Previously on Warriors of Destiny: The Warriors and company continued their respite in Aventine, unaware that back in the mortal realm, on a small outer rim planet, trouble had come for Stryder and Kyra.
The Bane, a slave empire known to conquer low-tech planets, had arrived at the peaceful planet Stryder and Kyra had unknowingly teleported to. As Bane ships destroyed what little resistance the planet would offer, their slave ships began hunting and capturing slaves. The pair and their native companion Velyn, were captured and taken aboard the Bane capital ship in orbit.
Finn, a powerful being, arrived in Aventine to tell the Warriors that he had discovered Stryder and Kyra�s location. However; Finn knew only that the Bane may attack, and after gathering everybody together, he used a considerable amount of power to send them to the mortal realm.
The Warriors and company found themselves on a grassy hill overlooking the Ettik and it�s offspring, a smaller vessel in the same red and black coloring. Alexei and an orange-haired woman, the pilot chosen to bond with Ettik�s child, were also there waiting.
*Time passed: none*
Alexei and the woman look up the hill after the sound from Ettik. Alexei raises a hand to wave then shouts out, heavy Russian accent drifting along, �Right on time! It�s been a while, come on over!�
The woman rests her hands on her hips, giving a studious glance over the group members.
Elsewhere: Stryder cringes as he stares at the ceiling, the cell�s force-field having repulsed him during his attempt to teleport himself out. �Ow...so much for that idea�� he says painfully as he leans up, giving an evil glance to the orange field.
Shadow looks at his hands, �Next time, I teleport myself. That is the last time I take the Finn Express.�
�Have to admit, I did miss the ship,� Tabris says as he takes a few steps through the tall grass and glances over at Claron.
Valrash looks around.
Luna looks around the field of tall grass, her eyes landing on Alexei. �Well that�s a grand sight,� she smiles and motions toward the new ship.
�Largest child I�ve ever seen,� Eclipse comments as he watches Luna gesture.
Luna smiles at Eclipse, �I don�t think I would even want to play midwife in that instance.�
Claron smiles at Tabris. �I did, too. Damn, Ettik had her baby ship!�
Tzaphiel jumps as the grass brushes her legs. �Where are we?� she mumbles as she looks around the strange place.
Clarice waves back to Alexei, �It has been a long time.�
The hull damage on the smaller ship slowly repairs itself, aided by a pair of small red spider-like bots standing upside-down on the hull.
DracBlue comments, �Looks like the little one is hurt.�
The orange-haired woman leans over to Alexei and mutters something to him, then walks back to examine the bots and the hull repairs.
Luna walks over to Alexei with Eclipse. �Would you like to make the introductions, old friend?�
Shadow follows Luna over to the two strangers.
Valrash continues looking and says to Drac, �Nice observation, Captain Obvious.�
Arwyn stand quietly next to Claron and Tabris.
Alexei smiles at Luna, �Introductions? Ahh, yes...that�s Sikozu, the pilot chosen for our little one. Ship doesn�t have a name yet, Ettik was wanting you guys to do the honors.� Glancing around, Alexei notices several new faces, �And to those I don�t know, I�m Alexei and that�s Ettik.� He motions over his shoulder.
Tzaphiel looks between Drac and Valrash curiously, but doesn�t comment.
DracBlue snaps back, �At least I can grasp simple tasks, groundling.�
Valrash responds back to Drac, �Yea, about the only thing you can grasp.�
Tzaphiel chuckles and relaxes a little in the company of the strangers around her. She leans in closer to Drac and whispers, �Who are all these people?�
As the smaller ship�s spider-bots finish repairs, they skitter across the red and black hull and disappear into a small hatch on it�s belly. Sikozu turns and watches the group, quietly walking over to the small ramp extended from the ship�s underside.
Arwyn nods at Alexei, �I am Arwyn Kennyrrae, Princess of Gyssethia.�
Meanwhile; Stryder gets to his feet and looks back at Velyn and Kyra, �Don�t suppose either of you have any ideas?�
Velyn shakes his head, still taken aback by all the advanced technology he knew nothing about.
Luna places a paw gently on the hull of the Ettik and purrs softly.
