It’s the day of Emergence for a new generation of Hekayti on the colony world of Ashkodt. The crowds seem to be growing in the common area as everyone gathers.
Standing amongst those crowds, in a little pocket of space all his own, is one dour looking human. Varal watches with some interest, though he keeps glancing around at his surroundings guardedly.
Kallyn is in a little bit of a hurry, the woman hastily braiding her immense length of red-and-black hair as she strides to join the gathering crowd. She is very careful not to elbow anybody in the face as she does so, moving to stay in a region of lower population.
Amanda tries her best to hold some distance from the crowd while still being able to see the goings on.
Common Area – Ashkodt
Brown and gray cobblestones are arrayed in orderly circular patterns in this broad commons that serves as a central gathering plaza for inhabitants of the colony. Hoverorb cameras linger in the air, about ten feet off the ground, providing eyes and ears for Konterbeid security personnel. Several stoic-looking Hekayti statues stand below sprawling broad-leafed trees that grant shade during warmer months.
“– as has been our custom every twenty years, to bring into our world a new generation of Hekayti to follow in our traditions and to perpetuate habits of excellence and propriety,” says a Hekayti orator on a platform near the massive industrial building known as the Generation Management Center. His comment gets a polite cheer from the crowd.
Varal frowns as he moves to get a better view. He grumbles something under his breath, and seems somewhat confused as to what is actually going on at present.
Amanda watches with curiosity,gathering that this is somewhat different from human procreation, but perhaps not from sivadian specialists.
“Bloody hell, of course I’d be a little late,” Kallyn mutters as she, too, makes to slide through the crowd for a better spot. “The one time I’m glad not to be short,” she adds with a sigh, managing to slip in behind a group of assorted shorter beings.
Standing away from any crowd at the edge of the commons a figure dressed in black trenchcoat, hood pulled up, with only a trace of auburn curls escaping the confines of the hood, stands arms akimbo, gloved hands on hips as shadowed eyes observe with quiet interest.
“So, without further delay, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the next generation of Ashkodt,” the spokesman proclaims. “Behold, the Emergence!” He sweeps a large arm toward the generation management center. Eyes in the crowd follow. The doors remain closed. The Hekayti on the platform narrows his eyes as he ponders the situation. “Behold,” he repeats, “the Emergence!” Again, the crowd’s gaze shifts to the industrial building’s closed doors. They’re large doors, designed to roll upward, able to accommodate people as well as heavy machinery. They remain closed. The spokesman frowns. “Perhaps something has gone awry with the doors,” he mutters. But then, no, one of the doors cracks upward about six feet – enough for a lone Hekayti in a long white lab coat to emerge. The door then closes behind her as she clops in the direction of the stage.
Varal grunts as nothing happens, crossing his arms.
Kallyn, on the other hand, opts for the raising of an eyebrow as her eyes take on a swirling yellow-orange tint. “Oh dear, look at that,” she remarks to herself, “Something’s wrong. I wonder if it’s just mildly wrong or verse-shatteringly wrong…”
“Figures” murmurs Jasra, the trenchcoated hooded figure shifts and moves to fold her arms over her chest, “Much ado about aliens…” black gloved fingers tap her left arm as she waits restlessly for something to happen…
A familiar Gankri sidles up beside Kallyn, metal briefcase in hand. He gives a tug on her sleeve and says, “We have to go. Quickly.”
Amanda peers at the female hekayti in the labcoat curiously with mild concern.
“Hello again,” Kallyn replies, unphased by the Vampire’s urgency or even the fact that he, for some reason, has included her in whatever he’s up to. “Why must we leave, hm? Did you do something stupid?” Regardless, she moves to leave the crowd with him and goes out of her way to keep the Gankri in sight.
Varal begins moving forward as best he can, avoiding pushing – trying to get a closer look if at all possible.
The female Hekayti in the lab coat gets to the stage, says something to the speaker, who puts a hand to his chest as his mouth falls open. Finally, he gives the woman a nod. She starts back down the steps and makes her way toward the industrial building where the new generation supposedly awaits. Murmuring starts to roll through the crowd. The spokesman returns to the podium and announces: “We seem to be experiencing certain technical difficulties.” He clears his throat, then: “All offworlders are to report to the arcology for questioning by Konterbeid authorities. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. It is also non-optional.”
Vampire observes this, then bobs his snout at Kallyn. “I did what had to be done,” he says. “Order? My ass!” He turns and starts waddling his way toward the landing pad. He seems oblivious to the hover orbs that are tracking his progress.
Jasra drops her arms and moves a bit forward as the Hekayti says something to the speaker. “Holy tuxedos… now what.” Glancing around, “Why do I come to these things… Who the hell is arcology.”
