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Basai was still coming down off the adrenaline rush that was hir panic attack and, approaching to stand beside Daks, the Diruk shifted hir posture as something bonked against hir. Two metallic creatures were trying to take a piece out of hir friend... shi was not impressed. This blasted room had been nothing but trouble. Angrily, Basai stepped forward to meet one of the creatures, venting as hir crystals shifted through crimson shades. Shi roared as shi stepped forward between the two creatures and in front of Daks to try to shield hir companion. There was a streak of light as Mechanus attacked one of the canids, the laser seemingly doing no damage but Basai took the opportunity to strike at the creature with a hammer fist.
The sound of metal against rock screeched in the air as Basai connected, denting the creature's carapace.
Lost amid hir nightmare of memory, a single voice cut through, jerking hir memories forward to the moment of hir release from slavery. Basai shook as hir panic fading, leaving hir sagged in hir crouch, disoriented for a moment while the world coalesced into proper reality. The voice... the voice was neither a captor or a tormentor... it was... who? Venting again as the pressure within began to subside, the Diruk slowly rose, one hand on the wall as shi looked in Mechanus' direction. Mechnus shi remembered, shoulders sagging from the intensity of the panic attack. "Mechanus." The explanation was cut off, however, as the sound of combat finally reached hir ears and shi remembered exploring with Jay. A shudder of guilt shifted through hir - what had happened? Did shi hurt him? - and shi turned suddenly aid Jay, gravelly voice wavering slightly as shi called out, "Jay!"
Disoriented, lost, and blinded by hir terror, Basai crashed against the wall again, clutching at hir head area, venting steam, crystals flickering colours rapidly and apparently randomly. The terror that fueled hir trapping hir mind in a cacophony of emotion and memory. Drills, pain, bleeding wounds... cracked and leaking fissures in hir hide, the excrutiating pain of having the larger, richer crystals torn from hir torso. The swing of hir arms were ineffective against these phantom images borne on memory. Shi howled again, at once an intimidating and a pathetic sight.
While Basai stood waiting for Jay, a buzzing sound began to grow in hir awareness. As it grew in strength and apparent proximity, hir crystals began to flicker nervously with fear and anger. When the low buzz, so familiar, clicked into understanding, Basai's demeanour shifted entirely. Phantom pains coursed along hir body in response to the whirring sounded so much like the drills hir captors had used to harvest hir time and again. Hir minds' eye became dominated by memories of the extraction room and the agony that took place there. Hir calm was shattered in that moment as the suppressed fear and pain surged to the surface as Basai's crystals turned brilliant shades of red and orange, great gouts of steam let loose in the equivalent of a scream of fear. The grating sound of rock screeched in the air as shi turned turned suddenly, hunching as shi whipped an arm around as if trying to get something away from hir. They hadn't immobilized hir this time, the fools! Hir fist slammed into the wall near the vault door.
The wall shook with the impact, the surface cracking, but when the whirring didn't stop, Basai cried out in a rocky roar of sound that was hard to mistake for anything but terror, and ran forward away from the tormenting sound. Shi wouldn't let them take hir again! If hitting the source hadn't helped, the Diruk was going to high-tail it out of the room. In hir panick, shi laid a shoulder into the door frame as shi passed, bouncing off the wall, and stumbling into the area where the stairs opened up on.
The buzzing sounded faded somewhat and the Diruk vented again, crying out in fear and confusion as hir surroundings seemed at odds with what shi had expected. Shi shuffled about, trying to reconcile hir thoughts with hir reality.
The Diruk roared again, terrified, confused, and utterly at a loss.
Basai had stepped back, waiting for Jay to inspect the door, as shi watched it curiously. It must have been highly resistant to whatever the rebels had used to contort the metal but there was storage inside the room and possibly useful things - there was no alarm yet, from the other room, so shi saw no harm in trying to get something useful from the already cracked vault.
