The Tiamat

Arc Alpha: Chapter 4

To: Tiamat Scale #5
Subject: Grounded
From: The Tiamat

The Law: "Bad news Captain. You're going to have to stay planetside for a bit."

Astarot: "Due to a coronal mass ejection from the system's star you will be unable to return to the Tiamat. The drop ship's shields aren't strong enough to withstand that kind of energy."

The Law: "We should be good but we'll be cut off from you for a time. We'll take this time to prepare for our expeditions down more. You should be able to survive for a bit with the supplies on the drop ship."

Astarot: "If you run out of supplies we trust that you can survive on your own."

The Law: "We'll contact you as soon as it's safe for you to return."

Astarot: "Be safe."

The Law: "Don't die"

-----

You are Lindi & you can't believe this.

You turn off the screen. There is a collective groan from the rest of your crew. You tell them that for now you're going to close off the ship, you'll get some rest soon. You dismiss them to what ever business they may have, you wait a few moments before turning. Jocos is setting to work on butchering the yellow blooded beast. Falks & Mutie are working on sorting the loot you've collected from you expedition, you note that Mutie has been acting depressed for awhile & continues to do so. Laela is lounging which can't be comfortable considering the metal floor.

You deploy a recent acquisition, a slime filled cocoon thing. It's an Alternian sleeping thing, you know this because your hoarding instincts compelled you to take it & because it was on an Alternian planet. You examine it, you're not sure if you could fit inside. You aren't sure if you'd really want to actually ... you can try once there are are fewer witnesses. You retrieve your tablet & open up your database on Alternia, let's see if you can find it in there ... it's a "recuperacoon" apparently, filled with "sopor slime" to assuage the terrible visions of blood & carnage that plague the dark subconscious of their species. Maybe such a substance could be used as protection from harmful passive psionics, you make a note to have the science division examine the stuff later. You store the recuperacoon in your inventory.

You have more important things to deal with.

~~~~~

You are Laela & you are trying (& failing) to relax. The metal floor may not have been the best place to do so but you didn't have many other options.

The Captain stands over you. You complain that she's blocking your light. She requests a private conversation. You mentally ask what she needs, a telepathic conversation is the most private you can get in present company ... unless Mutie's wild psionics have decide to gift her with telepathy ... LA LA LA LA LA. The Captain yells in your head to shut up & focus.

You clear your mind & request the Captain to go on. She asks you to speak with Mutie later as she's been looking depressed. You wonder how she can tell since hardly anyone has ever seen Mutie. She thinks that it's fairly obvious to any observer. You can't think of a good response to that. You think you'll talk to Mutie once they're done doing what they're doing. The Captain thinks that will be acceptable. She verbally bids you fair well.

Guess you just have to wait for Mutie to be not busy.

-----Later-----

In the name of the EMPIRE how long are they going to be?! What are they even doing? Actually no. You don't care. You are going to freaking therapy then right now. Can therapy be used as a verb? Probably not, that's how frustrated you are.

~~~~~

You are the useless mistake referred to as "Mutie". You are trying to ... Astarot. You'll be honest you aren't doing anything you're just trying to look busy so no one talks to you. It's working pretty well if you do say so your self.

The psychologist approaches & requests your assistance. You sigh but agree to help her, she probably needs something fairly mundane that anyone could do. She leads you off away from the others to the small space where the dropship's nonpsionic engine & other necessary machine bits are. You joke about how not creepy this is, she retorts with she thought you'd be more comfortable here.

She places some cushions on the floor & instructs you to take a seat, you feel uncomfortable. You ask her what this is actually about. She says you seemed depressed. You are considering how best to get rid of her. She assures you that you don't have to stay but she would just like to talk you. You sit down. She produces her tablet before sitting down.

~~~~~

You are Laela & you are actually surprised that you didn't have to resort to restraining Mutie.

You start by asking them how she generally feels on a regular "day". They generally feel fine left to their own devices, no strong emotions any way. You type that down.

You ask them how on today's mission made her feel. Annoyed, that was a quick response. You ask them to elaborate. They complain that they were coerced by pizza, the fact they were qualified, & a begging ship intelligence. You point out that none of those involved force so they weren't coerced. They request the next question.

You ask if they were aware that they were immune to telepathy. They are apparently shocked. You explain that earlier you were trying to mentally warn them of the beast but Jocos was too resistant & they were blocking with some kind of mental static. They guess that it's probably a side effect of wild psionics.

You ask how they feel about their psionic abilities. They're silent. Good, you found something they have to think about. You probe them, verbally & mentally. To your surprise you catch a view choice swears in their mind. They finally respond with that they don't know after this mission.

You put away your tablet. You ask if they'd like a hug.

~~~~~

You are Falks Vi- two shotgun blasts interrupt your train of thought. It came from ... the Ship Guts you think.

Lindi tells you & Jocos to go check that out. The both of you head down.

You find Laela standing over Mutie's body. She says that they're fine, you don't know if she means they as in Mutie or they as in her & Mutie. Laela explains that she may have pushed them too much. Jocos sighs & says to leave her, where they generally sleep anyway. The three of you return to the main dropship area. Jocos goes back to removing the bones from the thing while Laela just collapses in a corner.

You join Jocos. He ignores you. You ask what he plans to do with the nonhide parts. He pauses, he asks what you want. You pause, you hadn't thought that far ahead. You excuse yourself.

You go to Lindi, you ask if she needs any assistance. She requests that you type up some information on the things you've encountered on the mission. You tell her you'll get right on it.

~~~~~

You are Lindi.

You are all to aware of how badly things are right now.

Tomorrow is another day ... er night given the planet's conditions.