: Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : Posted by Civilian Nicodarius-Nico (Captain's Companion) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : : Posted by Fleet Captain Ghubari Koraia (CO) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Kaylee Baxter (Chief Diplomatic Officer) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : : : : : Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : : : : : : Posted by Civilian Nicodarius-Nico (Captain's Companion) in 17/18 Forward- Late Night
: : : (snip)
: : : : : : : : : “interesting” Stark said with a range of appropriate inflections and a small smile of his own.
: : : : :
: : : : : “I do remember when my mother was with us, even if it was just for a short time,” Kaylee said. “While I did enjoy having her on board, and I know we had some jolly times,” She shifted her gaze to Stark and gave him a wink. Then she looked back towards Ghubari.
: : : : :
: : : : : “It was bittersweet to see her go,” Kaylee continued. “But in the end, it was best for both of us.”
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: : : “That I fully understand,” Ghubari said with a nod.
: : :
: : : : : : : : : : While she was not upset, Nightskin was a bit melancholy, and happy at the same time. The old one was leaving to be with mindscanner on his flying city. That meant Nico had gotten out of his perch, and bounced off Konral’s stomach before hopping to the floor, then climbed up and opened the vent at the top of the bookshelf. Then carefully worked his way through the lifesupport vents system to the lounge. That was how if anyone happened to glance up, there was a little furry bottom hanging out of a vent slowly backing its way out. It was wearing a familiar back pack as well.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : Nico the Tree Cat
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : Stark looked up and stood slightly to the side to catch the little feline should it be necessary.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Fingers still moving along the keys, Ghubari glanced up at her companion. “You know, I knew you had your way around the ship, but there restrictions, my friend.” She stopped playing and patted the top of the piano. “Your secret is out, so you might as well join us,” she assed in a tone that was both fond and slightly admonishing.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Fl. Captain Koraia, CO
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Nico bleeked, the sound echoed out of several vents as he maneuvered clear of the one he worked himself out from. Somehow holding himself in the air while placing the vent cover back in place. Then Nico hopped, kinda jumped from the bent to the rail on the upper part of the lounge. Swarming over the rail he came down the stairs towards the piano as is he was walking to Pomp and Circumstance, tail flirting in the air, just a little princeling making his way over to the Queen. He waved at Stark and Kaylee, whom he did not really know, but had met before, he thought. At just over a meter long, and weighing about thirty five kilograms there was a solid sound as Nico jumped up onto the Piano as requested, and then melted into a puddle of purrs, and nigh impossibility to stay cross at. He looked at Ghubari with grass green eyes that slid shut in ultimate trust.
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: : : : : : : Nico the Treecat
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: : : : : : “If I had a face like that I could steal a palace”. Stark said with a smile, “Alas my own visage does not engender such trust and forgiveness”.
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: : : : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
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: : : : : “Well hello there,” Kaylee said to Nico, partially in surprise and a kind of greeting to the creature. She wasn’t sure that she had ever really interacted with him.
: : : : :
: : : Ghubari reached out a dark hand and stroked Nico affectionately on his head, exactly the way he liked it. It was never something he had communicated with her, just something she had somehow always known since they bonded.
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: : : : : To Stark, she said. “I think I would have to disagree with you, my friend. You know how to turn on the charm when it best suits you.” She smiled and took another sip of her wine.
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: : : : :
: : : : : -Kaylee Baxter
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: : : : “Very kind” Stark said in way of a reply to Kaylee’s comment , “I’m sure I learnt all I know of diplomacy from you… and perhaps your mother”. He returned the wink and then deadpanned “She was so diplomatic and demure”.
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: : : : Stark Nightstalker CIO
: : :

Kaylee grinned at the sentiment. The short time her mother had been on board the Athena had been enlightening for them all. Of course, her mother had inserted herself into the lives of Kaylee’s closest friends, and left her impression on each of them.

: : “Stark has definitely learned to change in the last years. We all have, in our way,” Koraia said. “I mean, did any of us think I’d ever get married? Certainly not I. But here I am. And I’m happy. It’s hard to remember when I could have said that truthfully before in my life.” She still was showing Nico affection and it was clear the creature had a calming effect on her.

: :

: : Fl. Captain Koraia, CO

:

: Nico leaned into the affection, and honestly did care if the others knew that he had a calming effect on the Captain, he was just happy he did. Shadow Brother was smart, so he likely had figured out the depth of the connection between the critter and the Captain. To Nico it was just the way of things, it was the way of his people since they had first encountered Humans, Humans protected the people, and the people helped the Humans. Few were like Nico and Adopted a person directly, but they had to give a reason to the Humans to protect them other than they were cute and could do little human things with their hands. The first adoption had been an accident. After they were carefully chosen children, which were adopted. Those that showed a penchant for good nature, leadership, and drive. Few had begun to sense the overall plan back on Veldt, at least that was what the Humans called it. The people just called it home, The Governor was an adoptee, so was his primary advisors for Defense, and the Ministry of the Interior. None of this mattered, at least not to Nico, not at this moment, it was a rippling purr that emanated from his as he lounged indolently atop the music thing the Captain loved to play with. It made pretty sounds but Nico did not understand how. The how of things Nico did want to know, he was innately, and insanely curious, that was how he found his hidden highway among the flying city. Few places he could not get to. Some he left alone out of respect. Like anything that was Shadow Brothers he only want to when asked.

:

: Nico the Treecat

: Stark watched the enigmatic little being with a small smile on his grizzled features. It brought him comfort that Nico was part of Ghubari’s life, he had almost forgotten the circumstances that had made it all necessary. He was happy now that she who supported them all now had support of her own on all levels physical, mental and spiritual. : Stark Nightstalker CIO

“We have all changed and grown over the years, haven’t we?” Kaylee said. “I was sad when my time here on the Athena came to an end, but there was a new chapter waiting for me. Who would have ever thought that my path would bring me back here, to some of the people I care about the most?”

-Kaylee Baxter

USS Athena