Basai was moving back out into the hallway to investigate elsewhere when Jay rushed forward and grabbed the corpse. The Diruk was very confused and followed after the human, crouching down beside Jay as he administered first aid. The corpse looked rather pale to hir so shi reached out and stuck a finger in the mouth of the body to feel for breathing or movement. Nothing registered and Basai rumbled hir confusion, "It's dead... no wind in the body." And then Azzuretta arrived to also poke at the body, further confusing the Diruk. Did shi not understand what a dead human looked like? What were they seeing that shi didn't? Maybe there was something about the flesh was reacted to Jay and not hir? Shi waited a moment, hovering, before trying to see if pain stimulated a response. Shi stuck hir finger against the chest of the human, trying to estimate how much pressure it would take to crack a bone or something equally painful to get the man to respond.
The flesh yielded beneath hir finger, and still there was no breath, and then one of the ribs audibly cracked. Basai rumbled at that point, as it drew no reaction, "It is dead. See? You see things." Basai really had no idea what to make of Jay's outburst and left him to look inside the vault - inspecting the electrified exterior with interest.
Shi was too big to get much of a look so shi tapped the knight on a shoulder, "You fit. Look at the sparks? Look at the inside?"
Another vault lay open before hir, this time sparking along the door frame. The room was empty, thankfully, and shi could hear nothing. No one seemed to be reacting to hir presence so Basai vented steam that curled back down the stairs before rising into the air and moved forward to inspect the vault before hir. Shi paused by the vault's door to look in this one as well.
Deciding perhaps that Jay might have a better idea of what the vault contained, Basai wandered back to the stairs looking for hir companion. Shi hissed lowly, a jet of steam clouding the top of the stairs as shi tried to summon Jay without alerting any nearby others.
"So Rocky, what did you find in here?" Basai's cursory glance around the room yielded little of interest - a closed door stuck behind a bunch of solid foam that'd be more trouble then it was worth to clear out. Thus, to Jay's question the Diruk rumbles dismissively, crystals flickering just a hint of blue in disappointment, before turning back to the stairs and starting up.
Remembering they needed to be quiet, the Diruk attempted to mount the stairs as quietly as possible, thinking to get to the top for best position. There was no call to arms yet, no sounds of arguments or fighting, so Basai saw no reason to stay below. Perhaps the room was empty?
Basai shifted to give Jay an opportunity to see into the room, dust sifting from hir as shi turned to addressed him, "You okay?" When Azzuretta joined them, Basai wiggled hir fingers in greeting at the Xi-Drake and watched as the drake entered the room, concerned she might get mired in the foam.
Basai waited a moment or two after the thud of Jay's fall and Daks didn't call for hir to charge the stairs quite yet so the Diruk lingered at the bottom where 'Vault 1' caught hir eye. Shi walked forward, bypassing the stairs, to go peer into the room the dead rebel had been set down beside. What was the foam stuff?
Shi poked at it with a finger, intrigued – it was like some sort of tomb for the dead humans within. Useful, whatever had caused it. Basai leaned in the door and looked around the room, wondering if anything useful was still in the space.
Basai deftly assisted the others up and over the balcony, pleased that shi could be of help even if shi probably couldn't climb up hirself. AS Daks gave his orders, Basai vented hir agreement and started over to the stairs, "The rope won't hold. My noise could be a distraction, send Azurretta." The Xi-Drake could likely flag hir to charge the stairs quietly and not require any of the rest of the party to leave the main group.
Basai looked up, regarding the area above with interest as shi thought. Shi didn't really like sending Breona ahead on her own... but they also needed to know what the warehouse had in store for them.
The Diruk touched a finger to Breona's shoulder suddenly then gestured up at the balconies. Perhaps she could peer around up at the second level and scout without going all the way up? Basai was tall and it wouldn't bother hir much to have someone stand on hir shoulders, or vice versa, as the crystals were still relatively unpointed from the Harvest. "I boost, you look?" Basai crouched then, making it easier for Breona to clamber up onto hir shoulders. Basai turned a little and rumbled at Daks, "I can boost you too, after."
Basai grunted as shi felt the seam and realized the door wasn't shut but actually fused to its frame by a multitude of welds. Shi might be able to knock the door down, if she really put hir shoulder into it but the trouble that'd bring from the noise would likely not be worth it... perhaps on their way out, then.
