Hunter -- Logs

After taking on and securing the cargo -- both Eigor's load of meat dumplings in surplus atomic cell canisters, and James Whalen's so-called "silver-jade Buddha" -- the ship leaves the world and heads out into the black for the trip to Boros, one of the larger and more settled moons of Adarra, and the celestial curiosity that has moons of its own.

Solbiort relaxes after the Chimera has safely left Persephone air space for the black -- now she can focus her attention on other things than keeping ship and crew safe and intact while docked. Therefore, for the next few days of the two-week trip, she slowly paces the ship on her free time, finding it an excellent and peaceful way to meditate on their current situation, as well as see what everyone's up to. After a few days, however, she gets a very thoughtful look, and at some point asks the crew to meet her in the Commons. She wants to bounce some ideas off them.

During the trip Elgyn gets a crash course in caring for chickens -- the hard way. Sure, he got a lot of advice and information via Eigor and the Cortex, but actually experiencing the smell of chicken shit, well... nothing could adequately prepare him for that. It's been a while since he had to deal with that sort of thing. Still, he takes his new job seriously... tossing feed for the chickens to eat on the cabin floor, cleaning out their mess, and retrieving their eggs. It's also requiring him to bathe more frequently, after the first time Solbiort gave him a pointed look at his coming into the cabin smelling like chicken.

Elgyn has just appeared to his Captain's call after taking one of said showers, looking clean and refreshed. Nigel shambles into the Commons, looking a bit tired and a bit distracted -- but none of that is particularly new. Solbiort waits until everyone's there, and comfortably settled with a cup of tea or something to nibble on. "I've been thinking about everything ve've learned regarding Far Thunder and the Vintarsen jail break... and it occurred to me there are a few things vhich I'm still unclear on." She considers, then says slowly, "Let's valk through the time line, shall ve?"

Solbiort says, "First ve have the var... vith two sides: the Alliance and the Indeps. Part of the Alliance is a group called Far Thunder vhich vants to veaken the Indep faction. It does so by making a paper tiger out of Vintarsen, propping him up as a 'real' general. Thus he unwittingly drains energy, people, and materiel from the Indep cause." Elgyn looks bemusedly at the others, but he sits and listens intently, clearly wanting to be helpful. He steals a glance at Molly, wondering how she's doing in response to this considering the last conversation she had with him about the whole Far Thunder thing. Molly has a stony expression, almost completely devoid of any emotion, though she listens passively and quietly, arms folded.

Solbiort says, "At some point the Alliance decides this is 'dirty pool' and vants to cut it off and close Far Thunder down. So they do so... but during this time Vintarsen apparently manages to successfully veather not one but two attacks on his command post -- one of those attacks by the Silver Vires, who're not renown for incompetence. Now I can see if there's a turncoat in Vintarsen's camp that it'd be easy to keep Vintarsen 'accidentally' out of the vay, so he's not captured or killed immediately. I can also see this turncoat leading the Far Thunder forces directly to Vintarsen and his two cronies, so they alone remain alive vhile everyone else is conveniently slaughtered."

Solbiort sighs, considering, then adds, "Vhat I have trouble vith is... vhy did they save him? Bullet to the head vould have been much cleaner and simpler." She glances around, "Anyvon got any ideas on vhy they'd save him -- on ice, for almost a decade?"

Elgyn spreads his hands. "My first impulse is... for the same reason they want to kill him now. Or at least, for the reason we've guessed they might have."

Solbiort nods, "A martyrdom. Thing is, more I think on that, more I vonder. That vould reqvire them to have planned a decade past the end of the var, under some huge assumptions -- that they could hold him so long, that they'd vin, that there'd still be a strong Indep faction that vould need crushing, both physically und ideologically." She adds quietly, "And the assumption... that this actually is Vintarsen."

Nigel is fiddling with a small motor of some sort and looks up, "Starting wars is about the next six months. Keeping them won is about the next thirty years."

Raj looks puzzled, "Not really, and I'm not sure why it's important. Isn't the current plan to get them mobile and off the ship? We've still got Kota's offer on the table for... whatever she wants from us. Does your time line affect that decision?"

Solbiort nods to Nigel, "That is my point exactly." She looks at Raj and sighs quietly, "Is important ve stay alive and vell, Raj. Ve have something on ship vhich has brought us to notice of Far Thunder. Their MO seems to be to slaughter anyvon who has had any contact vith Vintarsen vhatsoever. So... somehow ve have to figure out vhat they're doing, vhat they vant, so ve can keep us alive."

Elgyn purses his lips. "I have a couple ideas... but let's let the expert speak on that score." He looks at Nigel, "That stuff you found in Wintarsen's body... I'm not clear on the specifics, but wasn't it designed to alter existing memories, rather than create them from scratch?" He looks at Raj. "I'm not sure we want to get them off the ship, Raj. That doesn't guarantee our safety, and it means we give up control of the one ace we have."

Solbiort says, "The reason I bring this up is... if ve fast forward the time line, ve arrive at now -- vhere five Browncoat ships break Vintarsen out of maximum security prison. Ve'd been assuming Far Thunder bankrolled them -- but vhy? Vouldn't it be easier to just transport Vintarsen to vhere they need him? They're experts already at setting up false trails, so vhy vould they need to have the Browncoats do their dirty vork?" She frowns, "And vhy kill Alliance folks in the break out? But if ve postulate Far Thunder's still working on Vintarsen, or he's not really Vintarsen, or there's something Vintarsen knows they can't yet let out -- and the Browncoats suddenly bust in and break up that schedule... then there's a damn good reason for Far Thunder to be so keen on offing everyone involved."

Nigel shrugs at Elgyn, "It's... still being researched, really. And with the cloning... yeah, he could probably be cloned. But the clone would be a kindergartener now. Clones don't spring fully formed and adult from the petri dish. Zeus never told anybody that trick."

Elgyn spreads his hands. "You're assuming, Solbiort, that things weren't going according to plan for Far Thunder up until we got involved. Consider this instead: what if Far Thunder didn't actually have control over Wintarsen's imprisonment? If they could just use political leverage to get them out, fine... but what if using the Browncoats was the only way to get them out from under the Alliance's thumb?"

Solbiort shakes her head, "Not talking about a clone, Nigel. Talking about somevon who look enough like Vintarsen to pass. It's a classic military trick -- replace dead charismatic commander vith somevon who can pass close enough, to vin the battle."

Nigel says, "So, a double."

Solbiort nods to Nigel, then shakes her head again, this time at Elgyn, "If Far Thunder vasn't involved in Wintarsen's confinement, then why all the effort to keep him on ice? To change his memories? The regular Alliance folks vouldn't bother. Commander Kota vanted him to chust be able to retire, remember?" She adds quietly, "Und there's something that's been bothering me about Gorman's attack, too. He supposedly attack Shao Kung for pulse beacon, ya? But... he didn't know yet about other ships being attacked, right? Also, he vas already going to purchase von from Five Dragons. Vhy possibly harm his people by taking such schtupit risk?" She holds up a hand, "Unless... he'd lost the plat, or spent it already, or vanted it for himself?"

Elgyn says, "There are many possibilities, Captain. One thing to consider is the overall power of Far Thunder. They are not omnipotent, or omniscient, otherwise we likely would be dodging them at every port. Far Thunder is not the Alliance. If anything, it would seem they are at odds in certain ways, and therefore have to manipulate things very subtly in order to get what they want. Maybe the original orders to just have Wintarsen imprisoned were altered, and they had them put in cryo instead. Besides, Captain... if what you are suggesting is the case, then there are other questions: first, why would they do the same for Wintarsen's lieutenants if all they really needed was him? and second, why would he be in a prison if he was not the real Wintarsen? Wouldn't it make more sense for him to be in, say, a lab?"

Solbiort says, "Ya, this is point I am trying to make, Elgyn -- Far Thunder does not appear to be omnipotent. I am vondering vhy they hunt down everyvon so thoroughly, instead of chust taking Vintarsen vhere they need him. Also I am vondering vhy captain of Shao Kung is so unvorried at attack by Gorman's forces. Vhat is first thing captain vith passengers does vhen ship is under attack? Confine passengers to quarters -- vhich Gorman then destroyed! Am vondering if captain and Gorman had deal going, or if plat vas on Shao Kung... because her captain didn't even bother confining passengers to quarters -- as if he already knew vhat to expect regarding the supposed attack!"

Nigel rubs a hand over his head thoughtfully, "Well... you know... hell, it might be possible to test that out... if we had a relative of Wintarsen and Danviere. It would have to be a close blood relative though."

Solbiort murmurs dryly, "Elgyn... Vintarsen vas in lab. How else they infect him?"

Elgyn says, "Not when they broke him out, he wasn't."

Solbiort says calmly, "Whose vord ve have for that, Elgyn? Vintarsen alone vould be suspicious. Vintarsen and his lieutenants vould be believable to re-start a var."

Elgyn sighs. "No one's word. Gorman is dead, and the Alliance isn't talking. Point." He sits up. "Maybe Saladin knows?"

Solbiort smiles, "Vas hoping you'd get there eventually." She nods, "So, di-di Nigel -- Saladin is vell enough now to interview?" She adds to Nigel, "Vould love to be able to DNA test Vintarsen, but haf no idea vhere to find relative."

Elgyn gives Solbiort this odd look... as if he's suddenly irritated with her. But then it's gone, and he's looking at Nigel. Solbiort grins at Elgyn, lightly brushing one hand across the soft fuzz on his head, "Di-di, if you can poke holes in my speculations, vant to know before am pestering sick voman."

Elgyn sighs and hangs his head. "It's just... never mind."

Nigel says, "Genealogy is probably traceable... and yeah, she's fine to talk to."

Solbiort nods, "All right. Shall ve adjourn to her cabin then? Think I vould very much like to know more about both plat und attack plans."

Solbiort smiles and hugs Elgyn gently, "Don't be down, di-di. Vhat, you thought hanging around vith opinionated valkyrie vould be easy?" She chuckles, releasing him to turn and head out of Commons for Saladin's cabin.

Elgyn follows. It's not easy, Solbiort... in many ways, some of which I am only beginning to understand.

Nigel nods, putting the motor back into his pockets, "I want to be close by." Molly remains very quiet throughout the entire discussion; she is still dealing with all that she believed about Wintarsen being effectively a lie, though she's still functional.

Saladin was reading from a terminal as the group troops into the cabin. She sets the terminal aside, sitting up and looking at the others curiously. "Wow... the whole crew. What can I do for you?"

Solbiort nods politely to Saladin, spinning the desk's chair around to straddle it and rest her arms on the back, "Vas hoping you could answer some qvestions about Gorman, please. First, vhy he attack Shao Kung? Have heard reason he gave vas for pulse beacon... but vhy take risk if he is already buying von from somevon else?" Nigel leans against the wall near the door leading into the room, arms crossed over his chest.

Saladin lifts her shoulders in a bit of a shrug. "Well, I said Gorman was an ass. We'd be buying the pulse beacon code to get to Fleur-de-Croix from Five Dragons, but we wanted to shake whomever was attacking the other ships from the raid. Gorman said that he knew Shao Kung's captain was a blathering idiot, having ridden on the boat before, and so thought it would be a good mark. He did crazy-loco things like this: make these snap decisions and base elaborate plans on them. In this case he thought that we could take Shao Kung's pulse beacon and be on our way elseworld before anyone realized that Shao Kung had been bushwhacked."

