During the finale of Arc XV: The Gate of Breath, the crew of the Athena and the Gray Horse team up to travel to Nocturn and reopen the multiverse nexus ...
Dreary Plain <Nocturn>
Grim bleakness looms overhead - a pall of charcoal gray clouds that blends easily into the broad expanse of concrete gray dusty stone that extends in all directions, horizon to horizon. A chill wind whips across the plain, merciless as its whistling fingers claw through garments. The light around is diffuse and hazy, its source indeterminate beyond the cloaked ceiling of the sky. All that breaks the mundane infinity of cold neutrality is a single black spire that twists against the landscape like an arthritic finger jabbed toward an uncaring heaven.
Innokentevna stands quietly beneath the shadow of the Gray Horse, looking to Volidana, a stream of pebbles and dust straining through her fingers. her word are quiet and sure, directed at the mulling Vollistan. " ... stones, pebble, tovers, flesh an bloot, z'eese ees real, an zee place to start from."
Virvril stands by watching, remaining silent for the moment.
Porter walks down the ramp of the Athena, eyes taking in the bleak expanse of Nocturn's dreary wastes. The tower looms on the near horizon. As his boots scrape on the dusty stone, his eyes lock on that tower. "Well. Here we are again."
Innokentevna lets the last stone fall from her fingers, inevitable. "Nyi a surprise ... like Rome ov legent, all roats seem to leat here." the young ungstiri pauses, considering for a moment. "Theenk you can open zeese gate vithout tyink again?"
"I can't," Porter replies, shaking his head. He looks at those gathered, counting to himself. Then he looks back at the tower. "But I think *we* can."
Anastasia has continued to sit, unmoving, watching and listening.
Innokentevna chuckles softly. "Nefer been goot at peekink locks ..." Innokentevna smiles, for a moment, quiet. "My prefer't technique vas pountink on zee toor long enough so zat zee brozer on zee ozer site open't eet up to just stop zee eenfernal Katya-racket. Theenk I can annoy anozer uniferse?"
Porter smirks at Katya. "Assuming our little exercise doesn't get us all killed. You have those Centauran chimes?"
"Da," Ace's voice drifts down from the shadows above the Gray Horse's wheel, "Stowed in engineering."
Marlan shifts her weight, turning so she's no longer facing Volidana and th tower, but instead the rest of the collected group, "They seem to have some sort of telepathic message imprinted on them." marlan warns, "None of the telepaths should be near it...and no one near it alone."
Innokentevna looks to Porter and nods. "Da, Ace store't zem ... vhat she sait." She then looks to the wistful vollistan. "Marly's right, da. Ve just got to be careful ... you heart vhat happen't to Volidana, last night?"
"I heard," the captain replies, then his eyes narrow. "Would Feznak and Tryklynn be able to handle the chimes without being affected, do you think?"
Volidana turns as Porter speaks "You came back....Why?...Not to Nocturn I mean back to here...back to being human...you had a chance to know what it was like to have the problems and limitations of the physical life ..why come back?"
"Carried them from Demaria to Ungstir," Ace replies quietly, "Did not trouble me so much...was nothing I was not used to thinking anyway."
Marlan begins to respond nodding, "They'd be to.." her words drift off, gaze shifting to Voildana as she asks the question. Concern flits across her features for a moment and she looks back to Porter, "Da." she replies cutting her answer short, and letting him answer her.
Porter glances toward Volidana, eyebrows lifting slightly. "I came back because being an immortal part of some anonymous them-being ain't all it's cracked up to be." He then jerks a thumb up the ramp. "Someone fetch the weasels."
Virvril listens to the conversation, following from speaker to speaker.
Marlan looks over at Katya, "Rockrats powering up the ship. Want to go get him?" Marlan takes a step forward, "On second thought....i'd better go get 'em, da." she tosses a glance back at Dana then to the ship, stepping towards it.
Volidana blinks uncertainly "Did you mean tryklyn or the chimes, sir?"
"Go geet zee moebius tefice, go breeng een zee hurt from zee tover ... zat ees vhy you breeng me along." Katya scoffs, turning to step light towards the Athena .. and is stopped by Marlan's words. "Goot ... for once you fetch an tarry. I got a tover toviseet." She turns to Porter, "Right?"
Marlan climbs the boarding ramp unhurriedly.
Anastasia leaps down to the ground, no waste of motion in her graceful jump, her black coat fanning out behind her as she lands in a light cloud of dust. "What is it we are doing?"
Porter nods. "We have a tower to visit." He then glances toward Anastasia. "Unlocking the door."
"An hopefully beatink Greem to zee punch." turning, holding her coat with one hand against the stiff breeze, her other rising above her eyes, to shade an keep her bangs away. "Can nyi forget ozer reazon ve neet to geet zere feerst, zee shatov ofer Tomin kora."
"If Grim is Kamir," Ace asks as she steps out from beneath the Gray Horse, "How will opening gates affect him? Think maybe he will know?"
The captain nods, but looks darkly at the tower. "Don't know how much we're beating him to the punch. We've beat him to this place. We'll get the nexus opened. But he has allies who can enter the nexus on his behalf. Don't know if we can stop that. Grim is a problem that won't be solved today, or here."
"Maybe da, maybe nyet ..." Innokentevna considers, pausing as a heavier gust of wind almost threatens to carry her awy. "Makes eet all zee more eemportant, to hafe kharasho pair ov eyes an ears here at zee Nexus zen ... so ve ton't lose vhat efer ve gain tonite."
"Can't disagree with that," Porter says, scratching his chin. "Not sure if Grim will *know* when it opens, but he had allies among the Nall under Ockvril. It won't take long for word to spread, if this works."
Meanwhile, aboard the Athena...
Main Corridor <Athena>
Tall and narrow, formed from the repetative pattern of structural ribwork and bulkheads, the long corridor runs down the spine of the rugged starship. Light washes up from below, from recessed coves hidden along each wall's lower portion, giving the illusion that the gridded metal floor floats. Forward is the bridge, while aft leads to the engineering section. Port and starboard sit a pair of oversized pressure hatches recessed into matching service niches, while in three locations the corridor widens: at the gangways leading down to the airlock, crew quarters and sickbay.
Marlan enters the corridor from the airlock, amber warning lights flashing as the heavy hatchway closes behind.
Feznak emerges from engineering, crawling along the pipes that run the length of the ceiling, a cylindrical tool clenched in his teeth. He lashes his furry tail around one of the pipes, then proceeds to dangle upside down. His nimble fingers reach toward the tool in his mouth and pull it free.
Tryklynn is padding into the corridor from the bridge, his tool filled jacket jangling. He looks up to Feznak and stops, paws going to his hips. "You better not be thingzzz breakingzz! What izz that ..." he peers at Feznak's tool and where he is putting it.
"Izzz mine!" Feznak protests, eyes widening at the query of the other Lotorian. "You want, you get own! Izzz mine!"
Marlan steps into the main corridor, spotting Tryklynn almost immediately. "Rock..." she pauses, gaze shifting to Feznak in surprise for a moment before she shifts her gaze back towards Tryklynn, "Rock rat..."she says without moving from where she stands, "Mind coming over here a minute?"
"Bahhppsszzcha! Gizzmozz mite be yourzzz, but zzhipzz, zzhipz iz mine!" Tryklynn stads firm, "Traded right fairzz andz zzquarezz, my enginezz, my rectorzz, my ductworkzz!" He takes a step back, his muzzle bobing up and down. "Azzk Doczz! You tell him, Doczzz." He then switches subject, as easy and quick as a train wreck. "What you needzz, Docczz?"
Marlan nods, "Da. His ship. Fair trade." she informs Fezmak, "But i might have another trade for you, da." she looks back to Tryklynn, "Need your help. Have some chimes thatneed to be carried. We can't carry them but the two of you..." she ways towards Feznak, "Can, da."