Mentally noting the door, Basai wandered over to Jay, looking over the chairs and scattered debris near the door. Shi leaned around him, also peering down the hallway. ”Anything this way?” The group seemed focused on travelling the other way, however, so Basai only lingered long enough to take a good look before joining Breona. She'd hushed them so maybe she'd found something? Basai spoke quietly as shi asked hir question, ”Hear something? You going this way?”
Basai was surprised when Breona offered her own glow globe, venting happily when it was offered, ”I don't think it will fit...” Shi indicated the fissure in hir side where the Dissonance Cube, Store-All, and a ceramic ring were stored. ”Wanted it for the group.” Shi'd seen the globes before, in other places, and had always admired their ability to float and shine. When Daks suggested going through the second floor, Basai backed up and eyed the height. Shi could jump fairly well, probably crash into the window and climb through easily enough but it wouldn't be very stealthy... ”I am not afraid of heights...” Shi responded, venting thoughtfully as hir crystals shifted through the yellows of curiosity. It never even occurred to the Diruk that Daks might be being insensitive. Having watched Daks proceed, and come back, Basai decided to enter. It was a relatively low ceiling compared to the spaces shi usually occupied but not too cramped. The door to the right was rusted and appeared ancient. Shi vented again before approaching the door. Was it truly rusted closed? She could probably bash hir way through if need be... they had come for the Cyphers as well, hadn't they, and it would provide assistance upstairs.
”What about Cyphers behind this door?” Shi asked, trying to keep quiet as shi addressed the group.
Basai moved with the group caught between hurrying along and strolling at a slow pace to take in the city. It was mostly abandonned away from the compound but the variety of things crowding the street fascinated the Diruk. Many of the shopfronts had shutters pulled down or shimmering fields arcing out before the doors and windows... Basai wondered if it was because of the rebellion. The Rebels had said they were for the people but perhaps the fighting had frightened the shop keeps and shoppers? They passed a bank of rolling stalls, their overhangs rippling in the wind. The Diruk wandered up to one, poking hir finger through the wares curiously, moving them about on the wood. What was here? Did humans really purchase and use all of these things? A pile at the bottom of the stall caught hir attention and shi crouched to inspect the strange spherical object. It activated then, and rose into the air, causing Basai to straighten abruptly in surprise. Intrigued, shi took one of the similar non-floating devices into hand and moved to return to the group with hir spoils but hir grip was too firm for the device and it cracked, crumbling in hir grip. Shi paused briefly, saddened by the mistake, but had to hurry to catch up with the group. (Fail)
When they arrived at the tower, Basai strode forward to take hir position at the front of the group. If nothing else, the guards would be unlikely to expect a Diruk to lead the charge. The thought made hir rumble in amusement. Perhaps shi would enjoy this mission stuff! Shi pointed at the windows silently, believing their shuttered frames spoke strongly enough on their own. The beacon would have been useless with the covers over the windows... Shi approached, as quietly as shi could so as not to alert those inside but when shi opened the door, there was nothing living within. Basai turned back to hir group, ”No living, just dead. Enter?”
Basai rumbled appreciatively, stepping up to Breona and raising a hand to offer a high-five as Daks had taught hir. Hir crystals glimmered pink with affection before shi straightened and, venting loudly, stepped forth into the city and hir newfound freedom. Shi placed a hand gently on Breona's shoulder and rumbled, "That is why I walk with you. I will do for you what you do for me."
Basai stood there, hesitating at the threshold, when Breona turned back and asked her question. Shi had been lost in thought and the query snapped hir out of hir reverie... the Diruk shifted hir weight from one leg to the other, the crystal of one thigh shining in the light before shi responded, surprisingly quiet, "I have never left here..." Shi vented, stepped forward once, almost bashfully, "Humans caught me to the south, brought me in a cage. I do not know the city. There are many humans." It was hard, trying to summarize hir thoughts in a way Breona might understand. Their method of verbal communication could be so unwieldy... There was the safety of familiarity here, the courtyard, the warehouse... even Mintz' chambers now, but out there... out there was utterly alien to the Visitant.
