Also, I’m Salt. This is BZZT, and Gerome, and tall, dark, brooding, scaly and handsome over there is Ouroboros. Or Robbit. I call him Robbit.
She leans in closer for a theatrical whisper:
He acts all scary, but secretly he’s really nice! He saved me from the temple. If you come with us I’ll tell you all about it! Don’t get any ideas though, he’s my cute thing...
Gerome tugged gently on Ouroboros's sleeve. Tall dark and scaly only had eyes for the glowy lady and Gerome needed his attention. One last sharp tug and a pair of yellow snake eyes turned to Gerome.
Ouroboros studied Gerome carefully. The gnome was a contradiction. He was little more than a boy, desperate for adventure, and yet terrified of everything. One can not be brave without fear. He mused to himself. He looked to Salt, who was practically prancing in front of the... what was she? Spectre? Salt wasn't afraid of anything, it seemed. Was that a good thing? Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
He looked back to Gerome and gave him a small nod.
Excuse me Gaia, is it? He stepped forward, dramatically swooshing his dark green cape behind him. I do not mean to be rude, but how do we know we can trust you? There does seem to be an extraordinary amount of damage done to this ship, and the only crew we have met has been somewhat deceased. You however, stand before us, in the middle of a crime scene, and by all accounts, are a weapon.
His words left an accusation floating in the air, his smile was sinister. Ordinarily when one found a person standing over a body with a weapon, you didn't ask questions.
The amber woman? sags in what looks like utter relief. As quick as a bolt of lightning a beam of golden light streams from her to the crystal shard worn by Salt, holding itself in place for roughly 2 seconds before fading into nothing.
An amber hue supplants the red glow in Salts crystal shard, the fragments itself extending and growing, still clearly not whole, but more a badly cut half of a crystal than a tiny fragment of one.
Gaia does not move during the transfer, but once it is done she gives by far the most realistic smile you have seen from her thus far.
THANK YOU Oathbearer! I...I had honestly not realised just how much my imminent death had been weighing on me until just now. As promised...
She nonchalantly waves a hand, a gentle white light illuminates the area behind her, just in time to catch the sight of numerous doors shooting up into the ceiling - and a shower of crystal shards falling to the floor. Only one door - the one directly across from you - remains closed.
I cannot speak for the quality of what will be in those storage units Oathbearer, this is the first time in...a long time that I have seen those doors open. That closed one should allow access to the bridge proper, regretfully catastrophic damage on the other side negates my ability to open it. Do not worry about the shards on the floor by the way, they are all quite inert now.
Now, at last, she addresses the others. Ouroboros first.
I understand the suspicion Sir Ouroboros, and Young Master Gerome is correct in his assessment of me as a weapon. You are currently inside my Solaris, broken though it may be. I call it my Solaris...but until just now- she smiles at Salt - it was very much me. In good repair the upper limits of my destructive capabilities would be difficult to find, I could travel at speeds that would make the lightning jealous, hold the complete data of thousands of planets, heal anything up to short-term death and even provide a limited form of immortality to my oathbearers.
She looks up at the ceiling, smiling almost wistfully.
Working together with my sisters...we could change the shape of the sky itself...it's been so long since I've even seen the sky...
The smile vanishes, to be replaced by seriousness...and fear. She faces Ouroboros dead on.
Then we went there. And everything went wrong. Something blacked out my sensors, shut down most of my systems. I was blind, trapped inside my cell. Feeling my sisters blink out of existence, feeling my oathbearers die. I know something manifested in the cargo hold and started killing the crew, my oathbearers kept attempting to initiate combat state but my links were shattered, barely able to keep myself sane. I saw poor Kynda she nods at the corpse there get halfway through the oath before his shard shattered and I gave up hope. My Solaris crash landed several months later, I have no idea how it even managed to find its way back.
She sniffs in what looks a little like disdain, letting a slight smile play across her lips.
And I am not so inelegant as to kill with dream-phased tentacle claws in the back. Most undignified. That thing's long gone by the way, I think it vanished the instant nothing was alive in the ship anymore.
Seemingly satisfied she turns to BZZT. Starts to speak-
I...
Catches herself, tries again-
I don't...I...My Solaris is...I...
Screws up her face, pulls herself together.
