The Colors out of Space - Neonatal
Jared
The cafeteria, or what the puppet told them, is perhaps an understatement of what is shown within the floors. Upon leaving the lift, numerous tables line up on the window side, while booths the size of trucks are located loosely within the floor, categorizing food based on the origin of the cooking method, with ingredients listed in detail on each nameplate of the dish. Wooden texture spread across the room until reaching the rear end, merging with the black-tinted ceramic tiles of an open-style kitchen, with all sort of cooking equipment listed on the cupboards, along with the smokeless stoves, making it feels more like a laboratory than a place to cook. A stack of stairs is located on the opposite side of the kitchen in case anyone wants to walk to the next floor, where more tables and booths are located.
Throughout the entire cafeteria there seems to be only one puppet appearing, who simply stands idle in the open kitchen overlooking the situation.
Dumb
Slowly the crew begin to make their ways to each booth most cooking for themselves and other while a small group slowly make their way upstairs for a more private meal. Soon everyone make their way to a table enjoying what's been offered and begin discussing their plans for the rest of their visit
Ra is seen last to eat, ensuring everyone downstairs is seated before making her way upstairs. Once reaching the top of the stairs she joins the small group in what seems to be prair of sorts, one by one as each person drinks from a shared glass, once reaching the last person, seeming to be the eldest, they eat the meal they prepared together.
"So...they are now having their meal, yea?"
"Indeed. O5 is on standby if they need any assistance with the equipment there."
"Well I'm fairly sure that as beings of such intellectually demanding occupations, they should figure them with ease even without assistance...but I guess getting accidentally hurt won't be very pleasant to anyone..."
"...Are there any plans for them?"
"Nah, as equal brethren in the field of science, I shall provide a safe resting place for all I can, especially when they are inside this station of mine."
"...As you wish..."
"Oh and one more thing, check on the leading one after their meal, Ra's her name, see if she got any plans, and if she would prefer to meet me in person."
"Affirmative, N"
Dumb
After their meal, one by one groups begin to explore the station, some staying back to enjoy their brake, some head back to there living spaces, while most are split between the Rec room and Lab
In the lab some are playing around with different experiments for some personal entertainment, while others seem to be continuing their real world work, soon Ra is seen making her way up into the Lab and with a note pad on her is seen making notes of all the equipment that is there, the small group she was with is also with her, discussing among themselves what they have to ration off
Jared
Around a corner, Ra is approached by the puppet, or perhaps just a puppet that looks exactly like the one previously greeted them.
"Oh hello there, sorry for any inconvenience."
As per other occasions, the puppet bows in over-the-board extent.
"Say, do you have any other matters at hand currently?"
Jared
Waiting till Ra organized all the work, the puppet bows again.
"Very well, this way please."
The two went down using the elevator but kept going down despite reaching the bottom floor. After about a minute or so, the door finally opens up, revealing a room with inadequate lighting, to say the least.
All sorts of machinery organized like a labyrinth with wires panning all over the place, covering up the ceiling like cobwebs. Assorted mechanical sounds ring from all directions, forming an incoherent and unsynchronized orchestra. Through some careful navigation following the puppet's steps, Ra enters a decently-sized open space where a small kotatsu is located in the middle, and countless screens overhead showing nothing but pitch-black.
"Ah...greetings, do have a seat."
Perhaps sensing their approach, a figure sits up from the other side of the kotatsu. An average humanoid, but a rather large ovaloid headpiece covering its entire head.
"Is there any drink that you may prefer? Hot chocolate perhaps?"
Dumb
Ra bows to the figure in front of her before taking her seat
Ra: "Thank you however I must decline, I am not allowed any drinks after the meal, though I must thank you for allowing us to stay and eat, nice to explore new places every now and then, its good for the crew especially with the lack of stargazing from this anomaly. Ah sorry starting to ramble, its nice to finally see you"
Jared
"It's of equal pleasure for me to serve you all, especially in such an otherworldly section of space."
The figure slightly nodded as a single cup descended from the dark ceiling above, a cup of steaming brown liquid with a rich aroma of sweetness. With a slight slit on the headpiece, it takes a slight sip before setting it down.
"Mmm... Anyhow, Let me reintroduce myself again, I am "N", and welcome abroad to the Pantheon"
As if realising that finally it can pronounce the name entirely, the figure paused for a moment, but with the headpiece blocking facial distinctions its hard to judge the emotions experienced by it.
"Ahem... sorry about that, I mainly invest in biology and theology, which is why I rented this whole station just to rename and renovate it... say, what is your field of expertise?"
Dumb
Ra: "Xenosociology and Xenobyology, I've been in the program for a few years now, should be graduating soon to become a Citizen, after that ill be pushing to have my own ship and my own crew, I plan to find a long dead space faring species, not many have been found back in home space but there's been some leads to a possible dozen or less system spanning species, just something to get my name out there"
Jared
"Hmm...well sadly I don't think any long-lost space-faring species would want to get stuck in this blob of dilated space, not to mention wander around with all the weird ...local? wildlife."
The being takes another sip, it's somewhat miraculous to sip from such a small opening without making the headpiece dirty nor spilling the drink everywhere.
"Is there any information you wish to inquire about?"
Jared
"Hmm..."
As usual, that headpiece is a pain with it blocking all detection to the being's expression, but it seems the question that Ra asked does raise enticement for the being.
"The fauna, at least as far as we had come across, mainly divided into two categories: Pteraspidomorphi-isk and Ctenophora-isk.
The former is a large fish-like creature with mainly three stages of life observed: larva form can be found just floating around almost everywhere within the anomaly, but can rarely be obtained due to their fragility. and with growth to their body mass, they enter this juvenile stage which reminds me of Scombridae. Resorting to active hunting, they probably contribute the most damage within the anomaly, including the damage to my station of course, but also being the most substantial food source in the area with their muscular physique. Currently, there is only one specimen of adult Pteraspidomorphi, boasting a large mouth part several times of its body with comparatively degenerated limbs and tail, perhaps to minimize energy expenditure.
For the latter, the form that we only come across is the juvenile form, most often anchoring themselves on whatever surface they find, so perhaps it's a good idea to scrub your ship immediately after leaving the area. There should also be an adult form somewhere as current found specimens all lack the ability to self-replicate or produce offspring, but unfortunately, we haven't come across that yet so it's all speculation."
"As for the anomaly itself... well we don't know much as of yet so guess you will have to find out with yourselves."
Dumb
Ra: "Think the largest we have came across thus far would be the juvenile's thus far, have not seen much larger yet, though maybe we should hope we don't, though even just getting an image of an adult would be nice."
Ra stops to think to herself before continuing
"Sorry if this is a little intrusive but mind telling me more about yourself? what's your story, I have not come across anyone like yourself, id love to know about you, your people, where you come from, the puppets are, incredible, and well, it might be a little difficult to explain to my higher ups about all of this."