The Price of Expedience - Part 4

From Gundeck , Narikki enters, ducking nearly double so as not to hit anything on the ceiling.

From Gundeck , Jest'liana looks up from where she is sitting on a box toward the corner. "

From Gundeck , Jest'liana says, "Hello Narikki."

From Gundeck , Narikki stands up a bit more. "Hello."

No sign of Sha-El anywhere. But there's the faint sound of keys tapping from the cockpit. From underneath VanMahr's hammock, a little black bundle of fur uncoils and miaows vociferously. Genghis is awake.

From Gundeck , Jest'liana tilts her head to the side, "Anything new happeneing out there?"

From Gundeck , Narikki sits down on the floor, once he's away from the entrance. "Depends if you heard last night's announcement."

Cockpit 

An amber glow seeps through the dim claustrophobic cockpit of this small craft. Three padded slabs are arrayed under heavy banks of electronics, avionics and other displays. Of the stars themselves there is no sign as a portal or viewscreen is absent. Instead, the bridge crew extends their senses out into the void with the digital and wave arrays of data swept up by the very sensitive passive and active detection systems on board. The first bench is the navigator's station with its bewildering melange of CRT monitors and a dangling set of headphones, the second signals the pilot's position with its joystick and holographic positioning sextant, and the third features the distended periscope-style targeting mask and firing solution monitors of the gunner's place. One exit is a portal to the rear leading into the gundeck and living quarters. The second is a small pressurized hatch near the feet of the gunner - likely leading to a small armoury and boarding bay.

Contents:

Weapons Console

Command Chair

Navigation Console

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

 Gundeck Gundeck 

From Gundeck , Jest'liana smiles crookedly. "You mean us as the new cannon fodder slaves of the Hive and haveing 72 hours to figure something out?"

The tapping of the keys stops for a moment. A little while later Sha-El's tousled, purple-streaked head pokes out from the cockpit a little, hearing the voices. "'llo sis...sir."

From Gundeck , Narikki idly picks at his shirt/bandage. "That."

From Gundeck , Jest'liana gives Narikki a bit of a look. "If you pick at that it will never heal."

From Gundeck , Narikki stops. "Sorry. But it itches."

Genghis stretches each little leg with the languid arrogance that only kittens can give and emerges from his warm spot to sniff at Narikki cautiously.

From Gundeck , Jest'liana stands up and stretches luxeriously, letting each muscle contract. "Hmmmm. Maybe I can find some cordazone for you or something.."

From Gundeck , Narikki says, "I wouldn't know what that looked like unless it's labelled. But I could help if you want."

N'Sha-El pulls herself from the claustrophobic cockpit slowly and very carefully. She has her computer deck slung over one shoulder in its case, the dangling length of cable peeping from her utility belt carelessly. She inclines her head to Narikki and smiles at Jest faintly.

You head into Gundeck .

Gundeck <Courser>

Hammocks, bundles of goods, pots and pans and fiberoptic cables dangle down over the two outward facing rows of blaster carronades and the cramped corridor between. Here a cooler is tucked under a bench and there a stim-chamber doubling as a head is bolted between bulkheads. The scents of old cooking, human sweat, ozone and whatever cargo the ship currently carries compete to batter the nostrils. A vent overhead half-heartedly puffs out recycled air and a stale, futile, pine scent. The gundeck serves as living quarters and bunkroom for all hands and passengers on the Courser: rec room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and all. This is it. Hope you're comfortable with yourself and very close quarters.

Contents:

Citizen Narikki <IC>

Citizen Jest'liana <IC>

Port Guns

Starboard Guns

Interface Panel

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<C> Cockpit Cockpit <Courser>

<E> Engineering Engineering <Courser>

Jest'liana senses, "N'Sha-El is moving very carefully, as if not to jar herself."

Jest'liana smiles at him and nods. "I am not sure either." she turns to Sha. "Sha, do we have any cordazone or anything here?"

Genghis whisks his tail, backing away from Narikki and hissing in comical kitty fashion. Sha-El eyes him with some amusement before looking up to Jest. "Don't think so. Check though, the first aid kit's in my locker."

Narikki ignores the cat completely. "If there isn't don't worry about it."

Jest'liana nods and smoothly moves over to look in the first aid kit. She rummages there for a moment.

N'Sha-El bends down to scoop Genghis up. "Hush, you rotten bloody bugger," she scolds, flattening his ears in perfunctory fashion with rough affection. She leans herself carefully against the side of the stim coffin.

Narikki forgets, and scratches his bandage again. "What were you doing in there?"

N'Sha-El arches a brow lightly. "Where?" Her tones are carefully measured and neutral as she absently pets the purring Genghis. Noticeably, she keeps very still and leans her head back against the stim coffin.

Narikki stops scratching for long enough to point toward the cockpit. "That way."

N'Sha-El shrugs faintly. "Trying to see if systems are still down, if we can power up the ship. I'd hate to have to bloody fix my nav systems all over again."

Narikki sits back down. "So are they?"

"Dunno yet." Sha-El replaces Genghis on VanMahr's hammock carefully and moves with measured, careful strides towards the engine room.

Narikki nods. "I'll let you check, then. Am I in your way?"

N'Sha-El moves out of the engineering room and brushes a hand delicately across her forehead. "You're fine. I'm going to get out in a bit, but I've got to check on the Courser first."

Narikki nods, standing. "I'll get outside anyway. I hate feeling useless."

N'Sha-El is, at the moment, reaching for a scattered sheaf of papers on her hammock. She glances up at that. "No one's bloody useless, not if we want to get out of here alive."

Narikki says, "Sure. But I /feel/ that way. I don't know a thing about ships." He heads out. "Talk to you later, maybe."

N'Sha-El retrieves a stub of pencil from amidst the papers and slides it behind her ear. "No fear of that...." Her tone wry.

Narikki says, "I guess not."

Narikki disembarks from the ship.

In the interim, Sha-El finishes checking on the Courser and disembarks from the ship to explore this strange alien world a little further complete with her small computer. In the process of meandering slowly around, she comes across Narikki, Grayback and LeBeau, who are about to investigate the Hive Passage which was unaccessible yesterday thanks to a containtment forcefield. The forcefield has inexplicably been lowered. All four climb up the ladderwell into:

Hive Passage

The mist grows thicker and the air warmer in this hexagonal passage, which seems to run perpindicular to the one below. Suffuse blue light glows from behind the metal gridwork of the walls and the floor. Hot air hisses from vents above and below and on both sides. In the distance, on either end of the corridor, you can barely make out other chambers.

Contents:

Citizen Narikki <IC>

Lt_Colonel LeBeau <IC>

Colonel Grayback <IC>

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<FO> Fore

<A> Aft Transdimensional Habitat <RKV Harrower>

<DN> Down Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>

Narikki climbs up, more slowly. "Well, here we are."

A sizzling field snaps over the ladder well.

Grayback walks aft.

LeBeau says, "O dat is very funny"

Narikki looks back down. "Here are are, more permanently."

LeBeau says, "Bring us up here an den close da door"

LeBeau says, "Well we had bedder stick together"

Grayback backs out of the room just as quickly...

N'Sha-El clambers up the ladder, just in time to avoid the field snapping shut. "Bloody hell..." she growls. Her eyes glance slowly to and fro, watching as LeBeau heads into another chamber.

Narikki shrugs. "Pick a direction. We'll explore.'

Grayback says, "Forward."

Grayback strikes a field and staggers back

Grayback stumbles backward..."Then again, perhaps not.."

N'Sha-El arches a brow wryly. "Don't pass go..." she murmurs lightly, one hand on her computer deck, the other resting on the grip of her blaster.

LeBeau continutes to look towards aft "Id looks like dat is where da took Abernathy"

Narikki shrugs. "How about the other way then? Not that we have a choice."

Grayback says, "My thoughts as well, Colonel. That appears to be a most painful device."

LeBeau strikes a field and staggers back

You head into Transdimensional Habitat <RKV Harrower>.

Transdimensional Habitat <RKV Harrower>

Expansive doesn't even begin to describe this chamber, filled with swirling mists and light blue shadows and the rippling presences of things that seem to reach out and brush your consciousness as you stand here. The hissing of the vents from the passage lessens here, drowned out by the rumbling roar of a million sibilant whispers in the dark.

Contents:

Preparation Coffin

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<F> Fore Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>

Standing upright within the swirling mist, in the middle of the great chamber, this device appears to have synthetic material straps that can be adjusted and used to secure individuals in place. Ominous glowing blue feeder tubes loop down from the mist overhead to metal mounts on the coffin, where they seem to await attachment.

You head into Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>.

Narikki says, "So? Let's go anyway."

Grayback says, "We must be cautious at all times, lest we suffer the same fate. That is perhaps how they succeeded in destroying the other crews. By controlling crew members, they manipulated them into fighting and then killing one another from sheer paranoia."

LeBeau says, "So why led us up here to show us wha is in store if we try to resist?"

N'Sha-El emerges from aft, pursing her lips more than a little thoughtfully. She doesn't say anything for a while. When she does speak, she's distracted and somewhat distant, as if thinking thoughts aloud. "Why do they bloody need us?"

Narikki says bluntly, "We're special. Who knows?"

Grayback says, "We are lab rats. Nothing more. We are merely tools to allow them to control the galaxy."

LeBeau says, "So dat day do no hav to fight dare own wars"

LeBeau says, "So day can jus relax as day trink races into using dare system o propulsion"

N'Sha-El holds up one hand. "Hold on hold on....That's just it, isn't bloody it? Why /don't/ they fight their own wars? Why pull alien races to do it for them? Why isn't there a single bloody record of /any/ damn Ri'Kammi ships in their records doing fighting?"

Grayback says, "Which I suspect is also why they control the OS drive and prevent any attempts at duplicating the technology. With control of FTL travel, they control how far a species travels and thus contain them. Through isolation, they can then destroy whole empires with a single stroke without assistance from multiple empires."

Narikki says, "Maybe they don't like fighting. Maybe it's more fun this way."

LeBeau says, "Perhahs dare ar Hive ships fighting, dose transparent loking ones dat ar in all da images, perhaps does ar Hive ships fighting who ever at da time"

Grayback nods. "One thing I find curious. Why fight the ships? If they possess their drives, they are far more capable of detonating their own drive than the crew."

N'Sha-El bites her lip and crosses her arms, eyes distant, appearing to stare into the depths of the swirling mists with more than eerie intensity. "They're bloody intelligent. They have more technology than they'll ever have use for..." She glances to LeBeau at this. "Maybe...but, dammit, that's too wide a disparity in ship design sir! Those things are...bloody hell, they're almost beautiful. This..." She gestures briefly around. "This damn hulking structure...no designer could come up with something /so/ disparate, I don't think in my experience."

LeBeau says, "Perhaps des are people who hav discovered dare own way to move faster den light an ar tring to stop da Hive from doing wha day ar doing to us to oders"

Narikki begins to wander around. "I dunno, I kind of like this. It's very regular."

Grayback says, "Wait.....what if those ships /aren't/ Hive minder vessels? But another race...equally as powerful. And that ice planet in the records could be /their/ home planet. A mortal enemy of sorts.""

LeBeau looks to narikki "regular, wha ar yu talking about regular, dis is like a bad night on da Bayou

Narikki says, "Hexagons are regular. They cross evenly."

Grayback says, "And the Hive minders capture other races and their vessels, and use /them/ to fight against their enemy instead of doing it themselves. IF that is true, this other race could be even more powerful than the hive minders, so much that they are afraid to face them themselve.s"

N'Sha-El glances around once more, her movements careful, measured, controlled. Almost as if any sudden move might jar her, cause her pain. At Grayback's words she turns her sienna-brown eyes in his direction, nodding slowly. "Yeh...that's about what I thought about last night sir...." She purses her lips lightly. "And that brings me to somethin' else...."

LeBeau says, "Eider way, id is no concer o us. 'm no fighting someone dat da Hive is no going to fight den self"

Grayback says, "I can't blame you there, Colonel. If they are indeed more powerful than the Hive Minders, fighting them would be suicide. If we could contact them, we could ally with them."

Narikki considers for a while. "But who would want to?"

Grayback says, "Assuming that they do in fact exist."

Narikki says, "Ally, I mean."

Grayback says, "Why else? To destroy the Hive Minders."

Narikki says, "But if these Hive Minders can absolutely control us, what can the other - more powerful - ones do?"

