RP: The Silent Horizon Thirty Six - Eight - Twenty

Deck 36 section 8 room 20 Alpha

Arriving at the designated room Nola walked in unsure what she would find there but it was what told to her and once more given the situation on the ship she really had no choice in the matter.

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The door to the room unsealed and parted, the outside of it had been marked by the team at Solitude as one of the many doors on the ship that remained locked and failed ot bypass. The interior of the room would be dimly lit with blue lighting, which accented the paintings on the wall. Entering the room would likely be a bit of a shock, as the room was furnished like a home. Paintings of landscapes of Noria's evergreen forests and majestic shimmering lakes hung on the walls, artesian crafted tables, leather padded couches, chairs, and a small kitchenette occupied the main room, other rooms branched off it to the back but they were completely dark as they were unoccupied. The scent of the warm pot of Dar-achosash Ekel that sat on the hotplate could be detected even in the corridor when she approached. The drink commonly given to children to calm them before sleep, would of brought nostalgia to almost any Norian.

"Come in..." a male's voice said, due to the shadows she would be able to tell that he was sitting in one of the chairs in which its back faced the door. "Pour yourself a cup, and come and sit,"

The man that awaited her, should she continue into the room to him, looked nearly Norian save for the double points of his ears. He had black hair, and blue eyes and wore a U.N.N duty uniform with an Imperial insignia on the collar. The cape of which was draped over the back of the chair. As Nola entered she would also hear the faint sound of Aisithom Fsei coming from somewhere within. "So you're the Leviathan Specialist?" he asked as he waited to see if she would join him.

The sight of the place was puzzling to Nola but her expression barely registered it, as she walked into the room, it looked comfortable, and as she walked in the smell of the food hit her, and while for some it would bring up a feeling of nostalgia, for Nola it only reminded her of a harsh truth, the voice caught her attention though and she looked over to the owner of it, "the offer of a cup will have to be refused, Dar-achosash Ekel doesn't have fond memories for me..." she said simply in that monotone as she walked over to the offered chair.

She studied the features of the man sitting across from her noting the dual points of his ears but said nothing, when he addressed her she nodded and took that as a point to speak "Yes, the only one on the ship I believe, though I haven't exactly gone through the ships roster and checked the specializations and skill sets of every member on the ship yet, nor have I compiled a list of the people that are not on the list but are all the same on the ship" she answered looking to the man, her face still that bored expressionless gaze.

"I would assume then though, that you would be one of those that would not be listed on the roster, much like the one on the bridge was not included on it?" she ventured to ask.

He took a slow sip from his cup, letting the silence stretch just enough to command attention. Finally, he nodded, his expression calm and unreadable. “You’re correct ~ I’m not on any roster.” His tone was measured, deliberate, the words almost conversational as he leaned back in his chair. He gestured casually to the chair across from him. “Please, have a seat. Your friends seem... preoccupied with the 'one on the bridge,' as you so aptly put it.”

His gaze lingered, appraising her with an unsettling intensity. There was something about her presence ~ unorthodox and unrefined, traits that often marked those who lacked the protection or training of a Ysi. That alone made her intriguing.

“I owe you an apology,” he said smoothly, breaking the silence again. “It seems your attempt to vesper your captain was unsuccessful. I thought it best we speak before you rushed off to report to Adrin.” His words carried a strange blend of casual indifference and sharp intent.

He paused for a moment, his dark eyes studying her as if unraveling a puzzle. “Your report was...detailed,” he continued, almost as if admiring her work. “It’s clear you’re intelligent, but like many bright minds, socialization doesn’t seem to be your strong suit.” His gaze sharpened, the edge of his tone making it clear he missed little. “It would have been a shame if that woman had killed you.”

There was no smile, no warmth in his words ~ only an air of quiet control, as if he already knew the next moves in a game she had barely realized she was playing.

