When Renata had given her 'the look,' Alison hadn't flinched.  Her lieutenant's bar was plain on her uniform, to anyone familiar with basic rankings. Which any new recruit should be.

She realized, of course, that Ranata was dealing with cultural and other elements foreign to him, even though he said humanity maintained a base on his home world.  Most of the alien people she met prepared in advance, studying at least the basics of the culture they would be living among.  Plainly, nothing like that had been done.  He would need to come up to speed relatively quick, however, or he was likely in for a slew of misunderstandings.

"Speaking of 'trained to fly'...Madison, what sparked your interest in becoming a pilot?  When did that become the career choice?"

"I wasn't suggesting your people were backward. Not at all. I'm just curious about your world. It sounds though like it's a lot like Earth. I like visiting cities, but I don't want to live in one."

The doctor's question offered a chance to expand on that. "So, I come from a small town also. Honestly every town in Wyoming is small. I lived on a ranch that spanned across two counties and my nearest neighbor was sixteen miles away. The nearest town town was sixty miles away. We had a small apartment there in case we needed more than a few hours to do anything."

"But to your question, Doctor. I grew up with horses. I love to ride, but I think what I really love is the rush of moving. My sweet sixteen present was a muscle car. That thing was so fast, and the acceleration..." She shuddered. "Such a thrill." It took a moment for her to recover. "Anyway. I knew it. I was addicted to adrenaline. Someone said it was more dopamine than adrenaline, but whatever. I needed more and I was fascinated by the sky.. night or day. I decided that I wanted to be a pilot. Talk about moving fast and being free. So after I graduated college, I signed up for the ESN. I'm not so sure it was a career choice, but it was a goal choice. Now that I'm here, I realize that this is not something you just do for a while. I'm here for the long term. Maybe the rest of my life."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Thu 20 Apr 2023.

Alison smiled. "Hm. That's quite an interesting progression.  I also love the sky, though I was always happy to observe it from the ground.  I miss the familiar constellations you see from Earth, even if I've gotten nearer to some of those stars out here.   I'm more of a city girl, but one with a strong pull to both the natural and the mythic.   Horses are certainly the first, and also have a hoof in the second, in my mind.   My uncle owned some, and I too learned to ride in my youth.   Did you have one that you really bonded with?"

"Oh yes." Madison nodded. "That's Ares. He was my one and only. I didn't name him, my grandfather did. He was born at the ranch when I was nine, and we took a shine to each other immediately. He was my horse. Fifteen hands, chestnut fur, black mane, he was gorgeous. And he is so fast. And let me tell you, he did not like it if I rode other stallions. He would tolerate it if I rode a mare, but if it was another stallion, wooweee. He'd be fit to be tied. I miss him, and I'm sure he misses me."

"What about you? Was there a special steed in your life?"

Ra'Na'ta' sat down he could sense the mild irritation from the Doctor, but ignored it and just looked at the black, then began absent mindly grooming his paws and face, as he listened.

There is the  sound  of throaty  voices as  Arnie is heard   greeting  some one..

On the   port side   of the OB, , Billie and Arnie  were greeting  LT Ariv, who was still in her  flight  suit,  her  tail  moving less  with the heavy fabric  around it. Next to her  was LT  Hirr, the Felrite Marines, she  still wore  her   Medium  Boarding  armor with tail , also Hindered by the   suit.

 Arnie    fixed them  two , Blue and Yellow  drinks,as he pointed to   Ranata and the ladies...

 Both of the Offiers   swayed their  way over, Ariv taking a sip of the  drink,Your  are Pilot  who came to us, and  flew  with Shadow  LC. Are you not ?  I am LT Ariv, Flight  leader  for  'f'  flight..This is LT  Hirr, she  is  squad leader  for Felrite Mariens,  who are Assault  teams

Ra'Na'Ta' stopped his grooming at the sound of others approaching. He stood touched a paw to forehead and bowed. "This one is honorrred to meet you both. May the moon always shine on you both and yourrr hunts. This one is that pilot. This one has not been given a flight unit yet. What can This one do forrr you?"

"Really?  Your horse had a name out of Grecian myth, too?   Mine was Nyx.  Or sometimes Stevie Nyx," she smiled, laughed faintly.

"So, like I said my uncle had horses.   Among them there was this sleek, black mare, with a spiteful gleam in her eye.   'Leave her alone,' I was advised.   'Pick any other to ride.  She doesn't like anyone.'  Right?  So, the challenge was on!  I went online that evening, and read everything I could find about how to befriend a horse.   I spent time with her whenever I could, and took it slowly at first.   Eventually, I got my way.  She still didn't like anyone else, but I became the exception. I like to think of her as my first success as a psychologist, kind of."