Amanda sighs “Oh just lovely…so where are we reporting again?”
“Every. Time,” Varal growls, looking especially displeased having managed to surround himself with milling Hekayti. With a sigh, he makes his way to join the other outwoulders for the time being, using the crowd as a means of figuring out exactly where he should be going. “I don’t know why I bother.”
Kallyn just shakes her head and tsks lightly. “You did something stupid,” she affirms, “What did you do?” The woman glances around to see where they’re going – whether it’s towards the arcology or away, mostly – buy mostly keeps her attention on the Gankri.
“Never trust alien events.” Jasra tells herself angrily, “That should be a rule.” Seeming to wander she moves towards a group of what could be “outworlders” or maybe just a crowd. “Hope Arcology isn’t too crowded.”
“We have to get off the planet,” Vampire urges, starting to lope a little now. “It’s going to be bad. A witch hunt. Anyone who sticks around to answer their ‘questions’, well, I sure hope they enjoy thumbscrews and water torture.”
Amanda follows those that are clearly non-hekayti, hoping somebody knows where to go.
“So whatever it is you did, you believe you’ve condemned all those people to torture?” Kallyn asks with a frown. She shakes her head, “I’m disappointed, you seemed nice enough. But I’m afraid if that’s the case, you’ll be joining the rest of us in paying for your foolishness.” She raises her hand towards the Gankri and attempts to hold him in place with her telekinetic powers.
Varal drifts towards Jasra, pitching his voice low. “You have a way off this world if needed?” he asks softly.
Raising gloved hands to her hood, Jasra pushes it back causing a cascade of auburn curls to completely escape. “I have a bad feeling about this…” she whispers through clutched teeth. Another glance around as if looking for a way to escape herself from whatever “questioning” was about to happen, “Like cattle… Planets so suck… when will I learn to stay in space.” She glances at the dark man who spoke to her, “No.” she answers, looking him over. “Do you?”
Amanda follows those that are clearly non-hekayti, hoping somebody knows where to go.
The Gankri doesn’t make it very far before Kallyn uses her abilities to hold him still – frozen in mid-lope. The crowd of Hekayti onlookers seems to be making a circle around the offworlders – roughly two dozen of them – separating like oil from water. Even if Vampire wanted to reach the landing pad, he couldn’t. Konterbeid security officers are blocking access to the shuttles. The orbs shine bright spotlights on the Gankri and then swivel about to touch on each of the other offworlders in turn.
“Surrender peacefully,” the Hekayti spokesman suggests from the platform, “or perish.”
“Just people who will come looking,” Varal replies, looking a little disappointed with the response. “But nothing immediate.” He opens his mouth and motions with his head towards the shuttles about the same time the lights show up on him. His mouth snaps shut and form a frown. “Wonderful,” he says, crossing his arms. Wheels turn in his eyes as he looks calculatingly at the security officers.
Amanda hms “I find the Hekayti to be one of the more reasonable races…I work for one after all” she displays her hands and shows a willingness to comply but does say “What happened to asking nicely?”
Obviously growing a bit more concerned Jasra notices the Hekayti tactics to surround them, “Shades of Soylent Green… I hope we’re not going to be fish food.” She moves a bit closer to Varal maybe for shelter maybe for shield, “How many and how soon?” she asks softly, eyes not leaving the blocked access, “Why did I take a shuttle in the first place?”
“Now look, see, I just saved your life,” Kallyn remarks to the Gankri, “They’d have killed you for sure if I hadn’t stopped you from being even more stupid. Now take your lumps.” She turns her hand so it’s palm up, and then walks backwards back to join the outworlder clump hopefully with Vampire in hovering tow. “I volunteer to be questioned first, so long as this one goes second,” she announces lightly, “Let’s get this over with, hm?”
One of the Hekayti guards approaches Kallyn and her floating frozen captive with the metal briefcase. He says something into the vocalizer bud that dangles near his chin from the loop over his ear. He listens as someone responds. A hover orb swoops in low to scan the briefcase. After a few quick beeps, the guard says, “Everyone else is free to go.” He levels an energy rifle at the Gankri. “He stays.”
“Not enough, and not soon enough,” Varal replies to Jasra, frowning towards Kallyn. “If you can fly, we can try to make a break for . . .” He trails off, tilting his head as the situation resolves as quickly as it starts. “What do you think is in the briefcase?”
“Danger breeds comrades… Name’s Jasra…” she looks hard at the man beside her, “You are? I hope you’re a lucky one, ’cause we’re about to need a bunch of that.” As the guards releases everyone else but the female with the floating whatever dragged behind, she sighs in relief, “Fly, you mean with wings? Left my ship on the floating mammoth…” then addresses his question about the briefcase, “Underwear, what do I care, don’t want to be a food source.”
