[Day 3 AN] By the Airlock....Ready Review

[Shinwa]

Shinwa has dug up his satchel with a few supplies, and is wearing his trenchcoat. His daisho is on, and his gun is in the gun holster of his coat. The benefit of World of Dreams being such a multicultural center is that travel papers are not closely checked, but hopefully he has enough to get landed and begin the investigation.

He looks over into the sealed airlock at the darkened probe and waits for M'thack-ir to show up. There are things to discuss.

[M'thack-kir]

But a moment later, Kiru arrives, with a small nod at Shinwa's appearance.

"Shinwa looks every bit the rugged hero."

[Shinwa]

Shinwa smirks. "I will try to play the part as well as you play the role of Nezumi ship captain." He peers in the airlock. "The Hida and Nanashi-san found some things you should know about." He goes on to describe the marks of blood, tiny carvings of samurai, and the Lotus kanji. Everything he has been told...just in case. "Don't worry," he goes on to add. "I wrote it down for you." He passes over some pieces of writing plastic with a copy of all his notes, from the planet and beyond. "An old-fashion pen can't be hacked, at least. I would keep them in hardcopy...but then, you know I always would."

[M'thack-kir]

He listens with interest, being one of the few Nezumi to be eager to learn about technology. However, at the mention of blood, he interrupts, voice almost an aggressive bark without meaning to be, "Muri. Kakashi fetched the probe. Kakashi would never touch blood, can sense it. Kiru and Kakashi had this discussion upon first summoning, because Name magic often involves blood. Must be something else that oxidised, perhaps."

Kiru makes a note to investigate the "blood" markings himself in a moment.

"Shinwa, parting is dangerous. Kiru doesn't want to control Shinwa like other kir might, but Kiru isn't comfortable with not being together...for however long we are apart, Kiru will continue to Dreamwalk at the same time as Kiru always does, at the Hour of the Nezumi according to Rokugan's reckoning. Shinwa will feel it, will know. Please find somewhere safe when Shinwa feels it and join Kiru on the Field of Dreams each night."

[Shinwa]

Shinwa does nothing more than shrug at the interruption regarding the blood and the sharp tone and does not contest.

But at the rest of the words the nezumi says...Shinwa looks away. "I will try. But if I say I must go, I MUST go. If I take a knife to my own throat, will that release me? Release us both?"

[M'thack-kir]

"..."

Kiru turns away from Shinwa, hiding his face from view with his hands.

Finally, he whispers through the abrupt silence, "Hai. But understand-understand this, Shinwa. If Kiru goes two consecutive days without genuine connection with the Tribe, the power of M'thack-kir weakens. Might disappear entirely. Might forget who M'thack-kir is, and become Kiru only. Not a civilised Kiru, but nothing better than a ratling."

[Shinwa]

Shinwa nods. And then, abruptly, asks the question he hasn't asked in all this time, despite all the time spent on this ship.

"Why?"

[M'thack-kir]

"Name is complicated, but also simple. Name is important to all Nezumi, but to a kir it is so much more. Kir draw on the power of Name directly, but being disconnected from the Tribe like M'thack-kir is because of M'thack-kir's purpose is a significant risk. Disconnection from the Tribe weakens Name."

He keeps his back turned toward Shinwa, not showing him his face. There is almost a whimpering mew like an injured cat emanating from his throat.

"Kir have been forgotten and lost among the sea of stars on the same quest M'thack-kir seeks to complete. Kir do not have forever memory that the Rememberers have, so lack of frequent contact with the Tribe is fatal."

[Shinwa]

Shinwa nods seriously. "I understand. Your powers come from the storytelling of your tribe, not you alone. Not being a rememberer, you could forget your own role in your story. If you lose the thread of your story, you will forget and fall into the role of a the character of most normal Nezumi who do not have your role. I will not stop you from meeting with your tribe...if I break us free it is because Nanashi or I will die if I do not. While death will not strip you out of your story...your people remain and will not forget your story...it would be very inconvenient for mine."

He pauses.

"In Dream, when we meet, could I ask more questions about Name?

[M'thack-kir]

"Shinwa mostly understands. Understands enough for now."

He finally manages to turn around and face his Namekin. The fine hairs around his eyes are damp.

"Kiru welcomes all of Shinwa's questions."

[Shinwa]

"Good. I feel like there is just not enough time."

Shinwa turns back to look at the probe through the window. "Do not fix the probe unless you have a way to deceieve the probe about what it is seeing and sensing. Fixing it...following its signal and watching what it does in response to a controlled set of actions....It is a good idea. But harder the longer it remains disabled. My fear is someone else will act if they know we were there. Whoever controlled the probe. Better to encourage the idea that it merely crashed or fell off course than let it know more.

He turns back to Kiru. "The Hida, Tetsuko...she does not trust the Phoenix, and she has had real problems with the Nezumi too. The duel you go to Hida Prime for was probably provoked to get us there when I told her there was no reason for us to go to Hida Prime. The Kuni will want to know everything we and the Phoenix have been up to. I do not know what they will do after that, but my face is known on Benjiro's End, and I would rather not have to repeat my performance there. I've felt Daidoji's Kiss more than enough for my taste. I wish I could help...but this was set into motion before I could stop it, and being a ronin will probably just make it worse. And we need to follow the probe's lead, and a few other leads, before they vanish. " He shakes his head. "Good luck, Kiru-san. See you tonight....and in a couple of days in person."

[M'thack-kir]

Kiru nods at Shinwa's words, in knowing agreement. "No Kuni will be allowed in M'thack-kir's home, so that will likely make things even more tense. Kiru will not try to fix the probe, except perhaps just before letting Kakashi transport it to Sakkaku. Kiru would not want to be the one observing the data stream from the probe at that point. Almost pities the enemy."

He allows himself a gleeful snicker, then bows low in the Rokugani style to Shinwa.

"Take care, and spread good Name. Remember that Kiru can heal injuries at a distance quickly, but sickness, poison, disease...amputation...that will take much time if Shinwa is not immediately at hand. Should Shinwa require the gift of a memory, Shinwa need only transmit a message."

[Shinwa]

Shinwa returns the bow with respect. Then he pulls his satchel over his shoulder, picks up a black motorcycle helmet that had been resting on the ground by his feet, and heads over to the cockpit to strap himself in. The Warren should be putting in at the World of Dreams soon.