Nola waited for the man to continue, and after a time he did, though the linger in silence was a known tactic Nola had seen others in her profession use to ensure everyone was listening, why he did it when it was just her here she didn't know but she found it a waste of time, perhaps he had a fondness for theatrics? Regardless he continued after a time, and she listened with that same gaze she always held, even with the intense gaze he gave her.

While the males expression was calm and unreadable, Nola's was of boredom and disinterest, she knew what he was, maybe not exactly who, but what was obvious to her, many would have feelings one way or the other about his kind, Nola just didn't care, Though as he offered an apology about the message to the captain she simply nodded, in the end it mattered little to her, she was a last minute addition after all, completely out of the loop on many of the goings on on the ship, but the fact that he had stopped the communication told her Adrin didn't know about some of the things she had found out.

"My reports are always as detailed as possible, I also include any and all hypothesis' I think of with the gathered data, that's the job of a scientist, specialization just allows us to have greater knowledge in a given field to make better use of specific data points and sources, it would be foolish to not be learned in other things other then ones specialty. Though it means sacrifices are needed elsewhere... combat ability for example, and the greater or more difficult the specializations often the greater the sacrifices needed to attain such" she said simply.

"Had the woman killed me, there wouldn't have been no great loss to the over all species, though the captain would have lost a specialist a group like his may need, this fact does show a very short sighted view of the situation on the part of that woman, especially given the fact that the captain tasked me with seeing to the ship as the only specialist he has access to given their predicament. a person with a temper like that is bound to cause more trouble then they are worth. I may be lacking in social skills however unlike that woman I was willing to talk the issue out and at least meet common ground, rather then kill someone over a small disagreement, so while I may have that lack of social ability, I seem greater then her in diplomatic ones, this may hint as to why she was left behind despite the fact that the team left in combat gear. From how quickly she moved she is ether a highly trained combatant, or an assassin, failing ether she is likely medical staff with how accurately she targeted vitals...though if she is medical staff it would seem they are quite the hypocrite if this is their normal response to a rebuke".

"So may I ask why an Espra is hiding on the ship? and I assume without the knowledge of the captain? but likely full knowledge of their granddaughter... and likely his son."

He placed the cup gently onto the side table, his movements deliberate, almost languid, as he took a measured breath. She spoke with meticulous detail, her words sharp and methodical, as though each syllable were part of a carefully constructed argument. Her persistence was undeniable ~ determined to frame his absence from any roster, his very presence on the ship, as evidence of some underlying crime. Again and again, she circled back to Adrin, her Captain, the figure she clearly viewed as the embodiment of law and order.

He listened quietly, his expression betraying nothing as she spoke. Finally, he responded, his tone calm but with a trace of amusement. “Ah, ‘the one on the bridge,’ as you so eloquently put it, doesn’t know I’m here either.” He leaned back slightly, his gaze steady but distant, as though addressing a larger truth than the immediate conversation. “There’s a great deal about this ship ~ and its passengers ~ that remains unknown, even to those who believe they have the authority to uncover it.”

He picked up the empty mug and turned it slightly in his hand, the light catching the edge of the cup. “I must admit, though, I’ve found this entire situation rather amusing. Crossing into this universe… and the man who manipulated time finding himself stripped of his powers? Quite the cosmic joke, wouldn’t you say? Funny how some people lean so heavily on what they think makes them invincible, rather than trusting their own mind.” The hint of a smirk played at the corner of his lips as he set the mug back down with a soft clink.

His eyes narrowed slightly, observing her as though testing her resolve. “So… what’s your next move?” His voice carried a faint edge of curiosity, but there was an underlying challenge, as if he already suspected her answer and was gauging her reaction. Though his tone remained calm, his demeanor suggested he wasn’t as lethargic as he appeared; the drink might have dulled his outward sharpness, but there was no mistaking the calculating mind behind his gaze.

