LF Friends, Will Travel

A very enthusiastic walk

78 PST (Post Stasis Time)

Zeth'kal chewed on the bundle of dried leaves, looking across the table at the being seated next to him, feeling the stimulant fill his body as he did so. The simple sound of his mandibles doing their job echoed and bounced around the sterile empty room, a small set of clicking noises reverberating along the metal surfaces of the walls and table. The habit wasn't good for him, everyone knew that Jool leaf wasn't exactly healthy, but today of all days, Zeth'kal needed the hit to calm his nerves.

The room was a simple interrogation room, the same concept as found in a million and one species, and a million and one law enforcement TV dramas. The only real difference between the Terran and Veth'kari versions were the chairs suited for the insectoid species, a strange half stool half lounging chair. The rest was as sterile and bare as you're imagining it: Two chairs, one stainless steel table, a one way mirror so others could watch.

Zeth'kal looked across at the Terran sitting opposite him, the... perp? Victim? Witness? He wasn't sure just what the Terran was just yet. Normally in this kind of case, he wouldn't have even had the guy arrested, or attempted to have the giant primate restrained. The original handcuffs hadn't worked, since the Terran had broken several pairs of standard issue sets without even trying.

This wasn't a normal situation though, and when someone walked through the door looking like that, it was expected that some detainment and questions would be asked regardless of circumstances.

"So... Marcus is it? Please start from the beginning and explain exactly what happened. I legally have to inform you that you are not currently being formally charged with anything as of this moment, and have the right to wait for a government appointed lawyer if you so choose. However due to the storm this may take several [weeks], and really we just need an explanation as to how this... mess became a thing."

The two bright orange insectoid arms belonging to Zeth'kal were pointed at the Terran sitting in his seat, Zeth'kal's clear wings fluttering out of their protective coverings with a nervous energy, all the while the Terran sat, slumped over with a calm expression on his face. This calmness was a direct opposite to the obvious elephant in the room: the primate was completely covered, from head to toe, in the dried distinctive bright blue blood of the Veth'kari species.

"Sure thing officer, anything to help. You see, it all started when I decided to go for a walk."

—------------------

The planet of Kalvethari wasn't a good holiday destination for the Veth'kari who had colonized it. The temperatures were almost always below zero, with near constant icy storms and harsh weather being counter-conducive to normal life for the insectoids whose sphere of influence the planet fell under. This planet wasn't a tourist trap; instead the entire icy ball of rock and snow was also home to large mineral deposits required for warp fuel. This meant the Veth'kari who lived, worked and grew up here, didn't really enjoy themselves: Every single person on the planet was either imported here by a company paying them a big paycheck, or those unfortunate enough to be 'native' to the planet and looking to leave as soon as possible.

Mining was the only real export, with the industries that supported the mining companies being the only economic activity on the planet; along with the few minimum civic institutions needed to allow the place to pretend to be a real government. Crime was rampant, the days short, the snowstorms long, and the number one thing in any "Top ten things to do in Kalvethari" list was "Leave". For the Veth'kari who lived and worked here, it was a depressing and desolate place.

This morning, it was once again snowing, a balmy negative five celsius and as such everyone on the planet was seeking out or already in shelter. The streets were empty as the various underground buildings that made up the isolated towns and cities were filled with small eyes peering out into the never ending ice, awaiting the small moments of time where they could travel safely in the blistering cold.