The Titan hangar at Elamoore airfield is nearly empty of Lawbringers when Melchior returns and is led to his berth. This confirms Tasha's observations on flying in; the Silent-Ones Titans are out on patrol, especially near the two dams. But Tasha didn't note any visible damage to them, or to the town or life domes along the cliffs. Commanding-Hand is waiting at Melchior's feet for Tasha to disembark.

With her duffle bag full of used rations and hidden crystals slung over her left shoulder and helmet under her right arm, Tasha glides down to the hangar floor, smiling after landing. "I'm sorry I'm a bit late," she signs, albiet with some difficulty due to the encumberance. "Everything is so quiet – has anything happened since I departed?"

"Sky flashed and ground shook," the old cheetah signs. "Volcanoes stir up the wildlife sometimes, so we are on alert. Did you find what you were seeking?"

"You could say that," Tasha signs back, ears flicking. "I'll be returning to my quarters to drop off my things and meet with the Doctor, unless you have orders for me from the Council… ?"

"Not unless a kaiju attacks again," the man signs. "Nobody knew when you would be returning."

"Understood! Thank you for meeting me here." Glancing back to her Titan, Tasha signs, "Melchior could use a good wash, especially near the joints and intake areas; lots of dust out there with the volcanic ash and … other things." Looking back, she nods towards the exit. "I'll be either in my quarters, with the Doctor, or else out on the town if you need me. Thanks again!" And wit that, the young woman begins heading out.

One of the attendants pokes cautiously at a dried patch of purple goo stuck to Melchior's heel – using very heavy gloves.

The walk to the Council building doesn't seem out of the ordinary, as far as how people were behaving; there didn't seem to be any sense of impending doom or caution, so maybe massive volcanic explosions aren't that unusual.

Seeing she isn't about to be ambushed by one or more impending problems, Tasha enjoys her return. She loves machines, and a number of AI are like her children, but a bustling town full of diversity reminds her of home in the way few things on Abaddon can. With a successful flight behind her, she doesn't hurry; she's sure a disaster will crop up sooner or later, but for now, she'll enjoy the sun and crowd.

Once back home, Tasha makes her way through the complex, knocking on Eli's door around her helmet.

The door opens, and Eli… looks not at all surprised to see her. "Ah, you're back! I've been expecting you ever since Bellerophon called over a mysterious relay that wasn't there before. Come in!" he says, holding the door open for Tasha.

Tasha chuckles, shaking her head. "They don't waste any time, do they? And here I was going to surprise you!" After entering, Tasha closes the door and takes a seat at one of the two chairs beside Eli's work station. "So, did I miss anything excitng? I thought you might worry after I was gone a while. For a bit there, I was struck where I was. I did bring you a present to make up for it!"

"I was worried when there was a large airborne explosion that set off the seismographs and broke some windows," Zerachiel notes, eyebrows raised. "Anything to report on that? Mariel wasn't forthcoming with details, claiming she didn't want to 'steal Tasha's thunder' when it came time to explain things."

"I love Mariel," Tasha says with a big grin. She places her duffle bag in front of her and begins rummaging around, putting aside empty bottles of water and MRE bags. "As it happens, I do know what that explosion was about. The Phantom – you remember the Phantom, aye? – turned out to be real. Very real. Sadly, the plate-like creature found that out the hard way, when it was destroyed by the Phantom's anti-neutronium beam."

"I'm sorry, did you say anti-neutronium?" Dr. Zerachiel asks calmly.

"Oh yes." She pauses in her sorting, looking up with her ears perked. "I was surprised too, until it threw us around like a leaf in a tornado."

"Then I was terrified," Tasha adds.

"How close were you?" Eli asks. "Did Melchior suffer any damage?"

"Close enough to get an eyeful of the hit and subsequent surface impact of the creature. We weren't damaged, but I hadn't time to dwell on what happened because the Phantom prceeded to override pilot-AI communications and appear as a gigantic me in armor of blood with eyes of fire." She looks back down in to her back, picking a few more leftovers out. "It was a very interesting conversation. She called herself Enyo, Partner to Abaddon. Then, she invited me on board when she realized I was not a machine intelligence."

"So, a giant blood-covered demon with delusions of godhood destroys a giant space monster and then invites you over for tea… and of course you accepted, right?" Eli asks for clarification… although he does have a bit of a grin.

"Well, of course." Tash grins right back, looking up again. "If there's a choice between the safe and the incredibly dangerous decision, it behooves me to choose the dangerous one. It keeps my relationship exciting." She winks, then returns to her bag. After a moment she withdraws a hand-long, bottle-thick piece of amber crystal, which she puts in her lap before looking forward again. "As it turns out, the Phantom – Enyo at the time – is a Khattan frigate that was never indentified to the fleet, is completely automated, and, besides the beam weapon, has a working interstellar drive system and self awareness. She's really very nice once you get to know her."

"A stealth ship?" Eli asks. "Why was it sent with the fleet?"

"To observe," Tasha answers. "Observe what … well, we really aren't sure. All she knows is that she's waiting to see if 'the Expedition fails.' Given all that has already happened, I think it's safe to say 'failure' in this case means more than the general exploratory mission. In fact, she was aware of the Magi, and had a great deal to say about them and their mission – so this may be the true mission she's here to observe. Anyway, at the time she insisted she was Abaddon's partner, and even offered me ship control in order to obliterate all the alien civiliazations on this world. Since I like all of you, I politely declined."

"How generous of you, although that could have been a test," Eli notes. "Somehow I suspect you did accept the ship control part though."

"I knew that doctorate was more than a fancy antique with a nice frame," she says with a chuckle. "Yes, well, eventually. And, I'm uncertain it was a test. Let me explain." Taking a deep breath, Tasha spreads her hands and explains, "The Enyo had achieved self-awareness during her centuries-long vigil, and at some point, appears to have been contacted by 'Abaddon'. This Abaddon is, I think, the same one who appeared in my dreams, and for the same purpose. I believe Abaddon in this case is this planet's controller, or else defense system, activated a year ago and linked with the rise of atmospheric changes. What 'Enyo' and I have in common is that we are both 'machines,' that is, we have mechanical parts that may be influenced by this planetary AI, with pure machines being most vulnerable and myself only being accessible due to my neural links. In essence, what I saw was my firewall's expression of a hacking attempt."

"Anyway, 'Enyo' and I spoke at length about life: its destruction, the value of life, living, and others. I was able to convince her that other creatures are worth sparing and I've taken her under my wing in order to both protect her and help her grow as a person. So, yes, I am the 'captain' of the Phantom – who accepted the name 'Harmonia,' which, in legend, is the brighter 'sister' to Enyo. Currently, the Harmonia is hovering above us at 60,000 feet."

"And at some point, you went back to Tartarus and picked up our communication relay gear?" Eli asks. "You were gone quite a while… "

"Yes, that's right. I was uncertain how to proceed and thus set course for Tartarus, which is why I smell like shampoo and Gabriel. For me, it's been about a day less, since I have been in stasis-lock during the voyages." Looking down, Tasha picks up the crystal and offers it to Eli. "And here's your present. I picked it up on the way back along with a large bin full of other pieces, for research. Take a look, and see if you can tell me what it is." Tasha settles her head on a hand, watching.

Zerachiel holds the crystal this way and that, and eventually discovers the trick. "When I look through it, I see what was on the other side at the moment I looked, but if I move it the image remains… unless I blink. Curious. It behaves like a quantum particle. What is it from?"

"Now there's a question! Another world; perhaps another dimension entire. It's a fragment of the plate-creature's crystalline shell – an Incursion Stator Crystal," Tasha answers, smiling.

"Harmona calls it 'topogoric,'" the young woman adds.

"Toporgic?" Eli asks, rubbing his chin as he taps on the crystal with the claws of his other hand. "Hmmmm… and you think it has stator properties too? I suppose I'll have to experiment to see what brings about those effects."

"Please do. Feel free to interact with Harmonia regarding it, as well. I'm sure she'd like to meet someone new and I recommended you highly. That one's yours by the way; I have others for experiements, except … ," Tasha pulls out another shard, almost as long, but about as flat as a straightned hand. "This. A souvineer, aye? I'm going to have a necklace made out of it."

"Be careful with that," Eli warns. "If it's altering time and space, there could be exposure issues."

"You mean, I could become a mutant?" The half Karnor, half-Vartan asks. She squints at the crystal, cocking her head in a distinctly birdly way, and shakes her head. "I had Harmonia scan them for hazard; they're clean. No reaction to the stasis field either."

"Ah, but they do transmit light," Eli points out. "No reaction to stasis? That… is intriguing… "

"So, it'll give me a sunburn?" Tasha eyes the crystal a moment more, then insists, "But it is very shiny."

"Well, yes, it is… " Eli admits. "Just tell me if you start having unusual dreams or hallucinations. Did you learn any more about the creatures that produce the crystal?"

Tasha just gives Eli a look when he asks for 'unusual dreams and hallucinations.'

"I did say unusual ones, not your average hallucinations," Eli points out, with a bit of a smirk. "We don't know how proximity to material like this could influence the mind, after all."

"Anyway … Yes, I did. It seems that they possess only animal intelligence. I ran some tests on them and scanned the carcass before and after landing, so if you want to head down to Melchior, you should be able to get all that. In short, I think they can be controlled by high-powered radiowaves. Harmonia tried hailing the large creature, and it responded, but was destroyed when Harmonia couldn't understand the signal and it got too close. We think it was a control burst, like the ones the big creature may have used to control the smaller ones. It could have been a living ship, for all we know." She then nods. "I'll keep an eye out for anything odd."

"I'll definitely want to review Melchior's scans," Eli notes, still turning the crystal in his hands. "If the creatures can emit radio waves, they can probably produce magnetic fields. I'll have to test those on the crystal first, I think. Was there any news or instructions from Gabriel?"

"Only to move the Harmonia to its present location, and that he'll be here in a week." Taha blinks. "Wait … " She begins counting off on her fingers, then shakes her head. "In six days. Skipping through time takes some getting used to. Where was I … Oh! I'm thinking of flying to Expedition City a day or two ahead of him, to surprise him. It's also a historical city, and I could use a day or two off seeing the sights before something else happens."

"Expedition City? Hmmm, I think there was a message for you regarding that, from the red-haired woman… Riddle?" Zerachiel says, uncertainly. "It might be in your room."

"The Ambassador?" Tasha glances towards the door, then stands. "It could be important. I'd better go check; I'll leave the crystals and my bag here, just bring it by when you have time." Glancing down at the one in her hands, the young woman pockets it, then smiles at Eli. "I think I may go see Raehab later, too, unless you'd like me to come back and stay longer?"

"No, you probably want to stretch your legs or something, being young," the older Karnor notes with a grin. "There was something else… it's slipped my mind. Probably not important."

"Hokay. You know where to find me … And, even if you don't, Harmonia is watching from above, so she'll know where I am and can probably ping my datapad. Thanks again, Eli!" Tasha waves, and then she's off to her room to find the note.

The door opens easily, and something triggers Tasha's suspicions. First of all, the room is a lot neater; someone's been cleaning. There is an envelope on the desk (which has also been organized) and most telling of all: someone is sleeping in her bed, hidden under the covers.

Tasha pauses. This is unexpected; she briefly considers calling for the guards, then decides against it. Whoever this person is, if they had meant to ambush her, there's better ways, she thinks. No, she decides they must have been waiting. Quietly, she steps inside and closes the door behind her until she eases the bolt in. Then, she steps towards the bed and tilts her head. "Excuse me?"

The covers scrunch up tighter, and a muffled voice says, "Mfffmmble."

She's either made someone wait a long time, or she has discovered the worst thief in the world. Tasha pockets the crystal before reaching over to shake the sleeping figure with her left hand. "It's time to wake up," she insists, gently.

"Carrots… " the bed-thief mutters, and pulls down the covers enough blink at Tasha, one eye surrounded by white fur and the other black. "Tasha?" Aaron mutters sleepily. "You aren't dead?"

"Aaron?" Tasha steps back, giving the man some room. "How did you … No, it's not important. Yes, I'm fine. I ran in to some complications out there and just got back an hour ago. Were you that worried about me?"

"Yeah, came to check… " the buck says, sitting up. "Uh… how many days has it been? The painkillers make it hard to keep track… "

"I'm … not actually sure," Tasha admits. She takes a seat beside the man, then reaches over and runs a hand across his head. "Thank you for worrying about me. I had a run in with the Phantom – which is a secret by the way – and needed to remain on-site for a while. I just came back here to get my letter."

"Letter? Oh right, the human woman came by… " Aaron says, smiling at the memory. "It's on your desk. I know I was clear-headed before… it's just that the stitches came out yesterday and they gave me these pills… "

"I know how you feel, don't push yourself!" Tasha pats the man's hand, then reaches over and picks up the letter and begins to unwrap it. "How have things been here?"

"Well, there was a huge thunderclap that shook the area the day you left, I think – I was still in the hospital then, and the lights flickered," the Lapi notes. "And then… uh… some really nice drugs. I need to get the recipe… And I came here, and Ms. Smith asked that you get the message, and… I think I used your bathtub… "

"I hope you were comfortable?" Tasha pauses, looking over, then smiles for some reason and resumes unwrapping. Pulling the letter out, she begins to read. "Oh, and don't worry about the thunderclap. That's been taken care of."

The letter is in flowing handwriting, which actually makes it a little difficult to read. What Tasha makes out is: "Scholar Hakeber at Expedition City, Knight's Temple. Studied Kampfengruppe. Best of luck, Riddle."

"Ah! Perfect. The Ambassador found me the scholar I need. It looks like I have another reason to head to Expedition City early. Eli should be able to handle the Council, so maybe I'll head out tomorrow. I'm thinking of visiting Raehab now." Tasha glances over at aaron, head tilting. "I'd ask if you wanted to go … but … you still look like you need to sleep. You can keep using my bed if you like?"

"Thanks, I'm worried about walking around in this condition… was hard enough getting here from the hospital," Aaron notes. "But, now I have two smiles!" he adds with a giggle.

Tasha simply chuckles as she reaches over to eases Aaron back down, pulling the covers up and over him. She reaches back and plucks out of feather, and settles his hands on his chest over it. "Here. I don't know if this works with Lapi, but it's what my mother used to do when she'd be gone a while. You get better now. I'll be back later." Then, she leans over and kisses his forehead before standing, tucking the letter away.

"Really goooood painkillers… " the Lapi mutters as he goes back to sleep, feather clutched in hand.

Tasha smiles and steps away, fetching her heavy leather coat before and departing. Along the way she realizes she should probably be armed if she decides to make visiting the slums a habit, and detours to get a weapon. While she has her shaard duplicate, explaining where she got it would raise too many problems right now.

When it comes to concealable weapons, the choices are either daggers or pistols… and Vartan pistols aren't stocked at the Council armory.

Pressing on, Tasha decide Rapatia is always good for help when she needs it. Rapatia has been her point of Vartan familiarity in this alien land, proving Vartans are largely the same no matter where you find them. Changing course, Tasha heads for the Confederate Embassy.

This time, Tasha has to wait while a messenger is sent, only to be taken to another area of the Embassy she hasn't been to before – the residential hall. A door opens and Rapatia welcomes her into what must be her private quarters, which has large windows and even a balcony outside. The rest is tastefully furnished in Elamoore style. "Welcome back, Tasha!" the Colonel enthuses. "Wondered about you when that big boom hit us."

"It's nice to see you too, Colonel! It'd been missing civilization," Tasha replies, tail wagging. She closes the door, then sweeps her gaze across the room as she says, "As it turned out, we got a good view of that explosion. The Phantom and the plate-creature met, and, sadly, it didn't go very well."

"So, the Phantom is real and has a death-ray, just like Raehab says?" the older bird asks, one eyebrow raised.

Looking back, Tasha smiles and nods. "Well, I wouldn't know about Raehab and any death ray, but I do recall him mentioning having a difficult flight that caused his injuries. Putting those together, yes, I can safely say that a craft unprepared for it, upon approaching the Phantom, would have likely been destroyed."

"You are a very teasing woman, holding out a shiny story like that," Rapatia notes, sitting on the edge of her bed. "How much more are you going to tell me, or is this something that has to wait for a Council meeting?"

"I've been told I like telling stories – and they're even better when they're true. The doubt rests with the listener." Tasha winks, taking a seat nearby and spreading her hands. "The Phantom is real, that much I can say now. And since you've always been honest with me, I'll add that I knew about the Phoenix from persons warning me against chasing after it, fearing I would get myself killed. I will also say it is not a danger, and that by all appearances seemed to be defending itself from the approaching extradimensional entity, so no need to worry for the Pit and the Confederacy. We're still working out the details, but Raehab is correct. Most likely, the Phoenix was destroyed by a high energy microwave wave communication that the Phoenix could not withstand due to its bio-technological and rebult frame. I'm going to tell him after I leave here, but thought you'd also like to know. And, I need a gun because, well, if I get killed in an alley it'll make for a terrible story later."

Rapatia seems dumbstruck for a moment. "All that… and you want to borrow a pistol?" she finally asks, blinking.

"I'm very mission-oriented," Tasha insists, grinning.

"I want this back," Rapatia says, and goes to her night table. She opens the drawer and pulls out a wooden case, which she opens to reveal a mahagony handled shotgun-pistol. The work is very ornate, and includes a gold-inlaid Clan crest and filigree engraving on the barrel. Even the small ammunition clip is engraved with an abstract Vartan form. "Family heirloom."

Tasha blinks at the weapon, and for a moment is unable to speak, stuck in shiny-lock. When she recovers – which is a good several seconds later – she looks up and asks, "Isn't this too precious, though? I'd feel awful if I wasn't able to return it."

"Got collateral?" the Vartan woman asks with a grin.

"Uhh … " Tasha looks down at herself. While generally possessed of high technology, she isn't usually willing to part with it due to concerns over misuse or misshandling. Her datapad is needed to reach her, while her undersuit is her body armor. She puzzles a moment, then snaps her fingers and pulls out a peculair amber crystal with a surface like oil on water. It reflects the room – sort of. "Souvineer," she explains, offering it over. "I'm going to make a necklace from it. Be careful with it, it might be dangerous."

"Might be dangerous?" Rapatia asks, even though she's already reaching out to take it.

Tasha hands it over without a thought for Rapatia eagerness; she'd be doing the same. "It's not exactly what it seems, and what it is is hard to quantify, let alone understand."

"Something to do with the big alien rock-candy platter monster?" Rapatia guesses, as she admires the crystal.

"Aye. That's part of it's shell. We're still working out the properties and dangers of the materail, but I kept one piece as a souvineer because it's shiny." Tasha scoots over to look at it, too, crowding in. She points. "It doesn't show your reflection. It shows another dimension – another world."

"Looks like me," Rapatia notes. "Doesn't change though? How is that?"

"It only changes when not observed, having the properties of quantum particles. It's a piece of space bunched up in to a tangible form, like if all the space in this room was crunched up in to a stone! Blink, the image will change!" Tasha blinks too, getting in to the spirit of something entirely Vartan: shiny sharing.

"Okay, now it changed," Rapatia notes. Then holds up her necklace, which is a hand-woven collection of shinies, of course. After some blinks, she gets a reflection of a slightly different set of shinies. "Ah, neat!"

"Isn't it? I love it – I'm going to have to mount it later and wear it with me. But for now, I … I was going … Oh! Raehab. I'm going to go visit Raehab." Tasha accepts the pistol, sliding it in to an empty belt pouch. "I need to get one of these for myself, too. Have any words for the old bird?"

"He's still a pain in the ass," Rapatia notes. "Tell him that, and that I hope he's doing alright for himself."

Tasha nods, then steps away, gaze lingering on her bit of space and time. "I will, although I'm not sure I can say he's doing well. If you ever want to see him, I know where he usually is." She then glances towards the door, and adds, "Eli will provide a better analysis of what I just told you in a day or two, most likely before the Captain arrives, if not inconjunction with his arrival. Thanks for looking out for me, and being worried!"

"I'll show you out," Rapatia says, stashing the shiny bit of compressed nothingness out of sight first. "Don't let the old bird talk you into bed, either," she warns.

Tasha barks a laugh at that. "He already tried. I'd have probably accepted, too, but I'm loyal to my wolf." She pulls her cloak over the weapon, following along. "I must be a dirty bird."

Once outside, there's no issue with getting to the tavern that Raehab haunts before Happy Hour. Mainly because it's still daylight out, such as it is, and skullduggery duggs best at night.

The place is practically abandoned when Tasha enters, save a for a few patrons that look like they passed out the night before and woke up to pick up where they left off.

As before, Tasha enters with her cloak pulled. This time, however, she keeps a hand on Rapatia's clan pistol – just in case. As she walks in, she can't help but feel a bit paranoid, but knows a lot is riding on her. If she were to be hurt or killed, there would be problems far beyond the personal – she owes it to others as well as herself to keep herself as safe as can reasonably be expected.

The curtains are closed on Raehab's private booth, but there's no sign if the man is actually there or not yet. Tasha's knowledge of how he spends his time is woefully inadequate.

Deciding that trying to guess Raehab's activities could easily fill a dirty book, Tasha shrugs and reaches over to knock on the wooden booth frame, whispering, "I'm a ghost and I need a drink."

"Getcher own drink," the Vartan squawks from inside the booth.

"Then I'll have to haunt you. Can I come in?" Tasha replies, a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Yah, come on in, plenty of room on my lap," Raehab answers.

Tasha cackles, pushing the drape aside and, unfortunately for Raehab, moves in to the opposite seat.

There are papers and binders and books on the table, which Raehab pushes off to the side. Apparently the booth doubles as an office for the ex-military pilot. "So, you're alive," he says, trying not to sound surprised. "Big explosion – figured it was you and your fancy ship."

"I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it?" Tasha glances at the paperwork, but decides not to pry, and returns her gaze to the man across from her. "At this rate, I'm going to get bored of near-death experiences. I'll have to try something else, like the food here." She laughs again, then folds her hands on the table and leans forward. "I met your Phantom."

The big Vartan stares Tasha in the eye… well, with his non-faceted eye at least. "So… you here to kill me then, to finish the job?" he asks matter-of-factly.

Tasha raises a brow, but doesn't miss a beat, saying, "Of course. But before that, Rapatia told me to tell you you're a pain in the ass, I shouldn't let you talk me in to bed, and she hopes you're doing well." Her brow falls, and her eyes roll. "No. You can put that gun down you're holding beneath the table, too. It wouldn't help you much anyway, and I have Rapatia's pistol with me. I have no particular desire to kill anyone, no matter how ironic it would be."

"How can she hope I'm doing well and tell you not to sleep with me?" Raehab says, relaxing a bit and putting his hands on the table. "The Phantom didn't kill you. Why not?"

"She said do well, not do great," Tasha insists, winking. After chuckling, she shrugs with her hands. "It would have, but my machine was built to receive high-powered mazer communication. The extra-dimensional plate-like life form, however, did not fair so well. That would be the thunderclap you heard days ago. It's sad, really."

"Sad? Heard it was a horrible monster with giant tentacles," Raehab says. "Probably ate airships, too. But who cares about monsters… what about the Phantom?" he asks, leaning forward across thee table.

"To it, maybe we're the monsters," Tasha offers, quietly. But, she nods, folding her hands together and whispering, "Want to meet it?"

"That's a loaded question," Raehab says, his one mobile eyebrow rising up. "It. What is it? How could I possible meet it?"

"This'll stay between us?" Tasha inquires, brows raising and eyes locking with her table partner's.

The Vartan looks right and left, then up, and finally shrugs. "I don't talk when I'm drunk, if that's yer worry," he says.

"Alright." Rather than speak of it, Tasha pulls out her datapad and after interacting with it a bit, turns it around so the Vartan can see the screen. On it is a filigeried pocket-watch like construction, clearly artificial and hovering high above a hellscape. "I show you this for you, but also because I believe she should meet you. She owes you that much."

"She?" Raehab asks, looking at the image thoughtfully. "A woman controls… forgive me, it looks like a Terran-style pocket watch. That is the Phantom? Do not tell me you have it in your pocket."

Tasha chuckles, albiet with some restraint. "The Phantom is the size of this city in terms of diameter. It is a intergalactic space ship, from the same species that made my Titan. Fully automated, self aware, and beautiful beyond all description. But, also lonely and forsaken. The Phantom has stood vigil for centuries, ever since our ancestors came to this world. She did not mean to destroy you; she was trying to communicate, but your hybrid ship did not perform to specification and could not endure the mazer array. We spoke at length and came to an understanding. I am the captain of the Phantom; I look out for her and help her to grow, now."

"I… see," Raehab says, leaning back and giving Tasha an appraising look. "And where is this magic airship now?"

Tasha simply unwraps a finger from her datapaid, pointing straight up. "If you wave, she may just see it."

"Through the ceiling?" Raehab squawks in actual alarm.

"Most likely," the young woman answers, nodding slightly.

To test this theory, Tasha lifts a hand and waves.

Nothing happens, beyond stirring the air and earning an odd look from Raehab.

"She's shy," Tasha insists, grinning. "Anyway, there you have it. You can believe me or not, but I've said my piece. In a few days, the rest of the Council will know it exists, if not exactly what it is. The Confederacy will now have to acknowledge you were telling the truth."

"Assuming the Council lets anyone know about it," Raehab says darkly. "Something that can shoot down an aircraft from ridiculous range? Or probably do the same to vehicles on the ground."

"Or annhilate a city and conqueror the world, you get the idea." Before Raehab can comment, Tasha lifts a hand to forestall it. "The answer is: I thought about it and I chose people."

"But you could change your mind?" the Vartan asks. "Any nation on Abaddon would make you a rich woman for access to that sort of weaponry."

"I wouldn't need their approval; I theoretically have the power to conqueror the Pit alone and make myself an empire. Or sell technology and become rich. Or a multitude of other self-serving outcomes; the answer remains the same: I chose people. I will not become a tyrant; I will not become a warlord; I will not bring harm to these people or any other, so long as I can help it." Tasha leans back, taking a breath and closing her eyes. "I know what you may be thinking. You're insane. Easy for you to say. You'll change your mind. Everyone has a price. You're untrustworthy. You're up to something." Her head tilts up, and her eys open. She surely isn't gazing at the ceiling with that mile-long look. "What matters to me are two things: the unknown, and more than the first, people. I do what I can to better others, because I care about them. Because I know what it's like to be a nobody. Because I can see Mrs. Cromwell in her husband's eyes. Because I always wanted children. I see the future in a myrid of dreams, and regret in the soul of the man I love. I am the Bird of Hermes, I will eat my wings for a better future."

"Eat your wings?" Reahab asks. "What's that mean? You aren't serious right?"

"It's just an old poem," Tasha replies, leveling her gaze. "Don't worry about it. But you understand, don't you?"

"Nope, don't," Raehab admits. "You come from a kinder world, Tasha. I'm a hard man, and most of the people I know are just as hard. If I had family, I think I'd be more intent on gathering power and influence. I can't just… adopt the world as my family. But the Phantom's been out there forever, and nobody ever controlled it before. But have a mind for what you leave behind, as the song goes… don't ask me the rest of the words, I just remember that rhyme. You control it now, but will you always?"

"I'm aware of that. Before I am gone, I hope that she will no longer need me, or anyone else, to live a happy life," the young woman replies. "I would like to build, too. Once our group is going strong, I'd like to see about schools, and other works."

"I won't argue our worlds. Everyone has their tale. Maybe I just got lucky, but I chose for myself how I use that luck," she adds.

"Like the Templar schools?" Raehab asks. "Anyway… you're really inviting me to meet the… machine… that tried to kill me?" His chitin hand taps on the table-top a few times, maybe involuntarily.

"I would also like to add, that I do not control the Phantom. I am the Phantom's partner; I am her guide, and friend. We work together. Nothing more." Settling her hands in front of her, Tasha's gaze flicks to the chitinous grafts; it could be Raehab's imagination, but it seemed like a shadow crosses her face, gone in a flash. "We all have to face our pain sooner or later. I won't be offended if you say no; how we face our past is our own to decide."

"I'll keep you to your offer… but not take you up on it until after the Council is told everything," Raehab notes. "Having brought someone like me aboard could cause problems if it's done before the actual potatoes get to think things out."

Tasha nods. "That's charitable of you; I'll do that." She smiles, shifting in her seat and brushing her hair back. "I'm uncertain how much I can tell, at least, at first. For all the reasons you said I could benefit and more, the Council may suffer a resource shock if I explain the situation in its entirety. And, in addition, the Phantom has requested to maintain a level of discreetness regarding her position and nature until she feels comfortable with others knowing about her and being aware of her. I don't like to lie, but I will evade telling the truth if I think the outcome would be disasterous. These things will take time."

"The potatoes are all a bit paranoid – you don't last in such positions without that trait," Raehab notes. "Just remind yourself – and them if needed – that the purpose of the Pit is supplying food. Everything else is secondary."

A nod, and a smile. "Then we're on track. They'll get their resource report within the week and that should make everyone happy. I know I'm not much use when it comes to developement and science, so I'm happy I was able to contribute here. We'll get this Pit green from wall to wall yet," Tasha insists.

"And how about getting ourselves green, then?" Raehab says. "First bottle's on you, Empress of the Sky and Eater of Wings," the man says, half-grinning (the half of his face that can grin, that is).

"I can drink to that!" Tasha picks up her datapad and puts it away, pushing the draper aside and standing. Before she heads to get them, she pokes her head back in and mock-whispers, "Actually, they're on the Council; I'm poor as dirt." Then she's off.

It's a happy, raucous night.