So she wasn't aware of his presence then, that was new knowledge, though the man gave the impression he was allowing her to learn these things rather then him letting it slip by accident, given the fact that he seemed to have more control of the ship then those others it may very well be true,, in which case why inform her of his presence at all, then again he did hint at the report she was going to give the captain being the main reason, looking into things that likely they didn't expect someone to look into and connecting dots they thought they covered up perhaps? Regardless she was here now.

He mentioned a man not able to control time any more, or rather manipulate it, after crossing over into this universe, so they had to be on this ship if he observed this person, meaning they were on the crew, this also informed her that things like powers didn't agree with this universe, not that she ever had much to go on in that respect, so it wasn't a loss she would ever feel, or as the man put it something to lean on, all she ever had was her mind, though this information could also mean that certain hypothesis she made back in their own universe would have to be retested to see if they would react the same in this one.

Still she left him to talk as already she was mentally going through her notes in her code and filing away what would need to be retested, before finally deciding that likely she would need to start from square one. though it was at this point the man asked her what she would do "That all depends on the situation I find myself in, I would assume you brought me here because some of the information I have found needs to remain hidden from the captain and the others till an appropriate time or permanently, depending on the reason as to why it was hidden in the first place. the Fact that you are here and hidden by Alyelume means they are okay with you being here, and the fact that they have already told me no one on the ship has broken the Accord tells me that includes yourself, the captain is the authority on the ship, however the Alyelume is her own authority as well as they are our partner in all travel and living as long as we are with them, if you require me to stay silent on something... I would like to at least know the reason. As you have pointed out I am very much a social outcast on this ship, likely much more so now then previously, As nether person in engineering rose a fuss at my pointless summary execution for what amounted to a Social Faux pas" she said simply her expression not changing.

The man barely reacted to her words, his demeanor almost frustratingly casual as he rose from the chair and strolled over to a small counter. He lifted the pot of Dar-achosash Ekel and poured himself another cup with an ease that made the situation feel almost absurdly mundane. Without turning, he asked, “Anything I can get you? Maybe a light snack?”

He opened a narrow cupboard and rummaged through its contents. “Let’s see... I think I might have a box of crackers somewhere.” He pulled out a faded box, giving it a shake before holding it to his nose for an experimental sniff. “Hmm, kind of stale,” he noted, with the tone of someone musing over the weather. “But I’ve got a few jars of fruit preserves ~ Kil-gy, if you don’t mind that.” He continued rifling through the shelves as if this was the most pressing matter of the moment.

Pausing, he glanced back at her with a faint grin. “I bet the ship’s galley has plenty of food. I should venture out there sometime, see what treasures they have.” With a final shake of the box, he raised it in mock triumph. “But for now, this is what I’ve got.”

Returning to the table, he placed the box of stale crackers before her, his smile disarmingly light. “So... you think I brought you here to give you information?” He raised his eyebrows in mock surprise, the motion exaggerated enough to seem almost theatrical. “Alyelume knows I’m here, of course. Her kind and mine ~ well, we’ve been acquainted for centuries. I come and go as I please.”

He leaned back into his chair, his tone shifting to one of faint amusement. “You’re welcome to report to your Captain. Tell him all about the mysterious man with no name, secretly living on his ship. You can even describe this cozy little room that, conveniently, will be empty by the time they get the door open.” He chuckled softly, the sound rich with confidence. “What are you going to tell him? That I exist? That I’m breaking some unspoken rule? Sure, go ahead. But are you prepared to look a little... unhinged in the process? It might fit with that whole antisocial aesthetic you’re cultivating.”

He drummed his fingers on the armrest, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as if weighing options. “Then again,” he continued, “if you do that, you’ll achieve... what, exactly? You’ll get to be antisocial, come across as slightly unbalanced, and end up no closer to understanding what’s really going on with this ship. Decisions, decisions.”

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers, his eyes lighting up as though he’d just had a stroke of genius. “Aha! I’ve got it. How about a gift? Something to make you feel a little more secure while you navigate the social circus here on the fringes?” His enthusiasm seemed genuine, his grin wide, as if he truly believed his offer was a stroke of brilliance. Whatever he was planning, it was clear he was enjoying this game far more than she was.

