Johnny had opened his mouth to speak, but closed it.
What an odd thing to say.
Thankfully, Ereba cleared things up a bit.
"I uh... okay." Johnny shrugged, and pulled up a chair. He just kinda sat there for a few moments, keeping his focus on just about everything but the people in front of him. Conversing directly with not one, but two people at the same time? This was way more than he had bargained for.
Whatever was going on with the human, Tallis seemed entertained by it. She smiled again, then suddenly she looked towards the wall again. When she looked back, she replaced a faded smile, and put her hands to the top and side of her head, like she was making animal ears.
"All around. All around."
But Tallis then shrugged and greeted:
"Johnny! Johnny!"
Johnny gave Tallis an unsure, yet polite smile, before looking back to Ereba for assistance.
"Now I know what you're thinkin', Johnny, 'cause honestly I thought the same thing when I got here. But I learned. Tallis is real smart. She just has something with her that makes her repeat things. We jokingly call her 'Two-times,' but that's just among us Commandos," Ereba said and smiled. "So she does that and uses signs. What Tallis is saying is that all you do is listen and you never say anything. She wants to know about you. Isn't that right, Tallis?"
Tallis shrugged her shoulders, and then after thinking about something, nodded vigorously and kept her smile.
In a set of gestures that seemed to indicate a new thought, Tallis gave a thumb towards herself, pointed at her eyes with two fingers, and then made a kind of bug eyed, O mouthed, very silly face while her head rocked side to side. She combinded this with elbows held rigidly out to the side, but she let her forearms, hands and fingers dangle loosely.
"Ghosts. Ghosts." Tallis followed.
Johnny's expression quickly went from amused to concerned.
The smile that followed didn't help to make him feel any less uneasy.
Abort abort abort.
"I just came over to see if everything was okay, so..." Johnny stood up. "That's all for now, I guess. See you around."
Ereba sighed. "Don't leave, Johnny," she said. "I think what she's asking about is that facility we were in. It was kinda creepy in there, and she want's to know if you felt anything weird."
Ereba was tapping on her omni-tool and was linked to the Extranet and found something interesting. "Hey, Tallis, I think I found something for you, of course we'd all have to learn it. It's outdated now with modern medical procedures, but humans had this universal sign language that deaf people used. Omni-tools could be programmed to read it, I think, and maybe it would be easier for others like Johnny here to understand you. You could still talk and all that because we love you. Take a look. What do you think?"
Tallis took a look over at what Ereba showed her and started waiving her off, somehow indicating a displeasure with it in a series of gestures that were very emphatic but didn't make sense. Sort of like she was rambling with her hands. But as she did, it became evident that each of the gestures she was making she was doing twice in a row.
Johnny continued to watch the insanely adorable, yet incredibly strange asari go on about something using only gestures.
"All I remember feeling is that rush, you know?" He answered Ereba, glancing at her only briefly before going back to Tallis. "All I'm feeling now is that headbutt..."
"Hey, I didn't completely understand, alright? I thought it was just verbal. And I was only trying to help. Don't get your boxers in a twist," Ereba said. "But you probably had too many people try to help, right? I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
Tallis didn't seem to quite know where the conversation was going herself, but did point to Johnny's head while rubbing her own forehead in the process, apparently out of sympathy. Then Tallis opened her Omni-tool, and she was busy for a minute activating a display. When she was done, she had a holo-image of some sort of text essay, or message, and she had it enlarged enough for the other two to see. It read:
The reason I don't don't reason I the use text text or sign or sign use is because it gets is because it gets much much worse worse when I must I must when translate translate to a formal language a language formal to.. That includes text sign and includes text and sign that in most any in language language most. any. My academy made me essay write an essay an made me academy my write, so you'll you'll so see see it below it below::
And true to Tallis' opening, what followed on was a nearly incomprehensible 40 page essay (which probably should have only been 20 pages) about something to do with asari strategic history. When Johnny and Ereba had enough of looking at the text, Tallis shrugged her shoulders again and smiled, though a bit more abashedly this time.
Aboard the Medusa
"Will do, Jess. Will do."