�A princess, eh?� Alexei raises his unscarred brow, �Well, there�s enough room for everyone on Ettik. It�ll be a few months before the little one grows enough to have more than a pilot�s quarters.�
DracBlue gestures, �We got lots of people here, but the main ones are Cara, Kabal, Clarice, Claron, Tabris, Luna, Eclipse, Syne, Katie, Shadow, Arwyn�and I think that one is Alexei.� He points to each before moving on.
Kabal glances between the two ships, �Living ships...interesting.�
Claron squeezes Tabris� hand, Ettik�s baby reminding her of the loss of her own children.
^Shinta lifts his head up from against the tree. �Hmm, seems a nice day to wander the country side and get lost for a while.�
�Well, no treat for you, drow�.You didn�t obey being beckoned.� Tewyn smirks and keeps walking.
�Back to where it all started,� Syne talks quietly to himself as he walks near the ships.
Tzaphiel�s eyes follow the names of those in our company as Drac points them out.
DracBlue continues, �If I forgot anyone�they�re either not important enough, or I don�t know them well enough.�
�Well, no sense in standing around. If you�re all here, that means you�re ready to go find those kids,� Alexei says as he motions to Sikozu and starts heading for Ettik�s long ramp, �Before you ask, Finn told me you�d be dropping by after he left.�
Clarice moves down the grassy hill towards Ettik, still absorbed in her own thoughts as she boards the ship. �Good to be back aboard, Ettik.� She rubs her hand softly across the ship wall as she heads off in the direction of the quarters.
Wraith watches the group and the ships quietly. Giving a nod to thin air, he heads for the larger ship, Ettik they called it, though it was much more than that.
Tzaphiel just nods as she watches Syne. �I�ll learn them in time, thanks,� she murmurs to Drac.
DracBlue remains still, next to Cara as he nods, waiting for her to move.
Syne catches Tzaphiel watching him and shoots her a wave of his hand. His mind wondering what exactly she was doing here.
Luna steps lightly up the ramp still purring softly.
�Come on, Kabal. I�ll help you get acquainted with our new home,� Cara glances over at him.
�The home away from home,� Eclipse says to Luna following her up the ramp, his gaze falling onto the slowly moving patterns on Ettik�s hull.
�We�ll find them, baby, don�t worry.� Tabris returns the squeeze to Claron, giving her his best smile of reassurance.
Tzaphiel lowers her gaze as Syne catches her watching him. �You have to face him soon, your gonna be stuck on a ship with nowhere to hide.� She grumbles silently to herself.
Sikozu disappears into the smaller ship with only the sound of her heels clicking on the ramp being heard. The ramp slides up into the ship, the opening it was leading to now disappearing seamlessly into surrounding hull.
Claron takes a deep breath. �That�s easier said then done. I can�t help it. I�m worried�and that�s all there is to it.�
Luna takes Eclipse�s hand in her paw and smiles. �Best home away from home I have ever known. At least I know that I won�t be molested in the shower unless I want to be.�
Claron then nudges Tabris, �I suppose we should offer Arwyn some assistance��
Alexei waits just inside the ramp room and giving enough room for everyone to pass him, �Those with quarters will find them as you left �em, those without will be assigned ones.�
�Oh?� Tabris looks at Claron, then over at Arwyn.
Valrash walks up to the ship and stands off to the side looking at it.
�No need to waste a bed on me, anywhere�s fine,� Syne calls out as starts up the ramp.
Shadow starts walking towards the ship.
Eclipse leads Luna down the hallway to Ettik�s two level central chamber, �Now, your quarters were down this corridor, right?� He points a black clawed finger to the left passageway.
Tzaphiel moves slowly toward the ship, keeping some distance between herself and Syne.
Claron nudges Tabris towards Arwyn. �We�d be happy to show you around the ship, Arwyn.�
Luna glances around getting her bearings to the layout of the ship again and nods, �Yes, I believe our quarters are there.�
Arwyn glances up at Tabris and Claron nervously. �I-I have never been aboard something like that. It looks like it is SWALLOWING the people as they get near it.�
DracBlue pulls out a gem, carves the ship and the smaller one next to it. Then places it in his pouch and continues following Cara.
Wraith moves up alongside Tzaphiel, looking at her with his emotionless expression, �Sooner rather than later�� his tone is cold as he studies her with almost black-colored eyes.
