Kethans's page

"Unfortunately, no. I didn't plan for this in the trip or I may have brought something. Maybe you could do a few favors in exchange for what we need?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure if it may stick around. I would imagine that it would be pretty content with the wreckage for a little while still, so it won't come hunting for us. As for the repairs, we might be able to speed things up if you can go out and look for materials."

"A Ship Eater. It's a fantastic serpent that has evolevd to live in space and eat minerals from asteroids and other sources. However, it's notorious for taking bites out of ships as the minerals are more refined and easier to eat. It's probably what happened to that Terran ship out there."

Upon hearing news of the creature, the Mechanic rushes over to a control panel. After some fumbling, he shakes his head.

"Folks, may I please ask you to put on your suits and return to your seats. For our new companions, I had the nanites replicate some suits and I'll get them in just a moment. According to the sensors, there is a Ship Eater in the vicinity and I'd prefer to take utmost caution."

He rushes over to a storage room and returns with two runic pressure suits for Zellyser and LK. Quickly pushing them into the suits, he sits everyone down and reassures they are securely strapped into their seats.

"I'm going to a low energy mode. Hopefully, the Ship Eater doesn't notice us."

The Mechanic appears pleasantly surprised at the android's inquiry.

"It seems you are functioning correctly still, old friend. I would ask that you introduce yourself," he says, pointing to Valai, "and explain where you come from. I'll work on opening this second chamber."

The Mechanic rushes over and helps LK-X85 into a chair.

"LK-X85," muses the Mechanic. "Are you by chance an android?"

"Well, the hold can be sealed at a moment's notice. However, I wouldn't be able to leave the chambers alone during stasis. The workaround I've managed to create would need my supervision in case any errors happen during the process. I would be locked in here with the chambers while the stasis is ending."

"Nothing like that. There are parameters in effect to prevent anything like that. Instead they'll work on reinforcing your suits and maybe even your weapons. The nanites are Kethan in origin, so there's no issue with them that I can see."

"Yes, of course."

The Mechanic began to remove the chambers from the bases.

"Your nanites seem to be acting up even more than usual," he comments, without dropping attention from his work. "Seems they've been improving themselves now. That's rather interesting."

After a few minutes of work, he has the two chambers detached. They float in the lack of gravity. The rest of the chambers in the room lose their glow.

"Good to go."

"Magic was very rare amongst their people. It's about abundant as rifle or a musket is on Golarion. However, instead their magic came in the form of technology. That is how they took to the stars. If there was ever any necromancy, I know nothing about it from their history."

He surveyed the wreckage for a moment.

"I'm not sure if there would be anyone on board, but we may definitely take a look if you like."

"I would doubt that. We have visited their planet and they have actually died out, it seems. It's rather unfortunate. This ship must have been here for some time."

"The Terrans are actually our ancient ancestors. At some point, they started to explore the stars and eventually landed on our home planet, Keth' Al. That's where they lived for millenia, slowly adding technology to their culture and physiology. Eventually, they became the race that you see me as now, the Kethans. Since then, we too have taken to the stars and exploring, but that was some time ago. How this ship ended up here, though, I couldn't say."

Yes, that's exactly it.

The Mechanic takes a moment to think. He then makes a small nod.

"Having seen plenty of ships, this most resembles a Terran design. This is actually quite amazing as we haven't seen a Terran ship in centuries."

A few days passed...

"Folks," called out the Mechanic, "you might want to take a look at this."

The Mechanic had slowed the ship down. He made his way over to port and tapped on the wall. A window opened itself, revealing a curious image outside. Floating helplessly in the emptiness sat large pieces of metal debris. Not far beyond was the source of the scraps— a wreck of a massive spacecraft, missing a sizable piece of it's bow.

"I think this might be what the little one was trying to warn us about."

The Kethan rises from his seat.

"Well, it's just a matter of time now. There are quarters to rest in on the lower deck, as well as facilities and a kitchen. Our cooks will be sure to accomodate you. Is there anywhere you would like to visit along the way?"

"Well, yes. I guess I didn't give your home planet enough credit. Apologies, lady Valai."

Any word from Booker?

"That shouldn't be a worry. Considering how long we've been here, if they were to attack, they would have done so by now. I believe they are completely unaware of our presence here."

"Ah, well, of the machines we created, some refused to work with us. Whether that is considered revolt or something else is a debate saved for another time. However, we were worried for the machines that had not had this change of heart. The revolters, as I will refer to them, were a threat to our people and the other machines. As our final act before going into hiding, we create the ring that disables all their mechanisms. This keeps the revolters within the ring and the rest on the outside. As for the probe, that was probably used to warn the others of your intrusion."

"No, they actually all found themselves lost. However, it seems after some stumbling about on their own, they found their ways here. We've all been having pleasant discussion so far. I've come to understand some stranger person has brought you together. Whether it's fate or chance, I can't say, but it seems very interesting."

The Kethans shifted around for a moment.

"It also seems Quentin is interested in staying here while you make your way off. He admitted that he was a bit ashamed to explain this to you and asked us to reveal it on his behalf. He's not much for speaking it seems.

"However, we'll let you deal handle the matter between yourselves. You've seen your transport and it seems it's ready to leave. Did you have any questions of us before making your way?"