"Chimezzzz?" the dangling Lotorian ponders, ears twitching as he swings slowly by his tail. "Good tradezzz?"
"Chimezzz ... " Tryklynn's head perks, ears rising. "Why can't you carriezzz? more broccoli, yezyezyez?"
Marlan nods to the dangling Lotorian, "Very good trade." she turns her attention to Tryklynn, "Psionics." she replies, "You're immune to them, da. We're not. The chimes use psionics like a weapon." back to the other Lotorian, "We can trade for broccoli, da. If you like it as much as he does." she motions towards Tryklynn.
Feznak growls and spits on the deckplate directly beneath him. "That izzz for your brackally!" He hugs the cylindrical tool closer to his chest. "Fezzzznak want...own zzzpezzzial chair, yezzyezz! Higher than teknozzz!"
Marlan shifts her gaze to the rockrat, then back to Feznak, "That is not the rockrats chair, da. That is the Colonel's. But how about i make it so only you can use it, da? Only you and the Colonel will be able to use it."
"Bahppsschaazz. I already zzleeepz on mozzt comfy chairzzz, zzo therez! Izz mine!" Tryklynn shakes his muzzle. "He can't trade thatzzz with you! Muzzt tradezzz with me! let him uzze newtzz chairzz!"
"Fah! No want zzzit where zzztinky colonel zzzit!" Feznak grumbles, waggling a slender finger at the doctor. "No want zzzit where zzztinky teknozzz all zzzee time zzzleep! Want ownzzzz zzzzpezzzial chair, yezyez! Higher! Higher! Yezyez!"
Marlan sighs, "Fine, da. You'll get your own chair. Higher then the rockrats chair. No one but you will be allowed to sit in it, da. But...in exchange, you become a part of this crew, da. And you follow orders like the rockrat."
Tryklynn blinks, smiles and leans back on his paws. Beady blue eyes look back to Marlan with a twinkle. "Teknozzz couldzzz eazzily makezz newzzz chairzzz." he then pauses, and looks up to Feznak. "I do NOT Zzztinkzzz, you zzzlimy traderzzz! I had nice oll in duzzzzt thizzz morningzz! Only thing thizzz place hazz, izz nizze duzzt!"
Feznak clacks his teeth together. His whiskers flatten against his snout. "Izzz trap! Fezzznak smell trap, yezyez!" He wields the cylindrical tool in his right fist, snarling as he continues to swingly slowly, upside down. He then swings his snout haughtily toward Tryklynn. "Zzzztinky. Zzzztinky. Zzzztinky like Thul armpitzzzz."
Marlan shifts her gaze to Tryklynn and in an attempt to stop a brewing conflict, "Rockrat, get outside, da. Colonel is waiting there." then back to the other Lotorian, "No trap, da. I trade fair, ask tecnoz. You join the crew, follow orders like the crew, you get your own chair, special chair, higher then all the rest and not built by stinky tecno."
Tryklynn humfs, and reaches into his coat with a pocket with his tail, and takes out a powerdriver to shake at Feznak. "Yezyezyezyez, secont ratezz chair built by a Newtzz. An you think Doczz trade badzz, I powerdrive youzzz. ZZlimy trader. zzlimy zzlimy, bahhpssschhaai! Your Mother worked for Marketing Guildzz!" With a sharp padpadpadpad the Teknos trundles towards the airlock.
Feznak hrmphs. "Izz true, my mother did workzzzz for Marketing Guildzzz. Izzz nothing wrong with zzzat, yezyez!" He swings around, tail unraveling from the pipe, does a flip in midair, and then lands in a pouncing posture on the deck, cylindrical tool in hand as he peers up at the doctor. "Fezzznak do azzzz you zzzzay, yezyez, for zzzpezzzial chair."
Marlan nods, "Wonderful, da." she motions towards the airlock, "Come on, da. I'll show you what you have to do."
Feznak tucks the cylindrical tool into the pocket of his oversized tunic, then lopes toward the airlock.
Meanwhile, back on the plain...
As if noticing him for the first time, Ace turns her head towards the Nall among them, "When did he get here?"
Virvril looks up towards Ace, "Aboard the Athena...how elssssse?"
Ace's dark eyes look down on the Nall, "Did not ask how...asked when," she says coldly.
Tryklynn rumbles down the ramp on small feet, a powerdriver in his tail and his jacket clanking. His chittering is a sharp mumble, fast and loose. " ... zzzzlimey traderzzz ... zzlimy traderzz chairzzz ... put big zzzpringzz underneath and a big red buttonzzz ... zzlimey traderzzz can never rezzzizzt big redzzz buttonzzz ..."
Virvril cocks his head to one side and his tongue slips out in a hiss of amusement, perhaps. "When the Athena did...which would go along with how, doesssss it not?"
Porter glances up the ramp at the approaching Lotorian.
"Will use short words so you will understand better, then," Ace says, equally amused, "When did you board Athena?"
Virvril says, "When Porter asssssked me to. Issss thisss an interrogation?"
"Virvril has been part of our crew since we were aboard the Minerva, Ace," Porter replies without looking her way. He's still watching the flustered Lotorian. "When we were in the Vanguard, he was my superior officer. So, try not to be too snotty."
"Was simple question," Ace responds, "Did not think it was so difficult to manage answer."
Marlan explains as she follows Feznak down the walkway, "The rockrat...he's going to be in charge, da. He knows what needs to be done, you don't. So as a member of the crew...you do what he says, da."
"Hoop, be hart to keep eetout ov zee blooty INN eef zeese vorks. Only theenk goink for us ees eef zee Vox makes eferyone ask permeeshun before comink through." Innokentevna shakes her head. "but you are rite, eef someone vants to knov, one vay or ozer, alvays fints out. Ve are just goink to hafe to be kvicker an' smarter."
Virvril shrugs. "Which you received. If you wissssh to look for hidden meaningsss, that is your choicssse." He returns his attention to the exiting Lotorians.
Volidana blinks turning bright purple "Grim is Kamir? If that were true. Why does he not open the gate himself, not that I'm not glad he hasn't just asking and what we supposed to do once it's open stand waiting for the hammer to fall. or is grim the hammer?
"Teknozz!?" That brings Feznak up short, so he stops on the top of the ramp and puts his hands on his hips. "Traderzzz no take orderzzz from zzztinky teknozzz! Traderzzzz take orderzzzz from traderzzzz, yezyez!" He spits off the side of the ramp, moistening a small patch of dusty stone. "That izzz for your teknozzz giving orderzzzz, yezyez!"
Marlan pauses and turns eyebrow rising, "Do traders go back on a trade? You traded me, da. You'd be part of this crew if you got your chair. In this crew, we all take orders from the Colonel. And this time, the Colonel says the rockrat is in charge, da."
Tryklynn turns around and just smiles, bouncing once on his hindpaws, ears small and black and tall. "Who knowzzz ... maybe traderzzz actually can do honezzt dayzz tradezzz. Hafe never belief't itzzz, maybe you can prove thizzz Teknozz wrong, Traderzz."
"Da ... I theenk Greem ees zee Hammer, Volidana." Innokentevna stands or a moment, a wind buffeted ungstiri. "Makes a lot ov sense. A tool ov zee kameer. A toolzat can strike hart. Makes kharasho sense."
Tryklynn swivels his head, looking back to Porter. "What izzz Tryklynzzz in charge of?"
"Tryklynn is in charge of Operation Get-Those-Damned-Chimes-Up-The-Tower," Porter says, knitting his brow and looking from one Lotorian to the other. As his eyes settle on Feznak, he says, "You can have this tower when we're done."
