A portly Opodian in plain brown robes stands at the entrance to the main terminal, a wooden sign braced by the palms of furred hands. Scrawled on the white sign are the words 'Ralakaia Rescue' in a few different languages - including, oddly enough, Terran Standard. However, in Terran it actually translates as 'Ralakaia Go-There-See-And-Bring-If-Not-Dead.'
Arriving only a few minutes prior, the Opodian Narai slowly makes his way across the landing pad. It has been some time since he had been here. He takes a moment to breath in the air, rather then that recycled air found in ships and space stations. His eye catches the sign held by a fellow Opodian, and he wanders over towards him.
Razorback makes his way from the shuttleport, flanked by a by a two armed persons, a large Hekayti bearing a chain gun, and a human with an automatic pulse rifle. The Cliffwalker speaks quietly to them, looking about until he spots the sign-bearing Opodian and begins to head that way. He nods to the shorter being, his ears canted forward. "Greetings," he says in passable Hekayan.
Umishi pads off the ship she came in on streaching, the Lyiri looks around a moment and walks over to the sign holding Opodian blinking.
The hatch on Aukam's Light cycles open and a short, skinny human female disembarks, a cigarette perched behind her ear. Kestrel has her hands shoved into her pockets as she hops down off the side of the boarding ramp to look around. Upon spotting the sign, the Later heads over that way, trying pretty hard not to smile at the translation into Standard. Emphasis on trying.
The Opodian priest shrinks back from the imposing Demarian and his well-armed escorts. Instead, he turns his immediate attention to Narai and says in Opodian, "Brother, I am Yasan Opo'te, elder of the Great Temple and comptroller. I am responsible for the management of the rescue effort. A surprising number of offworlders seem to have responded to the call for help. It is heartening. However, I do not speak their languages. Would you serve as translator?"
Dean exits off the shuttle, armed and ready. He glances around the area before approaching the Opodian as well, giving a nod to Razor and Kes.
Shortly after Kestrel comes a tattooed Timonae...or perhaps an undersized and visually outspoken Aukami, it can be hard for inversers to tell. He, too, smiles at the sign. "Well. Better standard than my Opodian, anyway."
As he is spoken to, Narai listens attentively. He nods to Yasan, speaking his native language. "Indeed, I can if you wish." He moves next to Yasan, turning to partially face him, as well as those who have assemble, and prepares to translate.
"I do not wish to alarm the would-be rescuers," Yasan says in Opodian to Narai, lowering the sign to his side. "However, I ask that they be informed of something that has not yet been relayed to the media outlets of the civilized worlds. Another expedition went into the jungle to find the lost missionaries two days ago. A squad of two Gankri and a Tupai. We have had no contact with them since their last check-in on the outskirts of Ralakai. We must assume the worst. So, the Great Temple and our beloved goddess would understand if these brave souls who come to our aid in a time of trial might reconsider such assistance."
Razorback chuffs quietly in amusement, his lips peeling back from his fangs with a grin. Still, he takes a step away from the conversing Opodians, nodding to the pair with him to do the same. He spots Kes and Dean and his smile brightens somewhat as he inclines his head towards them.
Kestrel punches Dean playfully in the arm and grins before she nods at Jazz. "Better'n I'd do, yep," she agrees. "Least it gits th'point 'cross." A shrug punctuates the comment before the Later nods to Razor, then turns her attention to the two Opodians, waiting expectantly.
Umishi looks between the two Opodians as they talk..not understanding what they are saying but watching all the same.
Jaswinder mms. "So...are we rescuing somebody? Is the pay good?"
The news relayed to Narai sends shivers down his spine. What could be trapping these expeditions? Trapping, of course, being the best case scenario. He listens, nodding to Yasan. After a moment to think what he is going to say, Narai turns to those who have assembled. "This is Yasan Opo'te, the one who issued the request for aid." He translates. "Before you accept his request for aid, he wishes to inform you that two days ago a second expedition was lost two days ago. Anyone who wishes to leave, should do so now. We understand, and may Opodi bless you." He turns and nods to Yasan, waiting for something else.
In Opodian, Yasan says to Narai: "Those who wish to assist should board that mountain hopper shuttle." He gestures toward a mottled green-and-brown aircraft that's shaped like a cat's claw, with a wide sliding hatch that opens onto a cargo bay behind a single-pilot cockpit. "It departs in just a few minutes. We will deliver the rescue team to a drop zone about one hour south of Ralakai. Please determine whether all in the team are in possession of functioning communication devices and serviceable weaponry."
Razorback looks back to Narai, nodding as his ears swivel back. "It is good to know this," he replies in Hekayan, "This is why we are here, though."
The slender human female just gains a rather thoughtful expression and looks up at the Timonae beside her. "What'd 'e say?" she asks in a low voice, shrugging vaguely. Kestrel shifts her weight back and forth between her feet restlessly, keeping her hands in her pockets for the time being.
Thayndor Zahir descends from a shuttle that departs shortly after he arrives. It doesn't take him long to spot the knot of outversers on the landing pad, which he approaches at a brisk clip.
Jaswinder thinks about it, doing his best to translate the Hekayan. "It's a rescue mission. Or recovery. I'm not sure. People that want to help go over to that ship and...we go somewhere. I picked up 'communication' and 'weapon'...I guess the assumption is danger. Seems to think everybody here is here for it. Are we? Didn't catch anything about reward or payment. But, you know, might get to shoot things. Your call."
Nodding to Yasan, Narai turns back to the crowd, "Those who wish to continue on this journey should board the shuttle." He points to the shuttle in question, "It will take us to where we need to be. Please ensure you have communication devices and weapons. I am sure you will need them." He turns back to Yasan and says in his native language, "If that is all, I shall take my leave and board the shuttle."
Umishi blinks, "Well i'll still help..Someone has to right?" looks at the shuttle, then checks over a small quiver attached to her belt and slightly behind her left hip, the quiver seems to contain metal shafts, The Lyiri nods to herself a moment. blinks at Kes before speaking in a mostly butchered terran standard "Said about another team to rescue the other team and no come back. Also said people want help goto hooper.." blinks and thinks a moment, before just pointing at the shuttle " if want to help, have good talky and pointy things before going." nods after she finishes..pretty sure she said the right thing.
"You may also tell them that the 75,000-credit reward will be divided equally among the surv...erm, the successful rescuers upon their return," Yasan informs Narai in Opodian. "I will be awaiting your team's transmission from the drop zone. If you could make broadcasts to my receiver on the temple's private frequency, it would certainly do more to put our minds at ease." He transmits the frequency code to Narai's data management device.