Action 1
Action 2
Shi hadn't been outside the compound since hir arrival... shi'd been subdued and caged when they'd brought hir into the complex at first and had not allowed hir outside since. The city was a new thing for hir, completely new, and while shi'd seen the buildings from the courtyard and heard the bustle, actually stepping outside of hir own will hadn't occurred to hir yet. There the human Rebels were, lined up to either side as Fannar sent them forth, hir companions walking as if this were the most normal thing in the world... and yet, for Basai, it represented much more. The Diruk rumbled, suddenly shy – the streets beyond were alien, with people looking their way, somewhat empty as the common folk had scattered when the fighting broke out but some were there now, lingering with morbid curiosity. It had been strangers that had caught hir... Nervously, shi vented, hir crystals shifting through colours dominated by concern but shot through with joy, conflicted. Shi took one step forward, hesitated again. What if someone took hir again? Shi stood at the threshold of the compound, back straight and standing tall, awkwardly. They had a mission. And shi would help the Rebels as they had helped hir... it was just that... shi was uncertain, a bit afraid.
The sudden burst of laughter from off to the side made the Diruk start, jumping a bit, and dust sifted off hir hide as shi turned in time to find Daks approaching wearing stinky new armor. Basai rumbled agreement with Daks' statement and turned a high five to the Glaive to demonstrate hir gesture was not a malicious one. When Jay started yelling, Basai grew alarmed and stood up, away from the two arguing humans. What were they even arguing about? What was the difference between 'it' and 'she'? Did it even matter? Basai looked around the room... the only definitive differences among them was that there were humans who were not Xi-drakes who was not Diruk... "She? It?" Basai was very obviously confused - humans often called hir either she or he but never really caught onto the significance... they indicated hir as a being so it didn't matter. Obviously, however, it was important to Jay for some reason. "What is she? It?" Basai asked quizzically, "Azzuretta is Azzuretta..." The Diruk stood passively, arms at hir side, watching the exchange for a moment before venting and walking over to sit by Breona as she looked over her insect. "Is that the Butterfly?" They'd mentioned something about reconnaissance, "Daks' thought is good. Send it to the place we are not going?"
Basai seemed almost at a loss as Mechanus shied away from hir. Hir crystals shifted through the colours of concern and happines, bright greens mixing with pinks, as shi stilled hir usual venting and tried to stop moving much. Shi ended up looking more like a statue than an unimposing being. Mechanus was cautious, shi could tell, and it was saddening. How was shi supposed to communicate shi was no threat? That's when shi remembered Daks' suggestion, and with an unintentionally sudden movement, lifted the other arm and held out a hand awaiting a 'high five'. What had Daks said? Proud of you? Maybe that was right. "Proud of you. High five." That had to be it.
Basai perked when Fannar addressed hir and asked what shi ate. That question always amused hir – humans always needed to know what you ate. Shi wondered what their reaction would be this time... the first time shi'd eaten around travellers, they'd been morbidly fascinated. Shi raised a hand and indicated the metal and marble accents in the room, saying simply, ”Earth stuffs... good ores are best, and crystals.” Crystals were more like treats or luxurious foods, doing much to help hir recover hir health, ore nearly as much so. His indication that he wanted to learn of hir people was met with a approving venting of steam and flicker of colours, ”I would like that.” It wasn't often people took interest and it pleased hir immensely. Now that hir question had been answered, Basai was ambivalent about which would be hit first – the food would keep at the warehouse and keeping the numenera out of the streets would make it easier to hold them but shi could also understand essentially bribing the populace with food meant their man powers increased tenfold. The party seemed most interested in the technical target, however, so shi rumbled hir agreement with the Zhong Tower target choice. When the pause came, Basai fished hir box out and the strange cube-like object shi'd picked up from the beast tamers earlier and approached the group, the devices held out in hir hands. They looked small in comparison, a little box with an ornate lid, and a more complex cube black on side like tar and covered in small, intricate layers of wiring on the others. ”Can you identify?” Shi had no idea, they were simply small things, easy to carry... and shi'd noticed the others were asking each other about their belongings. Shi held the items up closer, showing them to each of hir allies, crystals flickering amber tones with curiosity.