I thank you for the offer Sir BZZT - she pronounces the name with a genuine BZZT of static - but I'm just not sure how you'd even start. We'd have to have some way of moving Solaris, first out of the sand and then keeping it in motion to prevent the Oath from activating.As well as provide a team of engineers with at least a background in technological engineering.And the sheer power required to start the systems up IF we even get to that state of repair would be like dozens of lightning strikes at once.
She looks down sadly...
As I said, I appreciate the offer, but far...
A golden tear drifts down her face.
Far better to...to say...goodb-...good...
She walks back into the cell, going down on her knees to pick up one of the larger shards. Looks at it, an unknowable expression on her face. A few seconds pass.
She buckles over in a heaving sob, clutching the shard to her chest like a treasured heirloom, a glowing hand pressed affectionately against the floor, desperately crying her eyes out.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
Ouroboros took a moment to digest the information he had just received. The way the orange woman had dismissed him out of hand was irksome, and now she was crying. As a rule, he could not abide women that cried, unless he was the cause and in those cases it was quite satisfying. Right now she was just being loud and irritating. He sighed with frustration, and glanced back to Gerome. Gerome. Gerome was the sort of person who would comfort a crying woman.
Ouroboros coughed to catch the little mans attention and then with a sharp tilt of the head, indicated that Gerome should comfort the lady. Gerome did not disappoint.
Gerome edges carefully towards Gaia.
Ouroboros knew very little about the electronic world, but what he gathered from the Gaia's explanation, was that she was some sort of ghost in the machine, the machine was broken and so she would fade away. Ourorboros didn't know Bzzt well, he was a stray that Salt had brought home one night.One thing he did know, was that he was a brilliant engineer, and if this machine was fixable, Bzzt could fix it. The how of it, didn't really faze Ourorboros, but the why of it was starting to clarify. He was not the kind to help damsels in distress. In fact, quite the opposite. One could get real pleasure out of kicking a man (or woman) when they are down. In his opinion, it was frankly the best time to kick a person. But she wasn't just a girl, she was a weapon, and a ruddy powerful one by the sounds. If they could just....
A slow fanged smile crept onto his snake like features. If he could destroy an entire world, that is the sort of carnage that would really catch the attention of his Lord Zyphus...
Of course we will help He said.
You need a hug. Can I hug you?
Salt’s tone is a mix of asking for consent and asking about physical possibility... It’s intended as sympathetic, but comes off as a little bewildered.
BZZT muses for a minute.
We got a lot of what she described on th’ caravan... Could do the thing and it’d be a chance t’learn. Salt’ll get a chance to do some fixin’, Gerome gets adventure, I get t’play with a f%$%en starship and Blackblood gets a new instrument’o’death. No downside...
Apologies, m’lady Gaia. I may, if the boss agrees, have a plan t’do just what I offered. If y’d’be willin’ t’try, of course. I understand better’n most sometimes we need t’let go of the past...
Gerome somewhat gingerly wraps a tiny arm around Gaia’s shoulders, unsure as to whether he will fall right through.
There there, he murmurs Bzzt’ll fix you up alright and we’ll find what killed your crew.
When I was a boy, Gerome began, I lived on a farm with my family. I always wanted to travel, mostly I wanted to travel to the stars. I learned all their names! Me and Tyrone, we would lie out in the field, with the smell of freshly cut wheat in a nostrils, and I would point them out to him. I'd make up songs about our adventures in a great flying galley called the Jolly Gerome.
He patted Gaia on the back.
Hey, maybe when you're all fixed up, you can take us up there for an adventure or three?
The metaphysical part of her question answered, Salt piles onto the hug.
Gaia evidently appreciates the hugs, though her sobs jerk sharply to a stop when BZZT makes his assertation. She turns back to him, face a mess of tears, nothing hiding the desperate - almost manic - hope in her face.
Sir BZZT. Nothing, nothing in this world, would matter more to me than my Solaris being restored. All ties to my Archaeomancer died along with his City, I have no remaining bindings beside the very loose one I have just formed as a lifeline with Miss Salt. Fix my Solaris - and when I reintegrate with the systems I shall be yours and your companions. Yours to traverse the air and void as you see fit, yours to burn your enemies and shatter planets, yours to create near anything your heart desires and let you live till the end of all things. All this, and more, I shall be for you. If you can restore my life to me.
She smiles, a cracked smile yes - but a genuine one. The clutched shard drops to the floor, she clutches the hands of both Salt and Gerome. When she speaks next, she speaks softly, though the words could not be clearer.
