Norline and Related

"NO ONE REMAINS TO RESCUE. THEY SLEEP."

Threesix couldn't be sure, but it assumed it noticed a slight change in expression on the human's face. It wasn't built to monitor such things.

"YOU MAY ACCESS ALL SUBSECTIONS UNTIL FIVE. HAZARD SUIT STORAGE HAS BEEN LOCKED TO ENSURE YOU REMAIN."

Threesix was about to deliver an ultimatum, when suddenly, it heard a voice.

It was inside its mechanical mind; a transmission, it seemed. It had been centuries since one spoke within its head. But now, a transmission came, albeit garbled and muffled.

"All units...rmament systems onli...operation meteor... deplo...

Threesix snapped to attention. The creators had returned. The creators had returned.

Not such a favorable response. Either 'sleep' meant they were in stasis, or 'sleep' meant they were dead. Most likely the former rather than the latter; machines usually just said 'dead' when that was the most accurate term. "Right. I'll be on my way, then." he said to the machine. Its weaponry was still active, still pointed at him.

He took a short step back towards the dormitory, and paused to make sure the machine didn't respond violently. Another step. Pause. Step. When he had made it mostly inside, he moved to the side until the line of sight was blocked. And then he headed back towards the individual room he had taken up residence in.

Kaliska still had many questions for Ambassador about this memory sharing before she would be fully convinced but with his promise to explain later, they would have to wait. If he was this serious about the matter, than it must be true and possible. Jeremiah has mentioned all sorts of creatures and people who could do tremendous and extraordinary things. She would admit that she thought most of them a bit far fetched but who was she to judge? Jeremiah said that there are people on other stars that wouldn't believe that Misu were real, but they are. She briefly wondered what it would have been like growing up surrounded by hundreds of different races of people and seeing the things that made them special are normal.

When it seemed that Ambassador had said all he could, she simply nodded. She would fetch the fruit of the loa herself. No one else needed to know about what her and Ambassador were about to do. That and she didn't want to trust the dosage to anyone else. The wrong amount could kill and despite how much she quickly decided to despise this Nathan other, it was not her place to kill him. At least not yet. And she really did not want it to come to that.

Before she left, Kaliska looked over Ambassador once again. She knew he was hungry and tired, as was she. She didn't know how long a Mirror Kind could go with so little rest and resources. This needed to happen quickly.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Stay here," she assured and commanded him, before turning to leave. She didn't want him to go back in there with the other. At least standing outside the cell with the Misu guards keeping a close watch, she knew he would be safe. Her slippered feet were silent on the smooth cold tiles as she strode quickly down the hallway and up the stairs that would carry her to the ground level of the Keep. Once back out into the open, she saw that Trusol was making his descent; painting his evening colors all across the sky.

Sighing, she picked up her pace. It wasn't long before she was stepping into the Keep's healers chambers and requesting the loa. It did not take much convincing but did earn her some strange looks. Keep healers were almost always elderly and the same was in this case. Ryilla's keep healer had served the Protectors here for many years. Kaliska had seen him before for different ailments on her many trips to the village over the years. She knew he would be discreet. Before she left him, she did ask what a recommended dose for a good night's sleep would be. After he was convinced that she could probably break off the right amount, he allowed her to depart without further questioning.

The last bit of creamy orange glow was sinking from the sky when she made it made it back to the cell's. With her she had enough loa for several good nights of sleep and some wine as well as a small assortment of breads, nuts and some dried meat all of which she carried in a small basket. Her green eyes clearly showed relief when they landed on Ambassador as she came down the hallway. Like she had hoped, he was safe and sound.

"I've brought everything you asked." She said as she approuched him and lifted the basket for him to inspect. "You should eat too and have some wine. Do not worry, the loa has not been added." When mentioning the loa, she pointed to a small glass vial that contained a berry colored liquid inside that closely resembled wine or a watered down jelly.

In the Misu's absence, Ambassador looked at the guards. They kept their gaze stern and forward, except for one or two instances where they moved to meet his. Their posture was strong and upright, despite their bits of metal armor and long weaponry. They were decorated soldiers, dressed in clean armor that showed virtually no combat scars. The armor didn't need to be damaged; the soldiers' intimidation factor had been enough to prevent any problems thus far. Or so he assumed.
When the guards looked forward and gave a respectful gesture to the member of the royal family, Ambassador turned. He smiled a bit on the swift return of Kaliska. Though the smile faded a bit when he remembered what they were doing. Half of him wanted the medical officer to be innocent; but that would mean he'd be charged with drugging a medical officer. The other half of him wanted the medical officer to be guilty, so that he wouldn't be charged; but that would mean there was a whole legion of soldiers and machines descending upon the planet. It was a lose-lose situation, and he would take the repercussions of holding an officer prisoner over being slaughtered any day. He'd seen enough of what happened when alien races stripped and converted planets.
"Thank you." he replied, trusting that she was being truthful. At the moment, she had no reason to drug him that he could tell. He took his chances with a small bit of dried meat first, figuring it would be the least likely to be poisonous. Still, he hesitated for just a moment before taking a bite. The flavor was exceptional; natural and free of the preservatives of so many other foods he'd lived on. It didn't carry the bitter aftertaste of added vitamins or contraceptives. Personally he hoped it wasn't Eagox. He gave a smile and a nod to Kaliska to let her know it was excellent. When he was free to speak again, he stated "I expect this extract takes a bit of time to kick in. Humans are an omnivorous race, with similar tastes in food as yours. This will be perfect. He will most likely also go for the dried meat; it carries the lowest risk of having ingredients that contain toxins that might kill him. It also contains protein, which he will be needing alongside carbohydrates-" he was thinking aloud at this point, "Which will all be priority for recovering from the ordeal." Ambassador paused, looking at the vial but not focusing on it necessarily. It looked to be a liquid, possibly a bit more solid than that. In the bread, it would be absorbed and discolor the area around it. It would stand out easily. In the dried meat, the colors were a little more suited to handle it. However, they would have to apply it carefully and in a thin layer to keep it from being obviously a different texture. The drink - wine, apparently - would be the best candidate. But it was least likely to be consumed; the officer would probably regard that with the same suspicion as the fruits. It also would increase the potency of the sleep aid, if the drink contained alcohol. It could actually make it lethal. Which could be beneficial...
"Do you have any water this may be added to?" The flavor would possibly be altered if they used more than a couple drops, and Nathan had already had non-mixture water. If he had been paying attention, the flavor difference would be noted. Possibly too late, possibly not. It was another game of chance. Regardless, Kaliska still held all the cards - so to speak - by being the source of food and beverage of this man.

