Log:Artemis' Off Planet Request

2019/09/25 	 Dorian Artemis Rangel Victory|Wade

1

Starguard HQ

Artemis strides through the entrance, walking across the black tiled floor as she looks around. She's had some familiarity with Starguard. When she and Nohrbor crash landed on Earth, they had to deal with the agency and eventually be integrated into 'Urth Society'. There was limited success on that point.

The receptionist looks up at Artemis, "Yes? Maybe I help you?"

The man at the desk smiles. "Just one moment." He calls back to the commander using a messaging system. Artemis can hear Dorian's response, 'I'll be right out'. The receptionist nods and says to Artemis, "He'll be out in just a minute."

Artemis raises her eyebrows in pleasant supplies. "Oh! That was much simpler than I expected." After all, in her duty as assistant at Wolfram and Wolfram, it's her job to ensure no one speaks to the partners. At least, that's what -she- understands her job to be. She steps aside and waits.

Not too long after the arrival of the fire-headed sword-wielding maniacal lady, there comes the arrival of the tawny-yellow spotted fur coated bow-wielding maniacal lady. Neither of which are really up to par for the term "lady". "Oh, hey, Guardian," Rangel hails in a casual tone, pleasantly. "What brings you into the space cop shop?" Pause. "Uh. That's slang. There is no shopping for police officers by distance or by extra-atmospherics."

"At least, not officially."

Artemis turns towards Rangel and flashes a broad smile. "Space," she answers quite literally. It's not a wrong answer. She seems about to ask a question when Rangel clarifies the shop comment. She nods once. "Understood."

Dorian comes out to the front a couple of minutes later. He's in full uniform today, as he often is when in the building. He waves to Rangel, and then nods to the woman there to meet with him. "Artemis, right?" He offers a hand to Artemis to shake.

Rangel is wearing the armband with the Starguard logo on both arms, just in case she needs more visibility on it than single arm. One of the arms lifts to wave, then moves slightly toward a salute, caught in uncertainty. A quick thought suggests casual. She does not salute. "Hiya."

Artemis turns towards Dorian and...looks down at the shorter man. He's not what she expected, some grander stature in mind based on Wade's description of him. "Yes, Artemis," she smiles and Dorian and gives him a firm handshake.

Dorian smiles. "Commander Perrault. Spirit. It's nice to meet you. I should thank you for helping with the uvzo situation. That could have gotten more out of hand than it did. So..thank you."

Dorian doesn't seem to be offended by Rangel's casual greeting. He seems to lean more toward the casual way of doing things, at least when dealing with metas.

Being thanked for that is the last thing Artemis expected. Especially since Wade was so concerned about being reprimanded harshly over it. She thinks maybe she can help with that. "It was Victory who got the situation under control. I do hope that Starguard maintains their policy of no uvzos being imported and slaugthered planet-side."

A sound of "Ooh I gotta try that..." emits from Rangel with a moment of research as she looks up what uvzo might be. The device she uses is quickly put back into sleep mode and tucked into a special pouch in her harness that eliminates most of the high-pitched buzzing humans don't notice from the stupid things but Rangel sure notices.

Dorian nods. "I believe that's the plan. Gamma doesn't really make policy. We're required to enforce it when the bureaucrats do. But I've been lobbying for having any slaugthering happen off-planet. Perhaps in orbit. Or on Luna. The live animals are a bit too dangerous to allow on the planet.

"Just goes to show you that adorability is probably the worst measurement of safety imaginable," Rangel adds helpfully.

Artemis thinks for a moment on her promise to Swarmer, unsure if that would still fulfill it to the letter. "I hope for no slaugther. It seems one of our number who could communicate with them considered them intelligent."

Dorian raises a brow. "Do they have a...language? If this is a matter of someone being able to talk to animals, then we don't really have a way to prove intelligence."

"I don't think they have the capability of speech as Urthers understand it," Artemis says. She adds with a smile, "But that does not mean they lack self awareness. I've met a number of sentient races who, by that definition, would not qualify."