Feznak blinks, looking at the tower. "Izzz perfect plazzzze for chair, yezyez! Very high! Very high! Yezyez! Higher than zzztinky teknozzz! Fezzznak do thizzz!"
"That includes done vith stutyink!" Innokentevna pipes up.
Virvril lets out a hiss of amusement. "Traderssss....alwayssss consssissstent."
Tryklynn looks at the tower and shakes his. "What goodzz izz towerzzz, no enginezz and doezzn't go anyplaze!" the other Lotorain padpadpads forward, consideing the other ship here parked, because the chimes most certainly weren't in his ship! "Chimezzz in there?" He looks up to the Gray Horse.
Anastasia nods to Tryklynn, "Da, in engineering. Need for me to show you?"
Feznak lopes down the ramp, slouching a bit as his paws skitter on dusty stone while he follows Tryklynn. "Tower izzz no plazzze for teknozzz, which makezzzz it that much better tradezzzz, yezyez!"
Tryklynn peers up at the small ship, eyes narrowing. He spies the cargo access panels and retrieves the powerdriver so his tail can hook in the rear geat struts and pull himself up. "Worked dockzzz of Comorrozz, know azzeezz hatch when one zzeez!" His chittering pauses. "But unlockingzzz itzz izz better than bangingzz on itzz with zzpanner, yezzyezzyezz!" he looks don at Feznak, whiskers twitching. "You can have lonely towerzzz ... crewzz izz much betterzz tradezz!"
Anastasia nods, "Will turn off security, da," she offers, heading for the Gray Horse cockpit.
"Towerzzz not be lonely when Fezzznak open mercantile bazzzzaar, yezyez!" the trader Lotorian chitters, stopping a few feet from Tryklynn. "Fezzznak get rich, yezyez!"
Marlan steps towards the Colonel head shaking, "You know..." she mutters, "Hoopin good thing he stayed hiding in the ducts all this time, da."
Porter furrows his brow, but nods.
Volidana looks almost wistfully after Tryklynn as he prepares to go.
"Is open," Ace nods to the two Lotorians, "Cannot miss them. Very large and lashed to deck of engine room."
"Marly ..."Innokentevna speaks quietly, "You mite vant to geet Volidana out ov harms vay? Anozer episode like last nite ... "
Anastasia looks down at the ground at Katya's words, a flash of guilt in her dark eyes, but for the moment she says nothing to Volidana.
Marlan looks over at Katya and nods, she shifts her gaze to Porter, "Colonel...know nothign showed up on your last scans, da. But if you think there's any chance you're still...even mildly psionic. Well...suggest you and Dana get inside the ship, da. Just until the rockrat moves it past here."
Tryklynn waits patiently, and then opens the access hatch, hauling himself into the ship through the small cargo hold. "Come come Traderzzz ... we gotzz real workzzz to do. Bazzarzzz, pah. What you zzellzz, rockzz?"
Feznak leaps up into the hatchway, instinctively securing his position by lashing his tail around one of the nearby ladder rungs, and crouches as he peers into the cargo hold. "I zzzell what peoplezzzz buy, yezyez! Trinketzzz! Zzzouvenirzzz! Teknozzz droppingzzzz!"
"I'm fine," Porter says, shaking his head at Marlan. "Gave up all those perks when I came back to humanity."
Porter is standing at the base of the Athena's ramp with Marlan and Volidana, arms crossed, watching the Gray Horse and waiting. Virvril isn't far off. Katya and Anastasia are near the Gray Horse.
Volidana looks up toward the hatch and then her eyes settle back on Porter. Firm resolute hard as if for the present moment she is trying to hold herself to the here and now
Marlan takes an appraising look at Porter before nodding and turning to Volidana, "Come on Dana, let's go wait in the hatch, da. Just until the rockrat gets it a little furthur away."
Cross descends down the ramp, pausing mid-way. He looks around, eyes squinting slightly. After a few seconds, he finishes the decent, turning to walk toward Porter. His mouth is a thin, hard line on his face and the squinting accents the crow's feet at the corner of his eyes.
Porter nods to Cross. "Victor." He smiles grimly. "Don't think the place has changed all that much since you saw it last."
Cross nods, "Not much at all. If anything it seems, deader, than before."
"As long as no one tries vhappink my sheep on zee vay out." Innokentevna adds, looking about the blasted terrain. "Zat voult be too close to vhat eet vas like last time."
Volidana hesitates for a long moment, looking up at the hatch and then nods "My family is here. I go where they lead. Besides i am not worthy to journey on without you no matter how sweet the call " she obediently follows Marlan into the airlock
Porter narrows his eyes, watching Volidana go. He then looks over at Cross. "Any idea what she's talking about?"
Marlan tosses a look back at Porter before following Volidana towards the Athena.
Ace looks over at Porter and nods, "Think chimes make thoughts you have stronger. Volidana, she thought she had gone back to Vollista...back to family, but without Hezekiah. Was very sad thing for her and she tried to slash her wrists."
"Gone back home to her family without that cryptic Mystic?" Porter's eyebrows twitch. "Yeah, I can see why she'd be all broken up about that."
Meanwhile, aboard the Gray Horse...
Airlock <Gray Horse>
Amber warning lights slash across the arlock confines, chasing shadows across the rough gray bulkheads and grid textured wall panels. Stern pragmatics govern its form, from its sturdy steel equipment racks to recessed lockers which take advantage of every square inch of the cramped space. Four EVA suits are racked against the wall, two portside, two starboard.
A circular hatch set in a rugged docking collar in the floor provides exit out of the ship. A reinforced pressure door leads forward into the command section, while a second one opposite provides access to the ship's aft compartments.
Tryklynn scrambles up and peers around. "Nizze .. but too zzmallzz, no need for crewzzz..." he cyckles the lock and heads aft. "Engineeringzzz will be thizz wayzz, yezyezyez, followzz Teknozz!"
Mid Bay <Gray Horse>
Cool white light drifts down from panels set in the ceiling of this spacious bay, which serves as work area and general quarters for the ship's small crew. Eight meters by eight meters square, with a ceiling no more than two meters high, two back to back acceleration couches fill the center of the space. Long and narror portals grant views outside the vessel, looking up through the ship's dorsal surface. Four bunk niches are set into the wall, two portside and two starboard. Beneath each are a set of cabinets and lockers for storage of personal gear, Against the forward wall a set of stainless door panels conceal a built-in efficiency galley, including small refrigerator and microcooker. Aft, a sliding panel hides the entrance to the compact hygiene unit.
Two sturdy hatches lead out of the midbay. Forward to the central airlock and aft to the ship's engineering compartment.
Feznak lopes after Tryklynn. "What we do with zzzeezzz chimezzz, anyway? We take zzzem to tower. Zzzen what?"
The teknos stops, whiskers flattening as he looks at the painting. "they have bad tazzzte in art, yezyezzyezz, why look at zzomethingzz zzpooky." As he padpads aft he pauses to open the cargo hatches in the floor, providining easy access to outside. "To open Nezzuzzz again, I thinkzz. Open way to get back to Lotorzzz. An to the Heyakti and Muzzkyz and Commorro Zztazzion. Get you good zztuff to tradezz with." He taps the hatch plate and steps into the engineering bay.
Feznak sniffs, ears twitching and tail swishing about. He lopes after the tekno.
Thrust Chamber <Gray Horse>
Steam periodically issues from cylindrical relief vents spaced around this domed chamber, serving the dual purpose of releasing spent coolant water and generating a thickly humid climate for the beings for which the system was designed to provide adequate comfort. Diagnostic monitors and signal lights flash amid the blur of steam, in the glow of brilliant yellow light. As steam condenses into thicker droplets, they splash on the deck, which slopes downward to a catch basin where water can be recycled.
