trans_9 | Alien Arts Are Appreciated

"Is that your family?" comes a low, throaty voice from behind.

Jeka whirled around with another curse, relaxing a little when she saw Nura. While she had never told the other Legionnaire about Ra's al Ghul and his hypertaxis energy, the question was somewhat less invasive from her than it would be from a total stranger.

"What makes you say that?" she asked in a non-answer.

"The way you reacted to the statue's contorting. You recognize the figures all too well." She flattens her lips into a thin line when she realizes that the frankness of her tone may have upset the Orandian.

"I meant no offense..." she starts to say, picking her words carefully. Then she brightens considerably with a bubbly laugh to slide the awkward mood off. "...it is just that you look so serious."

Jeka shrugged, wrapping her arms around herself and half-turning back toward the statue.

"Yes, they're my family," she said. There was no real point in lying about it, and she wouldn't even if there were. This was her family, and she had no way of knowing when or even if they'd be released from the Pod Chambers. "I believe I'm ten years old here." She and Wyllm looked about the right sizes, and she remembered sitting for a family portrait around that time. She'd just begun her training as heir apparent, and was just beginning to figure out that it wasn't what she wanted.

(http://photobucket.com)
Nura comes over to stand beside Sensor in order to get a closer look. She brushes a lock of white hair behind her ear and peers at the statue with intent. The little figure that Sensor is relating to herself does share the same look of restlessness that Sensor's person conveys, but yet looks not at all like the Orandian. Where Sensor is...Sensor (for lack of better word to describe the young woman), the little figure resembles an Earthan reptile.

...and why isn't she surprised at all?

But she veils her slight befuddlement by her lips sliping into a casual smile. "You look a little restless there."

Sooner or later, Nura would have to ask. It was fairly clear from the statue that Jeka's current shape wasn't one naturally favored by her people.

"If this is what I think it is, I'd been promised that I could accompany my parents to greet a delegation from Bismoll." The corner of her mouth quirked upward in a smile. "Wyllm was desperately jealous."

Nura does indeed want to ask Sensor 'why', but the niggling feeling of knowing and not knowing at the back of her thoughts is giving her some trouble. Of course, she doesn't let it show on the outside, but there is a telepathic presence to Sensor that might just see past Nura's bubbly disguise.

She laughs lightly at Sensor's brother's envy. "Oooh, I can see it now... Did you acompany your parents to delegations often?"

Jeka shrugged. "More and more as I got older. It was my favorite part of my political training, honestly. One of the things I love most about being in the Legion too, really."

She shifts her weight a little, uncomfortably waiting for the question she knows is coming.

"Lucky," she grumps in mock-jealousy with an effect of a scoff-like sigh.

She then notices that Sensor's posture is tense and anxious. There's some tightening in her coils and the young woman has a biting-lower-lip attitude going on while she keeps her arms to herself.

"Is there something troubling you, Sensor?"

"I never reached the point where I was allowed to greet delegations by myself, but Wyllm assured me that I was missed there after I'd left," Jeka said.

She sighed heavily, scowling into middle distance. "I know what you're wondering about. Go ahead and ask."

Of course, she could have just explained without making Nura ask, but she just hadn't come that far to terms with it.

(http://photobucket.com)
Nura approaches slowly and warily. "Sensor, Sweetie..." she stands beside the Orandian. "What do you think I am wondering about?" She reaches out with her hand but keeps a small distance from the Orandian due to the fact that they aren't exactly zeta-peachy just yet.

Jeka huffed and gave the young woman a flat look. "It's obvious that my appearance isn't natural for Orandians. Neither of us is stupid, Nura; and one of us is a mentalist."

She took a deep breath and pressed her fingertips to her forehead. "That was rude, Nura. I'm sorry."

(http://photobucket.com)
"It's OK, Sweetie," Nura softly smiles and gently puts her hand on Jeka's arm. "I understand where you're coming from on the uneasiness of bringing up personal matters. My teammates sure didn't let me forget that I was once..."

She shakes her head and brings back the bright smile, although it appears to be a little forced. Covering for her slip of the tongue. "Anyways. If it is bothering you that much to talk about it, then don't. We can talk about something else."

She is unaware of the new form that the material of the statue had taken.

Jeka pulled away from Nura's hand, crossing her arms and setting her jaw.

"I was struck by a bolt of something called Hypertaxis energy while we were cleaning up after someone tried to take over the United Planets. My DNA began to unravel, and the only way they could stabilize me was with human DNA and the help of the man who caused the problem in the first place."

