what about your companions?"
There was something strange about the question, as if she probing whether she should ask them for a favour.
A man stepped onto the floor. He stood, upright, his long legs and arms projecting his height as he surveyed the room. Piercing blue eyes looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the people he recognised. Medium length, bleached blonde hair was swept backwards, contrasting with the black, leather like jacket that was zipped up, snug across his chest.
He spotted Sylvan, sitting at the table, and a broad smile broke across his face. He lurched forward, almost skipping across the room, as he tried to garner Sylvan’s attention, interrupting the conversation ongoing.
“Hello Sylvan!” the voice was clear, a pleasant tone to it, the accent ‘proper’, the pronunciation correct. As they stepped closer, their appearance became clearer. Along with the bleached hair, their skin was unnaturally clear, the eyes, wild looking, almost as if electricity poured through them.
They held out a hand, ready to shake.
“So, What do you think?”
"...who...?"
Sylvan looked at the strange man for several moments with a rather confused look on his face which reflected in his voice, there was a moment of silence, then it clicked in his head and a wide grin entered his face.
"APPLE!"
He took his hand and shook it, stood up in a hurry and opened his arms wide by Apples side as if presenting him to the group.
"Well, I've told you about Apple, he's the guy who picked me up and brought us here! Not quite what you expected, eh?"
He laughed.
"He decided he'd have a bit of an upgrade! Impressive, isn't it? I'd say so at least, looking great man!"
He took a step back and left the 'stage' to Apple as he had attracted quite some attention, in part because he wanted to give him the opportunity to talk to everyone, but in part also because he still had his reservations about the artificial lifelike body. He'd watch him for a bit. Yeah. Maybe the feeling would pass? He was a nice guy after all.
The little figure on the Lightway was practically drenched in the story. They were leant with their elbows upon the solid half-wall, their scowl having faded to a dull expression of resting discontent. These people have a lot to do with their lives, they thought, looking on in incomprehension at the cyborg's sophisticated body.
I wonder if I could do something like...
They leant forward just a hair further, peeking open their little stone lips to speak, and then opened their eyes wide as a passing Little Lighter bumped them from behind. The poorly-dressed little golem came tumbling off of the catwalk, yelling in a panic. I don't want to die yet! They realized, recalling the hours Sylvan had spent unwittingly showing them the wonders of the universe. I don't want to die! The irony!
After quite some time, Enra and Guffy had seen all there was to see in the place. New species she'd never heard of, telling stories she never couldve dreamed of. She struck conversation with a few, listening to the wonders of their travel around the galaxy, only strengthening her resolve to go and see more places.
Quickly, though, she found time had passed quickly, and there were no more people she could bring herself to talk to. She checked to make sure the kid was with her, then finally returned to where Sylvan was. She arrived just in time to see apple be introduced. Then, to her left, she caught a glimpse of something falling- no, someone. Without hesitation, she sidestepped closer and shot out her hands, letting go of guffy for a moment- and instead using her tail to keep track of the child- cupping them to catch the falling Golem.
“Aha!” Apple began, “That’s me! A pleasure to meet you all, I am sure.”
The demeanour was so different from the robotic being Sylvan had been used to, but beneath it all, there were small hints of body language that suggested the same, yokal being who had picked the group up on his rusty ship.
“Sylvan, let me tell you, the whole experience was remarkable. Firstly, rest assured, the corrupted networks within my memory unit were completely replaced. They were surprised with how ‘bad’ it actually was, and by all accounts, we were lucky to have gotten there when we did, otherwise the situation could have been unsalvageable.”
“Secondly, they were so very kind. Of course they were, I was paying of course, but they allowed me every wish and courtesy. I was even allowed to film the process and produce a live blog through the whole thing. That has totally blown up back home! Subscriptions amongst ‘my kind’ especially have sky rocketed, and from what the centre was saying, they are already fielding hundreds of requests for information from Imaginarium and the Ancerious region.”
He looked down at his new body, smiling to himself.
“You know, this really feels…special. If I am right, I am the first of ‘my kind’ to undergo anything like this. The next step in our development, that is for sure."