"Well, kind of," Rangel offers. "I mean you can get samples of higher thought functions if that's good enough. Deductive reasoning might be sufficient. The ability to be told a lie and disbelieve, uh... tell them they can exchange a thing for something else... there's weird stuff that beings that put importance on intellect do that other creatures don't."

Dorian nods. "I'm a physicist. I'm not a behavior specialist or a xenobiologist, so it's a bit outside of my expertise. I can pass on your concerns, but I suspect based on the chef and his clientele, that it will be a hard sell to view the uvzos as intelligent." He smiles. "But...I also suspect that's not why you came to speak to me."

"And I'm a hunter of dangerously smart targets, or was," Rangel says. "Still can be, just not for the same reasons. If any of them get away I can probably track and pacify. No death. Probably."

Dorian chuckles at Rangel's comment, "Let's try to avoid that necessity."

"Well, trust the lawbreakers to say it is fine," Artemis sniffs. "I hope it does not come to that," she says with a glance to Rangel.

Rangel smiles. "I figure you're liable to call on someone who's good at doing what I can do if containment is breached given it's an alien presence so that's our thing. When I say pacify it's exclusively a non-lethal job."

Artemis comes back to the topic at hand. "Well...we shall see how things go." She wonders if Wade told his commander about her conflict of interest here. Maybe Spirit is too nice to say. "But that is not why I came here to speak with you."

Dorian nods and smiles. "Okay. So, what is the reason?" He seems very patient and calm, despite the likely mountain of bureaucracy he's forced to deal with on a daily basis.

"I have a promise I need to fulfil. And I take such very seriously. Victory suggested I come petition you for a..." Artemis is conflicted on the earth use of the word favor, now that Victory and Titan have given her conflicting information. "Trade. There is a planet I need to find and return to to fulfill my promise, and he said you or Starguard may be able to help me get there."

Dorian nods. "We might. What planet is it? Our ships are...pretty fast. But we'd have to be going in that direction to make a ship available. Alternatively, if it isn't too far away, I could fly you there myself."

"Oh right. The thing what I returned to do," Rangel trots off to dorms.

"Anjurpan Si. I'm not sure if that is what your kind would identify it as. It's about four galaxies distance from here," Artemis explains.

Dorian waves to Rangel as she leaves. He turns back to Artemis, "Well, the first thing we need to do is nail down the coordinates. I can make a trip to another galaxy in just a few hours, typically."

Artemis nods to Rangel as she departs, then looks back to Dorian. "If you have star charts, I could try to locate its system. See how far it is from here to there."

Dorian nods. "Of course, I can provide that for you. I'm sure we can have one of the astronomers on staff help you as well."

Artemis smiles, hopeful that she can fulfill her promise before it's too late. "I would be in your debt for this."

Rangel returns before too long. "So what's the need? Is the destination hospitable to life here? Need an archer? Of course you need an archer. Silly question. Want an archer nearby for whatever it is?"

Artemis turns towards Rangel. "I made a promise to someone there that I would one day return. The atmosphere may seem a bit thinner, but I think it'd be safe for most life forms here."

"It's been...hmmm..." Artemis tries to count the cycles and glances up as she does the math to convert it to local solar cycles. "35 earth years since I left there. More or less."

Dorian thinks about it. "If I end up carrying you, I'll be limited on how much weight I can carry. If we need more, Wasp could come along. She's quite a bit stronger in the muscle department than I am, and she can keep up with me."

Dorian says, "When we made the trip to Guild space, there were too many people to take, so we used a diplomatic ship."

Rangel asks, "When you say carry do you mean like by the scruff of the neck or box with bars? Or do you mean just kind of be there near you as we pass objects at speeds thought impossible and mysteriously don't impact any of them?"

Rangel muses. "I could hook up a handle to the harness..."

"A wasp? But they are very small," Artemis things of the Swarm. "Swarmer is more mighty than I originally realized."

