Ryleh presses the crystals around the frame of the mirror in a pattern known only to her, saving the images for later viewing.
She stood up and breathed deeply, attuning her senses. She closed her eyes to help her focus her vision. The ship was full of tiny points of light, each one a living being, but she sifted through them looking for the ones she needed. At last she found them, one purple and prone to rapidly changing intensity, though particularly bright right now, and the other a seemingly more sedate amber color whose intensity was currently banked low.
Ryleh presses the crystals around the frame of the mirror in a pattern known only to her, saving the images for later viewing.
She stood up and breathed deeply, attuning her senses. She closed her eyes to help her focus her vision. The ship was full of tiny points of light, each one a living being, but she sifted through them looking for the ones she needed. At last she found them, one purple and prone to rapidly changing intensity, though particularly bright right now, and the other a seemingly more sedate amber color whose intensity was currently banked low.
As Ryo is fumbling around for something to write on, a shadow looms over him from out of nowhere. Looking up he realizes it's Bek'kaar. It was more than a little unnerving just how quiet something this big could be...
She extends two of her claws. In one is a datapad, and in the other is a small metal cylinder about eight inches long and three inches in diameter.
"Oh, hello there. Thank you for the -what did Tam call it?- datapad! You're very quiet when you move, you know? It's kinda cool, reminds me of a friend back home."
After a bit of experimentation with the datapad, Ryo figures out how to write down information and even take pictures. He'd get Tamrin to put them on his datapad so he could give Bek'kaar's back when they left.
As Ryo is fumbling around for something to write on, a shadow looms over him from out of nowhere. Looking up he realizes it's Bek'kaar. It was more than a little unnerving just how quiet something this big could be...
She extends two of her claws. In one is a datapad, and in the other is a small metal cylinder about eight inches long and three inches in diameter.
"Oh, hello there. Thank you for the -what did Tam call it?- datapad! You're very quiet when you move, you know? It's kinda cool, reminds me of a friend back home."
After a bit of experimentation with the datapad, Ryo figures out how to write down information and even take pictures. He'd get Tamrin to put them on his datapad so he could give Bek'kaar's back when they left.
"Data....is already on...the pad," Bek'kaar says as Ryo is fiddling around with the device. "Seed...is in the pod. Bring back...new seed."
"Wow, thank you Bek'kaar! Adsila is going to love this! I'll be sure to get you that seed, heck, Addy will want to send a barrel of them."
He goes through the datapad again, this time looking for the information. Amazing, truly amazing, and it shows.
"Wow, thank you Bek'kaar! Adsila is going to love this! I'll be sure to get you that seed, heck, Addy will want to send a barrel of them."
He goes through the datapad again, this time looking for the information. Amazing, truly amazing, and it shows.
Seeing that Ryo was occupied speaking with the druid, Ryleh left quietly. If she told the boy what she was doing he would insist on accompanying her and it was much better for him to stay in the garden where he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the vastness of space. Part of her wished she could stay with him. She wasn't particularly a fan of vast spaces either.
She drifted along the corridor trying to make her way to where she sensed the presence of her daughter. Aananda's was the easiest life force for her to track. She was often frustrated by corridors that didn't go the direction she needed. Navigating through this ship was becoming a headache.
As Ryleh is trying to get around yet another inconveniently placed bulkhead, she rounds a corner and runs into something below her eye level.
"Oi! Watch where you're zippin' to if you please...whoa. Well hello tall, dark and mysterious!..."
As Ryleh is trying to get around yet another inconveniently placed bulkhead, she rounds a corner and runs into something below her eye level.
"Oi! Watch where you're zippin' to if you please...whoa. Well hello tall, dark and mysterious!..."
[blink, blink]
"Er, hello. I apologize for bumping into you. I am afraid I do not yet know my way around this ship."
"Well, my nose is none to happy to meet you right now, but the rest of me sure is!" the diminutive figure says, rubbing his nose but still grinning. ;D
"Doctor Mordecai Zeppler, at your service. And you are...?"
