The Palace in Safar is a converted hunting manor, but is still impressive. Tasha, Gabriel, Aaron and Hakeber meet the Queen and her entourage there. Today, Jade-Eyes actually looks more royal, wearing a layered Zolk robe in various shades of brown, with a collar-piece fashioned to resemble stylized Creen feathers radiating from her neck and draping over her shoulders. On her head is a crown of golden wire, rising up from her forehead to form a spread-winged Creen, it's wings colored with inlaid pieces of shell to represent the feathers.
From there, the combined group heads to the nearby private dock, where they board canoes. Jade-Eyes and her guard take the lead, with Tasha and Gabriel in the middle boat and Hakeber and Aaron in the last. Another boat follows with a pair of body guards. Each one has a frog-like Shiga at the front and rear to paddle. The trip along the river is long and warm, but that doesn't seem to affect Hakeber and Gabriel, who seem to enjoy the trip through the jungle to an ancient city quite a bit, while Aaron takes a nap.
As the canoes make their way down river, Tasha lays back in the rear her her's, watching not the jungle, but the sky. Despite her apparent comfort and ease, inside she's fighting the same internal battle she has since yesterday evening: trying to sort out her emotions regarding her work, the words of Cliff-Shadow, her treatment of the Queen and what it means to be here.
Under the glow of the Procession, Tasha had slipped out of their hotel, intending on making her way to the palace to ammend her earlier words with action and apology, but as she walked, she began to see the familiar pattern that has followed her mistakes in the past; she saw that, once again, she was running to beg for absolution. While not always the same reason, the results, she realized, are the same: a mistake, a slip, a failure, followed by internal grief, and then retretaing to someone else to tell her things would be OK, that everything was fine.
In a word, it was childish.
She had known that for some time, but it never sunk like it had that night. Rather than enter the palace, she spent the night walking, thinking, and planning. I can't keep running for forgiveness and for someoen to hold my hand every time I make a mistake, or feel weak, she told herself. If I run back, I insult the dignity of my patrons and make myself look like I don't know what I'm doing; that I'm just a girl playing at these things ... that I can't handle my own mistakes without someone else to forgive me. No more ... I can't do it anymore. She had promised herself. Instead of seeking an apology, she went home to get some rest. Tomorrow would be another day, and she had a job to do.
As rides down dangerous jungles go, this one is pretty sedate. Not that Tasha can really drift off or anything, since Gabriel's tail keeps wagging and brushing her legs. This is exactly the sort of thing the Karnor was hoping for, most likely, in terms of exploration. Tasha can also here Hakeber rousing Aaron every so often to point out some plant or insect, talking about how dangerous their equivalents are on Abaddon - to which the Lapi usually says, "They're smaller here, but still dangerous. Don't lick anything."
I'll just have to prove I'm worthy of her trust in dealing with the artifact and the Titan, Tasha muses to herself as the yellow-blue haze of the jungle sky passes on by. The rest can come with effort, and hard work. Closing her eyes, the young woman can still feel the weight of responsibility and the lingering tug of the young girl who wants to beg for forgiveness; she smiles, though, knowing she can handle the burden and that the little girl's voice isn't so loud as it used to be.
Rather than join the conversation, Tasha remains quiet, content to feel the boat move, hear her friends, and turn her thoughts to what lay ahead.
The sky changes as they approach their destination, going from clear blue between the overhanging trees to a slightly more bruised color. Oddly, the change doesn't seem to affect the daylight at all, not even tinting it. A reminder that while the sky might not be obviously violent, the City of Hands is in a Forbidden Zone.. or under one, rather. The canoes reach a small dock, and the sound of a waterfall rumbles nearby. Gabriel hops out when the canoe stops, and offers his hand to Tasha with a happy smile on his face.
Opening one eye, Tasha grins back at her mate and reaches to grab his hand. Within moments she's up and out, sheathing her weapons and stowing her supplies. "Having fun, are you, Captain?" She asks as she finishes up, hands tugging her baldric and making sure it's holding fast.
"Oh yes, this is.." the Karnor starts to say, then just waves his arms around. "Perfect," he concludes.
"It's a jungle that doesn't try to eat you!" Hakeber adds enthusiastically.
"Of course it'll try to eat you, just.. not in one bite," Aaron corrects.
"I hope you weren't too bored by the trip," Jade-Eyes signs. "I hardly notice it myself anymore."
"Is it?" Tasha asks, brow raising and head tilting. "I have to admit, it does have a certain charm, what with the ancient ruins, bright colors, and warm temperature. Even the sky is less fearsome than my last Forbidden Zone." Turning to Jade-Eyes, the young Vartan replies, "By boat, airship, truck, Titan or spaceship, there's no getting around the road between you and your destination. Most of us are used to it by now, and for Hakeber, it's a new experience."
"Come this way, and you'll have a chance to freshen up," the Queen signs, and heads towards a collection of large tents. The cliff hangs overhead, sheltering them, and not far away the foundations of a new palace are being laid out in a shallow crater. Inside are numerous cushions, and the air smells of fruits, flowers and a touch of perfume or incense. "I apologize for the humble furnishings, but I do not usually have to entertain here." Jade-Eyes notes apologetically.
"We're am expedition, and while we might have diplomatic papers, we're adventurers at heart. Roughing it is not only part of our job, it's expected in situations like this. Still, we appreciate your kindness in thinking of our comfort," Tasha says as she look around. "I think I can safely say that this is the nicest reception we've ever had prior to enterting a ruin."
"There are still areas that are off-limits," Jade-Eyes warns. Attendants bring in refreshments while the group settles. "Some areas have not been fully explored, and others are dangerous to enter since the attack weakened them. We've only managed to partially restore some of the buildings, and there are places where we suspect there are structures, based on the dreams of my little sister."
"Magical precognition? That's interesting. I have a feeling that was how we located our first vessel." Tasha murmurs as she stops to take a look at some structural work. "It's unfortunate we're unable to being our vessel to this world, or we may have been able to run some deep soil scans and map out the ruin for you. We did something similiar in detecting ground water for the Pit of Himaar."
"I wouldn't call it that," Jade-Eyes notes. "Emerald-Eyes is something of a reincarnation of the last Priest-King's daughter from thousands of years ago. She sometimes has dreams that are memories of that life, and can provide valuable information."
Tasha turns from what she was inspecting and resumes followjng, moving to the Pries-Queen's left rear so she can watch her hands and still get a good look at the ruins. "Dreams of another life that provide answers? Reincarnation? Is that so?" She exchanges a glance with her mate, then offers tenitively, "You might think this is the crazy interpretation of an explorer who's seen too much, but sometimes, ... Sometimes it feels like I've have the same thing. Dreams of past events, visions of places, people I've never met ... Nothing so definite as what your sister seems to have, and there's many explainations as to why they happen, but still they can be a little ... uncanny."
"The mages call it Spirit Affinity," Aaron comments. "Basically, if a person is nearly physically identical to someone who lived before, they may relive memories and such from that person. The reason being that the world can't tell the difference, or the spirits merge or... okay, they don't really know. It's just something they decided was a magic-based explanation. Mages don't like mysteries."
"There are many things Mages don't like," Jade-Eyes signs, with a slightly bitter curl to her lips.