^Shinta walks past some of the soldiers collecting any tangible armor from the dead and shakes his head, �Fallen along way from those days of delegating peace, huh monk�.Do not lead that life of a nomad anymore.�
Claron tries to suppress the urge to laugh. �I promise you, they are all perfectly fine. Come along, we�ll show you.�
Shadow enters the ship nodding to Alexei.
Arwyn hesitates for a moment before she nods her head, �You�re sure of this?�
Eclipse nods and leads Luna to the passageway and after turning into a wider corridor, he takes her a few doors down. A small panel on the door is indented with �Luna� and a room number �115� in common and Gul-Qian scripts.
Valrash enters the ship and begins to wander until he finds a place that looks like a cafeteria. He enters and sits in there.
Claron and Tab start to move towards Ettik. Glancing over her shoulder back at Arwyn, �Absolutely.�
Tewyn stops and twitches his ears, then turns back seeing ^Shinta trailing behind him. �Well�monk, what are you still doing here? Shouldn�t you be with the others?�
Arwyn moves slowly behind Claron and Tabris.
^Shinta glances up toward Tewyn, �Well one could ask you the same there, elf.�
Tzaphiel looks over at Wraith, �Don�t do that,� she grumbles at him as she steps onto the ramp. �It�s very frustrating to have a stranger know your thoughts, and even more so when they comment on them.�
Tewyn shrugs, �Well they didn�t promise any treats if I behaved and didn�t want to kill the stray�so this drow didn�t obey the doggie whistle.
Shadow follows Valrash and sits down next to him in the galley.
The galley of the Ettik has two long tables with several smaller circular tables to either side. Towards the far end of the room is the replicator station, several storage cabinets, and appliances and counters for food preparation. To fore and aft, the galley walls are three-story tall paneled windows.
Luna runs her paw over the name indented in the panel and purrs, �Awwww, Ettik, that was nice.� Then opens the door and steps in to the room.
Claron smiles at Alexei as they pass him.
Wraith smirks ever-so faintly, �I cannot see your thoughts,� he says quietly as he steps up the ramp ahead of her and enters the ship.
^Shinta raises a brow and smirks, �Guess Clarice needs to recertify her obedience training on you then.�
Arwyn looks around nervously as she enters the ship, sticking close behind Claron and Tab.
Luna finds her quarters exactly as they were left, save a made bed and the addition of rose colored curtains to either side of the room�s large oval-shaped viewport.
Tzaphiel stares at him with her mouth open. �Well, I don�t think in pictures.�
Tewyn starts to laugh. �HA! A human tame me, never!.�Umm�well, ok maybe a little�.YOU GO TO HELL, MONK!� grumbling under his laughter.
�I think there were several empty quarters in the same hall as ours,� Tabris says to Claron and Arwyn as he gets his bearings.
^Shinta pats Tewyn on the head, �Good boy�.You may get house broken yet.�
Syne heads up the ramp motioning for Katie to follow him, a frown on his face as he notices her seeming distant.
Tewyn�s eyes narrow, �Well at least this dog can keep the trainer�s attention�.Mine isn�t out looking for a new pup.�
Luna moves to the viewport and runs her paw down the soft fabric hanging there. Turning, she smiles and jumps onto the bed, bouncing for a moment and landing on her back with a laugh. �Still comfy.�
Kabal looks around the soft-copper colored hallways of the ship, �Very interesting, suppose I�ll have to find somewhere to stay around here.�
Tewyn pushes it a bit further, �And at least I get a few treats now and then, more than I can say for you�.You barely get table scraps these days.�
Claron nods her head, �I think so. The rooms are not like the castle�s, but I think you will find them comfortable enough, Arwyn.�
Wraith wanders down a corridor, pausing in front of a room located near the rear of the ship. Sliding the door open, he looks at the simple quarters and nods to thin air again, �This will do.�
^Shinta narrows his eyes, �Mind your tongue, drow, lest you lose it� Anyone can get a treat if it shuts them up and makes them stay on a leash.�
Eclipse chuckles lightly, �Jumping on the bed already, are we?� He walks over to the edge of the bed and sits down, looking at Luna.
Tzaphiel looks around as she enters the ship.
