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trans_92011-01-18 10:36 pm
hookedonhumans.livejournal.com) wrote in trans_92011-01-18 10:36 pm
You are what you eat? Let's HOPE not.... [OPEN]
((OOC: Buyer beware--lots of narrative/introspection going on here. Click at your own risk, and be TL;DRed at.))
These past days--weeks, now? Time seemed to blur together disorientingly here--had been long ones. In spite of being alone--as alone as she ever could be, at least--, however, Edriss still felt she was making progress. To an inferior mind, it must have looked like she was doing nothing but reeling in shock at the sudden catastrophic change that had befallen her, wandering aimlessly and trying to adjust to the new life that had been given to her--but she knew better.
Every hour spent exploring the ship's layout, studying the voluminous backlog of messages on the Omnicomm system, or perusing the offerings of this Media Library was time well-invested in gathering knowledge suitable to this new environment. Every hour spent familiarizing herself with the Hub, the Medical Bay, the Sensoriums, the City.... all of it was vital intelligence to allow her to get where she needed as quickly and quietly as possible, should it become necessary. All of it was useful in establishing herself as a new crew member, lost and bewildered, overwhelmed, innocuous, benign. All of it served a purpose, even the seemingly useless and interminable time spent pacing along the endless catwalks to study the pods that still held people in stasis. The pods from which even she had emerged from, not so long ago. Any human, after all, would doubtless want to search for those they had once known and cared about. And though the effort had proved fruitless, she had thought that perhaps she might be able to look for the familiar and distinctly alien silhouettes of Hork-Bajir, Taxxons, or Gedds within them. (Or even, Heaven forbid, an Andalite. It was better to know one's enemy and be prepared, after all.)
When Essam came--perhaps even with Madra and Darwin? Bringing Lore with him seemed almost too much to hope for--she would be ready for him. She could set him to work immediately, if she were lucky.
Maybe his first order of business could be to find some alternate source of nourishment. The 'food' provided here was tolerable only for the sake of meeting all nutritional needs--even Kandrona! As distasteful as it was, that was something she needed to study and learn how to replicate, preferably in a more appetizing form. It would be extraordinarily useful once she was able to get back to working on Earth's conquest, being able to subtly nourish the reinforcements that would be sure to arrive for her, all without ever requiring them to leave their hosts or be dependent on staying close to the pools. This would break the chains that bound them far more surely than even portable Kandrona generators had. It would revolutionize their society, make her a hero, a genius, an innovator--
< If this is what you intend to kick off your catering business with, then a word of advice: don't quit your day job. You aren't seriously going to waste your time analyzing this stuff, are you? I don't think anyone would choose to eat this. >
Ridiculous. Mindless banter, probably good for nothing but to let her get a jab in. < I'm a conqueror, not a caterer. Once Essam comes and we have the time to spare for concerns so far in the future, then we will study it, and subordinates can easily be spared for its production. >
--But Allison's point was a valid one, that would only be if she could make sure it didn't still taste like a Taxxon's waste secretions after a particularly foul meal, or they would be the only creatures willing to use it at all. She knew that she deserved so much more than this sludge--she deserved at the very least to have proper human food, given the incredible predominance of them on this ship. She deserved to have her famil--her subordinate with her, and their children. Their hosts' children. Endeavors like these were easier with an assistant. With Essam here, her reach and capabilities would grow wider, and together they would be able to secure far more resources to pool. She deserved to have them, and the resources she needed, and a position of power and influence on this vessel.
< "We" will, hmm? Very good. > It was hard to tell if Allison was mocking her or not, but however sincere she was, she sounded pleased.
< Do you have something to say? > The words had gained an edge beyond their confidence.
< You sound like you don't doubt for a minute that he'll follow you here. You sound like you'll wait for him, Edriss. >
She could hear the smile, even if she couldn't see it, but it vaguely irritated her--less because it was there at all, and more because it was so difficult to grasp why it was there to begin with. Still, it was true--even if she sensibly admitted that there was no way to tell, the assumption that heshould would be there for with for her as she required had remained. Edriss scoffed deliberately, silently through their mental link, though the words were softer than she had meant them. < He's my assistant; he's required to be here. I can't wait to start important work until he arrives, but less pressing concerns can be held in reserve for now. >
There was a long beat of silence, long enough that Edriss wondered if there would be any response at all. < They'll come, Edriss. >
Even if she was being addressed directly, the words sounded like they weren't meant for her at all. < What makes you so sure, then? Hmm? >
< I know. > One murmur of quiet certainty, of knowledge that sounded maddeningly like it should be immediately obvious, and the case was closed. Edriss bit back a sigh; they were agreeing, after all, even if the tone bothered her.
