Ask Some Questions, Get Some Answers (?)

[airlockedmods]

[The Stardust Nebula is a large cloud, sprawling pink and purple across the dark void of space as you approach. There are no planets here, not even a planetoid, but that hardly means it’s devoid of life. Kip will easily be able to navigate to the place in question, a small collection of interconnected spaceports orbiting near the edge of one of the nebula’s hazy, rose-tinted tendrils. Floating signs hooked to these advertise “AIRLOCKED! Q&A”, with arrows leading towards what appears to be a convention center. A dome encloses the area, much like the one around the Fantasy Sweet, but there does not appear to be any kind of security restrictions on the port; it will open as soon as any ship pulls up to it.

Inside, there aren’t too many inconspicuous places to park your weird flotilla of offensively-shaped ships. You may just have to settle for the back of the docks, behind a large news van or something like that, and consider not sticking around the entire time. Getting inside was a quick process, so you shouldn’t have any trouble doing it again, especially with a military navigator staying with the ship. A line has already formed in front of the entrance, at least partially due to the scanners flanking the door. A large weirdly baby-faced alien in some type of uniform is standing there, apparently manning the machine, checking peoples’ belongings, and generally directing them. There’s an unfamiliar symbol on their uniform, clearly not the InterGal 7 logo. Despite being alone, they seem to be handling the line fairly efficiently - even if they occasionally appear to intentionally loom over some of the smaller aliens attempting to enter. There are a few cosplayers among the crowd, of course, but this time the majority are in plainclothes.

Some people are skipping this line and walking around to the back of the building. They’re all wearing or carrying badges, which do have the InterGal 7 logo on them.

For the moment, no one seems to have taken notice of your arrival.]

Comments

[serrata]

[ She cannot believe he somehow managed to get taller. There was no need for that, sir. ]

Should we agree on a meeting point? If anyone gets separated, they should come straight back to the ship. No messing around by yourself.

[scourgingstars]

[by like two inches at most, yuuri, mostly he's just a wall of muscle instead of a stringbean]

Agreed. We can't afford to cause unnecessary trouble, and the ship will be a serviceable meeting point should we need to escape and regroup for any reason.

[serrata]

I'll keep an eye out for the quickest exits. In an event this big, they'll have at least one or two side doors open so people aren't clogging up the big entrances.

[ And if there's one thing actual zombie apocalypse survivor Yuuri Wakasa is good at, it's knowing how to get the hell out of somewhere and back to safety as fast as possible. ]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn lowered his voice slightly, trying not to be overheard.]

I can only carry one person with that little trick of mine, and only for a few feet at a time. If it comes to a dire situation, my ability to help in an escape may be limited.

[serrata]

... The fact that you can carry someone at all is a good start. It means someone's out of danger even if it's only for a few seconds. It might be all we need.

[ ... but then she makes a face as a sudden, awful thought occurs to her. ]

What... would happen if someone was in there and you, um... f--for whatever reason, you couldn't get them out again? They were stuck?

[scourgingstars]

...I meant the other trick, Kotori--the one from the dance hall? I can't just shove someone in a magical dimensional closet.

[serrata]

[ There's a pause. And then she goes very red. ]

I-- well-- in my defense, you have a lot of incredibly ridiculous tricks!

[ YOU'VE GOT A KARAOKE MACHINE IN THERE, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE LIMITS ARE ]

[scourgingstars]

[not even missing a beat:] Don't shout, dear, we're undercover.

[serrata]

[ She gives a frustrated little noise halfway between a groan and a growl but she does, at least, pipe down. He's got a point, even if she's just made an idiot of herself. ]