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The Zulti can be found laying near the Security Zone, a chain leading from it's collar to where it's attached to a ring set into the floor.
The Olympus carries a number of smaller ships, one of those being the shuttle you are currently on. It lowers itself down into the large domed landing bay of the half-spherical ship, two large blast doors closing above as the shuttle takes place near-center of the landing floor. The boarding ramp on the side of the vessel descends quickly and Rillitan leads the way down to the flat concrete-like-substance below.
Wilt watches one of the view screens as the ship enters the docking bay, and touches down. He turns to the exit of the ship as any of the other passengers leave the shuttle, flapping his wings after the others have exited and flies out, looking around for any familiar faces. This time however, he actually spots someone, gliding towards Rillitan and landing in front of him, approaching on foot and greeting the man. "Hello, Rillitan! Guess this is the day I'll be getting started, huh?"
"Looks like." Rillitan mutters gruffly, looking down at Wilt with a slightly annoyed expression, "Tia asked m' t' show you 'bout, too." he adds.
Wilt nods to Rillitan after a moment. "Really? This place did look pretty big from the outside. How big are we talking?"
"Ain't really sure." Rillitan grunts, "She's abou' a third bigger than this landin' bay wide. It cuts through t' top of t' apple, see?" he attempts to indicate with his hands but his display is not a brilliantly clearer show.
Wilt nods again, watching him illustrate with the apple, then looks around for a time, getting some idea by the sheer size of the hangar. "Really, huh? That's pretty big. Well, guess we've got some time to look around, huh? I'll try not to be a bother, honestly!"
"Jus' follow me, we'll take t' service elevator." Rillitan moves towards the center at a steady pace, towards the circular lift that's slightly elevated from the rest of the landing bay. Wilt follows Rillitan down through the elevator, waddling at a quickened pace to attempt to keep up, all the while browsing around to the other ships flying into and out of the hangar. He definately looks like someone who still needs to spend some time in space, however.
"You'll find yourself feelin' a sligh' heavier," Rillitan grunts, "T' Olympus runs on gravity similar t' Mars in NormalSpace, not t' galactic standard, 1.1 more or somethin', makes a difference, eh?" he stands on the service elevator, manning the control panel.
It was true. Wilt did notice himself feeling a bit more sluggish then usual. "Different gravity, huh? Well, this is definately something to get used to." He walks onto the elevator, stepping close to the center, and turns to face Rillitan. "There aren't any side-effects to being weighed down like this, are there?"
"You get healthier." Rillitan replies, flatly, "Put on muscle, good fer yer blood pressure. Hell, you c'n fly in 'ere for an hour 'n go back t' lower gravity ye'll feel like a new man - uh - bat." he presses the descend button and the service lift slowly lowers into the ship proper.
Service Lift - <Olympus>
A largish lift, big enough to fit ten human sized people in along with cargo. It is painted in dull, military grey and covered in access panels. Clearly meant for quick repair jobs should the lift stop functioning. A single pair of battered and scarred doors lead out.
Wilt spreads his wings for a moment as the elevator begins its desent, but he gets used to the momentium in the higher gravity enviroment quickly enough, and folds up his wings again. "Well, just so long as it doesn't cause me to get sick or anything, I suppose I'll be fine... But that goes without saying, right?"
"Yeh, I'd prefer it tha' way." Rillitan grunts, keeping his hand on the elevator controls as they pass the second deck and further on. "I'll take ye' t' Deck 3 first, but keep in mind it's usually t' off limits fer anyone who ain't authorised. What is it you do, again? C'ept fly about an' eat, 'course."
"I'm a mechanic. Basically maintance and repairs, replacing and installing components. Things like that, but usually on vechiles designed for the atmosphere, or landed ships." Wilt looks up to Rillitan for a moment, a little concerned about the man's opinion about him. "Seriously, sorry about the other day. Didn't know what came over me, to be honest."
"Listen wings..." Rillitan starts, frowning, "It ain't nothin' personal t' you like. I just ain't the most personable on this 'ere ship, an' prefer it like so. Clueless as t' why Ti put me up to this... Anyway, welcome to Engineerin'." one cue, the walls of the service elevator open out to a 360 degree view of the lower deck, obscured only by the elevator rungs that lower it down.
Engineering - <Olympus>
The lower floor of the Olympus opens out into the engineering section, the service elevator lowering central to the large power plant dedicated to running the ship. It has a distinctly industrial aesthetic, the layout has not been designed for comfort but for ease of use and efficiency.
