The Interstellar Broadcasting and Reception Office was hard at work within the Spire. It was in charge of receiving and transmitting all Committee broadcasts in the galaxy, as well as receiving unidentified transmissions. A Yhei was playing a game secretly on his terminal. He had been bored all day, and it wasn't the first time his job required him to do nothing. His mouth curled in frustration as he lost in his game, but before he could start a new one, his headset started to pick up static. His yellow eyes blinked curiously, exiting the game and looking bringing up the frequency of the broadcast. After listening to it for a few seconds, he took off his headphones, looking over at his boss. "Uh, sir... You'e gonna wanna listen to this..."

---

"It was an S.O.S. signal, no doubt about that. It matched Committee procedure to the tee."

"Then why are we bringing this up?"

"Because.. It's frequency wasn't within Committee boundaries. It was picked up by our Extraterrestrial Unit."

"Lets listen then, Commander."

The Grand Chairman's office was filled with the Head representative of every race on the council, including the Commander of the IBRO. If the Commander was to bring this to the Committee's attention, it had to be important.

"....elp, Help!...Stranded...Planet is....We need Assistance from anyone willing to help... So many dead! Oh, Oh god...!" Through the static there were sounds of men and women screaming, gunfire, and the growls of something hideous. The room was silent.

"Where was this broadcast?" The Grand Chairman finally spoke up, stroking his gray beard.

"We aren't sure, Chairman. It was off the grid, uncharted territory. We aren't even sure we know who they are, but like I said, they sounded military, providing an S.O.S. beacon."

"We should send a combat unit out there." The human representative said, looking over at the chairman.

"Not a chance, we are already spending millions of credits trying to protect colonists from bandits and other threats. Not to mention the Rebellion happening on Drawni..."

"Then why not contact our allies near the coordinates to see if they can spare some forces?"

The Yhei Representative laughed a bit. "No one would dare go to rescue a group of strangers after listening to that tape."

"I think we have another option." The human representative said again, stepping forward. "We can send in an expedition unit--"

"Oh please." The Furtim spoke up. "They would just waste resources and time. None of them are truly qualified to handle these types of situations."

"You're forgetting something." The Human representative stepped forward. "We actually have the Monroe on standby, and as we know, they are the most efficient and successful expedition force since its creation!"

A small amount of silence filled the room. "Would the crew on the Monroe be willing to investigate the S.O.S.?"

"They're criminals! All we have to do is tell them to do it, and they'd be forced to! And besides, It'd be a relief to finally be rid of Raymond Chase and his crew of criminals--"

"Marauders, I believe they call themselves." The Human replied, smiling a bit. At that time, the Chairman coughed and silenced the room. "Captain Rivers, please gather the crew of the Monroe, and brief them on their new assignment."

---

"Damn... Tango, pass me that socket wrench over there."

"Yes, Captain. I still do not understand why you are performing maintenance on this star-fighter. It would be reasonable to request a newer model from the Committee."

Captain of the Monroe Raymond Chase was hard at work on top of his star-fighter, the Raven in the Monroe's hangar. Although the crew was on "limited leave" to walk around on the Spire, Ray had already seen all he could at the Committee HQ for the two days they have been here. So while most of his crew was out, and while he was waiting for new recruits, Raymond occupied his time working on his project since he found it three years ago. The Ship's AI, T8NG0, could be anywhere on the ship if he wanted to be through computer systems and monitors, but ever since Raymond named him officially, he preferred to be in his physical form, a dull white robotic skeleton with a simple white face cover with only pale blue lights for eyes, in at least one place on the ship.

"Because, my robotic friend." Ray grunted, wiping sweat off his forehead before going back to work. "It is made with classic American engineering, someone once told me that there isn't any machine you can't fix with your two hands, and this girl saved my ass a few times way back when..." He muttered, standing on top of the ship, and hopping down before crawling underneath the machine to work on another engine.

"If you say so, Captain... Captain, we have someone--"

"Can you hand me a quarter-inch socket?" Ray cut him off, lost in thought as he held his hand out. Instead of a socket, he felt a hand grab his, and pulled him out from under the fighter. Ray was caught off guard but, before he could get up to kick the person's ass, he saw who it was, and immediately stood up and hid his face.

Head Human Representative Gary Rivers stared at the younger man. Rivers gave a sense of ease, his soft gray eyes could fool normal people, but Ray knew that those eyes could change in an instant. His jet black hair was graying as well as his matching beard, and he wore his uniform neatly. "Head Representative." Ray said to him, grabbing an old rag and wiping the grease and sweat off his arms and face.

"Captain Chase...You happen to visit the illegal and secret cage fighting arena in the lower districts?" He asked nonchalantly, but Ray didn't look at him. "Oh come on, Raymond. Everyone can see that black eye from a mile away."

Ray finally looked over at him, one of his eyes swollen and purple from yesterday's activities. "That's how you use your military training, son?" Rivers asked with a sigh. Raymond shrugged, not breaking eye contact anymore. "I'm a criminal now, Representative. I guess I should take part in illegal activities. At least I won."

Instead of getting angry, Gary gave a faint smile, shaking his head. "You're a stubborn tough son of a bitch, Chase. Did Doctor Driani look at you injuries?"

"With all due respect sir, its just a black eye and bruises. She has more things to worry about."

"Fair enough... But I didn't come here to play nurse. We have an assignment for you and your crew... And it won't be a walk in the park."

Raymond Chase chuckled a bit, closing the toolbox. "yeah, well... what else is new?"

ching...chi-CHING-K!

"I am sorry, Sevanti'Trei...We...We don't typically tailor that to your size. Running the loom, alone-" the human tailor protested to their customer's request for a custom coat, short as they were. The small figure, on the other hand, had distracted themselves with a pair of spurs, accenting their impatience by stopping the spin of the stars by skipping them against each other before setting the adornments back on the shelf and turning to face the woman.
A black, red and white plaid scarf covered over their nose where an eyepatch shielded one eye, yet complimented their other dully glowing amber iris that constricted to sharpen their slit pupil. After a moment of tense silence directed to effectively cut her off, they lifted a hand to tip their black news-boy hat down to shade their piercing expression. "Triple...ehn I say zeis every time-" began the small figure known to the woman as 'Sevanti'Trei' due to a miscommunication after their accent was considered. '73', or 'Kaite', was a paying customer even since their first stop at port where the proprietor merely didn't know what she was seeing when the Aylv had walked in.

"-Stop that...you were nice enough to at least try not to shut me down by showing your face, this time. You have no idea what trouble you brought me" The woman replied in a hushed hiss, rightfully upset over the incident that almost ended in half of her shop being dismantled in the course of the fight.

"I do not, nor do I care! Take my money, provide me my vears, or I call my debt ehn take my money elsevher!" Kaite growled with a stomp to accent the final word, turning the heads of a few patrons from the small outburst before going back to their business. Bound by honor to make right his very existence that contributed to a display being destroyed after some errant 'do-gooder' had a nasty fall through the glass and ruined a good portion of the carpet and select wears with his blood.

---------

The bell chimed behind Kaite as the woman posted a sign on the window that read 'no pets allowed'. Back out in the market strip, he wandered off in the general direction of the hangar. Stuffing his hands into the pockets of the ratty denim jacket he cleaned up after shamelessly peeling it from an eviscerated kid around when he started, he figured it would have to do for the time being. Slim jeans, a simple black shirt and 1.5-inch flat-heel'd boots would have to do, completing the ensemble which made the security officer look like little more than some impoverished youth.
He could nearly taste that pea coat, but hadn't the slightest clue where the next quality human outfitters was, let alone one that would serve him. Kaite's imagination painted all such shop owners in the same light.

They talk, right? I mean, they all have basically the same profession. Why would any of them be unaware...
Thinking about it made a weight sink through my heart at the idea of not getting what I wanted, as simple as it was, and for reasons I was not even responsible for! It was like the man had never seen a pair of ears before! Or...or that he had and they murdered his family? Can ears be people? Are some people ears!?

With such consideration, Kaite's wanderings had lead him from the honeycomb'd section of The Spire which held various financial and commodity markets into its neighboring food district. Swiftly, his weight transitioned from a sense of loss in his heart to an emptiness in his stomach. All of the walking around and 'shopping' reminded him of how he had a change of heart about spending the second day, as well, in The Monroe. In his haste to re-explore and take in the rich but overwhelming culture of the vast quantities of mingling species, he skipped what the schedule on his HUD read as 'breakfast and lunch' with a frown-y face next to it.
The notifications also listed a Committee ID tag registering 'Head Human Representative Gary Rivers' as a guest on board The Monroe. It was certainly an opportunity that Kaite saw to provide obligatory backup for Sir Raymond Chase, since 'guests' were a rare and often unwelcome occurrence...as far as Kaite knew, since he had never had to initiate an intruder lockdown.

Still, the appearance of a foreign entity in what was now his home made Kaite wonder when the alleged new recruits would be making their arrival. Certainly it would only be a matter of time. As unprofessional as it would be for him not to be there, the allure of scents called like siren songs to every booth and establishment he passed by. Finally, it was too much and the fake Aylv figured he could get away with splurging what was otherwise going towards a dignified coat to instead experiment.
A shallow stand held a row of innocent seats where someone appeared to be sitting by the appendages that hinted to a mode of transportation hanging down from their spot.