Nola had realized once asked that she hadn't eaten anything for a while, nor had she actually eaten anything ether and the man offered some stale crackers she seen no reason to deny the offer, food was food as long as it wasn't rotted it would serve it's purpose. when he mentioned the spread she simply nodded, weather he brought it over or not was up to him. though he finally walked over and returned to the conversation, Nola simply took out a cracker and took a bite out of the stale food, crewing slowly, but showing absolutely no signs of ether hating or liking it. for her it was fuel, that's all it needed to be.

"Reporting you would serve little purpose, if locating you was something anyone could do they would have found you long before I did, both you and Alyelume allowed me to know your location, and I have no doubt you could simply relocate, especially if your clearance is above those of the others. I assumed something I found may have been the reason you called me here, but that was only because that was all the information I have to go on, and you yourself said you stopped the report so the assumption was made with that information in mind."

She took another bite of the cracker she was slowly eating. "As for looking unhinged, I have already gotten that look before from my chosen field of expertise, or for my dedication to my work, so that would be nothing new to me, however understanding what is going on on inside Alyelume would be acceptable knowledge to gain, the question is if that is something your going to aid someone with, and that is a question I do not have enough information to make an accurate Hypothesis about" she said as she finished off the stale cracker before picking up another.

"As for the social circus as you put it, Ether people will find value in what skills I have, or they will not, my results should speak louder then all other things, though I will not deny there might be more like that woman who can't see more then in the now on things" she added as she sat across from the man, he seemed to think this was all quite enjoyable, Nola for her part found the Idea of gaining knowledge interesting at the very least, and the fact that it was tied to Alyelume, the Leviathan that they called home for the moment also intrigued her, however the source seemed somewhat flighty, but thus far they seemed willing to share in their own way at the vary least.

The man’s smile widened faintly as he watched her nibble on the cracker. “Those preserves might make it a little more palatable,” he remarked with a casual shrug, his tone playful but not unkind. He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other as if they were simply sharing a leisurely chat rather than engaging in a tense conversation full of unanswered questions.

“I suppose we’ll see what path you choose in the end,” he continued, his voice tinged with faint amusement. “You’re one of the few things on this ship that’s actually interesting to observe. Keeps me entertained during my... stay.” His eyes wandered briefly, thoughtful. “New universes are exciting, don’t you think? So many possibilities. But then, things rarely go the way we plan them, do they?”

With a nod toward the side table next to her chair, he gestured slightly. “Speaking of which, I feel like being generous today. About that gift I mentioned, to help you feel a little safer... go ahead and open the top drawer. It’s in there. Consider it yours. I certainly don’t need it, not here.”

There was an ease in his manner, a calculated sort of charm, but the deliberate way he avoided addressing certain topics was telling. Her pointed questions and theories hadn’t elicited any direct responses, yet he seemed to enjoy hearing her thoughts all the same, his demeanor one of quiet amusement.

“Independent thought,” he mused aloud, almost as if speaking to himself. “Not many people exercise that these days. A rare talent, wouldn’t you say?” His words seemed like a compliment, but they were laden with a subtle edge, a veiled challenge. Whatever game he was playing, it was clear he intended to keep her guessing. He awaited to see if she would open the drawer and take what he offered, whatever it was, it was in a leather bag which she would see when or if she opened the drawer.

she looked to the preserves and slathered a bit on the new cracker she was eating, food was food to her lately, chloric intake was important to continue to have the body function properly after all, and the added sugars from the preserves would make the Crackers more efficient in that task, a more paranoid person might have assumed poison or something else to be in the food, however Nola wouldn't even consider that to be any threat at all, she was still within Alyelume after all and the Leviathan had her trust in it, even before it proved it would prevent a death if possible, after all, what fool would not trust a partner that was constantly keeping them alive in the void?

