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Her ample chest rises and falls rapidly as the rush of emotion ebs out of Imagine with the death of her ex-idol. At the Shirren's words, she takes a deep, cleansing breath and her face gains a sense of composure. "Oh, um, yeah. Yeah! Like, totally jerks! Blowing up everything! Who would want to do that? I wasn't even all that in to them, I just visited this street doc to get a juice, and when I came out from under I had this overwhelming urge to, well...that. I'm startin' to think he wasn't all on the up an' up.
Hey, wanna have some fun?"
In a trice Imagine casts Grave Words on Tahomen's corpse before sashaying over to the Envoy. "Hey there, cutie. I'm Imagine. What's your name?
And what are we doing now?"
Eric levels his Laser Pistol at Imagine
Humanoids: This Human was in league with the Cult of the Devourer. I suggest we interview it aggressively and then dispose of it.
"Hey, wanna have some fun?"
In a trice Imagine casts Grave Words on Tahomen's corpse before sashaying over to the Envoy. "Hey there, cutie. I'm Imagine. What's your name?
And what are we doing now?"
Eric levels his Laser Pistol at Imagine
Humanoids: This Human was in league with the Cult of the Devourer. I suggest we interview it aggressively and then dispose of it.
Manteca stands, torn between the suddenly-friendly possibly-ex-cultist and the ruthlessly efficient android. Cutie? he thinks to himself bemusedly, momentarily distracted. Honestly, the things humans get attracted to... "EH-RK, stand down - Miss Imagine, no closer please? I think that everyone can do some explaining right away and come to an understanding without needing to empty any more batteries or, well... blowing up anyone's minds?" The shirren tilts his head carefully towards Imagine. "Miss, I am Doctor Manteca Imani, of the Starfinder Society, and these two are EH-RK and Boreal Typhon, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon. Given the reception we have received from your colleagues, I find EH-RK's response to be a little over-the-top," he says pointedly in the android's direction, telepathically urging a tense caution as he does so, "I don't think it's an... unreasonable reaction. But - I am more than happy to talk about why we might be entreated to take you along. And everyone can sit and listen. Agreed?", he says, directing this to the vesk and the android as well as the new human.
Boreal stalks over to Imagine. Towering over her she growls, voice laced with contempt, "Give me one good reason not to split you in half?"
Those that know Boreal recognize that she is a lot more aggressive than normal, which is saying something. Something has gotten under her skin.
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Imagine opens her pert mouth to reply to Dr. Imani when suddenly she is engulfed by the shadow of a Vesk. Her eyes bat furiously in confusion, until a smile stealthily creeps across her mouth. "Well," she starts, languorously, "for starters, I'm _really_ cute. For seconds," she taps her full lips with a soft finger, "I bet I could turn your brain to mush before your blow landed?" she asks, almost theoretically.
Then she spins away, as if dancing, "Oh but that's so boring. Come on guys, you can't just leave me here! If you didn't kill all of my ex-friends you know what they'll do to me now that Sir Dooms-a-lot is dead?" she says, gesturing at the corpse of Tahomen. "Okay, look, I don't always...make the best decisions. I was at a bar, some guys started talking about how awesome this gang is, I went to a meeting to check things out, and the next thing I know I'm sleeping with this guy who really really wants to blow up the universe." She pauses, as if still chewing the words she just said. "Y'know, now that I think about it, that doesn't make a whole lot sense....But it was a good idea at the time! And isn't that all that matters?
Boreal, is it? Wait, did the cute doctor call you 'daughter'? You're...you're a girl? Oh, I mean, of course you are, I just didn't.... Well honey, girl, can YOU say that every guy you hooked up with turned out to be a solid family man the night after? Srsly?
"But now here I am with you good people," she states, sauntering back to Dr. Imani. Placing the single, soft finger on his chest she bats her eyes at him and pouts, "Please, won't you protect me?"
Clenching her fists around the haft of her Doshko, "My name is Boreal Typhon, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon." she growls with a pause after each section, ignoring the question.
"She is a traitor. Dr Imani, she does not deserve our protection. She deserves to be buried in a nameless grave."
"But now here I am with you good people,"[/b] she states, sauntering back to Dr. Imani. Placing the single, soft finger on his chest she bats her eyes at him and pouts, "Please, won't you protect me?"
