(UN: amidala | Text)

[politicallyinclined]

I have tried to stay optimistic - hopeful, at least - in regards to our mission. I have seen planets die and stars burn out; even relocating those on said dying planets doesn't always work out well. Not everyone is equipped to adjust to new environments even if they are similar to what they had before.

(They have to be successful in other words. They have to.)

I wish to represent multiple worlds since there are many in my galaxy that have no representation. Are there any others in our number who feel likewise? I know that space travel isn't common; we can only help the worlds that we recall.

(She wishes she had brought maps with her!)

I am also curious how many of us have military or fighting experience? I would like to know who to call on should I find myself or others in a tight situation.

Comments

[politicallyinclined]

A fine choice. (Since she had made the same choice. She nods at the bot too and the little droid zips away to fill their orders.)

I think you should too. (The shift in topic gets her interested immediately.) We need people who are good at making weapons or machines. Maybe even fixing the ones we have. I would feel safer if I had a blaster again. I've been making do with a small gun. I think they call it a pistol.

[tinflower]

[ Ah, he's definitely triggered something in her, he thinks; maybe that same part of her that made the post in the first place. The side of her with ideas.

It makes sense. She's been here longer than him--knows better about what they have to prepare for. ]

I know pistols. What's a blaster?

[ It kind of sounds like another form of gun, but better to ask than not to. ]

[politicallyinclined]

(She has been in conflict many times before and dire situations usually require weapons. A lot of weapons. Padmé is a pacifist, but they are here to save their worlds. Peace may not be an option.)

Blasters fire lasers instead of bullets. They are much bigger than a pistol too.

(She motions with her hands to give him an idea of said size.)

[tinflower]

Oh. [ Oh. Even hearing fires lasers sounds cool to Gorgug, a raise in his eyes as he thinks about it. ]

That's cool. So it runs off a battery? Can you control the strength?

[politicallyinclined]

They use power packs, which I assume are like batteries. (They are fun weapons and easy to aim.) Depending on the setting, they can paralyze targets or kill them.

[tinflower]

[ He's nodding, since he knows what (his idea of) a power pack is. ]

Yeah, that's useful. You can get different bullets in guns, but, I mean, I don't know if it's as easy as changing a setting. I don't use a gun.

[ But he can appreciate the function of items. ]

How did you get a gun but not a blaster? They don't have them here?

[politicallyinclined]

The pistol I have takes one size of bullet. I haven't found any way to change that setting, either.

(Which is fine. A ball of metal is a ball of metal and it has to hurt upon impact.)

I found it in the city with a small box of bullets.

[tinflower]

No, I think it's about the bullets you use. Maybe the gun's different, but, you can get different bullets that do different things with some, but I-- I wouldn't be able to tell. I can ask Riz, I mean, if you wanted-- Fabian calls him The Ball.

[ Since she didn't recognise that name before, but maybe she does his nickname? ]

But, maybe you could get a blaster... we could ask the bots too.

[ It couldn't hurt? ]

[politicallyinclined]

I would be very interested in a weapon like that. Small bullets are fine for regular foes, but if we meet any that are oversized, I don't think they will do much damage.

(No, she doesn't. Her and Fabian discussed the Principal, the robot that replaced him and dancing, but not Riz.)

We could. It would be nice to have something I'm familiar with.

[tinflower]

[ ...hum. He looks over to the companion bot inside the café, who is actually coming over now with their orders--but as they make their arrival, Gorgug asks Padme quickly: ]

Should we ask them?

[ The café bot. Surely they might know about Guns. ]

[politicallyinclined]

Might as well. (Padmé smiles up at the bot and accepts her drink.) Excuse us, but could you tell us what you know about guns?

(The bot provides what information is known about the weapons - mainly that each gun requires a special caliber of bullet and that some require cartridges of bullets.)

[tinflower]

[ Very interesting, very interesting. Might as well follow that up with: ]

Can she [ a nod to Padme ] get one?

[ The bot helps, that certainly, she could get one if she asks Aurora. They're unfortunately too busy to retrieve it, they answer apologetically, but another bot should be able to bring it, as long as Aurora confirms the exchange. ]

[politicallyinclined]

(One way or another, Padmé will be better protected! She smiles warmly at Gorgug's help, reaching across the table to squeeze his wrist.)

Would you like one too? Or is there another weapon you prefer?

[tinflower]

It sounds cool... [ It really does, and that's his immediate thought when she asks. ] Um, maybe you can tell me how much it costs? I have an axe--but maybe I can save up.

[ Though- ] Would you show me how it shoots?

[ He wants to see the lasers.... ]

[politicallyinclined]

I'm not sure. Let me figure out the details and I'll find a way to message you. (She doesn't want to lie and it might be costly.) It would be worthwhile, but I can show you when I get mine instead of you simply taking my word for it.

[tinflower]

Sure, yeah. At least you've got something now, even if it isn't-- it isn't the better gun. It does sound like getting around danger's come up a few times...

[ Even if he isn't sure if that's just unfortunate luck on the part of the people who shared that with him, or just the result of people willingly going into spots advertised as dangerous. ]

But I wonder if we're all meant to try and get involved in everything. Not everything's... not all of it sounds like something everyone can do. Like dealing with the big snakes or figuring out what's wrong with the spaceship that's stuck by a black hole.

[politicallyinclined]

I remember when I first arrived here... No one knew about the water. I watched a few people splash into it, hoping to swim or rinse off. They all hurried back to the shore in blinding pain.

(So...danger can be hidden. It's not all about being stubborn or hot-headed unfortunately.)

You're right. We need to stick with our abilities and support those that can do something about the current problem. Even if that just means being a shoulder to cry on when it's done.

[tinflower]

[ The water. Gorgug...knows she can't be talking about all water, and yet does Gorgug glance at his drink that he was just taking a sip of anyway? ]

The-- water was bad?

[ help he doesn't know about the bad water. ]

[politicallyinclined]

Oh not this water! (She sees her mistake immediately and feels bad. Poor Gorgug.) The river near the hospital. There are signs all around it saying to not swim or bathe in the water.

[tinflower]

Oh--that water. [ That water. He's blushing a little in embarrassment, but. ]

That's the hospital people usually show up at, right? I never went there. It's just that water that's bad?

[politicallyinclined]

I went there after I first arrived. Everything looked...scenic. But there is definitely something wrong with the river.

(She had to find quick cures for a few people, poor things.)

I wonder if something is dumped into it?

[tinflower]

A waste makes sense. [ Especially if it's noticeable, too. ] I guess that, uh, Aurora? She wouldn't tell you? I talked to them once but they wouldn't tell me anything new.

[ It might be like that for everyone. ]

[politicallyinclined]

She is very careful about the information she provides. (There must be a reason behind her tight lips; a reason that might cause them to stop in their tracks and be unwilling to help, she theorizes.)

You were given the same reception everyone else was. We just have to go forward with what we know.

[tinflower]

[ He nods. But since he's thinking about now what he did try to ask Aurora... ]

Do you... do you have an idea about what they're looking from us from the missions they give us? I don't know if helping the snakes was a mission-- or handling them, [ he fixes, ] but...

[ He doesn't finish, since he's asking her opinion, though it's safe to assume by where he leaves it, Gorgug thinks there was a purpose to that. It's probably not out there for any of them to assume. ]

[politicallyinclined]

I think they want to know our fears and our limitations. (Padmé responds after a quiet moment of thought.) If we are put off by animals, we might not be as useful to them in the future. But if we can overcome our hesitations and our phobias, the sky is the limit.

(It feels like they are being built up. The real reason they are here has yet to be revealed.)