[IC] The Marauders (2016)

[Ollumhammersong]

Once Raymond and the other vertebrates successfully docked and unloaded themselves on board the synthetic puppet broke his perfectly still composure and initiated the drive sequence. He was aware of the death of one of the crew down below. Cassie was her name, He didn't feel her loss in quite the same manner as most of the other crew seemed to. Many of them had moisture on their faces, streaming from their simple eyes. What evolutionary purpose this adaptation served was beyond Jolenar. The act of shedding tears also seemed to bring about emotional stresses and distraction from their current work. Sadness and mourning were not unknown emotions to Xreene, but it was always done so as a private affair. With close friends and family, where they could sing in chorus of their sorrow in private. Never as a public display.

But he felt no sorrow over Cassie's loss. Maybe it was because she tended to avoid him, or maybe it was because she was a vertebrate. he found it difficult to relate to and form any sort of relationship with the crew. They were so.... alien. Alien in their mannerisms and alien in their actions. Conversations with them more often than not left Jolenar confused as to the purpose and result of the exchange. Or maybe he just truly didn't care about her. This, relationship and mental association to vertebrates was something for the Xreene to ponder later tonight.

"Raymond Captain." The android walked up to the captain of the vessel. Names were another thing he was working to accustom himself to. Vertebrates used bizzare combonations of names. From their real names to abbreviations and sometimes other names entirely with titles often thrown in. It was difficult to remember what was a name and what was a title in this language. And which was supposed to be spoken first.

"The engines have engaged. We are on course for the Committee central spire, Estimated arrival is three standard cycles, if continued at maximum efficiency." Without eyes there was no way to tell what the android was 'looking' at as it spoke. Just what direction it's face was pointed.

[DeathXtheXTree]

After the shuttle was docked, Tahillie stepped off with weight on his shoulders, however, he kept his expression clear of Amy grief after the loss of Cassie. It wasn't the first time that he lost someone that he considered as a friend, but he knew that this type of field would bring death and misery to all. He promised to have a drink with the human female after the survey, but that would never happen. The small ape clicked and felt the tense atmosphere around everyone, looking at the machinery with wide expression. Talley didn't say a word of how he felt, but made his way to the kitchen to ravish through the storage area for any substances to ease this pain that he felt in his chest. Even though that he doesn't show his expression as clear as day as most, only Raymond, Rae, and Makobi could tell how he felt right now. His posture and the way that he carries himself and little tells of his body movements, one would be able to know how he's feeling, unless one enters his personal space. He made his way pasted Makobi, heading to the lifts to bring him up to the main floor and to the galley. He lost sight of the ape after he gotten off the shuttle, and made his way up.

Once he gotten off the lift, Tahille sighed hard and hit the nearest wall, leaving a dent on the wall. What was she thinking? He wouldn't question that, but he felt his grief take over as he made his way to the galley to find the first bottle of liquor; all concerns of drinking left him. For him, this was the only way to forget about the deaths of crew members, but he dare not turn into an alcoholic for that reason. When he finally made his way into the galley, he spotted the first bottle and broke the top of it. Not caring if there's glass shattering, and chugged the liquid. The burning sensation that he felt of the liquor going down his throat didn't bother him in the lease, but the warmth of the liquor made him a bit drowsy. It was the first drink that he had done, he felt his face gone warm, a tingle feeling in his finger tips, and he took another swig of the drink. He let out a half sob/growl as he took another shot. He couldn't care less right now if he's going to get alcohol poisoning, he didn't care of the tears that started to fall. He didn't care if the other Marauders found him in this sorry state, he lost his drinking partner, and he took another drink.

[Traitor]

Stun silently observed the events unfolding on the planet surface without as much of a comment, or even a blink. It had the cannons under its command primed and lined up, waiting for the command to fire, remaining oblivious to Aylvs reaction upon its unelegant arrival at the bridge.

It did take note of the "Yiss!", signaling an overly emotional response to the eye-piercing arrow hit, however. The Pho Arghos had observed a variety of alien races show this kind of behavior in the middle of combat, and while it didn't entirely approve of euphoric overreaction during crucial combat situations, it has come to accept and tolerate over the decades.

It kept watching ground teams successful extraction due to the distraction a single fighter managed to produce, and when the small ship turned into a ball of dissolving, burning metal, Stun produced a brief clicking sound. It knew next to nothing about O'Hare, never had a connection to her, they barely even exchanged words since Stun's arrival on the Monroe. The clicking sound was the closest thing to regret a Pho Arghos would express, but this was not necessarily regret over the loss of a life. It was more likely regret over the loss of a capable pilot, of a potentially talented soldier Stun would never get the chance to exchange war stories with or fight alongside. That, and the loss of a fully functional ship. Among others of the Pho Arghos race, this was an unusually sentimental gesture, and Stun wondered for a moment whether the biological's nature had finally rubbed off, reminiscing of countless deaths it had witnessed without the slightest twitch of an optical nerve.
Then the moment was over, and the hybrid pushed itself to renew its focus.

Stun noted the increased emotional turmoil of its fellow crewman shortly before Kaite fired three bursts of artillery and produced an electric noise as it evaluated the situation, formulating its own reaction to this. When, against all probability, no hectic orders and rebukes came through the comm channels, it decided against berating the Aylv and instead continued to formulate the appropriate status reports.

"Three percussion rounds inbound." Its clinical voice came through the comms, disturbing the shocked silence. "Three confirmed hits. Target retreating."

The hybrid kept its attention on the information feeds until the shuttle reached the Monroe. Deciding that the primary target was unable to pursue in its current state, Stun returned its unused cannons back to standby. It loosely noticed the state Kaite was in and decided not to interfer, knowing that it was likely the least suited out of all the Monroe's personnel to offer emotional comfort. 8-Ball included.

The sound of the bridge doors opening, followed by the captain's presence however brought movement into the Pho Arghos' frame and within a second it was next to the Aylv, standing to attention. Since Kaite had already said everything and Stun didn't intend to needlessly point out the missing fire order, it simply stood there in silence.

[Jones Sparrow]

Makobi's questions numbed Ray's head as he continued walking without looking back, taking an elevator by himself. He leaned against the elevator wall and closed his eyes, giving a very long sigh. If he had gone back for Cassie's body, they would have had to deal with the Ice Bird, and under the laws designed for Expedition crews, they were not allowed to kill any species on any unknown planet unless the natives attacked first. By stepping onto its nest, it had every right to attack. If they killed it there would be more questions to answer for the Committee... Cassie was worth breaking the law for. She was part of his crew, a good person, and it seems that the Committee officials don't see anyone on his crew as people with their own thoughts and emotions... Just criminals knocking on Death's door.

"A Chase? I was wondering when Todd's kid would be coming our way! He was a fine young man, an excellent soldier. Look here boys! This might be your next commanding officer! Enjoy that reputation on your shoulders, Atlas."