Dorian thinks about it. "Wait...she changed codenames. I'm stuck on the last one. She doesn't go by Wasp any longer. It's 'Starlight' now. She is...significantly stronger than me. And can shrink. She's unrelated to this swarm you're referring to.

Rangel shrugs. "I still think of her as Wasp too. But that's how I was introduced to her."

Artemis nods. "Ah, I see, she is one of earth's Guardians."

Rangel nods, "Yeah, she gets real tiny and hits real hard."

Artemis looks to Dorian. "Once we find its location relative to earth, we can decide how to best get there, perhaps? The world had just begun a new age of peace when I left."

Dorian smiles at Rangel. "She was one of my mentors when I arrived here. And then I was her mentor. It gets complicated." He nods to Artemis, "Once we get the destination, we'll figure out the best way to get there. If I have to do it personally, I'm willing to do so. We'll just have to fit it into my schedule."

Rangel nods thoughtfully. "Those rarely stay peaceful in stories I hear. Sounds like having an archer nearby would be beneficial. Just in case of dictator."

"Complicated. I hear this often in reference to relationships here," Artemis comments. She smiles gratefully at Dorian. "You have my utmost thanks for your offer if aid, Commander Spirit. My apologies, I'm not sure hwo to address you."

Rangel grins. "That's okay, I'm slowly working out how to address properly. Not formal, by far. Commander Perrault is for official channels. Seems more the 'Call me Dorian' type with you."

Dorian grins. "In a formal setting, like a meeting, I like going with 'Commander Perrault', or 'Spirit'. Those moments when authority matters. Normally, like now...'Spirit' or 'Dorian' works just fine."

Artemis looks to Rangel. "I fought very hard to protect the peace. I hope they've maintained it," she says with a distant smile. She listens to Rangel's thoughts on names, then looks to Dorian. "I shall respect your titles, Dorian. And a thousand thanks again."

"Oh, that's a good hope," Rangel says. "Hold on to that hope. Just be ready for some disappointment. Peace is not the natural way of creatures that can make war with each other. For example do they have a police force because not having one would be very bad for the society?"

Artemis sighs weightily. "If the times have changed, I may need to remain to enforce the peace once again. We shall see."

"If you're away for long enough, there's not really a lot you can be expected to do to enforce things just by the power of your statements alone," Rangel says with a shrug. "But if you need to get physical and I'm there I can probably pick off a few key figures or wander around and find some information that would help or something. I don't know if you understand what I am talking about. Let me know if you don't quite."

Artemis smiles as if she thinks her words might be able to do just that. "You are thinking...scout?"

"Yeah, I can do scout stuff," Rangel nods. "I can also do espionage, finding out things someone in power doesn't want becoming known, and make that known. General covert ops I guess someone would call it."

Artemis gives Rangel a look over, seeming doubtful. "You do not exactly look the type to blend in while going undercover."

Rangel grins. "Yeah, that's probably not what I meant to convey. Issat what espionage does? Walk around, get seen? I prefer not being seen. Or heard. Or shot at. Did you know that the number of shots fired at me are directly proportionate to how often I'm seen by people who want to shoot me?"

"I have seen the James Bonds movies. He does it all the time," Artemis says with some confusion. "Is he not the world's greatest spy?"

"No, he's a character por...you don't know the characters portrayed in movies are fictional?" Rangel changes thought rails mid-sentence. "Oh wow. Okay, No movie you see is accurate. Not even the one sthat say they are. At best they're not lying directly about what happened."

Artemis furrows her brow. "I...I was told it was a documentary," she says, now suspicious that Ivan was lying to her.

Rangel grins. "Movies are great entertainment if you see one you like, but don't use them to teach you anything. Friendly advice. I like you being overall alive. Learning from movies won't help with that."

Artemis rubs her chin thoughtfully. "I think I misunderstood the, hm, genre of the movie. This changes many things."

Wade enters from Alien District.

Artemis stands off to the side of the receptionist desk, rubbing her chin as she regards Rangel. She's wrestling with the concept of James Bond movies not being documentaries.

