Upon Silver Devil: Chapter One

You would notice the smaller ship among the giants, docked to the space port it was in search of new crew members after the last few... left suddenly.

A creature who could only be described as 'imposing' made her way between the resting ships, drawing nervous glances from many a passer-by. She ignored their fear and let them melt away as she appraoched; when you had horns, and towered over nearly everyone by at least half a foot, you got used to such reactions quickly. Besides, nobody wanted to hire a minotaur who was empathetic and sensitive. That would be stupid.
She saw plenty of pretty cruise ships waiting for passengers, and ignored them. She'd tried that once, and the etiquette had thoroughly annoyed her. No, she needed something less sophisticated...
Aha.
She headed for the ship labeled Silver Devil, to see if its captain might be worth working for.

Also looking for work without too many questions or rules, was a female that looked human. She made her way along the spaceport, pausing to watch the bovine then tilted her head in curiosity and followed, glancing back once to be sure she wasn't being followed.She wore a weapon on her hip in plain sight whether she needed to or not.

As they entered they would noticed three beings, a pure black male from his hair to his skin minus his eyes which was brown busy helping two females move some boxes aside.

One female appeared to be of the same species as the male, but tan in skin tone and her feathery hair in micro braids she huffed and puffed as her small stature helped pushed one of the larger ones.

The other female was thin, lithe and tall with a look in all honesty of a deadly goddess of death. With her blonde hair pulled back that was a nice contrasted to her darker chocolate skin tone she was the first to notice them. "Hey, Acus fresh meat!"

The minotaur looked around at the ship's occupants, scraping her hoof on the ground as she assessed them. "I am not meat," she said, snorting with annoyance.

The male crossed his arms, studying them each, "I am assuming you are here to join the crew?" He asked, his sentence ending with a rooster like purr as his bird eyes blinked once.

The smallest of the them eyed each one but said nothing as the other one snickered and smirk, "Y'never know steak."

Dawn paused and looked over the people there, frowning a little then folding her arms and finding a bit of hull to hold up. "Fresh meat is a term for someone new, especially to a job site" She informed the minotaur then looked to the crew again "Yes, I assume you are the captain?"

"Yes." He said with a nod, "You be...?"

The minotaur nodded to Dawn curtly in thanks.

"I am called Dawn" The human looking female replied "What kind of work is it?"

"Really whatever we are payed to do for the most part." He explained with a shrug, "As simple as that."

"If you do not eat my kind, I would be interested in joining you as well," the minotaur said. "I am very good at frightening those who do not pay their debts quickly."

"Ignore nuts and bolts there." HE said ignoring the taller female glare,"We take all and don't eat crew members." HE mused.

"Sounds good to me" Dawn said and smiled a little then shrugged.

"My name is Talajara Steel-Hoof," she said, "Although most prefer to call me Tala. Your names are...?"

She didn't stand out much here, looking pretty much human and with her imperium tattoos covered, she could blend in pretty easily. She'd learnt early on that being obviously Imperium was not always going to go down well with the alien inhabitants of these worlds.
Still, she was in desperate need of a solid job, credits, food in her belly. Another day, another attempt to convince a ship she was the pilot they needed. Most of them had laughed in her face, claiming she was too young and when she indignantly told them she'd been a Fleet pilot usually told her to go die in a ditch, or pulled a weapon. Stupid aliens.

Another day, another attempt.

She approached the Silver Devil, brushing the hair out of her face as she regarded the current crew with trepidation.

---

At about the same time, a young child slipped past and moved soundlessly toward the man who'd designated himself captain. They smiled broadly, their oddly flat face distorted unsettlingly by the expression. Huge eyes, like pools of oil shimmered rainbow hues as light hit them.

"We seek employment yes employment, a job, new sights Stories." The creature spoke with many voices, some young, some old, some spoke in unison and some seemed to be having their own trains of thought. "We are Swarm We are many"

flying_purple_monkfish wrote:She didn't stand out much here, looking pretty much human and with her imperium tattoos covered, she could blend in pretty easily. She'd learnt early on that being obviously Imperium was not always going to go down well with the alien inhabitants of these worlds.
Still, she was in desperate need of a solid job, credits, food in her belly. Another day, another attempt to convince a ship she was the pilot they needed. Most of them had laughed in her face, claiming she was too young and when she indignantly told them she'd been a Fleet pilot usually told her to go die in a ditch, or pulled a weapon. Stupid aliens.

Another day, another attempt.

She approached the Silver Devil, brushing the hair out of her face as she regarded the current crew with trepidation.

---

At about the same time, a young child slipped past and moved soundlessly toward the man who'd designated himself captain. They smiled broadly, their oddly flat face distorted unsettlingly by the expression. Huge eyes, like pools of oil shimmered rainbow hues as light hit them.

"We seek employment yes employment, a job, new sights Stories." The creature spoke with many voices, some young, some old, some spoke in unison and some seemed to be having their own trains of thought. "We are Swarm We are many"

"Acus." The male said then gesture to the others, "The hen who has disappeared.." He held this annoyed look, "Name is Dawn."

"And I'm Victoria, also easier called Vicky." The female said with a simple wave, then looking at the thing with a odd look as Acus admittedly jumped back.

"And...you are... child/thing...?" He asked in surprise.

The swarm tilted their head the other way, then shook it. "We do not believe so. some of us are" they looked down at themselves. "We are fewer than once we were. so much fewer" The creature's hands distorted, and dispersed into the air as a cloud of insects. "We are many" the multiple voices repeated.

--

Luka stared at the pale creature in horror, unable to articulate the utter revulsion she felt. She wanted to just open fire on the unnatural thing, burn it, just... argh.. her skin crawled.

"W... what... IS it?" She managed to choke out.

The swarm turned to her and smiled again. "We are swarm" it repeated.

".....Uhm you could be useful." he coughed awkwardly.

Swarm looked delighted as the insects reformed with the rest of the entity's body and became hands again.

"We have many skills, perhaps you require a navigator? translator? guide"

Luka shuddered but addressed the bird man. "You advertised for work. I am a pilot." Brisk and to the point, she was trying hard not to look at the swarm and not to focus too hard on those creepy bird-like eyes of the captain either.

He turned sharply to her, 'How fast of a learner are you?" He asked, then looked at the thing again, "That....could be useful also.."

"I have not disappeared" Dawn said, raising an eyebrow at his annoyed look then continuing to watch the others with interest

Luka straightened. "I have a great deal of experience with various space craft, I can learn quick."

"Sorry, normally folks if they even bother come one at a time." He stated to dawn, " What are your skills also...?" He also looked at Luka, "Prove your worth then you have a life time of payment until you quit or die."

"The others before us, what became of them?" Tala asked. "If you've made a habit of letting your employees die in the past, then you must also prove that you're competent."