The elevator doors opened to reveal bride and the large windows that looked out onto space. Tango's physical form was where it always was, in the Co-Pilot seat, checking scans and other statuses on the Monroe. As soon as Ray stepped foot onto the ground, his head made a full 180 and stood, giving a salute. "Captain On Deck!" He stated loudly.

The ship was already engaged in slip space, it was a very interesting thing to see and it still amazed Raymond. Looking at it head on, you could only see a brilliant blue light, with chaotic and unusual waves dancing incredibly fast. Looking from the back of the ship, there was a warm red glow, those same lines now moving slowly, and rhythmically. Looking at it from the side, there was all the stars you could ever think to see, billions of dots flying by you, and some flashes of blue, red, and sometimes purple.

He then stared around at all the faces on the Bridge. Kaite just got off the controls of a turret, his face with a mix of anger and sadness. Most people hear rumors about his race being heartless and destructive, but this told another story. Stun was also standing there, knowing that he wasn't sure what to say or even feel right now, Tango was the same way. Jolenar approached him, his suit's blank expression made it hard to know if the suit was looking at him or if Jolenar could even see him. He gave a nod. "Thank you, Jolenar." He wasn't sure of the Xreene liked to be addressed by his name or not, his culture was so different from the others he has met, but he has proven to be a professional and cooperative person.

"Captain, I am deeply sorry for the loss of O'Ha-- er, Cassie." Tango said with a bit of awkardness in its voice. Raymond could only smile and nod a bit as he looked away from Tango. He could tell the Monroe was sad today, it has been a very long time since someone on the crew had passed away, especially in such a heroic fashion. "There will be a memorial service for Cassie where we will put her name on the wall of those who have fallen in the Crew Quarters once we dock at the Spire... At ease, everyone."

----

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. 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.

Raymond was sitting up in his bed, his left hand shaking violently. Ever since he made sure the crew was alright after the survey mission, he had tried to get some rest, but to no avail. It had been four hours since Cassie sacrificed herself, and he was sure most of the Monroe was sleepless as well. He was still injured from the encounter of the bird, but didn't want to bother Rae or Nate to be checked up on.

He had so many thoughts in his mind, so many things he wanted to say to his crew, but didn't know when or where to say it... Raymond stood up and walked out of his room in only some Committee issued pajama pants. He sat down at his desk, and pressed a button, engaging a broadcast that would go through the entire ship.

"Monroe, this is your Captain speaking." Raymond's voice was strong, and a bit calming as he spoke, coughing a bit. "We lost one of our own today. Most of you probably haven't been here long enough to witness this, and I would love to tell you that it won't happen again, and that it'll get easier seeing someone you trust go. But it doesn't. I would love to tell you that every death that happens while we serve will be remembered, and that they will have a spot in the list of explorers that risked their lives. But since we are criminals, that won't happen. I can't guarantee you that there will be a day where the Committee calls us and tells me that I can bring you all home, and you can move on with your life, and I can't guarantee that you will be safe on this vessel. But you already knew that when you signed up."

"I can tell you though that the Monroe has defied the odds in every single way possible. We are the longest serving expedition team in the Committee in hundreds of years, we have saved countless lives and contributed to making this galaxy better off for the future. Some of you may not give a shit about the greater good out there, or making a difference. But I like to think that Cassie sacrificed herself for those reasons... We have been able to continue for three long and difficult years because every single one of you has put their faith in not only me and my abilities, but in everyone else's as well."

"So when the Committee is asked about the Monroe and the Marauders, they may forget the sacrifices we had to make to continue to live, but we will NEVER forget... For those who are new, the pain doesn't leave. It numbs itself until we are able to take that pain and put it into what drives us, and what made us join this force to begin with. Never forget why you joined, never forget who you've met on this crew, and never forget what you're fighting for..." Raymond silenced himself for a few seconds. "Chase out."

[Hawlin]

Slipspace was a unique endeavor for the Aylv who had formed a habit of bracing in spite of the seamless transition from a standstill to hurtling past stars and celestial bodies without the slightest jolt of acceleration. Kaite seemingly hadn't noticed in this instance, eyes looking up to meet Raymond's for the briefest moment as he felt the captain noting his demeanor. The gesture spurred him to look down, lingering in his official stance with little to do with himself than wait. While he ached for the words to chime in, the series of events replayed in his mind ad nauseum and the hollow expressions of his robotic associates conveyed, what Kaite felt to be, a cheap semblance of consideration that carried enough weight through a series of ones and zeros.

The chill from Jolenar's silent dismissal of the event and the AI 'Tango's homogenized announcement to be followed by a canned condolence twisted Kaite's heart, rending it in silence aside from the click of a fang sliding against a tensing jaw. In this, the call for the crew to be at ease was immediately followed by the small figure sidling past the captain and quickly mashing the button in the elevator. The was a moment of hesitation as the smooth systems registered the command, and doors slid shut, cutting off whispers from the Aylv who wiped off the eyepatch screen with a bit of their shirt.
"Fly; flee. Fail to fall. May no sky to dark...to dark...-"

----

_{Think of it this way, you don't have to put up with her names, anymore!
My name is Kaite...like a kite, whatever that is. Its more than a number and I love it, dearly.
You could have other names! That Jericho guy was your father, right? 'Sinclair' has a good ring to it, eh?
...Everyone calls me 'Kaite'. I think it is a good name. Fitting, at least. Anyway, its too late to change something like that.
I hear humans change their names all the time.
The idea of shirking heritage makes your argument less compelling, I would rather be a number than abandon a defining memory.
Mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms...
Mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms...
Did you add them?
Of course I did! Mushrooms are delicious and I will fight lies that claim otherwise.
Check again.
I am staring at them...
Does not hurt to be sure.}

"Jeh...zehy could ouf been eaten...by a giant bird..." Kaite slowly and numbly spoke with vacant eyes as he stared into the glass lid of the crockpot of spaghetti sauce he was making in the kitchen. Chuckling once in a daze, the blip of a text message read off on his screen. It was a message from Tango that spelled out cautiously steady, accompanied by the soft voice from the chef's earbud.

- I hate to interject, but...who are you talking to, Kaite Zero-Seven-Three?

The words manifested on the eyepatch screen in the light-adjusted white text as it occurred to me that I was staring into the culinary device where I had thrown together a thick spaghetti sauce. I figured appetites may be weak, and the apparatus could keep the meal fresh all day if need be. From what the clock read, it had been about three hours...of what?

Kaite's eyes widened with drowsy, horrified shock as he searched for an answer to his and Tango's questions while dragging himself together from what felt like sleep. Though he had small episodes of zoning out for a few minutes at a time, never had he ever lost hours of time...standing...in the middle of something.
The dry, sauce-crusted spoon clattered to the ground, slipped from the fingers of the Aylv whose hands trembled before clapping to the sides of the crockpot. Muscles tensed and pressed into the exterior of the device as his lips parted and bared fangs in manic frustration. After a moment, he relaxed and imagined making a scene and wasting food he'd put considerable work and time into would be less than becoming. The motivation for the thought to dash the contents on the floor eluded him.

