Docking Hub - Comorro Station
Comorro Station isn't exactly a station. It doesn't remain in any one place for a significant span of time. It is, in all accuracy, a massive starship - incapable of atmospheric flight - that has been roaming the stars on a voyage that some say has lasted for more than 90-million years.
The vessel is a Yaralu, a sentient spacefaring vessel. Her true full name cannot be spoken in a single day, but is shortened for convenience to Comorro. Several epochs ago, after her final era of fertility ended, she converted the gray-green ribbed chamber of her womb into a docking hub for smaller Yaralu and non-organic vessels. She made it known to the denizens of Hiverspace that she would serve as a neutral outpost for traders and diplomats.
Use of energy and projectile weapons is prohibited aboard Comorro. Violators will be absorbed into the vessel's nutrient replenishment matrix. She is capable of monitoring almost all chambers within the station for illegal weapons, but some areas - such as the Forgotten Quarter - are lost to her neural pathways and sensory organs.
Hjasne walks down the ramp of a newly arrived shuttle that bears Hekayti markings. He carries a black-framed PDA in his right hand as he steps off the ramp and onto the floor of Comorro's docking hub.
Akamatsu performing his usual habit of wandering Comorro sees this newly arrived ship and its inhabitant and walks in that general direction.
Hjasne spies the approaching human. His brow arches as he looks from Akamatsu to the series of images displayed on his PDA. When his gaze returns to Akamatsu, he points a finger at him and says, "Outverser, we must talk at once."
Newt munches away at his favourite violet fruit as he enters from the tradport hatch. In his own time he makes his way for the ships.
Akamatsu raises his eyebrows at the finger pointing at him and replies "About what exactly?"
Hjasne turns the PDA screen so that Akamatsu can see it. The image on the display shows Akamatsu aboard a shuttle, pouring a beverage into the open mouth of a Gankri passenger. "Your relationship with the terrorist who tainted the Emergents on Ashkodt. Furthermore, your involvement in the conspiracy to commit this act against the colony."
Akamatsu raises his eyebrows a bit more at this and replies "What would I stand to gain from helping a terrorist sir?" After saying this he even grabs the jug in the video and takes a swig feeling this will be a loooong talk.
Newt spots Akamatsu off in the distance, watches for a bit and then, with the faintest shrug begins to head over.
Hjasne smiles grimly down at the human. "Money. Standing. Security in a strange universe. There could be any number of reasons." He lowers the PDA. "However, I really care nothing about what you stand to gain. I care only about what knowledge you have about the crime, the suspect, and any other possible co-conspirators. Your cooperation in this matter would be appreciated."
It is around this time that Kallyn emerges from the Tradeport. She is accompanied by a Hekayti, with whom she speaks. "I mean it, Dr. Hjernlyvriktistoveil, thank you," the redhead says, "I never would have caught that inconsistency on my own. I'll be sure to give you the proper credit in my notes." She remains oblivious as she bids the large green woman farewell and starts on a casual pace in the general direction of the shuttles.
Akamatsu smiles knowing that if interrogations here are similar to those back on earth things were likely to get messy and wanting to avoid that with cooperation. He nods and asks "Where would you like this innterogation to take place?"
Newt stops nearby and, continuing to remain silent, he eats his fruit and watches.
"Here is fine," the Hekayti investigator replies. "Describe the nature of your relationship with the suspect."
Akamatsu becomes straight faced again and replies so calmly you'd be surprised he knew he was being interrogated "I sat next to him on the shuttle to a Hekyati planet. He saw me drinking from my jug and asked for some. I said ok not knowing that he was in fact a terrorist."
"Do you often provide drinks to strangers on shuttle flights?" Hjasne asks, his brow knitting.
Kallyn continues on her path, starting to actually examine her surroundings as she walks. The Aukami takes note of Newt, a familiar enough face to catch her eye, and then follows his gaze. Curiosity alters the woman's course, and soon enough she finds herself standing beside the young pilot. "Hello," she greets Newt lightly, "Anything interesting?"
Newt looks up (well /up/) at Kallyn and then back at the scene, shrugging, "Dunno." He indicates the cop, first, with his enfruitted green hand then Aka, "He's asking him questions so far."
Akamatsu keeps his straight faced composure and replies "Well I really don't know that was the first time I'd ever been on a shuttle and he was the only one to ever ask. I suppose if somebody were to ask I'd let them have some."
Hjasne considers the human's answer. "I see." He taps something into his PDA. When his attention returns to Akamatsu, he inquires, "He had his head in your lap. That seems awfully familiar for someone you just met. Perhaps you knew each other prior to the flight."
Newt stops, midbite, at that and just stares at Aka for a bit before slowly finishing off his bite.
"Oh shades, they're talking about that Light-forsaken Gankri," Kallyn rubs her face and sighs, before approaching the chatting pair and offering her voice into the conversation. "Vampire appears to be a bit eccentric," she remarks lightly, "He wasn't invited to stick his head in anyone's lap, he just... did. As though it would have strained him to get a cup."
