Ouroboros gives the beast a side long glance.
Your cousins? Really?
He breaks off a lump and hands it over to the dinosaur.
He wrinkles his nose in revulsion, but pats the creature on the nose.
You need a name, he says.
Salt nudged BZZT.
You've got that look, the one that says you know what's going on here. Tell me?
She kept her tone low so as not to interrupt Sash and Gaia's exchange.
Not sure's I b'lieve it, honestly. But I'll explain. Far as I und'rst'nd it, our good Lady Gaia ov'r'there can transform anythin't'anythin'. S'long's it's energy 'r'matter.
There's an excitement in his voice that Salt's only heard once before...
Ouroboros finds Salt and Bzzt talking in hushed tones.
So, what did I miss?
Tech mir'cle. S'a'th'ng I've waited t'see most'a'm'life...
Not...that much of a miracle Master BZZT.
The amber woman - apparently finished with her conversation with Sash - glides down the surface of Solaris to rejoin the conversation.
I can only convert that which I understand, kinetic energy was one of the first I was taught, along with most of the basic forces - light, heat, sound, that sort of thing. Material is...far more difficult, as well as time consuming. The simplest and easiest conversion is some form of energy into - well - more of me.
She stamps a foot against the ground, hard. Microseconds later a golden blob rises out of an upheld palm, swiftly metamorphosing into a small golden dragon. It gives an adorable squeak and begins circling in the air.
Gaia rests the other palm against the bulk of her ship.
If I had the information it would childs play to produce all the raw material necessary to rebuild the Solaris...but I don’t. My creator...he feared us you see? I think...I think he feared everything. So he made us strong, but not strong enough to kill him, and tried to make it such that we could not grow stronger. I understand that I can make other material, the capability is there. I simply do not know how to do it.
The open palm becomes a shaking fist.
When I think of what happened...what I could have done without those ridiculous restrictions...where he couldn’t simply withhold information he was sure to constrain how we could use it. Without the opportunity of the wreck and your arrival I wouldn’t have even been able to think of the concept of telling you all what I am. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find further evidence of things that could damage me inside Solaris...paranoia within paranoia.
She sighs, a sad smile crossing her face.
And if what I heard last night is correct then all his preparation and planning amounted to nothing. An outside context problem just obliterated him. After all - how does one counter plan getting sucker-punched by the sky?
Hey Boss? Much as I’d love to take on a project like this all on my ownsome I’m pretty sure your little princess might not take that well. And honestly? She might know something we don’t. Wake her up?
A grin.
Yer think she ain’t been listenin’ the whole time? OI! ALVA! GET OUT HERE AN’ TELL US SOMETHIN’ WE DUNNO!
A thin pillar of red smoke rises out of the floor beside Markus. Swiftly coalescing into a nearly ten foot tall crimson woman, one busily engaged in a highly theatrical yawn. She finishes that and glances lazily around the room, seemingly unbothered by everything inside it.
A little daughter of the stars, trying hard to hide her scars. Sleeping power long since lost, strong if we can bear the cost. Little black wings spoke it true, but all 3 - not one - to pay that due. Heart to craft the metal dream, Heroes more than what they seem. Two crazies in that damned city? Fine, but keep them far from me.
She smirks. An oversized hand rises, a single taloned finger pointing square at Ouroboros.
And that one stinks of Archaeomancer. Going back to sleep now.
She vanishes as every eye turns to the Tiefling.
What'd you do to an Archaeomancer, Robbit?
Salt shoots a playfully accusing look at her companion.
I have no idea what she means. He says with a slight frown. Maybe she could smell this?
He presented the book to his audience.
Gerome and I found it in the locker on board the Solaris.
ANCIENT MYSTICAL THING! Can you read it? I can try if you can't!
To Salt the book smells like musty old paper, the sprawling script inside not corresponding to any of the languages she knows or has even heard of.
The Strix gently glides to the ground behind Salt, peering over her shoulder at the pages.
Huh...that looks like the weird fish speak the second chancellor had all the buildings covered in when we- nevermind. Never could read it - but I'm pretty sure I know someone who can. Gimme a sec.
A casual few strides and Sash drops off the edge of the engineering bay.
Gerome giggle claps at the tickling sensation. He gently strokes the nose of his new companion, idly wondering what it was, what it could do, and how big it would grow. He hopes he can sufficiently feed the creature.