With a long sigh, Kaite shook his arms and made his way to the sink to splash his face a few times with cold water to hopefully wake himself up. Slipping his eyepatch and the control glove back on, he stared down the question for a moment before reaching out to enlarge the keyboard icon.

- Myself. There is no one else here.
- Some of the staff are still awake if you seek conversation, as well as myself.
- Insightful, I will keep that in mind.

Murmuring softly as he typed, Kaite concluded the engagement he intended on keeping brief as he exited the kitchen and continued down the hall. Having already excused what happened as dozing off, he felt the need for a walk but considered it more of being 'on patrol'. It was a funny notion since he didn't expect anything out of the ordinary to be taking place on such a ship, however, it wasn't long before the click of the ship-wide broadcast cut the otherwise silence of the halls, heralding the captain's voice.

As inspiring as the speech was intended to be, Kaite couldn't help but be confused by a few points that Raymond had tried to make. There was nothing for him to 'go home' to, and his reason for fighting was a convoluted contract and a few signatures before money changed hands. Little more than property, it was heavily implied through the aylv's naive intuition that the captain's goals and reasons were expected to be his own. In this, The Monroe was his home and their business was his life. Sourly, Kaite figured it made the crew his family of sorts, even the automatons who he was unsure where he sat with.
So no, 'going home' wasn't an option or an expectation for the clone. He didn't belong in the world outside The Monroe which already had a place to sleep and people to co-rely on...minus one.

Kaite felt a cartwheel would help him feel better, and it admittedly did, though forgetting to take off the control glove left his HUD blurry with random letters and numbers as well as open a few windows. Closing the various cookbook entries and pictures of vaguely annoyed crewmembers, especially Tahillie who had a few extra after the aylv found it fun to bother them with the flash setting, he'd taken while figuring out the eyepatch, he took the glove off and folded it in a pocket before continuing his foolery. Light clicks of small hard-soled boots echoed faintly, mixing with the ambient whirr of machinery.

The dull chime of the elevator cut into the otherwise stillness of the bridge, doors opening as Kaite stepped out, still finger-combing his hair back into order. "Captain on deck..." he quietly chirped, looking around as he made his was over to the deactivated weapons terminal. With a few taps, he shifted over to on-board security cameras to monitor the halls and other general rooms of interest while leaving more intimate quarters out of the lineup. Sleep was a fickle mistress, and his exertion certainly hadn't helped as he soon found himself laying a cheek on folded arms that rested on a deactivated keyboard.

[Mistress Dizzy]

With a sweet tune humming from her lips, Achieng looked over the dossiers for the tenth time that morning. She was going to be on the Monroe in a few hours, and even though she'd all but memorized the names and faces of the crew, she was still nervous. Barely an hour ago, a Council official had sent her a message. She'd thought it was to wish her luck, but the contents had put her on edge. Basically it said that no matter how kind or charming or well-spoken the "Marauders" were, that she couldn't forget that they were all criminals and would endanger her life if she treated them gently.

Achi didn't like to judge people based on others' perceptions. She had read the given dossiers, and thought that analysis more than a little unfair. Some of the Marauders crew were former military. Some were scholars. Some weren't criminals at all, and had come on the ship from different circumstances. Honestly, if they were all so reprehensible and murderous and scary, why bother sending her to observe the crew in the first place? It only made sense if the Council was uncertain. She would make her own judgement, after speaking with each of them and getting to know more than just a prison photo and a condensed rap sheet.

Tapping her gloved fingertips on the screen, Achieng huffed out a small sigh and closed up the documents. The contents weren't going to change. Maneuvering her water chair to one of the many observation areas that overlooked the galaxy swirling outside, she pulled up a relaxing mental game on her computer and started to play.

[DeathXtheXTree]

A few hours had passed since Tahillie started drinking, completely unaware that the ship was docked at the Spire, and clutched his head to a raging head ache. As quick as he gets drunk, just as fast he Sobers up, but the hangover is anything but pleasant. He was still in the galley, holding an empty bottle, possibly the third or fourth one, tightly in his grasp. While he was still grieving over Cassie's death, he threw the bottle and stood up, only to fall over the chair that he was sitting on. Thanks to the fall, he was actually glad that no one saw him do something so stupid, to see him stoop so low to drink on the verge of poisoning.

Talley struggled to get up again and head to his room, where he can hook up to the Spires Network, and let his body rest and get over the hangover that he was suffering from. He used his hand to hold himself up from falling, the other to sooth the headache that he is suffering from, and again reminded himself not to drink so much. Not that he had ever done something like this for awhile, and was glad that he couldn't remember much. He regretted that the ships AI, Tango, might have shown his stupidity to Raymond. Not that he cared of what the human bought of him.

[Akayaofthemoon]

Jones Sparrow and Akayaofthemoon Collab

What could she have said or done to make it better? If she was to be honest with herself, nothing could fix what had happened. If she had talked to them, would it have eased any emotions for them or just made it worse? Rae didn't know since that area was not completely her expertise. Makobi had expressed the wish for them to go back for Cassie wither it was for her body or the hope the woman was still alive, he had not been happy with the Captain's decision. Rae knew Ray was right, if they had tried to go back then more deaths would have been possible plus she didn't know how the other would react to the knowledge that no one would want to see Cassie like that. It would be better to remember her as she was and not what fate had dealt her. Talley had gone for the bottle, it was not a surprising reaction but she could have done something to possibly change his mind. At this point maybe joining him would have been better since no work was getting done.

Rae had been sitting in the same place for longer than she could imagine, thinking all this over as she stared off into the distance. It was hard to even remember walking to the med bay but the most keen thought was waiting, waiting for Raymond to actually take care of himself. It wasn't the reason she wasn't in bed but it was one of the starting points in her argument to herself about needing rest and deciding against it. He always cared for everyone else but never himself unless she was the one forcing it. He probably held it together, tried to help the crew through it and went to bed hopefully. Unsmart as that may be, it was the better solution than not coming for treatment when who knows what could be wrong with his arm or hand. That at least was her thought process until the very human man she was thinking of voice decided to ring out of the speakers. A slight frown made its way onto her features before smoothing out to one of determination. If he was going to avoid getting help then she would make sure he couldn't get out of it. She gracefully pushed out of her desk chair, heading out of the medical bay as the doors swooshed shut behind her as she made a beeline to wait outside his quarters. Tango would inform the Captain of this or she would order the AI to since this was no longer up for negotiation.