There is a clearway running from the elevator base to the cargo bay doors, which open down into the forward part of the ship. Right of this clearway leads out into the majority of the life support systems and on a walkway above a layer of equipment is the entrance to the laboratories. To the right of the clearway is the main mechanical workspace, allowing room for the diagnosis and repair equipment that keep the ships engine in running order. Moving behind the service elevator would bring you to the main reactor shell and the majority of the vital systems that keep the Olympus alive. Hanging above the reactor, with circular walkways allowing access to it, is the OtherSpace Drive.
Wilt nods to Rillitan, and chirps. Not exactly sounding like a happy chirp, like he tends to make. He looks around for a moment, looking around the engineering deck. "Well, I suppose I might end up doing some work here as well, eventually." "I got a bit o' mechanical know 'ow from fixin' bikes." Rillitan declares matter-o-factly, "We got a section t' work on stuff over t'ere." he indicates down to a workshop styled section of engineering, which is mostly free from the bulkier ship systems.
Wilt nods again, taking a look at the workshop where Rillitan pointed out. "Bikes, huh? Well, that's pretty good. I started off as a go-for guy."
The service elevator comes to a stop at the lowest point it can and the safety rails swing open to allow those on the lift a chance to disembark at their leisure. "Go-for wut?" the Timonae asks Wilt, looking down at him with a slight frown. Both are standing on the service elevator, for the moment.
"What floor would you prefer, Mr. Ryoleli?" a soft feminine voice asks, there's a slight mechanical sound to it.
Wilt looks back at Rillitan when he asks him. "Oh, I meant that's what I did. Going off and getting this or that. You know. Tools, replacement parts, supplies or whatever. Nothing glamerous or anything. Just what the company got me to do before they started training me in repairs."
"We just arrived - ye' bloody slow, uh, woman-thin'." the Timonae rebukes hesitantly before snorting lightly to himself. He looks back to Wilt and nods, "Well, migh' 'ave t' same kinda work 'ere, though I can imagine ye'll be useful fer gettin' in t' more, uh, tightly built engines." the Timonae moves off the service lift slowly, moving towards the main reactor.
A form shimmers into view, that of a petite woman in rather nondescript clothing. Her dark eyes stare up at the Timonae, "My apologies, sir. Perhaps my processes are running a bit slow today. I can run a diagnostic if you would like?" Her eyes shift from Rillitan to Wilt, "And good evening to you, Mr. Tupai," she offers in Hekayan to Wilt with a slight bow of her head.
Thender tags along after the group, looking around the vessel with an appraising eye.
Wilt looks back to the woman who appears behind them, who greets the two of them. "Oh, hello, miss... Um... What's your name?" He turns back to Rillitan, and nods for a moment. "Well... Yeah... That's what they had me do back at home..." Not exactly the... Happyest moments that he can remember, however."
"This 'ere is t' resident synthoidical woman -" Rillitan grunts with a smirk, letting the AI answer the question directly, "I ain't rightly sure what ye'll be doin' bat." he furthers on, "You'll be paid proper fer it, though." he glances across to Thender with a frown, "Oi." he mutters, "You're good, but don't be touchin' shit all or they'll be 'ell for it."
"You may call this unit Lila," the hologram replies to Wilt. "I am an artificially intelligent life that was built into the ship. And you are?" her eyes shift toward Thender, "And good evening, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?" the small nondescript woman asks.
"Hey," Thender retorts to Rillitan, "You're the one invited anyone to come check out your ..." He tilts his head at Lila. "A hologram, huh?" He reaches out to poke at her shoulder experimentally. "Cool. I oughta get one of these for my crate."
Wilt nods to Rillitan, and looks at the holographic woman, inspecting her for a moment. "A holographic unit and AI, huh? Well, I'm Wilt. Wilt Atoro. And um... What... systems do you maintain? What do you do?" He looks over to Thender, and waves a wing to him. "Hello to you too!"
Rillitan falls silent, watching the conversation with what could be described as his usual grumpy expression.
"I will have to ask you to please be careful, sir," Lila says to Thender as his hand pokes right through her. "With a slightly higher expenditure of energy this form can be quite solid. It could be rather unpleasant or both of us." Her attention shifts back toward Wilt, "I monitor all systems aboard this ship. Unfortunately I am unable to actually maintain any of the physical systems, but I can tell you when they are in need of repair." Her eyes shift just slightly to take in Rillitan from the corner and then back to the bat, "Do not let that one fool you, he is actually rather pleasant to have around," she confides in a stage whisper.
