She chuckled. "I shall keep that in mind R'jalla." While the Tlajshna finished up her food Masada went to pay the bill at the back counter. I was wondering when she would finally discard the silverware. When she came back to the table she looked at both women. "Since you both decided to stay here and since we have just meet, I have paid the bill for both your meals." She bowed ever so slightly at the waist as a sign of respect to her new friends. She quickly straightened up and backed away from the table. "Now, if you wt to see a new area on the Messenger you should follow me."

Masada had a feel of mischief about her. She knew one particular area they would very much enjoy. It was also very much off limits to people not on the staff. She walked out the door towards a less than desirable area of the ship, it was a fairly short way away. Then casually leaned against a panel on the wall which lead to a service corridor. Brushing her hand up against the panel she 'felt' what would open it and typed in the code. This allowed the door to open without any major complications. It was long. dark and probably ran for miles around the interior of the ship. She sent the pixie ahead as a scout, lowering the small synthetic visor over her left eye.

She turned back to her companions, "Now, if neither of you have begun to doubt, this is well worth the reward you will see at the end."

Rika looks into the tunnel, actually preffering the lower light in the tunnel. While she had gradually gotten used to the brighter lighting that many other spacefarers seemed to prefer, it was still an annoyance. The dark tunnel would bring a welcome relief from the bright lights.

Without much hesitation, she steps into the tunnel, before turning to face Masada. "I take it that by all technicalities, we are not supposed to be in this tunnel, are we?"

R'jalla bowed her head in return to Masada's bow. "You are a very kind person to treat us to dinner." She quickly got up and followed Masada the short distance to the closed door, watching as she opened up the service corridor as if she already knew the code. She probably did, so far as R'jalla were concerned.

The felid looked down the corridor Masada had just opened, it was indeed very dark. It looked as if most of the lighting were off, and what little was on seemed on minimal illumination. "I don't know how well I trust someone I just met leading me into a long hallway dark enough that even a naturally nocturnal creature such as myself might have some difficulty seeing in." She peered down the corridor, it was hard to tell how well she'd be able to see with the bright lights from outside interfering. "Just how far do you want us to go?"

Masada looked up at the ceiling to Rika's comment, "If no one sees use, then no rules have been broken." She turned to R'ajalla "It is not very far, I promise you. You have nothing to fear from me, and I have given no one else the knowledge of this particular passage. It was just covenant for our needs right now."

Masada slowly walked down the corridor to see if they would follow, and to allow them to get use to the idea of going off into a place they were not entirely sure of. This was, after all, probably their first time ever adventuring out of the normal areas of the city-ship. After what seemed like an eternity due to the lack of light she stopped. No more than half a hour had passed, and they had had no major run ins with security officers or the like.

She slowly turned to a smooth wall, placing her bare hand and against it, she was able to concentrate and open a hidden room just off the her side. She walked in, quickly turning to see if they would come in "We are here."

The area was truly amazing, the artificial lights slowly turned on, allowing a fake breeze to play through her hair. There was a great area of grass to play on, with the help of holos projected onto the wall it seemed like a perfect summer day. Putting up a clear blue sky with a few clouds within it. Their was even a small pond far at the other end of the corridor. Filled with fish and a few scaled ducks. But what truly dominated the room was a ancient tree. It's leaves were a strange shade of teal blue, almost casting off a glow as they took in the artificial sunlight. The bark had a silvery hue to it.

"This area is used for staff functions and a select few officers are allowed to access this room on a regular basis. We should be perfectly fine here." The pixie decided to come and land on MAsada's shoulder now that her job was done. She turned to her friends "So, what do you think?"

R'jalla followed Masada slowly, allowing her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting. Once in the corridor she realized that she could see just fine, though not perfectly. It was reminiscent of a moonless night on her home world, though without the wide open feel of being on a planet. She wasn't so sure about following Masada when it was apparently a restricted area, but if they were caught she could attempt to pretending to be Masada's pet. She chortled quietly to herself at the idea of using other people's naivete against them.

