Topic: Chance Meeting

Gypsy Lore

Date: 2011-07-02 02:53 EST
(logged from a few days back)

This was a good day. Humming overhead, the Nexus Traveller, on its final journey from the construction hangar to the starport, traverses at a low orbit within the atmosphere over the city. The engine emitted its alien blue glow, providing propulsion to the small cruiser designed like the ships of the Covenant for effective slipspace travel. Buram wasn't up there, though—he could trust the pilot to land his ship safely in the spaceport for fueling and final prep for her maiden voyage. He walked underneath, with several flyers tucked under his arm. The Elite, dressed in his casual shirt and jeans—specifically tailored to his anatomy—needed a crew, and he had several spots in mind to post notices. The fountain, for one. The Tomes, as well. The signpost and public notice board, too. Club feet carry him toward the fountain.

The Gypsy herself was sitting outside of a cafe, dusty old tomes laid out in front of her on a table, with a cup of tea nestled aside her disarray. For the Rom it felt unusually warm so her attire that afternoon was a pair of simple linen pants, navy, and a tank top of the same color. She even had her tawny mane tamed into a simple French braid secured with a clip. Sighing a bit she tipped her head back, toying with the pencil she held. Her current job was a bit mundane — just a translation of some old Greek someone had requested from the library. She was nearly done with her project and she wondered on what to do with the rest of her day. Scanning the crowd with her amber eyes she briefly picked up her tea cup, sipping from the porcelain.

The noticed planted at the fountain read as such: "Looking for crew. The Nexus Traveller is an A-class Covenant cruiser outfitted with dropship and slipspace drive. Capable of instantaneous travel anywhere within the galaxy. Contact Buram 'Fovemai of the Vadam lineage if interested, Room 257 of the Red Dragon Inn. Requires flexibility of schedule, and a basic knowledge of culture, starship workings, weapons, or computers is necessary based on position." With the notice planted by the fountain, Buram heads toward the nearest cafe, where he sees a gypsy with books piled high before and around her.

The Gypsy eyes widen just a touch, the only sign of her surprise at seeing Buram. She was not a new inhabitant of this realm known as Rhydin — she had been here since she was seventeen — but she had yet to see this new speices. Well, new to her. Placing her tea cup aside she straightens a bit, even going so far as to smooth a stray hair behind her ear. Maybe it was constantly being buried in books but lately she had the urge to talk to anyone ....different. Maybe it was all the CSI babble she had been listening to at what she come to refer to as The Lab. Still she saw Buram approaching and decided to keep an open air about her. The things you learn, one can never know.

He does NOT plant a notice at the door here. He first hails a waiter and asks to speak to the owner, the quadruple mandibles flashing about as he speaks in that characteristically deep voice. The owner, he is informed, is out right now, but will show up if Buram is willing to wait. So, he does. "Green tea?" The waiter nods. "That would be fantastic, thank you." Buram takes a seat at a nearby table and waits.

Blinking Vera tilts her head — though more in the manner of a cat than that of a bird. Obviously she doesn't look like the type to go cruising on any sort of ship but still. Picking up her tea once more she takes another sip while still scrutinizing Buram. "Lovely day ..." Vera comments with an idle air.

"Yes, indeed." The humming continues, and he looks up at his ship as it starts to pass overhead.

Shifting her gaze to Buram flies, she nods her head towards them, "What are you advertising?"

"I need a crew. Victor is taking care of minor members, such as marines and an engineering crew. Software engineers, the like. But I'm taking care of my leadership corps. That is my ship, the Nexus Traveller. She's on her way to the starport for final outfitting and inspection."

Now, this all sounded like science fiction to the Gypsy, her eyes growing a bit wider but one thing you always quickly learn — nothing is fiction here.

Gently she held out a hand, curiosity the second of her trades and one she was diligent in. "May I see?"

"Of course. Are you interested in crewing?" He stands up and takes one of the flyers to the gypsy. "Her maiden voyage is going to Sector 680. There is a world of particular interest to me because of a particular inhabitant called Ikural, a symbiotic species."

Taking the flyer she gazes it for a few moments before looking back up at Buram, "Sector 680" Ikural" What exactly ....is the species?" Carefully the Gypsy doesn't quickly address his question, afraid that a negative reply might send him. She had more questions of her own after all.