Kaite stepped in after taking a moment to compose himself for his most pleasant "Good afternoo-"

"BBRRAAUGHHRGH!!!" Roared the creature behind the counter whose from behind the counter draped over onto the seat that he had thought was a patron. A 'spout' from the beast lazily belched into a vat a skeleton of-

-------

Kaite stepped through the sliding doors that closed behind him, emerging into the hangars and simply standing still for a moment. After shuddering once, he groaned while trudging back to the ship, having had his fill of culture for a while. With his steps, he rubbed his face and slipped past dock workers to the sound of their footsteps for reference before colliding into one who seemed to having nothing better to do than stand around.
"Woah! Hey, kid. Whacha doin around here? It's dangerous!" they chirped in a tone that one would talk down to a child who wandered into somewhere they shouldn't be, which was an accurate assessment of how they saw the incognito Kaite. "I vehrk here...?" Kaite replied, lifting his free eyebrow in disinterest before making to step past them to approach The Monroe's gangplank, which the worker mirrored to insistently block his path. "Look...eehhh..." the man stifled, unsure how to address Kaite who narrowed their eye before the worker turned their head and lifted their eyebrows in a shot-in-the-dark way of apollogetically guessing, "...miss?"

"Yeh, vee ahr done here" Kaite spat with annoyance, pushing past them and having his arm caught. "Kid! They...They have rats, giant, vicious ones! Where are your parents?" The man desperately said, though gaining confidence as he asked about his parents.

Kaite froze, not out of shock but curiosity how far from The Monroe that his jurisdiction extended. Deciding it was best to simply test such fences, he slid his free arm against his sleeve to lace the man's fingers. In the same motion, Kaite leaned back and hooked out the back of their knee to trip them, but used his weight to gently ease them to the ground rather than dropping them to the steel floors. Stepping over the man, Kaite wrenched his hand free by breaking the gate of their grip.
After a few steps, he turned back to bark, "Vith all luck, DEAD!" before pulling off his hat and letting his ears stretch, "Ehn I am zeht rat!" before quickly stuffing the hat back on and continuing making his way to the gangplank.

Shyr made her way through the station, eyes wide and a smile on her face as she looked around. This place was simply MASSIVE, and full to the brim with new things. She had only arrived a little over an hour ago at which point her 'guide' had informed her that it had been decided that she would be assigned to the ship called Monroe before leading her off, speaking of the criminal crew with a disgusted tone to his voice. After a few minutes of listening to him ramble on, she decided to find her own way and wandered off as he continued on without even realizing his charge was no longer there.

As she made her was around the station she gathered a lot of curios and confused looks, but by now they were expected. After all, she doubted any of them had ever even seen an Elg'Cahl before, let alone one that was wearing an oversized zippered black leather jacket that went down to her knees and a duffle bag that was almost just large as her torso. While her own kind never bothered with this clothing crap due to their fur, the other races seemed to be obsessed with the things. The only reason she was wearing this stupid thing was because they were so insistent, so she grabbed the first thing that was large enough for her wide shoulders and called it a day.

Eventually she managed to burn through her wanderlust and decided to ask around for directions to the hangars. It didn't take long for her to find someone that gave her some pretty detailed directions, so she eventually found herself walking between large containers and various ships. She threw a curious glance at every ship she went past, wondering if the next one would be the Monroe. After a fair amount of walking, she finally spotted it. A smile spread across her face as she beheld her new home, nice, big and heavily armed for combat. These last few months had been certainly interesting, but without that extra spark of violence it was simply not complete. With her arrival at the Explorers ship, however, she hoped that would be changing real soon as she took off at a quick pace to the Monroe.

Shyr was just about to head into the ship when a deep voice rumbled out from behind her. One of her ears flicked around for a moment before she turned, promptly coming face-to-waistcloth. She blinked a few times before she shifted her gaze up, going past the scaled belly, large torso and wide shoulders before reaching his draconic face. After a moment she dropped her eyes back to his waist.

"You get to walk around with just that on but I have to wear this stupid thing!? Bullshit!" She exclaimed with a small flail of her arms. After that she looked back up to his face.

"I bet it's because you're tall. But anyway, if you on the Monroe, then yah I'm a recruit too. Just got here too so I have no idea who I'm supposed to talk to." She replied to the rather large individual as she motioned to the ship behind her. While she herself had an accent, she was rather fluent in the language as she had been getting used to it ever since she first joined in with the pirates.

@dragonmancer

A Last, free meal

L'azul sat in one of the many food-courts on the station, a plate of warm food before him recently aquired. The warm noodles and broth sat in front of the Kautada as he stared, eyes un-moving and expression implaccable. His ordinarily pale white skin was a muted pale blue as he stared at the food before him. Anyone who'd me the amphibian in the last ten or so minutes would tell you he was like many of his species, cheery and full of joy, happy to meet and carry a conversation with anyone. A bit tiring perhaps but pleasant like most all of his species. Now though, with the eyes off of him and his meal before him... alone... he ponders his situation.

Framed. Stripped of his credibility. Wiped from records like he didn't exist. Recorded as a vile monaster, a breaker of ethics. And this? A bowl of noodles and broth, was to be his last meal as a free Kautada. After this he was to report to the Monroe on schedule... a ship filled with criminals, murderers and thieves. Now... they would be his only companions... until the day he died. He'd never see his family or old colleagues... this was it. A bowl of noodles on a space station that were rapidly getting cold. His last act free was eating a bowl of broth and noodles... what a wonderful few days it had been.

He began t eat the noodles, drinking the broth quietly and preparing to leave. Once done he sighed, shouldered his duffelbag full of possesions and made his way to the docks... it was time to see the ship he would die in, thought the doctor.

As much as Kaite would have had the opportunity to change, the registration feed blurred his eyepatch with names that filled the manifest. As tasteless and inelegant as he saw the checks fill on the digital ledger, as if people could be so simply reduced to a weight threshold the same as cargo, the officer was obligated to stop in the middle of punching in the airlock code. Canceling the process, Kaite turned to look out from his perch and holding still as the HUD highlighted the marked individuals.
Long ears uncomfortably shifted in the hat, and the Aylv frowned only enough to break the placid neutrality his demeanor typically held. Kaite had little to smile about on a good day, and being the first line of defense in name, alone, was a bitter icing on his cake that he was obligated to eat.

An intimidating presence or a long shadow would follow someone of his position, but authority glared from under the pauper's attire as Kaite leisurely strafed back down the gangplank. Watching the marked newcomers with what was perceivably a single eye that looked between them, Kaite pulled his scarf down. "Velcomen to Zeh Monroe!" he chirped with all of the professionalism he could manage, accenting the final word with definitiveness like a conductor announcing the last stop of a train.
"Sir Jackal ehn...zee fair lady Sha...Share...Sheer?" Kaite mused aloud in a manner as if to get their names right while he simply read them off his HUD, all the while slowly descending the gangplank. It would have had more weight if the one that greeted them didn't look like some half-blind human pauper.

The large one worried Kaite the most, even if he was a runt. Being so large was a good way to get eyes turned on your, especially while toting hunks of iron and essentially naked. Judging eyes would furrow their brows in silent exasperated contempt for the backwater pair of boots that walked on its own and had a record of simply wanting to be there. However, this was not the expression in the eye of the concierge whose eyebrows lifted as they grazed through their file. Impress.
Were it not for the shackles of monetary value and a lack of a place to go besides the safety of The Monroe, Kaite would have been jealous of such a frivolous expression of free will. Dying among the stars was certainly a romantic punctuation to the moral sentence, one that the chief of security could not possibly understand, having never set foot on solid soil. Choice was never an option or want.
Jackal's lack of criminal record earned him as much as a blink from the stone-faced Kaite who wrote him off as being a non-issue with only as much trouble as bridging the cultural gap would be. That bit was not the officer's problem or concern, more instinctually put off by their size than anything.

Kaite's amber eye drifted over to the awkward, furry and stout individual who was clad in a long leather jacket. Fumbling with the name, Kaite assumed it to be some form of alien pronunciation, as the combination of letters in the translation were just as confounding as reading it as it was. It was not often that he saw someone shorter than he was, and it was comforting in a contrasting way that was almost comical enough to eke out a smirk. What they had been griping about, Kaite was envious of, more than willing to take the coat off their hands since sensors fed a track of reverberations that registered as dialogue. Objection and accusational skepticism aside, humanity hadn't been so blatantly on the fake Aylv's side as clothing had not mattered until it was brought up.
Kaite muttered a soft "Hrm" upon reading their rap sheet that read like the rest, for what it was worth. Getting the 'good' end of the stick just was not enough, and they wanted to see the stars, too.

Why not throw your life to the winds while your head is in the clouds...

Distantly coming to mind, Kaite briefly pondered on what kinds of worlds the two came from where they would choose literally anywhere else to die than live with what they knew. It made no sense, but there was no room for questioning since the orders had come in...and the manifest was checked; cargo accounted for.

