"Another advantage to knowing about living things is knowing just where to shoot them to do the most damage," Naiaj says to Kultainen. "The faster you take them down, the less medical attention your companions will need."
The bleachling gnome looks away from her datapad for a moment and gives each of you an appraising look. "Alright, you'll do," she says before diving headlong back into her work.
"Not necessarily," Ykris says. "Jhireu here has been my willing host for many years."
The half-elf's demeanor changes, and when he speaks, you realize that this is Jhireu and not Ykris talking. "It's true. We each benefit from our relationship. Ykris and I actually get along quite well."
Jhireu changes posture as Ykris takes control again. "It's all a matter of trust and understanding."
Ykris gives Karish a rueful smile. "Unfortunately, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to implant in anybody else. It might detract from the decorum of this event."
Ykris seems skeptical at first, but Karish demonstrates a keen understanding of its race's biological functions. "These suggestions... They actually aren't bad. I see some definite potential here. We should collaborate after the gala."
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Luanna approaches Zo! She has not interacted with undead before and many aspects of her professional and religious training make want to recoil, but she swallows and braces herself with a drink before approaching him.
"Mister Zo! Is it? Good evening. I am a new Starfinder named Luanna Farella. I understand you produce reality shows. What sorts of shows do you have in the planning stages? Anything that might include Starfinder missions?"
"Hey there, Luanna, good to meet ya! Slap me some skin!" He holds up a bony hand and grins. "Ha, got ya! I haven't had skin for centuries!"
After a hearty chuckle, he continues. "Our networks are always working on the next big thing, and you know yours truly is gonna be front and center on the screen! I'm getting close to a million confirmed hours of camera time--that's light-years beyond, in case you're wondering. The audience is always asking for more action scenes, so we need some plucky stars who can pull out all the stunts. Climb! Jump! Swim! Bend bars! Lift gates!"
"Oh, hey! He's at it again!" Zo! laughs as Huckle Jim continues to flip and roll all around the banquet hall. Several of the other guests are giving the soldier strange looks, but Zo! laughs and applauds wildly.
"Dang, son! You're a tumbling fool, and I mean that in a good way!"
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Gidget will also approach Zo! and say "How much fun is it to be an action star? Do you get to run around and shoot things, or is it a lot of sitting in a trailer waiting on computer people to make stuff look good? It could be pretty neat, I think, to do it for a little while. What sorts of..." she then hears his response to Luanna's question and says "Oh, I can pick up stuff, that's easy."
She will then try to pick up the table in front of him.
"Well, all of our shows are reality shows, kid! So all the running and shooting is authentic!" Zo! says.
Gidget tries to pick up the table, and while it wobbles a bit, she doesn't quite get it off the ground. "Hmm. Maybe that's a little too big for ya, kid! Why don't you pick up something your own size? Ha, get it?"
"I beg your pardon, but my species has evolved over millenia to reach the state of symbiosis we employ today," Ykris says. "The technological implants you suggested earlier may work, but I doubt studying other creatures will provide any benefits. Let's talk about another subject."
Ykris frowns as Kultainen and Huckle Jim try to add to the conversation. It seems its initial enthusiasm at meeting you is starting to wane.
Gidget expertly scales one of the Starfinder Society banners decorating the walls. She swings back and forth before leaping back down to the floor. Zo! applauds. "Yes! Now, that's what I'm talking about! I can picture it now--Gidget climbing on things, Huckle Jim rolling everywhere, the rest of you... Well, we'll figure out something for the rest of you to do. Shooting evil aliens, probably. You'll be like--PEW PEW! ZAP! FREEOOOOW! Stick with me, kids--you're gonna go far!"
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Luanna sees the difficulties the others are having with Ykris. As it happens, symbosis was a topic she studied as part of her research project to qualify as a medical doctor. "I overheard something about symbiosis and evolution. When I was completing my studies, I contributed to research into attempting to mimic symbiotic relationships in creatures who evolved near the poles of a planet that drew high levels of cosmic rays. These small creatures thrived on the radiation and excreted antibodies which helped the host fight off other diseases that radiation would normally make them more susceptible to.