Elgyn blinks and leans forward. "So he knew by then that your allies were being attacked, and just hadn't spread it around?"

Saladin nods to Elgyn. "He was hoping we could lose whomever was offing those ships if we changed our pulse-beacon code. To do that and not cause suspicion, we would bushwhack the Shao Kung and take their route for one or two hops." She scowls, "Of course, now we know that the people killing the other ships were the red half-moon hundan. We also didn't know that Shao Kung's captain would have his people open fire." She looks around at the room, and adds quietly, "Is it improper for me to say I apologize?"

Solbiort says, "No, but is not relevant. Next qvestion: vhat happen to the plat for Five Dragons?"

She nods to Solbiort. "Gorman took the plat. He wanted to hold on to it and see if he could salvage the operation, which would mean going to Five Dragons and paying her for the pulse-beacon code."

Solbiort says patiently, "Vhere is now?"

Saladin sighs. "Gorman had it on his person at all times. I imagine the red half-moons have it now.

Solbiort nods, "All right." She thinks, resting her chin on her crossed forearms, then says slowly, "So... who call Gorman into action? You know?"

"To the best of my knowledge it was his contact with the cell above ours. For all I know, the red half-moons had infiltrated the network anywhere from right above us to all the way at the top."

Solbiort says, "So. For some reason incredibly volatile cargo of three liberated Indep commanders... is given to flighty captain Gorman. Further, red half-moons track down attacking ships von at a time, instead of grabbing Gorman's ship immediately. This say to me they have to actually track vhat is up vith the Browncoat plan... that they vere surprised by it, and also that they're still vorking on Vintarsen."

Saladin rubs her forehead. "Gorman is -- was a reasonably competent ship handler, and up until now his snap decisions turned out roses. This time, though, it didn't. But what you're saying makes sense. They'd hoped we'd be good little Browncoats and try to rescue the General and do all we can for the plan, except they didn't expect us to react so quickly to other ships in the plan being attacked... or for Gorman to do one of his wingnut moves and pull something out of his ass."

Solbiort says, "Still this does not make sense. Vhy risk Vintarsen at all? Vhy not grab him immediately, and kill the other ships at their leisure?"

Elgyn speaks up after being deep in thought. "Overconfidence, perhaps?"

Saladin says, "I don't know, Captain. Unless they don't really want to capture him, or just want it done just so, I have no idea."

Solbiort says to Elgyn, "This vould be the first such case, if so. Their handling of everything else has been vithout error. Further, vhy kill their own?! ...unless they suddenly needed to do very, very hasty, thorough clean up to cover their tracks?" She hmms thoughtfully. "If ve postulate the Browncoats still vere able to surprise the red half-moons, this vould explain vhy they have not simply descended on our ship also -- they truly do not know precisely vhere Vintarsen currently is."

Elgyn says, "You're assuming that the lives of Alliance troops mean anything to them in the larger scheme, Captain. Their plans might be worth any 'losses.'"

Solbiort says, "And again -- vhy all this effort? Bullet in the head is much easier und cleaner." She looks at Nigel, "Am thinking perhaps you vill be discovering something else vonce you and Natasha have had time to vork on Vintarsen... that he is not truly Vintarsen, or that there is some thing in his head vhich vould alert other Alliance doctors that something vas wrong und should be investigated... vhich might uncover red half-moons." She sighs, "Vell. At this point ve haf all the answers ve can get from Saladin, it seems. Goal now is to get safely to Boros und see vhat ve find out there."

Elgyn says, "Wait, we are forgetting a question we were going to ask..." he looks at Saladin. "Where exactly did you find Wintarsen and his people? Were you in on that part of the plan?"

Saladin shakes her head. "We knew he was broken out of Ariel Max-Sec, but the cryoboxes they were in were transferred to us in deep space from the Tammuz. Tammuz, Cincinnatus, and Guilty Blade did the actual raid; they handed the general and his staff off to us to throw off pursuit. Or to try to, anyway."

Elgyn sighs. "And there's likely no way to find out now what they knew." Then he looks curious. "How long did you have this information about Wintarsen before it was acted on?"

"That Wintarsen was in Ariel Max-Sec? We learned of it the same time that our marching orders came down -- about a month before we boarded the Feng wu."

Elgyn looks at Solbiort. "That might lend further credence to your supposition that the cells acted quicker than the Half-moons wanted..."

Solbiort nods, "Frankly, am having strong doubts half-moons organized whole thing, from reactions. This is just more weight to that belief."

Elgyn scratches his chin. "Perhaps information could be gleaned from our most recent contact on what actually happened at Max-Sec..." he muses quietly to Solbiort. She nods thoughtfully.

Scarlet Chimera, Wintermaiden Docks Boros, moon of Adarra, Mishka Quadrant

On the day they land at Boros, it is a bright but chilly day. This part of the world is a touch arid, with the air carrying some hint of humidity from the inland flood plains where terraced paddies of rice and waterwheat fill acres and acres of land. Wintermaiden Docks is a bustle of activity, as row upon row of drydocks fill the edge of the city in a vast arc. Boats, transports, even a few of the (very small) freighters are being built here, still answering the call of the Central shipping firms for more tonnage to carry more cargo between the worlds. With the docks in such close proximity the ground is dry and has difficulty growing anything; dry scrabble and brush line the dusty streets. Only the more residential areas of Wintermaiden Docks actually have cobblestones or pavement.

Solbiort has made sure Saladin's ready to go and has a clean bill of health from Nigel. A change of clothing (including a nice, warm, obscuring hood), and Solbiort's ready to take Saladin to meet her new friends. She's also ready to go visit the University at Boros, to see if a certain professor is free for lunch!

As the ship touches down Raj can pick out Brother Oleg at the entrance to the docks, a wide grin visible through his bushy beard, his somewhat lanky frame seeming all the more gaunt by the Exodus Orthodox garb and hat. Raj waves to Oleg, meets him halfway, and escorts him to the ship, "Your friend on Persephone is crazy you know..."

Oleg laughs, a hearty sound that seems disproportionate to his lanky frame. "Eigor means well, tovarisch. And his cooking is something we've missed! I was overjoyed to get his 'wave saying you'd picked up his cargo."

Raj says, "I'm not surprised he was having trouble getting it shipped, if he was using surplus atomics containers. He's as strong as an ox, too! Are you going to need any help getting these out of here?"

Oleg rolls his eyes. "Is he still using those things? Gah. Between that and trying to ship them to 'suspected criminals' I think Customs hasn't arrested him because they think he's crazy! Nyet; we'll be sending a couple of people along tonight in order to avoid the heaviest customs activity. And tomorrow, after it's all clear, Odessa insisted I bring you and your crew over to make sure the dumplings did not go bad during the trip!"

Raj laughs, "Comm the ship and let me know when you folks are coming by, and we'll make sure they're ready. I'll tell the Captain we're invited to an 'official inspection' at your place, too."

Pacing overhead on the catwalk over cargo, Solbiort pauses, studies the man with Raj, then grins and leans over to wave, "Nihao! You must be Brother Oleg. Many thanks to Brother Eigor for delicious pelmeni!"

Oleg grins and nods. "Da, I will do so! Odessa will enjoy seeing you again." He smiles and bows to Solbiort. "Zdravstvujte, Kaptin. I hope cousin Eigor did not disturb you too much with his choice of containers!"

Solbiort grins, waving a hand dismissively, "Neh, vas just right amount of disturbance!"

Oleg murmurs under his breath, just enough for Raj (and Solbiort) to hear, "Eigor said your captain was 'Mad Red' and a knockout. Odessa just might get jealous!" Solbiort laughs and heads on about her business.

Oleg turns back to Raj cheerfully. "Well! I should be off. Customs is not liking Russians spending too much time around docks -- always thinking we're 'up to something'! Will let you know when people will be coming to get cargo. God be with you, tovarisch!"

Raj laughs, "Up to something? You? Are you saying they're wrong?" He waves as Oleg leaves, saying, "I'll see you later, then!"

Nigel sends a message to Natasha inviting her to the ship for tea and serious conversation. Natasha's reply comes back fairly quickly, in that she'll be overjoyed to see him later that day. The walk from the Docks to the Docks Hospital is a short one -- less than five minutes. It's a little larger than the one on Ashtoreth, sprawling a bit more, but is pretty much the same capability, it seems. There doesn't seem to be a special ward for 'terraforming event' cases, though; Boros seemed to have been spared any sort of oddball fate such as that. Nigel finds the main reception desk and asks them to page Natasha. He's cleaned up for the meeting and wearing a pair of decently clean black trousers and a plain green button-down shirt that looks like it might have been ironed some time in the last decade.

The desk pages Dr. Rivenova, and after a few minutes (in a loose white coat and rather prim and understated summer-dress) Natasha is sweeping out of the ward doorway with a warm smile. "Nigelchka! Privyet, I hadn't even hoped to see you again so soon!"

Nigel smiles at Natasha, though there's strain showing around his eyes, and the corners of his mouth are a bit tight. He meets her halfway and snorts quietly, "Wish it were something better that brought me here."

Natasha blinks a little, as she lightly takes his arm. "Oh? I had thought we could take lunch in place across street, but if want privacy...?"

Nigel nods, hands shoving into the pockets of his pants, ruining what little good line they actually had, "Private, please. It's not knowledge we want out in the open."

Natasha nods soberly. "Da, then. Where would you like to talk, Nigelchka?"

Nigel shifts on his feet slightly, hands pushing deeper to keep from pushing them through his hair, "I think the ship. I know there's no ears there that I don't want hearing." He actually offers Natasha his elbow as he turns toward the door.

Natasha is by now sufficiently concerned that her arm in Nigel's is a little tight. "Is it about... what happened on Ashtoreth?" she asks quietly as she walks with him.

Nigel nods solemnly, "That and a whole hell of a lot more." His Londinium accent peeks through a little in his words, "There's... things you need to know because I need your help."

She nods. "Anything, Nigelchka. You're worth it. What's ailing you?"

Nigel leads Natasha back to the ship and takes her to the Officer's Lounge, even going so far as to offer her a cup of tea before he even starts to talk. Shortly, Natasha -- even more nervous than before -- with tea and sitting comfortably, is sipping from her cup as she watches Nigel alertly. "All right, Nigelchka," she says. "This is so uncharacteristic of you, even towards me. What is wrong?"

Nigel leans himself against a counter, arms crossed tightly across his chest, face a little tight. Natasha is one of the few people in the 'Verse he'd even think of letting see his worry, "Well, the short version is I have a couple of Twitches patients on-board."

Natasha blinks, setting her cup down. "Oh! This explains your interest, then, da? Or... nyet, if it was normal case you would have brought them in to Ashtoreth..."

Nigel taps the tip of his nose, one side of his mouth twitching upward in a sardonic twist, "If anything about this mess was normal, I'd have told you about it back when we had bullets flying at our heads."

She grimaces a little. "Da, good point."

Nigel loses his battle to keep his hands out of his hair, pushing his fingers through it irritably, leaving the heels of his hands against his forehead, "I believe I have two people who were purposely dosed with the neurotoxin. And I had one patient die before we even had any idea what was going on."