Tewyn rubs his chin. �So who is leashing who then.�Syne leashing Katie, or is it the other way around, and you have just been sent to the pound?�
Alexei nods to Tzaphiel, �Welcome on board, miss. Feel free to look around, or if you�d rather, you can look at a map to get the layout.�
Luna smiles at Eclipse. �I can vividly recall waking up to see you hanging from that spot on my ceiling. I can�t think of any place I would rather spend my time away from home, than here with you.�
DracBlue follows Cara, not at all interested in doing so at the moment. �You�re safe here. I�m going to my quarters.� He turns and walks towards his quarters.
Tzaphiel tilts her head as she listens to Alexei, �Map?�
Standing, Eclipse places his hands against the wall and climbs up it, reaching up to take hold of the ceiling as he moves into the spot he remembered, �Right about here wasn�t it?� he smiles.
Luna almost swallows her tongue in shock, �I didn�t know you could still do that!�
�So, what do you think of our new home, Kabal?� Cara asks as she finishes giving Kabal the grand tour of Ettik, and begins to lead them down the quarter�s corridor.
As if on cue, a flat holographic map expands on a nearby wall next to Tzaphiel. A blueprint style map shows her the two passenger decks, along with the engineering deck, bridge, galley and cargo bays.
^Shinta knocks Tewyn to the ground. �You will have the cage right beside me before long,� glancing back over his shoulder. �Your leash holder hasn�t let go of a few things from the past with a certain colorful eyed fellow.�
�I kept a few abilities,� Eclipse says as he looks down at her from his spot on the ceiling. �Shifting my gravity center can be very useful.�
DracBlue walks to the door that was his quarters and opens them. Still finding the jeweled welcome mat and a few figurines, he says, �Time to decorate the rest of my room.�
�It�s not bad, not as expansive as Mother�s, but it will do,� Kabal says with a nod of approval.
Tzaphiel blinks quickly and looks at the map. �That is amazing,� she tells Alexei. She sees the names labeled on each of the assigned quarters. Locating hers, she breathes a sigh of relief that it is not near Syne�s. �Thanks, I think I can manage now,� as she moves away to find her place.
Alexei nods and calls back to her, �If you have any questions, just ask Ettik or myself.�
DracBlue pulls out his pouch and starts pulling out figurines that he has carved over the past few weeks. He begins placing them across the room in varying manners. He then sits down on his bed and wonders what life will be like now.
Tewyn stands and brushes off his clothing. �Whew, well no soul detachment that time, so your not to angry yet. She is free, it�s been obvious for a long time I have no rein on her.�
^Shinta smirks, �I will save you a seat in the kennel then.�
Luna looks up at him and smiles. �You got any more surprises for me?�
�So, you think you�ll manage?� Tabris looks questioningly at Arwyn as he takes one last look over her quarters.
Shadow looks over to Valrash. �So, do you know if we just claim our own quarters�or if they give them to us?�
Valrash shrugs, �No clue.�
Alexei waits as the remainder of the group boards, then turns as the ramp retracts and the hatch closes. Heading for the bridge, he blinks quickly as long range sensor readouts and course projections flood into his mind.
Syne stands at the end of the corridor, watching Katie disappear into her quarters. Shaking his head, he turns and heads for the galley.
Tzaphiel steps into a cargo bay and pauses. �Well hell, I missed a turn somewhere.�
Arwyn nods her head. �Yes, I�ll manage. But how does one know how to get around on this thing?� glancing back at Tabris and Claron after looking around her room.
The low hum of Ettik�s engines creep along the corridors and rooms as the large ship lifts off the grass field. Landing struts retract and disappear seamlessly. The smaller ship thrums with it�s singular engine as it rises, moving faster than Ettik but still showing that taking-off was new to it.
Tewyn barks, then wags his tail. He then narrows his gaze at ^Shinta. �You shouldn�t agitate a stray, they might bite you on the ass.�
Tzaphiel looks around for few minutes then grumbles, �Damn it, smells like dog in here.� She exits the cargo bay and retraces her steps.
On cue again, a small holographic map appears on the wall by Tzaphiel, a blinking line tracing itself out into the corridor, making a turn, then ending up at a highlighted room.
Claron smiles at Arwyn. �Just ask Ettik.�
Tzaphiel looks at the map, �Too bad I can�t fold it up and put it in my pocket. Oh wait, I don�t have pockets.� She follows, makes the turn it indicated and walks into the appointed room.
