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Boris stands and as a few start to clap he tries to set the rhythm with his large flipper hands, bouncing his head in rhythm. When it is done he barely controls his emotions, because he is actually extremely impressed, "Bravo again Ambassador DV8! You have modified a pact world medley for your style! A most positive achievement indeed!!!"
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This time around, the crowd seems to believe themselves when they cheer for and applaud DV8. Truly, he stood as tall as he is high, Hamisfore comments, with a color as was its owne, sounding like its voice. A sight as beheld!
DV8 seems pleased, and comments I consider this a good start. I thank you for your efforts in arranging this performance. Let us continue to our next station!
The next station being Perfexion, a Lashunta-owned restaurant that is held in high regards by races of all kind. A meal includes several courses with dishes such as Castrovelian eel soup and roasted frujai frond steak on a
bed of sauteed caypin rings (the bravest diners prefer the caypin tentacles still ambulatory), with Akitonian cactus ice cream for dessert.
Reflective walls and an understated sign mark the location of Perfexion, as befits one of Absalom Station’s most exclusive restaurants. A small crowd of well-dressed hopefuls lingers near the door while a red-velvet cordon keeps them back from passing into the establishment’s entryway.
As with any high-class establishment, two Vesk bouncers make sure that only those who carry a reservation gain entry into the restaurant.
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"It is good that you know the owner, Boris," Vyecmuraf comments, voice just loud enough to be heard over the hubbub. "And it was so polite of you to invite us along for your private dinner with her. Truly, we are appreciative of your generosity. Oh, but we don't want to be late and make her upset!"
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Vyecmuraf proves that meat is in ample supply, not only on the plates but also in the heads of the two Vesk. They are easily fooled by Vyecmuraf's convincing ruse.
The Vesk promptly ensure not only that the party gains entrance, but also that the private dining room is suddenly available.
The entrance leads past the kitchen, where the familiar voice of DICEBOT is having a go at some of the junior chefs. Inside the restaurant, elegant, transparent furnishings and multicolored lights fill the luxurious space with an ethereal glow. At each table, a small group of socialites watches in awe as dexterous chefs prepare food in a show that is as much acrobatic as culinary. Liveried waitstaff move between the tables, bringing beverages and clearing plates. A floor-to-ceiling holographic aquarium fills one wall between a pair of staircases, and large windows provide a breathtaking view of Jatembe Park. The group is seated at the best stop, a table overlooking the restaurant.
A lashunta chef come up to the table soon after the party is seated. Welcome to Perfexion, he says, I will be your host today. Our menu is tailor-made to your food preferences, if you will just allows a reading of your taste profile.
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As Vyecmuraf fools the bouncers, Boris just acts like he comes here every day, thanking the vesks for recognizing him. Once in he looks to his friend, smiles and winks.
As they pass the kitchen, "Oh! Dicebot is here! Maybe we shall have a chance to say hello!"
After they are seated, "Oh, perfect! There are so many wonderful options here I just couldn't make a logical choice! Please do so for me!"
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The chef carefully analyses each of the starfinder, and the dignitary DV8. After a short while, he return with a multitude of colored dishes. Boris gets a hearty fish pie, with decoration that somehow reminds him of Little Mina's cupcakes, Lar's dish is a non-descript grey. Vyecmuraf's dish is a very elaborate oyster preparation, made to look as if it's piloting a little pasta spaceship. Mizix' black century eggs look awful, but smell good, and Tel'kk is served a pink mush.
Kaarnah and the dignitary each receive the celebrated Vercan 'day-and-night' special, hailed in the pact worlds as a 'Yin-Yang combination on which the sun never sets'.
The group digs in ...
As the dignitary takes its first bite there seems to be some kind - for lack of a better term - swelling reaction. Strange as it may seem, the twilight nuts in the special seem to trigger an allergic reaction in the dignitary!
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Kaarnah cocks her triangular head to the side, confused at what Vyecmuraf is concerned with.
"Ambassador, it is possible, with this being your species's first foray onto the station, that the chefs were not entirely aware of what might interact negatively with your cyberbiology. I would do as he says."
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Tel'kk settles in to enjoy their mush a la pink, when both Vyecmuraf and Kaarnah attempt to halt the Ambassador's dining experience!
