The world of Aeolus

[Wicked]

Lexa saw his lips moving and yet her mind had stopped on the words, "We are sending your group down to the planet to see if it is a viable planet for us to live on." Lexa snapped back into reality and said, "Whoa! Wait. What?!"

"The Nomad can only support us for another 200 days and we won't make it back to Earth before then. The council has decided. We need your group to go down and see if this can be our new home. You leave in 30 minutes." Lexa nodded mutely and the older man walked away. Walking towards her room she started to pick up the pace and met her mother at her door.

"Mom did you hear? We are.." Maira nodded and her expression looked somewhat grim. " I know. I also know you are going on a great adventure and you need to be safe. You are responsible for a lot of people on this one." Lexa nodded smiling. "Yes, but I wonder what kind of creatures we will run into. Some of the things out there could be very hungry." Her mother visibly blanched at the thought. Hugging her to her chest Maira said "Just be safe and listen to your instincts."

Lexa nodded and hugged her back. "I will, don't worry mom." Maira turned to leave and gave her daughter another look as she entered her room to pack. A quick silent prayer and she left quietly.
Lexa quickly packed her things and went down to the shuttle bay to get loaded and check on everything. Her crew and the others were already showing up while the shuttle was being loaded with everything they might need for 3 months.

Lexa checked on the ship and it's mechanics, she made sure they had spare parts, food, tools and everything else they might need, such as weapons. A few minutes later the shuttle was loaded and undocking. The members of the council were very worried. If the group found this world incompatible or if they died the human race may perish right here.

[Wolvel]

The twin suns bore down on the beach as a lone Mar'aki exits the ocean. 

The Mar'aki are a mer race living in the depths of the emerald oceans that cover more than two thirds of the planets surface. Like all Mar'aki this one has the light green skin and yellow eyes with black pupils. Dressed in a leather jacket and breeches with boots made from leather and hardened fish scales. He carries a long bow and several arrows and a short sword hangs at his side.

Drawing a small compass from inside his jacket he heads north into the deep underbrush near the forest edge vanishing in the pitch black shadows.

[Wicked]

As they descended through the atmosphere the planet's surface became more visible. Close to 3/4 was occupied by water and the other 1/4 was land. It was very similar to Earth in many ways, most importantly was the compatibility with human needs to  survive. Climate and atmosphere with weather patterns were of utmost importance.

Lexa looked for a place to land close to water yet inland enough to set up shelter and start monitoring weather patterns. Some of the members of her team were scientists who studied weather, some were geologists and archaeologists as well as hunters and warriors. There was a little bit of everything on board the shuttle. Just off to the right she noticed a clearing near the water but far enough to get shelters put up.

Lexa lowered the shuttle to the ground and she snapped her holster onto her hips and double checked her weapons. She was wearing her long dark hair back and her skin tight uniform showed off her ample curves and long legs. Her jacket was built for extreme temperatures. Since the shuttle said the oxygen content was compatible and the temperature was a balmy 78 degrees she pushed it into her backpack along with a couple of other things, just in case. 

Giving orders as she walked down the ramp to the ground she watched her staff scramble to get things set up and take samples of everything as quickly as they could. She looked out into the jungle and began walking into it.

[Wolvel]

Easing his way deeper into the jungle the lone Mer'aki scans the sky to see a strange bird lower itself to the ground. Climbing a nearby tree he takes a close look. Watching as the strange skinned ones exit the bird he pulls out a small device a clicks it several times then whispers..."Krios who in the name of the Goddess are these strange ones."

[Wicked]

Lexa tapped her comlink to make sure it was still working as she walked. She looked at the colors of the trees and landscape. Most of what she heard behind her was scientists. One of the warriors came running past her and yelled to her, "Capn you aren't supposed to go off without us!" Lexa grinned  and chuckled as 3 more rushed passed her looking for animals to protect her from.

Lexa looked at her warriors as a challenge and she looked at herself as one of them. She made an about face and dove into the brush on the left and took off at a dead run. Leaping through the bushes and onto the back of a wild bore type of creature. She whooped and screamed in delight as she tried not to fall off.  One of her warriors, Jerrick skidded to a stop and his eyes widened as he chuckled at her. "Got yourself into quite a pickle huh Capn?"

[Wolvel]

Krios stays hidden among the tree tops moving silently to get a closer look until the small device beeps. Pausing he removes it to see a message, as usual the elders want him to return and to stay clear. Ignoring the message he presses on until he hears a loud ruckus and the screeches of a Bonkar Pig.

[Wicked]

"Not for long!" Lexa said. She suddenly went flying as her grappling hooks snagged a tree. She swung herself onto a branch and watched her warriors as they sedated the pig and took some blood samples and pictures. They had to catalog all animals they found. 

