driftfleet | A Tourist's guide to a February Mingle

In the neighborhood of four hundred or so. I try to hand pick as many of them as I can, but in times of emergency it can help just to see a color and know that someone works in a general field. They can either do what you need them to do or will know who can.

_{[ He frowns softly at Fenris' telling of his time here, and in another
place. That didn't sound ominous at all. ]}

So you got kidnapped... from another kidnapper?

I see. And were you in emergency situations often? I imagine the Fleet must be rather...docile compared to that.

[He pulls as face. It was the worst.]

I was. The people who had kidnapped me before were the Initiative. They wished me and everyone else they had captured to fight in a war against their foe: the United Earth. Our opponents would have reigned death upon all of our worlds if we did not defeat them. When the war was won, we were given the option to stay or leave.

I was under the impression I was going home. It turned out nothing feather from the truth.

Not to often, but they happen. You never know what you'll meet out in space, after all, so it's just best to be as prepared as you can for whatever might happen.

_{[ He's just going to not mention the last time there had been an
emergency it had been his entire ship nearly crashing into the planet.
]}

"United Earth"...?

_{[ There's a blank look there - more like worried. Earth was where he
was from, after all, and it was hard to hear of your home planet being an
antagonist in something. But in the grand scheme of things, in all the
multitudes of possible worlds, it stood to reason there might be one that
was not so kind. ]}

I'm sorry. Seems you've had a rough time of it. If we ever manage to get out of here, I'll do my best to help you locate your home world and get you back there.

Hm. I suppose you are right.

Yes. There were monsters who wished control over everything. The Initative were the last remnants of Earth not willing to bow to them. They were situated in what was once called...Britain? I think.

[Fenris inclines his head in thanks. ]

That is...considerate of you, considering I am little more than a stranger to you.

[He knows the type, though. He's spent ten years of his life with a person who is exactly That Type. ]

_{[ No, definitely not an Earth he knew, and one that had quite a few
interesting circumstances to go with it, even if he felt a touch ashamed
that Earth had fallen. He had always thought that one of Earth's many
beautiful traits was that her people were so resilient, unwilling to bow to
those who would have tried to claim her. Well, no use worrying over another
world's problems. He couldn't do anything about them. ]}

The way I see it, in situations like this, we all need to help each other as much as we can. And it's not like you asked to be here. I'd have to been one hell of a callous person to get on my own ship and just abandon everyone else to their own fates.

_{[ He wasn't that sort of man. He couldn't leave that sort of thing
alone, Prime Directive be damned. ]}

This whole situation is wrong, and if I can set it right, then I will.

[Oh joy, a HERO. Fenris is so done with these types. They're just asking fate to show up and tear them a new one. The elf lets out a disgruntled sigh. ]

Yes. I am sure you will. How fortunate you would be is another matter entirely.

_{[ Yes, a hero, and BIG DAMN ONE too. Sorry Fenris. Blame his family
genes - his dad had died one too, so clearly he's just following in his
footsteps... but without the dying part. Well, no, he had done that, he
just managed to come back from it. It's all very complicated. ]}

I like to think I have enough luck on my side, and enough skill, to make it all happen. But I promise not to press it to much. After all, I think I used up a lot of it on the coffee maker already.

_{[ He jerked his thumb back towards the temperamental machine. ]}

[Ugh. Those are the WORST KIND. ]

From what I understand, that does take an awful lot of good fortune, and Atroma re not generous in replenishing such a commodity.

_{[ Shush, Fenris, they are the best kind. Everything works out with
that kind. ]}

Well, good thing I'm here then. You can trust me - I'm an Engineer.

_{[ He chuckled at his own joke and grinned. Come on, that was funny,
right Fenris? ]}

[Fenris clearly didn't get the joke. He just stares at Kirk for a long, long time.]

I don't trust anyone until they have earned it.

_{[ This one is going to take some work, isn't he? ]}

Hmm, fair enough. But surely getting the coffee machine to work helps, right?

[He is going to be the greatest challenge.]

Perhaps. Marginally. Do not expect miracles.

_{[ He always did love a challenge. But the smile he flashes Fenris is
touched with a strange mixture of chagrin and sadness. ]}

No worries there - I've used up all my miracles.

[Fenris gives a shrug of his shoulders. ]

Then you are much the same as the rest of us.

Works fine for me. Miracles should be reserved for bigger things anyways.

_{[ That's just his thoughts. There should have been a miracle for
Vulcan, but there wasn't. Maybe there would be a miracle for all of them
here too. ]}

So I have heard.

[Sebastian sure seemed to think so, anyway. ]

_{[ Hmm, well, this was going better than he had initially been
expecting, especially since he was getting the idea this man was a very
strange mix of Spock and Leonard. ]}

So, any other advice for the new kid?

Other than not stepping out of the airlock?

[It's very hard to tell if he's joking or not. He has That Tone. ]

Oh, I've already done that. It's kind of exhilarating, actually. Just don't do it in a debris field.

_{[ He's completely serious, Fenris. He is That One after all. ]}

[He'll just...stare for a moment. ]

...Are you telling a joke?

No. I jumped out of air lock because I had to get between my ship and another ship but we couldn't teleport because they were shielding against us. My guidance system malfunctioned along the way, but it all worked out.

_{[ Not joking at all, Fenris. ]}

I've also done a halo jump onto a planetary drill and jumped off a cliff.

...That sounds rather unfortunate and very dangerous.

[Blank stare. ]

I have no idea what you just said.

Essentially I'm used to jumping into very dangerous situations on a regular basis.

...Ah.

You are much like a friend of mine, then.

_{[ He smiled a bit. ]}

Is that a compliment?

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