Natasha's reaction is predictable. "What?! Bozhe'moi, who would do such a thing?"

Nigel smiles sardonically, "Apparently the Alliance did it. They were looking for the mind-altering effects. Wanting to use it for brainwashing." Natasha's expression goes from anger to disbelief to fear. She is struck speechless. Nigel watches the play of emotions across her face, chuckling dryly as she goes through the sequence he himself has, only in much less time. Then he says, his expression saying he knows how inadequate it is, "I'm sorry to dump this on you all at once."

Natasha sags in her seat, running a hand over her face. "Bozhe'moi... Was it during the war or more... recent...?"

Nigel walks over to Natasha, taking his flask out of his hip pocket and spinning the top open, "It was part of the war... or at least the war's end." He offers to pour a dollop of the whiskey into her tea, "The patients are... well, a tiny bit familiar to... well... anyone that knows much of anything about the war."

She takes a none-tooo-cautious sip of the tea, letting out a breath. "Should I be asking? No; it does not matter to me. You are certain that it is Twitches? Ashroteth parasite neurotoxin?"

Nigel takes a slug of the whiskey, pauses and takes another, then puts the flask away, "Absolutely."

Natasha closes her eyes. "Is not easy treating Twitches. Takes a while for advanced cases. Might even be... permanent damage." She shakes her head and gives a string of Russian invective against whomever had the bright idea to use that toxin.

Nigel is actually smiling tiredly at Natasha's creativity with her swearing. When she's run out of steam he says, "I'm pretty sure there's one ruttin' huge amount of permanent damage. I can't get one of them to wake up and the other one acts like a massively advanced case of senile dementia."

Natasha makes an unladylike sound. "Comatose and unresponsiveness, possible that can be cured. Dementia... not so sure. Purging toxin from them can fix some nurological symptoms. Won't know what permanent damage was done until toxin is out of their system and healing of nervous tissue begun."

Nigel leans forward from the hips, eyes serious, "How much chance do you think we have of purging a massive dose?"

She shakes her head. "Once saw man who had been infected with dozen parasites. After two years, could walk again and had near-normal long-term memory. But was not easy. With concentrated dose of pure toxin... I do not know, Nigelchka. Did not know could weaponize Twitches toxin. She looks to Nigel. "So.. what can old prosthetics doctor do to help?" she asks, with a small smile.

Nigel manages to keep his relief from playing too nakedly across his face. He doesn't like even Natasha knowing how nervous he was -- and asking for help from anyone else would have been unthinkable, "You can come see my patients."

She smiles a little and nods, gently patting his arm. "Spasibo, Nigelchka."

Nigel pauses, "I know I really don't have to say it, but my conscience will beat me to death with reflex hammers if I don't. I'm going to have to ask you not to say anything about this to anyone except me and the rest of the crew."

Natasha stands, taking in a deep breath. "Well. I understand, Nigel. Is fine; I understand you had to ask." She smiles, looking a little more comfortable and confident now. "So. Lead on." Upon seeing the patients, she murmurs, "Bozhe'moi, that's... it's-" Then she breaks off, shaking her head, and gets down to work.

After an hour of tests and reviewing results, Natasha confirms Nigel's diagnosis: it was not only a dose of the toxin, but a heavy, concentrated dose delivered right to the mesencephalon. It's a much higher and more concentrated dose of the Toxin than she's ever seen in a patient, and if the treatment can help it'll take a while. She gives Nigel the treatment for purging the toxin, involving a witch's brew of antibiotics and counter-agents to the toxin as well as some drugs to kick the patients' lymphatic systems into overdrive. Getting it out of Danviere should take less than two weeks, at which point she'd become conscious and rehabilitation could begin. For Wintarsen... it's a little harder. He'd take less time to purge of the toxin, but rehabilitation could take longer since the damage seems more severe.

After the examination is done and he has the information on what he needs to start the purge and rehabilitation -- including a little muttering about how long it's been since he's done physical therapy with anyone -- Nigel escorts Natasha back to the hospital. He parts from her at the front door, taking her hand in both of his for a moment, the motion a little awkward and not as casual as his reflexive offering of his elbow earlier, "Thank you for this. There's no one else I would have trusted with all this." In a slightly jerky motion, he pulls her hand up and kisses the back of her knuckles before skittering away back to the ship. Thank you's never were his most graceful thing and that one, well, some things are just especially awkward.

After clearing it with the Captain, Elgyn heads out of the docks and looks around for a 'learning opportunity.' Caring for the chickens has encouraged him to learn more about the nuances of caring for animals, and he figures he can get someone to teach him if he offers his strong arms and back to the purchase of such information...

The docks are typical of most Border Moon docks, with a lot of vendors and cargo barkers vying for the attention of ships and such, along with more than a few livestock vendors. One -- close to the ship actually -- is manned by a sharp-eyed old woman, who seems to have an equally sharp tongue when she spots Elgyn eyeing the chickens. "Ey! Five plat for a live bird, three for ready-to-be-cooked!"

Elgyn smiles at the woman, trying his best to be charming and personable. "How much to learn how you care for such fine birds?"

The bird-woman studies Elgyn carefully, apparently attempting to divine his intent. "Why're you asking such a question? Hey... yer from Ulundi, aren't you?"

Elgyn was more than ready to explain his motivations -- and then that question sideswipes him. "Er, yes... what, uhm... what gave it away?"

The woman snorts, waving a stray chicken feather out of her eyes. "The way you talk, boy. What, they don't have chickens on Ulundi? Or something like 'em?"

Elgyn chuckles. "No, we do, it's just... I ah, haven't been home in a very long time. Currently shipping on a cargo liner, and we're thinking about opening ourselves to transporting livestock... I'm the only one with a smidge of knowledge about it, so I decided to see if I could learn more," he explains. Not content to leave it at that though, he adds, "How do you know our accent? Are there many of my people here?"

"Fought in the war, boy, transportin' a 'toon of Ulundi scouts for the 87th Overlanders." She nods with a bit of a jaundiced eye. "A'ight then, you want to learn 'bout tendin' birds? First lemme show you how to clean out a 'coop...."

While Elgyn is facing down Bird-Woman, two Alliance law-compliance officers and a man in a gentry suit show up at the dock, approaching the hatchway but not coming aboard. "We're here to meet with Captain Skal... er, Skaj... er, the captain of this ship," the suit says pleasantly enough.

Solbiort raises an eyebrow at the comm message, from Molly on the bridge, concerning the law officers waiting outside. She strides on down to cargo and looks out the hatchway at them, "Nihao. Who're you?"

The suit nods to Solbiort as he pulls a sheaf of ident flimsies from his pocket. "Captain," he says in a lower voice, offering them to Solbiort. "Commandant Yuan sent us. He specified you had someone you wanted us to take into protective custody. We've an unmarked closed mule just outside the dock, and we're ready to transport them to a safe house."

Solbiort checks the ident flimsies carefully, worried about handing Saladin over to just anyone. As she does so she quietly comms Raj, "Hey, Raj? Got moment to come to cargo?"

After a moment Raj comes up behind Solbiort at the entry hatch, "Something up, Captain?"

Solbiort nods, handing back the flimsies to Raj, "These are real or forgeries, please?" The nice young Alliance man doesn't seem offended by the double-checking, and is waiting patiently.

Raj examines the documents, flipping through them for a minute. After some consideration, he glances at the officials and says, "These look in order to me, Captain."

Solbiort nods, "You sure?"

Raj blinks, "Well, sure enough after a quick look in the cargo bay. If you want to check their credentials you might want to call their office and get them to confirm."

Solbiort nods thoughtfully, "All right." She glances out at the suits, "Vill be moment, ya? Sorry... vant to be sure." She grins at Raj, then jogs swiftly out of Cargo for the Bridge.

The gentry nods. "Certainly, Captain." Raj attempts to engage the delegation in some casual small talk, stalling until the Captain returns.

Once on the Bridge, Solbiort quickly checks her AllSec drop box. That's where she'd expect the Colonel to have put some verification for her. Waiting for Solbiort is a message from Yuan:

SPECAGENT MATHERS WILL TAKE CUSTODY OF PERSON XX MATHERS IS 30 YOA, LOOKS 25, LT.BRWN HAIR HZL EYES, DISCOLORATION ON L.ARM (HEALED BURN)
XXXX FAR THUNDER (FT) ACTIVITIES REACHING CRITICAL POINT XX ASSASSINATIONS ATTEMPTED AGAINST SHIKAI STAFF OFFICERS AND KNOWN INDEP CELL LEADERS XX BELIEVE FT IS WORKING ON TIMETABLE, AND ARE FALLING BEHIND XX BELIEVE FT WANTS WINTARSEN ET AL ALIVE XX BELIEVE FT IS STARTING TO BECOME DRAWN OUT AND MAKE MISTAKES, NO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT HAS SUCCEEDED IN PAST WEEK
XXXX CMDR KOTA IDENT AS "LOKEI" FORMER OIC/PRJCT "FAR THUNDER" REASSIGNED FOLLOWING PRJCT SHUTDOWN XX DETAILS CLASSIFIED BY SHIKAI, KOTA KNOWN TO HAVE OPPOSED LATER STAGES OF PRJCT "FAR THUNDER" AND IS A TARGET OF CURRENT FT ACTIVITIES
XXXX MAJOR> THEY KNOW YOU HAVE OR HAVE HAD WINTARSEN, AND WILL WANT TO CAPTURE A/O QUESTION YOU WRT THEM XX WE BELIEVE FT WILL ATTEMPT TO CONTACT YOU SHORTLY TO NEGOTIATE FOR WINTARSEN ET AL XX WE ARE WORKING ON PINPOINTING WHERE THEY ARE HEADQUARTERED BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL BE BRINGING WINTARSEN TO THEIR MAIN MISSION XX I DISLIKE USING LIVE BAIT BUT THIS MAY BE THE BEST CHANCE, PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR OPINION XX RECOMMEND AMBUSH AT TIME/LOC WHERE FT WANTS WINTARSEN XX BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL WANT YOU TO DELIVER WINTARSEN TO FT MAIN MISSION AND THEN TRY TO DISPOSE OF YOU XX WE CAN CONTACT KOTA COVERTLY TO BRING CRUISER TSAO INTO PLAY XX WE HAVE TACTICAL TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE QUADRANT ABLE TO RESPOND WITHIN HOURS. CONTACT SECDIR/ADARRA DIRECTLY IF YOU NEED SUPPORT FOR AMBUSH
XXXX > WE WILL... DISCUSS... 'JI' NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN NEIGHBORHOOD XX GOOD FORTUNE

Solbiort nods thoughtfully, reading over the message. She'll need to post a reply before they leave Boros... but she thinks she has a few alternate suggestions she may make, considering the Colonel asked for her input. She grins, tucking that note cheerfully away... then takes a deep breath. Take care of Saladin -- then she can come back and see if there's anything for her from Five Dragons!

Solbiort bounds swiftly down to cargo again, then tilts her head thoughtfully, regarding the young man. Hm... ya, looks about right: young looking, light brown hair and eyes. She nods, "Hokay, have two qvestions, please? First, your name? Second, show please your left arm?"

