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Chrarada sleekly walked down the bustling corridor, watching as the Terrans seemed to run this way and that with a keen eye as some entered rooms with tools only to quickly leave with a handful of others. She even spotted a few Voktlix running around with the Terrans. Though, why they were running around on all four of their limbs and were naked with the exception of a red armoured vest sporting white markings eluded her.
Stopping for a moment to take in her surroundings, the commotion seemed somewhat disorganized at first. Though Chrarada quickly determined the pattern, realizing that it was actually very strict and orderly. As she shook off the sight and turned down a new hall, following the map her implant was displaying, she came upon the residence of the man she had been scheduled to meet with. Scheduled... It irritated her that she had to book an appointment and wait to meet with this male.
Pressing the buzzer, she impatiently waited for the acknowledgement, turning an eye to her ever-present guard Ethuci with annoyance. "You say he is crass but an honourable male?"
"Crass may be a bit too nice of a word. But he is rather pleasant when he's not working against the clock from what I've experienced." Ethuci replied, habitually studying his arm. "When he is working... I wouldn't put it past him to disrespect even the leader of his own people."
"Interesting. I have met him once before, but he seemed pleasant enough. Perhaps he understood his place when I visited?" Chrarada replied, watching as the door finally opened.
To her surprise, the male she saw standing in the doorway was not quite what she remembered. The male was large, yes. But even she could tell that he seemed to have aged quite a bit... Hefty bags hung under his eyes, denoting that he was tired and worn. He also had tiny hairs growing on his face, something she had not expected to see on a Terran. Though thinking back, she had observed many Terrans with hair on their face... "Do they remove it for some reason?" She mumbled to herself.
"First Tail Chrarada. It's an honour to meet you again. Please, come in." Finley replied, stumbling back to his desk.
Chrarada stepped into the room and studied her surroundings, fighting back the worry that approached her face. Thankfully as she studied the room, her implant translated the written script of the Terrans for her. After all this time without an implant, she could finally understand just what the tens of displays were transmitting. "You've done so much for us already. I didn't think that these kinds of problems still threaten us." She stated, taking up a chair opposite of Finley.
Finley swiped a few displays out of the way and brought a new one down to eye level. "Three billion is a lot of people. It's going to take some time." He replied, seemingly adjusting some graphs and shifting the display off to the side. "It's good to see you again, Ethuci."
"Likewise." Ethuci nodded as he stood behind Chrarada, observing some of the more concerning displays.
Chrarada finished her snooping and slowly turned to give Finley her undivided attention. "The server blade you brought back from the surface. I hear you have finally gained access to it but are having problems with understanding its contents."
Finley covered his mouth as he let a yawn slip by, taking a sip of his coffee soon afterwards. "Yeah. Something to do with understanding your history. We can probably hack it, but my tech guy doesn't want to risk breaking anything."
Chrarada thought for a moment, searching her memories for a scholar who she would trust with such an important project. "I may have someone who could help. I would need to visit him on the surface, though."
Finley nodded and keyed in a few notes onto his datapad before handing it over. "I'll leave the search to you then. Anything else you need to talk about?"
Chrarada scented the air, ignoring the shock of the scent coming off Finley with a chuckle. "No, I think I may have answered my own question. Thank you for your time."
Getting up from her chair, Chrarada exited the room, Ignoring the small gathering of people just outside his door. " I suppose he really is a busy man." She said, deciding to head towards the shuttle bay.
"Are we not going to meet with your friend Andriet?" Ethuci asked, following Chrarada down the hall.
Chrarada shook her head as a smile crept across it and entered the lift. "I feel she may need more time to ready herself than she has been given."
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Xeleidon finished passing out some small snack bars to the children as they tucked their homework into their bags. "Don't forget to warm yourselves before you leave, little ones." He reminded them, chuckling as a few scampered over to the newly built heating unit.