The far bulkhead is dominated by conduits and circuitry leading to the navigational thrusters, as well as the black ovoid of the phase drive for faster-than-light travel, encased in a glass-sealed vacuum.
Tryklynn blink blinks, as he looks about, his gaze finally falling to the four carefully wrapped tubes of crystal. Carefully the lotorian investigates them, testing their wrapping with his paws. When two clink there isa soft chime and a ripple of red as a letter flares and vanishes. "Bahhppsshchaaa ... olds cryzztalzzz, with more than zzlaverkinzz lettrzzz." His tail loops down and around one end of the chimes, flifting hem high enough to get them in his arms. "Come on, time to earnzz your towerzzz."
The trader lopes in a crouch toward what has effectively become the back end of the chimes, which he picks up with his nimble fingers. "Izzz heavy!" he complains. "Tower weighzzzz lezzz, yezyez!" Still, he perseveres.
"Complainzzz ... complainzzz, look at itzzz thizz wayzzz." Tryklynn strains as he heads forward, pushing the hatch open with a kick of his hindpaw. "hard workzz, honezzt labor, makezzz tower all the more valublezz!"
Mid Bay <Gray Horse>
Cool white light drifts down from panels set in the ceiling of this spacious bay, which serves as work area and general quarters for the ship's small crew. Eight meters by eight meters square, with a ceiling no more than two meters high, two back to back acceleration couches fill the center of the space. Long and narror portals grant views outside the vessel, looking up through the ship's dorsal surface. Four bunk niches are set into the wall, two portside and two starboard. Beneath each are a set of cabinets and lockers for storage of personal gear, Against the forward wall a set of stainless door panels conceal a built-in efficiency galley, including small refrigerator and microcooker. Aft, a sliding panel hides the entrance to the compact hygiene unit.
Two sturdy hatches lead out of the midbay. Forward to the central airlock and aft to the ship's engineering compartment.
"Hard workzzz never add value," Feznak complains, hauling his end of the chimes as the walk. "Hard workzzz conzzzzume, create overheadzzzz, hurt profitzzzz!"
Tryklynn stops and sets the front end of the chimes down at the edge of the inside cargo hatch, and then carefully hops inside. "Where do you thinkzzz the value in the thingzzz you trade comezzz from! Thizz other zzide of tradingzzz, makingzz thingzzz worth tradingzz for. Difference between a Muzzky bill and Heyakti coin." Steadying himself, his tail braced out of sight, Tryklynn nods. "Puzzzh them out carefulzzz, break and no towerzzz!"
Feznak fehs. "Thizzz not any part of tradezzz. Tradezzz all about taking whatzzz made, cozzzting lezzzz, zelling more, yezyez!" Nevertheless, he carefully eases the chimes out of the hatch. "Better be nizzzze towerzzz."
Back on the plain...
From the Gray Horses cargo niche Tryklynn pops, hanging from his tail as he carefully lowers one end of the crystal chimes towards the ground. "Carefullzzz ... carefullzzz ... and yezyezyez, am zzure it izz very fine towerzz, azz far azz towerzz go." He chitters up into the hold. When one end touches the ground he flips down too, bracing the rolled crystal tubes over his small shoulders. "Okay, have them, you can come downzzzz."
Innokentevna shakes her head, quiet. "call eet vhat eet ees, Ace." Innokntevna watches the unloading suspiciously. "Z'oose chimes tried to make her commit suicide."
Out of the hatch pounces Feznak, moving back into position to help carry them again. His snout swivels toward the tower and his eyes gleam. "Izzz wondrouzzzz huge tower! Bezzzt traderzzzz tower in the multiverzzze, yezyez!"
Anastasia gives a small shrug of her shoulders, her black trenchcoat whipping around her knees, "Cannot say," she replies, "Was not in her head. Only know what was in mine."
Tryklynn slips his tail and arms around the bundle of crystal, hefting it once and then begins padding for the tower. "Thizz wayzzz thizz wayzzz ..." The teknos mumbles though, as his ears falls back and he puffss, trying hard not to get blown away, "No towerzz big enough for Traderzzz egozzz ..."
Cross thrusts his hands into the lower pockets on his jacket. "Can't say I'm suprised. Anything dealing with the Kamir seems to make people act stupid." He shakes his head, "I think they may be disappointed when they get to the tower. Might make a good haunted house, that's about it." His head turns to follow the two Lotarians for a few moments.
"Tryklynn," Porter calls after the Lotorians. "Take them to the top chamber in the tower. You'll find an area near the center with four cylindrical indentations, a perfect fit for the chimes! Insert the chimes in those indentations. All right?"
The lotorian nodnodnodnods his head, whiskers lying flat on his muzzle. "Yezyezyez, round pegs in round holezz." He looks back to Feznak, nods once and begins padding across the waste to the towers. "Zzzhouldzzz have parked clozzer ... no one knowzzz howzz to run a dockzzz anymorezzz."
Feznak continues hauling the chimes with help from Tryklynn. "You're juzzzt jealouzzz that Fezzznak get rich, zzzleep in chair in high towerzzz, zzzelling teknozzzz droppingzzzz while you zzztink up zzzztinky colonel'zzzz zzzztinky chair."
"I will travelzzz fartherzz than you can ever zzee in your zztuckzz in one plazze towerzzz!" Tryklynn answers back smartly, "And my chairzzz much more comfortablezzz! It goezzz places!" He pauses for a moment and then takes a breath ... before vanishing into the tower.
"Your chairzzzz zzztink zzzo bad it goezzz plazzzezzz all on itzzzz own, yezyez," the trader agrees as the enter the dreary shadow of the black tower. Feznak's tail dances about as he hefts the chimes. "Thingzzzz break. Zzzzhip go not where zzzuppozzed to go, yezyez. Towerzzz zzztay in one plazzze, not go nowherezzz."
Porter rubs his forehead. "I think this planet is giving me another headache." He then watches the bickering Lotorians vanish into the tower.
Marlan keeps her eyes on the Lotorians, a hand on Volidana' sback as she heads down the boarding ramp.
Cross stares at Porter, eyes narrowing, "Try and warn me first if you're going to start performing miracles again." He shakes his head, "I'm not sure the Nall know what they're asking for."
Porter smirks. "No miracles on tap. Not from me." He keeps watching the tower.
Innokentevna watches the two vanish into the tower, rubbing the back of her neck. "An you say somevhere zere's a vhole planeet ov zem?"
"Must be very...loud there," Ace adds.
Marlan reaches the landing field and drops her hand from Volidana's back, stepping towards Porter, "Would of hoopin gone crazy if they'd found themselves before." she nots.
Innokentevna considers quietly, "Kapitan Porter, vhat happens after zee chimes are set up?"
Volidana frowns in Porter'd direction and mutters "Not again...will not let it happen again " It appears as if the crew is uniformly agreed on this one point, perhaps a miracle in and of itself
"Well, if my information is correct," Porter replies to Innokentevna, crossing his arms, "we're going to see a little light show."
Anastasia mutters, "Something tells me will not be so simple as that, da?"
Cross frowns, arms folding across his chest. "As long as it doesn't come with the rest of the special effects from last time.", he states.
Marlan nods in agreement, frowning, "Da. I am neither in the mood to mend broken bones nor broken minds, da."
"I'll need six volunteers, when the time comes," Porter goes on.
"Volunteers to do what?" Ace asks, looking up from where she stood, hands shoved into her pockets.
"You know you have the volunteers you need, Colonel." Marly states, "That, you've always had, da. But..." she looks around at the others before turning her eyes back to Porter, "Must admit. I'd like to know just what i'm volunteering for too, da."
Narrowing his eyes, Porter tilts his head and keeps his attention fixed on the upper segment of the black tower. "If our Lotorian friends do their job right, it won't be all that dangerous. Just a little scary."