Morgan spoke the words softly, as he leaned back in the captain's chair, thinking of what the next steps would be. As the Janiri split away, and the Medusa made it's final approach to the adjacent Citadel dock, he couldn't help imagine the challenges of the two vessels and their members. Naleena was pursuing a galactic threat involving what she clearly believed to be a real threat, and no less than the threat of mythological Reapers come to life. After seeing the Collectors, and the Aspirants, not to mention the footage acquired by Naleena, it would be hard for anyone to not be at least somewhat convinced. Morgan could see that Naleena held the pursuit of all that involved the Reapers as paramount, and why shouldn't she?
At the same time, Morgan's personal enemy, and an enemy that had crossed paths with all those aboard the two ships, was likely growing in her power. Iyana, enough of a threat as the predominant enforcer for the Shadow Broker, would only grow in her power as much as she may have been set back. Focusing on Iyana before she realized her ambitions was what Morgan desired most, but doubt was also taking hold in Morgan's mind if she could ever truly be gotten rid of. Even when she escaped, it somehow seemed that Iyana's plans were ultimately forwarded. Assuming the greater current danger of the Reapers, Morgan pondered how to get about finding Iyana anyway. Molly Hagen's work sat untended to, and that was where anyone interested should start, Morgan believed.
Add to the list a missing Spectre. Why did it all seem too convenient? Xanthe Remi - Morgan hadn't really any interaction with her at all, more just an experience third hand. But she'd made reappearances as far as his catching up on things told him. Xanthe was on Duellos, and had run into Naleena more than once he'd heard. She must have told her, Spectre to Spectre, about her Reaper investigation, and Morgan was sure Naleena had mentioned Iyana to Xanthe. Captain Militi clearly associated Xanthe's disappearance with Naleena's work, and as important the loss of a Spectre was, Morgan suspected something even worse had happened. Was it related to the Reapers? Iyana? Something else entirely?
"Doctor Hayashi," Morgan called over to the scientist, "I need someone to update me on what's been happening lately in the Terminus Systems." Morgan thought also about Molly's work. That involved follow up investigation, one route through declassifying Council information, another through a connection of names, the kinds of things Jess could speak to Naleena about when they met. Morgan scratched his lower lip. "I also need people who are savvy with finding things out through unconventional channels. I wonder, in fact, if Jess couldn't point me in the direction of any of the Kings and Queens."
Morgan went and sent a message to Jess asking exactly for that.
Ereba smiled and put her to see"Okay, I get it," Ereba said. "Johnny, what she's saying is that she adopted her own way of communicating because every other way was too confusing. And I think she added at the end of that long text that it's time for some ice cream, right?"
Before the ship docked on the Citadel. Naleena flipped on the QEC connection to the Medusa.
"Morgan, Naleena wants to speak to you on the QEC," Aelias said.
****
While waiting for Morgan to appear, Naleena worked on her report to the Council. She was concerned about the reaper, but she was even more concerned about Xanthe.
Aboard the Janiri
In the dim light of Anika's quarter's, Jess turned to Serafina who lay across her.
"Luv..... I can't see to leave. Something on your mind"?
Morgan
"Good timing," Morgan replied to Aelias. "Dahlia, you have the chair."
Morgan got himself up and headed to the QEC that had been installed on the Medusa. "Hope this thing is simple to operate," he remarked as he arrived at the advanced communication device. Fortunately, it was, as a VI handled most of what needed to be done and responded to verbal commands. "Open a line to the Janiri."
Serafina
Just as Serafina's lips were moving towards Jess, the Captain's voice caused her to halt, mid-motion. She looked into Jess' eyes, uncertainty returning to Serafina's own gaze, then she pulled back with an embarrassed expression.
"Sorry, I usually sleep with the lights out," Serafina fibbed, and peered away.
Sensing Serafina's distress, Jess stopped her from pulling away and brought a hand up to cup her face.
"If there's something you want luv.... you have to scrunch up the courage to take it and damn the consequences....". Jess's hand reached down to place it on the breastplate of Serafina's armour. "....You need to be a lioness, stalking her prey....". That hand applied pressure and pushed her down onto the bed. ".....Choose the moment to pounce, when your food is at it's most vulnerable....".
Jess's hand moved to the side as she placed both hands on wither side of Serafina's head as she ducked her head down so she was nearly face to face with Serafina.
