Out of the blue...

[Krishnitt]

A turn of the screwdriver here.....gently slide the display into position....easy now, don't over-tighten.  *beep, beep*

Hello, what's this?  Wonder how long this message has been waiting for me....Stupid comlink.  Drop it just once...*sigh*

"Hiyas Krish...."

Well, well....wadduya know?  It has been forever since I have heard from Cher.  Shouldn't be surprised, though.  I've bumped into Isha a couple of times over the past few weeks.  Even chatted briefly with Kotts awhile back.  Oh my...this is interesting.  Seems Cher is confirming what I have heard from Kotts. 

*scrolls through the message*

Yes, yes...not to worry.  I won't get my hopes up too high.  Much to do and discuss before Assembly sends out the call to arms.  I'd better not be an applicant for five damned months again, I'll say that much.  *chuckles to himself* 

*Continues reading*

Spacecraft?  The construction of and also repair?  Well...maybe my stilletto yalm can wait!  Oh my, this will be quite the endeavor.  Hmmm...I am sure if I get stuck, Gengy would be willing to offer some pointers.  I'll have to send Cher a message.  She has officially piqued my interest. 

*begins typing*

Wonder what she has up her sleeve?

*pauses*

Ugh...I wonder if this is anything like what the people of Old Earth called "texting" on those archaic devices they named "cell phones"

*continues*

Well....guess I will find out the method to Cher's madness soon enough.  *smiles*

((Well, Jo...have no idea where you are going with this...feel free to pick up the ball and let's see if this story will be better than the "Pet Rock" story we created all that time ago  *winks*))

[Krishnitt]

**It seems Jo has started her own thread here  http://www.clan-assembly.org/grid/index.php/topic,2278.0.html. **

My oh my...how things have progressed since I replied to Cher's last message.  I met with Cher in her Jobe apartment.  Those things are nice!!  After getting the tour of the place (and being quiet about it, cuz I sure didn't want to have to put the kids back to sleep if I woke them up), we discussed operation space transport more in depth.  Ok, ok....there is no official name for this.  Can't blame an opi for a little embellishment, can ya? 

Then just today, I met up with Kotts.  I got his version of what is planned.  From both conversations, I understand this to be a legitimate operation...at first.  Then the deviations begin after we have established reliable contacts.  He even mentioned me getting a share of the profits.  I hadn't thought of that.  Up until then, I was just excited to have a project of this magnitude.  I told him when I get the official word, I would start getting the plans for a spacecraft started.  It didn't take much more than a moment's hesitation to give the green light.

Plan A is to acquire Mack's craft, then I would repair it.  If that fails for whatever reason, then we shall build one from scratch, with some patchwork done by anything we can salvage from the vast sea of crashed space vessels.   I am going to work with my mentor in Liberty, Gengy.  Since there is an ulterior function than a mere transportation vessel, I think a bit of deception is called for in the design.  Nay...not design, but rather...what it is made of.  I think he is the one that could help me with this modified material.  I also have a couple colleagues from the Tir SOE that are specialists in the aeronautical field.  I will have to tap their resourcefulness, since this is a field I have but minimal knowledge in.  I mean, I can get by enough to understand the basic principles.  But they would be the ones who could think outside the box.  And with this project, I think that will be a valuable commodity....

[Krishnitt]

The day finds Krishnitt sitting on top of the roof of the building next door to his favorite hardware shop in Tir.  Though Rubi Ka's twin suns are out in full force, the season allows for just the right amount of heat with a gentle breeze.  Krish has his notepad in hand and seems to be deep in thought....

********************************************************************************************************************
Wow!!  My colleagues sure can talk alot!!  All I had to do was insinuate that I was interested in learning a bit more about aeronautics, and they proved that they had plenty to say.  Alot of questions were answered, and they even had suggestions that I had not thought of.  This was all in theory, of course, since I didn't let them in on why I was interested.

I also spoke with Gengy.  Since he is a member of the clans (and also my mentor), I let him know that was a purpose behind my questions.  He not only understood the need for my secrecy, but also insisted that he not know too much.  So in a nutshell, I asked him about the possibilities of making a stronger, lighter metal than perennium.  Titanium was the answer.  It seems he had tinkered with the idea himself long ago.  He said with the proper facilities, one could combine the two elements and make a new material that would have about half the weight of perennium, but almost twice the strength.  This will do nicely.  I can not only save weight in the material itself, but also due to needing less of it for armor. Cher has stated she needs a sleek and agile vehicle.  Between the weight of the cargo and relative lack of weight for the ship, I think I can deliver what she needs.  Now, I just need to come up with a design. 

