Everyone met in front of a bar, but as they stepped inside a few red flags immediately rose up in Finlay's mind. *"...Okay. There's a front desk and no visible bartop, 2 hallways with separate rooms. this is either a very shitty hotel or a-"*

Katherine: "A Karaoke bar? seriously?"

Xiao Lu: "Never been, what do you do?"

Berthold: "You've never been to a Karaoke bar?"

Xiao Lu: "No, I lived way out in the sticks it was an hours drive to the nearest market."

Finlay:" You sing... You sing and you survive."

Katherine: "........Who hurt you?"

Thankfully Hada had already rented one of the larger rooms and the first round of drinks. Which they were going to need for their additional guests. The Pfonti Pilot Nyeith, The "Cream Queen" Ur'Quanth Hatti Who Berthold on his first day aboard and a particularly teal Ouzonn. The last of which had 3 shot glasses floating around within.

Finlay: "... Okay... I know one of these people... Introductions?"

Hada: "Hm? oh yeah, you're too tired after practice to explore so. Hatti runs an Ice cream parlor, great stuff. We all met Nyeith today. Everyone. This is Finlay, Katherine, Berthold and Himbo."

Himbo: "It's Xiao Lu."

Berthold: "... And our new Jiggly friend?"

Hada: "No clue, I kinda just... Picked them up on the way here, they seemed chill. What is your name anyway?"

Ouzonn: "*Pop-Pop!*"

Katherine: "....I'm gonna call them Barry."

Barry: "*Pop!*"

Finlay: "Is their Holo implant missing?"

Hada: "Bah! not important, not right now... I have questions for our senior Pilot right here and I want some backing track... Finlay?"

Finlay: "...I'd rather not."

Hada: "Please? I know you like oldies and you'll never guess what's first on the playlist~"

Finlay: "...I have a feeling you and I are going to have to fight you over this... And I don't feel like dislocating my shoulder... So you win." Groaning as he stepped up to the microphone and saw just what he was supposed to Sing. "Ah... Saw that, huh?"

Finlay: *"It's early morning, the Sun comes out-"*

Nyeith: "...So, Why am I here again?"

Hada: "Just a few things I've noticed, but first, Lu? did you bring those treats like I asked?"

Lu: "Hm? Oh yeah, freshly steamed." *Holding out a Container of Thunder-Cockerel meat buns and soup dumplings.* "And I still have some at home... starting to think I should just be giving these away."

Hada: "You should be, Definitely. They freeze well so if you don't it'll be the only thing you'll be eating for a few weeks." *Taking the container of the still hot Meat buns and handing one to Nyeith, Hatti and a quick questioning on their diet and a soup dumping placed gently on top of Barry to slowly sink in.*

Hada: "Alrighty... time for your Interrogation Nyeith."

Finlay: "My body is burning, It starts to shout~" *Finlay kept up with his little performance on the stage watching as a score was steadily going up, No idea these were ranked until now but he's gonna aim for the top.*

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Hada: "No bullshit, you on a crew yet Nyeith? I noticed you weren't really scouting for new members during the class."

Nyeith who was busy trying to cool the meat bun a bit so she didn't burn her tongue, Shook her head and watched the persistent steam stopped her from getting to the pleasant smelling meat inside.

Hada: "Then how about you join us? We still have room on The Kitchen."

Berthold: "We aren't calling it that."

Katherine: "You'll get used to it."

Berthold: "It's such a lame name!"

Xiao Lu: *"Welcome to The kitchen, We got Food and Games~"*

Berthold: "The song doesn't it better!"

Hada Mercifully tore a Hole in the dough of the bun and let the smell and heat escape into the room. "Just think about t while I ask my other questions... 5 chefs on a ship, delicious meals everyday~" *Not so subtlety clinging close to the snake woman as they very carefully took bites of the bun. and melting from the taste.

Nyeith: "...I'll think about it, sure... but what about those other questions?"

Hada: "Oh just some basic stuff like, are we allowed to modify our ships?"