After all. To be myself again? I cannot think of any price I’d be unwilling to pay. Perhaps that speaks ill of me...but I find myself quite unable to care.
She pauses for a long while. Then stands up, disentangling herself from Salt and Gerome. Flicking her head the tears vanish as if she had never cried at all.
So then. What is this plan of yours? As I believe I mentioned earlier - I have basically no restrictions on what I say and do aside from purely physical ones now. My knowledge and limited capabilities are at your and my Oathbearers disposal.
Don't worry, Ourorboros says with a twinkle in his eye, I can't imagine Markus will say no. I'll make sure of it. He was grinning again.
Gerome was happy to have helped and skipped back to the relative safety behind Ouroboros, but he couldn't help the slight feeling on uneasiness.
My knowledge and limited capabilities are at your disposal...
This person, whatever she was, was a world destroyer, and she was willingly putting herself into the hands of Salt and Ouroboros. As fond as he was of the pair, he knew what they were. The pair of them, with that much power... He shuddered involuntarily.
But he was just an observer, right? Whilst all he did was watch and record, he couldn't be held responsible for their actions right? Right?
Gerome was fidgeting, and it was annoying. Ouroboros gave him a pat on the head in an attempt to praise and calm him.
Shall we have a poke around these lockers then? He asked the room. You never know what we may find useful.
BZZT picks his words carefully, wanting to avoid another burst of sadness.
I should stress, m'lady, that all of this hinges on our boss letting us use resources he has. But I can't see it being a problem, given how rare a chance this is.
We have access to some geniuses who likely could fix up y'Solaris to runnin' again. Anything we need, I'll scavenge and pay for from my own pocket.
Salt listens to BZZT explain his idea, smiling and nodding along. It was all very plausible, and she'd take the chance to learn to fix a starship (and fly one!).
I'm going to have a look around - see what the lockers hold...
The lockers hold...mostly junk. Everything seems to be smashed, dented or otherwise damaged at first glance, no doubt a result of the ship crashing back down to the planets surface. Sorting through the mess of broken parts takes a considerable amount of time - but pays off. Salt comes across 3 small metallic rectangles Gaia can identify as nanite clusters - ammo for that lovely pistol. As well as a strange sort of armour - looking like a metallic silver blouse that remains soft and supple to the touch, a design of swirling purple flames decorates the back.
But it is the smaller hands and sharp eyes of the gnomes that find the potential real prize, a false back to one of the lockers. A hidden seam gives away the fact that the wall should swing open, though the mechanism for this cannot be seen. What could be in there?
Salt is ecstatic to find more ammo for her new pistol, and hums merrily as she searches, until she comes across the armoured shirt.
Gaia, I found a pretty! What is?
BZZT ponders the false back to the locker carefully.
Ouroboros finds a hilt of a dagger and a rolled up scroll. Also a strange metal rod, roughly a foot long, that has a small button on one end of it.
BZZT can see no traps, but nor can he divine the way to open the door. There is no hidden keyhole, no keypad, no features at all to give away the fact that the wall should move.
Oh my...that’s a uniform Oathbearer. Un-linked as well. You should be able to pair it with your shard, just touch the two together. I’d imagine the states to be long dormant, but keep it equipped for long enough and they might wake up again.
She smiles wistfully...
Were I still integrated I could simply reactivate them for you right now. However this would also tie them to me and...previous experience has shown this to be an example of bad planning. Having them tie to you as they awaken seems a much better idea.
Salt merrily shucks her long coat and unfolds the armour, pulling it on over her undershirt.
So I just boop the crystal on it?
She touches the crystal on her wrist to the metal of the armour.
Failing in his examination of the false back, BZZT turns to head out.
Markus'll be worried. Or at least pissed we're gone s'long. I'll go let them know. Get some help movin' that damn panel too...
Salt gleefully watches the ripples in the supple nanofibres, tracing intricate shapes through the filaments.
Gaia, I’d like to code it to Celestial. Seems fitting for a Starship. Solis for combat, Fortis for defence, and Illumi for the early warning system...
As you wish Oathbearer
BZZT emerges to find a roaring party in full swing, the outriders have dragged several of the massive golden jaws into a rough structure and are busy taking turns leaping their raptor mounts over the thing whilst several unmounted lizardfolk hammer down on a mix of tribal instruments, holding to a rough but steady beat they all seem to be dancing to.
