Unity Station

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Just outside of Imperium space, a small but well equiped research station.

Unity is a joint venture between multiple worlds, hence the name. Xenobiology, anthropology and astronomy are some of the things researched here.
There's a small school, a few shops, one or two tiny restaurants and a coffee shop but generally speaking, the majority of the inhabitants are either researchers or family of researchers.

The chief of medicine is an insectoid woman named Yessalia.
Chief of security is a man named Tias.

"The old man and the drone," Tala said. "We shall return to the ship to see if they haven't returned yet. If they haven't, you can stay at the ship while she," Tala indicated Silence, "and I go looking for them."

Esk nodded.

Silence paused, tilting her oversized head. "Someone watching." She told them.

Esk frowned. He'd been so distracted he hadn't been paying attention to their surroundings. He silently cursed himself for that oversight as he subtly tried to scan the area for whoever Silence was talking about.

Although her own culture considered unexpected telepathy to be incredibly rude, Tala was pretty sure Silence's didn't mind.

Where? she sent to Silence. For someone as tall as Tala was, looking around would instantly draw attention.

Silence unfortunately lacked any tact, she turned to stare directly at an older gentleman who was sitting nearby.

Esk muttered under his breath. The guy didn't look threatening but he knew from experience that looks could be decieving. "Let's just get back to the ship."

Tala huffed out a breath. Yeah, Silence could use some more training before she'd make a really good soldier. She eyed the watcher suspiciously, then headed with the others toward the ship.

The sooner she could get these two dropped off, the sooner she could go find Hewitt and Amity. They needed to get everyone off this station before anyone actually got killed.

Silence lingered behind, still staring behind her at the man who had noticed her staring and was now trying very hard to pretend he hadn't been.

"Come on." Esk insisted.

Hesitantly, Silence lumbered after the others.

Skye and Moone noticed Tala then Esk and Silence hurrying towards Vestia. The two looked at one another with frowns before cutting their tour short and hurrying over to the trio. They had come out to shop and sightsee as much as allowed in this station but figured something was wrong with the speed the three were moving. "Is everything alright?" Skye asked when they caught up to Tala and the others. She was the easiest to see from afar after all.

Tala's ears flicked toward Skye and Moone as they approached. "Greetings, I had not realized you were out here too. We must return to the ship with haste, this nice young man was almost murdered." She pointed to Esk.

"Have you by chance seen the old man or the drone?" she added hopefully.

Esk looked irritated at having to stop again but he nodded to Moone and Skye. He was clearly on high alert though. "Can we do the socialising once we're back at the ship?"

Skye shook her head at Tala's question, walking along with them. "No, but we can go look if haste is necessary, or just send a message through the tablets. Amity can receive messages like that. Right?"

Tala snorted at Esk, but he did raise a good point, and she kept heading toward Vestia as she responded to Skye. "I am not sure of the drone's messaging capability. If it is possible to send him a message, that would be ideal. It could save us all another trip to the station. We should ask the ship once we board."

Skye nodded and she and Moone took off to fly over them, giving speed and surveillance for the group. While in the air, Moone decided to send a message to Amity using her tablet, it would be quicker that way instead of waiting at least if it would go through. [there is trouble, return to the ship quickly]

Amity and Hewitt were strolling about, Hewitt stopping random scientists to interrorgate them about their studies every so often. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

Amity paused when the message came through, his hologram flickering slightly as he stilled. "Sir..." He spoke carefully, trying to get Hewitt's attention as politely and subtly as possible.

---

Esk nodded curtly to Tala, grateful that she was pragmatic enough to see sense and not dally.

Silence wasn't in any real rush though, she didn't fully understand WHY Esk was so paranoid. She couldn't sense any hostile thoughts nearby, though they did attract attention most of it was curiosity or confusion, predominantly directed at her. Nobody here had ever seen anything like a Shifter. She did stand out.
She lumbered slowly after the others. She didn't really have any higher speed anyway. Shifters were natural climbers, not runners.

"Thank you," Tala told Moone. She just hoped Hewitt and Amity weren't in trouble out there.