But this too would pass; all would come in good time. As much as she wished she could skip directly to making her ambitions a reality and all her wishes come true, she needed to focus on more directly and practically handling the here and now..... which meant taking care of herself and her immediate circumstances, not dwelling on things she couldn't understand or do anything about. Which meant, unfortunately, yet another serving of--given the ship's nature--what was probably regurgitated nutrients. (If they ate this, then what kind of fuel did Stacy function on? And what could possibly be capable of fueling a ship of this size while still providing nutrients for the entire crew?) Edriss gave the tray that was presented to her a look of silent distaste, before calmly moving to sit down at a table and start eating regardless. She wouldn't have minded so much if they at least had ready access to water to get the taste out of her mouth....
These past days--weeks, now? Time seemed to blur together disorientingly here--had been long ones. In spite of being alone--as alone as she ever could be, at least--, however, Edriss still felt she was making progress. To an inferior mind, it must have looked like she was doing nothing but reeling in shock at the sudden catastrophic change that had befallen her, wandering aimlessly and trying to adjust to the new life that had been given to her--but she knew better.
Every hour spent exploring the ship's layout, studying the voluminous backlog of messages on the Omnicomm system, or perusing the offerings of this Media Library was time well-invested in gathering knowledge suitable to this new environment. Every hour spent familiarizing herself with the Hub, the Medical Bay, the Sensoriums, the City.... all of it was vital intelligence to allow her to get where she needed as quickly and quietly as possible, should it become necessary. All of it was useful in establishing herself as a new crew member, lost and bewildered, overwhelmed, innocuous, benign. All of it served a purpose, even the seemingly useless and interminable time spent pacing along the endless catwalks to study the pods that still held people in stasis. The pods from which even she had emerged from, not so long ago. Any human, after all, would doubtless want to search for those they had once known and cared about. And though the effort had proved fruitless, she had thought that perhaps she might be able to look for the familiar and distinctly alien silhouettes of Hork-Bajir, Taxxons, or Gedds within them. (Or even, Heaven forbid, an Andalite. It was better to know one's enemy and be prepared, after all.)
When Essam came--perhaps even with Madra and Darwin? Bringing Lore with him seemed almost too much to hope for--she would be ready for him. She could set him to work immediately, if she were lucky.
Maybe his first order of business could be to find some alternate source of nourishment. The 'food' provided here was tolerable only for the sake of meeting all nutritional needs--even Kandrona! As distasteful as it was, that was something she needed to study and learn how to replicate, preferably in a more appetizing form. It would be extraordinarily useful once she was able to get back to working on Earth's conquest, being able to subtly nourish the reinforcements that would be sure to arrive for her, all without ever requiring them to leave their hosts or be dependent on staying close to the pools. This would break the chains that bound them far more surely than even portable Kandrona generators had. It would revolutionize their society, make her a hero, a genius, an innovator--
< If this is what you intend to kick off your catering business with, then a word of advice: don't quit your day job. You aren't seriously going to waste your time analyzing this stuff, are you? I don't think anyone would choose to eat this. >
Ridiculous. Mindless banter, probably good for nothing but to let her get a jab in. < I'm a conqueror, not a caterer. Once Essam comes and we have the time to spare for concerns so far in the future, then we will study it, and subordinates can easily be spared for its production. >
--But Allison's point was a valid one, that would only be if she could make sure it didn't still taste like a Taxxon's waste secretions after a particularly foul meal, or they would be the only creatures willing to use it at all. She knew that she deserved so much more than this sludge--she deserved at the very least to have proper human food, given the incredible predominance of them on this ship. She deserved to have her famil--her subordinate with her, and their children. Their hosts' children. Endeavors like these were easier with an assistant. With Essam here, her reach and capabilities would grow wider, and together they would be able to secure far more resources to pool. She deserved to have them, and the resources she needed, and a position of power and influence on this vessel.
< "We" will, hmm? Very good. > It was hard to tell if Allison was mocking her or not, but however sincere she was, she sounded pleased.
< Do you have something to say? > The words had gained an edge beyond their confidence.
