Infirmary
Clean metallic surfaces are the motif in the Medical Bay. Part infirmary and part surgery, the main section features a laboratory area and several beds, along with unrecognizable machinery. The rear of the chamber is taken up by several banks of stasis tubes on circular tracks, so that a particular one can be rotated to the front for access within a few seconds.

It's probably night outside by now, as it has taken several hours to revive all of the Lapis that were in the suspension tools. The infirmary was getting a bit crowded, so with Tasha's blessing Aaron took them across the hall to the storage room to try and find clothing for them, while Doreen went back through the ship to tell the others waiting outside to go back and fetch some supplies. This leaves just Tasha and Layth in the infirmary, with three Karnors laid out on the medical beds now.

Unlike with the Lapis, the medical robot hasn't removed their life collars. In fact, the wolves are connected to the beds through them, with various fluids (including blood) seen flowing through the transparent tubes. Respirator masks are also attached to them, and a few flexible discs of unknown purpose that the robot placed on their otherwise naked bodies.

The robot is currently trying to do something to Layth's fingers, which are sore after giving massages to several of the revived Amazonians who seemed to have suffered some sort of muscle atrophy, even though they'd only been in the suspension tubes for a few days. The wolves on the beds look half-starved from their time in the tubes, but it's anyone's guess what the side-effects of 6100 years of hibernation are. Eight of the tubes are still full, but not with anything that looks like it can be revived.

Layth isn't trying to argue with the bot; mainly … he's just staring at it oddly. "What are you doing?" he finally asks it, unsure as to if he needs to be doing something. "And is there any thing I can do for … them?"

Tasha stands with her gaze shifting from the medical beds to the stasis chambers full of what once was a life. She seems apprehensive, even worried, but Layth can tell she's trying to hide it as best she can. Her ears are back, after all, a sure sign she's more worried than she has been, but she's forced her face in to an expressionless mask. "6100 years," she whispers to herself as she turns her eyes to the Karnors on the table again. "They've been sleepin' 6100 years. I wun'er 'o they are? Wha' were their 'opes an' dreams?" She doesn't seem to be asking Layth, just thinking out loud.

The robot sprays something onto Layth's fingers, which penetrates the skin. There's some warmth, and the inflammation from over-use starts to diminish. Other than that, the robot does not answer.

One of the wolves twitches his hands and feet. It's the brown and gray one, the first of the three to be taken out of stasis.

The buck shakes his head slowly, frustrated he has little he can actually be helpful with. When the robot seems to be done with him, he goes to sit on the edge of the bed containing the now twitching Karnor. His head tilts a bit, then he actually reaches out and touches one of its toes.

Tasha's eyes widen when the wolf begins to stir, and she quickly, though quietly, hurries over to hid bed side. "Oi, Layth," she whispers to the buck, "I think 'e's comin' aroun'. 'E looks famished, don' 'e? Is there anythin' to cool aroun' 'ere? Oi, I wish there was somethin' we coul' do bu' stan' 'ere!"

The wolf's toe twitches reflexively from the touch, and his eyes open slowly. The pupils look clouded, as if a film were covering them, and the movements of the arms become slightly more coordinated… although they can't seem to move very far yet.

"It is possible they aren't even really alive anymore," Layth points out rather quietly. "Could a mind survive that long in sleep?"

"Oi, don' annoy 'im Layth, you remember 'o anythin' 'ere 'andles bein' poke," Tasha warns the buck. She glances at him, and frowns. "There's a 'ole other worl' on the other side o' those tanks, Layth. It's wha' Nora called a 'virtual world,' an' it's like magic or a dream. Coul' be they've been dreamin' all this time, or talkin' wit' each other. Or jus' sleepin', dreamless." She returns her gaze to the Karnor, giving him a worried smile. "Wha' matters 'ere is tha' we do wha' we can to save 'em."

The wolf's eyes close again, but his bed seems to come alive instead: the surface contorts until the patient is almost sitting up, but still at an angle. The foot of the bed also rises up to elevate the legs, while conforming around them to hold them in place. The robot suddenly issues a hiss of audible static, and comes around to the head of the bed. It's odd glassy face turns to look at Tasha and Layth in turn, and then twists to survey the other beds.

"Does it wish us to lay down on some of the beds, too?" Layth asks, looking confused.

"Y-you speak-k-k Stand… Standard?" the robot asks in an oddly inflected mechanical voice.

"Yes," Layth answers.

Tasha hops back, startled by all the sudden movement. "I don' know! I-" She blinks when the robot starts talking, and answers, "Aye, we do!"

"H-how long?" the robot asks next.