LeBeau says, "I wan to hear wha N'Sha has to say"

Grayback nods in agreement.

N'Sha-El holds up her hand again. "Wait...wait..." One hand goes to the temple that houses the datajack instinctively as a furrow crosses her brow sharply. It's a moment before she speaks and when she does, her voice is slightly strained. "Let's assume that you've said is correct sir." This to Grayback. "The Ri'Kammi bloody hijack other races to fight their bloody battles because they're afraid to face their enemy. Brings it right back down again to /why/. What do we have that the damned Hivers don't?" She pauses and rubs her temple before continuing. "Bodies...maybe? Physical bodies that can /move/ perhaps?"

Grayback says, "A valid point. The Hive minders have powers, but only powers of the mind. In order to build, create, they need bodies. Us. We are merely shells to them."

Narikki says, "I can walk. Wonderful."

LeBeau says, "Den I say we cut dare power to use our body, we go into da next room and we bust up da coffin ting"

Narikki says, "You think we can? They'd just stop us."

Grayback draws his weapon. "Let them try."

N'Sha-El raises her head to glance into the mists again, those sienna-brown eyes of hers eerily lit by the blue shimmering light. "No....no wait..." she murmurs softly.

Narikki steps back. "Put that weapon /away/, I've already seen it go once."

Grayback grins slyly, but goes ahead and re-holsters it.

Grayback turns to listen to N'sha.

With a harsh snap, a shimmering field appears over the hatchway leading aft.

Narikki doesn't quite roll his eyes. "See? Look what you did; now we can't go /anywhere/."

LeBeau says, "Dats wha I though, dose bastards are scared"

Grayback says, "Is it me, or does that prove my theory."

Grayback cracks his knuckles.

Narikki says, "No, it proves mine. They'll stop us."

Grayback says, "That must be the exact function of that device. They use it to control bodies to do their work. When they are done, they toss us away."

LeBeau looks to Narikki "So wha to yu wan to do jus sid here an wait for dem to take us an fight in dare war, yu do no seem to care one way or da oder

Narikki says, "You're right. I don't. We don't have a choice. Either we work for them, or we slave for them."

The young navigator's voice is distracted, distant as she puts words to her convoluted thoughts. "What if the only way that the Ri'Kammi can fight their enemy is..physically? Because they can't /match/ their enemy in psionic and mental powers? That means that this...enemy...has a body. But this other enemy, if the pictures on those damn screens mean anything...they fight their /own/ battles...and they don't have others to do their bloody dirty work for them...which means they /have/ more of an ethical sense of honor..."

Grayback says, "Which means they may side with us. A common ground, and a common enemy."

Grayback says, "Contacting them, that is another matter."

N'Sha-El clasps her arms around herself, shivering slightly. "That brings up another problem sir..." Again the distance in her voice. "If they are honorable...we'd have to prove ourselves just as honorable perhaps, if they'd even side with us..."

LeBeau says, "Well wid us no willing to help da Hive den dat should be in our favor some"

Grayback says, "Hopefully, that will not be a daunting task."

Narikki picks a wall to lean against.

LeBeau begins to look around the room

N'Sha-El's brows arch lightly as she glances back towards Grayback and LeBeau. "You're not going to like what I have to say next..." she murmurs with a rather dry chuckle. "But you can bloody disregard it if you have to, it's only a hypothesis at this point. Hell /all/ of what we've just talked about is a hypothesis..."

Grayback grins slyly, knowing full well the Hive Minders can hear them.

Narikki listens, too, quiet for now.

LeBeau moves over to one of the vents and places a hand in its path to test the air

N'Sha-El growls out a string of fluid, unintelligeable words that sound suspiciously unpleasant as her tentative steps bring her into the forcefield aft. Her hand flies to her head.

Grayback reaches out to provide a helping hand. "Are you alright?"

Narikki stops leaning. "They're still up, I take it."

LeBeau says, "Grab her an keep he back,"

LeBeau says, "I tink day some how got in her mind las night, day ar trying to control her"

Grayback says, "Quite possibly."

N'Sha-El recovers her balance and glances up to the tall Demarian. It might be the shadows but her eyes flicker with what might be pain. "I'm fine..." she murmurs. "Thank you sir...and no, they didn't get into my mind...I'd know if they did." A wry lopsided grin.

N'Sha-El adds, "And that...was my native Indian. Not Hiver mumbo-jumbo."

Grayback says, "One way or the other it was mumbo-jumbo to me. You were going to say before you were rudely interuppted?"

Narikki cross his arms, quickly recrossing them. "So, out of interest, nobody has any clue how we're to eat here? I mean, it seems kind of silly for them to let us starve to death."

LeBeau says, "Well if dats no id den yu ar still recovering from da damge to yer implants"

Grayback says, "There is food in the room below, off to the Starboard. Rummage through the boxes and see if you can find something to suit your taste."

Narikki says, "It's locked, remember?"

Narikki says, "We can't get back down."

Grayback says, "Hmmm...that part escaped me for the moment."

Grayback says, "Then food will be a problem."

Grayback says, "It is in their best interests to keep us isolated, for we may have stumbled onto their secrets."

LeBeau retunrs to the vents and starts to look over the dimensions

Narikki nods. Then turns to face the wall. "If you're listening, you could let us have lunch. Seems kind of silly to starve your soldiers, doesn't it?"

LeBeau says, "Hey ids on o does marines"

LeBeau moves and trips the ladder field to catch her attention

LeBeau touches the field and snaps back from the shock

N'Sha-El chuckles faintly at LeBeau. "I've a headache from bloody hell," she says and returns her attention to Grayback. Her eyes flicker faintly around the chamber and she lifts a finger to her lips in a definite gesture of silence. When she does speak again, it's casual. "Oh, I was just thinking how bloody silly it is sitting around thinking about the Ri'Kammi and so on...we don't even bloody know it's all true..."

LeBeau yells, "Lt. can you here me?"

Grayback says, "True, but it is fun to speculate. <sly grin.>"

N'Sha-El keeps her finger to her lips, her eyes sliding to the hexagonal structure around them. "Bah, why try..." She shrugs very lightly. "Ri' bloody Kammi have us cornered right where they want us don't they?"

Grayback senses, "N'Sha-El seems to be asking you to talk about anything else /but/ plans to get free."

LeBeau yells, "Lt. can you here me?"

You feel the ship shake as the hull reverberates roughly

Narikki doesn't fall over, but he shifts his stance. "Does that mean we're getting /another/ set?"

Grayback says, "What the!?"

LeBeau hits the force field and bounces of it as the ship shakes

N'Sha-El catches at one of the hexagons and barely succeeds from slamming into LeBeau. "Bloody hell..." she growls, then raises her voice in a yell.

N'Sha-El yells, "SIS!"

LeBeau grabs his am that hit the field "Dame dat hurt

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Sha?"

Grayback says, "Let us hope we are not getting any more company."

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "You alright?"

N'Sha-El kneels down, looking between the metallic hexagonal structures and putting her face as close to the space as she can. "I'm up here sis!" she shouts. "We're bloody stuck!"

Narikki moves so he can see down to the Hub. "Hallo hallo."

LeBeau yells, "We are ok for now, bu we ar stuck up here"

N'Sha-El yells, "I'm up here sis! We're bloody stuck!""

N'Sha-El yells, "Where's Genghis?"

Narikki yells, "Hallo hallo. Is it one-way or can you not get up?""

N'Sha-El glances back to the others. "I don't think anyone can get up or down from here...where's the only other exit that's not bloody forcefielded?"

Narikki says, "I don't think we get one right now."

Grayback looks to the near by vent emitting mist.

LeBeau says, "Dare is anoder way I tink *looks to Grayback* we could see if she could come up thru da tube""

Grayback nods. "I'll open up the other end."

Grayback goes over to one of the grates, and with his considerable Demarian strength, proceeds to yank the grate off with all his might.

N'Sha-El rises from her kneeling position and straightens herself slightly unsteadily. "What now?" Her eyes travel the chamber as if trying to memorize the details.

N'Sha-El suddenly shakes her head, eliciting a barely perceptible wince of pain. "No...no, if she comes up she'll be trapped. My Captain needs her. No good having everyone stuck up here..."

LeBeau says, "Well if we can we ar going to send yer sister up tru dat tube dare on da oder side o da field an see if we can crawl back down dare"

Grayback says, "It's possible that they can erect fields inside the tubes as well."

Narikki considers. "Let me go down. I can carry food up if nothing else."

N'Sha-El draws a breath and leans against one wall carefully, leaning her head back. She closes her eyes for a moment. "If Captain Van's around...perhaps we'll have some options..."

LeBeau says, "Ids possible bu 'm going on da assumption dat day can't rig da enire ship. 'm tinking dat da forcefields ar mre like doors an no a security block"

Narikki shifts over so he can get a better look at the grate that's being moved. "Think I should get another? Maybe two at once will confuse them. If you saw another."

LeBeau looks around "Leds see if I can do dis"

N'Sha-El eyes the fore direction and purses her lips before moving over there

LeBeau moves over to another grate an pulls his cyclinder from its sleeve and lodges it between two of the rails and begins to pry away the grate

"Strike that..." The girl hisses as she catches against the grid, her brow creasing in definite pain.

LeBeau looks over as Sha hits the field "Jus stay here, all da doorways ar barriered"

LeBeau turns back and prys away at the grate again

Narikki crosses his arms. "Bug me if you want help."

N'Sha-El gives a faint half-grin and leans back against the grid wall. "Yell if you need an extra..." she murmurs.

LeBeau looks back to Sha and Narikki

LeBeau says, "Do yu hav any strenght implants or only da ones in yer head?"

N'Sha-El tugs her fingerless gauntlets briskly and steps away from the grid wall. She carefully moves towards the grid LeBeau's fighting with and kneels down. "Cyber implants are the only ones I've got sir...but I'm used to hard work." She grins faintly and lays hold of the grid with both hands. "Shove away sir."

Narikki just watches. "I'm just strong."

LeBeau says, "Narikki, how strong ar yer races"

Narikki says, "Strong enough, and I'm strong for a Grimlahdi."

LeBeau nods as he removes the cyclinde and places it back in the sleeve

LeBeau says, "We'll do dis on three"

Narikki moves over. "Me too, or just you? If you want I can just jump down when it's open. It'll be faster."

LeBeau says, "All tree o us"

Narikki says, "Well, if none of us are tugging, we might have a problem with 'jump'."

Narikki reaches in there /somewhere/.

LeBeau says, "We will all tug, an once off den we will take da different vents, N'sha take dis one and

Narikki jump in da one we already opened"

Narikki says, "Right. Which one'll you take?"

N'Sha-El nods and shifts her grip. But before that, she slides her knife from its sheath and catches it between her teeth before looking up with a savage exultancy almost.

LeBeau says, "Ok, on tree..."

Narikki doesn't bother with a weapon. "Ready when you are."

LeBeau says, "I'll take eider once yu ar away"

LeBeau says, "One"

LeBeau says, "Two"

N'Sha-El merely tenses herself and waits, concentrating her attention.

LeBeau says, "Tree...pull"

LeBeau strains his mucles as he tugs on the vent

Narikki pulls on three. As hard as he can, which is considerable. He shifts his stance a few times as he pulls as hard as he can.

For all she's so small, Sha-El is strong. Her back arches and her arms tremble with strain as she braces and pulls with all her might.

N'Sha-El yells, "Sis? *her voice strained and tight as if tugging at something*"

LeBeau reachs up with a foot and places it on the wall for added support as he pulls

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Here. Sorry about that, was trying to see if I could pull something together to get you out. What is happening?"

Narikki shifts his stance again, claws scrabbling on the ground for purchase.

N'Sha-El yells, "*brief pause as the sounds of intense breaths and grunts are heard* Fighting a grid! Where's Captain?"

The vent creaks as it slowly starts to pull away from the wall

N'Sha-El braces and pulls again, beads of sweat dotting her forehead. "'nother time!" she growls as the vent creaks protestingly.

Narikki hisses slowly and softly, as he pulls even harder. He's not sweating, though.

LeBeau mutters something about this not being the time to try to fit in and re-afixes his grip and slowly pulls the vent fro the wall

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Sha, I don't know. Want me to scour the place for him?"

The Vent is pulled away from the wall and the three go sprawling on the floor in from of the hole

N'Sha-El yells, "Just keep Kip safe...and make sure Captain don't run into trouble...tell him I'm...*a sudden pause and a grunt* Safe! I'm just...stuck!"