Once he has managed to compose himself, he brushes himself down, and then heads out to meet the rest of the team.
No one need know you're there. He whispers to his new friend.
Ouroboros watches Sash take off in silence, and then nudges Salt and smirks.
Who's the bat?
Someone wonderful...
Salt gazes after Sash with a mixture of fondness, longing and jealousy in her dark eyes.
One day. One day I'll fly.
Ouroboros glares. Not as wonderful as he surely?
Is Batgirl part of the team now then?
Depends on the team you're batting for, Robbit...
Salt winks, then wraps him in a huge hug.
Sash has other duties, like blowing things up from a long way away. We'll always be the ones getting up close and tearing it up. But when it comes to scouting, we'll team up.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Salt let’s go, then looks around for Sash’s return.
Where’d she go, anyway?
Salt lets go, then looks around for Sash’s return.
Where’d she go, anyway?
PUT ME DOWN YAH MUC’ BRAND FOOK DRIVEN CHICKEN SCRAWKER! AI’LL ATE YAH BARNS DAWN T’ SCRIV AN’ SHAIT YAH AYES OOT YAH ARSE! FISH DINNAE BELON IN THE SKY! NOW SET YER BRAAN OFFA FRESH BEDCHUMS AND TELL ME WHA THE HELLS YAH WA-
Nay...nay yah wouldna’...Sash? SASH!?! NAY!! NOH! FOOKINSCRAND BIATHCDEAD YAH DO NOT. THROW. THE. CR-AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
And Alas Fairyorr - the crazed merman driver of the living weapons repository that is Daphne - makes his entrance. Sailing through the air to smash - headfirst - into the bulk of Solaris.
He crumbles - supremely inelegantly - to the floor. He does not get up.
In spite of herself, Salt runs over to the crumpled fish-man and looks him over.
Are you OK?
What the kuff?
Ouroboros follows at a leasurly pace and observes the fallen Merman.
He from Salt to Sash and then back.
Translation?
Gerome walks along chattering quietly to his new friend. The feel of their small scaled tail wrapped gently around his neck, was weirdly comforting.
We have to give you a name. He says, positively skipping with joy.
How about Shimmer? Rainbow Wing? I can't choooose...
The little gnome excitedly lists creative names, hoping the tiny beast would give him some sign.
BZZT is nonplussed by all of this, and stays staring whistfully at Gaia.
Oh he’s fine. Big idiot doesn’t like flying for some reason.
Sash wings her way back inside, settling to the floor and walking over to the apparently unconscious Alas. She gives the motionless body a hard kick in the torso.
Get up yah softie!
But a twitch of the merman’s hand is all the warning she gets before his tail catches her full in the face, his powerful muscles enough to smack her to the ground alongside him.
HAH! YA DIMBULB FETHERCANT! HOW’D YA LIKE THA-OOF!!!!
Alas’s celebrations are cut short as Sash utilises her new horizontal position to punch him, hard. In the same place she just kicked.
THA HURTS YAH SCRAWKBARNED BIATCH! FINE! SEES HOW YA LIKES IT!
A scrabbling fight breaks out on the floor, neither fighter apparently having the inclination towards more words, feather and talon striving against scale and muscle. The sheer power of the combatants becoming clear when Alas misses an attempt to punch Sash’s head into the ground, leaving a fist sized hole in the metal beam. A smash from Alas’s tail sends Sash into the air, her wings opening outwards to force her back down at incredible speeds. And with a mad grin on his face Alas catapults himself up to meet her face first...
Armoured helm crunches into bare skull and both combatants recoil, holding their heads and panting with exertion.
Heh...hah....hahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OW! You Bastard! How in the hells is your skull that thick!?!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! TRAININ’ SASH! TRAININ’ AND EATIN’ ME MOM’S BEST A’ EVERY MEAL!
The merman sighs and massages his bruised cranium for a little while. When he looks up it’s with a smile that might have been considered dashing on a face that didn’t have the missing teeth and horrific scars. All trace of violence apparently gone.
Ahhhh...nothin’ like a scrap ta git tha juices flowin’ right? Aim Alas. Driver o’ Daphne. The bird over there says yah gots sommat in the deep speak tha’ wants readin’?
I'm Salt, this is BZZT and Ouroboros...
