”Ah, fascinating! I am a pilot as well as a doctor in my original time. It allowed me to fly to assist the afflicted, particularly in hot zones. I’m always interested in the flying technology of worlds we visit. There is no end of things to learn here, is there?”
Once the group is in a 'private' place, Unity look at Henri. "How much are we still being watched?"
"Obviously we have to assume we're under constant surveillance. So, we don't know about you, but we *were* realizing it's been quite some time since last we ate. And then after that we can go to the planet and hope that we don't get suddenly seized by some sort of compulsion as soon as we get there."
** spoiler omitted **
”Ah, fascinating! I am a pilot as well as a doctor in my original time. It allowed me to fly to assist the afflicted, particularly in hot zones. I’m always interested in the flying technology of worlds we visit. There is no end of things to learn here, is there?”
His tone says, "This is your chance. Ask me anything."
"Perhaps we could have a few minutes to discuss our next steps? This has been rather a lot in a short amount of time," they say to Moreau.
"Depends on what is being served. I hold no opposite currently to taking our time for your metabolism Unity. " Zellgato shrugs a bit on it.
"IF you are seized by a compulsion. How would you prefer we play it Unity?"
"Keep us from doing anything we wouldn't want to do," Unity reply firmly to Zellgato's question.
"Preferably without killing us," they add.
The food is good. The drink is good. You would swear this was real meat, but Dr. Moreau said it was 'lab-grown'.
Zellgato, as his habit up to this point when they've been off world, instead of partaking upon the guest food. He pulls out his own canteen of cold coffee and rations to consume.
"Pretty sure, unless I catch you outdoors 300 meters or more away, that you'll win a fight Unity. So, please attempt to avoid issues. Or give me a warning to get distance and height...
"I'm actually famished, I don't remember when last I ate." He makes a point of looking around the room at likely positions for cameras and microphones and taps the side of his head once. "Maybe we can eat quietly for a few minutes before we try being heroes again, what do you think?"
"We *have* been going at it rather hard for quite some time," Unity agree with Henri. "So a bit of rest and food is probably wise."
They take a big bite of meat and continue speaking. "Isn't it interesting how much Moreau wanted to seem helpful? What do you think are the chances he'll try to monitor us on the planet for his own purposes, hm?"
Theo partakes of the offered meal. But unlike him, the godling takes measured bites, and constantly scans the table and what he touched.
Henri is back in his near-trance state. He answers Unity, "I would assume we would be watched. AI Montgomery is very capable - it would really come down to the availability of sensors, but their technology is so advanced, we should assume that their sensors are very sophisticated."
Theo partakes of the offered meal. But unlike him, the godling takes measured bites, and constantly scans the table and what he touched.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Henri is back in his near-trance state. He answers Unity, "I would assume we would be watched. AI Montgomery is very capable - it would really come down to the availability of sensors, but their technology is so advanced, we should assume that their sensors are very sophisticated."
AI Montgomery walks closer and says quietly, "Whatever Peter encountered on that planet wanted something. The right thing to do would be to find out what it is. Good luck."
AI Montgomery disappears.
Nodding, the rest of the party sees Henri reach out into midair and apparently press a button that they cannot see. With a shake of his head, his eyes clear. "AI Montgomery seems to like us. He said no one was listening other than him and he cannot refuse to tell what he knows - so he showed me how to disconnect the room from his sensors. Or he lied and they will know everything of which we speak. I'm inclined to believe him."
Henri takes a deep breath and tries to organize his thoughts after being in basically two conversations at the same time. "OK, a hologram of CG-517 appears very much like Earth eons before modern times. He showed me the results of another experiment that failed - CG-160 - where they scrubbed the population. Interestingly, the people of CG-517 appear to have been guided by 'world-spirits' that helped them in making their decisions. They avoided competition and succeeded without explosive growth, contrary to the point of Moreau's experiments."
"I guess I have buried the lead. The point of Moreau's experiments is not to populate worlds. It is to set up incubators to grow populations to use as soldiers and marines for a multi-planetary corporation known as OMM. They recruit, train, and subcontract millions of mercenaries out to different armies. This organization funds this institute. These incubators are hidden throughout the time streams as they seed them, let them evolve, and harvest them later in the flow of time. These are not customers, they are cattle."
"AI Montgomery feels that someone needs to 'do the right thing' and figure out what the being that took over Peter was seeking, what it wants. It thinks we might be that someone - I will say that I don't think Peter created Unity against his redesigner's wishes. It may have needed Peter to create Unity and returning to CG-517 with Unity is playing directly into its hands."
Theo looks around at the opulent white walls and frowns. "So. Even out here, in an advanced society: Money still makes the universe go 'round."
The Olympian pushed his plate away from him.
Unity heave a huge sigh. "We suspected it was something like that. Look at us, after all." They raise a paw and display their claws. "It seems rather likely that OMM would find someone else to do this work even without Moreau--though someone else might well be much less competant at it."
