@everyone | dated to when the creatures started showing up

[thearchangel]

Hey, so - head's up. Not sure what's going on here, but if anyone sees a weird looking animal, four legs, two little arms coming out of the chest?

Watch your wallet.

I'm serious. Those things steal your credits - or whatever you're using as currency here. No clue how they do it. I mean, they're not dangerous, they're just irritating.

They're from our neck of the universe. I think humans call them "shifty-looking cows".

That's it. PSA from the milky way.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

Ah, I figured as much.

If mankind learned to collaborate and travel the outer reaches of space, a separate currency would be a barrier to trade. Dare I presume they use credits these days?

[Your days. Not his days. What is this future nonsense?]

[thearchangel]

Travel yeah. We're all working on on the whole "collaborate" thing. Humans, my people, krogan, salarians... the whole of it.

But yeah. Far as I know, humanity's settled on credits like the rest of us.

[Yep, definitely not human. It'd be helpful if he actually came out and mentioned that. But it just doesn't cross his mind.]

[restingstitchface]

[Four different species. Four different cultures. Four mindsets to pick apart.]

I imagine that took some effort. Not to mention humility. There is no shortage of conflict on my world when it comes to national currency.

People identify more with a face on a coin than each other. Strange but not unexpected.

[thearchangel]

[Man you should hear about the hanar and the elcor, Doctor. They're a trip and a half.]

I'm sure it did. Can't speak for humanity, but I know my people had a whole history of blowing each other up over colony disputes.

I guess maybe the idea of space travel did something to unite yours. It's been a while though, far as I know. History's not my forte.

[restingstitchface]

[They're all just pathetic men aliens covered in blood.]

Well, it's not mine: but I imagine humanity is still a young species in your history. And elders are often frustrated when a youngster expects a seat at the table.

[thearchangel]

Sort of?

I mean, technologically speaking, sure. Actual evolution? No clue. Maybe? So far, humanity's been last to discover the Relays, the rest of Council Space, all that.

But compared to say, the asari? We're all pretty damn young.

[restingstitchface]

[Uh.]

I hope you realise I understood nothing of that.

Not that I am unwilling to learn but it's all new to me.

[thearchangel]

Right. Sorry. I'm a solider and a gunnery expert... not really a history buff.

So, about thirty plus years ago, humans discovered what the rest of the galaxy already used - a Relay. Big planet-sized things out in parts of the universe that let you basically jump across huge stretches of space in minutes. Problem was, they jumped into occupied space, panicked, started shooting, and started a war with my people. Turians.

It all turned out fine, in the end. Big mess at the time, but that was before I was even born.

Asari were the first to do anything in the galaxy, space travel, tech, you name it. They also live to be a couple thousand years old. Unlike the rest of us.

Does... that help anything?

[restingstitchface]

Yes it does.

For one, it offers plenty of food for thought. Space exploration is a dream back in my world. But mankind is loathe to explore what hides in his own shadow let alone the vast expanse of space.

Now, I won't bore you with questions again for a while. You know how it goes. I can only imagine how many have asked you to explain this a hundred times before.

Figuratively speaking.

But thank you for writing it so succicently.

[thearchangel]

Feeling's probably mutual. There's a lot of weird crap out there in space.

But hey, I don't mind talking. You'd be surprised how many people ask "What are you" more than "where are you from"?

Garrus Vakarian, by the way.

[restingstitchface]

Dr. Crane.

They have psychiatrists there, I hope? You'd be surprised how many people ask "What does that mean" more than "What do you do?"

Or even "Are you a doctor?"

[One can only imagine the sass and snark.]

[thearchangel]

Who asks a psychiatrist if they're a doctor? That's part of the program.

And yeah, we do. No worries there. Not too familiar with them, personally, but yeah. Plenty of doctors for every field still around.

[restingstitchface]

Fascinating. Your experience of medicine must be different in all sorts of ways. If you're willing to answer questions I would love to hear your experiences.

Not right now perhaps but sometime soon?

[thearchangel]

Sure. As best I can, anyway. Now if you wanted to talk firing algorithms for really big guns? That, I am an expert on these days.

What part of this place are you in? I'm off in Cadens.

[restingstitchface]

Well, that's a pleasant surprise. I'm in the same place.

What a small world, indeed.

[thearchangel]

Really?

That's surprising, actually. Usually people I meet on this network are... elsewhere.

[restingstitchface]

One of three places as I recall?

You were bound to meet someone else in Cadens eventually.

[thearchangel]

Oh yeah, but with my luck? Odds may as well be one in ten.

[restingstitchface]

Why stop there? Push those odds to twenty.

Makes it more entertaining.

[thearchangel]

Hah. Sure, I'll give it my best.

We do tend to defy odds left and right, back home.

[restingstitchface]

Sounds like you've lived an eventful life.

[thearchangel]

Definitely.

But that's life when you're a soldier, isn't it?

[restingstitchface]

Do you want my honest answer? I have no idea. I am a civilian, after all, but I have encountered plenty of veterans in my line of work.

Hopefully your world is supportive of soldiers once they have retired from service.

[Hope. He doesn't hold his breath.]

[thearchangel]

That's one of those complicated "varies by species" questions. My people, at least, usually have you serve somehow when you're younger, then you move on. Work in business, the sciences, open a cafe. Some people never leave.

So I guess military work's always in the public eye. Makes it hard to not look after retirees.

[restingstitchface]

Ah, it's part of your culture?

[That's the impression he's getting.]