The cargo bay was the largest room in the ship. It held the bulk of the weight the ship carried too, not including any of its own parts.

At the moment there were only a few crates.

NOD was present on the monitor awaiting the crew to walk in and open their packages. It kept a detailed log of requisitions and orders and only gave key codes for opening containers based on strict protocol.

Per normal protocol, when requisitions were approved, NOD would simply wait for the crew to walk up to the monitor, confirm identity with a scan and password, and then direct them to the correct crate that would open for them with their deliveries and orders.

The cargo bay is spacious and often used for exercise as it has a functional gym. Rather than traditional dumbbells and weights, it simply has resistance bars that can be customized. It also has a simulator for shooting, golfing, baseball, and similar sports that can accommodate multiple users at a time.

Gill strolled up to the screen for vusual ID, then typed in his password:
D33z3nu1z

And waited for confirmation.

NOD audibly sighed.

"Hello, Gill...Your crate is marked 09211950."

The monitor projected a 3D image of an arrow pointing towards a particular crate. It no doubt had that sticker label on it and it would open only for Gill. NOD would record him acquiring his gear and then reseal the crate and discard the number for a new one to be generated.

He had no doubt the others would open their crates within the time allotted, it was more a joke anyhow. He pulled on his new vest and was pleased to begin synchrony of his biometrics to the new tablet. "I'm pretty excited about how much I hope these will help salvage and emergency rescue operations. What did you get Gill?"

Gill was wearing his Turd Ferguson hat again and was standing in front of a mirror. He was wearing his new armor over his underclothes and was practicing spinning his new gun on his finger. He talked to Ray, "It's Turd Ray, Turd Ferguson. I got a banana," he showed the new gun, "and a toilet seat." He tapped the armor. "How can you be excited about such boring stuff?"

Jak came into the Cargo Bay glancing at the others at their respective haul. He smiles at their seemingly child-like glee, knowing all to well, he himself will experience the same when he opens his package.

And he spotted his over in the corner. A small container, not taking up too much space. With quick, deft motions, he slides his hands around the box, instinctively searching for any trips or hidden triggers. He knows he shouldn't have to do that. Captain wouldn't booby-trap anything he gave to his crew. But, old habits die hard. Especially when those habits are proven lifesaving ones. The best part though, was that Jehnko knew what Jakova was like. He knew that the mutant rogue would search for trips and triggers, so keeping with habits and traditions, Jak's container only opened when a certain set of trips were pressed. The grin that spread across Jak's face was genuine. It was nice to be around people who understood him.

Once open, Jak pulled out the Halligan first. Thirty inches of harden tritanium alloy, curved hook on one end, with a weighted head on the back side and a small jutting spike ten inches below the hook. The other end is a long, flattened spike that splayed out slightly. Jak twirled through a series of intricate patterns before sliding the hook up and over his left shoulder. The next item he pulled out was something more. At first glance, it appeared to be a messenger's bag, long, looping strap with a fairly significant bag attached to it. With no fan fair, he simply loops it up and over his right shoulder, settling it across his body and riding along the backside of left hip.

His grin widens slightly more as he reached inside the bag, feeling for a specific item. He felt his hand close upon the desired thing. Looking around, he makes sure of an unoccupied area with no one close by before he pulls out the object and tosses across the room. At the same time, he calls out, "Hey Turd, on your Six!" The object hits the floor in the desired area, suddenly ballooning up into an unshaped mass of spongy material as large as a human body.

OOC: He is using Trickster's Bag, Conjuration to create a generic obstacle, suddenly. He will spend the Focus point to do so.

"I have a semi intelligent algorithm on this new tablet. It isn't likely as smart as NOD but it will help me do things to other systems... whatever we need... and more importantly if I keep to just a couple hours of work at a time it will mop up my digital prints so it can't be rightly traced to me until I've had two hours in a system already. No more getting caught in a lockdown with safety a short ways away... perhaps after nicking a little treasure," he finished with a grin. Though the tablet he had been showing off vanished rather suddenly.

Edwin stop just short of the cargo bay and listened to see how many people were already there. From the conversation going on he could identify at least Gill, Andre and likely Jakova. Treading quietly he slipped in the door just in time to see Jakova toss something toward the back and and call out to Ferguson.

Taking his chance he moved to the small package marked as his and entered the unlock code. Hopefully he would be gone with out anyone noticing he was even there. At least he was getting some practice sneaking around.

OCC: 08:10, Today: Edwin Arlo Park rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Stealth.

Gill/Turd gave a sidelong look and said, "Howdy Jakova." He pronounced the J and did not pronounce the A as such it sounded like Jack-Off.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Mon 21 Aug 2023.

Archie looked about for Edwin, but did not find him. Using his datalink to NOD, he had the computer with its many shipboard sensors to try and track the man down. In the meantime he entered the cargo bay and when to retrieve his captain-issued devices. "Greetings, Crewmates." He said to everyone visible and present.

As he enters, Skip stops for a moment to look around.  He then looks up to address NOD.  Hey, NOD, which one is mine?

17:03, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

"Hey there, Archie!" the mechanic returned his crew mate's greeting, genuinely glad to see crewmates well and about. "We might be best charging you closer to the engine coils during the dark portion of our trip but I think I can leave you the option if you prefer more privacy. Easier to keep our signatures down... I plan to sleep near the coils myself. I think I can adapt it for a couple of direct charges at once without too much ado."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:23, Tue 22 Aug 2023.

In reply to Skip Tracer (msg # 11):

"Your crate is marked 09211951."

Thanks, he replies with a smile and a nod of his head.  The crate is easy enough to find, and easy enough to open using his code.
Inside is a plasma pistol, wrapped in plastic, with protective lubricants and cleaning and repair tools, in a box.  Also a leather gunbelt with holster, and pouches for holding ten energy mags.  Alao in the crate, a package of ten powered energy mags.  Also a lightly armored envirosuit, for emergency occassions.
He grins broadly, and looks uowards one of NOD's cameras.  Tell 'em I said thanks.

In reply to Andre Klanktonne (msg # 12):

"Thank you, Crewmate Klanktonne. However, make sure the shielding of the engine coils is not degraded. Studies show that long term exposure to poorly shielded engines can result in health complications for organic beings." Archie replied.

He headed over to a box, as NOD was in constant digital link with Archie and told him his box number. There he got out his cloaking device and the environmental scanner he had requested.

Turd/Gill made his way to Skip, looking over his shoulder at the bevy. "Nice gun, Peanut Butter. You gonna name it? Mine is named Banana."

Andre nodded, "I try to be sure to adjust it if there is a 5% misalignment. Core ships manuals say we are safe to 8 but I think they just don't have as much concern for reproductive health and the future of humanity. I prefer a real technician guide to an owners' manual... I'm not a very formal guy. You can just call me Andre, or Gill shortened it to just Ray. I'm okay with that too."

In reply to Andre Klanktonne (msg # 17):

"Thank you, Ray. I shall remember to call by that." Archie replies, noting in his memory what the man preferred to be called. "And I agree with your assessment. Corporate cost cutting has shown multiple safety violations which rarely go punished or detected until its too late." 

Turd seemed aghast, "You two are complaining about a ship that allows us all to move through outer space? So next you're gonna complain cuz the coffee maker spits out coffee that burns your little tongues? Really?" He shook his head in mock annoyance.