"Some sort of talking mudbear, eh?" Zolor Zahir strokes his sharp chin as he ponders the fat Opodian priest. "Surely not a mankiller." Visible only to Thayndor, the time-and-space-lost regent of Fastheld turns to regard his nephew. "Deathly bored on the living space fish? Finding somewhere new and exotic to meet your hideous demise?"
Razorback looks from Narai to the shuttle and back to the others. "Well," he says in Hekayan, "That is our way in." He gestures the armed beings behind him to the vehicle before looking back to those who came in on the Aukam's Light. "Will you be joining us?" he asks in Standard with a grin, and moves off without waiting for an answer.
Before departing for the shuttle, Narai listens again to Yasan. In Opodian, he replies, "I shall update you personally. May Opodi look over us, and return to safely." He offers one final nod, then turns to the shuttle, as he moves, he says to the others, "Upon completion and return, a rewards of 75,000 credits will be divided to those who return. I shall not take part in this reward. What I do, I do for my people, and Opodi."
"Yeah, 'at priest was in th'news an' suchlike," Kes replies, nodding at Jazz. "Seventy-five kay's up fer grabs. Reckon we'll hafta split it." The Later shrugs vaguely, then taps the commbead in her ear. "'Ey, Shep, git out 'ere. Bring m'rifle." A pause. "Naw, we's goin' inta th'jungle. Th'other rifle." She winks at Jazz then. "Muckin' 'bout in th'jungle'll be a nice break. Specially if'n we git ta shoot somethin'." Umishi gets a curious stare. "M'goin' with, yep."
"Ah," says Thayndor, from the rear of the group. "Sounds like I'm in the right place." Looking somewhere just to the left of Jazwinder's ear, he explains, to no one in particular (it seems), "I always did enjoy a good expedition into the middle of nowhere." He quirks a grin. "Clears the mind." The Zahir pats around on his hip until he locates a particular pouch hanging from a belt, and traces the contours with his fingers. "Commlink." He loosens the sword in his scabbard. "Weapon." He turns towards the shuttle. "Right, then," he says, and strides purposefully in the direction of Narai and the mottled-green vessel, jostling through the others along the way. "Excuse me."
Jaswinder spreads his hands. "I can use a handgun," he says mildly. "My aim isn't always of the best, but I can probably hide behind a rock if need be." He grins. "Outside, there are no witnesses. Shall we?"
Umishi starts to pad to the shuttle pulling what seems to be a multi-part folded object of wood and metal off her belt.
Sheppard appears a little later in the Aukum's Light hatchway. The large Solan is dual wielding assault rifles. Okay, well he's really just holding one in each hand. The one in his left hand is raised, before he yells out to Kes, "'Is one?" regardless, he moves down and over towards the Later.
"I suppose there's precious little else to keep me entertained besides watching you suffer through yet another cosmic misadventure," the not-there Fastheldian regent observes as he follows after Thayndor. Seeing his nephew's pushy manner, he glances toward the group from the Aukam's Light and shakes his head. "Saw this play out with Hartnek Lomasa. Didn't end well for him, either." He flickers and then re-forms in the cargo bay of the air shuttle. "Cozy."
"Please to comfort selves make," says the pilot, a dark-furred Opodian who appears younger and more physically fit than the priest observing from the tarmac. He seems to be speaking in very broken Terran Standard. A goofy grin is on his face. "Olabn Opo'te, taker-to-places-not-here, greet on solid footing of most revered Tach-class transport-box-air. Outverser, greet and not to fall very far to maintain gladness quotient."
Jaswinder blinks at this, visibly working on unbreaking the broken Standard. "...Redcap, who gave the pandas a box of Mad Libs?" he asks quietly, following her and Shep aboard.
Remember that jostling? Kestrel, slim little waif that she is, gets knocked aside rather carelessly, barely avoiding a fall by virtue of grabbing hold of Jazz. "...'Ey Zahir, tell me somethin' -- was yer momma too busy whorin' ta teach ya any manners?" she snarls after the Fastheldian. The Later shakes her head and straightens, then looks toward Shep. "Yeah, 'at's th'one," she calls back to him, already heading toward the shuttle. A shrug goes Jazz's way. "Least 'e talks Standard," she points out.
"Indeed!" Thayndor says cheerfully, clapping his hands. Kestrel's complaint is ignored. "I, Thayndor, liker-of-money-in-pocket, greet on most ... stable ... firmament ... of your glorious aerial conveyance." He sits across from Zolor's ghost and starts fumbling with the crash netting of his seat, doing a most inexpert job. "A very simple way to afford a new suit or two," he says, again, to no one in particular. "This is nothing compared to a career stomping about in the Wildlands and the untamed river." He successfully buckles the netting, but his head is in the place where his arm should go. Frowning, he unbuckles, and tries again. "I just have to mind my ... gladness quotient."
The Opodian, Narai, makes his way to the transport and offers their pilot a nod. He turns to see where the others are, and boards the transport. Passing the pilot, he says in Opodian, "Your Terran could use a little work."
"I am astonished to find someone in the universe as retarded as Orell Mikin," Zolor notes as he considers the grinning Opodian pilot.
Sheppard follows at a quick jog, handing Kes one of the assault rifles, before passing her a few clips, "Yah shoulda tol' me 'is one first, 'ow was Ah 'sposed ta know yah didn't want the big one? 'Ere's plenty 'ah trees 'round 'ere, coulda jus' climbed one," he catches the tail end of the pilot's standard, "Wa'ssa gladness ke-woa-shient?" he querries aloud.
Umishi ears flatten to the side as she tries to figure out what was just said..seems to make hand motions, the folded metal-wood object in one hand, with her ears flicking as she tries to silently put words to place in her head while finding a spot in the cargo bay.
In Opodian, the pilot replies to Narai: "I am teaching myself, revered brother! Three days, so far. Our secret, please. It is not generally approved to make use of alien study materials on the temple grounds. Particularly those acquired by less than blessed means. So, you have my thanks for the criticism! I shall endeavor to improve." Then, in Terran, he proclaims: "Bottoms down! Up going!" He turns and activates the engines. Retrojets start thrumming loudly.
Jaswinder doesn't exactly respond, but can't repress the dirisive snort either. "True. Someone who apparently can run a craft without running it into rocks is piloting." He hmms though at Shep's question. "Yeah, mulling that one over too." He waves a hand toward Narai. "Translate please into Hekayt?" he asks, in his halting Hekayan.
"Easy," Thayndor says, looking /at/ Zolor but, to everyone else, somewhere between Jaswinder's eyes. "Some of us have some skin on the bet that he's smart enough to get us where he's going." The spool-up of the retrojets causes Thayndor's head to bang against the hull -- he's not quite mastered the webbing of the jump seat he's found against one wall of the cargo bay -- and he rubs the back of his head, frowning.