"Came all zeese vay kapitan ..." Innokentevna nods. "You can count on me."
Anastasia nods after Katya speaks, "Da," she says, "Will volunteer."
Volidana looks to Porter and nods her head "I have always down what you've asked. Helped in anyway I can not about to change now"
Cross looks over at Porter again, "That's a little cryptic, ain't it? What do we need to do?"
"A little scary" Marlan repeats then suddenly smirks, "Why do i have a feeling...that's a hoopin big understatement, da." none the less she seems mostly at ease, hands moving to her pockets. "Seriously though wha.." she halts her questino as Cross beats her to the punch.
"You're going to open the nexus," Porter replies, shrugging, as if he's saying that you're just about to move a crate from one side of the cargo hold to another. "Piece of cake."
"Tcha ... Ace ees great at openink toors she's nyi suppose't to." Innokentevna teases.
Cross nods, "That still tells me fuck all as far as details are concerned, Colonel." He unfolds his arms, opens a pouch on his belt and removes a small, foil-wrapped bar, "Are we going up there to flip a switch? Fight the hordes of Legion infected Grimlahdi left over from the last time? You know,", he unwraps the bar carefully, "the devil is in the details.", he says, then takes a small bite from the bar.
Porter chuckles. "No hordes. No switches. I just wouldn't recommend this job if you're claustrophobic."
Anastasia glances at Katya, "Forgot to mention...LeBeau, he needs new password, too," she deadpans.
Marlan raises an eyebrow, "Hoopin good thing most of us are born on the rocks then, da." Marly notes. She looks over at Porter, "But you? You goin to be hoopin alright?" she asks.
Meanwhile, inside the tower...
Black Tower Foyer <Nocturn>
The eerie wasteland wind hoots futile warnings as it whirls through gaps in the obsidian-black stones that form this shadowy spire. The noncomittal gray light abandons all effort to illuminate the overwhelming ebon column, and darkness takes a stranglehold the higher the eye tracks up the jagged spiral of rough stone steps leading upward.
"Yezyezyezyez ... zztupidzz boringzz go nowheeee ..." The Teckno looks about and then just harummmfs, ears flat and whiskers falling. "Ztupidzzz towerzzz gotzz no freight elevatorzzz!
"Hard workzzz givezzz valuezzz, yezyez," the trader mimics mockingly.
"Bahzzz .. Doczzz goint to owe mezzz lotzza broccoli after thizzz!" Steeling himself, his tongue lolling out as he pants, Tryklynn begins the assault on the stairs, one slow step at a time. "Didn't even make zztepzz for rite zzize pawzz! Zzztupidzzz Kamirzzz!"
Stairwell <Tower: Nocturn>
Twisting in a spiraling arc around the ghostly throat of the black tower, these rough stone steps are worked here and there with intricate engravings of tall, aura-emanating bipedal humanoids in various stages of technological development - crafting tools, devising wheeled vehicles, printing books, embarking on deep space missions, creating new life. Near the top, one engraving features a single glowing humanoid in the center of an arrangement of six circles.
Feznak hefts his end of the chimes, delicately maneuvering up the steps after Tryklynn. "Zzzztinky zzztupid zzzlaverzzzz."
"Betzzz if you tradezz ritezz, crafty teknozzz could build you liftzz, yezyezyez ..." He pauses, and then carefully leads beneath the archway. "Muzt be here, muzt be zzpezzhal, no one buildzzz zzo many zztairzz going nowherezzz." Tryklynn pants. "Put your chairzzz in herezzz ... all byzz yourzzelfzzz."
Kamir Hold <Tower: Nocturn>
A wild flurry of bitter wind gusts like an atmospheric centrifuge within this blunt cylindrical chamber atop the black tower. Through narrow cracks in the rock, one can make out the gray perpetuity of the outside landscape. Twelve staggered pillars in two concentric circles of six are at the heart of the chamber. An archway leads to the stairs that twist down toward the bottom of the tower.
"Ayyaay! You will needzzz chairzz, to not get blown out of your ownzzz towerzzz! Here zzetzz them down." Once down, Tryklynn begins to unwrap the chimes, careful not to accidently tossle one roughly. "You find the holezzz for the chimezz, yezyezyez?"
The wind whips through Feznak's fur and causes the chimes to sing out as the trader helps the tekno haul the artifacts into the Kamir Hold. "Izzzz windy!" he complains. "Needzzzz clozzzzed off, better for chairzzzz!"
"Know wherezzz you can getzz good glazzzteelzz ..." Tryklynn hauls out the first and shortest crystal chime, still taller than he is. "Where izzz hole, befoer ne and tool jacket blow awayzz?"
Feznak lowers his end of the chimes long enough to lope into the center of the twelve pillars. He bends close to the floor, looping his tail around the closest pillar to keep from blowing away. He peers down at the indentations, then points. "Here!" he calls out.
Tryklynn carefully drags the first chime to the trader, his tail wrapped tight about the crystal tube, on all fours against the wind. "Come come ... give hand zzettingzzz up. Firzzt one, then three more to goezzz. Hope windzzz zzlow, lazzt one izz three lotrazz longzz! Fazzt fazzt, before all our firrzz blown offzzz, an we luuk like ugly humanzzz!"
Feznak bobs his snout, helping to ease the moaning chime into the first indentation.
Tryklynn 's ears flatten as he goes to retrieve the second crtsyal. "Zzoundzz like they are not very happy with uzz!" This one he pushes, to the next hole Feznak finds.
Carefully, Feznak eases the second crystal chime into position.
"Find thirdzz hole, thizz onezz even longer." Reaching into his jacket he takes out a heft pipe wrench, allowing him a better grip on the third chime, hauling it across the small room. When he reaches the hole, he slips to the back, to help walk the crystal into position.
Feznak bobs his snout, keeping his tail firmly affixed around the closest pillar. "Third and fourth," he points, setting the third chime into position.
Tryklynn crawls back to the last crystal, sitting in the lee of a pillar to pant a few breaths. "an ov course, left longetzzt and hardezzt for lazzt." Moving towards the middle of the last chime he carefully shoves it inch by inch through the rom, to the last hole. "Letzz get thizz up before I become a lotorian flagzzz ..." Crouchhing, he pushes the base of the crystal into position and heaves up against the wind.
A pale blue glow emanates from the base of the chimes at first. Then they start to resonate, catching the wind and building to a tremulous crescendo of rippling sound, and as they grow louder, the light grows brighter. Finally, there's a concussive blast of light and sound that tosses the Lotorians like rag dolls, hurling them toward the walls. As the light fades, the chimes have fused together at an angle that tapers and points toward the ceiling of the tower, and the first six cylinders in the twin circles of the Kamir hold have become translucent, upright coffins with hinged lids that can be swung open.
Feznak is flung, but manages to keep hold of the pillar his tail is wrapped around. This causes him to swing around like a furry tetherball. He quickly hugs the pillar and squeezes his eyes shut, muttering against the maelstrom: "Hate thizzz towerzzz, yezyez!"
"Baaaa psscchaaaaiiii!" Tryklynn calls out as he becomes airborn, curling into a tight ball as he is bounced about. his tail slashes out, desperate to find anything to grab ... before being slammed against a high pillar and the ceiling, trapped there by the fierce winds. He tries to grab and hold on. "Your zzztupidzzz towerzz tryingzz to killzz uzz!"
The wind drops off as the light fades, leaving the Lotorians hugging their respective spots.
Tryklynn slowly at first, then a little faster and faster Tryklynn falls, landing on the stone floor with a solid tool spilling whumf. "Shipzz never mizz behave like thizz ..."