Eluvanar stayed realtively silent for the renunion. The space faring being smiled to all that percieved them at the encounters. One in bemusement at the creature falling from the cieling, and a more genuinely joyful one at Apple. Even they knew nothing of him.
To apple though Eluvanar looked strange, almost horrific. Milk white skin that was impossibly thin, almost seeming to stretch over what looked like a body without bones. Their face had no eyes, mouth, nor nose instead the same white skin stretching across it tightly. Six moth like wings at their back, four arms two connected to each shoulder blade. Along with a multitude of long tendrils coming from their back with hardened ends, and almost flower like glowing purple things in-between those pincers. Their arms and legs both very thin, and tendril like themselves, like they had no bones themselves. They glowed at a decent brightness. Enough to be more than noticeable. The fact none were acknowledging the horrific monster sitting amongst them was remarkable.
Sylvan laughed.
"ha, well threw quite the waves in your homela...", then was promptly interrupted by the tiny figure falling from a higher floor, he wasn't quite close enough, though luckily, Enra caught it, whatever it was. He moved over to look at it only to tilt his head in curiousity.
"Huh, you... are not a fairvae. Are you alright?"
In the meanwhile Guffy sat down besides Eluvanar, looking at her with big eyes and apparent genuine amazement, though what they saw in Eluvanar was a question likely nobody present could answer. Curiously enough Kael and Aur'shlae watched her with skepticism and mildly wary looks.
Veleya watched the fall relatively calm and shook her head as the tiny golem was caught by Enra.
"You have to be more careful. We would install higher railings up there but the fairvae and little lighters around the hall are always very insistent on keeping them low, they really like just flying off from one floor to the other."
She sighed, then turned her attention back to Apple.
"I see, so Sylvans little horror stories didn't manage to change your opinion on changing your body, I congratulate you, it's not often we see someone with a full conversion around here, but those I met seemed to be always quite satisfied with the results.", she nodded to herself and watched the entnrance for a couple moments as if remembering something or looking what new people were coming in.
One of the men at the table, the same one who commented to another about Sylvan looking at Eluvanar earlier, squinted at Apple with a rather odd look on his face and then he grinned.
"So, you went for the 'full package' man?"
He laughed jovially wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and then elbow bumped his neighbour again as Veleya rubbed her forehead and shook her head as if saying 'Not this again.'
"Anyways. So what are all of your plans for now? It seems you've travelled quite a distance but didn't see too much so far, any places you planned to visit... or do you perhaps want some suggestions?"
The questions fired in thick and fast, and Apple realised with polite horror that he had been most rude, interrupting the conversation to garner Sylvan’s entire attention. Eluvanar, was new to the group, and a most interesting design, or at least that is what Apple thought. The universe was full of strange and mystical beings, and whilst Apple had never seen a creature quite like them, Sylvan and the rest seemed to not bat an eye lid, so Apple assumed the normality of the situation.
“Oh, I am terribly sorry, I realise now, I just interrupted this entire conversation. The excitement of it all made me lose my manners there!” he reached a broad, natural smile, that he presented to the group.
“I don’t mean to speak for the group, but I am somewhat of a traveller, and I would LOVE some suggestions on places to go, things to see.”
"I think I'm alright," the figure offered, though - no, wait. Sylvan and the others weren't understanding their words. What they said was music notes in varying harmonies and tones, like a Gothic hymn or Sumerian chant: but what they thought of them as became words. Not just a psychic phenomenon - but one of shocking subtlety. What was that thing?
"I'll have to watch, um..." They blinked their gallium eyes, staring uncomprehendingly at those assembled, and fell silent again as Sylvan and his men continued. The metal-haired creature in Enra's hand opened their mouth after Apple's request, recognizing a chance, and piped up in tritone.
"Can-" They reached a discord of two poorly-placed notes, winced, and tried again. "...Um, well, I- I fell partly because... You, you see, I.... W-When it comes down to it, I think... Um...."
The tiny basalt golem stood up, dusted off their cheaply-made wire-twine clothes, and tried again with a firmer bass. "W-What the once-Toyfolk said. Would- would it be possible for me to come along with...." They waved a hand around, at once wavering in their confidence. "...W-Well, this... group? I-I don't have much I can offer, but.."
