Vakkler blinks. "Um...have we met?"
Vakkler blinks. "Um...have we met?"
Kitty sighed.
"Yes, Professor Relkav, several times. I was in your class last term too. I'm Kitty Tanaka. I have a problem with a stealth power that's out of control. I was supposed to learn how to control it here, but my sensei keeps forgetting about me and never shows up to my lessons."
Vakkler blinks. "Um...have we met?"Kitty sighed.
"Yes, Professor Relkav, several times. I was in your class last term too. I'm Kitty Tanaka. I have a problem with a stealth power that's out of control. I was supposed to learn how to control it here, but my sensei keeps forgetting about me and never shows up to my lessons."
Vakkler frowns. "Hm. Well...I doubt that's the reason. I don't make a habit of remembering my students' names. If I don't know you, it's likely because you were a good student."
He nods, regaining his composure. "I suppose the earthquake is a possible cause. I will seek out Professor Sunwake and investigate. Remember, Dacamara. Slurk duty tonight. Bring your work clothes."
Kitty hardly dared to move before Professor Relkav walked away. She breathed a sigh of relief once he was gone and pulled Saffire out of her pocket.
"What a good boy," she crooned, cuddling the little creature up next to her face. "You were such a good little dragon, Saffire, staying so very still and quiet all that time."
She looked at Michael, puzzled. "What I don't understand is why you're lying so much. You lied to me about using predators in alchemy class and you lied to the professor about that ramp, and what I want to know is why, Michael."
Kitty hardly dared to move before Professor Relkav walked away. She breathed a sigh of relief once he was gone and pulled Saffire out of her pocket.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
She looked at Michael, puzzled. "What I don't understand is why you're lying so much. You lied to me about using predators in alchemy class and you lied to the professor about that ramp, and what I want to know is why, Michael."
Well, don't worry if he kills you, I can bring you back. I've always wanted a stealth-zombie...
Too soon?
"Yes, alright, but I need to know how Fei is actually doing first. This is my fault for pushing him too hard," she added dejectedly.
She sighed outwardly this time.
"You do realize I have the authority to confine you to that bed for your own good Professor, right?" she asks but then holds up her hands before she can retort. "If I show you, will you stay in bed and please try to recoup for at least a little while?"
She brings over the datapad linked to Fei's bed.
"Well, for starters Fei shouldn't be doing anything at all - whatever trauma was inflicted on his body should have killed him. It was like something was trying to tear him apart from the inside out," she says with a shake of her head.
"We thought we were going to need a cleric, but we found a pulse on him, so we rushed him back here with you to get the nanites to work. His wounds have been healing at a rate I've only seen reported in trolls, which is a fantastic response - but we haven't put a single nanite in him yet."
"I thought perhaps he had managed some miraculous form of ki biofeedback, so I checked for those kind of energy readings. That's not it, but there is something in him. Two somethings, actually," she says with another shake of her head, "one of which is I assume what got him in this condition in the first place."
"Holy crap, this is not what I thought I was dealing with!" she said, examining the display.
She tapped a button on her headband and a screen popped up in midair.
"I want a full analysis of this information as fast as you can get it done," she said, crisply and information began streaming across the screen at a fast rate.
"I'm not even sure what I'm looking at yet, but this definitely wasn't the result of a head injury..."
Asch's eyes flash for a minute when Solvi talks to him. "Do whatever you want with these wretches I don't care."
Once Asch leaves Solivala seals the level. He leaves the golem to guard the door. He then makes his way back to where all the people are. Making sure all are with in range he removes a strange rune covered orb the size of a melon. Passing his hand over it the runes come alive with power, speaking arcane words the orb seems to let out a single beat. The infected with in the room freeze in place. Solivala tosses the orb into the air where it remains in place. Two beats more and it begins to shed a white light that slowly grows in intensity. With in moments everything is blinding white, the frozen shed shadows which are promply torn from their forms and consumed by the light. Just as quickly as it came it was gone, bodies littered the floor and the orb was back in his hand. Placing it back into his pocket he turned to leave. They were cured of their taint, with the only side effect being slight memory loss. Solivala found the condition acceptable. Shortly after he is out of the castle with the golem trailing behind him as he makes his way towards the others.
Asch searches through the castle after leaving Solivalia. He remembers his father's rooms were around here somewhere. When he finally finds ithe finds what he had been looking for. His masters old daggers the man who found him after his mothers murder who died trying to keep him safe. He grabs the blades and feels them pulsate with his own shadow the blades disappear into his shadow ready to be drawn.
She looked at Michael, puzzled. "What I don't understand is why you're lying so much. You lied to me about using predators in alchemy class and you lied to the professor about that ramp, and what I want to know is why, Michael."
"I'm not going to make any big predators, just something to harass th bullies with and keep my room safe if I ever forget to lock the door."
"Holy crap, this is not what I thought I was dealing with!" she said, examining the display.
She tapped a button on her headband and a screen popped up in midair.