- - - - -

Curious as was the origin and reasons behind someone to throw everything in favor of an inglorious death with the title of 'criminal', business continued and Kaite was twisted pleased to see at least one of the figures before him who deserved to call The Monroe their shuttle to hell.
"Ah! Ehn heir doktor!" Kaite jokingly broke from their arguably French accent in favor of teasing at Germanic for the sake of playing with the Kautada. Their record held tabs of 'crimes against nature', and various citations of moral ethics violations, painting them to be some kind of amoral mad scientist. However...the eerie pale blue tinge to their chameleon flesh and downtrodden eyes swiftly smudged Kaite's eagerly impish grin back to a discontent frown. He had hoped to take some delight in playing gatekeeper to damned souls as per inspiration from texts he was encouraged not to read.
No sense teaching a potentially unstable clone about common religion.

Dissatisfaction.
There was nothing to gain from berating the creature who would have stood statuesque in an expression of joy, were it not for those eyes. It was hard to tell if they were looking at me, but I still felt like I was cut by my own words simply by saying them. The expression was difficult to read, but it spoke a nebulous volume of shame and guilt...and maybe an acceptance? He...L-as...Lazool? Laz was caught. Whatever he did, it didn't show in how he carried himself.
It was like watching Seventy-Four trudging back after his first beating; unsure what they did, but less of a being after it. The thought gnawed at my soul with the welling strength of memories like bile in one's throat.

Kaite's expression quickly flattened, eye narrowing in distant understanding as he watched 'Laz'. "Yes, velcomen to zeh Monroe, La..as-ool. Vould you mind I call you Laz?" he began once more, though in a softer tone, truly fighting to accommodate their tone. In that, a thought came to mind where the concierge so rudely welcomed others without introducing himself.
"I am named...ehhrm...Kaite! Yes! Ehn iz zeh utmost ouf privilege to cooperate vith you-ors for zeis period!" Kaite chirped, offering a pleasant yet curiously off smile as if it were rehearsed and slightly off with how it was somewhere cutely closer to a smirk.
"Ahz zee security officer ouf zeis Monroe, I endeavor to...our...longevity" Kaite continued, versed in listening far more than speaking. Ironically, the poor communication left the nearly blind being in charge of welcoming the nearly blind.

At one of the many viewing platforms placed all around the Spire, a woman sat watching the ocean of stars. Doctor Achieng Chima had spent nearly ten galactic-standard years in space, but the endless, glittering vastness of the cosmos never failed to awe her. It was strange – space was so much like the ocean, vast and rich and dark and full of promise. At the same time, it was so different, so foreign to her that it made her almost sick for home.

Almost.

The day she had left her home and her planet, barely an adult, she’d vowed to never return to the house that had borne her so much pain. That young Achieng had been full of rage and sorrow. That young Achieng was a bit of a fool, but what young being wasn’t? Sometimes all she dreamed of at night was the scent of the sea, sweet-spiced fish and fresh wine, and her cousin. He and his mate probably had a dozen children by now, doing the dutiful thing and extending their clan line. While she had done things that were…

Well, “dutiful” was a rather subjective term, wasn’t it?

“…you’re stalling.” Achieng murmured to her star-speckled reflection in the glass. “The Monroe will have windows. You will see new stars as they pass.” She lifted a small, worn pendant from her chest and pressed her lips to it, murmuring a brief prayer against the stone. Then she maneuvered her tank down from the platform and got on the way to her new home.

-
https://youtu.be/0xhLUAgVlck

Several minutes later, she stalled again, staring at the dock labeled Monroe and seeing the ship just beyond. It wasn’t a pretty ship. Even she could see that much. Instead, it was like an old warrior’s blade, nicked and worn and used. The wear in it told stories, spoke of battles and victories and losses and promises. Her breath caught just thinking of it, but she shook her head. “You’ve been in worse and you know it – are you a little fat fry all over again, begging to hold mother's hand? Onward, Achieng, ride the wake or fight the current.” With that, she brought her tank forward, waiting in line behind those who were already waiting to be checked.

The recording sent chills down Raymond's spine, but he didn't show it. Head Representative Rivers and Raymond were now in the Monroe's meeting room. The two sat in silence for a moment before Raymond asked the obvious question. "This wasn't within Committee space, was it?"

"No, no it wasn't. The Council has thought it best that an exploration team should be the ones to investigate, it is your jobs after all..."

"The people who sent this obviously had military experience. They're being ambushed, and yet you won't send a military unit after them... It's too dangerous and not worth a real risk." Ray laughed a bit, looking at the man. "Another suicide mission? You guys really like pushing our odds. The Head Representative sighed. "Raymond, you're the best leader this damn Committee has ever seen. I see your father in you, whether you want to accept that or not. His specialty was defying odds. It's in your family. You and your crew are more than capable of coming back from this. In fact, I'm counting on it."

"You say it like we have a choice, Representative... send the files to my quarters. I'll do a debriefing with the crew once they come back. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find the new recruits." Without another word Ray left the man, and made his way out of the ship. From all that he was told, this wasn't going to be like anything they've fought. Ray never heard people so scared in his life, and he's been to a lot of places. He could still hear those screams in the background of the recording...

He exited the ship through the hangar door, he was still lost in thought until someone called after him. Ray turned to see a what seemed to be a Committee engineer walking towards him. Was the ship acting up? No, everyone did maintanence the first day they were here...

"Evening sir!" said the engineer cheerfully, strolling up to Ray like he was an old friend. He wore a completely grey boiler suit, to the point that it looked like all the colour had been sucked out of it with a straw. "A fellow from the Committee asked me to take a quick look around your ship for any problems! Apparently there's been a bit of a problem with this class of craft before, and we all thought it would be better safe than sorry! "

He ran his fingers through straw colored hair, keeping the cheery smile on his face.

Raymond felt an uncertainty about this guy. He was too cheerful, too confident... and too... bland looking. But Ray shouldn't judge the guy, he was a bit biased around Committee members of any kind, even engineers. Too many things were going through his mind at the moment, so it was probably his short temper at the time, not the engineer.

"Yeah, of course... Is there any point of the ship that would be the problem? We had a team do an inspection when we landed a couple days ago." Ray said without suspicion, just a bit of annoyance. The crew was currently without an engineer so everything was kept up to date by Ray, and Tango. As if his pride wasn't hurt enough today.

"Wonderful!" said the engineer, clapping his hands together. "Just show me where the engine room is. Its generally just a wiring problem. If everything goes well, you wont have to worry about anything down there ever again!" He picked up his bag. "Well then, shall we go?"

Ray crossed his arms, staring at the technician, the suspicion still lingering, but he put it aside. It was just his pride like he said. The captain of the Monroe nodded a bit, before starting to walk up the bridge into the ship. "Right this way." He responded.

The walk to the main engine room in the Monroe was an awkward one. Ray didn't respond much to the man's cheerful attitude, it wasn't every day that someone treated him and his crew with respect. They were criminals after all. The elevator ride seemed like eternity, but it finally opened up to the red lighted room, and the soft humming from their surroundings. Ray lead the engineer through a walkway, where next to a large engine battery was a hatch on the wall.

The engineer nodded in thanks, putting a pair of rubber gloves on and opening the hatch, proceeding to move some wires around and snap something with a pair of pliers. He hummed a small tune as he did so, as if this was the greatest work of his life.
"Ahhhh..." he said, in a very satisfied voice. "There's the problem. Did your previous engineer install that beforehand?" He asked, pointing inside the box. "Take a look."

Raymond watched the engineer closely as he did his work. The Monroe was his pride and joy at this point, and a stranger moving things around made him nervous. When the engineer asked his question, his brows furrowed, and moved closer, trying to find something irregular. "I don't see anythin--"

The engineer gave another smile for good measure, this time, it wasn't cheery, almost...excited. "Cant you see it? Its right...
He lifted his arm, the live wire still crackling, suddenly, it shot forward, straight towards Ray's neck.

The tone the engineer had sent shivers down Ray's spine, and before he could think, his instincts kicked in, moving his head at just the right time before the loud crack of the live wires shot forward. Raymond slammed his arm down on the "engineer's" elbows, trying to knock the wires out of his hands before rolling backwards.

The engineer yelled a single swear word in a strange language as the wires were knocked from his hands, forcing himself to twist away to make sure he didn't get electrocuted himself. He moved back, watching his opponent roll backwards. He shook his head.

"My. They did not exaggerate about you, human. I'm going to have to do this the less...elegant way. Maybe its for the best, really. A celebrated captain, given redemption on this funny ship...only to electrocute himself and die a painful death before he can do anything. How would your little crystal friend react to that, I wonder?"

He broke into a combat stance...and paused.

"...this shapeless thing isn't going to do me any good." He muttered, indicating the boiler suit. Shaking his head, he took another deep breath.

The surface of his body began to writhe, and then fold in on itself, almost seeming to shrink. Colours began to swirl around, the greys of the boiler suit turning into reds and whites as they reformed into a new shape. A slightly smaller one, but a lot more lean. Finally, the colors settled, and he opened his eyes and mouth, breathing out. His hair was a dark red, wearing a white shirt, black trousers and a black jacket. The top two buttons of the shirt were undone.

"Now then..." Kellian purred in his new voice, crouching down, before launching himself forward at high speed, chopping his hand towards Ray's throat.