In reply to Gill Rurry (msg # 19):

"Safety precautions must be overserved for the crew's safety, Crewmate Rurry." Archie points out. "I would advise you test your coffee before drinking it, if you have had repeated tongue burns."

It had been pretty simple until Skip showed up and spotted him. Thankfully he didn't say anything, So Edwin just gave him a quick shrug and a thumbs up and slipped out of the cargo bay with his package. No need to press his luck.

Jak was slightly disappointed when Turd simply ignored the obstacle he threw out there from the Trickster's Bag. he was about to work on another, much more elaborate one, one that Turd wouldn't ignore. That was when he spotted Skip walking over to an area in the corner, most likely where his care package was.

He quietly approached Skip, waiting while Turd showed Skip his new gun. He wanted to see if Skip was willing to assist him with something Captain had asked him do.

After the events of Brink of the Verge Part 1 where the crew evaded a debris field, encountered a magical electricity spirit (gremlin) that has now merged with the ship's AI, picked up cargo from a criminal organization, and escaped near destruction from another unknown rival criminal organization with military stealth tech.

The crew in the cargo is now trying to resuscitate creatures or organic material that's coming out of cryosleep from within some of the cargo and everyone has their space suit on and quarantine procedures activated.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:41, Sun 04 Feb.

Inside the now sealed cargo bay, Osram's suit was also sealed up for his own protection.  He stood next to one of the flatlined cryo containers Val was working on opening, and waited to see what was inside.

Edwin had stepped inside the cargo bay and sealed his suit. Helping where and as much as he could.

"Just tell me what needs to be done."

Val handed Oram and Ed crowbars and pointed at one of the duds. Then she suddenly stood in front of them to stop them.

"Wait, I hear something..."

She looked towards the first cryocube that Osram and Andre salvaged.

"There's....voices in there...strange...not any language I've ever heard..."

She approaches the cryocube as it finished defrosting whatever or whomever is in there.

"I think someone's in there."

She quietly draws a survival knife from her hip sheathe and motions for the others to approach.

@Ed gets a bad feeling about this, but seems to feel Val is the source of danger rather than the cryocube. Was whomever was in there afraid of THEM?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Wed 07 Feb.

Osram looked towards Val, and then the saved but thawing cryocube, and frowned.

"Just keep an eye on that thing a moment.  I still want to see if we can figure out what we're dealing with before we have to actually deal with it.  What's in there might be dangerous, what's in here, is already dead.  Probably."

He stuck the edge of his crowbar into the lid of the dud and tried to crack the lid.


Osram rolled 24.  Brawn

Skip arrives at the cargo bay to find it sealed in quarantine.  He puts in his helmet so he can access the coms and speak with his crewmates.  Guys?  What's going on?  I'm sensing fear from in there.....

22:22, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Insight-Empathy.

Ed frowned something wasn't right. He moved over beside Val, "Val could you stow the knife and move back a little. For some reason I'm getting the feeling that whoever or whatever is in the cube is afraid of you or for that matter all of us."

Val looked at Ed with a raised eyebrow. She didn't understand what was going on, but she could feel the tension too. Seems the maverick, the psychic, and the witch were all aware of it. She put her knife away.

"Okay Ed. I trust your judgment. But something strange is going on."


She looks over at Skip through the window and sends him a message on comms.

"Something is awake in the cube."

Until they ended the quarantine procedure, it wouldn't let him in unless he or the ship's AI or captain overrode it.

---

OOC
15:44, Today: Game Master, on behalf of Edwin Arlo Park, rolled 20 using 1d20+6.  Diplomacy vs. Val. – [roll=1707342249.10595.378293]

This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Wed 07 Feb.

As Osram opened the crate a burst of cold mist radiated out of it making it difficult to see. The smell was bad. Like sewage. There was a creature in there...or creatures? Clearly they were dead but the sound of rapidly melting ice hissed out from inside. Osram couldn't tell what the creature was. It was dark black and green and fleshy. Something was in there but it seemed to have turned mostly to mush. No way that happened from the failed cryocube...did it? Osram doesn't know what's happening, but he knows it's not the cryocube that's the problem.

Meanwhile the crate Val had been approaching creaked and mist began pouring out of it. It was opening automatically as part of its revival process. Mist poured out of it as it opened and only two small shadows remained inside. They looked like people...no...children. There were two children inside huddled together for warmth. They were still chilly from decontamination but it was clear as day. There were two children in there. A boy and a girl. They were shivering and terrified.

Val yelped and put her hands over her mouth.

Val: "Oh my God..."

She became teary eyed almost immediately as it dawned on her. Had they made arrangements with a human trafficking organization? Were they unwitting coyotes?

Val: "Blankets. We need blankets!"

She begins desperately looking around for something to give the kids warmth.

Val: "Ed, there are some emergency thermoblankets in that locker over there!"

She points at a locker nearest to him.

---

OOC

15:50, Today: Game Master, on behalf of Osram, rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Mechanics. – 14

@SKIP & ED you can both feel/predict the fear is genuine. Whoever these children were they had clearly undergone some extreme trauma.

Everyone else roll me Insight so I don't have to make a half dozen rolls.


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:04, Thu 08 Feb.

"What in the cold black is this?"  Osram exclaimed as he looked into the cube at the soupy remains.

Looking as the other cube opened he raised his brows in surprise.  "Well they ain't all people.  Hopefully."

Osram tried to remember which of the crates was the odd one that had been partially opened when they'd grabbed it off the dock.

Meanwhile he worked to pop the top of one of the other failed crates.  He really hoped he'd find more black mush...



Osram rolled 5.  insight

Edwin nodded, "On it." as he moved to the locker and quickly retrieved the blankets and brought them back over to Val and the children.


OOC: 10:52, Today: Edwin Arlo Park rolled 10 using 1d20+3 ((7)).

Looking at the controls for the door, he punches in his security code to open it.

@SKIP the door began its quarantine procedure giving him a warning that once inside, it would not let him back out without captain approval or the timer initially coded into it ending. He'd have to agree before the door would open. Even then, he'd be stuck in the inner airlock for a few seconds while the door closed behind him and the next door opened in front of him.

@ED the kids shiver but take the blanket. Val starts rubbing their shoulders.

Val: "What are you names, sweeties?"

Val asks the kids, suddenly showing her maternal side.

Boy: "I'm Adamus."

Girl: "I'm Evelyn."

They looked up at Ed and Val trying to get a read on them if they were a threat or not. Ed sensed in them fear and reluctance. Looking at their condition, he was surprised he didn't notice any injuries. He was also surprised that their skin appeared perfectly normal despite them shivering as if they were near death. In fact...he'd never seen anyone so healthy or pristine. Not a bruise, not a wart, not even a freckle. Their hairlines were perfect like they'd just had a haircut. Yet...they were behaving as if they were injured, cold, and sick. Something was off, but they seemed genuinely afraid.

@ED & SKIP Suddenly another empathy wave hit. Val was clearly radiating sadness for these kids. And more fear from the other crates...No wait. Anger. Something in the room was angry and radiating murderous intent. It was a lot louder than all the fear and sorrow. It was REALLY angry.

@OSRAM without warning the very crate Osram was thinking about burst open and a creature leaped out at him. A giant claw narrowly missing his head sliced into another nearby crate like butter, unleashing all the goop onto the floor. Before him stood some horrific monstrosity. It looked like some mix between a frog and a canine but with sharp fangs and long sharp claws. It has black skin and four red eyes, hissing and growling at him with murderous intent.

