[center] [img]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c260/Genkai001/gio_zpsje2upxef.png[/img] [h2][color=skyblue]One Step forward, Two Steps back[/color][/h2] [/center] [quote] “I am dwarf and a druidic shape shifter my large friend, might I ask what you are?”[/quote] [i]A Shape shifter? [/i]Gio had heard of dwarves and druids of course, the former made excellent smiths but the latter, just brigands and thieves. He had heard tales of their apparent 'bond with nature', but it pressumed to be metaphorical ...he never knew or seen it in such a visceral way up close. [b]Fish to biped. [/b]The shift in physiology and the way this Andrik fellow made it sall eem so easy ...had Gio briefly wondering if the dwarf was just plain mush inside with no organs whatsoever. His eyes sure weren't working afterall, couldn't he see that Gio was... [b]"Human."[/b] He glanced at Eli and Natazume. [i]And Large?[/i] He peered sideways back at the dwarf, raising one eyebrow. Was he being called fat and not know it? Suddenly... Gio quickly turned around flinching and teeth-barred, startled by the crash of an opening 'egg'. He tore his attention away from Andrik, now focused on the slender, blonde woman before them. [quote]"H-Hello, everyone, I'm Kiana from the Twin Rivers Pass... Who are you all?"[/quote] [i]An Elf![/i] His amber eyes honed in on her perked ears as she spoke, looking for signs of wiggling. Elves were rare, elusive wherever he was from - and from time to time, sailors would bring back tales of feral treehuggers skittering about the forest shores of some other islands. Watching their docked ship like hawks at salmon, sometimes stealing goods, other times even boldly ambushing humanfolk who wander too far from port. This one was pleasing to the eye, at least. But she was still an elf! [quote]"Hello there...I'm Natazume. That's Eli, Andrik, that egg is still unopened and that's Gio."[/quote] Gio briefly looked towards Natazume and gave a wry expression, not sure how he felt about an elf knowing his name. [b]"...Hi."[/b] He said back to the elf, unsure of whether to be wary or friendly. Then Natazume walked towards one of the panels all by herself, her curiousity was applaudable but she should at least Ward herself first. It was only logical to shield yourself before any experiment and judging by the ornaments on her fingers, she was a magician afterall, right? He was about to remind her when.... ...Suddenly, a voice flared to life. [quote]"Welcome to The Flock. The Flock is a large but evasive ship to help you navigate the depths of outer space. It is well equipped to ensure a comfortable and safe voyage. And you six have been selected out of millions of others to carry on the lifestyle, cultures, traditions, beliefs and other values and day-to-day activities. You have been asleep for exactly 15 years, in that span of time, we are sad to say your planet can no longer sustain life. Two years into your hibernation, a large war broke out, a war we foresaw but could not prevent. You six have been saved from that inevitable event and will now work to find a new home_ The Flock requires a crew of six: A Captain to make decisions, a Medical Officer to heal sick and wounded, a First Officer to assist the Captain and promote order and respect, a Pilot to aid in navigation and mobility, a Tactician to assess a situation and its many possible outcomes and all means of reacting to them, and a Researcher to track discoveries and take samples from planets and test them for signs of life and other traits. The technology you are surrounded by is thousands of years beyond your own so we understand there will need time to adjust to your new home_ Electronic wristbands are located under this screen which allow you to access the other parts of the ship. Simply wear it and the hatches will open up automatically. Each is different, depending on the role you wish to have aboard The Flock. They do not restrict access, however they do offer each role a personal library of information pertaining to their job which one can scan in their personal quarters' screen to learn more about their duties. This ship is programmed with a route that leads back to a larger ship, however we do encourage you six to explore and gather information about your nearby planets. This ship has saved you, it is your home now so please treat it kindly. And remember...life is not defined by your location, but by your perception."[/quote] [i]Plane-t?[/i] Gio remembered that word before somewhere, maybe used to describe the existence of big, floating rocks in the heavens. A theory that never took off, no one believed those crazy astrologers, how could something like that exist!? Aquis would never build that, she already has her hands filled enough keeping the Moon up --- so everyone thought. Guess they were wrong. [b]"15 yearrrs?"[/b] He asked the voice, coughing once then slowing down his speech whenever he felt a rumble in his throat.. [b]"If what yourrr--- you. are. saying. is true. How could our world die in a mere, 15 years!?" [/b] [i]What in Aquis' name happened? [/i] Yet, for all his obligated exasperation, Gio oddly felt no true sense of sadness or shock that their world is supposedly destroyed. Instead, he felt ...relief? Like he was empty inside. [quote]"So...we get to pick what our responsibility is... You (to Andrik) might be a good tactician. I suppose we should think about what we want and where our strengths would be the most useful. I'm good with water, and catching and containing things. I think our most important roles would be the Medical one, and probably the Pilot one."[/quote] Natazume spoke up, already taking all this too well ...at least she wasn't crispy yet. Gio turned back to her, but not before giving the direction of the voice a long, hard, look, [b]"You're a Hydrosophist,"[/b] Hydrosophy was the prefered term of academics to refer to "Water Magic". Gio pointed at the bubble she made, indulging in the absent minded action of poking one of them with a finger to test it's tensile strength before it slud back into the ring, idle curiousity to set his own mind at ease [b]"...right? Why not try for the, that ...Medic?"[/b] That's another strange term. Most people just said 'Healer' or 'Physician. [b]"I know a few Hydrosophists who went into Biomancy and became Healers,"[/b] He lied. He had forgotten them. But an encouragement in the right direction may be just what this girl needs. At least he remembered some of his studies. Maybe he just needed time to recall the rest. Eitherway, an educated discussion was just the distraction he needed to slowly come to terms. [b]"But we needn't listen to---!?"[/b] Eli brushed past between them, almost shouldering him in the ribs, storming towards one of the plate sized glass panes. Gio reflexively reached out after him with one clawed hand [b]"Wait!"[/b] but Eli was in such a haste that he slipped right past. Gio had already taken a few steps forwards towards him, trying to keep the group closer together in a possibly reckless situation, but it only took moments of reality dawning upon the youth, for Eli to shout. [quote]"There is no way we've been asleep for 15 years. How ridiculous is that? I fell into this damned egg and got covered with some liquid like yolk surrounding a chick. Next thing I know... wake up here with someone telling me that we've been asleep for 15 years. Kinda hard to buy into that, isn't it? There has to be some information here regarding our true whereabouts."[/quote] Demanding the answers to the questions they've all had in their minds. But he was also incensed too, that much anyone could see clearly as day. The state of the world meant much more to the youth for some reason. Gio furrowed his brow at Eli, not angry, but concerned. Tensions would run high soon, maybe even moreso even if that thing does answer him. What good will tension do in such a situation? [i]Yet...[/i] He waited for Eli to slow down, letting the other get their burdens off their hearts first. Looking back between Kianna and Andrik, Natazume and finally Eli ... [b]"...why did you choose us?"[/b]