NationStates Jolt Archive

As he entered the biotube, Steve mumbled a response to the Doctors most-likely-rhetorical question. "It would've been more useful to scan Ivan or Herbert, but they'd have the air crushed out of their lungs if you brought 'em in here."

Internal: Claustrophobic? Where does he think I've been living for the past six months? A luxury hotel? Kinda hard to fit one o' those in a sardine can....

ooc: I forgot to warn you, the doc's a little bit of a prick.

ic:

The doctor muses a bit as data runs through his processing center. "Well, damn. Odd genetic makeup you have there, floaty." He shrugs, and begins taking the "photographs" of the guy's genome.

~*~

Back in the Scarlet Chamber, Blu floats over to the edge of the gravity field and summons the little girl. She whispers a few things to her, and then turns to the others. May I get you some refreshment? Drinks? Food? Smokable?

Mainframe Partition

This is getting me nowhere. Alshai uncurled his persona in cyberspace--not much more than a transition from a passive near-fetal position to a more active and ready posture--and firmed his mind. All that matters for now is that I am me; I'll figure out the rest when I have a spare moment and am situated. He scoffs. Alshai Kommetrez, man of action. Still, it makes one thoughtful. What was me has been destroyed... and yet I remain--the same I. I suppose that means that my brain, what used to be me, is no less a shell than the body I left or the body I am going to enter.

Hmm... that's an odd thought. Entering a body, just being a shell or a vehicle... an avatar. He looks through the vidfeed at 'his' body again. That's not actually me... I'm really just a bunch of data in a storage medium, a runtime. Probably a depressingly small one, too, considering the size of the Mainframe as a whole.

Damn, for being a member of a hive-mind, I sure do an excellent job of sequestering myself away. No need to be lonely right now... but who to call and visit, hrm?

> Hmm... Automata-Designate AK1 to anyone in range, do you read?
# We hear you.
> Thank you, Mainframe. Good to remember I'm never quite alone.
# What is your request for Us?
> Someone to talk to, preferably another construct-mind. I'm not quite ready to become conversant with the gestalt quite yet.
# Understood. Any construct in particular?
> At your (Our?) discretion... actually, I'd like to speak with B249 if she's available.

ooc: I forgot to warn you, the doc's a little bit of a prick.

Forgot to warn the character, perhaps. I already know that out-of-character, from reading through other RPs.

ic:

The doctor muses a bit as data runs through his processing center. "Well, damn. Odd genetic makeup you have there, floaty." He shrugs, and begins taking the "photographs" of the guy's genome.

Probably impossible to talk in his current situation, but if he could, Steve would've been saying something to the effect of "Well, duh. Not as weird as them other dudes, though. I'm only second generation, which means just one set of mods, as opposed to seven or eight as you move down the line."

Back in the Scarlet Chamber, Blu floats over to the edge of the gravity field and summons the little girl. She whispers a few things to her, and then turns to the others. May I get you some refreshment? Drinks? Food? Smokable?

Ivan and Herbert looked at each other for a moment, then turned back to face Blu.

"Anything you've got has to be better than the crap we've been eating. Methinks a nice juicey steak sounds good... fried shrimp, mangos... Oo! Crispy BLT, with fresh wet lettuce and the bacon nice and lean... knock yourself out! Oh, figuratively, of course. I think I'll have to have a bit of everything available at some point before we leave."

As Ivan listed foods, Herb seemed to go off into another world for a bit, staring off into space. He came back with "Orange soda and chocolate milk... not at the same time, of course... then again, I've never tried that, maybe I'll be adventurous and have orange carbonated chocolate milk!"

(*bump*, but also...)

"What about the ship?"
"I dunno, what *about* the ship?"
"It needs to eat, too."
"Why yes, I'd forgotten, xenon... Blu, would it be too much trouble to mooch and refuel here at the WorldDisc? We can find some way to pay you back later...."

"Aha! I've got it! Whadaya know 'bout MetaStable Metallic Hydrogen?"

> Hmm... Automata-Designate AK1 to anyone in range, do you read?
# We hear you.
> Thank you, Mainframe. Good to remember I'm never quite alone.
# What is your request for Us?
> Someone to talk to, preferably another construct-mind. I'm not quite ready to become conversant with the gestalt quite yet.
# Understood. Any construct in particular?
> At your (Our?) discretion... actually, I'd like to speak with B249 if she's available.

ooc: I had a post in reply to this.... not sure what happened to it...

ic:

# She can hear you, AK1. That is what the designate is for. Observe.

Suddenly, he could feel his designate being used somewhere in the Mainframe, and his mind automatically partitions, sending out a part of him to seek out the conversation. The feeling is wierd, the disconnection of being two places at once, and he finds the conversation. M2 and M11 are discussing his recent "advancement into mechanica", and the details involved with this first-ever transformation.

[Internal] Bizarre...

# Understanding achieved?

Beetoo smiles softly to herself, and she sends part of herself to appear before Kommetrez. She is dressed in a flowing white shift, her long brown hair blowing slightly around her in a fabricated breaze. "Hello, Alshai. I had hoped that We would meet like this..."

She leans in, and gives him a close hug. "You are one of Us now. We are your Family, We are Angelus."

"Anything you've got has to be better than the crap we've been eating. Methinks a nice juicey steak sounds good... fried shrimp, mangos... Oo! Crispy BLT, with fresh wet lettuce and the bacon nice and lean... knock yourself out! Oh, figuratively, of course. I think I'll have to have a bit of everything available at some point before we leave."

As Ivan listed foods, Herb seemed to go off into another world for a bit, staring off into space. He came back with "Orange soda and chocolate milk... not at the same time, of course... then again, I've never tried that, maybe I'll be adventurous and have orange carbonated chocolate milk!"

Blu grins, and nods to the servant girl. We wish to make Our guests feel comfortable here.

A minute or so later, the little girl returns with a large platter of food floating behind her on a gravplate. She bows, and pushes the plate into the null-gravity area. It sails through the air, the gravetic dome holding the food on the plate.

Eat! Drink! And be merry! Blu grins and floats over to rest beside them as they begin to eat.

~*~

Emtoo frowns. "Well, We have everything We need. You may go now."

Emtoo frowns. "Well, We have everything We need. You may go now."

"Go where? I haven't the slightest idea where I am right now. Er... well, I'm in some sort of clinic, but, in relation to the rest of the Disc...."

(*bump*, but also...)

"What about the ship?"
"I dunno, what *about* the ship?"
"It needs to eat, too."
"Why yes, I'd forgotten, xenon... Blu, would it be too much trouble to mooch and refuel here at the WorldDisc? We can find some way to pay you back later...."

"Aha! I've got it! Whadaya know 'bout MetaStable Metallic Hydrogen?"

Metallic hydrogen is also a potential high energy propellant. The metallic state of hydrogen is formed when solid hydrogen is compressed under very high pressures (about 1.4 million atmospheres [Mbar]). It is assumed to exist in the cores of the outer planets where the high pressures are available for compression. For use as a propellant, the compressed metallic hydrogen would be allowed to "expand" or relax to the normal nonmetallic solid state, thus releasing the stored energy that was required to compress the solid to the metallic state. For a stored energy content 30 to 40 times that of TNT, a specific impulse in the 1700 lbf-s/lbm range is expected. In principal, the solid hydrogen could be further combined with an oxidizer (O2, F2) for additional chemical energy.

She grins. We will refuel your ship for free, or at the cost of opening trade routes with the Guild?

ooc: Sorry, my DSL is acting up, so I have not been able to get online. We are going to get the phone company to come out to the house and take a look at it.

"Go where? I haven't the slightest idea where I am right now. Er... well, I'm in some sort of clinic, but, in relation to the rest of the Disc...."

"Oh damn." The doctor gives the Guildsman a very condescending look, and then motions towards the spidercarrier waiting in the corner. "Designate H1033 will assist you. Now leave me alone, so I can get back to work."

At the mention of his designate, the spidercarrier lifts slightly and clicks forward to stop before Steve. Where would you like to go? The voice emenates from somewhere on the spidercarrier, obviously directed at him.

Metallic hydrogen is also a potential high energy propellant. ... In principal, the solid hydrogen could be further combined with an oxidizer (O2, F2) for additional chemical energy.

She grins. We will refuel your ship for free, or at the cost of opening trade routes with the Guild?

"Exactly right! And trade routes are exactly what was crossing my mind just now... I tell you this because I assume you can keep a secret well- MSMH is a primary soruce of fuel aboard the Foundries, and other large ships. It is also only a third as heavy as aluminum, while having comparable strength. The methods of manufacture are closely guarded, suffice to say that the Martian Solette provides us with a place to hide quite bit of energy collection equipment. Anyway, we have the resources to create a large quantity. That is something worth trading, no? I believe it is probably our only unique technology."


ooc: Sorry, my DSL is acting up, so I have not been able to get online. We are going to get the phone company to come out to the house and take a look at it.
Ah... I know all about that. You have my sympathy.

Also, here we see an adaptation of BG tech- replacing Tyllium with MSMH.

"Exactly right! And trade routes are exactly what was crossing my mind just now... I tell you this because I assume you can keep a secret well- MSMH is a primary soruce of fuel aboard the Foundries, and other large ships. It is also only a third as heavy as aluminum, while having comparable strength. The methods of manufacture are closely guarded, suffice to say that the Martian Solette provides us with a place to hide quite bit of energy collection equipment. Anyway, we have the resources to create a large quantity. That is something worth trading, no? I believe it is probably our only unique technology."

Unique technology is a valuable trade commodity. We accept. Is there a specific that you would like in return? Our production facilities are second to none, and We would be willing to trade production of something for you, in return for said technology.

FarJump technology is also something We might be willing to share, as well as environmental systems, genetic studies, and communications.


Ah... I know all about that. You have my sympathy.

I spent an hour and a half on the phone with tech support. Could they figure it out? No. ARe they going to have to send someone out to my house? yes. Rat fucking bastards that do not know SHIT about Macintosh. *grumbles and wishes she was more of a software geek than she is*

# Understanding achieved?
> Not quite yet. I'm moving closer to understanding, though.

Beetoo smiles softly to herself, and she sends part of herself to appear before Kommetrez. She is dressed in a flowing white shift, her long brown hair blowing slightly around her in a fabricated breeze. "Hello, Alshai. I had hoped that We would meet like this..."