Enra shook her head and chuckled as the music-tones of the golem sounded out, the words shifting into the minds of those around it. She lifted her arms up slightly and placed the thing on her shoulder, then slowly turned to make sure guffy hadn't run off, then she turned her head back to the group.
"Its good to see what everything went alright, Apple. Im sure you'll enjoy this new body of yours," she responded to apple first, seeing that he had stumbled into the conversation.
Then she listened to the golem's chirpings- come with them?
"Seem's a lot of people like us, seeing this is what, the... fifth? seventh?- person to ask to hitch a ride with you, Apples," she first commented, then moved on to actually answering the question.
"I'd have no issues with it, but then again, it is Apple's ship, so I think he'd have final say," Enra answered- it wasnt her place to say 'Yes' or 'No', but a 'maybe' wouldn't hurt.
Sylvan simply shrugged in response to the question of the little golem.
"I don't have issues with that but it's not my decision. So...yeah."
He turned around to Apple and started talking before Veleya could.
"Well, there's a couple of places which we could visit on lost star, if you wanna stay nearby, after all we just arrived."
He paused to think for a moment.
"You've already seen the House Asterion customer area, but you've probably also seen the images in the lobby, their deep sea servers are quite interesting if not quite everyones thing, there's loads of museums and showing the history of Lost Star and how it was, the unfinished sections have actually quite a spectactular view..."
Veleya frowned at him.
"...uh... yeah, but I would stay at a distance, folks around there are not very welcoming. There’s a number of artificially built vistas made to attract tourists, superstructures made to maintain infrastructure..."
He laughed.
"I mean, I'd show you White Maginot but that's not a place the like sof us aree going to get even close to! Shipbreaker cove is interesting, would stay away from palces like Brasstown and I heard the Grindstone is actually warzone right now, there's..."
This is where Veleya cut in with a mischievous smile.
"Nala asked for you."
Sylvan flinched at the words suddenly falling silent. He turned his head to her and frowned, a hard to read expression on his face.
"You should show them Eysra, it's probably the most interesting place you will be able to show them around these parts."
Sylvan remained silent for a moment his shoulders had dropped and his enthusiasm seemed to be gone.
"...can't someone else?"
He stuttered, his voice uncertain.
"She asked, for you specifically and you are the only one who can get them into Eysra. You're not going to say you refuse helping your friends, are you?"
Sylvan sighed.
"I... fine. I... I will do it.", he muttered.
He looked around for a couple moments, then seemed to remember something or maybe just pretended to change the topic. He began digging through his bag and then pulled out a weird looking little statue.
"Oh yeah! I brought you the thing you asked for had to search for a quite a while, but one of the traders in the western end of the forlorn spiral had some, probably a scam but still looks like the real thing."
He placed the statue on the table, it was about as tall as a hand and looked like an idol from some primitive civilisation, it was all covered in gold but that was hardly a indicator of its value given space age resource extraction.
Veleya smiled, this time genuinely.
"Thank you, thank you, I appreciate it."
As the whole scene was going on, Eluvanar had been watching patiently, where as Aurshlae and Kael seemed to be discussing amongst themselves.
“Hey, the more the merrier as the saying goes. I ain’t got a problem with this little cherub joining our little band of adventurers.”
The more yokal tone was returning to Apple’s voice, as they fluctuated and adjusted their tones, seemingly still wrestling with their persona after the upgrade. The return made Apple’s face relax, and smile once more, as if he suddenly realised who he was, which gave him comfort.
“Well, you’re certainly right Sylvan. I know that House of Asterion quite well, and I do not wish to spend that kind of small fortune again.” he was happy to be jovial, but the look on Sylvan’s face concerned him, as he followed the back and forth between Veleya and Sylvan.
His friend was showing discomfort, and Apple didn’t like it. He didn’t let it be known across his face, as he felt a whole wider range of emotions than he had ever experienced cross through his robotic brain, but he watched, hawk like, to see if he could understand the situation. He decided to jump in, and save his friend.