But alas...I should do this in the proper setting.  Guess that bridge is finally upon me.  Besides, I really need to do something with Father's shop before hooligans take over and make it their own.

********************************************************************************************************************

With that, Krishnitt hops down onto his bot and gets a ride to Newland City.  A bit of anxiety begins to build up inside his chest.

((Before I go further, I want to scope out Newland and see if I can find somewhere that would be suitable for a shop.  Just don't have time for it at this moment.  *smiles*))

[Krishnitt]

Upon reaching Newland City, Krishnitt flew around the interior of the city to refamiliarize himself with the surroundings.

"Ahh yes, there it is."

He flew around the building for a quick inspection.

"It is as I thought.  The local punks got to it.  Or maybe Omni.  The graffitti does say ' Omni-Tek.  Behave Examplary'.  Idiots....don't they know it is spelled 'exemplary'?  Anyway, punks...Omni...all the same, no?" 

This was outrageous!!  Clearly, this was a message aimed at Krishnitt.  He thought about modifying his slayerdroid to clean up the graffitti, but then decided not to.  Between the markings and the big "supplies" sign fixed onto the shop, it made the structure blend with the city better.  It even had a billboard for Dreadloch arms and gear.  As Krish reached to tear down the wood that he used to board up the shop, he felt a wave of sadness.  His breathing quickened, and his eyes began to mist up. 

"Aww, come on...not here.  At least wait until I am inside the damn building!!"

Krishnitt would have no such luck.  Though he was able to gain his composure back, he still could not bring himself to enter the building.  Instead, he contented himself with walking around the city.  There was a leet who had a nametag to indentify him as Brb.  Apparently, the girl had lost him again.  He made a mental note to look for her and tell her where Brb was.  Krish passed by apartment complex 11.  He wondered what became of Varija.  Isha resided there, as well.  Perhaps she knew of Varija's whereabouts.

Throughout the day, Krishnitt noticed he had some new neighbors that had not been there before.  There was an opifex that stood right outside the shop's entrance and seemed to be the quiet sort, though he did attract quite the number of fixers.   He seemed harmless enough, if anyone could be considered harmless on the planet.  It was the other individual that gave Krish the creeps.  She was a nanomage.  At least, Krish thought it was a 'she'.  He noticed people would come up to her and speak to her about...whatever it is that they spoke to her about.  The odd thing was that these same people would be teleported.  Krish had no idea where or why, but also did not concern himself with this.  As long as he could conduct his business undisturbed, he was fine with whoever wanted to hang out in front of his shop. 

Finally, as the twin suns' light began to give way to dusk, Krish mustered up the courage required to enter.

"So are you done casing the joint out, or are you going to keep walking around?"

Krish was startled a bit.  "Huh?"

"Listen bub, I don't much care what your planning to do with this abandoned shop, but if it's going to cause a scene, I'd like a heads up so I can vacate the premises.  My line of work is much easier if the authorities don't take notice, if you know what I mean."

"This place is *not* abandoned.  It has just been underused"

"Uh-huh" *Opifex rolls his eyes*

"And you needn't worry about a scene, as I have the key.  I just need to remove these boards and I can get in."

"Oh.  So your the owner, then?"

"Yes, my name is Krishnitt.  And yours is...?"

"Ofoz.  And if the rumors are true, then I am sorry to hear about your loss."

"Thank you for that.  I was wondering if you could answer a question for me.  Who is the wierd nanomage over there?"

"Aren't they all wierd?  Anyway, that would be Zyvania Bagh.  I have overheard some of her conversations with passer-bys.  Seems she is affiliated with some cult called the Nelebai.  Offers to show you the path to some awakening.  Apparently she can, because people disappear right before my eyes.  I never see them again, however.  Sounds intriguing, but all the same, I think the wise decision is to stay away from her, eh?"  *Ofoz winks*

"Yeah..sure does.  Well, as long as I can go about my business without being disturbed, I could care less how many people get 'awakened'. "

"My thoughts exactly.  Say, what exactly is your business going to be?"

"Well, Ofoz...you seem to be someone who can appreciate an opifex's desire for privacy."

