Giving up on trying to determine who her mysterious savior was and after she managed to wrangle up the running eyeballs and stuff them into a closet (and woe to whomever is foolish enough to open that closet again) Envoy decided it was time to visit the Celestial Empire and 'borrow' the use of their laboratories. This naturally required contacting them and asking for favors, which could have proven interesting since it was her act that nearly destroyed their life dome! While trying to decide whom to write to, aid came from an unexpected source ... none other than Walter Thorndike.
Well, perhaps shouldn't have been that unexpected; he had been living with them during the time Envoy was sleeping deep in the plants. In fact, he was their start entertainer, along with his rather flashy machine and came to know a few of them rather well. One, as it turns out, that was a secretary to one of the head scientists. So after a bit of written correspondence, it turns out Envoy has been given permission to come to the dome and she may even use one of the labs! Thorndike would cover the fee for the use of the lab. What the fee is, though, Thorndike refuses to elaborate on, claiming it just isn't proper to discuss such matters. So ... It's off to the Celestial Life Dome!
"ThiSsss iSs the SsSame lab you uSed last time!" the Nagai escort proclaims as just Envoy is lead into the laboratory. Walter was pulled aside the moment they arrived by his 'friend' and practically dragged off to some unknown fate! The human-scientist-turned-lizard caught the attention of the Nagai and she too was shuffled off to be examined. No hard would become her they Nagai promised, and to be sure of that Icarus insisted on going along with them too. So ... that has left Envoy alone with her snakey guide. "We filled in the hole the Sseed left when it burrowed doWn. But, SsafeSt plan iS to StaY away from thAt Sspot," he continues as he gestures towards the filled in, and boarded over, hole. "Aand theSe ShouLd be tHe plants you wanTed!" There's also a pause that follows. "And PleaSe do not blow up the DoMe agaiN."
"I'm not in the habit of blowing things up," Envoy claims, and approaches one of the pods. "I don't suppose you've had these examined by a Spirit Mage already?" she asks the serpent.
"ThAt is not what the fIleS Say aboUt yoU," the serpent notes with a flick of its tongue. "And no, wE havE nOt. It haS nOt beEn a prioriTy."
"I have a theory about these plants," Envoy claims, and presses her hand to one of the pods before singing her Commune cantrip to see what she can learn from it directly.
Well, it seems to work. Or at least Envoy thinks it did because there is a slight 'rustle' for lack of a better term in the back of her mind. "ThEy are edIble and squIrm nIcely whEn eaTen," the Naga behind her offers helpfully.
"Does this mean there are now vegetarian Nagai?" Envoy asks, not getting much of a response from the plant. "Have you gotten them to prick people on demand?"
"MoSt peOple avoId theM anD iT HaS nOt beEn importAnt enOugh tO Try," the naga admits and rolls its coils in perhaps mimic of a shrug. "ThoUgh thEre was oNe whO wanTed them to PrIck hIs chilDren so thaT he cOuld eaT the clone in Front of thEm as punIShment."
"That is a unique aspect of parenting that I think I will not explore," Envoy says, and looks for the 'sampling' vine of the pod. "I strongly suspect these plants are using Spirit magic to accomplish their duplications. If they can duplicate me, then that would be proof - without a Spirit Mage to confirm it, anyway."
"YoU wiSh to copY yourSelf? That sOundS dangerouS!" the naga proclaims. "Will iT be abLe to breaK buIldIngs?" The vine takes a bit of searching to find as there are a lot of general vines in here, but Envoy is fairly certain she finds the right one; it is a bit ... needle-y.
"It won't be able to duplicate any of my abilities," Envoy says, sounding.. fairly confident. "I plan on reshaping it and replacing its brain anyway," she notes, before poking herself with one of the needles.
"YoU are nOt plannIng tO make a zombIe armY are yOu?" the naga asks. It's impressive when a Naga sounds worried. As for the needle ... ouch. It's not nearly as nice and sharp as a real medical needle would be. Also, it seems to have some sort of mild venom because it makes the entire area around the puncture point sting.