"Eh, jungle's too thick fer th'sniper rifle," Kes points out to Shep. "By th'time ya see somethin' s'right on toppa ya anyhows." She shoulders the assault rifle and clomps into the cargo bay. Amusingly, the last seat left is the one that Zolor is 'sitting' in. So that's the one Kes ends up plunking herself down in. After a few moments of study, she fastens herself into the restraints expertly.
"This reminds me not unfavorably of one of those lost weekends I spent in the Shadow District," Zolor notes as the female parks herself on his lap, oblivious to his presence. "Did I ever tell you about the Barking Swan? Did you ever go? They had this woman there. Her name was Charity--" His story is interrupted by the grinding rumble of the hatch as it starts closing in preparation for liftoff.
Nodding to the pilot, Narai chuckles, understanding what it is he is talking about. He makes his way into the shuttle, finding a seat and prepares to leave.
Sheppard gets in before the hatch closes, pulling out a carrot and jamming it between his lips like an orange cigar, "'At's why yah gotta burn it down," he tells Kes with a sagely nod. He looks to Jazz, "Know what it means? Ah sure don't, nope,"
Jaswinder fiddles with his own straps, eventually deciding that in the event of turbulence he'll just settle for a near-life experience anyway and giving up on them. "Burn it down and your diet goes way downhill, man. That's a million salad lunches out there. Besides, if you set fire to it, all the animal population stampedes to get away from it. I doubt they'd give you a pass for being vegan."
Thayndor Zahir's lip curls in disgust, still rubbing the back of his head. "This drop area where we are going," he says to Narai, "Have you a map?"
Umishi looks around the cargo bay as she wait to arrive at where they are going.
Narai looks over to Thayndor, and shakes his head. "I do not. No. I trust it will not take long to find the expeditions... Or at least whatever has them will find us." He pauses, looking forward. "Opodi will guide us, and return us safely. That is all that matters."
The Tach-class planetary shuttle rises from the pad of the Opo'te Spaceport in the golden glow of Kamsho's sun as it descends behind the Great Temple - now fully repaired after the bombing two years earlier. Olabn angles the vessel so that it follows a course roughly northeast across the cityscape toward the jungle-shrouded hills in the distance.
Kestrel laces her hands behind her head and slouches as much as the crash restraints allow. Well, now, this would be awfully cozy if she actually realized that she was sitting in someone's lap. And if that someone was, you know, corporeal. "Jazz's right. Can't jest burn it down," she replies, shrugging at Shep. "Pretty sure th'panda bears wouldn't like 'at too much. 'Sides, we's lookin' fer people. We'd burn 'em up too, if'n 'ey's still 'live 'at is."
Sheppard hrms at this development, "Well, we could chop a bunch down...'en make a big fire outta 'em." he states after a moment, thinking hard, "So 'en we got ourselves a clearin', an' a fire. 'Course, prolly was jus' simpler ta bring the assault rifle, Ah fink,"
"Ah yes, Opodi will," says Thayndor, sagely nodding his agreement. "How far from their was the other expedition, when it went missing? Do we know?"
Narai shakes his head again at Thayndor. "We do not know. I am sure all will be revealed once we arrive." The Opodian looks around at the others, then lowers his head and closes his eyes - perhaps silently praying to Opodi before they land.
Razorback takes his seat, along with the two accompanying him. He regards Thayndor with a sneer of disgust before turning to nod to Kes. "A rescue mission is never improved by mass destruction."
Umishi tosses the folded metal-wood object between her paws.
"That doesn't bode well," Thayndor quips drily, "for my gladness quotient."
"I dunno," Kes says, shrugging at Razor. "Li'l bit'a mass de-struction always brighten's m'day. But it don' get th'mission accomplished, I'll give ya 'at bit." She grins and winks to punctuate the comment. One slender brow raises slightly as she follows his gaze to Thayndor, a quiet chuckle escaping the Later before she nods at Shep, reaching over to pat his knee. "Yep. S'easier. Ain't as sneaky, but s'easier," she agrees.
As the Tach-class shuttle levels off, the rumbling engines descend to a more tolerable hum. Olabn notes from the cockpit: "Some of you seen on shiny-talker-show. Goddess hands. Try to take, you do. Not sure. Gladness quotient lacking."
Narai leans over, just enough to see Olabn. His eyes wide, he simply shakes his head. Hard to tell if it is out of embarrassment, or the sheer brutality of the language barrier, but he shakes his head none-the-less. He settles back in his chair, and says, "I must apologize for our pilot... Alien language and culture, not something studied my many Opodians, or often."
Shep nods a bit along with Kes, "Mass destruction ain't a bad fing," he tells the Demarian, shrugging and nodding at Kes, "'Spose it is, Ah guess,"
Thayndor Zahir gestures emphatically. "Oh, not at all," he says to Narai. "Flattered that he's trying." He sniffs, coughs into his hand. "Really."
Jaswinder mms. "Yeah, he does better at Standard than I do at Opodi, but couldja translate what he *meant* into Standard for us?"
Umishi jaw drops slightly and her head falls slowly to the left side....a highly confused look on the felinoid's face.
"Now down go!" Olabn explains enthusiastically as he starts arcing the shuttle down toward a clearing in the jungle, shadowed green and blue as the last dapplings of gold bleed away with the sun's setting. The aircraft skids hiss from the belly, ready to make contact with the surface. There's a light thud and shudder through the cargo bay as the retrojets soften the landing.
Narai leans on his chair, to better speak to Thayndor, and the group if they care to listen. "Our people are xenophobic. Other then those with direct contact with outsiders, very few study alien language. I myself, spent many years studying languages. I felt that the word of Opodi should be spread across the galaxy, to those who will listen. Since there is no incentive for outsiders to learn our langauge, it made sense to learn other languages." He goes back into his seat as the transport heads down.
Razorback nods briefly to Narai. "That is part of why we are here," he tells the Opodian, taking hold of a nearby support strut as the craft begins to descend.
Nodding, Narai adds, "It surprises me that our people requested the aid of outsiders." He shakes his head, and looks out the window as the shuttle descends.
"Maybe things are changing for the better," says Thayndor, paling a bit as the ship descends so enthusiastically. "As they occasionally do."
Kestrel just kicks her feet absently during the descent, seemingly unfazed by the piloting. As an afterthought, she plucks the cigarette from behind her ear... and tucks it away in an inside pocket of her jacket.
"The thanking give to visitors not-to-die, gladness quotient maximizing," Olabn says, shutting down the turbines. The whine sinks into a thumping rumble before going silent. Another button tap, the cargo bay hatch starts opening. "Here remain, not-go-elsewhere." He offers Narai a flimsy plasticoated map marked with nanite tracers, showing the shuttle location in the clearing and the location of the Ralakai village. "Wayfind! Safe be."