To make matters worse, the disgusting green and black liquid continued to sizzle as Osram now realizes that sound was acid. It was burning through the cryocube and now that stuff was spilling onto the floor.

SCENARIO:

• Osram is in Melee with The Creature, his path blocked by a stream of acid on the floor.
• Skip is waiting for the quarantine door to open.
• Everyone else in the room is huddled together about 15 feet away.
• You get 3 actions per round. Entering a melee is 1 action if you splash through the acid (1d6 acid) or 2 actions if you walk around, or try to jump past it (DC15 Acrobatics or Athletics, crit success: no damage, success: half, failure: normal, crit fail: automax)

---

OOC
12:20, Today: Game Master, for the NPC Ed, Osram, Skip, rolled 12,0,11 using 1d20+3,1d20-1,1d20+4.  perception. – 12,0,11

12:22, Today: Game Master, for the NPC monster, rolled 14 using 2d20+7 with rolls of 5,2. – 14




This message was last edited by the GM at 07:39, Sat 10 Feb.

Skip agrees, hurriedly pressing the button as he draws his plasma pistol from its holster.

Edwin stunned by the creature that suddenly showed burst from the cryo unit. He had never seen or heard of anything like it. Unfortunately he hadn't seen a need to carry a weapon, which may have been an oversight, so he grabbed anything close that could be used as a club and moved slightly in front of Val and the kids. "Might want to get the kids back as far as possible Val."

Osram looked over in surprise as one of the crates suddenly burst open.

He took a step back and ducked slightly as the strange creature's claws narrowly missed him.

Hearing the telltale of the door cycling he shouted to Val, "Get them to the door!  Soon as it cycles get in and seal it then open the bay doors!"

Osram's suit sealed just past his shoulders along his metallic upper arms against locking rings specifically designed for that purpose, and for good reason.

Raising his right arm Osram's hand and forearm split apart revealing a blunt metal cylinder as it extended out while his left hand grabbed onto a handle of sorts that had been formed by his cybernetic's transformation.

A high pitched whine began as he stepped towards the creature and attempted to sonically bore a hole through it.


Osram rolled 12.  Melee

Val wrapped Evelyn in a blanket and swiped her up into her arms and ran for the inner airlock where the door was opening to let Skip in.

She didn't even check but only hoped Ed would grab the boy. All the while both children were crying out.

Evelyn: "NO! Nooo!"

Adamus: "Don't! Please don't!"

@SKIP will be able to make it in just as Val pushes her way past into the decontamination area. If they could get both kids inside to safety the rest could fight the

@ED will be able to pick up one of the crowbars used to open the crates. Improvised club +0 accuracy, 1d6 + Brawn or Melee bludgeoning damage, whichever is highest (or half this bonus if used one-handedly).

@OSRAM's Sonic Drill buzzed and whirred with power, but the creature dodged it. It nipped and growled at Osram, it's weird spines standing on end.

---

OOC
Okay folks. Make whatever checks you feel are necessary. If you're trying to notice or find something, figure something out, hit something, or manipulate someone or something, roll the most appropriate skill/attribute you can. You can roll attack and damage if you're unsure if you hit it or not.

01:48, Today: Game Master, for the NPC creature, rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  bitey bite. – 9

Creature
AC>12?; HP??

As the door opens, Skip slips through and to the side so Val can get the kids inside.  He trains the plasma pistol on the creature, trying to track it as it moves.  But, he holds his fire for the moment.
08:55, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Insight-Empathy-Emotional state of creature.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:09, Sun 11 Feb.

"You can always back away!"  Osram yelled at the creature over the sound of his drill.  He didn't expect it to understand, but one never knew.

None the less he attempted to reinforce his suggestion by jabbing at it with the drill again.



Osram rolled 10.  Melee.

Gill's nap had been ruined, thus he decided to see what had freaked Skip out so baddly. He stopped by his cabin to get his giant foam cowboy hat that signaled he was now Turd Ferguson. He arrived just in time to assess the situation. Kids screaming no and reaching for a dunosaur sized canine.

He held uphands to stop Val."Hey kids, I'm Turd Fergedon. Is that your guard dog? Is he house broken? Does he know commands like sit and stay?"

Edwin moved slowly, the crowbar held low more to try and fend off an attack than to attack. He picked up the boy wrapped in the quilt. "Okay Adamus, everything is okay. No one is going to hurt anyone."

He wasn't entirely positive about that last part but hopefully the child would pick up on it. With any luck, and if the critter was some sort of guardian, maybe things might settle down with out anyone getting hurt.

OOC: If needed.
11:56, Today: Edwin Arlo Park rolled 16 using 1d20+6.  Diplomacy.

@SKIP gets a sense of blind rage from the creature but there was also pain and fear. Not unlike the unruly attitude you'd get throwing a stray animal into a cage, beating it, and starving it then suddenly opening the cage.

@GILL the kids looked at Gill on the other side of the door through the window but didn't seem to understand him or pay him much mind. They turned and looked at Osram, Skip, and the creature.

@ED Adamus doesn't struggle against Ed but allows Ed to carry him to the exit. Ed's soothing voice allows the child to calm down long enough to respond cohesively instead of screaming.

Adamus: "Please sir, don't hurt him! He's just scared." The boy didn't want them to hurt the angry beast.

---

OOC

11:12, Today: Game Master, for the NPC monster, rolled 12,11 using 1d20+5,1d8+5.  bitey bite. – 12,11 MISS

Good thing both Osram and monster are rolling low. Nobody's lost hit points yet. LOL

This message was deleted by the player at 19:23, Mon 12 Feb.

Osram!  Stop!  Step back!  It's scared and hurting!  Skip calls out, hoping to keep this from escalating.  He steps forward as he holsters the plasma pistol.
With his arms up and showing them empty, he tries to push a wave of calm and peace towards the creature, hoping to let it know he means no harm.

16:48, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Animal Handling+Empathy.

Jhenko On coms: "All hands, red alert for anyone not already up and at'em. We have another intruder aboard. Andre, I have override codes for the cargo bay and I'm heading your way. Everyone else evacuate the cargo bay. I can space whatever it is."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:50, Tue 13 Feb.

Gill went to the Coms panel and interacyed with tge Captain, "Boss it looks like a big dog. Gimme a chance to calm this all down, Okay?"

Then he opened a channel into the bay, "Heal!"

If  you don't mind Ed, Gill is trained in Taming/Animal handling so I used your action as an aid to get advantage.
11:49, Today: Gill Rurry rolled 21 using 1d20+6.  W/ advantage from Ed.
11:49, Today: Gill Rurry rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Taming/Animal Handling.

"It's scared?  Funny way of showing it."  Osram replied to Skip.

He did however, take a step back and get ready to dodge more claws, just to see if Skip might be right.

Across the comm he replied, "Already working on it Captain.  You can vent the bay as soon as the interior lock seals up."


Going to Defend this round

Val holds both kids tightly freeing up Ed's arms unless he wants join the hug session.

"It's okay. What do you mean don't hurt him? Is that..."

She looks confused.

"Is that thing a friend of yours?!"

Edwin's confusion matched Val's expression. He was willing to take a chance though, "Adamus can you get your friend to calm down before anyone gets hurt?"