Envoy shakes her hand about afterwards in response to the sting.. then stops and wonders for a moment why she reacted like that. "No, I don't care for zombies," she notes. "Or armies, for that matter. Besides, it would set a bad precedent."
"WouLd it? There wAsss a ... moVing piCture thinG ShoWn by the tiTanianS a fEw weEkS aGo aboUt zomBie Pod SpaCe piRates in thE hUman city. ThE leAd heRo woRe fAke haIr. It fEll off twIce," the Naga notes as he 'leans' to the side to eye the pod. The pod currently sits there looking very dull.
"Humans are fond of putting their fears into a form they can use for entertainment," Envoy claims. "I'm not sure yet what role the popcorn plays though, so I may be wrong." She then starts her Commune spell again, to see if she can monitor what's going on at all.
Instead of learning anything from the plant, Envoy's puncture wound starts to itch. A very deep and annoying itch, at that.
Frowning, the Aeolun tries licking the wound.
After the lick, a tiny flower sprouts from the entry point. At least it quits itching.
"ThAt iS new," the naga remarks.
"Hmmm, last time it grew from my horn," Envoy mumbles, and tries to pluck the flower out.
The tiny flower pops out without much effort. Now Envoy is holding a tiny flower between two fingers. It's a pretty purple.
Envoy gives it a sniff, and then checks the puncture wound.
It smells ... floral? Her wound is ... well, it's gone. No swelling, either ... nor any signs of vines squirming through her forearm thankfully. "TheRe aRe planTS in the wiLd that eat peOple from the inSide oUt," the naga points out helpfully.
"Do they have purple flowers though?" Envoy asks, wide-eyed.
"WhAt is pUrple?" the Naga asks. Most serpents tend to be color blind, after all.
"This is purple," Envoy says, holding out the tiny flower.
"PuRple iS Small?" the Naga asks.
"Well, the wavelength is," Envoy admits, and just tucks the flower into her hair for now. "Please alert me if I sprout any more flowers," she asks, and turns back to the pod. This time, however, she closes her eyes first and thinks, "Synchronize" to try and get a magical boost.
"Access protocol accepted; handsake complete, link established" a voice inside her head chimes. The thought also crosses her mind that in many cultures hearing voices is a sign of insanity.
"It's a good thing my voices talk back," Envoy thinks. "Initiate lesser interface boost," she replies to the voice.
"Boost subroutine executed; biofeedback enhanced," the voices sing.
"One more time now, with feeling," Envoy says, and casts Commune again, putting a bit more power behind it.
Envoy gets that rustle sound in the back of her head again. Maybe the boost didn't work. Or maybe the pod just can't copy her. Yet ... after a few seconds Envoy hears something else, "Graaaaaaaaaaains!"
Envoy blinks three times, then turns to the Naga and asks, "Did you just hear something?"
"No," the naga answers. It's only a few seconds with her back to the pod ... yet there is a crack ... and then a slimy. green, hand grabs onto Envoy's shoulder! And worse, this time she hears her own voice behind her... and it says, "Graaaaaaaaaaaaains!" Wait? What?
After a startled yelp, Envoy turns to see what's emerging from the pod. She didn't know the podlings could talk!
What greets Envoy's eyes is a slime-covered, lumbering, version of herself. Well, physically shaped like her, including a horn of sorts; though it looks more like wood than anything else. The creature shambles towards her, arms extended. Once more it intones, "Graaains!" Only this time all the plant life around her and the Naga starts to quiver ... and Envoy detects crude working of earth magic!
"I don't have any," Envoy explains, and offers the little flower to her duplicate instead, before starting an accelerated Dispel spell, in case the clone really is stirring up Earth magic.
The shambling clone stops once Envoy offers the flower. It blinks three times. Then with a wave of its hand a vine shoots out and wraps around Envoy's wrist! "YoU maDe a zomBie!" the naga behind her accuses as it slithers back towards the door in a hurry!