Action 1
These people had treated hir kindly and with respect, and most importantly Fannar had said he would not pursue more Abolite immediately... that he would have a sympathetic ear to hir words. That meant a great deal to the Diruk, who was too used to being swept aside as unfeeling or unintelligent. Shi wanted to believe him and yet at the same time a sliver of doubt remained – could he truly be trusted? Shi would join, shi decided, if for no other reason than to ensure hir people did not suffer greater harm. ”I will help.” Shi rumbled, loudly, hir gravelly voice carrying in the quiet. Shi turned hir attention to Daks then, one hand help up curiously, wondering if this gesture was appropriate now too. ”Will you?” Action 2
Hir preoccupation with the dead caused hir to miss the first part of Fannar's speech, coming into it only after he spoke of the Glow. Numenera didn't really interest Basai but Mechanus seemed keen on pursuing the strange devices. Perhaps there would be more quickening paint? He did have a point... still, supplies and medicines would be neccessary to keep their rebellion going. As far as shi knew, Humans couldn't eat Numenera very reliably... Shi took a moment to gather hir words before speaking, ”How... supplied are you? How long can you last right now?” Shi wasn't too worried about hir own food source – Humanity seemed to enjoy building their dwellings from rock as much as from wood and synth, especially the wealthy individuals. Why anyone would want to live in a glorified food dome, Basai was unsure. Perhaps Daks could explain... or maybe Azzuretta's human? Shi realized shi knew very little about hir companions beyond their prowess in combat. Mechanus was adept with his hand laser... Breona with hir crossbow... Perhaps shi would ask Daks about how to engage in conversation with those two – Mechanus had brushed hir off last time shi spoke to him.
Daks was grinning. That meant good things! Pleased with hirself, Basai silently congratulated hirself on a successful experiment. Though the multiple meanings of the gesture had not been something shi had considered yet, noting such applications for later. "No..." Shi wasn't much of a people person, they had proven rather baffling thus far. "But you help me understand strange human things." Then Daks raised a hand and asked hir to hit it. Basai hesitated, venting a worried puff of steam as hir crystals flickered through blues. Had he not seen what happened when shi hit soft, squishy things? His amendment eased hir concern and, slowly, Basai pressed hir large hand to Daks'. His hand was so small compared to hirs... delicate and dainty. So fragile. Basai marvelled at the comparison, wondering if this was why humans used so many tools, as if they had no choice. "Like this? What is the meaning?"
When Daks took hir hand and leveraged it to get up, Basai wasn't entirely sure what had happened – or why. Shi had held out hir hand so as to lift the other and carry him... Did humans always leverage each other like that? Basai wasn't upset, just curious as the casual contact, and then the pat on the shoulder, was totally unfamiliar. Shi watched the youth dart out among the people, puzzled. As people gathered once more, Basai left hir Handlers to walk up to Daks and try an experiment. He had seemed the least wary of hir... so this would be informative. Gently, shi patted him on the shoulder and rumbled a greeting, crystals flickering greens and yellows. ”This is how you say 'thank you'?” Perhaps Daks would teach hir something of human culture in these quiet moments.