Thender nods to Wilt. "Hi," he offers, scratching the back of his head. He looks from Rillitan to Lila, and gestures between the two of them. "It should be in reverse," he says. "/Her/ being solid should be pleasant for both of us, and /he/ /doesn't/ seem nice to have around."
Wilt nods to Lila, and glances to Rillitan quickly. "I realized that, yeah. Kinda surprized me the first time I met him as well," he whispers back to the hologram. He turns to Thender, smiling a little. "Well, everyone makes mistakes, I suppose, right?"
"Figures t' worlds all /shakey lookin'/," Rillitan replies to Thender in a mock-melodramatic tone, "Oh Lady, ah think we migh' be drawin' int' another universe where it all makes sense!"
"Are you gonna stand there being all facetious, or are you gonna show us your reactor core?" Thender asks, gesturing past Rillitan to the rest of the engineering level.
Lila smiles at Wilt and nods, "Quite the shock I assure you," she replies with a wink before turning to face Thender, "Don't you think that's a little forward for a first meeting, sir?" she asks straight faced. "Perhaps you should be offering dinner before you go looking under the hood?"
"Oh I don't..." Rillitan rolls his eyes and turns, moving through to the large machinery that sets up the reactor, "I won't pretend to know 'ow this works, this is t' core." he waves a hand, half-heartedly.
Thender smirks. "Cheeky, for a computer," Thender says, moving past Lila towards the core. "Oh, yeah," he says. "Inverser built, but solid." He inspects it, chuckles. "These guys were about on the same level as we were in 2652. This configuration's a lot like the first tramp freighter I ever crewed on -- it was from that time period. The Telltale Heart."
The hologram simply huffs at Rillitan, "It would be nice if a ladies privacy was respected a little around here..." she comments before following them over to the power core. "This one has been modified. The energy output is almost twice that of most power cores this size," she explains. "This was to accomidate the energy needed for the labs and that of normal ship functions as well as the modified shielding about the hull."
"Yeh, she's been modified somewhat by our engineers," Rillitan grunts, "We had t' fix her anyway, so we made sure she had a bit o' excess power t' run more of that shit she's babblin' on abou'." the Timonae aims a metallic arm towards the engines themselves, "O'er there, we got the dual drives, uh, wi' t' power running each side o' 'er service lift." Thender nods. "Big ship doing nonstandard work, you would want to juice it up." He turns. "So. What kind of stuff do you do here?"
"Before Grumpy..uh...Mr. Ryoleli and crew found me, or now?" Lila asks of Thender.
"M'thinks he might'a meant the crew in 'ole." Rillitan says.
Thender raises one eyebrow. "How about both?" He holds his hands out, palms up, and shrugs.
Lila simply gives Rillitan the look, that look that all women are good at giving men...or well most of them at least. She then returns her attention to Thender, "Before the current crew this ship was a scientific research vessel from Hekayt Prime. We studied life from other planets as well as testing a few theories that my father had. I am not certain of our current mission however."
Rillitan takes that look like no man before, for he is a Timonae and as such impervious to the dark will of female-kind. He grumbles a bit. Maybe not.
"Found." Thender quirks an eyebrow. "So you were salvage."
"This ship is not salvage. I am a respected research vessel.." Lila replies indignantly.
"We rescued 'er, more like." Rillitan says, "Well, t'ey did. I weren't involved as t' not really existin' at the time, or sommat."
"When you rescue a ship no longer capable of operating under its own power, that's collecting salvage," Thender says with a shrug. "Hate to tell you. But even the best ships can become salvage." He smiles. "If it makes you feel any better, you're not salvage any more." He glances to Rillitan. "So what about now, huh, what are you up to?"
"I prefer Mr. Ryoleli's assessment," Lila replies in a somewhat subdued tone. There's a momentary pause and then she adds, "Might I offer either of you refreshment?"
"As far as I know, weren't so much the ship that'd died." Rillitan adds finally, "You can see t' labs or t' cargo bay, which are both down 'ere, or we can go back up t' deck 2. Most o' tha' is free t' the public, Aye?"
Thender tilts his head. "Labs?" Sounds like we have a winner.