"It was an accident!" Envoy declares, and reaches into her pocket with her free hand to grab the crystal node linked to Morpheus. She tries her Dispel to see if it at least stops the vines from acting up.
Everything in the immediate area stops; including the plant-creature before her . It now just stands there staring blankly ahead with a single small purple flower in in its outstretched hand.
Taking a deep breath, Envoy starts singing a more complex Shape Plant spell, and takes hold of the duplicate's horn, intent on sliding it out and then using it to push the node back in.
It's not easy following up a dispel with magic in this room. The shape spell is difficult to manifest well and that means extracting the horn isn't as smooth as it could be. The squelchy sound it makes doesn't help, either.
"Isss thiS normAl fOr yOu?" the worried Naga asks from where it sticks its head through the door.
"If I said 'yes' would it make you feel any better?" Envoy says, peeking into the hole in the veggie-lun's forehead before pushing the crystal node into it.
"No," the naga admits. Pushing the crystal node in is sort of like sticking a thumb into the center of a melon. Squishy and wet ... with little stringy bits here and there.
The squishiness doesn't bother Envoy so much as that it's happening in a duplicate of her own head. She pushes it in the rest of the way the horn as she tries to get that back in place next. "I hope you appreciate all this, Morpheus," she tells the creature.
It doesn't help that the creature is staring back at Envoy with vacant eyes and its mouth half-open. Getting the horn back in is no easy feat, either. The crystal inside has to be pushed even deeper for that to fit. Goo ends up oozing out and around the horn.
"Do you have a rag or cloth I can borrow?" Envoy asks her guide, not really willing to use her own sleeve if she can avoid it.
The Naga pulls out a white bit of cloth from a side-pouch it carries wrapped around its midsection and offers it to Envoy. "YoU cAn keEp it," the naga says.
Envoy uses the cloth to wipe the goo off of her clone's face, then leans forward to touch her own horn to the duplicate's wooden one. "Let's try to wake you up now," she says, then in Aelfin adds, "Synchronize."
Envoy has to wonder if this is the same expression she has when she is 'off'. There is no real sense of person when she looks at this thing before her. It is literally an 'it'. Except that she can hear a ping reply from somewhere deep in its head that says 'Link Established'.
"Morpheus, are you there?" Envoy thinks across the link.
"Yes. I am getting a very odd feedback ripple in the link. What have you done?" Envoy hears Morpheus ask.
"I've put you into the brain of my plant-clone," Envoy explains. "It probably still has a copy of my spirit. Can you access any of it?"
"Possibly. Why do you want me to try?" Morpheus asks.
"Because.. you wanted a body, didn't you?" Envoy asks, a little surprised.
"I didn't partcularly want your body," Morpheus replies. He even sounds slightly amused, perhaps? Or maybe it's link 'static'. "Hold on..."
"It's a plant, I can modify it later," Envoy notes.
"So you plan to fondle my body, do you?" the plant-golem asks in a slow, almost strained, way. The poor Naga declares, "It'S alIve agaIn! I'll get the flAme thrOwer!"
"No, it's okay!" Envoy insists. "It's under control."
To the clone, she notes, "It was exhibiting Earth Magic earlier, so you should be able to change it yourself."
"But It iS tAlking agaIn," the naga frets and wrings its hands.
"Maybe," the golem states slowly. It moves its arms in a halting, stop-motion, sort of way. "I need to rework its control system first. It is ... a bit faulty." There's a pause, followed by, "It is also slimy. And Green."
"It's supposed to talk, I just put a new brain into it," Envoy explains, hoping to soothe the Naga. "Most living things are slimy on the inside," she tells Morpheus, then blinks. "Or do you mean the slime on the outside? We should probably wash you off and think about clothing, unless you want to try and alter the form while it's still.. fresh."
"Until the link is better, I should not attempt alterations. There is probability it would become a five-headed slug," the clone admits. "So, for now ... perhaps a bath."
"Is there a cleaning station nearby?" Envoy asks her guide.