Narikki slides backwards, eventually falling over. He catches himself with his bad arm, then just falls over all the way. He gets to his feet quickly, though, and starts a dash at the other opened grate.

LeBeau hit the ground and yells "Ok head for the vents"

N'Sha-El gives a growl as LeBeau cannons into her. She scrambles up and immediately dives into the grate, squeezing her thin body through.

Narikki dives through the grate head-first, unconcerned with the landing. If he even /will/ land.

LeBeau still hold the vent in his hands looks over and tosses it at the ladder barrier

LeBeau yells, "Try to see where day go, an try to find a way down"

Sha-El has already disappeared down the grid. A faint, "Bloody ok!" sounds,

LeBeau staggers back after striking a field aft.

LeBeau yells, "Can yu find anyting in dare?"

Narikki calls out, "I'm stuck. I'm trying, honest."

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Just don't any of you get stuck, okay? I don't know that there is anyway to get a tub of butter up there. *pregnant pause* Although having you all come down stripped to your skivvies might be interesting. I am going to run and try to find the Captain.""

LeBeau yells, "Well can yu see anyting"

Narikki says, "A wall. It isn't moving, either."

No answer from Sha-El's vent for a moment. Then, "BLOODY owww the damn things are sharp and everything looks bloody SAME!"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "If you mean me, Cajun, not a thing."

Narikki shifts some; the rather grating sound of scale on metal can be heard. "Now I can't see anything. I forgot to bring a light."

N'Sha-El yells, "*voice muffled and distended by echoes* This is bloody useless! *sound of a something slamming into a grid*"

LeBeau yells, "Ok yu two, ged back out here we do no whan yu gedding stuck or lost in dare"

The scale-on-metal noise again. "I can't turn around and I can't very well just go backwards," Narikki's voice calls up, rather echoey. "Can you reach my feet?"

LeBeau yells, "Id be interesting to tell dose Hive bastards dat we ar stuck in dare ventilation"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Colonel?"

LeBeau yells, "How far ar yu in"

Nothing save some rather strange thumping and scraping sounds from Sha-El's vent, followed by some violent and rather fluent cursing.

LeBeau moves the ladder and looks down

Narikki yells, "Not too far." His voice is rather echoey. Then some more screeching sounds. "But I'm wedged in here pretty good.""

LeBeau yells, "Hallo dare Colonel"

LeBeau yells, "'ll be ride back Colonel hav to help dem out o da walls"

LeBeau begins to crawl into the vent and lets his eyes adjust tothe lack of light as well as they can "Ok aboud how far in ar yu?"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Colonel, are you still there?"

Narikki says, "Two lengths of me." He wiggles a foot. "Can you see that?"

The scraping, rather metallic thumping from Sha-El's vent gets a little louder. "Bloody hell if I didn't pick the one that probably lands in the garbage...." Her voice, echoing and ghostly, resounds up the vent.

LeBeau says, "Barely"

Narikki yells, "He's climbing in the pipe to get me out," in an echoey voice. "I'm stuck."

N'Sha-El yells, "*voice echoey and distended by magnification in small spaces* Sis?"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Acknowledged. What can you see up there?"

LeBeau wiggles his way thru the vet and grags Narikki's foot and begins to pull as he backs out of the vent

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Still here, Sha."

The sound of tearing cloth is heard. "My bandage just got caught on something. Hold on."

A loud thud and a thump followed by a sudden gasp of pain and a pregnant silence from the other vent.

LeBeau reachse up and grabs Narikki around the knees and pull agin "Ar yu gedding any looser"

LeBeau turns his head to look back at the vent entrace "N'Sha, ar yu dare?"

More tearing. Narikki's voice floats up, "I just took it off. I'll chop up my other sleeve when I get out. Can you pull again? I can nearly go backwards."

A few more moments of rather uneasy silence that hangs in the air like the mist. Then a voice, tinged with strain. "Yeh." A faint ghostly scuffling noise and then the regular metallic clanks again.

LeBeaugrip tightens around Narikki's kness as he pulls again nearly dragging the weight

LeBeau says, "Where ar yu?"

Narikki eventually gets to the point where he can push himself up. "I'm coming. GO help her now."

LeBeau nods and you can here the sound of quick scuttleing and LeBeau's knees and feet hit the vent walls

"I'm comin' up....Just got into a fight with a slippery bloody grid..." Sha-El's voice is closer now, the metallic scuffling getting louder. A few more moments and her hands appear above the grid space, feeling for a handhold.

The ship shakes at the hull is struck by something

LeBeau pops out of the vent and sees the hand protruding from across the way

LeBeau is halfway out of the vent when the ship rock throwing him into the side of the vent opening

Narikki fairly flies out as the ship shakes. He lands, facing up at the ceiling. "That was fun. Let's never do it again."

LeBeau rolls over to the other vents and grabs Sha's hand

The jerk loosens Sha-el's grip and she gives an angry curse as she starts to slip. As soon as LeBeau grabs her hand however, she grips tight and hauls herself up with every bit of strength she has.

"Thanks....sir...." she grits as she yanks herself up.

LeBeau says, "I hope dat is no how day ged rid o all dare rodent problems"

Narikki picks himself up, then looks and calls down.

Narikki yells, "We're all out now. But stuck up here still."

LeBeau nods as he helps by pulling up as Sha climbs up the vent

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Are you in any immediate danger?"

Narikki yells, "I don't think so. We can't get down, and the food's down there, and that might be a problem eventually. Other then that I don't think so."

LeBeau yells, "Dat depends on yer defention o dange"

N'Sha-El hauls herself up, her thin frame tumbling across the floor as she emerges. "Thanks sir..." she grunts as she makes a roll into a sitting position.

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "What else can you see up there?"

LeBeau says, "Colonel dat was da second time da ship shock like dat, try to find oud wha is causing id"

Narikki yells, "A lot of mist. We're locked out of all the rooms up here."

LeBeau yells, "Not sure yu wan to know"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Colonel, entertain me. What do you see?"

Narikki yells, "We tried coming down the vents but we got stuck."

N'Sha-El releases her hand from LeBeau's, giving him a quick half-smile. She clambers onto her knees

and looks down, bending close to the floor.

N'Sha-El yells, "Sis...where's Genghis?"

LeBeau yells, "Well we beleive dat we hav found wha happened to dat Abernathy fellow"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Do continue, colonel."

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "He is on

The ship shakes at the hull is struck by something

Narikki falls over again, backwards.

LeBeau yells, "Dare is a room jus off o dis one dat contains someting dat resembles a coffin and dare ar des tubes, blue ones, dat conect to id. We tink dat day infuse a Hive presence into a physical body to control dem"

Narikki yells, "One of you go figure out what that is. I'm getting a headache from all this falling over."

LeBeau rolls away from the ladder again as the ship shakes

N'Sha-El, kneeling down, is flung into a wall and just barely misses the forcefield.

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Sha, I am going to look for Captain again. I will be back.."

LeBeau yells, "Colonel id probaly mor important ad dis time t find oud wha is doing dat"

N'Sha-El yells, "Are those bloody damn Ri'Kammi jumping the OS drives? Feed Genghis sis...milk under my bed!"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Can you see any style of command area up there?"

LeBeau yells, "Dare is one door dat again is shielded an we can no get thru"

N'Sha-El leans back against the wall and slides down it slowly. Her hand clutches at her temple, eyes squinted shut, biting her lips tightly.

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Do you know of anything that may penetrate one of these forcefields?"

Narikki stands back up. Looking at N'Sha-El, he asks, "You all right?"

N'Sha-El manages a faint nod. "Yeh...." Her voice is strained and tight, even as she lays her head back against the grid.

LeBeau yells, "Noding yet Colonel we hav to continue dis latter, jus find out way da ship keeps shakes"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Please tell, colonel."

Narikki moves to a spot right nearby. "All right. You don't look it." He sits down.

LeBeau moves over to Sha "Yu have to rest, yu ar no used to no going wit out yer implants. Jus sit here an rest for awhile

N'Sha-El's lips quirk into a half-smile. "It's not that sir. The implants are fused into my neuro system. I bet anything the bloody short circuit displaced them, that's why it hurts."

LeBeau says, "Eider way yu need rest, jus sit here for awhile an try to relax"

Narikki yells, "Can one of you lob some food up here? Some of us might doze off and I want to be able to eat if we get up. Plus if that can go through the field maybe something else can."

The young navigator chuckles faintly, but wonder of wonders, she does sit. However, she carefully unstraps her computer case and pulls out her deck, turning it on.

LeBeau yells, "Ids someting I hav been toying wit, see if an inorgaic item can pass thru, perhaps id only blocks orgaic madder"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "It appears the field just lowered."

Narikki yells, "Wonderful. I'm starving and coming."

Narikki moves toward the ladder.

LeBeau yells, "We saw no change here"

Narikki says as he prepares to try to leave, "Oh, just trust them."

Narikki touches the field and snaps back from the shock

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Blackface yells, "Colonel, slight problem.."

Narikki practically bounces away. "That didn't work."

Narikki yells, "You're wrong. It's closed."

LeBeau shakes his head as Narikki hits the field

Siobahn has arrived.

LeBeau yells, "Led me guess a field when up to da supply room"

N'Sha-El looks up at that and hoists herself to her feet, staggering a little, deck securely in the crook of her arm. "Let's hope for the bloody best..." she murmurs. As Narikki takes a tumble, she shakes her head slowly, wincing. "Friggin' bloody forcefield..."

LeBeau looks up surprized "Lt. How did you ged up here

Blackface arrives from Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>.

Narikki tries going down again, seeing as people are going up.

Narikki touches the field and snaps back from the shock

LeBeau begins laughing as they come up

Narikki bounces away. Again. "It's one-way. Idiotic."

Blackface lands on the floor, ladder rung gripped in a hand.

The Aft Entrance forcefield lowers

LeBeau looks back "Looks like day wan to show da rest o you wa is in store

Blackface glances towards the new force field.

N'Sha-El's eyes narrow suddenly. "I believe...we've been summoned..." she murmurs, pointing to aft.

Narikki shrugs. "I've never been that way. You need me, I'll be exploring." He heads off, slowly and quietly.

Blackface shoves the ladder rung in a cargo pocket and clambers to his feet.

LeBeau nods "Leds play dare liddle game, wee still hav two days

N'Sha-El moves aft, slowly, tucking her computer back in its case.

Transdimensional Habitat <RKV Harrower>

Expansive doesn't even begin to describe this chamber, filled with swirling mists and light blue shadows and the rippling presences of things that seem to reach out and brush your consciousness as you stand here. The hissing of the vents from the passage lessens here, drowned out by the rumbling roar of a million sibilant whispers in the dark.

Contents:

Citizen Narikki <IC>

Preparation Coffin

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<F> Fore Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>

LeBeau arrives from Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>.

Blackface arrives from Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>.

An eerie voice says "Your Time is Running out *evil laughter*"

N'Sha-El glances around sharply, then backs out of the room swiftly, drawing her knife.

LeBeau says, "N'Sah, day ar taunting us, trying to break our spirt, do no led it get to yu"

Narikki stops yelling, nearly spilling out backwards. He doesn't say anything at all.

N'Sha-El shakes her head, wincing a little. "I've no wish to be trapped in there is all. Someone's got to be on the outside at least." She peers down at the floor, her face contorting for a moment into intense worry. "Dammit...where's my sister?"

Blackface gazes fore. "Does anyone know where this leads?"

Narikki shakes his head.

LeBeau says, "Dat is da locked door, we hav no been pased here"

LeBeau turns and head back aft

Blackface says, "Is there a forcefield?"

LeBeau staggers back after striking a field aft.

LeBeau nods "Yes

Narikki takes a seat near the aft door. "Wake me up," he says, "when the fields go down." His eyes close, and he's almost immediately asleep. Despite being nearly petrified in the last room.

Blackface says, "Have any of you tried to breach it?"

A dark Voice Says "So have you reached a Decision??.

A dark Voice Says "Your Time Wears Thin"

LeBeau says, "Yeah yu can take yer war an go shove id where da stars no shine for all we care"

N'Sha-El stiffens marginally, but she drops to her knees and peers down at the grid floor. "Sis!" she shouts.

N'Sha-El yells, "Sis! If the damn bloody field lowers DON'T COME UP!"

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Jest'liana yells, "Sha! What is going on?"

Blackface looks down.

