Tick 801,507:286:96:5, Ya^an, FertiJa: Iyn'Jaqi Homeworld.

Ravaasouleil: "Another dark night, another starless sky, another pain in my ass."

It's been nothing but failed trials and disappointment for several High-Ticks, and now just as she was about to call it a night. Low and behold, a Lower collector scout came to with a report. Hurray for another hour in the office. Taking a moment to clear her desk, with her four arms. The L'yug'ton GeneCosmetic was a market failure sure, but even she'll admit having an extra set of hands around made life a hell of a lot easier. Now if only she could get the Skin texture replaced maybe it'll sell better... something softer and hopefully lightweight. What was the point of springing for an AraH'tee lower body if she was too heavy to use the enhanced mobility?

Ravaasouleil: "Xazads." ( Pronounced Za-Zats)

Her assistant practically tackled his was through the doors and slid to a halt at Ravaa's desk. He could see the attempt at cleaning, even then it was still a cluttered mess of gene samples and report summaries from the development team. There was a reason for the companies success, Ravaa's perfectionism. Not a single product went up for sale without her personal approval. He had managed to get some of the failure Cosmetics. Having gone full L'yug, He thought the cosmetic was perfect. Though questioning her would most likely lose him a well paying job.

Xazads: "Yes Madam?"

Ravaasouleil: " Bring me the Report, and the scout as well. If they're going to keep me up for another hour, they must not mind a few extra hours of work themselves... Tell me what you know of them while you're at it."

Xazads: "Yes. Lonov, formerly Lonovati, Born to a low house. No mate. Accepted the Collector position under our direct employ, with the condition that their Grandfather would be well taken care of. No remaining family other than said Grandfather. They take a *"Sky-Blessed"* form."

Ravaa: "Sky-Blessed? In this day and age? The cosmetic must have been decaticks old... Though maybe it's time to bring that back, Send a request to the archive department, see if they can squeeze that into the classics line. The military contract on those samples should have expired long ago."

Xazads: "Yes. Lonov should be on their way from our Slipfloor. Shall I Intercept?"

Ravaa: "No, I'd like to get this meeting done quickly. The Night may be eternal, but I'm not."

A furred beast lay sprawled on the Slipfloor, illuminated by dim violet light. Nausea is a common side effect of the Slip, moving so fast only to abruptly appear at a preset beacon . It would bother most mammalian creatures no matter how practiced they are. The smell of the dead, medically recycled air certainly didn't help. Lonov forced themselves onto all fours. Somedays it paid to have the long winged arms of the Sky-Blessed. A stumble, turned walk, to jog and finally sprint. This is important news, maybe it would earn Lonov a promotion at the very least a bonus or gift.

Madam Ravaasouleil is only 5 stories above the S.F. Charging at the railing of the central hallway, Lonov fully bounded off and flew up to the proper floor and could then take a more relaxed walk to the boss. Thinking about the potential rewards... maybe the restoration of their name, Honestly they'd prefer a maybe updated Cosmetic. The 75 year-old Sky-blessed that Grampa had was the only one left in the household, glitches or side effects were bound to happen. Oh, to taste again.

Ravaasouleil: "...They're certainly-" Bang! "- Oh, there they are. Come in!"

Ravaa couldn't help but smirk just a little bit. That makes 6 today, 2 more trip-ups and it'll be a new record. Arah'tee silk has been great for office hijinks, something to keep the work worries away. Lonov rubbed their jaw as they walked into the office space and kneeled to the Chimeric Woman before them... Lonov was somewhere near 7' tall. Half of the Lady Ravaa's own height.

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Lonov: "Madam Ravaasouleil, I bear fruitfu-"

Ravaa: "I'm going on 20 hours of work time, get to the point."

Lonov: "An I.U. transport is passing my camp point on a return journey. It is believed to be carrying a new member race back to their station."

Ravaa: "...Yesssss, YES! I knew having a Collector program would net me a win. What of the new Member race?"

Lonov: "T-they're bipedal mammalians from the looks of the communication feeds."

Ravaa: "...And? Did you bring one?"