Feznak scrambles to the top of his pillar and crouches, staring down at the now-angled chimes in their indentations. They're still glowing slightly. He tilts his head, ears twitching. "Izzz not bad plazzze for chairzzz, yezyez."
"Makezz zzurezz you getzz lotzza zztrapzz on chairzz to holdzz madzz Traderzz down." Tryklynn slowly lifts his muzzle up off the floor, stretching his whiskers out to test the air. "You can have towerzz, yezyezyez."
Meanwhile, back on the plain...
Suddenly, a burst of blue light emanates from the upper chamber of the tower, coupled with a resonating sonic concussion of musical chimes mixed with thunderous rumbling.
Porter smiles crookedly as he watches the blossom of cerulean thunder at the top of the tower. "Yeah, I think I'll be fine."
Cross covers his eyes with one hand. "Those would be the fireworks?", he says, voice rising to compete with the rumbling.
Volidana blinks and turns purple "we're letting Grim and the Nall into the multiverse and we're letting whatever's in there out here. this is good why....By Volir what was...?
Marlan turns, attention now focused on the tower and the light streaming from it, "Well...place definetly makes up with lights what it lacks in color, da." Marlan notes.
Anastasia whips her head to look up at the tower, shaking it slowly before she looks back to Porter, "Will you be one of the six?"
Porter nods. "Go on up." The light is already fading from the top of the tower. "The columns should be ready for you. Just get inside. Make sure all six columns are occupied. And then...wait."
Cross looks back at Porter, "You sound like you're not coming with us."
Anastasia looks at Cross, "Was thinking same thing."
Marlan frowns as she shifts her gaze to Porter, 'We're not going through the last time again, Colonel." not a suggestion, but a surprisingly harshly intoned order.
"I'm not taking any chances," Porter says, shaking his head. "I don't know enough about Grim or what traps the Kamir might have laid for me. I *have* been touched before. I can't afford to risk the nexus, to risk all we've done, to end up used as a weapon or worse by whatever's up there. They don't know your minds like they know mine. I'm staying behind."
"But you *will* be here when we return. And no lies this time." Marly replies, expression stern and unequuivicobally serious.
Innokentevna looks up to the tower and frowns. "Blue. Blue lite. Nothink goot efer comes from blue lite ..." She swallows, turning back to look to Porter. "Or ve shall chase you tovn, Kapitan."
"Doc, I'll be right here waiting for you all," the captain replies. "No lies. No half truths. I'm not going anywhere."
Anastasia casts her dark eyes in Volidana's direction, "Is going to be okay for Dana to go?" she asks worriedly.
Volidana spins completely around to face porter, standing stock still, not apparently yet having decided she's going to move at any rate
Porter nods. "She can go."
Cross nods, "Great. So long as we're not the lambs being led to the slaughter, Colonel." He turns away and toward the tower, "Well, I'm ready to get this the hell over with, then. More time we waste, more time Grim and whoever the hell else is out there has time to prepare."
Marlan remains silent, gaze focused on Porter as she attempts to ascertain the truthfulness of his words. After a moments silence she turns, "Deidre will seem a piece of cake if you're lying to me Colonel." and begins walking towards the tower,
"See you when you get back," Porter replies.
Innokentevna slowly backs towards the tower herself, looking to Porter, the Athena and then finally the Gray Horse. "Comink back for you, Meloty ..." She then turns, sprinting to catch up with Cross and Marlan.
Hands find their way into navy blue pockets as Cross starts off toward the tower. He looks up at it, pausing for a moment, then disappears inside.
Hands shoved in her pockets, Ace pauses to give Porter a steady gaze, looking as if she might say something but instead turns to take the first step towards the tower. At Katya's words, though, she looks over at the young courier and then just bows her head, trudging silently after Cross.
Volidana turns after Cross and Marlan but hesitates looks at Porter hard. Deciding something. She decides against it. Is it that she trusts him or doesn't want to know, she follows the rest inside.
A short while later, the group arrives in the Kamir Hold...
Feznak is currently perched atop one of the Kamir pillars in a crouch, near a spot in the center where the four cylinders of the chimes are now angled toward each other, tapering as they point at the ceiling. They glow light blue in the midst of six translucent pillars with hinged openings on their vertical faces. Feznak clutches the top of the cylinder with clawed fingers, his tail wrapping around the pillar for extra support, his fur getting whipped by the wind. "Where'zzz my chairzzz?" he shouts to the others as they enter, above the howling wind. "You promizzzed chairzzz, yezyez!"
Anastasia says, "erumuten blug-blug agrun" she mumbles, glancing up at Feznak and then letting her gaze sweep the room, for the first time paying attention to where she was going.
"Great, more wind.", Cross says, hugging the outer wall of the chamber. He looks at Feznak, "Don't look at me.", he says before starting toward the center, "So, what the hell are we supposed to do here?" He eyes the columns, frowning.
Tryklynn lies on the floor, a pile of gray fur and heavy jacket, his tools wind scattered about him. he has lifted himself to his elbows, and slowly shakes out his whiskers. he glares at the trader, his tail slashing out to collect his scattered tools. "You and chairzzzz ... maybe youzzz are zztitting in itzz nowzzz!"
Innokentevna steps in and pauses, bracing herself against the wind, her short hir snapping this way and that. She looks about, crossing into the room, one hand on a column to steady herself. "Seex ov us ... an seex ov zeese columns, da?"
Marlan hugs the outer wall, edging her way along it, her back and the palm of her hands against the wall. She keeps her eyes on the 6 columns, "Well....Colonel said get inside the towers, da." she reminds the others.
Anastasia lowers her head against the wind but otherwise doesn't seem to care, simply heading for a random pillar, "Seven," she says, "Is seven of us here."
Cross nods, continuing onward, "Terrific.", he says. He stops at the base of one of the columns, looking up at it, "I can't say I like this idea, folks."
"Maybe not." Marly replies to Ace, head tilting upwards to look at Tryklynn and Feznak, "You two." she yells over the wind, "Hoopin need you to come down here and get in the columns."
Volidana pauses just a moment to glance at the columns "The picture on the wall had a person standing in the middle" she ventures
Feznak peers down at Marlan. "Izzz not part of tradezzz! Fezzznak carry glowing chimezzzz up neverending zzztairzzzz, yezyez! That getzzzz Fezzznak chairzzz and towerzzzz! No deal for getting in thingzzzz!"
Tryklynn sits up and blinksblinks, trying to untangle his whiskers with a paw. "Youzz wantzz me to do whatzzz?'
Cross nods, turning away from the column he's standing at. "A glowing figure.", he says, "I'm pretty sure you're the only one that fits the bill, Dana."
Marlan focuses on one problem at a time, "Need you to get in one of the column's rockrat. And unless you get in a column, the hoopin wind won't ever stop, da. And you can't have a bazaar like that."
"Need tradezzzz," Feznak counters, huffing and crossing his arms.
"Trade is, you go in and we stop the wind in here. You don't and we don't, da." Marly replies, shouting to be heard.
Volidana gives cross a half smile and shouts over the wind the whips her white hair and blue aura "Yes, sir I sorta picked up on that"
"Fezzznak zzztop wind, get good zzzzealant and materialzzzz!" the trader Lotorian snaps back, bouncing on his feet. "No need your zzztinky help!"
Innokentevna leans against one of the columns, slowly crossing her arms. She counts again and considers. but for the moment, the ungstiri deyvachka is quiet, watching Marlan ... haggle.
Tryklynn pushes himself to his feet, and then walks to a column. Rising on tiptoes he sniffs at it. "You wantzz me to get inzzz therezz, Doczzz?" He queries. "Well it izzz Tryklynn zzizzed I guezz. What doezz it do?" he starts pawing at the cover. "Letzz getzz open, yezyezyez!"