A smile graced her lips briefly as Ambassador ate the meat. Mostly because he trusted her enough to do so. It was barely a few moons ago when he wouldn't even let the river clams touch his feet. The smile was quickly pulled back down into a look of somber seriousness. If he thought dried meat was good, he would have loved the feast that Aileen and her court was dining on at the moment. If they were lucky there might be a few ryeberry cakes leftover to nibble on.

Kaliska just blinked as she listened to Ambassador ramble on about words she was certain that she'd never heard before. Omnivorous? Carbohydrates? Protein? She assumed that he knew what he was talking about. It appeared that he did. She watched him closely as he examined the contents of the basket. He appeared to be mulling over possibilites and soon she knew what.

"The jailers keep water here," the Misu replied and gestured further down the hallway. Just down the hall was an barrel that was periodically filled with fresh water. Beside it was a ladle and clay flask of sorts, the same used by Nathan earlier. "Misu drink the loa in wine," she explained. "It helps with sleep... And Misu just like wine."

Either way the loa would be effective. It would only require the smallest of drops and Nathan would soon get a very relaxing night's rest. One that would likely also be filled with some pretty amazing dreams. Another reason Misu like to use it as a sleep aid. Sometimes dreams were far better than reality when under the loa's spell.

His response was carried out by a simple nod. "Remember though, humans do not live here naturally. What may be mild or beneficial for your people could kill one of them." A glance was cast her way. "Which is why I cannot easily breathe your air." He took a few steps down the hallway, then paused to look at her again. Here she was, all dolled up in the dress of royalty, standing in the common room of a dungeon. It didn't seem to be a dress native to this town; the colors were fiery, with a gentle gradient of sunset color. He realized it was sunlight banding in from the short windows that had caught his attention. The light bounced off the facets of stone that made up the focus of a necklace. There was a type of aura effect from the evening light glowing in her hair. He hadn't really comprehended the sight until she stood with a basket of fruit and food, the natural jungle colors standing vividly against the reds and oranges. "You look beautiful." he commented offhandedly. Returning to face the corridor, he headed towards where Kaliska had indicated the water source to be.

He located it easily, but fell at a bit of a loss as to how the spoon worked. It was a bent thing, somewhat awkward to maneuver. He successfully wasted a few ladlefuls of water before filling the vessel. Here, Ambassador took a few drinks of the chilled water and then topped off the flask again. Standing, he let the moment of quiet solitude pass before heading back. It was going on the third night - or was it the second night? - that he'd be spending on Norline.

"Jeremiah says humans and Misu are very much alike in m any ways." Kaliska bounced her bare shoulders up into a shrug, "Jeremiah uses Loa often for sleep... I'm not sure if he's human or not... But he looks like others; you, the other Cole and this Nathan." Understanding species and how to determine what race an other was was proving to be difficult. That is likely why Misu classify them all simply as others, she figured.

Ambassador's next comment threw her completely off guard. She had not expected such a compliment and especially not from him. The Misu knew the meaning of this word he used; beautiful. Jeremiah used it often when describing many of the sites on Norline even after he learned the Misu equivalent; eder. She was glad, beautiful rolled off the tongue much more prettily than eder. As it sounded now coming from Ambassador who had yet to verbally express any of his thoughts on any of the sites he had witnessed throughout his time being on Norline.

"Thank you Ambassador." she replied as a tiny smile feathered on his peachy lips. She watched somewhat amused as he fumbled with the ladle but still couldn't shake the anxious feeling creeping in and settling in her stomach. She shifted her gaze from Ambassador to the cell door that held Nathan within. The Misu wanted to know what was coming. What all he knew and what his others were planning to attempt to do with Norline. But mostly she was dreading it.

If what she feared was true, then the Misu did not have much time to prepare and the could be the end of the paradise world of Norline.

He didn't bother to clarify that he looked like a human - well, Timelord, actually - because he had spent time with them and not because it was the natural form of the Mirror Kind. The fact that humans, Timelords, and Misu all looked alike was an off coincidence though... perhaps they shared common ancestry...

