Carpathia IV: Episode 22 - The Grey Elf
Space, Centaurus Void, NCCS Shadowdancer
Adell, Aire, and Teren strode briskly down the corridor toward the shuttle bay. It was clear enough what Ksenva was doing, keeping them off-guard the entire time. One brief, abrupt transmission just 45 minutes after the first one wherein she announced that she was on her way. Fortunately, most of the preparations were already complete and all that was left to do was confirm status.
Adell: You have security arranged just outside the shuttle bay?
Teren tapped at his tablet to confirm and showed it to Adell.
Teren: Yes, Captain.
Adell glanced at the tablet without breaking his stride.
Adell: Good. Monitor the shuttle carefully. At any sign they might be charging weapons, shut the blast doors.
Teren: I'll be on that myself, Captain.
At the same time, Aire was monitoring the condition of the facilities.
Aire: The conference room is clean and we have a small selection of water, juices and alcoholic beverages, depending on what they might like. Catering is standing by with snacks in case they might be interested.
Adell nodded.
Adell: Good, good. Didn't have enough time to prepare a gift, did we? Hopefully, it won't be expected.
Quenya: Commander!
Aire stopped while Adell and Teren moved on and spotted Quenya running up behind him.
Aire: What is it, Quenya?
Quenya stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, indicating that she had sprinted far.
Quenya: I'm sorry to bother you, Commander, but is it true? Are we really going to meet some elves?
Though in a bit of a hurry, Aire still had a little time to spare and did not want to abruptly dismiss a crew member if he could avoid it.
Aire: Yes, it is true.
Quenya's face contorted into several expressions, mostly, from what Aire could tell, ranged from elation to disappointment.
Quenya: I wish I could see.
Aire was about to offer his condolences that she couldn't participate in the meeting, but his mind became awash with sympathy and alternative possibilities. He thought back to the times when he was her age and suddenly the prospect of space exploration suddenly turned from a fantasy to a reality and how he felt before then, looking up at the stars and wondering if his species homeworld would ever be in reach. He then remembered that Quenya is a cadet, subject to serving on the ship wherever she might be needed. A brief transfer to the catering department would be a possibility in this case. Aire took held out his tablet and tapped at the commands.
Aire: Okay, I'm going to give you a temporary transfer to the catering department. Ten minutes after the meeting starts, as long as things are going okay, you will bring in a replacement pitcher of whatever we have decided to drink and put it on the table. Don't say anything during this time. Just come in, put the pitcher down, and leave. The head caterer will be monitoring the situation through the cameras, so just follow his lead. I'm sending the instructions to him now. Is all that clear?
Quenya's eyes grew as wide as the smile on her face.
Quenya: Yes, Commander! I will do precisely as you say!
Aire: Then report to the head of catering at once!
Quenya turned and gleefully hurried off while Aire had some hurrying of his own to do. Turning back to his path to the shuttle bay, Aire sprinted to rejoin Adell and Teren.
At the shuttle bay area, Aire found Adell and Teren already arrived, along with Ryuu and Teren's security team. As he joined them, the shuttle bay doors were already opening.
Adell: I was just about to call. They're already arriving.
Aire: Sorry for the delay, Captain. I gave Quenya a temporary transfer to the catering department. She'll be replacing the water pitcher about 10 minutes after the meeting starts.
Adell: That'll give her something to write home about. Her dad is going to give me an earful when he finds out, though. He's a bit of a worrier.
As the bay door reached its apex, the vashtari's shuttle came into view through the windows, just as dark and pointy as its mothership. Instead of entering, it hovered outside the bay like an indecisive wasp.
Teren: We are being scanned.
Adell nodded, for this was not unexpected.
Adell: That's okay. Let them have a look.
Time passed of waiting patiently, though nervously, and the shuttle finally started inching forward again and planted itself in the middle of the bay. No shots fired nor any indication of malice and they all took this as a good sign. After the bay door closed and repressurization was complete, Adell, Aire, Teren, and Ryuu together entered the shuttle bay to await the emergence of their guests.
When the shuttle door opened, Aire wondered what he might see. More elves, perhaps? He was excited by the prospect and dearly hoped that they would be much less grumpy than their commander. Instead, what came out was a tall man with red hair and white armor. The horns on his head and sword at his side indicated that this man was a demon, not an elf. The demon proceeded to scan the shuttle bay area thoroughly.
Adell spoke quietly to the others.
Adell: It seems that the demon homeworld is near to the elves.
If the demon heard what Adell said, he took no notice and continued to scan. When he was done, he folded his scanner and placed his hand on his sword. As he bowed deeply toward the shuttle door, they heard him speak for the first time.
Demon: The area appears safe, Madam.
Immediately, another emerged from the shuttle, not Ksenva, but a young and very underdressed male elf with blonde hair and blue eyes, much like Aire. In his hand, he carried a small device, possibly a tablet, and with his other hand, he reached up to the shuttle door. A dark gray hand with red, claw-like fingernails and many bracelets emerged and took the blonde elf's hand. Slowly and elegantly, Ksenva emerged from the door and stepped down from the shuttle.
Ksenva turned slowly, revealing a face with just as much of a scowl as it had the first time they met. She took her time looking over her hosts and then stopped suddenly at Ryuu. Upon spotting him, Ksenva's face contorted and she quickly began having a hushed conversation with the demon. While Adell and the others watched, Ryuu made a hushed comment of his own.
Ryuu: If they've kept good records over the last several thousand years, she might know what I am.
Adell: Keep up your guard, then. This doesn't seem like a happy conversation.
Ksenva turned back to face her hosts again, reaching up to adjust the animal skulls she was using for shoulder pads. Then, she smiled insincerely, looking as though it was physically hurting her face to do so.
Ksenva: I am Ksenva of the Lazmal clan, as I stated before. This is Kain, my chief of security.
Ksenva gestured to the demon by her side and he stepped forward.
Kain: Honored to meet you.
Ksenva now gestured to the scantily-clad elf on her other side.
Ksenva: And this is my personal secretary, Faelon.
Faelon did not step forward, remaining behind Ksenva.
Faelon: Good to know you.
As Faelon spoke, he continuously cast furtive glances in Kain's direction, the meaning of which Aire did not know, but it seemed clear that he did not want Ksenva noticing. If Adell noticed, he paid no heed and introduced his team.
Adell: I am Captain Amaranth. This is my first officer, Aire Valro.
Aire took a step forward.
Aire: Pleased to meet you.
Aire stepped back while Adell introduced Teren.
Adell: This is my second officer, Teren Unas.
Teren stepped forward as well.
Teren: Pleasure to meet you.
Teren stepped back while Adell introduced his final companion.
Adell: And this is Ryuu, my special advisor.
Ryuu did not step forward, but bowed his head ever so slightly.
Ryuu: On behalf of the dragons, I bid you welcome.
Ksenva obviously and deliberately sneered at Ryuu as he gave his greeting. Aire was sure that Adell and Ryuu must have noticed this, but they were not showing it. This, Aire felt, was probably the best course of action. For the moment, there was no immediate danger and he thought it best to wait for Ksenva to reveal what she was hiding on her own rather than try to provoke it out of her.
In the meantime, Adell held out his arm toward the conference room, beckoning Ksenva to accompany him.
Adell: Now that we have the introductions out of the way, shall we go to the conference room?
Commissioned art in this episode from:
Jenova87
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
All city pictures from SimCity 4