The felid gasped when they reached their destination, it was truly breathtaking to such a large open area that wasn't crowded with all manner of beings hustling about and making a great deal of noise. To actually feel air move across her fur was a delicious sensation that caused her to shiver a little. "It's just so... beautiful," she nearly whispered. Stepping gingerly into the large room, R'jalla savored the feel of real grass under her paws. In a sudden fit of happiness she ran full speed out onto the grass and flopped down under the tree. It was truly delightful and she didn't care if she got caught so long as she could lavish this moment right here. "I love you forever just for this minute!"



Edit: Ack! I stayed up too late again: good night. See y'all tomorrow.

Rika looks around, shading her eyes as they adjust to the brightness. It was a really nice place. Nothing compared to the sights of her homeworld, but that was likely a biased opinion. She was slightly tempted to attempt to fish at the pond, but kept her impulses in check. The people in charge probably wouldn't like it if their fish started disappearing.

After her eyes adjusted, she stepped out into the area, almost immediately going for the shade cast by the large tree. The tree was the only feature in the room that truly impressed her. There were few trees on her homeworld, and the ones that were there, never got as large as this one. She takes a seat near R'Jalla. "I take it this room is reminiscent of your homeworld?"

OOC: Opps, didn't mean for that to happen >.<. Night!

Masada followed the others, chuckling at R'ajalla's reaction to the area. "Then you have my greatest welcome, for just this minute." She laid down on the grass, throwing one hand out to feel the grass and placing her other hand over her face. Spreading her fingers to watch the artificial sky pass over her through the tree limbs.

The pixie model had flow off into the tree, no doubt to fashion herself a new hat made from a blue leaf. The one she had chosen to wear right now was already brown from long wear. For the moment, Masada was content to listen to the others talk.

"It reminds me of home a little, though there are few wide open areas like this, it's mostly forests and mountains with desserts in between. Any areas that were plains were developed for other purposes long ago. It just feels good to actually see grass again! I think I'll go for a good roll!" R'jalla promptly got up and trotted a short distance away from the tree, flopped down, rolled onto her back and started squirming around with delight. The scent of crushed grass wafted about her in a pleasant haze.

Masada sat up and looked over at R'jalla. She was glad that the Tlajshna was happy here. It had been a long time since she visited this particular area. The sky was a different colored blue than the one she had grown under, but the familiar feel always put her at ease.

R'jalla soon rolled over and stood up, looking around at how large the place really was, it had been a long time since had had a good run and the open feel made it irresistible. Running placidly in place on a treadmill was not the same as running full speed with the grass under your paws and the wind running through your full. With a large, feral grin she took off, galloping in a wide circle around the huge tree and laughing with the pure glee of her temporary freedom.

Masada stood up. With the R'ajalla running around she thought it would be wise to also take advantage of the situation. She glanced up in to the branches, letting out a low whistle. The pixie responded promptly by lowering her head through the canopy. Apparently she had been hanging upside down and was easily spotted between some branches.

Masada took a few steps back and then ran towards the tree trunk. She managed to jump off the ground, off the lower part of the tree and grab one of the lower branches between her hands. She then climbed up the meet the pixie about two stories above the ground. Finding a limb strong enough to support her she sat down, waiting for the pixie to come forward and show her the newest leaf cap.

Having had enough running R'jalla trotted over and flopped onto the ground next to Rika. "Oh, where did Masada disappear off to?" She looked around, not finding their guide anywhere in the wide open expanse. "Masada?"

Hearing R'jalla call her name, Masada poked her head down between some leaves. Imitating the pixie from moments earlier. "Still here R'jalla. Look up."

R'jalla looked up to see Masada hanging down from the tree's foliage. "Oh, well what are you doing up there?"

((If Kreai were here I'd say let's make it more interesting, but I don't know what to do when people go afk in a structured RP))

OOC: Yeah, I know the feeling. This would go a lot more smoothly with a third person present. Don't think there's much we can do... I also think I have a temporary form of writers block...

Masada glanced over at the pixie model. It seemed she was preening her hair. Getting prepared to don her new cap. "Nothing important. I just joined our little metallic friend."

