<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/7a/AlineMineiro01.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Petra Sabio (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=339078.msg16082563#msg16082563)<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>The 11th of March, 9am (GMT)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Aboard a shuttle about to dock with the Odyssey<br/><strong>Content:</strong>First approach to the ship<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Tyrone Pryk, and anyone else aboard the shuttle<br/><hr/><br/>Petra settled elegantly into place, offering a smile and inclination of her head in greeting as Pryk joined her.  When he spoke, she listened attentively - even meekly ducking her head.<br/><br/>"I apologise, truly," she said softly.  "An explanation is available, should you wish to hear it...  but it can certainly wait.  And... thank you.  I have been fortunate to manifest some abilities beyond my own Aptitude.  Even those that are referred to as 'foundational', 'rudimentary', or 'basic' by people who are<em>truly</em>attuned to such things are frankly wonderful in their own right to me."<br/><br/>The happiness in her tone and expression certainly seemed genuine, without a hint of the smugness that might denote a desire to boast: she simply looked like someone still delighted with the generosity of her Gift.<br/><br/>"But having experienced some of what is possible with - and I apologise, again, if my terminology is inaccurate or oversimplified - the art of 'Networking', I am enviously in awe of much of what a telepath might learn to accomplish.  An entire group of people, communicating fluently without need for a common tongue or even much of a shared frame of reference... each time I have been privileged to be part of such a network, it has felt truly special."<br/><br/>"But" - she spread her hands, expression wryly amused - "before I was a psion, I was a student of languages, and of the, ahh,<em>difficulties</em>that hindered understanding between communities and of the problems that arise when understanding breaks down.  Some of what telepaths can do - especially those possessed of more than a passing acquaintance with the rudiments of the art - can make my lore and learning seem simultaneously obsolete and newly relevant.  Once upon a time, being fluent in half a dozen tongues would have made me a valuable translator: now, a vocoder might grant someone real-time translation of a dozen languages... while a single telepath can grant an entire group of people<em>perfect</em>translation, instantly and between every single one of them.  To me, that capacity to bridge distance - even great chasms of cultural divergence - between people, regardless of their origin or even their species... it's quite truly astonishing."<br/><br/>"I can survive things precious few others could, and can even 'turn into' a VARG by summoning it forth around me.  My Aptitude makes me a protector and a scout, and it is in great part those things that made me a favoured selection for this role: the Norça will gladly have me put myself between the crew and danger, to boost the chances of the Odyssey's safety and success.  But I also actively<em>sought</em>the opportunity to travel with the ship.  This is a chance to see my old calling carried to new horizons.  To the<em>stars</em>."<br/><br/>Petra's latest smile was bashful, and rather sheepish - accompanied by a gentle shrug.<br/><br/>"All of which is a long-winded academic's build-up to providing an actual<em>answer</em>to your query.  Formally, I was selected and am here under orders.  But as soon as I heard of the project's existence, I pursued the posting.  I would probably have asked to take a sabbatical so that I might seek Aeon's permission to come as a volunteer, if I had not been officially assigned!"<br/>