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Maina sits at the bar, a beer bottle in front of her. Perhaps odd, as she looks rather young for a human. She also looks terribly bored, trailing her finger idly on the bar and giving a sigh.
Cygnari steps in from the hub, flaring his wings a bit as he heads towards the bar and grabs a nearby stool. Ordering himself an Outverser brew, he looks down the bar towards Maina. "Hey there." he says with a nod.
Maina glances over at Cygnari, then does a bit of a double-take at the size and appearance. "Oh. Hello. Is it morning, now? Almost everyone was asleep when I came here."
"Well, morning as far as most I guess... a lot of us end up still sticking to our local planetary times." Cygnari says, the edges of his beak curling up a bit. "Just dropped off a load of medical supplies to the infirmary and figured it's time for a brew."
Maina smiles brightly, "Medical supplies? Oh, how wonderful. I'm sure they need it after that attack. I had trouble patching people up since I didn't have much to work with. I'm glad the, um... medical place can take care of them. Are you a doctor?"
"Me? Nah... freighter captain. Captain Cygnari of the Sharpclaw, at your service." Cygnari says. "Short haul trading, that's my specialty. People ship 'em, I haul 'em."
Maina smiles still at that, "Captain? How lovely. Do you get to see lots of interesting places? I want to see new places."
"Oh, here and there." Cygnari says, taking up his glass of beer as it is delivered. "Though mostly I see just the spaceports. I'm due for a vacation..." he says.
Maina nods a little at that, "Where would you go for a vacation? I want to see some place with plants." She grins a little, shifting to face Cygnari more to talk.
"Plants, huh?" he says, the edges of his beak curling up into a grin. "Well, depends on if you want them walking and talking or not. Muscipula has those kind." he says with a chuckle. "Though if you're just interested in a place that's more tropical, Pyracan is your best bet. The Outverser settlement on Eiru is surrounded by grasslands, beaches, and jungle, and it's quite warm there."
Maina blinks, "Walking and talking plants? How strange. Maybe I should see those someday. I think I've heard of Pyracan before, though. I want to see it all, really. So much to experience, you know?"
Cygnari nods. "I think a lot of Outversers are like that when they first arrive." he says. "Sky's the limit, really. Though I'd start with Pyracan. Friendly folk."
Maina nods slowly, "What's an 'Outverser'? Sorry. I'm... really, really new." She shrugs a bit, "I have a lot to learn. I will start there, though, I think."
"That's what we call people who aren't from this universe." Cygnari says.
Maina nods a little, "I guess I am, then. Sorry that I'm not from this universe."
Cygnari widens an eye. "Nothing to be sorry about... it's the Kamir to blame from folks showing up here." he says.
Maina shrugs softly, "Sorry for being sorry? What's the Kamir? I've heard of those before." She smiles nervously, "I'm sorry for so many questions, too."
"The Kamir were a race with delusions of grandeur according to the legends... created the Hive Minders... screwed up a lot of things. Then the broke the universe." Cygnari says bitterly.
Maina makes a face, "Broke the universe? The rifts and all that, then? The reason I'm here? I don't think I like them much, either."
Cygnari nods. "Yep... they created the rifts. They're the reason for all this chaos." he says, taking a sip of his beer. "One reason why the Opodians aren't very popular these days, they worship one."
Maina furrows her brows, "Opodians? What are they and why would they worship one? That seems... odd."
"I've heard some Outversers describe them as giant panda bears... they live on Kamsho." Cygnari says. "According to their legends Opodi created the 4 races that live there, the Opodians, the Llivori, the Tupai, and the Gankri. The Opodians went all out, consider her a god. Total zealous nuts when it comes to that Kamir."
Maina wrinkles her nose, "I fixed a bear person alien after the attack. Do you think that was one? That seems kind of icky. Worshipping something like that."
"Was he white with black spots? If so, that's one of 'em." Cygnari says, taking a sip of his beer.
Maina pauses in thought a bit, then nods, "White and black, yes. If you ignore the blood. He got hit by shrapnel." She makes a face, "Do you think maybe it was his fault? The attack? They opened a rift right inside the docking bay. That's something the Kamir would do, right? Do you think the bear person helped?"
"Doubt it... if it was anybody, I'd pin it on those damn Nalls... I would have said Zarists, but it seems they're getting a bit tired and the Nalls have gone rogue." Cygnari says. "Scaly Outversers who think they can tell everyone how to live. One of these days they're going to get their clock cleaned."
Maina wrinkles her nose, "The people at the dock mentioned Zarists. What are those? I think they were the ones that did it. It sounds like a religion. 'Zarist'. Doesn't that sound like a religion?"
"More like a cult if you ask me." Cygnari says. "A while back this Aukami got it in his head he was ruler of the universe and set out to enslave everybody, called Fekretu. Declared himself Zar. Ended up getting killed, but there's still some folks out there who follow his ideals.
Maina purses her lips at that, "And his ideals include flooding a space station thing? Making explosions and hurting people?"
"Whatever it takes to get people to surrender to 'em." Cygnari says. "Great bunch of people, huh?"
