trans_9 | The more things change...

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The more things change...

Zouichi had taken a few wounds during the mission, but nothing that he would deem serious enough to require medical treatment. He'd already begun to heal, and he estimated that by the time tomorrow rolled around, he'd once again be at full strength. This was not, of course, true of everyone who had fought on that moon -- those who had lost their lives, for instance.

But for him, intense combat was the norm. There was no sense dwelling on loss of life or regretting the past, and there were no nightmares about the dead or dying. There was only the future, and the battles to be found there.

So it was back to business as usual: maintenance on the HDC, clearing stray leaves off the front steps and caring for the flowers... and teaching his pet parrot some commands. Today, however, Alan seemed more intent on rolling onto his back and demanding to be picked up. So Zouichi settled back in the shade of a nearby tree instead, playing with the bird and occasionally wondering where he'd picked up all these new phrases that sounded suspiciously like Lash.

Maybe if Howard showed up, they could look for odds and ends in the City.

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She wasn't actively looking for Zouichi but Alendian was certainly keeping her eye out. And sharp eyes, she had. The guy was most certainly not human and that was what bothered her. Why take the appearance of a lesser race if you aren't one of them. It's almost as if he was limiting himself.

When the guy was spotted, she stopped in front of him and looked down. If he wanted to sit under a tree and have a jolly good time, he could. Alendian had patience and lots of it.

Uh. Why was Alendian just looming over him like that? Did she want something?

"Hello," he said politely. "Do you require assistance?"

She sort of looked like she wanted to say something, but maybe she was waiting for him to speak up first.

"I have a question. Nothing more." Her arms crossed and she shifted her weight, her stance leaning slightly.

"What are you?"

~~RUDE~~

Zouichi debated his answer. On one hand, he found he sort of enjoyed teasing Alendian, who had actually chased him down in Hydroponics because she had to know about his search for a missing pet parrot. On the other, he should probably take the high road here, no matter how tempting it was to do otherwise.

"Toha Heavy Industries Synthetic Human, Kanoe Zouichi." Well, it was a what plus a who. Whatever.

"Synthetic Human." She said that with a little thought. Part of her wondered why anyone would make a fake human but then again, humans did a lot of odd things. A lot of them.

"Your body is not crafted from flesh and bone then?"

Well, the Eldar had shuriken cannons so uh.

"I'm mostly organic. I don't have much in common with an actual human being, genetically speaking, but I was designed with a significant amount of outward similarity. To better blend in."

Ildraniath had intended to drop by and check on Zouichi after all of that unpleasantness. It wouldn't do to have one of her only ~~cat's paws~~ friends out of action or seriously injured. Then again, he was a rather resilient person, especially when it came to damage.

So, she was slightly surprised to find that Alendian had beaten her to him. She hadn't even realized Alendian knew the synthetic. She folded her hands into the sleeves of her robes as she entered the courtyard.

"I see you two have already met."

"Farseer." Zouichi turned to face Ildraniath as she arrived. "You look well. I'm glad you weren't harmed in our latest battle."

Well, surviving was one of his specialties. Apparently, running into the ship's Eldar was another.

He'd let Alendian explain their meeting, if she chose to. She seemed a little touchy about these sorts of things.

"Farseer..." She repeated that at almost exactly the same time Zouichi did. Alendian would have had a few select comments on how an Eldar wouldn't be harmed but she held her own tongue.

"We have met, yes. Though I was left with a less than pleasant impression."

Ildraniath dipped her head in a nod to the both of them as she replied, "I've been in many battles, Zouichi. I know how to survive one."

There was a touch of wry humor in her tone. She turned and arched a brow at Alendian, "Really? I've found him one of the most reliable on the ship. I'd planned on introducing the two of you, but since you've already met, I suppose I'll just have to ask why your first meeting went awry."

"Of course. How human of me." Humor aside, though, he really was glad to see her looking well. Not everyone had been so fortunate.

Since Ildraniath wasn't addressing him, he glanced at Alendian instead. She'd struck him as someone quick to anger and a little short on manners, but he hadn't held any of that against her. He was a little curious about what issue she'd taken with him, though.

...aside from the tiniest bit of baiting he'd engaged in.

"He sought to anger me by challenging me in the most childish way possible."

For an Aspect Warrior, anger came easily and Alendian was no exception. Though she did speak up again, reproving herself. "I happened to fall for it completely."

"I'm rather surprised, Zouichi," she chided (although not without some amusement; Aspect Warriors had their reputation for a reason), "She is one of my kin, although a rather distant relation, considering the Craftworld she called home. But, Alendian, I will not chide you for falling for it - I will simply remind you that your anger is a tool, nothing more."

Her lips curved into a slight smile, "That being said - I'm pleased you two have met. If not on the best of terms."

Zouichi bowed slightly. "My apologies. As I'm sure you know, I cannot engage in sparring matches with most of the crew... and I'm afraid I became a little carried away at the possibility of a match with an opponent of her caliber."

So they were from different Craftworlds, but they still referred to each other as kin. Interesting.

"For what it's worth," he said, to Alendian in particular this time, "I share that sentiment."

She also gave a slight bow to the Farseer. Losing herself to her own indulgences would be deadly. Sound advice is advice that should be followed. At the least, she was pleased that Zouichi had recognized some of her talent.

"I suppose it would be rude of me to suggest otherwise. A friend of the Farseer can be considered a friend of mine," she said, coming close to biting her own tongue.

"So, tell me, how have the two of you been faring? The ship is... uncivilized, of course, but it is not quite as horrible as it could be."

She glanced between the two expectantly. Maybe they could be civil.

Zouichi actually thought it was remarkable how civil people on the ship treated each other, considering. "I can't complain. We came away from the last engagement with only a single fatality. Though I am a little concerned with one of the new Ohm subspecies that appeared in this most recent battle. And how little we continue to understand about the enemy as a whole."

He paused for a moment. "I also admit I've enjoyed the opportunity to take a more active role in the fighting as of late. I was beginning to wonder if my skills would never see any real use."

"For me, I have been fine. The facilities here make practice by myself a fairly reasonable venture."

And she had to top it all off with a shrug. "The large battle we had previously was good for my mind, soul, and body."

"Perhaps the Dalgig will be more forthcoming after this victory," Ildraniath replied. Her dry tone indicated how likely she thought that was, though. She glanced at Alendian with a nod.

"I am glad to hear that - we need to maintain ourselves for however long we remain aboard this ship. For the sake of the crew and our people."

Zouichi looked a little skeptical. "Why bother? We're already acting as they want with next to no information in return."

Not, he supposed, that they necessarily had much choice about it, considering the alternatives. But he didn't want to get into the habit of accepting everything the Daligig said as gospel truth. Or the GIA, for that matter.

"The Dalgig?" She hadn't been around too long and was slightly lost in that conversation. Apparently they had a bad habit of doing what they wished, which was something expected of other races. "My apologies but I know nothing of...these people, I presume."

"That was my thought as well, but hope springs eternal," Ildraniath murmured in reply to Zouichi. She shifted her gaze to Alendian with a shrug.

"They were the race that made up the original crew and the race primarily concerned with defeating the Ohm. They created this ship. And they have us on a leash."

"Supposedly," said Zouichi, "They're an important component of the interdimensional alliance whose forces fought alongside us on Lirath. But we know next to nothing about them. A little odd for a people who are supposedly our allies."

Of course, it wasn't the only thing that was a little suspect about their current situation.

Her head turned back and forth between the two. "There is no chance of disengaging from them? There is a different between being a tool of war and being expendable resources."

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The more things change...

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