He appears to be a halfling, garbed in some kind of blue clothing over a white coat with several large pockets. Tucked under one arm is one of the seemingly ever-present datapads that are all over this ship.
"Well, my nose is none to happy to meet you right now, but the rest of me sure is!" the diminutive figure says, rubbing his nose but still grinning. ;D
"Doctor Mordecai Zeppler, at your service. And you are...?"
He appears to be a halfling, garbed in some kind of blue clothing over a white coat with several large pockets. Tucked under one arm is one of the seemingly ever-present datapads that are all over this ship.
"Rylehtin'akksavith," she said, bowing formally. "Ryleh will do. It is a pleasure to meet you Doctor Zeppler."
"I am afraid that I have become a bit turned around."
"Well, my nose is none to happy to meet you right now, but the rest of me sure is!" the diminutive figure says, rubbing his nose but still grinning. ;D
"Doctor Mordecai Zeppler, at your service. And you are...?"
He appears to be a halfling, garbed in some kind of blue clothing over a white coat with several large pockets. Tucked under one arm is one of the seemingly ever-present datapads that are all over this ship.
"Rylehtin'akksavith," she said, bowing formally. "Ryleh will do. It is a pleasure to meet you Doctor Zeppler."
"I am afraid that I have become a bit turned around."
"Pleased to meet you! Well, we can't have a lovely stranger like yourself wandering lost around our halls, now can we? I mean, someone like that could stumble into my quarters when I'm just not dressed for normal company. Positively scandalous," he cheerfully says, an odd glimmer in his eye.
"Maybe I can help you out, then. Where is it you're trying to get to, Mrs. (or is it Miss) Ryleh?"
"Are you a new recruit, or one of our all too infrequent guests here?"
"Pleased to meet you! Well, we can't have a lovely stranger like yourself wandering lost around our halls, now can we? I mean, someone like that could stumble into my quarters when I'm just not dressed for normal company. Positively scandalous," he cheerfully says, an odd glimmer in his eye.
"Maybe I can help you out, then. Where is it you're trying to get to, Mrs. (or is it Miss) Ryleh?"
"Are you a new recruit, or one of our all too infrequent guests here?"
"I do not think that such titles apply if one does not have a last name," she said, bemused. "Although I suppose it would be mrs? I am unsure of whether one keeps the title after one's mate has died."
"I am a guest here. I am trying to locate my daughter, Aananda. She went with Tamrin to tour the engine room, but I would be very surprised if the engines were anywhere near her current location. She has a habit of getting kicked out of such places. Most who work with tech don't appreciate her redesigning their work after having seen it for only a few minutes," she added with a small smile.
"I do not think that such titles apply if one does not have a last name," she said, bemused. "Although I suppose it would be mrs? I am unsure of whether one keeps the title after one's mate has died."
"I am a guest here. I am trying to locate my daughter, Aananda. She went with Tamrin to tour the engine room, but I would be very surprised if the engines were anywhere near her current location. She has a habit of getting kicked out of such places. Most who work with tech don't appreciate her redesigning their work after having seen it for only a few minutes," she added with a small smile.
"Aaahhh, I heard rumor that Tam had finally showed his face here again. I should've guessed that you might be a guest of his. Well, why don't we try to find him, and see if your no-doubt lovely daughter is with him. Hopefully nobody's been locked up in the brig!"
Zeppler walks down a few steps and touches the wall, where a screen comes to life. After a moment, a diagram of what Ryleh thinks is the inside of the ship comes up in a stacked isometric view.
"Let's see here...here we go! Looks like he's currently on the Academy Level, in the Library. And it looks like he's got....someone...oh my, that is interesting," as he glances back toward her.
Punching some more keys, the map changes to show what appears to be this section of the ship.
"Veeeery interesting," as he looks back over to her again.
"Well, far be it for me to let you wander these halls alone. It'll be my pleasure to take you down there. Shall we?" he asks, another playful grin on his face.
"Aaahhh, I heard rumor that Tam had finally showed his face here again. I should've guessed that you might be a guest of his. Well, why don't we try to find him, and see if your no-doubt lovely daughter is with him. Hopefully nobody's been locked up in the brig!"