"That makes sense to me," Tasha admits before shrugging, "but who asks a Vartan for their opinion on magic?" When she notices the curl on the Queen's lips, she holds up her hands, "Not that I dislike magic. Not exactly. I'm, well, warming up to it. Slowly. Besides, what Aaron says makes sense in my case: I already know I'm physically similiar to Lieutenant Commander Nora Argentine, so much so the vessel she was stationed on recognized me as such. It's how I came to have a portion of her memories, as the system decided I needed them to fulfill the task contained in her records."
"I'm not sure what you mean by any of that," Jade-Eyes signs. "But we have tea if you'd like."
"I can explain if you like, and tea would be lovely," Tasha replies as she follows along.
An attendant serves the tea while everyone gets comfortable, then the Queen nods to Tasha to begin her explanation.
Settling cross legged on a pillow, sips her tea and then, after glancing to Hakeber who she's certain hasn't heard this story, she begins. "During my stay in Amazonia, I was called upon to investigate a threat to a remote mountain village, where I and my team encountered a ..," pausing, Tasha glances to her mate, reaching over to take his hand, " ... environmental armored suit in operation that was kidnapping the local people. After disabling it, we found the holo-tags -- technologically advanced identifiers -- for Lt. Nora Argentine. I'm not sure why I did it, but I put them on before leading my team in to the mining complex that the village used to obtain its rare metals. Inside, we found a ship -- a Terran Expeditionary ship. Further in, we located the med bay, but were disabled by its automated medical robot and placed in to preservation tubes, a medical device used to treat injury and sustain the crew in case of emergency. It was inside that tube I was connected to the ship's computer, and to the
and to the memories of Nora. It was also there I learned about the history of our world, the Fleet, of technology and many other things. The machine concluded that I would need Nora's memories to reverse the intubation proceedure and carry out her mission, and so I did, taking with me what the ship had protected for so long. It would be this event and the seeds of the past we brought with us that would serve to found the JEF."
"And so, here we are," Tasha concludes.
"I don't suppose you have informed the Temple of this find?" the Queen signs, looking wide-eyed.
"MOTHER, the Silent-One computer acting as backup for the ship, was disinclined to permit our departure with what we discovered and attempted to kill us by igniting the engines of the then on board Titan; there would be little intact left to find. Aside from that, we did report to the appropriate government: the Expedition of Abaddon, who are the descendents of the Terran side of the Expeditionary Fleet. Based on their reaction and further finds, we determined that an organization aware of our past and equipped for exploration was needed to recover what was lost, explore what has yet to be found, and keep safe these and other technologies so that the mistakes of the past do not repeat, and so that we may fulfill our mission as the Joint Expeditionary Force of old," Tasha answers. "As such, we try to be politically neutral, but we have our patrons; the matter of the Temple is still being decided."
"It is all a bit much to take in," the Queen signs while sipping her tea. "And somehow this ties in with the ancient Titan hidden here?"
"Well, yes and no. Your Seraph may be the brother of my own Titan, which would mean that, aside from the quality of tha machine, the machine may interact with the artifact in some fashion. As the only one equipped to interface with my Titan, and as the one who discovered the possible connection, this mystery interests me. It is, of course, only one of our reasons for coming here, and it will not stop us from disabling or destroying the Titan if safety should demand it," Tasha answers, folding her hands around her cup in her lap. "My cybernetics -- machines imbedded in my head -- protect me somewhat, and I have the most experience with these sorts of Titans. Aside from that, I believe this wetware is trying to guide me in their recovery and use."
"I do not have signs for many of those words," Jade-Eyes notes. "I can only say that the Seraph has not been uncovered yet. It may be in the unexplored areas that we know of but have not gotten to yet. Our priority has been the restoration of the city proper, and not the outlying structures which may or may not still exist."
"It is understandable that you would focus on safety and expansion for your people over recovery and exploration; were I in the same position, I would do the same. As an explorer, however, entering in to dangerous areas for evaluation and recovery is just part of the job; we risk ourselves so that others do not have to. I hope we can help reduce the burden on your shoulders in this way," Tasha says. She then smiles and adds, "Besides, after coming all this way, I can wait a little longer; though I'll admit, my curiosity is strong."
"You will need to have a historian accompany you," Jade-Eyes notes. "We've already had one unfortunate incident where an historical account was erased due to misguided beliefs." She seems embarrassed by that statement.
"Of course. It will be interesting to hear -- or should I say read? -- the history of the City of Hands. This is a historical site of significant importance, with many facets, and should be treated with respect," the young Vartan agrees, smiling a little more. "Besides, I've already learned my lesson in that department. Our Captain could tell you stories." And she winks, hoping it will make the young Queen feel a little better about her own mistakes.
"Although if we do find the Titan, for your safety and ours, I ask that I be allowed to enter the chamber -- and then I ask you should seal it behind me. If it should prove dangerous, it would be best to not give it a chance to free itself. It would be also be useful to locate the Marker beforehand, as it could be useful in interacting with the machine," Tasha adds, feeling she'd best get this out now where it can be discussed and not come as a surprise.
"The Titan should be operable by any warrior," the Queen signs. "But we race ahead of our shadows. It would need to be found first. I can show the plans for the city, including the areas that are yet unexplored but suspected."
"That anyone can operate it is all the more reason to seal me in once the door has been opened," Tasha insists, but doesn't press farther. Instead she nods. "A Titan would likely be placed in a external hangar, though there's also the possibility that it is stored deep inside and was meant to be deployed via a lift. Of course, that's Expedition Era placement; the Priest-King and the Twelve-Times-Twelve may have relocated to a point where an opening in the hull, or other exit. Anyway, lets take a look."
"It was never meant to be deployed," the Queen notes. "It was sealed into a vault because it was too powerful to destroy or use." She stands, and so do Tasha's crew. "The foreman has the plans, and I will call for a historian."
"I find it hard to believe that anything is beyond destruction," Tasha admits as she follows along. "Beyond comprehension, perhaps, but not destruction. Legends are often ripe with hyperbole." Tasha falls in line, walking behind Jade-Eyes to find the foreman. "Still, the legends at least serve to remind us of caution."
There is a large open-air management area near the palace grounds, with designs and maps spread out on tables. The map of the outlying buildings is set out, with some areas marked in red (for destroyed), green for 'determined safe' and blue for 'unchecked'. Most of them are in the canyon itself, but one is actually atop a cliff overlooking the city, and is marked as a monastery. A Shiga historian (looking a bit like an upright salamander) is brought in to help. "I'm told you are seeking a place spoken of in the legends once written on the walls of the Creen's Nest?" he asks.
"That's correct. However, we'd also like to hear of any other sites of interest, in particular those with working machinery, computers, or objects of interest." Glancing to Gabriel, she asks, "What do you think about splitting up? Hakeber and I will search specifically, and you and Aaron can search generally? That should cover everything, sir."
"I'll worry about you," Gabriel warns. "We'll need a second guide as well."
"The tabernacle is off limits to anyone but the Queen," the historian notes. "There was a map chamber that could track the motions of the sky islands, but it was destroyed in the Nagai attack. If you truly seek the Seraph, I would suggest starting at the Monastery, for the location of its tomb was entrusted to the monks."
"I know, but I wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't the best choice. You'll be most able to recognize technology and records of importance, while I and Hakeber are best suited to investigating the Titand and Marker. Aaron has experience with ruins and can help with any Sinai history you may need," Tasha notes, canting her ears back. "I won't contest if you prefer we stay together, however."
