Galileo's Burden, Phase Alpha: Bungle in the Jungle

[cityship]

((PLOT POST! READ IT!))

Stacy's voice rang out through the corridors of the ship, announcing that a message had been received and would be played on the Obs Deck momentarily.

The message was patched through a few minutes later, shown on a holographic screen. It was shot in very poor video, from a very old communicator frequency.



A woman wearing a blue veil over her face appears on the screen. She speaks in a soft and cultured voice, bowing deeply before she begins.

“Greetings to the crew and command of the Transmigration 9. My name is Reda, revered mother of the village of Avania III on the planet Orya."

Reda pauses, bowing once more before removing her veil and revealing the face of a beautiful humanoid woman.



"It… pains me to ask for the help of outsiders, when we have so little to offer in return, but I beg of you. Please aid us. My people are becoming sickened by an ailment we have never seen before. It seems to come differently for all who suffer from it... some have fevers, some strange dreams, some begin to speak madness while awake. But no matter how it develops, they grow weary. Their faith weakens and they die, disgraced and turned from the eyes of the great goddess Avani."

Reda folds her hands together, frowning worriedly. "I have heard of your ship's great deeds even in such a small and isolated planet as Orya. Though I am hardly worthy of asking, I know there is no one better to ask for a favor such as this. What I ask is for… those who have knowledge."

"My people know little of the universe outside their village. They do not know what you know in the ways of medicine. Our shamans are not equipped to deal with a threat of this magnitude. We seek those who can help us ease our suffering. We have little to give in return for your help, but what we have is faith… enlightenment and enrichment of the soul, which we will gladly share with those who come to visit us."

Reda smiled softly, shaking her head. "I will understand if you deny my request. I ask much of you and cannot give much myself, but should you assist us, I will do what I can to help you. I will see to it personally that those who come to our help are taken care of and shown the greatest hospitality. My own Chosen soldiers will protect them, and if they should help us in our time of need, I will do everything in my power to aid your efforts against the Ohm. You have my word as a devout child of Avani."

The revered mother bows once more, kneeling down before the camera. "I will be happy to speak with you if you require more information. Please... I beg of you, help my people."

Comments

[couldputitback]

"Well. We should be able to send some samples back to the labs." Faiza had a shoulder bag packed, along with a smaller pack for her medical supplies. "And there are plenty of people on the ship who can run the tests in a safe manner, so as not to spread whatever this may be to the rest of the crew." She smiled. "Though, that should probably be saved for after we've done all the tests we can on the planet."

[notlewis]

"Right, right," Luis muttered, gathering the last of his supplies and carefully repacking them in his back for the four hundredth time. He was just sure that they were going to get broken in transit.

"Nothing I love more than camping out in the middle of nowhere studying a mysterious deadly pathogen."

[couldputitback]

Faiza chuckled and shook her head. "Honestly? I'm looking forward to having something I can actually DO something about." The deaging problem was annoying, but the issue was magical. There was nothing, physically, she could affect. "Or, at least, something I have a better chance of being able to do something about."

[notlewis]

"I know exactly what you mean," Luis agreed, shaking his head. "It's not like I want an unreasonable workload around here, but it's nice to be able to help out every so often."

[couldputitback]

She clicked her tongue and sighed. "Oh yes. I don't want a massive workload. In fact, medical doesn't really see much action at all on a normal basis." She waved toward the rest of the ship. "And then, when we do get a workload? There's not a bloody thing we can do about it."

Faiza huffed a breath and sighed. "Sorry. I may be a tad bit frustrated."

[notlewis]

"Nah, it's all right. I understand," Luis assured her. "We may not be out there on the front lines, but you know, there's be a lot more dead crew members around here if it wasn't for us. Especially you guys in medical."

[couldputitback]

Taking a breath, she blew it out and smiled again. "Thank you. Even if it doesn't always feel like it when you're playing your fifteenth round of Go Fish in a quiet medical bay."

[notlewis]

"De nada. You know, if things are ever too quiet for you, you can always stop into the contagion lab and watch my snails with me."

[couldputitback]

"Your...snails?" Okay, somehow she hadn't heard about this. "I don't think I've ever really found snails to be all that interesting. Well. Brian's gardener complained about them when we were up at the Braddock estate once. Afraid that's about all I know about them."

[notlewis]

Back away slowly, Faiza. The excited glint in Luis' eyes was reminiscent of a kid waking up on Christmas morning. "They're fascinating. I found them in hydroponics-- luminescent, in all different colors, and they spin webs for some reason I'm trying to figure out. You should really come see them."

[couldputitback]

There's something...kind of creepy but almost endearing about that. Faiza grinned, though. "I might just have to. They sound interesting, at the very least." She paused a moment. "So long as 'come up and see my snails' isn't anything like inviting me to see your etchings."

[notlewis]

"Etchings?" Luis raised an eyebrow at that one. "I'm afraid I don't know what you could possibly mean."

[couldputitback]

"I think it's a stereotypically English guy thing," she replied. "Basically a way to get a girl up to your flat after a date."

[notlewis]

"Hah... English," Luis scoffed, rolling his eyes. "See, now, in Spain, you just say, 'You are a beautiful woman, would you like to have sex with me?' It's all so much simpler."

[couldputitback]

"True. But we know what they really mean, so it's almost the same thing." She shifted her bag on her shoulder. "And would get the same reply from me. I can't believe that I've been brought onto this ship and Dane hasn't."

[notlewis]

"One just comes off as far more straightforward," he chuckled. "Who is Dane? A friend of yours?"

[couldputitback]

"The English don't do straightforward. Far too rude." And the English were nothing if not about manners. Really.

The smile softened slightly. "Dane is...well, he's a teammate. And...umm. Well. Kind of my boyfriend? Or, well, possible boyfriend. Because sort of the last thing I remember before arriving here is returning to Earth from the Moon and it seemed like it could be going that direction?"

[notlewis]

"Ohoho!" Luis grinned, eying her over the top rim of his glasses. "You don't say? Well, let me know if he does show up. I'll be sure to put in a good word for you."

[couldputitback]

"Thank you. I don't think I'll need it, but it can't hurt." Especially depending on when Dane came from. "But. For the moment, I think we have plenty to concentrate on."

[notlewis]

"Right," he said, with one final little teasing smirk. "Anyway, Leon posted me in charge of the mission. Let me know if there's anything you need before we go and I'll do my best to accommodate."

[couldputitback]

She could handle the teasing. Luis seemed the type of guy who wouldn't step over a firm line once it was there. "I will do. I think I've packed pretty much everything we'll need in the medical crates, but I'll keep thinking on it."

[notlewis]

Luis was a bit of a sleaze, sure. But a chivalrous sleaze!

"Okay, sounds good. I guess I'll see you down on the obs deck, then."