“If this…what was it, Eysra? If that ain’t a place you wanna go Sylvan, you don’t need to go there. We only want good vibes on my ship, you hear?” he addressed his statement to Veleya, with a smile and stern stare.
Enra nodded as apple responded to the metal-golem. "Well, there you have it," she turned her head towards the golem, "you can come with us. I can try to carry you around if you want, so you dont get trampled.
She offered her hand up once more, while listening intently to the ongoing conversation between Sylvan, Apple, and Veleya. Something about Esrya, and Sylvan not wanting to go.
"Yeah, I'm with apple. Unless there's a really good reason, you dont have to go; although I am interested to hear what exactly 'Esrya' is."
The golem, meanwhile, seemed transfixed on the idol: nodding half-consciously to Enra's offer for carriage as they examined the thing carefully. The little creature sniffed, frowning, and their eyes shimmered an octarine sheen.
"That thing's got alchemical properties," they muttered, peering at it from the edge of Enra's hand. "I-I don't know the white stuff, but I know gold; and both smell and look like potent ingredients. Where was this from?"
Eluvenar watched thier visage growing a small smile at the bickering. Apple saw no smile, just a curious tiliting of their head. Finally they spoke after watching curiously the vents unfolding. Kicking off from her seat to gracefully flying over the table and touching down net to everyone proper. Her wings unfolding into what looked like a six point star as she flew.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble. I've never been in a spacecraft before, and it does sound lovely."
Sylvan looked into the round as everyone left their comment on the matter, he even had a brief look at the tiny Golem though more in confusion, after all he only saw the surface of the statue and not that it was actually carved from ivory. Eventually he looked like he had given up.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Look it's... it's not like it's a bad thing going to Eysra. I just... Nala is a good..."
He seemed to be looking for a the right words. "...friend. ...and I haven't visited her in quite a while. So... hey, all good, right?"
Veleya smiled triumphantly, clearly satisfied by her work.
"Well, there should be no issues then!"
She looked at Eluvanar for a couple moments then laughed.
"Well, it seems you are gathering quite the crowd, as per usual!"
Sylvan looked at Eluvanar then back at Apple, seemingly somewhat conflicted, whether to feel good or bad about the mysterious new stranger entering their group, though more calm now than when the old Journey Master suggested them going to Eysra.
"I mean, I have no issues with her coming with us but... do we even have enough space? It's been pretty tight as is. I have no issues with sharing MY personal space with others but I'm not sure about everyone else."
Before anyone could answer, Aur'Shlae raised her hand as if asking to take the word and so she did.
"About that. There are a few things this one has learned when talking to the inhabitants of these halls. About the place where this one came from, our home...
We... will be parting ways with you and Kael will be coming with me." She looked over to her and Kael nodded affirmingly, Aur'Shlae continued.
"There is no need to ferry this one further, you need not worry, we will find our own way to our destination. This one would like to thank you all, it has been a short but pleasant journey."
“Oh.”There was disappointment in Apple’s voice, as his head slung, and a his newly christened face dropped to show a range of sad emotions. “Well, hey if that is what y’all want or need to do, then heck I am sure we wish y’all all the best, right gang?”
It would be sad, they had gathered quote a group, and Apple was loving it. He adored this band of misfits that they had gathered together, and to see it split and separate would be tough, though even Apple admitted to himself that he did not know where everyone was going to fit on the ship (he had even toyed with the idea of buying a new vessel altogether).
“Listen, before you go, I think we should have one big picture together…for memories sake, you know? And you would always be welcome in…in…say, everyone, what are we calling our little group here? I think all adventuring parties need some form of name, right?”
Enra frowned as the news came from Aurshlae and Kael broke the news of their departure from the group. She nodded. "It'll suck to see you guys go, but I wish you the best, and good luck. May not of known eachother long, but, still; was nice having the two of you around.
Having not said much until now, guffy raised their hand and waved a good-bye to the two, their eyes curiously looking over them. It was clear in their expression they werent fully comprehending this 'goodbye', just yet.
Enra didnt pay much mind to the stranger- once again, it was Apple's decision, and she didn't have much of an opinion on them just yet.