"Anyone that says they seek knowledge would consider a new universe a great thing to find themselves in, as new rules may establish themselves and make what we once thought as fact to simply be another thing that can change. But someone that truly understands knowns that Science is after all is said and done, nothing but theory, everything we know should always be challenged as it could still be wrong or incomplete knowledge." She then looked to the table.

Once again someone more paranoid might assume a trap of some kind, Nola ether didn't care or simply knew there would be no logical point to it, granted there shouldn't have been any logical point for the woman to have tried to kill her for such a small slight, but still again she would simply trust in Alyelume once more as she always will. and so she opened the drawer to see what was inside.

"Independent Thought is something crucial to a scientist, Mandatory Military service sounds great on paper, however most military training is designed to repress individual thought and have everyone work in a homogeneous group, this leads to dead ends and roadblocks in creative thinking as everyone starts to think the same way, and if everyone goes through the same training they all start to adopt the same thinking, eventually difference and independent thought becomes not only alien, but seen as a threat or as dangerous. perhaps it was that difference that caused that woman to kill me? Regardless I would have to agree with you, being stuck in the same kind of thought pattern of others stifles many things," she replied as she looked into the drawer.

When she opened the drawer, her eyes fell on a leather bag, its surface worn and supple, suggesting years of use. It was clearly weighted by its contents, though she couldn’t discern what lay inside without opening it. Around the bag, the drawer held a few other items: a roll of parchment-like paper, tightly secured with a clip and marked by a blue feather imprint embedded into the wax of its seal. The craftsmanship of the seal was intricate, hinting at something important or ceremonial.

He observed her with an air of detachment, his tone light but pointed as he commented, "Was it that difference between you that drove her to want to kill you? Is she naturally violent, or is it just circumstance? I suppose those are questions you'll either have to ask her or wait to discover for yourself."

He gave a gentle nod of encouragement, his expression unreadable but subtly urging her curiosity. If she opened the bag, she would find a small, ornate dagger nestled inside. Its blade was tarnished with age, the hilt intricate but showing signs of wear. It wasn’t just a weapon ~ it felt like an artifact, holding secrets of its own. When she lifted it, the soft clink of metal against metal emanated from the bag, indicating there was something else hidden within.

"There’s more to it than meets the eye," he said with a slight smirk. "You’re welcome to keep anything else you find in there ~ bits and bobs, as you might call them. None of it holds any use for me." His voice carried an amused undertone, as though the contents of the bag held a deeper significance that only she would uncover.

Nola looked to the weapon a moment, she had survival training so she was actually fairly good with a knife, granted more for survival tasks then combat but she knew her way around one if needed, the basic training also helped with that to a degree, she placed the weapon on the table top as she looked back to the man "It could be all those or none, Data is lacking, though the fact that none acted in my defense except Alyelume tells me that her actions are ether seen as normal or expected from her at the very least, nether are very good signs all told. but further information is still required" she addressed the issue as she was about to look into the bag further.

Though at mention of the other contents she looked up at the man and to the contents of the drawer she had opened, "Taking more then offered is at least one Social nicety I am aware of, however I would like to ask if you would answer, what is in these documents, as while they might be of interest information improperly handled can also be dangerous, especially if those that don't understand it misjudge what it is. double so if the person that possesses the knowledge is already seen in a negative light" she asked as she reached for the documents as well.

While she did not break the seal on them yet she simply set them aside on the table and checked the further contents of the bag that had held the artifact "Though someone may ask if you are sure in relinquishing these items, I feel asking that question would be foolish if you had any qualms of the sort you would not have offered them so freely, what I will ask however is the material this is made from, and how best to care for it if normal care is not enough"

As Nola spoke, the man leaned back in his chair, his expression a mixture of indifference and faint amusement. “I can’t quite recall what they are or whether they hold any real value,” he said with a casual shrug. His tone was light, almost dismissive, as if the contents were of no consequence to him. “I’m just a man you don’t know, taking an unusual interest in this ship and its crew. As you’ve pointed out repeatedly, I’m not on any roster. This room might not even be mine.” He gestured to the cozy surroundings, his lips quirking into a sly smile. “But then again, how many intruders offer warm drinks and stale crackers? A peculiar invasion tactic, don’t you think?”