It was always the same dream for Raymond... Actually, it was more of a nightmare. As he woke with a start he could still hear the distant screams of the countless people he let die. Team mates, enemies, fellow soldiers, his mother... He sat up, wiping the sweat off his brow. Even without a shirt on and the room-specific temperature system he still woke up in a cold sweat.

"Captain. Are you alright? Your vitals are skyrocketing." Tango's voice asked. Raymond sighed and stood, his arm starting to throb with pain. "I'm fine, Tango. What's wrong?"

"Doctor Driani is outside your quarters." Tango responded, making Ray silently cuss. With Cassie's death and trying to talk to the crew, his injuries were the least of his worries. His arm was in constant pain, but he thought he could manage to sleep and see Rae tomorrow. Apparently she had other plans. The captain walked through his quarters until he reached the door, opening it to see the team's doctor glaring at him. He knew that glare all too well.

Raymond didn't even try to make an excuse, he extended his arm, making a very slight wince. "It's not too bad, Rae..." Raymond started, "I've had worse injuries... Remember when we boarded a pirate shuttle, and one of them caused a huge explosion? A giant hole went through the ship and I hit about everything in that room before almost getting sucked out into space." Raymond look at her and grinned a little.

The two had been through so much together in just three years. Although it was a rocky start for them since Ray doesn't like Committee officials, she has Ray's full trust; she's practically second in command. He realized he was staring at her for a bit too long, so he looked down at his arm. Not many people knew Ray like she did, so naturally his feelings for her started to get stronger and more... complicated.

"Give it to me straight. How bad is it? Need to take a trip to the medical bay?"

Her hands reached out for his own as he extended his arm, the wince not going unnoticed but ignored for the moment. She carefully pressed along his fingers and up to Ray's palm, looking for any breaks of fractures that might have occurred but the gloves seemed to have at least protected them enough. The knuckles on the other had were a different story by how bruised they were and a bit scraped up with impact but nothing that could be lived through. Rae worked as he spoke, her orange irises glancing up to see that grin and couldn't help the soft smile that made its way to her own."Don't remind me. If I recall, you griped about being stuck in the medical bay for a week on bed rest even though you looked as though you had been used as a personal punching bag by multiple people or gone through a tornado. A concussion as well as multiple fractures and breaks to say you could go back to the job." she teased, moving up to his wrist and onward as she spoke. "You'll live but it needs to be in a sling. You did a number on it as its bruised even sprained in the shoulder. The sling should help with the pain and so you stop using it so it can rest enough to heal." Luirae replied, leaving her hand on his arm a moment longer than she probably should have before pulling it away.

"I'm not a very good Captain if I'm stuck in the med bay." Ray replied to their past experiences, holding back another wince as her hands moved around his arm. It was a relief that the worst thing about his diagnosis was a sling, but at the same time he would be no help around the ship. "How long do I have to wear it?" He asked, frowning a bit. He felt a bit guilty complaining about bruised bones and a sprained shoulder after Cassie lost her life, but if he wasn't at his best how could he help make sure the rest of his team would survive?

Rae knew what his question meant all to well and by the look on his face after the comment, guilt for it wasn't too far behind which made things awkward for her. Should she say something comforting? What did one say? Sorry for your loss wasn't right because she had also lost Cassie today. Her brows furrowed, probably looking in though when in all reality, she was lost on how to help the man in front of her. Hmmm, how about when you are no longer hiding your wincing and can actually raise your arm in the air without pain. If you can fake it without me noticing then more power to you but until that day, let it heal. You won't be able to help if you are half healed and have to punch something else. You could come out with more serious injuries than this time.....Rae paused for a moment, looking her Captain in the eyes before sighing a bit and bit her lip gently before continuing to speak. "Cassie wasn't your fault. You did everything you could.

Ray rolled his eyes a bit and gave a smile, putting his arm down gently. "You have to admit I'm getting better at faking it. I can fool almost everyone on this ship besides you and Tango." The doctor knew him too well. Three years exploring the galaxy together would do that to people. Her next words were a little bit of a shock to the Captain, as if he was hit with cold air. He looked her in the eyes for a few seconds before looking down at his hand. "Yeah. I suppose so. But the Committee won't see it that way. They won't see her as a hero who defended her team. Just another criminal that died exploring a giant rock that they don't give a shit about." He knew that Rae was having a bit of hard time expressing herself like this. It didn't come easy for her race, but it meant a lot that she was trying for his sake.

"The Committee never sees eye to eye with their crews and sometimes with each other. The least I can do for Cassie is to defend her honor as a hero. I cannot promise they will listen but maybe it will help them see that all life is precious, even the ones they don't believe as worthy."Luirae answered, knowing that the Committee wouldn't blink at making Cassie O'Hare nothing more than a distant memory if even that. They didn't care what happened to any of the ones they had deemed criminals since the other choice was death compared to the exploration which meant they thought the death of these criminals was a just end. Rae spoke up for the team more often then not and sometimes it worked in her favor since they seemed to hold her words in high regard and sometimes it ended up as nothing would be heard on the matter, the choice already being made. It was hard to tell what line would be drawn in certain situations. As it was, they were already on a course to the Spire to refuel and gather supplies as well as to take on any new arrivals which probably wasn't what the crew was ready for but it would happen either way. It would be a relief if they were not called in for a briefing while at The Spire. Rae cleared her throat a bit, crossing her arms a bit as if to hold her mid section without seeming to awkward or nervous before she continued to speak after the pause in her last comment,"Well, your arm should be fine without a sling for a little while longer. I will let you get some more sleep before we arrive at The Spire. You know where to find me if the pain gets out of hand in the mean time. Pleasant dreams Raymond." That being said, she left just as quickly as she had appeared and headed down the hall towards her room, grabbing a change of clothes once there before instantly heading back to the medical bay. Rae had held off work long enough and she needed more done before they landed on the docking bay.

The view of the Spire was a very impressive one. It was elegant in design surprisingly. It had a fine, metallic surface, with billions of little lights shining out of it. Its cylindrical, with many branches coming out of it for docking. Inside would be artificial skies with thousands of stores and houses and warehouses and so many other objects it was like its own planet. The center of the Spire was filled out though with a rushing river going through it, with wildlife living right on the shore. It orbited around a massive red Super-giant.

The Monroe finally arrived at its destination, docking in the upper section of the Spire, where the richer community lived. The ship was in a very gloomy mood the whole trip, and hours before they arrived Raymond got a message from the Committee requesting a debrief on a loss of a crew member, and a discussion about new recruits to the Monroe. It was true that the Galactic Committee gave the Monroe much more freedom than most exploration crews, but that didn't stop the tension the two groups had for each other. Raymond especially hated the Galactic Council.