"You're welcome." he replied nonchalantly, "Alright, let's see how this works. Worst-case scenario, he dies. I don't want that to happen, really. For a few different reasons. Now, how this skill works is that I will head in when he's out and try to see what memories I can find regarding his purpose here. Sometimes, though, the experience can get too involved. If I look like I'm having trouble with it, please intervene. Hit me in the head if you have to. Hopefully it won't come to that, though..." He offered a reassuring smile. "It's sort of like when someone's telling a really good story and you get sucked into it, and forget where you are until someone interrupts."

"You want me to... Hit you?" Kaliska tilted her head back and to the side in confusion. She beleived that she understood what he was asking and why but it was not every day that someone openly asked you to strike them. The Misu was unsure if she could do such a thing; she did not want to harm him... But maybe if he looked distressed... Either way she nodded indicating that she understood him and that she would do the act.

Now that he had the clay cup in his hand, Kaliska sat the basket on the floor and gingerly removed the vile of loa. Using both hands she removed the cork that gave a soft popping noise as it escaped the bottle. Placing her index finger over the opening she tilted the bottle till her skin was covered in a thin coat of the soupy liquid. Setting it back upright, she removed her finger and held it over the water. Slowly a bead form and eventually dripped into the cup, dissolving almost instantly.

The remaining loa on her finger was temping to Kaliska. It would be nice to submit herself to an evening of worry free relaxation. Though she would likely need a little more from the vial to enter into the dream filled sleep. Before she could give in, she rubbed the remnants away using the dress before retrieving the basket again. Aileen would be furious if it stained but at the moment Kaliska had much and more on her mind.

"Perhaps I should do some talking before you... look at the other's memories," she suggested as they made their way back into the cell. The guards did not question them, just opened the doors and allowed them to step inside. They found Nathan basically as they left them, only he had chosen to replace the strange mask/hat that he had been wearing. The strange garb that this other wore was what spooked the Misu. In the Misu culture clothes were not always even required so to see a suit of this... stature would be odd and easily confused for some sort of river monster or the like.

Kaliska moved with grace and as she stepped both into the room and into her role as a Protector's heir. She even managed to give the other a nod in greeting. Slowly she brought the basket before him and offered it over, placing it first on the floor and then scooting it closer to him with the tip of one slippered foot. She did not want to get too close for fear of what this other was capable of.

"This Misu prays that this other, this Nathan, will forgive the Misu and Ambassador for such a... difficult first meet. Times are bad on Norline and others..." She glanced over to Ambassador, "Some others are threatening Norline and the Misu. It is hard to know what others to trust. This Misu is sure that this other will understand."

"Please," She gestures to the basket and motioned for Ambassador to give over the water as well, "Eat and drink and if the other is strong enough, maybe this other Nathan will tell us more about his plans for Norline."

"Attention all units, ensure armament systems are online. Operation Meteor is a go. Deploy."

Admiral Jannery took his finger off the PA system's control button and waited, standing behind his captain's terminal. He watched the analytics screen that displayed the cargo bay intently, his smile increasing every time a small green light turned grey to indicate a landing craft's docking clamps being released. Soon they were swarming out, new blips on the sensors, and finally one or two could even be seen outside of the massive windows, sailing down towards the lush planet below, each one host to 10 soldiers and the construction equipment necessary to construct a simple staging base.

Jannery took a puff on his pipe and sat down in his comfortable chair. Stage 2, transit, was complete. Stage 3 was about to be deployed.

Norline had been in Silas Jannery's sights for months, since before the order came through to assemble a fleet and fly over to it. It had seemed like paradise: lush jungles, few humans, and an escape from Sarai. God, he hated that place.

And now Norline was being handed off on a silver platter. "Do this one final job for us, Jannery," they had told him, "And you are free to live the rest of your life on Norline."

It was thus that Jannery had launched Operation Meteor, assembled the very best men in the Federation along with the best ships, and flown out here. Unlike the colony ship and "rescue ship" that had been sent centuries ago, the Meteor Fleet cared not for concealment: they had Catalysed to Norline in full view, signatures easily traceable. Let anyone who dared follow them come.

Norline, it seemed, belonged to Jannery.

He hoped.

This time it was he who stayed behind for most of the interaction, only moving forward to place the water next to the basket. He did nothing to conceal his disgruntled expression, and stared directly into the reflective face mask. He saw his own reflection, tinted golden orange by the mask's protective coat. Backing off, he came to stand just behind Kaliska. He held his tongue despite the words he wanted to share with Nathan. In his time outside with Kaliska, he had been able to sort his thoughts out. Mixed as they were, he had decided that this was a bad scenario regardless of whether or not the human was innocent of intending him and the Misu harm. The officer knew they were here, and Ambassador guessed that the suit also had communications-
a bolt of fear gripped at his hearts. It was a sickly feeling. He hadn't even checked for monitors. Or weapons. This man could just be biding his time, feigning helplessness while he established himself near the next heir to the throne - or office, whichever - of the capital Misu city. And here he was, with virtually no barrier between Nathan and Kaliska.

A glance was cast to the Misu; one that was looking for some sense of comfort. Something to let him know that she knew what she was doing and what was really going on. That she had been pretending to be ignorant all along, and secretly they had an entire armada of machine defenses at the ready to protect their planet.

But what he found, instead, was that she stood with a more cautious stance than she had near the Protector's wife. She was intimidated - probably outright afraid - at what was happening and what was implied. The tables were turning; she was asking for Nathan to give her information, letting him know that she was uninformed. It was a breeding ground for lies. Though, the stress was lessened somewhat by Ambassador knowing he could confirm or disprove anything Nathan said in just a short while.

