Odysseus: Sailing Embers. (IC Open)

[Orangi]

"What in the depths is a horse? Some kind of animal?" Marran replied, pondering what all these animals were. "...Do you eat them?"

"Well you know the little multi-colored 4 legged beings on this ship? Ya kind of like that but bigger and not multi colored. And no I don't think you eat them," replied Bentu, "Actually you could probably look that up on your tablet." All the while he was sipping his coffee.

"...Oh. Oh, I could. I hadn't even thought about that. I think I'll get right to that, actually... Got a lot to look up though." Marran said, fingering through the applications. He found the search engine, and started looking for Orran.

Nothing. No matter how many searches he did, no matter how many were related TO Orran, from Ru to Tarassi, from the Gardens of The Mother to the Walls of The Father, from Orran leaving the stars to their current state, he found absolutely nothing. Orran, for all intents and purposes, did not exist.

He did not exist.

Marran was alone, cast away from all that he knew... The rubble of his vessel and his broken shuttle, all that remained.

"...So. Yeah. That's that, then..." Marran said quietly, pondering his situation. He really had little left. Suddenly everything seemed fairly unappetizing. But now, he had something in common with all these refugees.

He knew that without a doubt, he had lost everything he ever knew, and he could never go back to his old life. Even if he could return to Orran somehow, things would be different. Already he's seen things that he would never have never dreamed of before, here.

Everything was different. Nothing would ever be quite the same again, no matter how hard he tried to make it so.

[Ceffyltir]

"Wake up!"

Thud.

"Wake! Up!"

Silver slammed her forehead against the metallic wall of her living quarters for the final time before slumping to the floor, her ears ringing and chest heaving. She would never again awaken in her soft, spacious bed back home - This nightmare was real.

Why was I the only one to make it? Why couldn't it have been somepony else? Victor and Ivy seemed to enjoy their lives so much more than I ever did, and Copper surely had more years left in him than any of us. My dear brother... This isn't right... Fate chose the wrong pony this time...

She curled up into a tight ball, clenched her eyes shut, and tried to think. This wasn't like her. She was a mare of action - she had never simply given in and done nothing after suffering a loss. Then again, she'd never experienced a loss this... severe before.

How was that meditation technique done again? Let's see, first you take deep breaths...

A light groan broke the silence in the room. Not the groan of the metallic supports behind the walls like she heard a few moments ago, but a more visceral one. It happened again - her stomach. It wasn't until she glanced at the small clock on her bedside table that she realized how long she had been lying there. The mess hall would probably run out of all the good stuff soon. As much as she wanted to continue thinking things over, she hadn't eaten since breakfast today. Her appetite having bested her, she lifted herself off the cold floor and opened the door.

---

After a quick scan of her ID card and an order, Silver placed her... "meal" on her back for ease of transport - a package of dried fruit and a canteen full of water. Surveying the absolutely massive room, she located a relatively vacant table and sat herself.

[Orangi]

Marran sat there, pondering what this all meant to him. Bentu hadn't said much of anything since Marran had his reality fractured further. He noticed someone take a seat nearby- or something, he wasn't sure.

"Well you know the little multi-colored 4 legged beings on this ship? Ya kind of like that but bigger and not multi colored. And no I don't think you eat them,"

Those words rung in his head for a moment, processing the small being he was seeing- which looked like a she, to him. He thought. Maybe. Assuming female, she took a packaged meal off of her back and placed it on the table. She seemed tired, ragged almost. With a thick clunk, one of her legs, hooves he would suppose, hit the table. But it wasn't like her other one that was also working on opening the package. It was battered, metal, scarred and scratched. It seemed to be a prosthetic, and it's the first thing that really drew his eye about her.

He wondered why she had such a primitive leg replacement- or why she even had one. His eyes scanned the creature- the horse, was it? She had fairly deep, long and red hair- it was a bit unkempt and like her dull silver coat, was peppered in soft dark grey spots. Scorch marks? Smudges? They were just barely noticeable. She had a peculiar image of a pickaxe and purple gemstone, one that matched her eyes. At least, one of her eyes. Her left eye was greyed out, maybe it was blind? Contact? Prosthesis? Cybernetics? He didn't know.

He did know however, that this was one haggard looking individual. He still had a small, brown object on his foam plate. He wasn't particularly in the mood for whatever it was, but he felt that maybe, just maybe, someone else needed it more than him... And Bentu probably had a fair amount of nice things, so there was no point in offering it to him.