"That would be likely a very brief and futile exercise in ill-advised chivalry," he says, outwardly unphased by the humanly wiles being leveled at him. "I've seen how sharp Boreal Typhon keeps that doshko and her opinion of you is clear. No, this is an instance where you need to protect yourself, madam."
"She is a traitor. Dr Imani, she does not deserve our protection. She deserves to be buried in a nameless grave."
The shirren turns towards the vesk, antennae twitching in agitation with the raised tempers around. "I would point out, Daughter of Zerukesh "Hornbreaker" Typhon, Daughter of Tarsonis "Jaeger" Typhon, that betrayal of a bad cause or a bad person can be a good act. Honor and fidelity are only worth the causes they are pledged to. And any living thing that is capable and willing to choose good deserves at least the opportunity to make that choice." He looks back at the human and tilts his head. "Again though, my comrades make a very valid point - as... original as your reasons for ending up here are, that doesn't give us any reason to take you with us. We found you amongst known murderers and kidnappers with a philosophy that espouses hastening the death of the known universe by any means possible - I do hope you realize that doesn't paint you with a particularly appealing brush. So tell us, no tricks, no jokes - what good would bringing you with us do?"
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Imagine pondered the question, tapping her pert lips. Pointing a finger at the corpse, she states, "Well, for starters, I killed that guy. Ya ya, you can say that you loosened him up for me, but I got the last blow. I don't put him down, maybe he does sumpin', maybe he pulls out another double-whammy and one of you don't get to go home. Think about it.
"Oh! An' I can patch up yer hurtz. I can takes 'em apart AND put 'em back together. You got anyone that can maintain yer phalanx like that?
Also, I'm, like, SUPER loyal." She looks side-wise. "I mean, as long as ya don't hit me delibrate with a super-bomb. But I'm sure most folk are like that.
Ooo! And I can summon cute creatures! CUTE! How's that? Can I come with ya? Please please please please please???"
"He attacked you with the disc too?" Boreal asks, unsure of her conviction that Imagine is a traitor, and confused as to how she missed the attack that Tahomen directed at Imagine.
"Yes he did," the shirren says, though he doesn't take his eyes off of the human as he addresses Boreal. He takes a deep breath before continuing along clinically.
"Now, Miss Imagine, those are all very practical, utilitarian sets of skills - but I imagine, pardon the pun, that any phrenic sawbones in the Diaspora could give us a similar resume in the correct circumstances. More importantly than any of that - what possible reason would we have to trust you, given the circumstances?"
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"You...after all this? After I killed my boss, saved your lives, and you saved my life -you- wanna know why you should trust me??"
She deflates a little, the smile runs from her face. She draws a deep breath.
"Back home I...kinda ran a gang. We weren't much. There was Carl, a dependable guy, but no ambition. Jud, tough but smart as rocks. Mike, good guy. Too good for us. And Tracy, that b@+~&. Even my mom helped out. She was an Indep...uh, a entre...a whore. She was a whore. But we were happy.
But the thing is, some bad guys came in, badder than us, and they kinda, um, took over the planet. We tried to fight back, but we bit off more than we can chew pretty quick, and things went down hill, flipped over, and started on fire.
I got out. I ran as far as I could, but I never thought I was safe. I thought...I thought...I thought that if those guys were on the up, maybe we didn't stand a chance, and maybe the universe should be blown up, so at least nobody else would...."
She sits down. Puts her arms on her knees.
"But that's all over now. Here I am, on the butt-end of the 'verse." She wipes her eyes. Sniffs heavily. Puts her head down.
"And I got no where else to go."
"You...after all this? After I killed my boss, saved your lives, and you saved my life -you- wanna know why you should trust me??"
She deflates a little, the smile runs from her face. She draws a deep breath.
"Back home I...kinda ran a gang. We weren't much. There was Carl, a dependable guy, but no ambition. Jud, tough but smart as rocks. Mike, good guy. Too good for us. And Tracy, that b#*$$. Even my mom helped out. She was an Indep...uh, a entre...a whore. She was a whore. But we were happy.
But the thing is, some bad guys came in, badder than us, and they kinda, um, took over the planet. We tried to fight back, but we bit off more than we can chew pretty quick, and things went down hill, flipped over, and started on fire.