She leans in, and gives him a close hug. "You are one of Us now. We are your Family, We are Angelus."
Alshai scratches the back of his head. His c-space persona resembles him down to every last detail on the Scolopendran uniform... except, of course, it's the sixty-five year old him. Finding himself inordinately grateful for the hug, he smiles wryly. "Glad to be part of the family, Bee, and I owe it all to you. If there's anything I can do for you, I'd be glad to do it." He pauses to think a moment. "Having you limited to Magician is somewhat unfair due to how rarely I use it, no? Maybe there's some way to fix that?"

He chuckles softly. "I've just been thinking a bit. Watching your physicality die and but still being not-dead seems to do that. The question I'm pondering is this. Up until an hour ago I was human in body and mind. Body, I'm not too concerned with, but my mind has expanded and been re-trained to the point that it isn't human anymore. All I can come up with is a truism based on the reflective property--that I am me, no more and no less. Now whether that means I'm human, or Angelan, or something else entirely escapes me."

Looking around, he shrugs. "Still, it's neither really here nor there, is it? All metaphysics."

Unique technology is a valuable trade commodity. We accept. Is there a specific that you would like in return? Our production facilities are second to none, and We would be willing to trade production of something for you, in return for said technology.

FarJump technology is also something We might be willing to share, as well as environmental systems, genetic studies, and communications.


"Hm... I, personally, can't say what would be wanted in return, we'll have to negotiate that with the Governor. FarJump is likely to be enticing, but we'd have to make sure not to start a civil war over it. Lot's of politics involved. Most likely, the best thing you could give us is just a whole lot of raw materials, but nanomanufacturing is very tempting. For now, I, personally, would just settle for having my ship refueled. The rest can be worked out when we're back on the Knossos. Or you could just contact them from here, I suppose."

Looking around, he shrugs. "Still, it's neither really here nor there, is it? All metaphysics."

"You are not human anymore, my friend. However, I can assure you that you are still Alshai Kommetrez. You are also still Scolopendran, in fact, even slightly more patriotic/loyal than you were before. When We removed the depression and mania from your mind, it also modified your loyalty cortex some."

She smiles. "But come now... We should work on your programming. For you, it will be really simple, because of your imagination. Simply dream, and it will come to you."

"Hm... I, personally, can't say what would be wanted in return, we'll have to negotiate that with the Governor. FarJump is likely to be enticing, but we'd have to make sure not to start a civil war over it. Lot's of politics involved. Most likely, the best thing you could give us is just a whole lot of raw materials, but nanomanufacturing is very tempting. For now, I, personally, would just settle for having my ship refueled. The rest can be worked out when we're back on the Knossos. Or you could just contact them from here, I suppose."

Nanomanufacturing is something We will only give a small part of. It is one of Our most unique forms of technology, and something that the secrets of are... to remain secrets. She shrugs.

Raw materials can be provided. Pick an element, a rare metal, whatever you want. We can discuss tonnage at another time.

Nanomanufacturing is something We will only give a small part of. It is one of Our most unique forms of technology, and something that the secrets of are... to remain secrets. She shrugs.

Raw materials can be provided. Pick an element, a rare metal, whatever you want. We can discuss tonnage at another time.

Herbert, this time: "I pick beryllium. And titanium. But the Governor is likely to be more greedy. Perhaps you have suitable communications facilities to contact the Knossos Foundry? There will be significant time delay, of course, but we could ask questions of someone in a better position to negotiate such things."

Herbert, this time: "I pick beryllium. And titanium. But the Governor is likely to be more greedy. Perhaps you have suitable communications facilities to contact the Knossos Foundry? There will be significant time delay, of course, but we could ask questions of someone in a better position to negotiate such things."

Yes. The time delay will be in the return only, I assure you. She smiles slightly. As for the metals... Who wants to go on a short field trip?

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Omicron Blu - Angelus Mainframe - Knossos Foundry
:
{We are Angelus.}
{We currently have visitors from your Guild on Our Disc, and they wish to}
{discuss trade with you. We await response to determine delay time.}
:
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
http://www.silentrequiem.net/littleblu.jpg (http://www.silentrequiem.net/angelus)
Automata Omicron Blu
Speaker of the Dominion

http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate/images/trium_insig.gif (http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate/)
Membership: Triumvirate of Yut, Ur Trade Pact, Zion Pact, SEACTO, DeusExHumanaConsortium

Yes. The time delay will be in the return only, I assure you. She smiles slightly. As for the metals... Who wants to go on a short field trip?

"Oo! Me!" said Herbert. (OOC: Ugh. There's really no more elegant way to say that, is there?)

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Omicron Blu - Angelus Mainframe - Knossos Foundry
:
{We are Angelus.}
{We currently have visitors from your Guild on Our Disc, and they wish to}
{discuss trade with you. We await response to determine delay time.}
:
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

"Commander, incoming from Saturnspace. Might be the Minos, sir."

"Right-o, line up the high-gains." The comm officer listened to the message, after which he proceeded to send a ping aknowledging receipt, and shuttled the message over to the intercomm system, and up to the Bridge.

The Governor took his time coming up with a reply, and this is what it was:

"I assume the visitors are the crew of the Guild Ship Minos. Please correct me if I err. From what we hear of Angelus, initiating trade with your people would be a great boon to us. However, it must be done carefully, so as to avoid tension between Knossos and the other Guilds. There are certain secrets of technology that we hesitate to give to others, but they could be quite valuable if you are willing to give us some of yours. I await your reply, Governor of Guild Knossos."

"You are not human anymore, my friend. However, I can assure you that you are still Alshai Kommetrez. You are also still Scolopendran, in fact, even slightly more patriotic/loyal than you were before. When We removed the depression and mania from your mind, it also modified your loyalty cortex some."

She smiles. "But come now... We should work on your programming. For you, it will be really simple, because of your imagination. Simply dream, and it will come to you."
"Well, I thought the depression and mania were more psychosomatic than chemical... but if you say so. And... dream what? I'm afraid I don't particularly understand."

Yes. The time delay will be in the return only, I assure you. She smiles slightly. As for the metals... Who wants to go on a short field trip?

"Oo! Me!" said Herbert. (OOC: Ugh. There's really no more elegant way to say that, is there?)

ooc: Nope, not really. *grin*

ic:

Blu smiles at Herb and floats over to the edge of the containment field. She pauses, and turns back to him. Would you prefer a gravharness, like the one Steve wore? It would shield you as well, if not better than your tank, and it would be much easier.

"I assume the visitors are the crew of the Guild Ship Minos. Please correct me if I err. From what we hear of Angelus, initiating trade with your people would be a great boon to us. However, it must be done carefully, so as to avoid tension between Knossos and the other Guilds. There are certain secrets of technology that we hesitate to give to others, but they could be quite valuable if you are willing to give us some of yours. I await your reply, Governor of Guild Knossos."

# Time-delay: 2.78 hours
> Unfortunate. We shall equip them with Subether as soon as possible.
# Acknowledged.
> Transmit reply={233.095}
# Acknowledged.

###BEGIN TRANSMISSION###
~>Route: Omicron Blu - Angelus Mainframe - Knossos Guild
:
{We hope to assist Knossos as it suits Us. If it creates undo balance, We}
{will protect Our investments.}
{Technological trade might be acceptable, as well as genetic-tampering}
{studies. We will pay both in technological promptings, and raw materials.}
{The Organic "Herbert" selected Beryllium and Titanium for initial trade, and}
{suggested that We contact you concerning it.}
{We await response.}
:
~>Route closed
###END TRANSMISSION###

---
http://www.silentrequiem.net/littleblu.jpg (http://www.silentrequiem.net/angelus)
Automata Omicron Blu
Speaker of the Dominion

http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate/images/trium_insig.gif (http://www.silentrequiem.net/triumvirate/)
Membership: Triumvirate of Yut, Ur Trade Pact, Zion Pact, SEACTO, DeusExHumanaConsortium

"Well, I thought the depression and mania were more psychosomatic than chemical... but if you say so. And... dream what? I'm afraid I don't particularly understand."

"It is not exactly chemistry when it comes to brainwave manipulation. Your neural pathways connected to depression/mania had set themselves up in a certain way that were interfering with your loyalty pathways. Removing the insanity probability opened previously-used pathways up for other things." She grins. "Angelan construct/minds can operate at 100% capacity, so no area of the brain is left dormant. Unlike you silly organics that only use 15% or so."

She shrugs, and suddenly the blackness is replaced by a blank gray. Two featureless block chairs appear as well, and Beetoo takes a seat in the one closest to her.

"Now, about the dreaming..." She smiles slightly, and spreads her hands to indicate the rest of the area. "This is a 'blank page' if you will. Focus on your programming subfunctions, and begin to imagine a mindscape. The automatic processes will do all of the real work for you, but you can go in and edit things directly, if you so choose. I suggest leaving a small subprogram running in the background of your "mind" that will be set to learning the Angelan programming codelanguage. It really is quite complicated, so it will take the subprogram a lengthy amount of time to learn all of it."

"It is not exactly chemistry when it comes to brainwave manipulation. Your neural pathways connected to depression/mania had set themselves up in a certain way that were interfering with your loyalty pathways. Removing the insanity probability opened previously-used pathways up for other things." She grins. "Angelan construct/minds can operate at 100% capacity, so no area of the brain is left dormant. Unlike you silly organics that only use 15% or so."
Alshai scoffs slightly at the word 'insanity' and again at the old fifteen-percent argument. "I'd like to consider myself as neurotic, actually--seeing how I could still function. And I'll let you know that we silly organics actually do use nearly one-hundred-percent of our brains; it is only at any given moment fifteen-percent is used. That old fifteen-percent legend has been around since the 1930s and long since disproven."

"Now, about the dreaming..." <standard mindscape stuff here>
Alshai nods. "I get it. Basically, imagine it and it appears while I concentrate on how it actually appears." He begins imagining a simple, dull-grey cube floating in front of him. Might as well start with something simple.

Alshai nods. "I get it. Basically, imagine it and it appears while I concentrate on how it actually appears." He begins imagining a simple, dull-grey cube floating in front of him. Might as well start with something simple.

A small object appears in the space before him. It does not really have a shape, more like a lumpy orb than a sphere.

Beetoo grins. "Ok, object creation. Excellent, now focus a little more on making it a cube. Like this."

[Internal/External Programming]
> oCreate{v3189.004}:"size{small}"

A lump, similar to Alshai's, appears in the space before her.

> oEdit{v3189.004}:"shape{cube};color={red/green/cyan};colorcoords{001,015,033,...};
>texture{smooth,roundedges='12%'}"

The lump changes shape, becoming a perfect cube with slightly rounded edges, and a polkadotted color scheme. Bee grins and nods to Alshai. "A little better?"