Eventually Basai rose, given incentive by Mechanus' announcing that the system was going to shut down soon. Whatever that machine was... it consumed a great deal of duel. It made hir wonder if the rebels intended to use it more than once. Gingerly – or as gingerly as a Diruk could manage – Basai began to move back to Fannar when Breona thank hir for hir protection. Basai thrummed at that, mimicking a stiff, awkward bow shi'd seen other humans do in what seemed like pleasant interactions, ”You are welcome.” As Basai moved on, shi thought on Breona's comment and realized that shi took great satisfaction in shielding the fleshlings.... they had helped hir escape and they were showing hir respect... Shi was grateful and, if shi was honest, shi liked them. They were bizarre, rag tag, and had certainly benefited from hir assistance. Perhaps, if they stuck together, shi would offer hir services and accompany them if only to learn more about them – and hopefully build upon the foundations of understanding that had been sewn today. That train of thought brought hir back to the present and hir current purpose. Shi approached Fannar, standing before him quietly until a momentarily lag in his conversations allowed hir to interject. ”Fannar. Your machine eats Diruk... “ shi searched for the word, blood had not been right before... what else was important to a human? ”It eats Diruk hearts. You intend to use it more? You said you wanted Abolite supply but your Abolite kills my people.” It was obvious the Diruk was taking great pains to speak in Truth slowly and as accurately as shi could, venting steam and flickering colours accentuating the words. It was also the most shi had said in days. ”I do not want hunts or slaves. If you want trade, I will be agent.” The last thing shi wanted was to aid in further predation of hir people by humanity... Having addressed Fannar, Basai turned to leave only to find Daks looking pale and sickly in a corner. The ungrown human looked exhausted even to Basai and shi crouched before him, holding out an arm, ”I will carry.” People were gathering below and shi wanted to find hir Handlers, see if they had survived. When shi arrived in the courtyard, Basai spotted first one, then the other, Handler and hurried over to them. They shrank from hir at first, uncertain of what was happening but the Diruk awkwardly bowed again and thanked them for their kindness as deeply as shi could. When shi offered them each a crystal from hir crown, they were baffled and obviously torn between crying and smiling. One even went so far as to embrace the Diruk, who stood there motionless, unsure of how to respond – crushing another fleshy being like that.... just generally caused them to, well, burst. Somehow Basai didn't think they would take kindly to that. The summons rose and Basai turned to watch as Fannar gathered people around to address them.
Ah! Shi had managed to catch Jay's attention. Pleased, the Diruk rumbled a bit with a laugh as he explained an expectation of wildness. Amused, shi... shi wasn't sure what to do to communicate that. Opting instead to simply vent lightly, shi responded, "Not feral. Just... not human. Diruk. Thank you, for helping to free me." It always struck hir as odd how humanity ascribed an expectation of ferocity and savagery to non-human beings... Culture existed outside of their cities and villages. It pleased hir to know that Jay's point of view had shifted some in the brief time they had known each other. It was then that the drake sauntered up to Jay and Basai perked up some, reaching out to wiggle hir fingers at Azzuretta in kind. "Bravely done. I am grateful."
Action 1 and 2
The miasma remnant was growing a more intense green, catching the Diruk's attention and the visitant rumbled another warning, wondering if they had pulled down Mintz only to face a terror of the past. Around hir rebels were beating the dead, cursing and angrily rummaging through the bodies. It was disconcerting – how long would their ire remain on the guards before it turned to the odd one out in the room? Shi didn't want to kill any of them but shi also would not tolerate their betrayal... Thankfully Fannar did something to the miasma and the angry atmosphere lifted immediately, the shift echoed in Basai's relaxing posture – shi was standing neutrally now, no longer slowly backing towards a wall hunched defensively. Basai vented hugely, a massive sigh as the tension left hir body, leaving hir crystals flickering pale hues as shi leaned back against the wall. The victory of the rebels, and the greater import it had, meant little to the Diruk as the realization that shi no longer belonged to Mintz hit hir. Shi was hir own being again... no longer a living mine, no longer under the thumb, forced to work or yield to a tyrant. How long had shi been enslaved? How many seasons? Cycles? Shi wasn't sure – it had been hard to track the sun's progress and the moon's arcs through the skies from hir cell. Overcome with the relief of freedom, of being able to move on from this terrible place, Basai slid down the wall into a sort of heap of stone, the grinding of rock and crystal on metal and synth grating on the ears. Shi was free. The sentiment cycled in hir mind several times before shi turned hir attention to the room, surveying the fallout, cautiously letting the thrill of true victory wash over hir. Shi felt the gaze of Mintz upon hir and looked up, meeting his eyes with the empty sockets of hir own 'head'. When he looked away, shi vented short and curt, a sort of 'tch' sound. Fannar's conversation only mildly registered with Basai as hir thoughts turned to hir people and securing their safety. Bryn had said he wanted to establish trade... Mintz had just asked what the cost of the rebellion actually was... The joy of freedom ebbed somewhat as worry for hir colony encroached. When shi could stand again, shi would impress upon Fannar the importance of trade rather than hunting. Tag! Shi remembered then Jay had asked hir name and looked for hir name. When shi spotted him, shi shifted and tried to rise, only to slump back to the floor – shi was exhausted. The labour, the harvest... the fighting... it had all finally caught up to the Diruk and shi would need some time to recover. ”Jay Zin.” Shi rumbled, instead, hoping he would hear hir, ”I am Basai.” Hir crysals flickered pink with affection and respect briefly, before shifting back into bright emerald colours. And where was Azzuretta? Basai shifted, looking for the strange bird in the mess of battle, worried again because shi could not immediately spot hir new friend.