Zeppler walks down a few steps and touches the wall, where a screen comes to life. After a moment, a diagram of what Ryleh thinks is the inside of the ship comes up in a stacked isometric view.
"Let's see here...here we go! Looks like he's currently on the Academy Level, in the Library. And it looks like he's got....someone...oh my, that is interesting," as he glances back toward her.
Punching some more keys, the map changes to show what appears to be this section of the ship.
"Veeeery interesting," as he looks back over to her again.
"Well, far be it for me to let you wander these halls alone. It'll be my pleasure to take you down there. Shall we?" he asks, another playful grin on his face.
"Yes, thank you. I have had more than enough of wandering this ship. I have important information that I need to share with my daughter and her...with Tam."
After a slight pause she spoke again."I take it that your scans show what type of being it is you're looking at? I had assumed that that was only used at the point of entry. I can see that I should have been more cautious. Just how much detail are we talking about?"
"Oh, for goodness sake, don't give me that nervous look. I am not going to harm you. I simply wish to know how much of our secrets are being revealed. The best way to survive trouble is to be prepared for it ahead of time."
Seeing that Ryo was occupied speaking with the druid, Ryleh left quietly. If she told the boy what she was doing he would insist on accompanying her and it was much better for him to stay in the garden where he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the vastness of space. Part of her wished she could stay with him. She wasn't particularly a fan of vast spaces either.
"Yes, thank you. I have had more than enough of wandering this ship. I have important information that I need to share with my daughter and her...with Tam."
After a slight pause she spoke again.
"I take it that your scans show what type of being it is you're looking at? I had assumed that that was only used at the point of entry. I can see that I should have been more cautious. Just how much detail are we talking about?"
Zeppler shrugs as he motions for them to continue down the hall.
"Enough to know that you're not really human or demihuman, my dear. But we do have some pretty specialized dweomerware on this boat to watch out for that - most places actually don't. It could be seen as 'profiling' software by the folks running things currently, and therefore not quite legal. But I won't tell if you won't," he says with a conspiratorial wink.
"Oh, for goodness sake, don't give me that nervous look. I am not going to harm you. I simply wish to know how much of our secrets are being revealed. The best way to survive trouble is to be prepared for it ahead of time."
"Tam must have a good reason for you being on board, regardless. And that's good enough for me. Ladies first," he says as they arrive at a lift tube and the doors open.
Seeing that Ryo was occupied speaking with the druid, Ryleh left quietly. If she told the boy what she was doing he would insist on accompanying her and it was much better for him to stay in the garden where he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the vastness of space. Part of her wished she could stay with him. She wasn't particularly a fan of vast spaces either.
"Tam must have a good reason for you being on board, regardless. And that's good enough for me. Ladies first," he says as they arrive at a lift tube and the doors open.
She sighed. "Please forgive my jumpiness. I have spent my life surrounded by enemies. It tends to develop a strong sense of paranoia."
She eyes the lift warily. "This is one of those fast moving bits isn't it?" she asked nervously.
"Tam must have a good reason for you being on board, regardless. And that's good enough for me. Ladies first," he says as they arrive at a lift tube and the doors open.
She sighed. "Please forgive my jumpiness. I have spent my life surrounded by enemies. It tends to develop a strong sense of paranoia."
She eyes the lift warily. "This is one of those fast moving bits isn't it?" she asked nervously.
"Water under the bridge. Not a problem."
Noting her concern about the lift, he says, "Get a touch of the motion sickness, do you? I might have something for that...though I think I can slow this thing down a bit if you'd prefer."
Noting her concern about the lift, he says, "Get a touch of the motion sickness, do you? I might have something for that...though I think I can slow this thing down a bit if you'd prefer."
"Yes, that would be good. There's just something very disorienting about rapid movement not under my own power. It's almost as bad as having to endure my daughter's driving. Really, skimmers aren't supposed to go that fast," she said, making a face. "But don't ever tell her I said so."