"...Hey." Marran said, looking the horse's way. She was fairly unresponsive. He felt even worse for her.

"...I don't really want this. Maybe you do? I'm not even entirely sure what it is." Marran said as he scooted further towards the horse on the other side of the table.

[Ceffyltir]

Silver's eyes shifted to the... alien... thing across the table. It was humanoid; but taller than average, and it had feline head. Judging from the voice, it was male. He was wearing a strange uniform; one that she had definitely never seen before. Perhaps he was a high ranking officer or a technician or something. This seemed even more likely given that he had a fancy-looking tablet in front of him. She had only seen those in advertisements until now.

She looked down at the morsel in his hand. A stranger was willing to give her the best part of his meal the moment she sat down. Did she really look that pathetic?

Her eyes returned to his. "That's a piece of chocolate. It's tastier than it looks. You should keep it if you've never tried one before." she said, rather monotonously. It was strange that he'd never seen chocolate before, but lots of aliens have never seen lots of things, and she was no different.

"I appreciate the offer, though."

[Orangi]

Silver's eyes shifted to the... alien... thing across the table. It was humanoid; but taller than average, and it had feline head. Judging from the voice, it was male. He was wearing a strange uniform; one that she had definitely never seen before. Perhaps he was a high ranking officer or a technician or something. This seemed even more likely given that he had a fancy-looking tablet in front of him. She had only seen those in advertisements until now.

She looked down at the morsel in his hand. A stranger was willing to give her the best part of his meal the moment she sat down. Did she really look that pathetic?

Her eyes returned to his. "That's a piece of chocolate. It's tastier than it looks. You should keep it if you've never tried one before." she said, rather monotonously. It was strange that he'd never seen chocolate before, but lots of aliens have never seen lots of things, and she was no different.

"I appreciate the offer, though."

"Chocolate? Alright." Marran said, sniffing it before putting it in his mouth. It looked like the bottom of a toilet, but it definitely didn't smell like it. Taking a bite, he processed what he was tasting.

It was sweet. Chewy. Rich. Richer than Dev Sarrago- and that was saying something, he was the head of the leading Cybernetics firm where Marran came from. It was a taste he didn't have words for, no fitting ones, unless gorgeous could be applied to taste.

He didn't realize his entire bar was gone. He must have really enjoyed it.

"...Uh, thanks. Sorry if I all but swallowed it- I... Lost track of things. I'm Marran Varri, Se-..." Marran stopped himself. He had to stop introducing himself as a Sergeant. He wasn't one anymore. "...Just Marran. Who are you- and I hate to be so brash, but what are you? I know like... Some sort of horse but, past that." Marran trailed off.

"I'm a Tarassi, by the way. We're apparently like four legged things about as tall as a rifle." Marran shrugged. He had absolutely no idea how to approach such unfamiliar situations.

He assumed that's why he was in the back of his old ship instead of in front of it.

[Ceffyltir]

Silver was honestly surprised that this "Tarassi" still wanted to converse with her - though she did expect him to say something after seeing that look on his face while he ate that candy bar. It must have been the best thing he'd had in a long while.

"Horse?" she answered, furrowing her brow and narrowing her eyes. "I am a pony, or 'equus sapiens sapiens,' as the humans called us. I think."

Horse had generally been a derogatory term for ponies, at least in her experience, and the word was carelessly thrown around quite a bit down in the mines. Needless to say, it didn't bring any good thoughts to mind.

"My name is Silver Vein. A pleasure to meet you, cat."

[Orangi]

Silver was honestly surprised that this "Tarassi" still wanted to converse with her - though she did expect him to say something after seeing that look on his face while he ate that candy bar. It must have been the best thing he'd had in a long while.

"Horse?" she answered, furrowing her brow and narrowing her eyes. "I am a pony, or 'equus sapiens sapiens,' as the humans called us. I think."

Horse had generally been a derogatory term for ponies, at least in her experience, and the word was carelessly thrown around quite a bit down in the mines. Needless to say, it didn't bring any good thoughts to mind.

"My name is Silver Vein. A pleasure to meet you, cat."

Marran's eyebrow raised alongside the same side of his mouth. This pony had some bite.