"If you want to see what it really looks like," Rangel says, "I can show you. It's not really interesting to watch like it is with movies. If they showed what it really was it'd be boring so they wouldn't sell as many tickets. And that's how it is with every movie ever made. They want more people to see them so they make it seem more exciting."

Wade steps inside the building, with a coffee cup in hand. He waves to both Artemis and Rangel. "Hey there. Impromptu meeting or something?"

Artemis looks unenthused by that prospect. "If it is boring, then perhaps it can be missed. I know I am certainly not suited for such endeavors."

Rangel grins. "Yeah, it's not for the most active ready for a fight types," She bobs her head toward Wade. "Hiya. All of my meetings are impromptu so far. I guess some stuff wasn't impromptu and were also meetings... eh whatever. All impromptu is how I'm going to name it."

Artemis looks over to Wade and smiles brightly, suddenly looking very enthusiastic. "Friend Wade! I had come to plan a meeting after what we spoke of. Your suggestion bore fruit!" she says happily, looking like she may be threatening to jostle Wade with an unexpected hug if he doesn't dodge fast.

Wade doesn't bother trying to avoid Artemis, and he lets her hug him. He chuckles. "Spoke to Spirit, I take it? When are you making the trip? Or is that not yet decided?"

Artemis hugs with a little more strenght than intended, but not enough to hurt Wade. "Yes! Thank you, my friend," she says as she releases him and smiles. "We must chart a course before deciding how to depart, but plans shall be made. Dorian was most kind and generous to offer his aid," she smiles and plants her hands on her hips. "It would not be possible without your advice. It seems I owe you another favor."

Wade chuckles and smiles. "Well, fair enough. I'll keep that in mind. But...friends do things for each other. You don't really owe me anything."

Artemis smiles. "I will have to get used to this. I am accustomed to repaying my debts and keeping my promises." She adds as a note, "Which is also why I must make this journey if it be within my capacity to go."

Wade smiles and pokes her shoulder, "Fine. Then I ask you to come back afterward. That's what you owe me."

Artemis grins as Wade calls in her debt. "Very well. I promise I will return to Earth once my other promise is fulfilled," she says sincerely. It didn't take much arm twisting to get her to agree.

Wade smiles. "Excellent. I still need to teach you about baseball, after all. You didn't quite get it while we were at the park."

Artemis' eyes light up. "Ah yes! And also show me the hockey?" she asks hopefully. "That is the one with more battle in it, correct?"

Wade laughs. "Sure, I can show you hockey. But the battle in it is one of the things I'm not a fan of." He shrugs, "I can certainly take you to a game, though. You'll be a Capitals fan in no time."

Artemis' cheer is only slightly dampened by the fights not being popular with Wade. "I am most interested. Should I wear a disguise as I did before when we tried to lure VENOM?" she asks. She has yet to suceed in fooling Wade with a disguise. But she is still going to attempt the Challenge!

Wade rubs his chin, "You could try. I mean, you should dress as a civilian. Or you could dress like the Capitals' mascot. He's an eagle." He chuckles at the thought.

"Is that what Urthers do?" Artemis asks with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Rangel pipes in, "And I could chase the mascot! On second thought I'd rather not. That cannot end well. Also I don't chase things."

Wade smiles. "Ummm...some people paint their faces or whatever. It would probably pay to show you what the crowd looks like before you go."

Artemis still eyes Wade with some skepticism. "It may be wise for me to do that. You have already deceived me once with your Urther ways," Artemis smirks playfully. Only once? She missed some other times, surely.

Wade furrows his brow. "How have I deceived you previously? I certainly haven't done so on purpose.

"I think I undid about sixteen deceptions just by telling her not to trust movies," Rangel muses. "Possibly more depending on how much time she's spent watching movies."

Wade raises a brow at Rangel's comment, "She thought movies were real?"