I got out. I ran as far as I could, but I never thought I was safe. I thought...I thought...I thought that if those guys were on the up, maybe we didn't stand a chance, and maybe the universe should be blown up, so at least nobody else would...."
She sits down. Puts her arms on her knees.
"But that's all over now. Here I am, on the butt-end of the 'verse." She wipes her eyes. Sniffs heavily. Puts her head down.
"And I got no where else to go."
"I thought so," the shirren says as he watches the human crumple against her own past. He crouches in front of her, lifting her chin to give them eye contact. Dozens of her reflections look back at her in his compound eyes.
"Simply killing someone or something is not enough to earn our trust, Imagine. Animals kill. Rocks falling kill. What makes us sentient, what makes us traverse the River of Souls, is our ability to choose to kill, or not to kill, and justify and regret those choices. To confront your past, honestly and frankly before strangers, and feel the need to do better... That is much more worthy of respect and trust."
He stands up again and turns to face Boreal and EH-RK, taller than the shirren usually stands. "This human has been damaged and emotionally manipulated. It's my analysis that she can be rehabilitated through firm guidance and proper emotional support. I propose that we do take her under our protection on a probationary basis. I will take full responsibility for her supervision and moral tutelage, as I understand your misgivings, given some of the extenuating circumstances."
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Boreal watches this all. Glad that nobody is paying attention to her to see how much of a fool she feels.
When Manteca turns to talk to her she nods and gives the Shirren a grin.
"She is strong. And she fought back. I can respect that." As she says this she walks over to Imagine and offers her her hand to help her stand. You can tell that she is too proud to openly apologize at this point in front of anyone, but her gesture here is somewhat of an apology in and of itself.
Eric regards the newcomer coldly.
Shirren Manteca Imani: Adding this newcomer will alter my combat and data analysis algorithms. It will take time to compile a new algorithm.
Eric slides his weapon into it's holster and says Humanoids: We have a long journey.
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Imagine unresistingly stares back into the Shierren's gaze, then gratefully accepts the Vest's help standing back up. When the android speaks...she doesn't really understand what the hell he's taking about, but the last sentence seems to animate her.
She wipes her eyes clear, brushes her hair back, and puts on a new smile. She shrugs off the past like a cloak and starts thinking about what's next.
"Great! Where are we going?"
"Well, was there anything else here that was of interest to your former employer?," asks Manteca. "We should know precisely what he's done here before we start trying to walk back his efforts elsewhere."
"Also -" Manteca roots around for the crystal they couldn't identify before. "Any idea as to this thing's purpose or function?"
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Imagine thinks, her eyebrows clenched in frustration. "Well, there really wasn't much going on, and if you all are here, you might could've found most of any real import." She taps her lips. "Well, there was the com system, he spent a lot of time on that. But I don't think it's important, he just said that all his notes about a doomsday superweapon were on it, and something a...a...rock drift? That a thing?"
Imagine tells the group exactly where the comm system is, and it's current state.
"Mind you, I think I could help you find how to turn it on, though I don't know his password.
But he watched a lot of gay midget porn, so that might help.
What?"
"Oh, nothing," the shirren says in response to his blank look. "There were just a few words about his password that I didn't understand - I've always felt that my vocabulary in the Common tongue is a little formal and stilted. I may need some tutelage from you in order to understand your references to... happy... insect... pig meat? See, something must not be translating."
"But wait, you said comms? We should take a look at those!" Manteca sets off in the direction of the comms.
The 'comms' is just one big device that was disassembled into it's parts and is standing right outside the temple, where Tahomen and his cultists left it as they notices that the party was in there. It doesn't need to be in one piece to examine it. The only part of interest is the computer anyway.
Eric attempts to gather some information from the computer
Manteca hovers over EH-RK's shoulder and assists as necessary.
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Imagine gazes into the Dr.'s crystal, her gaze becomes unfocused and hazy, as if she's not seeing what the physical object is, but the representation of what the object means.
"It -looks- like a data-storage crystal, but...this is impossible. It looks like it's been recording for, forever. Approximately all of the data as been super-mega-ULTRA compacted until it's attained a meta-phyiscal state," she finally pipes in.
"At this point it's now a basic-level ability crystal, positively huming with the psychic hopes and dreams of a million minds from across the galaxy."