"A group photo sounds great," she responded to apple, a smile returning to her face as she moved over closer to the android. "As for a name... Hm. Cant think of anything that isn't dumb and cheesy- 'The Lost Stars'? Nah..." she seemed to get lost in her thoughts for a while, not able to come up with any good suggestions, for now.
Sylvan looked at the two for a couple moments and nodded.
"I see, well, I wish you good luck on your journey. No telling beforehand when you need to change paths so no worries!"
Kael looked looked at Aur'Shlae as if communicating with them without words who nodded in return, this time it was Kael talking her voice now considerably less raspy than when they first met her.
"We... would not be opposed to a photo, no."
"Well, I guess we can do it right here, right now, though I'm afraid in regards to the group name I'm clueless as well."
He rubbed his chin, apparently giving it a second thought. He hadn't named anything in a while, maybe he should just give it a try?
"I mean, 'The Stargazers' maybe? We DID meet somewhere in the middle of nowhere and haven't seen much other than stars since, until we arrived at Lost Star, which is, in a way, also a 'star' I guess, in the farthest sense."
Before waiting for an answer he moved over to Kael and Aur'Shale, standing in front he noticeably looked almost like a child in before the the two tall women.
He looked over to the Golem and Eluvanar as if out of reflex.
"Oh yeah, I guess if you're going to come with us, you should probably go onto the photo as well Eluvanar and..."
He focused on the tiny Golem and squinted.
"...what was your name?"
Enra huddled in for the photo, standing to the right of sylvan. She bent down and heaved guffy into her arms, so the short kid wouldnt be out of frame on the photograph.
"Shame that the... other Mus'vanus, whatever his name was, left before we could get the photo in. He seemed interesting."
Waiting for the photo be taken, Enra got into a good standing position and quietly fussed at guffy as they shuffled around in her arms, eventually getting them to sit still through some back-and-forth arguing, and even some semblance of a smile from them for the camera.
“The Lost Stargazers? I don’t know, we can thought shower it sometime, I am sure. Alright everyone, huddle in.”
Apple set down a device, a jutting stand popping out and holding it at waist height. A deep lens looked towards the group, a camera of some sort, and Apple retreated to the group, gathered.
“Ok, I got the trigger here ok, so when everyone is ready…on 3, say ‘Happy!!’, 1….2…..3….HAPPY!”
FLASH, the device emitted a bellowing light, blinding and dazzling the group. Apple jumped up with a cheer.
“Aha! Excellent. Ah man, this is wonderful. It has been so good to meet y’all.”
The little golem Enra had picked up—at this point, standing on the table so as not to get in the way of what they were doing—stumbled with a dissonant squak at the brilliance of the camera's flash. It rubbed its eyes, making a miserable theremin-like noise and staring uncertainly at the aperture off to the side.
"...W-What was that?"
Sylvan looked at the golem with mild confusion or rather in its general direction, still partially blinded from the flash.
"What's what? The camera or a name? Never seen a camera? Takes images of you, can keep them for later as a memory."
He paused. Pondering on the other possibility, if it really was the name it was already the second member without one, weird theme they had going on there.
"Well, with the name...that's just what people call you, y'know, like, I'm Sylvan, this is Apple, that's Enra...", he continued, pointing at the corresponding party members.
"N-No, not the name, sorry—" It gestured warily at the camera, clutching the odd gramophone-like tube hanging over its shoulder with the other hand as if it were a safety net. "W-why... Is there a creature behind that eye, then? Oh, Saints; is everything going to be this confusing...?"
Sylvans expression changed from confused to dumbfounded. Creature? Saints? On one hand, he had of course heard stories of stuff like slavers abducting primitives from planets, but actually meeting one... If it even was that.
"Okay... So."
He paused.
"There is no creature inside. It uh... The 'eye' catches the light and then..."
He rubbed his chin.
"...it remembers an image of it to save for later. In form of a code that it can read, like a machine."
"Incredible," it breathed, staring at the camera with renewed interest. "It can perform such miraculous feats even when no lifeblood fills its body?"