"Well, that's two species that have called me a cat. I need to look one of these things up." Marran said, swiping to the search engine application. Upon typing in cat, what Marran saw caused his ears folded back and pupils narrowed.

"Seriously? What in the depths is that?" 'That looks like a baby, but some kind of unhealthy variation that some crazy doctor conjured up.' he thought, "These were pets? How horrifying." He said as he searched for "Horse".

"Oh." Marran said, closing the search engine. "I get it now. I'm sorry. You look much, much, much better than a horse. Hopefully I'm not as terrifying as that... cat thing. Whatever the depths that was. Really sorry. Bentu over there told me you were horses." Marran said, lazily pointing an accusatory finger at the Tau Ambassador.

"So what do you do?"

[Ceffyltir]

Marran's apology seemed genuine, and his reaction to the images he saw on his tablet were at least humorous. Silver smiled gently, but was then instantly stricken with an odd mix of warmth, nostalgia, and surprise. This was the first time she had smiled since the catastrophe. It felt... nice. Maybe... Maybe it wasn't too soon to sit and talk with others.

She turned her head toward Bentu, only now truly acknowledging his existence. He was... strange looking, to say the least. Blue, wrinkled skin, long robes, and a... hat of some sort. "Oh. I didn't realize you two were talking before I got here. My apologies."

"To answer your question, Marran, nothing. I lost my job when my home planet was destroyed, but I've yet to find a new one on this hunk of metal. I'm waiting to be assigned one... hopefully it'll be something I can take pride in."

She felt her heart sink a little more again, and began unwrapping the small bar of chocolate that came with her meal.

[Orangi]

Marran's apology seemed genuine, and his reaction to the images he saw on his tablet were at least humorous. Silver smiled gently, but was then instantly stricken with an odd mix of warmth, nostalgia, and surprise. This was the first time she had smiled since the catastrophe. It felt... nice. Maybe... Maybe it wasn't too soon to sit and talk with others.

She turned her head toward Bentu, only now truly acknowledging his existence. He was... strange looking, to say the least. Blue, wrinkled skin, long robes, and a... hat of some sort. "Oh. I didn't realize you two were talking before I got here. My apologies."

"To answer your question, Marran, nothing. I lost my job when my home planet was destroyed, but I've yet to find a new one on this hunk of metal. I'm waiting to be assigned one... hopefully it'll be something I can take pride in."

She felt her heart sink a little more again, and began unwrapping the small bar of chocolate that came with her meal.

"Feel about the same way here, yeah. I used to be an engineer. Still could be I guess... Then there's these cops, and I bet that's an alright gig... Probably got some long hours though. Not that I mind. Ever get the chance, you should spend about a week on a gunship, see how you stand it." Marran said with a grin. He hated his first tour, but over time his crew were more and more like family, all except that other guy he was sweet on. Marran was glad he didn't explode with the ship. It's the one time Vasari's honorable discharge seemed like a good thing.

"Say, I know we've been talking for like, five minutes. I know where to find Old Ben here, but you know where you live? I think I live in... Let's see if- oh, right." Marran said, remembering he had an implant that allowed him to listen to recent audio logs, or view them through text formats. The Orranian Neural Packages were wonderful things.

"District A6, Hangar 2, Building 258, room 7. That's where. How about you?"

[The Floor Kippers]

At this moment in time, Jonathan walked into the mess, mostly to return his tray. Stargazing had started to get him, down.
Perhaps, he thought, what he needed was to find some interaction with another person, to take his mind off the doom and gloom, even before he knew how unhealthy what was, especially for someone who worked with knives.

He scanned the room, looking for a place he could insert himself into, or to start a conversation.

[Quidomne]

Marcus and Rivette entered the mess hall, surprisingly still lively despite being so far along in the mess period.

Getting her meagre meal of dried fruits, water, and chocolate (Marcus fared no better), she looked around for a table to sit at it.

“THERE’S ONE!”, Marcus yelled and pointed, too close to her ear to be at all couth, but then again Rivette remembered he was not one for manners. Now which table was he…
“Oh no”, she whimpered quietly.

SHE’S THERE.

THAT MARE.

“OHNOOHNOOHNOOHNOOHNOOHNOOHNOOHNOOHNO”, the record of her mind skipping again and again as she reluctantly tailed Marcus to the table.

They sat down, a few feet from HER and some cat person, conversing about something.

“Oh no,” she thought to herself, “Marcus is going to want to talk. He likes to talk. And then I have talk. TO HER.”

