Las'Tai was about to finish the last piece of Eiriks steak when she heard the music. In Kloxna culture, music was reserved for military purposes and what Terrans would call opera. She knew that other races used music tor much more, but she had never experienced it, or even thought that much about it. But what she heard was completely foreign. Heavy pumping sounds that made a regular rhytm, singing in a strange language that had to be Terran in origin, judging from the sound of it, and more instruments she could not recognize. She looked around but could not see the source of it. That's when she noticed it seemed to be getting louder and she looked at Eirik to see his reaction.

Eirik was smiling wide, looking straight towards a far corner of the small plaza they were sitting in. His right hand still resting close by the gun he had hidden under his jacket, his worry disappearing with every passing second. Sneaking a quick glance around, it would seem their would-be assassins were confused at the sound of the music, which Eirik happened to know came from the Jesper's portable loudspeaker. His emergency plan had depended on Jesper doing his usual shore leave routine and starting a roaming, never ending party. How the man was able to stay up for so many days straight, Eirik would never understand, but that is how Jesper was wired.

As predicted, what looked like a moving festival, turned the corner within the next minute and several of the crew members called their names with cheer and enthusiasm. Las'Tai, never having been to a party outside the official diplomatic dinner back home was floored by this collection of humans and aliens, dancing to the music, drinking, eating and generally trying to have as great a time as they possibly could.

"Come Las'Tai, let's join in the party." He said cheerfullly as he rose to get up. Quickly following his example she went along with him, but before he could disappear into the mass of partying sentients, she tapped his arm.

"Yes?" Eirik asked surprised as he looked down at the clearly uncomfortable Las'Tai.

"..I... I dont know what to do.. What is this even??" She gestured to the mob of party enthusiasts

"It's a party" Eirik said as if that explained everything. "You just have fun, dance, drink, whatever, you know?? If you are still confused about it, i suggest finding Jeanette. She loves a good party, but will almost always stay in the background. Find her and stay with her until i get back to you, alright? I need to find Jesper.." he scanned the crowd of people and headed towards the scene of Jesper currently chugging a large bottle of unkown contents.

As Jesper finished the bottle, Eirik put an arm around his shoulder and started whispering quickly, making weird movements with his head as he did so. Las'Tai observed this as she looked around for Jeanette. Eventually she found her, near the loudspeaker where the music surprisingly was a lot lower in volume when standing behind it.

"Greeting Las'Tai. How are you finding the party" Jeanette asked her once she could hear properly again.

"Greeting Jeanette. To be honest, i have never attended a party before, so i would not know how to behave myself." Las'Tai answered truthfully.

Jeanette giggled and replied "It's the very same reason i tend to hang back. I love attending parties because of the happy atmosphere, but i rarely participate"

"I agree that the atmosphere is very light hearted indeed. No offence intended Jeanette, but i do not know your function on the ship. I have learned of the others, but you i have not been told about. I hope it is okay for me to ask" The last part of the sentence was spoken with as much sincerity as Las'Tai could muster. She truly did not wish to offend the woman that, despite seeming to have no obvious function on the ship, seemed to have such a large influence over the captain. He almost always asked her opinion and sometimes he would ask what *runes* said, whoever this *runes* person was.

Jeanette tumbled the question over in her mind for a moment before looking seriously as Las'Tai, "first, you have not offended me. In fact, i am quite happy about the opportunity to bring this up. Officially i am an analyst, but unofficially i am the captains seer. I cast the runes for him and tell him what they say"

Las'Tai looked confused for a moment before answering, "Seer? as in predicting the future?? That is impossible. Everyone knows this, an analyst should be even more aware of this. and who are these *runes* people you keep throwing?? First i thought it was but a single person, but now you mention them as several. This is very confusing."

Jeanette, with a look of surprise hesitated for a moment before reaching towards her belt and pulling a pouch free from it. opening it so Las'Tai could look inside, it was filled with enscribed bone fragments. "These are runes" Jeanette explained, "Old lettter from an ancient written language, but also said to be the language of the gods of old. Asking a question and throwing the runes will make certain symbols show and others not show. from the symbols that show, you make a prediction. they can be scaringly accurate and come true enough times that my analyst mind is flabbergasted at the thought. And yet, i am the one casting them."

Las'Tai looked skeptical. It must have been written all over her face because Jeanette suddenly grabbed the pouch with both hands and starting mumbling while holding it close to her hands. When she finished mumbling, she reached into the pouch and pulled out 5 fragments without looking.

looking over the symbols she declared to Las'Tai, "i see the runes Jera, Thurisaz, Algiz, Berkana and Wunjo.

Jera represents the cycle of all things. a cycle has ended and you have started a new one.

Thurisaz represents destruction, conflict, a splitting path. You are at a point in life where a great choice lies before you.

Algiz represents protection, safety, courage to drive away hostile forces. You Will receive the help of a protector and have to learn to rely on your own protection in the future.

Berkana represents Renewal, personal growth, new beginnings. You have to make changes, to choose a way on the split path, to end the conflict.

Wunjo represents harmony, succes, prosperity. you will enjoy peace and prosperity, should you succeed.

This is the what the runes tell me. I hope it made sense to you"

Las'Tai had been stunned into silence as Jeanette was speaking. 5 bone fragments, drawn at random without looking, had described her situation so perfectly in terms she would never have thought of. This was beyond coincidence. But it could not be true. This was against everything the universe knew as truth.

"It would seem another prediction was spot on" came a dry comment from Jeanette. "Come Las'Tai, Let's go see if we can find Signe and some of the other girls" She put her arm around Las'Tai and led her away from the speaker which had begun moving again as Jeanette was speaking.

__________________________________________

Jesper was having the time of his life. He got to party AND take care of some very unwanted attention. After careful instruction from him, the members of the wolf packs world, from time to time, disappear in groups of 3 and return shortly after and give a thumbs up to Jesper before resuming the party. So far his plan of sending out his men in small groups whenever a potential assassin was isolated had paid off and they had taking care of 9 of them at this point. However, judging from the insistance of moving in pairs, it would seem he had finally been discovered. No matter. 6 Kloxna could never dream of getting close to the captain, much less hurting him.

Suddenly his communicator beeped and he opened a channel to the ship, Asking "What is it" the moment the line opened.

""Priority message for the captain. The Kloxna accepts a solution by single combat sir"

"Received" Jesper said, before closing the line again. No fucking way was he informing the captain now. he still had 1½ days of party left and he would get every minute out of it before getting back to work.

Looking over to the captain, he noticed that the man had already secured a woman in each arm, but strangely enough he was still around.

"Of course" Jesped thought, "He is worried about Las'Tai with these fuckers around":

Making his way over the captain, he cleared his throat behind him before speaking in a low tone. "we got 9 so far captain and i will keep an eye on Las'Tai. if not me, then the packs. She will be safe. Go have fun" he added with a wink.

A look of relief appeared on Eiriks face and he immediately started leading the 2 women away from the party.