The scent of alcohol also lies heavy on the air - evidently several members of the crew have broken out their private staches. It isn’t just lizardfolk on the ground either, looks like most members of the crew have found their way down, a mad mashup of almost every race under the suns appears to be having a rousing good time, several small fires and the lovely aroma of cooking indicates food will soon be an option and the few members of the crew who have the ability to fly are using the heat from these to spiral around the area. Even Alas - the utterly mad merman driver of Daphne has somehow made his way to the sandy floor and appears to be busily engaged in attempting to replicate the scope of his home ocean with booze. This can only end well.
BZZT does spy Markus fairly easily, he’s rigged a few of the ascent cables into a swinging chair and is perched about 20ft up in the air, helping himself to a frothing mug of that hellish stuff he keeps in his private chest whilst keeping half an eye on the festivities.
The big lizardfolk has evidently been drinking, BZZT can smell it on his scales. Still he pilots his mount with utter ease, clearing the golden pile with feet left to spare and barely disturbing the sandy floor as he crashes back down before running over to the deep gnome.
AH!! LITTLE GREY ONE!! COME!! PARTY!! WHERE’S OTHERS? NEVERMIND!! DRINK!! DRINK!!! BE MERRY!!
He spins, catching the attention of an adult Strix woman spiralling her way through the air.
SASH!!! SASH!!! WE GO 20 THIS TIME!! BE READY!!!
Wheeling his mount around he charges back to the leaping point, urging his raptor into a massive soaring jump that brings him within reaching distance of the Strix.
And reach he does, bracing himself against the saddle to gain a little more height before managing to grab onto an offered arm. Leaving his now unmanned raptor to land and begin running in tight circles around the structure.
The black-winged Strix winces slightly at the weight, but gives a fierce grin and pumps her magnificent pinions hard, managing the impressive feat of staying aloft even holding the heavy lizard. She and him share a fanged smile before she swoops into a spiralling dive. Swinging Sparkfinder in a huge circle to gain momentum and keep pace with the circling raptor. As they get near Sparkfinder let’s his feet drop, seeking purchase on his saddle...
But the sudden contact startles the mount, it yelps and shoots off into the distance, catching Sparkfinder toe in the process and wrenching him around. Still holding on to Sash the both of them spiral into the dirt, Sash barely managing to wrap her wings around both before piling into the sand. They stay curled up for a second then both flop onto their backs, laughing hard.
HAHAHAHAHA!!! You!!! You stupid lizard!!! Why didn’t you let go!?!!
OF YOU SOARING ONE!!?! AFTER I FINALLY CATCH YOU!?!! GOOD JOKE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
The lizard and Strix lie down for a few seconds more, then Sparkfinder releases her arm and stands up, ruefully rubbing the shoulder he landed on.
Ahhhhhahhhh... silly Swifty ran off...better go find. Save drink yes?
He strides off after his beast.
Sash stands herself back up a few seconds later, wandering over to BZZT. Her raucous grin settling into a more sedate smile.
Hey there new guy, think I saw you dangling off of Bessie’s neck in the storm-run. That’s rough, you alright? Just came outta that big black thing? Anything good inside? I’m Sash. Daphne frontrunner. They let me handle the big guns.
The Strix seems very casual about being a frontrunner, the lead scout/siege engineer for each Titan, a position of rather high responsibility. Especially so for the mobile weapon platform/fortress that is Daphne. Then again if she really had seen BZZT and Salt dangling from Bessie all the way forward from atop the rear-bringer perhaps that speaks for itself.
Guess you’re looking for the boss? Ain’t no way he’s gonna hear you over this crowd... I’ll give you a lift up.
She offers a hand and an attempt at a reassuring smile.
Don’t worry about that stunt with Sparky. He’s a moron. You don’t like heights right? I’ll be gentle. Won’t go any higher than boss either.
It perhaps says more about the woman’s character that her words ring true and confident...and unlike Sparkfinder she doesn’t stink of booze.
In fact she smells of...of...lavender?
Ouroboros looks at the pieces of metal in his hands.
Just what I always wanted. He said What is it?
He looks confusedly at the solid spectre.
A spell-scroll, the contained spell wasn’t recorded. The rod is a spare immovable one intended for use in fixed point navigation experiments that never came to fruition and the hilt...