"Since I was a wee pup still in … Oi, you don' mean tha', do you? You mean 'ow long were you asleep?" Tasha glances from the Karnor's face to the robot's, and answers, "6100 years."

"At least six thousand, one-hundred years?" Layth offers as the answer, reasoning the robot is asking how long the ship has been there.

The body on the bed begins to shudder, until the tube feeding clear fluid into the neck collar turns blue for a moment. The wolf goes limp after that, save for the rise and fall of his chest. "T-too long," the robot relays. "I am-m… Remiel."

"I'm Aldara Tasha, an' this," the Vartan gestures to the buck, "is Layth. I've spoekn to the memory o' Nora Argentine an' am aware o' wha' 'appened 'ere. I 'ave some contro o'er the ship, if there's somethin' you need me to do."

"I'm … " Layth starts to say, then lets the sentence trail off as Tasha has covered it.

"Won't l-last long after revival," the robot says. The voice is sounding a little stronger now as well. "I don't recognize your species. Did you come here in spacecraft?"

"You are going to die? Should we return you to those … tubes?" Layth inquires.

Tasha's expression goes from worried to pained, hearing the man won't live very much longer. She suddenly turns away, looking off at a random wall. Her voice cracks a little, when she answers, "No. We were born on Sinai, from the … t-the … Nora called it a Trade Library. Well, Layth pro'ly was … I … I'm wha' she called a Karnor, an' a Vartan hybrid." A pause, and what sounds like a sniffle, and Tasha asks, "Wha' can we do for you?"

"Hibernation damage. Can't be treated on Fenris," the robot says, sounding more natural. "Organ failure within sixty days without advanced rejuvenation. You flew here?"

"Dug. You are buried under a mountain," Layth explains.

"We flew on an' airship, then rode 'ere on Vykarins," answers the Vartan. She sniffles again, then takes a deep breath, as if she's trying to steady herself.

"How do you treat illness or injury?" the robot asks next.

Layth looks to Tasha, then back to the bed. "With medicines or bandages, and sometimes Life magic. We have nothing like these … machines," he tries to answer.

Tasha glances back, then towards the door where Aaron left through. "Potions an' doctors, an' for the rich, Life Magic." She then gives Layth a nod, before wiping at the corner of her left eye.

"Magic? It… works?" the robot asks next.

"Yes," Layth answers, looking very confused.

"I've 'eard mages can do wonders," Tasha replies. To Layth, she adds, "Magic doesn' exist outsi' our worlds – outside the Primus System. It's somethin' the Sifras made."

"How… far? Close?" the robot asks next, looking between the two. "How soon can it be done? Can it be brought here?"

"We … have no mages with us, nor are any close," Layth admits with a frown.

"'Ow soon do you need one? Within' 60 days, was it?" Tasha inquires, getting an odd determined sound to ehr voice. She moves to fully look at the dying Karnor, brows narrowing in thought.

It's certainly possible to reach Parthos within the time limit, but procuring an actual mage, and bringing them back, is something else. Bringing the patients to the mages might save time.

"Hey guys," Aaron says from the doorway. "We found some clothes that fit the others, and I've got the ones that can't walk far waiting in the cafeteria. Everyone else but Euphrosyne and Gyes have gone on back to the Hall to bring back supplies… "

"I wish this ol' airship – space ship – still flew! We coul' be in Parthos in no time at all, or even Caroban," mutters Tasha, sounding frustrated. She thumps her fist in to an unoccupied bed behind her, before falling to lean against it. "An' me airship is stuck outside the boarder! If I 'ad to, I'd fly there meself an' kidnap a mage." She exhales, shaking her head. "Bu' tha' won' work. The Temples 'ave priests an' such – I 'ear they know magic – maybe we ought an' go there?" She looks down at the Karnor, nodding a little, "Will you survive a trip down the mountain, to Parthos, Remiel?"

Ears perking, Tasha glances at the door and yells, "Oi, Xander! We need you – c'mere!"

"Or would you survive being carried? I could carry at least one of you," Layth offers. Best he can offer, really. He's neither doctor, nor mage.

"I don't know what would be involved in such a journey," the robot relays, its lenses turning to look at the new Lapi. "It will be several days before we can be disconnected from life support."

"Gah, you got it to talk now?" Aaron asks, his ears drooping back. He takes very cautious steps towards Tasha and Layth. "What are you talking about? Are the Jupani going to wake up or not?"

"Then we must wait those days if we are to carry you," Layth says, "We cannot carry this equipment; it is … to heavy. What does this equipment … do?"

"It'll be rough, bu' we 'ave many strong persons to carry you, an' I'll protect you wit' me life if I 'ave to," the Vartan answers Remiel. Biting her lip, she glances at Aaron and explains, "The robot's talkin' for the Karnor 'ere. We're thinkin' o' takin' 'em to Parthos – they're no' goin' to survive on their own 'ere. They need magic."

