*Some hours and a delicious meal later, they make a much smoother descent to Aether's surface than on Samus' previous visit. (The absence of world-scouring thunderstorms may be an aid in that direction.) Landing at the periphery of some kind of temple complex, they disembark to clear blue skies, gentle breezes, and the sweet fragrance of alien flowers. Welcome, Doctor, to a planet that doesn't much resemble a Welsh quarry. Their only welcoming party, however, is the silent monoliths that dot the temple grounds.*
Here we are, Aether, better than when I left it. Ah, let me know if you see any big wasps, there was a little problem with them before.
Ali takes in the scene, and the scent, with a smile. It is a beautiful and serene spot, and makes her inclined to relax. Samus' warning about the wasps is well-timed in that regard, and Ali tucks a hand under her himation. "The shoot-on-sight sort of problem?"
When the Doctor disembarks, he tucks his hands into his pockets and breathes deeply- another sign, Samus may someday learn, of a pretty hardy sort of trust- enjoying the clear day for as long as he's got a hold of it, as he doesn't know where they're headed from here. His hesitation to leave the ship at first was more one of unease, having been accustomed to the atmosphere scanners of the TARDIS; he's quite thankful, however, that he overcame that and exited of his own accord after all.
He studies the landscape and the architecture, doing a good job of not searching for the natives like some ignorant tourist. He'll have plenty of time to face them them politely in the near future, he expects. However... "Wasps?" he inquires, raising a brow.
*Samus has opted to answer Ali's question first, but will clarify for the doctor's sake.*
War wasps. The size of your leg, plus wings. In armor, they're a nuisance. Hopefully, the Luminoth will have cleared them out of the temple grounds by now, but I don't trust my life to hope--or yours. Shall we?
*She prowls toward the entrance, a gaping arch flanked by huge caryatids of moth-like bipeds--presumably the Luminoth they seek. Within the temple, sculptural pieces emit nebulous glows or sharp beams of light at key places, making the play of light and shadow as much a part of the sculpture as the matter itself.*
*Also within the temple, stepping into view from where it stood in the shadows, is one of the creatures seen in the statues outside. Like two enormous feathers, the frilled antennae on its head wave back and forth as it surveys the new arrivals.*
Ali will let the Doctor follow first, taking a moment to scan the perimeter like any well-trained warrior expecting a trap. When her hand emerges again, cupped behind it is a very small gun, which she keeps out until their host makes itself known.
"Samus is very careful," she murmurs to the Doctor before they're quite at the entrance, "but don't worry. We probably won't have to shoot anything today, or even seriously threaten. She's getting much better about that."
"Is she, then?" he murmurs back, not quite able to hide the bit of green around his gills at the sight of weaponry, but making no comments otherwise. It isn't as if he doesn't have enough experience under his belt with the dreadful things, though by the looks of it, he'd rather leave that bit of experience under the belt where it won't bother the rest.
When he enters the temple, however, he has clearly forgotten the gun business in favor of staring with unabashed wonder at the artifacts around them. The hands in his pockets ball into excited fists and he ALMOST bounces on his heels, but not quite- no going off to explore or study until he's certain at least not to get shot at for it. Doesn't stop him looking, though. When he catches a glimpse of the creature, he watches curiously from behind Samus, fairly biting his tongue to keep quiet. He's heard of these- great many fascinating things about them- but never had the time to pursue diplomatic relations, and he certainly isn't the bowler of this inning, as it were.
*That she supplies in a wryly amused murmur. But there is a Luminoth to greet, and it isn't U-Mos. She looks up at the native (it's their planet, after all, which makes Samus et al the aliens), who stands a little more than twice her height, then imitates a gesture she recalled from her last visit: she brings her right hand, open, across her chest, inclining her head toward their host.*
[Forgive the intrusion. I am Samus Aran, and bring with me Ali and the Doctor, trusted friends for whom I make myself responsible here. We hoped to speak with U-Mos, if he is available.]
*The language she speaks isn't English, nor is it GalStan West, but the earbuds dutifully provide a translation that mostly obscures the trills and sibilant purrs she produces. The Luminoth replies in kind.*
[I know of you, S-Mus Lightbearer, and am certain your friends will be welcome. I am J-Trl, custodian of these temple grounds. I fear U-Mos is not available at the moment, but perhaps I may be of some service in the interim?]