LeBeau begins to gasp for breath

Blackface yells, "I would advise stepping far away. Some force pulled me up."

N'Sha-El yells, "we've a nice kettle of fish up here, and none of us can get bloody up OR down...keep the Captain away from here!"

LeBeau slowly drops to his knees gasping for air

Blackface looks over at LeBeau. "Colonel??"

LeBeau says, "Can....*cough*...breath..."

VanMahr has arrived.

N'Sha-El spins around, her eyes hardening. "Bloody hell...." she growls. "STOP PLAYING BLOODY GAMES!" she shouts to the mists defiantly. "Show your bloody selves! Now!"

Blackface kneels down beside LeBeau, slinging his rifle over his back. "Lay down, colonel...

LeBeau arces over and places a hand on the ground as h places his other hand on his neck

Jest'liana has arrived.

VanMahr glances about at the others with a scowl as he recovers his bearings. "Been exploring have we? Can't say this hole's much of an improvement."

LeBeau says, "Can....breath...throat...."

LeBeau eyes begin to close sligty as he fights unconsiousness

LeBeau collapses to the floor and begins caughing

N'Sha-El starts and turns around, the defiant expression on her face paling to one of horror as she sees VanMahr and Jest. But only for a moment. "Bloody dammit...not you too!" she hisses and rises from her kneeling position, only

Jest'liana looks from Sha to LeBeau. "What happened?"

Blackface pushes LeBeau down to the ground and rolls LeBeau over onto his back, trying to open his airway.

An evil dark Laugh can be lightly heard.....

VanMahr pads nearer Sha. "You should have stayed aboard The Bunker Hill, navigator. What the devil were you thinking?" His gaze travels to encompass LeBeau.

Jest'liana looks around for the source of this laughter backing a few steps away from the main group.

LeBeau looks up "Yu shuold o killed me jus now, cause yu will ne'er us me for yer purpose"

Blackface growls slightly, unslinging his rifle. "I have had enough of this..."

Blackface glances around. "I would advise taking cover, in case this fails."

VanMahr squints into the mists towards the source of the laughter. "Show yourself and I'll give you something to laugh about.."

Blackface takes aim at the forward dooor.

N'Sha-El tilts her chin at Van, moving closer to his side. She shakes her head, wincing, and lays her hand on his arm quietly.

LeBeau starts to look around at the ground and begins to think

Blackface looks back again. "I said everyone take cover!"

Jest'liana says quietly. "It will just reflect back on you...like it did with Narikki."

LeBeau climbs to his feet and moves to the far wall stil holding his throat

Blackface lowers his rifle. "Is that so?"

Blackface says, "Well, let's find out for sure."

Blackface raises his rifle again and squeezes off a single shot.

The Blast from the rifle hits the forward door and bounces back and strikes Jest'liana full in the right arm.

VanMahr nods to Blackface. "Don't waste your fire. And what shall we take cover behind? You?!"

Jest'liana yelps, grabbing her arm in pain.

"SIS!" Sha is by Jest's side in an instant. "Dammit!" she snarls and catches at the other girl.

VanMahr curses as the shot riccochets into his engineer. "Damned fool! Give me that before you hurt yourself." He prowls over towards Blackface.

Blackface spins back, lowering his rifle. "I said take cover."

Jest'liana hisses in breath, eyes half closed. She wavers a second. At Blackface's words her eyes blaze open though. "and I told you it would reflect BACK!" she grates..she sits down rather quickly.

LeBeau weakly gets between Black and Van "Hold *cough* on

VanMahr flicks a hand about the empty hallway. "You should learn to listen to Jester. I have. Now drop that gun."

Blackface shoots a glance at Jest. "You said it would reflect back at ME."

N'Sha-El turns around, her eyes blazing. "HOW bloody far can we take cover in here?" she snaps. "You try any bloody damn fool thing like that again and /I'll/ be the one tearing your bloody...." She draws a deep breath and stops her words, supporting the other girl as she sits.

Jest'liana looks up at Van and grits her teeth.

LeBeau looks up at Black "No more shooting ad da barriers we hav found out id does no work

Blackface turns his gaze to Van. "I have no intention of surrendering this weapon. I will die with it in my arms if need be, rather than surrender it to YOU."

A Loud Clank is accompanied by a severe hit on the hull which causes you to loose your footing...

LeBeau slips off his feet as he is still week

Blackface stumbles backward and slips, falling onto his side, still clutching his rifle.

Jest'liana looks at Sha, a bright defient ruefulness in her expression. "Told you you were wrong, sister." she murmurs in the midst of that loud clank.

N'Sha-El bites her lips as she furrows her brow, examining Jest's arm. "I'll need to bandage this up, sis...and it's gonna..." She curses sharply as the jolt almost flings her into the other girl. One hand flies out to grip the grid behind her.

LeBeau looks up as if talking to the voice "Yer being attacked ar't yu, dat is why yu need us now

A dark Raspy Voice says, "Silence Imputent One! You will fight willinginly or you will do so unwillingly...there is no choice")

Blackface pushes himself back up to a sitting position, pulling open a pocket on his combat vest.

LeBeau rubs his neck "We can fight nither way if yu kill us"

VanMahr stumbles down to one knee and squints defiantly ahead from under a tangle of blond hair. "If you're so blooooooody all powerful why the hell don't you do your own fighting. Pissant scumsucking whores..."

Blackface removes a small field medical kit, and crawls over to the injured woman. "Let me assist," he says, more stating than requesting.

LeBeau looks around again concentraing on the floor

N'Sha-El glances over to VanMahr and reaches a hand out to him. "Captain..." Her other hand slides her knife from its sheath. She looks at Blackface for a moment, then nods and moves aside, still holding her hand to VanMahr. Her anger has evaporated into a quiet, grim calm.

Milcheax has arrived.

You see before you a large insectoid. It stands approximately 2.25 meters tall. Its carapace is a jet black. It has a pair of flexible antennae on its head, which wave around as of their own accord. His abdomen is protected by a pair of gossamer brownish wings, which twitch at seemingly random intervals. He has two pair of small appendages extending forward from the abdomen fore and behind the wings. His thorax is a midnight blue, and makes up a good half of the length of his body. His Jumping legs are extremely long, extending twice as long as his thorax.

Jest'liana opens her eyes to look at Blackface and then without change of expression shuts them again. "You're forgiven." she grates wryly, a tight smile brushing her lips.

LeBeau says, "Ids da damn fog"

Blackface pops open the small kit, removing a small needle. "It is not about being forgiven. It is about having everyone live."

Blackface holds up the needle. "This has a standard pain killer. Objections?"

LeBeau says, "NO wonder day always knew wha we where doing an wha we were tinking"

Milcheax looks at the Demarian of the black face, and shows recognition.

Jest'liana grins and shakes her head. "Not a one, though I hate needles."

VanMahr glances aside at Sha's touch. Rage flickers molten in his eyes. Control is the the captain's forte - it seems surrendering it doesn't come easy to him. "I've about had it with these bastards. I've been extremely reasonable, haven't I? Well....that's about at a close."

N'Sha-El crawls forward, closing the distance between them. Her hand keeps its light grip on his wrist. "Shhhh...it won't do any good to get angry." Her fingers suddenly tighten convulsively. "Trust me." Her voice is strained now, and tight.

LeBeau seems to hve recovered from his short chokeing and has regain some energy again

VanMahr snorts. "These creatures want us to get mad. If they didn't, by now, they'd handle their affairs with a little more wisdom. Well, they have me mad. The experiment was a raving success. Now, if we can go back to our ships?"

Blackface quickly pulls Jest's sleeve up with one hand, holding the needle in the other.

Milcheax explores a bit.

Milcheax staggers back after striking a field aft.

Milcheax rethinks his plan to explore, and stays put.

Blackface roughly pulls the cap off of the needle and, after a slight aiming session, plunges it at Jest's arm, injecting her.

Blackface shoves the cap back on and tosses it into his kit, pulling out a small ointment tube.

Jest'liana jumps slightly. "Gods, wonderful bedside manner. Wonderful skills you got there. I certainly hope you can fly better than you..." she bites her tongue.

N'Sha-El shakes her head, eliciting a slight intake of breath and another wince. From the corner of her eye, she catches sight of the large black insectoid and stiffens imperceptibly. But she still keeps her hand on VanMahr's wrist, like a reminder of some kind.

Milcheax watches the others banter, as he gets an odd relaxed look in his bug face.

Blackface pulls the cap off of the ointment. "Actually, I am only fair at piloting. However, I have logged adequate simulator and actual flight time."

VanMahr follows Sha's gaze for a moment and snorts. "Bugger it." And relaxes himself. "Well, let's see how Lady Jester is coming along. It looks like we're stuck up here in the penthouse for a while."

The insectoid's antennae are wavering and dipping, and his wings are rubbing slightly, producing a chirping sound.

Jest'liana shuts her eyes, "Glad to hear it." she says dryly.

Blackface squirts the tube's contents onto the wound, emptying it and tossing it back into his kit. "That should help prevent infection."

Milcheax stands straighter, and stops moving.

LeBeau continues to look around the room as if uncareing about the punishment he just recieved a few minutes ago

N'Sha-El's grip relaxes and she nods fractionally. She rises to her feet with infinite carefulness, laying a hand out to help her captain up as well. However there's something about her movements that is too measured, too careful, as if she is suppressing something.

Blackface pulls out a roll of gauze from the kit and begins to unroll it, wrapping it snugly around Jest's wound, at the same time smearing the ointment.

Blackface finishes wrapping the wound, and ties off the gauze, ripping the rest of the roll off and tossing it back in the kit.

Jest'liana sits up straighter, regardless of however much the painkiller has taken effect. She watches

Blackface finish up. "Thanks." curtly.

VanMahr rises rather evenly and makes his way over with Sha to Jest and Blackface. "How is the arm, engineer? Will we have to buy you a new one on Tomin Kora?"

Blackface nods slightly, closing the kit and tucking it back in his vest.

Jest'liana lifts her chin and moves to get to her feet. "I am fine Captain."

LeBeau walks over to the fore door and quickly taps his hand on the field a couple times

LeBeau strikes a field and staggers back

Blackface says, "I am not a doctor. That was only basic combat first aid."

"You stay down sis...." Sha-El bends quickly to lay a hand against Jest's shoulder.

Milcheax speaks to the one who tested the fields: "Pardon me, my friend: that

Jest'liana senses, "N'Sha-El isn't exactly happy herself. But she is grimly calm, intensely concentrating - and perhaps even slightly in pain. Or more than slightly so."

Jest'liana takes her free hand and firmly moves Sha's hand. "No thanks, Sha.

LeBeau looks over to Milcheax "Yes bu dis is da only room dat we hav no been in yet, an id only stings for a second o two

VanMahr considers the pair before turning away. "They have to let us go down to eat and eliminate. This corridor isn't suitable for a long stay. I suggest sitting down, gentlemen, and breaking out a deck of cards if you have them."

Milcheax says, "What are these deck of cards?" He seems puzzled.

N'Sha-El cocks an eye at VanMahr, a slight glimmer of humor showing for a moment. "I've solitaire on the bloody deck if anyone wants," she offers wryly. She gives Jest a look and leans back against the grid wall rather too quickly.

LeBeau finishes playing with the field and rejoins the group

VanMahr senses, "N'Sha-El is moving way too carefully and resting too often. If she's in pain she is hiding it phenomenally well, but there's no mistaking the occasional creasing of her brow as she lays her head well back on the cool metal grid wall."

VanMahr gestures to LeBeau. "I've a feeling, friend, that this man is the expert."

VanMahr says, "Call it a spacer's hunch."

LeBeau looks over to Sha and Van "Wha's dat?"

You paged Jest'liana with 'Poor Jest! Sha wants to throw up *laugh* she's feeling horrible.'.

VanMahr sidles nearer Sha whilst replying to LeBeau. "Cards. You /do/ have a deck stashed on your person, don't you, Gambit? We seem to have time to kill. And a curious bug." The last with a nod to Milcheax.

Blackface shifts his sitting position to something slightly more comfortable.

Blackface seems to remember something, and opens a cargo pocket on his pants, pulling out six medium-sized silver packets.

With a faint sizzling, popping sound, the field over the descending well disappears.

Blackface glances from his packets to the exit, peering down.

LeBeau says, "Oh leds see, do day wan to play more games o da had enough o us up here fo one day"

Milcheax leans over the down hole, and sees nothing of interest.