Sheppard also isn't fazed by the piloting, glancing towards the hatch again as he unslings his assault rifle.
Taking the map from the pilot, Narai offers a final nod as he disembarks. He takes a few steps away from the transport, looking down at the map and attempting to gain his bearings.
Thayndor Zahir undoes his webbings and rises even before the ship descends, and, though he looks uneasy about the metal contraption's landing, he seems to gather when its about to land and is standing in front of the hatch before it begins to open. "Safe be," he agrees, loosening his sword in its scabbard again and stepping down after Narai. "I thought," he mutters, "you did not have a map." A grin. "I suppose Opodi makes all things clear in time, hm?" Stepping clear of the transport, Thayndor eyes the treeline, alert.
Umishi shakes her head out and braces for the landing blinking as the cargo door opens standing to get off the shuttle.
Jaswinder laughs as the ship descends. "Now there's a pilot who enjoys life. Good to meet one now and then." For himself, it seems all he's got are a pair of pulse guns. He looks them over thoughtfully, then out at the world. "Dragon wings, werewolves...pulse guns. Just couldn't land in the stars Chumana swims in, could I. Oh well. Fame and-or mortal embarrassment await." And with that...out into the sun he goes.
Razorback nods with satisfaction, hopping through the hatch an retrieving the axe holstered between his shoulder blades. He looks down over Narai's shoulders at the map there. "This way?" he asks, gesturing towards the trees. His two companions also make their exit, eyes on their surroundings and weapons ready.
Kestrel blinks blankly at Jazz as she unfastens her crash restraints. "I gotta git ya drunk 'nough ta tell some more'a 'ese stories sometime," she muses, grinning as she gets to her feet. The Later disembarks from the shuttle, looking around alertly. The rifle's not up, but it is kept at the ready.
Studying the map, Narai says in response to Thayndor, "Alas, I said I did not have a map. And I did not. I have since been given a map. You should be more observant in the future." Whether or not that was a short at Thayndor is another thing all together. After a moment, Narai puts the map down. "The villiage is in this direction." He points his claw out towards the forest. "The best path to take would be here." He motions his claw across the map, illustrating the location of the path. "I assume the second expedition would have followed that path. Answers lie there."
Stars and two moons - one full and bluish-gray, one in a pale pink crescent - are in the sky above the dense jungle canopy. Narai's PDA blinks, with a reminder: TEMPLE FREQUENCY.
Sheppard follows the crowd out of the shuttle, flipping the safety off of that assault rifle, "So, 'oo'er we killin' taday, Kes? Fink it might be a bad fing if'n Ah killed the wrong people. Not 'at Ah'd care, 'ough,"
"Huh," says Thayndor, absently. "Two moons." He studies the stars intently for a long moment, then two. "It's not six," he mutters. "But I suppose it's better than none." The Zahir walks slowly, allowing Shep, at the least, to pass him. "That constellation there," he says, pointing to a group of bright stars that probably look nothing at all like a bird. "That looks somewhat like a raven." Seemingly satisfied, he pulls his eyes from the heavens, and saunters along towards the path.
Razorback nods in agreement with the Opodian. "Very well," he says, then leans his head up to scent the air. If he finds it all clear, he nods yet again. "Shall we?" he asks of the general public before heading in the indicated direction, followed by his cronies.
Umishi makes some quick motions with her wrist and the folded object she was holding unfolds to become oddly enough a bow, its metal components 'click' locking into place to hold its form, How she did not take her wrist off with the bowstring snapping out that fast is anyones guess. The Lyiris ears seem to constently flick and swivel around to aide her eyes as she follows the others.
"The jungle's going to eat you alive, Thayndor," the spectre of Zolor Zahir asserts as it stalks along behind him.
The short Opodian stands up, holding the map tightly. "A suggestion? Perhaps someone with a weapon in front and in the back? Until we know what happened to the others, perhaps?" Narai says, as he follows along cautiously.
Jaswinder smiles slightly at Kes. "Get yourself drunk first, little redcap. It's more fun that way." Belting on a pair of holsters for the guns, he looks around before following after the group. "Just getting mugged in memory lane again, that's all it is. Now let's see if there's any signs of somebody being eaten near here. That's always a nostalgia moment."
Kestrel nods in agreement. "I'll take th'back," she replies. "Shep kin take point." Thayndor gets a brief, narrow-eyed look as she waits for everyone else to pass by her, then follows after the last one, moving quietly.
"You're traveling with a group of scruffy mercenaries from another dimension, too tough, ruthless, stubborn or stupid to have died in whatever Lightforsaken corner of the multiverse it was that birthed them," Thayndor replies, drily, to Narai. "We /all/ have weapons." His brow knits. "Jungle is jungle," he adds. "Trees are trees." He glances darkly over his shoulder. "What makes this any different from the swamp we travelled in the Wildlands, all those years ago?" His eyes track right, to Kestrel and the shadow she makes in the dark. Then his eyes are forward again, and the jungle sucks him into its waiting tendrils, the fronds of palms slicing up moonlight like knives against flesh.
There are signs - almost immediately - but not from the direction of the jungle path or the village. Instead, there's a despairing cry from the Opodian pilot, Olabn, from within the shadowed confines of the shuttle. The hatch now appears to be closed. In the cockpit, shadowy forms seem to struggle.
"That," the regent observes, "seems different."
"What makes this different," Narai interjects, "is that two expeditions have been lost, without a trace. Keep that in mind when we face off against whatever it is out there that may have had a hand in that." He scurries along, in the middle of the group, weaponless. He comes to a stop at he hears the cry, "Olabn." He says, looking at the others.
Sheppard stops dead after he passes Thayndor, picks a group of stars at random and states, "'At consternation 'ere, looks like yer face," he states, and seems content to take point with his assault rifle. He looks back at the shuttle at the cry, shrugging, "'Ope yah can fly 'at fing outta 'ere," he states to Jazz.
Razorback's head snaps toward the yell, ears pasted back angrily. "Miss Kestrel," he calls out, "Would you and your dour friend (nod toward Thayndor) care to check that out?" He gestures back as he begins to retreat towards the shuttle, now taking rear guard stance himself, ears poised, nostrils twitching.
Jaswinder shrugs and makes a waffling gesture with one hand. "It'd be the Lady's guess if I make it. Atmo craft aren't my thing but the controls aren't that different. I'd personally go for a blood sacrifice to the Lady for a kiss first. You know. Just to be sure." He pauses, thinking. "Unless somebody's bled into the controls. That shit's sticky as all fuck. I'll go with you, redcap."
