Of course, [ she says, tucking a stray strand of midnight-black hair behind her pointed ear. ]

I've really been here for only one full mission — the one we so recently returned from. We were sent to a world much like my own, one inhabited by many races, from us elves to men to dwarves, orcs and others... each with their own spells to use. We gave up whatever special skills we may have had, and were given some spells in return.

[ she folds her hands in her lap, eyes glancing down. ] Through it all, we found that someone we were led to believe was a friend had taken the orb, and led us all into a trap... in the end, he turned into a dragon. We were fortunate that those among us were able to subdue him, and with the help of a local elven lady, and this station's Commander's mother, the one possessing the orb was turned to a more humanoid form and eventually released the orb to us.

[ she sighs. ] I have not been here for long, but I have been led to believe this is common. That the orbs bear a might that is far more terrible than one might imagine, and they corrupt those they come into contact with.