Raymond didn't say a thing during the engineer's speech, only holding his hands up defensively, and glaring the more he talked. How did he know all about this? And why was he on someone's deathlist? After his mother's death and being sent to prison he wouldn't have cared about whether or not he died too. But ever since he was put in charge of this team, he had a small sliver of hope inside him. The hope that he would eventually see his sister again, and that they would come back after their last mission with a pardon..He heard enough when he started to talk about Rae. He was about to step forward to strike until the man started to melt, and take a completely other form. Raymond watched in a sense of amazement, and disgust.

His movements were unbelievably quick, and it almost took Ray off guard, He pushed his hand aside, trying to use his other arm to get in a quick uppercut, but it didn't connect. Raymond cursed silently as he lost his footing, making him exposed for a very short time.

Kellian smiled, watching the human bat his hand away only to miss with his uppercut. Funny how evolution worked sometimes, especially considering his race got the jackpot. Shapeshifting would have been nice enough, but the speed and strength? Someone was looking out for them.

"Shame we are populated by power crazed maniacs..."

He pushed the thought aside as he spun around, giving his fist momentum as he smashed it towards the human's stomach. This was getting interesting...usually people didn't survive the strike to the throat.

For such a skinny looking body, he sure knew how to pack a punch, but Ray has been hit harder. You learn to take every strong hit imaginable at The Rock.The impact still hurt a lot, and knocked the wind out of Ray. He gasped, but managed to stand, dodging another very quick blow, and managing to make contact with the creature's jaw... Most of the time that would make a man fall cold, but this wasn't an ordinary guy. The question was: what the hell was he? Through the dodging and counters and punching,

Ray tried to think about what he could be. There has only been one case of shapeshifting aliens in the past that the Committee knows of. He couldn't remember the specifics, but he knew that these guys were sneaky, and dangerous. They lived within their society for years secretly until they were found out. Ray thought that they all fled, but apparently not.

Kellian smiled as his fist connected wth the human's stomach, only for it to turn into a mixture of surprise and amusement when he took it far better than he should have. He expected to have at least torn his stomach muscles, leaving him at Kellian's mercy. This guy had evidently gone through some similar training.

His train of thought was interrupted as the human's fist launched towards his chin. Kellian moved, but still took a glancing hit. He doubled back, holding his mouth. tasting blood in it. He was lucky that he hadn't taken that hit full on. If it had connected, it probably would have ripped his head clean off his neck. He had been careless. It was slightly embarrassing...

He shook his head, and broke into another combat stance.
"You have any idea how much of a pain in the ass this is going to be? You could have died in a nice and accidental way, but no...you have to dodge it, and start fighting me instead. Now I'm going to have people after me....that girlfriend of yours seems like the vengeful type. Made of crystals and all. I would rather avoid hurting someone pretty like that."

He shook his head, and composed himself. "Anyway, this is getting unpleasant. Time to die."
He launched himself forward, raising his hand again, but at the last second, dropping to the floor and sweeping Ray's leg from under him. If he got him down, this would be over.

The more this guy talked, the more he hated him. His left hand shook slightly, his other fist clenched so tight this his knuckles were pue white. "Are you going to talk yourself up all day, or you going to actually fight? Ray snarled, bracing for the hit of his hand, until he dropped to the floor, shit! Raymond didn't have time to react, he couldn't move out of the way of the quick shapeshifter, so he did his best to brace himself, hitting the floor hard.

Kellian smiled as his opponent hit the floor, only able to brace himself just in time. The assassin slid around his opponent and came to a stop, moving fluidly like a snake as he launched himself at his opponents back, getting an arm around his neck and the second arm pressed against the back of it.

He smiled. It was over now. He could either break his neck, or choke him. Either way, this had been fun. He was evidently tough, breaking his neck might be difficult...oh well, a good choking it was to be, then.

"Sorry." he said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I'll be seeing your lady friend very soon...when I give condolences at your funeral. I might also bring flowers, if you die nice and easily."

With that, he began to squeeze.

Even though he was getting choked to death, Raymond never stopped struggling. He tried to slam his elbow into the man's stomach, clawing at his hands, trying to wriggle out of the man's grasp but he was just too damn strong! As he started talking about him and Rae again, he tried his best to tell him to do something to himself, before giving out a chocked scream, and reaching his hands out. He remembered the live wires. If Ray was going to die, he wasn't going to let this psycho do anything to his ship and his crew!

Kellian held the man tighter, wincing as the elbow glanced his stomach and scratched his hands, but kept holding him tighter and tighter. Just a few more seconds...then a few more...
Suddenly, he noticed that one of his opponent's arms was moving towards one of the wires. Kellian smiled, and whispered into Ray's ear.
"Go ahead. Try and grab it. Take me with you. If you can...I deserve to die." He then laughed with no mirth whatsoever.

Just a few more seconds...

Orange irises watched every movement meticulously, making sure that the attacker kept their attention on his victim instead of her slow barefooted advancement forward. Rae tried her best to block out the noises around her, only glancing at the Captain every now and then with her alternate vision to see how much time she had left to sneak up on the person above. Seconds, it had be now or else one....Raymond would do something incredibly unnecessary or two, would have he windpipe crushed and or no air flow left. Her eyes glared viciously, a crystalline hand snaking out to tightly grasp the side of the assault's own neck and hoping the surprise would make them release Raymond even just a little bit but she didn't plan to stop at just shocking them. Luirae had taken on stronger and even bigger opponents than the likes of this one and this time it was personal. She would not let those she cared for be harmed, not on her watch and not if she could change the outcome of the situation. Now that he was in her grasp, she quickly jerked them backwards by the neck, forcing the two apart as she slammed him down with calculated force to the ground's metal surface. It was not her intention to knock the attacker out at any rate but just enough to cause some pain as well as keep some distance from the Captain. Rae quickly moved from her now crouched position as she had to lower her own body to complete her attack and calmly moved into a position between the Captain and this red haired stranger.

Ray was knelt over, coughing and wheezing violently, trying to catch his breath. His eyes looked up to his savior, the one he had known for three years now. "Rae...Why..Down here...?" he managed to gasp, holding is throat.

Rae spoke softly and kept in a guarded stance, eyes never leaving the figure on the other side of where the two were as she did so, not risking an attack if it was a bluff. "Atlas, I strongly suggest that you keep speaking to a minimum and reframe from such unncessary questions at this time. I know you had seconds left before complete loss of airflow but did not have a good enough look at what damage may have been done. If you must know the answer then it must wait till we have figured out how to deal with this situation."

He still wasn't feeling well, but Raymond managed to stand, still coughing before limping towards the shapeshifter. Glancing at him. He had caused a lot of pain, and brought up a lot of things no one should have known about... How did he know? He should just let him lie there and get some sort of security to take him, but all the things he said about him, and Rae...

Raymond lifted his foot up and kicked him in the head, not enough to kill, or permanently injure, but enough to make sure he would stay down, and know his place. He didn't have any of his gear on him, but he did have some loose wire around the engine room. He quickly made the tightest and most secure he can around his wrists. "We'll throw him in a cell for now."He said with a raspy voice. He stood there for a couple seconds before he looked at the Doctor. "Thanks. I owe you one... again.

"It is my pleasure, Captain." Luirae replied before bending down and hauling their new prisoner on top she shoulder with a 'hmph' as she did so before standing both of them up. "Are you certain you are equipped to walk? A simple head movement should suffice as an answer if speaking is too much."

Ray managed a nod, taking deep breaths as much as his body would let him. He was amazed that Luirae was able to save him, and with little effort... Well, he shouldn't be too surprised. She had saved him from many things in the past, but this was the first time she had done it in a secluded part of the ship. "What were... you even doing here?" He asked again, walking behind the Doctor.

"Is it not obvious?" Rae questioned, not really understanding why Ray was stuck on such an unnecessary question. Was there something more to it then she realized? She paused in her steps, slightly turning to glance behind her at the man that was making her second guess her actions. "I was there for you. Tango informed me that not only had you been approached by a Council Member but also personal concerning the ship and in addition that you had never arrived to greet and or instruct the new arrivals. I tapped into Tango's systems to the monitoring surveillance and cross reference the personal data of said individual with Committee Records. According to it, the person you talked to was not scheduled to return to the Spire for another three days. It was obvious that a secluded area would be most logical for someone up to unsavory intentions. It was also helpful that Tango has facial recognition and was able to vaguely follow your path. I filled in the gaps in his flawed design. Next time, I will make sure he is better situated for such unpleasantries. Did this answer your question? Do you need any further clarification? I apologize if I have done anything unintentionally wrong as I could not think of much at the time other than to reach your destination as swiftly as possible."

It still fascinated Raymond that Rae could talk so clearly and precisely no matter what the situation was. Raymond's mind and perception of the galaxy was so chaotic, and uncertain... But that didn't stop her from simplifying every problem. "Amazing." was all he could say to her. Amazing was an understatement for Luirae. He could start to feel the effects of the fight he had with the shapeshifting assassin, his stomach hurt, his arms were sore, his knuckles cracked, and his throat was even more on fire than before. he had a lot of questions for the red head limp on Rae's shoulder.

