Time flies. Sometimes. It has been a few days since the eyeball escapade and all has been quiet in the base. Well, for the most part. Whenever Violette stops by (which is most nights it seems), there is a tendency for the place to be filled with giggles, squeaks, and squeals. Mainly because she's a bit impish, and lies in wait to goose Icarus when he walks by. But, Icarus is a clever sort; he started sticking small muffin trays down his pants to prevent it.
It was during one of these visits more news came; it was the proper time for the funeral of Icarus' unwilling father Fearless-Eye. Icarus and Envoy were officially summoned to come to the Silent-One consulate for the ceremony. They were also reminded that the ceremony is traditionally done in the nude, so to be prepared for that. Walter, being the proper sort of gentleman that he is, politely declined attending. Elsa also declined, but for other reasons; she was indirectly responsible for the death of the Silent-One in question. Violette asked if she could go, then waggled her eyes at Icarus. This naturally made Icarus hide behind Envoy. And lastly, Morpheus agreed to go, even though he has the least connection to the whole thing.
The day if the funeral has come. Envoy, Icarus, and Morpheus have come to the consulate. There his two daughters escort them up to Born-In-War's office. True to form, the pair dance and circle around the group all the way up.
"Ah, you did come. Good," signs Born-In-War from behind his desk. As is typical for someone in his position mounds of paperwork surround him. "I do hope this time you will not start a war outside the consulate. I am still filling out paperwork from the last one." His expression is as solid as ever, but the feel of the comment is more one of mild amusement than actual annoyance.
Icarus is once more hiding behind Envoy. He peeks out from behind her now and then. They're all still dressed of course, but Icarus did wear the mask his 'family' here made for him during their last visit. Violette seems less afraid, she is too busy staring up at the high ceilings. "Rooms this size are lost on them you know; they are great for echoes and well ." The strange Eeee adds quietly, then draws a finger across her throat and makes a gurgling sound. "Completely incapable of making much more than animal noises"
"A war? It seems your traditions continue, Envoy," Morpheus remarks in deadpan.
"I did not start it," Envoy insists. "And I would like to introduce Morpheus, my.. special companion and advisor," she says, wondering how properly to title someone who is made from plant clone of herself and is actually a planetary control system. "Morpheus, this is Born-in-War, Icarus's.. great grand nephew I think?"
Born-In-War rises and walks over to get a closer look at Morpheus. "Not Khattan. Not Eeee," he signs. "What is he? Another experiment?"
"I am a neural monitoring and induction control system for the subconscious wave-systems of semi-complex organic life forms, such as yourself," Morpheus explains, seeming a bit amused at the up-close inspection. "I am also a planet," he both says and signs.
Born-In-War snorts, then actually ear-wiggles. "Your male. The ego is the clue. Planet, indeed, the Silent-One signs to Envoy.
"It's complicated," Envoy notes. "His body is made from a plant-clone I created at the Imperial Life Dome, then modified. He's a very close friend who has helped me for years."
The Silent-One also gestures for Icarus to come out. The hybrid does so, though nervously. "You are still uncomfortable around me?" Born-In-War signs, "You need not be. You are family. Even if you lack a proper muzzle and you ... talk."
"His lessons in Sign have been progressing," Envoy promises. "Show him, Icarus."
Icarus feels his own face at that comment. After a horrified look is given to Envoy, Icarus does try to sign. It is slow and halting, but it is remarkably understandable for someone who hasn't done it for very long. "I am ... improving. Slowly," he signs, "Enough, I hope to be acceptable."
"He would learn faster if we paralyzed his vocal chords," Born-In-War signs to Envoy, "It is a painless process. We use it on unruly children who bark too much."
"He still needs to be able to communicate with others," Envoy notes. "He can learn Sign at his own pace, Born-in-War. There is no rush, after all."
"An alternative is a noise collar. It causes minor discomfort if a sound is made," Born-In-War continues. Icarus cringes a bit at this; he apparently understood the signs. He also starts slinking back behind Envoy ... well, until the tall Silent-One actually winks at Icarus.
"I don't know ... if he was quiet he couldn't cry out when I surprise him.../" Violette offers, grinning like, well, mad.
"Violette came to offer Icarus some moral support," Envoy says, raising one eyebrow. "Perhaps one of those collars would help her to remain calm?"
"I am always calm," Violette claims.
Bon-In-War now eyes Violette for a bit. "A night flyer is your friend? Odd choice," he signs to Icarus. "But, this one is a survivor. She has suffered much; scar discoloration is rare; usually the one injured does not survive long enough for it to occur. She is an acceptable friend."