DracBlue grabs two carvings, one of Cara and the other Tza. He peers at them both. �Damn, I�m confused.�
Tabris nods, �It�s a very smart ship, and you can always com somebody if you have questions.� He shakes his head shortly, feeling like a tour guide.
�Not really,� Eclipse lets go of the ceiling and lands on the bed with a bounce, �Just have that trick, and my senses and strength.�
^Shinta smile benevolently, �You know they neuter overly aggressive dogs to make them calm down.�I will pass that on to Clarice when I see her again.�
Entering the galley, Syne wanders over to the replicator and looks at it�s menu screen.
Tewyn laughs a bit. �Well at least I used mine before they got chopped off, more than you can say.�
Cara stands watching Kabal. ~Why so quiet, brother? Not liking our new home?~
Tzaphiel�s room is spartan in it�s current state with a bed, closet, console-desk and bathroom. The large oval viewport gives view of blue sky and clouds as Ettik begins exiting the atmosphere.
Luna giggles as Eclipse�s bounce jostles her around. She sits up and unbuckles the straps holding her sword sheath. �I don�t think I really want to wear this all the time.�
~No, it�s fine. Just missing the old one sometimes...~ Kabal sighs as he looks at the door to his assigned quarters, �But that�s the past. Right now we have to find Stryder, so that I can get some answers from him.�
DracBlue puts both of the statues near his bed and sighs, wishing someone like a father were here for him to talk with.
Tzaphiel checks that the door is closed, then turns off the lights and sits on the bed staring out the viewport as she shifts slowly to a different form.
�So what are you two up to?� Syne questions Valrash and Shadow without looking away from the replicator. He skims a finger over the selections, rubbing his chin with indecision as he mutters, �Oysters? What the hell are those?�
�I should be able to manage then. Thank you both.� Arwyn says in a tone resembling that of servants being dismissed.
Shadow looks over at Syne. �I was just trying to figure out how to get my own quarters.�
Tabris steps out into the hallway and waits for Claron, giving Arwyn a bow of his head before he leaves.
Valrash answers, �Waiting to be assigned quarters here.�
~Don�t forget your promise to me, Kabal. You will not harm him.~ Cara gives Kabal a stern look.
�Simply ask the ship where they are, plenty of empty ones. This ship can hold �bout hundred warm bodies from what I can tell.� Syne says, picking a beverage from the list and watching it appear in a tall cup.
Claron nods her head at Arwyn, then follows Tabris out into the hallway. �Nothing like being told one�s place,� she whispers to Tabris.
^Shinta sighs. �Yep, your right...I�m the wrong shape, size, species�so it seems. Guess I�m better off wandering around with just these two.�
Valrash raises an eye, �Ask the ship?�
Shadow just looks at the wall and asks, �Do I have quarters here, Ettik?�
Luna leans over the edge of the bed and lays the sword down on the floor just under the edge, using her tail for balance.
Syne turns taking a sip and nodding, �Yup, it lives and breathes just like you. Well maybe not exactly like you, but it�s a life-form in it�s own sense.�
Tewyn crooks his head sideways, �Ummm�are you a gay monk?�.Not that there is anything wrong with that.�
Again, on cue, a map appears on the surface of the wall. Soft light highlighting two empty quarters and a blinking line tracing itself from the galley to the two rooms.
Tewyn looks thoughtful, �Though that may explain your Remy fellow a lot.�
Shadow nods, �Thank you, Ettik.� And then heads for his room.
Valrash takes a minute to do anything but stare at the holographic map and then says, �Thanks,� as he walks towards his own room.
^Shinta blushes, �Remy watched too much�umm�what�s the word...porn. I think it is when he was alive, now he just watches everyone else when he can. And is upset he never got to try it�.Though at least I haven�t picked up a female spirit...I�d have to see him trying to do those things�.� shudders.
Claron slips her hand into Tab�s. �Do you suppose anyone has filled Alexei in on Stryder and Kyra?� completely forgetting that Finn wouldn�t have sent them back to the ship otherwise.
Alexei�s Russian accent comes to life on the ship�s com, �We�re now in orbit and setting course for the Outer Rim. All hands prepare for hyperspace jump, anybody in cargo bays 1 and 2 evacuate the areas in preparation for linkup with our second ship.�
Arwyn looks around trying to figure out where the voice is coming from. �Hyperspace jump?� she wonders.