He then looked to Val with a what the hell have we gotten ourselves into expression and whispered, "Do you think the creature is natural, engineered or something else?" After having to deal with a gremlin, or still having to deal with a gremlin nothing was off the table.

Adamus [Speaking Roswellian]: "Varghast! Don't bite. Calm down. Don't bite!"

The creature's antenna-like ears perked and it looked at Adamus and Skip and listened to Gill on the comm system. Then it looked at Osram. It kept looking back and forth like a dog with two owners telling it to go in different directions.

@EMPATHS: The creature's emotional state has transitioned from anger to confusion and hesitation. It is still afraid and agitated though, but not actively hostile...for the moment.

---

The creature Defends this round and takes a step back from Osram.

"I don't know what to think. I just know we pulled two kids and a weird monster out of cryo and I'm not sure what's in the other cubes..."

She holds Evelyn tighter.

"You okay, sweetie? Is that your uh...dog?"

Evelyn: "Varghast isn't a dog, silly. He's a barghest. He's Varghast the barghest!"

Evelyn seemed to be calming down too if she was making puns. Val looked at Ed with the same "wtf is going on look".

Gill thinks he has this in the bag. He calls the Captain again, "Boss I got this under control, no need to vent the cargo hold."

Jhenko On coms: "Alright, if you got it handled, I'm stopping by engineering for a status update on our ship. You all handle whatever is going on in the cargo bay. Keep me apprised."

Skip continues sending the Empathic wave, hoping to soothe the creature.  Osram, lower the sonic drill, please.  He keeps his voice calm and soothing; as best he can, at any rate.
We're not going to hurt you any more, or the kids, he says to the creature.  We are sorry for the confusion.  Let's everyone stay calm.

14:53, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Animal Handling+Empathy.

Osram, deciding to ride this wave and hope everything worked out, deactivated his drill which retracted leaving him with a normal metal arm once again.

He held both hands out, palms down to try to signal to the creature that he wasn't going to try to punch holes in it anymore, if it was willing to stop trying to use those claws to carve him up.

The beast continued to wavr. It wasn't sure what to do and still seemed confused. But it stopped flailing, growling, and attacking so it was clear that it really did behave much like a well-trained canine that simply can't seem to understand its commands. It begins to slink back towards the crate it burst out of managing to stay away from the pool of acid and melting organic material it had knocked over.

Three crates were open. Two had contained living creatures and one acidic good. It would done on Osram that the acid was releasing some fumes that might be a bit of a hazard if he stayed put for much longer.

Adamus: "It's okay boy. Easy. Does anyone have any food? He likes protein."

Val: "Like a protein bar?"

Osram reorganized the cargo bay multiple times per week at NOD's direction to maximize efficiency, and get some good old fashioned exercise.  As such he had a very good working knowledge of the inventory and location of everything currently in the bay.  It had proven helpful when choosing which containers to jettison as a distractive measure for the fighters a short while ago, and would be handy now.

Moving slowly so as not to scare the creature, he gave the acid puddle a wide berth and moved to a stack of containers and shifted a few things around until he found the one he wanted.  Cracking the top he took out a few sealed pouches and headed back over to Varg.  He tore the long edge off of one of the pouches, opened up the gussets on the opposite side, and crimped the torn side so it would stay open.  He then set the pouch down about midway between himself and the beast and backed away again.

The pouch contained a red tinged powder that was dehydrated cultured protein.  When you mixed it with water you could form it into a shape and let it rehydrate in cold storage overnight where it would coalesce into a solid.  Everyone said it was just like "beef", but Osram had never actually eaten the real thing, or seen a cow in anything other than a picture for that matter, so he couldn't really say.  He did know for a fact it made for good eating compared to some of the things that passed for nutrition available out in deep space, that at best were bland and tasteless, and at worst were  foul tasting pastes that left you thinking you'd just eaten some industrial byproduct.

He just hoped the dog not dog thing would figure it out.

Skip continues to push the calming empathic wave.  However, it seems he may be having trouble concentrating.

23:05, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 10
2 using 1d20+6.  Animal Handling-Wis + Empathy.

Turd Ferguson opened the com, "Can someone let me in?"

Val pressed the quarantine seal button, closing the door (Skip will need to decide if he's staying in the cargo bay or out).

The airlock began spraying everyone inside with decontamination substances and then drying them off and sucking in the moisture with dehumidifiers.

Val entered her override code to skip the scans and let Gill into the airlock.

The creature approached the pouch cautiously sniffing it and looking at Osram. Then it licked the pouch and seemed to be tasting it. Then it dug in and began wolfing the contents down dry. It coughed and sneezed a bit. It really did behave with the mentality of a canine and seemed to be calm. It wasn't getting friendly, but it was remaining calm.

Turd squished the giant foam cowboy hat into the airlock along with his body. He saluted the kids, "Turd Ferguson at your service. I'm gonna go in there and make friends with the big pooch. Any last minute pointers?"

Seeing as the peace offering had been accepted, Osram opened up the other two pouches and set them down for the "dog".

He then stepped away to look for the contamination kit so they could deal with the acid spill.

Skip continues to try to send calming feelings to the creature.  But, Gill Rurry arrives, and Skip struggles against the man's distractions.

01:58, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Animal Handling-Wis + Empathy.

Adamus and Evelyn stared at the strange attire Gill was wearing and pointed at it.

Adamus: "He likes fluffy things."

Evelyn: "Yeah! Fluffy!"

Val shook her head and began escorting the kids out of the airlock back into the main ship.

Meanwhile Osram will quickly find the kit and the basic vial that's used to diffuse acids. A warning label noted not to breath in fumes from the acid. The air filters would naturally get most of it but it's best not to stay near the stuff for long.

Varghest continued munching on the protein pouches. It seemed oblivious to Osram now...or at least indifferent.

Turd gave a cocky grin and finger gunned the kids, "You got that right kid. Turd Ferguson loves fluffy stuff." Once they were out he could go in and handle the situation.

Osram was fine with oblivious.

He kept a peripheral eye on the creature but otherwise went ahead using the kit to neutralize the acid spill and getting it cleaned up.

As long as the thing was in the cargo Bay they could still contain it if needed, and space it of it came down to that.

Edwin didn't pay Gill much attention, he still wondered if the man was just trying to annoy people or if he had a serious mental condition. Either way it didn't really matter for now.

He followed Val and the kids out of the cargo bay. "So kids how did you end up in the cryo chamber. And do you happen to know whats in all those other cryo units?" If they happened to know it would sure help safe some trouble and possible damage or injuries.

He closed the door to the cargo bay once everyone was clear.

Skip quits trying to concentrate on directing his wave of peaceful and calm emotions.  Instead, he tries to let it flow naturally from him.  He keeps his hands away from hia plasma pistol.
17:11, Today: Skip Tracer rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Wis + Empathy-Peaceful, calming emotions. 

Evelyn: "Human pirates kidnapped us!"

Adamus: "Eve! Yeah, our ship was damaged and we couldn't do anything. Do you know where our parents are?"

Val raised her eyebrows and gave Ed a worried look. There were several other cryo cubes that failed to revive the contents.

---

Osram found the basic spray and was easily able to counter the acidic properties. Soon the goo was was harmless bio waste...or probably harmless as long as they disposed of it before it rots.