LeBeau says, "Well ad least down dare we hav food"

N'Sha-El glances up sharply, the movement causing her to draw a quick hiss of breath. "What's that?" Instinctively one hand reaches to her knife as she tenses.

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Balthazar yells, "Hello?"

VanMahr pads cautiously over to the well down. "Sha, Jest. I'll give you a hand down. It seems our game of poker will be delayed...." He pats Sha's shoulder. "It's alright. We're leaving..."

VanMahr winces at the sound of the voice. "Or maybe having company...."

Blackface yells, "Eye? Is that you?"

Milcheax again peeks down the tube. "SOmeone's there..."

LeBeau looks down as he heards Balthazar "Oh now day show up

From Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>, Balthazar yells, "It is, indeed. And the lad, Kip!"

VanMahr peers over the tube's edge. "Bugger it. I'm going down."

LeBeau motions towards the ladder "Ok every one down while we can

Milcheax carefully positions his body, and jumps down.

Blackface stands quickly.

N'Sha-El pauses to gently push Jest forward slightly. "Go down sis...I'll watch you." She puts the knife between her teeth and waits.

Jest'liana turns to Sha and, obviously Wanting to be pig headed but better sense prevailing, moves to the ladder. She takes a breath and gamely moves to try and descend one handed. Or basically one handed..

VanMahr holds his place despite his words and offers Jester a hand as well. "Slowly, lass."

Jest'liana looks up sharply, a flicker of distrust in her eyes flaring before dimming back. She nods and takes his hand. "Thanks."

Jest'liana has left.

Long distance to Kip: N'Sha-El grins. I should not stay up late...i should not stay up late...did Brody tell you the insane things i got into last night?

VanMahr glances over to Sha with some mild puzzlement. "What was that about?" He offers her a hand down as well.

N'Sha-El smiles faintly and takes the proffered hand. "I'll tell you on the Courser," she murmurs and lowers herself painstakingly down.

Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>

Pale mist spills from a broad tube overhead and forms a rolling, swirling haze in this rather warm chamber, a gridwork structure reminiscent of being inside a mechanized apple. The deck seems to rumble soundlessly. A ladder sretches upward into the shadows. Two archways lead into other segments of the habitat.

Contents:

Citizen Jest'liana <IC>

CEO Milcheax <IC>

Citizen Kip <IC>

Eye Balthazar <IC>

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<UP> Up Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>

<PO> Port Memory Chamber <RKV Harrower>

<ST> Starboard Consumables Center <RKV Harrower>

<TU> Hexagonal Tube Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>

Milcheax says, "Sir, i did not. I needed something to access your planet's news stories and mail systems. It helped my mission not at all."

Balthazar says, "Except that you took it. You knowingly kept it, did you not?"

Balthazar says, "Theft on Val Shohob is forbidden. You will not be welcome there again."

Milcheax says, "Because i wanted to discern what a MFG cart was. I kept it until i no longer needed it."

Milcheax says, "I did enjoy my stay there; i am sorry."

The boy's voice, high pitched and fast is difficult to understand. "I was wondering what happened to you. I took the kitty and put him in a bed I made from some crate I found and came to look for you, but you were gone and so was everybody else and then I found him *points to Balthazar* and what happened to your arm, anyway?

Balthazar does not respond with anything other than a level gaze, then turns to the boy, smiling uneasily.

Blackface arrives from Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>.

VanMahr arrives from Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>.

Blackface clambers down and looks about.

LeBeau arrives from Hive Passage <RKV Harrower>.

N'Sha-El descends cautiously, her brows drawn in a tight furrow. At hearing Kip's voice, she turns, and a smile curves her lips, the most relaxed one yet. "So you found Genghis..." she murmurs, staggering a little and trying to catch her balance.

Kip stands, eyes shining up at Jest.

LeBeau climbs down the ladder and look towards the group

Kip turns to the short-haired woman. "Genghis?"

Jest'liana grins and breifly touches the boy's head with her left hand. "That was very good of you, Kip. I am sure Genghis appreciated it. This?" she nods to her arm and makes a comically conspitarial face as she bends close to Kip, "I got a bug bite and scratched and scratched. Until Poof! here we go, my arm just hurt too much to use!"

Balthazar glances up the ladder, into the mist. "What in the name of the voice of the Universe led you up there?"

Blackface looks around. "If you will excuse me, I must return to the Bunker Hill."

The boy looks incredulous at Jest's explaination, then smiles broadly, catching the joke. "Nuh uh"

VanMahr's scowl is a typical one. It implies little other than the fact The Captain is a generally miserable soul. This, of course, is no secret. He glances about irritably.

Balthazar nods absently to the Demarian.

Blackface proceeds to the tube at a quick step.

Blackface heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Kip turns back to the short-haired woman "You know the kitty too? He likes his tummy scratched"

N'Sha-El glances to Jest, still keeping that same smile. "Genghis is the kitty's name, Kip," she explains quietly. "He likes to sleep in the Captain's hammock." One hand reaches to her temple and her brow furrows again.

Jest'liana laughs and straightens up. "Nope. You are right. I had a bit of an accident, Kip. Thus proving that blasters are not to be trifled with." Her gaze rests on Van for a moment, breifly quizzical. Then she looks around the rest of the room.

Kip thinks about that, his small brow creasing with the effort. "I guess he likes to sleep lots of places, huh?"

VanMahr clomps over to Sha and company. "Damned fur everywhere. But let's talk about the blasted animal on the ship. I think this is no place for civilized discussion. Besides. I need a beer. Several."

Balthazar strokes his chin, considering something.

For the first time you notice LeBeau red pupils glowing slightly with the way the light and the mist plays off them as he turns ans looks at Balthazar. "I wan to know everyting yu hav been told by da universe and i wan to know now, no more games"

Balthazar glances back up the ladder and grabs a rung. "Perhaps I should look into this curiosity myself."

Balthazar looks over at LeBeau with no small amount of disgruntlement. "Excuse me?"

Milcheax looks about the room, sees the comrades all talking amongst themselves, looks to Balthazar, seems apologetic, and turns to the hexagonal tube.

VanMahr snorts. "Help yourself, riddle-man."

Milcheax heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

LeBeau says, "Yu hav left us in da dark for to long an we wan answers now"

Balthazar releases the rung, then steeples his fingers before himself. "*I* have left *you* in the dark? You are more daft than I could ever have believed, if you think that is true."

Up goes Sha-El's chin a little, her gaze catching Balthazar's movements. "For an Eye, you're certainly /damn/ silly!" she snorts. She reaches to touch Kip's tousled hair lightly. "Genghis loves any place he can get attention..." she murmurs. Then back to Balthazar, her gaze searching.

Kip squats down to closer examine a crack in the floor, tracing his finger along its length.

Kip grins up at Sha, then goes back to his examinations, making what sound like motor noises with his lips.

LeBeau seems to becoming agitated for the first time "Yu constanly ar talking o some evil dat we ar against and dat all will be revealed. Well ids time dat yu reveal id because asyu can tell we a all trhu playing games wit yu or da Hive

VanMahr's gaze shifts from Balthazar and LeBeau to Kip and the crack in the floor. He slowly lowers himself down on his haunches. "So you managed to outfox both the hiveminders and The Consortium Marines, lad? I do wonder what you saw before we found you?"

LeBeau says, "An yu ar in dis as deep as da rest o us an if yu hav any desire to live yu will tell us wha yu know dat can help us survive"

At the uniformed man's sharp tone, Kip stands and moves closer to Sha and Jest, taking a handful of cloth from each woman's pants.

Balthazar tilts his head slightly, finding a calm center and regarding the Vanguard pilot with a mixture of irritation and pity. "Colonel, if you heard my speech to the Consortium Council, you heard all you needed to hear. I warned you *all* that the OtherSpace Drive was a trap. I warned you to give them up, give them up, or we would all regret it. Do you think I *wanted* to be here, trapped with you buffoons who cannot seem to take a hint? I came here because the Voice said I must."

Kip watches VanMahr, eyes a bit too wide.

Jest'liana kneels down by Kip, left hand resting on his shoulder. "Its okay Kip..he is a good guy." she looks up at Van with wry amusemsent in her eyes at this statement.

N'Sha-El reaches her hand to her temple quickly, averting her face for a moment. When she does turn back to the group, there's perhaps the faintest trace of strain visible in her expression. "We can't talk here," she says quietly. "On one of the ships, somewhere else...but not here." As Kip retreats, she looks down and gently lays a hand on the boy's head. "Shhhh...it's all right Kip...he's a friend. A good friend. He's our Captain."

LeBeau says, "Wha did yu wan us to do jus go out after yer speak an take all da drives out o all da ships right den"

VanMahr peers up at the boy who now stands just slightly above him. "What? Cat got your tongue? Sha, I thought you said Genghis only ate Sanaen worms?"

Balthazar shrugs. "It would have prevented our capture, wouldn it not?"

VanMahr pointedly ignores LeBeau and Balthazar's discussion and focuses instead on the child.

At that, the boy's nose wrinkles. Shaking his head he says, "Sanaen worms?? Ewwww." An impulsive, bark of a laugh follows.

LeBeau says, "An den yu would ne'er been able to return tu yer homewold, an id seems dat does in da Parallax who invented dare own drive ar here an day hav ne'er metda mind till now"

Jest'liana laughs quietly.

LeBeau says, "So no id would hav no prevented our capture"

Kip blinks pointedly up at VanMahr. "Why do you have that gun?"

Balthazar shakes his head. "I could have lived without returning to my homeworld, had I known for certain the alternative." He looks meaningfully around the chamber."

Balthazar returns his sorrowful gaze to LeBeau. "Colonel, when I offered answers, your people did not want to hear them. Now, in this other universe...I receive no more answers. I am as in the dark as you."

The young navigator suddenly tosses her head, and for all the forebearance and contemplation she's shown, a spark flares, dangerous and angry, in her sienna-brown eyes as she gazes at the two men. She looks back down at Kip however. "Yes...Sanaen /larvae/, not worms. They're nasty, icky things that Genghis loves to catch." At LeBeau's words however something snaps. "STOP IT!" she storms, her fury unbridled now. "Get the bloody HELL back into a ship or something, do you want the Hivers to hear everything we say, every bloody PLAN we make? Now GET somewhere that we can talk, and we've got something to tell you if you'll so much as damn BLOODY well get off your arrogant bastard asses and LET us!"

Balthazar blinks at the outburst, regarding the small woman

The boy flinches back from Sha, his first two fingers in his mouth, a gesture perhaps a bit too immature for a boy his age. His now-wet eyes shine up at her.

LeBeau seems ready to say something when Sha snaps and he just watches not sure what to make of it

Balthazar smiles vaguely. "Perhaps you are...right, in your own rather loud and brutish way, madame."

Jest'liana keeps her hand on Kip's shoulder and squeezes reassuringly. "It's okay Kip."

For all her anger, Sha's touch is gentle on Kip's head. "So get moving!" she growls, and her manner brooks no arguments now. "We have less than 72 bloody hours of freedom." Her brow furrows sharply all at once and she draws a hiss of breath, hand flying to her temple again.

Kip begins a quick hustle back to the ship.

VanMahr rubs his face as his gaze tracks to Balthazar. "Billions would die without the drives. Economies would crumble. What are a few soldiers to that. Besides, if I survive 50 years think of the wealth I'll have from interest on my investments. Bah. Fighting is fighting. If we find a way out, well, that's just as well too."

Kip heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Balthazar furrows his brow, then steps into the tube

Balthazar heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

VanMahr rises to his feet and begins after his crewmates.

N'Sha-El sets off at a grim, determined stride, pausing only to look at VanMahr with a mixture of guilt and apology. "I'm sorry Captain...it wasn't meant for you."

LeBeau heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

VanMahr heads into Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>

Vague blue light shines from behind the metal gridwork that forms the walls, ceiling and floor of this tube. On one end, the shadowy depths of the containment chamber. On the other, a dimly lit chamber of some sort, with no other details apparent from here.

Contents:

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Councilman Dahan <IC>

CEO Milcheax <IC>

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<H> Hub Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>

<C> Containment Vessel Containment Area <RKV Harrower>

VanMahr prowls along at Sha's side.

Jest'liana arrives from Monodimensional Habitat Hub <RKV Harrower>.

N'Sha-El suddenly stops a moment and presses her fingers to her head. "Damn..." she murmurs and there's a tinge of pain in her voice. With a shake of her head however, she continues on.