"YeS. Are yOu SuRe it iS SafE?" the naga inquires worriedly. "It iS quiTe ugLy."
"It looks exactly like me," Envoy points out, her eyes narrowing a bit.
"But yOu alreAdy knEw you were uglY, yesS?" the naga asks. "Now, follOw. A place of waSh ShouLd bE cloSe."
"The Nagas on Rephidim thought I was cute," Envoy mutters, and gestures for Morpheus to follow along.
Along the way through the vine-covered corridor Envoy, the shambling clone, and the Naga run smack into Icarus, Thorndike, and Daedaelus! Icarus and Daedalus stare at the green mass walking along in almost horror. And poor Walter ... he sums up the moment by blurting, "Oh may the Heavens help us, there are two of them!"
"But only one of us is naked," Envoy points out, trying to put a positive spin on things. "Now, does anyone else need a bath too?"
Thirty minutes later, and with everyone else disappearing because it's too weird to be around two of them, Envoy finds herself alone with her clone. Of course the mind in the clone is Morpheus, but still. They're also in a naga bath ... which is nothing more than a very misty sauna. It smells heavily of plant oils too; it really clears the sinuses.
Morpheus pokes at his (her?) chest. "These are odd to have," he comments. "Weight that serves to functional purpose. Well, unless it is useful in stopping impacts."
"Batteries," Envoy notes. "They help power my wings. How are your motor skills coming along?"
Morpheus waggles the fingers of the clone-form. "Functional," he concludes. "I do not think I can dance in a tuxedo and top hat yet, though." He also tries flicking the tail, which ends up smacking the wet, tiled, wall loudly. This causes him to blink three times, then say, "Ow. That ... hurt. That was pain."
"It is hard to get used to," Envoy admits, along with, "I'm not sure I could ever dance in a tuxedo with a top hat myself. Are there any changes to the body you want me to try?"
"Well, are you fine with me being female, or would you prefer that I look like a male of your kind? Yes, I know there is no such thing, but there are expectations of shape in most of the species of this system," Morpheus says as he feels around on the horn sticking out of his head. "It's weird to have a horn," he concludes. "Also, it is weird to be completely green. Can you change the color?"
"The color should not be too difficult.." Envoy notes, but sounds unsure. "If I can manage that, then other things can be tried." And so, Envoy begins singing a simple Mold Plant spell, to try and alter the fur color to white. I hope it is fur, and not grass, at least, she thinks before focusing fully on the spell.
It is ... almost like fur. Corn silk is the closest thing it could be compared to from her knowledge of different planetary foodstuffs. So it is at least mostly protein-based sheathing with a cellulose core. "Ah," Morpheus comments, looking decidedly uncomfortable all of a sudden. "So this is what tickling feels like." With the way that tail flicks; it sure looks like he's being tickled.
Figuring that means something is happening, Envoy continues her song. Rotate the proteins to reflect more light, she urges.
The green ... shifts. At one point it is a disturbing light-puke green, then it shifts even paler, then almost transparent! But, her expertise with plants shows because the clone-body ends up settling completely white. Granted any skin that shows is still emerald green.
"Well, that worked!" Envoy says, since she was only focusing on the fur. "How do you feel?"
Poor Morpheus's doe-like-ear twitches. "I don't know if that felt good or bad. I'm not used to feeling much at all," he admits. "How do you deal with so much input?" This coming from the being who can watch practically all dreams simultaneously.
"Well... since losing Probe I just seem to ignore a lot of it," Envoy admits. "If it isn't deemed important, my brain just shunts it off to memory without me being aware of it. Are you ready for more?"
After a full body shiver that seems to settle down the odd feeling of being tickled, Morpheus nods. "Please, continue," he (she) says and gestures with a small hand.
Envoy doesn't start immediately.. instead she seems to consider the form.
While she does so, the clone turns this way and that. A green and white version of Envoy. It's certainly ... different. "I feel dainty," Morpheus admits, "But it does not feel bad."