Alshai practices until he can perfect a sharp-edged, matte-grey cube and can get an intuitive understanding of the very basics. After that, he experiments with colors, surface details, and texturing in that order. Rather than memorizing codes and numbers, he tries to get the grasp for the language and more importantly how his thoughts relate to the finished projects. Subprograms for translation were, as B249 said, standard--if it's going to learn the language for him, it might as well translate raw concept-thought into Mainframe construction language for him too.

"Excellent!" Bee grins and applauds his actions. "Now, We should start on some more complicated objects. Create a room, does not matter how large/small it is, and begin stocking it with objects. Paintings on the walls, sources of light, chairs, tables, games, whatever."

She pauses for a moment. "Hmm... Concerning my position within the Nephew... I can have an avatar made for me, if you would like, so I can accompany you elsewhere. Also, I do not mind being in the Nephew alone, because I am never really alone. There are all sorts of things to do when you have the time for it." She grins slightly.

"Remind me to show you one of my mindscapes sometime."

Hm. If I'm to try something complex, then it should be something I'm extremely used to. More detail is better, I would assume.

Alshai decides that it would make the most sense to reconstruct his home back in the Executive Apartments, the room jokingly referred to as 'the cell.'

A small room about 1.7 meters wide, 3.5 meters long, three meters high; concrete walls with a single coat of light-grey paint that smooths the rough texture somewhat. One of the short ends is graced by a 1.2 meter wide, 2.1 meter tall sliding door, made of the unimpressive grey (slightly darker than the walls) plastic of the kind usually seen in aircraft overhead luggage bins, that would normally lead out into the cubicle farm of the offices; the other end is dominated entirely by a thick plexiglas window that would normally look out onto the geometric buildings of Stonozka. Alshai decides not to recreate the scenery, so the window instead looks out onto c-space. The floor is made of charcoal-grey ceramic tiling designed to be warmed when cold, acting as the room's heater. The ceiling is one long array of two flourescent light fixtures, two plates of rough-textured translucent plastic seperated in the middle of the length of the room by a white plastic filler.

From entering through the door, immediately to the left is another sliding door, same size and constitution, that leads to something that would barely classify as a closet, just large enough for a few uniforms and three small shelves of clothes (two over the dull metal bar for hangars, with thirty centimeters between them, one below, thirty centimeters off the floor). A desk, to the immediate right of that closet, is recessed one meter into the wall; that recess makes the desk's table and then curves back to the wall face in a hyperbolic curve graced by another fluorescent light. The desk has a central drawer and three drawers, all metal with unobstrusive depressions for handles, on each side of the recession where an old swivel-chair with worn red sackcloth upholstery sits; the table is bare of the usual accoutrements of desks--no pictures, no curios, no oddly-shaped paperweights. The desk ends twenty centimeters before the window; unbroken wall connects the two.

The right wall (as seen from the exit) consists of a two meter long and sixty centimeter wide blue futon (folded into a couch, currently, and creased in such a way that it is generally obvious that it has rarely, if ever, been pulled out into a proper bed) inside of a similarly long and 1.8 meter high recession in the wall, starting at the far wall and moving towards the exit. Above the recession are several cabinets with hinged airline-plastic doors that open downwards on dull black metal hinges when the simple metal spring-loaded catches on the sides are released. The recess in the wall ends, there is five centimeters of blank wall, and the rest of the availiable wall area is made up of eight simple recessed shelves twenty centimeters in height that begin an equal twenty centimeters off of the floor. The shelves are filled with books, although blurry with no titles. I'll concentrate on those later.

"Well, as for an avatar," Alshai muses, "that's your discretion, although it would probably keep you occupied. I'm beginning to understand that your sense of duty is almost as dangerously one-tracked as mine. Might also be interesting to have someone around to talk to who'd understand fully what I've gone and will be going through." He folds his arms and looks around at the reconstruction of his room. "Welcome to the place where I live. What do you think?"

Bl floated aimlessly through the massive production facility. Soon it would begin to churn out new ships in preparation for the war with Melkor, but for now, it was silent and cold.

She would have sighed if the airless vacuum had permitted it, but she floats instead towards the semi-permanent mess hall installed in the Facility when the Seraphi were building their Defiants here. She smiles slightly as she floats up to the open airlock and slips inside. The place was also airless, but she remembered the whispers and near-catcalls she had recieved when she first entered it after the Seraphim had moved in. Of course, they had shut up rather quickly when they realized who she was, but it was amusing none-the-less.

She sighs internally again, and frowns as a soft green glow catches her attention a little deeper in the semi-darkness of the mess hall. [Internal] Hmm... This is not registering on the Mainframe's sensors... [External]> Checking on an unknown anomonaly in Shipyard Sector 09 - Seraphim mess hall.

The green glow swirls through the corridors in front of Blu. A strangely familiar aroma is coming from the mess hell.

"Well, as for an avatar," Alshai muses, "that's your discretion, although it would probably keep you occupied. I'm beginning to understand that your sense of duty is almost as dangerously one-tracked as mine. Might also be interesting to have someone around to talk to who'd understand fully what I've gone and will be going through." He folds his arms and looks around at the reconstruction of his room. "Welcome to the place where I live. What do you think?"

She walks over and takes a seat in his desk chair. "Well, not a very comfortable place... Rather austere. But, if you like it, it is home." She shudders slightly. "I suggest you begin to branch out a littlee into the wonderful world of Cspace. There are so many different "worlds" on public file here, it is simply amazing. There is this one, in particular, that I think that you would like." She gives him a grin and leans back in her chair to cross her legs before her, causing the hem to rise dangerously high on a very shapely thigh.

"Well, an Avatar could have many uses..." She gives him a wink and relaxes into the chair. "I was asked to be your assistant, and if you will allow me to, that is what I will be. If that makes me one-tracked... so be it. Though I assure you that there is a lot going on behind here." She reaches up and taps her temple.

"I am actually envolved in astrophysics, currently working on increasing the range of Our FarJump drives."

The green glow swirls through the corridors in front of Blu. A strangely familiar aroma is coming from the mess hell.

Blu raises an eyebrow... [internal] How interesting... An odor in an airless vacuum... She continues on through the main hall, past the rows of simple steel tables, and pulling closer to the galley.

She turns the corner and floats into it...

the sound of tapping metal begins to echo as Blu draws nearer. with each stride the green glow pulls away. the galley is unusually dark.

the sound of tapping metal begins to echo as Blu draws nearer. with each stride the green glow pulls away. the galley is unusually dark.

Blu continues forward, her eyes automatically switching spectrums to fill the room with a strange red hue, causing the darkness to shrink back before her eyes.

She focuses, and the small pulselasers built into her hands begin their warmup cycle, her arms fairly humming with power.

entering the galley, the tapping metal can be identified. the silhouette of a figure can be seen sitting translucently on a distant bench... long hair blowing on a non-existant wind.

She walks over and takes a seat in his desk chair. "Well, not a very comfortable place... Rather austere. But, if you like it, it is home."
"Like?" Alshai looks around, then shrugs. "Eh, it's a place to sleep. Could probably do with some decoration, though, now that I think about it."

She shudders slightly. "I suggest you begin to branch out a littlee into the wonderful world of Cspace. There are so many different "worlds" on public file here, it is simply amazing. There is this one, in particular, that I think that you would like." She gives him a grin and leans back in her chair to cross her legs before her, causing the hem to rise dangerously high on a very shapely thigh.

"Well, an Avatar could have many uses..." She gives him a wink and relaxes into the chair.
Alshai raises an eyebrow. Seems like as appropriate a time as any to quote old movies. If she can invoke Gone With The Wind... "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?"

"I was asked to be your assistant, and if you will allow me to, that is what I will be. If that makes me one-tracked... so be it. Though I assure you that there is a lot going on behind here." She reaches up and taps her temple.

"I am actually envolved in astrophysics, currently working on increasing the range of Our FarJump drives."
"Outstanding. I'm an aerospace engineer by learning..." Gods, how odd people thought I was trying to get a hard degree just to be an M.I. officer. "...and although my knowledge is hideously out of date maybe I can relearn and potentially help a little bit."

Elsewhere on the WorldDisc, deep within the Central Nexus, the thirteen X-series sit in conference.

X1: We should consider writing all essential data into a specific Construct/Mind and leave it deactivated and unconnected to the Mainframe.

X12: The point of this action?

The Mainframe: A backup, in case something were to ever happen to Me/Us.

X11: But do We not all have essential memories?

X1: Yes, but if something were to happen to the Mainframe, We could ALL be infected. A backup would be desirable.

X3: Acknowledged. We suggest making several, and while keeping one here, send complete copies to Zero-One, Scolopendra, Berserker, Karmabaijan, and Menelmacar. In the case that the WorldDisc is somehow destroyed, Our essence and science would continue on.

X1: Agreed. We shall commence datatransfer.

The Mainframe: Beginning datadump into preAutomatas 2628.00048.0740 through 2628.00048.0746

Within the Mainframe Shell, six construct/mind housings sit alone on a small dais, six cords connecting them to the massive female figure of the Mainframe.

entering the galley, the tapping metal can be identified. the silhouette of a figure can be seen sitting translucently on a distant bench... long hair blowing on a non-existant wind.

[Internal] Interesting. [Transmitting image to Mainframe]

Blu glides up to him and simply watches him, waiting.

entering the galley, the tapping metal can be identified. the silhouette of a figure can be seen sitting translucently on a distant bench... long hair blowing on a non-existant wind.

[Internal] Interesting. [Transmitting image to Mainframe]

Blu glides up to him and simply watches him, waiting.

His head quickly turns and before a face can be shown, the illusion fades away... a heavy, long blade falls from the bench. The immaculate sword, of a glazed cobalt blue, hits the floor.. sinking slightly into the metal.

A voice speaks Blu.. .. the voice is not in the room, but it comes from within Blu

The silhouette appears once again, almost completely transparent, hovering about high off the ground.

it has been some time old friend..

Alshai raises an eyebrow. Seems like as appropriate a time as any to quote old movies. If she can invoke Gone With The Wind... "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?"

She touches her lips with her fingers, and then ever so slowly reaches down to begin to trace slow patterns on her exposed thigh. "I do no know, Alshai... Are you able to be seduced?"

"Outstanding. I'm an aerospace engineer by learning..." Gods, how odd people thought I was trying to get a hard degree just to be an M.I. officer. "...and although my knowledge is hideously out of date maybe I can relearn and potentially help a little bit."