VanMahr glances aside to Sha. "We'll get you good and drunk, lass. It'll take the edge off."

VanMahr has left.

Vessel Containment Area <RKV Harrower>

The shadows consuming this chamber make it seem at once both infinite and claustrophobic. Your footsteps, your voice - even the slightest whisper - echo dramatically in this cavernous bay. Giving some sense of scope is the relatively small landing platform upon which you stand, a grid of dark gray metal surrounded by waist-high railings. Extending from the platform to a hexagonal tube in the distance is a railed catwalk made of similar metal. It is unclear how high the platform is suspended above the bottom of the chamber.

Contents:

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Lt_Colonel LeBeau <IC>

Citizen Kip <IC>

Eye Balthazar <IC>

Boarding Tube - S'Nelmar

Boarding Tube - Courser

Boarding Tube - SCT Bunker Hill

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<TU> Hexagonal Tube Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>

Kip leans quietly against the Courser's hull.

Balthazar stands not far from the lad, appearing a bit grim in the shadows.

Jest'liana arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Milcheax arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

Dahan arrives from Hexagonal Tube <RKV Harrower>.

N'Sha-El gives VanMahr a single, pointed look. "No Captain..you'll have to catch me and force it down my throat," she says firmly, then moves to Kip with a faint smile and kneels down beside him. "Kip. Could you find Genghis and feed him for me please? And I wasn't angry at you. I'm worried about kitty however."

VanMahr makes directly for the Courser and keys in a code by the airlock. "Kip, ladies. Anyone else?"

Milcheax says, "May i speak?"

Balthazar glances toward the Courser. "Room for all of us on...that?"

Dahan is floating by Milcheax, 'Please listen.'

Balthazar turns his attention back to Milcheax.

Milcheax glances to Dahan, and returns to the rest. "We must leave here."

Balthazar cannot help but laugh

Milcheax says, "From what Dahan has told me, we will not live."

Balthazar says, "A brilliant deduction."

Kip gives a quick, sharp nod to Sha and in an oddly adult gesture, salutes. "I'll go right now" He then turns and with energy only children can muster, bounds up the Courser's entry ramp and disappears."

Milcheax says, "We must all have the captains of the ships speak, to produce straegy befitting those of military training to get us out, alive."

Balthazar tilts his head forward, touching steepled fingers to the tip of his nose. "Shall we talk about it inside?"

N'Sha-El rises slowly and leans back against the Courser. "We need somewhere secure to talk..." she murmurs. "Where there's no bloody mist." She gives LeBeau a faint nod of acknowledgement, of thanks.

Milcheax dips an antenna, glad to be heard as an equal, be it as an equally trapped prisoner or not.

LeBeau returns the nod as he relizes someone else has understood

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Which ship shall we speak in?'

Dahan telepathically sends, 'It didn't look that way when it arrived, but very well. The Bunker Hill is small also, but could suffice.'

VanMahr shrugs and continues on into The Courser.

Balthazar chuckles and shakes his head.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'Geographically, the Fringe is the closest to all of our respective worlds. Captain VanMahr, may we use your ship to speak?'

Jest'liana chuckles. "Looks like he read your mind Dahan."

Balthazar says, "Unwind. I will not be able to unwind, as you put it, until we are free of this universe."

Balthazar boards the Courser.

N'Sha-El moves up the Courser slowly after her captain. "Too late...but come on." Her movements are slow and deliberate.

Dahan floats to the Couser.

Gundeck <Courser>

Hammocks, bundles of goods, pots and pans and fiberoptic cables dangle down over the two outward facing rows of blaster carronades and the cramped corridor between. Here a cooler is tucked under a bench and there a stim-chamber doubling as a head is bolted between bulkheads. The scents of old cooking, human sweat, ozone and whatever cargo the ship currently carries compete to batter the nostrils. A vent overhead half-heartedly puffs out recycled air and a stale, futile, pine scent. The gundeck serves as living quarters and bunkroom for all hands and passengers on the Courser: rec room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and all. This is it. Hope you're comfortable with yourself and very close quarters.

Contents:

Eye Balthazar <IC>

Citizen VanMahr <IC>

Citizen Kip <IC>

Port Guns

Starboard Guns

Interface Panel

Obvious Exits: Leads To:

<C> Cockpit Cockpit <Courser>

<E> Engineering Engineering <Courser>

Dahan enters through the hatch of the ship.

Milcheax enters through the hatch of the ship.

LeBeau enters through the hatch of the ship.

Kip sits crosslegged leaning against a bulkhead. In his lap, he holds a very resigned-looking Ghengis. In his free hand, he holds small bits of what looks like canned meat, or meat-type product, or even not-so-much-meat-but-were-out-of-everything-else.

Balthazar steps in from the hatch, then struggles through the castabout items to find a pocket of air to occupy.

Jest'liana walks over to Sha and touches her arm. "Sha, sit down on your hammock, before you fall down." she murmurs.

Dahan floats up near the ceiling, making more room for the rest.

Milcheax stands near the entrance, not blokcing it, but just inside it.

LeBeau seems to stay near the hatch but tries to relax some

N'Sha-El gives Jest a faint half-smile before slowly easing her way onto her hammock, no arguments made - which is telling. She glances about and catches LeBeau's eye, nodding faintly. Then she gestures lightly for Jest to come close, and Van as well.

VanMahr ducks under a bundle of fiberoptics and makes his way to the cooler. He pulls out a bottle of Fire & Ice whiskey from Tomin Kora and pulls the cork out of it before taking a swig. "Now, where were we. Some depressing nonsense about how we're all doomed?"

Genghis lets out a protesting, vociferous miaow as all these strangers troop into the small space. His tail bushes and he makes a sudden leap out of Kip's grasp, gazing with kitty-eyes upwards at Dahan's tentacles.

Dahan slowly lifts his tenticles, and curls them around himself.

Kip gasps. "Kitty!"

You sense a wave of amusement as the Mekke speaks. "Yes. We will all die here,

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'We have heard the two options the Ri'Kammi have

VanMahr grunts. "I'm listening but I'm in no mood for more enigmas. Make it to the point."

Balthazar watches the Centauran curiously.

Milcheax looks to the ceiling, where the Centaurian has taken refuge.

Dahan moves slightly away from the cat, who appears most interested in a new playtoy.

N'Sha-El lays her head back against her hammock before speaking quietly. "We've come up with something between us, Captain...me and Colonel LeBeau...and some others."

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'Please share it with the rest of us, please.'

Kip looks curiously down at his greasy fingers, sniffs them briefly and puts then cautiously into his mouth.

VanMahr's gaze drifts from speaker to speaker. And between each round follows another philosphical swig of very strong liquor.

Genghis mews in frustration and tries to make another leap.

Kip draws his legs up and begins eating the square chunks of instead-o-meat straight from the can.

N'Sha-El glances to LeBeau. "Shall you or shall I sir?" One hand moves to her temple once again and her jaw tightens very briefly.

Milcheax speaks for the benefit of all. "We must all band together, the 3 ships, to escape."

Dahan bumps into the cieling in a startled manuveur to get out of the way.

LeBeau says, "'ll start, add en anyting should I miss id"

VanMahr gestures to Kip. "Secure that kitten before you eat, mate."

Dahan rubs the top of his 'head' with a feeler, massaging the area hurt by his collision.

Milcheax glances to the tiny Demarian, and clicks at it.

Kip puts the can down immediately and runs to catch Ghengis just before what would likely have been a successful pounce. "Aye, Sir"

LeBeau says, "We hav com up wit da idea dat we ar to be used as soldiers for da Hivee for two reasons..one da ar faceing an enemy dat day a to afraid to fight demselvs so da make deals wit races for da Oderspace drives and den unknowingly steal people to fight in dare war"

VanMahr nods gruffly just as he would to a full-seized crewman carrying out a serious order. He returns his attention to his bottle and the discussion at hand.

Genghis is apparently distracted by VanMahr's voice, pausing in mid-attempt-to-leap and getting caught by Kip. The kitten miaows and ffts in obvious kitty annoyance, scratching at Kip's hand and slipping like an oiled eel from his grasp. And makes a beeline for VanMahr, curling up next to him quite happily at his feet.

LeBeau says, "Da second reason is dat we believe dat da Hive does no hav a coherent physical form dat da can use even if day wished to fight so da use our bodies"

VanMahr squints down at the cat like a punter sizing up a field goal attempt before stoically returning his consideration to LeBeau.

Kip sighs, picks up the now-purring Ghengis and stands before Van, one arm wrapped under the kitten's front legs, whose back half hangs helplessly and salutes. "Stowing the kitty cat, Sir" He stands, obviously waiting for some reaction, his sparkling eyes suggest that he hopes it will be approval.

Genghis merely purrs, trying to lick at any bit of VanMahr he can reach.

Balthazar raises a hand tentatively.

VanMahr salutes Kip back without really tearing his regard from the very, very, serious adult discussion.

Dahan shows obvious relief, and relaxes his feelers slightly and decends a couple inches.

Kip grins and scurries into engineering.

LeBeau slowly acknoledges Balthazar "Wha is id?"

Balthazar bows his head slightly, lowering his hand. "Is it your suggestion that the Ri'Kammi will take over our bodies, as they did Mr. Abernathy?"

Jest'liana blinks, a bit alarmed at thinking of Ghengis unattended in her engineering. But, considering the power levels of things, she relaxes and lets it go.

LeBeau nods "Dat is exactly wha we a implying, we hav ever seen da machine dat day will use to do id wit

Balthazar hmms. "I see. Didn't someone come back aboard the Tycho?"

N'Sha-El shifts positions slightly and carefully. Her eyes shift to Balthazar and rest there, appraising for a long moment. "They need us to fight their damn bloody war because they can't do it themselves. A mind can't slap up a black eye. It needs a body to give force of motion to the thought." She leans back.

VanMahr snorts. "One, I can't imagine we'd have better success against an enemy they fear better than they themselves. Two, why the devil would they bother negotiating with us if they just plan to take us over?"

Milcheax says, "Perhaps a strong will does not allow their possession techinique to function properly."

The unholy wail of a cat and the crashing sound of crashing buckets floats in from engineering. Then, Kip's small voice, "He did it on accident! I'll fix it! Nothing to worry about! At all!"

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'It may require much effort on thier part to possess a body directly.'

Jest'liana does tense up now, visably wincing.

LeBeau says, "Hav yu no noticed dat over da past couple days da hav tried to break our sprits an our will power down"

N'Sha-El quietly slips her computer from its case, pulling a length of cable form her utility belt. At the commotion, she glances over thoughtfully. "I think Genghis has found the leakage buckets..." she remarks as she jacks the cable into her head, the other end into the computer.

Genghis, soaking wet and hissing, scampers through the gundeck from engineering and makes for the cockpit.

VanMahr still seems unconvinced. "They can build ships can't they? They invented the otherspace drive. Why don't they bloody well make robotic soldiers or androids?"

Balthazar says, "They need free thinkers."

Your Feet Lose there footing beneath you as the ships hull is struck hard by something and it sends loud reverberations throughout the ship.

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'They were able to make...''

VanMahr says, "To possess?"

Milcheax offers "Perhaps they do not have the knowledge to simulate a humanoid body, or other, to re-create it?"

LeBeau says, "Why use dare own resources when day can use us? Day hav already shown dat day tink o us as insignificant"

Dahan skitters across the room until he anchors himself to a nearby feeler-hold.

Jest'liana hits the ground, hard, unable to reach out and absorb the impact.

LeBeau grabs the walls as the ship shakes

Balthazar grips a post.

N'Sha-El holds up her hand a moment, asking for silence. Then unleashes a truly fearful yell of "GENGHIS SIT!" The kitten brakes in mid-scamper and miaows as it loses its footing from the sudden jolt. Sha herself almost falls out of the hammock.

Milcheax slides to the aft, feet clittering and clacking.

LeBeau says, "dare id is again"

VanMahr stumbles a bit as the ship rocks and he curses. But sea-legs win out and all that's lost is a splash of hard liquor. "Bah, if they can just take us over why bother with the OtherSpace drive at all?"

Kip arrives from Engineering <Courser>.

Balthazar shakes his head. "The possession seems an effort of last resort."

Jest'liana swears under her breath, her face a shade paler as she slowly moves to stand up again.

Milcheax says, "Perhaps they use otherspave to get to our universe, as well as travel."