Keeping himself steady and doing his best to neutralize his expression, he looked again at Nathan. It was the human's turn.

Nathan kept looking at the two, silent, as they left the room. He turned his gaze towards the jug next to him.

Under normal circumstances, he would be very hesitant to try water given to him on an alien planet where he was unwanted. At this stage, however, it was death by dehydration or possible death by poisoning.

Undoing the release lever on the helmet once more, Nathan removed it and placed it next to himself on the bed and sat up. He grabbed the jug of water off the ground, seeing how it splashed around, and brought it up to his lips. It had a bit of an odd taste, just slightly different from the-

Suddenly, Nathan stopped. He dropped the jug with a crash, the jug breaking and water soaking the floor and bedsheets. His head was spinning, his throat was closing, and it felt as if his mouth was under one of those old atmospheric jet engines. Mentally, he sighed. Fate had not been kind to him.

As he dropped on the bed, he felt death closing in on him. It was an odd feeling; a feeling of release. Detachment. Comfort. And so he fell, head hitting the pillow, eyes closing. Nathan was dead.

---

Nathan woke up, standing, in a white room. His hazard suit was fully on, helmet included. His first thought was mild panic. He had been agnostic all his life, and now it seemed he had been proven wrong. If the preachers he occasionally heard on the streets at home were to be trusted, he was not in a good position.

But something was off. There was no gate; no guardian; nothing remotely religious. So what was this? Had the whole event on Norline been a dream?

And suddenly, standing before him was a giant monster.

Reference Image

On top of it, a man stood looking down at him. He wore a military officer's hat with a silver star on it, a black trench coat, boots, and a double filter gas mask with purple eye lenses. The shape of the mask seemed to be locked in a perpetual smile.

"HELLO ZERE, LOST LITTLE BOOB," he called down atop the... monster in a distinctly french-german accent, "VAT BRINGS YOU DOWN TO ZE CAPTANIA?"

Nathan was a little lost for words, the situation was so absurd, but the best option was probably to go with it.

"I... died, I think. But this matches none of what the preachers on the street say, so this isn't their heaven. What is it?"

The man laughed heartily. "SILLY YOUNG BOOB, YOU ARE IN YOUR MIND! I AM BUT A FIGMENT OF YOUR BOOBISH IMAGINATION!"

Great. So Nathan wasn't dead, but he was unconscious. Almost as bad, considering the circumstances.

"COME, YOUNG BOOB," he called down, "I VILL LEAD YOU THROUGH ZEE TUNNELS OF YOUR MIND!"

Nathan had no choice but to accept, and when the strange man turned the giant monster around, Nathan saw a giant hole had opened in the wall ahead.

"GET ON MEIN TRUSTY STEED, CANCER!" The man called. So that's what it was. A lobster.

Nathan walked up its backbone and sat down behind the strange man, holding on tightly to his shoulders as he sat down as well.

"NOW, MEIN LITTLE BOOB, LESSON ONE. I AM ZEE CAPTEIN, AND VILE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ZE CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS OF YOUR BRAIN, I AM ZEE INSANITY ZAT RESTS VITHIN. I OWN ZIS PLACE! ZIS IS VERY ZE TRUE THINKING GOES ON! NOW COME, VE SHALL GO ON UND ADVENTURE!"

Nathan sighed.

This was going to be a long day.

While the last red bands of sunlight coming in through the narrow window faded, the air was beginning to take on a chillier temperature. In the quiet of the room, it could be heard that the day creatures' calls were being exchanged for the noctunals'. Even when Nathan keeled over rather abruptly, Ambassador hesitated. It hadn't been the reaction he had been told to expect, and he wasn't about to get pulled into a charade. What it looked like was that Nathan had decided to take the false-fainting route rather than answering the Misu's questions. Whatever was going on with this individual, Ambassador was starting to understand why Kaliska and her people were so wary of outsiders. He himself was beginning to dislike the thought of others being on his - correction, Kaliska's - planet.

Instead, he held his post and began preparing himself for when the extract actually did kick in. Timesmith's words began to surface from where they had been almost forgotten. Step one, choose the turning point. This one was one of the trickiest; he needed to be able to get integrated into the memories, but not lose control. It was a delicate balance. If not kept in check, his Mirror Kind mind would completely reject his own memories and personality in favor of the new ones. He chose to go with the point that he lost complete sense of where he was, when his human consciousness would sense the impending memory conversion. Here, along this active thought, he associated one of his more unpleasant memories. Something that would get his attention no matter where he was in another's mind. He reinforced the intent and association, pulling up the memory until it was becoming uncomfortably real. When he let the intention go, it left a stinging in his mind.

With a deep sigh, Ambassador settled his gaze on where the cot Nathan was on met the floor. It was clear now that Nathan wasn't feigning it; his breathing was deep and rough, expression one that wasn't exactly easy to duplicate when conscious. The circumstances were set. Everything was ready to go, but he still had reservations about it. Going into the mind of another was a major violation of privacy. One that couldn't just be forgotten by both parties. But he didn't see any other way; it was either this or they could wait for an entire fleet of battle ships to descend upon the planet before they knew whether or not they were in severe danger.

He finally convinced himself to move forward. Pushing his sleeves up a bit, he tried to settle his nerves. This wasn't going to be pleasant. Approaching the cot, he moved a bit on autopilot to re-arrange Nathan into a better position. Taking in a deep breath, Ambassador sat down on the edge of the cot and set his hands on either side of the officer's temples. Already he was getting traces of thoughts; erratic, vivid. There was no indication externally of what was going on internally. Re-convincing himself that he needed to go through with it, Ambassador leaned forward until he met the forehead of the other with his own. Colors, emotions, and the sense of fire coursing through veins flooded his mind. There was panic, and comfort, and the fear that stepping into a cryosleep chamber could be the last memory ever known.

