She blushed with the praise from Bright Star but sighed at the thought of something so alien they couldn't ever reason with them. She wondered if those creatures had any form of telepathy. Either they didn't, or they had no empathy, or they hadn't met anyone yet with psychic abilities.
 "Yes, we have a small ship, with a large cargo hold made especially for fragile cargoes. It's out on the landing field last I saw it."

   "If you wish to rest we will guard you," Bluesteel motioned to a cot in the corner of the lab,"I am not sure that any food is available, however if you need to eat I can fetch something from your base and return."

    "The girl needs rest,"Sun Runner spoke as he hovered toward a collection of spare parts and one of the dissaembled Steed chasis,""Perhaps once she has rested properly, she has the skill to prepare our cores for extended travel."

"I am pretty tired! Is there a bathroom? I'd like to wash up first, then nap. Once I've rested, I'll feel better able to try to figure these things out. I hope you can help me with drawings or plans or something."
 She looked around quietly looking for a place to rest, and the bathroo or restroom area so she could clean up. She was kind of sweaty now that she'd traveled all day.

   A small shower and restroom half hidden by stacks of crates and spare tools allows Maran to freshen up and scrub the dark gritty dust ou5t of her clothes and hair. A cot and a few blankets tucked into the corner next to a stack of soft print romance novels seems to indicate some one slept in the lab on a regular basis. he cot is not as comfortable as the beds in the dooms but it is there and seems to call Marans name.

 She went in, looked around then tried the cot. It wasn't that comfy, but she was so tired by now, she didn't care. She went to wash up, then layed down on the cot, and covered up. She was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow!

  The night passes with dreams of a sunny glade and deep forrests, the presence of a strong warm, powerful presence nearby fills the dreams, a storm rolls in with cool breezes and a scent of fresh mown grass and warm sunlight. nestled between the three strong presences Maran sleeps without any hint of care or worry. Two softly glowing orbs circle her bed as the powerful stallion stands guard hie ears and eyes twitching with every sound as his new freind sleep.

 She woke and stretched like a cat, then rolled over and drowsed a bit more. Then she finally stretched and yawned a last time and fought herself out of the slumber she was basking in. She knew she had to face reality now, so she sat up and blinked sleepily before smiling at them and saying good morning.
 "Hi! Wow, I slept like a log!  I didn't want to wake up! Thanks for watching over me! What's for breakfast?"

  " Whatever you want," Blue steel  dropped one ear and glanced to his two compatriaots" As long as it is food packs and water, which sadly we are not...able to handle.
   The big stallion walked over to a supply locker and bumped the lockers door with  hoof" No thumbs you know." He chuckled.

 "Ok. I hope it's not too old...or tastes nasty! I guess I should be happy if it's edible at all huh?"
 She dug through the packs in the cabinet, trying to see what they were, if she could read them, or if there were pictures on the packets, and instructions on how to prepare them.

  The packets are fairly new, a year or two old, and simple open and eat bars of flavored protien and soy. Nothing too nasty just a few packets of instant cofee and cocoa for energy and a quick pick me up. she also spots a can of fresh coffee tucked behind a ration pack and a coffee maker on the counter along with cans of peanut brittel and roasted nuts stashed by the workers.

   " Hmmm do humans always feed their people the same food they feed their pets. Bright Star nudged Maran's shoulder teasing slightly," we leave for a few thousand years and they expect girls to grow up fine and strong one that?

 She laughed then picked a couple of packets that seemed to be something edible that might not taste nasty. One looked like Chicken a'la King with Rice, the other looked like Salisbury Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. She looked around to see if there was a microwave, since they'd taste worse without heating them up!
 "Well, it usually isn't too awfully bad, unless they are military rations!"

  Sunnrunner hovered over and floated above the packets she had laid out his glow shifted slighly and the packets began to sizzle and puff up slightly as he focussed a soft glow on the pouches.

   " I think they are ready," He commented as he floated back to his position by the door," Be careful they may be hot.

 "Wow, that's a neat trick! Bet that comes in handy sometimes! Too bad there's no bread, but this is great! Now I hope it tastes good! Thank you Sunrunner!"
 She tore the packages open carefully and tasted them, then looked around for something to use as silverware.
 "Hmmmmm. Not too bad at all!"