"And before things go to far, you need to make sure your prey is defenceless". Jess reached to the side of Serafina's neck and pressed an indent that released a catch and a moment later, one of Serafina's pauldrans fell away from her suit to reveal the articulation of the suit underneath. Reaching up, Jess ran a finger over Serafina's nose. "We're docking soon. Get out of the armor. I'll get a box. You go back to the ship and you go back to work.... And then, when you least expect it.... I'll track you down.... And eat you". The smirk on Jess's lips peeled away to the broadest of grins as she watched Serafina's expression in the dim environment of the cabin. "Get to it luv. I have to find Naleena before I disembark".
Serafina nodded timidly, with a glint of anticipation in her eyes. Then she said, "Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if the Spectre wanted to see you right away." Then she looked down at the missing pauldron and added, "I'll...get to work."
Johnny just shrugged. How Ereba got ice cream out of any of that was beyond him.
Alliance Space, amongst the ruins of a world soon to be rebuilt
Tarballs stood in the middle of the room in the tower. Hands folded behind his back, he looked into the mirror's arrayed around him. Arranged in a octagon with enough space between each to walk past either into or out of the centre, he gazed at the stranger who stared back with his eye's.
Before, he'd been an old man. Tired and bowed from a life of work and service. Only his will had remained intact. Trapped inside a dying old man whose efforts to keep death at bay were reaching the zenith of what modern, human medical technology could achieve. Alien technology had been looked into. Ancient alien artefacts dug up and ancient knowledge recovered.
Like the throne.
Made almost of solid gold, it had whispered to him. Merged with him to give him the strength he had needed it the most. It had shared things he could neveer have imagined. Gave him glimpses of the potential of his species as it whispered sweet nothings into his ear...... Then, when he, Tarballs, had needed more than the throne had offered, he'd reached out and taken it. Extracted it. Torn it out through the force of his will and the man who stared back at him now had been the result of those actions.....
To say he was beautiful was an understatement. He had grown a full two foot in height as his body had absorbed the thrones power. The breadth at which his shoulders sat, likewise, had gained many an inch and he had found his entire body now packed in muscle he'd never possessed even in his youth. From where once had been his bald head had sprung a veritable lions mane of blonde hair that had grown till it reached the lower of his back and he had to sweep it back, over his shoulders to keep it from falling over his brow. Where once had been a man, now stood a god. Those who served him had seen the change in him, had been confused and he knew, friteighted of the change in their lord. Yet they were drawn to him he had found. As if he was a flame to their moths he found people coming to him and yet many could not remember the reason why they had come when they stood in his presence. His hands had remained largely unaffected. Though probably because they, unlike many, held a purpose in their presence. Though for how much longer he had begun to wonder. He no longer needed hands. He had his own again. Larger and able to handle more than he ever could. His mind, like his hands had grown. While upon the throne he had been able to see in between things. Like seeing in hindsight he could perceive events unfolding around him. Could unravel the uncertainties towards which threads the future would unravel towards. They were ever changing. Always moving. He could direct the galaxy he knew. Find the right string to pull. Knew how hard to tug.......
And yet, along all paths he faced a black, inky void. A place where even he could not see. Where everything became uncertain. Where everyting seemed to simply, stop.
Tarballs heaved a long sigh and glanced off to the side of the room between the mirrors where a water bottle sat on a sideboard. A quiet whisper breezed past his lips. "I'm thirsty".
The bottle lifted off the sideboard and without looking, Tarballs held out his hand, fixed on his own reflection as the bottle slid into his palm. Finger's that could crush a mans skull gently folded around the bottle as he lifted it to his lips and he drank deeply.
Moment's later the bottle ran dry. He glanced at it in surprise. Opening his palm, the bottle rose into the air and Tarballs gazed at it, then in an instant the walls of the bottle crumbled inwards as both top and bottom collapsed into the centre of where the bottle had once been. In an instant, where the bottle had once been, now lay suspended in mid air was a dense marble that dropped into Tarballs outstretched hand.
The doors behind him opened and his hands appeared. "My lord.... Silver has returned. She's....".
"I know". Tarball's voice seemed to come from everywhere as he kept his back to the door. "Bring her to me. There is much we must speak of before the sun sets. Have the medical staff alerted and near us.....". Tarball's vision settled on his reflection. ".....And bid her my personal warmest welcome. She is fast becoming everything I could ask of her. She should know that I am aware of her efforts".