Well, that was... unexpected...

Kaliska cast a glance to Ambassador, meeting his eyes for a brief moment to express her mild surprise and confusion. Perhaps humans have weaker systems than the Misu after all. Usually when a Misu first ingests the loa there would be several moments of happy no-holds interaction. That is how she hoped Nathan would have responded to the substance. She could not have been more disappointed. At the very least he was now sleeping and Ambassador could collect the memories needed. What is it that Jeremiah says... Chase cutting? Something like that...

Since Nathan chose to ignore her friendly attempt at questions and conversation, she saw herself no longer needed. Not until Ambassador returned... Or if she had to forcefully make him return. The Misu stepped back closer to the cell's outer edge to allow Ambassador whatever space was needed for his search. Not knowing what she was about to behold left her stomach in knots for what seemed like the millionth time today.

Watching closely as Ambassador examined and moved Nathan, she stood ready to act if need be. Ambassador hadn't fully explained what his struggling might look like, so she would have to pay close attention and use her best judgment. That and the assistance of the guards and their blades if it came to that. Ambassador might have cared about having an others' blood on his hands but Kaliska did not. The way she was growing to see it, one less other meant one less problem to be dealt with.

Only when her bare back met the coolness of the cell wall did she stop to take a breath in attempt to calm her fears and anxieties. Though it did little to sooth her. Kaliska wanted to tell Ambassador to be careful or be safe, but instead she said nothing and only watched, words lost in her quickly drying throat. Her bright green eyes would remain affixed on Ambassador as he began.

Cobblestone pathways twisted around from a central gazebo-type structure, some spiraling down into a lightless abyss from which echoes of voices and machines could be heard. Above, a rich burnt-orange sky could be seen through a latticework of shaped white stone. The air carried a warm breeze that whispered through the scarlet grasses of the hill that the central area stood upon. The hills rolled on into the horizon, unbroken by any structure, tree, or mountain. Simply.. hills. And still, there were messages in the way the grasses rustled in the breeze. He knew not to step off the paths, not here. With the feeling of gaze upon him, he turned. An androgynous silhouette of a person stood only an arm's length away. Only eyes could be seen in the face that held no form, no color. One eyes was blue. The other brown. When words were spoken, it was from the voices of both a woman and a man. "Welcome back."
Ambassador stepped closer to the silhouette. "You know why I'm here."
The silhouette turned slowly on its heels, eyes traveling to land on a pathway that ended abruptly at a rounded door. Circular letters embraced the frame around it. Words here were not needed; Ambassador began down the path that had been silently indicated. When he met the door, it dilated. Stepping in, he was met with the cold of lifeless air. The doorway vanished behind him, sealing away the borderlands and taking his mental form with it. He was an observer now.

Concern accompanied an interaction between a being and two strangers of a foreign world. There were no clear memories of how the being had gotten to this place, this room. Instead, there were pulses of memory traveling along the currents of the unconscious. Breathing in, the memories spoke of being dragged through the jungle here by natives. On the exhale, attention was taken to the conscious memories before that.

There was a metal pod, dented and failing. And then he was in it. Old memories were returning; Nathan Auridaxe, twenty-six, male, chief medical officer aboard the Ouroborous. The vessel's name whispered in five different tongues when it was spoken. One of the quieter voices spoke beyond the memories. "Ouroborous... of the Sirius Federation..." He was here on a mission.

His gaze followed the form of a man as he walked towards a building. New methods of travel occupied the land below, rolling on the latest innovative solar-powered wheels. People of all walks of life traveled along the footpaths near him, caught up in their own thoughts and lives. Some wandered with children, some wandered alone. All of them bore the resemblance of the same species. The path began to warp, while the image of the man faded. The environment around began to tear, allowing the images of other worlds and other times to bleed through. Voices shouted and laughed; fear intermingled with joy and curiosity and anger. There was home, and then it was gone. Friends. A vacation. Confidence in combat, the feeling of rain on skin...
Here was home again, among the family of a single species. Heritage could be felt in the blood coursing through veins. Family history had been spoken of since birth. This was home, and it was beautiful-

A scream pierced through the air. A child's broken body lay before him only half a pace away. There was no name.
He stumbled back, the walls of the other's mind tearing apart. The disembodied voice of the child looped the question "But... why?".
The rounded doorway circled closed as he was pulled backwards out of it. He caught the gaze of the silhouette on his last moments, Timesmith's voice asking in his mind: "What did you gain?"

Ambassador floundered until he got enough grip to stand and back away from the cot. Images were still competing for attention, and then faded abruptly. The sight of the child's body lasted longest, and then it too began to vanish. There was warm air around him. Warm, thick air that held little breathable content. Despite it, he was cold. And colorless. Fear was holding him in place against the far wall while he fought the trembling. Setting his head back against the stone, Ambassador closed his eyes and tried to re-orient himself in the present.

Tension faded as the time passed by slowly. Trusol was gone leaving only the two wall sconces as their light source. The flames gave off an orange hued glow that both flickered throughout the space and birthed dark shadows to lurk in the far corners of the cell. Outside she could faintly hear the soft chirps and buzzes emitting from waking night time insects. The sounds from the jungle was muffled when in the village and non existent here in the cell. Kaliska found herself missing the constant noise as she keep a watchful eye on the two others.