"You are a Chaos Mage," Envoy points out. "You are not always anything."
"I am always different," Violette points out and looking at Envoy cross-eyed.
"Hmmm," Envoy replies. Turning to Born-in-War, she asks, "What, if any, functions will Icarus be required to observe or participate in?"
"Traditionally, he would be expected to deliver the deeds of his father to all those present. He is also in charge of immolating the remains. Beyond that he would also be expected to have chosen a life-mate, as he would be expected to assume head of family," Born-In-War replies, "But I think the last part can be overlooked. Unless you do not mind if we select a mate for him. A pure-blood, of course."
"I am fairly certain he is not ready for that sort of commitment yet," Envoy says, then looks to Icarus to make sure.
Icarus looks horrified at the prospect!
"As for the duties of the head of the family.. what exactly would that entail, given that generations have passed?" Envoy asks.
"It is expected that he would enlist into the defense force, of course," Born-In-War signs, "And undergo proper combat training, then accept a military posting." The Silent-One eyes Icarus again for a bit, then adds, "But I think that can be dispensed of in this situation. Aside from the issues he would face due to being ... impure, the path of war is not one that should be forced on others."
"He still hasn't had a proper childhood yet," Envoy says, nodding. "So then, there aren't any decisions he has to make or anything? No approving of marriages, presiding over ceremonies or such?"
"Nothing that need be of any concern at this time. Not unless he wishes to challenge me for those rights," Born-In-War signs.
Icarus shakes his head no!
"As.. outsiders.. are there any special rules that I, Morpheus and Violette need to observe?" Envoy asks next.
"Be quiet and respectful. Be attired properly; nothing more than a mask at the most," Born-In-War signs. "And follow the directions and lead if indicated during the ceremony."
"Woo, it's naked time," Violette chirps from next to Envoy.
"Well, more for you and Icarus than for me and Morpheus," Envoy replies - then wonders if she should have checked to make sure nothing 'new' had shown up in the last few days.
"If there are no more questions, you will be escorted to a preparation chamber to change attire, then the ceremony will begin," Born-In-War signs.
"Let's go then," Envoy says to the others, and then notes to Violette, "And no giggling or goosing, understand?"
"Would I ever do something like that?" Violette asks innocently.
"If we take the past into account, yes," Envoy notes. "Please be nice and reserved. Icarus should not be blushing at a funeral."
Violette pouts. Icarus looks relieved. Morpheus looks amused. "You attract problems, Envoy, in an amazing way," he even remarks to her as they head towards the door where the twins are waiting for them.
"I thought I only attracted strangeness, according to the Chaos Mages," Envoy mutters as they proceed to the changing room.
Undressing goes amazingly well for the most part. Both Envoy and Morpheus don't have much to actually see. This does raise the curiosity of the sisters, whom both feel Envoy and Morpheus up just to be sure they really are that smooth. Icarus is a bit more embarrassed by it, admittedly, and Violette ... well, when you're half purple being naked isn't as much of a concern. It's not like it makes her any stranger looking. And thankfully the ceremony does begin quickly, so none of them have to dwell on the nakedness for very long.
Soft music plays, and the twins lead the group down another sleek hallway into a smaller room. It is likely a room that is normally used for moderate-sized meetings, but it has been converted to a funeral chamber today. And like many other rooms in this consulate, the room is taller than it is wide or long with great obsidian columns reaching upward to the ceiling. At the far end is a crystal casket holding the dried-out remains of Fearless-Eye. Standing next to it is Born-In-War. He is also completely naked, save for his mask.
"Wow, he's well-built," Violette whispers to Envoy. She even elbows her lightly. "They aren't built like that on Sinai..."
The Aeolun gives Violette a warning swat with her tail.
Icarus' ears twitch at that comment. He might be turning red, but it is hard to tell under his light pelt.
Born-In-War gestures for Icarus to come forward to stand on the other side of the coffin. There are no chairs in the room, so it is safe to say the others are expected to stand. The twins split from their usual pairing up and pirouette away to stand at either side of the room.
Standing next to Morpheus, Envoy smiles encouragingly to Icarus and stands with her hands clasped before her.
"We are gathered here to lay to rest the body and memories of one who has been lost to time," Born-In-War signs, "A patriarch, Fearless-Eye. Though time took him long ago; he has found his way home. And beyond all expectations, his child came with him. Though it was not a child of his choosing, he is a child none-the-less and will share his thoughts of this time with his family." Born-In-War turns and after a short bow to Icarus, gestures towards him, open-palmed.