Alison glanced up at the approach of the officers and the marine, who was Felrite like Ranata.  Good, she thought. Another of his own kind, one who's already grooved in here, should be good for him.

To Maddie: "Anyway, Ares sounds like quite a lad!  And I've no doubt he misses you greatly."

"I'm sure Nyx was very loyal to you." Madison smiled "Horses don't like being alone. They just need to trust. I bet once you earn3d hers, she was happy for it."

The Felrites entry could hardly be ignored. They marched like they were on a mission, probably to welcome Ra'Na'Ta' and let him know he wasn't alone. He seemed ambivalent about it. Not that he was impolite, but neither did he seemed overjoyed. She wouldn't interject, but Madison liked thinking he was more than happy with the welcome she was providing.

"I feel bad about leaving him behind. " she responded to the doctor, but she kept her eyes on the Felrites.

"I'm sure that was so tough to do," she concurred. "It's hard, sometimes, when a door opens and presents a corridor we can't help but walk, but leaves others we care about in the previous room."   She noticed her gaze, and wondered if it was only Ares she had been speaking of.

 Alisons Com chimed when checked she saw it was from Justin

  Ariv   speaks  as   LT Hirr defers to her. ..We are..special  here. we had   the constancy of felrites  fed into dealt  Fleet. howeber.. leaders on Zolth slowed, to trickle, fighters  and   pilots...

 and marines.... Hirr adds.

 A nod of affirmation ,Hunter craft, are all but gone. We  will all, soon be  flying  Skeeters ..but this is good.. Humans learn  how to fly   by watching us..yes?. But.. we are now  being shuffled about, since   we are not getting many Felrites . Yiu must be good..yes?..Show  humans   we  Felrites   belong in APF...you understand?

 Hack's  announcement

Ra'Na'Ta' listened he was unsure what to say at first. "This one is good yes. This one is best of tourrrney. This one can show This one skills to all. Sadly, This one only fly once with them, but will do best to show his skill forr them to learrrn. This one show Felrrrites belong."

Ra'Na'Ta' was about to go when the announcement came thru. He looked  at Madison. "This one does not know who he flies with, but he wishes you Madi'son good hunting an May the moon shine on yourrr hunt. This one should get to Hanger dec and find LT. Shadow, to see who This one is flying with."


To Hanger Dec

In reply to Ranata (msg # 173):

When the announcement came in, Madison jumped to her feet. Ra'Na'Ta' wished her good hunting right then, but she followed along with him.

"Thank you. But we're all pilots and all going to see Shadow. So you're stuck with me until you get assigned.  ... Unless you'd rather hang with the other Felrites. But jusy so you know, no one who matters thinks you don't belong. You have nothing to prove here."

To Hangar Dec

Ra'Na'Ta' smiled to her. "This one is fine to be stuck with you. If this one is sent with Felerrrites, then This one will fly with them. This one will fly wherrrre he is needed. This one thanks you forrr saying such things." They made their way to the dec

After the other two departed, Alison responded to Justin's message:

Sure.  I'm on the Obs deck.  Do you want to join me here, or somewhere else?

Billie sat in her usual spot, sipping at a drink that Arnie had given. She never had to ask for something in particular, preferring the surprise…and he always seemed to be full of those when it came to drinks. She gave him an almost shy smile as she took another sip before looking around the room, her gaze stopping on Slavic for a brief moment. If Billie were honest with herself…she missed Beta. Beta had become the closest thing she had to a friend aside from Arnie…but Arnie was more than a friend so it didn’t count. And then there was Machins…but she more felt like a tagalong with him…like that annoying kid sister following her big bro around. Chuckling softly, she let her gaze wander to the windows and the Black, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she let that calmness wash over her.


Billie turned to Arnie when he had come over, shifting on her stool as she tucked a rogue chocolate colored strand of hair back behind her ear. Feeling a little nervous, she shifted the glass between splayed fingertips, taking a breath. How was it that she still got those butterflies? Wasn’t this supposed to get easier? “Hey Mr. Bartender,” she said in a teasing tone, a lopsided smile on her lips. “So…still want to be my date to the Ball or is it bad to assume? Should I ask you properly?” Her smile seemed to grow, taking to her eyes as she teased him, keeping her tone lighthearted.

 Arnie   settled in on the stoll near Billie. well? I don't know..I might have to wash my hair....