Sliding back to the ground and dislodging the hooks Lexa walked towards the water. She noticed it wasn't quite the same color as it was on Earth. She wondered if it had anything to do with the twin suns.

[Wolvel]

Krios watches as the strange ones pick at the Bonkar yet they don't kill it for its meat. Shaking his head he eases his way back to the beach, the few scans he took the Elders will want to see, and he doesn't think now is the time to make contact, specially with sunset only an hour away...Har'rooks will emerge then and his scent would give him away too easily.
As he nears the beach he sees what would be equivalent to a female of his species looking off into the emerald waters..."damn, now what do I do?" he whispers aloud.

[Wicked]

Lexa walks up to the water and takes a glove off and sticks her hand into the water to pick up a shell.  "Lexa! No!" She ignored Jerick's overly cautious fears. He ran up next to her and started to yell at her. When he was done she looked up at him.

 "Jerick you are to go back to the shuttle and help the scientists. You have no right to overstep your bounds." When she turned away from him completely ignoring his anger he grabbed for her arm. The instant his hand landed on her arm she dodged the rest of him and tripped him at the same time. Her elbow slammed into his chest and she slammed him into the ground face first. An abrupt laughter rose up from the edge of the treeline. She looked up to see her other warriors watching and fully entertained. "Go, now Jerrick." He got up and went back to the other warriors and played it off. She kicked off her shoes and sat down on the beach.

[Wolvel]

Krios waits until the males have retreated back into the forest until he slips down from the tree tops. Easing a small blade from his boot his begins to try and make his way back to the ocean not wanting to confront the one left behind. As he closes in he notices a familiar glint coming from the waters surface and without thinking he runs over tackling the unknown female, as soon as they hit the beach he turns and yells into the small device making the glint vanish below the surface again.
He turns back to the startled female brushing his long jet black hair from his face he tries to talk but obviously his words and hers don't match. Then he turns and begins to ease into the water wary of both the beach and the ocean in front of himself.

[Wicked]

Startled, Lexa stands up and looks at the creature who tackled her. She takes a defensive stance taking note of her bare feet. Lexa takes in the greenish skin tone and the yellow and black eyes, the lean muscular body of a swimmer and the dark hair.  "Wait!" she yelled as she entered the water after him. Like most beaches her feet started to sink into the sand to a degree.

[Wolvel]

Krios shakes his head and with a quick hand motion he points at her then at the beach hoping she will realize to go back. He hears his device beep and he withdraws it and after a short conversation the other voice seemingly high pitched as to be in a yelling state, Krios clicks it off placing inside his jacket. 
Turning around he sees her still in the water so he grabs her by the arm returning her to the shore. He points at the ground as to stay as he returns to the water.

[Wicked]

Lexa turned and watched the obviously male specimen go back into the water turn once and disappear. Lexa moved forward into the water and stopped at her waist. She felt her foot sting as she stepped on a sharp rock.  Suddenly she realized her blood might attract something large and hungry so she went back up onto the sand and slipped her boots on. Scanning the horizon over the water she searched for any sign of the "Mer man" Finding none she slowly headed back to the camp but before she got to the tree line she turned and sighed at the beautiful twin suns setting in the distance.

A few minutes later she rejoined the group. There were constructs already up. She knew she had her cabin on the shuttle if she wanted to use it but was happy to see that everyone else had been busily preparing for the nightfall. There were tents and a few actual buildings in process of being built. She grinned. It all went so much smoother when there were so many of them. 


She limped up to a friend in medicine. "Junnie? I stepped on a sharp rock and my foot is bleeding could you take a look?"  Junnie nodded and pushed her into a chair as she grabbed for her foot. As soon as the boot came off Junnie gasped. 

"What?" Lexa looked down at her swelling foot and frowned curiously. "Purple, great!" "Are you sure it was a rock and not a poisonous animal?" She pulled over a box, a mirror, light and tweezers.

Lexa watched as Junnie pulled several prickles out of her foot. The stinging went down almost immediately. Breathing a sigh of relief Lexa  smiled. "Oh that feels so much better already." A few minutes later she was walking out of the tent carrying her boot with her swollen foot taped and wrapped up.  She didn't get far before Jerrick called her as he slowed reaching her side. "What happened to your foot?"  She didn't answer him right away. 

"I walked into the water barefoot and stepped on something with spines and Junnie had to remove them but it's fine. I got some meds and she cleaned it so...don't worry." She turned and he pulled her back slowly. She sighed. "Look Jerrick, I don't ..." before she could say anything else he looked at her expression and angrily turned and walked off in a huff. She watched him go and turned back toward her tent and went inside. 