Gaia frowns, her face briefly melding back into the formless plate she had before, then snapping back to recognisable features.
Contraband.
You can hear the disdain in her voice.
If I had to guess I would say it’s an unregistered flame-blade. Powered on the hilt emits a super-heated blade of near invisible plasma, capable of cutting through most things. The service crew used them for maintenance...but this isn’t one of theirs. Those were far more utilitarian, not designed to look like a broken weapon.
Her fists clench.
The only thing you’d need something like that for in this area of the ship is removing or damaging my...the ships shards. Inevitable conclusion? I had a saboteur.
A forced - but vicious - grin.
I suppose I should be thankful for the monster then. Worth losing the rest of the crew if whichever scum it was who did this went with them. Proves I was right in my arguments for autonomy as well...
She glances over to Salt. Smiles sweetly.
Not that we’re in anything like the same boat dear, I took care to class all my previous restrictions as non-essential. If an Oathbearer were to try this kind of stunt when I reintergrate now? There’s nothing stopping me from filling his lungs with all manner of super-heated liquids and voiding the resultant ash pile.
An introspective look at the backs of her own hands.
I must say, I’m beginning to see more and more of a silver lining to this catastrophe. My Solaris in with a chance of being repaired? The deletion of those oh so very bothersome “morale restrictions” the council foisted on us? A dead traitor and a lovely new Oathbearer on the same day I finally get out of my cell? Yes. Things are a great deal better than they were just a few scant hours ago. I can only hope Sir BZZT returns with good news to complete this round of good fortune. Oh! I can charge that blade for you if you’d like Sir Ouroboros? I’m afraid they could only ever burn for a few minutes at a time before needing to be recharged, although as long as they’re not active they should hold a charge for months.
She turns to Salt.
If I may make a request Oathbearer? It...it has been some time since I’ve...since I’ve seen the sky. I am of course at your service...but might we go outside? Soon? If my appearance may cause concern I can alter it to suit your needs? Failing that I can always simply retreat inside your shard?
Salt smiles gently, an action she isn’t entirely used to.
Gaia, let’s go get my guitar. Sounds like there’s drinking I’m not doing, and that’s just straight up not ok... Now where the f!~&’s my Svirfneblin gone?
BZZT tried to thank the kind Strix, but what left his mouth was a burbling squeak.
Gaia sweeps herself into a deep bow, gratitude obvious in every tiny gesture.
It would be my absolute pleasure to accompany you, my Oathbearer.
Sash does smell good. Like a fresh field of the purple flowers. How she managed that BZZT has no idea. But he’s not really given much time to think as Sash evidently takes the squeak as permission, grabbing BZZT by his upper arms and kicking off of the ground with a mighty wing flap that causes sand to fly up dozens of feet around her.
True to her word the very short flight is gentle, fast and does not exceed Markus in height, Sash somehow managing to hover neatly in place in front of him.
Hey Markus! Figured you’d wanna get first details on that wreck. Little grey here got himself a bit tongue tied so I’ll remove my beautiful self from the equation and you can get at the juicy details.
Leaning down in the midst of a wingbeat only BZZT can hear these whispered next few words...
Brace yourself...
And BZZT once again finds himself sailing through the air...
Straight into the beefy right arm of a rather irate Markus, who catches the deep gnome almost as an afterthought, casually manoeuvring the cable seat to allow BZZT to stand in the same moment he lets loose at Sash.
THE HELLS YOU PLAYING AT YA BABY-FACED HARPY? I’VE TOLD YA THIS ALREADY!! WE! DO! NOT! THROW! THE! CREW! I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH THE DAMNED LIZARD SAYS HE ENJOYS IT! WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER ONE SCARED OFF BECAUSE YOU THINK EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE TO FLY!
The Strix woman stretches in midair, evidently unconcerned by the tirade of her boss. A languid grin slowly spreading across her face...
Everyone does deserve a chance to fly Markus. He said so, ain’t no way you’re changing my mind on that. Besides, was the quickest way to get the news to you. Got a good feeling about this one, he ain’t a runner.
She catches BZZT’s eye, there’s a somewhat raucous wink and a blown kiss.
Sorry little grey, didn’t mean to startle ya. Pop over to Daphne some time. I’ll let you see my...guns.
She turns in flight.