Tired and uncomfortable from standing so still for so many moments, Kaliska shifted her feet several times and almost started pacing. She was not sure if she had to be quiet for Ambassador to take the memories so she kept silent; her lips tightly locked except the many times she found herself gnawing away at her already swollen lower lip.

By the time almost an hour has passed, Kaliska found herself leaning against the wall, blinking sleepily. Normally she could keep a better watch for a much longer time, but it was not normal for her to go nearly three nights without a substantial amount of rest either. The Misu was fighting off a yawn, when Ambassador began to stir.

Quickly, she pushed off from the wall to take several steps closer to Ambassador. Nervously she wrung as her hands, trying to work up the courage to strike him necessary. Thankfully she straightened and rose from the cot before she had to make that decision. He backpedaled away from the other Nathan seeming to not even see her. A worried panic rose throughout her. Was he still seeing the memories? Was he still linking to this other? Was it hurting him?

The panic bordered on frustration at not knowing what to do and what she could do to him Ambassador. She wished he had given her more information, let her know more about the procedure, more about what could happen and what would happen. The Misu followed him with slow cautious steps so as not to spook him if he did become aware that she was near.

Kaliska scanned him over as if inspecting him for any wounds or injuries. He seemed to be intact but was clearly shaken and paler than usual. Not knowing what else to do to help him through this, she moved forward and reached out slowly to take his hand in hers, wrapping her warm fingers around his cool ones. The stark contrast made her draw a sharp breath through parted lips, her eyes jerking upward to find his closed.

Keeping her hand around his she eased forward to nuzzle into him, pressing her body softly against his in a warm embrace. She felt his chilled skin through the thin fabric of her dress. Why was he this cold? And shaking? Sometimes elderly Misu shook when they were near death... Could Ambassador be dying? She doubted the theory, but still his conditioning was nothing short of worrying.

"Ambassador?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. She hadn't meant it to come out so soft and shaky but it could not be helped, "Are you still with me?"

The presence of others in the present was starting to stand out against the ones in the past. The area quieted, though there were still a few rogue lines of memories working around in his mind. They looped for a time, until finally they were stored. In their place, new ones were forming. Concern. Knowing how to find clams in the river. The smell of a storm rolling in over the jungle. He re-opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling when he recognized the incoming thoughts. They were Kaliska's. He looked down, realizing there was a warm pressure against him. And that was a Misu. A familiar one. The contrast between the cold lifeless stone and the warm living soul in front of him brought on a sort of introspective observation; it was like a tactile manifestation of the unloving and cold past being behind him, and a loving warm future ahead. Happy at the change of experience, he returned her embrace. And then set his watchful gaze on Nathan. In such a short time, he had learned more than he intended. And not very much of what he actually wanted to know.

"Yes, thank you. I'm fine." He found the words unrefined and somewhat inaccurate, but it was the best he could do while he was still bringing his heartrate down. The trembling was subsiding as well, again leaving a sense of exhaustion in its wake. He had forgotten what sharing memories was like.. and the only ones he had done it with were family. Ones who were well acquainted with the process. Nathan still seemed to be out, and Ambassador was more than ready to leave the room. It held a darkness about it that was beyond what the shadows provided. "I would like to step outside." he stated.

Kaliska breathed a sigh of relief when Ambassador finally answered her. Shutting her eyes rightly for a moment nodded against his torso, agreeing to his wishes before pulling away from him to give the other some space. She kept her voice low and soft as she looked up to meet his eyes as if they would give away if he truly was as fine as he said.

"The other... Nathan will likely be asleep for a long while... We should get some rest as well. Come."

Though she freed him from her embrace she wasn't giving him his hand back just yet and instead kept a tender grip on it as she moved to leave the cell. A quick exchange with the guards informed them to stand watch and keep a close eye and to alert her if anything changes at all. The both agreed and vowed to obey her wishes and assured her that all would be well. The last part she knew was an attempt to calm her. While she appreciated the gesture, there were not many words that could ease her at this moment.

Leaving the guards, Kaliska walked along side Ambassador as they made the ascent to ground level. It was dark out aside from a few lighted lanterns illuminating the path back into the Keep as well as the tiny blinks of light coming from the various luminous inspects that drifted before them along their way. Looking above the sky was dark with the promise of clouds and possibly even a brewing storm. Kaliska hoped the sky would fall sooner than later to maybe help both her father and Ryilla's Protector with the wildfires to the west.

Now that they were outdoors, Kaliska stone another glance at Ambassador as they walked down a scenic path that would lead them toward a side entrance into the Keep. "Are you sure that you are fine, Ambassador?"

Self-review went on as he followed the Misu, her connection fading away as well. He had gone outside his level of experience, something that could have ended badly if his defenses had not gone off. He had experienced half a moment of being completely Nathan and nothing of himself. Though the experience had passed, it still left its mark. Care would be taken not to let that happen again.

When they stepped outside, his feet found the cold cobblestone path. It helped bring attention to the fact he was on Norline. Here, the evening colors had been replaced with night. Little lanterns cast warm shadows on the pathway and called little insects to their light. The clear air was refreshing, despite the lack of gases compatible with his physiology. Tended plants made up an exotic guarded that intertwined with more of the sculptures and art that the castle kept within. There were a couple ponds here and there, some with colorful fish in them. None of the plants or animals seemed to pay attention to them, and he was grateful for that.