Rivette visibly sweated, awaiting the inevitable…

[The Floor Kippers]

Rivette may have taken some small relief when Jonathan chose his moment and suddenly joined them at the table.
He sat for a moment looking between Marcus and Rivette, the diversity of the survivors still amazed him.

"Hello," He said, in a tone of voice that sounded it coated in an artificial layer of cheeriness, looking at Rivette, "Jonathan Smedley. MFS, First catering assistant."

[Quidomne]

"WHAT?! I mean, hello, hi", Rivette responded to the new, almost jumping out of her seat. Her embarrassment is proving to be a consistent source of propulsion today.

"Uh, Rivette. That's me. That's my name. I don't think I have a title or rank, though..." Rivette retorted, her voice a steady decrescendo of timidity.

[Ceffyltir]

"Feel about the same way here, yeah. I used to be an engineer. Still could be I guess... Then there's these cops, and I bet that's an alright gig... Probably got some long hours though. Not that I mind. Ever get the chance, you should spend about a week on a gunship, see how you stand it." Marran said with a grin. He hated his first tour, but over time his crew were more and more like family, all except that other guy he was sweet on. Marran was glad he didn't explode with the ship. It's the one time Varasi's honorable discharge seemed like a good thing.

"Say, I know we've been talking for like, five minutes. I know where to find Old Ben here, but you know where you live? I think I live in... Let's see if- oh, right." Marran said, remembering he had an implant that allowed him to listen to recent audio logs, or view them through text formats. The Orranian Neural Packages were wonderful things.

"District A6, Hangar 2, Building 258, room 7. That's where. How about you?"

"Where do I live?" Silver replied, raising a brow. This guy was getting friendly fast, and it was honestly a bit disconcerting to her. Not that she disliked him. She had just never been the social butterfly everyone seemed to want.

"Well, I do live in District A6, coincidentally enough, but..." she began, briefly pausing and looking away. "...I'm not sure we live in the same building. If you want, we can do breakfast tomorrow, though. You-..."

They sat down, a few feet from HER and some cat person, conversing about something.

“Oh no,” she thought to herself, “Marcus is going to want to talk. He likes to talk. And then I have talk. TO HER.”

Rivette visibly sweated, awaiting the inevitable…

Rivette may have taken some small relief when Jonathan chose his moment and suddenly joined them at the table.
He sat for a moment looking between Marcus and Rivette, the diversity of the survivors still amazed him.

"Hello," He said, in a tone of voice that sounded it coated in an artificial layer of cheeriness, looking at Rivette, "Jonathan Smedley. MFS, First catering assistant."

Three more refugees sat down beside them and almost immediately began talking, which was a bit surprising to Silver - which, in turn, was strange, since it wouldn't have fazed her ten minutes ago.

She scooted a few inches away from them to give them space, returning to her meal.

[Orangi]

"Breakfast sounds good, I'd like to do th-" Marran replied as he was very nearly shoved out of the way. His brow furrowed and his lips curled in a way that showed irritation. "...Yeah, breakfast sounds good! District A6? I'll keep an eye out tomorrow morning, whenever we get up." Marran said, now observing the two beside him. Another pony, this one far more awkward and easy to startle, and a somewhat bereft looking cook. Or at least he was pretty sure he was a cook. He leaned back away from the table and outstretched his hand to the cook.

"Marran Varri, as of now Prior service. How and who are you, sir?"

[The Floor Kippers]

"WHAT?! I mean, hello, hi", Rivette responded to the new, almost jumping out of her seat. Her embarrassment is proving to be a consistent source of propulsion today.

"Uh, Rivette. That's me. That's my name. I don't think I have a title or rank, though..." Rivette retorted, her voice a steady decrescendo of timidity.

"Oh, I am sorry," Jonathan apologised, "I didn't mean to startle you like that. In hindsight, that was a bit rude of me, just sitting here without so much as a by your leave."

"Marran Varri, as of now Prior service. How and who are you, sir?"

Jonathan turned to speak to Marran, and for a brief moment a flash of surprise crossed his face, before his mind reminded him, that not mere moments ago he had been talking to a talking horse, so a six foot cat man shouldn't surprise him.
"Jonathan Smedley," He said, taking the hand and shaking it, "Holding together, my friend, just about holding it together. There's nothing more any of us can really do right now."

