Carpathia IV: Episode 225 - Wanklympics
Polaris Deep
The next afternoon, Aire stood outside the docking port with Admiral Zhang and Commodore Amaranth awaiting the arrival of the hotoh shuttle. The original plan was to meet in the morning, but coming up with a plan to adapt the hotoh shuttle to the Polaris docking port took extra time. After the hotoh made the necessary modifications, it was time to meet. Now, the shuttle parked itself by the dock. A green light indicated that the seal held and, a few moments later, the door opened. Alka and Cyn stepped out.
Admiral Zhang: Welcome, Alka and Cyn, to Polaris Deep. I am Admiral Teri Zhang.
Alka stepped forward with his hand outstretched.
Alka: Good to finally meet you in person. Adell taught me your handshake.
Alka stopped with his hand a foot from Admiral Zhang, who accepted and shook with vigor. She then switched to Cyn and did the same.
Admiral Zhang: You have my thanks for everything you did to help Phobos and Deimos. Lord Krek and Pharaoh Hamset will be arriving in a few days. Until then, I thought you might enjoy a late lunch and a tour of the station. Tonight, we will be having a promotion ceremony for one of our officers if you would like to attend.
Alka: We accept your gracious invitation.
Admiral Zhang stood to the side and held her hand facing down the corridor leading to the rotunda.
Admiral Zhang: Shall we, then?
With a nod, Alka joined Admiral Zhang by her side and they, along with Adell, Aire, and Cyn, followed behind. With nothing in the long corridor of the docking arm for Admiral Zhang to point out, Alka initiated with another apology.
Alka: I would like to apologize again, this time in person, Admiral, for our transgressions.
Admiral Zhang: I thank you for that, but there is something I would like to know, if you don't mind.
Alka: Anything, Admiral.
Admiral Zhang: At what point did you decide not to go through with your little surveillance scheme?
Alka: A fair question. Two members of our council demanded the chips. I was against it and I'm ashamed to admit that I should have fought them on it. They were very much the minority, after all, but I did not. My serious misgivings started after I finished separating their minds into their bodies. I know AI and everything about it is designed to mimic sentience. Phobos and Deimos are most definitely not AI and I questioned the ethics of using sentient beings against their will.
Adell: And that wasn't enough to stop right there?
Alka: It should have been. We've been living in paranoia, under Lazmaedia's shadow, for hundreds of years and trust does not come easily for us. I intended to advocate for their deactivation at the next council meeting. When I started looking into your computers and I saw your entire history laid bare, that's when I knew what I had to do. If there's one thing that defines the current state of the Vashta, it's the lengths they will go to hide, obfuscate, and lie about their history. Once I attended your party on the Shadowdancer atrium and saw so many species enjoying themselves together, I decided I couldn't wait for the council. I can't promise we'll change overnight, but we have to start now. We can't survive like this.
Admiral Zhang: Thank you for that, Alka. Indeed, we are off to a rocky start, some good, some bad. Hopefully, more good than bad in the future, yes?
Alka: I will do my best, Admiral.
Admiral Zhang: In that case, let us continue. We are almost at the rotunda.
Alka: Looking forward to it!
Rotunda, Polaris Deep, Later that evening
This would not be a usual promotion ceremony, but this was not a usual situation, for it was indeed very uncommon for a promotion to happen for one with three former commanding officers and a future commanding officer present. Not to mention, of course, the throngs of crew and staff who once served under the one being promoted. This, in short, was a massive party. If Teren was uncomfortable with this, nobody could tell. It would be hard to tell if he had an entire colony of ants crawling on his body, such was his usual, stoic demeanor during official functions.
Speechifying was mercifully short, a few words from Captain Valro, Commodore Amaranth, and then, finally, Admiral Zhang, with effusive praise for Teren, who stood behind them in resplendent red.
Admiral Zhang: It is therefore my privilege to promote Teren Unas to the rank of full commander.
Applause, as Teren stepped next to Admiral Zhang to receive his new pin.
Admiral Zhang: Congratulations Commander Unas!
More applause. Admiral Zhang slid away from the lectern to make way for Teren. Once the applause died down, he slipped behind the mic and gave a two-word speech in the most Teren way possible.
Teren: Thank you.
This time, a smattering of giggles accompanied the applause. With that, it was time for the crowd to attack the buffet and mingle.
And mingle they did, for with the Shadowdancer and Chrono Blade crews in attendance, it was an opportunity for them to compare notes and get to know each other. To Amenaru's delight, he found Sena, his counterpart on the Chrono Blade. After introducing themselves and making some small talk, Amenaru found time to ask about some of the future upgrades the Shadowdancer is scheduled to receive.
Sena: Your helmspeople are going to like all the new thrusters. Most of the other modifications are related to getting response times down between the time you push a button and when the thing happens. Oh, but wait until you see the new hybrid ATVs!
Amenaru: Oh, what are those?
Sena: It's a combination shuttle and ground vehicle with dual engines. One is like a standard shuttle with all the usual startup bullshit. The other is smaller and slower, but it's just start and go.
Amenaru: That would have been very useful when I died a few months ago.
Sena: I heard about that! I didn't want to bring it up but... how are you?
Amenaru grinned and gave his chest a little pat.
Amenaru: I got better! The artificial heart takes some getting used to, but it really is better than my old one. That's not saying much, though.
Amenaru's ears twitched upon the sound of familiar footsteps approaching from behind. If there was anyone's footsteps he knew just from a single footfall, the delicate, etherial tip tap of boots, it was Kit's. Amenaru turned with a wide grin and waved him near.