"Would you rather not let her know yourself".
Tarball's head turned to face the woman who had spoken. "That's why I keep you around...... Now go".
((Sorry for the late replys. Problems with IRL, you know how it is.))
Essul looked to the message on his omnitool, rubbing away the sand from his 4 eyes as he thought of what to say, fingers hovering over the holokeys as he tried to think of how to word things.
He typed it out, wondering if there was still time.
Iole: I wouldn't mind talking about what happened. Mostly about the data, If that's okay. Maybe some other stuff as well...I don't know.
-------------------------------------------------
Vayne was asleep in his quarters, his eye opening with a yawn as he rose out of bed. The drink he had last night...he couldn't recall it. A scotch maybe? Either way it had done a good job acting as a sleep medicine after he tried some, and while he couldn't remember much, he did remember drinking half the bottle as part of his sample for it.
Whosever races it was lose for making their drinks so smooth to go down, he supposed. Scratching his crest, he checked the time. His report was filed, that was odd. He didn't remember drafting it up. He opened it up, and among a few typos, he managed to read what was written, chuckling to himself.
"We went down tot he batarian base, and then we went into the tunnels and out into the base. The commandaos went in first and then the squishy new human and then we set found some tanks to blow up and it was great. The fire was a nice touch, and we blew it up good. Nobody died or got injured this time, just more proof that we're greatest team ever, Team Janiri."
"Wonder whose job it's going to be orginize that..." The krogan said with amusement. Making a note to write his reports before getting wasted.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Essul finished proof reading the last of the reports, frowning at the mention of "Team Janiri" as he wrote it in his omnitool for later evaluation. He sat at his desk as he finished helping to organize, proof read, and send out the reports to the council as per his new job.
Reading through them had been interesting, and he was sure that any information Naleena had left in, or left out, was for the betterment of the team. He had to, frankly, to give himself some comfort as he passed the reports to VERA to send over to the council.
Jenus
"Red," Jenus said, getting up after their time together, "Your the only person I've ever met that gets me to lie down for so long. But if I'm going to keep this weapon at peak performance, I'm going to have to keep it tuned up. I'm going to the weight room." Jenus zipped up her uniform bodysuit meant for casual operation, and gave a poke to Irina. "You could use the time too, all this complaining about getting old. Thirty-seven on a hundred-fifty lifespan. I think it's too many cookies, and that's why your tone sucks." Irina knew her tone was fine, it was Jenus teasing her.
Iole
Iole was rounding the passageway on the deck where the QEC was located, going over how stupid what she was about to ask was. Spectre, can I use the most expensive, and important communication device aboard the ship so I could talk to a guy I've got a thing for? That's as important as talking to the Council, right? She stopped mid-way in the hall and shook her head. But she wasn't going to get this opportunity anytime soon! If now, when? It was Frank and somehow he was on a QEC.
Knowing Frank, he probably broke into it and was minutes away from being arrested. Right after he wised off to the people capturing him and getting a good beating.
Iole hurried.
Just outside the door to the conference room and the QEC, Iole still hesitated, and then got the message from Essul. Essul, he needs to talk. It's got to be important. He internalizes everything. Iole stepped back the way she came. But the QEC... Iole went back. Then she had to step aside as a human woman walked past her in the hall who she hadn't seen before, wearing a silver body suit.
"Pardon me," Iole politely said.
"Oh," the woman smiled, "Excuse me."
Iole smiled. "You're new?"
"Yeah. I..I just say Morgan's sister usually. Explains a lot in few words. My name's Jen."
Iole chuckled. "I see. Iole. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too," Jen replied, smiled, and then kept on her way.
Iole stepped back to the door, and no sooner than she did, she realized she'd been bopping back and forth continuously with her indecisiveness. The feelings she had bubbled into a giddiness that suddenly had her doing a Tallis like wiggle, and Iole started to playfully dance in the passageway. She was making a bit of fun of herself, getting her nervousness out, and thinking of Frank all at the same time when another human came into view around the passageway.
It was Jess. She'd just passed Jen Severn herself, and caught Iole mid wiggle. Iole froze, suddenly embarrassed. She pointlessly smoothed out her outfit while turning a light violet in the cheeks.
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