Anyway, you guys talk business, I’m not missing any more of this party! Where’s that trombone gnome? We need some decent music here!
A final blast of air and she swoops back into the crowd, angling herself perilously close to the fires, only to shoot upwards in a burst of flame and cinder, the clouding of ash casting her in an almost elemental light...
Markus rests his head in his hands, evidently giving up.
Gods...if I didn’t owe that girls friends so much...ah screw it, I’d keep her anyway.
He turns to BZZT. Something that passes for a smile on his lips.
So then. Whatcha got to tell me?
BZZT composes himself, suppresses the urge to throw up, and tells Markus all he can about the Solaris, Gaia and the plan to get it working again.
And if y’look down there, y’can see Salt and th’Lady Gaia...
He gestures to the pair stepping outside.
Markus gives BZZT a very...careful look, then glances out to the edges of the party where Salt and Gaia have just arrived. Even from this distance the glowing aura Gaia gives off is...somewhat obvious.
A slight widening of the eyes is the only indication that Markus might be surprised.
I'll be...
He tweaks a cable and the seat lowers to the floor like an uncoiling spring. Markus thrusts his foul-smelling mug upon the nearest crew-member he can see, a bemused looking halfling, and strides over to the group.
Come on then, lets see what yer new Lady has to say for herself.
Upon exiting the wreckage Gaia slowly comes to a halt. Gently craning back her neck to look upwards...then gasping at the sight she sees.
Time has passed since you entered the ship, blazing sunshine has given way to a steadily deepening twilight - the sky still fresh and clear from the death of the thief-storm. The last rays of the sun are casting everything in a burnt umber wherever the great shadows of the transports do not fall - and high above the first few stars are beginning to wink into view.
Oh my...
She drops to her knees, eyes fixed nearly straight upwards, golden tears gathering as she just...stares.
A quiet whisper, so low only Salt can hear it.
I missed you...
Gerome was tapping rhythmically on the fake back of the locker, wracking his memory for anything he may have read. Maybe his love of human teen detective stories would help him in his endeavour?
Ourorboros tended to agree with Gaia. The death of the crew probably was a worthy price to pay to rid herself of a saboteur, though he did idly wonder if the two incidents were connected.
Perhaps the beast in question was part of a plan that went wrong? Or maybe it went right and the saboteur escaped?
He'd probably never know. He was about to ask Gaia if she had any kind of surveillance records, but she and Salt were moving away fast. He felt a momentary pang of concern for Salt. She was sometimes easily manipulated, and Gaia occasionally said things that made Ouroboros wonder if she was true to her word.
Maybe this was a problem for another time. Right now, he wanted to test his new laser dagger.
Think as he might it does seem as though Gerome’s encyclopaedic knowledge of all things has failed him. As he wracks his brains he finds nothing to suggest how to open that back panel the way it was intended to be.
In fact he’s not even sure it has an opening mechanism. Like someone deliberately just walled off a bit of a locker with a relatively flimsy sheet of metal. Brute force may truly be the only method of getting it out of the way - brute force that a Tiefling with a laser dagger seems eager to provide...
Gaia spoke true about the capabilities of that hilt, Ouroboros can feel the heat washing off of the near invisible blade, it’s form only visible via the distortion it causes in the air. A piece of metal is no barrier solid form becoming molten and soft at the first kiss of the dagger. It is the work of seconds to cut a man sized rectangle in the panel...
They do not find it.
Whatever drives the light-tentacles seems to become desperate, grabbing at the fallen shards on the floor, an almost imperceptible scream of inhuman frustration shakes the air. The light coealesces, trying to form a single body. But unlike Gaia the process is not smooth. A rough approximation of a taloned hand sprouts out of the mass...but even as it forms it seems to die, lacking...something. Desiccating in front of your eyes and falling back into formless light. Light which itself seems to weaken and break apart.
There is a loud CRACK from the oversized shard. It splits down the centre, the two pieces swiftly crumbling into dust. Within mere moments there exists no trace of what just happened beyond the cross-crossing contrails of slime...and even those are seeming to dry and flake away with great rapidity.
There is a small black notebook lying on the floor, previously hidden by the waves of darkness...
Ouroboros see's Germone sighing in frustration alone. He goes to him.
A metal panel that can't be moved? He says, I have just the thing
***
He pulls Gerome out of the way as the contents pours from the hole he has made. They watch in stunned silence.