"I know not of the god you mention. Our people have different gods, which may or may not be the same ones as ours. It's a very peculiar situation. Which gods are the true gods?"

The Mechanic moved the platform up towards the opening, just before a set of strange instruments. A few presses and manuevers later, the ship begins to hum.

"There we are. She needs a bit to wake up. Let's go find your friends. Seems they're at the hall discussing who knows what."

The platform returned to the ground and the Mechanic led them forward.

A chortle rang through Celia's ears. It seemed comedy was not a foreign concept for the Kethans.

"Very well, I believe we have trade."

The merchant took one of the baubles and handed it to Celia. She recieved what looked a small thick sheet of metal with various engravings.

"If you are ever lonely or need to keep any trouble at bay, you may fold this in half twice and some friends will show themselves to help you."

With that, the merchant began to attend a Kethan who had arrived at the booth.

"Not entirely, but I would understand it as a conclusion. The fragments left behind do not contain any part of the souls themselves. They are just excess energies left behind that the soul no longer requires here in the mortal realms. Even still, the way the ship uses them does not actually consume them. Think of it like a water wheel with the energies being the river. They turn the wheel and move the ship, but are left behind once their used, returned to the river."

"Well, I won't bog you down with any details you may not understand. Basically, it draws upon the life force that floats around in the universe. Anytime that a life moves on, it leaves behind a fragment of itself to forever float around in the universe. Our people have managed to tap into these energies and use it to power these vessels. It works wonderfully, for the most part.

"Every once in a while, it will draw some energy left behind from a more powerful or wanting soul. In these situations, the ship sometime moves towards the direction the soul would desire rather than what we navigate. And, no, there's no risk for a leak."

The merchant looked Celia over. "We are a people of trade. While we do have a currency, I would not expect you to have such things. Instead, have you something you would exchange with me? Maybe a trinket, a song, or a tale?"

"It's quite an honor to meet you all. We will be ready to go in a few hours. In the meanwhile, you're free to come along while I work. If you'd rather go around the community I understand. It's really up to you. I'll fetch for you once I'm ready."

"Well, considering you are to be traveling the stars, I figured I would come along as well. It's a chance I'm not about to pass up. I hope you understand."

His motives seem clear enough.

"Oh, I see. That is quite unfortunate..."

His words trailed off. The mechanic strode over to Keth and took a moment to examine him.

"Hmm... curious... ah, interesting."

Keth floated around with a rigid levitation, implying a sort of awkwardness. After a few moments, the mechanic concluded his observations.

"Before I get distracted, let's get to the matter at hand. From what I've been told, you're here for the ship. I would ask if you're to leave, you take me with you. Can we be in agreement with this?"

The Mechanic shook his head, as if chuckling.

"No, I wouldn't say I'm anymore important than any other roles our people have taken. I might be important here as the only mechanic, though. So, you are travelers? How did you end up here. Surely if you can arrive on this planet you had the forseight for a means of leaving."

The Kethan nodded.

"Of course, I shall go make preparations. Please, feel free to relax here with my family while you wait."

He moved over to the female and whispered a few things before moving to a nearby wall. He placed a hand upon it, revealing a door way. Before moving through, he turned to the group.

"Would any of you like to join me?"

He shook his head.

"No, I would have no idea about that."

The male Kethan shook his head.

"I might be able to do so were this a standard unit. However, I dare not risk the boy's soul in this contraption. All the modifications would probably make it impossible for me to remove him without harm, let alone at all. If you know the one who created this, I recommend you speak with him."

The male Kethan went over to inspect Keth.

"No," he said, "but the technology is ours, though modified. This device is generally reserved for prisoners. In our society, rather than run the risk of escape, their essence or soul is bound to one of these devices for their sentence. However, this one is modified with access to one our information centers back on our home planet along with various other capabilities. This would all be extremely interesting if not for the fact that the soul contained within is one of a child."

He shook his head. "No, not at all."

Keth had been hanging back, as if not wanting to draw attention to himself. With Celia's call, he flew forward into sight. The female Kethan gasped and strode forward to touch Keth.

"Oh, dear one," she whisepered.

"Not at all," he says, with what seems like a chuckle.

Seems honest to you!

"Of course. Originially, our people left our original planet and landed on a planet named Keth' Al, which became our home. There, we adapted our bodies over millenia to the ones you see now. We came here from our home planet a long time ago across many galaxies. After landing here, we began to create multitudes of automatons, robots, and androids. They prospered, but some went rogue and attacked the others and ourselves.

"Many lives, mechanical and organic, were lost during that time. It took us years to determine a way to put an end to their actions. We made our way here, our primary militant outpost which had been overrun. The few of us that were left surrendered ourselves to gain access inside and from here, enabled the zone around the area that disables their actions. As penance, we have remained here, below the base living our lives ever since.

"Have you question on any specific details?"

"Yes, of course. The invitation is for all of you."

"I see. Well, we may have what you need to leave this planet. If you would follow me, I can show you."

The Kethan began to lumber back towards the rest of his kind.

"I do now," it nodded. "The nanites in your suit originate of our technologies. I've altered them to allow translation between us. Your friend's language is far too old or too foreign for our knowledge. Why have you come here?"