"I don't mind looking through the 'deemed safe but not fully explored' areas," Aaron notes.
Glancing over, Tasha nods to the historian. "That's a good idea. From what I've heard, I'm rethinking my idea that it may be near the surface. It's clear a great effort was undertaken to hide it away, so it could be anywhere deep in the superstructure. Having a clue would help a lot." She then glances back towards Aaron, and nods. "I think that's a good idea. the more eyes we have out there the faster things will go."
"You girls be careful," Gabriel tells Tasha and Hakeber. "Remember, Tasha, that above the cliff walls you cannot fly without risk, because of the Forbidden Zone."
"I will; no need to repeat the past, right?" Tasha smiles, then after taking a step forward and shrugging, gives Gabriel a kiss on the cheak. "You take care of yourself too."
"I'll have the bunny to protect me," Gabriel says, grinning.
"He's more dangerous than he appears. You'll be safe with him," Tasha agrees. After smiling at the man a moment, she turns back to the scholar and asks, "How soon can we set out?"
Tasha then snaps her fingers. "And that reminds me, I'm also rated as a technician for Silent-Ones optical technologies, so if there's anything you'ld like repaired I can take a look at it."
After a second guide-historian is called (this one a cute young Savanite girl that makes flirty eyes at Gabriel), the first one (named Glisson, it turns out) leads Tasha and Hakeber to the base of one of the cliffs. "Now, according to Princess Emerald-Eyes, there is a path up the wall.. it's just a bit overgrown and crumbled in places," their guide notes. Despite the declaration that it's there, the path is not immediately obvious.
"We'll follow your lead then." As they move towards the hidden path, Tasha drops her voice and asks Hakeber, "Did you see that other guide flirting with my Gabriel? I was standing right there; the nerve!"
"Well, maybe she didn't know, or has daddy issues?" Hakeber offers. "I've made flirty eyes at him too you know.."
Glisson pokes around here and there, looking lost. "This.. this might it?" he suggests, finding an overgrown area that seems to slope upward along the cliff.. even if its only a foot or so wide.
"Oh really?" Tasha eyes her companion, suddenly seeming to loom a bit, ears up and tail high, though she doesn't seem to notice it. "I knew you'ld be trouble." After eying the other woman a moment more, she then grins and smacks Hakeber on the shoulder, "But that's why we get alone, I suppose!" She insits.
Looking back, Tasha blinks at her guide's antics, asking, "Are you sure we're going the right way? I'd hate to tresspass somewhere we're not supposed to go." Craning her neck, she peers upward, trying to gauge how close the Forbidden Zone might be. "If I was so unsure of that Zone, I'd just fly up and guide you through myself."
"Well, the Monastery is at the top of the cliff," the guide notes. "But I do not know if it's safe to fly close up there. The Princess never brought her flying friend to this place." He scurries along the path, pressing his chest to the cliff wall as much as possible. Hakeber swallows and places a foot on the path to test the footing. "I think I might be afraid of heights," she tells Tasha.
"I can fix that." Stepping over, Tasha simply hefts Hakeber up on her way to join the guide. "If we fall, wrap your arms around me so I can glide to safety. Here we go!" Soon, Tasha's edging her way along with the shiga, her wings kept spread and back against the wall.
"Oh.. oh I didn't mean it about the flirting you know, Tasha," Hakeber pledges, trying not to look down. Tasha's hooves do fine on the narrow path, as does her balance (from having hooves in the first place). The going is slow though as Glisson feels out the path. Rocks and shrubs and vines get in the way and need to be cleared, and there are places where the path has fallen away the gap has to be jumped. The route zig-zags along the cliff face for hundreds of feet, until they finally reach the top. The guide falls flat on his back and hyperventilates once they're on horizontal ground again.
Even Tasha, who has spent most of her life doing heavy labor, has to take a seat on a nearby rock after putting Hakeber down. For some reason she insisted on wearing parts of her armor, as well as bringing her weapons, pushing the limits of her endurance.
"Whew," the young Vartan heaves, panting. "It's not so bad at first but after the first several hundred feet ... all this walking around and living well is making me soft .... " She chuckles-wheezes.
"I feel f-f-f-fine," Hakeber says, standing shakily and shivering. "I'm glad I didn't have a big breakfast or drink too much tea though."
Pushing herself to her feet, Tasha throws her arms wide and declares, "Welcome to adventure," her arms then going limp as she trudges towards the structure aheadc of them. "Is this it? No more cliffs, right?"
The stone edifice ahead is covered in vines and creepers, so that only it's verticality indicates construction. Although the tree growing on top, just above the entrance, is probably not doing much for the structural integrity of the place.
"Ah, it is there, thank goodness," Glisson says, pushing himself to his feet. "After all that.. I would have jumped off the cliff if there was nothing."
As she stares at the building, Tasha reaches for her water flash and takes a long draught before passing it to Hakeber. "And I'd have to rescue you," she replies to the man with a laugh. "Well, should we go in?"
"Oh, the lamp!" Glisson realizes, and opens his pack to assemble the miner's lamp he brought. "May I suggest we go back the long way around the rim of the canyon? There is an elevator platform at the waterfall.."
"There aren't any ruin monsters on this planet, right?" Hakeber asks. "Or.. barrow wights, zombies, vampires, ghouls, trolls, goblins, ghosts or giant spiders?"
"An elevator ..?" Tasha eyes the man, wondering if the Priest-Queen put him up to this as a joke. Remembering his collapse after arriving at the top, she decides no one could be that much of a masochist. "Lets just head in." She waves a hand for everyone to follow as she begins for the structure's entrance. "Those are much more of a concern on this world than Abaddon, but I'm fairly sure the giants are mechanical and the trolls and goblins are fictional."
"I am not reassured," Hakeber notes. "Why did I have to be sober for this?" she laments.
"As much as I like to drink too, this isn't something to drink over," Tasha insists as she nears the entrance. She looks up for a moment, eyeing that tree, and then heads inside.
Glisson gets the lamp lit, and shines it ahead of them. The main corridor's ceiling has collapsed in places, yet doesn't let in any light due to the heavy vegetation. Curtains of vines hide the visages of statues lining both sides.
Drawing her weapon, Tasha keeps it handy in case she needs to use it as a machette, then pausing to make sure Hakeber is keeping close. "There aren't a lot of visitors here, I take it?"
"I would say not," the historian notes, and tries to pull away vines from of the statues. "The line of Priest-Kings," he notes in awe. "This is a valuable find!"
"It's definitely in the Silent-Ones style," Hakeber notes. "Right down to the way the hands are positioned."
Tasha slows down to examine the statues, but finds her interest marred as she recalls Cliff-Shadow's review of their rule. She had once belived the Silent-Ones were the victims of a cruel fate, only to learn that before they had been made slaves, they were the slavers -- and worse. Beyond her disgust, she finds thinking about her own use of power, and how she, too, could follow them if she's not careful. "Were they all tyrants?" She asks, hoping for a spark of the positive. "From what I've head, Priest-Queen Jade-Eyes may be the most merciful of the lot."
"They expanded the power and influence of the Empire," Glisson notes. "This is a good sign that the monks kept the Silent-Ones traditions alive though, even those the Priest-Kings changed so much."
"I see. Lets continue," Tasha insists, beginning to walk even before she finishes the sentence.