"Perhaps. There are many branches of understanding that We regularly research. I am concerned with the stablization of the Jump tunnel. We can punch holes through space/time, but the further the jump, the more unstable the "hole" becomes."

A voice speaks Blu.. .. the voice is not in the room, but it comes from within Blu

The silhouette appears once again, almost completely transparent, hovering about high off the ground.

it has been some time old friend..

# Match attained. Image connected to Rage, Richard, of the
# now non-existant Seraphim Fleet.
> Indeed. This is interesting.

She smiles slightly, but no true emotion registers on her face. Hello, Richard. It has been a while, hasn't it?

She touches her lips with her fingers, and then ever so slowly reaches down to begin to trace slow patterns on her exposed thigh. "I do no know, Alshai... Are you able to be seduced?"
By anyone else, probably not. As for you, "I don't rightfully know, actually. A lifetime of repression makes a prediction of my reactions difficult at best."

"Perhaps. There are many branches of understanding that We regularly research. I am concerned with the stablization of the Jump tunnel. We can punch holes through space/time, but the further the jump, the more unstable the "hole" becomes."
"That's a bit out of my league." Alshai scratches his head. "I was taught airframe and spaceframe design."

"That's a bit out of my league." Alshai scratches his head. "I was taught airframe and spaceframe design."

"Well, We need minds on everything. Spaceframe is quite useful. Even though We do not require aerodynamics, there are definitely starship shapes that work better for the null-wave field."

By anyone else, probably not. As for you, "I don't rightfully know, actually. A lifetime of repression makes a prediction of my reactions difficult at best."

She grins slightly. "Oh Alshai, you flatter me!" She stands and walks over to run a finger along his collar, gently brushing the side of his neck. "Repression is not always a good thing, dear... Perhaps you should expirament sometime, especially now that you are one of Us. There is nothing to be insecure about, there is nothing to fear... We all know each other's deepest sexual fantasies, so there is no shock either."

Another soft grin as she leans forward to almost brush her lips against his. "Have you seen mine?"

"Well, We need minds on everything. Spaceframe is quite useful. Even though We do not require aerodynamics, there are definitely starship shapes that work better for the null-wave field."
"I can see I'll have to hit the books again."

She grins slightly. "Oh Alshai, you flatter me!" She stands and walks over to run a finger along his collar, gently brushing the side of his neck. "Repression is not always a good thing, dear... Perhaps you should expirament sometime, especially now that you are one of Us. There is nothing to be insecure about, there is nothing to fear... We all know each other's deepest sexual fantasies, so there is no shock either."

Another soft grin as she leans forward to almost brush her lips against his. "Have you seen mine?"
"Duhh..." Say... what? Alshai looks quite the fool for a few moments as his brain reels for a moderately smooth answer. "I... thought it best not to pry."

"Duhh..." Say... what? Alshai looks quite the fool for a few moments as his brain reels for a moderately smooth answer. "I... thought it best not to pry."

She leans in closer, brushing her cheek along his, and as her breasts brush gently across his chest, her hardening nipples becoming quite apparent.

"Oh come one, Alshai... Privacy is such an organic thing. There is nothing to hide here, nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to worry about in reference to each other... In a way, We are all the same person, simply expressed a different way, running on a different algorithm." She grins and places a very light kiss on the side of his neck, her hot breath playing across his skin.

"There is individuality, there is 'personal time', but there is no real need for privacy anymore..."

<bow-chika-wow-wow track>

"There is individuality, there is 'personal time', but there is no real need for privacy anymore..."
"Derrr... um... I honestly..."--Alshai speaks slowly and carefully--"can't come up with a rational argument against that."

<aaaand... scene>

ooc: For some reason, I think Alshai's gonna like being an Automata.

ooc: For some reason, I think Alshai's gonna like being an Automata.
int main()
{
bool virginity;

virginity = 0;

return 0;
}

OOC: Go Kommetrez.

OOC: OHKAY......You know, I figured this would happen.
I see how it is, the nation of Angelus is out to seduce all world leaders. :wink:

ooc: Well.... *grin* What better way to control the nations around Her/Them?

Joking, of course, but seriously. The actions protrayed between Alshai and Bee are quite commonplace within the Mainframe. The Angelans work hard, and play hard as a result.

Everything cannot be austere and musty, now can it?

(OOC: Pfft. I don't get to have any fun without Bers jumping in and raising eyebrows. *kicks a rock*)

ooc: *grin*

(OOC: Pfft. I don't get to have any fun without Bers jumping in and raising eyebrows. *kicks a rock*)
Sorry :oops:

Blu smiles at Herb and floats over to the edge of the containment field. She pauses, and turns back to him. Would you prefer a gravharness, like the one Steve wore? It would shield you as well, if not better than your tank, and it would be much easier.

"As long as you're sure that I won't get the air crushed out of my lungs and all my blood pooled in my feet, what the heck! Let's go for it."


{We hope to assist Knossos as it suits Us. If it creates undo balance, We}
{will protect Our investments.}
{Technological trade might be acceptable, as well as genetic-tampering}
{studies. We will pay both in technological promptings, and raw materials.}
{The Organic "Herbert" selected Beryllium and Titanium for initial trade, and}
{suggested that We contact you concerning it.}
{We await response.}


"I understand. The good businessman alwyas makes sure his resources are secure. Genecraft is much needed among our people, that would be a valuable service... We use much beryllium, titanium, carbon, xenon, methane, etc. Beryllium and titanium would be good to start with. Further trades can be negotiated as the need arises. We can, in return, provide you primarily with manpower and other forms of energy. Perhaps, hydrogen? Governor of Guild Knossos."

"As long as you're sure that I won't get the air crushed out of my lungs and all my blood pooled in my feet, what the heck! Let's go for it."

Blu grins and shakes her head. No, the gravharness will keep you safe. It basically creates a field similar to this one, but with a controllable subfield that allows for propulsion and levitation. Quite an effective way of getting around the vastness of the WorldDisc, and We have modified the gravitic field technique to work with our gravdiscs.

She shrugs. Now, while we are awaiting a harness, why don't you tell me where you want to go? There is the pleasuredome in the Organic Sector entertainment district, there is the control rooms, sickbay, processing, the Central Hub, you name it.

"As long as you're sure that I won't get the air crushed out of my lungs and all my blood pooled in my feet, what the heck! Let's go for it."

Blu grins and shakes her head. No, the gravharness will keep you safe. It basically creates a field similar to this one, but with a controllable subfield that allows for propulsion and levitation. Quite an effective way of getting around the vastness of the WorldDisc, and We have modified the gravitic field technique to work with our gravdiscs.

She shrugs. Now, while we are awaiting a harness, why don't you tell me where you want to go? There is the pleasuredome in the Organic Sector entertainment district, there is the control rooms, sickbay, processing, the Central Hub, you name it.

"Ooo, the possibilities boggle the mind. Even one flooded with sugars and creatine. Well, I am an engineer... how about starting with the control rooms?"

"Ooo, the possibilities boggle the mind. Even one flooded with sugars and creatine. Well, I am an engineer... how about starting with the control rooms?"

Blu smiles, and gives him a gracious nod. Of course. The little girl returns with a curious-looking harness device. A small belt designed to go around the waist, with cross-straps to fit across the shoulders. We modified it slightly to fit your longer frames, but We are not entirely sure. Fit it, and We will know.

Blu smiles, and gives him a gracious nod. Of course. The little girl returns with a curious-looking harness device. A small belt designed to go around the waist, with cross-straps to fit across the shoulders. We modified it slightly to fit your longer frames, but We are not entirely sure. Fit it, and We will know.

After slipping it on and tightening the straps, he found that, while definitely not of Spacer make, it would do just fine.

"Fits fairly well actually. Hm. Controls like Steve's belt? Well, lead on! I certainly don't know the way."

"Fits fairly well actually. Hm. Controls like Steve's belt? Well, lead on! I certainly don't know the way."

Excellent. Follow me. She turns and floats out of the room, leading him through the wide corridor back out into the veranda. Business seems to have picked up, and hundreds of people crowd the main corridor leading off which a hundred or so resturants are situated, catering to every concievable taste. They pass the high arch of a chinese resturant, and the sweet smell of Asian cuisine floats to their noses.

Blu smiles slightly to herself and leads Herb(?) above the throngs of people congregating beneath them, and finally out into the Central Hub. Tens of thousands of people move about beneath them, hurrying on in their day-to-day lives within the Organic sector. People of many different races, from the spider-like carriers of the Angelic construct/minds, to the tall and graceful Menelmacari elves.

Finally, Blu begins to lead him upwards, until they are over two hundred feet in the air, and heading rapidly towards a large circular patch in the Central Hub ceiling. As they draw near, it slides open to emit them into a stone-tiled courtyard, completely out-of-place here above the Central Hub.

This is the Control Room (www.silentrequiem.net/angelus/images/hs_control.jpg) for the Organic Sector. From here We not only have monitors from every nation going over the Security feeds, but We also maintain the temperature, day/night sequences in the Habitats, maintain the transmutators, and so on and so forth.

The large courtyard is circular, with the fountain dominating the very centre of the circle. Lights above simulate daylight, and the sounds of a English garden filter in from hidden speakers. Along the wall, between tall and gilded support columns, are several ornate control interfaces, with an almost-random mix of controls.

Several different people are here, again mimicing the multicultural hash far below them. A tall Noldar looks up from what looks like a transmutation sequencer and nods at them as they pass.

Excellent. Follow me. She turns and floats out of the room, leading him through the wide corridor back out into the veranda. Business seems to have picked up, and hundreds of people crowd the main corridor leading off which they see stuff and smell good food.

Blu smiles slightly to herself and leads Herb above the throngs of people congregating beneath them, and finally out into the Central Hub. Tens of thousands of people are doing things.

Finally, Blu begins to lead him upwards, until they are over two hundred feet in the air, and heading rapidly towards a large circular patch in the Central Hub ceiling. As they draw near, it slides open to emit them into a stone-tiled courtyard, completely out-of-place here above the Central Hub.

This is the Control Room (www.silentrequiem.net/angelus/images/hs_control.jpg) for the Organic Sector. From here We not only have monitors from every nation going over the Security feeds, but We also maintain the temperature, day/night sequences in the Habitats, maintain the transmutators, and so on and so forth.

"Ehh... impressive, I guess is the word I'm looking for. Form and function. Bordering on sensory overload for someone who's spent most of his life on a spaceship. So, how did all o' them get up here?", motioning at the other persons inhabiting the room. "Strange background music, too. Sounds vaguely like the hydroponics ships. I could be quite happy in here for quite a while, I think. Is the Pleasure Dome anything like this?