"Yeah... Almost like magic, huh? I'm sure Apple can explain it to you in detail later."
Sylvan shrugged, looking at Apple and Enra, realising or maybe remembering for the first time in ages how fascinating it had once been to learn about technology even though he had actually grown up with it, then turned back to the golem.
"So... About your name?"
"My name!"
It blinked, frowned, and then folded its arms. "...I don't... I am a Toyfolk, and I am a Phone, however. Does that answer your question." The little stone creature frowned, furrowing its metallic eyebrows. The question itself seemed alien to the thing—like Sylvan had asked it whether light was bright, or gravity had a pull.
"Phone? Like...like the device, Phone? Like, the thing folks use to be speaking to one another, phone?"
Apple registered a slight moment of confusion, if only because he wasn't sure whether the little creature meant their name was Phone, or that they were literally a Phone.
The golem tapped the gramophone over its shoulder, closing its eyes. As Apple spoke, the words simply didn't come out of his mouth—as if something had plucked the voice from his throat. From the now-glowing horn over the golem's shoulder, he heard the rest of his question;
"Like, the thing folks use to be speaking to each other, phone?"
It released its hand from the... speaker, nodding. "Yes, that."
Apple looked from the Golem, to Sylvan, back again, and once again to Sylvan.
"Well, this just raises more questions for me..."
Sylvan frowned, he had joked about magic only moments earlier and now there was actual magic involved. They also had another member with seemingly no name.
"So, how do you tell two of you apart then, where you come from?"
"Why would you want to tell two of us apart?" 'Phone' chuckled, giving Sylvan a strange look. "Each one of us works the exact same, with a few variations."
Enra blinked and rubbed her eyes after the camera's flash, and turned to see Guffy complaining and whining about the bright light. She allowed the golem to go onto the table, turning away to speak to the young one. After some time, she turned back to realize a whole conversation had happened mostly without her.
"Your name is phone?" she asked rhetorically. "And, was Individuality just not a thing where you came from?"
Sylvan still looked puzzled. He just imagined an army of tiny same looking golem people, all looking the same, all saying the same thing, all doing the same movements. He felt a bit stupid, maybe a tad awkward.
"So... do... you want a name then or should we just call you 'phone'? Variations is the stuff that makes each of us individual, I mean, depending on how things go you may travel with us for quite a while, so... uh..."
"...well, only if want to, can of course just stick with 'phone' if you prefer that."
He paused looking into the assembled group and eventually focusing on Apple.
"What do you think Apple? You got any input on that?"
“I honestly have no idea right now.” Apple said, a bemused expression laden across his face. “But, maybe, for the sake of a name, we could just call them…’Phone’. I mean, it is not exactly conventional, but none of this little group of ours is conventional is it?”
He stepped forward towards the Golem.
“Phone, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
The little golem nodded eagerly, bowing to Apple and looking up to Enra once it'd processed Enra's question. "It is," it explained, pointing to itself with a frown. "I'm not custom-built, though: I'm mold-cast. A Toyfolk. I'm not a person, I'm a tool. Is that really so strange?"
"Seem pretty personable to me," Enra stated. "Not a tool anymore, seeing as youre joining us as a 'friend', so to speak. Better get outta that mindset sometime soon, eh?"
She peered down at it for a moment. Finally, she nodded. "I think i'll call you Pho."
“Pho, now that there is a good name. If you’ll have it, Pho? Phone?”
Apple turned to the group, looking upon each and every one of the assembled travellers.
“So, are we a group then? Ready to explore the galaxy?”
Sylvan lifted both eyebrows with a somewhat resigned look on his face. On the one hand he knew there were all sorts of cultures out there and everyone was entitled to their own opinion and name, on the other hand... 'phone'.
He wasn't exactly adept in the culinary arts, so he wasn't aware Apple was also named after a fruit.
He shrugged and his smile finally returned. "Well, personally I'm ready, I've done everything I needed to do here, we heading off to Eysra then?"
He paused looking around for a couple moments a quizzical look on his face, as if searching for something in the crowd, eventually turning to Veleya.
"Sooo... Rae not around today or is she out 'exploring' again?"