Rae was more or less confused by the one word reply but it had not been a negative word which meant that it could have been the easiest way to say that he approved. Either way, now that she had a semi-decent look at Raymond, it was clear that the effects of earlier were starting to show. The plan to take the other to a cell first was probably not the best course of action anymore."Let's get you to the Medical Bay. I will just have to strap this one to a bed while I see just how much damage was caused to you. It will also be a more efficient way to keep an eye on him."

"No time... Recruits... New Mission..."

"Council Member....indeed there would have been a New Mission attached with their visit. I should have known better but I acknowledge that I am allowed mistakes especially given the current situation. You do not plan to receive the recruits looking like this, do you?" Rae spoke, a hint of irritation in her voice at not only a mission happening now of all times but to have been denied help by her patient so he could meet recruits that were by her understanding, not going anywhere since she was confident in her skills to say the very least.

There was no arguing with her, especially when it came to someone's health. Raymond knew he would survive. What would a few minutes be? His military training, all the times he was picked on at school, being hit by his step dad, all of these things made him able to withstand any injuries... Or so he thinks. "They'll see this side of me eventually...But fine. I promise they look worse than they are."

"Your body is not the injury I am worried about. It is the one you seem hell bent on straining even though I strongly recommended you didn't. If you damage your voice then how are you suppose to give orders. What if you suffer from brain or nerve damage due to lack of oxygen, how am I suppose to fix it before it is a complete problem or what if it could have been avoided had I been able to look sooner. I highly doubt that is the case at this moment but point being....you are not invincible Raymond Chase. That is why I am here. I am here so that you can be impulsive but safe. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Yeah, I get it. He said quietly. It was hard to explain. He knew he wasn't invincible, but he knew that he could take a lot of punches. He knew that any mission could be his last, but he's convinced he will see his sister again. It's a constant struggle of Ray's to keep getting up, and keep going at all costs... But he couldn't do that if he didn't have a doctor like Rae.

Rae let out a long sigh, shifting the weight of the limp assassin on her shoulder before turning to fully face Raymond and stepping forward. She felt the shift in her eyes, everything suddenly black save for the man in front of her and the exact muscles she was looking for. Her hand softly reached out, brushing as softly as she could along the skin before pulling her fingers away. Blinking, the world came back into view and she moved her eyes from his neck to look into his eyes while her hand fell back to her side."No.....I am not positive that you do....."she stated softly before heading off in the direction of the cell blocks and integration room. Not saying a word as to why she changed her mind about heading for the Medical Bay and trying not to think of the sudden change herself as it was unusual towards her character to give up on a medical matter. This would have to be something to reflect upon later, however, for now she would chalk it up to less hassle and stress on her part. She had been told after all that it was well deserved every once and while to care for ones self before worrying about others... what a strange concept but it would work for now till she could reflect on the day. Luirae had honestly hoped that Raymond would have put aside his hurt pride and sought the needed medical attention of possible re percussive damage but it was obvious that would not happen till later...maybe much later.

Although her body seemed to be covered in crystals, her fingers were soft, and delicate, yet strong, and focused, as she moved them around his neck. He knew this wasn't the time, she radiated beauty and elegance in almost everything she did... He stood still, staring at the doctor, until she made her comment. He glanced over at the walkway that lead to the docking bay, where he could hear Kaite introducing himself to the new recruits. Although he had a job to do as the Captain of the ship, he couldn't feel comfortable with leaving Rae with the assassin. "Tango. I need you to go greet the recruits that just arrived until I get back. Make sure Kaite doesn't get too carried away." He said out loud. "Yes, Captain. the robotic voice answered.

Ray then caught up to Luirae, watching her move with little effort as she carried the would-be-killer. Dynael. He remembered what he was, or what he thought he was. There was only one known shapeshifting race to the Galactic Committee. He was quick, strong, and talked way too much. He bested Ray in a fight. He could think of a lot of reasons on why he didn't win that fight, but it wouldn't change the outcome of it. Why did he want to kill him? Who hired him? and how did he know so much about him?

Luirae was half surprised at the fact the Captain had chosen to actually join her in dumping the shapeshifter into a cell and also realized that logically, he would want to see everything over personally since his life had been threatened by the individual. She was not sure how this would go down since obviously this needed to be reported but it wasn't like they had not interrogated prisoners before they appeared to the council. She had swayed a few of the Committee Member's voted with words before and got them aboard the ship when she felt they deserved it. It would be a matter of one, did the being on her shoulder deserve it and two, if she could even convince Raymond if the shapeshifter was in her eyes an asset. It wasn't long before they reached on of the many cells in the block and bent down slightly before dumping them onto the floor with as much grace she could manage when being irritated. Rae stood up, making her way to the back of the room, rolling her shoulder bit before leaning against the wall.

The holding cells were renovated like everything else when Raymond got a hold of her. The room consisted of a heavy duty locker for confiscated items, instead of iron bars, the cells were engulfed in a dark red laser wall. If the power in the ship were to go out, an emergency iron wall would immediately fall, though. You could never beat the classics. Raymond watched the Doctor toss the shape shifter into one of the cells. He was deep in thought, his hand shaking slightly due to the aftermath, and anger. "We should inform the Committee. I don't think they'd give a shit about my well being, but I bet they'd like to know that there are still some Dynael around... You are a Dynael, right?"

"This one?"
"Number thirty-two. Shows great promise in assassination, but has not been overly responsive to control treatments. Honestly, we had this one low on the list. We have enough assassins already."
One of the man takes a closer look into his eyes.
"We may as well. Too many purebloods are refusing to accept this action. Assuming twenty-five pulls though, we will only have ten survivors of this entire program. You want to tell the Archon-General about it?"
"Fuck off."
"That's what I thought. Is he awake?"
"Yes."
"...Good. Lets get started..."

Kellian's eyes flicked open, instantly forgetting the dream and taking in his surroundings. He had last been strangling the human, then he heard a noise, and finally, he had woken up here. He must have had an ally nearby.

Ugh...this was stupid of him. He planned to pack a pistol in his engineer bag, but decided not to, at the risk of being searched. Yet, he had not been. Goddamn security in this place was a joke...

He looked up, at the human again. He noticed, with no small measure of amusement, the look of discomfort on his face apparent. And...Hel-lo...Crystal girl was even cuter up close. Realizing that the human asked him a question, he looked into his eyes.

"No, I'm that other shape shifting alien race your committee never told you about." He giggled, and spoke again.

"My turn for a comment. I never realized you were so tall. Then again, everyone looks smaller with my arms around their neck..." He laughed out loud.

"Your turn?"

"Big talk coming from a guy locked up." Ray responded with the same tone in his voice. He had dealt with these types all the time. Cocky, thinking they're clever. A lot of those types of people joined his crew... not many made it out alive. "So who was it that hired you to wrap your arms around my neck?"

Kellian looked at him for a moment, then shrugged.
"Not a clue. They paid through proxy."
He proceeded to sit back, as if this was a relaxing conversation.
"My turn. Is your crystal friend seeing anyone? Because I like a woman who can throw a decent punch."
He paused for a moment.
"...that didn't quite come out how I intended, but you get the idea."

Luirae raised her brow a bit at the shapeshifter's comment but stayed leaning back against the wall calmly. She usually would have stated that she had a name so use it and left the other comments to be ignored but she understood that now wasn't really the time for that so she remained silent.

Raymond clenched his fist behind his back, but ignored the last question. "You said you got paid in advanced. You're that good? Has the guy hired you before?"

Kellian laughed out loud, clapping his hands together.
"Oh, thats cute. Ignoring my question. I wonder why that is...oh, and...maybe. Its impossible to tell for sure. People dont just walk up to me on the street and ask for someone's death. And they are hardly going to give their real names to a hired assassin! If they did that, I'd own half the Committee by this point..."

He got up, stretching his arms and legs.
"And that, my human friend, is all I plan to tell. So, what do you intend to do next? Torture me? I doubt you could do worse than my dearest dad. Give me to the committee? I would escape in minutes. Kill me here and now? That would be interesting..."

"Yeah well, who doesn't have an abusive father...Tango? You still have the Code 88 prisoner protocol? You know, the ones for uncooperative prisoners?"

"The one with the flamethrowers?" The monotone voice filled the room. "Nah, I was thinking the ones with saws and flamethrowers..."

Kellian was laughing again, seemingly ignoring everything.
"Oh please. If you are going to make rubbish up, at least make it somewhat plasible. Saws? Flamethrowers? Any idiot with half a brain would make up something about chemical and mental based interrogation devices, at least those work nowadays. I've been on the receiving end of plenty of them. Lets just say that you humans have...interesting preferences. I've had to put up with them for a while. I still hate hearing the sound "Nya"."

"Of course, if you are going to try and make me upset, I suppose I better try and do something similar. Don't whine because I play hardball when it comes to these things..."

He smiled, and his features began to shift again, this time his face became older, his shirt turning into military armour.

"Hey son. " said Kellian, now in the form of Ray's lost father.

