It has just been a few hours since Leeta last spoke with Naoko, the old slave promising the younger of a chance to snoop around in Rhys' room once the opportunity presents itself. Currently though, Naoko is nowhere to be found. Tahir has gone back to his cabin after having 'pleasant morning conversation' with his counterpart and is now pouring over a particularly boring tome about repair procedures for the light fixtures in the temple.

Leeta sits on the bed, occupying the time she's been waiting with more practice on her mandolin. She's finished working through the scales and all the pieces that needed a little polishing, and now is stuck. Occasionally she glances up at Tahir, to see if he is as frustrated with his studies as the wandering notes indicate she is with her music.

Tahir casually licks his thumb and flips the page, a diagram of one of the strange glass tube things that glow when plugged into the fixtures graces the paper. The human's expression is one of sheer boredom and his eyes droop a bit.

The Savanite stops playing long enough to lean over and look at the diagram. It's incomprehensible, but she's curious anyhow.

The picture looks hand drawn, probably by one of the technopriests. It lists strange sounding gasses and gives exact measurements for the metal pieces. For all it's complexity, Tahir is showing about as much interest as a child who's been given a broken toy he's bored with.

Leeta reaches out and puts her hands over the page, then waits for him to look up. "I'm sorry to interrupt Tahir, but there were a few things I've been thinking about I wanted to ask you. Can you take a little break?"

The human starts and blinks his eyes, then breaks into a weak chuckle. "Drat… and I was just about to fall asleep too." He pulls himself up and rests his hands on his knees, "A break is welcome, what's on your mind, Leeta?"

"Well… I wanted to be sure you weren't just studying real hard before I interrupted." The red-haired Savanite smiles, sitting back, and crossing one leg underneath the other. "How did things go with Rhys? I tried to listen, but you both sound alike, so it wasn't really doing me much good."

Tahir grimaces, "It went as well as can be expected. surprisingly he wasn't insulting towards me in the least, perhaps that's because we had an audience at the time." his voice trails off for a moment and his strokes his chin, as if smoothing down an invisible beard. "Mmmmm… at the very least his goal wasn't to make me look bad, simply to show me how he's acquainted himself with the rest of the crew."

Leeta frowns, slumping and holding her hands in her lap, not making any signs for a moment. "Well, at least he wasn't insulting. Naoko said that the crewman you were talking to was pretty busy, so he wasn't purposely being rude to you. It's just something to watch for next time you try to talk to one of them."

"Yes, I fear that being locked up on the Temple hasn't done much for my social skills." Tahir says, drumming his fingers against his knee. "Perhaps Rhys can help me with that, even if it's unintentional."

"He seems to have gotten out a lot more than you, even to the underside of Rephidim." The Savanite signs, straightening up. "Do you know why?"

Tahir raises an eyebrow quizzically. "I know that I rarely saw Rhys around the Temple, what makes you think he was in underside?"

"Oh, Naoko told me she helped him write a letter, and it was addressed to there. I just thought he wouldn't write someone in a place he'd never been. I suppose he could know someone that moved there." Leeta looks over at the drawer of her keepsakes, where one black feather resides, then focuses back on Tahir.

"I could ask him sometime… but I doubt he would tell me." Tahir adjusts his seating on the bed. "Perhaps he was trained elsewhere? Although underside is an odd place to learn to become a priest… "

"I don't know much about it, just that a lot of Vartans live there." Leeta's tail curls against the side of the bed, flicking back and forth heavily. "Tahir, is it okay if I ask you a few things about before? Your first life… and Delwin?"

Tahir's smile fades a little. He reaches and closes his book, plating it in his lap. "What do you need to know?"

"I just want to help, he was your friend but I hardly know anything about him… I know how I would feel if I lost someone close. I don't want you blaming yourself, and… I don't think it was random. I think it was meant to be you." She quickly finishes the accusatory gesture and watches, worried that her signs were too harsh.

The human nods, causing a few strands of copper-red hair to fall into his face. "I've tried not to think about that, but you're probably right. I wonder if it's connected with Cerbancos' murder, or if it's something else entirely?" The last question is spoken not at Leeta, but just audible musing.

"I'm not sure, but Moffat sent me to you for a reason, and none of his were good. I think he expected you were going to win, and wanted me as some way to get to you. My first thoughts were that they were connected, that Cerbancos' murder was to weaken Rephidim and the Temple, and Delwin's was just a continuation, but… " Leeta self-consciously brushes back her own mane, flicking her ears. "… but I'm sure there are more people like Moffat in the Temple, and they are using this candidacy to try and get more power for themselves. You, Delwin and Rhys, are just the means to fight over it."

The human transfers the book in his lap onto the top of a small pile growing behind the headboard of his bed. "So… we all might just be puppets, or just me, or Delwin, or Rhys." He sighs. "But what can we do about it?"