"The labs are this direction, Mr..?" Lila offers, one hand indicating the way, but her tone indicates that she might not have caught a name yet.
Rillitan allows the AI her question and waits, for a second, so it may be answered.
"Jameson," says Thender. "My name is Thender Jameson." He moves to go in the direction Lila's pointing. "From the 31st century."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jameson," Lila replies before heading off in the direction of the labs. "Would you prefer the botany lab or the other?" she asks over her shoulder.
Rillitan follows, handing the tour over to the AI, it seems.
"Other," Thender says, without hesitation. "Other sounds more exciting." he waggles his eyebrows.
Lila glances over her shoulder at Thender, "As you wish, Mr. Jameson," she replies and the hatch to the lab opens permitting entrance. "Coming along, Captain Grumpypants?" she asks of Rill.
"I'm 'ere." Rillitan mutters, giving Thender a light push with his metallic hand, "Someone's gotta make sure ol' gleam-in-'is-eye don't get too happy wi' t' equipment, by which I mean you - hurk!" he snorts to himself.
Thender shoots a dark look over his shoulder at Rillitan. "Hey, asshole, if this is how you treat a guest, then maybe you can show me the door instead. I didn't come by to get pushed around."
Lila slips on through to the lab a moment before realizing that Thender's not following. She peeks back out the hatchway, "Gentlemen, please..." she says with a hint of authority in her tone.
"That weren't no pushin'," Rillitan objects, following Lila through with a grumble, "Were a /joke/."
"Hand. Contact. Forward pressure," Thender grouses. "/Pushing/." He turns to follow Lila. "So what kind of lab is this?"
Laboratories - <Olympus>
Large counters line this room along with matching cabinets held to the walls above. In the center of the room are two large islands each with a sink and drawers for equipment. Scattered around the room are tall chairs that have been made to accomodate larger sized beings. Various bits and pieces of equipment have been placed upon the counters.
Somewhat obscured behind a counter full of equipment, a stairway rises against a wall, leading up to a balcony and entrance into what looks to be a greenhouse area.
"The section one labs are being used for super secret experimentation," Lila replies to Thender as she leads the way into the main lab area. One hand indicates the botany lab, "There you'll find the experimental plants...and here..." she indicates another door, which opens then, "Is where we do all the special testing," she explains with an impish smile.
"Oh don' be a big babe." Rillitan murmurs, "We're I mean t' arm ye, you'd be 'armed. As 'appens, you're better company than t' walkin' torchligh' there. Special Testing?" he frowns.
Thender glances from Rill to Lila. "What," he says, moving a pointing finger between the two. "She hasn't told you about the Special Testing?"
A soft giggle escapes the AI and trying to compose herself she looks waaay up at Rillitan, "Hmm...perhaps you'll pay better attention to the 'equipment' next time," she replies before heading into section 1.
"Whut?" Rillitan grunts, "Ain't no need for keepin' a man in t' dark. No matter no how, weren't about 'nades - Ti'd say so - 'less it were a surprise. Nah, she's pretty bad at secrets," he shuts up for a moment, following in silence.
"Oh," says Thender. "Well if you paid better attention to her equipment, maybe she'd have told you." He follows along.
"There is no secret experiment, sir," Lila replies. "I was seeing...never mind.." she replies at this and moves about the lab, "This one in particular was used for biological experimentation when my father was running this ship. More currently it was being run by a Hekayti scientist," she explains to Thender. "I believe he was doing experiments in engineering and robotics though."
"Were right borin' when we came through an' cleaned it out. Some stuff looked t' be useful for m' arm, though, should I need a replacement cog or nigh." Rillitan adds, missing the first joke.
Thender chuckles. "Replacement cog," he says. "Hope your engineering deals work out. Listen, I'll cut to the point: I run my own ship. I'm a freighter pilot. I came here to see if we could do deals, if I could run cargo for you, make the small runs this ship is too big to do cost-effectively. To resupply your," he gestures, "experiments, whatever."
"There have not been experiments here in some time," Lila admits softly. "Can I offer you refreshment, Mr. Jameson?" perhaps she's trying to change the subject...
"Go'an talk to Tiana about it, if she's about." Rillitan grunts, nodding at the AI, "C'mon, you can take 'im back up t' deck 2 an' we'll let you refresh t' living fuck outta whatever you damned like," he sniffs, "Aye?"