Nyeith: "Of course you are, but you're on the hook for paying for the modifications. The I.U will also only pay for repairing what they gave you. so if those Mods get damaged you'll be paying out of pocket... did I use that right?"

Hada: "Perfectly. Now I've noticed a few little bits and bobs that made me question why this trip is taking so long... Like *Warp-gate*, We have tat but we're gonna take a few months to get where we're going?"

Nyeith: "Warp gates are too dangerous to use on big ships like this, too many entities to keep track of. It's still pretty new tech to everyone..."

Hada: "Except to the Iyn'jaqi .... Right?"

Nyeith: "Someone's been doing their homework."

Xiao Lu: "that was more so because of Finlay, he did his own research the first day here, we've all been curious about them since he told us."

Nyeith: "Believe me, I wish I could help you there."

Hatti: "No one really knows what the Jaqi look like, There have been many reports but nothing seemed right."

Barry: *"Pop."*

Nyeith: "Any physical description never matches another. They appear, do their thing, then *Fwoosh*... gone. While they haven't been actively hostile to the I.U. but most planets under their control... they don't do very well for themselves."

Katherine: "...Unwell how?"

Nyeith: "The Jaqi don't help to boost the sapient they claim. They set up an Automated Outpost and basically enslave half the planet. It's fucked... And then there's the Missing reports..."

Berthold: "Missing Reports?"

For the First time in a good While, Bai ze appeared and glared at Xiao Lu before explaining further. They were in the middle of one of their "Fights", more so of a Stand off.

Bai Ze: "A common occurrence with the Iyn'jaqi is that there is a drastic spike in Missing persons on planets they claim. though there is no trace of the individual, there's a disturbing implication of just what they are doing..."

Hatti: "Knowing consumption of another Sapient is a very serious crime, but as there is no proof, no charges can be pressed."

Katherine: "...Okay... Fucked it is."

Nyeith: "We don't have much in the way of contact either... there home planet is a total mystery. Not even an occupied forward base in any of their registered solar systems. Demons in the dark, some have called them that."

Hada: "Oh... wow that is, kinda scary..."

Nyeith: "Finding reliable information is highly valuable..."

Hada: "Speaking of less dreadful topics... Just what is the backing behind a credit anyway?"

Hatti: "Oh! I know this one! The measurement of a single credit is enough energy to power a home for a day cycle."

Nyeith: "Pretty much. Putting it behind a materiel that can fluctuate rapidly depending on how much of that resource is on a planet can get a bit... wonky. So within the I.U. everyone came to a compromise that it had to be something common enough and easy to replicate on other planets. So Energy was the first answer, it doesn't need to be minted and can be measured with ease... sure it's a growing infrastructure, but it's considered a necessity."

Hatti: "But I do recommend getting your first Credit Minted... it makes for great jewelry." *Pulling out a small glass bauble from beneath their Uniform, dangling from a marble claw. Within it was essentially a small cloud, arcs of Lightning surging across.* "Only takes an Hour."

Katherine: "That is... spectacular."

Barry: "You can even get them in crystal, but that cost some material and you have to bring the crystal you want minted."

Berthold: "THIS FUCKER CAN TALK!?"

Barry: "Of course I can."

Finlay who had finished his song and was listening in, started cracking up along woth Xiao lu who took great mirth in the frustrated face on Berthold.

Barry: "Don't worry about it too much man, I was just... *Fuckin with ya?* Did I say that right Hada?"

Hada had been doing their level best to keep their poker face but crumpled with everyone else as she laid her head down in Nyeith's lap.

Berthold: "Was I the only one who didn't know?!" He wouldn't find out for a good few minutes as the laughter died down.

After all of the serious talk had died down due to their little prank. Karaoke night continued into the early *morning*. Songs and Shots, came and went. until everyone had a grand buzz, an unsteady trip home and nearly a full crew for *The Kitchen*.

Berthold: "WE AREN'T CALLING IT THAT!"