They'd reach Vestia's door before long.

"You're back," Vestia said, sounding relieved. "No problems out there, I hope?" Hey, things had been quiet over here, so she'd kinda missed the memo.

Esk grunted and rushed off to his room, he wanted to check some things first. He figured Tala could explain anyway. She was good at being to the point.

---

"Sorry, Vestia. Things are not ok." Moone said upon arrival, landing to explain what she knew when Esk simply walked in.
Skye landed too, looking back outside with a small frown.

"Oh for crying out loud," Vestia said, sounding incredibly frustrated with the state of the universe. "We can't even relax for two days before someone's trying to kill us. Skye and Moone, you two are the fastest since you can fly, and I know you can defend yourselves. Can you try to find Hewitt and Amity and haul them back here, please?"

Skye chuckled softly, nodding. "We certainly can, though hopefully they will already be on the way back if Moone's message worked." She said before the pair turned to fly out to start the search.

Amity was trying to convince the Professor to return to the ship but Hewitt insisted it was fine and they were in no danger. Who wanted to hurt him? Besides, he'd wasted enough time being in a coma, he wanted to see what this station was all about.

Amity followed after him. "Surely sir, with all due respect, your time would be better served elsewhere. This tour seems beneath you."

Hewitt paused, smirking back at the hologram. "trying to manipulate me?"

Amity frowned.

Hewitt cackled. "I approve."

The one easiest to find besides Tala was Hewitt, at least when looking for tall friends. It still took a few minutes to find him though, given how much space there was to cover with buildings blocking the line of sight along the way. When the sisters found the pair, they quickly flew down, landing in front of the two. "Professor, we need to return to the ship immediately. There is a meeting to explain everything." Moone said quickly before Skye even had a chance to speak.

Skye sighed at being spoken over and looked around, making sure they were not getting too much attention. "If you want to argue, you can bring up any concerns to the leaders, please, we must go back." She said, looking to the tree-man again. She didn't know much about him, but had heard he loved a good 'discussion' so played on that.

Hewitt smirked at the two bird girls. "oh they're sending an escort now too?" He cackled in glee. "this MUST be serious." He didn't look like he was taking it entirely seriously.

Amity wrung his hands. "Sir, please. We must return to the ship. "

Hewitt laughed. "Alright alright. " He had to admit, he was rather curious what was such a big deal to warrent sending people to retrieve him. But he wasn't in much of a hurry as he slowly ambled back the way they'd come, leaning heavily on his cane in a manner that felt almost performative.

Amity followed after him, glancing back appologetically at the two Artruvians.

Skye was just glad he came, watching around them carefully as they walked. They were asked to bring the two back, so would stay with them on the way. Safety in numbers if that applied to reality.

Hewitt was slow, but he didn't seem to be a target for anyone. He looked at the two girls and asked bluntly "So what's this big danger mm? Or is it a surprise?"

The two girls looked at one another then back to Hewitt, speaking quietly when they felt they wouldn't be overheard. "Esk was nearly killed, after we got back Vestia asked us to find you two and make sure you got back." Skye answered. She didn't want to say much out here in the open plus she didn't know much more than that at this time.

Hewitt looked thoughtful. "Esk... which one is that?" He didn't care enough to remember names.

"The Hexenfolke who can't touch people." Amity helpfully explained.

Hewitt shrugged. Nope, that didn't help. "They all look the same." He complained.

Amity wrung his hands.

"Besides" Hewitt continued "isn't nearly getting killed what this crew DO? I thought it was their hobby?" He smirked.

Moone could not stop a giggle from escaping, though she shook her head at his antics.

Skye sighed instead, shrugging a little. "He's very anti-social, so even if you knew his looks, you might not of seen him. He came with Dawn and her uncle." She said then looked to Amity and back. "True enough in a way, but apparently it's more than just that, enough to have him scared for everyone's safety."

Hewitt hrumphed but he at least continued moving toward the ship at a steady, albeit ponderous, rate.

Amity looked appologetic.