< You sound like you don't doubt for a minute that he'll follow you here. You sound like you'll wait for him, Edriss. >
She could hear the smile, even if she couldn't see it, but it vaguely irritated her--less because it was there at all, and more because it was so difficult to grasp why it was there to begin with. Still, it was true--even if she sensibly admitted that there was no way to tell, the assumption that he
There was a long beat of silence, long enough that Edriss wondered if there would be any response at all. < They'll come, Edriss. >
Even if she was being addressed directly, the words sounded like they weren't meant for her at all. < What makes you so sure, then? Hmm? >
< I know. > One murmur of quiet certainty, of knowledge that sounded maddeningly like it should be immediately obvious, and the case was closed. Edriss bit back a sigh; they were agreeing, after all, even if the tone bothered her.
But this too would pass; all would come in good time. As much as she wished she could skip directly to making her ambitions a reality and all her wishes come true, she needed to focus on more directly and practically handling the here and now..... which meant taking care of herself and her immediate circumstances, not dwelling on things she couldn't understand or do anything about. Which meant, unfortunately, yet another serving of--given the ship's nature--what was probably regurgitated nutrients. (If they ate this, then what kind of fuel did Stacy function on? And what could possibly be capable of fueling a ship of this size while still providing nutrients for the entire crew?) Edriss gave the tray that was presented to her a look of silent distaste, before calmly moving to sit down at a table and start eating regardless. She wouldn't have minded so much if they at least had ready access to water to get the taste out of her mouth....
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But it was still chance, and an unusually empty mess hall that had him sitting down at the same table as Edriss, head ducking quietly over his food and poking at it thoughtfully.
"You don't mind if I sit here, do you? Sorry...empty tables give me bad middle-school flashbacks." The words sounded deceptively normal, lacking only the natural charm that Iniss would have given them in approaching a new arrival. The innate ability to either set people's teeth on edge or make them like him.
Had he ever been able to do that?
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< A teenager. > Allison supplied, sounding mildly amused. < Too proud to be called a kid, too stupid to be considered an adult yet. They're like a species in and of themselves, and middle school is like another planet. >
Like the Skrit Na, was her first impulse, but Edriss brushed it off; she had learned by now to take such figures of speech with a grain of salt. She didn't bother responding to the information, instead offering Tom a tolerantly amused smile at what she assumed was an effort at a joke. "Please, go ahead. There's no need to make yourself uncomfortable like that."
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She was pretty, probably older than him, but younger than his mom. She looked serious, like one of his teachers.
"Did you just get here?" The words slipped out before he could censor them, ability left somewhere around four years and a life time ago. "S-sorry, it's just, I haven't seen you around and...well."
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"Don't worry about it; it is a little scary to be alone, isn't it? I'm still getting used to that, myself; you were right. I've only been here about two weeks."
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He never thought he'd miss the voices in the back of his mind. But it did get lonely, after never being alone at all.
"Are you ok? I mean, do you have anyone here? I keep asking stupid questions, I need to remember to not do that, sorry. I'm Tom."
Mouth. Brain. Filter. He needed to figure out how that worked again.
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Handshakes. Right. That was what most people did in America. Edriss switched her spoon to the other hand, reaching across the table to offer the now freed one to her new companion. "It's fine, Tom. Really. It's nice to meet you; I'm Kendra Ahn."
Something specific must be bothering him, for him to be babbling and apologetic like this....
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"Yeah, I've tried too. Looking for my parents and the rest of my family." He smiled a bit wistfully. "Nice to meet you, Kendra. Maybe they'll show up. I mean, everyone's here, they should wake up eventually."
The something was quite simply that he was alone in his head, and was still working on making conversation.
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Another beat of silence, one Edriss deemed long enough to be acceptable for hesitant concern. "You don't have family or friends here, either? Is something the matter, Tom....?" She flicked serious brown eyes up to meet Tom's gaze intently; a human would notice his obviously strange behavior too, after all. They would probably be worried enough to try and offer a helping hand, or at least to sit and listen to their troubles. Ugh, spare her. Did she really have to listen to that sort of drivel just to act polite? Hopefully he'd at least reveal something interesting or useful, if he did talk....
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< Good; let him play his little avoidance game, then. I doubt I could possibly care less. >
Edriss nodded again, letting her expression linger in sympathy and concern. "I hope you might be able to see them again; there are plenty of pods still unopened, after all, and your family here with you must be anxious to see the rest of them, too. Who are your brother and cousin?" Family was important to humans, after all--these creatures had special sentimental bonds to attach them to blood relatives. The more she knew about this ship's occupants and their webs of relationships, the better.
As for her, though.... Edriss combed through Allison's memories as she looked away, a gesture that seemed almost apologetic. "I have a large family. My parents, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings.... We all used to be closer than we are now. Thinking about how inconsequential everything was that kept us from connecting more, and the situation we're in now.... It would be nice to be able to do things over again, when we know how it might turn out, wouldn't it?"