"The machines in the bed act as surrogate organs until my own are working again," the robot relays.

"That is… err… so they need Life Magic you mean to take over when these machines are finished?" Aaron asks.

"Could you be linked to each of us … to act as your … organs?" Layth asks, looking a bit ill at the thought. "We could be … portable life support?"

"Aye," Tasha answers Aaron without looking his way again. At Layth's statement, she shoots him a concerned look, but it's an indication how worried she is about these ancients that she doesn't protest. "Do you 'ave anythin' in this ship we could use to move you, or transport you better?"

"A generous offer, but unfeasible," the robot notes. "Our machines would stop working before you got to the base of the mountain, even if such a connection could be made. We need to make the journey using our own bodies' resources."

"Than we have to wait. Is there any way to accelerate the rate at which you recover?" LAyth asks next.

"'Ow 'bout some soup? Are you 'ungry," asks Tasha, worried enough to ask another question before her first is even answered.

"Well, we're only eight days out from Dianus if the weather and nomads are favorable," Aaron notes. "Clan Hydron runs the Temple of Ashtoreth, and frankly they're likely to have better Life Mages than Parthos. Any Amazonians that show a talent for magic get sucked up by Hydron for the Temple. Why do you think Tyche looks so young for her age?"

"Her taking of strong, young, males and using them for her benefit," Layth answers Aaron and gives him a look.

Tasha blinks at Aaron. "I never though' o' tha'," she admits. It does explain a lot. She then gives Layth a weak smile at his joke, but can't seem to manage a laugh right now.

"Our recovery should not be rushed," the robot responds, finally. "We will not be complete invalids, but we will be weak. Our muscles have atrophied considerably."

"MOTHER needs to keep workin' until tha' time, doesn' she? Er, it?" Tasha pushes herself back to standing straight, seeming to have recovered some of her own strength from hearing of the Karnor's hope. "Nora Argentine asked me to remove the mem'ry crystal an' take it to the base on Sheol."

"Yes, whether we live or die is of less concern than getting our mission data back to the Expedition," Remiel says through the robot. "How you intend to do this, I do not know. And you speak of things I'm unfamiliar with, but which hint at a culture unknown to me. If your 'magic' keeps us alive, what will you do with us?"

"Of course it matters if you live or die," Layth comments and sighs. "What happens to you can be decided later. For now we must try and save you."

"Do?" Tasha asks, sounding bemused. "We're no' goin' to 'do' anythin' with you. I'm no' doin' this to use you! I'm doin' this so you can decide for yourselves wha' you wan' to do with the lives you 'ave. Nora said there's still a base, an' the Terrans 'ave one on Abaddon as well. You coul' live with them, or … " Her voice trails off, and she shakes her head. "An' Layth's right, if you live or die DOES matter."

"How did you even find us?" the machine asks. "When we crashed, I was certain our emergency systems would not last for more than a few decades, if even that, this deep into the Sifran field."

"One of your … machines attacked a city and took or killed many people," Layth explains quietly, "In an effort to recover metal that they were salvaging."

"It's a lon' story I'll tell you as we travel, 'ow's tha'? Somethin' to keep your mind occupied," offers the woman. She tilts her head, and adds, "Bu' the short o' it is … " her gaze flickers to Layth, and she frowns at his manner of putting the situation, " … Is tha' a machine went out o' control an' we were sent by the local Temple o' Abaddon to deal wit' the 'demon.'"

"We don't have any autonomous machines," Remiel insists. "Even the medical robot has only a limited artificial mind. And the Titan is trapped in the hangar."

"It was sent and controlled by someone called 'Mother'," Layth explains.

"Yes, Mother," Tasha agrees. "Mother 'as been active all this time. Nora says the Silent-One crystal-somethin'-'olo-somethin' crystals seem to be resistant to the SPB."

A brief pause, and Tasha asks, "Oi, wha's a Titan?"

There's a long pause before Remiel speaks again. "We don't fully understand how Mother operates," he admits. "The Silent-Ones treat their technology as an art form at times. Forgive me, since you speak Standard I forgot that you were not part of the Expedition. It is hard to accept the time jump, even when surrounded by aliens. The Titan is our mecha, the Themis-Skoll. All of our survey ships carried one for defense and in case of emergencies… just not in case of the hangar doors being covered by lava."

"Why did you crash?" Layth asks finally. "With such … machines, I would have thought you unstoppable."

