Catherine~

Catherine stared at the screen in front of her with a surprised and confused expression. The adorable mice seemed to be utterly terrified of her for some reason. She took a quick glance around the room and caught the troubled gazes of her crew. They were staring at her with incredulous faces that belied their disbelief that their Captain could really be so ridiculous. Catherine squirmed uncomfortably under the scrutinous stares and she quickly tried to rectify her mistake. She brought her eyes back to the screen ready to return to a professional demeanor but before she could speak the slightly smaller mouse next to what she presumed to be the Captain jerked back on some control that sent the ship into reverse while simultaneously cutting communications.

With the revelation that she did indeed scare the shit out of the mice, her jaw dropped and panic began to overtake her. She stood up and began pacing around the bridge while talking to herself. "Where did I go wrong...? It was when I started yelling... I know that but I couldn't help it! They are just WAY too fucking cute. How was I supposed to know I was meeting the Mickey mouse clubhouse in outer space?" She let out and long sigh before freezing in place and saying breathlessly. "Are they going to hate me now? Those cute little people? No...it can't be." With that final realization, she dropped to her knees in dismay.

Alan and Ashley looked at each other with dumbstruck expressions before they each gave the other an awkward smile. Alan shook his head as he made an offhanded suggestion, "Our captain obviously scared them away by accident... Maybe we could chase them down and try to apologize? They're slow enough that we could easily catch up without even warping after all."

Ashley looked at him with an exasperated expression as she shook her fist at him and spoke through clenched teeth. "Al? Are you really suggesting something that stupid? That's like a 13 out of ten on the stupid scale there."

Alan looked at her with a hurt expression, "How does my suggestion sound that stupid, Ashley? Hmm?"

In a single, smooth motion, Ashley brought her hands up and buried her face in them. She let out a deep sigh that carried more than a century of cleaning her brothers' messes. "See? This is why I'm in charge of communications Alan, you have literally ZERO people skills. Chase the scared mice to apologize? If you were chased around by an alien that terrified you, would you even bother listening to it? Or would you start sprinting even faster? Jesus, use your head, Alan."

Alan had readied a retort out of habit but her logic cut deep. In the end, he just cast his down and rubbed at the back of his neck as he admitted that she was right. Ashley looked at her dejected brother and felt just a tinge of guilt at just how mean she had been before remembering that he really was about to make this first contact scenario go even worse. Still, she decided to apologize regardless of him deserving it. "Look, Alan, I'm sorry for being mean to you... I could have put it nicer, but we already ruined the first contact... let's not make a worse second contact."

Suddenly Nadiya yelped in surprise before whipping around to the three behind her, "Captain! We have what looks to be an escape pod coming our way from the direction those mice just ran off from!" Everyone immediately snapped to attention and ran to their respective stations.

Catherine got to her command chair just in time for Ashley to hail the escape pod. "Communications request accepted captain, please don't scream at them this time... please?" she asked with a pleading tone.

She looked at Ashley apologetically and nodded her head, "Patch them through, we have floofies to save." As she said that Ashley swiped at an unseen screen causing the bridge to light up with a holographic screen that displayed an image of three mice packed into a tiny pod. Catherine looked at the three with concern, "Are you hurt? What happened to your ship?"

She was greeted with a voice, not unlike an elderly mickey mouse. "We are unhurt and our ship is fine. Fortunately, your worries are unfounded, though not unappreciated. I will admit I was somewhat concerned that we were going to be seeing you from a dinner plate. However, you seem genuinely concerned as far as I can tell. So, thank you Ms. Catherine Dulacy." So'Ran heaved a long, relieved sigh and looked to the younger female before signaling that it was her turn to speak with a hand gesture.

Valenthi between So'Ran and Valthan for a moment before making up her mind, "We come here as representatives of the Atteni race and as students who wish to study under your tutelage for as long as you will have us." she said with a wide smile.

Catherine nearly teared up at their admittance and their request. "Awwwww... Of course, I would never hurt you! You little ones are too cute and cuddly!" She beamed an excited smile at them and continued. "You little guys are welcome aboard my Amaryllis for as long as you would like! In fact, you can make a permanent residence here!"

Valenthi and So'Ran stared at Catherine in confusion while Vlathan leaned into the camera shot and spoke, "What's the catch? You aren't going to let us learn the secrets of your ascendant technology without some form of recompense, are you? I'm willing to give up all of my current knowledge in trade, however much that is worth." Valthan said this with a fire in his eyes that stunned the two Atteni beside him.

Catherine simply chuckled, "Sure, whatever you want to share with us. I'm sure our engineer Jason or even our AI, Terminatus would have some things they want to ask you. But you don't need to share anything if you don't want to!"

Valthan sat back in his seat and murmured to himself, "I suppose our technology must seem like something primitive compared to their own advancements... I must learn everything." Soon enough the Amaryllis pulled up beside the escape pod and locked it in place with some kind of beam. Valthan struggled to contain himself as he pressed his face against the viewport of the pod to see any of the structures putting out the light that stopped their near-lightspeed pod.

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Eventually, he emitted a small gasp as he watched the hull of the massive ship fall away into dust revealing a corridor within the ship. By now all three Atteni were watching with bated breath as the beam of light brought their small pod safely into the vessel. As soon as they crossed the threshold for the ship the hull they entered through reformed itself as if it had never been open from the time of its construction. Valthan stared at the newly formed wall intently as he searched for any defects that would give it away as the port that had just carried an entire escape pod into it. No matter how much he looked he could find nothing of the sort, "How the hell is that supposed to work? The wall just disintegrated and then reassembled itself? How could they make this practical enough to put it on a freighter?... Wait... Is the whole ship made out of the same material?"