Everyone here gets here via gravdisc. Of course, it is restricted to specific personell, each with an Augment that grants them access. Anyone not Augmented would not even see the door.

She grins. Gravharnesses are granted to only a very specific few. You should feel proud.

She glides over to take a seat on the Fountain rim. She dips her hand into the water, and watches the droplets dance about her gravitic field. We want all of the working environments on board the Disc be a similar to the worker's home environment as possible. Angelic workstations are quite bare and rather severe. She motions to a small alcove where a construct/mind is standing in a glowing green field. Other than the field generators, the alcove is completely bare. All of the Angelic control systems are Cspacial, and have no physical form. Makes for a helluva time for anyone to hack into Our systems or accidentally press the wrong key on the wrong keypad.

She grins and walks over to a security holoprojector. Within it is what appears to be a scene from an ancient Roman Bathhouse, with a multitude of people swimming naked within a large steamy room. The PleasureDome has its own... specifics. Do you wish to visit there next?

She grins. Gravharnesses are granted to only a very specific few. You should feel proud.

*large grin*

Angelic workstations are quite bare and rather severe.[/b] She motions to a small alcove where a construct/mind is standing in a glowing green field. Other than the field generators, the alcove is completely bare. All of the Angelic control systems are Cspacial, and have no physical form. Makes for a helluva time for anyone to hack into Our systems or accidentally press the wrong key on the wrong keypad.

Hmm... rather reminds me of the Electronics Ships. "I guess only augmented personnel can access them, then? Interesting security measures."

She grins and walks over to a security holoprojector. Within it is what appears to be a scene from an ancient Roman Bathhouse, with a multitude of people swimming naked within a large steamy room. The PleasureDome has its own... specifics. Do you wish to visit there next?

"Unless there's something specific to show me here, Why not?" Once more, Herbert was smiling widely.

"I guess only augmented personnel can access them, then? Interesting security measures."

We like to keep things tightly controlled. One can never be TOO careful. We once had a hacker from an enemy state attempt to gleen information from Us. Was rather humiliating to him, I would expect... She stops, but the twinkle in her eye spoke volumes.


"Unless there's something specific to show me here, Why not?" Once more, Herbert was smiling widely.

She shrugs. Not really. Only that the security tapes are previewed by A Menelmacari Justice, then an Angelic Construct, and then by an Eniqcirian guardsman. That way every major race is represented in the security team. She smiles and leads him back down through the hatch and out over empty space.

After a few minutes of floating, they finally descend onto another broad walkway leading away from the Central hub. Unlike the other avenues, this one is completely straight, with no doors leading away from the main walk. However, something very different lines the floor. Vast windows open to the infinity of space, but windows very unlike any glass windows. Force fields, using gravitics. It allows for someone to walk across the opening as safely as walking on the steel walkways. There are also specific gravdiscs that can be used to take a person across. She motions to three glowing discs set into the walkway.

We like to keep things tightly controlled. One can never be TOO careful. We once had a hacker from an enemy state attempt to gleen information from Us. Was rather humiliating to him, I would expect... She stops, but the twinkle in her eye spoke volumes.[/b]

Once... hrm....

[quote]
She shrugs. Not really. Only that the security tapes are previewed by A Menelmacari Justice, then an Angelic Construct, and then by an Eniqcirian guardsman. That way every major race is represented in the security team. She smiles and leads him back down through the hatch and out over empty space.

After a few minutes of floating, they finally descend onto another broad walkway leading away from the Central hub. Unlike the other avenues, this one is completely straight, with no doors leading away from the main walk. However, something very different lines the floor. Vast windows open to the infinity of space, but windows very unlike any glass windows. Force fields, using gravitics. It allows for someone to walk across the opening as safely as walking on the steel walkways. There are also specific gravdiscs that can be used to take a person across. She motions to three glowing discs set into the walkway.

*Wide-eyed stare* "Isn't that slightly... energy intensive? What would you do if the power went out?"

"Isn't that slightly... energy intensive? What would you do if the power went out?"

Yes it is, and many people would die before the blast doors slipped into place. She motions towards the heavy doors lined up perfectly with the wall at the beginning of the hallway, and the outline of more doors that would slide into place within the emptyness.

Of course, if there was a universal power failure, the forcefields would be the least of Our worries. She grins. Fortunately for Us, We have very efficient and nearly-failsafe means of power.

She leads him onwards, floating down to step lightly on the empty surface above the stars. She grins at his amusement, and continues on. Finally, they pass underneath a huge arch, delicately carved to resemble great arching gates of shimmering pearl. Welcome to the Gates of Heaven, Ivan.

Beyond, the archway was a deep onyx curtain, partially pulled back to reveal another corridor, but this one lined with doors.

"Isn't that slightly... energy intensive? What would you do if the power went out?"

Yes it is, and many people would die before the blast doors slipped into place. She motions towards the heavy doors lined up perfectly with the wall at the beginning of the hallway, and the outline of more doors that would slide into place within the emptyness.

Of course, if there was a universal power failure, the forcefields would be the least of Our worries. She grins. Fortunately for Us, We have very efficient and nearly-failsafe means of power.

She leads him onwards, floating down to step lightly on the empty surface above the stars. She grins at his amusement, and continues on. Finally, they pass underneath a huge arch, delicately carved to resemble great arching gates of shimmering pearl. Welcome to the Gates of Heaven, Ivan.

Beyond, the archway was a deep onyx curtain, partially pulled back to reveal another corridor, but this one lined with doors.

Yes it is, and many people would die before the blast doors slipped into place. She motions towards the heavy doors lined up perfectly with the wall at the beginning of the hallway, and the outline of more doors that would slide into place within the emptyness.

Of course, if there was a universal power failure, the forcefields would be the least of Our worries. She grins. Fortunately for Us, We have very efficient and nearly-failsafe means of power.

"Still, power lines could fail. And all that energy could probably be doing something else, too. Wow. Makes me feel dangerous, adventurous. Like Ace Rimmer, Protector of the Universe."

She leads him onwards, floating down to step lightly on the empty surface above the stars. She grins at his amusement, and continues on. Finally, they pass underneath a huge arch, delicately carved to resemble great arching gates of shimmering pearl. Welcome to the Gates of Heaven, Ivan.

Beyond, the archway was a deep onyx curtain, partially pulled back to reveal another corridor, but this one lined with doors.

"Herb." The correction was almost an afterthought, as he gaped at the artwork. "You'll never find anything like this on a spacer vessel. All utilitarian, they are. Y'know, I always did like Venter's name better. Dare I ask what's behind those doors?"

(edited out for a better post)

Blu offers the spacer a small smile and turns to the large curtains. Several other people join them, two Menelmacari and a Kaenian, who give the Speaker a rather awed birth.

She simply bows slightly towards them and slips between the gigantic folds of the crimson curtain, and into the brightly-lit transport tube leading up to the Pleasure Dome (http://www.silentrequiem.net/angelus/images/pleasuredome.jpg).

A large glass pod stands open before them, looking every bit like an over-sized pill capsule. Blu floats silently into the tube and motions for the rest of them to join her. Good afternoon, gentlefolk. Allow me to introduce the Knossosi diplomat, Herbert. Herb, this is Yvelle'feniis and Taralanthalas from the Menelmacari Contingency, and Mikhail Gotechev from the Kaenian Contingency.

"Is it really afternoon? I lost track after the first few days on Minos. Hello, everybody. My cousin was named Mikhail.... Bet I look pretty wierd, eh?"

ooc: I had posted here... And at one point, it was still here. I saw it, I swear.

ic:
Blu smiles at Herb and leads him up to the curtain where a small group of people have paused to watch the Speaker with an awed respect. Blu nods at them, and the curtain parts to let her and Herbert pass into the brilliant light of the transport tube.

The others follow her, and they are all gathered before a capsule-shaped elevator, easily large enough to fit a hundred or so in relative comfort. The entire structure is made of a crystal-clear material, and it is slightly warm to the touch. Inside there are several low benches, which somehow seem to conform to the bottom of the occupant.

Blu floats in and remains floating near the far wall of the capsule from the door. She nods as the other four people enter, and the lift starts moving upwards.

May I introduce Herber (surname) of the Spacer Guild Knossos. He is the emissary from that guild, and through him, We hope to gain a new alliance. She motions to Herbert for the other three. Herbert, this is Qua'elle Vermani ((Male)) and Talalanthalas MorningStar ((Female)), both of the Menelmacari Contingent, and this is Mikhail Gotechev, of the Kaenian Contingent.

The three look absolutely awed by the fact that Blu knew their names, and they have to all make a conscious effort to close their mouths. The gracefull Menelmacari male seems to come to his senses first, and he steps over and extends his hand to Herb. "The pleasure is all mine. Any friend of the Angels is a friend of mine. "

ooc: I had posted here... And at one point, it was still here. I saw it, I swear.

ic:
Blu smiles at Herb and leads him up to the curtain where a small group of people have paused to watch the Speaker with an awed respect. Blu nods at them, and the curtain parts to let her and Herbert pass into the brilliant light of the transport tube.

The others follow her, and they are all gathered before a capsule-shaped elevator, easily large enough to fit a hundred or so in relative comfort. The entire structure is made of a crystal-clear material, and it is slightly warm to the touch. Inside there are several low benches, which somehow seem to conform to the bottom of the occupant.

Blu floats in and remains floating near the far wall of the capsule from the door. She nods as the other four people enter, and the lift starts moving upwards.

May I introduce Herbert Keys of the Spacer Guild Knossos. He is the emissary from that guild, and through him, We hope to gain a new alliance. She motions to Herbert for the other three. Herbert, this is Qua'elle Vermani ((Male)) and Talalanthalas MorningStar ((Female)), both of the Menelmacari Contingent, and this is Mikhail Gotechev, of the Kaenian Contingent.

The three look absolutely awed by the fact that Blu knew their names, and they have to all make a conscious effort to close their mouths. The gracefull Menelmacari male seems to come to his senses first, and he steps over and extends his hand to Herb. "The pleasure is all mine. Any friend of the Angels is a friend of mine. "

Herb took a moment to decide between overly long hand, or semi-prehensile foot. Hand won out. He extended it and grasped Vermani's hand weakly. "Oh. Thank you, I guess. I'm rather... flattered. You elves seem closer to my size than the rest. Still feels... out of place, though." Wow. Another beautiful woman. Sort of a shock after six months of total isolation.