�Always thought this part was a good show,� Syne says to the room as he sits looking out a window and sipping from his glass.
Shadow finds his room and enters. Noting a bed, he decides to lay down, not sure why he is tired.
Luna looks up at Eclipse. �Did he say Outer Rim?�
Valrash looks over his room, and exits, then starts wandering the ship.
Tewyn thinks. �Hmm, a virgin carrying around a virgin soul�.Damn, now that can be one hell of a sacrifice. You could make someone one an all powerful son-a-bitch there, monk-y.�
Tzaphiel watches the scene out her window as she thinks about how she�s going to deal with her new found friends, and Syne.
The starboard side of Ettik fills with a heavy sound of hull rearranging itself. Cargo bays 1 and 2 begin converting into a large open hold, allowing half of the smaller ship to position itself inside. As it completes the move, Ettik�s hull carefully latches onto it.
Claron and Tab enter their quarters. �Home sweet home��
^Shinta sighs, �You�re telling me�.Double virgin human.�I�m a sacrifice waiting to happen.�
Tabris nods as he tosses their gear on the bed, kicks off his boots and heads for the bathroom, �And restroom, sweet restroom.�
Tewyn nods, �Too bad I didn�t know you during my dark circle days. Damn, I would have given Daegriss a run for his throne, I tell ya.�
Claron giggles as she watches Tabris go into the bathroom. �For once, it isn�t me in need of a bathroom.�
�Linkup complete, initiating hyperspace window,� Alexei�s voice rattles the coms again. Ettik�s engines thrum becomes a bass pulsing as space seems to come undone in front of the ship. From the hole, a rainbow of colors writhes out as Ettik slips inside, stars disappear and space becomes a blaze of light yellows speeding by the viewports.
^Shinta thumbs his nose at Tewyn. �Yes, I can hear you now�.Oh great power, I offer this being for the power to rule the world�.Oh wait, he is a double dipper, scratch that, make it rule the universe.�
Tewyn�s eyes wander to the skies, daydreaming. �Oh, the fun I could of had...the fun, the fun.�
Cargo bay 1�s door opens as Sikozu glances back at half the smaller ship nestled securely in it�s half-berth. She sighs, �You�ll get used to it eventually, young one. The first few times can be scary, I know.� She glances at one of Ettik�s crab bots as it skitters past.
Claron moves over to the window and watches the rainbow of colors outside. �We will find you,� she mumbles, trying to convince herself.
Luna looks over at the altar in the corner. �It�s still there.�
Waking from his short nap, Stryder blinks wearily. Awoken by the sound of a small grey tray sliding onto the floor. �Ugh,� he gives a look of disgust at the pile of tan clumpy slop sitting on the tray.
Velyn kneels next to the tray and sniffs, �It appears edible...though beyond that I cannot say.�
�So it is,� Eclipse says with a nod. �He did say everything was as we left it.�
Katie sits on her bed, running her hands over the covers affectionately. �It�s good to be back, Ettik. I just wish it was under a better circumstance.� She sighs and rises, staring at herself in the mirror.
Watching the bathroom door disappear into the wall, Tabris finishing drying his hands off and tossing the towel over his shoulder, �I wonder how Gabe is doing, we kinda left without saying anything.�
Tzaphiel sees a glowing spot appear on her skin and smiles. She sighs and resumes her human form. �I suppose I should get this over with. I can�t hide out in here forever.� Runs her fingers thru her hair and stands up to leave. She remembers to put some clothes on just as she opens the door.
Sitting quietly on his bed, Wraith shifts his gaze to the air several times, as if watching invisible speakers. He tilts his head and nods, �Yes, helping them save the others will build trust. Without it, finding the others would be difficult.�
DracBlue leaves his room, looking his normal happy self, and walks to the galley.
Kyra groans and rolls over. �Something stinks all to hell.� She rubs her rolling stomach.
Claron continues to look out the window. Troubled by her own thoughts, she seemingly doesn�t hear Tabris.
�Our �dinner�, if you can call it that,� Stryder says to Kyra, his attention on her as he hears her groan.
DracBlue nods to Syne as he enters and walks over to the replicator and orders an iron bar. Taking the iron bar, he sits down and starts slowly eating it, looking like he�s thinking about something.
Kyra sits up, looking green. �Methinks, starving might be the better choice.�
Luna lays there watching Eclipse lazily.