"'Kari's sword," Kestrel curses, turning and darting back toward the shuttle. "Shep, what if 'ey *steal* it?" she demands of the Solan, without even looking back at him. She all but skids to a stop at the hatch, desperately trying to open it with the keypad beside. She pays no attention to Razor's request to take anyone with her.
Umishi ears flatten back on her head as she turns around "Oh thats not good..."
Stumbling for the communication device he was given, Narai starts to panic. "If they steal it, I call for help. Assuming help arrives before whatever is in there comes after us." He grabs the device, and turns it on, flipping it to the temple frequency, so those on the other side may hear what is going on.
"We're not friends," Thayndor observes drily. But as Kestrel approaches the shuttle's hatch, he follows -- warily, the nervousness going away as Kestrel's increases.
The hatch door slides open, revealing a cargo bay that is well splattered with something dark and drippy. Two tall, gaunt silhouettes stand in the shadows - their eyes glowing a brilliant orange. One releases the lifeless body of Olabn Opo'te, whose corpse tumbles out onto the ground at Narai's feet, staring up at the skies he can no longer see. The other takes a step forward, pale skin illuminated by faint starlight. His mouth is rimmed with blood. His hands drip with it. He sniffs the air, and then his sharpened gaze swivels toward the surviving Opodian. The eyes shift hue to shimmering green. "Still...hunger," the Aukami hisses.
Jaswinder - catching up with his little captain somewhat breathlessly - announces his presence with a half-panting, resigned, "Aw, *fuck*. Not again. At least I've got clothes on this time." His hands lower, and he pauses as the palms touch the grips of the guns. "And hey. Guns. Good addition!"
There will be time to mourn the loss of his comrade later, Narai briefly thinks to himself. No time for that in the face of danger - Aukami. Narai takes a few steps back, small steps, not as if it matters. "We need them alive!" He shouts, knowing that if they are responsible for what happened to the two expeditions, they will need to get information from them. Being dead is not conducive to getting answers. As he backs, weaponless, he shows is claws, in the event he must defend himself.
Razorback growls as he studies the forms, hefting his axe even while his ears scour the forest for more of these apparently noiseless creatures. His hackles rise as he moves forward. "You will kill no one else today," he rumbles in Hekayan, eyes blazing.
Shep? Well, his action is all but instantaneous, "Get the fuck down!" he calls to anyone who may be in his way, he doesn't allow people much time to get out of the way, if they happen to be in the way, as he cries out, "Eat 'ot lead meat eatin' fuckers! FER CARROTS AN' CAULIFLOWER!" as he lets loose with his assault rifle at the meat eaters.
Umishi growls as she reaches the others while taking in the scene "Its harrd to take sssomthing alive that wisshss you dead...Therre arre two..kill one trrap the otherr."
The Aukami who indicated he was still hungry finds his appetite whetted, permanently, by the blast of ammo from Sheppard's assault rifle. The one in the back, however, dodges the salvo - springing cat-like through the air, clutching the upper rim of the hatch with slender fingers, and then hurling himself up and over the top of the shuttle's hull on a trajectory that will drop him near the jungle fringe to the southwest.
Kestrel only pauses long enough for a single blink before she steps back to stay out of Shep's line of fire, raises the automatic rifle, and... seeks a new target as the one in front of her crumples to the floor. Well, it's not too hard to find one with the catlike acrobatics of the other Aukami, at least, the Later depressing the trigger as she swings the barrel of the rifle his way.
"You need /you/ to be alive," Thayndor says over his shoulder. "They'll --" but his next pithy line is cut short by gunfire. He cartwheels backwards down the ramp, somehow landing in a perfect crouch at the foot of the ramp, his sword coming out. He frowns at the Aukami hurtling overhead. Then he points at it with two fingers, twisting them in the air, and pulling them sharply down.
The second Aukami doesn't really have much time to be pleased with himself for a crafty escape. He exclaims: "The others...!" right before his head erupts in a black mist against the stars. The rest of him falls like a stringless marionette onto the grassy soil about ten yards from the shuttle.
Razorback turns quickly towards Sheppard at the sound of gunfire, but is too far away to prevent the man's action. He snorts in disgust before turning to find both of the creatures gunned down. "Well done," he says with a quiet sigh, shaking his head, ears folded in annoyance. He leans down, taking up the dead Opodian and replacing his corpse in the shuttle. He drags the splattered remains of the Aukami down the ramp, taking care to remember the Kamiroid's scent. He then shuts the hatch and heads back towards the woods. "Let us get on with the job," he says, ears canted forward again as he sifts the air, "I suggest we follow the path that this ... thing ... was taking."
Umishi growls still crouched down "I have a feeling that wass not the only two of them herre..." starts to approach whats left of his body...and as strange as it will look to most..sniffs around the corpse trying to get its scent.
The regent of Fastheld walks alongside Sheppard, peering at the powerful assault rifle. "Imagine what House Zahir could have accomplished with weaponry of this fashion, Thayndor! Why, even in *your* hands, victory might have been assured."
As the first Aukami drops, Narai looks for the second one only to see that it too has been downed. He lets a sigh out, and looks around. "Before we go... Search the bodies. They may have something?" He says as he kneels down next to the closest body and searches it.
Thayndor Zahir straightens, sheathing his sword. "You'll want to put that back," he tells Razorback. "I don't know much, but I suspect that Aukami shouldn't have glowing orange eyes, nor a thirst for Opodian flesh. There are people back on Comorro who will want to study their corpses. And if you can pick up the scent of decaying flesh," he continues, tilting his head at Razor. "Don't you think they can, too?" He sneers. "I know. Disregard the savage. But I doubt they have anything save some sort of terrible disease."
The body that Narai searches has within a pocket of the blood-splattered tunic a pale blue crystal that glows brighter as the Opodian retrieves it.
Kestrel watches for a few moments to make sure the second Aukami isn't going to get up before she looks aside and raises a brow at Thayndor. "Aukamis always got glowin' eyes," she replies, snickering. "But I fergit what orange means." The Later nudges the Aukami at her feet with her toe (like she *really* needed to make sure it was dead, right?) before she crouches down to search it.
On the second Aukami, Kestrel finds a similar pale blue crystal. It has no reaction to her retrieval, however.
Sheppard kicks the corpse of the Aukami he killed, "Fuckin' meat eater," he states in disgust, before looking after Razor, "Sounds good enough ta me, 's long as 'ere's more meat eaters ta kill," he states, moving to follow the Demarian.
Jaswinder gets up now that the gunfire has stopped, and says in a tired voice, "Shut the fuck up, Thayndor, you're embarrassing your bloodline. Again." He wrinkles his nose at the body. "Yeah, me carrying guns around you guys is a case of overblown vanity. Damn." But the sparkly crystals catch his attention fast...and he shuts up himself, his expression turning very wary. "...Redcap?"