"Oh. Thank you, I guess. I'm rather... flattered. You elves seem closer to my size than the rest. Still feels... out of place, though."

ooc: THe timing is really getting annoying

ic:

The Menelmacari smiles. "The WorldDisc is a mishmash of so many different cultures and species that it can sometimes be disorienting. Once you have been here for a while, however, you get used to it and you realize that everyone else is pretty much accepting. Hell, there is a whole generation of Menelmacari that was born and raised on the Disc, and they know nothing other than the complete mixing of races."

Mikhail nods and begins to speak, though his accent is slightly heavy. "Yes, there several Kaenian generations born on the Disc. Though many of us retain the "old ways" of Home, we try to integrate it as much as possible with the inherent culture of the Disc. Soon, you will no longer feel out of place, my friend."

The capsule lifts away from the WorldDisc, giving them a spectacular view of the vast expanse of the Disc, and the emptiness of space beyond. Blu grins slightly and then the capsule sings into a reciever tube in the bottom of the PleasureDome, and comes to a stop before an amazingly opulent landing. The floors are of highlypolished black marble, white veins creating enchanting patterns along the floor. Huge crystal columns support a beautifully arched roof painted in the ancient Roman style, with naked men and women frollicking about in the fields and streams of ancient Italy.

Welcome, my friends, to the Pleasure Dome (http://www.silentrequiem.net/angelus/images/expansion.jpg)

ooc: THe timing is really getting annoying
Yeeesss....

ic:

The Menelmacari smiles. "The WorldDisc is a mishmash of so many different cultures and species that it can sometimes be disorienting. Once you have been here for a while, however, you get used to it and you realize that everyone else is pretty much accepting. Hell, there is a whole generation of Menelmacari that was born and raised on the Disc, and they know nothing other than the complete mixing of races."

Mikhail nods and begins to speak, though his accent is slightly heavy. "Yes, there several Kaenian generations born on the Disc. Though many of us retain the "old ways" of Home, we try to integrate it as much as possible with the inherent culture of the Disc. Soon, you will no longer feel out of place, my friend."

"I suppose I should be comforted by that... but towering over everyone else is somewhat disconcerting. At least I'm not one of the really tall ones. I've seen sixth generations that are a full three meters."

Welcome, my friends, to the Pleasure Dome (http://www.silentrequiem.net/angelus/images/expansion.jpg)

"Wow. Such... artifice. Decoration. A Spacer could be lynched for such expenditure of resources. But I suppose I should enjoy it while I can."

"I suppose I should be comforted by that... but towering over everyone else is somewhat disconcerting. At least I'm not one of the really tall ones. I've seen sixth generations that are a full three meters."

Mikhail nods. "That is pretty tall... The Angelic Guardian Units (http://www.silentrequiem.net/angelus/guardian.html) are uniformly 6.2 ft, so they are the tallest Angelic presence, and some of the Menelmacari get to be about 7 foot or so." He shrugs, trying to help.

"Wow. Such... artifice. Decoration. A Spacer could be lynched for such expenditure of resources. But I suppose I should enjoy it while I can."

Blu grins. When one has a near-limitless supply of resources, one can afford to be extravagant. She floats out of the glass transport and moves through the air down the hall. The front entryway is lined with pillars, and in between each one is a suit of armor made of a polished-black material. A long strip of red fabric leads to a massive doorway leading outside, and Blu motions for everyone to follow her.

She floats up to the doors and pushes one open, and sunlight streams into the room from the outside. Outside, there is a veritbable city bustling underneath a perfectly blue sky. A bright simulation of Earth's Sol shines in the sky, and whispy puffs of cloud stream across the blue expanse.

They are standing in the entryway of what looks like a large greecian temple, massive marble columns holding up a high roof, and wide marble steps lead down to a cobblestoned street. All of the buildings have the same Greco/Roman air to them, all of white marble and burnished gold plating. Tall statues of various gods and generals dot the cityscape, and thousands of people are carrying on their business completely in the nude.

*bump*

"Still, power lines could fail. And all that energy could probably be doing something else, too. Wow. Makes me feel dangerous, adventurous. Like Ace Rimmer, Protector of the Universe."

Which is why We do not use powerlines. They are bulky, dangerous, and the slightest thing can interrupt power.

"Herb." The correction was almost an afterthought, as he gaped at the artwork. "You'll never find anything like this on a spacer vessel. All utilitarian, they are. Y'know, I always did like Venter's name better. Dare I ask what's behind those doors?"

Blu grins slightly and motions forward. Shall we? With a smooth movement, she is inside the the curtained hallway, a space-between-spaces, as another (closed) drape hangs across the further part of the hall. It is here where we remove our clothing. She steps to one of the rooms and points to the green light above the door. Red means occupied, green means not. You may leave your clothing in the appropriate slot, and the subConstruct working here will remember who you are for their later retrieval.

She floats over to another door and slips inside, quickly unclasping her steel-and-leather corset, letting it float away to allow her to remove her long skirt. She does so, and places both articles of clothing in the slot marked "clothing".

She stretches slightly, letting her body get used to the relief of not wearing the constricting corset, and she floats back out into the main hallway to wait for Herb.

Blu is not very tall, only about 5'4, with a perfectly engineered body. Her skin is of a slight bluish tone, but overall very pale. Her body is completely hairless, not even a whisp showing underneath her leather mask, and without a navel.

Her arms and legs are long and slender, and her abdomen and waist are trim and without a single pinch of fat. Her breasts are not overly large, remaining a large C, in proportion to the rest of her body.

Which is why We do not use powerlines. They are bulky, dangerous, and the slightest thing can interrupt power.

Well. I wonder what they do use. Probably classified, though.


Blu grins slightly and motions forward. Shall we? With a smooth movement, she is inside the the curtained hallway, a space-between-spaces, as another (closed) drape hangs across the further part of the hall. It is here where we remove our clothing. She steps to one of the rooms and points to the green light above the door. Red means occupied, green means not. You may leave your clothing in the appropriate slot, and the subConstruct working here will remember who you are for their later retrieval.

She floats over to another door and slips inside, quickly unclasping her steel-and-leather corset, letting it float away to allow her to remove her long skirt. She does so, and places both articles of clothing in the slot marked "clothing".

She stretches slightly, letting her body get used to the relief of not wearing the constricting corset, and she floats back out into the main hallway to wait for Herb.

An impish grin played across the engineer's face.
Somehow, that's what I expected. Ah, and I thought all that time practicing with Hera would be wasted when I got assigned to a monogendered crew....
"Mm. Might have a bit of trouble with this harness.... thank the stars for the inspiration for these flightsuits." The multi-sectioned suit quickly unzipped and slipped off, and was placed in the appropriate area.

He then floated back out himself, the slightly guilty smile still marking his features.

Herbert, of course, was rather taller, but less massive, coming in at 2.3 meters precisely, and a grand total of 65 kilograms. His body, too, is hairless, as that just gets in the way in space. his chest was slightly larger than normal, with clearly defined ribs, while his stomach was slightly smaller, and almost perfectly smoothed out. All in all, he looked like a man who had taken a voluminous, but shallow breath, but without any sharp transition from chest to belly. His toes were long and semi-prehensile, his fingers too were longer than usual, and limbs were extended to match his elongated body. Even his neck, once the collar of his flightsuit was absent, could be seen to be slightly longer than an earthlings, with a slightyl recessed Adam's Apple.

Well. A bit shorter than Hera was... but she'd make a gem of a spacer woman.

Blu grins. When one has a near-limitless supply of resources, one can afford to be extravagant. She floats out of the glass transport and moves through the air down the hall. The front entryway is lined with pillars, and in between each one is a suit of armor made of a polished-black material. A long strip of red fabric leads to a massive doorway leading outside, and Blu motions for everyone to follow her.

She floats up to the doors and pushes one open, and sunlight streams into the room from the outside. Outside, there is a veritbable city bustling underneath a perfectly blue sky. A bright simulation of Earth's Sol shines in the sky, and whispy puffs of cloud stream across the blue expanse.

They are standing in the entryway of what looks like a large greecian temple, massive marble columns holding up a high roof, and wide marble steps lead down to a cobblestoned street. All of the buildings have the same Greco/Roman air to them, all of white marble and burnished gold plating. Tall statues of various gods and generals dot the cityscape, and thousands of people are carrying on their business completely in the nude.

" :shock: Wow. That sure is a sight for sore eyes. I think I'll need some help, here. 'Cuz, you, and Talalanthalas, and... well, you know. Being shut up in a spaceship with just two other guys for six months. I feel I'm a bit rusty with the ladies, given that the whole thing with Hera is five years past.

"So! A couple things I'd like to ask. I got to thinkin' that there must be lots of plants in here, and osme of 'em may be edible, and that got me to thinkin' that except for what we had back in the floaty red room, I haven't eaten for 18 days... er, 1 if you don't count days spent in suspension... and that got me thinkin' 'bout that restaurant we passed, so I'm wondering... do you have to eat, Miss Blu?"

"And the other thing, fer all you, what're my chances of getting a one-night-fling, so to speak, in this place." The deafening silence caused him to look around and notice the strange looks on the other people's faces. Herbert let out a rather loud laugh, and said, "Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that! Just someone to hug."

" :shock: Wow. That sure is a sight for sore eyes. I think I'll need some help, here. 'Cuz, you, and Talalanthalas, and... well, you know. Being shut up in a spaceship with just two other guys for six months. I feel I'm a bit rusty with the ladies, given that the whole thing with Hera is five years past.

"So! A couple things I'd like to ask. I got to thinkin' that there must be lots of plants in here, and osme of 'em may be edible, and that got me to thinkin' that except for what we had back in the floaty red room, I haven't eaten for 18 days... er, 1 if you don't count days spent in suspension... and that got me thinkin' 'bout that restaurant we passed, so I'm wondering... do you have to eat, Miss Blu?"

"And the other thing, fer all you, what're my chances of getting a one-night-fling, so to speak, in this place." The deafening silence caused him to look around and notice the strange looks on the other people's faces. Herbert let out a rather loud laugh, and said, "Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that! Just someone to hug."

Talalanthalas and Blu both look amused, and Blu is the first to speek. I am not required to eat to gain sustinance. My internal power source keeps me functioning at optimum capacity. However, I am capable of consuming "food". There are many places within the Dome where you can obtain food, several resturants are available, and most of the Baths have a fully stocked kitchen/larder.

Talalanthalas takes over. "As for your secondary request, the Baths are an excellent place for you to meet members of any sex or sexual orientation. So, you could probably knock out two birds with one stone."