The man nods, smiling a little as he rolls up his sleeve. "Daniel Mathers, Captain. And if you're wondering, it's a hot-water burn from when I was young and foolish." Most of his left forearm is noticeably discolored, and is clearly an old burn that has at least since mostly healed.

Solbiort nods, relaxing a bit. "Hokay, sheh-sheh. Moment, got somevon for you." She murmurs to Raj, "Von more moment, please. Am bringing Saladin." She bounds off again, cheerfully letting Saladin know her ride is here, and it looks like they're serious about protecting her!

Saladin can walk, albeit a little slowly, and she takes the stairs in the ladder-well carefully. "Last thing I want is to be under your doctor's care for any longer than needed," she comments, not disrespectfully. Solbiort chuckles quietly, making sure she paces slowly along next to Saladin -- in case the still-healing woman needs a bit more support. Solbiort also firmly instructs Mathers to take good care of Saladin, who is still recovering. With quiet thanks to Solbiort and Raj, Saladin is escorted quickly -- and with all due caution on the part of the compliance officers -- into a mule, and the vehicle trundles off to whatever safe house Security has prepared for her.

Solbiort whews softly, glad to see Saladin as safe as she can make her... then scowls. Use best judgment... on what?! The only option she has open to her is running, dammit, and that won't last forever! She's quite irritated with the Colonel. He'd just better be making a connection with Kota, is all she can say! She leans against the hatchway, arms folded, and considers. "Vell, Raj... looks like Saladin is taken care of. Di-di Nigel vill be contacting his doctor Natasha, your Oleg vants us to meet his sister Odessa... any news on vhat's up vith the silver-jade Buddha?"

Raj says, "I'm glad she's off the ship. One less crazy passenger to worry about."

Solbiort chuckles quietly and ruefully, "Ya, on that I agree."

Raj says, "The 'Silver Buddha'? I was expecting someone to be here to pick it up, considering how twitchy the shipper was. I expect they'll be by sometime today, or at least be in contact with us. If they're waiting for the traffic to die down, they'll probably be by later this evening. That whole thing about the three Buddhas seems to be like he says, but I still think the whole thing stinks." He shrugs and continues, "Whalen and his crew give me the creeps. Way too full of themselves." Solbiort nods silently.

A short while later Solbiort is back at her terminal. She sends a reply to the colonel's earlier missive, hoping he can get to it swiftly considering how close their respective orbiting rocks currently are:

COL> TO GIVE BEST OPINION, NEED ANSWERS TO FOLLOWING: PLSE LIST ALL OTHER SHIKAI CODE NAMES W/IN SAME MYTHOLOGY XX PARTICULARLY NEED TO KNOW IF ONE IS HOD (OR HOTH), & WHO CARRIES THAT CODE NAME XXX COULD 'FAILED' ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS ON SHIKAI BE DISTRACTION XX HOW ARE INDEP CELL LEADERS STAYING ALIVE XX HOW ARE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS STAYING OUT OF NEWS XX IS SKADI ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY XXX HAS ALLSEC SUCCESSFULLY CONTACTED KOTA XX WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KOTA/LOKEI & SKADI XXX LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCUSSION RE JI AS AM CONSIDERING COURTING XX GOOD FORTUNE

After a few moments, Solbiort seems to be in luck: a message from AllSec pings on her terminal.

KNOWN CODES IN USE BY PERSONNEL OF PRJCT "FAR THUNDER":
THOR
HEIMDALL
SKADI
ODIN
FREYJA
SYFE
LOKEI
HELA
HOTH - DIRECTOR OF "FIREBOW" COVERT ACTION GROUP >THIS IS THE GROUP WHICH HAS AS ITS INSIGNIA THE 'RED HALFMOON'

GAMESTHEORY DEPT. AGREES WITH YOUR REASONING, RE: ASSASSINATIONS ON SHIKAI BEING DISTRACTIONS XX CANNOT AFFORD TO RELINQUISH RESOURCES TO PROTECT MILITARY COUNCIL XX INDEP LEADERS SUFFERED 20% CASUALTIES BEFORE GOING TO GROUND COMPLETELY XX RUMORS CIRCULATING IN BROWNCOAT COMMUNITY OF RETURN OF WINTARSEN XX ASSASSINATIONS BEING KEPT OUT OF NEWS BY ALLIANCE FIAT XX NO DESIRE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO INCIDENT

SKADI IS FORMER PRJCT LEADER WHO FORCED CLOSING OF PRJCT XX SKADI GAVE ORDERS FOR DISBURSEMENT OF FORMER PROJECT MEMBERS TO OTHER DUTIES XX DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR KOTA BEING ASSIGNED COMMAND OF CRUISER TSAO XX SKADI IS *NOT* IN COMMAND OF ROGUE "FAR THUNDER" ELEMENTS XX UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY ATM XX ALLSEC HAS CONTACTED KOTA VIA SECURE COURIER XX SKADI AND KOTA NOT ON BEST OF TERMS BUT ARE BOTH PROFESSIONAL

MAJ> RE JI: ... YOU ARE WHAT?

Solbiort looks a bit startled at the sentence: 'CANNOT AFFORD TO RELINQUISH RESOURCES TO PROTECT MILITARY COUNCIL' -- is the Colonel actually saying the Alliance is stretched so thin it can't protect its own military leadership?! She parses it carefully, then ah!s, realizing what's actually meant is if they stop protecting the ShiKai council, then possibly the 'distraction' assassination attempts could succeed. She frowns thoughtfully -- that's one way for Far Thunder to tie up resources which might otherwise be used against them.

Solbiort considers a bit more. These are obviously the code names in use when the project was functioning... but why would the Colonel then use Skadi's? She knows when a project is terminated, the persons who worked on that project would still use their code names in correspondence relating to that project -- especially projects that were of the highest security. She hmmms... this means a) the colonel knew that name to give it to Soli earlier, which would logically follow that b) he knew about this project so he'd know Skadi's code name, therefore c) he was quite likely in it?! Which means... which one was he?!

That -- or he was instructed to give that as a contact name if something relating to Wintarsen came up in his quadrant. But... then that simply means whomever gave him the name is the former Far Thunder operative. Solbiort goes very still, thinking carefully. She wonders who the mythicist is -- or rather was -- in AllSec, then smiles a touch grimly. That would tell her a very great deal about who and what to watch out for in today's mess. In Midgaardian legend, for example, Lokei is the misunderstood but usually well-meaning trickster woman who often gets caught by her own tricks, rather than the evil man who deliberately brings about the end of the world.

Finally Solbiort preps another message for the Colonel:

IF CODE NAME ASSIGNER IS MIDGAARDIAN, & WINTARSEN IS BALDR, LIKELY PLAN OF ATTACK IS FOR LOKEI TO BE FRAMED FOR DEATH OF BALDR AT HOTH'S HANDS XX BEGINNING OF FINAL BATTLE IMMINENT IF/WHEN RUMORS OF WINTARSEN BEING 'UNKILLABLE' START SURFACING -- BELIEVE CURRENT BROWNCOAT RUMORS MAY FULFILL THIS CRITERION XX IF THOR INSISTED LOKEI BE DISMISSED AS PRJCT LEAD, LOOK FOR SKADI AS POSSIBLE PLANNER FOR LOKEI TO BE FORCED UNDERGROUND/IN CAVE/CRASHED ON SHADOW XX CHECK VANAHEIM OR HEL FOR FAR THUNDER HOME BASE
XXX RECOMMEND PUSHING FT OFF BALANCE BY HEADING FOR SHADOW IMMEDIATELY XX UNLESS AM ORDERED OTHERWISE, WILL EXPECT TO BE AT SHADOW IN ABOUT ONE MONTH XX SUGGEST FALSE TRAIL OF "SKIALDMEYJAR WILL HAND WINTARSEN OFF TO KOTA" TO DRAW FT XX LIVE BAIT CAN DRAW KILLER TO AMBUSH BUT CANNOT SLAY IT -- WILL REQUIRE BACKUP XX NO IDEA HOW MUCH BUT PREFER TOO MUCH TO TOO LITTLE
XXX AM MIDGAARDIAN; AM COURTING JI FOR VALDOJER/WIFE XX WISH ME GOOD FORTUNE

After another few minutes... ping....

INITIAL SPEC FOR PLAN CAME FROM MIDGAARDIAN OFFICER XX INITIAL PLAN WAS LOKEI TO BE ORCHESTRATOR OF WINTARSEN'S FINAL DEFEAT XX KOTA HAD GRAVE MISGIVINGS ABOUT PRJCT AND ARGUED FOR CLOSURE XX HOTH RESISTED, SKADI INSISTED AND PUSHED THROUGH FINAL RECOMMENDATION FOR CLOSURE TO SHIKAI XX THOR WAS DIRECTOR OF "LIGHTNING PAPER" GROUP, RESPONSIBLE FOR MEMETIC WARFARE STRATEGIES XX HE WAS NEUTRAL IN COLLAPSE OF PRJCT COHESION XX SKADI WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING ALL FORMER OFFICERS OF PRJCT WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT VERSE
XXX AGREED RE RUMORS XX AGREED RE PLAN XX BACKUP WILL BE IN PLACE XX WILL INFORM KOTA OF PLAN, CRUISER TSAO TO BE ON STATION AT SHADOW IN 30 DAYS XXX
MAJ> THERE IS NO POSSIBLE COMMENT THAT I CAN MAKE TO THAT STATEMENT THAT WILL FIT THROUGH MILITARY CHANNELS XX WE WILL NEED TO TALK IN PERSON ABOUT THIS XX MUCH YOU NEED TO KNOW OF HER XX NEVERTHELESS GOOD FORTUNE

Solbiort reads carefully, both her worry and her relief increasing as she has some of her concerns verified. At the last section, though, she laughs in spite of herself, then sends off one more message:

FOR COMPLETENESS MIGHT WANT TO VERIFY CURRENT LOCATIONS OF FORMER OFFICERS AS COMPARED TO SKADI-ASSIGNATIONS XXX WILL BE ON SKAMANDRIOS IN 2, 3 DAYS -- CAN WE MEET THEN RE JI XXX RIDE THE WIND

The reply is quick and brief:

AGREED RE VERIFYING XX WILL HAVE ALLSEC FORCES CONDUCT VERIFICATION XX HOTH UNACCOUNTED FOR, BELIEVED TO BE COMMANDING ROGUE FT ELEMENTS XX WILL ATTEMPT TO BE ON SKAMANDRIOS THEN XX ALEA JACTA EST

Solbiort nods to herself, then leans back with a sigh. Now that this is settled, she can feel 'off duty.' She's beaming as she checks the drop box for Five Dragons, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. More good news, she hopes? Oh, wait! She pauses and hastily sends her own poem first. She crosses her fingers that the lovely lady will find this rendition more attractive than the first hesitating attempts Solbiort made...

I go; thou stayest: two autumns.
The butterfly having disappeared,
My spirit is also fled.

Look at its color and it changes,
but the changes never show
in the blossoms of a woman's heart.

My fate, a fortune tells -- Shadow's wind.
With autumn's advance I drift,
Without valdojer; without goddesses.

Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame.

The face of all the 'verse is changed, I think,
since first I heard the footsteps of thy soul.
Move still, oh, still, beside me...

