Lt. Ian O'Connor- Mom Wants to See You
rob mahardy
((Noh’ath, Marketplace in the city near the Strauss crash site))
O’Connor: Run
Syrex: YEAH, NO S***
Alyndra grabbed Ian’s hand and they ran. As the pair darted from the warehouse, the angry mob slowly dissipated as merchants returned to their trade. Still looking around nervously they started to slow down seemingly getting away. Suddenly a shrill siren blared in the distance. Ian tried to pinpoint a direction but the echoes of the twisty alleys made it seem like it came from everywhere. A cloud of great smog burst into an already saturated sky. A beam of light shone down on them. It was an airship.
Noh’ath Airship: STOP! Pteal, thau, Hollawow!
Ian stopped a few feet beyond as he noticed that Alyndra paused her running, and turned to look at the sky ship. The voice was tinny from whatever was magnifying it but even so, didn’t sound inherently hostile. It was almost as panicked as they were.
O’Connor: Why’d you stop?
Syrex: What else are we going to do? We can’t outrun that, not without the knowledge of how to get through these streets!
O’Connor: Ok, good point :: He looked around for somewhere off the alleyway to duck into or under::What if we…There’s gotta be somewhere to…
A basket fell from the sky, landing only inches away from Ian.
oO what the…?Oo
He glanced back at the distant mob, who, whilst still seeming passionate about catching the pair, had started to choke on the smog of their own making.
By the time Ian turned back Alyndra had hopped into the basket and was holding out her hand for Ian to join her, as the basket slowly started to rise without him.
Syrex: Quickly, Lieutenant!
oO Damn What the hell is she…Oo
There wasn’t time to complete the thought as the basket continued to rise. Ian made his decision and reached out. He wasn’t going to leave her.
O’Connor: Ok, Ok pull me in.
With Ian’s legs still dangling over the side, the basket shot into the sky with increasing speed, shooting like a rocket through the cloud of smog. Ian flopped the rest of the way in and pulled himself standing. Alyndra was standing wide eyed as the airship broke out above the low thick clouds that now seemed like a dark carpet below them.
Syrex: It’s, it’s so different up here…
It was no joke, the sky-world was a complete contrast to the land far below. Gliding above the black sky was a fleet of golden yellow blimps. All of which was as clean as a Starfleet bridge, and as intricately detailed as the finest artworks.
O’Connor: I think that, my dear doctor, is an understatement and a half.
As the pair continued to rise, Ian gave her a smile, put his hands on the top of the basket wall and took a long slow deep breath of fresh air. For the moment, he just “took it all in.”
They eventually came to a small airlock, and a group of women waved inside. They were unlike the people on the surface; they looked friendly, as civilised as the dwellers below were savage. As the glass door separating them slid away, the scent of flowers filled the air.
Noh’ath: My dear woman, how did you get down there?
Alyndra looked at them, confused.
Syrex: I… err.
Noh’ath: ::Slightly giggles:: It’s no matter, please let’s get you cleaned. You may bring your… labourer with you ::gestures to O’Connor::
O’Connor: Labourer, what do you…
He stopped seeing the look from one of the others that hadn’t yet spoken. Almost shocked that Ian had spoken out.
The speaker, other than a small twitch of her lip, chose to ignore it and passed Alyndra a towel. She took it gently and began to cleanse her face. Ian stood awkwardly waiting for the same courtesy but began to realize it wasn’t coming.
Syrex: Can my… err.. Labourer have a cleaning towel too?
The women paused, turning as one, eyebrows all raised.
Noh’ath: You want him… clean? It won’t last, dear.
Ian fidgeted but held his tongue.
Syrex: Yeah… I don’t want to ruin your carpets
The women giggled.
Noh’ath: So thoughtful!
They indecently chucked a slightly used, dirty cloth to Ian without so much as a second glance at him. Ian bowed his head without saying a word and began to wipe himself off. Rolls had switched above the clouds. He was the commodity now.
One of the ladies approached Syrex with a robe similar to their own attire. She held it up and open for Syrex to change into. Another of their hosts held a sack open presumably for the dirty clothes.
Noh’ath: I’m sure you can’t wait to be rid of those grimey rags.
Syrex: Response
Ian wasn’t sure of the protocol or expectations of a male laborer or servant or whatever they viewed him as in this case. It was probably akin to being a piece of furniture but he chose to close his eyes anyway as Syrex disrobed.
A moment later Ian’s eyes popped open when something hit him in the gut.
O’Connor: Uhh
He looked to see the bag of Syrex’s former clothes had fallen to his feet after one of their hosts had tossed it at him.
These upper Noah’ath ladies then led them away down a corridor to a large set of closed doors. Ian followed along with the sack, trying to draw absolutely no attention to himself.
Noh’ath: Please follow us my dear, it is not often one of us has been called upon to soil herself infiltrating the underclouds.
Syrex: Response
As they reached the end of the corridor they stopped
Noh’ath: Come my honored sister, the All-Mother herself wishes to speak with you.
The ladies all moved ahead of Ian and the one who spoke to them originally opened the door slightly and gestured for Alyndra to enter.
Ian just then realized that the universal translator had been fully kicked in. And even if it hadn’t he took the meaning here very clearly. Alyndra was welcomed in and he would have to wait here. His gut didn’t like the idea of being separated but he had faith in the doctor.
Syrex: Response
Their hosts all filed in and Alyndra followed. He managed to catch her eye quickly just before and hoped he conveyed that everything would be fine in his expression.
Ian stared blankly as the doors shut, sending an echo through the hallway.
Syrex: Response
TBC/Tags
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Lieutenant Ian O’Connor
HCO
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240009IO4