"I don't know. Fight them, find out why they did this, find out if Rhys is just as much a puppet as you are, if he can be trusted, or if he knows more. No matter who wins, this has to be exposed, and we'll need Rhys' help if he somehow beats you." She reaches out to rest a hand on Tahir's, giving the back of it a comforting stroke. "You knew Delwin, would he have stood a chance if you had died instead?"

"Delwin was a very intelligent man, full of ideas and ingenuity… " Tahir's voice becomes softer. "But he wasn't a leader. He had always been rather shy."

Leeta moves and holds her friend in a consoling embrace.

Tahir squeezes the Savanite's waist and then pulls away. "It's all right, really. I'm fine." He scoots back a little. "Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

She sits back in her place, gazing at the human with a worried expression, and un-shaped thoughts. Finally she asks, "Yes, something else, also from before, but I hope these aren't bad memories too. I wanted to know about the Silent-Ones."

The human smiles a bit, "Of course, I'll tell you what I know. I'm not completely knowledgeable with your people, but I'll tell you what I can."

"You said that you came on the expedition, and the Silent-Ones sent a contingent as well. Some of the other things you said makes me think you were all on the same ship, the Temple." Leeta curls her tail up into her lap, the tip flicking against one leg. "But… you also told me that the interface helmet wouldn't work because it wasn't designed for me, and that you didn't become friends with Silent-Ones till you were very old. It doesn't make sense if you were a combined crew… so I wanted to know, did you come here to fight each other for Sinai?"

Tahir says, "Well, we weren't at WAR… there were simply many parties involved. Most of the races weren't on the best of terms with the Silent-Ones, but for the sake of the mission everyone behaved themselves."

"As for the helmets. They were designed for my race, as was the shipitself." The human curls up one leg against his chest and wraps an arm around it. "In an emergency it could be used by other races, but prolonged usage tends to cause… damage."

Leeta nods, not knowing what to sign. Her tailtip keeps twitching against her leg. "At least it wasn't the worst I imagined. I just wish it wasn't so, but were they so bad, that what we are now… is better?" She finishes the gesture and touches her collar.

Tahir frowns, resting his chin upon his knee. "There's some who would say yes, and others who would say no. There will always be an Empire, and people who hate the empire."

The red-maned Savanite's expression is similar, and she sits back. "There will be an Empire. I hope I can warn my sister before she makes it repeat the mistakes of our past." Leeta stares out the window.

Tahir looks slightly faraway, as if not completely paying attention to Leeta's signs. "It's kind of ironic, really. The Silent-Ones were certainly not slaves, but rather conquerors. For instance, if you've ever seen a Vykarin – those were brought here by the Silent-Ones. I don't know what world they came from, but I think the whole of their race serves the Silent-Ones."

Leeta looks back at Tahir, and nods, listening. She also watches his hands, out of habit.

"They had as hard of a time adapting to life on Sinai as anyone else, I think." the human says. "Well, almost. They depended highly upon technology, but they were somewhat … peculiar in their ways of life and war. For instance, instead of using fightercraft for their battles, they would often use giant mechanical suits, wielding great 'power swords'. It didn't make much sense, but most of the worlds they conquered had no comparable technology to fight back with. Their soldiers would typically use armor and powered swords as well. The powered armor didn't function well on Sinai, but some of the armor used by the Knights Templar today, if I understand correctly, dates back to the Silent-Ones, stripped of the power-assist and other technological features."

The Savanite blinks and nods again, signing "That's hard to imagine." She tries to recall all the Knights she's seen.

Tahir looks up. "I've probably just confused you more. Anything else you'd like to know?"

Leeta shakes her head, "I think this will last me a while, it is surprising."

She smiles, rocking on the bed. "Somehow I feel I should be telling you the fantastic stories with you sitting in awe, instead of the other way round."

Tahir laughs. "Well, after all, I'm only seven years old… give or take six thousand." As he finishes, the sound of a gentle hand knocking against the wood of the cabin door can be heard.

Leeta's ears wiggle in laughter, and she looks up at the door. "Naoko said I could help her clean a few places… including Rhys' room. That is probably her now."

The fire-haired Savanite rises from the bed, and opens the door.

On the other side of the door is a one eared Savanite, her head respectfully bowed. "Sorry to disturb you, Master." Her eyes fall on Leeta's hands, since she'd have to raise her head up past Tahir's line of sight to look her in the eye.

"Its alright, he says I can help you. He has some studying to do, and I'll just distract him by being around." Leeta looks over her shoulder at Tahir.

Tahir responds by making an exaggerated 'ugh' face and then scrabbling behind the headboard of his bed to fish out the book he was reading. "Go on… we'll have plenty of time to talk."

A soft 'mew' comes from behind Naoko and one of the Savanite cubs pokes his head out from his hiding place behind the older slave. The little cub smiles up at Leeta.