Artemis takes a breath to explain, "When I offered a favor to Titan, he made no indication of its intimiate nature as you did." She grins and tests out the shoulder poke motion Wade did to her just a few moments earlier. "You led me to believe the word favor was always of that nature." She lowers her pointing hand and looks to Rangel. "I have only seen a few. Kingmaker, James Bond's mission of 'To Die Times 3000'...." she starts listing off defensively.

"ohhh you mentioned seeing the James Bond movies and uh.. there are a lot of those. I don't watch movies and I know there are a lot of those. That's how many there are of those." Rangel nods certainly.

Wade chuckles. "No. The word favor..." He pauses. smiles, and tries to think about how to explain this. "You kept talking about having to give someone one of your favors, Artemis. 'Favor' by itself is fine. But when you talk about 'your favors', it means something different."

"That is what Titan said. Why didn't...by all the gods, I've been dancing around that word since you told me," Artemis chortles. She looks to Rangel, eyes widening. "There be more of those? Ah, but they are fiction and not documentaries. I wonder if it will be the same for me..."

Artemis adds as a pointed note, "I was aware Kingmaker was fantasy when I saw it."

"Yep, that's the correct thing to think when you see movies," Rangel says with a nod. "Fantasy. Movie reads based on a true story? Fantasy. Movie says it's about the life of someone? Fantasy. There might be true details in it. Find a historian. They're paid to tell you what they believe is true instead of making a lie for the sake of entertainment."

Wade nods in agreement with Rangel. "There are a few based on true stories. Or documentaries. But even those can skew facts to present a false narrative, depending on the topic and how the story is told."

Rangel grins. "And that's corroboration."

Wade adds, "Any topic which is politically charged in any way is more likely to have spin applied to the narrative. In my opinion."

"Can I trust nothing on this planet?" Artemis chuckles in amusement.

Wade chuckles. "But Kingmaker wasn't based on a historical figure. That's just all fiction. Guaranteed."

Artemis nods, half convinced. "I related to many elements of the story. It would be a shame if it were all fiction. But it was entertaining, nonetheless!"

Rangel shrugs. "And that's cynicism growing. Things you trust can get you killed. But unlike me you can probably afford to take a few hits because of misplaced trust. So enjoy the nicer side of things I guess!" She laughs.

Artemis smiles and lets out a soft little sigh. "Some things, my friend, are worth dying for. I would prefer to trust and believe in the best in others until proven otherwise."

Wade smiles at Artemis's answer, clearly agreeing with her. "The story in Kingmaker is taken from pulp stories written some hundred years ago. Pieces were put together to stitch together a story. I'm sure Titan would know more about the story itself than I do."

Artemis nods thoughtfully. "He did point out the 'stuntwork' involved in the movie. He has mentioned that I might be able to earn more currency through stuntwork. I hadn't thought to ask on the story's origin. Something to ask him another day," she smiles. "Oh, I forgot to inform you. The Voyager machine has been taken for repairs at NashCo Tower. It has not awakened yet, but I will be informed if it does. I fear I failed my new friend...but Ms. Nash assures me he can be repaired."

Wade nods. "Well, if they need more help, let me know. I'm sure Starguard can lend a hand if needed."

Artemis smiles. "I shall indeed, my friend. I will inform Ms. Nash of this. Sona seemed...fearful of help before it shut down. Do you understand why this would be?"

Wade shakes his head, "No idea. I thought I was on reasonably good terms with it? Or at least not bad terms."

"As did I," Artemis says, thoughtful but confused. "Hopefully it can be reactivated and we can reassure it will be safe. It seemed to think it was in danger, like the uvzos."

Wade shakes hia head. "I have no idea why that would be the case, unless it can link to their minds somehow?"

"Well, unlike the uvzo problem you can just ask and learn more about the situation," Rangel suggests with a shrug. "I mean that's what I'd do with a mystery that demanded solving. Anyway. Uh. What's the requisition turnaround time like anyway?" she asks of Wade. "I need a few things for something coming up maybe."

Wade shrugs, and says to Rangel, "If it's something they have here, could be five minutes. Or a couple of hours. If they have to get it from elsewhere, it could be a few days."