His gaze flickered to the documents she had carefully placed on the table. The seal on the parchment, an intricate blue feather imprint pressed into deep indigo wax, caught the dim light as it loosened slightly under its own tension. The roll unfurled just enough to reveal part of what lay within: a faded, hand-drawn poster bearing a cryptic emblem and text in an trade script, faintly smudged with age. Whatever the document’s purpose, it seemed ancient, its origin shrouded in mystery.

Meanwhile, as Nola resumed her inspection of the bag, she would unearth more items hidden within its soft leather folds. Her fingers brushed against cool, smooth metal. She withdrew a small collection of tarnished gold coins, their surfaces dulled with time and marked by faint, indistinct patterns. The inscriptions and designs were worn, their stories and origins lost to the ages.

The man’s gaze followed her movements with mild interest, though he made no effort to comment on her discoveries. He seemed content to let her unravel the puzzle at her own pace, his cryptic demeanor leaving more questions than answers.

She looked over the coins, the dagger, both had a great deal of age to them, she would need to clean one of the coins later to get a better look at them, date them properly to see how old they actually were, while they were worn there were methods for recovering the information that used to be on them, so she placed them back in the bag for the time being, the dagger she placed back in as well as she had no sheath for it, something she could make with a simple scan and some work, easy enough. then she looked to the scroll that had unrolled itself due to it's age.

Looking to the parchment as she looked it over she replied to him "To be fair I never called you an intruder, you not being on the roster does not immediately mean you are an intruder, it could simply mean you were not yet added, nor does not being on the roster mean you do not in some manner belong here, as the fact that Alyelume has no issue with you being here proves, if she though your presence alone were a threat to us she wouldn't allow you to stay. your actions also speak to your familiarity of the ship, considering the information I have I would have to assume you helped in the creation or at the very least knew the one that helped shape the Alyelume or something similar..."

She looked at the poster "You mentioned someone on board having the ability to manipulate time, likely someone like that could have gotten on the ship with such a power, changed things depending on how powerful their ability to manipulate was, the fact you said he rules out any females on the crew, limiting the amount that could be the one you spoke of, as for this paper, I would have to assume this is ether Ves or someone that looks like her, considering the coins are of a make I am unfamiliar with and old, and the fact that the ship on one occasion has used it's Breach drive before official operations began I would have to conclude that this was gained from then? if that's true then the only people that could be on this poster would have to have been around during then, the only person that could have done so would have to be Tetsuya or someone with equal clearance to him to have activated the drive..." she spoke as she inspected the parchment further.

Nola wasn't so much as asking him as she was going through her normal sound boarding process, normally she did this in a muttering tone to herself but this time since she did have someone around that seemed knowledgeable she simply spoke normally, if they decided to offer information or not was really up to them not her, but sounding out date was something she tended to do regardless.

The man leaned back in his chair, his pleasant smile an enigma that betrayed neither malice nor concern. It was the kind of smile one might wear when observing a particularly interesting piece of art—appreciative, yet distant. He watched Nola with an air of patient amusement as she meticulously inspected the items she had uncovered. Her methodical movements and sharp observations seemed to entertain him, as if her process was a curiosity in itself.

When she began theorizing aloud about the ship, the coins, and the figure capable of manipulating time, he let her words hang in the air for a moment, as though savoring the way her mind pieced together fragments of a puzzle. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm, carrying an odd warmth that clashed with the cryptic nature of his words.

“No one’s powers work in this universe,” he said, his gaze briefly drifting to the tarnished dagger as she returned it to the bag. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy the story of the man with time, though I fear you may find it disappointing without the powers he so heavily relied upon. Technology rules here; it is the great equalizer, a price of being far from home.. Such is the way of things in this corner of existence.”