The Committee is run by a Galactic council. Each of the five races have three representatives, with one Grand Chairman, making the council having 31 members. There are many other levels of this council, but this is the main one that made most of the decisions, especially on Exploration branches. They were the ones who convicted him of murder and sent him to The Rock for years before giving him the Monroe, and even then there was still judgement and hate shown towards him. Raymond didn't want to go there alone. Every time he faced them there were always accusations which turned to debates, which turned to Ray yelling vulgar words at them until he was kicked out. He needed someone to make sure he keeps a level head, and someone who he could rely on at a difficult time like this. Rae was the first person to come to mind.

The Captain of the Monroe first tried to find Rae at her quarters, but after waiting a couple minutes at the front of her door, he assumed she was trying to keep herself busy in the medical bay. Ray made his way there next, and entered with Tango's voice filling the room. "Doctor, Captain Chase is here to see you."

It took a moment for Rae to comprehend what Tango was actually saying as she had focused in on her work. She looked up from her microscope, turning towards the door with a bit of a hazed look before everything went back into focus at the sight of the Captain in her doorway."Are you alright? Are you in pain? I know I suggested you come in if the pain was too much to bare until later but to be honest, I am surprised you actually came willingly...I thought I was going to have to forcibly get you into one later."she teased with a bright smile. She was in quite a good mood since the new medicine she was trying out seemed to be going well and it was nice to have a surprise visit from Raymond or anyone really since the place seemed rather gloomy not that it wasn't to be expected in such circumstances. She just knew that she had to keep pushing forward because looking at it logically, she couldn't bring Cassie back so living her own life happily and keeping Cassie's memory dear in her heart was the best she could do for her fallen comrade. It was not easy for her to show and grieve since her logical mind had already moved past some of the situation where others it would take time.

It was actually an unexpected, yet very nice surprise to see Rae's smiling face at him. The whole ship was in a state of depression for a while now, the smile was a breath of fresh air to him. Raymond looked down at his arm, then back at her, giving a bit of an awkward smile. "Oh... yeah, no I'm alright, though I thought it'd be time for a check up." He said, trying his best to get out of wearing a sling. "Thought I'd see how you were doing. Talley is still in a drunken state, Makobi doesn't want to talk to me, and Kaite is all over the place." He walked over to Rae, and looked at what she was working on. Although it made absolutely no sense to him, Ray knew that this was probably some groundbreaking research going on. "I ah... Also got a message from the Council. They want a debriefing while we're making a pit stop..." He trailed off, muttering the last part slightly.

Rae's smile slipped off her face, returning to its normal calm demeanor at the word of Council."Oh...I see.....Apparently, I should not have placed hope in the fact that they might let this go with out a lecture."

"You know how they are. They won't miss out on trying to find some dirt on the crew. Engaging a native, not finishing the survey mission, losing a crew member... Kail will use this to try and make us sound dangerous, and out of control." Raymond said, his voice a bit bitter. Representative Kail was one of the Furtim representatives. She was very much against funding the exploration program, and her clan is one of the most wealthy in the galaxy.

"Yes, I do know how she can be unfortunately. She is perfectly unreasonable when it comes to anything she is against and quite often I believe that means us. It seems she is very adamant on shutting down the exploration program and wishes to use the Monroe as an example for her case since we are the longest lasting crew. Everything that is done wrong is a reflection of why it doesn't work in her eyes but I doubt the other council members will ever agree unless it was highly insubordinate act which we have never done. You should have nothing to worry about in the debriefing other than mild annoyance at them bring up painful subjects and pointing fingers. Just promise me you won't cause too much of a commotion. It is grating on my nerves to have to listen to them whine like children for hours every time you are thrown out of their chamber."

Rae's words were reasonable as always, his eyes moved away from her when she asked him to promise not to cause a commotion. "I'm not going to sit there and have them talk about my crew like they're a bunch of animals." Ray said simply, looking back at her. There was a million reasons why he fought back against the Committee. They ruined his life in more ways than one. They always compared him to his father, they thought they knew his crew more than himself, and to them they will always be criminals. He looked her in the eyes for a few seconds before sighing a bit. "They'd be more respectful with you there... We both would." Ray admitted.

"As you wish."

The Spire, though a most elegant creation of flawless design was the last place Luirae preferred to be. It was always too crowded, people always rushing about and busy no matter what time of day it seemed since this place was like its own planet with people even permanently taking up residence. That was not the reason she preferred to stay away from this place though, no, it was because of the Committee Council that controlled most everything from this place. You would think that Rae being a volunteer would mean she wouldn't mind talking with them but she did not appreciate seeing the Committee Council in person. They only did so when they felt the team had done something inappropriate or incorrect and needed to come down to explain or hassle them about how much they had control over the lives on the ship. For instance, all debriefing could be done through the holographic display system since it has a direct link to the council so coming in person was null and void for such talks.She believed that this was logically a waste of their precious time as they could be meeting the new recruits, docking supplies, and doing more personal errands but no, they were going to go up and get lectured with them not knowing all the facts. The council had already formed a story in their minds against them and even Rae knew this.

The hangar doors opened to the Spire, revealing an amazing view. Large buildings surrounded the area as swarms of every known race in the galaxy flooded the streets, all shopping, sight seeing, or going to and from work. To reach the Council elevator you had to cross a large glass bridge that looked straight through the Spire. So many different species were on this bridge it was a wonder that it held the collected weight. All the species of the known galaxy could be seen just by walking this bridge. Spire officers patrolled the area as well. The sight below them was an impressive one. Billions of lights flickering as you looked down the center of the massive Hub, you could see the river flowing down, and then trickle out into the small circle where the Spire ended. Shuttles flew across the center as well.

While Raymond and Rae were going to meet with the Galactic Council, the crew of the Monroe was free to do whatever they wished. Shop, sleep, sight see, drink, whatever they wanted, Raymond didn't care. They deserved a break after what they have went through. They would be on constant surveillance though, they were criminals after all and the Committee didn't trust them that much. Raymond's left hand shook slightly as he walked down the hangar ramp, looking at the large elevator across the way. Talking about the death of a crew member was never easy, and it was rare that he would have to, but since there was a lot of controversy, the Committee had to get official on-record statements. There was also the fact that he had new recruits to the crew. He hoped this debriefing wouldn't last long. His crew still had work to do.

Luirae continue to the elevator, glancing over at Raymond instead of looking out at the scenery around them. She knew how hard this was on him each time without the extra stress of being hurt and dealing with a depressed crew. Her gaze moved to his arm, checking on how he was doing without the help of a sling and what she saw worried her. Why was his hand shaking? Was it pain? He assured her that he was not in further pain so was it fear? What would he have to fear? She didn't know what to say or what was the correct response. After a small debate with herself, she reached out and squeezed his hand gently, holding it as she had seen a few humans do. It seemed to make the other one smile when the human did this or calm them if something was wrong so it was worth a try in her mind. If it was a support thing than she wanted Raymond to know she was here for him in his race's way.