Jasra stands next to Varal along the edges of a group outworlders.
Amanda nods “They’d do Sivadian authorities proud if they found the culprit so quickly-whatever he’s done, hopefully it doesn’t involve taking life” she says absently and uninvited from where she stands in earshot of Jasra and Varal.
“Oh, lovely,” Kallyn remarks to the guard, “Might I ask what he did, or what’s in the case?” She looks to Varal, then, “Can’t fly, but I could conceivably chuck you should the need ever arise. Another day, perhaps, my Lord.” She’s a little ways off but not too far from Varal and Jasra, a Gankri with a metal briefcase frozen and hovering telekinetically under her command. Oh, with the rifle there she decides to release him.
Varal shrugs, “Lucky enough to still be alive. Varal,” he replies. The Fastheldian smiles unpleasantly at Kallyn, patting one of the pistols at his side. “But, from what little I know about these Hekayti, this is not their military caste – so they probably would have been lightweights,” he pitches low.
The Gankri flops onto the ground with an OOMPH! and his briefcase thunks against the hoof of an approaching Hekayti guard who leans over to pick it up. The guard with the rifle pointed at Vampire informs Kallyn: “We are not currently at liberty to divulge the details of his offense. Suffice it to say, he has tainted the Emergence and given our people every reason to refuse to allow outworlders to return in the future.” He nods toward the other guard who now holds the briefcase and says, “Take that to the laboratory. Maybe they can undo the damage.” He scowls at the Gankri, stepping toward him, saying, “You’re going to a holding cell to await interrogation and trial.”
Jasra nods in reply to Varal’s last comment, “Well Met.” she murmurs rather politely for her, “One can hope.” she adds with a sigh, listening to the exchange about the thing with the briefcase. “Think he stole their generation in that thing?”
Amanda hms “I should hope that outworlder relations can survive it if he has. “she sighs pointedly. “Curiosity nonwithstanding. I’m guessing an exit would be wise.”
“That seems a bit harsh,” Kallyn replies mildly, “Banishing all outworlders because one out of however many are here breeched your security and sabotaged a generation… it’s a very serious offense, no question, but might I ask that it be taken into consideration the willingness of the rest of us to comply, as well as fact that one of us even assisted in subduing the culprit?”
Varal and his pistol are ignored.
“*That* is why you are being allowed to leave, unharmed,” the guard replies to Kallyn. “Your assistance is appreciated. Your freedom is the reward. Now, all of you, depart. A shuttle waits for you.”
“Finally, off this forbidden planet…” Jasra comments, making her way towards the shuttles not waiting to see if Varal is following, “Good riddence, sorry not to see the little bahbees, snot.”
Varal grunts. “Waste of time.”
“Such a stern people,” Kallyn sighs, “You should get to know them better Varal, I think you’d fit right in.” She nods to the guard, before striding towards the landing pad and adding, “But get a new scarf, that one makes you look a little bit foppish.”
Amanda smiles with genuine warmth at Kallyn. “Perhaps, the middle of an ongoing criminal investigation is not the best time to try and repair relationships, though I quite share the sentiment She turns to the hekayti. “We thank you. If further assistance is required in this matter, contact the shelter on commoro station.”
Jasra overhears Kallyn’s comment and laughs as she continues towards the shuttles she pulls her hood up once more, “Never was so happy to be bounced.”
“You’ve made a terrible mistake,” the Gankri shouts as the Hekayti start dragging him away toward the arcology. “You’ve sentenced another generation to simple medioc–” His protest is broken off by the butt of a rifle slamming into his snout.
“Aren’t you a fountain of wit this afternoon,” Varal drawls at Kallyn, also moving towards the shuttles but keeping an eye on the captured Gankri. “Damned aliens.”
“I don’t know…” Jasra throws into the tease of her new aquantance, “I think it’s rather fetching…”
“It is not our place to mess with their culture,” Kallyn replies to the Gankri, “You should have thought of the consequences of messing with an entire generation of people more carefully before you did it.” The Auk looks back to Varal and smirks, “Only for you, my Lord.” She regards the scarf more closely, “Meh… maybe with a different outfit, but with a tight black shirt, an armored vest, and urban camo? A red and white checkered scarf just doesn’t work. I like the shirt, at least, it… shows off, a little.” At that, she adds a wink to the human man.
The guards take Vampire and his metal briefcase through the crowd, toward the arcology and his fate. The rest of the outworlders are shown back to the shuttle and flown back to Comorro Station.