"I want a full analysis of this information as fast as you can get it done," she said, crisply and information began streaming across the screen at a fast rate."I'm not even sure what I'm looking at yet, but this definitely wasn't the result of a head injury..."
She looked at Michael, puzzled. "What I don't understand is why you're lying so much. You lied to me about using predators in alchemy class and you lied to the professor about that ramp, and what I want to know is why, Michael.""I'm not going to make any big predators, just something to harass th bullies with and keep my room safe if I ever forget to lock the door."
"Okay. There's nothing wrong with having a guard dog of sorts....I just don't understand why you thought you had to lie about it to me. Michael, I'm your friend, aren't I?"
"I lied to you because you are my friend. I didn't want you to worry about me. I want to keep you out of my one-man crusade, remember?" But a little voice in the back of Micheal's head whispers that she could be useful. He tries to ignore, to crush the tiny little voice, but it keeps whispering that someone who is easily forgotten can be an excellent assassin...
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"I lied to you because you are my friend. I didn't want you to worry about me. I want to keep you out of my one-man crusade, remember?" But a little voice in the back of Micheal's head whispers that she could be useful. He tries to ignore, to crush the tiny little voice, but it keeps whispering that someone who is easily forgotten can be an excellent assassin...
"I can't help worrying about you, Michael. That's what friends do. I understand that you want to stand up to the bullies. I really respect you for putting yourself out there like that. It takes a lot of courage. But don't let it go too far, okay? I don't want you to get lost in it. Maybe it's selfish, but I'd like to still have my friend who is sweet and thoughtful and likes books more than violence. Coming from a family of ninjas, I've seen a lot of people lose themselves in their work, and I don't want that to happen to you," she said with a gentle smile as she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
She blushed. "Umm...I didn't mean to be too forward."
As they continued to walk through the castle looking for Asch and Solivala, Krays and Ephebe saw a group of humans running away at top speed.
"Well, it looks like they've freed the prisoners. Guess that means they're getting close to having finished off all the vampires."
Micheal's first thought is "My hair's on fire." His next thought was "Gods, please don't let Vakkler find out about this."
"Um... no, I... Wow." Michael can't do much more than stand and stare at the moment, face an extreme shade of red. "Don't, um, worry about it."
As they continued to walk through the castle looking for Asch and Solivala, Krays and Ephebe saw a group of humans running away at top speed.
"Well, it looks like they've freed the prisoners. Guess that means they're getting close to having finished off all the vampires."
"Wow. It doesn't look like any of these people are tainted...good. Hate to have to come back and do this again. Should we keep the keep?
Might be a good 'get away' place?"
As they continued to walk through the castle looking for Asch and Solivala, Krays and Ephebe saw a group of humans running away at top speed.
"Well, it looks like they've freed the prisoners. Guess that means they're getting close to having finished off all the vampires."
"Wow. It doesn't look like any of these people are tainted...good. Hate to have to come back and do this again. Should we keep the keep?
Might be a good 'get away' place?"
"With as many bad memories as this place has for Asch, no, I don't think so."
Micheal's first thought is "My hair's on fire." His next thought was "Gods, please don't let Vakkler find out about this."
"Um... no, I... Wow." Michael can't do much more than stand and stare at the moment, face an extreme shade of red. "Don't, um, worry about it."
"Ahh...good point. Probably just the dragon side of me trying to salvage something valuable."
Micheal's first thought is "My hair's on fire." His next thought was "Gods, please don't let Vakkler find out about this."
"Um... no, I... Wow." Michael can't do much more than stand and stare at the moment, face an extreme shade of red. "Don't, um, worry about it."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you," she said, blushing brighter red. "It was just a spur of the moment thing...I wont' do it again if it bothers you so much."
"No! Um, I mean it doesn't bother me! Wait, that sounds weird... It wasn't expected is all! It wasn't, um, bad or anything." Michael seems intent on making himself look like a fool.
Kitty giggled. "Maybe we should just go get some dinner before we embarrass ourselves any more."
Saffire squeaked encouragingly at the mention of dinner.
Vakkler sits in the corner of the cafeteria, calmly eating his meal. Students shy away from him, giving the kobold an entire table to himself.
The screen flashed, report complete. Aananda read through it eagerly, much to the healer's annoyance. She knew she was being a difficult patient, but this was important.
"This is...I've never seen anything like it...I'm not sure if it's the genetic anomolies creating this healing effect or this other thing...Hmmm....both of these things effectively work the same way...no wonder he was like a walking bomb....I don't think there's a seal that can be made to keep this stuff under control. There has to be a better way."
"Paper. I need paper. Stop yammering about how I need to rest. I'm fine. I have three children, it's not like I haven't functioned while tired before. I need these designs done before he wakes up. Now!" she bellowed, causing the healer to jump and run to go do what she was asked.
Soon she was busy scribbling designs. "If I can get this to work, I bet we can power the generators from this alone," she muttered.
"Yeah." Michael laughs. "I hope Saffire doesn't get into a scuffle with that flying cat."