"Mecha? Oi, well, I go look later when you're restin', I s'pose." Running a hand through her hair, Tasha says, "If i' makes you feel any better, I jus' learned my people – everyone's people – come from somethin' called 'outer space,' from somewhere called 'Terra' an' various other empires I've never 'eard o'." Turning to Layth, the Vartan fields his question. "The Sifran Probablity Field did somethin' when they were scoutin' the area, an' the ship crashed. Somethin' abou' our world – all our worlds – does somethin' to machines. There's other ships like this all across the, oi, Primus System. There's even somethin' called a 'Gateway.'"

"The planet reached up and grabbed us," the robot relays, without a hint of sarcasm or humor.

"I saw i' wit' me own eyes," Tasha adds, gesturing to her eyes. "Nora showed me, when I was asleep in 'er tube."

"Mmm. I am sorry," Layth says.

"Did Nora survive?" the robot asks suddenly.

Layth starts to say 'no', then stops and just looks to Tasha.

Tasha's head droops, along with her ears. She opens her mouth to answer, but pauses. It looks like she needs a moment to gether herself, for she just stares at the floor for a while before finally breathing, "no," and shaking her head. "She, she died tryin' to repair the ship. I spoke with 'er persocom, 'cause it thought I was 'ere an' we 'ad to work tha' out. 'Er memory is stored, though. She may be revived if I can reach Sheol. I … " Tasha swallows, " … I promised 'er I'd see the memory crystal safe."

"Yes, of course," Remiel comments after a moment. He then changes subjects, saying, "The others next to me are Captain Gabriel Akkers and Dr. Eli Zerachiel. My full name is Dr. Remiel Caravelli, the mission's bioscience lead and medical doctor. Once I'm recovered, I can assist any who have been injured by our presence."

"I'm sorry," Tasha says after a moment's pause. "I'm sorry I can' do more for you. I wish I was an' angel, like they," she gestures towards the door, "seem to think I am. I've done me best, bu' I'm jus' a mortal. I'll do wha'ever I can for the three o' you. I promise."

"We will do what we can. What we cannot, we should not dwell on. The winds blow, things come and go, such is the way of things, Tasha," Layth reminds the hybrid. "For now, we just wait and keep them comfortable until they can move."

"I'm going to rest now," Remiel says. "I've set the system so that the Captain and Eli won't wake up until they're able to move again. If you need to talk to me, however, I can be woken back up by saying my name to the robot."

"Thank you," the hybrid says. "I will ensure you are no' bothered unless you mus' be." She glances at Layth, then reaches over and squeezes his hand. "Le's le' the doctor res' a bit more, aye? I think I need some res', too."

Layth bows. "As you wish," he says quietly, then heads towards the door.

Tasha begins to follow, but pauses and looks back at the three recovering Karnors. "An', oh: I'm gla' you're alive. Welcome back," she adds, before departing.

Aaron quietly waits by the door to the infirmary. "The three Guardians we… uh… recovered… have trouble moving on their own," he reports to Layth. "The lightning whip or whatever that they got hit with left some nasty scars, and may have messed up their muscles permanently. I don't now enough to say for sure."

"That is … bad," Layth comments with a frown, "Given what they will be expected to do." He rubs the back of his neck, looking pained. "I am no doctor … but I can look at them."

Aaron smiles. "I figured you'd know if a muscle was beyond healing or not. I imagine they'd be dead if they weren't Guardian stock to begin with. I know I'd have ended up a tall strip of bacon myself."

"Well we o 'ave a doctor," Tasha reminds the two, frowning at the mention of the Guardian's injuries and what that may mean for them. "Bu' we mus' wait until 'e rises on 'is own."

"I am not sure he would be able to help … us. We are not one of his known kind," Layth reminds Tasha, then pushes back his lop ears. "Where are they scarred? That also will indicate how severe they are hurt."

"I hope he can help them, it'll go a long way towards getting Harriot's blessings," Aaron notes. To Layth, he just pats himself along the chest where a breastplate would be. "They were burned where their armor touched their skin."

"We'll 'ave to see," the Vartan agrees, nodding to Layth. She glances up and down the hallway, and asks, "'Ow are the others? An', wha' do they think o' all this? Do they realize wha' this all is yet?"

"And they cannot move their arms or legs? What cannot be moved?" Layth asks, sounding more worried.

"Come on," Aaron says, and just heads up the central corridor to the crew galley. Gyes has one of the Guardians up on his feet, with one arm around his shoulder, and is helping him walk around in a circle. Euphrosyne has another on some sort of articulated chair with odd attachments, and he's straining to pull to levers together that come in from the sides. The third is just sleeping on a reclining chair.

All three of the men are clad in not-quite-fitting blue shirts and pants that look a bit like Abu Dhabi-style pajamas.