Amenaru: Sena, this is my husband, Kit. Kit, this is Sena Mizusaki, Chief of Operations on the Chrono Blade.
Kit extended his hand for a shake.
Kit: Pleased to meet you.
Sena, giddy with wide-eyed glee, clasped Kit's hand with both of his and shook vigorously.
Sena: Kit Savea! You're a legend! It is my honor!
Kit's ears turned fiery red and he scrunched up his body enough to make himself five inches shorter.
Kit: M... me?
Sena: Hell yeah! Your communication with the cytos will go down in history. Look me up for first officer when you become a captain someday, eh?
Kit responded only by squeezing himself up next to Amenaru, who beamed proudly at the effusive praise. Fortunately for Kit, a distraction arrived in the form of Teek.
Teek: Hey, everyone! I was just chatting with Riku about the thruster upgrades. I can't wait!
Riku: I'm sure they'll put you in a simulator while Shadowdancer is getting the modifications.
Teek: I hope so! This is Riku, by the way. Chrono Blade's helmsdinosaur.
Riku: I'm having a lot of fun meeting all the Shadowdancer crew. Boy, do you all have stories.
Amenaru: Weird things just sort of happen to us.
Nalma: THERE YOU ARE!
Everyone jumped and turned to find Nalma stomping towards Teek, swinging his arms about like a cartoon villain on his way to initiate his latest evil scheme to destroy his nemesis. What could he possibly want with Teek, Amenaru wondered. Instead, he need not have wondered, for Nalma marched right past Teek and stopped at Riku. A comical sight, with Nalma's lanky, gangly frame towering high above Riku. Mikado followed up behind and took a spot next to Amenaru and Kit.
Nalma: There's a rumor going around that a certain komodo around here can do better than a tokki in bed!
Riku puffed up his chest and took a step forward, bringing him within an inch of Nalma while he craned his neck to look up at him.
Riku: Yeah, that's right! Tokki are a dawdle. Whaddya have to say about that?
Nalma: Ha! Tough talk for a little guy!
While they argued, Amenaru leaned in close to Mikado and whispered.
Amenaru: Am I really seeing this?
Mikado shrugged.
Mikado: Some tokki are very sensitive about this sort of thing.
Meanwhile, the argument continued.
Riku: I can wank any tokki under the table! I'll challenge you any time, any place!
Nalma: Right now, then! We'll have a wank-off! Most times in one hour wins! We'll need a referee. Mikado!
Mikado rolled his eyes as he stepped forward.
Mikado: Guess I'm up. We can use one of the guest suites right outside the rotunda.
Amenaru breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, he thought they were both going to drop their pants where they stood. Maybe on Tokkastra, they would have. Instead, Mikado lead them away from the rotunda and into one of the guest suites while the rest followed.
Amenaru, Sena, Kit, and Teek, along with a healthy smattering of others who heard about what was happening, gathered around the guest suite door, waiting for something to happen.
Teek: It's been way over an hour now.
Amenaru: Damned insulation. Can't hear a thing.
Sylvar: Hope nobody died! Hee hee.
The door slid open and everyone jumped backward. It was Nalma. Too late to even attempt to pretend that they all just happened to be standing around, they all stared expectantly, waiting for him to say something. Instead, he just stomped away, muttering tokkastran curses under his breath. While the others watched him go, Mikado appeared at the door. Maybe he would give an explanation.
Mikado: Final score: Five times for Nalma. Seven times for Riku.
Gasps and shouts of "Ooo!" erupted from the gathered crowd.
Amenaru: Wow, they must be completely spent.
Mikado: Erm...
Now, Riku muscled his way past Mikado and stood before them triumphantly with his hands on his hips.
Riku: I'm not done yet! Who else wants some?
Admiral Zhang made her way through the crowd, exchanging greetings and making small talk, until she came across Aire who looked not entirely present. Right away, she noticed his arms folded across his chest and that he appeared to be staring off into nothing.
Admiral Zhang: Enjoying the festivities, Captain?
Admiral Zhang could see that Aire did not notice her approach when he reacted with a start.
Aire: Admiral! Oh, yes. Lovely. I thought you were with Alka.
Admiral Zhang: He's with Adell now. I thought I should slip away and greet everyone.
Aire: Good. Very good. How do you think Alka's meeting with Lord Krek and Pharaoh Hamset will go?
Admiral Zhang: Shouldn't be too bad. Truth is, we need all the allies we can get for when Lazmaedia decides to show up. After your two Vashta meetings, I can see why it would be easy to take the hotoh at face value, given how much friendlier they are. Still, this spying incident has reminded us all to be wary. I predict an agreement, but with conditions. What those will be remains to be seen. Now, enough of that. You know, I heard there was a little competition between Nalma and Riku earlier.
Aire: I am aware, Admiral, and I am quite upset about it.
Admiral Zhang recoiled in surprise, though Aire's answer didn't give much to go on. She decided on an open-ended, unbiased question to suss out what he was thinking about.
Admiral Zhang: Oh? And why is that?
Aire: Yes, if there's to be any competition between the Shadowdancer and the Chrono Blade, I intend to win. Perhaps Nalma needs some training.
Admiral Zhang couldn't help but giggle.
Admiral Zhang: I see. Not sure how you train that sort of thing, but I'll leave that to you! Come and join me at the pastry table, won't you?
Aire: That sounds good, Admiral.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