[Orangi]

"WHAT?! I mean, hello, hi", Rivette responded to the new, almost jumping out of her seat. Her embarrassment is proving to be a consistent source of propulsion today.

"Uh, Rivette. That's me. That's my name. I don't think I have a title or rank, though..." Rivette retorted, her voice a steady decrescendo of timidity.

"Oh, I am sorry," Jonathan apologised, "I didn't mean to startle you like that. In hindsight, that was a bit rude of me, just sitting here without so much as a by your leave."

"Marran Varri, as of now Prior service. How and who are you, sir?"

Jonathan turned to speak to Marran, and for a brief moment a flash of surprise crossed his face, before his mind reminded him, that not mere moments ago he had been talking to a talking horse, so a six foot cat man shouldn't surprise him.
"Jonathan Smedley," He said, taking the hand and shaking it, "Holding together, my friend, just about holding it together. There's nothing more any of us can really do right now."

He rarely heard words that true. Everyone was just holding together here, weren't they? Nervous wreck of a pony with the hair tied back so far that you'd think her scalp would snap off her head, the clearly battered Silver Vein who isn't one for social circumstances, the extremely loud man who may or may not be hiding the pain, the cook who introduced himself as holding together, and him, who just lost everything he ever knew. Reality possibly literally included.

"...Yeah. Yeah that's about right isn't it?" Marran said, continuing to observe this motley crew. "Say, you with the ponytail. What's your name? Rivet? Marran Varri." He said, holding out his hand again. He assumed that they did handshakes, despite not having any hands. Those were hooves right? He read about those briefly.

Marran needed to read about cats too, just to get an idea of what people expect of him.

[Quidomne]

"WHAT?! I mean, hello, hi", Rivette responded to the new, almost jumping out of her seat. Her embarrassment is proving to be a consistent source of propulsion today.

"Uh, Rivette. That's me. That's my name. I don't think I have a title or rank, though..." Rivette retorted, her voice a steady decrescendo of timidity.

"Oh, I am sorry," Jonathan apologised, "I didn't mean to startle you like that. In hindsight, that was a bit rude of me, just sitting here without so much as a by your leave."

Rivette found the wordy polity of the cook strange, yet somehow reassuring. "Uh, it's fine. I'm just...distracted, is all. Don't worry about it."

He rarely heard words that true. Everyone was just holding together here, weren't they? Nervous wreck of a pony with the hair tied back so far that you'd think her scalp would snap off her head, the clearly battered Silver Vein who isn't one for social circumstances, the extremely loud man who may or may not be hiding the pain, the cook who introduced himself as holding together, and him, who just lost everything he ever knew. Reality possibly literally included.

"...Yeah. Yeah that's about right isn't it?" Marran said, continuing to observe this motley crew. "Say, you with the ponytail. What's your name? Rivet? Marran Varri." He said, holding out his hand again. He assumed that they did handshakes, despite not having any hands. Those were hooves right? He read about those briefly.

Marran needed to read about cats too, just to get an idea of what people expect of him.

"Uh..."

If you have ever shaken hands with a horse, then you know how awkward it was for Rivette to maintain face here.

After a shaken encasement of her hoof in cat hands, "Um, Rivette, actually", she replied. "A common mistake, not surprisingly. Pony names are kinda funny like that. Heh heh heh...", the lavender pony's forced chuckle trailing off into the cold depths of space.

[The Floor Kippers]

"So," Jonathan said suddenly, the forced chuckle of Rivette had caused him to briefly reflect on himself, putting him in clear danger of slipping back into a maudlin melancholy if he didn't keep himself distracted, "If it's not too soon to ask about the past, how did you earn a living, Rivette? Or you, Marran."

He leant over the table to look at Silver.
"And I don't believe we've been introduced, Miss...?"

[Ethirus]

Francis waltzed into the dining hall or as the plebs called it the 'mess hall', he chuckled slightly, Oh yes how very strange of them he idled. Fluidly he waved pass the menagerie (Is that what a pony looks like IRL?) of characters, his blue coat sweeping behind him. It was then that he saw the very same stowaway he had spied on earlier talking to...the very same pony he had seen galloping away from the public terminals. A wide grin grew as he chortled at the coincidence. He regarded the other two conversers (Another pony of no rank and one of the...cooking staff? A brief scan of the ships records revealed the identity of all but the anthropomorphic tiger. He snorted slightly leaning on the far wall as he regarded the little group, figuring out an angle of approach. He paused slightly as the smirk on his face twitched slightly as the image of a familiar man flashed across his artificial retinas.