Moving to the back to clean up a small mess, he quickly made a mental note to help remind the children that cleaning was an essential part of life and he won't always be there to clean up after them. Though, it wasn't until a small ping on his wrist device alerted him that the last of the children had finally left that he let out a hiss of satisfaction.
Teaching had become more peaceful for Xeleidon recently. With the Terrans prioritizing the rebuilding of schools, heating units and food. He had been able to lecture in warmth, allowing the children to focus and progress their studies at a more substantial rate.
As he finally finishing up the cleaning, he walked over to his desk and opened a drawer, picking up a few books he happened to come across at the market the previous day. Gently, he tucked them into his bag and left the classroom to walk down the hall, waving to a few parents who were collecting their children as they exited the school.
As he was stopping to look around, he could barely recognize the area. New homes were built, and a new park with recreational equipment was constructed, allowing children to bleed off the energy they had come into with the new warmth they experienced. Xeleidon thought it unusual at first. The Terrans always seemed to go out of their way to make the children's everyday lives that much more excitable, something he appreciated but still found odd... Were they able to do such a thing due to the abundance of materials at their disposal? Or was it something they had always done? He recalled reading that his own people used to build play areas similar to what the Terrans did in the past, so it obviously must be due to their resources.
Nodding as he came to his conclusion, he turned a familiar corner and paused, noticing the residence he was eagerly approaching seemed to have a few well-equipped talon guards around it. Increasing his pace, he came across one of the guardians who appeared to be impatiently waiting for someone. "Did something happen to Kahoru?" He asked, looking around as the other guards approached him.
"Are you Xeleidon?" The male asked, not answering his question.
"Yes, I am Xeleidon. Would you please tell me if Kahoru is alright?" He asked again, watching as one of the guards waved an odd device around his body.
"She is fine, scholar." The male said as the one waving a device vibrated his hood to affirm that Xeleidon did indeed pass some sort of test.
"You may continue. But know that any violence will result in your possible termination." The male stated sternly, stepping aside for Xeleidon.
Quickly walking through the door and into the house, Xeleidon turned into the home office where Kahoru regularly worked when she did not greet him. What he saw was not something he was expecting. Sure, maybe someone had broken in to steal some Terran equipment, or possibly some heat... But the sight of Chrarada sitting comfortably in a chair with perhaps the largest male he had ever seen behind her was quite terrifying in its own right.
"Xeleidon, It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Chrarada calmly stated, accepting some sort of heated beverage from Kahoru, who had entered the room from behind Xeleidon.
Xeleidon, however, was at a loss for words. He had never met with a council member nor thought he ever would, let alone the leader of his people. "Chrarada, I am humbled by your presence." He stumbled out, trying his best not to offend the pink female.
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"Xeleidon." Chrarada stated, eyeing his bag with curiosity. "Word has reached me that you are archiving our written and spoken history using Terran technology. You did this of your own accord, without being directed too and without permission."
Xeleidon now realized why such an important person had visited him. It was the oversight of a century. Sharing their knowledge with a species they had just recently met was obviously a mistake on his part, one that had warranted the attention of Chrarada and her large guard. "I apologize, Chrarada, for sharing such things with the Terrans..." Pausing for a moment as he searched for words, Xeleidon put on a brave face and looked Chrarada in her eyes, flaring his hood proudly. "But I do not regret doing so. The archiving of our wisdom is something we cannot put a price upon. I would do it all over again if given a choice and will continue doing so regardless of your approval.
Chrarada slowly stood and walked directly up to Xeleidon, reaching deep into her pocket as she did so. "Good. That's what I like to see in a councillor." She said, pulling the item out of her pocket handing him a badge. "This denotes you as a member of our ruling council. You now have all the rights and privileges as such."
Xeleidon stood there in shock, his brain slowly coming to terms with what was just said as Koharu happily congratulated him. "Forgive me, but what exactly am I to be the councillor of? We already have such a position for education and science through Viscia, do we not?"
