Video | backdated to a few days after the jump

[tarred]

[It’s been a long few days for the Tarrs. It’s not the first time they’ve been awoken from stasis of some kind, but the apparent lack of proper bathing facilities made it a far ruder awakening than last time. Luckily, they discovered the inadequate-but-not-actively-insulting bathrooms on the residential floors before anybody tried to make them use the showers.

And now they appear on the network, calm and composed. They would look more or less like a human couple, if their unnaturally pale complexions didn’t give them away as something else. The man in the video speaks, projecting his voice as if addressing a crowd.]

My name is Datak Tarr, and this is Stahma. I am informed that none of you are responsible for kidnapping myself and my wife from our home. Be aware that if I find I have been lied to, none of you will be making it to -

[Before Datak can continue, a smaller, but firm hand appears on his shoulder, pressing down reassuringly. He glances at its owner and falls silent, letting her speak for now.]

We are certain this is not the case, of course. This rather-- unpleasant situation seems to be a misunderstanding, at worst. We are willing to talk about this civilly in a manner that befits all parties, if you allow us. In fact, sitting down to discuss this sounds like a wonderful opportunity to know our new neighbours. After all, it seems we may be in each other’s company for a while.

[At this point, Datak gives her a smile that should indicate gratefulness, but looks more like a signal to stop talking. When she does, he turns back to the camera and continues his speech.]

As you may have noticed, we are not human. While we are quite familiar with your kind, I understand that few of you are familiar with Castithans. I would like to speak to any of you who are, as well as any other people who originate somewhere other than on Earth.

Finally, I find myself in need of someone with engineering skills. It seems as if there are no baths of a civilised size on board this ship, and I would like to see this remedied as soon as possible. I'm sure we can come to some sort of deal for payment.

[He smiles a little, well aware that the request will seem strange to the apes on board and wanting to seem disarming about it. It's a mask for his disgust at being unable to bathe properly since arriving. Bath attendants may be too much to ask for, but being forced to bathe in single-person bathtubs is humiliating.]

Comments

[ancientalien]

[Javik's initial investigation of the messaging system contained in the small, primitive device had yielded little of interest, seeming to be only a source of mindless chatter for the humans aboard. But a few days in, with annoying flashes of emotion and fumbling human fingers had left him with little else to do. The ship had little to offer in the way of answers, and it seemed like the other prisoners were the only source of real information. So the message interests him enough to bother to figure out the video function (it is not difficult, it is an incredibly simplistic machine, worse, even, than those aboard the Normandy) and address the two strangers on the other line.]

I have found all human bathing facilities to be grossly inadequate. [the irritation in his voice is plain, and it is mirroed on his face and in his stiff posture] Their concept of hygiene is still primitive. They do not even have basic cleaning facilities in their rooms.

[Javik had remedied that almost immediately, his caution in dealing with the ship took a back seat and he stole a large bowl from the kitchens and filled it with water every few hours. It was something, if not ideal.]

I do not know the Castithans. You must be a fairly recent race, what planet are you from?

[They appeared nearly human, but even he could see they were not. Which was an annoyance; they had been allowed to keep their bodies when his had been stripped from him. A torment reserved for him and the few other crew members aboard. Possibly their already quite-human, primitive forms had been torture enough for a lifetime.]

video;

[longestnose]

You do realize that a great many of us are not of the race of men.

And I am sorry to tell you, but no one is going to answer your questions on the kidnapping. There is no bargaining with our captors.

video

[theswordofthejedi]

[Jaina doesn't have any reaction to the duo's appearance. She's grown up around all sorts of species. The thought of someone looking too "alien" isn't one she can really grasp.]

Never heard of Earth, but I've never heard of Castithans either.

[She pauses for a second, debating.]

I do know how to build stuff, though, so if nobody else makes an offer, I can help with the bath thing.

[Why not? It'll give her something to do to keep herself preoccupied and she's enough of her mother's daughter to know that having connections outside of those from her galaxy isn't necessarily a bad thing.]

video;

[finer]

It is a great oversight on our part, so do accept my apologies. They are a majority from where we've been removed.

But do tell me more about your race, if it pleases you.

