12/12/16

Writing these little blurbs is fun cause I get to mess with various Xenos. Hardest part is picking which Xeno representatives for Jaynix to talk to, I'd like to pick some of the more interesting or earlier ones. But there is always the chance the one I'm thinking of is dead so...

Regardless the other thing about this story is writing pre-Syvalum Jaynix again. Cause after what happens as a result of Interceptors and Sylvalum, Jaynix changes ever so slightly or maybe even majorly in some ways. Anyway, another day, another species.

Ma-non

"So…how does this thing work, exactly?"

Elma turned to Jaynix and smiled "Simple. You just stand here, press this and…"

In a flash, Elma was gone. Jaynix looked all around her but the woman was nowhere to be seen.

Sighing she stepped onto the teleporter. "I guess I just have to trust it. Trust her…"

Jaynix narrowed her eyes, thinking before letting out a long breath and tapping the control in front of her. Next thing she knew she was facing Elma again.

"What. The. Fuck."

Elma chuckled "It is strange, isn't it?"

"A bit. I feel…shit, I can't describe it."

"You'll get used to it. This is the Ma-non Ship."

Jaynix looked around the deck, the alien ship seemed even odder to her now that she was standing on it. Seeing Elma gesture for her to follow, she began moving. As they walked through the halls of the ship to the Starboard side, Jaynix looked all around.

The design of the ship fascinated her as did the countless Xenos walking back and forth, with the exception of the occasional Nopon she had no idea what it is she was passing by. A few waved at her and said hello but she could only stare in response.

Finally, she shook her head and spoke. "Damn. This is insane. If I woke up here after a coma…I don't know what I'd think I mean…geez…"

She looked back to Elma who was smiling. "What?"

"Seeing you in such wonder is…it's very enjoyable. Everyone has grown so used to our fellow Xenoforms that it is rare to see someone meeting them for the first time."

"I imagine so."

Elma laughed "You have the look of a child right now. It's adorable."

Jaynix shook her head "Hey! C'mon, you can't just start complimenting me! You're taken already and that ain't fair to me."

Elma smiled "I'm just being honest."

"Yeah well…I'm not adorable. I'm hot and drop dead gorgeous."

Elma laughed "I see, then I apologize. Though, I have to ask. You may have only been in NLA for a few days but has anyone caught your eye? I'm curious."

"No. To be fair though, I ain't exactly lookin'. I spend more time making sure my gear is set so I can head out and tackle some missions. I need to beat something into a pulp to really feel alive."

Elma tilted her head "Well, I suppose you can start taking missions after we're done making rounds today. If you feel up to it."

Jaynix smiled "Good! Anyway…"

Trailing off the woman looked over the wide open area before her. Even more Xenos were sitting around, talking, laughing, eating and there was this bizarre yet incredible light overhead.

"Seeing this…I can only imagine what their homeworld looks like."

Elma nodded "It'd be quite the thing to see, wouldn't it?"

Jaynix looked back at Elma to see her point over to a table. There sat three Ma-non eating a pizza and chatting amongst themselves.

"One of the first Ma-non we met, Pfeffen is there. Why don't you go introduce yourself?"

Jaynix thought "One of the first…that was in Oblivia right? When you just stumbled across them?"

Elma nodded "Yes, we had to help secure the area so they could bring their ship in. They were one of our first Xenoform allies and after all this time are still our most reliable."

Jaynix crossed her arms, thinking back on what Irina told her. "Didn't something else crazy happen in Oblivia? Oh! That was also when Kruse got his arm blown off right?"

Elma flinched "Y-yes…it was."

Jaynix covered her mouth "Shit, I'm sorry."

Elma shook her head "It's fine…thinking about that moment now puts into perspective how much I care about him…and how unaware I was back then about…anything…"

Jaynix nodded "Look at where you two are now though. Got a lot to be happy about yeah?"

Elma smiled "I do. Thank you, Jaynix."

"Don't mention it! Now if you'll excuse me, I have friends to make!" With that Jaynix walked towards the Ma-non and began waving at them.

"Hey!"

The three at the table turned to her and yelled "PIZZA!" in a chorus of squeaky voices.

"Pizza? No. I'm-"

"The delivery lady back again yes? You have the pizza right, right, right?"

She shook her head at the female Ma-non "No. I'm not."

One of the Ma-non tilted their heads "May May, she isn't the usual delivery person. Who, who, who are you?"

"Are you Pfeffen?"

The Ma-non nodded, Jaynix smiled and sat down with them "My name is Jaynix. I'm a new BLADE."

Pfeffen scratched his chin "Jaynix…ah! Yes, yes, yes! I heard about you during a trip to the Administrative District. Many BLADEs were quite happy to have you aboard."

"Really? Why is that?"

Pfeffen shrugged "I'm not too certain but they all repeated another name. Kumon? I think that was it. Seems you studied under him or something?"

Jaynix nodded "Yeah…I did…"

She looked over the table, realizing that not only was there three empty pizza boxes but at least four more were on the floor.

"Holy shit. Did you three eat seven full pizzas?"

Pfeffen and May May laughed as the third Ma-non nodded "Of course we did! We LOVE Pizza!"

The third joined them in laughing before excusing himself "My name is Jajanni by the way. I normally work in the Industrial District but everyone needs time off for pizza. Do, do, do you like pizza?"

Jaynix smiled "Me? Shit, yeah! Who in their right mind doesn't like pizza?"

The three Ma-non cheered with Pfeffen speaking "We will be good friends Jaynix! Good, good, good friends!"

Jaynix smirked "Gotta say, I was a bit worried to be going around meeting Xenoforms but so far you've all been very easy to get along with...or at the very least talk to in the Nopon's case."

Pfeffen nodded "It's simply common courtesy, yes? The humans helped us bring our ship and all our people to safety. They recognized we were noncombatants so they agreed to protect us."

"All they wanted in return was information and technology. Not such a stretch for our continued living." Jajanni added.

Jaynix crossed her arms "You guys head an AM? I should give some of your gear a once over…back on the White Whale all we had was human fashioned weapons and armor."

Pfeffen laughed "Then you'll be quite taken aback by what Candid & Credible has to offer! Yes, yes, yes I imagine you will be quite blown away! And the more you buy the more pizza we can enjoy!"

May May jumped in her seat "Pizza! The most glorious thing of all!"

Jaynix shook her head "Damn. I'm surprised you guys don't just pass on the credits and take pizza as payment."

"Oh actually, I do that more often than not." Jajanni stated before laughing.

Jaynix looked around the ship "So you guys have super advanced technology, a pretty darn impressive ship…and you're obsessed with pizza. That's a pretty good summary of the Ma-non eh?"

Pfeffen nodded "Pretty good indeed!"

"Hey, Pfeffen!"

The Ma-non turned to a woman "Ah! You have our order!"

"Indeed I do, four grenade pizzas, hot and fresh. Enjoy!"

Placing the pizzas on the table, the delivery woman took her payment and left. Immediately, three boxes were opened and the Ma-non began eating. Jaynix couldn't help but laugh.

May May looked at her "If you want, you can have a slice or two from the other box. We can always order more."

Jaynix smiled "Why not? Pfeffen, May May, Jajanni. It's been good meeting you and thanks!"

"Don't mention it!" They all yelled with full mouths.

Laughing, Jaynix turned around, finding Elma looking all over the Ma-non Ship. Jaynix began waving until Elma noticed her, then gestured at the table. Smiling Elma joined them.