The red-maned Savanite flashes a grin at human, and another for the little cub. She moves enough out of the way so he and Tahir can see each other, then shoos the cub back as she slips through the door. Closing it behind her she signs, "Let me know if you want me to entertain the cubs Naoko, I've got some great stories I can tell them." She picks up the little cheetah.

Tahir smiles at the cub and waves as the door closes. The little Savanite cub purrs in Leeta's arms and sits quietly, he looks like he's about five years old, small enough to carry with a bit of effort, but still a cub.

Naoko smiles at Leeta, "You don't have that much time… we'll be landing in about half an hour. But Rhys will remain up on deck until then. When you feel the ship lurch then you must leave, do you understand? And do not leave a mess, or I might lose my other ear."

Leeta rests the Cub's weight against her hip long enough to tickle him on the nose, then lets him down carefully. She nods to the older Savanite, "I understand, I'll make sure its tidy first. Thanks Naoko."

The cub sneezes loudly and then runs over to hug Naoko's leg.

Several minutes later, Leeta finds herself in the cabin of Rhys Iaokim. The room is slightly cluttered, mostly by the piles of books that Leeta has become accustomed to seeing in Tahir's room. There are also a few unfolded robes draped across a dresser, some dirty dishes sitting on a small desk, and a wastebasket full of papers.

Leeta gathers up all the plates first, searching carefully for the 'hidden' ones that she usually finds after Tahir has his meal while he is busy. She checks under the bed, the bookshelf, and under the robes until she is satisfied she has them all. Stacking the dishes, she leaves them by the door along with the cups and cutlery to take away later.

The robes are next. She gathers them up, checks through the pockets, then fold each one and places it by the door.

Nothing unusual can be seen while Leeta works, bits of red hair can be found under the bed (perhaps humans shed sometimes?), and several strange looking stones tumble from one of one of Rhys' pockets. A single piece of paper sits on the dresser, weighed down by a silver necklace.

Leeta collects all the stones, making doubly sure nothing remainswithin that robe, then takes them over to the dresser. She makes a neat little pile of the pebbles while looking at the necklace and letter. Memorizing their placement on the bureau, the Savanite has a quick glance around the room while listening carefully.

The stones look a bit like something a Vartan would wear in their tail, just little highly polished pebbles. The necklace has a stylized image of the star, not the image Leeta is usually accustomed to seeing around the temple, in fact it looks a bit like the necklace Third-Eye wore. As for the piece of paper, it currently lies face down, although a sketchy image shows though from the other side.

Licking her fingers, because cheetahs shed a lot more than humans, Leeta moves the necklace, then takes up the letter and flips it over to read it. Her tailtip wiggles as she thinks about the necklace.

Nothing is written on the paper, there's just a sketchy image of a plant and a strange looking winged lizard sitting behind it.

Leeta turns the paper back down on the dresser, and replaces the necklace on top. She spends a few moments making sure they are exactly where she remembers they should be, then checks for stray fur. Satisfied, she is about to move on, but looks one more time at the necklace. {Was Moon-Brow wearing something like this when I saw her?} She wonders.

The Savanite's thoughts are jolted as the ship lurches. Leeta's sensitive ears pick up shouts from above, "Land ho! Get the ropes ready!"

Hearing the noise, Leeta grabs a quick handful of paper from the half full wastebasket and stuffs it in her pockets. She takes up the robes and dishes and slips out into the hallway. Heading for the kitchen, she carries the dirty items low enough to hide what is in her robe.

Footsteps echo again from above and she ship jumps again. "Easy does it, boys. We're in no hurry, the island isn't gonna go anywhere!"

Arriving at the kitchen, she puts the stack of plates on the counter, a safe distance from the edge, and looks around for Naoko or the cubs.

One of the cubs is sprawled across Naoko's lap, looking sick from all the movement, the other is quietly sitting on the floor and giggling at his brother.

"We're here. You should go above and see Tarsus, it's beautiful." Naoko signs with her free hand, using the other to rub the cub's back.

Leeta waves, "I didn't get a chance to empty his basket, should I go back for it? Where should I put the laundry?"

The old Savanite looks at Leeta's load. "Just leave them here, dear. I will take care of them… I already have a mess to clean, it won't take much more effort to add a little more to it." The little cub in the lap burps, hinting at the nature of the 'mess'.

The fire-haired Savanite nods, and sets down the clothes. She signs, "Thanks", and heads out into the hallway. She takes a moment to flatten the papers in her pocket so they aren't visible, then goes quickly to her room.

Leeta makes it back to Tahir's room uncontested, and nods to the guards as they let her in. Closing the door, she heads straight for the wastebasket and empties the stolen paper into it. {I'll examine these later.} She thinks, as she shakes it up. Putting the basket down, she grins at Tahir. "You didn't see that. C'mon, let's go up top, Naoko says Tarsus is beautiful."