"We were attempting to replicate that relationship with nanobots. We learned some important limitations on the possibilities, even though we were not able to create small machines that were as good at their job as the parasites. Evolution is often able to do things we can only marvel at.
"It just goes to show why we need organizations like Starfinders. The planet we studied was discovered by Starfinders!"
Luanna is able to recapture Ykris's attention with her recounting of her research. Its half-elf host smiles wildly and nods in appreciation. "Yes, indeed! I am happy that I was able to convince CeriCore to support your organization. I am sure our partnership will lead to many more exciting discoveries!"
Just as Luanna finishes her conversation, Radaszam gets your attention. He gestures for you to follow him out into one of the service corridors running alongside the Skyreach Room, away from eavesdroppers.
The burly vesk doesn't mince words. "We've got a situation on our hands. I've been following rumors of a somewhat notorious assassin who only recently showed up on Absalom Station. I just heard from one of my contacts that signs point to the First Seeker as the assassin's next target—and if that's the case, the assassin will almost certainly make a move tonight.
"Now here's the thing. I've got enough security here that no one's really in any danger; and besides, Luwazi's no stranger to a fight. But it'd look really bad for the Society if someone took at shot at her in front of all these high-ups, you know what I mean?
"On the other hand, if a team of crack Starfinders were to investigate the rumors and unmask the assassin, we'd be able to show that we can still hold our own and add some, oh, let's say, gravitas to the First Seeker's announcement tonight. Defeat this assassin in style, impress the investors, make yourselves look good in the process... What do you say?"
"The assassin is a particularly hard-to-trace individual known as Triloteya," Radaszam says. "My contacts have linked them to a rented engineering bay down in Sparks. I'll send the address to your comm units. Check out the location--hopefully you can find enough evidence to identify them and their plans. Once you've searched the place, contact me via comms and we'll plan our next step.
"One last thing before you go." The vesk gestures, and a robot approaches from down the corridor carrying a large case. "Luwazi and I were impressed by the way you worked he crowd. Consider this a reward for your good work so far."
Inside the case are the following items: two screamer grenades I, a tactical arc emitter, a set of business stationwear armor, and 1,600 credits.
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Luanna pulls out her comm unit and begins tapping in notes. Once the address arrives, she pulls up the station map and memorizes the route from the party to the bay space rental.
She has no questions and says so telepathically. She peers into the goody bag and leaves the grenades alone. "I don't much care for grenades," she quips mentally. She nudges the arc emitter and shrugs, "I can shoot this, but I've got spells that are more effective and I've got a semi-automatic. If we need to capture someone alive, this might be the thing." She glances at Huckle Jim and Gidget.
Her reaction to the business stationwear armor is a lot more enthusiastic. "Very smart looking! And a good deal better than this flight suit. Mind if I put this on?"
Once the equipment is distributed, she checks her clip in her pistol, draws her sword and sheathes it, and nods.
"If anyone gets hurt, let me know. I have spells that can heal almost instantly and if I run out of those or if we have more time, I can use my Star Shaman training and my medical kit to patch you up as well. I'm not much at fighting with weapons, so I'll probably try to stay away from trouble unless I have no choice."
You distribute the gear as you see fit before moving out. The easiest way to travel from the Lorespire Complex to Sparks is via a series of long lifts that traverse Absalom Station's Spike. The journey through increasingly industrial elevators takes about 15 minutes, the majority of which is rather quiet. Soon, you arrive in the rough-and-tumble neighborhood of Sparks.
The engineering bays of Sparks range from cramped, one-person custom-tech shops to titanic dry docks for starship manufacturing and repair. Despite the massive wealth passing through the corridors of Sparks, most residents remain poor laborers and middle-class specialists, with the majority of profits flowing “upstairs” to the corporate towers.
