We All Float On

[out_of_order]

WHO: Cal Kestis, BD-1 and you!
WHERE: Agrii Ship
WHAT: Keeping busy on the way back to Agra 10
WHEN: During the trip back
WARNINGS: N/A


It's definitely a different atmosphere aboard the ship, now that they don't have imminent threats hanging over their heads. Having a full ship also helps for the mood. True, there have been disappointments and frustration in the aftermath of rescuing all the Agrii, but Cal hardly thinks the Agrii themselves are to blame. It seems clear enough that someone else is at work in all this, and while that in itself is disheartening, there's little that can be done that they haven't already tried in order to get any further clues in that. The current state of those of their own that they've rescued along with the Agrii and Graq is worrying, and not knowing what else to do, he can only hope that Cloud and Bucky come out of their sleep soon.

The padawan takes the time to get to know the Agrii. It's a nice change to be able to speak face to face to them instead of wait for mysterious messages. It's nice to know they're real. But sometimes they can be overbearing, and so he finds retreat as he can.

Naturally it's work that Cal throws himself into, finding the need to do something. Being busy comes easier than meditation at the moment, and there's plenty enough to be done anyway.


A
With no rush to get things finished, he's happy to work on the ships, putting in some perhaps much-needed upgrades. Can't hurt to, right? Given how woefully under-equipped they've proven in what might be considered necessary functions, the padawan's priorities would be to retrofit ships with whatever parts are yet available to provide protection and increase travel speed. He won't mind an extra hand, of course. Or maybe you want your ship to be upgraded next?


B
In a quiet, empty dead-end hall or perhaps even the Green Room, when he's not picking at tech, Cal and BD-1 can be found going over some of the latter's interesting findings. BD-1's been pretty busy with the Soldier, it seems, and now that they've got the time, Cal's trying to catch up with what's happened on the other end.

Comments

[beholding_archivist]

It's not a thought Jon likes to entertain either. Even though people seeking to use him seems to have become such a common occurrence to him back in his world.

"Things could have gone dreadfully, indeed." He agrees with a resigning sigh. "We should be glad things worked out the way they did..." And yet all those questions remain. Worse even: More have added themselves to the already presentable list.

"So we... We just return to Agra 10 now. And resume what we have been doing before this... Intermission."

[out_of_order]

BD-1 hops over between the two of them what with his projections finished for the time being, and Cal gives him a pat, murmuring a 'good job.' The padawan continues to look in the space where the images have long since faded, considering Jon's words.

"...not entirely. We have more things to think about, to be careful of. I'm sure others have questions too, and may not know as much as others have found out. We should probably get our information together so we can all at least be on the same page."

He pauses, thinking. "I'm not sure what the Agrii will do. Hopefully they won't go too far. We got to speak briefly with Ga Re before things happened. I'm not entirely sure what she meant, but Wanda seems to be familiar with the concept of a singing world- it's why the Agrii came out so far, apparently. They said they needed to find one, and when they did, they...just stopped and stayed, and I have no idea why. You may have heard something of it from when Ga Re had first sent her message. It was...strange, in person. Not something entirely heard- it was on a mental level."

The conversation with Ga Re does make him remember some points. "A few of us had asked her questions- Ga Re was eager to answer, but unfortunately some of us didn't make the best use of the chance." Understandable given the circumstances, but hopefully they'd have more of a chance now that things weren't going to explode. "It was strange though. I'd asked her about what had happened to the other people who used to be in Agra Ten, helping. After seeing that recording I'm not sure if those people are the same as the ones I've caught echoes of, but Ga Re's response was odd. She looked a little confused at the question, kind of lost? And she didn't answer immediately, like her thoughts had drifted." A frown. "And then it was like something had prodded her back on track- she'd winced before she finally gave a response. She said there weren't any heroes before us. They only bring people in, but they don't know why some just suddenly leave.

"...and then I asked about the Atroma, what their relationship was to them. The Agrii are apparently aware of them- the Drift Fleet Atroma. She was confused again- under the impression that they were gone."

[beholding_archivist]

"Right." Jon nods at Cal's suggesting of pooling their information. "I would welcome that, obviously." It is what he has been trying to use the library for already: To gather everything they find out and make it available for everyone else. He taps the side of his recorder to indicate the device. "Made my own observations as well." Because of course he would verbally record those.