Skip would find the beast ignoring him entirely but its head pops up suddenly when Gill approaches. It wasn't staring at Gill though just his bright orange hat. It's tentacle like tail began to sway back and forth while it licked its lips. Skip could sense it becoming excited...but not aggressive, more playful. Like a dog staring at a chew toy. Which may or may not pose a threat to Gill's safety.

It dawned on Turd what the girl had meant. "He likes fluffy things," as in the dog liked them. Right..."You like this boy? Huh? You wanna play?" He took Turd's beloved hat off and looked at it, "Goodbye Turd, we knew thee well." Then he tossed the hat to the big dog thing. "Just remember who gave that to you, and don't eat me. Or my crew, you should leave them alone too."

Turning back to the others he was misty eyed. He seemed a little down, as if something had gotten through. Then he blinked as he was his old self again. "Once again, I've rescued you all. You can thank me later."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Sat 24 Feb.

"And we thank you for your service."  Osram replied to Gill in a mostly sarcastic tone.  "After we figure out how we're going to handle this probably failed delivery, maybe we'll have some leave somewhere we can get you a new hat."  He continued in a more serious manner before he returned to dealing with the now neutralized bio-matter, mainly in getting it off the floor and into a container that could e jettisoned with the trash.

Gill sighed, "No, I'm afraid Turd is gone forever. He sacrificed himself. We can only hope he is in a better place now." He made move to pat Osram's beefy shoulder. "Alas, all I can ask is that we raise a glass and toast the fine fellow once, then forget he ever existed."

Edwin had the same concern Val had. "Well kids at the moment I'm not sure. But we will see about finding them."

He looked up at Val for a second. "Why don't you two wander up to the mess hall with Val and get a snack. I need to go talk to Osram and Gill."

He didn't wait for them to answer turning he headed back into the cargo bay. Keeping a wary eye on Varghast he walked over to Osram. "Osram, the kids parents may be in those cryo units. Did any of the others survive?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Tue 27 Feb.

"Fair 'nuff I guess."  Osram replied to Gill's request.

Looking up to Ed as he came over, after he asked his question, Osram looked to the cubes.  In particular he liked at the one that had appeared to contain the remains of who knows what but which had been sufficient to burn a hole through the ship if they'd been left unattended.

He then gave a shake of his head.  "Don't think so, but it'd be worth checking the others to be sure.  Can't say what was in that one that got sliced open, but if that was one of the kids parents, our troubles have probably gotten even worse.  Once Val gets the kids away from the bay we'll take a look, and hope for the best.  If they're not here, might be they're still ok somewhere.  That loading dock wasn't exactly the most organized place I've ever humped freight so if they were on ice, might be they ended up on another ship or got left behind."

I want to figure out a way to cordon off part of the cargo bay, Skip says over the coms.  Make kind of a kennel or a play yard for the big fella here.

Varghast finishes its protein bag and then immediately springs to attacking Gill's hat. It was a colorful chew toy. The creature's tail was wagging so it no longer perceived the strangers as a threat, but it was standoffish. It wouldn't let anyone else touch its precious chew toy. Whatever the creature was it's mentality was very similar to a canine. Perhaps it was one. Some scientists failed experiment?

Val and the kids head to the mess hall.

Osram DC15 Medicine or Alchemy to identify the melted contents.

Everyone in the cargo bay can hear beeping as the third cryocube Andre and Osram managed to save finished reviving its contents and began opening...

Gill stage whispered to Skip, "If it's another one of those things, Turd already sacrificed himself to the first one. We might have an issue. If it's a pretty woman, let me do the talking." Then he winked, "I'm a good wing man and Val is the only woman for me."

I don't need a "wingman," Gill.  I'm not out here looking for love, all right?  The expression on Skip's face is unreadable, his voice is flat and emotionless.  So, do me a favor.  Back off.
He moves to stand guard in case something else dangerous is released from cryo-sleep.

Osram was, very unsuccessfully, trying to discern if the once acidic remains may have somehow been some sort of person when the noise of the final cube ending its thaw cycle began.

He abandoned his studies and instead stood on alert, waiting for what might be inside.

The cryocube opened and inside was an adult woman. Huddled naked and shivering just like they found the children. Her head was bleeding from a fresh injury. She squinted at first, then looked around her. She looked at Varghast, the locker with blankets still open, and then at the group of men that surrounded her. Skip and Ed sensed she was also scared but not as frightened as the children and Varghast were earlier. She seems to understand they are not necessarily enemies but also not necessarily allies.

"Hhheeelllo...cccan I get a bbblanket too ppplease?"

She had long white hair, long scrawny limbs, and a slender frame that made her look tall despite barely being over 5 1/2 feet. Her irises were so dark they were almost black. But she couldn't be a day over 30 despite her white hair. And she was naked from head to toe save for what appeared to be shackles. There was a strange helmet lying in the chamber that she must have scraped off her head. Her accent was strong but hard to pin down.

Coming out of cryosleep was always a rough process. Seems hers was the worst...well, worst of the survivors anyway. They still had two more crates unopened that probably didn't have anything pretty to look at.

Varghast looked at her a moment, wagged its tail, and began rummaging through the blankets. Did it understand her commands?

Skip moves cautiously towards Vargast, after staring at the woman for a few moments.  He holds his hand palm up and out, hoping the creature will understand that he wants a blanket.
Whether the creature gives him one or not, he moves to collect and blanket and takes it the woman.  Here you go, ma'am, he says as he hands it to her, then turns away.

When the survivor emerged from the cube Osram gave her plenty of room.  Skip, and he supposed Gill, could get her up and moving after the cryo sleep.  No need to crowd her with strangers.

So instead he kept his distance but remained on hand in case needed.

Gill was stunned when his prediction came true. Giving the situation some quick though he settled on a tactic, "Hello I'm Gill Rurry, Esquire, duely appointed ship's representative. Whom might you be?" He kept a distance figuring from the way the dog creature behaved she was likely related to the kids. What had the gotten themselves into.

22:54, Today: Gill Rurry rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Diplomacy/Reliable talent
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Thu 29 Feb.

Varghast not only allowed Skip to take the blankets but also brought a mouthful alongside him to the woman and spat them out at her feet. Then sat down and wagged its tail patiently.

She didn't seem to experience any shame at being naked but was definitely in a hurry to warm herself. The woman quickly snatched the blankets and began wrapping them around her and tying them up into a makeshift dress and cloak, then hugged Varghast who proceeded to whimper happily and lick her hair.

"Oooh good boy. Warm boy."

She was still shivering trying to warm up. She looks up at Gill while continuing to hold onto the giant mutant dog creature.

"I'm Lilly. Good to meet you Gill Rurry Esquire. And..."

She looks to the others for introductions.

Skip Tracer, ship security, the former Marine responds.  Welcome aboard.  There are some children who might be happy to see you.

"Osram, ma'am."  Osram supplied.

"The crew areas of the ship are warmer.  We can get you out of this cargo bay as soon as you'd like, though I think the captain would prefer if Varghast stay here for the time being."  He offered.

Turning to a com panel Gill pressed it and responded, "Everything is fine here situation normal. We've had a slight weapons malfunction but everything is fine now...we're all fine down here...how are you?"

He turns to Osram.  Do we have anything we could use to corral the Big Fella?  Something to keep him concentrated to one area?

Osram thought a moment and remembering the effectiveness of the beast's claws replied, "No.  Best we can do is see if he'd be willing to stay here in the cargo bay."