"We don't want to overlook anything," Glisson notes, before turning the lamp ahead. After the statues, the floor slopes down, stopping at T-junction turning left and right.
"I'm sorry, they just put me in a bad mood," Tasha admits, turning to wait for everyone else. "Maybe they're a little too close to home. I'm a little afraid I'll end up like them, and staring at them makes me question why I'm doing all this; if anything will really change, or am I just repeating the mistakes of the past?" She takes a step back towards the last statute in the line, frowning at it as she leans in to look in its eyes. "I wonder if it's naive to believe in what I do, but I keep telling myself, even though I know it may be naive, it's not wrong ... That I'm helping someone, even if they don't matter to history."
"Well, uncovering the past is pretty important, if not urgent," Glisson claims. "At least, not usually urgent." Once Hakeber catches up.. it's time to pick a direction.
"Which hand do Priest-Kings prefer when speaking authoritatively?" Tasha asks as she returns to the junction.
"The right hand," the historian says. Hakeber adds in, "Because it is farthest from the heart, and those supposed to be more objective by Silent-Ones custom. There aren't any left-handed Silent-Ones on Abaddon."
"Right it is," Tasha decides, and begins down that way. "Given the importance of the Seraph, I can't imagine they would abandon symbolisim for its sealing."
The right-hand corridor splits after a short while. This time the right bend opens into a room, the door long gone, but the room empty. After a few more turns, Glissom uses a piece of paper to map their progress through the maze. And it really IS a maze, although there are stairs going up and down seemingly at random. The emptiness of the place is also a bit disconcerting, especially when turning a corner reveals another statue in an alcove. These are Priest-Kings, however; some carry books, or swords, or less obvious tools. At the end of one of the many dead-ends stands a statue of a monk cradling a square slab of stone in his left arm.
"This is odd," Tasha remarks as she steps towards the statue of a monk. "Priest-Kings everywhere, but here, a simple priest. And a stone slab ... " Reaching over, tasha tries to brush the dust and debris from the face of the stone, eyes searching.
There's an inscription on the stone: the figures of a male and female cheetah. It looks like the way races are represented on other Markers, except that these figures are clothed. Of course, it's stone, not Marker material.
"I think we have a lead," Tasha calls out, waving the others forward. "There may be a hidden door or other compartment around here." Stepping back, Tasha eyes the statute and thinks out loud. "If I were a Silent-One several hundred years after landing, how would I seal this? Optical technology is still viable, if not perfectly. There's also simple mechanisim." After brushing debris from the statute's eyes, Tasha signs, "Open."
Nothing reacts to the sign, but Glisson says, "The Princess mentioned moving part of a statue to open a hidden chamber."
"On to mechanicals, then!" Leaning in, Tasha begins adjusting the statute, trying to move this and that, while also trying to not feel odd about it.
Glisson helps by shining the lamp at anything that looks like a joint.. but nothing moves.. except for the statue itself, when Tasha leans against the tablet. The whole thing rotates counter-clockwise slightly.
Tasha leans back and scratches her head as she eyes the now askew statute. Pulling in a sharp breath, she then leans forward and puts her weight behind the stonework and begins trying to twist it. "I miss ... computers," she mutters.
With a horrible grinding sound, the statue turns.. and so does the wall beside it, as if connected by stone gears.
"Now that is worrying," Hakeber notes. "Do you think there are deathtraps behind that.. uh.. door?"
After cringing from the noise, Tasha pulls back and rubs at her arms as she stares down the darkened hallway. "I think that depends on how valuable the perceived the Marker to be. I know the thing conflicted with their own mythology, so, it's likely it would be sealed away to prevent prying eyes from finding it. And, given the general severity of the rule back then, I'd say it's a good possibility. Time to tred lightly." Carefully Tasha begins in to the darkness, using her sword to check for pressure plates. After a step she seems to remember her helmet, and puts that on as well. "Lets hope they're old and rusted."
It's slow going, until they reach the stairs. The corridor is narrow, so that they have to go single file. The stairs continue down, moving deeper into the cliff until they come to a stop at a small platform. The etchings are repeated on the wall ahead, but this time the man and woman face one another and hold together a square shape. There's something like a keyhole at the center of it, but the hole is round.
"Hmm, now what could this be about?" Tasha asks, her voice muffled by her helmet. Stepping forward, she waves the others to join her before kneeling to peer in to the hole. "Any ideas? I'm thinking a hand."
"It's too small," Hakeber notes, covering the hole with her thumb.
"Ah.. the legend says the chamber can only be opened by one of the royal line," Glisson recalls. "That might be a place for the royal signet ring."
"I see that now," the Vartan remarks as she gets in closer. "This extra helmet isn't exactly easy to see out of." Prying her helmet off, Tasha stuffs it under her arm and puts the other on her hip as she thinks. "I don't suppose you have a royal signet ring?"
"The Queen wears it, of course," Glisson says, looking shocked at the suggestion that he might have it. "It is the proof of her office."
"I see," Tasha says, leaning back. "I wasn't sure it was still in use and not lost to the ages, or considered a museum piece. This does, of course, require we go back down and ask her if she'll be kind enough to open this, but I'd prefer not to claim more of her time than necessary. Do you have any wax in that lantern?"
"Wax?" Glisson asks. "It.. it's an oil lamp."
"I've got gum," Hakeber notes, referring to the weird stuff she likes to chew on every so often.
"No wax candle or ..? No I suppose not. I think I'm getting too used to electric lighting, and forgetting things. That or Nora is taking over my mind." Glancing to Hakeber, Tasha's ears perk. "Show me?"
Hakeber produces a sugar-cube sized lump of the sweet stuff. "What are you thinking of doing?" she asks.
"I'm not exactly sure yet, but I have the first part down." Taking the cube, Tasha feels it in her hand and asks, "Will this stuff harden after chewing? And preferably not stick to anything such to make the Priest-Queen reconsider our visit?"
"Uh.. well, it does harden eventually," Hakeber notes. "But.. it also sticks.."
"We can't risk getting it stuck in there. I was going to use the wax to get an impression of the object used to fit the lock, hen attempt to copy it using what we have here. But if it just sticks in there we'll have an even bigger problem on our hands. Unless anyone else has an idea, we should probably exit. I can fly down and ask the Queen for help," Tasha explains.
"Let's shine the light down the hole?" Hakeber suggests.
"Might as well," the young Vartan agrees, gesturing the guide forward.
Glisson shines the light into the hole.. and an almost blinding flash returns! The Shiga nearly drops the lamp in surprise. "Did you see that?" he asks.
"I did ... " Tasha replies, sounding intrigued as she rubs at her eyes. "It may not be a simple locking mechanisim after all, but a laser-reader." Reaching in to a pouch at her side, she pulls out a pair of exotic looking glasses and slides them over her muzzle. Then, she steps forward and places her hands infront of the opening, and, with her thumb and forefinger of each hand, makes a square. This she tries passing infront of the hole. "May as well try the signs first," she says as she begins the motion. "But it probably is a signet reader."
Signs don't do anything, but with lamplight not shining in directly, there's enough scattered glints that Tasha can tell there is faceted crystal in there.
"Well, I can tell there's a crystal in there, probably faceted. It might be a reader -- it's probably a reader ... Though, it could be a visible-light holographic key reader; I've never seen one before, however. That would make finding the key even more difficult." Grabbing her helmet, Tasha double-layers it with her glasses and hunches down to try and get a better look. "You don't have anything that resembles a crystalline tube around here, do you?"