Hearing Cal speak about this singing world and passing on his experience with Ga Re and the conversation he's had with her has the Archivist's full attention. He frowns as he listens, mentally holding those pieces together in hopes of finding some understanding and cursing himself for not having been there instead.

"So... They can bring us to Agra 10, regardless where we come from and even teleport us to other planets willingly, but they have no idea what happens to those that appear to vanish into thin air?" That sounds remarkably dubious. Especially with the additional details Cal provides regarding Ga Re's more physical reaction.

Jon lets out a sigh and reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Lovely. We finally get to meet our kidnappers and only end up with more questions than answers. I- I mean obviously there's another power involved in all of this, but--" He settles with a defeated groan. Clearly they won't figure this out right here and now.

[out_of_order]

It doesn't take being a Jedi to know that frustration's there. Cal can only agree, nodding even as he gives Jon an apologetic look. For all he's learned, it just needs more explanation to things they hadn't been aware of before.

"This ship wasn't originally theirs. It was conveniently provided by the Atroma, if that recording was anything to go by. I don't think the Agrii even understood exactly what they were doing when they thought they could just call in people to save them and their world." He sighs, draping his arms over his knees. It's still weak reasoning, he knows, but the Agrii seemed very naive, childlike in a way, and when people were desperate, they clung to any hope they could be given.

"Ga Re at least seemed sincere in wanting to help send us back. Something else just isn't done with any of us, it seems." The thought's an uneasy one, and the padawan doesn't quite manage to keep it from showing on his face. Just what exactly are they dealing with here? He shakes his head.

"I guess for now we just have to keep looking out for each other. Hopefully going back will be uneventful. We have a lot to think about."

[beholding_archivist]

It's Cal's wording of something else not being done with them that has the Archivist look at the padawan in silence for a couple of moments. Then he simply sighs, shrugging a little. "Guess I should be used to it by now. If it's not some unearthly power, it's actual aliens. Can't say I have decided which bothers me less..." Though he does reach over to give BD-1 a brief pat on the head.

"Do you believe Agra 10 used to be one of these singing worlds at some point...?" Since the Agrii seem to somehow require that from their planet. Maybe the need to do a lot more research on Agra 10 itself.

[out_of_order]

BD-1 lifts his head under Jon's hand with a quiet hoot as he glances between the two humans.

Cal liked it better when their reason for being taken away had at least been clear. It was easier to stomach being needed as help, even if it wasn't the best way of requesting it. While he has no doubt that help is still needed, the thought that such had been instigated on purpose for whatever reason just gave him a bad and most unwelcome feeling. Something greater pulling the strings? It was just like the war that had happened back home. The thought turns his stomach.

"It wasn't," Cal replies, glad to turn his attention to something else. "Wanda asked Ga Re if it was. I guess in her time with the Fleet, she'd come across them before, so she'd recognized it right away once we went to find Ga Re. I asked her what they were, and she said they're baby planets." He offers a shrug with that, only repeating what he'd been told. "She said it's what the Atroma used to kidnap them before. It's probably what the Agrii used to bring us too." And then something or someone took it away.

[beholding_archivist]

"I see..." Jon nods, but finds himself even less able to see any sense or reason in any of this. Baby planets. This could imply a lot of things...

"That means the Agrii can't bring anyone else here... Or send anyone away." The Archivist thinks aloud. "...but whoever has this baby planet now... They could." Theoretically.

Sighing, Jon gives another nod and pushes himself back into a standing position from where he has been crouching. "Right... I will see if I can ask some of the Agrii a few more questions while we have this chance. Right now I feel like I know literally nothing about these Atroma, for instance." Aside from them being another species of aliens most likely. And responsible for that Drift Fleet that gets mentioned.

[out_of_order]

"Yeah..." Cal nods, frowning thoughtfully. Not any better a situation than before. He lifts his head as Jon gets up, nodding.

"You might get more answers from those who were part of that previous fleet about the Atroma too," he suggests. "The Soldier- the man who looks like Bucky, and Wanda. Sansa too." Those are the ones he can recall who have mentioned such prior experiences anyway. He's not sure how many others there might be. "I wonder if the Agrii would let us have access to that room."

He extends an arm to BD-1, the droid clambering back up onto his back before the padawan also gets to his feet. "Either way, I think I need to clear my thoughts. There's so much to think about, and even just thinking about the questions to things we don't know is overwhelming right now."