Lonov: "N...No. My form is a known associate race to our empire. An unplanned approach would have been dangerous. Taking them before they arrive to the I.U. Planetary Station would have also been against the accords, W-which you already know of course Madam, my apologies."

Ravaa: "No, it's quite alright. Truthfully it had slipped my mind... Go and visit your family and meet me back here in 2 Minor ticks. I have a plan formulating..."

Lonov: "Yes Madam." Slowly backing out of the office, until out of eye sight and sprinting away down the- BANG! "FERTIJA! ...bless it..."

Ravaa: "That makes 7."

It was a short trip home, if it could be called that. Like many of their rank, they had a single chamber in the lower streets. If the Medically stale air could smell worse, it most definitely would have. Lights were a luxury the lower floors couldn't afford, opting for heated ground to help fight the bitter cold of the dead world... It was an inevitability, that many had either grown numb to or dearly hated. Grampa's stories were a popular comfort. When the world still spun, water flowed freely and flora grew...

Lonov: "...I'm home."

Only greeted by the steady drone of medical equipment. An ancient Iyn'anchan Sky-Blessed lay on the bed... Medical grade cosmetic base and prosthetics only able to keep the spark of life from dimming further. Grampa had long since lost his ability to shift through cosmetics, age does that to an Iyn'anchan. It only served to destabilize his cells and then repair it simultaneously.

Myunoati: "Lonovati!... my little girl... come, come! Before I get another tick older..."

Lonov didn't bother to correct him... Lonov was technically neither at the moment, Grampa had used his own old blood to supplement the Cosmetic, they didn't need to feel guilty for the issue. it wasn't an Issue anyway. Not exactly many strapping men or women out in the field, let alone one that would court a collector.

Lonov: "So what if you do, old man? you'll outlive the clock by a few Centaticks. Said so yourself." kneeling by the bedside and putting a hand on the ice cold arm of their grampa."

Myunoati: "Damn right! like I'm gonna let a Matockin' clock outring my bell... How else am I gonna say I told you so to ya Mammy? *COUGH!* hof... shit... ahgk!" Waving away the concerned look on Lonov's face. "Tell me, how was your first trip?"

Lonov: "...Magical... the air was...."

Myunoati: "Alive? young?... not the recycled farts and burps of a million old shits like me?" Smiling through his grizzled snout at the giggles of his littlest one.

Lonov: "Yes..."

Myuno:"... Here will be like that again... I can feel it in-"

Lonov: "Your wings! yes... you've said so a thousand times, if not a billion times."

Myuno: "... We'll meet with our Jaqian again too... you'll be the one to find them."

Lonov: "Our what?"

Myuno: "... Our best halves. Ya mammy was mine. "

Lonov: "Oh.. well, now isn't really the time."

Myuno: "Don't worry about it... Come, sit, I'm your Gampy first, Lord second..."

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2 Ticks come and go, and Lonov was back at the Slipflloor. A clearly damaged ship sat with them, Along with Ravaasouleil and Xazads. Waiting to be filled in on the plan Madam Ravaa was so excited for. Rolling a vial in their palm and tossing it to Lonov. Equally amused by the confused face of the Sky-Blessed.

Ravaa: "That's a special little project of mine. While we may not have bio-samples of that old race, combining a few others and refining them, we came up with a somewhat passable synthetic version... The I.U. would be fools not to treasure an assumed dead race. That will get you on the ship carrying the new capital. Bipedal winged reptilian, a false lower Granthi... I've heard your story. I was kind enough to fix your issue."

Xazads: "Your first mission is to integrate yourself with the Capital race and investigate them. Send back any media or reports that you can through the slip. Try to stay close to non-combative elements, production workers would be preferred if you have a chance to Slip them though. Most importantly... Maintain cover."

Lonov: "Yes. My anchor point is still set planet side. Will this ship still fly?"

Ravaa: "For a short time. Pilot until you get to a stable point and get into the stasis chamber. It will lock once you're inside and a faulty distress beacon will get their attention. It'll also add to your story... Don't fail me."

Lonov: "I will not Madam." Injecting the cosmetic at the base of their skull as they navigated their way into the broken ship.