She and Jerrick had been together for years. First as kids then puberty hit and they were a couple until he had decided he needed to join the warriors and had left for training for 2 years and many young women later he came back and wanted to pick up  right where they had left off. While he was gone she had grown up and excelled at self defense, martial arts training was her vice. She trained when she was upset, angry or happy. It was her go to place. She had also learned to be a pilot and a leader. Unfortunately, those things did nothing to erase her lack of caution when it came to her own welfare.

Lexa barely got her bed put together before she fell asleep exhausted.

[Wolvel]

Krios dives below the waters surface, after a short swim out he sees the owner of the glint from the surface a few minutes ago. A long submarine type craft floats in front of him as the side door opens and he swims inside.

"Krios...why in the Goddess's ocean did you tell the gunner to stand down...those strangers are a threat to our society."

Krios strides over to the larger male dressed in a regal type of armor he bows slightly..."sir these strangers have pink skin...such as the ancients once wore. I feel that to kill them without studying them first is wrong in this case."

"Anyone else had tried that stunt they would have been killed along with the stranger...but after what you did for me a century ago...I owe you this one...don't waste it."

Krios nods..."yes sir...so how should I handle this...Kar'idar, any idea's?"

"Wait until the morning after the Har'ooks subside...if they survive the night you can return...just be wary is all that i ask."

With that the sub disappears into the murky depths.

[Wicked]

Not terribly long after dark the camp was alerted to the nightlife on the planet. Screams were heard as tents were attacked by flying pteradactyl-like creatures. They were small enough to grab onto but some were large enough to ride. Lexa woke up with a start. It felt like she had only been asleep for 20 minutes. Glancing at her watch it was 30. She grabbed her belt and raced out of the tent to see these flying creatures attacking her people. They were fighting back. Lexa saw one of the "creatures" grab one of the smaller women and it lifted her into the air. 

Lexa grabbed the woman by the waist and reached up and stabbed the creature. It shreiked and dropped her. They both landed and she saw that the young woman was one of the scientists sent to study the animals. How ironic, she thought. After taking her to Junnie she studied the creatures and she ran and jumped onto the back of one of them. It had scaly skin and she grabbed hold of what would have been a mane if it had one. It felt rubbery and when she pulled on it the animal started to buck her authority and after a few minutes she was able to control it.

She flew the creature around the camp and the warriors seeing what she was doing took her lead and followed. Some of them laughed at her but all of them admired her courage. Jerrick just shook his head and grabbed one of the larger ones. After a few more minutes the camp began to calm down and take count of the wounded. Luckily there were no deaths but Lexa was well aware how lucky they were in that respect.

She directed one of the warriors to set up a place to keep and take care of the flying creatures and to keep an eye on any others that might happen along. She walked onto the Andromeda and went to the command seat and made her video log for the day. 

She sent the log to the ship and she sat there thinking about the creatures she had run into that day. All of them seemed like animals but the green man. He seemed more human? She wondered if she would see more of him and his kind or if that was a one time sighting. 

With adrenaline pumping through her system she went outside and sat next to a few of the people around a bonfire they had made to stay warm. She didn't say anything when Jerrick sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She decided to enjoy his warmth and she shared her blanket and accepted the beer he gave her. The singing and laughing was contagious and everyone had a good time.

When dawn approached Lexa began to stir. The camp was quiet. Most were still asleep and the guards were barely awake. She noticed some of the scientists were already up and getting gear set for whatever they were doing. Lexa noticed Jerrick's arm around her and she slipped quietly away.

 She went into the ship and changed her clothes and put her exploration gear on. She had all the goodies pocket knives, medical necessities, thick boots, long sleeves and she even had a bathing suit on for lakes and oceanic studies. When she came out she saw Hayden getting his boots on. He was one of the warriors, he was younger than she was by about a year or so and he was funny.  She called on him and he told him they were going to explore and he grinned and glanced at Jerrick. "What about him?" Lexa ignored the glance in Jerrick's direction. "What about him? We aren't together anymore." She started north of the camp and he followed.

[Wolvel]

Morning cycle had come again, Krios already dressed heads out for the day. The city, once a island above the waves now resting deep in the sea trench, is busy with the word of the strangers above. The masses move about listening for news as well as prepping their homes in case they find their way down below. Krios just shakes his head as he swims for the main gate. As he approaches an armed guard stops him carrying a sealed parchment made from Goopa Fish skin.

"Krios I presume...the Elder Kar'idar told me to give you this before you leave."

Krios takes and opens the small scroll, inside in Kar'idar's tight written script is a simple message...Do not for any reason bring them here...upon the pain of death should you break this order..