Marlan furrows her brow, "What do you want?" she asks. "We can get your chair built here. Built at the very top of the tower if you want, da."
Anastasia looks up at Feznak then over at Tryklynn, "Score one for techno," she says with a shrug, "Zero for trader."
"NO!" the trader Lotorian bellows, hissing and leaping from his column to intercept Tryklynn. "No zzztinky teknozzz tainting Fezzznak'zzzz columnzzzz! My columnzzzz! Mine! Take your zzztink back to zzztinky colonel'zzzz zzztinky chair!"
Cross watches, expression bemused. "Good thing we aren't working on a time table.", he looks back to the column behind him.
Tryklynn looks to the trader, whiskers waving. "Then you getzz in columnzzz, zzlimey traderzzz!" His muzzle nods, his eyes flash brightly. "And I zztay here with towerzzz, yezyezyez!"
Marlan takes a step forward, hands on the column in front of her, "Da." She shifts her gaze towards Tryklynn and the other Lotorian, nodding at Tryklynn's actions, "Time for us all to step inside, da." she remarks and begins attempting to open the column in front of her.
Feznak huffs, pushes Tryklynn's nimble paws away from the lid of the column and swings it open, muttering, "Zzztinky teknozzz, mezzzing up Fezzznak'zzzz new goodzzz." And then he pushes his way inside.
Once everyone has gotten into the columns...
The chimes at the center of the chamber begin to glow and resonate once more, louder and louder, brighter and brighter.
The cerulean glow of the chimes becomes more palpable, crackling like electricity and writhing like plasma, dancing among the tops of the cylinders, causing those with hair to feel it stand on end.
The coalescing energy recoils as it builds force around the crystalline columns, drawing energy from those contained within, amplifying what they invest. The energy crackles back toward the chimes, and the resulting whirlwind of light and sound is blinding and deafening - at least temporarily - as the blast of sound and energy forges a singular column from the center of the Kamir hold toward the ceiling. Another thunderclap, and the tower begins to shudder. Debris falls from the ceiling as it cracks and prepares to collapse.
With a sickening crack, the roof collapses from the continued bombardment of sound and energy. Feznak looks up in horror, pounding in futility against the crystal of his column as he watches his precious tower falling apart. Chunks of the roof bounce harmlessly off the columns, exposing the dreary sky above. And then, suddenly, the bolt of energy from the tower shoots up toward the stars.
Just as suddenly as it began, the light show and cacophanous concert end. The room is cast in dreary shadows again.
From Crystal Column 2, Anastasia winces and raises a hand to the scarred side of her head, giving it a sharp shake to try to rid herself of the buzzing there. She blinks as the light fades, letting her eyes adjust to the relatively dim lights, wondering if it was all over now. She waits and watches, uncertain as to whether or not it was time to leave, giving her head another shake.
Feznak shoves open the lid of his cylinder and comes running out, capering across chunks of debris, shouting: "My towerzzz! You broke my towerzzz!"
From Crystal Column 6, Cross' hand goes up to his temple and he grips his forehead, tilting his head downward. His left hand presses against the column in front of him.
From Crystal Column 3, It takes a moment for Marlan to realize the noise has ended, when she does her eyes open and it takes only confirming that the light show and concert ended for Marlan to attempt to open the column to exit it.
From Crystal Column 4, Innokentevna lets out a long long longe breath, gasping. A shake of her head, within the cyrstal tube, to try and clear away the stars from her eyes, the after glow of the bright enegry discharge. Shoulders slump, and her eyes finally close.
From Crystal Column 5, Volidana reaches her hand up to her head as she feels a sensation not unlike that of active psiblocker but nontheless distressing given the present circumstance. She struggles to keep herself righted and peers out in search of the others
Lind opens his eyes slowly, struggling to his feet. He groans, and focuses on his hands to stop them from shaking, then brushes off his field jacket as much as he can.
The front of Column 6 opens slowly and Cross stumbles out. He's holding his forehead with one hand. He steadies himself and stands, motionless, for a moment or two. Finally, he looks up, squinting slightly as he lets his hand fall from his hand.
Marlan opens the column and takes a step outside, right shoudler leaning into the column. Her eyes are still squinting as she roughly shakes her head before grimacing her raising her left hand towards her temple, "Hoopin..." her words end there, tough her hand remains at her forehead.
Feznak continues to crouch atop a pile of what used to be the roof of his tower. "Zzztupid! Thizzz towerzzzz defective!"
Innokentevna finally stumbles out of her crystal column, sagging to her knees for a momnt, her hands rising to her head. She cradles it, pressing her temples hard. Until she so very roughly ruffles her fingers through her short cropped hair, a vigouous and sharp combing. "Hoop ... Marly, can I go to sleep nov?"
Anastasia pushes open the door to the column she had stepped into, turning to close the door behind her before letting her hands find her coat pockets again. Dark and quiet, she says nothing, just stands as she usually does, still and unmoving as if nothing had happened.
Cross glares at Feznak, "I could have told you that an hour ago.", he growls, hand rising to his temple, "Would you mind buzzing quieter or something, I've got a headache."
Slowly uncurling, Tryklynn looks out across the tower and then he looks upwards, where the ceiling isn't, to the stars above and where the beam shot upwards. "Nowzzz towerzzz with a viewzzzz." he pauses, "Where didzzz all that energyzzz go?"
Lind stoops down and picks up his hat, banging it against his knee to dislodge the dust, which comes off in a cloud, "You all must be bloody crackers." he remarks sullenly, before planting the hat firmly on his head and adjusting it to the appropriate angle, "Nutters, all of you."
Marlan groans letting her hand drop, "Only if i can grab the next bunk." she replies and then still squinting, "Let's get the hoop out of here....maybe i can find all of us something to make this go away." she doesnt' appear to have noticed Lind yet. That is, until he speaks, "Warned you about that." she then adds, turning towards the sound of the voice and with effort, pushing herself up off the column she leans on, "Sleep and a pain killer. Between the light and noise...we didnt' have a hoopin chance."
Volidana walks out of the cylynder stumbling a bit "Like ten psi blockers at once.' she continues to walk in the direction of the stairs
Cross looks over to Lind and gives him a squinting, half-assed grin. "You've got that right.", he says. He starts walking away, "I'm guessing the nexus is open now.", he adds. His hand leaves his forehead again, although he's still squinting.
Swaying slowly atop his debris pile, the trader Lotorian rolls his eyes. His tail lashes about. And then he collapses, whiskers going flaccid. He becomes a veritable puddle of fur draped over the ruins of the roof.
"The lightshow was bloody impressive, though." Lind remarks, picking up his ever-present medical bag. Or perhaps it's only present when he's around the accident prone. He then he remarks to Cross, "I suppose we'll find out." His eyes drift up to the hole in the roof.
Innokentevna slowly, very slowly pushes herself up, until she stands again. "Da ... hate headaches. Hafe enough trouble theenkink straight." She pauses and looks to Marlan. "Marly, hov come I am ... hungry. Coult eat a hoopin ... elephant."
Marlan pauses now, letting her gaze move from one to the other, making sure they are in fact all alright. It comes to a stop on the collapsed Lotorian, "John...wnat to help get him out of here? Don't think i could manage it right now, da." then over at Katya where she shrugs, "Who knows?" she turns towards the archway, "Let's just get out of here, da. Less time we spend in ehre the better, da."
Cross shrugs, heading back for the archway. "I second that, Doc. This isn't exactly my idea of a vacation spot." He's standing upright now, eyes still half closed.
Tryklynn padpadpadpads up to the sleeping Trader. "Good ... can charge him for medical zzevicezz, zzinze he izz not crew. zzerve him right, zztupidzz towerzz trying to kill uzzz." The small one looks to Lind with a smirk. "I can grab tailzzz ..."