The computer also contains access to Tahomen’s financial account, protected behind a firewall.
to crack the firewall?
Humanoids: The Cult has found a superweapon. Perhaps the Starfinder Chisk-chisk will want that information? Tahomen beamed his information into the Diaspora.
"They've found a super-weapon??" yells the shirren in a panic. "And sent information about it out. Perhaps everyone would want this information?? Where does it say the weapon is????" The doctor jostles against EH-RK in a panic trying to see the computer.
Shirren Manteca Imani: Perhaps found was too strong of a verb. They know the location, but cannot access the location as of now. The weapon is hidden in a demiplane, they think. Tahomen broadcast this information to the Diaspora, presumably to other members of his lunatic society.
Eric glances at Imagine when he says those last 2 words.
Humanoids: I have a partial lock on the location of where the message was sent. Perhaps the Starfinders or Stewards of Absalom will reward us for this knowledge.
Manteca sits, calmed a little by EH-RK's clarification. "Maybe the Stewards will send a fleet!" Manteca says optimistically. "If there's anything the crazed Cult of the Devourer doesn't need, it's a superweapon, hidden in a demi-plane or not." He starts as he realizes Imagine is there. "Oh! I didn't mean that all Devourer members were crazed - not that I still think you're a Devourer cultist - or that I think you're crazed, I just - "
He begins twitching his antennae anxiously but lapses into an embarrassed silence.
The crickets out in the jungle fill the silence beautifully with t heir music.
"I think we reach out to Chiskisk for guidance on whether to report back to Absalom Station or to follow up on these leads," Manteca says soberly.
Humanoids: It would be wise to return now to civilization. We have the cult's plans.
"The warden's and starfinder society should be told. I think we should get in touch with Chiskisk."
"Oh, he's a Starfinder! I think he's technically our direct superior? Or supervisor. We were just sort of drafted and we didn't get much of an introduction to the Society... or any materials on what we're doing for them... It wasn't really much of an onboarding. It's very unclear as to why they let us in at all. But they'll definitely be interested in this!"
Eric will put the bulky comm device together and send a message to Chiskisk.
Shirren Starfinder Chiskisk: We have found evidence that a superweapon is the target of the Cult of the Devourer. We request a Society transport come to our location.
The shirren answers shortly that they need some tine to organize something. After requesting more details and an hour or so of behind the scenes diplomacy she answers the request in detail. She got an exceptional permission for the Castrovel Government for a taxi flight to the temple and back to the spaceport of the planet.
Another few hours later a small military shuttle lands in front of the Temple of the Twelve and collects the party and the saved Dr. Solstarni. A short flight late - compared to the days long travel by foot - you are all back in civilization on the buzzing spaceport, where you rown ship is parked.
You have to endure another hour of questioning together wi Dr. Solstarni and some security officers who want to see proof of Chiskisk claims about this being an urgent emergency. Dr. Solstarni put sall her weight as an expert in that and as the victim saved here into the discussion, and finally all are released and free to go. Even though the leader seems not totally satisfied with the answers.
"I could do with a drink." Boreal says as they step out of interrogation.
"Anyone else?" Boreal asks, pausing for a moment before striking off to find somewhere to quench her thirst.
"Anyone else?" Boreal asks, pausing for a moment before striking off to find somewhere to quench her thirst.
"Oh! Qabarat's a university city, I bet there's all kinds of cool bars here!" the shirren chirps. "Maybe a virtual bar?? I'd love to go experience a formian bar, but if you all get enough of exoskeletons hanging around me I can wait to check that out under my own time..."
"I will go anywhere that can pour a stiff drink right now." Boreal replies, "Figure out where we are going." she says to Manteca
A short search on the info-sphere brings up a lot of suggestions for clubs, but close to the space port is one that got many recommendations and it is only a short walk. It looks from the outside like an industrial complex, but from the inside it's an endless party area. On several levels are at least half a dozen large dance floors, but it also has relaxed lounges and some thematic bars that are separated optically, acoustically or both from the dance areas with the loud noise.
Eric goes to the Sunrise Maiden and begins preparing for departure. He contacts local merchants to sell some of the items collected on their travels and deposit credits into the crew's accounts.
Manteca hums happily as he scrolls through a sea of intoxication options. "This one is close - let's go there first! And then we can find another bar if the fancy strikes us!"