"This could take a while," she warns, and then starts working up a larger spell. This time the changes are a bit more fundamental.. and start with changing the fur from white to black.
"What are you doing?" Morpheus starts to ask, then ends up twitching again. Changing the color is easy enough since it's a reverse direction of the protein.
"Customizing you," Envoy notes, before moving on to the skin and scales.. once more going for black for the skin, but trying to tweak the scales to silver.
This time the spell seems easy for some reason. Tweaking the scales to take on a metallic tone ends up simple. And the skin tone is easy too, as it's just absorption of all light.
Keeping things going while she has momentum, Envoy blackens the hair and wings.. but leaves the eyes for now. The big stuff is still to come, so she warns Morpheus, "This next part could be painful. You need to yell if it is too much."
"Wait, what exactly is coming?" Morpheus asks a bit warily.
"Some tissue and bone alteration," Envoy notes with a smile. "To make you more.. boy Aeolun."
"That does sound like it will be uncomfortable," Morpheus concludes. So ... the clone sits down on one of the stools so the legs don't give out if it is too painful.
Envoy thinks of the minimal changes needed. "Wider and flatter in the chest, slightly slimmer hips.. heavier jaw. That should get the impression across," she recites, and then begins singing.
Okay, so the cracking sounds that come when she starts shaping the last parts are disturbing. So is the pained scream that comes from the shifting. Of course this leaves a bit of a problem; if she stops the body could be ruined. If she goes to completion, the pain may be immense! Which will she choose?
The scream really upsets Envoy's concentration - and her first impulse is to stop.. but she'd need to reverse the changes to avoid damaging everything. She'll just have to make it up to Morpheus! So she tries to accelerate things as safely as she can!
The spell goes on, and so does the screaming! It surely doesn't sound pleasant, but at least it does seem to be working. When the spell ends something impossible sits on the stool twitching violently. Something the Universe has never had. A male-looking Aeolun! "So that is what it must feel like to be set on fire," he admits. "Now the screaming in the dreams makes sense."
After winding down the last of the spell, Envoy rushes to Morpheus and hugs him. "I'm so sorry that it hurt!" she cries.
"Well, I can catalog that under a new experience," Morpheus says once his body stops shaking enough he can move again. So .... he awkwardly pats her leg while she's hugging him. "If I had been thinking clearly, I should have realized I could shut down the link for a bit. Granted the body might have attacked you then."
Envoy really is crying a bit, and has to wipe at her eyes. "This.. was new for me too," she admits. "Are you okay? I tried to make it close to what you're familiar with.."
"Everything still works. Or seems to," Morpheus says, "But with reduced batteries, I may not be able to fly as far." It's hard to tell if he was joking or not with that one. The delicate features of his face twitch a bit in thought. "Well, except for that. Hmm. I wonder how that is even possible."
"What is it? Is something broken?" Envoy asks, alarmed at the twitch.
"I actually cannot disconnect the link," Morpheus claims. "I can shift functions back to my main core temporarily, but ... if I relax, the focus shifts back here. And even with the shift back, I remain aware of this body. I cannot explain that."
"Oh.. the pain might have done that, I'm sorry," Envoy says. "But.. it's not going to cause problems is it? Cypher isn't left alone?"
"No. She's fine. It's just ... disconcerting," Morpheus admits. "It's less like I'm animating this body and more like it's an actual body. Different from the ones I can shape back on, well, me. It is ... more limited. Fragile. Small."
"You.. feel like I did then," Envoy says, blinking. "When I first.. woke up.. on Sinai."
"It is very uncomfortable," Morpheus admits. "Not that you did anything wrong; do not start thinking that. I will adapt and I am sure the normal flow of the link will return in time."
Envoy kneels down next to the stool, and asks, "What if it doesn't come back? To either of us? I don't know if I can do what I have to like this."
"You assume you have to do something," Morpheus points out, "There are laws that govern the universe; mostly physics and quantum mechanics. None of them state that an a consciousness is required to do anything. If things do not return, I will do what you did; adapt. I have an advantage you did not."