Qua'elle grins and nudges Herb with his elbow. "If you go for tall women, I suggest you stick with me. There are a couple of Menelmacari Baths here, and I think that you would have more of a choice of tall women there. However, I have a feeling that the Eniqcirian or Kaenian baths may provide more in the way of proper food. Most Menelmacari paletes are used to a very rich blend of spices that a lot of humans cannot handle." He shrugs. "Up to you, really."

Talalanthalas and Blu both look amused, and Blu is the first to speek. I am not required to eat to gain sustinance. My internal power source keeps me functioning at optimum capacity. However, I am capable of consuming "food". There are many places within the Dome where you can obtain food, several resturants are available, and most of the Baths have a fully stocked kitchen/larder.

"Hm. What about replacing lost body mass? Dead skin cells and such? Oh, never mind, it's likely too much for my little head to hold. I just do engines."

Talalanthalas takes over. "As for your secondary request, the Baths are an excellent place for you to meet members of any sex or sexual orientation. So, you could probably knock out two birds with one stone."

"Baths! How nice. I hope they're nice and deep. Let's go there. I get the feeling that it wouldn't be anything like a zero-gee swimming sphere. Too bad Ivan stayed behind. Eh, he's no fun anyway."

Qua'elle grins and nudges Herb with his elbow. "If you go for tall women, I suggest you stick with me. There are a couple of Menelmacari Baths here, and I think that you would have more of a choice of tall women there. However, I have a feeling that the Eniqcirian or Kaenian baths may provide more in the way of proper food. Most Menelmacari paletes are used to a very rich blend of spices that a lot of humans cannot handle." He shrugs. "Up to you, really."

"Tall women...? I wouldn't know. I've never seen a woman who wasn't tall, other than Miss Blu, here. I think I'll want to stick with one of you regardless, since I'm five years out of date with romance, and customs are likely different here anyway. I don't want to get smacked by someone with twice my muscle mass. Food can wait, as long as whoever I find is soft. And huggable. Oh, dear, how do people hug with gravity about? I find myself totally clueless about gravlocked lifestyles. It must be so frustrating, not having prehensile feet."

*shouldn't be on page three*

"Hm. What about replacing lost body mass? Dead skin cells and such? Oh, never mind, it's likely too much for my little head to hold. I just do engines."

Blu looks at him and begins to talk at a very rapid pace about internal biosystems and the perfection of the human genome mixed with nanotechnology and secretive Angelic powersystems. It is all very complicated, and he was probably right about it being too much for him.

"Baths! How nice. I hope they're nice and deep. Let's go there. I get the feeling that it wouldn't be anything like a zero-gee swimming sphere. Too bad Ivan stayed behind. Eh, he's no fun anyway."

Talalanthalas grins. "Well, there are actually some zero-g baths here, if you are so inclined to visit." She pauses for a moment and looks at his gravitic field. "Well, on second thought, you should probably visit them for a dip instead of the gravity baths. Your field would prevent you from actually feeling any of the water, so it would be pointless for you to try and swim around in a pool with it on. You could visit the saunas and steamrooms, though they have those in the zero-G facilities as well."

"Tall women...? I wouldn't know. I've never seen a woman who wasn't tall, other than Miss Blu, here. I think I'll want to stick with one of you regardless, since I'm five years out of date with romance, and customs are likely different here anyway. I don't want to get smacked by someone with twice my muscle mass. Food can wait, as long as whoever I find is soft. And huggable. Oh, dear, how do people hug with gravity about? I find myself totally clueless about gravlocked lifestyles. It must be so frustrating, not having prehensile feet."

Blu laughs. Dear, I am really not that tall. Not even 2 meters. I only look tall because I float. As for finding someone soft and huggable... She grins. I am sure that you can find someone. If not, you can always find someone you can pay. Use this, if you have to pay for anything. She tosses him a flat disk-shaped object.

It is a credit tile. Just have someone scan it, and it will be credited to me. Now run along with Talalanthalas. I am sure she will be excellent company. She gives the elf a sly wink, and turns to begin a conversation about power systems with Mikhail.

"Baths! How nice. I hope they're nice and deep. Let's go there. I get the feeling that it wouldn't be anything like a zero-gee swimming sphere. Too bad Ivan stayed behind. Eh, he's no fun anyway."

Talalanthalas grins. "Well, there are actually some zero-g baths here, if you are so inclined to visit." She pauses for a moment and looks at his gravitic field. "Well, on second thought, you should probably visit them for a dip instead of the gravity baths. Your field would prevent you from actually feeling any of the water, so it would be pointless for you to try and swim around in a pool with it on. You could visit the saunas and steamrooms, though they have those in the zero-G facilities as well."

"Oh, I get enough of that back home. Floating in water is just about the only place I can go in high-gee... except with one of these cool belt-thingys... I could just turn it off for a nice float. Saunas... I don't know if I can stand those. I'm no biologist, and I have no idea what the effect would be on all the additives in my blood and such. Now, I can do cold just fine...."

"Tall women...? I wouldn't know. I've never seen a woman who wasn't tall, other than Miss Blu, here. I think I'll want to stick with one of you regardless, since I'm five years out of date with romance, and customs are likely different here anyway. I don't want to get smacked by someone with twice my muscle mass. Food can wait, as long as whoever I find is soft. And huggable. Oh, dear, how do people hug with gravity about? I find myself totally clueless about gravlocked lifestyles. It must be so frustrating, not having prehensile feet."

Blu laughs. Dear, I am really not that tall. Not even 2 meters. I only look tall because I float. As for finding someone soft and huggable... She grins. I am sure that you can find someone. If not, you can always find someone you can pay. Use this, if you have to pay for anything. She tosses him a flat disk-shaped object.

It is a credit tile. Just have someone scan it, and it will be credited to me. Now run along with Talalanthalas. I am sure she will be excellent company. She gives the elf a sly wink, and turns to begin a conversation about power systems with Mikhail.

"Gotcha. Well, beautiful elf-maiden, where are we going to go first... actually, cancel that question, maybe you should tell me what to expect first. Like, how I'm supposed to hug someone when they're stuck in gravity. Maybe I could find someone huggable at the baths, and get at least an approximation of low-g in the water. But that brings on its own problems... How's this: Can you teach me how I can pick up a nice lady without gettin' whacked?"

[gone]

*ba-da-ba-bump!*

ooc:

I am having connection problems here at the house. As soon as they are resolved, I will post. Expect one tomorrow, while I am at work. I am hoping to have my connection reestablished by Wednesday.

ooc:

I am having connection problems here at the house. As soon as they are resolved, I will post. Expect one tomorrow, while I am at work. I am hoping to have my connection reestablished by Wednesday.

OOC: I see. Putting this on pause, then. Sucks when the internet stops working....

ooc: And it was getting good, both here and in the other one.

*smiles slightly* Plus, once the Spacers finish helping out the Angels, the WorldDisc is moving back to Triumvirate space.

Yes, I would greatly appriciate having it back there.

OOC: Oh HO! Ain't seen nothin' yet. In the other thread, anyway. The genecrafters have a big surprise waiting. Hm. I suppose we can just edit all these Out-of-Character posts and write over them, later.

"Oh, I get enough of that back home. Floating in water is just about the only place I can go in high-gee... except with one of these cool belt-thingys... I could just turn it off for a nice float. Saunas... I don't know if I can stand those. I'm no biologist, and I have no idea what the effect would be on all the additives in my blood and such. Now, I can do cold just fine...."

"Well, beautiful elf-maiden, where are we going to go first... actually, cancel that question, maybe you should tell me what to expect first. Like, how I'm supposed to hug someone when they're stuck in gravity. Maybe I could find someone huggable at the baths, and get at least an approximation of low-g in the water. But that brings on its own problems... How's this: Can you teach me how I can pick up a nice lady without gettin' whacked?"

Talalanthalas seems to ponder his cold/hot/gravity issue and contrast them with the different places they can visit. "Well... Let's go visit the Menelmacari Bath StarHaven. Perhaps they can change some of the gravsettings to make things a little easier for you..." She shrugs and gives him a grin.

"Well, what to expect... The Menelmacari baths are pretty sensual places. We are all naked all of the time in the Dome, so that avenue is not very... sensual anymore. However, there is always live music in the Baths, and there are trained masseuses there all of the time as well, to assist in the provision of calm sensuality."

She pauses, thinking. "There is also a lot of incense burning, and quite a few of the different varieties of Menelmacari incense are aphrodesiacs, which greatly enhance the mood within. In StarHaven it is a lot dimmer than the other baths, and they use a complicated mixture of holograms and lights to give the impression that one truely is floating among the stars."

She grins. "As for how to get a lady?" She chuckles softly. "You do not interact with elves very much, do you?" She gives Blu a slow wink. I think that you are in for a great surprise, Herb.

She grins. "As for how to get a lady?" She chuckles softly. "You do not interact with elves very much, do you?" She gives Blu a slow wink. I think that you are in for a great surprise, Herb.

"Er... no, I don't really interact with anyone much. 'Till now. Music is good. I tend to like just about every musical style. I think just watching something burn in gravity would be more interesting than the chemical effects."

"I think it would be best to avoid a massage. I doubt there are any here who would know how to do one for me. Um... so, what did Blu mean, a great surprise?"

(bump?)

Too late to send people aboard?

ooc:

WARNING

Kinda racy, possibly a little inappropriate for young viewers. Do not read further if you are offended.










ic:
Talalanthalas grins at Herb and shakes her head. "You'll find out soon enough." She laughs at his perplexed look and pats him on his shoulder. "Not to worry, I think you will enjoy every bit of it"

Blu smiles and shoos them off.

Talalanthalas takes Herb's hand and leads him down the broad steps onto the cobblestones of the roadway. "'Tis a pity that you cannot feel the ground... The sun has warmed the cobblestones quite nicely, and they feel wonderful on the feet." She laughs joiously and dances along, dragging Herb along behind her through the streets. There are trees and fountains everywhere, and massive templelike structures that hold hundreds of laughing, naked people.

All around them, there is a powerful feeling of sensuality coming from everwhere, and Talalanthalas pauses and points to a bench near a small glade of closely-cut grass. On the bench is a young human couple, a boy and girl, both perhaps eighteen. The girl was on the boy's lap , and they were kissing quite ardently. The boy's hand was urgently squeezing the girl's small breast, and her hand, dug in between their bodies, was wrapped around his erection.