I looked at the man. He was old, a bit haggard looking in his white lab coat, with blonde locks not too dissimilar to my own and an unshaven chin. It was a roguish look really, though he did indeed look tired.
"Eh, Francis it's time for bed."

Francis blinked away the image. "Well that was most interesting." he uttered as he massaged his forehead gently, the smirk on his face looking hollow. He decided to take a seat at the table across from the little group after picking up a coffee. He made a face as he drank it, it definitely wasn't the quality he was used to. He regarded te complementary chocolate bar. Well, cyborgs need chocolate too he thought, before idly ripping the packet open before nibbling contently on the delicious treat. He looked at the group again. The caterer decided to ask an excellent question without actually asking anything.

He leant over the table to look at Silver.
"And I don't believe we've been introduced, Miss...?"

"I would be interested in the answer to that as well, most people merely broke down at the terminals." he uttered, just loud enough to be heard, from his seat, a soft smirk gracing his artificially perfect face as he happily ate his chocolate bar. Of course he idly wondered if they were wondering how he had heard their conversation from this table. It wasn't like they were speaking loudly or anything. "Some had to be dragged away, kicking and screaming. Without any contexts its rather amusing to watch really. However with the current situation we are all in..." he sighed looking down slightly "It isn't really worth laughing at anymore." his smile remained a soft curve, his face unreadable.

[Orangi]

Marran processed the question for a moment.

"If it's not too soon to ask about the past, how did you earn a living, Rivette? Or you, Marran."

"Or you, Marran."

Considering his recent revelation, this was a question that was more and more uncomfortable. He understood answering it for processing and protocol reasons. But the less he could think about it, the better. even his world's symbol emblazoned on his uniform only served as a bitter reminder at the moment. But even that was a part of him he could never discard. Marran swallowed his pain and answered, in the most formal and nigh robotic fashion.

"Chief Engineer aboard an Assailant Class Gunship, Orranian Naval Force, "Steadfast". Sergeant Grade B-2. I was tasked with overseeing the engineering crew and ensuring they were always working at peak efficiency, even in..." Marran paused, breaking. "...A cataclysmic event." He said, sitting still for a moment.

"It's been a pleasure, but I need to get going." He said as he rose from the table. His arm twitched to salute, but he resisted. He was still in that mode of thought. It was built into him. "Ambassador Bentu." He nodded. He looked to the rest around him. "I hope to see you folks at another time. I'll make a point of it even." Marran said as he went around the table to walk by Silver. "Hope we're still on for breakfast." He said in a hushed tone. He walked out and nodded towards Officer Fredrick.

"Hey. I've got my room number. Mind showing me the way?" He said rather quickly, faster than he normally would.

"Yeah. Number?"

"Hangar 2, A6-"

"No need for it all. Right this way." Fredrick said as he escorted Marran to his home for the time being. It wasn't terribly long before they entered the massive hangar before them.

This was it. This was the place the ship's new tennants would occupy. Massive boxes stacked for hundreds of meters forwards. Catwalks and so on were still in the process of being constructed, but there were some very clearly civilian personnel walking about. The containers were an array of colors and hues, and didn't at all reach the massive ceiling of the hangar. The behemoth doors were closed, though the doors were so utterly large they they had even smaller ones on them. His timing was good. One of these doors opened and a shuttle passed through, docking with a particularly large structure above.

"You're just in time Mr. Varri. Civvies are getting pushed in like clockwork. We don't know what's gonna' happen once they all get in here but we're ready for it." Fredrick said as he pointed towards a police barricade at the far side. They even had a dropship landed and ready. "We don't want anything to go wrong. But we're ready in case something does. Here we are."

There was a green line defining the boundary of the district. The structures were larger than the district itself, though not all areas were filled.

"You can find it on your own right?"

"Yes." Marran replied coldly as he walked on.

"Hey, you alright?" Fredrick asked, putting a hand on Marran's shoulder. Marran paused for a second. He didn't expect an officer in full kit, ready to face a potentially rough situation if things went poorly, to ask if he, some random refugee that wasn't even from here, was doing alright.

"No. No, I'm not. Keep it stable tonight Officer."