The bright moons,
something in my breast...
I am alone.

Solbiort takes another deep breath... then grins again, half nervous and half anticipatory. Hokay... what has she received?

In a nest of dragons, coiled close about
I cast my eyes upon the velvet black
Looking upward, the phoenix of flame blazes bright
And I pray to the night and light, that when it comes
Upon outstretched form of fivefold velvet night
That it might find suitable nest, if even for a moment
And warm all around it with feathers of fire.

Solbiort draws her breath in sharply, reading that -- then checks her immediate excitement. Read it again! Maybe it wasn't quite the invitation she'd originally thought. She might be over-reacting... best to read it again slowly. She sighs and shivers slightly after the fifth reading. No, she's pretty sure... that really does sound like an invitation! She gets a dreamily happy grin. Maybe she should read it again... just to be sure... ya, just in case...

About half an hour later Solbiort strides swiftly towards Cargo. Her lady wants her! She's really interested! She practically called for Solbiort! Got to get some cargo for Skamandrios, definitely... but for now, Solbiort's practically ebullient, and that much energy needs some appropriate release. Boros has lots and lots of prairie, she knows -- perfect for flying! And after a nice relaxing flight... should be near to lunch time, or thereabouts. Just the right time to go find a particular very, very swai-boy she has in mind!

Solbiort's flight around the prairie is relaxing and comfortable -- it's good to fly something light and responsive like the wing again. Once she has calmed down somewhat she rides some of the thermals towards the University, a few miles from the docks. Though wings aren't terribly common in the Border Moons, on a planet like Boros they're common enough that people don't point and stare... too much... when she lands on the outskirts of the university.

Boros University is actually fairly typical of Border Moon architecture. The buildings are made from local materials and are generally stone; they're fairly large, five stories each, and arrayed in a circle around a central commmons that's about a quarter mile in diameter. These, plus the dormitories, house and school about six thousand students from around Adarra.

Solbiort grins cheerfully as she looks around. This should be fun! She folds up the flying wings' actual wings, then shoulders the light little thing and strides towards the closest group of students, to ask them where the Anthropology Department is. She figures it makes perfect sense for someone odd looking to want to go there, after all!

The small, eclectic bunch of students look up as one, then rather stunnedly direct Solbiort by pointing off to one of the nearest buildings, which looks a little bit the worse for wear from the weather. Solbiort grins cheerfully at them as she thanks them, then heads to the building. She leaves the flitter outside, since even though it's light, it's also a bit wide for possibly narrow hallways. Inside she wanders curiously along, peeking into doorways and reading any signs on the walls for clues.

She wanders around a touch without aim until a light, sonorous voice filters from one of the lecture halls, "-is important we remember each world very often had decades -- if not one or two whole centuries -- to develop on their own, without Central influence. Very often on the Fringe we still occasionally find communities which are effectively isolates. This says nothing of those communities which actively avoid contact with outsiders, Central or otherwise...."

Solbiort grins -- a cue! Truly a cue, if ever she heard one! -and sticks her head in the door, checking visually to see if it is indeed him... and, admittedly, to see what sorts of classes of kids are curious about people like hers. The poking-in of her head is possibly equivalent to lobbing a visual frag grenade into the lecture hall. Every student turns to look at the doorway she's in and doesn't... look... away. The hall is small, wooden and a bit musty, with a display board mounted at the front of the hall. It seems able to hold at most a hundred students, but right now only thirty are in here. It looks to be a first-year intro to anthropology course; the full spectrum of Adarra's peoples are in attendance. Of course, that doesn't seem to stop all of them from staring at the Midgaardian.

"In fact, if we are not careful, we will miss important cultural trends, any one of which could be indicators of... of... what-?" he looks around curiously at what the students are looking at, and his eyes widen in surprise at the blazing red hair he sees there. "C-captain?!" he blurts out, his expression brightening immensely.

Solbiort beams at him, striding forward with her arms out for a hug, "Nihao, pretty! Got time for lunch vith a cultural isolate?" She sweeps the smaller professor up into her arms, laughing and whirling around with him once... then sighs contentedly and gracefully dips him into a long, passionate kiss.

"I'm so glad to see you, Captain -- when did you arrive on- er-?!" Kali's expression of joy turns to one of shock as Solbiort proceeds to sweep him off his feet and kiss him. He tenses and squirms a little bit but quite quickly melts into the kiss, returning it -- at which point more than a few groans can be heard in the lecture hall, and not all from the male students.

Solbiort finally sets Kali back on his feet, gently straightening his tunic, then grins, "Vas that a ya, Professor?" She grins at the rest of the class, adding, "Hey, you vant to continue sitting inside here in stuffy old room, or vant outside?"

It might not be too untoward to say Solbiort just shattered about half the female hearts -- and a good one quarter of the male hearts -- in the class... at least judging by the expressions. Kali is apparently not an unpopular professor amongst the anthropology students. He blushes deeply, recovering his balance and his composure. "That would be a 'ya,' Captain," he says, smiling warmly. Then he realizes he's still in the lecture hall. "Ah... class dismissed!"

At least five heads go thump onto the desk in front of them. "And don't forget, two chapters tonight for tomorrow's discussion class!" The students gather their books, ambling out; a few look crushed, some look stunned, more than a few look quite appreciatively at Solbiort. Several look disgruntled, but whether from doing homework or from being denied a continuation of Solbiort's greeting with Kali, it's hard to tell.

Solbiort chuckles at the students' varied reactions, then grins wickedly at Kali, "Vas going to ask you if you had rest of day off for me, but think I already know answer!" She drapes an arm across his shoulders and heads for the door after the last of the students, "Come! You vill tell me nice place ve can haf lunch, und then maybe ve go visit your home or somezing, ya?"

Kali blinks at the sudden change in his schedule. "Oh! Yes, there's a lovely little cafe outside the University, and... er, my home...?"

Solbiort glances down at Kali and smiles slowly, letting her eyes smolder at him, "Vhat? You vould rather do it here? Might scandalize students und ozzer faculty, no?"

He looks about to answer, when he looks around and realizes they're in the lecture hall. "That, and this isn't the Anatomy lab...."

Solbiort raises an amused eyebrow, "Bet your home is more comfy too. Vouldn't vant you to hurt back over table, ya?" She keeps him moving briskly -- she's hungry and she wants him all to herself! She weaves him swiftly and smoothly through the lingering students until they're outside. "So! Fly or valk?"

Kali looks confused for a few moments after she asks her question, looking around for the skiff he thinks she means. When his eyes settle on the wing he goes a little pale. "Ah... er, walk, please, for now...?" Meanwhile, the breaking of hearts -- those that were set on Kali and those which are, however briefly before being shattered, set on Solbiort -- is an almost audible trail following the two out of the building.

Solbiort tilts her head curiously at him, but then smiles and strokes his hair gently once, "Is hokay, pretty. Am very goot pilot und vould take very goot care of you... but can valk for now." She shoulders the wing easily again, drapes her arm around his waist, nuzzles his hair lightly with a small, contented hmmm... then cheerfully says, "So, vhere is this vunderbahr place to eat? Am ravenous, und vant to tease you for later!"

What few students are in range to hear that have varying reactions. One appears to be preparing to bang his head against a wall repeatedly; several others simply stare. Two more stare, glance at each other, glance at Solbiort and Kali, glance at each other, then scamper off somewhere together. Solbiort grins at the students, then smiles thoughtfully at Kali. Her voice is pitched low, just for him, as she murmurs, "Are not happy vith job here, pretty?"

The touch seems electrifying to Kali, and he shivers a little, blushing and smiling shyly to Solbiort. "It's... it's just across the commons, half a mile or so; just outside the gates." He tilts his head to the side and makes a quiet, thoughtful sound. "Yes, generally," he murmurs. "I mean, I like teaching... but it keeps me tied to the university, and I don't get much of a chance to do field research."

Solbiort laughs and waves at the students, cheerfully calling, "Vill find pretty soon -- don't give up, ya?" Then she grins down at Kali again, gently snugging him against her as she walks, "Thought so. Nefer met professor of any stripe who'd pass up chance to get cultural isolate to talk to class before!" She's silent a few strides, then adds casually, "Ever thought about vhere you vanted to do research, pretty?"

Kali actually blushes with embarrassment. "It's not meant as any sort of insult," he says defensively. "In fact a lot of anthropologists respect isolates -- they tend to have more emotionally stable social and cultural structures...." he bites his lip a little, realizing he's sounding too defensive. "Um... I haven't thought much on it, I admit. Ulundi, Midgard... most anthropologists get to maybe three or four cultures before they're too old to travel."

Solbiort laughs again, turning to kiss him again in order to interrupt his worried gabbling. She doesn't let him come up for air until she can feel him melting in her arms again... then she straightens, resting her lips lightly against his forehead as she murmurs, "Vas teasink you, prettypretty. Gonna be all touchy und upset like this, gonna haf to stop everything und kiss you again, ya?" She grins lazily, "Und think how much time that vould vaste... vhen ve could be doing this in nice comfy bed, ya?"

Kali blushes deeply again, but by touch alone Solbiort can tell how the closeness is affecting him. "Sorry, Captain, I just... haven't quite found where I want to be yet." He's still quite flushed from the kiss, fanning himself a little. Solbiort smiles warmly -- she's enjoying herself too -- then collects up the wing and the professor again, continuing on towards the cafe.

The cafe is apparently a popular place for students, and at this time of day it's getting crowded with students gathering for lunch before launching into the afternoon classes. Since this more reflects the rest of the university, Solbiort and Kali get several looks, but Kali is only infrequently recognized as one of the professors.

That being said, there are a lot of looks thrown their way throughout the course of the meal. There are even more once Solbiort gets well and truly into the swing of enjoying herself. She teases poor Kali mercilessly, both with touch and quiet whispers, feeding him bits of food with her fingers, casually nibbling on his ear whenever he isn't flushed and twitchy enough to her eye!

At some point nearby, the proprietor raps on the table in front of someone and asks them what they way. "A cold shower! Ack, I mean, uhm...." then lapses into embarrassed silence as they murmur something about some food. Kali for his part is putty in Solbiort's hands, and while somewhat lacking in his ability to deal with decadence -- he's no Spartan, but apparently the academic life is a bit... make that a lot ascetic -- he does manage to be mostly focused... mostly. Solbiort laughs softly, and very much enjoys herself being the exotic barbarian. Silly reputations are good for this much, at least!

Some time later, after Solbiort realizes she may have pushed poor Lexi a bit far, she gives him a bit of a breather by asking, "So, prettypretty, vhat does good research mean? Vould think you vould vant to know much about von or two cultures, not visit 4, 5, und know little bit about all, no?"

Kali has by now found it hard to sit still and equally impossible to stand up. "Well, ah..." His voice is still a little flustered and he's holding on to her arm for almost dear life, in part to not be seen in such a state. "I, ah, would want to learn more about one, maybe two, at most three... more than that and it dilutes the learning one can get from, ah, a culture. But... but I would want to learn as much as I could about a handful... one or two..."

Solbiort smiles affectionately at the disconcerted young man, gently brushing his hair back out of his face. "Vhich culture you most interested in, pretty Lexi?" She adds softly, "Deep, slow breaths, pretty. Helps focus."