His answer came once they were more than a couple paces from the building. "I will be. It's been awhile since I did that, I forgot what it was like." The tone was relaxed - finally - and he kept the volume at a casual level, offering Kaliska a soft smile. "Fortunately I had a great teacher, so it went much smoother than it could have." Shifting focus, "How are you doing with all this? It can't be easy to have someone like that so close to your people."

Listening to Ambassador, Kaliska wondered if there would ever come a time that the two of them could sit down and just talk. There was much and more she would have loved to know. She imagined, that like Jeremiah, Ambassador was likely full to the brim with stories of the places he had been and things he has saw. Not to mention she had plenty more questions regarding his species and this telepathy trick that was taught to them. It was nothing short of amazing and she could not help but wonder if he'd taken a peak into her own thoughts and memories yet. If she had such a power, she did not think that she could keep it to her self; curiosity would be too great a threat.

First she answered him with a sigh as they walked hand in hand down the winding path. She waited till they were climbing the few steps that would lead them over the threshold and into the main halls of the Protector's home. Dinner was likely coming to an end by now. The two could probably catch the tail end and even have the servers warm them a decent meal but she honestly did not have the energy for it.

"It is not just the one other that this Misu worries over, Ambassador... It is the threat of more to come..." Kaliska did not veer toward the dinning hall, instead she headed back the way they had originally come from the hall that held the guest chambers.

"Long ago, before my father was born, others visited Norline.... Visited the village Baxist. The others were few then, coming in a single silver flyer. The others tried to make friends with the Misu and offered to teach them ways of others and the Misu were happy to try. All seemed to be fine until the others began to learn of Misu secrets... Then the others no longer cared for friendship. There was a battle then. Many Misu died and what was left of the others fled."

The halls that lead to the chambers were dimly lit, casting shadows all along their path giving the spaces and atrium a warm yet haunting feel as the light bounced off plant leaves and colored tiles. The wind was picking up outside, blowing a strong breeze through the tall windows and sending the thin, sheer draperies billowing out across the hall before them. Kaliska paused a moment in her story, as they approached their doorways that lead to their temporary bedrooms.

"Ever since Misu have feared the day the others would return. We knew it would happen... Just did not know when. Jeremiah urged us to send for defenses but the council decided against it. To bring in defenses would only bring more others. Those defending would soon do the same as the others before. Norline lacks the... technology as you say, that other stars thrive with. Jeremiah says we destined ourselves to becoming a race lost in time. He was angry about the council's refusal..."

Kaliska stopped there, losing her desire to speak as well as not knowing quite why she was telling Ambassador the history in the first place. Perhaps she was sharing too much with him. After all he was just an other as well, despite what her opinion of him might be.

"We should sleep now. Would you like a bed warmer to stay with you?" The Misu gently swiped her thumb over his hand, "You still feel cold, Ambassador."

As the history was lain before him, he couldn't help but feel the emotions that shifted within it. When she spoke of the earliest friendships, he smiled. And then it faded, leaving a sorrow. He wondered what it was the others learned that could cause them to react so illogically. Clearly they hadn't succeeded in taking Norline: Kaliska referred to her people as Misu, as well as the ones in the past. They had survived. If only physically.

By the time they were inside, the winds had begun to churn the night air. They picked up gradually but still at a rapid pace; enough to make him wonder what the weather would bring. He recognized a few hints of warm, humid air in the nocturnal gusts. A rainstorm was headed their way. Along the halls, drapes billowed out and flipped their edges. The sound of the gusts between the pillars and the feeling of it across his skin brought back memories of home. His first home, anyway. He was beginning to miss Stravin Twelve's constant storms.

When Kaliska spoke of Jeremiah saying they would be a race that would die - especially if they did not prepare themselves - he frowned. The Misu were right to know it was dangerous to bring in offworlders, especially if those offworlders were going to be almost single-handedly responsible for the protection of the planet. He could think of a few races that would be able to have both competent-enough technology and the morals to not abuse the position of power, but the problem would be getting them here. Especially now. It would be possible to take them back in time, but.. being in the 'future' of the scenario, the Misu would be prepared now. And that clearly hadn't happened. At least that he knew of.

When Kaliska lost her words to what seemed like despair, Ambassador paused their travel in the middle of the corridor. He turned to her, finding the sight of a tired and somewhat depressed-looking Misu. Her colors seemed to lack richness. A bed warmer? The bed had seemed warm enough when he had napped on it... But maybe the nights were colder than he recalled, and the bed needed the aid of some type of manual heater. A warm blanket, perhaps, or something that was placed under the pillow surface. "Sure, I will give it a go. But Kaliska-" the name felt odd for him to say, like it was forbidden knowledge - "There is something you need to know." He raised her hand slightly and placed his other on top of it. Looking to find eye contact, he spoke. "Your culture does not coexist with machines and the technology that others do. It is true you are not prepared to defend yourselves from such societies. But I'll tell you something." he paused for just a moment, enough to let her know he was going to relay something important. "I have been to stars where the people who lived on them didn't even know who the ancestors of the planet were. They didn't know the names of the moons or the lands and had never even seen a plant that had grown there naturally. In the societies I have seen that visit other stars, many of them have lost what it means to even belong to a family. Everything around them is just the final product of hundreds of cultures blended together. Nothing they do or see could be called their cultures' own; they don't have legends of family stories beyond maybe their parents' parents'. They do not have feasts like what your people do. Instead, they eat foods that are just chemicals: non-natural materials. Until, one day," here he offered a bit of a weary smile, "They come across a people who can sell artwork crafted by the techniques of their ancestors in their own planets' bazaar. They know which plants they walk among can save you from dehydration, and everything they live with has been with their people throughout time. And while it is very possible that the future here may not be well in the coming months, I will tell you something. The people I have chosen to live with, and the profession I chose to learn, allow individuals to move in time. I know it doesn't seem real, but trust me when I say it is. Those stars with the citizens who do not know the planets' ancestors.. there are others who travel back in time specifically to learn that. They go because they are drawn to planets who have a culture like yours; one that has stories and tales of the earliest inhabitants' lives. It is a rich experience that your people get to live and so many others don't."