"Precautionary rebreather mask for thin atmosphere. Rations. I think that oughta do it." Rangel shrugs. "Might not need either. Might learn how horrible the rations are. Or how unhorrible."

"If I get really bored then experimental modelling material!"

Wade nods. "Rations have improved significantly in recent years. You planning on going on the trip with Artemis?"

Artemis smiles. "She seems to have volunteered to accompany me in case there was need for...how did you put it?" she says, looking to Rangel.

"I've been running around annoying people on this planet for years," Rangel replies. "I figure it's time to share with some other world." A light nudge for Artemis by elbow. "I'm doing this to inform you that I'm joking."

"Is that what you meant by--oh," Artemis grins as she's nudged, now understanding the signal. She looks to Wade. "The last time I was there, I had helped the populace win a war for their freedom. They were beginning the work to rebuild when I left. Rangel suspects peace never lasts."

Wade thinks about it. "Likely true. But you could get an extended period of peace. It's possible."

Artemis folds her arms over her chest as she ponders that. "I would hope so. Had I not been recaptured, I would have returned much sooner." She smiles softly. "I hope my old friend can forgive me for taking the Long Way back."

Rangel sets to requisitions. For they are required and quisitiony.

Wade nods. "Meaning...getting taken to the arena? I guess I don't know your full history."

Artemis glances to Wade and nods. "And I do not know yours." She smiles. "We should rectify this, I think. But yes, I was taken back to the Gladiatorial Games to serve as entertainment. I had tried many attempts to escape the first time, and finally found freedom. Anjurpan Si was one of the closer planets I was able to reach that time. I spent a lot of time amongst the stars of that system and the next before being captured again. When I crash landed here, it was by grace and fortune and my Brother's assistance that we fought our way free to an escape pod and risked traversing a worm hole."

Wade nods. "That's what allowed you to cross a huge distance so quickly, then. A worm hole. Makes sense."

"By then, I think we were in a closer galaxy. Dalux' ship was on its way to 'Malvan' territory at the time," Artemis explains.

Wade nods. "Ah...so the arena is on a ship? Do they have spectators come from local planets they're nearby?"

Artemis nods. "'Tis a mighty ship with an arena, gambling, and leisure for those who can pay," she says with some disdain. "They traveled to various systems for inhabitants to come aboard for entertainment and games of chance. Some would stay on the ship in fanciful quarters."

Artemis sneers a bit. "Dalux would entice expensive patrons to enjoy a...'pleasure cruise' to enjoy the games and sport that were not legal planet-side. He was a foul creature. Odious at best."

Wade nods as he listens. "My history is a lot more boring than that." He chuckles and thinks about it, "My father was a supersoldier. I was very young when he was captured and held as a prisoner in China. He was released when I was eigtheen or so, and about to head to college. I had...already decided that I wanted to be like him, though. Based on the stories I had built in my head about his exploits."

Wade quirks a smile. "After he got back, he ran for office. The US Senate. And I went to college at Temple, and then CBSU. I have a degree in political science. And...well, I trained. A lot. I joined Starguard shortly after graduation."

Artemis listens with keen interest, not seeming bored at all. There is some sympathy there, though. "Were you old enough to know your father well when he was captured? It sounds as though he was gone a long time, by human years."

Wade shakes his head, "Barely. I think I was six? So, he was held for two thirds of my life by the time he returned after twelve years or so."

"Six?" Artemis seems shocked. "How...tall is a human of 6 cycles?" she asks, trying to grasp it. "Two thirds of your lifespan? I'm sorry that time was stolen from you. Are you close with your father now?"

Wade holds up his hand, indicating how tall he was. "Well, he's been back for a good six years now. So, what's that? Now half of my life that he was gone?" He chuckles, but he's not very good at covering the melancholy feeling he's experiencing. "Umm...we're not hugely close, no. I still have this issue of worshipping him as a hero. And he's still...well, very dedicated to his duty."