Umishi ears flick and she makes a clicking noise, "I do not like leaving and not finding thesse..thingss..lairr." moves to follow razor.
After searching the body, Narai stands up. He looks at the glowing blue crystal and walks over to the others. "We should continue." His eyes focused on the crystal. "Perhaps we will find clues the further in we go. There is nothing we can do about the pilot. I will signal for aid to come. We cannot leave the shuttle unattended."
Zolor furrows his brow, stopping next to Thayndor and staring toward the murk of the jungle to the west. "I'm not...alone."
As Narai approaches, Kestrel's blue crystal starts glowing ebulliently.
Thayndor sniffs. He seems about to make some kind of flip retort to Jazz, but instead, tilts his head sharply to look off into the jungle. But, really, he's looking at the Regent. "Zolor," he says. "What did you say?"
"And I do not intend to fly back on a vessel with a body that may be contaminated by some 'terrible disease'," Razorback calls toward Thaynor, "If someone wants the bodies, they can come out here and get them." He glances down at the crystals that Kestrel and Narai find. "I do not like that at all..." he growls before moving on at full alert as his two comrades follow, shifting uneasily with their weapons at the ready.
The Later scrambles back a few steps as Shep comes up to kick the dead Aukami she's crouched down by, and kicks the Solan in the shin. "Almost run me over, ya big goon," she says, sticking her tongue out. Kestrel shrugs and looks up at Jazz. "Dunno... 'ey, mine's broke. 'Is glows," she says, disappointment tinging her voice. After a few moments thought, she shakes the crystal, as one might a glowstick. Of course, right then, Narai draws close so it starts glowing, leading her to peer at it again. "Huh. Mebbies somethin' was loose in 'ere." ...Riiiiiiight.
"An entity, not entirely in this realm of existence and not entirely without," the unseen regent replies. His head tilts. "Watching. Growing closer."
Looking at his crystal, then noticing the other one beginning to glow as he nears it, Narai stops. "I do not know what these are. Some sort of device to locate nearby Opodians?" He sighs, not sure what they are. He brings up his communications device, and speaks into it, describing the crsytals, hoping someone on the other end will respond with an answer as to what they are.
"Should we run?" Thayndor asks. His hand finds the hilt of his sword. He looks west, narrowing his eyes.
Sheppard doesn't seem to mind getting kicked in the shin much, "'Ah 'ad ta make sure the meat eater was dead," he tells the Later, before also peering at the crystal, watching as she shakes it, "Mebbe it jus' don't like yew," he states, but then it starts to glow, "Or mebbe it do, dunno. 'S bornin' 's what it is. Ah want somethin' else ta kill."
Umishi is tense in what could be called 'hunter mode' and keeps looking around, her ears moving around as rapidly as her eyes.
"You could run," the spectre responds, his usually unmoving hair suddenly fluttering in a breeze only he would feel. His features shift. The silver hair grows longer. He stretches to a taller height. His skin darkens to a deep olive. His eyes glow pale blue. "And perhaps you should."
Jaswinder heads right over to Kestrel, and the crystal in her hands. "Careful," he says quietly, and very warily. "Glowing crystals on whacked out Aukami *can not* mean happy fun times. Can you...I dunno. Null it or affect it at all? Make it, or the other one, stop g- what?" All at once he just...stops. Stops, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath. "Can I see the other crystal, please?"
Kestrel raises a brow at Thayndor. "What inna name'a 'Kari's sixteenth level'a hell're you on 'bout?" she asks. "Run from *what*?" She shakes her head. "'Kari-cursed crazy psionists," she mutters. The Later shrugs then, and offers the crystal to Jaswinder. "If'n s'got any happy fun psi stuffs, prob'ly, but..." She shrugs again. "Dunno how ta tell if'n it does. Can't *sense* psi, kin jest..." She trails off there, offering yet another shrug.
"Estimable colleagues," says Thayndor to the group, "maybe I'll be wrong again. But I think something very strange is about to happen, and I think perhaps we should be alert." He backs up as Zolor starts to transform, looking at the ghost. "What," he deadpans, a murmur, "is going on ..."
Sheppard looks to Kes, "Wha's 'steamable collies' mean? 'Ee talkin' 'bout steamin' cauliflower? Ah'm down wif 'at, after Ah kill some more stuffs," he states, looking about towards the forest for more stuff to kill.
Razorback turns to glare at Zolor. "I think we have already arrived at that conclusion," he growls, then pauses to study the thin air that Thayndor is looking at. "What in the name of the Sand Mother?" he growls in Demarese, stretching his senses to the utmost to gather any information he can, holding his axe ready as his hackles rise.
The Cliffwalker's companions look about, oblivious to the ghostly apparition, but they key into their leader's rising tension and fidget worriedly.
"It means he's retreating into noblespeak because something's scared him stupider, Shep," says Jazz quietly. "Which may be the first intelligent thing he's done all day. Watch mister noble canary, would you? If I turn into a brain eating zombie, feel free to shoot me. I won't mind. Can I see the other crystal, too?"
It takes a few moments, but the apparition gradually becomes more apparent to the would-be rescuers. He appears to be a spectral Kamiroid with long silver hair and loose-fitting tunic and trousers. His eyes glow a bright blue. His gaze shifts from Thayndor to the rest of the group. "I grant you the opportunity to leave with your lives."
"I dunno, I thought a collie was a dog," Kestrel admits, shrugging at Sheppard. "But dogs ain't 'zactly steamable. 'Ey's better grilled, point'a..." She blinks blankly as she finally notices the apparition, her brow furrowing slightly. "An' who're you?" she asks of the ghostly Kamiroid, putting her free hand (the one not still holding a rifle) on her hip.
For a moment, Narai blocked out what was going on as he stared down at the crystal. Still nothing on his communication device. He looks up, then hears the warning which catches his attention. He turns to face the apparition, "By Opodi... who.. what.. is it?"
"And what have you done with my uncle?" Thayndor adds at the end of Kestrel's query, tilting his head.
"I am Il'ri Kamm, and I take exception to your interference with my blessed children," the spectre replies. He turns his attention to Thayndor and says, simply, "He rests."
Now that he can see it, Jazz seems to relax completely - whatever fear or agitation was there, now gone. "...It's a godling. Or reasonably close to one. A pissy undead god with an attitude even you can't snark at, Thayndor, though if you try I just might despise you less." He pauses, smiling slightly. "As in Il'ri Kamm Hive Mind, creators of Hiverspace, that Il'ri Kamm? Blame the Kamir for our presence. We got shoved here. Not much us killable mortals can do about you lot. Not that we haven't hoped, dreamed, prayed and done really stupid shit to try anyway."