"You really ought to be smarter for an assassin. That form is asking for a death wish in a way I won't even bother to describe since it would take up a vast amount of time and two, I cannot stand this...what is it humans say....pissing contest? Either way.... Luirae said calmly, before pushing off the wall and continuing, "Yes, we do actually have a chamber such as the one the Captain described, well at least the incineration part as I prefer to kill things with fire when contamination is involved. Obviously, threats aren't the correct way to deal with you as you are too busy hiding behind this fake facade. Does it make you feel better? To hide behind the masks of others with your shapeshifting? Are you afraid to look at yourself as you truly are? Or is it a matter that you wish others to not see you?"

Kellian stood up, and chuckled.
"You make a fair point." He said, switching back to his standard form.

"This specific form, I wear out of respect. He was a human agent who hunted me for over a year before the Dyanel Infiltrators incident. Lots of twists, turns, explosions, shooting and near misses before I managed to trick him and killed him on his own frigate. Destroyed the frigate too, just to be on the safe side. Let his crew escape, yknow, also out of respect. Pretty boy. This face has been useful. As I bet you can imagine, Ray..."

He walked up to the shield, almost touching it with his nose.

"And more to the point...what am I supposed to do? I am the last Dyanel pureblood. A manipulator, assassin, yada yada. What would accept me? Could I just go to the Committee and say "Hey, I'm a member of that race of deceivers that almost brought you to your knees a few years back. Oh, but don't worry, I'm the only one you can trust. I'm sure they will take that wonderfully. If I'm lucky, I'll get shot on the spot. If I'm unlucky, they will send me back to the hegemony and I'm sure you can guess what will happen to me there if that happens."

He sat back down, crossing his arms.

"So yes, my dear. This does make me feel better, and I dont want people to see me as I am. Because if I do, I will die, or worse, and I would like to feel better than that."

"What are you suppose to do? It is simple. Be something more than yourself. You have a gift to be anything you wish which means you have the choice to do anything and yet you choose to stay in the box that everyone has lined out for you. An assassin, a manipulator, a deciver. They tell you that is what you are. That you are nothing more. Do you honestly believe that is all you can be? I see the potential for so much more. It is a shame that you do not see the possiblities that could lie before you. Do not let anyone hold such power over you."

Kellian raised an eyebrow at her words, barely hiding a satisfied smile.
"Your words do make a medium of sense. yet, you say you see so much more. What is that then? What do you see in a shapeshifting killer like me?"

"A Marauder, as much as I hate to say it." Raymond replied, stepping foward. "You aren't the only one who's hated by the Committee. Turns out some of them don't approve of a ship full of criminals exploring the galaxy... Raymond sighed, still shaking a bit with anger from seeing the face of his lost father. "So it seems we all gotta settle with some decisions. You going to take your chances with the Committee, or the crew of the Monroe?"

Oh yes...how exquisite...

"Well, I might have had you wrong. There is some steel in there after all." Kellian said, getting up and walking over to the field again.
"I accept your offer." He chuckled.
"Be honored. This is the first time a Dyanel has ever sworn allegience to a non hegemony power. It's likely to be the last, as well."

Raymond was hesitant to press the button to let the assassin out. Call him crazy, but he wasn't too comfortable with letting his would-be-killer loose again... But he knew how the Committee worked. They would put him on this ship if they turned him in, and offered him the position. He just hoped that this wasn't the leap of faith that would kill him. He activated the button, and the laster wall fell, freeing the man. "Don't make me regret this.

"What is it they call you since I find calling you shapeshifter unpleasant?

Kellian walked out of the cell as if he was on a pleasant stroll, a smile on his face as he walked up to the two, keeping his hands free so they wouldn't think he was about to attack. He turned to the crystal woman, and smiled at her following her question.
"It's Kellian. Kellian Sythrac. Former Dyanel Intelligence Corps commander, and the last survivor of the pureblood project. I wouldn't mind knowing your name either, my dear." He said, in his smoothest voice.
He turned around to look at Ray, the smile still on his face.
"I assume there's some sort of orientation?" He walked up to Ray, keeping his hands free as he placed one on the soldier's shoulder.
"Thank you. This is going to be very interesting. I look foward to knowing you all better..." He said, whispering the last sentence near Ray's ear as he gestured at the exit.
"After you."


"Luirae Driani and I insist you go first."Rae replied politely with a gentle smile, gesturing to the exit. There was no way, in this universe that she was willingly going to let someone she didn't know walk behind her. That just asked for trouble in her opinion.

Raymond once again ignored Kellian's last comment, and looked over at Rae after her own comment. "its time to meet your new crew mates. He said, leading the two out of the the cell block. Now that this little situation was "settled" he had to meet the new guys and brief them on their new mission. And inform the Council of what happened today.

L'azul continued his march to the docking area to where the Monroe was docked. The ship in which he would spend the rest of his days. Branded a criminal and breaker of ethics, a monster... what a terrible fate. His skin only grew to darker shades of blue as he made his way through the busy crowds, none engaging the strangely colored salamander in conversation so that he could continue to mope in his own sadness. His melancholic attitude was not improved when he finally laid eyes on the ship, if anything it only soured further as he approached. The large, gunmetal grey ship was to be his home and his tomb. He wondered if he might take up poetry once more in order to vent his feelings upon this... was there any chance of the council finding him innocent one day? Would he ever be able to see his family and colleagues again? No... truly he was lost to them now forever. Until his life expired he would exist on this ship with other 'criminals'. Murderers and pirates and thieves and... and... that... oddly attractive one standing on the gangplank...

The Kautada's skin changed back to white quickly as he saw 'Kaite'. the short creature carried an odd accent as L'azul approached. "Oh well Laz is just fine! It was a nicname I have had for a long time! It is nice to meet another member of the crew!", the salamander said excitedly as he quickly walked up the ramp to meet Kaite. His skin had taken a very light pink tint to it as he stood right next to Kaite. "'Aund vaht soot ouf cratoor are you'?", he giggled slightly mocking Kaite's accent as he stepped behind him, twwo of his 4 hands squeezinf his face lightly before drifting down to his shoulders, his two lower arms grabbed around his midriff, "Clearly a mature specimen from skin texture and limbs comparitive size. Not human unless an extremely rare specimen...", the scientist continued to muse. His lower hands drifted to rest on Kaite's hips while his upper arms drifted along Kaite's own limbs, "Hmmmmmm... I already think you are quite an interesting one! Where did you pick up your perfect accent? A strange combination of human Germanic and French...", he giggled.

Kaite's eyebrows lifted as the Kautada's skin bled its hue in favor of a snowy white. Though it took him aback, the shift seemed to Kaite like a bit of soul had worked its way back into the supposed monster. For what it was worth, the security officer considered it a good thing, as their past meant little and morale was important to maintain on such a vessel as The Monroe...lest old tendencies escape its inmates.

"Serendipity, Laz eit iz. I look forvard to vehrking vith-" was about as far as he made it into the more formal greeting, going so far as to offer a gloved hand to shake. However, it seemed that the new edition had other intentions than engaging in respectfully civil formalities as Laz stepped past the gesture to smoosh Kaite's face.
Kaite froze from both the question and the new science officer's disregard for personal space. The first thought was to consider culture, assuming this was a type of greeting even though the audacious roaming of their hands was anything but welcoming. "Perhaps iz best not to say" Kaite coldly replied to the question of his race, uncertain existentialism aside, he was still technically outside the ship. With that, he pulled an arm free to pull his scarf back up as his grit teeth had shown a glimpse of fangs. "Ehn I vahz...raised...by humans, you could say. Iz how I learned to speak- now, vill you kindly?" the continuation to the response came with a bit of a bark to his tone as Kaite turned enough to push L'azul back to arm's length, scarf mostly covering his confused blush.

"I-I am an officer ouf zeh Monroe, as I stated. I encourage you to keep a respectful distance from me, Laz" Kaite insisted, pulling his hat back down into place with his free hand as the cramped ears fluttered, underneath. Being addressed in such a way was the last thing he had ever expected, having the most intimate contact with another individual be a tossup between shaking Raymond's hand when they first men, ushering in his new life, or strangling his brother to death.

Shyr's ears came up when she heard Katie approaching from the ramp. She looked.over to him, inspecting the figure as he welcomed them to the ship. It took a moment to figure out what he actually said, and she found both the fact that he had an even thicker accent than her, and that he had called her a 'fair lady' to both be extremely funny. Obviously he either wasn't informed about her species and prior... activities with the pirates, or the Committee simply hadn't cared enough to slap something together to warn them. Either way she decided to play nice for now, entertain herself by stringing them along until she was needed for some violence. She looked to him with a smile on her face.

"Ah! I take it your here to help us new members get acquainted with the ship!" She said in a cheery voice, a complete 180 from her earlier swearing. Always fun to keep people guessing. She heard something mechanical come up somewhere behind her, but she had her focus on the individual in front of her.

Crickets chirped loudly through the Colorado air. The warm wind moved the large fields of grass that surrounded the modest farm house. The lights shined inside the house, the front porch was filled with an assortment of toys and crayons, but children were nowhere in sight. Inside the house was a very drunk man who had a "rough" day at work and wanted to let his anger out on his family members. Luckily, though, they weren't in the house. A trap door on top of the roof opened, and up came Jamie Chase with a small child in her arms. Her cinnamon colored hair was pulled back in a pony tail, she wore a white t-shirt, and some comfortable jeans. Her lip was freshly cut, and her hazel eyes were just starting to look better from a black eye. With the small girl still in her hand, she used her other one to help another child up. "Come here, sweetheart." she said gently, even with the muffled screams from the drunk down below.

