Ravenna Joins the Team
Karen: How is it? Is the fitting too loose or too tight?
Ravenna: It's comfortable enough. I'm surprised the operation didn't leave my shoulder joint in more pain.
Karen: Ordinarily, it would have. When I was installing it, I noticed that the infected tissue had already healed.
Ravenna: Listen, it was an open secret back where I'm from that I had an abnormally strong physical constitution.
Ravenna: My mother's side of the family had this bizarre genetic code... I dunno... my Dad explained it a million times but I never quite understood.
Ravenna: But yeah, it's just always been that way.
Saja: Ravenna? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Commander Saja Kabora, head of security on Pandora and one of the three Fumacite elites.
Ravenna: That's quite an introduction! Pleased to meet you, Commander.
Karen: Please excuse me. I need to get your mechanical arm. Be right back.
Ravenna: To what do I owe this pleasure, Commander?
Saja: Ha, I'm sorry about that. Sometimes, I forget to drop the military formality and act like a normal person.
Ravenna: Don't sweat it. I'm just a mischief maker who can't stay out of trouble.
Ravenna: Saja, I'm not in trouble, am I?
Saja: No, not at all! Actually, I just wanted to chat with you a little.
Saja: Could you tell me where you're from?
Ravenna: Yes, gladly. I am from a planet called Earth, from the year 2214.
Saja: 2214? From the future?
Ravenna: I don't think so. The years must have been numbered differently at some point. You see...
Karen: I'm back! Ravenna, let me see that shoulder socket there...
Ravenna: I'm armed and dangerous!
Karen: How's that working for you?
Ravenna: Hmmm..... a little clumsy...
Karen: Let's see... let me adjust the dynamic Penfield map adapter...
Ravenna: Whoa! Feels just like a real arm now!
Ravenna: Thanks, Karen! This will be great!
Karen: Don't forget that you'll have a real arm ready to be grafted on fairly soon.
Ravenna: Thank you. I look forward to having my real arm back, but this thing is pretty cool until then.
Saja: I would like to take you shopping. This orbital station has an excellent mall.
Saja: There's a store called "High Fashion Planet" that I'd like you to see.
Ravenna: That would be nice. I'm not your stereotypical mall rat but I could sure use a new outfit.
Saja: Ravenna, you were in the middle of telling me where you were from.
Ravenna: Oh, right. Yes, you see, in the Earth year 2214, a portion of my world's population was conscripted to live aboard an interplanetary migration ship.
Saja: Fascinating... so those ruins in which Malachi and Virulyde found you... are you telling me that was really a starship?
Ravenna: Yes. It was headed toward a planet in the Pleiades cluster, where it was intended for humans to settle.
Saja: The scrolls were correct... oh my, this is a lot to take in.
Ravenna: You feeling okay, Saja?
Saja: Yes, sorry. My country has a deeply held religious conviction that humans did not evolve on our planet.
Saja: You are quite literally the living proof that confirms our beliefs.
Ravenna: Wow... so I'm like some kind of religious figure or something?
Saja: Now, let's not get carried away. But yes, some will definitely revere you as such. I'd keep a low profile if I were you.
Saja: Here's "High Fashion Planet". Choose whatever you like, try things on, and I'll cover the cost.
Ravenna: Thank you, Saja! You're so kind.
Ravenna: I'll be back in a bit.
Virulyde: Heya, Saja! You showing the new girl around Pandora?
Saja: I wanted her to put on something decent before walking around in public, but yes.
Saja: Virulyde, she seems like a nice person. She's forthcoming... if she's telling the truth. If not, she's one hell of a good actor.
Virulyde: The evidence is on her side, from what I've heard. Karen just gave me an update.
Saja: Where's Malachi? You two are usually hanging out together.
Virulyde: He's over at the restaurant begging for his job back.
Saja: He shouldn't. Word from the higher ups says that he's about to be assigned full-time to security duties - same as us.
Virulyde: Great! Then we're officially acting as a team again, just like old times.
Ravenna: I'm back! What do you think?
Saja: Fantastic choice, Ravenna. That looks great on you.
Saja: I'll be right back. Going to go pay for the outfit.
Ravenna: So, um... thanks for saving me back in that place.
Virulyde: I should be thanking you!
Malachi: Hello! Ravenna, is it?
Ravenna: Hi! Thanks for saving my life!
Malachi: You save our lives, too. Still, no problem, saving and protecting people is what we do!
Malachi: By the way, I'm Malachi, and this guy here who can't stop drinking orange juice is Virulyde.
Virulyde: I'm an android, by the way, from Aufdek. Number 24 of the Virulyde series.
Malachi: Yeah but he's effectively human for all intents and purposes.
Saja: There we go. All paid for. Now... Ravenna... there is something I want to ask in return.
Saja: Let's all head back to my quarters to discuss this.
Saja: Ravenna, I'll get straight to the point.
Saja: You have superhuman strength. We want you to join our group and help provide security for this orbital station.
Malachi: For all of our world's history, there has been an oppressive quasi-religious organization called "Zetsfir" carrying out mass genocide.
Ravenna: Zetsfir? My dad worked for an organization called "Zetsfir"!
Saja: Wait, guys. It could be coincidence. Ravenna, your dad assisted a genocidal cult?
Ravenna: Of course not! In my world, Zetsfir was a quasi-governmental agency working in tandem with the world government.
Ravenna: They ordered a mass migration to another planet and forced people into it against their will.... but they never went around killing people...
Ravenna: Although I wonder about Bus's dad... but no, they were certainly not some weird murderous cult!
Malachi: I'm sorry. It looks like we were the ones jumping to conclusions this time.
Saja: It could be a coincidental name or Zetsfir had far less malevolent beginnings.
Saja: But... Ravenna, Zetsfir has been the enemy of our world for as long as our written history has been around.
Virulyde: Although our written history only goes back so far, thanks to Zetsfir's efforts to erase it.
Ravenna: Again, this is a bit too much to take in all at once. Saja, what was it you wanted me to do?
Saja: Fight along side us. Help us reduce the impact that Zetsfir's forces inflicts.
Malachi: Please? With your help, we can protect our world.
Ravenna: I'm really a fish out of water, here, but yes. Of course I'll help.
Ravenna: It's the least I can do after you saved my life.
Ravenna: I do have one request, though. When I was transported here, someone else was with me. Could we search for him later on?
Saja: Of course. We will help you look for your friend.