Envoy nods to Icarus. Don't worry, everyone here is a friend or family, she tries to convey in her expression.
"/Hello. I .../" Icarus begins in sign, halting and rough. But, he does try. "/I do not know what to say to everyone here. I am not used to having a family. Or a father. Or .... anything. I also know I am not fully one of you. I was born of Fearless-Eye's ... hand. His cells were the basis for me, as were a couple other ... donors. I do not know if he had lived that he would have accepted me. But ... I do know what I would have said to him." Icarus takes in a breath and now turns to look at the crystal coffin. He swallows and his odd ears splay and droop. "/I am sorry,/" he signs to the coffin, "/For what happened to you. For the pain you suffered because of ... me. If I had the choice, I would have chosen to not exist over causing pain. But ... that choice was not mine to make. All I can do is apologize and offer that I will try to be worthy of who you were. If your descendant, Born-In-War is any indication of who you were ... then I have a lot to live up to. May you know peace./"
Envoy sniffs, and wipes at her eyes. She also smiles with pride at Icarus' maturity.
Born-In-War's head tilts slightly as he watches Icarus. Slowly, both of the Silent-One's eyes close and he nods just once. The nod is slight, but it is there. Born-In-War now extends his hand, palm down, and lowers it, gesturing to the small panel inset into the side of the coffin.
That must be the cremation trigger, Envoy thinks. She's still surprised by the various customs different people have regarding mortal remains.
Icarus places his hand upon the panel. A soft glow outlines his fingers; and the inside of the coffin also begins to take on that glow as the incinerator starts up within the pedestal and coffin. Writing etches out across the crystal, in both Silent symbology as well as standard. "The heir of the departed is recognized and accepted. Death is but a transition; continuity is legacy. As the old return from which they came, the young take up the mantel and burden. Through their children their memory will live."
Not a bad sentiment, Envoy thinks, and begins to let out the breath she was holding. So far, so good!
Violette has actually been quiet through all of this; the young bat looking a bit lost in thought. Her ears twitch, then her eyes widen in alarm. Envoy then feels tugging on her arm.
Looking down to the bat, Envoy raises her eyebrows questioningly.
"Um, things are feeling kind of wibbly," Violette whispers to Envoy. "Like the world is going all sideways..."
Envoy frowns and turns her attention to Icarus, trying to feel out any odd shifts in energy.
Icarus' attention is on the casket. The inside of it is glowing with a white light. Not bright enough to blind, but it is fairly bright. It is surprising it isn't radiating large amounts of heat. frankly.
Now Envoy can feel it. The room feels oddly tense. It is ... well, like stretching out a balloon. It feels like reality itself is about to pop in several places around the room. The feeling is ... familiar to when Envoy faced off against that creation in front of the consulate!
"Icarus," Envoy calls, breaking the silence. "Something is happening! Do you feel it?"
Icarus' head snaps up. So does Born-In-War's for that matter. As his mouth opens, reality at three points in the room rips open as if tissue paper! The light is blinding; the room feels like it spins, twirls, and goes upside down for the next few seconds ... and then Envoy's head is buzzing like mad. At some point she fell to her knees, because she finds herself looking up at some human-machine mangled hybrids with dark, pulsating crystals jutting out of their flesh. Morpheus gabs onto Envoy's arm and is trying to pull her to her feet. The twins have darted to the corners of the room and have huddled down. Born-In-War looks furious ... and Icarus is wide-eyed.
"No.. no.. no.. not NOW!" Envoy cries out, and tries to hold her head with her free hand. "Too much chaos.. Violette! Icarus, help Violette cast a spell to counter the weirdness!"
Violette starts to chant ... only it gets cut short. One of the three that appeared raises its hand and a sickly black wave of energy ripples out from its hand, slamming into the Eeee. She goes flying back, slamming hard into the wall, then sliding down into a crumpled heap. "That trick only works once," static-crackles an all too familiar voice.
"We have to get to cover. The pillars might help," Morpheus says to Envoy; he is even trying to drag her towards one.
Born-In-War is actually growling. He vaults off the crystal coffin towards one of the intruders in a blur of tawny spots. The speed at which the normally calm Silent-One moves is ... impressive.
Envoy growls, and sings out, "Synchronize" to try and bring her crystals online, even as she's hustled to the pillars. Stone! Everything here is stone or crystal or flesh - though there might be metal in the casket. Still, the only metal here should be in the cyborgs!
All muscle and sinew, Born-In-War pounds on one of the intruders. The human-creature staggers and stumbles backward ... up to the point it strikes back. It feels like space contracts for a second as Born-In-War is blown backwards and into the wall. He slides down, still growling. The Silent-One isn't out yet, it seems.