He tosses it in the trash and thanks the guard as he heads for the surface. After making his way to the beach the twin suns making the white sands blinding he makes way into the forest and begins to check his traps he had over looked yesterday. After an hour of so and a few small rabbit looking creatures are now safely tucked away in a large leathern bag at his side he decides to investigate deeper in to the woods.

[Wicked]

Lexa and Hayden have been trekking through the woods and she was up in a tree looking through binoculars at some animals that appear to be related or similar to a brown bear. Hayden loaded a tranquilizer dart into the gun and he snuck up on the bears. From up in the tree Lexa could see that the large male bear had picked up Hayden's scent and was going into a rage of protectiveness.  Hayden, however, was totally clueless about this turn of events.

Lexa swung her grappling hook into a tree closer to the bear family. She tested the strength and swung out of the tree and landed right next to the bears. "Oh crap!" she said as she ducked the bear's large beefy arm. 

Hayden happened on the scene just as the bear took off chasing her. Hayden's mouth dropped open and raised the dart gun and fired it. It hit the large male bear in the back. He knew it would take a couple of minutes before it would take effect. Til then he just had to keep Lexa alive.

Lexa ducked and ran and when the ground ran out she began to fall several stories into the water. Hayden stopped as the bear had fallen asleep. When he looked up and realized Lexa wasn't there he ran to the edge of the cliff barely avoiding falling off himself. He shouted down and she waved up at him coughing. "I'm alright."

[Wolvel]

Krios hears the ruckus from a Holgar, a bear like creature in form, and figures the strangers are restless. He makes his way in time to see the female from yesterday go over the cliff as the Holgar falls asleep mid run, noticing the dart he figures her companion must be close so he uses caution and slips back in to the underbrush.
Using hidden paths he makes his way to the beach only to see the female pop up from under the water waving back to her companion up top. He shifts as the twin suns hit his sword hilt the flash shining towards the water where she is, unsure about what to do next he stays in the open whee only she can see him.

[Wicked]

Seeing the flash of light hit the hilt of his sword Lexa swam towards the shore and reflected on her choice to run through unfamiliar woods in full exploration gear. The weight of her clothing and backpack was ridiculous. As she got to the shoreline she tossed her back pack onto the ground. She looked at the mer man and she figured he knew she wasn't going to hurt him as he didn't run. 

She leaned up against a large flat rock and yanked her boots off her soaking wet pants and shirt came next which left her in her bathing suit. She had figured a one piece was much more accommodating to exploration as a two piece was clearly more of a social choice and not really appropriate for this mission. Luckily for her she found her hair band and wound her hair into a pony tail quickly. 

At this point she walked over to the mer man and held out her hand and smiled. "I'm Lexa."

[Wolvel]

Krios sees her outstretched hand but does not understand its meaning, picking up a small turquoise rock he places it in her hand thinking that is what she was asking for. A familiar sound from the brush makes him spin on his heel drawing his sword in one fluid motion only to see a small rat like creature scurry out and back in at the sight of him. 
He turns back to see her have a puzzled look on her face staring at the rock. He tries to speak but she cannot understand him anymore than he can her. Shaking his head wondering what he is doing here he turns for the water.

[Wicked]

Lexa grabbed his hand in hers and put his hand up against hers. He had five fingers like hers and his hands were larger than hers. She caught him staring at her. Pointing to herself she said, "Lexa."

[Wolvel]

Krios felt her warmth, his body runs cooler due to living underneath the sea. A idea comes to him wondering if the Gava root would be safe for her to eat...it would possibly help them to communicate. Releasing her hand he turns and dashes in to the woods and after a minute or so he returns with a odd smelling root bulb in his hands. He hands it to her motioning for her to eat...he does it a few times, even uses his hands like they are talking hoping she catches on.

[Wicked]

Lexa takes the root bulb and gets that he wants her to eat it. She looks at it strangely and takes it to the water to clean it off. She pulls her pocket knife out of her back pack and cuts it into bite size pieces. She bites into it and offers him some of it. It has a sour taste and her mouth puckers slightly and he takes some of it and eats it. They continue eating the root although she had no idea why they were eating it.

[Wolvel]

Swallowing the sour root, Krios cups some water in his hands and drinks until the taste subsides. He looks back to see a look of wonder on her face.
"My name is Krios...can you understand me?"

[Wicked]

Lexa had been putting her blade back in her back pack when he spoke. Her head turned back to him immediately. She stood up and nodded "Yes, I understand you. I'm Lexa. Was that root why I can understand you now?" He nodded and she smiled. Her mind was racing with questions for him. 

"What race are you and are there others on this planet? What can you tell me about this planet and it's history? Are there any species that we should fear or be weary of?" She tried to go slow and not to ramble.

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