She didn't notice the change either.

"Not exactly something you'd want to wake-up to, I suppose," she taps her chin thoughtfully and stares heavenwards, and really anywhere else but at Jeka, who seems to have to same idea in mind. Awkwaaaaaaaard.

It is then that her eyes catch sight of the statue, and for a moment she gapes before coolly composing herself in a neutral demeanor. "Well, Hon, I think I can beat you out for Galaxy's Most Awkward Moment slot."

(The material had shifted into a man and a woman - teenagers, one resembling Nura to a perfect depiction, only this Nura is limp, battered and beaten, and lifeless. She is being carried. The man that is holding her is tall, stoic, with a serious, and grim demeanor, yet cradling the limp Nura figure with care.)

"Hardly," Jeka agreed with a snort. Nura's gasp drew her attention to the statue's new shape, and she stared at it in confusion before looking away.

"As you just said, you don't need to talk about it if you don't want to," she said.

(http://photobucket.com)
Nura nods grimly. "I'd rather tell you when there isn't a queer statue forcing me to reveal my personals." She gathers her hair and pulls it over shoulders and starts to awkwardly thread her fingers through it. Akwardly. Awkward being the key word.

"Completely understandable," Jeka said, glancing again at the statue out of the corner of her eye. An awkward silence stretched itself out for a handful of seconds before Jeka abruptly turned away and took to the air. "And $%&# spending time at the whims of that thing! There are other statues in here that are less...invasive. Shall we?"

"Couldn't agree with you more," Nura concurrs, floating off after Jeka.

Ba'al was watching the woman from a distance, for a moment. He was fascinated, largely, by her appearance - snake-like, and certainly alien. It was unsurprising to see other alien life, of course, though this was an obvious example. As for the serpentine features... a curious coincidence, perhaps, and an idle trivia at best.

The statue before her, as well, caught his interest, with his shifting forms. She seemed surprised as well, to see it, and perhaps to recognise something. If it appeared as it was - he could not figure out the exact connection, but from what he could tell from her response... he made a note of a possible threat to him. As much as he appreciated art, he appreciate self-preservation a great deal more.

"Fascinating," he said calmly as he stepped forward, revealing himself as he gave her a cursory glance, and fixed his eye back on the statue. "Are there many wonders such as these, here?" The question was to ease into conversation, perhaps. He was still trying to play it relatively safe.

Jeka turned to look at the speaker, settling back on her coils a little. Well, at least he wasn't staring at her.

"This ship is full of strange things, so I suppose there must be," she answered. A quick check revealed that the shifting statue still showed the same image. "I'm fairly certain this isn't from my reality. I take it it's not from yours either?"

The male nodded, mostly to himself, at that explanation. Of course there were many things on the ship; personally, he had been here for far too long all ready, and he still knew there was more to see. This simply proved just that.

"Of course," he vocalized, before he allowed himself to respond to her question. "No, I cannot say that I've ever seen anything quite like it." His pose was casual, hands behind his back, but his mind was still sharp, seeking opportunities for information or future leverage. "Is it safe to assume this is not particularly unusual by your standards, then?"

"I'm an unusual case," Jeka answered. "But I'm more accustomed to living, sentient shape shifters than inanimate ones." She itched to inspect it more closely, but that didn't seem appropriate while in the presence of such company. "What do you think, science or magic?"

"I see," Ba'al replied calmly, with a nod. 'An unusual case' - he presumed that that meant that perhaps her world was like the Earth he knew; that many things were kept secret. "I cannot claim much experience with anything of the like." Which was true, but even more so for this 'persona', of the time.

The question, however, received a slight breach in manners, as he scoffed quite visibly, though he quickly came back with a smile, it was almost patronizing. "Science, of course. Magic is merely an ignorant explanation for the unknown."

There were undoubtedly secrets being kept, but Jeka's life was more unusual in that she spent most of her time on a moon-sized space station with an absolutely sprawling variety of teenagers from other planets. 'Unusual' was simply what they did.

She hid a smile behind her hand in response to his scoff. "I'm afraid you're going to have to adjust your position on that subject aboard this ship. I don't use it myself, but I'm personally familiar with several people who use it both regularly and well."