Meanwhile Icarus is just watching everything in horror. "No, no, no," the hybrid says, shaking.
Envoy feels a 'ping' of a sort when the dormant parts of her seem to wake up from her command. This only makes her headache worse, though, since they're vibrating wildly from the corrupted chaos in the room.
Gritting her teeth, Envoy thinks to her crystals, "Lesser Interface Amplification!" If she can increase the magic available, then she can hopefully overcome whatever resistance or shielding the cyborgs have and attack their metallic components.
This seems to get the attention of all three of the intruders at once! They raise their hands in unison in Envoy's direction. Everything around her and Morpheus seem to compress and close in. Envoy feels squashed to the floor!
"Ugh!" Envoy grunts, and begins her spell while she can, before she has to put up a gravity shield. A cantrip is as good as a minor spell for her at this point, so she spares a few seconds to sing out the Forge spell, targeting the entire area to try and heat any metal enough to damage the robotic components.
The crushing sensation around her wavers as the three creatures stagger. Envoy affected something, that's for sure!
With the respite, Envoy takes a breath and tries to bring up her own shield. I can't fight them with brute force, and their power sources are too chaotic to control, she thinks, trying to come up with a strategy in time. What are my advantages? I know how gravity relates to the other forces.. can I use that?
"Stop, stop, /STOP/," Icarus half-screams, half growls! His eyes look between his terrified 'cousins', his injured Eeee friend, and Born-In-War. His hands curl tight ... and a blue glow creeps up along his arms as his very skeleton comes alight. Now he's darting across the floor with amazing speed of his own. It's apparently his turn to strike, because when he hits one of the humans, he rockets backwards and slams into a wall. As the human slides down, spider fractures in the stone are left at the impact point. Envoy can /feel/ Icarus now more than ever. He is generating a /massive/ amount of power; the normally pale-white boy looks like a mass of living blue-rainbow crystal. "You will not hurt my family,/" he growls with amazing finality in his tone. A split-second later, Icarus has punched the floor ... and everything in the room just seems to /stop/. It's like all of gravity itself has suddenly let go in the room. Absolute weightlessness and silence.
"Too much energy!" Envoy gasps. "Icarus, don't use up all your strength!"
It somehow lasts both forever and no time at all. Gravity returns all too soon and everyone finds the floor rather hard. Thee three intruders, though, are gone. Completely gone. The bright glow in the center of the room ebbs and fades, leaving behind the familiar white pelt of the hybrid Icarus. Around his fist on the floor is a significant crater in the stonework; crushed down to a gemstone-like texture. He wavers back and forth for a few seconds, then crumples over into a heap.
Envoy rushes over to the boy as soon as she can move again. "Icarus!" she calls as she scoops him up. "Link and access diagnostics," she sings out, trying to connect to Icarus and see how much energy he's used up.
Envoy finds he isn't the only one who may be 'out of energy' so to speak. As she holds him, her own vision goes spotty and wavy ... and soon see only sees the floor rushing up to meet her face! "Primary body shutting down for regenerate cycle," she thinks she hears her own implants tell her helpfully. As if a face full of floor wasn't clear enough...
The world returns to Envoy's eyes in spurts and pinpricks of light. She can tell she is on her back. The light coalesces into the outline of bulbs above her. At her side Morpheus is sitting and holding her hand. "You both try your best to scare everyone near you," the clone remarks. "Welcome back to the land of the awake. You have been unconscious for about twenty hours."
"Icarus?" Envoy asks a bit hoarsely.
"On an IV in the bed over there. Born-In-War and his daughters are sitting with him. Born-In-War should be in bed too, given he has at least three broken ribs and a fractured arm, but he's stubborn. A common trait of the species, I am to understand. They've been feeding Icarus a dense chemical energy concentrate used for their species when they over-exsert themselves. It seems to work for him too, even though he is not pure blood Silent-One. His condition is one of ... as they put it, like he ran at full speed for twenty-four hours. But, since he is responding to the treatment, he should recover fully," Morpheus explains. "Violette is on his right. She's got a few bruises, but no serious injuries. Surprising, given her light frame."
"He needs to learn more control," Envoy says and sighs. "He didn't have the battery, and he didn't try to draw energy from me.. He has to be more careful." She tries to sit up.
Things feel stiff, but sitting up is not impossible. "He is young, he was scared, and everyone he cared about was in danger," Morpheus points out. "Have you not done things rashly before when you were scared?"