Lind shakes his head as he walks over and drops to one knee by the Lotarian, "Anyone know what an amonia capsule will do to a Lotarian? I wakes a human... and just about anything with scent receptors, right up." He snaps open his medical bag, removes the white, cloth wrapped capsule, and prepares to break it.
Anastasia remains quiet, keeping her thoughts to herself, heading towards the archway, head bowed and dark eyes locked on the floor.
"Hoop Marly ..." Innokntevna carefully picks her way towards the door. "You say zat efery time ve come here ..."
Volidana nods "need to get this buzzing stop before thinking can happen...we don't need to do that any time soon do we..i can manage walking but thinking at the same time...not sure" she follows after the others
"Great smell receptors. Probably wake him right up." Marlan replies, "But right now..." her left hand rises to her temple once more, 'perhaps better to keep him quiet, da. And...its not my hoopin fault if this is a miserable place." she finishes as she steps through the archway.
Lind snaps the ammonia capsule open and holds it under the proper nose, then tosses it in a corner. He stands up, takes his bag, and says, "Let's get out of here."
"Ahhhhhhh!" splutters the Lotorian trader. "Zzzztinky! Izzz zzztinky!" He bounds up, pounces off of Lind's head as he leaps for the nearest column.
Tryklynn nodnods, muzzle ducking. "Hizz towerzzz, he can keepzz itzzz."
Meanwhile, back on the plain...
Virvril watches as the crowd returns.
Innokentevna slowly walks from the black tower, each step tired, but each one careful. She stuffs her hand deep into her pockets, stopping once, to turn and look at the clouds above.
Marlan is following Cross out of the tower, limp visible with every step. Her hands are tucked into her pant pockets now and her focus appears to be directed solely at the ships and the men standing by them, not wasting time with scenery or to look back at the tower.
Tryklynn padpads forward, loose boots slapping on the hard rock surface. "Zzhipzzz much more truzzztable then towerzzz."
Cross walks back, head held upwards. He's walking slowly, but he's not stumbling.
Anastasia trudges out much as she had trudged in, the collar of her trenchcoat turned up against the wind and hands shoved deep into her pockets. Her eyes are fixed on the ground in front of her, head slightly bowed as she made her way steadily back to the ships.
Lind follows the crowd out, covered in dust and grime, carrying his black medical bag. He shivers again in the outside air and shoves his empty hand into one of the field jacket's many pockets.
Hezekiah emerges from the hatch of the Athena, hands steepled before him and hood drawn up about his head against the chill wind.
Anastasia finally breaks her silence, turning her head to look at Katya, "Why do you say you have to come back?" she asks quietly as they walk.
Volidana lifts her head and her eyes search immediately for porter as she heads shipward
Innokentevna slowly turns to head back to the ships, trailing a bit. She does anwer Anastasia however, words quiet. "Because openink a toor ees nefer an entink ... eet ees alvays just a beginnink, Ace."
Cross veers when he gets closer to the Athena. He heads toward Porter. "Well, it didn't kill us, but I've got a hell of a headache.", he stops, frowning, "Don't suppose you've got a bottle of pain killers on you?"
"Will see what I can do about the Centaurans," Ace replies to Katya, "Do you want me to prep ship for leaving?"
Volidana puts her hand to her head as if startled and winces. Then a slow smile spreads. Odd combination"
Innokentevna looks to the soldier as she steps under the wing of her ship. "Nyet ... but I alvays carry a case ov wodka, Cross."
Marlan adds, "Could of warned us the whole hoopin place was gonna fall on our heads too." Marly adds, having followed closely at Cross's heals.
Volidana puts her hand to her head as if startled and winces. Then a slow smile spreads. Odd combination"need to go somewhere quiet"
Lind opens his medical bag again and removes a white bottle, which he shakes, making a loud rattle, "Here. I suggest you don't mix these with vodka. And I'll be checking you all out before you go anywhere, as well."
Hezekiah remains silent, at least verbally so, though his sandals squeak slightly as he makes his way to the bottom of the ramp, stepping to one side of it so others can pass.
Innokentevna shakes her head quietly, "Nyet Ace ... lets stay at least long enough to catch our breaths. besite, brought hacker all zee vay out here, ve are goink to blooty use heem." She then gives lind a serious loo. "Marly's my toctor."
Cross holds out his hand, "I think I'll be just fine with that, as long as this god damn buzzing in my head goes away."
Marlan turns so she's facing in Katya's direction, "Your doctor" she says voice starting loud and then dropping, "Would appreciate you taking Dr. Lind's advice today, da. He can have my hoopin medbay, long as he lets me crash on the cot."
Anastasia shrugs to Katya and turns to head for the Gray Horse.
Hezekiah draws Volidana aside with him just a few feet once she arrives, out of the path of movement but close enough to keep an ear to things. He encourages her to sit and rest herself, sitting with her for warmth and companionship as he watches the others.
Porter watches Marlan and Cross as they approach. "What happened up there?"
Padding lightly, his jacket covered with dust, Tryklynn answers succinctly, "Fezznakzz' Tower tried to killzzz uzz."
Cross says, "Lights. Lound sounds. And the ceiling fell in." He continues to hold his hand out, "Pretty standard crap for us. Besides the odd pounding migrane, we all seem to be fine." He turns to look at the Lotorian, "As fine as some of us get, anyway."
Porter lifts his eyebrows. "Get checked out in medbay." He glances toward Tryklynn. "Is Feznak okay?"
Lind tosses Cross the whole bottle, "Right, take two, pass them around, call me in the morning." Looking at Katya, he continues, "And I should say that if Doctor Ranix is willing to be my patient, then you should be as well, by implication. Trust me if I say with no small amount of modesty that you will be in good hands."
Anastasia closes up the cargo bay hatch on the Gray Horse and pulls the ladder back down.
"Left him wizzz doctorzz, there." Tryklynn points to Lind. "Waz about to amonizzia-izze Traderzz. I knowzz what amniazzz doezz in coolingzz zzyztzemz, so left beforeI couldzz zzmellzz no more."
"Ah, so he's still up in the tower," the captain replies, nodding slowly.
Cross nods, "Sounds like a plan." He turns to Porter, "I'll give you the full rundown after I rack out for a while." He works at unscrewing the cap as he speaks. Tapping softly on it, he dispenses two small, white pills into his palm, which he then proceedes to swallow. "If there's nothing else,", he says again, "I'm heading back on the ship."
Porter nods to Cross. "See you when you wake up."
~Trust is not easily won~ The Mystic notes in response to Lind's words, hood turning his way. ~And often easily lost.~
Marlan notes, hand dropping to her side, "Someone should probably go get him, da...that place is nothing but trouble." she notes though she doesnt' volunteer to be the one to go get him.
"Bah ... only cause Marly says so." Innokentevna continues forward. "I just vant a real bet."
Cross tosses the bottle of pills in Marlan's direction. "I'll be knocked out for a while, folks.", he says as he continues walking.
Marlan reaches up, snatching the bottle of pills out of the air and reaching to her left to hand them over to Katya without opening it, "Forget a real bed, my cot will do just fine, da."
Lind reaches back into his bag and removes a unit does, "Marly, you'll want these... not those, it I recall correctly." He holds up the dose, two pills in a blister pack, "Extra strength, even. Non-asprin."
"I'll get him," the captain says, "just don't go flying off without me." Porter walks toward the tower.
Hezekiah shifts to stand as Porter moves. "If you wish, I will accompany you, Colonel."
"No, that'll be fine," the captain calls over his shoulder.
Marlan shifts her gaze to Lind, brow furrowing in surprise, "You remembered." she says, hand extending to take the offered pills, "Appreciate it, da."
Hezekiah nods simply, and settles himself back at Volidana's side.