fandomhigh | Space!, Friday

The classroom had been set up with a projector - which was currently showing a view of the milky way - but otherwise it was a perfectly ordinary classroom. That might not be the case for the entire class, but Kaidan thought it was important to ground them all in something real before they went any further.

"Hey," he greeted. "Welcome to Space, an introduction to a series of space-related sciences. We're going to be covering astronomy, xenobiology, astrophysics and more over the next few months. No, astrology isn't included." He probably should've worked harder to pull off that joke, but he wasn't... that good at that kind of thing.

"I'm Staff Commander Kaidan Alenko. You can call me Commander or Professor Alenko. Either works." Because god forbid they'd wind up on first name basis. "I'm an officer in the Systems Alliance, a human military and political body that governs the progress of humanity outside of Earth. For some of you, we may be a reality a couple of hundred years in the future. For some, we're never going to happen."

Which was still weird, but yeah.

"We've only existed in this form in a few decades," he added. "It hasn't been too long since my people first encountered alien life. But before that, we were dreamers. I remember spending my nights staring up at the skies, wondering what was out there. What we could find. What we could discover. I wanted to go up there so badly - and in the end, I did. It was worth it. These past few years, I've seen so many incredible things I never thought I'd ever see, staring up at the stars on Earth. It's been amazing."

He scraped his throat. "Since this is our first week," he said, "it's just introductions. The usual, plus I want you to tell me whether your people have gone up into space, whether you've ever been curious about the stars, and what you think your species should do if they ever get there."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

IN SPACE.

Alana

Raleigh Becket

William Murdoch

Mercy Thompson

Cade ~~he's sleeping in space, shut up don't judge me~~

Mordin Solus

Cecil Baldwin

As you do.

whether your people have gone up into space, whether you've ever been curious about the stars, and what you think your species should do if they ever get there,

"Cecil Baldwin. I'm a freshman here." He cocked his head in thought. I guess whether or not we've been to space depends on who you listen to. I mean, everyone knows about the lights above the Arby's. Every now and again someone will say they were kidnapped by aliens, but since the government covers it up, you can't be too sure."

Curious about the stars? He shrugged. "I've wondered if the stars are real? Mostly I think they just serve to put our limitations and mortality into perspective. If we ever get there...I think we should remember where our home is. And try not to go insane or do anything stupid."

As you've no doubt done a few times by now. Name and class, then whether your people have gone up into space, whether you've ever been curious about the stars, and what you think your species should do if they ever get there, if they haven't already.

"Hey, I'm Alana," Alana said, looking fairly psyched to be there. "I'm a sophomore. I'm from Landfall, and we've basically had space travel forever. Right now we're in this stupid space war that's been going on so long I don't even know how it started. But I think we should spend more time just exploring other planets and less time picking fights."

"Hey, Alana," Kaidan greeted easily. "Yeah, that's the problem, isn't it? It's too easy to start fights when everyone else is a different species."

"Basically it started out with Landfall versus our moon?" Alana answered, nodding. "Wreath. They have horns and don't speak Language. Kind of smell bad. Anyhow, now Wreath has allies, and we have more allies, and ... basically it's a huge mess that kids my age keep getting sent to die over."

"I'm Mercy Thompson and I'm a senior." And she was really glad that this class wasn't about grief. "Where I'm from people have walked on the moon and been up on shuttles and stuff, but they haven't really traveled among them. If we can figure out the science I think we should go explore what's out there."

"And what'd you do with what you'd find, Mercy?" Kaidan asked, with an encouraging smile.

Hey, this was an easier topic for him than grief, too.

"Personally, I'd just like to learn everything I could about it," Mercy said with a smile. "I love learning about new things."

"That's not a bad way to go at it," Kaidan said. "I mean, we got into serious s-- trouble the first time around, but in the long run-- we've learned a lot."

"A lot of humans seem to have this need to control and own stuff," Mercy agreed. "That can be a problem."

"That's the reputation we end up with," Kaidan admitted. "Ruthless and determined. That's what the rest of the galaxy sees when they look at us."

"Yeah, and not all that inclined to listen to others who don't match their idea of how things should be," Mercy said a little glumly.

"We're trying," Kaidan said, after a short pause. "But... yeah."

"Hey," Cade said with a little eyebrow raise. "You know who I am, but for everyone else, I'm Cade. I'm a senior, and my galaxy's been in space longer than this planet has had people walking upright on it."

"Thanks, Cade," Kaidan said dryly. "Anyone have any questions about that, ask him."

"Hello, Professor. Mordin Solus. Junior. Salarian. Founding species of Citadel Council, as you know." As as explanatory aside for the rest of the class, he added "Governing peace-keeping body in Citadel space."

"Never been particularly curious about stars, myself. More focused on living things. What thrives in light of the stars."

Who could still use a TA.

Mercy probably wouldn't volunteer to be a TA, but she'd do it if she was asked.

"Mercy?" Kaidan said, as the class started filtering out the door. "You still doing okay?"

He remembered her from his last class, all right?

Mercy looked a little surprised that he'd stopped her, but smiled and went over. "Yeah," she said. "Kind of weird to be a senior, but overall things are pretty good. You?"

"I'm good," Kaidan said automatically, though the veracity of that statement varied depending on what mood he was in when you asked him. "Hey, you seem pretty curious about this stuff - you want to help the class out?"

She looked surprised again, then smiled and nodded. "Sure. I think that would be fun, thanks!"

Space!, Friday

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OOC