"We do think going to CG-517 is exactly what whatever made us into this want," they continue, "And, indeed, there may be compulsions or ambushes waiting for us when we go. But it doesn't seem like we'll get an answer to *why* without doing so... and we suspect that the why may be tangled up in quite a bit else that we'd best not leave untouched. We need to go, but we should do anything we can think of to prepare for... unpleasantness."
Henri nods, "I concur. But I wanted to share the knowledge I had been able to gather. Hopefully AI Montgomery will be able to enlighten me further as we continue."
"That seems doubtful, as we believe we'll be leaving soon," Unity say. They look over to Nissa. "Do we have everything we need to get to CG-517 where and when we want?"
Nissa replies, “I’d almost definitely get us lost going to an unfamiliar place, even without the time jump. But I can get us to G.D. anytime you’re ready.”
Though she’s certain Henri shut down surveillance, she’s not certain that Dr. Moreau would have anticipated that move… so the wand will remain in its pocket dimension until it’s to be used.
“Say when.”
Sensing the meal was almost over, Theo stood up and walked to the head of the table.
Turning to address their host, The Olympian bowed.
"Thank for for the delicious meal. But I'm afraid we must go. And you have my sincere apologises.."
The godling then shot a Tripartite Beam down the table, destroying all the silverware, plates, and platters.
Henri is picking himself up from the floor where he's thrown himself in response to the beam.
"I would have taken care of cleaning the dishes," replies AI Montgomery, "And probably in such a way that didn't trigger a security alert. The first security team will be there in 1 minute."
A burst of data assaults Henri. He recognizes it as transdimensional coordinates to CG-517. [/spoiler]
AI Montgomery appears in the room and looks angry. "Drop the weapon and step back. A security team is on its way and will be there in 50 ... 49 ... 48 ... 47 seconds."
The AI points above his head and a clock appears.
46 ... 45 .... 44 ...
"Say 'hello' to Peter for me," says AI Montgomery. "And good luck."
Unity sigh and rise to their feet. "Well, Nissa, best get us out of here quickly. Your plan sounds fine."
”Thank you, AI Montgomery. Folks, we have a destination. Let’s go.”
He stands to prepare for the jump.
Nissa whips out the wand.
“And away we go!”
The party arrives back in Tarokh, in center of the statue garden celebrating the 22 Celestials. It's early in the morning and L.C. is drinking some kind of tea and having breakfast on a bench near the Dawnflower. She is alone. Most people are sleeping. She looks up when you arrive.
Unity heave a huge sigh and shake out all their limbs, trying to work out a bit of the pent-up tension they have after the past... however long it's been.
"Sorry to drop in like this, we'll only be here briefly," they say to LC. "We've made some progress tracking down some of our past, but... the most important, and most likely least pleasant revelations will require one more trip."
"Mornin', The Olympian waves with a smile. "Surprise!"
“Hey…!” Nissa says to L.C.
She says nothing else. She simply hovers before L.C., looking dainty and adorable.
L.C. is excited to see you back. You've been gone just less than three days, which seems about right. Maybe a few hours off.
You haven't slept since the back of the farm truck that you got a ride in when you were taken from Animal Farm to 1984. You probably haven't slept since then, have you?
L.C. says that nothing of great relevance has happened on the political side of things and that most of the TAROT groups have gone home, vowing to send representatives for a monthly council. She still has to sell this idea to your home world, World Zero, but all of that can wait.
Tarokh is waking up. You might want to go to bed.
Nissa definitely needs sleep… but so does everyone else. Which means she’ll be alone with L.C., if she’d like.
”Before I catch up on sleep, can we talk? Alone?”
"You kids have fun", Theo smiled tiredly. "I'm gonna get see The Queen of Blades for Breakfast and a nap. Meet up at TAROT HQ, because we still don't have linked communication devices?"
Unity's sense of time is all messed up by all the world/story-hopping they've been doing. They're not quite sure if they really have been awake for so long at a stretch or not, but they *were* rather tired.
"We have communication devices that depend on infrastructure that doesn't exist here for anything long-range," Unity remind Theo.
"Maybe we'll go to the ship? We could sleep there," they say. "No sense not using it when we have it."
Stetching out his back a bit, wondering if he's getting old. "Henri, Should we be concerned their security will follow our trail? I can't imagine it would be difficult for what they have."
Twisting his waiste to stretch his spine until it pops, "We probably should look into extending our short range comms, for when we're too far from the ship. I'm also going to sleep on the ship for now. I don't run off my stims as well as when I was younger."
Nissa definitely needs sleep… but so does everyone else. Which means she’ll be alone with L.C., if she’d like.
”Before I catch up on sleep, can we talk? Alone?”
"Sure," says L.C. She doesn't move, waiting for the others to leave instead, and then making room on the bench for Nissa, not that she needs much.
"You kids have fun", Theo smiled tiredly. "I'm gonna get see The Queen of Blades for Breakfast and a nap. Meet up at TAROT HQ, because we still don't have linked communication devices?"
Nissa snuggles close. Her dad’s ‘have fun’ is just Theo being Theo, but the timing was impeccable.