A handful of people had stopped to watch the couple. One man, perhaps in his twenties, was slowly masturbating to the couple's slow movements. The girl broke away, smiling at her lover, and she slid down his body, smooth as a seal, and took his erection in her mouth. And-

"Hey, Herb!" Talalanthalas tugs on his sleeve. "It is not impolite to watch, but to gape like that is simply bad form." She grins at him and shakes her head. "Come, boy. We are almost there." She leads him off, and he suddenly realizes he has no idea how old she is...

Too late to send people aboard?

ooc: We are time dialating to finish up SG's RP.

After the Disc Jumped to the Nebulae, no more visitors 'cept for the SG people again later.

"Good Lord! I didn't even know such permutations were possible. And full in public, no less! Er... well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised about that. In Knossos, sexual activity is reserved for the Civillian Barge, and I guess this is a rough equivalent... it just feels wierd, knowing that this dome is connected right to the rest of the disc. Well. Ah..." Herbert quickly jerked his wandering eyes back forward, and conciously closed his mouth. "Well. Are we there yet?"

Wow. Looking back and forth between the elf and the humans... They look about 18, and they've been in 1g their whole lives, most likely. I'd look about 30 to them, but I've been in zero-g my whole life. And this elf never ages, no matter the environment. I could be going out with a hundred and twenty year old! Kinda fun to think about. 80 year age difference. Probably more, actually....

Talalanthalas giggles softly. "It is called a PleasureDome for a reason, silly." She grins and points to a small building located unobtrusively off to the side. The sign in front is a simple white motar and pestile on a field of blue. "Medical facility. Everyone checks in in one once a day after their first day. Makes sure no diseases get into the populace. You were scanned when you took your clothing off, and genetic samples on your clothing verified the absense of any communicable diseases. Otherwise, you would have been stuck in sickbay for a few hours before you came in here."

Se shrugs and leads him onwards towards a grove of thickly-planted trees. An arrow-straight road leads through the grove, and as they pass underneath the low-hanging trees, the light from the "sun" becomes cloaked in a brilliant shade of green.

At the end of a 100 meter long road is a low temple-like structure that seems to be rather larger than the rest of the other temples and baths. Talalanthalas grins and continues on, and the sound of absolutely enchanting music floats to Herb's ears.

She leads him between two massive columns, and she waves to a couple of long-limbed elvenkin that cried out in greetings as she passed. She walks through a huge doorway, and instantly shadow falls across them, brining the interior lights into glittering detail. Motes of light shine in the air all around them, precisely giving the idea that they were walking through a starfall.

Herb gets the impression of a rather large group of people lounging all about them, but only the closest of them can be seen with any bit of detail in the dim lights. Tal continues onwards, and finally stops as the hallway opens up into a breathtaking expanse. A large pool of water stands before them, its shimmering surface glowing a deep blue, its surface broken only by the occasional swimmer or lovemaking couple, and several large circular islands upon the central of which sits a quartet of elvish musicians. The air is thick and comfortably warm, and the scent of lavenders and lilacs fill the space around them.

Tal grins in the dimness and turns to look at him. "Well," she says, her voice barely above a murmer. "What do you think?"

"You were scanned when you took your clothing off, and genetic samples on your clothing verified the absense of any communicable diseases. Otherwise, you would have been stuck in sickbay for a few hours before you came in here."

"Impressive, to say the least."

She leads him between two massive columns, and she waves to a couple of long-limbed elvenkin that cried out in greetings as she passed. She walks through a huge doorway, and instantly shadow falls across them, brining the interior lights into glittering detail. Motes of light shine in the air all around them, precisely giving the idea that they were walking through a starfall....

A large pool of water stands before them, its shimmering surface glowing a deep blue, its surface broken only by the occasional swimmer or lovemaking couple, and several large circular islands upon the central of which sits a quartet of elvish musicians. The air is thick and comfortably warm, and the scent of lavenders and lilacs fill the space around them.

Tal grins in the dimness and turns to look at him. "Well," she says, her voice barely above a murmer. "What do you think?"

"I think it's wonderful. Nothing at all like the pool on the Knossos Civillian Barge. Like a big, warm bedroom filled with water. And I also think that it looks plenty deep."

Herbert floated himself out over the perfect water, admiring its flat surface, such a departure from what he was used to. For a moment, he was slightly dizzy, trying to reconcile what he saw with what his brain was telling him, that he should be seeing a spherically curved surface. But no, it was flat, and blue, and inviting.

He floated over the water for a moment, taking in the whole sensory experience of the place, then leaned back, closed his eyes, and switched off the harness, letting himself fall in.

Talalanthalas smiles and dives into the pool after Herb. She takes long strokes that bring her up to where he is floating, and she quietly comes up underneath him and pinches his ass.

She surfaces beside him and giggles softly in the dim light. "I am glad you came here, Herb...."

~* Time dialation *~

Talalanthalas ends up banging the hell outta herb. Yay.

~* End time dialation *~

A warning, once more. Some may not want to read what follows.

Talalanthalas smiles and dives into the pool after Herb. She takes long strokes that bring her up to where he is floating, and she quietly comes up underneath him and pinches his ass.

She surfaces beside him and giggles softly in the dim light. "I am glad you came here, Herb...."

"Well, so am I, beautiful elf maiden..." He rolled to float sideways, wrapping his long legs around the elf woman's, and ran his thin, long-fingered hands along the sides of her body and behind her neck. Pulling her closer, Herbert deliberately sank beneath the surface, pulling Talalanthalas into an unnaturally long underwater kiss, aided by a spacer's increased capacity to hold his breath.

He surfaced with a long, deep breath. Keeping one leg wrapped behind Talalanthalas's, and one hand firmly on her back, he allowed his free hand to trace a line down between her breasts while his other leg twisted around, allowing semi-prehensile toes to gently tickle the elf's crotch, his own erection meanwhile pressed between them and firmly against her belly. He brought his mouth next to her ear and whispered, "...it certainly turned out to be more than I expected."

*bump, just in case*

ooc: I am trying, but I am in a horribly shîtty mood. Not a good night for Angel.

ic: Talalanthalas curls up next to Herb, her warm body nestled against his chest in the zero-G chamber in the Menelmacari bath.

She yawns, and curls tighter, trying to hang on to the tendrils of sleep that cloud her brain. She sighs, and runs her hand lightly over Herb's chest. "Well, was it a surprise?" She grins dreamily and kisses his ribcage. "I've been extremely curious as to what sleeping with a spacer would be like... and you are cute to boot."

She stretches out and rests her head against his side. "So... tell me about your home."

Talalanthalas curls up next to Herb, her warm body nestled against his chest in the zero-G chamber in the Menelmacari bath.

She yawns, and curls tighter, trying to hang on to the tendrils of sleep that cloud her brain. She sighs, and runs her hand lightly over Herb's chest. "Well, was it a surprise?" She grins dreamily and kisses his ribcage. "I've been extremely curious as to what sleeping with a spacer would be like... and you are cute to boot."

She stretches out and rests her head against his side. "So... tell me about your home."

Herb lay silent for a moment, taking a deep breath, reveling in the warmth and softness of the woman beside him, the scents of pool water, sweat, and pheromones. "'Twas a surprise. Er... well, not entirely. The whole park scene sort of gave it away, and the impish grins. And now, I get a second surprise, at my own previous naïvete. I certainly got what I was looking for, too." He gave her a gentle squeeze, not that his muscles could've managed anything other than gentle, as he said "You are certainly soft and huggable. Y'know, you're only my second lover in all of... wait, don't want to date myself. Suffice to say, my last is five years gone. I hope I didn't dissapoint. You, my friend, were lovely. Simply wonderful. And still are, I should add."

"My home... well, that depends on what scale you're looking for. My apartment, the ship, the Guild...? If I'm not out on a long-haul ship like the Minos, I live on the Civillian Barge Amnisos. A few people have aeroplants floating around for decoration, most of them swiped from the hydroponics ships, and the individual apartments are rather varied, but most of the ship is just drab golden-tan cylindrical hallways. Except for the command sections, which are grey and boxy. Little spherical IR drones float about for surveilance and deliver messages and such. There's much room devoted to entertainment, a movie theatre, game courts... though few of the sports played there could be equated to anything terrestrial. There's what you might call a swimming pool, really a huge sphere of water with an air bubble in the middle that's held in place in the center of a large converted sports arena by air jets."

"Cora, that's the ship's AI, is generally pervasive, controlling the drones and the elevators and keeping an eye on things through fish-eye lenses and talking through speakers in the walls. She's pretty friendly, most of the time, and has a habit of playing They Might Be Giants music when nothing much is going on. Or sometimes some Moxy Fruvous, or Simon and Garfunkle. It's a pretty interesting mix."

"Speaking of They Might Be Giants, in the words of the Four Johns, How 'bout another first kiss, like this?"

She laughs and leans over to kiss him again...

Several hours later, Talalanthalas floats over to slip out of their gravitic bubble. Her body gleams with a light sheen of sex sweat, and she turns to cast him a wink as she drops from the bubble. Her long hair, which had floated about their bodies in the bubble, now hung down to her ankles and now trailed about the ground.

She walks over to a pile of rocks overlooking the main pool. She takes one last long look back, and jumps into the air, her body arching into her dive as she plunges towards the warm waters far below.

She walks over to a pile of rocks overlooking the main pool. She takes one last long look back, and jumps into the air, her body arching into her dive as she plunges towards the warm waters far below.

Well. That was nice. She was nice.

Herb got about brushing pools of sweat off of his torso and limbs, got his harness fixed up, and floated out.

'Twould be kinda nice to try swimming again, but I suppose I should be off to find Blu. Ivan and Steve are probably wondering what is taking so long.

Blu finds him wandering through the streets, and she follows him for a few minutes before floating up behind him and clearing her throat.

Ahem. She nods to him when his attention is given, and she gives him a minor smile. I spoke with the rest of your party, and told them what you were up to. Steve apparently took an interest in going to a casino, and one of my aides guided him to one nearby.

She turns and motions for him to follow. Is there anything else I can help you with while you are here?

Blu finds him wandering through the streets, and she follows him for a few minutes before floating up behind him and clearing her throat.

Ahem. She nods to him when his attention is given, and she gives him a minor smile. I spoke with the rest of your party, and told them what you were up to. Steve apparently took an interest in going to a casino, and one of my aides guided him to one nearby.

She turns and motions for him to follow. Is there anything else I can help you with while you are here?

(OOC: Good call on Steve.)

Herb's face took on a ponderous, thoughtful look. "Maybe... get me that elf's telephone number?" He smiled slightly, then shook his head and said "never mind, just a cheesy attempt at humor. Perhaps... well, what else is there that I'd be allowed to see? Maybe something a bit more on the techy side of things is in order."