He nods shakily, taking those deep slow breaths. "Mmph. Th-thank you, captain. I... I don't know yet. There's much more I could learn from both Ulundi and Midgaard...

Solbiort smiles, leaning over to gently kiss the top of his head, then murmurs, "Vell, if you efer vant a bit of help let me know, ya? Can't promise anything, but vould be happy to offer you ride vhere you vant." She grins wickedly, adding, "Vill ride you any time you hold still long enough for me to catch you und mount up!" Then she cheerfully adds, "Vhich reminds me -- think is time to be going! So, vhich you prefer? Cabin on Chimera or your bed at home?"

Kali brightens at the offer. "Thank you, Captain, I'd love to take you up on that off... fer...." He suddenly blushes incredibly deeply, clear down his neckline, when he realizes he walked right into that innuendo. He glances around shyly, then whispers, "Your... your ship, please, Captain? I... it feels much more... you there...."

Solbiort smiles, lightly tracing her fingers along the curve of his cheek, "You like that? You like having valkyrie keep you close?"

Kali half-closes his eyes, shivering with the touch. "Y-yes..." he whispers.

Solbiort's smile warms a bit, and she lays plat down to more than cover for the meal, plus a hefty tip for the indulgence they've received. A bit huskily she growls, "Then ve go now, pretty. Been vaiting too long."

Shortly thereafter Solbiort is back at the Chimera with Kali. Molly receives a handful of polite instructions: to ask Raj to find cargo for Skamandrios and anywhere in the Georgia system; to notify everyone else (especially Nigel, who specifically asked for this) as they return to the ship that there is a civvie on board -- namely Professor Alexander Kali -- and to not disturb her in Kali's cabin for anything less than Far Thunder attacking the ship itself!

Kali makes absolutely no resistance, despite his shyness, and goes with Solbiort to the designated cabin. Molly doesn't quite have the heart-broken-twice-over look that the students did, but well after the door is closed and the metaphorical "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is hung, she murmurs to herself, "Oh, sweet Buddha, I wonder how Elgyn is going to deal with this?"

Elgyn is facing down the Chicken Woman, a lady who looks to be about twice his age, with weathered, leathery, wrinkled skin and possibly some Amerind heritage. She chews on a length of straw as she visibly sizes Elgyn up. "A'ight, I'll bite. Why do you want to learn how to tend chickens?"

Elgyn spreads his hands. "I'm currently crew aboard a cargo liner. We're at a slight disadvantage right now in that we can't take on certain kinds of cargo because no one knows how to tend it... livestock, to be specific. I have some small experience with it from my childhood, which makes me the natural candidate for learning more... so while we're in the world I was hoping to come to some... agreement with folks like you. Trading my good right arm for some simple farmer's wisdom," he says with an appealing smile.

The woman folds her arms. She's about two thirds Elgyn's height but at least as broad-shouldered. "Huh. Transportin' livestock in the black, huh? Well, there are worse reasons for needin' to learn. But first, get that hooey about 'simple farmer wisdom' out of your head. Sure, you need to know lots of things, lots of minutia, when to feed 'em, when to clean 'em, when to get their eggs and such, but demmed if it's some sort of Zen mystique that'll somehow get you enlightenment with the Buddha. A farmer's just like any workin' folk."

Elgyn looks a little rueful at the mild chastisement. "I certainly didn't mean to imply otherwise. But it is my experience that common sense sometimes eludes folks... in that it is too 'common.' For myself, I am surprised at what I remember, but I would rather learn from one who has been properly taught... and experienced much more than I," he explains.

The woman looks at Elgyn for a moment more, then snickers softly. "Okay, that's much better. And you're right; common sense ain't. A'ight, then. I can use a hand keepin' the critters in line and cared for, and I'll give you what learnin' I can. How much time can you devote to this?"

"My captain tells me we'll be in the world a few days at least... there's things need doing besides picking up new cargo and supplies. I can devote a good portion of each day -- at least six to eight hours -- to this task. During that time my strength is yours," Elgyn replies, ending with a common Ulundi oath.

The woman nods, "Mmph. Okay, that'll be suitable. I'll need you from an hour before sunrise for about eight hours, if that's fine."

Elgyn's smile lightens up his face. "Thank you for the opportunity, shieldsister."

She smiles and nods, "Nary a problem, boy. Just be here early tomorrow. You have any livestock on your ship right now?"

Elgyn says, "Three chickens... they were a gift, and I have been caring for them in hopes of supplementing our food supply with fresh eggs."

She hrms. "Most chickens here in Mishka don't carry lice -- no local parasites ever developed a fondness for chicken feathers. I'll show you what to look for with them, though. Beyond that there's a few more things to learn about 'em." Elgyn nods and pays attention as he walks with the woman...

Elgyn feels accomplished, coming back to the ship... he has a broad smile on his face. He aches a little, but it's a good ache and one he's accustomed to... after all, it's not as if he doesn't keep fit. Time spent with the woman -- Andrah -- has left him feeling better than he has in a long time. Made him feel useful, and valued in a way that crewing on the Chimera has not. He walks up the ramp and buzzes at the hatch for Molly or someone to let him in...

Molly undogs the hatch and pushes it open for Elgyn, smiling. "Hey there, Elgyn. Learned all about how to take care of our three feathered guests?"

Elgyn grins widely. "Enough to keep them happy and our captain happy, in more ways than one. You've had better success with the eggs recently..." he teases mildly, glad to see Molly smiling.

Molly grimaces a little bit. "Urgh. I still tend to make them explode...."

Elgyn laughs. "And I'm still trying to figure out how you managed that! Look, Molly, I know enough about eggs to know you don't have to try anything fancy... just crack them, fry them a while, and stir them up on the pan. Don't even bother to add spices till you've got the hang of that..."

She grimaces a little and nods, sighing, "I know, I know. It's hard for me to view eggs as something other than liquid-state detonators, though..."

Elgyn shakes his head. "You know, Kali is here... maybe I should just lock the two of you in a room together so he can teach you out of this 'food is explosives' mindset..."

She blinks at Elgyn and actually seems to turn a faint shade paler. "No, I... wait... how did you know?"

Elgyn hmms? "Oh, I actually remembered hearing Solbiort say something about it offhand... I'm glad of it, actually. Things have been... well, morale has been low, and I've noticed that Kali seems to cheer up the captain." He starts walking away, and registers Molly's reaction. He backs up. "Is something wrong?"

She blinks again. "Ah. Well, no, nothing wrong, I don't think. I mean, the Captain brought Professor Kali back about an hour ago."

Elgyn seems a little bemused, but seems to accept that answer. "Well, I'll go find them then, see where they're holed up... Kali is a stimulating conversationalist. Do you know where they're at, so I don't have to go tearing up the whole ship?" he queries, grinning again.

Molly coughs discreetly and doesn't quite look at Elgyn. "They're, ah, in one of the gunners' cabins up on the top deck and, ah, the captain said they shouldn't be disturbed...."

Elgyn blinks. "Not disturbed? Why in the world would that be? It's not as if..." He's slow, but he gets it -- in part because of the guilty look on Molly's face. "Wait, they're not..." he murmurs, the light suddenly dawning.

Molly rubs the back of her neck. "Er... well... actually, I have no idea what they're doing, to be totally honest."

Elgyn is suddenly angry. That moment weeks before, when Kali just wandered into the lounge as if he'd come from a room on the ship, suddenly takes on a new meaning. "What else could they be doing? Kali's a scholar, not a spy! He had no bearing on our troubles, therefore there's no reason to keep anything secret!" he demands of Molly.

Molly blinks at Elgyn, and backs up a step, holding her hands up a bit. "Whoa, Elgyn. What are you saying?"

Elgyn thrusts out a finger at Molly. "I'm saying...!" he suddenly trails off, shocked at his own anger. "...I don't know what I'm saying," he admits a moment later. He reaches out for a crate behind him, suddenly feeling the need for support... unfortunately he misses the crate entirely, and ends up flopped onto his ass with a thud. He cries out in surprise and pain.

Molly yelps startledly, reaching out to get hold of him before he topples over. "Oh, frell...!" She's an instant too late. "Oh, crap, oh, crap crapcrapcrap...! Uhm... hold on, Elgyn, I'll get Nigel, I think he's back from his lunch...!"

"Gorramit!" Elgyn winces in pain, using common Lingua slang for one of the few times in his life -- then he gets into a swearing frenzy at Molly's retreat. He's amazingly good at it. Molly winces at the string of cussing Elgyn lets out as she scampers into the engine deck, looking for Nigel.

In Engineering, Nigel is just getting his coverall zipped up over an undershirt and starting to get down on a rollygator when Molly comes scampering in. Molly's voice takes on a mix of relief and tension when she spots Nigel. "Doctor! Doc, Elgyn, he... ah..." She tries to think about how to explain how Elgyn hurt himself, then just shakes her head. "He fell down trying to sit down after I told him the Professor had come aboard with the captain."

Nigel arches a brow at that and stops in the middle of opening a bucket of some foul smelling sludge. He tamps the lid back on the bucket with his fist and starts wiping his hands off. "Fell down or fainted?" he asks as he starts to follow the girl. Elgyn has not stopped swearing, and it's audible as Nigel approaches with Molly, answering that question. Nigel snorts, "So, fell down." He takes a brief detour to grab his bag from the medbay.

Molly says a little glumly, "Definitely didn't faint."

Elgyn is trying not to move when the others approach, his expression strained, even flushed. With shame, perhaps? "I think I hurt something," he mumbles, at least having stopped swearing, but not looking Nigel in the eye.

Nigel crouches beside Elgyn to start checking him over, "You mean besides your gorram pride?"

Elgyn tries to lean away so Nigel can get a good look. "I don't think it would hurt this much if I hurt only my pride," he mumbles. It's clearly had an effect, though... from what little Nigel knows, Elgyn tends to bear up under pain much more stoically than this. Molly stands nearby, fidgeting a little.

Nigel chuckles and shakes his head, "Nah, hurting just your pride hurts worse. That way you don't have any physical injuries to blame the hurt on, and you feel like an ass, all at once." He peers at Elgyn, prodding him gently at first.

Elgyn does not respond initially, then hisses as a tender spot is found. "It sounds to me like wisdom, Nigel," he murmurs, finally looking the man in the eye.

Nigel prods the tender spot a little more firmly, eyes narrowing slightly, "I think there's nothing physical broken here, guys." He rummages in his bag and comes up with a small yellow vial. He shakes out two white pills and hands them over, "Take two of these and call me if you hurt anything else."

Elgyn takes the pills slowly and then, with Molly's assistance, gets to his feet. "Besides my pride, I am assuming," he murmurs morosely.

Nigel looks up at Elgyn, squinting slightly and shaking his head, "I wasn't talking about your pride." He closes up the bag and stands, brushing at his knees and backside despite having not actually sat.

Elgyn nods, his lips pursed, looking at the other two. "Tell me... and do not spare my feelings," he says evenly, more calm than before. "Did you know? Before today, were they... together?" He seems to be choosing his words carefully.

Molly pauses, then shakes her head. "When he was aboard last time he looked like someone'd used him for a trampoline, an' the Captain was just taking care of him."