Kyra eyes the tray. �It looks like something my dog would have vomited up.� She looks Stryder over.
�Travel time to the Outer Rim is expected to take about a day, maybe two depending on hyperspace flux,� Alexei chimes in over the com. �Updates will be given as necessary, otherwise sit back and enjoy the ride.�
Tzaphiel steps out into the hallway and asks, �So, Ettik? Does your map show where passengers are at the moment? Cause it would sure save some time if I knew where Syne was.�
�I�m not certain which is more repulsive, this meal or the monsters,� Velyn comments, moving to a wall and sitting down cross-legged with his back resting against it.
Katie�s tummy rumbles and she sighs. �I suppose food might be in order.� Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she leaves her room and heads to the galley.
Kyra crawls as far away from the tray as she can, sitting with her back to the wall. �They kinda look like one and the same, from what I�ve seen.�
A map appears for Tzaphiel, a small circle showing on the map as it moves down a hallway and takes a turn into another.
Kyra�s mind goes back to the monsters� �plans� for her and she shudders. �We�ve got to get out of here,� she whispers to herself.
Syne glances over his shoulder at Drac, �I�m guessing not a lot of people can sit and watch you eat that stuff.�
Clarice lays on her bed cradling a pillow, �You buried all those past memories before, you can do it again. Your father can�t hurt you ever again. Finn made sure of that. And Tewyn can only cause you hurt if you allow it. Don�t allow it. Tewyn loves you. Or so he says. You can always ice your heart again.��she rambles on. Shudders as she remembers what her father used to call her.
DracBlue nods, �I think it�s the metal snapping sound that most can�t handle. Sounds worse if you eat humans though.�
Tzaphiel watches as the map appears on the wall across from her and she sees the galley highlighted along with the proper route marked out. �You are so good,� she tells Ettik as she follows the instructions.
During her traversing the halls, Tzaphiel runs across the source of the dot on the map. One of Ettik�s crab bots skitters past, carrying a clear cylinder with a small glob of green-metallic liquid in it. It chirps at her to avoid being stepped on and continues on, heading for the map-designated quarters for Syne.
Tzaphiel jumps back against the wall, out of the way of the little metal bug. �Oh, good lord. Can�t he contain himself for crying out loud?�
�I suppose...never eaten humans myself,� Syne turns on his seat to look at Drac. �Could help if you chewed with your mouth shut, humans like it when people do that.�
Tzaphiel walks into the galley just in time to hear Syne�s advice. �Am I interrupting something?� looking from Drac to Syne.
DracBlue pushes the last of the large iron bar into his mouth and makes a large metallic snapping sound with his mouth closed, then says, �It doesn�t help, but I�ll continue to do it.�
Katie enters, heading straight for the replicator with a nod to Drac and Syne. She orders a bowl of fruit and some yogurt, with a glass of tea, then takes her food to the table and sits, nibbling the repast in silence.
Tzaphiel crosses her arms and looks at Drac. �Ok, that�s something I haven�t seen in ages.�
Arwyn paces back in forth in her room. �Deciding to help the Warriors find the boy and girl, might not have been one of your better ideas.�
DracBlue laughs and says, �What? A strong jaw?�
Tzaphiel shivers, �Sure�that too,� as she moves to the replicator and gets herself a drink. Turning, she moves to sit across from Syne.
DracBlue gets up and gets another bar. Chomping into it, he chews it with his mouth closed, still making horrible grinding and snapping sounds. He sits back down, saying, �Oh, Syne, this is Tzaphiel.�
Sikozu enters the bridge of the Ettik, her green eyes studying the 360 degree view on the viewport. �If we�re heading into Bane space, it will mean combat. Combined, our firepower should be enough, but the young one is untested in the field.�
Alexei nods to Sikozu, �We know...Ettik and I will try avoid engagements as much as possible, but�� he glances from behind his black hair at her. Sikozu shifts her gaze, �I will do my best to keep him safe, but he will fight if his parent is in danger. And with a combat pilot at his helm, he�ll have experience to draw from.�
As the Ettik, it�s offspring, and her crew speed towards the outer rim of the Milky Way, another adventure begins. The Bane slave-ship makes it�s slow return to Empire-conquered space waiting to deliver it�s newest slaves to the prison planet Acheron...