Edwin had lingered back for a bit. "I'm Edwin Park ma'am. I can lead you to the children but we should probably see about getting those manacles removed first. And probably should get Varghast to stay here."

The critter seemed to be minding her well, hopefully she could make it stay in the cargo bay.

Lilly nods to each of them.

"Good to meet you all. I think Varghast is more comfortable here than the cubes they put us in."

She pets Varghast who continued to lick her white hair.

"Good boy. Stay. I'll be back."

She stands up, clutching the towels to hold whatever warmth she could.

"Lead the way to the crew areas. I'd like to speak to the others if they're already awake. I presume we are your guests and not your prisoners?"

Well, technically, you were cargo until the cryo-cubes started failing, Skip saya matter-or-factly.  But, that changed rather quickly.
Now, you're passengers.

Andre heaving and panting arrived at the locked down Cargo bay. He leaned on the wall and gasped for a moment before taking in the fullness of what happened in there as best he could. "What the hell? Why are there shackles... Does that helmet have blinders or is it actual armor that is otherwise lacking from this scene? Come on... Other than Chihuahuas, I love dogs. Kids are okay, my latest theory though kind of pertinent to mention in this juncture. I believe that we have been involved in a significant incursion of creatures from one or multiple other dimensions. These kids woman and very large dog, have at least as much a chance of being mathematical demons as the gremlin that we encountered _{and integrated into the ship's systems}.

That crazed non-existent worship, might have been one or more of them working in concert, with actual plan. Did any of my crew even ask what planet they're from, if they have magic drama and if they're robots that are designed to mimic human function but make a hostile takeover of places? I'm all about being friendly but I do try to learn from what we've experienced recently. Did more cubes fail?" he softened up a little bit as he asks the last question. More exasperated parent or older sibling then security professional concerned with actual hazards.

"Val got a good read on them, which was good enough for me.  Only problem was the pet, and he calmed down with a little bribe and some words from a familiar face."  Osram explained.

"Only three cubes thawed correctly.  One looks like it was probably better it failed, the other two I haven't checked yet."

Then let's go check them, Skip suggests as he moves towards their location, plasma pistol in hand again.

The problem with learning that dragons might be coming for you, indeed already not just at a hypothetical future was the urgency with which you felt the need to approach your bucket list, and if you were the concerned type, other people's lives and property, "I think we need to get the captain involved because I don't know whether these things are going to be penalized for being delivered opened. I'm struggling to come to grips with the fact that magic actually exists in the universe as something that I am getting a sensor on. Where did Val go anyways, I need to consult her about ectoplasm... and letting me take images and scans of her magic styles.

Boss may not WANT the cryos thawed... He did take it well though as I explained the unintentional side effects of a desperate move calculated with good intentions... Maybe he will give the go ahead and I can see about releasing the others. He may not want more beings adding to his water recycling.

As a heads up the gremlin's name is Gryftrr and he is taking up headspace inside NOD right now. They aren't very separate. There may be a drone wearing a Holo-emitter from the bridge meandering about making a new image. If we were boring for a while then it might want to go sooner than later. I promised a cohesive system, and some upgrades if I can trust him. Y'all can start questioning them a little about themselves and I'll get clothes together. He has doubts about how boring this lot could be. Bath robes would be the simplest clothes to fabricate.

Gill said this very calmly, "Rey, this nice lady was chained to the inside of her box even after she thawed out. Think about the implications of that and then tell me you actually want to make delivery. I'm going to explain things to the Captain, I'll be back."He headed out to find Jehnko.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Mon 04 Mar.

"I thought it better to wait until our new guests had cleared the cargo bay."  Osram informed Skip.  The reasons behind that impulse, that the other cubes might be dangerous or might have the remains of other people and be of an upsetting nature, he did not mention aloud, but were easy enough to infer.

Andre squirmed visibly as the kind heart he has warred with the practical survivalist he adopted to live in a universe where a literal pinhole would kill you, slowly, painfully, inexorably, and completely. "The problem I have is not about freeing slaves that fell by us... The issue is that none of these creatures, my accidental gremlin included, are known limits. Could it kill me with its brain by interrupting my neuroelectric impulses and it would be like flipping a switch?

My mind crawls with ways we all die horribly and unknown limits are the source because I have lived in known all my life. Until... Pretty much today. I'll get some tea and robes and we will rotate them out, but no more unboxing until Captain says alright? And we get some actual in house scans on these to be sure?" he realizes he was in deep panic from demons, magic, and such. He just needed to get recentered maybe sleep and put some time into discovering a few more of the limits around him. It was a big universe after all.

The fact that Val and I are psychics never clued you in to the fact that "“There are more things in Heaven and Earth," Andre, "than are dreamt of in your philosophy?”   He paraphrases a quote, from a play he had once read many years ago, that had stuck with him.  Remind me to tell you about a few of the pirates I've fought against.
He turns back to Osram.  Agreed.  But, they're on their way out, so we can get to it in a few minutes.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:25, Tue 05 Mar.

Lilly's eyes went wide as Andre's panicked speech started spewing a lot of information (probably too much information). Either she understood what he was saying and very much was disturbed by it or she was very confused. She held tightly to the towels that served as makeshift clothing.

"You all don't seem like slavers and I appreciate the rescue, but I'd very much like to wear something warm. Could I get some clothes and to see my friends who were in cryo with me please?"

She turned and looked back at the cubes. Her voice stopped and her face turned into worry as she saw the cube that had leaked acid.

"The others...the cryo units..."

She turned to look at Skip and Osram as they seemed to be the levelheaded ones, her face now showing what she was feeling: dread. Who was going to be the one to tell her that her friends were dead in those crates? Well...except for the two children.

We don't know.  Yet, Skip tries to say diplomatically.  We didn't want to check while you were here, in case.....  He does not articulate the rest of the thought.  But, he expects she understands.
If you absolutely want to, we can open them now, right in front of you.  He gives a small shrug.  But, I don't recommend it.

Osram gave a nod, backing up Skip's sentiment.

Edwin wanted to wait and see what the lady decided. But felt it best to get her some clothes as she requested. "I'll go see about finding you some clothing." He then headed for the mess hall, maybe Val might have something or know where to look.

Lilly nodded. And just stood there watching. She wanted to know for certain.

OOC
FYI None of you have mentioned the children to her and they left before she awakened.

OOC: Actually Edwin did mention the children. msg#94

ooc: As did Skip.

Gill returned to the Cargo Bay with Captain Jehnko in tow. "Captain Jehnko, Lilly. Lilly this is our Captain, the Head Honcho in Charge, the Man himself Octavius Jehnko."

True to his words, robes and tea were acquired, he would make sure they got cycled in but he wasn't going in to the bay personally. "No. I didn't know we had psychics but brainwaves are measurable and are long time focused of study. Does anyone generate and mentally control fire or ice by chance? Metal?" He was calmer now but just wanted to know.

Captain OLJ: "Just call me Lance. I go by Lance."

Jhenko offered his hand for a handshake and Lilly shook it but didn't look at him. Her eyes were fixated on the crates waiting for them to be opened. Where the rest of the crew already knew they were lost, she hadn't gotten the details. She was holding out hope someone was alive in there.

Varghast was calmly and gently chewing and licking on the big colorful foam hat formerly known as Turd Ferguson.