N'Sha-El shakes her head, painfully slowly. "Please...please, let us explain first..." she murmurs, and she's in pain there's no doubt. Her eyes travel to Jest. "Sis...please sit?" She edges herself to a more upright sitting position.

VanMahr snorts. "Possible. But that wouldn't make 'em the brightest dieties in the pantheon. Not that I'm surprised. They could just trade straight out instead of hijacking. Hell, there are forces in the Fringe that would give them a fleet for a monopoly on that drive of theirs."

Kip scrambles onto the gundeck from engineering and plows into the hammock on the opposite wall, wrapping his arms around Sha's waist "Mommy"

Balthazar says, "They do not take people without some care and deliberation, Colonel. And they hold us for, what, 50 years ultimately? If I am not mistaken, the gentleman who survived on the Tycho had no memory of his experience either.""

LeBeau nods "An he was a raving mad man as well da if no dead is in some hospital on Sivad right now"

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'I grow tired of discussing thier motivations...I am more interested in a plan of action.'

Balthazar arches his eyebrows. "Indeed? I heard he was assigned to one of your vessels...."

Balthazar says, "But perhaps you speak of Martin Lovine."

Jest'liana whispers, "Jest would sit down, but there is precious little space to do that in. There is not much of an option. (at least that was waht i am assuming ;)"

N'Sha-El's arms go around Kip, holding him close in strong arms. "Shhhh...it's ok Kip." She glances up at the gathering. "Please. Hear me out." This time her voice is insistent.

Balthazar lets his silvery eyes drift to Sha.

VanMahr glances over to Sha as well.

Milcheax looks to Sha.

LeBeau says, "Dare is one more piece o da puzzle dat I tink only I an N'Sha hav come up wit"

As the ship's continued bout of stillness lengthens, Kip sits up.

N'Sha-El draws a deep breath. "Colonel LeBeau has already mentioned that the Ri'Kammi need physical bodies to fight their battles. Now take this a step further. Why won't they fight the battles themselves? Because their enemy /has/ a physical form, evidenced by these pictures..." She punches a key on the screen and up comes the image of the arch-winged translucent ships that were pictured on the terminal screen.

Jest'liana backs a step up to lean against the wall, beads of sweat on her forehead.

Balthazar laces his fingers before himself, studying the image.

Kip smiles at the screen. "Pretty"

Milcheax glances at the image repeatedly moving his head to see all angles of the screen.

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'Almost Centauran...translucent..near a world you'd call cold...'

Kip says, "It looks like an angel ship. *turns to Jest* Don't you think it looks like an angel ship?""

Jest'liana looks up at Kip and manages a bright smile. "That is what it looks like, Kip." she nods.

N'Sha-El smiles at Kip before continuing. "Take this a step further. If the Ri'Kammi could simply mentally dominate these enemies they wouldn't /need/ physical bodies to fight them with. Hence, I suspect that the enemies are /mentally/ and /psionically/ stronger than the Ri'Kammi. Which means...that if we can ally ourselves /with/ the enemy..."

Jest'liana murmurs. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

Balthazar nods slowly as he listens to the woman speak, then, softly, says, "The Voice was right about her."

Dahan bobs in agreement.

VanMahr eyes Sha thoughtfully. "And we end up with an even more dangerous race running amok? I don't like any of this one bit. But the odds of us all coming back if we play by the hiveminder's rules don't look good, either."

N'Sha-El glances to Jest; a ghost of a smile tinges her lips. "Right, sis..." She taps the screen lightly with a slender finger, arching a brow at Balthazar's comments. Then she looks to Van. "Captain. Another hypothesis...." She taps the screen again. "These enemies seem to fight their own battles. Ergo, we can take it one step further and say they have a higher sense of bloody honor than the Hivers do." She pauses. "Which brings us to another conclusion..."

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'Our options are limited. Sha's suggestion seems the least worse. But how do we try to make friend with them here?'

Dahan hushes as she speaks.

Eyes heavy-lidded, Kip leans back in the crook of Sha's arm, his legs dangling off the edge of the hammock.

N'Sha-El glances at LeBeau for a while before she leans her head back against the hammock, one hand darting to rub at her temple. "If they're an honorable race...and we're only going by what we bloody have on the terminal we found...Honor's got more meanings than most when it comes to races, but in general...being honorable means we don't fight among ourselves. Being united to /prove/ we're honorable and mean business."

VanMahr remains dubious and, oddly, sober considering how much and how quickly he's dealing with his bottle of Fire & Ice.

Balthazar clears his throat. "Can we rely on our neighbors from the Parallax to

Dahan turns, and focuses his attention on Milcheax.

Genghis slinks from the cockpit and settles unobtrusively near VanMahr, curling his tail around him.

Milcheax looks to the others. "yes, you can rely on me; i will speak with the Nalls who run the ship as well."

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'I think they will agree. "We are Nall.", "Better death then slavery" I think shows thier sentiments best.'

VanMahr's scowl deepens. "Too many damned ifs. This sounds more like bloody wishful thinking than a plan."

Milcheax says, "then let us blow the walls out from this ship."

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'You have any better alternatives, Captain?'

Kip's blue eyes seem to stare at the angel ship still shown on the view screen. With each blink, his lids stay down just a bit longer. His fingers, which normally move a mile a minute, lay flat on his chest which rises and falls slowly.

N'Sha-El cradles Kip close, suddenly looking very tired. "Captain...It's the best I can come up with. I'm sorry." She taps a few keys on her keyboard, dispelling the image, careful not to disturb the sleeping boy.

LeBeau says, "Dare is one restriction, wha we hav spoken of here can no be talked about outside da walls o any o da ships here"

VanMahr grunts and confesses. "Not at present. But give me time." His weary gaze shifts to Sha. "You did fine, lass. But even you have to admit we don't know much more than we did before. We don't know who they're fighting. Whether they'd ally with us. Why they'd trust us. Or even how to talk to the damned things without getting killed by the Minders."

Against your side, the weight of the child forms to the curve of your hip. His cheek, which somehow has managed to get dirty again is warm from sleep

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'Sensible, but remember the Ri'Kammi have powered these ships for years.'

LeBeau says, "Da Hive is perhaps more visable to us outside des walls den we hav come to reliaze, or perhaps we hav an dat is why day rushed ealier"

You hear the sound of someone shuffling about outside

Balthazar glances toward the hatch and eases back into the clutter.

N'Sha-El pulls Kip closer to her, looking down with a brief, softened expression in her eyes. Then she looks back up again at VanMahr, all business now. "We don't know...." Suddenly she stiffens and raises a finger to her lips.

LeBeau looks towards the hatch and reachs for his pistol

Jest'liana opens her eyes with a snap, startled.

Milcheax remains beside the door, tensed.

VanMahr mutters. "Probably the damned cat." But he glances aside at LeBeau as he proceeds to the hatch. "If I get shot you'll take down whatever did it?"

To Jest'liana, N'Sha-El, Balthazar, VanMahr, Milcheax, LeBeau, and Kip: Telepathically, Dahan sends 'Perhaps you could see what that is from the viewscreen?'

VanMahr snorts. "Viewscreen?"

VanMahr disembarks from the ship.

LeBeau nods to Van as he approaches

LeBeau disembarks from the ship.

Milcheax disembarks from the ship.

Dahan disembarks from the ship.

Jest'liana looks at Sha.

Balthazar draws in a deep breath, then strides toward the hatch.

Balthazar disembarks from the ship.

Milcheax enters through the hatch of the ship.

N'Sha-El's eyes turn cold. "If they shoot you Captain...they'll go next." Very quietly as she looks at Jest'liana. "Do you want to stay with him?" she murmurs, gesturing to Kip lightly with a tilt of her head.

Jest'liana says, "what was out there?"

Milcheax says, "It is some man in a brown robe."

The boy's breathing is slow and deep. His lips pushed out into an unconscious pout.

Dahan enters through the hatch of the ship.

Jest'liana looks at Dahan questioningly.

Jest'liana says, "Who was it?"

N'Sha-El's eyes narrow and she turns her gaze to the centauran. "Is it Orandius the seer?"

Dahan telepathically sends, 'The situation seems to be under control...Just the other mistic.'

Dahan dips affirmitively, 'It was him.'

Jest'liana relaxes, shutting her eyes and leaning back against the wall, fingers curled into fists.

Jest'liana says, "Good."

Genghis pads sleepily over to Jest and curls up at her feet, purring up a tea-kettle storm.

Balthazar wrestles his way aboard and back to his narrow gap in the chaos of the gundeck.

Orandius enters through the hatch of the ship.

Jest'liana senses, "N'Sha-El gazes at you a moment, brows knitted in a tight frown."

LeBeau enters through the hatch of the ship.

You paged Kip with 'when he took down his robe the other night, she stared at him and he winked at her.'.

Balthazar smiles wearily at Orandius. "Did you rest well, Brother?"

N'Sha-El's sienna-brown eyes glimmer for a moment as Orandius comes in, shifting the small tow-headed boy lightly against her as he sleeps. Her gaze drifts to the hatchway, a faint touch of worry visible.

Jest'liana whispers, "Her face is very pale, and her teeth gritted. The pain of the wound gets worse every moment, but again, the room is very crowded. Once more people enter, Jest will again be hidden by them."

Milcheax whispers, "I am too suspiciuos of his timely arrivel."

Dahan resumes to his place above, and curls his tenticles around him once more to aviod tempting the ship's cat.

Orandius's robes rustle as he climbs the gangway. His head lowers slightly. "I am afraid not, Eye. I feel...Disharmonius."

Said ships cat - or kitten, to be exact, is now sleeping curled up at Jest's feet, tired out from his earlier escapades.

Balthazar sighs and nods. "As it is with me. Separation from the Voice...is unsettling."

N'Sha-El smiles faintly at Milcheax. "I know him," she murmurs. "He is a friend." Then her gaze goes back to the hatchway. "Where is Captain Van?" Her voice tinged with some urgency now.

LeBeau looks to Sha "Shall we tell dem about da mist, o wait till we have mo proof o dat?

Balthazar strokes his chin. "I would be curious to know how we intend to contact the aliens. Do we have a plan for that?"

N'Sha-El leans her head back against the hammock, closing her eyes tightly for a while. "Couldn't hurt..." she murmurs, as she reopens them again and focuses on Balthazar as he speaks.

Jest'liana, a bit slower than usual, didnt really make it to the door. Forced rather abruptly to realize that others can handle this better than she, she backs out of the way of those entering again with a stifled hiss and retakes her former position leaning against the wall.

Milcheax clickers to Jest'liana's side, and stands quietly, his antennae wavering.

Orandius slips his hands into his sleeves, lowering his head yet more, cowl dropping more fully over his features. He sighs softly.

Telepathically Dahanovoheanipeymek sends, 'Do not look to me...Contacting an known mind over far distance is difficult at best. An unknown one near impossible..especially if the Ri'Kammi interfere.'

Balthazar says, "Perhaps a more conventional mode?"

N'Sha-El taps a key on her computer lightly, turning the screen around so that the others can see better. The images pulled up are from the terminal screen in the Memory Room, of the battles between the the strange angel-ships, as Kip dubbed them, and the scarred alien crafts. "There's another hypothesis to be made..." she says, and her voice is slightly strained now.

Balthazar tilts his head, nodding to Sha.

N'Sha-El leans her head back against the hammock, and speaking appears to be a great effort for her now. "If...the Ri'Kammi won't lock in close quarters with their enemies..." Her finger taps the image lightly. "Well, the OS drives, are powered by the Hive, right?"

Milcheax dips his antennae to Jest'liana, and goes over to the hammock that bears Sha and the child.

You sense Milcheax mindspeaks ~you are injured.~

Balthazar nods to Sha.

Milcheax senses, "N'Sha-El's mind is clouded by intense pain, but her thoughts remain lucid, if faint. ~Care for my sister...I'm fine...~"

You sense Milcheax damps down the pain, and removes it from your consciousness.

N'Sha-El raises her free hand to her temple once more. "If the Hivers won't go near their enemies, I don't think they'll let us have OS drives in the fight." She glances to Milcheax, a faint grateful smile in her eyes.

Milcheax returns to jest'liana, and stands nearby.

LeBeau senses, "N'Sha-El glances to you, as if asking you to tell them about the mist."

Balthazar scratches the side of his nose with a slender finger, then continues studying the Indian woman.

Jest'liana opens her eyes, looks at Milcheax quizzically and then turns to pay attention to what the others are saying.