Chrarada forced the badge into his hand and turned to accept a datapad from Ethuci. "Yes. However, her position has now changed to that of science and technology. Her job will be to spearhead the advance of our species, while your job will be to teach and make sure we understand it. With the newly built schools, it would be best to reevaluate our learning system, don't you think?"
Xeleidon thought for a moment and concluded that Chrarada was correct and placed the badge in his pocket. "I humbly accept this position, though what of my class? They will need a teacher."
"It has already been taken care of. Rest assured that there will be no break in your classes studies." Chrarada stated, informing her retinue to ready themselves for departure. "Now, I will give you a few hours for you and your mate to pack your belongings. We leave for a Terran ship as soon as your ready."
Xeleidon went stiff at the mention of mate and eyed Kahoru, who shook her head, eliciting much laughter from both Ethuci and Chrarada.
"I have seen enough pairings to know when I see one. It is quite common on the Terran moon base Leda, and you need not hide it." Chrarada stated, walking towards the door. "I would bring as many historical documents as you can. Your first task is rather daunting."
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Michael parked the craft and disengaged the engine, watching for a moment as the power slowly reached zero. "Well, we're here! Nothing like taking your date to the middle of nowhere." He said with a grin, watching as Srettia kicked open her door and popped out of the car with a vicious grin.
"IT'S THE DESERT!!!" She yelled, happily jumping onto the sand.
Michael got out of the car and walked around to the back, lifting the trunk and pushing it back onto the roof. "Well, that didn't take long." He said, watching as Srettia threw off her shirt and pants, revealing a tight-fitting swimsuit.
Srettia watched as Michael began lifting the back, panelling to reveal his sought-after prize. With a grunt, he grabbed a heavy-looking handle and pulled, hauling the trunk fabricator into place. "You could have asked for help." She said, walking over as Michael activated the device.
"But then, how will I impress my lovely lady with my manly noises and strength." Michael replied, beginning to print off some essential beach supplies.
Srettia looked at the automatic deploy button and sighed, taking a second to take a look at her surroundings. "It's a bunch of sand!"
"Yup, and it gets everywhere," Michael replied, watching curiously as Srettia dove into the ground.
Allowing her instincts to guide her, Srettia began vibrating her body, wriggling into the sand and grinning as it slowly covered her. "Look! It's like zeroG!" She said, slowly swimming through the sand like it was water.
Michael watched with amusement as the lizard moved through the sand, deciding to place a large blanket and activate the repulsor to keep the sand from accumulating atop it. "That's pretty impressive, you know. I thought you just kind of... Ya know, covered yourself in the sand, but I guess you can move through it too?" He asked.
Srettia swam up to the blanket and popped her head up from the sand, grinning like a small child at the discovery. "This is great! It's like I'm a spooky monster from one of your Terran horror movies!"
Michael finished placing the food and drinks onto the blanket as he watched Srettia swim around in the sand, chuckling as she paused to poke her head up every minute or so. "I guess we really do need to pick up a sandbox for you. How did you not know you could do this?"
Srettia swam back to Michael and poked her head up, laying it onto the blanket. "I dunno. School was mostly math, language, science and how to survive. And the sciencey bit was kinda everyday stuff. History was for rich kids. So maybe they know we can do this?"
Michael shrugged and grabbed a beer, popping the top while Srettia enjoyed her time in the sand. "Well, that will probably change. It might take a bit, though." Michael stated, Watching as Srettia's eyes narrowed as she buried her head back into the sand.
Michael closely watched in amusement as the small moving mound that was Srettia quickly moved elsewhere, slipping off into the distance as if on a mission, only slowing down as if tiring of her activity.
Srettia slowed, allowing her instincts to guide her in a way she honestly quite enjoyed. Stopping, she waited for what felt like an eternity as venom pooled within her mouth. Suddenly, she burst forth from the sand and spit her gathered venom at a small creature that was attempting to hide in the shade of a small bush. "I GOT IT!" She yelled, running over and picking the tiny mouse.