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Temrash and then Iniss had made him him miss a ton of things. A million birthdays and funerals and life changing events watched from a cage in the back of his own mind.
"It'd be nice to see them all again. I know what you mean, missed chances. You don't realize how much well...just how much it is to just tell someone you love them until you can't."
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As she was sitting Daja could not bow properly, but she nonetheless bowed her head respectfully.
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A mage, really? Magic, as far as she understood it, was impossible. There had to be some trick to it, didn't there? Some miraculous technology that made whatever it was only seem magical. But then, if there really was such a thing, it could be useful....
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In time, 'Kendra' would learn that magic was indeed possible on the meatship - even commonplace.
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But even beyond that, she wanted to know just who and what she was dealing with, here. Science and Engineering seemed like they would be a natural partnership. Of course she would need to evaluate her potential allies.... the fact that a pilot and technician like Essam might have to work with them was only a coincidence.
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"I'm glad to hear that they're good people, though--it's nice to get a feel for the people and atmosphere I might end up working with, if I do manage to secure a position with the Science Department. No doubt those branches must collaborate on some of their projects."
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The idea of a world without smiths was...disturbing, to Daja. As disturbing as it was to hear about worlds without magic.
"I am sure you will be welcome, Kendra," she said politely. "And you are correct: the different Departments will collaborate if need be."
Mind if I throw a Howard at you?
Go for it~ /o/
< Some people just have issues with food. It's not as uncommon as you might think--especially in areas like Hollywood. You'd be surprised. >
Edriss ignored Allison's effort at correction, instead giving Howard an equally puzzled look before laughing and shaking her head. "I suppose you're right. I'm not.... magical, just used to cooking for myself." She reached for her spoon; even if she wasn't as keen on the food here as he seemed to be, the point was a good one. She needed to eat, even if she couldn't say she was looking forward to it.
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He cocks his head and looks Edriss up and down. "You're new here, right? You look new. Anyway, I hear you can take this stuff into the Sensoriums and convince your mind it's actual good food, but I wouldn't go in there right now. There's a crazy guy trying to shoot tranquilizer darts at people." He leaves out that he was the only target, and it was because he'd been nosing around. "Anyway, the ship protects you, but you have to put up with tentacles."
All the while he's still eating, and studying Edriss' face. He's chatting a lot because he still believes that conversation is the best way to find out about people, and that they tend to give away secrets he can exploit later.
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"I am new, but I do remember the tentacles; thank you for the advice." Edriss smiles wryly, touching one of her plantsuit's sleeves. Doubtless the whole affair would be more unnerving for a human, but the tentacles had done little more than startle her, personally. She seems a little taken aback by his commentary about the Sensoriums, though, and focuses more fully on his face as well. "Maybe I'll try that when it's safe to.... Why would a madman rampage around with a tranquilizer gun here, anyway?"
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"No idea. When I walked in there was blood all over the floor, too, but he assured me it was holographic. Which is such a relief," he says sarcastically, though it is a bit of a relief since to his knowledge, there's no guarantee that Stacy won't prevent unfortunate red splatters where there once were people. "Where are you from?"
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Not two feet down the table from the unsuspecting newcomer, she appeared suddenly with a loud bang of displaced air. She took a moment to stretch, her claws coming out as the toes on her forepaws spread wide and her jaw opening in a yawn.
"Ah, sorry if I startled you," she said to the human sitting near her. "It's kind of a long way to walk here from the City."
*fails at being active, sorry x_X*
< A cat. > Allison offered, dryly; she would take what few opportunities she had to jab at the Yeerk. < They're common household pets. Really, Edriss. Haven't you noticed that by now? >
< I know that. Are you familiar with cats that speak and teleport, then, and just failed to inform me about that little fact? >
< A magical talking cat, then. And outside of books and television, no. It's rude to stare, by the way. >
Edriss chose not to dignify her with a response; aside from being capable of teleportation and speech--how could that creature manage it, with jaws and teeth so obviously not shaped for language?--, the cat looked surprisingly normal, all things considered. Allison probably would have considered it cute, under normal circumstances. So Edriss smiled apologetically in response, shaking her head. "It's nothing to worry about. I'm just.... not yet used to the idea of magic being real; it must be difficult for you to get around."
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"I'm Rhiow. I am on errantry, and I greet you. Normally I wouldn't be talking to ehhif at all, but circumstances are special here. Rules can be broken."