"Yes, that would be good. There's just something very disorienting about rapid movement not under my own power. It's almost as bad as having to endure my daughter's driving. Really, skimmers aren't supposed to go that fast," she said, making a face. "But don't ever tell her I said so."
Noting her concern about the lift, he says, "Get a touch of the motion sickness, do you? I might have something for that...though I think I can slow this thing down a bit if you'd prefer."
"Oh sweetheart, you are on the wrong plane of existence if that's how you feel about modern transportation!" he replies with a laugh. "My lips are sealed."
"Fortunately, though, it's a pretty common complaint - especially for newcomers," he says with a knowing wink. "Here. I always carry a spare bottle of these for patients, just in case."
He pulls out a small bottle with some small diamond-shaped pills in it and hands it to her.
"Put one on your tongue and let it dissolve - it should work for about twelve hours. Don't take more than one though. And whatever you do, do not take it with a shot of Telverian ice brandy. Just don't." ;P
He gets in the lift, and punches a few buttons.
"Okay - we should now have a nice, stately ride to the Academy level. Plenty of time for you to tell Dr. Zeppler all about any other medical conditions I can help you with..." ;D
"I don't have any other medical conditions that I am aware of. Though I think that Ryo would probably appreciate some of these," she added indicating the bottle of pills. "Though his problem is more agoraphobia. His motion sickness has been pretty mild thus far."
"I do appreciate you help. I am not very familiar with modern technology. It can be a bit daunting at times. We have very limited technology where I come from."
"Also, what is Telverian ice brandy?"
"I don't have any other medical conditions that I am aware of. Though I think that Ryo would probably appreciate some of these," she added indicating the bottle of pills. "Though his problem is more agoraphobia. His motion sickness has been pretty mild thus far."
"Hmmm. Pity, that.......Well, if this Ryo chap you're talking about has agoraphobia, about the only thing that will curb that immediately is medicine for anxiety, or maybe some hypno-therapy. They should be fine if they give themselves gradual exposure to larger spaces, though."
"I do appreciate you help. I am not very familiar with modern technology. It can be a bit daunting at times. We have very limited technology where I come from."
"Well I'm always happy to help a lovely woman such as yourself in a bit of distress. Comes with the job description, after all!" ;)
"Also, what is Telverian ice brandy?"
He arches an eyebrow.
"A pretty potent drink that should never be mixed with most medicines - not without strict medical supervision, at any rate," he replies with an innocent smile. ^.^
"I suppose that he will simply have to tough it out then."
She raised an eyebrow at the innocent smile,
"I know that look. It usually means mischief is brewing."
"I suppose that he will simply have to tough it out then."
She raised an eyebrow at the innocent smile,
"I know that look. It usually means mischief is brewing."
"Madam, are you implying that I am...a brewer?" he asks, placing a hand across his chest as if in shock. :D
"I suppose that he will simply have to tough it out then."
She raised an eyebrow at the innocent smile,
"I know that look. It usually means mischief is brewing."
"Madam, are you implying that I am...a brewer?" he asks, placing a hand across his chest as if in shock. :D
"Of trouble? I have no doubt that you are," she said, laughing.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I am but a humble healer of the sick and injured, merely trying to make a guest feel welcome. And that guest all but calls me a troublemaker!? Well. I. Never."
Zeppler's ability to maintain his serious tone of voice while still smiling is quite impressive. Dropping the wholly false indignation, he continues. :P
"At least we got that severe look off of your face. That was beginning to worry me. Not healthy at all, and I should know. Being a doctor and all."
The lift gently comes to a stop, and the doors open.
"Ah dear, it looks like we're almost there. I guess I can't hold you hostage too much longer, now can I? Just a few more corridors to go..."
"Your sense of humor is certainly well honed," she said, smiling.
"And I have enjoyed your company thus far. But I am glad that we are almost there. I am very anxious to speak with them."
"I understand. Not to worry, just around....there we go."