{Oh my. We have not noticed anything untoward with the cuisine! Perhaps this is a nefarious plot?! Dare we say an assassination attempt!? Death by condiment!}
Still unsure of what is happening, Tel'kk fears the worst and rises from the table;
{Secure the Ambassador. We must seek answers from the chef and kitchen staff.}
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Boris looks down at his dish."Ah, this looks and smells delightful. And look, Vyec, little Mina's cupcakes! A nice touch! Oh, yours looks quite nice as well! Ambassador, how do you... er, Ambassador, I think you might want to cease ingestion temporarily to assuage it's results on your physiology. It seems to possibly have a negative effect."
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Mmm. Delicious. Mizix chows down into her eggs, unable to fully stop a minor mess from being created. I gotta say: this method is way better than guessing what you think you'll like just by reading the menu.
The gnome keeps glancing over to DV8, deeply curious as to how the ambassador is eating given their lack of a clear mouth of organic body parts. Her eyes widen as the rest of the party seems concerned. While not leaping the her feet like the shirren gotta try not to be rude, she does look around at the servers and staff to see if any appear overly focused on DV*.
DV8 is startled by Vyecmuraf's warning, but as the strange nanorobot rejection reaction sets in, the dignitary quickly realizes it has had a brush with malfunctioning. Most unpleasant breach of protocol, it mutters, though entirely justified.
Less justified, though, is the reaction of the head chef, who oversees the entire scene Why, you, he mutters, reaching for his cleaver, you bunch of freeloader! You think I have not seen this before, faking an allergic reaction! From a construct no less! If you have no money to pay for this meal, you have no business being here! Out with you, scum! To think I seated you at my best table. Pay now, and leave!
Fortunately, being at the best table also means relative privacy, though the shouting of that cook must carry a long way. DV8 certainly has heard it, and mutters Insolence is against protocol. Severe violation...
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As the chef reaches for his cleaver, Tel'kk unshoulders their Tactical Numbing Beam and raises it with a warning;
{Most gracious host please cease and desist from issuance of such accusations, profanities and unseemly behaviour! We must warn you that we will use non-lethal force to neutralise any threat to the Ambassador and our party.}
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Confused why the chef would have such a hostile response to one of his patrons having an allergic reaction to food contained within his dish, Lar sees the necessity to point out the obvious.
"Chef, as you can see, this patron is experiencing swelling. This appears to be as a result of consuming the twilight nut. I am not well versed in the culinary arts, so perhaps you could deduce as to why this would occur."
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The kasatha pauses for a moment as the ambassador speaks, uncertain if they have just offended it. ”You may have my apologies for the overreaction, ambassador...”
”...after we have heard why our host here this he can get away with manslaughter.” Vyecmuraf slowly rises to their full height, towering over the table and looking down ominously at the chef. ”Carelessness of this magnitude - to a foreign ambassador, no less - would be enough to get this restaurant shut down for quite some time. Boris, do you remember that lovely little boutique cafe that the Senate members used to have their afternoon drinks at, and how it’s still closed after five cycles when it was discovered that one of its guests had gotten food poisoning?” They cross one set of arms and leans on the table with the other two limbs. ”I would hate to see something like that happen here - wouldn’t you?”
The intimidating words of Vyecmuraf are enough to shut down the hostile chef, who keeps muttering, put puts his knife down. Always the same, he says, trying to profit from an honest restaurant owner. My greatest dishes I serve, and I get this as respect.
Soon after, station security arrives to escort the party out. This is the point where DV8 steps in I am a Very Significant Entity on a diplomatic mission. I therefore proclaim immunity from any form of prosecution, intended or otherwise. These beings, pointing to the starfinders, have been assigned as my escorts, and any hindrance of their duties shall be interpreted as breach of protocol.
Despite these words, the group is escorted out in a peaceful fashion, ending the dinner without dessert...
DV8 suggests to move on to the tour of the Absalom station armada, aboard the Periphery Vision, a ship that it claims it has already chartered.
The Periphery Vision is ready to board...
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Boris, probably along with others, tries to judge how DV8 feels after that last encounter. He also tries to calmly (and logically) try to mollify the ambassador slightly.
"Yes. Well, not all beings here are as logical as you, sir. However, that incident did warn you about a possible allergy to that certain nut!"
After they check out and board the ship, Boris shares what he knows about the company and ship.
"Perhaps a quick check of this ship might be in order..."
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Kaarnah pauses upon hearing the name of the charter, and responds in her typical, thoughtful manner.
"Ah. A Starship belonging to Periphery Stars. This was one of my people's first experiences with... branding. We had originally thought they shuttled beings from peripheral solar systems to the Pact Worlds. But they were not adequate for long duration spaceflights. I am sure that a tour of the Armada should suffice for their capabilities, though."
Still, Kaarnah keeps an eye out for any possible... "Disturbances".