Salt gestures to her companions before cautiously handing the book to Alas, then taking a step in line with Sash, surreptitiously looking her up and down for damage.
Ouroboros found it, but none of us can make out what it says...
In an aside that she hoped only Sash would hear:
You OK? Want to tag him?
A wing wraps around Salt in a brief but powerful hug as Sash removes her helm to inspect the damage.
Sweet of you to worry Salty, and I appreciate it. This though? This is every other morning. He’s just a bit cranky cause I woke him up and dragged his tail all the way over here. Good guy really, great to have at your back inna fight.
She traces the noticeable dent an opposing skull has left in her helmet, muttering something under her breath. The dent pops out before your eyes, leaving the helmet pristine and good as new. She pulls it back on.
Aye lass, sweet like a littl’ kitty me is. Recognise yah from the party las’ niaght. Where’d tha’ green one go? Saw im’ dancing up a crowd over to those bloody twins afore the booze gets a bit much for me brain ta recall, he alright?
Alas takes the book, squinting through a freshly forming black eye at the script.
Oh aye. This is them deep-master shaitheads language sure enough. Aklo, Tis what they calls it up above the waters.
He thumbs through the pages.
Huh. Jus’ scanning the thing fer now - but this reads a bit liake a plan to either kill somebody or royally smash up some form o’ tech. Who’s Gaia?
Gaia gives BZZT an innocent and inquisitive smile.
Yes Master BZZT? Can I help you?
The little that can be seen of BZZT's ashen cheeks flush slightly. In a quiet voice obviously only meant for Gaia:
Y'see, m'lady Gaia,
He takes real care to enunciate her name.
B'ck in m'home city we spent a'l't'a'time try'n'a make... Well, a thing th't does wh'you do. We, uh, we jus'ne'er 'spect'd y't'be so...
His voice cracks slightly.
So pretty.
Salt winks sideways at Sash, then turns to Alas.
Our Lady of Glowy Awesomeness here is Gaia. If I understand all this correctly, and I'm pretty sure I do, the killing someone and breaking tech are one and the same... Whoever wrote this was sadistic. Or paranoid. Or both...
Ouroboros should have been paying attention to what was happening. He had been quite enjoying the bust up, his money had been on Fish Sticks, but then Bat Girl had oh so casually hugged Salt that his mind went blank with rage.
Trouty Mouth was jibbering away, but he paid little attention. He was instead counting to ten and trying not to pluck the feathers of the slutty strix.
This was when Gerome made his entrance. Skipping jovially, singing to himself, smiling like sunshine.
Ah! There’s tha wee green one. Ya alrigh’ lad? Ain’t never a gud idea ta be talkin’ to those twins iffn ya ain’t in control o’ your faculties.
Alas turns his attention back to the book, somewhere near the beginning.
Says ta “Be certain to activate the salvation shard only when the avatar is safely secured in the cell.” The hell’s tha’ mean?
He skips ahead a few pages.
Stuff about what shards ta replace, orders ta give tha’ “suppressed sentience.” I’d say it reads like they’s planning on usin’ mindfackery magic - cept’ ain’t no mentions a wizards or sorceries...
He stops as a golden blur snatches the book out of his hands.
Gaia looks - for lack of a better term - pale. Her amber skin suddenly speckled with patches of a washed out hue. She thumbs desperately to the very front of the book, stares at the few words there in miscomprehension before shoving it back into Alas’s face.
This! Master Alas! I cannot comprehend the writings but you can! This is a name correct? Who?! I have to know who!
Eh? Err...yeh, tis a name ma’am. No one I knows tha. Says “The words of Crant Starfull, may his radiance light the wa- HEY! YA ALRIGHT!
He jerks in panic as Gaia drops the book and sinks to the floor.
Gaia almost seems to lose cohesion as she sinks to the floor, both hands at her mouth in horrified shock as she slumps against the bulk of Solaris. Fresh tears sparkling in the corner of her eyes.
Betrayal...
Gerome’s face fell as he spotted the book being passed frantically.
But it wasn’t my fault! he blurts. He looks to Ouroboros, who’s expression is blank.
I mean, what happened?
Betrayal? That normally means vengeance. I like vengeance...
Salt's r'ght. W'c'n kill th'f'cker, 'r a'least h'lp'ye' do it. Y'have m'wrench, either way...