"Yes, but.. I didn't put myself in more danger if I could help it," Envoy notes. "These attacks.. I'm not sure if they're meant to be serious or are just for gathering information. This time they were able to copy the wormhole effect somehow."
"I happen to remember how much you risked for me," Morpheus points out. He looks over across the medical ward to where Icarus lies; his breathing shallow, but regular. Born-In-War sits nearby, watching him. The Silent-One's left arm is in a splint and a sling.
"I wasn't even awake then," Envoy notes. "I need a way to shut down these drones without them learning anything. It's time to see if we can tweak inertia itself."
Born-In-War rises and walks over to Envoy's bed. "Please allow me some privacy with this one," he signs to Morpheus with his right hand. Morpheus casts a questioning glance to Envoy.
"I.. alright?" Envoy says uncertainly. It's not like she can really object.
Morpheus nods and rises. He now hoes to sit with Icarus and Born-In-War sits down beside Envoy. "You have not been completely honest with me," he signs.
"I.. haven't?" Envoy asks. "I did not intend to deceive you, but.. some information is dangerous."
"He is ... considerably powerful and very dangerous," Born-In-War signs, then gestures towards the sleeping child. "It takes several thousand pounds of force to fracture the walls of this building, and he managed it. Whomever he allies with will have considerable advantage."
"He is not 'allying' with anyone," Envoy insists quietly. "He isn't a weapon, or a soldier - no more than I am. He defended himself, that's all, because I was too slow. Using this power.. you see what it does to him.."
"He is lucky you found him. Not many would see him as a child," Born-In-War signs. "Much is all about power, the balance, and the alliances. In most others hands, he would never know what it is to be young. Or have a chance to try to be normal." The Silent-One pauses there, thinking. "I assume those who attacked are from the same man I rescued you from?"
"Yes, Dr. Victor von Bronson," Envoy says. "I'm going to have to.. stop.. him," she admits with a frown.
"Not alone," Born-In-War signs. "Even if you are an ugly one-horned horse-thing, you are now family. And an attack on one is an attack on all. My resources are at your disposal."
"What sort of resources do you have, exactly?" Envoy asks, chewing on her lower lip.
"Several suits of powered armor and rail canons," Norn-In-War signs, "Rifles, light and medium general body armors, full medical labs, and access to equipment used for both biological and inorganic research. I also can raise a contingent of Silent-One soldiers if required for defense of this embassy."
"Do you have a.. workshop?" Envoy asks. "You must need to maintain the equipment, after all. I am reluctant to modify weapons though, unless you give me your word there will be no attempt to reproduce them."
"I have no desire to affect the balance of power in this city," Born-In-War claims. "I am too old for such ambitions."
"The enemy's cybernetic control technology is his weak point right now," Envoy notes. "Radio interference, electromagnetic induction pulses, electrical surges.. these attacks have been effective so far. The EMP from your railgun, for instance. I can have Walter work on technological methods, while I look into ways of turning the enemy's strength back against him."
Born-In-War nods. "/You will have access to what you need, as will your friend, Walter," the giant pile of spots signs. "/As I believe there is still time to deal with him. This attack I am certain was simply a test. If it was to kill, it would have been simpler to just shoot everyone when they arrived. They did not. I fear they were intentionally trying to provoke him to see what he would do. Or test his limits./"
"Every time they do, they learn something," Envoy notes. "I can't tell for certain if the teleportation is based off observations of Icarus or simply using an existing resource.. but he was able to locate Icarus somehow."
"Or Fearless-Eye," Born-In-War points out. "Genetic tracker."
"Does the cremation casket send out any kind of signal or data when activated?" Envoy asks. "Even just registering a notation in a data system could be important.."
"Time, date, and genetic registry of the occupant is recorded, yes," Born-In-War answers. "And registry of the passage of control access to the next of kin."
"Where is that recorded?" Envoy asks. "That system may be compromised if Von Bronson was using it as the signal to attack."
"Main archives in this building. It uses a crystalline data matrix," Born-In-War notes. "I will have it examined."
"You may want to check your tech staff for bugs," Envoy advises. "Remember the first one that attacked here looked like a normal human being, with all of the electronics inside of him."
"Noted. Now, you should rest," Born-In-War signs and stands. "And for what it is worth, I am sorry I could not protect him, either."
"You tried," Envoy notes. "Unarmed and naked, you attacked a bunch of monsters that just appeared out of nowhere. Icarus must get his courage in battle from the Silent-Ones." She lies back down to rest some more, and thinks to ask, "I don't suppose I could get a milkshake? I need some calories.."