LeBeau nods to Sha as he picks up the hint

Dahan remains floating near the cieling, listening to the discussion closely.

Genghis stirs a little and stretches out in a luxurious cat-yawn. Green eyes narrow and his ears perk as he spies Dahan's tentacles.

Dahan wraps his tenticles closer around the main part of this body.

Balthazar says, "So, we will go into battle against this alien enemy at sublight speed, yes?"

Jest'liana bends over and picks Genghis up, rather like a football with one hand. "Don't even think about it, Cat." she says sternly.

Genghis protests with a faint yowl, rather vociferously, tail waving from side to side.

LeBeau says, "As we all hav found oud by now dat id sees da Hive is playing wit us, everyting we think of all o a sudden is taken away or paths blocked. Now day could be tapped into all our minds bu one o us should hav picked dat up so dare is anoder hypothios..."

Jest'liana tucks Genghis up close to her, so that the cat is secured. Then she lightly scratches his ears in an attempt to mollify.

N'Sha-El nods slowly as LeBeau speaks, then glances to Balthazar. "I'll explain that later..." she murmurs. "After the colonel."

LeBeau says, "Wha ar da two main places dat da Hive has contacted us up till now?"

The kitten purrs in feline ecstasy, rubbing his head up against Jest's hand, eyes closing in bliss.

Dahan telepathically sends, 'By the laddar leading upstairs...not sure of another place.'

LeBeau nods "Da area under da ladder an da space above when da led us in ealier today, wha is id dat dees places hav in common dat da ship does no?

Jest'liana says, "Mist."

Jest'liana tilts her head to the side. "Right? Or am I delusional?"

LeBeau nods to Jest "Excatly dat god forsaken mist fills dose rooms

N'Sha-El lightly shifts, pulling Kip onto the hammock so his feet are no longer dangling. She gives Jest a half-grin and continues to listen to LeBeau.

LeBeau says, "Wel wha if id was more dan jus some mist dat is pat o da enviromental controls, wha if da mist was da Hive r ad least part o id"

Kip moves with Sha's pull, repositioning himself into a neat ball, hands folded under his cheek.

Jest'liana purses her lips. "Okay. The 'ifs' just keep piling up like a very poor stack of cards. What is the bottom line, then?"

Dahan telepathically sends curiously, 'Enviromental controls?'

LeBeau says, "I do no know how many o yu hav seen a Hive Minder idself, but day walk around in dis suit so dat yu can no tell wha day look like. Da bottom line is dat perhaps da Hive is no as powerful as we tink, we just take dare form for granted an do no tink a flow o mist could be sentient."

N'Sha-El raises one hand to her hair and runs her fingers through its short length. "If that bloody mist is part of the Ri'Kammi, then it's a sentient mist, sis..." She nods to LeBeau at his words, leaning back.

Balthazar grimaces, but nods. "Possibly."

Jest'liana shakes her head. "So we know not to talk around the mist. Anyone got a vaccum? Perhaps we could scoop 'em up. What I meant was, how are we going to use that information against them?"

LeBeau says, "For example dose o us dat say dat coffin ting, dare ar tubes da connect to da coffin, da mist simply fills da tubes an den leaks into da physical host"

LeBeau says, "Well we know no to speak about tings dat may ged us out o here"

N'Sha-El intervenes quietly. "They did give us two alternatives..serve willingly or unwillingly. What if we pretend to go along willingly? If they send us out without the OS drives..." Her eyes dance a little. "There's something called a /tightbeam/."

Balthazar arches his eyebrows curiously.

LeBeau nods "Da tightbeam transmission to a certain vessel"

LeBeau says, "Dat way no oder ship can intercept"

Orandius says softly..."And how will we conceal our true loyalties from them? Their minds are...Great."

LeBeau says, "Day ne'er said we had to be loyal, day jus said we will serve eider under our power or dares"

Balthazar leans over to speak quietly to Orandius. "It is as was foretold: She leads the way. There may be hope yet."

N'Sha-El strokes a finger lightly against Kip's cheek. "Without OS drives, they have no way of reaching us that far into space...Or, I believe, they would have had the range to battle with the enemy already...And that's where nice risky pilots come in." Her lips quirk impishly for a moment, arching a brow at Balthazar and Orandius.

Orandius inclines his head in response to the Eye's words. "Of course. I never questioned the words of the Storm."

Genghis philosophically settles himself into a furry ball and goes to sleep, twitching one ear to the ceiling as if dreaming of new tentacle-toys.

Balthazar bows slightly to Orandius, then rubs his forehead.

Balthazar says, "Perhaps we should resume this discussion on the morrow."

Dahan telepathically sends, 'It is getting late, and with these dim lights I require more rest then normal.'

Kip shifts slightly, his breathing still slow and deep.

LeBeau nods slowly "Perhaps we shall, id is getting late and our liddle romps todays hav left me tired"

N'Sha-El nods slowly, glancing to the sleeping boy and then to Jest. "I'm tired myself..." she owns gruffly.

Dahan floats toward the exit, staying as far away from the sleeping Genghis as it can in the process.

Balthazar quirks his mouth faintly. "Good night, then."

Dahan disembarks from the ship.

Balthazar struggles toward the hatch.

Balthazar disembarks from the ship.

N'Sha-El leans her head back against the hammock with a sigh.

LeBeau turns and nods to Sha and Jest before leaveing the ship

N'Sha-El smiles faintly at Orandius. "Stay safe...sir..." she murmurs.

Orandius hesistates near the gangway, then turns back. He waits until the footfalls of the others have receeded before saying. "I sense, N'Sha-El, that you are confused."

Genghis mews in the throes of kitty sleep, paws twitching, tail waving a little, even as he stirs in Jest's hold.

N'Sha-El turns her computer off before unjacking the cable from her head. A faint, wry half-smile. "You could say that sir...." she murmurs.

Orandius moves forward, hands still tucked in his sleeves. "I hope my manner does not offend."

Jest'liana senses, "N'Sha-El seems curiously at ease with this man...almost as if she's known him before all this."

Jest'liana unconsciously eases Ghengis back to sleep, eyes focused on the cat. She seems to be paying absolutely no attention to the conversation between Sha and Orandius.

The kitten twitches a paw and purrs; Sha glances to him a moment with a faint smile. Then she returns her attention to the brown robed seer. "Not in the least sir," she assures.

Orandius chuckles softly. "You seem well tailored to your role, N'Sha-El. You have impressed the Eye."

N'Sha-El settles her head back against the hammock again after slipping her computer back in its case and setting it on the floor, careful not to wake the sleeping Kip. "What role?" she asks quietly. "I keep hearing about this...she, this role...What is this that I don't know about?"

Orandius says, "There is no secret. When the Storm spoke to me, it spoke of an Indian Woman...You."

N'Sha-El considers this for a moment. "Well...yes you did tell me that," she admits. "But...what does it have to do with..." She stops suddenly. "Oh. OH."

Orandius chuckles softly, hands sliding from within his sleeves to spread them wide before him. "And yet, this is not the only question troubling you."

N'Sha-El gives a wry quirk of her lips. "No, it isn't, you're right. I'm worried about whether all this...bloody postulation is right, whether any of us will make it out." A glance to the sleeping boy at her side. "Whether they'll let the boy go."

Jest'liana senses, "N'Sha-El is showing a softer side to her than has been seen yet. The boy brings it out in her somehow."

Genghis opens one eye and twitches an enquiring ear.

Jest'liana slides down the wall, still holding the cat.

Orandius says, "I am concerned because the Hive Mind must surely know that we will betray it at the first opportunity. And yet, I still hold hope that we will survive."

N'Sha-El glances to Jest sharply, her brow drawing together. "Sis? Are you all right?"

Blue eyes blink noticably, even shadowed under the heavy cowl of the Seer's robe. "Sis?"

Jest'liana looks up and shakes her head. "I am fine, Sha. I just got tired of standing." She says this quietly.

Genghis stretches and miaows. Sha-El glances at Jest again, intently, before returning her gaze to Orandius with a faint glimmer of amusement. "My adopted sister, Jest."

Orandius says, "Ah. I see."

You paged Jest'liana with 'it's come back worse than ever, she's about ready to throw up.'.

Jest'liana inclines her head to Oriandius. "Jest'liana Warren, to be exact. Pleased to meet you."

Long distance to Brody: N'Sha-El debtes whether to be REALLY evil and attach Genghis to you the next time ;)

Orandius inclines his head to Jest'liana. "I am certain that the pleasure is mine." His hands trail up, and he draws back his hood, his crop of silvery hair springing into a rather dishevelled freedom. He straightens visibly, a lopsided grin twisting his lips. "Orandius Jaxx. Pleased to meet you."

N'Sha-El's eyes glimmer a moment even as she leans further back against the hammock. "I knew you were familiar the moment I took a good look at you sir...." she murmurs with a soft laugh. "And that name, I swear, it's hard to forget a name like /Orandius/." Meanwhile, Genghis stretches one leg at a time and pads over sleepily to sniff at the new arrival.

Jest'liana stretches out a leg, her lips assuming their customary curve. "So how and when did you meet Sha, Jaxx?" she asks smoothly, but her grey eyes, even though shadowed with pain, look at Jaxx with steady and disconcerting unwaveringness.

Orandius chuckles huskily, "Nephthys Station. In a bar named 'The Cloak and Dagger'."

N'Sha-El strokes Kip's hair quietly, watching Jest and Orandius interact. She seems content to rest, speech appearing to be a great effort for her now.

Jest'liana holds Orandius' gaze a moment, cataloging things about him and merely observing for a moment. Then she shuts her eyes and nods. "I see."

Orandius's grin broadens, and he redirects his attention to Sha. "How do you like the look? Don't think I'm not suffering for it-- the robe is surprisingly itchy.

Genghis makes a tentatively experimental bat at the folds of Orandius's brown robe. Then another. A faint miaow as the kitten twitches his tail and crouches into pounce mode.

N'Sha-El chuckles softly. "It's a new look for you sir...and if it's /that/ itchy I'd suggest wearing some soft cotton robes under it as well." She eyes Genghis calculatingly. "Sis what is that cat up to?"

Orandius says, "She seems to think I'm huntable."

N'Sha-El corrects with mild reproach, "/He/ sir."

Orandius says, "/He/ then."

N'Sha-El glances over to Jest for a moment, trying to see if she's ok. Genghis continues his batting of the robes. It's a moment before Sha-El finally turns back to Orandius and asks quietly, "Why the robes sir?"

Jest'liana is quiet, eyes closed.

Orandius says, "It's harder to be a Seer without them. I think the itchiness is supposed to enhance your connection with the Universe."

N'Sha-El ponders this. "You're not a Seer though..." she says quietly, lifting her eyes to him. "You told me once that you weren't."

Orandius lifts his brows. "Did I? Hmm. Well, surely I must be. I mean, I have the robe. And watch, I know the official greeting." He steeples his fingers before him and bows slightly at the waist.

N'Sha-El leans back again, her arm curled around Kip still. "Well aside of that sir, what's really going on?"

Orandius says, "Why, whatever do you mean?"

N'Sha-El eyes Orandius calculatingly. "You're Timonae sir...you've told me that I know. The Mystics are from Val Shohob. Unless you've changed your race all of a sudden, I don't think you're from Val Shohob per se."

Orandius says, "Well, that depends entirely on your perspective."

N'Sha-El runs her fingers through her hair, pausing to dig into her temple hard. "Oh, I can't think..." she murmurs, her brow creasing in pain.

Orandius says, "The Timonae /are/ from Val Shohob...Not recently, of course..."

Orandius shrugs, pulling up his cowl. "It's late. You're in pain. Even the cat is sleepy-- I should leave, no?

N'Sha-El doesn't answer for a moment, even though the flicker of her eyes towards Orandius shows that she's heard his reply. "I'll speak with you tomorrow sir...?" she murmurs, her face showing her tiredness.

Genghis pads over to Jest and curls up philosophically on her tummy.

Orandius says, "Perhaps...I am not sure what will happen tomorrow. But I would not object."

N'Sha-El nods faintly. "I hope all goes well sir...And barring something bloody stupid happening, I'll speak with you."

Orandius chuckles softly. His form bends slightly, shoulders slumping a bit, his head going down. He speaks softly, face shadowed again. "Good evening, N'Sha-El. Miss Jest." He steeples his fingers before him, bending at the waist, then turns for the gangplank.

Orandius disembarks from the ship.

Continued in The Price of Expedience - Part 5