The air carries a distinctive metallic tang of mechanical industry, sharp chemical smells, and the stale odor of countless living beings crammed into too-tight spaces. The corrugated metal corridors are cramped, with ceilings only 10 feet high and lit only with stark LED lighting strips; the grinding, clanging, clattering sounds of countless engineers at work carry through the halls. You are hardly alone here, but you attract little attention amongst the residents and workers who have little interest in tasks other than their own.
After a few more minutes, you reach the address. The stained plastic door of this engineering bay is no different from the dozens lining the grimy hallway. A glaring LED lighting strip illuminates the address code imprinted along the doorframe. Every few seconds, this light, along with all the others along the corridor, flickers briefly. Though the sounds of industry still echo through the corridors, this section clearly sees less traffic and is currently devoid of passersby. The door's keypad blinks red, indicating that it is locked.
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"This Triloteya is a master of stealth. I've heard their name is associated with a years-long series of crime reports and wanted notices from throughout the Pact Worlds. But .." she leans close "Nobody has ever got their picture. Why... it could be one of us."
Artificial eyes go wide as she pretends to looks suspiciously at her team mates.
When the team gets to the door she gives the blinking lights a close look. "Security camera?" she muses.
"Do you think there is a back way out of here?"
"Nahhh, I mean, this is a space station, and if they are a super secret assassin they'd want to make sure there were no ways for anyone to sneak up on them...other than their main door."
Kultainen doesn't see any security cameras around. The corridor does turn and connect to a second door that seems to lead into the same engineering bay. It likewise appears to be locked.
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Knowing that the group may have to force entry into the address, Luanna keeps her eyes out for any security forces keeping order in the district. She keeps getting distracted by all the strange sights and sounds. She's not spent much time in such hives of industry.
Luanna nods as Kultainen shares her knowledge of our target. She's such a nerd, focused so much on science and mysticism, that much about the general cultures of the pact worlds and current events news goes over her head.
She says, "Assuming we can get inside, I can try to detect any thinking beings inside. Unfortunately, the mystic senses can't penetrate metal if it's very thick."
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"But wouldn't we know what's inside if we opened the door? I mean, I don't want to make it seem like your magic isn't really awesome, which it is, but in this case our eyes will probably work better. Can someone make this open with me trying to force it?" says Gidget as she moves to stand directly in front of the door.
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"If this Trilo..." she glances at her notes on her comm unit, "... Triloteya is a master of stealth, he or she might not be so easy to see. But it is hard to hide thoughts from a spell such as this. Anyway, who knows how we might get past this security? Assuming we don't want to just knock first and see if anyone answers."
As soon as Karish touches the keypad to try to interface with it, it surges with electricity! The lashunta shudders as a thousand volts surge through his body, and then he falls, smoke rising from his clothes!
The discharge of electricity seems to have shorted out the lock on the door. It should open easily now.
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Luanna gasps at the sudden discharge of electricity and the effect it had on Karish. She kneels at his side, places her hands on his chest, and offers a soft prayer in the language of celestials. "Eloritu sana vivifica benedic." Her hands glow and the light seems to seep into Karish's chest and the burns caused by the electricity heal somewhat.
Luanna' spell heals all of Karish's wounds, and Kultainen's inspiring words allow the technomancer to steel his resolve and recover his stamina.
Gidget kicks open the door, revealing the room beyond. Rusted crates and plastic barrels crowd this cramped workspace. Discarded R2E packaging, beverage pouches, and packing material litter the space. A ledge along the south wall holds a stack of rubber mats in an approximation of a bed beside a high-quality industrial backpack. Ragged wires droop from an exposed conduit along the northern wall, occasionally showering the room in sparks as the lights flicker.
Two strange winged serpentine creatures are in here, chewing on the wires. When they notice you, though, they turn and let out a shriek before moving to attack!