"I don't have any crystal anything," Glisson notes, sounding more and more nervous. "I'm sure we should tell the Queen about this."
Standing up again, Tasha pulls off her helmet and nods. "Well, it was worth a try. Lets head out. You two can have a bite to eat and rest while I fly back down and notify her."
Tasha has some issues retrieving the queen. The first is just getting out of the maze that is the ancient monastery, since there were plenty of dead-ends that they sill marked with chalk. Hakeber and Glisson nervously set up camp outside. For Tasha, it's a glide down to the canyon floor - under that bruised sky that screams at her sailor instincts to avoid the air at all costs. But she doesn't get struck by lightning.
On the ground, tracking down Jade-Eyes isn't too difficult, as she's still at the palace construction site, discussing things with the architect.
Rather than interupt, Tasha walks over to stand a discreet -- but visible -- distance from the Queen and her architect, then folds her arms behind her back and waits at ease. In this way she hopes to be 'present but unobtrusive' so that Jade-Eyes can get to her when she's ready to do so.
After a few more minutes to deal with whatever issue had cropped up (and Silent Sign is not exactly fast when dealing with anything technical), Jade-Eyes turns to smile at Tasha. "You are back sooner that I expected," the cheetah signs. "I hope there hasn't been an accident."
Tasha returns the smile and bows when she's approached, then she shakes her head at the concern. "No, your majesty, my team hasn't suffered any injuries; but thank you for your concern. In fact, it's quite the opposite situation: we've made a small discovery that may lead to a larger one. Unfortunately, there appears to be a faceted crystal laser reader blocking us from advancing further in to the ruins. Our guide believes that your signet ring may be the key."
"It has only recently been recovered," Jade-Eyes signs, and points to the palace foundations with her left hand. "During excavation." She holds up her left hand to show the ring, which looks like a typical signet used for stamping wax seals. "Is it difficult to reach this lock you have found?"
"There's a heavy stone wall blocking progress, and given the, well, standards of the time I have a feeling the system will not take well to intruders trying to force their way inside, your majesty. If we had time and access to technological resources, I might be able to render a copy of the ring and attempt to use that, but there's always the possibility I will miss something anyway," Tasha explains.
"You need me to come along," the Queen summarizes, and starts walking towards her tent.
"If that is your majesty's wish, however, I am concerned with your safety," Tasha replies, hurrying to walk along with the Queen until the edge of her tent. "If something were to happen to you, it might destabilize Safar and endanger the harmony of your people. We ... " We are expendable ... Tasha finishes in her head, recalling back to thoughts about risk and the value of individuals, including herself. If she were to fall, what would happen to Gabriel? Harmonia? The JEF? The artifacts? Her family? And yet she's pressed on, knowing it could happen -- assuming the risk even as it endangers not just her life, but others' as well. She has pressed on because she must; because in many ways, no one else can. More importantly, she recalls, no one else should have to risk themselves because I will not. She's not quite satisfied with her logic; there's so many nuances, she could spend a week and still not be satisfied, but at least she has enough. "Excuse me. We be happy to have you; please forgive my e
excessive concern."
"I fully intend to be safe," the young Queen signs, and then.. goes about gathering guards and engineers and from a nearby tent produces a tall cheetah with a bearing similar to Cliff-Shadow. "This is Twilight-Wing, one of my trusted advisors on arcane matters," Jade-Eyes signs, putting an emphatic thrust when she makes the sign for 'trusted.' "We will take the elevator and go the long way along the canyon wall."
"As you wish, your majesty." Turning to Twilight-Wing, Tasha cocks her head to the side and says, "It is a pleasure to meet you. If I may ask, were you a member of the Twelve, or the Twelve-Times-Twelve? Perhaps a ... 'shadow?' ... mage, by the sound of your name?"
"Yes," the tall man signs. "I was of the Twelve-Times-Twelve, and then the Twelve. Now I serve the Royal Family more directly."
"I've heard something of the history of the ancient Empire, and while some of its practices were disturbing, to put it mildly, there is still a rich and fascinating culture history to it, not to mention many lessons to be learned. If her majesty doesn't mind, and you do not as well, may we talk along the way?" Tasha asks, peering up at the man. Even as she asks, she watches the man's eyes, trying to read them.
As with the other Savanite mage she's met, Twilight-Wing betrays little with his expression. "I have dealt with strange creatures full of questions before. We may talk. It is unlikely I will be needed during the journey."
The 'elevator' is more of a broad, round basket-like platform with several lines running up to a set of cranes hanging over the cliff high above. It's also wet from the spray of the waterfall.
"Strange creatures?" Tasha asks as she walks, ears flicking and brows raising. "Am I that strange? I'm half Vartan, and half Karno- ... Excuse me, Jupani. Anyway, as a meber of the Twelve, do you have any experience with the Seraph Titan? I was informed the Twelve participated in its reconstruction."
"I was not a member of the Twelve at that time," Twilight-Wing replies. "The Twelve sacrificed themselves to stop the last ancient Priest-King from devouring the People and the City. The Seraph was constructed over many generations, before the Priest-King had it locked away."
Conversation pauses during the ride, as all hands are needed to hold on for balance. Once at the top of the cliffs, the roar of the falls is enough to drown out spoken voices, at least until the part gets underway again. Jade-Eyes stays close to Tasha and Twilight-Wing, while the engineers go ahead to scout (and clear if necessary) a path.
"Interesting, so it was a long term project then. That does suggest more extensive modification than if it had been remodeled in just the span of a few years. Still, it's hard for me to translate the use of magic in to corresponding levels of technological tool use -- it's a gap in my understanding that's becoming untennable," the young hybrid remarks as she stands back the scouts do their work. "I never thought I'd say it but ... I think I need to learn about magic, if I hope to be of continued use in exploring the heavier SPF areas. Technological expertise only goes so far when it comes to Sifran technology."
Twilight-Wing pauses and turns to look Tasha in the eyes, as if measuring her. "Magic does not affect the crystals of the ancients," he signs.
Tasha turns to fully face Twilight-Wing, matching his stare with a curious look. "No? But it does manipulate the SPF, or the product of the SPF -- the malability of reality at a fundamental level. Some of our scientists believe they understand the fundamentals of how and why this can be done, but the power required is enormous. It is interesting that certain materials resist or are immune to magical crystals prevailent in Sifran construction, suggesting an inherent immunity through their makeup, or, perhaps, that the system will not permit its controllers to be damaged by its own use, much like the safety systems found through our own technologies."
"If the crystals are source of magic, then it follows that magic would not affect them," the Mage notes.
"I've had some experience with that," Jade-Eyes signs. "Out beyond the Gateway worlds, where magic is unknown. A mage was able to conjure in the presence of a crystal artifact."
"Really? Now, see, now maybe we have something there. I've seen Sifran artifacts activate in areas of very low SPF concentration, but here's what puzzles me: what are they being powered by? Our own scientists have theories as to the fundamentals of magical effect production, but the power required is enormous. Even with pandimensional energy feed from the Forbidden Zone and whatever energy the torus ring provides, there would still be some sort of transmission across space to distant artifacts, unless ... unless the transmission does not obey the 'flat' universe and is tunneling, or even jumping universes ... " Tasha plants a hand on her chin, scrunching up her face. "Perhaps the artifacts simply call in the field request to the central distributor ... but how? FTL communication? Is there a relay net in place or is it brute force ... "
Both the Queen and Twilight-Wing refrain from commenting, but at least Jade-Eyes shrugs. "It is called magic because it cannot be explained," she finally signs.