Smiling and now returning to a more fleshy color, Michael holds the door open for Kitty and locks it behind him, making sure he's got the key first. He then heads off for the cafeteria, loading up a tray and avoiding his usual table. Hopefully that would keep this dinner peaceful.
Soon she was busy scribbling designs. "If I can get this to work, I bet we can power the generators from this alone," she muttered.
"Yeah." Michael laughs. "I hope Saffire doesn't get into a scuffle with that flying cat."
Smiling and now returning to a more fleshy color, Michael holds the door open for Kitty and locks it behind him, making sure he's got the key first. He then heads off for the cafeteria, loading up a tray and avoiding his usual table. Hopefully that would keep this dinner peaceful.
Kitty sat next to him, laughing as she fed Saffire off of her plate. The little dragon was amusing her by doing somersaults every time she gave him a scrap of food to eat.
Aananda wasn't sure how much time had passed since she started work, but she was pretty happy with the results.
"Okay, I want these manufactured as quickly as possible. Put tank two to work on it," she said, ignoring the looks she was getting as she relayed orders to the nanites. "I want these ready to use within the hour."
"At least he's got pretty good balance. I was afraid he'd end up clumsy or something. Last thing I want is to have to fish him out of the fish."
"At least he's got pretty good balance. I was afraid he'd end up clumsy or something. Last thing I want is to have to fish him out of the fish."
She giggled. "You might still have to. He really likes the fish. I wouldn't put it past him to dive right in."
Saffire stretched his head up eagerly. "No, that wasn't permission, silly. Here, you can have another bite of mine. And next time I'll make sure to get a double portion of fish."
Saffire pounced eagerly on the bite of fish Kitty gave him, tearing it to shreds as he devoured it.
As Aananda wrote furiously and the Infirmary staff kept careful vigil, Fei's body continued to heal itself, with no sign of slowing. Muscles, organs, connective tissues - all were recovering from the near-fatal trauma inflicted on them not so long ago.
His gaping wounds finally beginning to close, Fei shifts restlessly in the bed. As he does, the whole bed trembles briefly, then is still again...
"Dammit," Aananda growled getting out of bed and running over to the nanite processor. "Okay, before we have another catastrophe on our hands, let's see what we can do..."
She grabs a tube of unprogrammed nanites and slams it onto the platform before quickly typing in commands.
She released them over Fei before stumbling back to her own bed. "Okay, hopefully those will be able to absorb and redirect the kinetic energy until the other thing is ready."
"Dammit," Aananda growled getting out of bed and running over to the nanite processor. "Okay, before we have another catastrophe on our hands, let's see what we can do..."
She grabs a tube of unprogrammed nanites and slams it onto the platform before quickly typing in commands.
She released them over Fei before stumbling back to her own bed. "Okay, hopefully those will be able to absorb and redirect the kinetic energy until the other thing is ready."
"Dammit," Aananda growled getting out of bed and running over to the nanite processor. "Okay, before we have another catastrophe on our hands, let's see what we can do..."
She grabs a tube of unprogrammed nanites and slams it onto the platform before quickly typing in commands.
She released them over Fei before stumbling back to her own bed. "Okay, hopefully those will be able to absorb and redirect the kinetic energy until the other thing is ready."
The nanites fly 'low to the deck' over Fei's body. The energy management subroutine Aananda programmed into them allows each one to siphon off a small portion of the kinetic energy forming around his body without setting off a chain reaction. Using the siphoned energy as their power source, they are able to stabilize the level of energy in his body.
She knows that if his kinetic energy levels rise much above where they are now, the nanites will not be able to handle it. Their efforts have probably bought her about one more hour to finish the work on the other set, though...
Eventually they found their way to a series of rooms that used to hold coffins...those appear to be smashed and there is no longer any sign of their former occupants.
"Gotta give them credit for efficiency."
Aananda drifts off into a light doze as she waits for the nanite manufacturing process to finish.
About forty five minutes later she is awakened by an insistent beeping from her headband.
"Excuse me," she said to the healer, "but would you mind going to my lab and fetching the things in tank two. They've finished construction now, and I think we should have them ready before Fei wakes up."
She sighed at the panicked look on the healer's face. "Never mind." She touched a button on her headband. "James, I don't care what you're currently in the middle of. I need you to bring the items in tank two to the infirmary as quickly as you can. No arguing."
"Yes, very nice."
"Yes, very nice."
"You're not disappointed are you? I mean, that you didn't get to kill the vampires yourself?"
About five minutes after the call from his mother, Jiminy shows up looking excessively rumpled and sets down a box on the end of her bed.
"What?" he said defensively. "You said it was urgent. Urgent usually means don't take the time you might need to get cleaned up cause something is about to blow up."
"Naw. Not disappointed at all. They were dealt with, and I didn't have to waste any of my energies on them. It is kind of fun to watch them get frustrated when they realize they can't harm me. Besides, Asch definately needs an outlet for his rage more than I do, and Solivala...seems most handy in most situations. Makes my job easier, so why be disappointed?"