Elgyn smiles, but the smile does not reach his eyes. "That sounds like the Captain," he admits.

Nigel shakes his head after a moment of thought, and since he's been asked for bluntness (what was that boy thinking?) he says, "No, Elgyn. I didn't know about it. But I know you've been mooning over her like a pup, and you haven't had the balls to act on it because you've got your head all wrapped up in what's proper and what ruttin' ain't."

Elgyn's face clenches up for a moment, then he sighs. "Same old Nigel," he murmurs with bitter humor. "Suppose I deserved it, though." He rubs his thumb against the fingers of his free hand. "I shouldn't be angry. I've no right."

Nigel shrugs. "You asked," he says simply, reaching up to rub over the top of his head with his free hand. "Gorramit... no, you have no right to be angry. You might if you'd loosen your half-froze tongue an' tell her you want to sweep her away from all this... or at least shag her 'til neither of you can breathe." The sound that comes from Molly sounds vaguely like a well-stifled giggle -- but should anyone look at her, she's the picture of decorous solemnity.

Elgyn looks accusingly at Nigel. "Do you think this is easy for me, Doctor? That I can just throw away values I have held near three decades of life? I am trying... to believe that I am a man, and that I have the right to court her as I like. But I have little idea where to begin." He closes his eyes. "I spent more time learning the art of war than learning the art of love."

Molly scratches her head. "Uhm... three decades worth of values. Er... what do those three decades tell you to do?"

Nigel gives Elgyn a look, "No, it ain't easy for you. Wa'n't easy for me, either. But I've always thought you were the sort to do the right thing rather than the correct thing. But do you even know what the frell I mean by that? Look, rules ain't worth a lick if they say the correct thing ain't the right thing."

Elgyn looks like he's trying to follow all that -- it seems to take some effort. "You are saying that I should not deny what I need most, just because I have been told as a child that things must be done a certain way or it is dishonorable," he murmurs.

Nigel gives Molly a wide-eyed look of mock surprise, "Well, hell, he can learn! Who'da thunk?"

Molly deadpans, not without warmth, "I'll go bake a cake for the occasion...." Nigel manages not to smirk too widely.

Elgyn gives Nigel this irritated look, much like he did during their first such conversation. "You asked me what my values tell me, Molly... but they tell me little beyond to face this enemy bravely, as I have every other." He looks wistful, "I don't suppose either of you would know how I go about courting one such as Solbiort? Her ways are... not the ways of other women." Then he glares at Nigel, "And I'm not going to say that thing about... shagging her till she can't breathe. That's not..." He was going to say 'proper,' but he gets this wry look on his face and doesn't.

Molly shakes her head. "I may be a Browncoat, Elgyn, but I was raised fairly Central; for us the war was less about cultural identity and more about sovereignty. Uhm... I don't know, really... she's tough, doesn't take guff, respects strength...."

Nigel does actually laugh aloud, "Gorramit, man. You sleep in the same ruttin' room with her! You know the woman. What things would she most like as a present? What means most to her?" He shakes his head, "Look, if I know this it's glarin'ly obvious." Then he rolls his eyes, "Elgyn, the ruttin' woman had sex with a guy while flying... she likes sex. She'd probably be tickled if you said that."

Elgyn suddenly flushes. "Nigel, that's not... it's not true. That particular rumor was just that... a rumor." Then he gets this odd look, "I think." He scratches his chin. "But I have made a few steps down that road... and her reactions would only seem to indicate that I am on the right path."

Nigel arches a brow, just letting Elgyn think that one over. He's dropped his bag and has his hands in his pockets. Letting the warrior work it out for himself. Elgyn says, "I just... I want her to understand that I want more from her than a night -- or many nights -- in her furs. I want to be more than a 'boy' to her."

Nigel says, "Then quit actin' like a gorram boy and go be a ruttin' man!"

Elgyn groans. "You, Nigel, don't know when to keep quiet," he informs the doctor before gingerly walking towards the ladder well, swallowing the pills given.

Molly lets out a breath and glances to Nigel. He looks back and blinks, "What? I thought you all knew not to ask unless you wanted a real honest answer?"

Molly shakes her head. "No, I wasn't complaining, Doc...." Nigel tips his head as if inviting her to finish explaining.

"You can be honest without being crude about it, Nigel. Maybe someday you'll grow up and learn that," Elgyn shoots back, answering Nigel's confusion as he disappears up the ladder.

Nigel calls back, "Yeah, but if I'm not crude you don't ruttin' well listen!"

Molly glances over to see that Elgyn has left the compartment before she sighs. "Just that you tried, Doc," she says quietly. "Just hope he gets up and flies straight 'fore long. A woman only waits so long before she decides a man isn't interested in the long haul."

Nigel almost looks like he's wistful for about a split half-second, "I know. Sometimes he's right, I talk too gorram much. But most people don't talk enough... somebody's gotta take up the slack."

Molly nods a little, then looks around. "Anyway. Sorry for bothering you, Doctor."

Nigel shakes his head and smirks a little, "Not a bit, Molly."

It's the next day, and Solbiort wakes up in a great good mood! She stretches, looks around, then looks curious -- no Elgyn? Ah, a note. Leaning over, she snags the terminal and reads... seems he's off learning about animal handling! She huhs, then smiles -- good for him! The note also mentions he'll be back in the early afternoon, and asks if she'll be available for flying then. She grins again -- that works! She can use the morning for any errands the ship or crew require of her, then try to distract pretty Lexi enough that he stays a bit longer. By then Elgyn should be back -- and she'd love some flying time! She's rather pleased he seems interested.

Solbiort isn't too worried about Elgyn being off on his own. Not only is he quite capable of taking care of himself, but also Far Thunder will hopefully be searching assiduously for the crew of the Crimson Chimera on Newhall, not here -- since that's where Solbiort logged as the intended next stop for the ship from Persephone. She had no intention of stating Boros as their next stop when it was only illicit cargoes they were carrying, after all.

Later that afternoon Solbiort cheerfully packs the wing into the mule. She's humming happily, having enjoyed herself tremendously distracting poor professor Kali into staying another day with her. Alas, he insists he has to return that day at least for a while, so she'll give him a ride home... and hopefully Elgyn will return soon, and they can all go at once.

Elgyn strides towards the ship at around 3pm, his posture and expression oozing contentment. He's long since stripped his vest from his back (right now tucked under one arm) as he worked under the sun, sweat glistening over well-worked muscle and colorful tattoos. The ache from his accident has all but disappeared, though the ache in his heart has not quite yet. It is to his credit though that he shows none of this as he gives a wave to Solbiort, whom he can see now as he comes within range. "Hoya, Captain!"

Solbiort is helping the professor up into the passenger seat of the mule. She grins mischievously at him, "Could alvays tell your faculty superior you vere shipnapped by fascinating cultural isolate, ya?" She turns, then brightens, "Di-di Elgyn! Goot timing. Can clean up fast, und come vith for flying? Have to return professor to university, but after that vould love to take you flying!" She adds, "Bring jacket, di-di!"

Kali lets himself be helped up into the seat, smiling wanly to Solbiort. "I imagine half of them would be envious, and the other half envious for completely different reasons." He looks over to Elgyn and smiles, waving, "Hello, Elgyn, it's good to see you again!"

Elgyn did not see the professor initially, but he catches a glimpse of him being a little cozy with Solbiort, and his smile falters for a moment even as the other two call back to him. By the time he's in range, however, he would seem to be nothing but good cheer again. "Greetings, Professor... pardon my quick disappearance, but I do not want to keep the Captain waiting..." he offers to Kali, clapping the man on the shoulder as he moves past a little faster, and grabs the ladder. His seemingly friendly greeting is unfortunately a little harder than he'd intended. If Kali noticed anything amiss, he does not make mention of it. Solbiort notices nothing amiss either, since the greeting form is one she uses often herself as well.

Elgyn washes himself with all speed, and then dresses in slightly warmer clothing, as Solbiort recommended, knowing it's likely going to be colder with the wind whipping past them as it will... though he is thankful it is not near as cold as her home. He finally returns and climbs in beside the professor. He smiles at Kali. "So..." he trails off then, the usual questions like 'what have you been up to?' suddenly not an available option to him, "...I trust the Captain has been keeping you safe?"

Solbiort zips the mule speedily out for the university as the two men talk, humming happily to herself. Kali blinks at Elgyn. "Ah. Yes. Yes, she has. There's been no repeat of the incident when I first met her." Solbiort chuckles quietly.

Elgyn rolls his eyes good naturedly. "That was, as they say, a picnic compared to what's going on now. I presume she's already quizzed you about folks watching you, or reading your mail and whatnot..."

Solbiort gives Elgyn a curious glance, "Vhat you refer to, di-di?"

Elgyn spreads his hands. "Merely concerned that the folks after us might have found out about the Professor, is all. I would not want to see anything happen to him."

Solbiort says, "Ah. Vell, vas not thinking they'd be vatching us that close here, di-di, since ve're supposed to be at Newhall... but is goot point." She glances at Kali and grins, "Probably shouldn't mention you know us vell, professor."

Kali shakes his head, looking a little concerned. "Ah... I haven't noticed anything untoward? Or run into any unlikable people...?"

Elgyn shakes his head. "Wasn't even thinking about that, Captain... was thinking he might have been seen with us on Skamandrios. Or not, after all -- the sniper and his spotter are dead..."

Solbiort nods in satisfaction, "Goot. Should keep it that vay!" She cheerfully continues flying swiftly towards the university. Once there she parks next to the Anthropology Department and leans over to Kali, "Here you are, safe und sound!" She gives him a savoring kiss, then smiles at him, "If you are free later, call, ya?"

Elgyn was, unfortunately, entirely unprepared for that. Fortunately, both are not looking at him when they kiss, and the mule is made of a sturdy material. Kali returns the kiss warmly, seeming to melt into it a bit breathlessly. Blushing, he nods to Solbiort, smiling. "I will, Captain. Have a good day, the both of you!" Elgyn merely nods, not trusting his voice.

Solbiort beams and waves, then cheerfully whirls the mule about. "So, di-di, ve go fly now, ya?" She grins at him, adding, "Didn't know you vere interested!"

"Interested is not... exactly the word I would use, Ca- Solbiort. I have this new plan in mind for my life... to try and face head on the things that... scare me," Elgyn replies after a moment. "Moreover... I would not have one of those things be the one that most defines you and gives you joy." He smiles thoughtfully. "I want to experience flying the way you do... as something wondrous."

Solbiort gives Elgyn a surprised glance... then beams, pleased, "Vhat a lofely idea, di-di! Am happy to help, then." She gives him a quick run-down of both the development of flitter-wings amongst the valkyrior, and how slight shifts in balance affect flight on the sensitive and delicate little wings. Soon thereafter she's parked the mule on the edge of a wide-open, rolling prairie. "Hokay. Not a lot of updraft here from city's edge, but enough." She hops agilely out of the mule and starts unpacking the wing, "Vant to see how to put it together too, di-di?"

Elgyn nods promptly. "It would be good to know, though I doubt that I might ever be able to fly without you." The way his mouth shapes that particular thought sounds suspicious to even his less perceptive mind.