"It's a symbiote. It grants its host longer life, enhanced strength and speed, and a natural protective armor. But it only bonds with humans, so far. It's an experiment of sorts. I'm going to offer myself as a host in an attempt to prove the common ancestry between my race and humans. A test in evolution, you could say. If it works....I'll live a lot longer than I could. If not....at least it'll be one hell of a trip." Rather macabre, yes. But it works.

"The Nexus Traveller is the only ship in Rhy'Din equipped with slipspace generator. It grants instant travel across the stars by opening a pair of wormholes between the current location and the destination. What I hope to ultimately accomplish is adapt a slipspace drive that uses the Nexus to travel to any point, in any time, across the Multiverse."

"I have to say that sounds amazing!"

And it also reminders her of an American movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers maybe? Aliens" She wasn't big on movies but she didn't think either one of those proposed parasites were particularly friendly to humans.

"So this ....Ikural ....is non-threatening?"

Looking back down at the flyer, the Gypsy mused to herself that if she didn't have a daughter she would have truly liked to join his crew. To travel to any time indeed, what she would have liked to see...

"What time are you from?" She quickly asks, even more intrigued. "Of course. They don't forcefully take a host. They have to like him. And the host has to be compatible, of course. It takes some convincing and trust." And then the question about him. "When the Nexus took me, it was year 2553.

Soft, gentle, cough as though clearing her throat and not at all to hide her astonishment. "Really' I'm ....Well, if I tell you anything from my ....eh...time period, it won't affect anything, right?"

Ignore her slight wince.

"Not here. This is Rhy'Din, anything goes."

"Ah, yes, true enough! Well, with that being the case I'm from 2011 ....I am dead when you come into life." She could be a bit macabre herself. "Ah, yes. 2011. A rather grey, but interesting, period in human history. All sorts of doomsday theories running around all the time. Foolish, yes, but interesting."

She gave another wince, folding the flyer and tucking it into one of her books. No way was she giving it back.

"Yes, there was one gentleman who believed the world would end on May 21, 2001. I remember it well, it was ....just a month or so ago for me." Chuckling she picks up her tea once more, gesturing to his that he had left behind.

"You really should try some, the tea is lovely here." Chimed Vera, amusement still heavy in her accented tone.

He opens up his mouth to say that she took his flyer, but then leaves it be. Maybe she will join the crew. Buram drags a chair over to her table with his cup of green tea and takes a sip. "So, what?s with the books?"

Looking back down at her books she picks one up, lightly blowing some more of the dust off. Usually the books were found by collectors, too excited to do much but hand them to Vera to be translated.

Gently she handed it to Buram, "Believe it or not I am still catching up to things like computers. Indeed, I just a few years ago learned to drive a car. Right now for a living I translate old languages into some of the most current ones. I've always been good with languages as a child, the only one I ever struggled with was English. Took me a long time to learn how to read and write in that language for some reason. I still sometimes confuse my sentences. In any case! What you have there is some old, old Greek. I was taught Latin first as a child in a Christian church — Catholic — and my father saw to it that I would know Greek as well."

Bit of a long explanation but he did ask.

He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I actually might have a stable job for you. Would you be interested in crewing the Nexus Traveller" We will be travelling to exotic worlds, and I have great need for a Communications Officer."

Blinking she tilts her head back towards him, interested, yes, but she was a creature from a whole other time period. Though she supposed this really didn't make much a difference.

"May I keep the offer in mind" I have a daughter and well, I can't just leave her....I can't say I am not tempted."

Lets face it, anything with science absolutely thrilled Vera. And then she thought for a moment, "Could you return me back to the time you take me from ....precisely?"

Now she's thinking of that show, Doctor Who. She was an odd Gypsy even for this place sometimes.

"Unfortunately, not yet. See, a slipspace generator can only take you where, if that makes sense. It can't breach the boundaries of time. In other words, it can't take you to the when. I have a technomancer working on a formula, though, that could help us breach the barriers of the Nexus, thereby traversing the boundaries of time and space."

"I see ..." Apparently even science could only do so much. Still. "How long exactly would I be from Rhydin?"

"On the maiden voyage" Probably a day or two. But after that, who knows. We could be gone for months on scientific or trading expeditions. Until the Nexus drive is completed, at least. Then travel could, theoretically, be instant. In other words, go there, then come back mere seconds after departure, but receive whole months worth of knowledge."

Well. "How good is the pay?" Lets talk more specifics.