Ali didn't say anything she minds Samus having heard; anyway, truth is an absolute defense. She knows Samus heard. She also notices the Doctor's reaction--but she's not going to stop carrying it. She'll just try to keep it under wraps more often.
The statues are beautiful, and certainly distracting, but even more interesting to her is the native language. Ali fairly hangs on every word, trying to learn as much as she can--but she's still got enough sense to put a hand on the Doctor's arm so he can't go wandering off without her.
Hey, if he's going to go exploring, she's going too!
He, as well, hangs onto the words, though his study of the language is in a different fashion. Hie eyes dart between the countenances of Samus and J-Trl, and with slight irritation, he takes out one of the earbuds. Even though it sets the translations off a bit, he still seems to be doing a job of his own, his lips moving without sound and his throat wrenching in a quick succession of swallowing motions, or so it looks. He coughs without realizing it, though he doesn't look distressed, and when his muscles are conditioned enough to follow his train of thought, the odd sound slips out before he realizes he's even made it.
[Certain.] It's halting and difficult to discern, as foreign tongue often is to the newly learning, and hardly above what a human would call a whisper; he claps his hand over his mouth the moment it comes out, shaking his head to indicate he wasn't trying to converse. He isn't even sure of what he said- the lack of one earpiece makes it all a bit garbled, though he trusts Samus' lingual skills. Mildly
( ... )
*J-Trl's head swivels toward the Doctor, and inclines slightly in acknowledgment. Samus raises a brow, but doesn't otherwise comment on it. Rather, she keeps on-task, answering the question posed.*
[Perhaps. We have been having difficulty with some of our energy-control systems, and hoped the wisdom of the Luminoth might succeed where our own knowledge could not.]
*J-Trl strokes the tips of its fingers and thumb on one hand together in thought for a moment before answering.*
[I do not believe U-Mos could help you. The Sentinel of Light is chief among us in the ways of war, but what you seek is the province of another discipline. You should speak with K-Vus, in the Sanctuary no longer a Fortress. I can show you the way, if you like.]
Ali flashes the Doctor a smile as she takes his arm, the look in her eyes sympathetic to his troubles. It's hard for her, too, to be surrounded by awesome things she's not allowed to explore. But instead of saying anything that might be taken the wrong way by their charming host, she gives the Doctor's arm a squeeze and a look that promises they'll get to have more fun soon.
He acknowledges the squeeze with a less chastised grin, his eyes going back to their dash between the speakers, though this time he makes an effort not to follow the sounds on his own. He'll have plenty of time to learn the language itself later; for now, it's more prudent to keep in line with the discussion at hand and to...
Well, he couldn't help it, really- the single step toward a particularly catching sculpture. It simply calls to him.
[We both do. They're awesome.] Two items of note about Ali's statement: she uses "awesome" in the sense of inspiring awe and wonder, and she speaks the native language with the smooth unaccented flow with which she speaks her mother tongue (that is to say, French; English was her father's language). [Thank you for sharing them with us. We are truly honored.]
He turns back to the grand creature and opens his mouth to speak, but finds himself silenced by Ali's quicker response, deciding instead to merely nod and give a respectful bow, letting his face fall expressionless.
[I am pleased to hear it. I hope you will make time to further explore the temple grounds, once your needs allow. If you will accompany me?]
*J-Trl strides past them, leading the way back outside and through the temple grounds. Many of the steps up or down are comfortable for the long-limbed Luminoth, but are perhaps less so for his guests. As he walks, J-Trl expounds on the monoliths in whose shadows they walk, and the riot of vegetation around them--springy grasses underfoot, billowing ferns and coy flowers that clench translucent petals closed whenever a shadow falls across them.*
[It is only now that we have begun to recover, and rebuild our shattered ecosystem. There was fear for a time that much had been lost, and much else changed, but by the Light's grace I was able to find remnants of the old foliage still clinging to life, and coaxed that life back into these grounds. It has been deeply gratifying to create beauty again, after so long.]
Here we are, Aether, better than when I left it. Ah, let me know if you see any big wasps, there was a little problem with them before.
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He studies the landscape and the architecture, doing a good job of not searching for the natives like some ignorant tourist. He'll have plenty of time to face them them politely in the near future, he expects. However... "Wasps?" he inquires, raising a brow.