He gestured faintly toward the documents she had set aside. “As for those,” he continued, “I’m afraid I’ve already told you all I know. Their significance ~ if there is any ~ has long since faded from my memory. But you seem to have a knack for uncovering meaning where others see none. Perhaps you’ll glean something I could not.”

His eyes softened, a flicker of thought passing across his expression as if he were weighing what to say next. “You’ve gathered some interesting trinkets here, haven’t you? Old coins from a forgotten era, a blade that’s seen more years than most aboard this ship, and a scroll whose secrets may never be fully unraveled. Each carries its own mysteries, its own stories. Whether they are gifts or burdens will depend on what you choose to make of them.”

He rose from his seat with an unhurried grace and moved toward the cupboard, retrieving the same box of stale crackers he had offered earlier. “Now, would you care to take these with you?” he asked with a faint chuckle, shaking the box lightly as if testing its contents. “They’re not exactly gourmet, but they might hold you over until your next meal.”

His tone shifted slightly, gaining a subtle urgency beneath the surface of his otherwise casual demeanor. “It appears we’ll be moving on shortly. Whatever this moment has been, it seems its time is drawing to a close. Perhaps it’s better that way ~ too much clarity can be dull, don’t you think? And mystery, well, that’s the spice that makes life bearable.” He placed the box on the table next to her, his smile returning as if punctuating his words. “Take what you will, Nola. The path ahead is yours to walk, and I’ll be watching with great interest.” He then motioned to the door, "I believe you can see yourself out...."

Nola was already going through means to identify the information on the coins, there was several methods that would work, thankfully if it was just wear and time that has worn away the information on the coins getting that information back would be a simple matter, if not her own lab but one of the other labs no doubt would have the needed equipment to look into this, As for the paper the first task would be find an age, she could also cross reference things about it with the coins to see if they came from the same place.

"While their powers don't work here, they worked back in our universe meaning they could have altered something before we came through, or perhaps before the first activation of the drive, Their identity would be needed and then they would need to be questioned, I would ask you but you have made it clear you wish to simply watch as I solve things you likely already have all the answers to, more I would assume, due to the difference between how I think and how the others on the ship do, rather then some general entertainment of not wishing to divulge the information, at least this can be assumed by your words previous" she looked up at the man as she slipped the parchment into the bag with everything else. though she was careful to make sure it wasn't damaged.

"Gifts can be burdens and burdens can be gifts, one is not exclusive to the other, even if used correctly this can still hold true, even if ones choices are perfect, which is n a near impossibility, this can still be true, to worry if it is one or the other stifles possible ways forward" she answered back.

As for the crackers she would reject them, they would work as food just as anything better would, some put foods in higher regard due to flavor or rarity, Nola cared for none of that, not anymore, she just needed the caloric intake needed to continue working, how she got it was not to much a concern, and when he placed the box next to her she picked it up and stood from the chair.

"Clarity and knowledge are two different things, one can still have gained knowledge without gaining any clarity, but I believe I know what you mean, however to some even spice doesn't make life bearable, thank you for your time, though you never gave your name, you have given me some measure of if not respect or understanding then at least a sliver of expectation, unlike those that simply let me die in the engineering bay, if you wish to know or remember it, my name is Nola Aberdeen Last of my Ysi, have a good day" she said giving the most nicety she could muster, which wasn't all that much. and she headed for the door.

As she got to the door she did Vesper to Alyelume "Am I still expected on the bridge or am I listed as deceased?" she asked as she left the room

Alyelume replied to Nola. "Please take some time to clean yourself up. I will inform you when an appropriate time to go to the bridge. I hope that you found something in the storage that will be useful to you."

Thirty-six, Eight, Twenty.​

When Nola left the the man let our a rather deep sigh as stood up and stretched. "She's gone, you can come out now." He said as one of the attached room doors opened, and a tall woman with dark teal colored hair emerged. She wore a rather simple bodysuit-style uniform that was closer to those worn by the now former Commonwealth officers. She walked to the man and wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him close. In return he wrapped his arms around her hips and pressed how brow to hers. "With time to spare even," he added quietly as the warm floral scent of her perfume teased his senses.