OOC
No their names. The kids' names. None of you mentioned WHO survived.

"How many were you, uh, traveling with?"  Osram asked Lilly.

"The station were we took these on wasn't exactly a tight operation.  There may have been some crates  that didn't get directed into our hold."  He explained, perhaps offering a chance that others were still out there is it was more than two kids, her, and the dog.

Gill looked around and said, "Well I've done all the damage I can here. Time for a coffee break. See ya." He gave Lilly a wink as he left the room and headed for the break room...

Edwin returned to the cargo bay a few minutes after Gill had left with a jacket and several other items of clothing. Walking over near Lilly he laid the clothes and an old pair of sneakers on a crate. "Sorry ma'am its not the greatest selection of clothes but maybe you can find something for now at least to keep you warm."

"The two children, Adamus and Evelyn are they your children? I mentioned them earlier but didn't give names."

"Thanks!"

Lilly eagerly dropped her towels and began getting dressed. She was awkwardly comfortable doing that with everyone watching. That or maybe she was just so cold and stressed she wasn't thinking about.

"The two children you mentioned...their names?"

She whispered to Ed while they waited for Osram and Andre to open the last two cryocubes.

Seeing as how the invitation to avoid any potential unpleasantness has been passed upon, Osram went to work carefully cracking open the remaining cubes.  He was worried that they may contain more of whatever acidic substance was in the other failed unit.

Osram's suspicion was correct. The cryocube reeked of the same acidic substance and it was already burning through the bottom of the pod ready to leak. If the other cryocube had the same issue, they were looking at a large amount of hazardous material that could put a strain on their clean up supplies and air filters. The flooring had already endured the stress of one. Two more might actually start to poke holes which would be a pricey repair as well.

Andre immediately surmised this as well.

Lilly saw the acidic goo, gasped, and put her face in her hands holding back tears. It was clear she understood one or more of her comrades were dead. As to WHY they had melted into extremely acidic goo upon a failed cryostasis, that remained a mystery.

"Huh."  Was all Osram said in reply to the contents of the cube and the woman's reaction.

There was obviously more to do but if this substance was remains... somehow, immediate action was not the best option, all things considered.

Instead Osram did his best to re-seal the cube and quickly check the other one to confirm.

I am a sensitive, specifically an empath, not a kinetic, the former Marine informs.  My powers don't work that way.
I hate to say this, but if we could find a safe way to contain that acid, perhaps it could be used as a weapon to evade pursuers, Skip suggests.  It takes him a moment to realize that henis referring to the remains of once living people.  It is a senseless death, but that could provide some meaning to it.
It's a stretch, and he knows it.  But, his mind was thinking up possible defenses for use against those criminals' ahips, should they come face-to-face again.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Wed 06 Mar.

Andre frowned, "Please don't open the last one yet. We need more supplies to contain it. Maybe I can fashion... Something... But I'll have to just risk things I would normally rather not. Again. I took up engineering because calculations yield dependable results. People are messy, and I'm going to have to trust unknown power increase to an unknown power because at this juncture it is all I have left. I'll be in engineering... At least as much as ever making poor life choices." he was not panicking... Perhaps unfortunately resigned though as he walked back toward engineering.

Osram held his peace for the moment in the face of both Skip and Andre offering differing views on the situation.


Instead he looked the Edwin.  "Maybe it might be better to see our guest to the crew area."  Osram suggested.

Lilly looks at Skip in disgust. It was clear she was appalled.

"My friends are dead and the first thought that comes to your mind is to use them as a weapon?"

She turns away hiding her face and stepping into the airlock. It was as close to "alone" as she could get without someone using their access to open the airlock for her and escort her elsewhere. They could hear her sobbing in there.

Varghast's ears perked up for a moment but then it went back to chewing on its new toy.

---

OOC:

17:12, Today: Game Master, on behalf of Edwin Arlo Park, rolled 11 using 1d20+3. – [roll=1709766725.22814.378293]

17:11, Today: Game Master, on behalf of Skip Tracer, rolled 20 using 1d20+6. – [roll=1709766675.33873.378278]

Skip cocks his head quizzically at Lilly's tirade, looking at her intently.  His gaze follows her as she rushes off to the airlock in an indignant huff.  He turns to Osram.  Well, that's a bit melodramatic.  She's sad, but not nearly as sad as she is making herself out to be, he says quietly to his crewmates.

Osram quirked an eyebrow and grunted an acknowledgement to Skip's observation.

Nothing about this whole situation was good, looking at it from any direction.

"Soon as she's on the other side of the airlock and on her way to the kids, I'll confirm this last cube's a dud and then clean things up so none of this has the time to cause a breach."  He remarked to Skip and Ed.

Skip looks thoughtfully at the cryocubes.  I wonder if we have a beaker, or a stoppered test tube, or something, we can use to collect a sample of that acid.  I'm no xenobiologist, or any other kind of -ologist, but I wonder if that acid might be some kind of digestive enzyme.

Edwin simply nodded to Osram’s suggestion. When the lady made her feelings know and headed to the airlock Edwin followed several steps behind. He did catch Skips comment which started him thinking about their new guests.

When he reached the airlock he paused a couple steps short. Excuse me ma’am let me get the door and we will get you up to the mess hall and get you something warm to eat.

"Thank you."

Lilly kept her head down and followed Ed's lead towards the mess hall.

If you still wish to harvest the acid, roll an Alchemy check. You can choose to assist and give someone else advantage or roll separately. Assisted attempts come with a multiplier of gains if successful (x2 gains if 1 assistant, x3 gains if 3 assistants, etc.) but still might fail.

That's up to Edwin....  Skip will assist.  He is wearing an enviro suit.

Osram pulled out some cargo strapping and readied to lash the contaminated cubes together.

He planned on attaching a long lead on them so they could be pushed out of the ship but stay tethered to the hull.

That would solve the issue of acid potentially damaging the bay while allowing them to have a send off ceremony for their passenger's sakes if the contents had in fact been something worthy of such a sentiment.

However if someone wanted to try to get a sample he'd be willing to try and lend a hand,  though untrained in such things.

Jhenko (on comms): "Val's cooking dinner in the mess hall. I say we get something to eat and then have a group meeting after dinner. We need to discuss how to accommodate our guests and what our next course of action is. Don't know about the rest of you but I could sure eat."

(On Comm) "Be up in a bit Cap.  Need to get a few things back in order down here."

With Ed gone up to the mess hall, and Skip not looking like he was up to playing chemist, Osram finished strapping the cubes together, careful that there was plenty of redundancy should any of the material fail due to leaks of the contents.

He then gingerly muscled the cubes into the cargo airlock, and cycled the doors.

Once on the other side he secured the tether to the hull so they'd trail behind the ship safe and secure, then gave them a push and pull to get them outside.

Hey, if our science guy isn't going to collect the samples, I can't help him, Skip says to Osram.  But, I can give you hand with spacing them for storage.
He had known still having his enviro suit on would be useful when he came down to the cargo bay.  He helps the big with lashing the crates together and tethering them out of the ship.  Hppefully, they won't get hit by any micro-meteors or anything else.  Let's go get some of that food.

When Osram arrived at the cargo bay, he checked through the window in the door before entering just to verify nothing odd had occurred while they were all away at dinner.

Edwin followed along behind Val and the kids, listening as they talked. There was definitely something odd about the children he just wished he could place what exactly it was. When they arrived at the cargo bay nodded to Osram, "Everything still look okay. Not sure how many more surprises I can handle."

