Leif's DISCONTINUED GURPS Traveller Game -- IC01

[kookalouris]

Spider up close is the epitome of the best of Zhodani, fortright, honest and kind. This causes Syke to instantly try and reconcile two impulses. The first is to attack his ancient enemy. The second is hug his new brother (his psychic awareness now making Syke closer to the Zhodani than his kin and people).

His mind chooses a middle ground. He speaks, quietly and completely.

"I. don't. need. your. help, Zhodani."

His subconscious mind was nowhere as shy. His displaced shock and fear found a psychic voice.

I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP, ZHODANI!

The psychic scream coursed outward, threatening to reveal Spider and Syke both as exactly what they are to everyone around.

Syke whispers, "Uh oh, maybe I do..."

(OOC: There aren't many ways to have Syke instantly overcome years of distrust without spending years in posting. A sudden riot might accomplish that. Besides, what's a futuristic cantina without a futuristic bar fight ["No blasters, no blasters!!]?

This is quite a presumption on my part so I ask that all the local psionics [the PCs] hear the scream for sure and that Lief decides if the rest of the local populace does as well)

 

[Leif]

OOC: I'm willing to keep the "psychic screams" confined to the party for now. Just don't push me too far... and try to get Syke over his bs asap, ok?

 

[Shayuri]

Zoe winces at the second scream, and notices several other people in the bar starting to frown the gently confused frowns of people who weren't sure if they'd heard something, and wasn't that weird? Latent sensitives, she figured. Condemned by centuries of prejudice to be forever untrained until their talent dwindled to nothing with age.

But even a deaf old man could hear if you yelled in his ear. This had to stop. Now.

She got to her feet and went to the table where Spider was sitting with his new 'friend.' Though her mouth was smiling, her icy blue eyes were definitely not.

"Guys," Zoe said with a note of strained friendliness in her voice. "Whaddya say we get out of here? You two go ahead back to the ship and I'll settle up the tab."

In a swift undercurrent, she sent to Spider, Get him out of here. Somewhere there's no one else around. If he resists, force the issue. He's going to get us all killed.

Then, as an afterthought, she sent to the other man, We won't hurt you unless you keep stirring the mob up. Go with Spider. He'll take you someplace safe so we can talk.

 

[Insight]

Hearing the talk of a ship and "getting out of here", Kaira perks up (no, not that way, you pervs).

Kaira approaches Spider and Zoe. "Look, I know you guys don't know me, but I'd really like to get off this rock. I don't suppose you have room for one more passenger."

She slides towards the bar and places 100cr on the surface. "Your tab is settled."

 

[Scotley]

Spider

Spider speaks with unusual ease under the stress of the mental onslaught, "I am all to aware of your feelings toward my kind as you practically shout them from the mental mountain top. You do need help. We might be able to give you the training you need to control your mind. I'm no teacher, but I have training as do some of my companions. Your future on this backwater will involve a lynching or at least a treatment facility for the mentally unbalanced if you stay here. Take a chance and come along."

His newfound ease in speaking quickly collapses in the face of the attractive woman in need of a lift. "Um, a ride in our ship, yeah, it has rooms and stuff."

 

[Insight]

His newfound ease in speaking quickly collapses in the face of the attractive woman in need of a lift. "Um, a ride in our ship, yeah, it has rooms and stuff."

"Well, I hardly expect a free ride. I can pay my way."

 

[Shayuri]

Zoe puts a hand on Spider's shoulder and pats it gently.

"Go ahead and head back," she suggests as she sizes up the new girl. "I'll handle this."

She lets go of Spider's shoulder and steps to interpose herself between shipmate and prospective passenger, figuring he'll move faster if he's not distracted. She then offers a hand.

"Hi, I'm Zoe, the pilot. What destination do you have in mind? Our ship's the fastest non-military ship in port here. Not that there's a wide variety to choose from on this planet."

 

[Insight]

Zoe puts a hand on Spider's shoulder and pats it gently.

"Go ahead and head back," she suggests as she sizes up the new girl. "I'll handle this."

She lets go of Spider's shoulder and steps to interpose herself between shipmate and prospective passenger, figuring he'll move faster if he's not distracted. She then offers a hand.

"Hi, I'm Zoe, the pilot. What destination do you have in mind? Our ship's the fastest non-military ship in port here. Not that there's a wide variety to choose from on this planet."

"You're not kidding," Kaira replies. "I've seen all sorts of junk freighters stop here, but the vast majority of them were headed somewhere... unseemly... after they were done here. And some of those crews... let's suffice to say that I wouldn't want to be trapped in an enclosed space with those scoundrels for long periods of time."

Kaira looks around the bar. "You know, I don't really have a destination in mind. I thought maybe you were headed somewhere specific. If not, well, I'm preferential to the Imperium, but I'm fairly easy."

 

[Leif]

Centry Starport bar -- Dr. A. Hannigan

Doc settles his own tab, gets a shot for the 'road' and prepares to leave with the others.

 

[Leif]

Centry Starport

The Travellers make their way to the Zax without further incident.