[Hawlin]

The next few days were a silent mess for Kaite who fought to keep his own schedule under control to the point of being oddly distant with the rest of the crew. On the upside, meals couldn't be better, though not many had seen the aylv around. Most assumed he was hiding under a bed or somewhere in the cargo bay, and he frequently alternated between these before hall B-1's closet began to show signs of his activity. A blanket here and there along with a pillow and his stuffed 'Harrison Hare', some kind of stuffed white rabbit with a vest and monocle that often denoted where Kaite chose to rest his head. He wasn't one to break character with such rituals which were, of course, necessary and quintessentially paramount to his overall efficiency...ehem.

For Kaite sleep came sparingly. He was often on edge and uncharacteristically forgetful, exhaustion mostly playing into this since the aylv forsook the first two days of sleep before practically collapsing on the third.

I...

I had a...dream...that I was on the sea. On a small boat, I desperately dumped corpses off the side and watched them disappear into the deep dark. Apart from literal connotations to haunt my psyche, the scenario was strangely surreal as I had never actually been to the sea, let alone seen a quantity of water greater than standard provisions found in a glass. The pitch of imagining the ink that consumed the faceless bodies of those my mind asserted upon me to choke breathlessly while I struggled with the mounting weight of each body. The struggle grew to the point of becoming a labored melee to work myself even an inch until giving in to the motion of the material beneath my knees after collapsing.

The pile never yielded; there would always be countless more to be discarded and forgotten.

All I knew was how deeply I needed them gone...
Like an insatiable thirst or hunger, it felt natural to be rid of the figures. However 'why' escaped me, determination pressed on for what I could feel was becoming a damningly restless sleep. Bound with exhaustion due to my choices, this dream played out until the alarm-

-reverberated painfully throughout the room before the small clock was bashed correctly enough to end its racket.

Kaite pulled himself up to a kneeling position, staring off into the dark before directing his eyes downwards. Sleep wasn't much better than being awake, though even the restlessness of what the activity intended still staved off the waves of debilitating exhaustion that brought the new security officer low. His state was a new experience he couldn't entirely explain, leaving him 'stuck' staring into what he assumed to be the bland grey blankets of his bedding. Lacking a name for the disembodied weight that seemed to drag down every inch of his being, the sensation pressed in on him with the aid of nebulous darkness to the point of sending Kaite into a highly inelegant scrambling fit. Having resulted in a sizable bite-hole in his pillow while attempting to contain his noise, the Aylv had his fill and hastily got dressed, checked their composure while stepping out into the light of the hallway.

Making his way down the hall towards the bridge, Kaite let updates run on his eyepatch before stopping as the notifications and timestamps of arriving to port and an announcement of the captain having left stopped him in his tracks. Normally, he would continue about his business with watching exterior sensors and getting a glimpse of the outside through windows. Without a notable associate manning the ramp, he turned on a heel to instead to hasten pace towards the hangar. While it was more of Makobi's territory, Kaite couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a hand in getting actual work done.
So, opening and reading over the manifest while stepping onto the cargo lift, he quickly acquainted himself with the essentials for the task. Though it was mostly an insultingly trivial matter of scanning tags that coincided with numbers on a list, something Tango could do in a blink, a physical representative was typically the more accommodating approach for the dockworkers. That being said, Kaite was not completely prepared for the looks he received after emerging from the shadows of the hangar. Though workers had been prepared to service the criminal craft, a few ex-spacefarers found it hard not to notice the flick of rich, silvery, rose-blonde ears. A few even subtly hung back with their carts, gossiping about the Committee conscribing wild animals into the exploration crew. There were some small remarks from those less in the know about 'mascots'.

Looming at the top of the ramp, he slid on his operator glove and watched the list populate was checks and notes from Tango and others having already 'loaded' their choice goods. A few other notes regarding names of commodities confused him slightly as Kaite had never heard of an 'Ashely Hunter' or a 'Pip Bernadotte', assuming them to be some kind of specialized armament calibration.
This notion was turned in on itself as he noticed the Committee designation on one of the names in the section, an 'Achieng' with a notation of being from 'Clan Chima' spelled out how the names were new recruits rather than common equipment. If anything, this stipulation made Kaite chuckle from his foolishness, pressing a hand to his face with the shake of his head. Thankfully, he caught this soon enough before such names began arriving, and clicking on the names brought up short lists of appearances and other...less essential information.

"Killer, killer, thief, killer, traitor~" Kaite softly chirped, dismissing his curiosity with the simple naiveté of his standings in the universe. What any of them had done made no difference to him, though he hoped Raymond could get a word in with them before they caused any kind of trouble. Although, for the moment, he saw himself as the first line of defense.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Hailfire/Dizzy collab - One Hour Ago

With a quiet trickling sound ever shifting concentric circles rippled out across the surface of the artificial pool, a fuchsia leafed palm tree leaning across the hotel complexes centrepiece as reeds stemmed from the shallow end of the water. Ashley sat herself down beside the pool, sighing as she stared into the depths of the hotel's luxury. The luxury was not intended for her and she knew it, somewhat resigned to her fate as a convict in what was effectively a penal legion of explorers, but that wouldn't stop her enjoying the luxury her handler insisted on being kept in even as she scratched uncomfortably at the bulk of the tracking collar she was equipped with.

Removing her boots Ashley rolled up her combat trousers and sat herself beside the edge of the pool, feet dangling into it and kicking gently. The water was cool on her legs, likely the water feature was intended as a courtesy to those species who favoured aquatic environments and indeed, as Ashley looked into the seemingly endless depths she could see numerous creatures presumably relaxing as she was, perhaps even holding conversations in whatever alien tongues they possessed.

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Beneath the hotel pool’s sparkling waves, an aquatic woman swam in lazy circles. If she could stand, she’d be about six feet tall, and was heavily curved. Her skin was mostly brown to the waist, and then it shifted into a glimmering orange fin. If Achieng knew that others were watching, she might not have been so carefree. But for the moment, she was utterly relaxed and at peace, trying to soak up the last few hours she’d have in wide-open space. Being confined to a ship wasn’t going to be a particularly fun experience for someone used to the expanse of an ocean. Achi would adapt, though - she always did. That was one of the joys of sharing a homeworld with large predators. You learned early on to go with the changing current, or risk being dragged under.

Pushing herself up to the surface, she burst free with a splash and delicately spit a mouthful of water. She looked around at the other guests, easily treading water with slow movements of her tailfin. How strange - she’d thought this was more of an aquatic-based hotel, but there was a human woman settled nearby. Her endless curiosity about other beings took hold, and she swam toward the woman in what she hoped was a nonthreatening manner.

“Ah… hello!”