"Collies ain't good no matter 'ow yew cook 'em, 'ey's meat," Shep tells Kes, before he notices the spectre, lifting his assault rifle at the spectre's head, "'Undred credits says Ah can kill it," he states, probably both to Jazz and Kes.
"Il'ri Kamm..." Razorback mutters quietly, looking up at the being, "I? Not we? That is something new." He steps closer to the apparition, though his ears rotate back towards the woods behind him. "I believe that you will need to be more specific," he replies firmly to ex-Zolor, "We are looking for some missing people, and we intend to find them."
"Snark at it? It's extracted the single useful thing you've said all day," Thayndor replies to Jaswinder, "and it's relieved me, even temporarily, of a ghost. I should thank it."
Umishi ears goew flat against her head and she crouches down making a deep feline growl."Arre you rresponsible for those Aukami?"
The Opodian listens to the apparition speak, but says nothing. He is far more confused, then anything else. As he listens, he looks down at his glowing stone, then the other stone, thinking all the while. Still no answer from the Great Temple. Narai ponders something over in his head as he continues to listen.
"I am responsible for many things," the first-generation Kamir intones. "Including the death of Opodi's only daughter." An eyebrow arches. "The children, however, have evolved on their own. I have only nudged them, here and there. They are outcast from Aukam. I know this pain."
"That, Thayndor, is because you're a moron," sighs Jazz. "Redcap? Can we just shoot him now? We've got blue-eyes here to deal with too, it's just a pain in the balls to put up with captain single-brain-cell here on top of it. If I'm going to die here I at least want to see him dead first. What d'you say?" He raises a hand toward the Kamir. "No offense, pissy undead god whatever. We'll get right back to you and the whole reordering of the universe, cleansing of the profane, yanking and french braiding of evolutionary lines and whatever else you're thinking of. It's just this numbnuts is too damn distracting, so I'm'a kill him first and then we can talk, okay?"
Kestrel raises a brow and tilts her head to the side as she regards Il'ri Kamm. "...Huh. So yer a Kamir?" she asks. A shrug, then, as if the answer weren't really of any consequence as the question was rhetorical anyway. "An' if'n yer kids hadn't'a ate our pilot, 'en we wouldn't'a shot 'em. Seems pretty simple ta me." She looks aside to Shep. "'At's a Kamir, stupid, ya can't shoot 'im. It'd jest go right through 'im, like. You kin shoot fancy-pants 'ere, though." A shrug goes toward Jazz as the barrel of her rifle swings toward the Fastheldian. "Works fer me."
Razorback looks towards the others, his ears folding a bit. "That's enough," he says in a vague fashion towards whatever shenanigans are going on. He then turns his silver eyes toward the apparition. "We will find who we came for," he states simply with narrowed eyes, "Then we will leave. I would ask if that is acceptable to you, but in the end, I am not concerned with your answer."
"The children have no interest in the petty squabbles of Outversers," Il'ri Kamm replies. "Shoot this one, if it advances your agenda." He points a slender finger at Narai. "Leave him as payment for your transgressions and you shall be forgotten."
Sheppard looks over at Thay, also leveling his assault rifle, "Well, Ah guess shootin' 'im's better 'en shootin' somefin' 'at don't die," he states.
Umishi growls "No one will be sshot orr left ass payment..What you do is wrrong."
The Opodian was phased out for a moment, but then looks up at the apparition points him out to be left. "What? You can't leave me here!" Narai looks around, then down at the crystal. He tosses the crystal aside. "Shoot the crystal. A test. Shoot. Shoot now!" Narai orders, as he takes a step back.
The crystal darkens as Narai moves away from it. "You have a choice," Il'ri Kamm says, lowering his hand from pointing at Narai. "Persist in this hunt for the Children of Kamm. I will do nothing to interfere. But most of your blood will go unsavored when you fall into their clutches."
The Cliffwalker's eyes narrow further. "Unacceptable," he replies to the ghostly figure. One of his henchmen looks to Narai, then points the chain gun at the crystal, getting ready to fire, but Razorback puts up a paw to stay him, eyes never leaving Il'ri'kamm as he gauges the being's reaction.
"How unexpected," says Thayndor. "I thought the three of you were supposed to be some kind of tough. As it happens, you're presented with the first sign of something beyond your control and you panic." He glances at the crystal, brow knitting.
Jaswinder takes out his own gun, relatively small though it is compared to his crewmates', and aims it at Thayndor. "That's all right, little furball. We're not heroes. Not full time anyway. And I've been holding myself back from shooting this prick like a half-ton diabetic holds back from a chocolate mousse. Today's my treat. I'll deal with after when it happens. If it does; if it's my day to go to the next life, I'm fine with that too." With that, he fires.
Umishi hears the gunshot and as fast as she can moves luanches herself at Thay to either push him out of the way or block the bullet...or both depending on how fast a the shot can fly.
Thayndor Zahir glances up just in time. His eyes narrow, and he holds out one hand, palm spread. There's a whistling sound and the slightest tear of fabric. A piece of his sleeve rips, and Umi knocks him to the ground, sending him into a sideways roll. Somehow, like a cat, he lands in a crouch. "That," he says to Jaswinder, "was unwise." The palm turns into a closed fist, Thayndor alert now and remaining in his ready crouch.
Jaswinder tosses the gun toward Thayndor as it overheats - not aiming, really, as he might with a rock, but tossing. "Might want to stop that," he growls. "Energy pistols have a bad habit of exploding when their power packs are tampered with." He crouches, arms spreading, a ready stance. "On Comorro your mouth was safe. On a landing pad. Here? You're gonna get the ass-beating you're owed."
Il'ri Kamm observes, bemused, as the Outversers try to kill each other. "And you deem my Children savages? I shall leave you to this amusement." With that, there's a shift as he fades entirely from view of all.
Razorback watches the exchange for the brief moments that they take place in, his eyes following the thrown pistol as Thaynor sends it sailing into the jungle. Trees shift from the force of the explosion which lights up the night and disturbs animals for miles (if there be any). The Cliffwalker steps forward, signalling to the two with him as he interposes himself between the combatants. "ENOUGH!!" he roars angrily, eyes smouldering and claws extended. The two with him each level their weapons at those involved in the altercation, the human at Jazz and the Hekayti at Thayndor. "If you would kill each other, kindly move elsewhere so that I do not have to smell the stench of your idiocy."
Umishi gets into her own crouch from the previous tumble then quickly gets away from her landing spot, then rolls into a sit catching her breath.
Sheppard lights up his carrot as he watches the goings on. His assault rifle is still pointing in Thay's, and therefore now Razor's direction, but he doesn't fire, not yet at least "'Is is almost as good as Demarian snow wrestlin'," he states around that smoldering carrot.