The Diruk looked on as something began to tickle at the edge of hir awareness, tugging emotions into being that didn't need to be there... Hir frustration and anger at hir captors, at seeing hir 'Master' before hir, defiant and unapologetic, sparked outrage in hir. Hir crystals flickered through the crimsons of violent anger before settling back into a neutral, natural tone as shi regained hir composure, looking to the remnant Miasma. It was causing this, as it had caused the near-rapture of hir and hir comrades earlier... it was dangerous. Then a blast of heat rocked them, making even Basai sway, and shi turned suddenly, just enough to catch a glimpse of the heat outlining Mintz' shield where the lethal heat wrapped around the edge to crisp his skin. Briefly Basai wondered what it would be like to turn crispy and give off smells of cooked meat like that... rock didn't burn so much as it melted and that took a lot. How did humans survive in the world? Mintz had found a cache of them some time ago and was fond of them... they were excellent disposal method for most materials. Shi turned to say as much to hir fellows only to realize the group was more-or-less in a state of rage. Alarmed, Basai rumbled and vented and flashed hir colours forgetting that the humans could not read hir very well even when shi was speaking slowly. Then Jay threw another spear and Breona drew her dagger, advancing, and it was all going to dust. Was shi the only one who had kept her mind about hir? Had they not seen the flicker of light around Mintz? There was no point in wasting their weaponry on the strong side of a defense. A great inhalation of air was followed by a loud rumbling shout as Basai tried to break through the fog of rage that was clouding hir allies. “Surround him! Shield on front but not back.” Basai moved with Breona, shielding her as best shi could.
Basai was glad for hir rocky hide when a rain of arrows fell upon the guards, one narrowly missing hir shoulder. The rebels, it seemed, had caught up to them and were backing them up from above. Thankfully the first volley killed the remaining guards, putting the one shi'd nearly bashed to death out of his misery, and cleared the way for them to proceed. At Fannar's gesture, Basai double checked none of the guards were going to lash out at hir companions before heading up after the rebel leader. Action 1
Basai listened as Fannar spoke again, laying out the immediate plan for their coup. It sounded straight forward enough but they'd garnered no information about Mintz' plans or traps. Shi wanted to make sure Fannar was prepared, stepping forward to present hirself as shi spoke, ”Mintz is not stupid... cruel, unkind... paranoid. Not stupid. You are prepared?” When shi got a moment, shi wandered over to Mechanus and fished the little box out of hir storage cavity. A bit bizarre to behold, Basai wedged two fingers into a crack in hir side, the panels opening up a bit to reveal a dark space within, and withdrew the little box seemingly from within hir body. Shi hesitated a moment then showed it to Mechanus, colours shifting through yellow and light pinks as shi attempted not be intimidating, ”Can you identify?” Others around them were sorting through the cyphers they'd discovered below, picking ones for use in the assault on Mintz, and Basai rather hoped shi'd found something useful.
Action 2
When it turned red, Basai's own crystals flickered through a blood-red crimson before settling back into the deep green-yellow of a joyful curiosity. Numenera were such a mystery to the Diruk... shi seldom had need of them but their workings and effects were always so.... bizarre. Even now, the miasma was somehow melting the door inward only to take on a humanoid form on the inside. Before long, two guards were... touched? Shi wasn't sure and seemed to lean forward, rock dust sifting off of hir as shi moved, a reminder that shi wasn't just rock. They were shaking, convulsing like something had jolted them! What was the miasma doing? Confused, Basai was startled out of hir reverie when the rebels leapt forward and burst through the door. The Diruk moved with them, hir eye on the remnant miasma still in the room, suspicious of it... shi wasn't sure it would effect hir the same it did the fleshlings but shi didn't want to find out. Action 3
Free action
In the meantime, shi registered an explosion of paint and vented her call of congratulations at the accuracy of hir comrades. Shi was satisfied now that shi'd fallen in with the right folk. Action 1
Shi rumbled at Jay, hir crystals flickering with confidence as shi vented a proud sigh, "Got you covered."