Inside Nathan's mind, a tremor was felt.

An intrusion. Something had been accessed by a foreign source.

Nathan did not know how he knew this, but he could feel it. While he had been drugged into a psychidelic dream of his own subconscious, his mind had been searched. Excavated. Nathan had no way of telling what the intruder got, but only that they didn't get far: he had spent years strengthening his mind, centuries in a cryopod with an algorithm looping in the computer, connected to his mind by neurodes, editing things, creating false memories that Nathan could readily identify as false. He needed to ensure that he was the only one that could enter his mind, telepath or not.

And suddenly, Nathan realised he knew who the intruder once, and rage boiled through him.

It was then that he woke up, thoughts of death on his mind. And they were not involving others, but himself.

---

The telepath and Misu had left, and the night was dark outside. Nathan could hear two people conversing in hushed voices outside, both gruff and in an alien language. Misu guards, it would seem.

Nathan's breathing felt constricted, so he elected to attach his helmet once more. Once this was done, precious air flowing through his lungs, he needed to consider what to do next.

In the darkness, he couldn't see whether he had been left food or drink, but he assumed not, and he was rather hungry. The objective forming in his head was one of self-preservation: escape. Break out.

It was a shame to have to leave these Misu, a wonderful tribe as they were, but they simply didn't want him around, and he understood that. Pre-industrial races and groups of people had often been encountered by Nathan on various expeditions, and they were always scared of foreigners.

The issue was, however, in how to escape. The window was too small to fit through. There were two guards outside. Granted, Nathan had a pistol designed to penetrate heavy bulletproof vests, but it was loud, instantly recognizable and would bring reinforcements that Nathan lacked the ammunition for. Besides, these guards were innocent; Nathan didn't psrticularly want to kill anyone.

He considered all the options, all the blunt objects in this room he could use to incapacitate someone nonlethally.

And then, he had an idea.

---

Nathan gave a knock on the door and slipped back into the shadows, quieting his breathing. He gripped the hazard suit's helmet ever tighter and lifted it over his head, waiting for the strike. When the first guard opened the door, peering inside, he recieved a whack on the top of the head and a kick in what Nathan hoped were the sensitive parts. He seemed to be out for the count as he lay moaning softly on the ground, but the other guard remained. Nathan dashed out around the corner and, using the helmet as a battering ram, smashed him into the opposite wall with a crash. Hopefully no one else was around to hesr the commotion.

The second guard also seemed to have lost consciousness, so Nathan carefully replaced his helmet and began the slow and tedious task of moving the second guard into the prison cell. When this was done, Nathan searched the guards for a key, located one, and locked the door from the outside.

He began moving slowly and carefully down the corridor.

Jannery watched with happiness as the reports from the landing craft came that they had landed successfully and were unloading now at the landing site.

They had reported seeing smoke in the distance; a village, perhaps. Either way, they would soon find out.

(OOC: This was an accidental double post which I converted to something else, ignore the fact that Nathan is tagged)

(Disregard)

Kaliska listened to Ambassador, her tired eyes fixed on his features as he spoke of how different and special some would view Norline. She did believe him. Not everyone among all the stars could be cruel and selfish but those that were pure of heart were likely few and far between and none of them seemed to be on their way now.

Perhaps it was just that she was exhausted but in a small way she felt already defeated by the events that were about to come to her small planet. Of course she would ultimately await to hear what the council or at least the closest council members planned to do about the invading others, but it seemed clear what the outcome would be regardless of any final council decisions. The Misu would be out smarted with newer technology and probably out numbered to boot. They had no where to run and no where to flee. They would defend their homes as best as possible but in the end it would be Misu's blood that coated Norline. At the very least, they would die a noble death.

None of this she spoke aloud to Ambassador. He could still have a chance. He did not have to die fighting for land and a star that was not his home and of which he held no ties. It was not right even to ask him to. As far as he was concerned, Kaliska would keep her word and send him to Jeremiah in the hopes that maybe they both could leave in the old man's flyer.

In response to him, she only lifted her lips into a weary smile that spoke more words than could muster. "Got to live... I'll see that your bed is warm tonight Ambassador." With that she turned to leave him standing alone in the windy hallway. As she reached her door she did stop to look at him from over one bare shoulder. She stared at him for a long moment as the hall's candled flickered and danced casting shadows to dance along with the silk or her skirt that flapped softly around her legs.

"Maybe if you get the chance, Ambassador... Come visit this Misu in the past..." With that she retreated into her chambers. She doubted she would find rest that night but she would at least try. In the morning she hoped for the Protectors' return and more news of the others. Also in the morning, she would let Ambassador in or her plan to send him without her to Isottina. Tonight she would let him rest and enjoy the company of a bed warmer or two.