They come around a turn and stop at a set of doors. To the side, an aged plaque (that seems out of place in this high-tech ship) says:
LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
Zeppler escorts her in, and a large set of rooms with computer stations and multitudes of shelves filled with books spreads out before them. After quietly walking through a few of the rooms, Ryleh finally spots her daughter curled up in a chair, face buried in a datapad. Tam is seated beside her, looking at information on a screen embedded in a short table in front of them.
"Now, as I am sure this conversation is private, I'll leave you to that. However, if you are still curious about that matter you were asking me about in the lift, feel free to find me at the Medical bay, or have me paged. Always on call, and all that. But that means I'm always available for consultations, referrals, physical exams - whatever you need," he says with a rakish grin as he gives her a slip of paper.
"It was a pleasure bumping into you, Ryleh. You have a good day - doctor's orders." ;P
"Now, as I am sure this conversation is private, I'll leave you to that. However, if you are still curious about that matter you were asking me about in the lift, feel free to find me at the Medical bay, or have me paged. Always on call, and all that. But that means I'm always available for consultations, referrals, physical exams - whatever you need," he says with a rakish grin as he gives her a slip of paper.
"It was a pleasure bumping into you, Ryleh. You have a good day - doctor's orders." ;P
"Thank you for your help," she said, tucking the piece of paper into one of the pockets inside her sleeve.
She continued on her way, into the library where Tam and Aananda sat.
"I am sorry to have to interrupt you, but I have some information I am certain you will wish to know."
Aananda jumped out her chair.
"Mom! Oh, you startled me. Okay whats so important? And how did you find your way here? And where's Ryo?"
"Ryo is still in the gardens. He seemed comfortable there so I did not disturb him when I left. I was able to locate your general location through a form of scrying, although finding my way through these corridors proved excessively challenging. A doctor Zeppler found me wandering the halls and helped me find my way here."
"Ryo is still in the gardens. He seemed comfortable there so I did not disturb him when I left. I was able to locate your general location through a form of scrying, although finding my way through these corridors proved excessively challenging. A doctor Zeppler found me wandering the halls and helped me find my way here."
Tam blinks, then looks up.
"Doc Zeppler? Oh boy..." ;P
"Ryo is still in the gardens. He seemed comfortable there so I did not disturb him when I left. I was able to locate your general location through a form of scrying, although finding my way through these corridors proved excessively challenging. A doctor Zeppler found me wandering the halls and helped me find my way here."
Tam blinks, then looks up.
"Doc Zeppler? Oh boy..." ;P
"Yes, he seems to have quite the sense of humor."
"However, that is not what I came here to speak to you about." She pulls a scrying mirror out of her sleeve.
"I had nothing better to do, so I decided to use my time trying to locate our quarry. And this is what I found," she said pressing the crystals in the right pattern to playback the scene she had saved within their memory.
One of these vehicles in particular gets her attention. As she focuses more closely on it, she sees the old man again. He appears to be in a line to board this vehicle. This time, however, she is actually able to hear his voice as he steps up to a uniformed man taking something from everyone by the entrance:
"Good Afternoon, citizen. Your name please?" the uniformed man asks.
"Daniel Tyres," the old man responds as he hands over a small card.
He slides the card along the side of the datapad he is holding, then hands it back.
"Doctor Tyres...good to have you back on Galador, sir - even if only briefly. Heading off on another research project again?"
"Yes indeed, my good man. I haven't been this excited about a project in a long time."
"Well, best of luck to you, doctor. And be careful - I hear the Bautaum system can be a bit of a rough place for visitors. I hope you don't have to stay there too long."
"Oh, I'll be fine, son. My work is singularly boring to most people - I won't be bothered at all. Thank you for the advice, though."
He boards the vehicle, and after a few minutes the doorway seals, and it lifts off the ground. It heads into the sky...and Ryleh actually sees it leave the confines of the planet's atmosphere. Just before the vertigo of the scene causes her concentration to waver and the scrying to end, she sees the vehicle landing inside an even larger one that was evidently orbiting the planet. On the side of the ship is emblazoned the name ISL Star Treader...
"I am sure you can understand why I wished to find you as quickly as possible."