Idiocy. To believe that magic actually existed, clearly this other alien (or whatever it was, really) was not advanced enough to be able to tell the difference. And to insinuate that he should believe in such things - ridiculous. But he needed to remain pleasant, even while he tended to his pride. "Perhaps," he said, giving a vaguely strained smile, "But I will have to see it to believe it, as they say."

He still needed to gain some modicum of trust, however; and so he attempted an elevated degree of friendliness. To get them on slightly better terms. "Ah, but I forget my manners," he said, feigning apologetic, "I am Ba'al."

"The Magic Team on board is run by a woman named Nanoha Takamachi," Jeka said. She could tell that the man was not inclined to alter his beliefs. He'd learn and adapt on board, she supposed. "She's quite friendly, you can set up an appointment with her over the comms if you like."

She inclined her head toward the man in acknowledgment. "Forgive me my own manners," she said. "I am Jeka Wynzorr, or Sensor."

Nanoha Takamachi - Ba'al took that name as a mental note, glad of the information. Perhaps she could be useful to glean further information on the ship and its workings - especially its crew, if she was a leader of some team. There was also, of course, the potential for a profitable alliance, there. "I will take that advice with gratitude," he said, bowing his head slightly.

"A pleasure, Jeka," he replied as charmingly as he could lend himself to, choosing the first name he was given. "I hope we can become friends." Not particularly, of course, but she could well prove interesting, if nothing else.

"You're welcome," Jeka said, inclining her head in response. "I hope that we can be friends as well."

He seemed to be not particularly interested in what the statue was showing, which was something of a relief. Now to make sure that he stayed away from the topic. She cocked her head to the side. "What planet are you from, if it's not too rude of me to ask?"

Ah, the tried and true question of planet. Understandable when dealing with so many who were quite alien, and some quite literally so. Nonetheless, at least it was easy for him to keep distancing himself from alien connotations. Ironically, it was not technically even a lie this time around. "Simply 'Earth', I'm afraid," he smiled falsely again, before he asked her for the same. "And yourself?"

"A planet called Orando," Jeka said. "I've spent most of the last few years based on Earth. It's an interesting planet, if crowded. I enjoyed my time there."

"Orando?" he inquired, lifting his eyebrows - something that was not quite an act, though it was exaggerated. He truly had not heard of the planet before, and any information she might be willing to give could prove infinitely valuable, in the future. And there was, perhaps, a small amount of simple curiosity, as well.

"I, unfortunately, cannot say for certain whether Earth is really 'all that'," Ba'al replied, wary of his human slang. "I do not have a lot to compare it with, after all." In truth, however, he had to agree - there was an appalling amount of humans there, but their culture had proven somewhat amusing.

"It's quite far away from Earth," Jeka said with a shrug. "They're practically on opposite sides of the U.P."

She cocked her head at him curiously. "Humans haven't developed space travel yet? What century are you from, if you don't mine my asking?"

If only she'd been able to do more research into Earth history. It was a sprocking shame how much had been lost over the years...

"U.P.?" he repeated again, still moderately curious. The more he could get from this conversation, the better. "I'd like to hear more about this Orando, however - I think it would be fascinating."

In his mind, most humans were primitive - but clearly she meant one specific culture and planet, not the race as a whole. Besides, if Ba'al were keeping to his pretence, he would only know of the one anyway. "It's the 21st century, of the Gregorian calendar," he explained, "Space flight is still a fledgling development; possible, but largely for the... privileged few."

"I'm sorry, the United Planets," Jeka said. "It's the highest governmental body when and where I'm from. That being the thirty-first century by the calendar you mentioned. Space-travel is fairly commonplace for me."

She thought for a moment and smiled. "Would you just like to hear about it, or would you like to see it too?"

The United Planets - logical enough, he thought. He nodded calmly, but internally Ba'al was taken a bit aback by her time period. Of course, time travel had been achieved in the past, so it wasn't entirely unreasonable to think that whoever brought them here had the capability. Regardless, it seemed that she would have a lot to tell him. "Fascinating..." he replied, feigning surprise, "I suppose it would be, by then."

For a moment, he was confused. But then, there was a lot on this ship that might be able to grant a view of a distant (possibly even destroyed) planet, and so he smiled, "Both would be delightful."

"Would you prefer to use the Sensoriums?" Jeka asked. "I could show you right here, but there's a slight risk of accidentally walking into one of the sculptures."

Well, she could include them in the illusion, but that would destroy the ambiance of her homeworld. Perhaps she could just cover them with shrubbery.