   " Here you are," Blue Steel dropped a packet of foil wrapped plastic utensils with a ptooh as they stuck to his lower lip. The big stallion sniffed experimentally at the food then shook his big head sending his mane into a flurry of liquid light as he turned up his nose. Sun runner tapped against the door release and dissappeared out the door as Blue steel settled in by Marans side giving her a soft silky cushion to rest against.

 She grabbed the plastic silverware with a squeal of happiness, gave Blue a big hug, then plopped down beside him to scarf the food! She started with the salisbury steak and mashed potatoes, saving the chicken a'la king for last, because it would stay hot longer. It was all good though. She leaned back and ate happily, scraping every last morsel out of the trays, knowing she might not get a chance to eat again soon, if she got busy doing stuff, or had to run away from one of those things out there that was killing people.
 "Eeeeeee! Thanks Blue! I wasn't wanting to eat with my fingers! Yum, this is pretty good after all!"

 "Nice to see you have a healthy appitite. Blue Steel teased as he stood up and walked to a collection of parts, strips of web, gear from tool belts and a collection of electronics and batteries.

 "Sun and Star need rechargers for their cores, without a...body they can only store small amounts of power, and moving around or using their periphrial systems burns it up fast. He nudged a small generator for a laser cutting tool and then a compact superconducting capacitor storage system."Do you think you could assemble a portable recharge harness for my saddle or your back pack?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Tue 01 July 2008.

 She discarded the trays, but kept the disposable silverware in case she needed it again later, then went over to see what he had.
 "You'll have to show me the plans or tell me how to do it if you don't have the plans or instructions. But I should be able to if it's all in working condition. I could try to fix their bodies if you think I can."
 She poked around the things on the bench, trying to see how it all fit together. There was some solar panels and many other small things there she thought she recognized, as well as a few she didn't.

  " Of course dear, you can't work without a proper plan...so very messy." Star hovered near to Marans shoulder projecting a holographic display of a plan and an overlay of the work bench high lighting the parts and demonstrating how to connect them.

   " Our old chassis need much more repair than this shop is capable of. Sun Runner hovered near the front door looking outward.

   " Star was at one time the most sought after tutor on three worlds." Blue Chuckled as he pushed a rolling tool box into place." I think she was hoping you would ask for instruction.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Tue 01 July 2008.

 "Well, I'll need it, fer sure. I know how to take things apart and put them back together, but I've never assembled these things before. You'll have to help me with this. I wouldn't want to get it wrong and hurt one of you guys! Or erase you somehow!"
 She sorted out things on the table, then looked over the tools in the tool box, almost like a surgeon might look at his instruments.

   " I'm sure you won't damage them." Blue Assured as he moved to stand close by Maran nuzzling her neck as he did. I would suggest you avoid anything that sparks or smokes though.

    " Don't worry I'll walk you through it. Star radiate soothing warmth as she began to slowly lead Maran through the process.

 She carefully worked her way through the steps as the entity lead her through it, double checking each step of the way to make sure every little thing was right, still worried she'd harm them if she didn't do it perfectly. She might be a gifted child, but she was still a child, and didn't have the self confidence years would give her. She just did the best she could.
 One step was rough because the piece didn't want to fit together no matter how she tried to make it go. Finally she laid them down and looked at Sun.
 "Are you sure that piece goes in there? It doesn't seem to want to go. Maybe it's just being stubborn. Maybe I should take a break, stretch, go to the bathroom...then try again. Maybe my frustration is getting in the way."

 "A nice warm cup of tea and a soy wafer might be just what you need." Blue slid a tin cup over to Maran. Sun hovered over then descended to the table radiating a sensation of a warm sunny day on a creek near the old home of her grandma.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:08, Sat 12 July 2008.

 "Oh, that sounds nice! Thank you!" She made some tea and heated it in the microwave. She waited for the tea to steep, then added a packet of sugar, stirring it in then smelled of it.
 She sipped it slowly as she leaned into the warmth that Sun was giving off, feeling herself relax in a drowsey way.

    " A bit of tea and a nice quite lunch always helps Star sighed happily." I think all humans enjoy a warm sunny day and a quiet cup of something warm."

   " Let me see what I can do about this dim musty room, a young woman needs a bit of atmosphere to relax properly Sun flickered and sent out a ripple of holographic light creating an image of a sun dappled glade tyhat shifted and shimmerd slightly barely concealing the interior of the dome.

 "Oh, don't use up too much energy on me! I'll be fine. I don't want you to get weakened! Save your energy!"
 She looked at Sun with a very worried look, unsure how much energy the poor creature could spare!