Michael laughed in amusement as Srettia trotted over with her catch, bringing up the local wildlife catalogue to ensure nothing in the area was endangered. "Well, that was amusing. I wouldn't make a habit of doing that, though." He stated, watching as Srettia dropped the Jerboa onto the blanket like a cat.
Giving Michael a grin, Srettia sat in triumph and grabbed a bottle of warm water. "Is it edible?"
Michael looked at the small mouse and shrugged. "I guess... Not a lot of meat on it, though."
Srettia smiled and dug her tail into the sand, savouring the heat as she drank her water. "Do you think my home looked like this before?" She asked, looking longingly into the sandy wasteland. "I mean. I've seen some pictures... But they were just stills, you know? Not like this... This feels real."
Michael chucked the mouse into the reclaimer and printed off some snacks. "Well, I would think it should feel real, seeing as it is. But to answer your question, I think you already know the answer. You're swimming around in the sand like it's something you've done since birth."
Srettia nodded in understanding as she accepted the meat stick, quickly taking a bite and frowning at the taste. "This mouse isn't tasty at all."
"Nope. It is not." Michael replied, placing his snack onto the blanket.
Srettia laughed and moved over to Michael, dropping her water as she snuggled into his side and ran her hand up his chest. "Thank you."
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"You sure you're allowed to do this?" Ankiah asked as Mr. Graeme led her down the hall.
"Yeah, I've already cleared it with a friend of mine. He's curious to see what happens as well." Mr. Graeme replied, coming up to a room and hitting the open command.
Ankiah gazed in wonder as the door slid open, revealing a massive hangar and happily ran into the middle as she eyed the few mechs seemingly in for repair. "This is so cool!" She stammered out, not noticing the few engineers watching her in wonder.
"Yup, sure is." Mr. Graeme replied, walking over to a friend and giving off a massive smile. "Indris! It's good to see you, old friend."
"James! I haven't seen you in over a year. How've ya been?" Indris replied, taking Jame's hand with a grin.
"Over the moon If you must know. As you most likely heard by now, my idiot son brought home a bunch of aliens. Most notably, that lady over there." James replied, pointing to Ankiah, who was running around and happily inspecting the mechs.
"So... That's the one? I'm not sure it'll work on an alien, but I'll do as I'm told.." Indris replied, walking over to the simulator.
"Well, we're in the same boat there, friend. I figure the worst that could happen is a zero precenter anyway." James replied, beginning to help Indris set up the machine.
Taking a few hours to properly prepare the machine, allowing Ankiah to run around and harass both pilots and mechanics. James and Indris finally finished their task, making a scene as they waved Ankiah over and giving her a few minutes to say her goodbyes.
Upon approaching, Ankiah noticed the simulator was set up a bit differently from the cockpits she had been shown. "What's up with this, old man?" She asked, studying the machine.
James stepped back and motioned for Ankiah to take a seat. "Well, it'll scan your noggin as well as your body to make sure you're compatible first. We're kind of skipping a few parts, but Indris here tells me it'll give an accurate reading within one percent."
Ankiah nodded a jumped into the machine, allowing Indris to place the modified helmet onto her head. "I figured you would like, take blood and poke me with machines and such. This isn't so bad." She said.
"Normally, we would." Indris replied, moving back to his workstation. "Seeing as you're an alien, we really wouldn't be able to get an accurate reading until we can compare it to a few other of your kind, so I'm skipping all that to see how the system reacts to your body. The reason it took so long was I had to install a bunch of old-style fail-safes and security measures to make sure you wouldn't get hurt."
Ankiah nodded as the system came to life, humming for a few seconds before lighting up. Staying still as instructed by both James and Indris, Ankiah felt like hours flew by as the system ran some sort of test on her before shutting off.
"Alright, that's it!" Indris stated, getting up from his station and walking over to Ankiah, helping her take the gear off.
"How did I do!?" Ankiah eagerly asked.
"Uhhh. We're going to have to run some actual tests. The system is telling me you're fully compatible. Like, one hundred percent across the board on control, reaction, and integration." Indris replied, looking to James in confusion.
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