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Lost in reverie as she was, it came as something of a surprise when one of the creatures Ashley had been idly watching in the depths below splashed up to the surface. Ashley looked at the mermaid, because that is what it seemed to be to her, in mild bewilderment, hoping her surprise wasn’t as evident in her expression as she suspected it was. In the week since Ashley had arrived at the Spire Ashley had found herself wishing more and more that she had listened to the lessons her foster-father Dillan had tried to teach her. She was sure somewhere in there had been an entire plethora of the alien species with which Humans shared the universe but, now that such knowledge could have presented itself as useful, Ashley didn’t have a clue and it was, frankly, embarrassing.

Alpha Centauri, or at least the part Ashley was from, was still predominantly Human occupied and so Ashley had an incredibly hard time telling species apart. Sure she could recognise the four Galactic council races but she sure as hell couldn’t tell you whether one was a he, a she or otherwise. Over the last few days she had performed all kinds of cultural faux pas, including but not limited to, greeting people’s pets rather than the sentient member of the pairing, staring too hard for too long with mouth agape, and mistaking an individual's gender on multiple occasions. By this reasoning Ashley was mildly relieved when the mermaid-creature greeted her, answering the first question she had. Yes, this was a sentient creature. She ran a hand back through her hair awkwardly, stalling for time and pulling the collar up on her aviator jacket in an effort to conceal the symbol of her imprisonment here.

“Hello there.” Ashley returned a little awkwardly, withdrawing her feet from the water and crossing her legs in the soft grass that verged the edge of the pool.

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Achieng smiled, her lips curving up without showing any teeth. She’d learned quickly, but not quickly enough to stave off scaring several tourists, that her predator teeth put certain types on edge. Her smile felt insincere, but it was necessary.

“Pardon my blunt question, but… are you human? I don’t want to start out with a false assumption of things.” She had to stare a little upward at the woman, and noted how uncomfortable she seemed. Immediately her mind flew into questioning. Was she standing too close? Were her teeth showing? Had she offended some cultural sensibility that she had no knowledge of? So many things to keep track of! If only every being came with neatly written dossiers like the crew of the ship she was to join, that way she could prevent such awkwardness before it happened.

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Ashley blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question, before laughing. Ashley had always assumed her humanity was readily apparent, and so it was a pleasant surprise to find she was not the only one who experienced uncertainty when introducing themselves to individuals of other species.

“Why yes ma’am… yes I am.” Ashley replied warmly, leaning forwards a little and setting her hands in her lap. “And you are?...” Ashley enquired, hoping she had not been rude. For a moment it fleeted through Ashley’s mind that actually perhaps the individual she was speaking with was not female and Ashley flashed a sheepish smile, quickly substituting it for a confident, borderline cocky grin she had learned for winning over cops.

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Achieng was initially unnerved by the woman’s sudden laugh, but once she realized it was a happy one instead of a mocking one, she relaxed again. “I am a Watumaji. We are aquatic, as you may be able to tell.” Indeed, a few of the chairs set out around the pool were actually half-submerged in the water, and there were a few beings who looked similar to Achi lounging happily in them.

“I am called Achieng, from Clan Chima. I apologize if I’m being…” She fiddled her fingers in the air, trying to search for the right word and failing. “Too familiar, I suppose, but it surprises me to see a human here. Usually they stay at the hotel that has a hard-bottomed pool with strange blue water, don’t they? N-not that I’m saying you should not be here. This is not my home, you can stay where you wish. I’m merely… surprised.” She was talking too much and she knew it, but was only able to stop herself after stumbling over a half - apology and explanation.

--

Ashley shook her head slightly by way of response to Achi, fringe drifting down over a brow before being flicked out of the way with a brush of a fingertip. “I didn’t choose the hotel, besides… I prefer places without limits anyway. I’d probably get bored in the restrictive uh... human pool you describe.” She replied softly, winking to Achieng as she found herself more and more at ease. Ashley uncrossed her legs, letting her feet dangle into the water and sighing contentedly once more. “Ashley Hunter.” Ashley said casually. “And it’s nice t’meetcha.”

Ashley gave her legs a slight kick before cocking her head a little thoughtfully then shrugging to herself. She shrugged off the leather of her aviators jacket, putting the prisoner collar on full display for anyone who might recognise such a thing before slipping into the pool, combat trousers, tank-top and all. Treading water Ashley spread her arms to either side before kicking slowly off the wall backwards to drift further into the pool, still facing Achieng as she trod water calmly.

“I probably shouldn’t be here in all honestly.” Ashley continued, thoughtfully. “But that’s never stopped me before.” She finished, speaking almost to herself then letting her head drop below the surface briefly before she kicked back up to the surface and shook her head vigorously, droplets of water cascading from her now sodden hair.

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Achieng looked surprised as Ashley dropped the jacket. She had a strange bit of jewelry on, but it was almost familiar to her. Maybe it was some new trend? Achi was so far behind on such things, but that was nothing new. She’d always been slow to catch on to popularity. Reading was always far more forgiving than socializing, even when she was young.

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.” She giggled very softly, watching Ashley shake away water. Achi swam in slow, lazy circles, staying above the surface to be polite. Humans were capable of a lot, but speaking underwater was not on that list. “Though, I hope the water doesn’t corrode your jewelry there. It’s… a very unique piece, isn’t it?” In truth, Achieng thought it was a little bit clunky and didn’t really flatter the woman at all. But it wasn’t her place to judge. For all she knew, it was the apex of human fashion, and everyone would be wearing one soon.

---

Ashley’s smile faltered for a second as the collar was brought back to the forefront of her mind, but only for a second. She’d briefly considered what would happen if her Council handler turned up and decided to activate the large plastic shock pack that bulked out the back of the collar whilst she was swimming. Her handler seemed to, frankly, delight in having access to such a button and liked to remind Ashley on a regular basis that there was an additional button he could push that would be less forgiving. This being said, Ashley was quite enjoying her interaction with this new alien, it was the first social stimulation she had had all day and she wasn’t about to let such negative thoughts ruin it.

“Oh you like it?” Ashley replied perkily, albeit with an edge of amused sarcasm. “It’s council issue, in all honesty… I’m not sure how many others there are and I am a little surprised they didn’t add a little pink pendant stamped, ‘Ashley Hunter. Property of the Galactic Council.’ They missed a trick there but oh well… One mustn’t get down about such things.”

Swimming with clothes on was always an odd experience and it was one that Ashley had only had a few times prior in her life. Now she was in the cool waters of the pool she was intensely aware of the way her clothes billowed in the water, dragging behind her limbs as she made each of the repetitive motions that kept her afloat. Once again Ashley’s fringe had fallen down over her brow, drawn down by the weight of the water. Ashley reached a finger up and flicked it aside once more.

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Achieng blinked a few times, then covered her face in an almost universal gesture of embarrassment. “Oh, oh no! I’m so sorry, I -- I never thought. Oh, my goodness, you must think me the worst sort of person, I really had no idea, I’m sorry!” How did one recover from that? “I… I promise, I won’t mention it again!” She took some deep breaths, and slowly removed her hands from her face. Ashley was pushing away her hair again. Interesting - Achi wondered what it would be like to have such long hair. Most of her people didn’t have much to speak of. Nothing that was visible to others, in any sense. There was a fine layer of white fuzz on the top of her scalp and the back of her neck, but that was really all that would be growing.