The three Atteni sat there in silence as the implications of that hit them like a bus. Valenthi whispered to no one in particular, "Imagine a warship that could self-repair on a whim or even reform into an entirely different configuration... The combat applications of that alone would put them over any GC ship."

The three Atteni had just entered the supermassive freighter and literally having the door opened for them was astounding, the three knew that they were in for a treat if they didn't even use something standard and practical for a door. So'Ran began to feel even greater anticipation now than he had felt when he was being awarded the Galactic scientific achievement award in his younger years.

Suddenly a red light accompanied by a sound akin to a deep stringed instrument seemed to pass through everything in the room, including them. This, despite the fact that they were still in an FTL-capable escape pod that should have enough shielding and armor to stop medium-duty las-fire. The three Atteni's hair stood on end as they felt a warm tingle from the light passing through. By the time the Atteni realized it even happened the light was already gone. Just before they questioned what happened a deep, synthesized voice rang out throughout the room. "Unknown Biological entity has been scanned and is confirmed to breathe an 80% nitrogen to 20% oxygen ratio. The atmosphere is deemed safe for the new biological entities. Scans show that the entities are in need of repair. Upon authorization leave your vessel and prepare for medical services."

The three adopted a blank, and very much confused stare before Valthan finally piped up. "R-Repair? Why do we need repair?" he asked with trepidation.

The disembodied voice rang out once more in reply. "My scans have determined that one of you is near death due to genetic degradation stemming from excessive age. The entity in question must seek my medical assistance within approximately three days and thirteen hours Terran standard time lest you wish to pass peacefully within that timeframe. My scans are correct with a margin of error at 0.007% based on the genetic likeness to the native Terran fauna 'Mus Musculus Domesticus'. Please, authorize my assistance soon."

So'Ran stared blankly ahead and muttered with a shaky voice, "T-three... three days... I wasn't even going to make it to our destination..." Valenthi put her hand on the old Atteni's shoulder to steady him. "You should take what it said with a grain of salt for now, old So."

So'Ran simply gave her a sad smile in reply before he popped the door to the pod and stepped out on his shaky legs. He tapped his cane against the floor to test it momentarily before stepping out of the pod. The other two Atteni following close behind. Suddenly the familiar voice of Catherine began resounding around them as if everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "Hey, there little guys! I'm talking to you through the nanites in the air. I've given him full authorization to treat you, I just need your permission now. Don't worry, it won't hurt! You won't even know it happened before it's done!"

So'Ran tapped his cane nervously as he contemplated it and Valenthi remained suspicious. However, she slowly raised her hand up, "I will be your test subject instead of the old man."

Catherine who was watching them through a visual link to the nanites froze up momentarily before she questioned, "What do you mean by test subject? There's nothing to test. Terminatus already ran all of his tests to ensure you could survive without a special suit. I just don't want to see you little guys hurt or even worse... dead. I seriously just don't want you to die..." A not-so-subtle sadness rang through her voice as she said so.

So'Ran sighed heavily and waved off Valenthi, "It is alright young one." He looked up at the ceiling for a moment and took a deep breath. Soon after he looked back down and smiled, "I give you authorization." Valenthi quickly interjected with, "T-then I do too! We are going together old timer..."

Valthan gave them a puzzled look before he raised his hand up, "Uhhh. I was never against it in the first place. I want to experience all of your technologies."

Catherine heaved a sigh of relief as she sent Terminatus the signal to begin. As soon as the signal was received, a red wall of light appeared in front of the Atteni before slowly inching towards them. The wall of light was emitting a constant bassy sound that seemed to rattle the bodies of the Atteni as it got closer. They began to panic until it seemed to suddenly fly through them faster than it could be perceived. All they felt was a constant warmth throughout their bodies afterward. They looked around frantically as they tried to locate the wall of light that had seemingly disappeared.

Slowly So'Ran came to a stunning realization. All of his joint pain was gone and he had his full range of motion back. He looked down at his paws and watched as the skin slowly became younger and healthier looking. He looked back towards Valenthi and was further shocked at the height difference. His back was as straight as it was in his prime and it even looked as if he gained an extra inch passed what he was supposed to. He dropped his cane and tested his feet with a few steps. Noticing no discomfort he locked eyes with the other two Atteni who had apparently just been watching in shock and horror as the old man suddenly returned to his twenties. Gone was the discoloration of his fur and the droopy whiskers. Gone were the wrinkles and the blemishes. He looked easily as physically capable as Valthan. So'Ran began laughing as tears of joy flowed down his cheeks. Valenthi continued staring in shock, and Valthan had adopted an almost fanatical smile.

Valthan took in a deep breath and his fanatical expression seemed to deepen as he said, "This is more than I ever thought possible! This is more than the entire galaxy has ever thought possible! A 121-year-old man dropped a hundred years!? HA! You cannot tell me that they aren't gods!"

Valenthi looked between Valthan and So'Ran as both seemed to be reveling in their newfound faith. She simply couldn't believe her eyes though. Suddenly a realization struck and she opened her shirt to check for the wide scar on her belly where she had been impaled by one of the primitives she had studied before. Her eyes widened as she found nothing but a perfect patch of fur with no scarring. "Shit... They really might be gods. They can seemingly bring our bodies back in time..."