"Hey, hey..say no more, friend.  Say no more.  All the same, let me know if you need anything.  I am pretty good at acquiring items of interest, if ya know what I mean."  *Ofoz grins*

Krish and Ofoz spend the next few hours in conversation, almost "feeling" each other out to get a gauge of who they were.  They take a walk down to Neuters'R'Us for a couple of drinks and end up getting bronto burgers on the way back.

"Ofoz, I like your style.  Perhaps we might be able to come up with an agreement that would benefit both of us.  I'll keep in contact."

"No problem.  It'll be easy to find me.  I usually meet...business partners in this area.  I'll talk to you later!"

With that, Krishnitt decided to return to his shelter in Tir and come back to Newland the next day.

[Krishnitt]

*Takes in a deep breath*

Well, I couldn't escape this moment, it seems.  Just needed to get it over with. 

As I entered my Newland shop, I was flooded with memories.  The time Father smacked his thumb with a hammer....and how hard I was laughing.  Also brought to mind is how karma repaid my laughter years later when I smacked my head on the tool box as I bent over. *half-heartedly smiles*  So much had happened here. 

On with it, then.  I have plenty of time to wallow in self-pity later.  For now, I have a mission to complete.  Gods, to look at all the dust!!  I need some help.  Just the thing an up and coming engineer needs to show him some humility.  *grins*  I will contact Kazgoth.  Ah yes, the little brother of my colleague at the school.  Having an apprentice run the front shop will make things easier for me, I think.  Much better than being in this shop alone.  And he gets to make some credits by selling his implants he made.  All in all...a good deal for both of us.

OK...he is on his way.  We'll have this place ready in no time.......

[Krishnitt]

Things are progressing quite nicely.  My shop is up and running, and Kazgoth provides some sanity for me in this place.  Every morning, we eat breakfast and drink a cup or two of coffee.  We talk about the different theories, and the latest inventions.  It also feels good to have someone to talk to about the future of this shop.  He has some nice ideas about restructuring the front shop...make it look a bit more organized.

My work is going good, as well.  I had a few pieces of perennium held up in my bank box, and lucky for me, titanium isn't to hard to get for a shop owner.  Heh.  Even if it was, I am sure Ofoz could help there.  With Cher and Kotts off planet, or just plain out of contact, it makes the process go smoother to know I got a back up plan to have supplies acquired.  The initial tests for combining perennium and titanium haven't been very successful, but even so, they have still taught me much.  I am going to have to replenish my supply soon.  Gengy says the Hecklers have been known to yield a good supply for him in Adonis.  I am sure Ofoz could help with this, but in the interest of saving a few credits, perhaps I can talk either Kotts or Cher into escorting me around there.

Ofoz....he is quite the character.  At least once or twice a week, he joins me and Kazgoth for breakfast.  Oh, we don't talk about business.  We have already established that agreement.  *smiles*  But other than that, we talk about everything under Ka's two suns.

I received news that the Talon has been given to us.  I have a spot waiting for the vessel here in the shop.  My rooftop is retractable in one area, and will be more than sufficient to let the ship in.

Well, back to the peri-ti experiment.....

[Krishnitt]

I am almost there!!!  My perennium and titanium experiments are on the brink of success.  It seems I need a way to speed up the bonding process.  Cold....I need to drop the temperature quicker than I have been.  Only one place I know to get something cold really fast....

[Krishnitt]

Wow..it sure was cold in Penumbra.  I heard it was quite chilly there, but nothing could prepare me for what I experienced there.  I was able to hire a soldier to escort me there and back.  Once the container that would hold a sample of the Penumbra ice was fabricated, I took it with me so I could bring it back to the shop.

Since I could only bring back so much ice, I spoke briefly with Kazgoth to bounce some ideas back and forth between us.  I am pretty set on what I want to do, but I don't want my excitement to cause me to overlook something simple.  A second set of eyes told me that I have thought everything through.  If this is successful, I will need to build some sort of device that will allow me to produce Peri-Ti plates.  It won't have to be very big.  But I get ahead of myself.  I must first see if my efforts will produce results.....

[Krishnitt]

I don't remember much.  The last thing that comes to mind is the experiment I was conducting.  I think I was trying to combine perennium with...what?  And why?  Damn, but my head hurts.  What happened?  Where am I?

Who am I?

[Xeenah]

(( ))

[Krishnitt]

( )

[Ragunn]

[Oh man, Sandra's going to have a field day. ]