“Hm… Maybe I can help.” Achieng tipped her head in thought, then removed one of the many bracelets from her wrist. It was gray and set with small, brightly colored beads, all of it apparently made from some kind of organic material. “Here.” She held it out to Ashley with an open palm. “Consider it a gift, and to soothe the unintended insult. It’s meant to be worn, but it does stretch well. Maybe use it for your hair?”

--

Ashley simply stared at the bracelet a few moments, her first instinct being to appraise its’ value on the black market before she realised that she was being rather rude in the face of being offered a gift. Unable to free her hands whilst treading water, Ashley kicked out and pushed herself to the edge of the pool, bracing her weight on a small boulder to accept the gift.

“You have nothing to apologise for.” Ashley assured Achieng offhandly. “If anyone should be apologising it should be the person who decided to change the vault opening times at the last possible moment without notifying me… The civilians received quite a shock when I burst in through the ceiling.”

Ashley held the bracelet between her thumb and forefinger, letting it dangle as she looked up at it, and looking between it and Achieng. Ashley was frankly, a little shocked the alien hadn’t immediately judged her and left her quite literally it’s wake and so, pleasantly surprised, she offered the bracelet back. “I’m not sure how to wear it best... “ She confessed. “But if you insist, you could show me how to put it on maybe? And uh… Thank you.” Feeling somewhat awkward now, Ashley tried to change the topic. “What brings you here?”

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Achieng did look a bit surprised at Ashley’s casual confession of being a criminal. Then again, she was already wearing the collar, which said as much. Perhaps the woman had made peace with it. “Ah. Well, there are always strange currents in life. Maybe this one is leading you to a better future, whether it looks like it or not.” She followed the human, gliding through the water with effortless ease. “I hope you weren’t hurt going through a ceiling like that. It must have been rather startling for you too, I imagine.” She certainly didn’t condone criminal activity, but she didn’t know how this woman had started on such a path in the first place.

It could have been a choice, but it could have been the only alternative from an early death. Achieng herself couldn’t say that she would have starved to death rather than steal food to eat - it had been a close thing when she’d left home. Some nights it had been her and her singing granting her meals and passage, and some nights even that had failed. Moral standings certainly didn’t fill an empty stomach.

“That is meant to be jewelry, because our people don’t have hair that grows like yours. But it stretches very well.” She took it back, and set it across her webbed hand. As she flexed her fingers as far as they would go, the bracelet widened too, and then went back to it’s original shape when she relaxed. “See? Maybe you could use it to keep your hair from your face.” Achieng realized she may have made a mistake. Not having any hair, she wasn’t entirely sure how to make it work. “I’ve seen humanoid ladies wear all sorts of things in their hair, and some of them were very simple bands. I was thinking something like that.”

---

Being able to talk of her criminal exploits was at something of a novelty for Ashley who, up until now, had always had to reserve such talk for her few related conversations with Dillan. This silence had always borne heavy upon her naturally extroverted shoulders, there was a reason her criminal alias had been called Pride. Far from feeling an iota of guilt for having robbed her carefully vetted victims, Ashley took pride in having performed seemingly impossible robberies and could quite easily have bragged about them all evening had an interest been shown. Any guilt had been mitigated by charitable donations to various causes Ashley felt fit and a plethora of deeply ingrained grudges too numerous to list.

“A better future?” Ashley intoned thoughtfully, resting her elbows back against the rock now supporting her weight. “The Expedition Forces are not a place one usually goes for a better future… But I suppose ya can never be too optimistic huh? There’s a bright side to every black hole… Somat like that.”

Ashley smirked slightly and flicked her tomboyish haircut back from her brow once more. “It’s quite short actually.” She assured Achieng. “Jus’ the water making trouble for me is all… Anyhow… You dodged my question. What brings you here?”

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“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t mean to be evasive. Well, I’m going on my first off-planet job. I’ve been hired to be an observer and therapist of sorts to an Expedition crew. Maybe that’s why I feel so optimistic about it, I suppose. In truth I’m a bit nervous, but I think the excitement is winning out.” Achieng smiled a bit. “They’re two sides of the same coin, you know. Fear and excitement. The flutters in the belly, the flush of heat. The only difference is one’s attitude toward the situation.”

Trailing her fingers in the water, she thought briefly. “Perhaps it's the same with your situation. The collar is one thing… and if I was actually a member of the Council’s forces instead of just hired by them, I would find someone to speak to about it. I still might.” She shook her head, dropping the subject despite clear frustration in her voice.

“What I mean to say is, your imprisonment is surely a negative, but in this, you’ll get to see new places, discover new worlds. Perhaps you can put talents that were used for criminal acts toward a different cause entirely.” She opened her hands, palms up, her species’ version of a ‘who knows?’ shrug.

--

Swiftly, Ashley’s expression sombred, the smirk fading as something in the topic struck a deep chord within her psyche. As Achieng spoke Ashley pressed her palms down onto the rock on which she had been supporting herself and pushed suddenly downwards, propelling her sodden form from the depths of the pool with a noisy and cumbersome splash sound, her form dripping across the slate grey surface of the rock below. Ashley swivelled her gaze once she found herself standing, listening to Achieng’s optimism in stony silence. She tugged at the collar, the weight of it suddenly seeming both physically and metaphorically heavier on her mind and shook her head slowly to the alien in the pool down below.

“I appreciate your optimism… I really do.” Ashley sighed, before stating sternly, every syllable pronounced with unmistakable clarity and sincerity. “But I am no soldier. And nor do I intend to be.”

And with that Ashley gathered her items from beside the pool, grabbing her boots by the laces and slinging her leather jacket over her shoulder before striding away without a glance backwards. Her sodden clothes dripped across the smooth tiles of the space beyond the pool and she raised one arm in a casual overshoulder wave, little more than a flick of the wrist really, before turning away down a corridor.

As Achieng maneuvered her tank toward the port section of the Spire, the woman named Ashley was still on her mind. She would never know what she said to upset the woman so badly, and she would never have the chance to apologize. That bothered Achi more than anything else. She'd wanted to chase after the human, beg forgiveness, but she knew by the time she got back to her room and in her tank, the Hunter woman would be long-gone. Maybe she was giving what amounted to a random interaction far too much importance, but Achieng knew what it was to have other people hurt her and not even think of apologizing. Achieng never wanted to be that kind of person, not even accidentally.

Reading off ship markers aloud, she weaved her sloshing machine through soldiers and Council workers, until she saw the sign denoting "The Monroe". Well then - her new home for the foreseeable future. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, bracing herself and trying to convince her brain that her fear was just excitement.

And then, she headed forward.