[finer]

It is rather unfortunate, is it not? We have to put with the indignity of indiscriminate grouping under such inhospitable circumstances, but our keeprs do not express the courtesy of proper accommodation. I am glad to find a kindred spirit who understands this inconvenience.

[ancientalien]

[Javik was not surprised that the rest room facilities aboard this ship were less than adequate, despite the fact that certain fittings suggested a level of luxury not usually found aboard a military vessel. Still-]

Keepers? You would do better to say captors. To expect any amount of courtesy from them would be a mistake, even if they were not human.

[He was still quite mad about the inability to keep this filthy form truly clean, but he had to admit that their continued existence was something that, had he run the ship, would not have been allowed.]

video;

[longestnose]

I have heard such the thing of Earth.

[Which may be a different version of Middle Earth, but not so easily to tell.]

I am of the race of dwarves. We are not as tall as men, but do not appear as the...short-people of humans? Those they call dwarves, or midgets, I suppose.

[leaps]

What do you mean by civilized size?

[video]

[elvenking]

Many of us are neither human nor from Earth. You are fortunate, at least, to have arrived together.

[It's been a while since he saw his wife. Kind of sucks.]

Some worlds have legends of my people. Know you of Elves, on Castitha?

[tarred]

[Odd. The man looks entirely human, but speaks as if he isn't.]

I suspect it's less that we're a new race and more that our planets no longer exist. We originate from the Votanis system, and unfortunately, not many of us made it out in time.

[He doesn't sound particularly perturbed by this fact. It's old news, practically from another life, and his new life has treated him well.]

video

[tarred]

Oh, I have no intention of bargaining with our captors. [His tone makes it clear he has more intention of slitting their throats]

[finer]

I would not dissent so soon after my arrival and on an open network. But there is truth to your words.

video

[tarred]

[Datak hesitates. A human who's never heard of Earth? Or is she another non-human who looks like one? It's going to be inconvenient if there are many of those. But asking would betray ignorance, so he'll just have to try and work it out while they talk.]

And what is your price for helping with the "bath thing"?

video;

[finer]

And I am sure your stature is only indicative of nobility. You seem to be of an old race, is that not?

[tarred]

We Castithans believe in communal bathing. [In the same tone of voice as one might say, "I believe in putting clothes on before leaving the house."]

Since it is only my wife and I here, our needs are quite modest.

[video]

[finer]

So I have been corrected, if you'd forgive my assumption.

We may not have had the pleasure of knowing your kind where we come from, but I would certainly to learn more.

[video]

[tarred]

Our planets were Daribo and Casti. And no, we had no legends of Elves.

[For one thing, he's doubtful that whatever race this man is from is impressive enough to inspire legends.]

[tinytactician]

They brought both of you?

[video]

[elvenking]

Of my race, Lady, before you learn my name?

[He doesn't sound offended? He sounds neutral, really. Testing. Figuring out what this bizarre culture is like, and what their protocol is. For all his years as king, he's only had so many foreign relations to worry about.]

[video]

[elvenking]

I beg your pardon. [Spoken politely, but without real remorse.] Then there would be much more to tell you than otherwise, if you would learn. But I may only speak broadly, for we have our own customs and cultures among us.

video

[theswordofthejedi]

[She knows they likely didn't arrive on board with much to barter with and, well, she's a Jedi. That means she's supposed to help if she can. She can practically hear her Uncle Luke saying as much.

But it'd be pretty stupid to not want something in exchange, too. It's not like she's building something to aid the whole ship.

Hmm.

She shrugs slightly.]

Depends on what you have to offer, I guess, and how big the bath is you want built.

[ancientalien]

They would do well to expect more than dissent from me.

[Apparently without any sense of self-preservation. He read about the mysterious death of the man who knew too much. It was just proof, to him, that those who claimed to be the surviving members of the previous crew were liars. Dangerous. Javik knew what to do with dangerous people. If they ever had the courage to show their faces again.]

[ancientalien]

[Javik doesn't recognize the system's name. It doesn't mean much, names were fluid. They could even be from another galaxy, if the "jump" technology was to be believed.]

Your people were attacked?

[video]

[finer]

You already have mine, sir. I shall await your introduction to me patiently until you see it fit to tell me.

[finer]

Is that not the norm?