 Of course, i'll escort you..but  aren';t there Pilots  with all those  pretty ribbons and medals on their chest.. I only  got a few!

Slavic was  cleaning off tables  as she headed back tot he  starboard   bar to  handle customers  who might  come there.

<<<<<<<<<<<<  From Rec dec

  The doors  hissed opened, the Vista  before them , was Millions and Millions of  starts.. a  few lights that were  ships , as the  fleet moved The Black.

  Shadow  steered Maddy to the portside   bar.. Arnie was there chatting  with Billie.Hey Arnie, how about  two   Bura  berry blasts?

 Arnie looked concerned...LC?

 There was a frown...One Cola  and  one Bura Berry Blast... he looked at  Maddy...

 Maddy, You've seen Billie , she in our flight , she wings with  Machins.

 This  guy is   Arnie,  best   tender in The Black.....

 Slavic , an Nivaian  woman  , returned  some of   Arnie's  glasses she  had celaned up , setting the  container on the   bar.

 I see you lived, LC... did you get to kill any  helpless people...

 That's a trick question, Slavic?  anyone who fights  against me is Helpless?

 the Nivaian snorts  and walks off...

 she relaced Beat, who was    a great lady up here... she sorta hates me, ebcause  we beat the 9 hells out of Nivar...  turning to  Arnie,or does she  hate other Piltos?

Arnie  shook his head...no? pretty much , ust you , LC. Arnie handed the   glass to  Maddy, when yiu are ready.. yiu drop the Berry into the Glass and  o=watch

Madison stopped as soon as the doors to the Observation Dec opened. "I never get tired of that view." She took just a moment and then let Kray divert her to the port side bar. He ordered two Bura Berry Blasts. They sounded delicious, but after Arnie asked for clarification, Kray backtracked and changed his order to a cola.

"What? You're not allowed to have a drink with me?" Or maybe the cola was for her. She was pleasantly tipsy as it was.

"Yes, Billie, Hi." ... "And Arnie. Nice to meet you. it's always good to know the bartender. Especially the best one in the Black."

There was a bit of a scene with a Nivarian woman named Slavic. Madison watched, amused at the situation.

Arnie handed her the drink. The instructions were simple, but she paused. "Before I do this, Shadow, are you going to join me?"

 Arnie looked at Shadow...yeah..Arfmie...give  me one. I use the cola to thin it  aiut while we watch stars

Arnie  didn't looked  hapy, but he  Fixed the same...when you're ready, drop it in , and watch...

 Alright, Maddy... when your   ready.. say the word... he held the  frozen green berry  above his  own drink.

Madison was glad that Kray decided to join her.

"Okay, together. One... Two... Three.... NOW!" She dropped the frozen berry.

  The Berries hit the   two  liquors , one was a creamy grey, the other was milky white. The berries hit the creamy mix  and began to slowly explode. as the flaps of the berry opened  up , the   juice  flowing outwards...

Arnie points at the Glasses as he and Billie  watch.Drink i now, you want to finish it before the   gren stuff gets  all the way to the  bottom, its  sweet and smooth..

 Shadow   took a  big   gulp.. and   his  eyes  squinted a bit  as he smacked his lipsYeah?...becareful LC.. too many of these will put you on your ass..

Billie giggled. “Well I sure do appreciate you taking time out of your busy hair care routine for me. That aside, come now, you know all those shiny things aren’t the way to this girl’s heart.” She batted her lashes at him before laughing and taking a sip from her drink. Her gaze drifted over to Shadow and Madison as they approached, listening to his order and finding it a bit…off as well…until he introduced Madison. “Oh…,” she said softly to herself, connecting those dots rather quick. Listening, she shifted on her stool. “Uh…I think Slavic just hates everyone honestly…though I think she only tolerates me because I am here so much.”


“Hey Maddy. Pleasure...” she gave an awkward smile but threw Arnie a slightly concerned look as well. Well it was definitely out of the norm…or what had become the norm for her everytime she had been here and Shadow came up.

Madison watched, intrigued by the 'explosion' of the frozen berry in the layered drink. It was so interesting to watch that she was almost startled when Arnie urged them to drink it before the juices hit the bottom. Scooping up her glass, she tilted in and down the entire contents in a few gulps. When she set the glass on the bar, it was empty and she licked her lips to get the last of it.

"Oooh that was good." Of course it started hitting her almost immediately. "And strong too." She blew out a breath. "That's something you should enjoy on occasion." She giggled.

"Almost as intoxicating as a view of the stars"