"Do you think any of it will work? Or did you say too much?" she asked ask as they embraced one another. The volumetric masquerade dropped from around his head, which revealed the silver-colored hair beneath the illusion. Leather strands with braided beads hung from the prow of the niranium crown he wore upon his head. Along the the braided strands blue feathers hung in ceremonious perfection that blended with the natural feathered appearance of his hair. A smile stretched across his features as he said quietly to her, "Yui ora sra kuum su sra seda uk vuvar, omd dakarqa asarmor raqaramca."("You are the moon to the tide of power, and deserve eternal reverence")

The woman pressed her lips to his in a brief but loving kiss, she looked back into his eyes once her own opened following the slight part of their lips, "I ok musrems vesruis aeui vems'k vrovvad oruimd ka, va ora musrems vesruis uma omusrar. Ai jhyli o."("I am nothing without you wing's wrapped around me, we are nothing without one another. I love you.") she whispered back to him lovingly. After their brief exchange, she moved his sleeve up on his right arm where a band-like device was placed and as her fingers moved over it the interface activated. After she finished, he proceeded to do the same with her. "Thank you, Alyelume, Hopefully if she ever finds out how old you actually are, she will respect you and know you enough by then to keep your secrets safe." she said when he had finished activating . There were just somethings that could never be shared, technological or knowledge wise, the greed of many had seen to that. Still some like them, moved from place to place in brave efforts to set wright which had continued to fall wrong for decades.

The devices flashed as their timing synchronized with one another. The reason why Norians possessed certain technologies and yet never utilized them in adherence to the Leviathan Accord. A flood of bright light whirled around the pair, as a loud sound would echo through the corridor and for certain would be heard by Nola as she walked away. It was a loud and fierce predatory cry the moment the sequence finalized and the two were gone. The room changed as the Alyelume restored it's 'normal' configuration, the small storage closet, Thirty-Six, Eight, Twenty's door sealed shut, and behind it all that remained was shelves filled with expired rations and dated equipment that appeared to be some kind of salvage.

If only Nola had known who she had shared a conversation with.

As she walked away from the storage room she heard the loud roar, she turned to look back but didn't have much reaction beyond that "He never did say if they wished me to share that information or not... all they said was they wanted to talk about things..." she muttered to herself before responding to Alyelume.

"Thank you for that, also I suppose I cannot simply walk to the bridge with some of this stuff if you would please give me access back to my lab, I can change and clean up there, as it's basically my quarters anyway" she informed the ship as she started to make her way back if allowed.

She already had tests in mind to discover the age of the coins, location would be a bit harder as it would require samples from planets to get any particulates that may have settled on them, the easiest would be to recreate what the emblem and wording on them was as she could simply scan the surface and do a few tests to the age and weathering patterns and that would paint a perfectly clear picture of what was there before, as wear wouldn't be perfectly uniform along the surface of the coins, raised parts would wear faster after all.

As she walked she could do material analysis on the parchment and the dagger, that would give her materials they were made from which would narrow down possible planets, age would narrow then down further, it was all just a matter of time.

As for the information, that was something she would have to consider, the most recent things were what the super user had locked away. that stuff was somewhat already known at least by one person on the ship... but did the captain even know he had lower clearance.. she could easily find out with a simple question.

"While I am doing that Alyelume please patch me into the captain..." after a moment she sent her new message "Captain, I may need higher Authorization to get a better diagnostic report from the system, as I am new to the ship, I would assume you have the highest authority on the ship correct?" she asked as she made it to her Lab and put her things into a storage for the time being and sending a private vesper to the ship "I believe you know these should not be found by anyone but myself.. I will trust their safety to you for the time being till I can come retrieve them once more and look into them" she then cleaned herself up as she waited for reply from the captain for the message she had sent him.