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Tel'kk boards the vessel listening keenly to the anecdotes of Pact-worldly companions.
At Boris' technical acumen, the shirren bodyguard bobs their antennae in affirmation;
{A sound plan Colleague Boris. We have some training in technical capabilities too, and a keen compound eye for safety and security concerns...}
Tel'kk addresses the ambassador;
{With your permissions Dignitary D-V-Eight we would recommend a quick round of safety and security checks before departure. Would this be short validated delay be agreeable?}
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Mizix's stomach is still grumbling a bit after the abrupt departure from the restaurant. It's impressive foresight to already have planned out down to the ship your schedule for the day. she remarks to the emissary. Makes it quite an easy task to host and assist you.
Is there anything in particular you hope to see out there? the gnome asks. Knowing the logic behind you picking the Periphary Stars would let us better know how to make the journey as instructive as possible.
Not only does Boris recall the immediate history of Periphery Stars tours, but he also recall a special episode of 'Station Consumption' revolving around the numerous complaints that the company received for their tours.
The group boards the ship, and quite quickly figures out the ship is fully automated, with key controls panels closed of by metal panels.
While the group is performing its safety inspections, a robotic voice starts to speak...
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*ding* *dong*
Welcome aboard the Periphery Vision. This is a fully automated tour, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
Before we depart, there are several safety instructions. Please pay close attention or be doomed into eternal damnation.
This CAN-WORX XS-600 spacecraft contains ONE emergency exit. Please locate the nearest emergency exit, and note that it may be situated behind you, below you or above you. Your seat is outfitted with an ultrastrong no-rip seatbelt. You can fasten the seatbelt with the buckle. The seatbelt must be worn when fasten seatbelt is on, to protect you from unexpected turbulence, Swarm attacks or collisions.
Should the cabin be exposed to vacuum, grab hodl of to your seat to prevent being sucked, and hold your breath. Do not scream, as this may cause your lungs to be ripped from your body.
In case of an emergency landing on Verces, do not leave any valuables behind.
Our tour today consist of a two-hour sight-seeing itinerary, which takes us around the Armada and performs several fly-bys of Absalom station. We will not be serving peanuts.
The ship has not departed yet, but has closed its doors. The metal panels over the controls are rudimentary, and the controls behind it seems intact. It should be simple to remove the panels and gain full controls of the ship.
DV8, meanwhile, doesn't seem too pleased with the extra attention of security and merely says: Security protocols aboard this ship are sound.
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Kaarnah nods her head slowly, a gesture that her anatomy doesn't seem well suited to do.
"This is why my people initially wished to procure travel arrangements with the company. However, I believe it is only a coincidence, as the initial purpose was likely for cargo, which happens to accommodate larger species. I fear the seat that Mizix selected will not contain her if there was a sudden drop in cabin pressure."
The ship glides out of the dock, and sets an automated course for the armada, which comes into full view after about half an hour of cruising. The ship look magnificent, and Absalom station is a small dot in the distance.
After a few fly-bys of the larger ship, the Periphery Vision turns around, covering about half the distance back to the station, then starts to shake violently.
Strange. There should be no turbulence this close to the station, and there's not a swarm attack in sight.
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"There seems to be a malfunction with the Periphery Vision, but I can't directly see what it is. There should be no turbulence in this area of space and there is no swarms in sight. We should prepare to manually override."
Lar would begin moving to the control panels in order to remove the metal plates covering them, unless that is on the observation deck. Seems a bit crowded up there at the moment.
Lar moves toward the bridge where the controls panel are, but on the way he hears some noise coming from the engine room...
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As they are joking a bit Borus looks behind him,"Mizix here makes a fantastic partner in dune buggies for sure!" with a big grin on his face.
After the shaking starts..
"Well. Perhaps a look would be best. It is supposed to be automated. That is most definitely not a normal sound..."
Boris will get up, go take a look at the engine room.
"Well, something's the matter. I'm not sure what."
Boris makes his way into the engine room, and finds a full-on infestation! A number of gremlin stowaways is wreaking havoc.
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LAR
Tel'kk
Mizix
Vyecmuraf
Boris
Kaarnah
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Gremlin
Gremlin
Gremlin
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Lar will stop walking and look toward the engine room. Assuming that the door to the engine room is shut, he will keep it that way and call out to his companions.
"It appears that something is amiss in the Engine room. Would someone care to provide cover for me as I attempt to assess the situation?"
The image of little furry munchkins, bouncing all around the engine room, chewing on cables, flits through Lar's mind.