"You do?" Envoy asks. "What is it?"
Morpheus places his finger between Envoy's eyes. "Someone who already went through it," he points out and even manages a grin. "Of course if you do not want me around I will have to find another solution."
Envoy smiles despite herself. "So.. you'll be ready to deal with the next problem," she says. "I didn't bring any male clothing."
"I cannot wear what you wear?" Morpheus asks. "I have seen many dreams where a man dresses like that. It is not acceptable?"
"Well, I find it very comfortable," Envoy admits. "Except for the outfits with corsets. But I didn't bring one of those. I can send Walter to get you some clothes though. He wouldn't shop for them with me though.."
"He would not? Why?" Morpheus asks. "Did you scare him somehow?"
"I think some men are allergic to women's clothing in large quantities," Envoy supposes.
"And you are certain I cannot wear some of your clothing? I may have to until Walter can find something more appropriate," Morpheus concedes, then shrugs a bit. "Will having around another being that looks like your kind cause any problems?"
"My clothes will still fit you," Envoy says. "I only made you a little taller and broader. And.. well, there are some people that will react poorly to us, I'm sure. But only because they react that way to me already."
Morpheus considers this. "That may be a problem if I do not have your recovery ability," he points out.
"Well... I don't think they'd attack you.." Envoy says, looking thoughtful. "I'm sure you can be handsome and charming though. That might help with Latania.. or give the impression that you're reigning me in somehow.."
"Hm. I should pretend to be your mating pair?" Morpheus asks after some thought. "What if someone asks who or what I am? Should I be truthful?"
"Well.. you aren't technically a rogue spirit right now," Envoy notes. "And what do you mean by 'pretend' to be my mating pair? But honesty is usually best, as it is easier to manage. But.. probably best to gloss over the part about me sort of making your body. People will get ideas, and then I'll be spending all my time making boyfriends for people."
"Well, most cultures do have traditions and rituals that supposedly bond two people together. Then they wear symbols of it. Some more extreme than others, granted," Morpheus tries to explain. "But if you do not explain you made my body, how will you explain another of you?"
"Actually, I've found that once I start explaining most people just get a glazed expression on their face, or start looking for the nearest exit," Envoy admits. "So it might not be a problem. It might be faster to say, 'It was very interesting, but incredibly uncomfortable..' and that should force a change of topic."
"I just realized I do not know what this body requires. Do I have to actually eat?" Morpheus asks. "And bathe regularly? Do I produce a stink?"
"Well.. as a plant based lifeform.. yes, you'll need to eat, and get some sunlight.. just like I do! I don't know about sleeping," Envoy says, and scratches her cheek. "We'll just have to be on watch for any cravings you might have. I should be able to keep you healthy though."
"You do not intend to plant me in a pot, do you?" Morpheus has to ask. "Also, I am feeling a bit soggy now; shall we leave this bathe and find clothing?"
"Yes.. I hope they have towels," Envoy says, and heads for the door. "Oh! There's something we should do first!" she says, before opening it.
"What is that?" Morpheus asks as he gets off the stool and follows along.
The original Aeolun steps up to Morpheus and kisses him on the lips, just to see if it feels weird or not.
It feels ... awkward. But not because it's a kiss, because the recipient is still unsure of the body. The actual feeling it elicits inside, though, is nice. It's a feeling that seems like it had been missing for far too long and Envoy had just never known it until now. The only downside is Morpheus does taste distinctly ... earthy.
"That was not as weird as I thought it might be," Envoy says after releasing Morpheus, her tail swishing happily as she turns back to the door. "And I'm sure your body will react well to pizza!"
"What is pizza?" Morpheus asks as he reaches around her and helps open the door. This, of course, means he's also pressed up against her back and wings in the process. Fortunately, once the door is open he does step back.
"It is... well, the closest we can get to what we did in that dream that Inala gave us," Envoy says, stepping out of the sauna. "But with just our mouths and tongues and.. and now I'm hungry! Let's eat!"