"As Communications Officer" Ten percent of all profits gained from the voyage. Captain, myself, will get twenty percent, then standing officers—the Master of Arms, Communications, Master Engineer, Chief Medical Officer, and Scientific Advisor—will receive ten, leaving ten for the pay of a crew of about 75 and twenty for outstanding expenses such as fuel and provisions. That's for independent missions. Contracts....well, that will be handled on a case by case basis."

"I am hoping that by ten percent, you do mean something substantial." Grinning she picks up her tea cup, sipping what remained before signaling the waitress for more.

"Black tea love, with the jasmine, thanks." Handing the woman her silver pieces she turns those ambers back onto Buram.

"Your related to human beings, you said?"

"We can certainly hope so." A particular glint would come to his eye, though his face is otherwise incapable of expression and therefore emotion. "Well, the stories back home, on Sangheilios, say that all sentient species stemmed from the Forerunners, who held a vast empire stretching across the stars because of slipspace."

Smirking she gladly accepted her tea from the waitress, taking her time on savoring while she listened to Buram.

"I have to say I am a curious cat but yet, I have more questions. What are the risks involved in such things" Traveling through time and space" To get right to the point; what is the likelihood I get killed?"

"You" Unlikely. Communications would normally stay shipboard, unless we encountered a race that nobody could understand. The only risk, really, is from pirates, which is why we'll have a marine corps and mounted turrets. Assuming we couldn't just escape through slipspace."

He downs the remainder of his green tea, then requests another. "There is also a minor risk of radiation resulting from slipspace travel, but there has never been any problems with the rad shielding in the history of slipspace travel."

Death by radiation or taken as pirate fodder" Sounds like fun either way.

"Hmm. Fair enough but my next question is; why make me an Officer" Not say that I am not a dependable sort or not good at my job. I'm very good at it, I picked up Elfish (whatever you want to call it these days) within a few months of being kept by the creatures. The Dwarf language is a bit harder, but I studied it and have it down. Now there are variations within both of those cultures, like with any language. Not every Elf, Fae, Seelie, or Unseelie sounds the same; whatever you come across, they all have a different way of communicating. It's knowing the basics and how to wing your way through that makes translating and understanding a language a true knack and talent. Now, I can probably do this with any culture I am exposed to long enough but I am from the year 2011. Let's face it love, I've been exposed to every kind of fairy tale horror out there, but as of yet, nothing much out of the science fiction section."

She was passionate about her work, wasn't she"

He holds up a hand, politely stopping her before she could continue ranting.

"See, that is what makes you excellent for the job. You learn quickly, and your basic knowledge base is vast. You'll work alongside the Scientific Advisor, whoever that may be, to translate any languages you may come across. One of the purposes of Communications is to document and catalogue the languages we encounter that are otherwise unknown. Again, with the Scientific Advisor, who will be in charge of the computers. It would prove to be invaluable for linguists all across the Multiverse, once the Nexus drive is perfected."

"Oh well then, that's good. I'm all thumbs at the keyboards, I actually pay an assistant to do all my typing."

No, she is not joking.

Drinking more of her tea she checks the time with a small frown.

"How long do I have to decide on this venture" And how can I get in touch' I don't suppose you guys still use cell phones?"

"No, I don't. But you will find on the flyer contact information. I'm in Room 257 of the Red Dragon Inn. The maiden voyage won't happen until I can gather the rest of my officer corps, so you should have time enough to get affairs in order and decide whether or not you would like to join my crew. If you are interesting in seeing the Nexus Traveller just find me at the Inn, and I'll take you down to the starport for the tour."

"Right then. Hm, well!"

Being the semi-modern-but-not-yet-futuristic lass that Vera was she pulls out her EVO 4G and from its nice black case pulls free a white business card. The script on the front is simple and neat, Arial narrow type. For him it would be very much out dated. By several centuries. Still he could think of it as a souvenir.

Smiling the Gypsy gathers her things and finishes her tea.

"Thank you very much for making my afternoon very, very interesting. I promise to come by, as soon as I am able. Oh! You'll see on the card my name is Vera but I am sorry for forgetting my manners. I tend to get swept up into things."

"Buram Fovemai." He offers a tetradactyl hand.

Taking it she gives him a firm handshake, which probably feels like a baby's grip to him.

"It has been lovely, I'll see around!"

And with a whirl she was away, her mind back on her next translations once again. But she still kept the flyer.

Buram finishes his green tea, then brushes by the owner who was just arriving.

"Never mind. I found what I needed here." Leaving the dumb-founded owner behind, he continues recruitment efforts.