Rika chuckles at R'Jalla's actions. She truly seemed to enjoy the open area. When Masada climbed up the tree, she was obviously amazed, such skills weren't common where she is from. Rare was the tree that was large enough for one to climb. "It would seem this room is similar to your homeworld as well, Masada?" she asks the tree-bound woman.

<OOC: Heh heh, sorry about that. I'm here now though.>

OOC: >.< Nannena isn't though... I don't know if that's ironic or funny right now.

Masada turned her head towards Rika. "Yes, it is actually. Although my people lived on a vast plain, we passed through forests at times. Being near a forest was always like a small holiday for my people, since it was most common during long travels.
Especially when everyone had been on the move for weeks at a time." She smiled to herself, "There was always something going on when we stopped. It was like a... rest and relaxation period."

"I don't think I've seen a large enough grouping of trees to be considered a forest. Trees are rather rare on my homeworld," she replies, all the while imagining what a forest would look like.

<I'd say ironic. And a little funny. Mostly because irony is funny.>

OOC: Okay then ^^

As Rika talked Masada had slowly begun to climb down the tree. Once foot had been put to grass she walked over to Rika. "It is a shame you have not seen what a forest is like." She pulled down the digital screen on the head set. Lowering it over her left eye. She quickly scanned for a choice program and once one was found she motioned for the pixie to come over. "Would you one day like to see one?"

A chance to actually see a forest, rather than trying to imagine one? Not something that she would pass up. "Yes, I would like to. That is definitely something I would want to see." She wondered a bit on how Masada was planning on showing her a forest. One idea that she quickly dismissed was another room somewhere with a forest in it, but that would have to be a huge room, and space requirements were rather strict on a space going vessel.

<Finally remembered where I had heard your character's name before, Leafless. Have you ever read the Honor Harrington book series by David Weber? One of the planets detailed in the second book is called Masada>

OOC: I actually haven't heard of them. I took Masada's name from a book by C.J. Cherryh... I shall look into Weber's though.

"Good, then follow me." Masada walked over to one of the rooms shorter walls. The pixie model had glided over and landed on her head by this time. On the wall was a small access panel. She placed her hand on the console and accessed it. The proper protocols were in place for her needs. She quickly pulled a retractable cord out of the headset, near the slightly bulky area around her ear, and looked at the pixie.

Once a metallic hand was offered she plugged the end of the cord in the pixie's palm. Then a corresponding cord was taken out of the figure's second hand. This Masada took and plugged into a small access port on the console. She changed the dimensions the walls display would be, making them smaller so the video feed would not be compromised. Then she transfered an image into the pixie, using her as a host.

In a short while the display on the wall changed from a sky to a lush green forest.

To say that Rika was amazed was an understatement. She stood there staring at the image of the forest, not saying a single word. Inwardly, she was a bit disappointed that it was only an image, she wanted to see and actual forest. However, it was still very nice to see. This way, she actually knew what a forest looked like. "Wow," was all she could say in observance of the forest.

<Well, I'm gonna log off here. G'Night>

((Wah! I have an early bedtime, I can't stay up late even on the weekends or I won't be able to get up in time for work on Monday! Drat it, I wanted to make something happen too.))

R'jalla sauntered over and looked at the image. The forest was quite lovely and reminded her of the chilly, mountainous regions of her home world. "Ah, that's an image filled with nostalgia," she intones sagely. "Of course everything on Tlajsh is much larger than that, our trees are normally the size of the one here. Everything seems so small since I left."

Rika arches an eyebrow. "Small? If those are considered small on your homeworld, then I'd be almost frightened of things you would consider large. The only trees that are even comparable in size to that one on my homeworld are genetically modified or imported."

<That sucks. Well, maybe you can still make it happen>

((Oh, I could *evil grin* But I think I'll wait a little bit. BTW, I love being a tiger the size of a buffalo.))

"If this is any comparison I've heard of a creature that looks like my species living on Terra but it is half my size, and those are considered to be large." R'jalla gave a wide, toothy grin at Rika. "But then again, aside from the trees and some of our prey most creatures are smaller than us." She looked back at the image, "It does look lovely. Perhaps the next time we're in the area of a planet with an breathable atmosphere we can all go for a visit together. You'd have me there to protect you from any big bad alien monsters."