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*Samus has opted to answer Ali's question first, but will clarify for the doctor's sake.*
War wasps. The size of your leg, plus wings. In armor, they're a nuisance. Hopefully, the Luminoth will have cleared them out of the temple grounds by now, but I don't trust my life to hope--or yours. Shall we?
*She prowls toward the entrance, a gaping arch flanked by huge caryatids of moth-like bipeds--presumably the Luminoth they seek. Within the temple, sculptural pieces emit nebulous glows or sharp beams of light at key places, making the play of light and shadow as much a part of the sculpture as the matter itself.*
*Also within the temple, stepping into view from where it stood in the shadows, is one of the creatures seen in the statues outside. Like two enormous feathers, the frilled antennae on its head wave back and forth as it surveys the new arrivals.*
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"Samus is very careful," she murmurs to the Doctor before they're quite at the entrance, "but don't worry. We probably won't have to shoot anything today, or even seriously threaten. She's getting much better about that."
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When he enters the temple, however, he has clearly forgotten the gun business in favor of staring with unabashed wonder at the artifacts around them. The hands in his pockets ball into excited fists and he ALMOST bounces on his heels, but not quite- no going off to explore or study until he's certain at least not to get shot at for it. Doesn't stop him looking, though. When he catches a glimpse of the creature, he watches curiously from behind Samus, fairly biting his tongue to keep quiet. He's heard of these- great many fascinating things about them- but never had the time to pursue diplomatic relations, and he certainly isn't the bowler of this inning, as it were.
Reply
*That she supplies in a wryly amused murmur. But there is a Luminoth to greet, and it isn't U-Mos. She looks up at the native (it's their planet, after all, which makes Samus et al the aliens), who stands a little more than twice her height, then imitates a gesture she recalled from her last visit: she brings her right hand, open, across her chest, inclining her head toward their host.*
[Forgive the intrusion. I am Samus Aran, and bring with me Ali and the Doctor, trusted friends for whom I make myself responsible here. We hoped to speak with U-Mos, if he is available.]
*The language she speaks isn't English, nor is it GalStan West, but the earbuds dutifully provide a translation that mostly obscures the trills and sibilant purrs she produces. The Luminoth replies in kind.*
[I know of you, S-Mus Lightbearer, and am certain your friends will be welcome. I am J-Trl, custodian of these temple grounds. I fear U-Mos is not available at the moment, but perhaps I may be of some service in the interim?]
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The statues are beautiful, and certainly distracting, but even more interesting to her is the native language. Ali fairly hangs on every word, trying to learn as much as she can--but she's still got enough sense to put a hand on the Doctor's arm so he can't go wandering off without her.
Hey, if he's going to go exploring, she's going too!
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[Certain.] It's halting and difficult to discern, as foreign tongue often is to the newly learning, and hardly above what a human would call a whisper; he claps his hand over his mouth the moment it comes out, shaking his head to indicate he wasn't trying to converse. He isn't even sure of what he said- the lack of one earpiece makes it all a bit garbled, though he trusts Samus' lingual skills. Mildly ( ... )
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[Perhaps. We have been having difficulty with some of our energy-control systems, and hoped the wisdom of the Luminoth might succeed where our own knowledge could not.]
*J-Trl strokes the tips of its fingers and thumb on one hand together in thought for a moment before answering.*
[I do not believe U-Mos could help you. The Sentinel of Light is chief among us in the ways of war, but what you seek is the province of another discipline. You should speak with K-Vus, in the Sanctuary no longer a Fortress. I can show you the way, if you like.]
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Well, he couldn't help it, really- the single step toward a particularly catching sculpture. It simply calls to him.
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*Their host notices the Doctor's interest.*
[You enjoy our sculptures, D-ktr?]
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*J-Trl strides past them, leading the way back outside and through the temple grounds. Many of the steps up or down are comfortable for the long-limbed Luminoth, but are perhaps less so for his guests. As he walks, J-Trl expounds on the monoliths in whose shadows they walk, and the riot of vegetation around them--springy grasses underfoot, billowing ferns and coy flowers that clench translucent petals closed whenever a shadow falls across them.*
[It is only now that we have begun to recover, and rebuild our shattered ecosystem. There was fear for a time that much had been lost, and much else changed, but by the Light's grace I was able to find remnants of the old foliage still clinging to life, and coaxed that life back into these grounds. It has been deeply gratifying to create beauty again, after so long.]
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