UPON VESTIA: CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

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Ethan nodded. "I guess that makes sense. Do they execute the ruler, or do they have to keep them alive?" He probably had too many questions.

~~
"Oh, I know that feeling," Vestia said sympathetically. She watched Amari snooze. Aww.

"The attitude isn't entirely hostile. I don't think anyone's thrilled to have Amari stay, they're all concerned about the risks, but nobody I've talked to has flatly opposed having him on board," Asher said. "Which is about as much support as I hoped for."

Esk nodded and went back to the game. He didn't really seem to care much either way.

Asher headed for the door. "Welcome back again, guys. We missed you."

Esk snickered, yeah he didn't believe that for a minute.

"Most, there are a few exceptions, like my little sister." Skye replied softly.

Dawn smiled at Asher "Thanks Asher, I'm glad to be back too."

Asher got the door open, and left Dawn and Esk to their game. He supposed he'd better go find Luka, she was the last one he was worried about not being okay with Amari being on board.

~~
"Yeah, some artuvians do have magic and telepathy, but most of them don't," James said. "It's complicated, we don't really understand it."

Luka was having a nap in her room.

---

Ivor nodded slowly. "Exceptions to every rule..." he murmured.

"Sister magic?" Silence asked abruptly.

Asher considered his options. Hmm. Better to bother Luka now, when he'd be waking her up? Or better to wait, and risk her possibly being very angry later?

He decided he probably shouldn't bother her right now. He'd wait til she woke up, and tell her then, and hope she wouldn't be too mad. Sigh.

He went to see Marcus next.

Marcus would of in the time Asher spoke to people talked to Amari, he spoke in common so Vestia wouldn't of thought he said anything questionable. Like he promised Kay he told Amari the truth, the reason why and that no one on the ship 'owns' him. Amari would listen but there was partial panic at the thought of "freedom" and marcus wouldn't push it in fear of possibly triggering a panic attack. Asher would find him back in his room, looking at his pendant locket which held a holophoto of his family.

Asher knocked lightly at the door. "Marcus? It's me again," he said.

Skye dipped her head in a nod "Yeah, she does have magic, that's not good for our people. Artuvians with magic are persecuted."

"The artuvians have a god who says not being magical is better, right?" James said. "So it's hard to be an artuvian with magic." He sighed. "You won't be able to meet her sister for a while, Silence, she's far away in the imperium right now."

Kooshie wrote:Asher knocked lightly at the door. "Marcus? It's me again," he said.

Marcus looked up, placing the open pendant down as he got it, "Hey." The Arran moved to open the door all the way.

Asher wheeled in, smiling a bit in greeting, although he looked a little unsure. This was a very odd situation to be in, after all. "I have the tablet for you to write everything down on," he said. "Have you spoken to Amari yet?"

"Yes, I have. Vestia can confirm." He nodded heading to close the pendant, it was of him, his wife who was a shard, and their four hybrid children. Three were male and one female all adults hut of varing ages. "Do you have the ability to translate Arran from hand writings?"

"I can translate from arran, yes," Vestia said helpfully.

Asher looked at the pendant curiously, but didn't ask about it. He figured Marcus probably liked some privacy about the people he cared about. "How did Amari react to what you told him?" he asked softly, holding out the tablet for Marcus.

"dumb god." Silence remarked.

"Are... they scared of her?" Ivor asked, he looked concerned. "They are in the Imperium? W.. why? Don't they... stand out?" He hugged himself, cradling his shriveled arm. "how did they get there?"

Marcus took the tablet and a seat, "Well enough considering the complexity of the issue. Had to be careful to not trigger a possible panic attack." He explained truthfully and nodded at Vestia before he started to write. Surprisingly Arran was a fluid and graceful style of writing. Marcus would pocket the pendant for now. "Anything specifice you want?"

"In a way, but we actually have two gods, one is against magic, the other for it." Yeah, Skye wasn't going to get into Moone's theory. "We had a way to send them there safely, and a place there where no one is likely to try to go, so they are as safe as we could make them." And yes, even at that, she was still worried for the kids. "We couldn't keep them with us because we were fighting a war."

Asher nodded. "Amari really doesn't understand the situation well, and it's going to take a long time to help him to come to terms with his new life. Thank you for trying to discuss it with him." He looked thoughtful, "Please give us everything you know about his medical information. I know some of it already, but if there's anything else you know, I want to add it to our medical records. Also anything you know about his emotional needs, anything he might have difficulty with due to past trauma, whatever else you can think of. And of course, notes about arran behavior and instincts, and medical care."
He smiled softly, "I know that's a lot to ask, but we both want to give Amari the best chance possible at a good life, and any information you can supply will help."

Esk continued playing checkers with Dawn. He wasn't very good, or maybe he just wasn't overly interested. Either way, she'd probably win easily.

---

Silence tilted her head. Nope all seemed dumb to her.

"We don't have gods..." Ivor shook his head. "it's supposed to make things simpler." He smiled weakly. "you aren't still at war are you?" Now there was a sudden concern.

Marcus nodded, "understandable." It would take him a bit. Though in time he would write everything down. He also included information about Amari mother and what little he knew of her. Then he would give information about Amari abusive previous owner, so if Vestia crew ever ran into him that they would be able to care with the issue of he tried to take Amari back. "I also have both his and his mother's health file." He pulled out the pendant and flipped it to the otherside using his claws to pry it open he pulled out two data chips. "You can obviously scan these if you fear they are bugged."

"No, we aren't still at war. We kicked the asses of the bad guys, and now they're all dead or in prison," James said. Well, except for one keeper, but he didn't think they needed to mention that. "You should have seen Skye, she was like an angel of death dropping from the heavens on those monsters. And I was awesome too, I had a huge gun."

~~
Asher couldn't read the information of course, he'd have Vestia scan it in later. He took the data chips. "Thank you. We'll study all this information carefully. Do you think it's likely that Amari's old owner will try to find him again? We intend to keep him safe on Vestia, but we are a rather visible target if this monster might intend to cause trouble."

"I honestly do not know, he assumed I bought him for a 'pet' so I suspect if he learned it was for more 'good' reasoms he may cause trouble if he sees Amari. I did remove amd replace his slaver markers in his ears and nose. I hope one day that he'll allow them to be permanently removed." Marcus said leaning back in his chair flexing his hand. "I know little of Arran culture, I did write down contact information for someone who does... I just recommend not saying my name around him." He coughed.

Ivor looked bemused. "you don't look like soldiers."

"Safe here?" Silence asked.

"He sounds like an awful person," Asher said softly. "Slaver markers? You mean the piercings?" He had guessed Amari hadn't been the one who decided to get his ears and nose pierced, but still, it was unpleasant to hear that confirmed. Poor kid.