"He won't be able to catch us, baby." The woman assured the young girl in her arms. "He's too round to fit in this small square." She said with a gentle kiss to her cheek. "Come here, RayRay."

8 year old Raymond Chase stared down at the trap door, his fists clenched. His dark brown hair was messy, like any child his age. He had a couple of missing teeth, his t-shirt was freshly rung out, as if someone just grabbed it, and a fresh bruise was on his cheekbone. His intense green eyes glared down the stairs, as if deciding on what to do exactly. "hey." The sweet voice of his mother said. Raymond turned to her, and she had a desperate smile, as if begging him not to do anything stupid. Raymond slammed the trap door closed, and walked over the sloped roof, taking a seat.

The two of them sat in silence, listening to the sounds of the rural night. The stars were shining brightly, to the right of them a large glow was near the horizon, indicating where Denver was. Space ships flew across the sky, and the lights from the civilized moon were glowing brightly. Ray's mother was comforting his younger sister, Anna. Raymond kept staring at the sky though, thinking about his father. Not the man downstairs. His ACTUAL father.

He then felt his mother's hand reach for his face, to examine the numb part of his cheek. Raymond didn't meet her gaze, and turned the other way. "It's okay to be afraid... Your father loved the story of Deimos and Phobos, the greek gods o--"

"I'm not afraid." Ray said flatly, his eyes still fixed on the stars, but his body was shaking. "Especially when it comes to him." he added. His mother simply sighed. "It amazes me how much you look like your daddy. He always scrunched up his eyebrows, would push his jaw when out he was upset." Jamie Chase said quietly. Raymond ignored her. Every time they were up there she would hear about his father, and how amazing he was.

Silence.

"If he's so great, why isn't he here?" Raymond demanded. "Why isn't he here protecting you from getting punched, or keeping Anna from crying." His small voice broke as he turned to look at his mom. "Why is his best friend here treating you like shit--"

"Raymond David Chase you watch your language--"

"Where did he go, Momma? Why did he leave?" At those words Raymond's mother grabbed her child and pulled him close, her lips kissing the top of his head, her fingers running through his hair. Raymond fought back tears, as he buried his head in his mother's shirt. Raymond was only eight, but he knew more than most kids his age. He knew that for a while, his mother went to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, but when Raymond was old enough to take beatings, she stopped cold turkey. He knew that his step father, Brad, was a cheater, a dead beat, and supposedly his father's childhood friend. He didn't care what kids said about him, but whenever someone talked badly against his sister or mother, he would always beat the living crap out of them.

"Your father is the bravest, most amazing man I've ever met." Jamie said against his head. "He never told me where he had to go... But he's out there, sweetheart." She pointed out towards the cosmos, and Raymond looked up, as if trying to see the man himself. "He wouldn't leave us unless he absolutely had to... You are so much like him."

There was a sound of breaking glass from below and a long line of curses that made Anna start to whimper. Raymond clenched his fist again, but the feeling of his mother's arm around him calmed his nerves. "I'm afraid of him." Raymond confessed, looking away from his family again. "And I hate him. I hate him so much, Mommma."

"It's alright to be afraid, baby. The bravest, and best people always have a bit of fear in them."

"He doesn't do anything but hurt you and I can't do anything to stop him--"

"Listen to me. Don't you worry about me. Brad is a man who thinks he's brave, and better than everyone else. But someone who is really brave doesn't do that kind of stuff. They don't go picking fights to start them, or because they think they can and have a right to. They have to be afraid to fight, because when they have to, you know it means a lot to them... And I want you to promise me that when you grow up to become brave and strong like your daddy, you won't come back here and try to fight Brad. I will do anything to protect you and your sister from him, do you understand me?" Jamie's voice was calming like river, but had a serious tone that made Raymond look at her and nod.

"Why don't we just leave? So we don't have to protect anyone, and be happy?" Raymond asked quietly. "It's complicated Ray... Sometimes you have to do things for others that you know is scary... But everything will be okay, and we will be happy."

"Pinky Promise?"

"Yes. I Pinky Promise." Jamie laughed, taking young Raymond's finger and wrapping it around hers. There was another moment of silence before Raymond spoke up again. "I'm going to be better than dad. I'm not going to leave you and Anna ever. I won't let anything bad happen to you guys." Raymond declared, his eyes fixed on the stars again. His mother had tears in her eyes and she simply hugged him again. "I know you won't, sweetheart."

---

Raymond did leave them. Ray was forced to the Galactic Military Academy at 12, after he attacked Brad for almost killing his mom. While he was gone, his mom died, his sister was scarred for life, and Raymond was accused of murdering his step father. This shapeshifting assassin reminded Ray of Brad... And that made him unsettled. He was strong manipulative, willing to fight just to do it. Raymond wanted a rematch, to kick him off his ship, but he knew he'd be right back, and Raymond couldn't beat him in the state he was in... And he made a promise.

The Captain of the Monroe approached Kaite, seeing that he was doing his best at keeping the recruits situated... It was an interesting story of how Kaite joined the crew. Ray was unsure about him at first, but the small creature did do a lot around the Monroe, and seemed to actually enjoy being a part of something... Raymond didn't know a lot about its race, but so far he gained the Captain's trust.

"Kaite doesn't like to be touched, Doctor L'Azul." Raymond said with a hoarse voice, still hurting from the fight from earlier. He tried to ignore the looks of concern from his crew mates, mostly Rae and Kaite. "I'm Captain Raymond Chase. Welcome to the Monroe, your new home."

He saw that the other three recruits were also on their way, talking to the Monroe's Security Officer as well. It was an odd group he had this round of recruits. A lot of criminals came and went. Either by death, or they decided that they'd rather spend time in a prison instead of risking their lives. He had a new Engineer, enforcer, assassin (apparently) and a counselor since the Monroe apparently needed that...After reading the files of the crew, She'll need all the help she could get with this group.

"Everyone, the new recruits are Docto L'Azul, our new Science officer. Jackal "Wyrm" Westari, our muscle. Shyr Dracosis, our engineer. Achieng Clan Chima, our uh, psychologist... And, our new... Tactician, Kellian. Come on in, we'll show you your new home.

Clothes. Clothes were an interesting concept. Reptilian Genitalia is something already concealed by flaps of skin for both his kin and many other reptiles, unlike these mammalian creatures who's reproductive organs were exposed to the world. There was never any urgency to hide what was natural, anyhow, in Jackal's conscience. Still, this is just part of that culture Jackal had to adapt to. He need not wear anything more, granted little foreign attire could even hope to fit him, but he had to respect their boundaries.

The great beast was silent as his eyes focused back and fourth between the two very tiny people in front of him. By now the size between him and humans was something he adapted too, but these creatures were even smaller. The thought was strange. Back home, Jackal was treated as a runt, but here he was a giant. There was something satisfying about that.

Jackal was mostly quiet. He didn't say a word as the other short one, who's accent was hard for Jackal to understand, briefly introduced him. With the arrival of who he presumed to be the rest of the crew, and their leader, his eyes focused entirely on that who announced the new arrivals. The group as a whole, from what he can tell, was a mish-mash of various races and characters. Perhaps this is to be expected from galactic prisoners. The whole culture was still something he didn't understand as of yet.

Being gestured to enter, Jackal would lower his posture. In a hunched position his lanky arms now walked among the metal floor with his legs as he entered the ship, as to avoid bumping into the ceiling. Before getting into this position however, he would bite on the handle of his sword, being the giant hulking piece of metal that it was. The yellow orbs of his eyes took note of the advanced detail the ship had, something he always admired looking at whenever boarding such a vessel.

L'azul's eyes lit up as he caught a glimpse of Kaite's teeth. It was somewhat of a cultural greeting, the Kautada enjoyed close interpersonal relationships, often hugging eachother upon meeting or other more 'intimate' gestures. The sight of the elongated canines set the Newts mind ablaze, the life form could be anything! So many possibilities. The push away did very litte to deter the four armed scientist as he simply pushed back into holding range. His upper arms reached for Kaite's face, pullling his lips apart to look at the canines and teethe, his front arms rested on Kaite's hips before roaming over his stomach and hest, getting Kaite's shape down to help as well to narrow down his options.

"Such an interesting shape and beautiful canines! An amazing specimen! I cannot wait to perform proper inspection!", he said excitedly, not stopping as the captain and others approached. As he was informed by the captain that security officer Kaite did not enjoy being touched, the doctor shrugged, "I will give all members of the crew physicals at some point in order to aceive a higher understanding of their biology, anatomy, and ability to receive bionic, cybernetic or genetic enhancements... my specialty. He will have to endure it eventually in a more professional scenario regardless. Would be better to begin friendly!", he replied as he continued to 'examine' Kaite with his hands and eyes.

He listened as the others were introduced one by one, smiling at each in turn as he casually examined Kaite, moving around to his back once more as his hands continually roved the creatures body, squeezing and feeling in key places as he continued to attempt to ascertain his race. It was proving difficult... and L'azul loved a challenge.