Fredrick nodded. "Alright Marran. If you need a friend, I got A8 under my watch, designated. And if you acclimate alright? P.D.'s at District A8 as well."

"Alright. See you later Fredrick."

"Count on it." Fredrick said, giving off a light salute. Despite his early brusque handling, he knew Marran was a man of would-be-previously-higher-standing than he. The uniform, gait, way he carried himself made it more obvious than any badge could, and in his current state, did what he could to reassure Marran that someone knew.

He found Building 258 with little hassle, walked in and scanned the cramped surroundings. After passing into the middle section, he found room 7. He took his card off his chest, placed it into the reader and the door slid open. There was nothing but a hallway in front of him, with two doors.

But it was enough.

He stepped in, dropped his items, and undid his top- which was quickly thrown into the bathroom as his steps weakened. The bedroom door opened, and before him was a simple bunk near the ground. It wasn't too big, too fancy. It was standard prefab stuff. But it's all he needed. At that moment, he gave up, utterly. Completely.

He hadn't sobbed to himself in a very long time. He hadn't cried or shouted in agony in an even longer time. But as the door behind him closed, he let everything out. He felt sick, uneasy. He knew damn well not to toss up on the floor, but damned if he had the strength to go anywhere else. He held it in. It was just about the only thing he could hold in anymore, if just barely. Hands over his eyes, blocking out the soft lighting of the room, the drab gray hue of the walls, everything. He let everything out. He lost everything, everyone.

His mother, his father. His Varn, his best friends, his home, his nation- his planet, that cute Ruain lady in medical, his captain, his crew. He lost everything. Completely and utterly. All that remained of his old life was a scrap pile that this ship had surely already passed, a broken shuttle, some firearms and miscellaneous equipment, and his uniforms. That's it. That's all he had left- all he'd ever have again of home.

He supposed that's how everyone else felt, removing his hands from his face, letting his arms lazily fall between his legs. His head hung low and his eyes barely open. They'd have to feel this way right? Or did he feel worse? He couldn't even know for certain what the outcome of that battle was. It looked like they'd come out of it, but who else would those other guys attack? The Republic was strong enough, he thought. Strong enough without him. He didn't know if he was strong enough without them, though.

He'd never wake up to that old anthem. The sight of I-76s soaring through space by the gunship, cruisers just beyond. He'd never set foot in Zarosia City or hear a Ruain opera again.

And so many of these people wouldn't ever see their loved things again either. Many spouses would never see their beloved again, many their children, many their parents. He wondered if there'd be an orphanage setup nearby for those poor young souls. How many pets and old friends had to be left behind? Were there even any domestic animals on this ship? He hoped to The Mother and The Father that there were- it'd be wrong otherwise.

Right now he needed to sit. He couldn't even move. He was still collapsing inside and out. Everything he was is broken and gone. That Ruain in medical will never chime in her cute way, "Sergeant Varri~" again... And he'll definitely regret never taking Vasari out for some ale and maybe more.

He wasn't dying, though. But he was thinking like he was dying. The memory of his old sergeant in basic was shouting at him to get his sorry furry ass off the steel floor below him. But this was the one time he could tell his sergeant to, "V'Radsik Tar Vothom". Without getting reprimanded. He weakly chuckled. Veritian words were so brusque and colorful. He wanted to go apply to that P.D., but he knew in his current state, he just flat out shouldn't.

So he'd sit here and wait. Sleep. Anything. Maybe he'd just sit here. Maybe he'd paint something on that tablet. Anything. The weird part? It felt good to strip the uniform and stop showing how much of a good, strong soldier he was, and to himself, just let himself break down. But it felt terrible. He was so proud of his record, his conduct. Who he was. He could keep being that person.

But alone..?

Right now, he just wanted to be that whiny sixteen year old who hadn't applied for Basic yet.

[Slorch]

'Well this is all very exciting isn't it? It's good that Marran is talking to others. Should help him get over his depression.' thought Bentu. Bentu smilled when Marran looked up a picture of a cat. "Yes what is your name Miss?" asked Bentu. He then saw that Francis was out and about. Bentu nodded at him. There was the scraping sound of a chair as Marran stood up. He once again looked sad and far away. 'Damn and we were doing so well.' thought Bentu. "Well I'll be seeing you around then." replied Bentu.

[Ceffyltir]

"It's been a pleasure, but I need to get going." He said as he rose from the table. His arm twitched to salute, but he resisted. He was still in that mode of thought. It was built into him. "Ambassador Bentu." He nodded. He looked to the rest around him. "I hope to see you folks at another time. I'll make a point of it even." Marran said as he went around the table to walk by Silver. "Hope we're still on for breakfast." He said in a hushed tone. He walked out and nodded towards Officer Fredrick.

She only nodded, munching away on the sweetened pineapple in front of her.

He leant over the table to look at Silver.
"And I don't believe we've been introduced, Miss...?"

Silver knew she wouldn't be left alone for long with this many interesting people around her. Bentu, Rivette, the man in the jumpsuit, and now the... caterer, was it? This was quite a diverse group. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by yet another stranger's voice - though this one came from the table behind her.

"I would be interested in the answer to that as well, most people merely broke down at the terminals." he uttered, just loud enough to be heard, from his seat, a soft smirk gracing his artificially perfect face as he happily ate his chocolate bar. Of course he idly wondered if they were wondering how he had heard their conversation from this table. It wasn't like they were speaking loudly or anything. "Some had to be dragged away, kicking and screaming. Without any contexts its rather amusing to watch really. However with the current situation we are all in..." he sighed looking down slightly "It isn't really worth laughing at anymore." his smile remained a soft curve, his face unreadable.

She turned, a curious and somewhat suspicious expression on her face. Before her sat a peculiar looking male human. There was something... off about him, though. Unnatural. Mechanical, even. His countenance - his eyes in particular - were particularly unnerving. That creeping, unsure feeling of trying to figure out whether or not his presence should be considered a threat slowly eased up her spine.

"...Silver. Silver Vein." she finally said, her eyes locked on the man in blue. "W... Were you watching me?"

[The Floor Kippers]

I hope, thought Jonathan, I didn't upset Marran by being to probing. I know how I'd feel if someone started probing me about the recent past. I must apologise when I see him next.

"Nice to meet you Silver," Jonathan said, letting a genuine smile creep on to his face as he found comfort in this small, but odd group, "Jonathan Smedley."

He glanced around at Francis then back to Silver.

"Artificials," He said, rolling his eyes, "Sometimes they have all the tact and discretion of a brick to the face."

[Ethirus]

He leant over the table to look at Silver.
"And I don't believe we've been introduced, Miss...?"

Silver knew she wouldn't be left alone for long with this many interesting people around her. Bentu, Rivette, the man in the jumpsuit, and now the... caterer, was it? This was quite a diverse group. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by yet another stranger's voice - though this one came from the table behind her.

"I would be interested in the answer to that as well, most people merely broke down at the terminals." he uttered, just loud enough to be heard, from his seat, a soft smirk gracing his artificially perfect face as he happily ate his chocolate bar. Of course he idly wondered if they were wondering how he had heard their conversation from this table. It wasn't like they were speaking loudly or anything. "Some had to be dragged away, kicking and screaming. Without any contexts its rather amusing to watch really. However with the current situation we are all in..." he sighed looking down slightly "It isn't really worth laughing at anymore." his smile remained a soft curve, his face unreadable.

She turned, a curious and somewhat suspicious expression on her face. Before her sat a peculiar looking male human. There was something... off about him, though. Unnatural. Mechanical, even. His countenance - his eyes in particular - were particularly unnerving. That creeping, unsure feeling of trying to figure out whether or not his presence should be considered a threat slowly eased up her spine.

"...Silver. Silver Vein." she finally said, her eyes locked on the man in blue. "W... Were you watching me?"

He merely smiled taking a sip of his sub-par coffee. "Please don't be offended, your not the only one." His eyes scanned the table, flashing a bright red as names were added to faces though he regarded the Caterer with piqued interest.

[quote="The Floor Kippers";p="21766443" He glanced around at Francis then back to Silver.

"Artificials," He said, rolling his eyes, "Sometimes they have all the tact and discretion of a brick to the face."[/quote]

"Apologies for being so... forward with such a question, though I suppose the brick is very tactful if your unconscious." He chuckled as he regarded the help. "Though I suppose a cook knows much more about discretion than I, a humble servant of the state." His smirk twitched slightly as he regarded the dismal atmosphere of the ship. "or rather what's left of it anyway."

He looked back to the pony, eyes locking on her own.
"Francis Valetta. You may have heard of me."