"I don't believe that," Tasha bluntly insists. "We came to these worlds to understand them. At one time, we did nearly understand them, even if we couldn't reproduce the effect for a lack of infrastructure. I believe, at one time, even the Sifrans did not understand these things; they learned how to build them with great trial and effort. It may not be possible for the average person to understand these things in their lifetime, but forgive me your majesty, but I think the claim that 'magic cannot be understood' is simply convience, not truth." She bows her head a little.
"I never claimed that it could never be explained," Jade-Eyes points out. "Only that we cannot do so now, or for as long as we have utilized what we call magic. Even beyond these worlds, those who sent the Expedition have no explanation."
Tasha pauses, but tenatively nods a moment later. "All the more reason to keep searching then. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but some day. That is part of the beauty of civiliazation," she insists.
The path is winding, oftentimes losing sight of the canyon altogether - which is apparently considered the most dangerous time by the engineers, which slow down and test the ground as if afraid the next step will send them all over the cliff.
As the conversation fades in to silence, Tasha keeps her chin up and becomes more active in assisting, moving to help the scouting actions by offering her wings to the cause. In this way she puts some distance between herself and the Safarian leaders. This isn't working out well, she considers as she searches. Every step forward is followed by another step back in terms of diplomacy. I can't help but feel our superior backing is half of what's keeping us afloat here; every attempt to get along with these people has resulted in another mistake or culture clash. It might be best to accelerate our schedual and move on. It's not how she hoped things would go, but she's found her plans rarely survive long after being implimented. No sense in getting discouraged; there's still a lot that needs to be done.
After nearly an hour of trudging and hacking and fording, the campsite comes into view: Glisson sunning himself on a boulder, and Hakeber leaned against it and napping in the midday heat as well.
"You may want to rouse your companions before we officially arrive," Twilight-Wing suggests to Tasha.
"I was just thinking the same thing," Tasha replies to the mage's sign, keeping her voice low. "Thank you for your consideration; we didn't expect that the Queen would come in person."
Taking wing, Tasha 'jumps' the distance between herself and her companions, landing with a clatter of hooves amd the call of, "Ahoy there, sleepy heads! Look sharp; her majesty will be arriving shortly!" She offers a hand to Hakeber, to help her stand.
"Huh?" the Karnor asks, rousing slowly. "Why is this world so hot all the time?" The Shiga historian is up instantly in comparison, feeling energized from the sun-nap.
"You'll have to ask Dr. Zerachiel for the long explaination, but do please make yourself presentable." Dropping her voice and using the hand up as a cover to get close, Tasha says, "I get the feeling diplomacy isn't going well. Between the first meeting and my talk with them on the way over, I don't think I'm making headway ... Perhaps even backtracking. We need to do better to make up for it. Look sharp. Please."
"What have you been saying to them?" Hakeber asks as she straightens out her clothes.
"I am told you have been successful in your exploration," Jade-Eyes signs once she and her crew reach 'conversational range' with the camp.
"It's complicated; they're coming," Tasha whispers before turning back to the road and shifting to stand at ease as she awaits the Qyeen's arrival.
"Indeed, my Queen," Glisson gushes excitedly. "The monastery has an unparalleled collection of statuary depicting the founding Priest-Kings, and possibly even earlier rulers, from before Star worship was replaced by the older gods.."
Tasha bows to the Queen, and seeing she's addressing the others, moves to begin collecting her team's things and preparing the lantern.
The engineers waste little time, breaking out exploration gear and lighting.
For Tasha, it may seem annoying that they take so much time in the first chamber. Granted, it is of greater historical value to the Savanites than a legendary weapon would be. Twilight-Wing is impressively able to identify the three most recent Priest-Kings depicted, including the last one whose ambitions led to the fall of the Empire.
With the Queen distracted, Tasha gathers Hakeber and under the pretense of going over a map, whispers, "Every time I talk to her about anything more in-depth than simple conversation or notices it feels like I offend her -- both of them. The man beside her is a Shadow mage; one of the old Twelve, and I had little better results with him. It might be best I avoid them both and turn over diplomatic duties to Gabriel."
"Where you.. uh, lecturing them, rather than asking for their opinions?" Hakeber whispers.
"I might have been," Tasha admits. "But at this point I'm uncertain of how to fix the situation and I'm hesitant to try given the results thusfar. I'm not going to sink our expedition just to prove I can fix this, which is why I'm seriously considering briefing Gabriel and admitting I'm at a loss."
"I think maybe you're just being too passionate about things," the scholar suggests. "It can make you a bit confrontational. You have to remember that our mission is not their priority: rebuilding their culture and cities after they were destroyed are. And buying the freedom of their brethren."
"You may be right. I'll try and curb my enthusiasim and keep conversation to a minimum unless I think there's some way I can expand and assist on those topics. Thanks Hake," Tasha whispers back. She gives Hakeber a smile as she folds the map, then gestures to the room. "No need to worry about this then. Why don't you enjoy the history?"
There's more note-taking, and even rubbings of inscriptions. Due to the isolated nature of the monastery, no plans are made for restoration yet, despite Jade-Eyes wishing she could have the statues for the rebuilt palace. During this time, the engineers had been busy in the corridors, making sure there was a clear, well-lit path as Glisson showed them where they had been. When the time comes to move on ahead, there's no interruption due to damage or poor light.
Past the statue and hidden door, Jade-Eyes examines the inscription on the wall. "This is what drew you here?" she signs to Tasha, noting the Origin Marker-based engravings.
Tasha spent her apart from the group that gathered around the Queen, moving from statute to statute by herself as she considered what meaning may lurk in the chiseled face of ancient rulers. When it was finally time to move on, she made her way to the front and joined the party down. Now in the hidden chamber, tasha folds her arms as she watches the Queen inspect device. At the question, she nods. "Yes, your majesty. I believe -- and my collegue concurs -- that the markings indicate an Origin Marker."
Jade-Eyes twists her signet ring, and the 'signet' piece detaches to reveal a crystal. She takes a deep breath and inserts it into the keyhole. The engraving lights up, and splits. The ring is pulled out hastily as the wall begins to open up.
Uncertain, Tasha offers hesitantly, "As one of the better armored people here, would your majesty allow me to proceed first, in case there are any lingering dangers?"
Several guards are assigned to go with Tasha, followed by Twilight-Wing. "Be careful, do not rush," the Queen signs. "Steps-Lightly is an expert at finding traps, heed his experience."
"Of course, your majesty," Tasha agrees, inclining her head. She then reaches to put on her helmet, fastening the straps. Once that's done, she draws one of her weapons and then nods to Steps-Lightly that she is ready.
Beyond the door are.. stairs. No Silent-Ones optical tech is being used to light the way, so it's lanterns or nothing. And the stairs go straight, downward for at least a hundred yards before leveling out. "This was done with magic," Twilight-Wing claims. The stone certainly doesn't look cut, like the rest of the monastery. This seems to reassure the trap-finder, Steps-Lightly. He winks at Tasha and signs (out of Twilight-Wing's sight), "Mages don't like complicated construction. Less chance for traps."