Akamatsu looks to Kallyn at this and thanks her for her imput and he sees Newt out of the corner of his eye and turns to salute him in greeting before turning back to his interrogator and saying "He was a rather annoying person to be perfectly honest I figured he'd be pestering me for the rest of the flight if I didn't give him some. So I decided to just give him a bit rather than tolerate that for the rest of the flight."
Another tight smile from Hjasne as his attention goes from Akamatsu to Kallyn. "You know this 'Vampire' well, do you?" He chuckles. "Why, I suppose you do, at that. Aren't you the one who made sure the authorities on Ashkodt captured him in exchange for your freedom?"
"What part of the phrase 'appears to be' suggests that I know him? I'd only just met him on the flight," Kallyn remarks, "And for the record, the trade wasn't my idea, it was the authorities'. But yes, I turned the Gankri in for his crimes. I also volunteered to be interrogated first, but it was deemed unnecessary. Has something changed since then?"
Akamatsu after hearing this news that interrogations hadn't been neccesary grows suspicious and has his brow furrow. He proceeds to ask his interogator "That Gankri didn't name me when he was being interrogtated did he?"
Hjasne shrugs. "Since the prisoner's interrogation, the Grand Moot on Hekayt Prime has determined that he could not have accomplished this act on his own. The authorities on Ashkodt are a provincial bunch. They are not as wise to the ways of the broader cosmos." He returns his attention to Akamatsu. "He described you. The shuttle line provided images from the flight. You were all known to have originated from this place."
"I'm surprised he bothered to mention you," Kallyn remarks to Akamatsu, "But the fact that I'm known to our friend here suggests he also mentioned me. Which is less surprising, I imagine the little runt was feeling a bit vindictive when I turned him in." She just shakes her head, "I believe I understand what you mean, sir - if I'd have been them I would have questioned everyone there anyway. So that means you intend to clean up whatever mess may have been left, Mister...?" The Aukami prompts lightly for a name.
Newt continues to watch from the sidelines, munching away at his violet fruit.
Hjasne tilts his head, regarding Kallyn. "You may call me Overkeeper Hjasne. I am the primary supervisor for the Starkal Cliffs complex on Hekayt Prime, where the Emergents are now housed."
Akamatsu focuses more on the "you all originated from here" comment and says "You said we all originated from here. Are you insinuating that Comorro itself had something to do with this incident?"
"I am suggesting that the suspicion is that Comorro's neutrality could have provided the necessary concealment for a conspiracy of this type," Hjasne replies to Akamatsu.
"A pleasure, Overkeeper Hjasne - Dr. Kallyn Lake," the so-named woman introduces lightly, "You may call me Kallyn. How are the Emergents faring, anyway? I'd heard that they were passed along to the Toveil caste, but haven't really been keeping up on matters. Bit busy as of late." She chuckles at Akamatsu, but doesn't comment.
"They are still alive, but remain confused about their purpose in life," Hjasne answers Kallyn. His gaze shifts back to Akamatsu. "You hold a position here of some authority, I take it? You were on patrol when you encountered me stepping off the shuttle."
Akamatsu actually laughs at this comment and replies "No I hold no position of authority unless you count a spacer in the Orion Confederacy a position of authority. I merely tend to wander Comorro frequently. It was a habit I picked up in Japan, my homeland, and old habits are hard to break."
Hjasne twitches his lips at Akamatsu's response. "The Orion Confederacy?" He taps something else into his PDA. "Interesting."
Newt raises an eyebrow and finally speaks up, finally done with the fruit that has now left him with a bright violet teeth, lips and, well, mouth. "What's so interesting about that?"
"Confused?" Kallyn asks, "Last I'd heard, they were quite certain about their purpose. It just wasn't the purpose that their original programmers wished."
Akamatsu adds to his previous comment to Hjasne "My work with the Confederacy has nothing to do with my trip to that planet. If you don't believe me ask my superiors. Newt incidentally would be one of them." He points to Newt after saying this.
Hjasne doesn't answer Kallyn for the moment. Instead, he looks at Newt, opening his mouth to reply just before Akamatsu speaks. He nods his head in agreement to the displaced ronin. "You are correct. I *should* speak to your superiors. Please notify them that I will remain on-station for the next few days."
Newt scowls ever so slightly, "One of them is here."
Kallyn falls silent, politely waiting for the current topic's resolution and hopefully her answer after that. The woman folds her hands together behind her back.
Hjasne looks down at the clown-mouthed tiny person. "Intriguing." He then regards Kallyn. "As to your concern: The rebellion didn't come from certainty about what they wanted to do. The Emergents no longer had direction. They are rudderless. Unsure. In Starkal Cliffs, we will help them find their true purpose." With that, he strides away, approaching the tradeport.
Akamatsu says to the people still there "I really want to see him try to interview Lucy." He then takes a drink from his jug.
Newt glares after Hjasne, scowling and states, "Jerk."
"I see," Kallyn replies, quirking an eyebrow as the Hekayti strides off without so much as a word of farewell, "Well, that was... different." She smiles absently, "I have an odd feeling we'll all be seeing him somewhat frequently for a bit... I wonder what lies the Gankri has been telling about us."