Action 1
Shi remained relatively motionless for a moment, listening, then noticed hir allies were moving off and turned away, hurrying after them. Action 2
"Careful..." Basai rumbled but didn't stop Daks. He'd proven himself both quieter than hir and quite agile so hopefully he'd get around fine. Basai just didn't like that hir line of sight was broken now.
Basai paused at Daks' query then patted hir side, colours flickering pleasant shades, "Endured worse." Shi hadn't expected hir own well being to be a concern of anyone... even traveling abroad, people hadn't asked hir about hir health. And here, well... they didn't care as long as shi could work to their satisfaction. The Diruk rumbled thoughtfully, unaccustomed to such questions.
The combat was over rather quickly and Basai hirself sort of standing listlessly to the side as the remaining guard gave up. Sheepishly, shi wandered over to Daks and made an expansive gesture to indicate his body, ”Okay? Not hurt?” Shi'd nearly done more to hurt hir allies than hir enemies and it didn't sit very well with hir... it was obvious from the way shi was hovering near Daks that shi was concerned shi'd struck him. Still bleeding from the stabbing, Basai carefully spread the molten rock around the wound, patching hirself up a bit. Some of it was already cooling into obsidian-like ripples... hir body was covered in such 'scar' tissue, though much of it was centered around that injured site. Shi shuddered as the fissure pulsed, the pain familiar now, and took in a great gulp of air before exhaling a fair amount of steam. The molten streaks cooled further as shi twisted hir torso, testing the patch. It held.
Shi noticed Mechanus looking at the hallway and tilted hir head as shi tried to pick up the conversation... What was next? It seemed fairly obvious to the Diruk. ”Find Ma—ntz. Capture. Kill. Something.” That was why they were heading along this hallway wasn't it? Basai pointed at the guard, ”What defenses? How many guards?” Shi knew very little of how Mintz travelled or what his personal retinue was composed of... but to get to him, the rebels – and they, shi supposed – would have to go through that defense. At the request to seal the guard into one of the cages, Basai wandered over to one and stood, waiting for the guard to do as commanded. If nothing else, shi could probably warp and smash the metal into a small enough hole the guard wouldn't be able to get out.
As shi waited for the guard, shi glanced around at the items scattered in the room. What had they been training the Queb with?
Nothing looked familiar... it was probably stuff brought it on the crates shi hauled but rarely go to see in to. Idly, shi picked up a small box and turned it over in hir hand before shrugging and setting the small thing into hir storage cavity alongside hir ring. Shi'd ask Mechanus about it later.
Then Daks was off again and Basai rumbled loudly, ”Wait Daks!”
Basai registered a few words shi'd encountered but didn't quite understand emanating from Azuretta's human but shi was too preoccupied with the guards and the surge of rejuvenation within her to say much. Jay's maneouver proved successful and Basai watched as the guard fell to the ground only to find the other one begin running away. ”No!” Shi shouted, twisting awkwardly as shi moved to grab the man before he got out of reach. However, a Diruk isn't the daintiest or most agile of creatures and while shi did manage a good twist of the body, all of the people and creatures at hir feet made hir stumble and nearly fall on Daks with a hiss of steam and a grumble of irritation. So many things were tying up hir feet! The momentum of half-falling half-recovering and trying very hard to squash an ally resulted in Basai sort of jogging in the fleeing guard's direction. When shi finally regained hir balance, hir crystals flickering awkwardly, the Diruk looked up at the guard. Before shi could do anything else, however, Mechanus tethered the guard and Azuretta flitted over to bite the guard as one of Breona's bolt struck true. More than a little embarrassed – all of these humans were so agile compared to hir, even with the paint's effects - huffed tried to stay out of the way of the numerous projectiles being flung at the guard - shi'd been poked and prodded enough already, thank-you.
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