The Opodian steps back from the group, not wanting to get in the way. Narai is confused as to the history between some of those he is with. He doesn't feel it the time to ask questions that might get him shot at, or beat up.
Cue a raised brow from Kestrel as Jazz lobs his gun at Thayndor, though aside from that it seems to be taken in stride. "'At ain't panic, son," the Later drawls, shaking her head. "S'payback." Her finger tightens on the trigger, though for the moment, she too holds her fire. "Gimmie one reason why I shouldn't shoot 'im," she replies blandly to the Demarian.
Thayndor Zahir rises, making a batting-aside gesture that coincides with the pistol's change of direction. "Demarian, kindly remember who shot at who," he says. "I came out here to earn my share of a purse. If Mister Jaswinder resents every moment in which I am at peace with myself, which seems to be the case, I have no control over that." His sword still hasn't come out. "But I agree with you that this is neither the time nor the place for us to settle our particular score. And it is a trivial one."
Jaswinder barks a short mocking laugh. "Nickels and dimes add up, numbnuts. And you nickel and dime all the time to everyone. You mock and demand respect from everyone and give it to no one. There's not a friend I have that you haven't insulted and mocked and loved it even more when you thought they couldn't tell they were the butt of your snarking. Captains down to mascots. You stand for no one but yourself and you backstab everyone at the first chance. And you laugh and make it clear you're going to, just so you can laugh harder if they cut you a break. You *disrespected my captain to her face, before her crew, while standing on her ship*." He seems to be getting angrier with every word, his demeanor getting more intense rather than uncontrolled. "And I waited while Comorro protected you, and authorities protected you, and now I don't give a good flying goddamn if the universe ends AGAIN while I'm at it, I am gonna knock EVERY ONE OF YOUR TEETH DOWN YOUR THROAT!"
Razorback's axe leans out towards Jasswinder, the big Cliffwalker's eyes locking onto those of the Timonae, his brow lowering grimly. His tail remains dead still, ears folded. "No," he growls evenly, "You are not."
Thayndor Zahir blinks. "Demarian," says the Zahir, "let him try. If I have aggrieved you, Jaswinder, and you want to try to kill me, than come and try. But I warn you, I will defend myself."
Sheppard looks at Jazz, and then reaches into his pocket, from there he produces a carrot, much like the one that is smoldering in his mouth right now, "Now, don't go knockin' 'is teef down 'is throat, Ah'd wanna keep 'em," he states. He then does his level best to shove the carrot in Jazz's mouth.
Umishi growls and all her fur frizzes up..like it fuzzing up more was possible for Lyiri..."There is not time for this! Can we please jus focus on the bloodsucking Aukami...please"
Kestrel rolls her eyes at Thayndor. "'At Demarian's gotta name," she says, shaking her head. "But ain't like you'd know it, is it? Any more'n ya care 'bout shovin' people outta yer way like bein' first onna shuttle meant gettin' a bigger cut'a th'pay. You say ya know y'ain't in yer Fastheld no more, but ya sure do act like y'are, Lord Zahir." The Later sneers the title, then snorts. "How 'bout 'is. How 'bout we all quiet down, an' finish what we's 'ere ta do... an' 'en we settle 'is later on, inna Fergotten Quarter." A sly smirk. "Not 'at I 'spect ya ta show, mind."
Jaswinder meets Razorback's stare unblinkingly. "I wasn't asking for your permission," he growls. But it's not the pleas for logic that get his attention. It's Shep's carrot poked at his mouth and the request for teeth. And the anger...dissipates. Despite clearly not being that old in Timonae terms, Jazz briefly looks very, very old. "Fuck it," he sighs. "Every life the same, trying to defend princesses that throw me in the fire and queens that disappear. I could kill you and you'd learn nothing, just pop up in some other life to do the same damn dance all over again and three times is enough, thank you." He looks toward Kes, and nods. Then to Thayndor, "I've made my position clear. I've made my reasons clear. You just proved my point again - Razor's got more honor in one claw than you've ever known in your *life*, and he's *defending* you, and you've got no time to even use his name or even the idea you should. You want to use your powers on me? Fine, you've got more powers than me. That doesn't make you better or more noble, it just makes you more powerful. Just another pissy little godling, a miniature Kamir. Learn to be a fucking *human being* godsdamnit. Or when the opportunity offers I'll kill you just to have the rest of *this* life without having to watch you blithely step on the hearts and dignity and honor of everyone around you."
And then, speech done...he contemplates the carrot, bites it, and turns away.
The 'Demarian' looks back and forth between Thayndor and Jazz, finally snorting in disgust. "I have no time, nor patience for these petty games," he says, "Join me if you will, I have better things to do than wait this out. I will not leave until I have at least ascertained the fate of those I came here for. And you all wonder why the people here do not trust Outversers." The Cliffwalker scoops up Narai, beckoning his followers who peel themselves away reluctantly. Razorback returns his senses to the jungle around him, moving away from the scene and on towards Bro... I mean, Demar knows what.
Sheppard smacks Jazz on the back, probably a bit hard side, since he doesn't really hold back, "Le's go kill some fuckin' meat eaters," he declares, turning back towards the forest. He 'draws' on that smoldering carrot again, assault rifle once again brought up to point at the trees, as he begins to follow Razor.
Umishi blinks for a moment hesitent to leave the others too thier own devices then pads after Razor.
"...'Ey Jazz," Kes offers quietly, leaning against the Timonae. "I ain't goin' nowhere." She grins and hugs him briefly with her free arm. "'Course, I ain't 'zactly a princess 'r a queen neither, 'ey?" The Later winks and pats Jaswinder's rump affectionately before she nods toward the trees. "Razor's got th'right'a it. We gots work ta do, 'ey?" One last look goes toward Thayndor before she too heads toward the path.
Thayndor Zahir looks at Jaswinder for a long moment. "For all the words that seem to have cut you so deeply," Thayndor says, "Remember that I have had, all this time, been so powerful even that I can stop you from killing me even when you catch me by surprise, and never once have I turned that power against you -- even considered it, really, unless you forced me to defend myself. And no matter how words may have cut, you still have each other -- and I have nought but my ghosts. If the idle banter of a lonely man can be such a weapon, then indeed I must spend some time apart to learn to sheathe it." He turns to follow after Razor, keeping a distance between himself and Jaswinder. "We shall have to have a talk, Jaswinder. But now, we have monsters to kill."
"Maybe if your words cut less you wouldn't be so damn lonely," says Jazz, though the tone is mild. Then, to his crewmates, "I've got one pistol left. Thank gods for stupid vanity, and thanks for putting up with it. Let's get this job done?"