It was a quiet day. Chaos was going on all around, missions were taking place, things were going on around the ship. Things were going on everywhere around the Shiba mansion, but inside the mansion all was peaceful.

Ryuunosuke hadn't really found a place to work or anything. He was just around and practicing kabuki in the sensoriums when he could. He was trying to find something that he could do.

But right now? Right now he was doing self-training.  He had found some training weapons while back at XiaXing and a couple training weapons at some other dealers. There were also some stands with paper, ink and calligraphy brushes - practice for later perhaps? It wasn't known at the moment.

As the kabuki actor stood, he took the compound bow in hand, arrow in the other. He aimed at the target that was in front of him, ready to take the shot. He then released the arrow.

A trip to the sensoriums would show to whoever was there that it was in use. Should they step in they would see an elaborate but simple stage with seats all around. The decor and architecture was that of Japanese origin, as were the seat and stage designs. It was very much a 20th century theater of Earth.

If they watched the stage, they would see someone performing with music. But it wasn't just any kind of performance and any kind of music - it was the art of kabuki. The person on the stage was in an elaborate kimono set and wore a long black wig. The face was white with red lips, black mascara and eye-lined eyes, slightly pinked cheeks. White hands came out of the kimono, soft and delicate. The performer appeared to be female from a distance. They also seemed to be deeply into the story that was being told on the stage, the performance simply called "Orochi."

Alright, so this person wasn't any Tamasaburo Bando, but they were decent.

Takeru wondered around the city. He had been here for a while now and found himself wondering about this place. As he made his way around he came across a very familiar looking house. The young lord slowly walked inside and looked around, things were  dusty and all over the place but seemed still liveable. He stepped out into the back training area, looking around.  This place should be back to normal after some cleaning up.

He picked up a broom that was laying to the side and started cleaning up the training area. He was at least home for now.

Kaya's visit to the bazaar, along with the credits in hand, had put her in the redecorating mood. Everyone was still starting to get used to the difference between her and when she had Katara's memories: she figured it was time to show how alike they weren't. A few days ago, she had promised to start redecorating the room she shared with Alex, and this was the perfect opportunity.

She started by purchasing goza mats, getting some sliding doors (which were a lot heavier then they looked, thank goodness for Chase's training), and very pretty fish tapestry. Once those were collected, she smiled to herself and started to look for things she could get for Alex, specifically, this black light he spoke about.

She had also picked up a few outfits and some foodstuffs for the Outsiders and Matt, smiling to herself. This way her money would be used up soon, but at least she was starting to show some of her individuality. For the moment, she was sitting at a cafe, sipping a refreshing alien drink, goggles atop her head.

Next to the Mall Hotel, a large bazaar sprawled out through the streets. Food stalls, jewelery stalls, plastic surgery stalls...might want to stay away from that last one. But since the bizaar was close by, it served as a good place for the crew to meet up and start their exploration of XaXing.

[[ooc: This is just a general mingling post guys, so jump in and start threads, tag into other people's, whatever you want!]]

After the briefing, the Orbs Deck disconnected from Stacy, making it's way down to the planet and landing on the top of what looked like...a mall.

Outside, a mismatch of buildings stretched as far as the eye could see on a backdrop of a sunny green sky, a few golden clouds lazily floating across it. Here there was a mall, there there was a endless parade of street shops, and over there was a bazaar. And everywhere you looked there was advertising, selling everything from kitchen knives to starship engines to pet cosmetic surgery.

And populating this world was a practically endless number of species's, all of them brought together by one thing: trading. Credit was being exchanged everywhere you looked, from the shiny exclusive stores to the the dark and dangerous spaces in-between.

As the crew stood around, a peculiar looking alien with a mustache approached them, his oddly-shaped legs and knees making it looks as if he was walking backwards even though he was coming forwards. And as he moved, his accordian-like midsection made moved, making a weird, wheezing noise that might remind some of the crew native to Earth of the sound of Fran Dresser's voice.

<Welcome to XaXing, strangers!> he said to them in thought-speak, eagerly rushing towards everyone. <I am Guide! Your ship has already arranged accommodation for you, and I have been employed to guide you there and answer your questions! But if you would just sell me your memories then I can also guide you to all of the best stores and markets...>

[[ooc: After this post, everyone is free to make their own posts on the planet! Just tag all logs for Shore Leave with !plot: shore leave.

Also, if you have any questions you can ask Guide! ...just be prepared for him to also try to buy your kidney.]]

||Attention, Attention. All personnel please report to the Observation Deck. Attention, Attention. All personnel please report to the Observation Deck. Attention, Attention, all personnel...||

All over the ship, Stacy's voice continues to repeat the announcement until all crew members have reported to the Orbs Deck. Once there a dossier appears on the screen. Next to the dossier is the picture of a rotating planet, one that is almost entirely covered in cities with a few small patches of green ocean, and the planet's stats:

Planet Designation: XaXing
Status: Terrestrial, H-class.
Non-sentient life: Minimal flora and fauna.
Semi-Sentient Life: Yes.
Sentient Life: A significant number of species of intelligent life. Most are not native.
Water: 30% of the planet's surface.

Climate: Similar to Earth's Mediterranean regions. [Click here for cultural equivalents for non-Earth cultures.]
Landscape: 96% of land is developed for primarily commercial purposes.
Air: Normoxic concentration: 29% oxygen, 60% nitrogen, 3% xenon, 6% trace gases, such as hydrogen, krypton, and argon.

Air Pressure: 14.499 pounds per square inch.
Sky: Green with gold clouds.
Sun: A class D3L, yellow star.

Warnings: Some inhabitants may not follow fair trading practices.

Mission: None. Shore leave is now initiated. Requisition of resources is recommended. Each crew member will be provided with 3000 XaXingian credits.

It's time for another Shore Leave, guys.

[[ooc: Shore Leave is go! Post reactions to the announcement here]]

Ryuunosuke slowly made his way toward where Hydroponics was. With Takeru at his side, they would meet this person who was like them and maybe find out a little more with what they had to deal with. He was excited and nervous at the same time. After all, when you meet someone of another team, it's always interesting. This is why he knew he had to keep a cool look as long as he could.

As he looked at the navigation application on the  omnicomm, he found that they were going the right way. He felt really embarrassed having made a couple wrong turns a little ways back, but now that things were fixed they were on the right track. All they had to do now was make a couple more turns and they would be at the meeting place.

"Almost there," he spoke as they made the first turn. And he didn't lie; it really did only take them a few more minutes before they were at the location. They stood there at the door, the kabuki actor looking around to try and find who they were waiting for. Luckily they had grabbed their shodophones and origamis before they left the original meeting area of all the newly depodded people.

Now all they had to do was wait.

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

[ooc: Newbie Helpers List | Instructions: Post your character with one post establishing them as being podpopped. Tag each other in groups of 2's, 3's, and 4's, to get some interaction to start with. If a thread doesn't already have 2 or 3 people tagged in, tag it with your character's podpop popping near the other people, rather than making a new subthread. If you would like to play out them talking to the AI, please send an email to the mods making the request--we do this only by request. Then move onto the big Newbie Meeting. Once your character has gotten the rundown from the old crew, you may start posting entrance posts and freely tagging.]


||Pod Release Protocols Initating|| Stacy's familiar voice sounds out to all the podmates through the ship.

In the Pod Caverns, there are the sounds of: Pop. Pop pop pop. Poppuhpoppoppop. KASCHUNKhiiiiiiiissssss.

There is condensation and mist spraying out from cracks in the pods, as the people inside slide out onto the floors, covered in slime.

--

( There was nothing... )