Ba'al was impatient, yes, but it was hardly appropriate to show that. He'd rather see it sooner than later, but instead he said, "whatever is more convenient for you. I'm sure I could manage, with either." At least the curiosity of it was enough to stem the annoyance, for now.

"Both are equally easy for me," Jeka said. "Some people just find my abilities unsettling."

As she spoke, the art hall around them transformed into another place entirely. The two of them were standing on a grassy hilltop under an orange sky. Off in the distance, some dome-like stone structures were build into the sides of other hills. The breeze tugged at their hair and carried on it the scent of strange and alien plants.

"I can effect the senses of living beings," Jeka explained, so that Ba'al wouldn't be too startled.

Before Ba'al had a real chance to respond to her warning, he saw the changes in the art hall, and his surprise was evident, if contained. With raised eyebrows, he looked across the land that had appeared so suddenly, and up to strangely coloured sky. It was a rare treat to see an alien planet that was distinctly alien. His suspicions were kept in check only by her explanation...

"An ability that can prove quite useful, I imagine," he replied to her explanation, but he eyed her out of the corner of her eye. Useful, and perhaps dangerous.

"Very useful," Jeka said. "It's helped me and my teammates save lives more than once." It was a shame that it apparently hadn't done enough against the Ohm...

She gestured at the stone domes nearby. "This is where I grew up. We're a traditional sort of species, so while our technology is certainly advanced enough for more modern-looking buildings, we tend to stick with the classics. Not to mention Orando's population isn't even half of Earth's, so we can afford the extra space."

"I can only imagine how it could be used in a battle situation," he agreed, nodding to himself as he continued to look over the landscape she was apparently projecting for him. He tried to keep his attention thoroughly both on her and the 'planet'.

"I can see the merit in that," he agreed, with another nod. Ba'al personally preferred his planets to keep relatively simple themselves; he, however, did not prefer a quaint life. "And one would hope. Eath's population has grown disturbingly large..."

"Oh, very," Jeka said. "And in a wide variety of other situations. It does tend to make people nervous however; so I make sure to use it responsibly." Mostly. The occasional joke between Legionnaires aside.

"Earth is the seat of the United Planets, so I'm sure you can imagine that it's a very crowded place," Jeka said. "The amount of diversity is utterly staggering for a new arrival." She gestured at the domes. "Would you like a closer look, or would you prefer to see something else?"

Ba'al nodded to himself. He would not take it completely at face value, but she seemed honest. Caution was still necessary, but it seemed she was unlikely to be a cause for concern.

"I would like to see whatever you are willing to share," he replied, putting on another smile.

The landscape morphed around them, bringing them inside the domed building. The walls were brown on the inside too, decorated with pink stone and the occasional tapestry showing enormous snakes and strange symbols that were probably letters. The floors were gray stone tiles decorated with interconnecting carvings.

Jeka slithered over to one of the windows -- they appeared to be mere rectangular holes cut in the side of the dome.

"That covers a great many things," she said, shoving her hair back over her shoulder. "One of the reasons I joined the Legion was to educate people about my homeworld. It's not exactly an ambassadorship, but it's close. Is there anything specifically you're interested in?"

Ba'al continued to survey everything she was showing him, there, and attempting to take in as many details as possible. Much of it would prove useless, he was sure, but he would not take his chances. Besides, there certainly was an element of curiosity to it, as well.

"A valiant cause," he remarked, and he did mean it, really (to an extent, at least). "To allow people a greater knowledge of the universe in which they live is admirable." As for his own interests here, "I... take a great deal of interest in the cultures and worlds of others in general. I think it truly valuable to learn about them."

"I'm glad you think so," Jeka said. "I wish more people did -- or at least that fewer people were deliberately close-minded. Just let me know if I start to bore you."

She tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Orando is one of the few monarchies in the United Planets, and we tend more strongly toward the matriarchal than most other species seem to. We're strictly carnivorous, but we do not eat other sentients -- that was one of the worse rumors I encountered."

"Of course," he replied, intending the reply to be universal, and vague. He was interested enough in what she had to say, at least, and would not interrupt her, but he would be polite in her requests as well.

Her insistence against the eating of sentients almost made him smile - but he quickly suppressed it. It was an old moral argument, that he had heard many times in different ways, and so it was somewhat amusing - but he had no desire to get into a deep discussion over it.

He would let her talk of what she wished.

Alien Arts Are Appreciated

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject