---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "They what now?" Michael asked, walking over to Yirphayen and waving his hand in front of the being. "The president does not want to get on something as dangerous as a boat, and his wife is complaining about the puddles we made." Aylen reported, looking down at his sunken feet with amusement. "Well, nothing we can do about the puddles.... In what way would it be acceptable for them to come out to our ship. What do I need to make for them to get them here?" Michael asked as he picked up Yirphayen. "Man, this guy really likes to sleep after a jump." "Perhaps we should investigate a containment procedure so it does not lose so much energy per-jump?" Jack replied. "The stars are its home. Maybe being on a planet is unhealthy as well?" He continued getting up from his chair. "Good point." Michael answered, walking off the bridge and towards the lift with Jack following close behind him. "The General has finally convinced them that the boat is safe. VIPs are en route." Aylen reported, suddenly finding himself being held very tightly by multiple Voktlix as he sat in the boat. "Understood." Michael replied as he entered the lift, hitting the pad to take him towards his room. "Man for a broken foot that guy can sure work.... Take them to the diplomatic suite. I'll be ready in about ten or so minutes." "Yes, sir." Aylen replied, his voice somewhat shaky. Michael turned off the com and exited the lift as it stopped, quickly turning left and moving swiftly down the hall towards his room. Though upon reaching it, he looked down at his weighted hands and sighed. "Jack. Can you take Yirphayen to the diplomatic suite?" "Yes, Captain." Jack replied, gently taking the handoff from Michael with ease. "Would you like me to do anything else for you?" He said with a smug grin. "Nah, sorry about that. Maybe switch to your dress uniform as well once you get there, though... Thank you." Michael replied, entering his quarters and leaving Jack laughing in the hallway. "Captain!" Viscia gasped. "Don't you know it's impolite to enter a lady's room without knocking!!!" She playfully barked, happily stepping off to the side and allowing Michael full sight of her current project. "This is my place to ya know." He replied, keenly eyeing his half-naked mate. "I'm surprised you brought your chains along. I figured you hated those things." "I do! But It is still my duty as a diplomat to dress the part. Even if I hate these blasted things." Srettia replied, waving at the table full of gold accessories. "I assume you will be wearing your dress uniform as well?" She stated, her hood waving in excitement. "Yes. Yes, I will. Michael replied, taking another good look before turning and entering his room, Much to Viscia disappointment. "That was rather unfunny of you two." Viscia commented as she picked up a new chain and began attaching it to Srettia's left horn. "We see each other naked multiple times a day. Though it is a pleasant sight, I see no reason for either of us to hide from another." Srettia replied as she slipped a toe ring on, focusing on stilling her hood. "You say that, but your pheromones says something else." Viscia replied, scenting the air with a laugh and finally finding some humour in the situation. As the two diplomats worked to adorn their wear, Aylen was thankful to finally reach the ship, suddenly finding some humour from his task as the noises the seven Voktlix made as they passed the hard light camo was rather amusing. "What is this!?" General Basthin shouted, looking back through the field and only seeing the city. "What kind of magic is this?" "No magic. Just some tech we used to hid our ship." Caithen replied, holding Ankiah steady on her lap. "But how?" Basthin exclaimed, continuing his stare as the boat finally came to a stop, sliding up against the ship. "Uhhh.. That's a question for our engineer Tanda. I have no clue." Aylen answered as he jumped out and dragged the boat up the ship, allowing the Voktlix to step directly onto the vessel. "Could we hide our city with such technology?" Ekianei asked, looking at Aylen with demanding eyes while holding out her hand. "I suppose you could." Aylen replied with a sigh, helping Ekianei out of the boat but finding that she was rather handsy while stepping off. "How much would my people have to pay for you to set up such a contraption?" Ekianei asked, pausing for a moment before heading towards the opening door. "That's not up for me to decide, ma'am." Aylen replied, helping Lunouri off next while Caithen began helping his aides off. "General." Aylen said, waving some medics over from the door as he began helping Basthin off the boat. "We'll take it from here." The medics stated as they arrived, quickly fixing the General to a stretcher and pushing him off into the ship, startling the Voktlix with the odd hovering device they used. "And just what was that?" President Lunouri asked, stroking his chin in wonder. "Just a stretcher." Caithen replied, waving the group towards the ship. "In here, please." "I have seen a stretcher, and that is not one." Ekianei replied, strolling towards the door. "It would seem common tools to you may be life-changing for us." "In more ways than one." Ankiah replied as she stepped into the ship and stretched, beginning her walk towards decontamination. "This. This is the best." She said, holding her hands up and spinning in a slow circle as the blue light washed over her. "Now, what would that be?" Ekianei asked, watching curiously as Ankiah sighed with pleasure before shivering and stepping out. "Step in and hold your arms up. You'll see." Ankiah replied, walking towards the lift. "I'm going to go get dressed........ I left my mech by the gate." She stopped to say, unsure of what to do. Caithen laughed and watched as Ekianei shuddered under the decontamination light. "It's fine. Not like anyone can activate it." "I will give you half my fortune for this device." Ekianei quickly replied as she stepped out of the cleansing light. "No.. Three quarters!" She insisted. "Darling. You may be overreacting. Please do not act so hastily." Lunouri replied as he stepped into the device and held up his arms in delight. Ankiah shrugged and entered the lift, keying in the deck her room was located on and leaning against the wall as the door closed with a sigh. Caithen quickly slammed her hand between the lift door, catching them as they closed and quickly stepping in, allowing the door to shut behind her. "Almost." She said, pulling Ankiah into a hug and gently rubbing her back. "Not as easy as you thought. Is it?" Ankiah sank into her hug and began to rub her head against Caithen's chest, suddenly breaking into a sobbing laugh as she did. "Your armour is hard." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael finished placing his pins and walked into the living room, looking around before sitting on a stool he kept just off to the side of the door. "You look amazing!" He said, watching as Viscia's hood flashed pink in amusement. "HEY! I forgot that you got some cord." Michael replied with surprise, trying to remember what the colours meant. "I keep them off while I'm working. Wouldn't want any of my co-workers knowing my inner thoughts now, would I?" Viscia replied, stepping back and eyeing her work. "She is quite beautiful, isn't she?" "Yes, she is." Was Michael's quick reply. "Well, She's all yours now. Try not to break her." Viscia spouted, patting Srettia's shoulder and walking towards the door triumphantly. "The president seems a bit ill-willed, but I'd keep an eye on his wife. I feel like she wasn't in his office just for her looks." Viscia said, waving again at Srettia and walking out the door. "You two are getting along well." Michael stated, watching as Srettia quickly finished up. Srettia rose from her chair and straightened her back, her chains chiming against each other as she did and slowly looked over to Michael. "I will deal with that female when the time comes. Go ahead and meet the two Voktlix leaders. You should not be late. I require...." "Say no more." Michael said, tossing her a quick wave as he left the room. Aylen smiled as he finished leading the crew of seven Voktlix to the diplomatic suite. Having stopped a few times to answer the multiple questions, Ekianei asked along the way. He keyed the door open and was relieved to finally be done with babysitting. "In here, please." He said politely, stepping into the door and waving the group in. Tossing the tall man a look as she walked by, Ekianei was stunned to see the room. While it was rather plain with the colour choice, the arrangement and quality of the equipment was what she could tell the highest of quality. "This is a remarkable room." She said, walking around and admiring the clean lines before coming to an odd chair and gasping in shock. "What a wonderful gem! It must be worth a fortune!" Yirphayen ceased its resting state with a calming chime and created a perfect circle around itself, digging into the chair as it did. " I am not a gem. I am Yirphayen, representative of the Eaenhreph." "Quite." Lunouri replied. "And this chair is rather comfortable as well." He commented as he sat in the chair at the front of the room. Eyeing the talking gem, Ekianei shrugged and eyed Aylen as he moved across the room, sniffing the air as he passed by. Aylen decided to take up a spot in the corner, looking around before taking off his helmet and holding it under his arm. "Make yourself comfortable. The Captain will be here, momentarily." Ekianei's eyes went wide as she began sniffing the air heavily before quickly stopping herself and sitting propper in her chair. "Yes.... I assumed as much. It is a usual tactic to make your guests wait to show your power over them." Aylen shook his head and wiped his forehead. "No, ma'am, he was just preparing for your arrival, is all." "Yes. That is quite the commo-" As she was finishing her sentence, Michael walked in and stood tall at the door, giving the gathered representatives a warm smile. "Apologies. I was speaking with my second about one of our representatives. I see you're awake, Ambassador Yirphayen." Chiming, in a tune of response and changing its colours to a cascading pattern, Yirphayen finally shrugged off its awakening haze and observed its surroundings... "I am. Thank you for bringing me here." Ekianei's eyes glued to the talking gem in wonder. "Truly! He is alive?" Jack took form with a laugh, eliciting yelps surprise from the Voktlix who skittered to the wall in fright. "Apologies. I am Jack, a Terran diplomat." Lunouri and Ekianei quickly brushed themselves off and moved to sit back in their seats, seeming to ignore the happenings and continue with the conversation. Michael, however, chose to sit beside Yirphayen as jack took up the opposite side of it and nodded. "It is. Its people live in the dark of space and feed off the stars." Eyeing the Captain and his well-tailored suit as she settled in, Ekianei began stealthily sniffing the air in an attempting to sense this Captain's motives, only to shrink back in terror once again at the scent coming off him. Though, thankfully this time, her years of political maneuvering allowed her to hide her fright before the scent. Lunouri, however, quickly eyed the talking gem before turning to observe this Starship Captain in front of him, attempting to judge his character before beginning his statement. " So I come to understand that you have come to help, and I am told at no cost to us. Care to clarify why your people would do this?" He began. Michael frowned as the door behind him opened, and Ankiah walked through with Caithen in her regular uniform following close behind. " Because we can, and your people need it. We don't need much of a reason to help those in need, really. " Ankiah took a chair one spot away from Michael and smiled at Ekianei, seeing right through the fake smile she had on. "You don't need to be afraid, Ekianei. That smell is from diplomat Srettia, who should be arriving soon. She's an Aasteran, and they leave their scent on their mates. It smells like their toxin for some reason." Michael looked to Ankiah in shock. "Really? That's neat." "These Aasteran..... What kind of people are they? They sound dangerous." Lunouri asked, taking hold of Ekianei's hand. As if asking for her to show, Srettia gracefully walked through the door. Her back straight and chains chiming as she stepped in, walking over to the side Michael to slowly sit in her chair, head high as she looked down her nose at Ekianei. "Greetings, madame Ekianei. President Lunouri. I am Srettia Esithn Graeme. Ambassador of the Aasteran people." "Like that." Ankiah replied, leaning back in her chair with a smug face. ----