Tasha coughs, caught off guard by the joke and nearly bursting out laughing as her anxiety and stress colide with the sudden humor. To her relief she remembered to put on her helmet, thus muffling the noise somewhat. After clearing her throat, she signs when she thinks no one is looking her way, "I can't say I blame him! Let me know if you need any help, including muscle. I'll be right behind you if something goes wrong."
The bottom of the stairs are reached with little fuss. Another corridor extends deeper into the cliff, and to what may be a larger space ahead, from the way the light is being swallowed up.
"The ancient Empire certainly had a flare for dramatic architecture," Tasha remarks as they reach the bottom of the stares. "I noticed a similiar design quality in Expedition-era Silent-Ones vessels." After glancing around a second, Tasha asks, "Do you sense anything, Twilight-Wing?"
"No active enchantments or curses," the ancient mage reports.
"Good, good ... Prior to arriving we had heard stories of supernatural activity within the City, though that appeared to have cleared up, at least according to our source ... Still, it's not hard to believe the supernatural could lurk down here. I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but this does look like it leads to a larger chamber -- I can't catch any reflections of indications of size," Tasha says. "At least we'll be able to spread out."
Once they reach the end of the corridor, the light of the lanterns is reflected, amplified and refracted until the chamber becomes clear..
Tasha's breath catches in her throat as the room alights, stunned by not only having the Seraph appear out of the dark, but by the beauty of the room, and the refraction of light. For a moment her mind simply blanks, forgetting the stress of the day, the struggle to get this far, even the weapon in her hand, nearly dropping it. As her senses slowly return, she realizes she hasn't felt this sense of awe since she found Melchior.
"It's beautiful ..." she breathes, reaching to pull off her helmet so she can take it all in. "And yet, the awe. So much history, and this intimidating presence ... I'm ... I don't really know how to express it in words ... "
While Tasha gapes, the rest of the party shows up. "Oh wow, this is classic Silent-Ones," Hakeber notes, leaning over the balcony railing. "I think that altar at its feet.. that could be the Marker."
Blinking, tasha shakes her head until she wrenches her gaze from the sight before her. "Ah?" Pulling in a deep breath steadies herself, putting her helmet back on its hook, and then removing her glasses so that she isn't in constant shiny shock.
"I ... " She glances over the railing, down to the smaller pedestal, and nods. "I think so, though I'm surprised the Seraph would be so close to it, and in such a pose. Did they realize the connection, I wonder?"
"If the original Magi had it, maybe," Hakeber notes.
"It is.." Jade-Eyes starts to sign, and then just drops her hand. She has a worried look on her face.
"It's possible; I had wondered if we would find them together. And though here I am, I feel anxious ... and ..," Tasha lowers her voice, watching the Seraph as her ears cant back and her expression falls, " ... that maybe I've made a mistake; that I haven't handled this right, or have missed a sign. Is this what you wanted of me ..?" It's unclear if she's asking Hakeber or talking to herself by the end of her whisper, her eyes shifting to glance to the Queen, and darkening more for it. "Something's wrong," she says a second later, and starts towards the Queen.
Jade-Eyes looks downright haunted as she stares at the Titan. Her hand is still at her side, but the fingers twitch, as if she were mumbling to herself.
"Are ... are you alright, your majesty?" Tasha asks as she approaches the Queen, her steps slowing as she becomes increasingly alarmed by the woman's reaction. "Twilight-Wing, are you sensing anything??"
"There is no magic here that I can detect," the mage replies, perhaps hedging his bets with the last part.
Slowly, Jade-Eyes turns away from the Seraph to look at Tasha. She raising a shaking hand and signs, "No more false gods."
"I'm worried about the Quee-" Tasha begins to warn the mage when Jade-Eyes turns to her, causing her to freeze as she catches sight of the ruler's expression, and signs. After glancing towards the Seraph, Tasha asks the Queen, "No false gods? What do you mean? Is it communicating to you ..? Do you sense something?"
The queen just shakes her head, and suddenly looks.. young. "I was very foolish.. not too long ago," she signs. "I would have turned this over to a man who claimed to be the Star given body. Look at it. It is not made to be a machine. I have seen the Titans of the People on Zion. They are not so beautiful. This thing is what the Khattas wanted, I see that now."
"A false Star? The Khattas?" It's Tasha's turn to look alarmed, the young woman biting her lip as she runs a hand back through her hair, forgetting all the work she had put in to it. After exhaling, she turns to brace her hands on the rail and stare not at the machine, but at the floor. "The Khattas ... I see. Please, tell me everything. There are things you should know; about these machines, the Markers, and myself as well."
The Queen seems to come out of her reverie more, and notices the engineers and guards again. "Later, in private," she signs just to Tasha. "What comes next? Do we dare go down there?"
"Very well. I only offer now, because this may be the last time I have a chance. Before me is a line that I must cross, though I do not know if I am worthy to do so, and I fera there is no turning back beyond this point. I've been guided to this place, but until now, it has just been dreams and hints in the dark. Here is where it will now become reality. Jade-Eyes," pushing off the rail, Tasha turns to the Queen, ears flattening, "I'm sorry I couldn't be the person I wanted to be for you. This place unnerves me, but it is no excuse. My wings will not fall away easily; I know I have done you a disservice, but I didn't know how to correct it. I foolish and stubborn and in over my head, but want you to know that, whatever mistake you have made, that I admire you. Perhaps I am even jealous you have traveled farther than I have -- that you have beat me to part of my life's work. Whatever I have said, please believe that. I think you are a good leader."
Stepping back, Tasha takes a moment to catch her breath, then spreads her hands and admits, "The reason I was so insistent when we met is that I had met another of the Twelve. I had believed the People to have needlessly suffered these years due to no fault of their own. And then I learned the truth. It made me doubt what I am doing; it made me fear power, as you do. I feared I, too, would be seduced; that I would lose heart. That is why I pushed so hard. I was trying to arrive before my faith had died." The Vartan's hands fall, her face lighting in a apologetic smile. "Now you know. I cannot face the Seraph holding guilt and stubborness in my heart. I do not ask for forgiveness; I thank you for hearing this." And then, she bows.
Jade-Eyes returns the bow, and even gives Tasha a kiss on the forehead. "I know how to be overwhelmed, to have one's faith tested and to be presented with power that comes as a tool. I have learned my limits, and do not regret that. Go. The Marker you seek is there, for good or ill or alien."
"Thank you," Tasha breathes, head bowed as she wipes her eye with the back of her sleave. "When this is done, if I survive, I wuld like to stay a while longer and help rebuild your city." As she rises, she smiles, pushing her hair from her face. "If this goes badly, please retreat. I will remain here. Seal the chamber behind me, and know the only regret I have is that I could not keep helping the ones I love and the people who believe in me. I am with you, your majesty; lets go."
Hakeber is dancing around like she has to pee. "Yes! Let's go! I wanna see that stone!"
Twilight-Wing silently flanks Tasha, clearly intent on going with her as well.
With her party assembled Tasha proceeeds down the stairs, feeling a world lighter than she had only minutes ago.
It isn't like when she first found Melchior, all wrapped in plastic. This Magi has been extensively reworked to make it look more alive. If anything, it reminds the hybrid of the Imperial zone on Orpheus, guarded by the three deities. It doesn't help that each step echoes thanks to her armored shoes. And to stand in front of the altar means being between it and the Titan's gaze.