Solbiort chuckles, patting Elgyn's shoulder, "A flitter-ving is something von usually learns from childhood, true... but there are other vays to fly if you truly vish, di-di." She shows Elgyn how to properly prep and check the little wing, then runs quickly through how the passenger's harness works, since he'll be strapped to the wing in it. She also demonstrates the quick-release so he's not worried, although he may already remember all this from the previous time they went flying. Elgyn actually pays close attention, as his experience 6 years earlier is not fresh in his mind... moreover, knowledge is one of those things that can help quell fear.

Once she's done Solbiort swiftly and neatly straps Elgyn to the wing, then hefts it and whirls it with practiced ease around her, since there's no slingshot here. The little engine purrs to life and she leaps gracefully aboard as it lifts. Soon the two of them are spiraling slowly upwards, using both the engine and updraft to rise.

It's hard for Solbiort to tell at first, over the whirr of the motor and the air moving around them, but the familiarity of the melody is what finally twigs it for her... Elgyn is humming that lullaby that got stuck in her head. He has been doing so almost since the beginning to keep his calm as he stares at the open air, and the distance between the ground and himself. It's not that he doesn't trust Soli... which he does, with his life. But it is an instinctive reaction to being in a potentially dangerous situation that is not under his direct control. The song seems to do its work, however, and she can feel him breathing evenly as he looks around him...

Solbiort is half lying across him, half supporting her weight on her arms. She grins down at him, leaning her head down to murmur next to his ear, "Beautiful, isn't it, di-di?" She turns the engine off once the little wing is far, far above the ground, leaving only the soft whisper of the chill wind caressing their faces. They float effortlessly, drifting high over water-filled fields of rice and waterwheat, small clusters of trees and other foliage, and occasional clumps of buildings.

Elgyn's eyes are wide even before Solbiort whispers in his ear, taking in all around him... it is breathtaking. He's always been a man of the outdoors, and seeing it all from this high... he wonders why he did not ask for this sooner. It is a beauty he'd never before had a chance to appreciate, as the viewport in most flying vessels do not allow for this kind of sightseeing. But even as he takes all this in, she whispers to him, and he closes his eyes, suddenly imagining how Soli must look: the sun shining off her hair as it is caught in the wind, whipping behind her like a fiery contrail; her expression joyful; her body one with her flying instrument. "Yes," he murmurs. "Beautiful."

"This must be like coming home to you, Solbiort. It's been a long while since you've had a chance to do this," Elgyn says after a moment.

Solbiort is quite pleased to hear Elgyn seems to enjoy flying more this time around! She grins, "Oh, ya -- missed my little ving these last few months. Is better for you also now, di-di, vhen is not so snowy?"

Elgyn barks a laugh. "And cold and biting, and wrapped in smothering clothes to keep warm... yes, Solbiort, this is much better," he agrees. "Not all of us are as resistant to the cold as you are!"

Solbiort tosses her head back and laughs delightedly, the wind whipping the sound swiftly away. She grins, her eyes sparkling with pleasure, and sets the wing on a leisurely, easy path through the almost-cloudless sky, giving Elgyn a gorgeous tour of the area and a peaceful ride to boot. Maybe on some later flight she'll show off the more aerobatic capabilities of the flitter-wing -- for now she's proud of her little wing, and wants Elgyn to enjoy himself.

Enjoying himself is something Elgyn seems to be doing... after a while even asking her to turn this way or that, to get a better look at something below. He does not, for now, ask her to perform stunts... he knows as well as she does he's not ready for that. "It is perhaps no wonder my great, great ancestors once worshipped the power of the hawks and other birds of prey with their magnificent wingspan, to be able to fly like this," he muses at one point.

Solbiort smiles down at Elgyn for a moment before turning her attention back to evening out the wing's flight. "Do not know vhat birds of prey your vorld had... but our legends taught us of the brave, bright-vinged valkyrior, und that is who ve model our varriors on."

Elgyn shakes his head. "Birds of prey we had none... it was our peoples of Earth-that-was that honored the spirits of animals. I sometimes find it frustrating that we were not able to bring such creatures with us besides those that would sustain us."

Solbiort nods quietly, forgetting Elgyn cannot see her, "Ya... so much I fear ve haf lost."

Elgyn is quiet for a while, then pipes up again. "Solbiort, forgive me... but I think I rather prefer this kind of flying to that in the Chimera. It feels more..." he struggles for the word, "natural."

Solbiort chuckles quietly, "Is more difficult, ya. Easier to fly a ship than a ving... but revards are greater if such mastery von has."

Elgyn says, "It is more than that, Solbiort. As great a vessel as our Chimera is, it is still a thing of metal. It is not alive like the tree, not soft like the moss, not vital like a bird. The energy that powers it is not like the flames dancing at a campfire. I have seen many wonders since leaving home, but as much as I have come to appreciate them, they still don not feel entirely right to me." He smiles. "But this... this has a rightness to it I cannot begin to explain. If I close my eyes, I almost forget that your craft is under me, and it is only you carrying me, the wings on your back like your valkyrior," he murmurs.

Solbiort glances curiously at Elgyn, "For me, is a simple thing: my strength, my training, my qvickness, bonded vith my ving -- und in flight I am truly valkyrie, lifted by Sister Vind. Is that vhat you mean?"

Elgyn nods. "Exactly so. You achieve flight, maintain flight, through skill of body, not mastery of technology. It is you that keeps me aloft."

Solbiort smiles, "Ah, that I can understand. Is a great pleasure to test myself again vith Sister Vind... she is a tricksy und fickle lady indeed, although very mild on this planet." She chuckles, then adds quietly, "Am glad to see you are feeling better, di-di. Haf noticed your changes in behavior."

"I always feel better, Solbiort, when I feel useful. Strange as it may seem, those chickens gave me a boost when I needed it. These halfmoons vex me greatly, and I have not yet the wit to determine how we might stymie them," Elgyn murmurs.

Solbiort chuckles quietly, "Vell, am thinking ambush near Shadow vould be excellent idea... but vas thinking more of you yourself, di-di. You'd said you vere trying to... distance yourself more from feelings for me because is not proper. Am proud of you, di-di; is not easy to do."

It takes several seconds for Elgyn to even begin to understand what Solbiort was congratulating him about. When he finally does figure it out, his reaction is muddled. While not entirely wrong: he wanted to fly with her because he wanted to share one of his Captain's loves -- he had not exactly thought of it as a potentially romantic gesture until now. He makes a slightly choked noise, but then clears his throat and replies, "It only seems to me that one of the marks of an adult is to face one's fears. If I truly am a man, I should start acting like one."

Solbiort smiles, gently patting Elgyn's back, "You do fine, di-di. So, haf meditated on adult name?"

Elgyn blinks... he had almost forgotten. "I had spent time on it, yes, and I have been coming to an idea of it, yes. It is my hope that you will think it appropriate when I reveal it after the ceremony on Ulundi," he smiles.

Solbiort says, "Hokay; goot that you haf von in mind, then." She's silent a bit, her face turned to the wind, then quietly adds, "Vhen you haf your ceremony held, di-di... vill you vish also to be free of oath-bound?"

Elgyn has no immediate answer. "Whether or not I am free of my oath is not my decision, Solbiort," he finally says. "But I will tell you now that, with your blessing, I will stay with you for as long as you desire, no matter what that outcome."

Solbiort flies silently for a long while... but her hand remains resting warmly on Elgyn's back. Finally she smiles and dips her head to murmur to him, "You haf alvays had vhatever blessing I knew how to give, di-di. Time only makes that stronger, as I grow in visdom und learn more of vhat a blessing truly is." She chuckles softly, adding, "No volva, I, but vhat I know I vill glady share vith my trusted und faithful huskarl." She's silent for several heartbeats, although her hand strokes slowly down his back a few times as she thinks. Finally she smiles and adds, "Am courting, di-di, vhich you know. Vill give you her name, since I believe she returns my feelings, und vill be up to us to protect und cherish my valdojer... am courting Five Dragons."

Elgyn blinks in surprise, digesting that. "I would not have guessed... though perhaps I should have," he muses. He finds himself surprisingly okay with this idea -- but then he grimaces. "Gorramit... now I wish her son was not ensconced away," he grumbles.

Solbiort chuckles quietly, "Vill ask you to please keep that confidential, di-di, ya? Und vhy her son vorries you?"

Elgyn makes a discontented sound. "Captain... Solbiort, my last experience with him was a rather grievous insult. I would not have that hanging over my head, with you courting his mother."

Solbiort smiles, lightly running her hand over Elgyn's head and down his back in a relaxing caress, "Di-di, there vill be plenty of time to make redress... vonce ve take care of Far Thunder. For now, am hoping to stop by Skamandrios on the vay to Shadow, to reqvest of the Dragon Lady a token before battle." She smiles, resting her chin lightly on his head as she quietly adds, "And ve return victorious, then ve haf much to celebrate... und then my family avay from home vill her family properly meet, ya? Und after that I hope her to bring to my mothers also."

"Sounds like you've been thinking about this a lot. I hope things go as well as your recent cheeriness would seem to imply," Elgyn says honestly. "I feel certain your mothers would approve. Five Dragons is... a most impressive woman."

Solbiort laughs softly, "Hai, that she is! It may be she vill end up vith holt of her own to run if she impress them as I think she may -- und then ve shall vell be run ragged keeping up vith her, ya?" There's a touch of pride in her voice.

Elgyn tilts his head. "What do you mean exactly by 'a holt of her own'?"

Solbiort says, "Am thinking she is not von to rest on other's vings; she seems to vish power of her own as vell. On Midgaard such vomen become volvas or priestesses or run the great holts. She strikes me as more voman of action, not of advice or politics? Und so am thinking she vill create new holding again like she did on Skamandrios... but on Midgaard." She falls silent a moment, then gently adds, "You do not have to stay there though, di-di. Know you haf no vish to live on my homevorld."

"My home is where you are, Solbiort," Elgyn says finally. "Perhaps I would feel out of place on Midgaard, but... I could adapt. There might be room for one such as me, if I made the effort."

Solbiort blinks, then says startledly, "Vhat?! But I thought... you said you vould nefer be happy there? You haf changed your mind?"

Elgyn smiles a little. "Changed my mind... not exactly. But... well, remember our talk a moment ago about facing our fears? It seems to me that seeking to remain open to possibility and to experiences which were once... distasteful... well, that is a step towards facing fear, hmm?" He smiles a little wider. "Do not expect miracles of me, of course," he half teases.

Solbiort is silent for a heartbeat -- then she laughs softly again, tilting her body down a bit so she can wrap her arms along Elgyn's sides to gently hug him. Her voice holds a mix of surprise and pleasure, "Di-di, this is vunderbahr news! I am thrilled to hear it -- sheh-sheh so much!"

Elgyn shivers at the embrace... and tries to quash the sudden impulse of smugness that rises to mind, Can you make her this happy, Professor? "That alone makes the effort worthwhile, Solbiort," he replies.

Solbiort chuckles softly, straightening up to correct the gentle downward dive her small movement initiated in the wing... but she resumes contentedly stroking one hand slowly and repeatedly along his back. There's a quiet but great happiness in her voice as she simply says, "This means very much to me, di-di... sheh-sheh again."

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Last modified: 2006-Mar-04 21:02:19

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