The Foundry; Part 4

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"My people?" She asked curiously, then suddenly remembered her origin.

"The Liran." There was no offense taken on Nel's part, at least not any major offense. Her people were rather reclusive, and truthfully there weren't many of them left in the galaxy. They were rare, though not as rare as some other species. "We are migrants mostly, living on starships. Most would call us exceptionally intelligent, though our population has declined over the years."

That was really all there was too it without going into too much detail, most people already knew that Liran were in fact entirely clones. They had long ago foregone any sexual reproduction and instead simply cloned themselves over and over again. It was a way of preserving knowledge and increasing personal experience. The process was dangerous of course, incredibly so, but it was also worth it to most of her kind. Nel herself didn't really have an opinion on the subject matter, having abandoned her people long ago.

She was one of the few that made her own way in the galaxy.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

His eyes traced her face as she looked back inwards to see what she could get from her memories. Liran, as she called herself, it seemed were like Vahla in a sense though he wondered if they were truly like is saddening examples for what could be a proud people. He supposed in that moment that he would have to wait and see though as he had no idea what would come. None the less though he was a bit interested in the fact of her people's species declining.

"Is some disease the cause for this? Im sorry to pry but... i hate to hear something like that and only speculate on how such a fate could have happened." He continued the glance at her while he spoke and walked. Sure he had ventured from the realm of business but that was all for a reason. He was still weary of Vanir Technologies. And while that kept him worried, it also made him more than curious about the woman who now headed the company.

At the same time though he was also curious in this person. Completely void of any business reasons he enjoyed the arrival of guests as they let him experience cultures, people, and the way that the norm of a society can changed due to such small features. Yet here was a woman likely miles different from himself in ways he could never truly come to understand. That didn't stop but intrigue him on such a higher level that he was more than curious to see what else she would say. "Oh and, back to business though, was there any specific produce or foodstuffs you preferred on your station. Id hate to cause... problems through a poor choice."

 

[Rose Kuhn]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"My people chose technological advancement over cultural significance." Nel said simply. "The Liran reproduce through cloning. We have neither family, nor loved ones, having lost the ability to reproduce through other means long ago. Instead we chose to live longer lives through the recreation of our former selves."

That was the short version of it. "As more and more of us grow tired of the constant work and research we tend to float away from our fleet, and thus away from our ability to recreate ourselves. We die out that way."

She said it so matter of fact that it would seem like she did not at all care. Her people were something that she loved, yes, but she knew very well the fate of them all. In truth, she did not mind it. The Liran had made their own decisions, forged their own path in the galaxy, it would be wrong to say that it was anyone but their own fault. Oddly enough, most of her people agreed, knowing that they will eventually die out regardless of what they did or tried.

"No. Nothing specific, just enough for my people to survive through construction." She offered a smile.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Nel"]

"That is a sad fate to hear..." He spoke as she concluded her story, the expression on his face mirroring his words without any deception. "To know that a people who's skill is as you have outlined is a sorrowful thing to hear. Forgive me for saying but to live a life where you only reborn from the cells of a long dead body, continuing their work or leaving to die out... It seems like a tale that has but one end and that is the eventual end beyond your own life span." He looked to the path before them as they walked, nearing close to the Uvak he so enjoyed to see and work with. Nearly as greatly as he did his garden but not quite. Her story marked his features though as he thought of the Vala and their eventual end without a homeworld they could call their own. He knew they would come to that fate sooner or later, but just how long before they reached that point the Liran were at.

"I am sure my people can easily supply your efforts, its only a matter of seeing through their work with adequate pay to reward them for such work. As such i hope the price of the resources will not be a problem as it would for less... generous governments for those whom reside on their world. I had been spending as much on the development of this world as i have in bringing in new trade so you must understand that any deal with Kesh will not be the cheapest but it will be of a quality beyond what others could offer you."

 

[Rose Kuhn]

[member="Solan Charr"]

"My people have made their choice, Mr. Charr." She didn't sound angry, in fact she sounded downright calm. Nel was no longer concerned with the Liran. It no longer mattered to her if her people survived or not. Her life was now about herself, about personal accomplishments and things that she could achieve. That was enough for her, that was what she wanted and what she would get. A small smile pulled at her lips and she motioned slightly with her hand. "They will have to live with it in the end."

She smiled ruefully. "For better or for worse."

"As for food, Vanir Technologies will be happy to pay fair market price for any supplies." The company had more than enough money. "Would that be suitable?"

Nel was willing to pay even a little more to help Kesh thrive. This project was not only about her success, but the success of everyone involved. She wanted companies to grow, planets to benefit, and everyone else to watch as The Foundry rose from the dust.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Rose Kuhn"]

"I see..." He spoke as he heard her offer and for a good few minutes he said nothing more. Silently they would walk until they finally reached the destination that Solan had been bringing them too and thus giving the Liran a view at the creatures Keshiri had praised. Solan simply smiled as the massive creature laid in its pen, its head rising to look at him curiously then the woman who had come with him. Its eyes were a golden color while they stared, each nearly as large as a hand, if not greater. It's beak like mouth opened in a mock yawn before it turned back to Solan who had started towards it.

Without an ounce of fear for the massive creature that looked at him, his hand reached out and sat itself on the beak of the Uvak. Its greyish color still holding a subtle sheen to it that helped accent the looks of the being while the redish membrane of its wings unfurled from around it. It was slow and deliberate in its movements as it started to rise before its body rose up nearly a time and a half Solan's own height. "This Madam Nel, is Kyst. A favorite of mine and one ive had since its birth some almost eight years ago. Would you like to greet it... trust me, they are smarter than you would think."

His eyes turned on her, avoiding the talk of payment for now to see her own reaction to his offer of coming near the creature that looked like it could simply bite off an arm without hesitation or resistance.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Solan Charr"]

She made no move to try and hide the fact that she stepped away from the animal.

"That's quite alright." Nel wasn't really comfortable around most animals, mostly because her species simply hadn't interacted with them for thousands of years. The Liran were all about the future, the development of technology and moving society forward. They did not live on planets, but instead in a massive fleet armada. Pets, Domesticated livestock, animals of all sorts in fact simply did not exist for the Liran. Nel wasn't comfortable around the creatures, and she would make no attempt to press that boundary now.

"I am weary of most animals." She stated simply. "A deep seeded fear, I'm afraid."

Nel desperately hoped the man wouldn't try to force her to overcome that particular fear, it could ruin an otherwise lovely day.

 

[Aithne Charr]

His eyes moved to watch her and fr a moment he nodded and moved to put his head against the beak of the creature for a few moments. After that his body stepped back and he spoke as he looked at her. "No need to explain, i can feel that well enough. I apologize for the surprise i caused in bringing you to meet Kyst here. He really is a soft one though. I understand that fear though, i may not know why but i ccan promise you what ever you are feeling, i more than am sure i understand it." He let his empathy leech some of that fear from her so she was not as unnerved by the creatures he so loved, but he would in no way ever force her to come near the thing.

"I have a question for you Madam Nel, why did you accept your position in power if you do not mind my asking?"

[member="Alric Kuhn"]