The children began playing with Varghest. Though "playing" might be stretching it. They began giving the dog-like creature commands and seemed to be measuring him with a measuring tool they found. The Varghest seemed compliant and obedient to the children like a well-trained creature.

Val stood by Ed shaking her head but whispering so the kids couldn't hear.

"Something is very strange about that woman and these kids. I don't sense danger but...It's like..."

She sighs, reluctant to say what she was thinking. Ed, Skip, and Val could all sense the trio were abnormal but not in unique ways like mutants. They were all abnormal in the same way. Which is why it was so hard to figure out what that feeling was that was bugging them.

"They almost give me similar vibes as the gremlin. Like they're otherworldly spirits instead of people. Is that terrible of me to say?"

"You say that like at this point it's not outside the truth that they might be from somewhere else."  Osram rumbled softly.

"That thing, didn't evolve on any of the plants that humans have set foot on that I'm aware of."  He continued with a nod towards Varghest.

"So that means either there's some top secret spot somewhere growing folks and monsters completely isolated from the rest of humanity for whatever reason, or they're definitely not from anywhere around here.  The fact that we're on a ship that's now inhabited from some being from another dimension or whatever Dre's been rambling about, kind of makes that a whole lot less far fetched than it would have been when I first signed onto this ship."

Edwin nodded to Val and then again as Osram spoke. "I agree, unfortunately I don't think they trust us enough to tell us the whole story. Can't say I blame them though after being locked up in those cyounits."

He watched the children and varghest as they played. "Maybe Skip and Gill can get something useful out of Lilly."

"Maybe it's just best if we find out where they'd like to go and get there there as expediently as possible.  The less time they're on the ship, the less time there is for us to get even more caught up in whatever trouble they're undoubtedly connected to."  Osram proposed.

The kids continued "playing" with Varghest. Measuring and weighing its body parts and having it perform basic tricks like "sit", "stay", "open mouth", "close eyes", etc. One could swear they were examining the beast the way a doctor would a patient and it was very well trained. What's also strange is the kids are giving it commands in Roswellian rather than English. At one point they told it to do something and its eyes seemed to glow for a second. All four of them closing at once made it look almost like they were all one big eye.

"Well yeah. The barghest is a mythical canine. Clearly not of Earth origin. Probably from the same dimension as the gremlin--"

She stops.

"Wait a minute. Where is the gremlin? I have a few questions for the little bastard..."

"Uh, technically everywhere I think."  Osram informed Val.  "The way Dre explained it, somehow that thing got combined with NOD, so I assume wherever NOD was or could be communicated with, whatever we're calling the combination of the two of also."

That wasn't something that filled Osram with calm and content feelings, but since neither Andre nor the Captain were treating it like a big problem, Osram was content to just get by with the new normal.  NOD might have just been a machine, but it'd never appeared to logically harbor them any ill will.  The gremlin was another matter.

The children suddenly get a ping on their comms. When did they get comms? They seem worried.

Adamus: "Lilly! Repeat that. Did you say there's a gremlin aboard?"

"Yeah, what Osram said. The little guy is basically part of the ship for now."

Then Adamus started talking to Lilly over his comms, which Edwin was almost certain he hadn't had moments earlier. "Well now things possibly get worse. Or we get some answers. Hope it's the latter."

The kids look at the adults.

Adamus: "Part the ship? It's already integrating? Gremlins are dangerous! They like to destroy mechanical equipment by getting into its inner workings! We have to purge it immediately! Where is your ship's core?"

"Woah, now."  Osram cautioned.

"No one's purging nothing.  If you guys know something, give us the whole story, then we'll talk with our engineer.  If anybody is going to purge anything from our systems, it'll be his call."

The kids began pushing past Val to head back further into the ship with their "dog" following them.

Adamus: "We have to find your core and purge it of the gremlin!"

Evelyn: "Why isn't Lilly responding?"

While Val was playing the part of roadblock, Osram took a few steps and reached out to hit the emergency lock down on the door between the cargo bay and the rest of the ship.

"Like I said, nobody is purging anything until this gets sorted out."  He declared.

Osram then tried to get ahold of what was once NOD.  "Uh, not NOD.  Can you patch us through to wherever Gil and Lilly are?"

The emergency lockdown blocked the kids' path and they turned and looked at Osram.

Adamus: "You're keeping us prisoner too? I thought you were friendly!"

Evelyn: "They're just like the pirates!"

Varghest growled. The kids looked like they were ready for a fight...despite barely being 4 feet tall and unarmed.

Gryfter/NOD: "Just call me Gryftrr. You can use your comms. They're not locked. Lilly just isn't responding because she's busy. Skip didn't want her hands touching anything so he got the draw on her if you know what I mean. Hehehe."

It was surreal to hear the AI chuckle maliciously. It was almost as if it didn't like Lilly.

Val kept trying to calm down the children as they got increasingly close to throwing a tantrum.

"Friendly goes both ways kids,"  Osram stated, crossing his arms as he stood in front of the door.

"And friends don't just go touching their friends stuff, when they've been asked not to do it."

Trying to be reasonable he continued, "Now, if you want to talk to Lilly, just start talking and, uh, Gryfter here, will transmit it to where she is.  You can also just do what was asked a few moments ago and start explaining why you think things need to be reset.  If you have a good reason, then we'll talk to Andre and you can help him do that if he agrees."

The kids look at each other and ponder Osram's words. Then Evelyn begins petting Varghest to calm it down.

Adamus resorts to diplomacy: "Lilly is not responding. I am worried. Your AI sounds familiar. If it is infected with a gremlin, then you're in as much danger as we are. I do not want to 'touch your things', I merely want to protect our friend Lilly and ourselves."

The kids spoke in a rather adult manner. And refer to Lilly as their friend, not their guardian or mother or aunt or whatever.

Osram opened the com to Gill.

"Gil, if you got Lilly with you, can you ask her to talk to the kids?  They're down here in the cargo bay listening, and are worried about her for some reason."

The kids look quizzically at each other but Varghest begins to calm down.

Adamus: "Are you certain? ... Well. If you say so."

"Ok, now that everyone's calmed down, did you want to try explaining what all that was about?"  Osram asked the two children.

"If there's danger, then that's information that we'd like to hear, as to what the danger is and why it's a danger."

The children look at each other then look at Osram.

Evelyn: "Gremlins are dangerous ectoplasmic entities which often invade starships to disrupt their systems and cause catastrophic malfunctions."

Adamus: "Normally, the presence of a gremlin would follow with a lot of system failures, but it seems your ship is operating properly. And Lilly would not lie to us."

Evelyn: "Lilly would not lie to us."

They stare at Osram unironically confident in those words.

Osram nodded.  "Got it.  So do you know why these gremlins often invade and cause malfunctions?"  He asked.

Adamus: "They revel in the destruction of starships."

Evelyn: "They enjoy destroying technology."

Edwin had stayed out of the conversation, preferring to just watch and listen. As things calmed down he spoke up, "Adamus, Evelyn why don't I walk you back to your quarters so you can talk with Lilly."

He opened the door and waited for the two to precede him. "Once the captain get brought up to speed and things sorted out I'm sure we can reach an amicable agreement. If you need anything just let us know."

After they reached the quarters he headed on to the Mess Hall.