“Last time we were here by the dawnflowers, you said fairies might have magic that could… transform me.” There’s a hint of remorse as she says this. Rather than make an excuse, she simply apologizes, “I’m sorry I wasn’t exactly receptive at the time, but now… I think I would like that.”
Nissa remembers how the fairies always show up here in the morning. Every morning, she thinks. But did they already come today?
She gives L.C. a chance to respond, hoping she’s still interested in this idea.
Nissa snuggles close. Her dad’s ‘have fun’ is just Theo being Theo, but the timing was impeccable.
“Last time we were here by the dawnflowers, you said fairies might have magic that could… transform me.” There’s a hint of remorse as she says this. Rather than make an excuse, she simply apologizes, “I’m sorry I wasn’t exactly receptive at the time, but now… I think I would like that.”
Nissa remembers how the fairies always show up here in the morning. Every morning, she thinks. But did they already come today?
She gives L.C. a chance to respond, hoping she’s still interested in this idea.
L.C. looks at Nissa carefully for a bit before speaking, "I said it might be possible. I wasn't saying you should ... or that we should ... and, I've only had to make deals with fairies twice and neither time was straightforward. They don't use cash but will trade in favours ..."
Nissa smiles. “It’s okay if it’s impossible, or only possible if I pay in favors.” She places a hand on one of L.C.’s fingers. “I guess what I’m saying is, I’m open to a very wide range of experimentation.”
She doesn’t expect L.C. to be in the mood to ‘experiment’ first thing after the entire team suddenly appeared and interrupted her morning tea. But considering how her job leaves very little couple time, Nissa thinks it’s important to broach the topic.
Stetching out his back a bit, wondering if he's getting old. "Henri, Should we be concerned their security will follow our trail? I can't imagine it would be difficult for what they have."
”Hmm… if that’s possible, I need to find out how to leverage it as well as how to protect against it. I need to see a guy after we get some rest.”
“I guess what I’m saying is, I’m open to a very wide range of experimentation.”
"Well, I mean, so am I. And, I'm not sure how much I told you about my parents but they used to say 'Relationships change because the people in them do'. Things don't have to be the same to be good and trying to keep things the same is often what turns them bad. You're different now. I'm different. This can be different," L.C. says calmly but firmly. "We're going to be different, but we're going to be different together. Got it?"
Galladhand and Sillinamius approach and stand, respectfully a few feet away, near a statue of a moon goddess with three faces--maiden/mother/crone, the celestial for World 18.
“Okay,” Nissa says, along with, “And I never heard that about your parents… but I’d love to know more about them.”
Not now, of course. Galladhand and Sillinamius are apparently waiting for the right moment. While The Dawnflower forbids dishonesty, Nissa figures it can’t hurt to subtly slide her hand off of L.C.’s and flutter inches away, as if she wasn’t trying to have a romantic moment, for propriety’s sake.
She greets the men. “Good morning, gentlemen. I take it you have business with Marshall Preston?”
The elves look hesitant. Sillinamius babbles earnestly, "We didn't realize you were here, friend Nissa, but this concerns you too. There is some graffiti that ... well, we we have a Wand coming in to remove it, but we thought that the Marshall ... Not knowing you were here, we ..."
He finally stops and Galladhand says, "You should come with us."
They lead you into the building through a back entrance, down a set of stairs, through a corridor. Nissa begins to recognize this space from the dream that was not a dream. She's been here before. The party arrives at the dead-end that was not a dead-end one particular night recently. Spraypainted in four colours are the words "Nissa Van Donk is a slut". A depiction of Nissa doing obscene things accompanies it.
If you want specifics about the obscene graffiti, look under the next spoiler
Culture checks get you more.
Stetching out his back a bit, wondering if he's getting old. "Henri, Should we be concerned their security will follow our trail? I can't imagine it would be difficult for what they have."”Hmm… if that’s possible, I need to find out how to leverage it as well as how to protect against it. I need to see a guy after we get some rest.”
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"You kids have fun", Theo smiled tiredly. "I'm gonna get see The Queen of Blades for Breakfast and a nap. Meet up at TAROT HQ, because we still don't have linked communication devices?"
The Queen of Blades is holding court when Theo arrives. Various people come to her for judgement, support, or employment. While Theo waits she accepts a young man into training as a 'Sword', sends two of her swords to help a country lord who has had his estate's herds savaged by a grieving wyvern, and decides on the disposition of a will, contested by a daughter who had received nothing while the sons benefitted. If Theo tries to leave she forbids him. "I need to tell you something," she says.
Eventually, she will send him up to her bedroom to wait for her and have the room watched so he cannot leave.
Theo lays down in the bed and rests his eyes, waiting for The Queen of Blade's return.
Henri returns to Gay Deceiver. He goes directly to the cockpit to converse with G.D. for any updates and observations she can report. Likewise, he shares stories of their adventures.
He sits in the captain's chair, enters meditation, and uploads the coordinates of CG-517 via his nanite link. Once he and G.D. are caught up, he will nanite-travel to Mr. Rabbit's 'Hutch' to check in with his friend.