With the doctor at arm's length, Kaite stood in a side stance as the persistent hands flailed in his direction in spite of the captain's hoarse assurance of the officer's resistant behavior. "Ouf course, miss. Iz-" he began before the captain introduced the newcomers, silencing himself to instead pay close attention to Raymon's voice more out of concern than respect. Kaite had gotten that way when drinking water wrong, though there was something different about this case or about the man in general, since inhaling a sip usually reduced one to a spontaneous coughing fit to clear the issue.
The brief instant of distracting thought was apparently all that the doctor needed to be upon the chimera once more. The audacity of the digits pushing their way past Kaite's scarf to pry his lips apart just so Laz could gawk at his teeth sparked a chill somewhere in the security officer's small frame.

Kaite let out a snarl, snapping his jaws in response with an audible click as he shook the hands from his face. "I vill haf to do nohzink you say, doktor, but require you to know your place!" he barked through bared teeth as he stomped his way into Laz a few steps and assert authority by pushing him back into the wall of the airlock entrance. The amber glow of his exposed eye burned with the constricting of the iris as the glare bore a hole through the Kautada. "Friendly yourself some manners..." Kaite hissed after a moment, losing his grasp of language in his state of heightened emotion before turning to leave deeper into the ship.
However, he paused to offer the rest of the newcomers a small bow, having grown weary of words of greeting by this point. While his HUD lit up with a few highlights and names of others that had shown up along with a 'committee designation', the security officer was making his escape and was certain to get a chance to meet everyone over the course of their travels.

For the time being, conditioning led him to be ashamed of his outburst, giving Captain Raymond a firmly professional salute though his eyes found their way to the floor. "Sir Raymond" he acknowledged in his own dismissal before turning off to enter the ship, proper. Once inside, Kaite shook himself before making his way back to the 'private quarters' of a broom closet he stayed in to change out of their stuffy disguise.

Achieng let out a mild sigh, wishing she'd spoken up sooner. She'd been so puzzled by the 'doctor' and his overeager display that she could not find the words to interrupt. That poor boy must be mortified. Anyone would, with that kind of strange treatment. She would have to find him later and apologize. With the child run off and the doctor left alone, Achi politely maneuvered her tank around the crowd. "Pardon me, I have to get inside before I start drying out in this air."

When she passed the strange doctor, she muttered to him in a low voice. "That was very rude, you know." Not the best, but it would do. Once she was on the ship properly, she held back her urge to explore it, and went right to her own designated room. There was a large tank already full with water, and she checked the acidity and temperature balance before lining her tank up with the entrance. Once she was in position, a valve opened and pulled her through into the blissfully cool water. "Ahhhh, finally." She swam around her new room, checking every corner of the large tank. Someone on the council had a passing familiarity with her species, it seemed; she'd been left a few decorations, small statues and cloths that made her feel rather homey. "Very nice."

Once she was done settling in, she decided to test the communications system. The Captain would be the first call. "Hello Captain Raymond. Whenever we are fully aloft and traveling, I would like to schedule primary visits for each of the crewmembers. You're included. I'm sure they will be reluctant, so I would hope that perhaps you would like to go first? Show the crew I'm no one to fear, hm?" She'd had poor reactions to her sessions before. People with weapons and power were never truly used to having to speak for what they had done.

"Fools..."

Kellian walked ahead of Raymond, taking time to look around the ship and coo at some of the things he saw. Not to say he wasn't actually impressed. Dyanel ships were almost always cannibalized from other race's fleets, mostly the stuff that was lured into the system and destroyed. Still, it wasn't the most efficient way of doing things, especially since recently, just about any captain with half a ounce of sense avoided the home system like the plague. He had never been on something this advanced before, and was almost beginning to enjoy it. This was far more advanced than the outdated crap back on the homeworld.

He didnt take any notice when introduced to the other crew members, preferring to take a look around to see if there was anything to drink. Kellian did smile upon noticing...something hold the mouth of someone else open, commenting on the face and accent of the person they had a hold of, much to the obvious discomfort of the victim. Maybe this was going to be fun after all.

"What an amusing band of strange creatures. Im certainly going to enjoy it here." he exclaimed out loud, continuing his way around.

He couldn't help smiling again, the gleam in his eyes only just visible for a split second.
They were still idiots. Putting all these criminals on the ship. Putting trust in them? How was that going to work? They were criminals for a reason. Tricking that captain to let him on board had been a masterstroke, but he was still a little unsure what to do. Did he want to stick along and fight? Try and use this chance to further his own goals? Hell, just try and make money here?

He would decide what he wanted later.

Maybe he wouldn't even have to kill any of them.

Raymond made it to his quarters and finally got to look at himself in the mirror. He looked like shit. His eye was swollen, his lip cut, bruises and cuts and dried blood covered his body and face. A dark red ring circled his neck. To be honest he was a bit embarrassed at the sight. No wonder Rae wanted to get him examined. He did his best to freshen up, he took a cold shower, slowly tending to the bruises as he scrubbed around them. Moments later and he entered his main quarters.

The Captain's Quarters of the Monroe was a little bit larger than most quarters on the ship. Raymond's large desk was in the center of the room, with all sorts of papers and maps and files all over the tabletop. A bookshelf lined with trophies from planets, awards from the Committee, and a collection of human artifacts from his planet were on almost every part of the walls. A baseball cap, pictures, antiques from the old age. Maps, and posters, and notes were lined around the wall as well. A large globe of Terra was in the corner, and in the opposite one was a very old antique jukebox. One door led to the bathroom, while another led to the bedroom.

He wore a standard issue, dark blue slim and fit shirt, with black cargo pants and boots. His hair was still a bit wet, but it looked messily perfect as usual. His wounds stopped bleeding and he did his best to try and ice and tend the bruises, but he still looked bad. He was lost in thought when his communicator went off. Doctor Achieng. He knew why a psychologist would want to board the Monroe. A bunch of crazy, homicidal maniacs somehow working together to become famous within the galaxy... It was bound to turn some heads. He listened to the doctor's words, and hesitated to answer.

The last time he was interviewed was in a prison cell right before he got the offer to join the Expedition Force. "Already eager to start? I...Uh. Sure, Doctor. I'll let you introduce yourself to the crew after our meeting." He wasn't going to say no to the interview, but his voice clearly wasn't certain.

Raymond gave a sigh, and went over to his holographic terminal on his desk. He opened up the files of their newest mission. An S.O.S. retrieval call. On the outer rim of the galaxy, and the Committee has no idea who or what it is. He listened to the audio again, and chills went down his spine. The Captain uploaded a file to Tango, and one to Doctor Driani. As a Committee Officer she was to get all intel first.

With the push of the button, he stood up, and walked out of the quarters, and to the meeting room. This was going to be one hell of a starter mission.

Just outside of the busy throng still gathered outside the Monroe, a Committee grunt walked up, his hand firmly grasping the arm of a handcuffed and scowling teenager. There was no Captain Raymond to be found, so he tapped into the ship's communications.

"Captain? We've got a last-minute addition to your... crew." He let the teenager go with a rough little shove and a glare. "Come and accept her and her remote, please? Or send someone?"

The teenager craned her head up, looking at the ship that was going to be her home for the next several years. "...3rd-Gen Assault class? Shit, this may be better than I thought." Her comment to herself was punctuated by her blowing and popping a bright green bubble of chewing gum. Jinayah wasn't exactly convinced about this entire endeavor, but seeing the stars and setting foot on new planets that no one else had touched sounded a lot better than prison. Busting out of lockup was getting old.

"Hey, Charlie! What if I do somethin' heroic or rescue somebody? Does that shorten my sentence?" Jin spoke to the Committee member with an easy tone.

The man whirled, barely restrained anger in his eyes. "It's Lt. Perrault to you, brat. Not Charlie, not even Charles."

"Okay, sure thing, Perry." Jin grinned wide, flashing her teeth at him and watching him snort in annoyance. It was too easy to get on this man's nerves, and his red face gave her no end of glee. She really hoped this Captain Raymond was less prone to getting bothered, otherwise this trip would be boring. "So let's get this disaster in the air, I want a workbench, come on! OW!" Her joy was cut short as the Lt. cuffed her upside the head with little delicateness.

"Shut up, brat, and wait until you're collected."

"Collected? Tch, what am I, an old wrench?"

"Shut it!" He smacked her once more, and stared at the other assembled criminals as if daring one of them to speak up.

Jin finally quieted, glaring daggers at the man before popping her gum several times, aggressively. "You think you're real strong, don't you Charlie? I bet you wouldn't be so touchy if I could get these cuffs and that stupid fuckin' anklet off... I've killed people bigger and smarter than you before. You'd better watch it. I still have friends outside that could catch you in a... quiet spot, you know?" She stared him dead in the face, her dark eyes wide and a rictus grin on her face. "I'd loooove to really see you without that precious Committee to back you. Just you and me and whoever stops breathin' first loses. Sounds fun, right Charlie?"

The lieutenant looked at the girl, and took a careful, measured step back. This half-starved brat had broken out of more jails than he had promotions, and he was pretty sure she was a murderer like the rest of the Monroe's crew, from the Captain down to that weird rabbit mascot.

"Any day now, while I'm still young, Captain?"