She gave him a smug smile in return, her closed hand in front of her lips as if supressing a giggle.
"Oh wouldn't you like to know?"
He rolled his eyes in response.
"I mean..."
"She left a couple weeks ago, I#m not sure what drove her to the decision but I'm glad she finally found her way."
There was a bit of a pause, as Sylvan seemed to be processing the information with mild confusion on his face before a somewhat melancholic-sad smile entered his face that had something deeply genuine.
"Oh.
...
Well, glad to hear she's alright then! Maybe we'll meet somewhere out there, you never know."
'Pho', not quite invested in Sylvan's conversation, but still curious about what was being said, trailed off at a "That sounds fine" to listen in on the goings-on. Unsure of how to handle itself, it meekly asked Enra for another hand up: as it was unable to really travel with the group otherwise.
The Lizard nodded firmly and let her hand fall down to pick up the golem, once more setting it atop her shoulder. She looked towards sylvan and listened into the conversation, waiting for a lull to speak up.
"Figure im just outta the loop, but who exactly is Rae?" she asked, shifting her weight as she now carried both the engineered child and a small rock golem on her shoulder, her tail laid flat against the ground to try and serve as a tripod to put less constant weight on her knee and hip joints.
"And should we get heading back to the ship, now? Everyone else at least; im sure you have a couple conversations to finish before you leave."
"Rae is..."
Sylvan started, then promptly stopped to think, as Veleya observed him and what he was about to say with seemingly great interest.
He seemed to be very cautious about what to say.
"She is... a good long time friend, she's also the one who brought me to this place when I first arrived on Lost Star, she likes exploring places and wandering around and is more often away from than in the hall, even though she's the daughter of Veleya here. May have seen her if you've... oh."
He scratched his head with an expression of realisation.
"Ah, yeah, none of you've ever been here before, right."
Veleya nodded, apparently satisfied with what he said but made no further comment.
"Oh well. Yeah, unless you've got anything else to do here we're good. I'm done, I'll come back here eventually, always do. Well and you probably wouldn't get into Eysra without me anyways."
Phone shrugged, awkwardly settling onto Enra's shoulder and collarbone in an angled seat. Despite being made of stone, it wasn't particularly heavy: maybe the weight of a glass of water at most.
"What exactly... is Eysra," it finally asked, frowning a little. "I thought that was the name of someone important before I got here—or, is that place you were talking about named after them? I heard about the Judge on the way here." Pho awkwardly tugged at its tunic, not quite sure what to do with itself. "And, why are we going there if that man—" ...and it pointed to Apple... "—says it's so dangerous?"
"Far as I know, Esrya is a district here on lost star, something to do with magic and all that buzz. Sylvan-" she nodded towards him, as if indicating who the name belonged to, "-seems to find it familiar, so i'm already down for it. Pretty sure Apple-" she did the nod again, this time towards the android. "-Was just concerned 'cause of the way Sylvan was taking the news, m'sure it's not all that Dangerous," Enra replied to the golem.
"As long as we get to adventure, go places, see things- I'm happy. Whole reason I left my home; aside from the poverty; was to see the galaxy, y'know? Sure that applies for a lot of people here too," she paused, looking around.
"Well, at least two of us," she half-joked- her eyes particularly crossing over to Apple.
Sylvan sighed, Eysra, was not per se dangerous, you just had to look out where you were going and what you were doing but...
Well, that was true for a lot of places.
"Alright so Eysra is..."
He began and atarted telling stories about it that would last them another couple hours combined with a slew of ever renewed questions from the group and remarks from the other guests of the hall, in the end, they never got out of the place before the next day, some of them taking a rest in some of the backrooms, as others continued exploring and sharing stories.
Only on the next day they actually left, though it did not seem that anybody had any issues with the delays, in fact it seemed to be rather common for that to happen as many if the other guests confirmed.
Reinvigored and well rested they began their way towards Eysra, waving the journeymaster Veleya and their former companions Kael and Aur'shlae goodbye as they departed, finding the other Musavian and all his pissessions gone when they arrived back at the ship.
Though what they would consequently find there in this magical place called Eysra, would be a story for another day...