Maina shakes her head, "The opposite of a great bunch of people. Is it like this often? I didn't like it. Not at all. It was frightening. I got hurt. I've never been hurt like that before."
"Only in recent days." Cygnari says. "Though it seems there's always someone out there who wants to stir up trouble."
Maina frowns a bit, "Well, I don't. I want to learn and explore and see new things in this new place. I don't want trouble." She smiles some, now, "You're a captain, yes? So you can fly in space?"
"That I can." Cygnari says with a smile. "Looking for a ride?"
Maina smiles shyly at that, "I actually, ah... took a job and didn't look where they wanted me to drop off the findings until I was done. So I need a ship to take me."
"Sure thing. Where do you need to go?" Cygnari says, finishing up his beer.
Maina shrugs a little, "I think it's a different dock on the station or something? The directions were... vague. To me, at least. I'm still learning."
Cygnari nods. "Ah, I see. The trade dock. Sure, I can run you over there." he says, standing from his barstool.
Maina scoots out of her seat, finally, standing with a smile. "Thank you very much. I can pay you, I think."
The pair head to Cygnari’s ship, the Sharpclaw
Cygnari steps onto the bridge and slides into the pilot chair with practiced ease. "Well, I can't say much for comfort but she's still spaceworthy." he says with a grin, working the controls to get the ship spaceborne.
The ship fires its ascent thrusters and lifts off from the deck as it maneuvers into the take off flight line before heading out through the entrance.
The ship fires its thrusters as it lines up with the docking bay entrance and flies in for a landing within.
Maina looks around curiously, shrugging a bit. "Comfort doesn't bother me. I've only ever been on one other ship, anyway. It seems very nice."
Cygnari flies the vessel around to the trade dock and lands. "Well, here we are."
Maina blinks a bit, "Already? That was quick. Now what do I do?"
"Well, the trade center is not far from the docking area, you should find the folks you need there." Cygnari says.
Maina nods a bit, "I'll be back, then! Thank you." And she scurries off.
A few minutes later...
Maina beams as she nearly bounces her way back to the bridge. "Lots of 'credits'! Are credits good? I've got lots, now. Do you want some for taking me?"
"Lots of credits are good." Cygnari says with a grin. "And I'm always open for tips." he says. "Where do you want to go next?"
Maina blinks, "Next? Ooh... we can go somewhere else? Where is your favorite place? And how much is a good tip? I don't know how much these are worth."
"Well, Pyracan's not too far from here." Cygnari says.
Maina gives a nod, "I wanted to see that! Can we go? Is that okay?"
"Sure! I've got to make a run there anyway to pick up a load of timber for Hekayt Prime." Cygnari says, getting the ship back into space. "For tip, heck, let's say 25." he says with a smile.
The ship fires its ascent thrusters and lifts off from the deck as it maneuvers into the take off flight line before heading out through the entrance. Maina checks out how many credits she has, ponders a bit, then nods, "Okay! Twenty-five. It was a good job, I think."
Cygnari pockets the credits, banking the ship around from Comorro and setting course for Pyracan. "Comorro's pretty close to Pyracan these days, won't take long to get there." he says with a grin, grabbing the throttle lever and shoving it forward.
With a slight lurch the sublight engines accelerate.
The roar of the ship's engines softens as the computer reports that the destination as been reached. A slight lurch is felt as dynamic braking takes hold and the ship slows.
Maina gives a little nod, watching the piloting curiously. "So how does this work?"
Cygnari banks the ship into a landing pattern as Pyracan appears in the forward window. "Well, you aim the ship where you want to go and turn on the engines, mainly... the ship takes care of the rest." he says.
Maina nods a little, going wide-eyed at the sight of a planet in front of her. "That looks... mm. Unlike anything I've seen. Getting closer to a planet."
Cygnari nods. "I never get tired of it myself. Every world has its own unique qualities, and they're all quite a sight from space." Angling the ship downwards he starts the descent towards the planet surface.
Maina smiles, rocking back and forth a bit in excitement. "This is a first for me. I'm so excited. Are you excited? I am."
The ship fires its thrusters as it begins a descent towards the planet below.
Cygnari sets the ship down on Eiru's landing pad, grinning at Maina's excitement. The ship bumps slightly as the landing gear makes contact with the tarmac and the ship gets quieter as the engines power down. "Well, we're here. Thank you for flying Cygnari Spacelines, we hope you had a pleasant flight." he says in a joking tone. "Eiru's a nice place, I think you'll enjoy it."
Maina smiles a little in amusement, more at the tone than the words. "I hope so. Is there a way to get back if you aren't here when I'm done exploring?" She seems to be on the verge of just dashing out to explore.
"Oh sure, one of the general service shuttles should be able to take you back to the station." Cygnari says with a smile.
Maina smiles and nods, "Thank you! Again, thank you. Is there anything else I can do in return?"
"Nah, I don't mind it. If you ever need another lift, don't hesitate to ask if I'm about." Cygnari says. "You take care now."
Maina smiles, nods, and scampers off out to the exit, fully looking her youth at the moment.