Layth frowns when he sees the current state of the Guardians. "Does anyone have a needle, or something fine, small, and sharp?" he asks as he walks into the galley.

Tasha follows along, eyes on the floor, lost in thought. When she enters the galley, she gives a small grimace. "I saw somethin' like tha' back downstairs, wit' the metal tools," she tells Layth before he walks on.

"I guess we're going to be camping out here for the next few days?" Aaron asks Tasha.

Layth goes over to assist with Gyes. "Can someone fetch me the tools from below Tasha mentioned?" he asks as he takes over for the other buck. To the injured one, he asks, "Tell me how you feel? Tell me what you feel?"

"I'll get 'em," Aaron offers. "Maybe Doreen will be back soon with some food."

"We'll move people back an' forth between 'ere an the 'All as needed. Any of the Amazonians 'o don' need to be 'ere for recovery shoul' be treated back at town. This place is still active, an' will be until I speak with Mother, so I don' wan' to risk more than we mus'. Also, we'll need food an' supplies for both the wounded an' the Karnors, an' I'm thinkin' they eat as I do," Tasha answers. In a quieter voice, leans down and whispers to the small Lapi, "There's so much to take in, isn' there? I wouldn' believe any o' this if I 'adn't seen it wit' me own eyes, an' I'm still unable to wrap me 'ead aroun' it all. I jus' know … The world's no' the same anymore."

The Vartan steps aside to let Aaron pass, then turns to follow him. "I think I need a walk," she adds.

"Sure the world's the same," Aaron says. "It's just you that's changed, Tasha," he teases. "And I sure hope those guys like fish jerky."

"You are thinking too much on it," Layth calls out. Cursed Lapi hearing. "You must flow with what comes, not … fight it."

In the Galley, Gyes and the Guardian go over all the places that hurt, feel stiff or 'crackle' when moved. The burns on the chest aren't too bad – the claim that the armor had melted into their skin was either exaggerated or else their time in the tubes had healed the worst of the damage.

Tasha smiles a little at Aaron's quip, reaching over to ruffle up his ears. "I'm thinkin' o' makin' them me mum's soup recipe, it's wha' she feeds sailors who 'ave 'ad too much, or come off a rough flight. Her ears then shoot up when Layth yells, and she spins around to wave a fist at him. "Oi, you nosy bun! I'm orderin' you no' to eavesdop!"

"Yeah, I imagine there are lots of new things that have you stunned, Tasha," Aaron says as they go down the ramp to the lower level. "I mean, you didn't ogle those naked guys hardly at all, or try to flirt even."

"You may just be … stunned," Layth comments after hearing the description of his injuries. "I will need test your reflexes and sensation. That's why I need something sharp. I need to see how much you still feel. It is … not unlike checking someone who was hit hard in the neck or spine and may be … crippled. Hopefully it will pass."

The Guardian Layth is examining sits down, and nods. "It felt like my body was on fire when I was struck by the demon's lightning. I still feel… tender? But not in pain… "

"What is your name?" Layth asks as he kneels on the floor before the Lapi. The buck lifts up one of the Guardians feet and very lightly runs a finger along the bottom of it, "And can you feel this?"

The buck winces, and says, "Nord. And that feels… I can feel it. Do not ask me to describe it though, please. I cannot."

Tasha's ears redden at Aaron's comment, and she lifts her muzzle a bit, defensively. "It's no' tha' I don' like 'em," she insists, trying to sound like she means it. "It's jus' … they, well … all this," with a hand, she gestures to the ship around her, " … it gets me righ' 'ere." And, she thumps the hand she waved around to her chest, over her heart. "It's no' like me airship at all, an' yet it's like it exactly. I envy these people. I feel like I know 'em, in 'ere," she taps her chest again, "an' I … Jus' wan' them to be 'appy. Their journey shouldn' end like this. I don' think I can say it right; does wha' I'm sayin' even make sense?" She shakes her head, and adds, "Nora Argentine … She looked like she coul' be me sister. Like she coul' 'ave been … been me."

"Well, I don't know what she was like," Aaron says, turning into one of the bioscience labs and getting a tray of tools. "You're pretty decent though, once you get past the bluster and … and did you just Sign something right then?"

"Oi, whut?" Tasha pauses, giving Aaron a odd look. "Sign? An' she … she was like me. I think we coul' 'ave been friends. I liked 'er a lot, even though we only met briefly." Frowning, Tasha asks, "Does this soun' selfish to you, Aaron? Like I jus' wan' to 'elp because they remind me o' meself an' me shipmates? I've been wonderin' if all this time I've jus' been lookin' for some place to, to fit in, I s'pose. Or maybe, I jus' see me 'eart strings tied to more than I ever thought it could be. I care abou' these people, all o' them." A pause, and Tasha adds insistently, "I DO," as if fearing Aaron would argue.

"You just sound like a woman, frankly," Aaron notes, and then lifts up his right hand and makes several gestures that Tasha understands to mean "Please Do Not Kill Me."

"It tickles, then," Layth observes as pinches various places on the buck's legs, "And these?"

Tasha glares at Aaron after his remark, putting a hand on her hip. Then, she watches him wiggle his fingders with a brow raised, and says, "I'm no' goin' to kill you. I'm a bit tired o' death righ' now, an' if I was a real angel, I'd go give 'im a piece o' me mind."

"Those hurt, please stop," the buck requests. "The problem is more that my muscles seem to get confused, or twitch, when I want them to do something."

"Hmmm, interesting," is all the Lapi says as he picks up the tray once more, and heads out of the lab. "In the Temple, it's said that they have machines to teach Exiles how to speak Standard. I guess 'Nora' taught you some things as well."

"I am testing how much you feel. You seem to have full sensation, which is good. I think your body is just … confused. Stunned. My guess would be it should return to normal in time," Layth says with a small shrug. "But I am not a doctor, so that is just a guess, based on experience from recovering from being knocked out."

"That is very reassuring," the buck says, and almost smiles. But then Aaron returns with the tray, saying, "Here are the sharp instruments of torture that you wanted, Layth."

"You mean, I know Sign now?" Tasha blinks at that, mouth agape. "She, she did say tha' languages were easier to teach than 'er machine-knowledge, I asked in case she coul' jus' teach me it an' 'elp us all. I didn' actually think it'd work."

Tasha elbows Aaron subtly, concealing the move with a wing. "Aaron and I were jus' abou' to go look at this Titan," she declares, eyeing the small buck. "Weren't we? 'And Layth the tools."

"Oh, right!" Aaron says, setting the tray of picks and scalpels and stranger things down on a table.

"I am not sure I need them now," Layth admits, but accepts them anyway. With a small shrug, he selects one that looks close t a needle and starts prodding the buck all over his body, each time asking him if he can feel it."

"Ow! Yes… Yes I can feel that!" the man says while trying to squirm away from Layth. Gyes laughs out loud, causing Euphrosyne to look up from the exercise machine and the third Guardian to snort loudly in his sleep.

"For a guardian, you are being rather … wimpy," Layth comments and stands. He looks to Euphrosyne and asks, "How is the other doing?"

Tasha muffles a laugh, guiding Aaron around with her wing until the two are back in the hall. "The doctor said they 'ad somethin' called a 'Titan' in the 'Hangar Bay,' which I think was this way. I coul' use the walk, an' someone to talk to abou' wha' we'll be doin', so why no' look now?"

"Well," Euphrosyne begins to say, until the one she's working with yells, "FINE! I AM FINE! I DO NOT NEED TO BE POKED!"

Layth looks very confused. "These Guardians are … " he adds, then just shakes his head. "Nevermind," he says and sets the needle back on the tray. He finds himself a chair to sit in and just sits down.

"Sure," Aaron says, a bit nervously. The big doors to the hangar, just past the infirmary, are closed. But of course there are some big, obvious buttons on the wall next to them.

"Nobody attacks this settlement," Euphrosyne points out. "Until the demon-armor did, at least."

"I'm not even a guardian and I have more tolerance," Layth points out as a reply.

"I'm glad the ancients were polite enough to make big, obvious door openers," Tasha remarks as she walks over and pushes the open button. "I would 'ave really liked to see this ship fly. Think we'll see any on Abaddon? Or Sheol? You know, the Temple o' Rephidim even flew, once. Can you imagine tha'?"

"I can imagine it crashing," Aaron says as the doors slowly grind open. Unlike those below, these actually open all of the way, and the long chamber beyond lights up as well to reveal… Tasha! Or at least, something very much like her. Lying on its belly in a support cradle is a suit of armor like the ones they've already seen, only many, many times larger. Its folded wings are made to look like they're covered in feathers as they nearly scrape the door that doubles for a ceiling. The 'head' is pointed forward, and the entire thing looks like it's ready to leap up and take flight as soon as it gets the chance.

Tasha stumbles when the hangar lights up, and nearly collides with the doorframe. "'Oly 'ell!" She makes a rough effort to regain her balance, staggering inside the room with a loud clatter of hooves. Unable to quite articulate her feelings, she points at the giant machine, mouth agape, while waving her other hand at it as if Aaron might possibly miss it.

"I am so gonna have nightmares about a giant Tasha holding me in the palm of her hand now," Aaron mutters. "It's nearly as big as the Rake's hull. I mean… to think that it'll never fly or… whatever it does… "

Tasha does laugh at the image of herself holding up a tiny Aaron, racing foward and cackling until she's right next to the head of the giant mechanical monstrosity. "Oi, I wouldn' do tha'!" Given how she's oogling the ancient machine, one might wonder what she's thinking of doing with it. "An' don' say tha'! Tha' it'll never fly! I've 'ad me 'eart broken enough this las' few days."

"It's so huge though… what would you feed it?" Aaron asks. "Airships?"

"I could! I know a few airships I'd like to feed it," the Vartan answers. "Do you think it even works anymore? Wit' somethin' like this, we could … we could … " There's more waving at the machine as Tasha can't seem to spit out her thoughts, racing as they are in her head and yelling, 'woo!'

The Lapi has wandered down to the torso, looking for… well, anything. "How do you even get into it?" he asks.

After a bit of searching, and also of calming down, Tasha replies, "I'm no' sure. I mean, it looks like me, so you'd think I'd know 'ow to get inside." She wanders back to the head, and then tries, "This is Lt. Nora Argentine, can you please open up, Themis-Skoll?"

"Even you wouldn't fall for a pick-up line like that," Aaron points out. And sure enough, the Titan just… sits there.

"I'm rethinkin' 'oldin' you in me mighty 'and," Tasha calls back to Aaron. Wandering some more, she inspects the giant machine for signs of an entry point. "The ship 'ad a seamless door, an' the Vykarin-machine 'ad a bubble … Wha' would this 'ave?" she wonders aloud.

"Well, this thing has legs," Aaron points out. "So… it should be able to kneel down or something. You'd want a door that you could get to easily, after all. Or else could climb to – these Karnors don't have wings."

"Tha' makes sense. I don't suppose it's always like this." Circling around, she heads for the belly and legs. "If it were kneeli' … or sittin' … then the person would enter through the leg … or belly. The leg's too small, an' it's got all tha' machinery in it, so 'ow abou' the belly?" She walks that way, looking for ladders or other signs an entryway is present.

Taking a breath, Layth goes over to check on the sleeping Guardian. "How much has this one moved?" he asks Euphrosyne.

Aaron goes back towards the head to check the arms for handholds as well.

"He hasn't even snored," Euphrosyne says, coming over to Layth. "Do you wish to waken him?"

Layth answers this by lightly shaking the sleeping buck's shoulder. "You have been asleep for several days. You do not need to sleep more," he comments.

"I'm not in the mood, Hegre… " the Guardian mutters, then finally opens his eyes. "You aren't Hegre," he says.

"Who is Hegre?" Layth can't help but ask.

Tasha runs her hand along the giant's belly, frowning. "It'd 'ave to be somewhere a Karnor could fit inside," she insists. "Themis-Skoll, wha'a beautiful name."

There are some suspicious outlines on one of the legs, and this Tasha to an oval surface with a barely visible seam right where her own appendix would be.

"Maybe 'ere?" The Vartan reaches over and pokes the potential door. "Might wan' to stan' back, Xander!"

"My wife," the Guardian says. "Although, you might be cuter," he says to Layth.

"Pardon?" Layth comments, brow going up a bit. "I am male."

"What?" Aaron calls from the head of the craft. At Tasha's touch, the door recesses back a bit into the belly and slides to one side.

"Yes, more's the pity," the Guardian says. "Hegre is not a looker, but she is fecund beyond belief."

"Can you walk?" Layth asks the Guardian. "How are you feeling?"

"Oooo," Tasha whispers, finding the ominous darkness of the cockpit as inviting as any shiny object. She tucks her wings, then begins attempting the awkward climb inside.

Inside the door is… a ladder! Given that the Titan is on its belly, that means the ladder goes forward, and you'd have to be dangling on your back to use it, but it does at least go someplace.

"I can walk, I just choose to lie here and rest," the buck replies. He's older than the other two, from the look of it. "I am not dead or infirm. Just… tired."

"This is goin' to take some work," mutters the woman as she eyes the ladder. Luckily, she's not unaccustomed to climbing to odd places, having worked on an airship with complicated rigging. Jumping up, she grabs the ladder, then tries to swing her hooves to catch the 'lower' rungs, attempting to make the horizontal climb.

"Still, you should move around. You have been asleep for days already. Sleeping more is not healthy," Layth points out, then shrugs a bit, "But do as you choose." Considering something, Layth tilts his head, lop ears flapping to the side as he looks to Euphrosyne, then asks honestly, "Am I cute?"

"Yes," Euphrosyne says. "Do you want to go use one of the rooms with a bed in it while Aldara is playing with Xavier?" she asks, grinning.

"Well, we do have a few days we will be here," Layth answers as he rubs his chin in thought. "Tasha may be angry, though, if we mated. I cannot say I am not … curious, given I have never been with another Lapi."

The ladder-tube is short, at least, and leads to another door somewhere in the Titan's chest. Before she can open the hatch, though, it opens on its own… almost. Aaron looks down at her from inside the cockpit, and says, "I found a door on the back, where a ladder went up from the cradle… "

The seated Guardian looks oddly at Layth now. "You have… relations… with animals then?"

"No. There are other people outside Lapi, such as Tasha," Layth explains with a small shrug.

"Well, um, … " Tasha gives Aaron a short, sheepish look, then promptly pushes hin out of the way as she climbs in. "Good work, aye. I foun' this other route." She grins a little, ruffling the fallen Lapi's hair again. "Now, 'ave you foun' 'ow it works?"

Aaron just points to some chairs surrounded by a dizzying array of clear surfaces and controls.

"The Herald you mean?" the buck asks with wide eyes. "You can… you can do that?"

"I can," Layth answers, "She requested it."

"Well, les' 'ave at it then," Tasha decides aloud. She climbs over and drops herself in to the right hand seat, looking around for some something to pull over her head or otherwise start the machine up. "Don' suppose I 'ave to use me whip," she considers aloud as she looks.

There's some sort of helmet attached to the headrest, along with all sorts of straps and belts. The end of each chair arm ends in a joystick festooned with bits to push and press and turn, and there are even pedals for the pilot's feet – although how well they'll work with hooves is questionable.

"Will we all have to service her as an offering to Abaddon?" the Guardian asks. The other two turn to hear the answer to that one.

"Probably," Euphrosyne says, trying to keep a straight face. "She'll want to drink your blood too, I think."

"You will have to ask her that. I do not know for certain," Layth answers. Tasha runs off to have an adventure with someone else, well, she'll at least have an adventure when she gets back, too.

"Do you think this is a bad idea," inquires the woman as she leans back, trying to get her head to fit in the helmet without smushing her wings any more than they are. "An' look at all these … wha'ever they ares. I'm puttin' on these belts first, before I fall over again."

The apothecary is looking over the various buttons and switches, each of which has a label… but none of which actually explain anything. The helmet finally loosens and fits over Tasha's head, the inside inflating slightly to form a firm grip. The visor is clear, giving her a view of the back of Aaron's head as he pours over the instrument panel.

"I've been married for ten years," the Guardian says, yawning. "A little blood is nothing."

"Just be aware," Layth adds with a glance to Euphrosyne, "That she will expect at minimum, eight hours of continuous worship."

"At leas' the 'elmet is comfortable," Tasha remarks as she begins starpping herself in. "Are you 'avin' any luck up there, Xander?"

Aaron tries a few promising switches, which cause some other things to light up. One of the panels begins scrolling words… although they skip and blink now and then, and go by too quickly to easily read.

"I'll need my rest then," the buck notes, and seems to go right back to sleep.

Layth snorts and shakes his head. "How are you doing, Euphrosyne?" he asks the doe and starts checking her neck. "You are not badly injured, I hope?"

"Test Mode Activated," comes a soft, very human-sounding female voice from within Tasha's helmet. Aaron pushes a few more buttons, and the voice announces, "Simulation Mode activating in ten seconds. Eight seconds… " it begins to count down.

The big doe fingers the odd bandage around her neck, and says, "I have felt better, Crysanthos." She does look… tired.

"Oi, Aaron. The … Somethin's talkin' to me in the 'elmet. Somethin' abou' a mode startin' in … Two … One … " Her eyes widen, and she quickly tries to pull the Lapi in to her lap!

"Then why don't you sit down and rest? Is there anything I can get you?" Layth asks as he looks for an empty recliner for the doe.

"Hey! What?" Aaron says, and then Tasha's visor goes black for a moment, before erupting into light. There's also noise, and shaking, and above everything else a loud roaring. The screens all light up, showing a sky filled with explosions and streaks of fast-moving aircraft. And then the alarms sound, and circles of light appear, and warnings blare! "Incoming Missile! Incoming Missile!"

"I think I'll just sit down, yes," Euphrosyne says. "I could use a break. You should go have fun with Tasha, before she gets into trouble."

"What's a missile?! What's goin' on?!" Tasha's hackles practically rise off her back, and she blunders around trying to grab the controls, first grabbing Aaron's muzzle with one hand and his ear in the other, before switching off! "Ahh!"

"She seemed more interested in exploring the ship with Xander," Layth notes, "Though probably because he does whatever she tells him and doesn't try to stop her from doing dangerous things. I think I'll go check on when food will be brought."