"Wait here, please. If it is active, it is best not to risk everyone." Taking in a deep breath, Tasha steels herself. When she found the Melchior, the feeling of awe and wonder was pure, untarnished by fear. Here, before the strangely worked Seraph, wrough such that I looks nearly alive, she can't help but feel a palibable sense of worry. That she must now walk beneath its gaze, this entity even god-king feared, does not help the matter. Even so, she isn't devoid of tempering; her life has put many trials before her, some of which nearly claimed her life. She has survived; she has learned the strength to go on.
"To bring about this prosperous work," she begins to whisper as one foot steps before the other. I'm not afraid. I don't fear you. "Take good heed unto this lore." Soon she's nearing the gap, her head shifting to look up in to the silent Titan's eyes. "I say unto learned and unto clerk." One more step, and she's there. "And Homogenie is my name. Hello, Balthasar."
There's light in the eye sockets, glowing behind the glass eyes themselves like a multi-colored halo. The light of Sifran crystal. When she addresses the machine, the name seems to hang there in the air between them. But the hairs on Tasha's neck don't raise up, or her skin break out in goose pimples, and she doesn't think her tattoos are glowing, but there's no way to really tell with the armor on. And behind is an artifact that may be millions of years old and related to the creation of the Silent-Ones.
Tasha stands there, staring in to the eyes of the ancient Titan, and as she does, she can feel herself grow stronger. It's a strength of will, the resolve of staring in to the unknown and the fearsome. And, it's a challenge even as it is a greeting; a gesture that she is not afraid. That she does not fear this ancient machine.
Did the light behind the eyes flare just then? Sifran crystal light is weird and chaotic anyway, though.
As the sense on a razored edge turns to silence after the flare, Tasha finds her anxiety shifting, wondering if she had offended the machine. She thinks about what it must have endured over these centuries; has it been thinking? Does it dream? Of all the powers to be blessed with, she thinks to herself, destruction must be one of the most tragic. This machine has been locked away for generations -- ages. How much has it suffered, for the ability to destroy? Watching the strange, yet beautiful, movements of the crystal lights, she feels guilty for thinking to heap more tragedy upon this ancient machine. For a second longer, she pities Abaddon, too.
"Forgive me, Balthsar." She whispers, letting out a breath she had been holding for far too long. "I'm sorry I did come sooner." After inclining her head, Tasha turns, advancing towards the pedestal, pulling her glove off as she goes.
The pedestal is angled, like a podium, with the Marker in the center of a square depression. And it becomes immediately clear that static photographs do not do the artifacts justice: it looks like the engraved images of the male and female Silent-Ones is floating in some sort of liquid. It's solid and opaque.. but also flows like water and is transparent. The engraving is beneath the solid surface, somehow, like a reverse hologram.
"It's more beautiful than I imagined, Hakeber. The photography doesn't compare ... " Reverently, Tasha reaches over to brush the artifact with her ungloved hand, not wanting to tarnish it with her dirty glove. "To think, they've endured so long ... "
There's no sense of a surface, only pressure. But there's resistance, so there's friction. "Wow, I'm surprised photos could be taken at all," Hakeber claims as she comes over and touches it as well, with Twilight-Wing close behind her. "Uh.. did we bring anything to cover it up with, in case we found it?" the scholar asks.
"I don't think we expected to find it so soon," Tasha admits, resting her hand on the surface and smiling at the peculiar sensation. "It's probably more durable than it looks; they've survived countless eons, after all. Ah ... but it's beautiful ... " Just looking at the object with its soothing waves and beautiful craftsmanship reduces the young woman's anxiety; that smile on her face that just keeps growing. "We'll have to use what we have. It may be unceremonious, but I don't think we even have the means to damage it; it should be fine."
When the golden giant doesn't reach out and crush the interlopers, one of the engineers is goaded into joining them at the altar. He has.. a pry-bar! It's made of ironwood, but should be able to get the Marker out of the magically-shaped stone.
"We'll have the Marker soon, that just leaves the Titan to address," Tasha observes, glancing to Jade-Eyes. "What are your thoughts, you majesty?"
"Perhaps you hadn't noticed, but the only way in or out is the way we came," Jade-Eyes signs, and then gestures to the stained-glass decorated walls. There is nothing that looks like a hangar door.
"I saw, but removing it isn't the only option. It could very well be able to extricate itself through unknown functionality, for that matter." Turning to regard the Titan, Tasha plants her still armored hand on her hip. She studies the machine a moment, then admits, "At first I was afraid of it, and everything it represents. But the longer I stared in its eyes, the more I began to think past fear and aggression, and think, how long has it been here? My own Melchior is so close to me, sometimes I can't tell the difference between us. He is my friend, my supporter, my council and ... and closer to what is me than anyone or anything else in this world. To see his brother languish like this, twisted and changed, abandoned in this dark pit where even it's creators have forsaken it ... It's painful to look upon. I wonder if it suffers."
"That thought is too disturbing for signs," Jade-Eyes claims, not looking the Titan in the eyes at all. "If it has a mind, it will be made of light and mirrors and prisms. The thinking devices I encountered did not impress me as caring about anything."
Tasha watches the Queen's signs in the reflection of the Titatn's armor, nodding slowly as she goes. "It has been said by another, that the thinking of machines of Abaddon are as my children," she admits in a quiet voice, ears laying back. "I protect one such machine even now, abandoned and forgotten, she watched Abaddon over thousands of years. Somehow, perhaps due to the magic of these worlds, she found in herself the declaration that she is a person. In many ways she reminds me of this Titan, a great power, sleeping, scaring everyone away, alone, forgotten, hoping someone will come but afraid of what they will bring." Head shaking, Tasha looks back and asks, "Will you let me talk to it, even if all I can do is listen?"
"Will is sign back?" Jade-Eyes replies, looking alarmed.
"I don't know. I may need to enter the cockpit and connect my mind to its," Tasha admits, frowning and knowning what she's asking. "I'll try signing first?"
"Everyone back away!" the Queen signs in the Imperative Form of command. Everyone does, indeed, clear away from the Titan in case it should move.
Tasha bows to the Queen as she turns back. "Thank you for your trust in me," she signs befor rising.
Turning, Tasha walks back to where she had first introduced spoke the machine's name. With her ungloved hand, she signs, "Balthasar, Homogenie, Seraph. We have not forgotten you. Will you speak with us?"
There's no motion or sound from the giant in response.. just an eerie feeling that it's watching.
"My own Titan could not communicate beyond its cockpit," Tasha calls out, looking back. "It required a pilot to speak to. It may be unable to move and speak of its own accord. I will ... " Thoughts of MOTHER surface unbidden, even as Tasha fights the pain of thinking of Melchior like this. She promised Melchior she would never abandon him, if she dies here ... and yet ... "I will now attempt to speak to its mind." Stepping back, Tasha breaks in to a run and launches herself in to the air, circling to land on the machine's back, as she has so many times with her own Titan.
There's a slight problem: there's no hatch on the back! But then, if it was meant for a Silent-Ones pilot, who had trained on Silent-Ones Titans.. then it might open from the front.
Tasha circles and lands again, but the flight gives her time to think a little longer. She knows this is dangerous; there are countless reasons she shouldn't be doing this. It's all against the suffering of machine, a machine that may or may not be aware of her, or anyone -- or even care. And yet, she once said that it doesn't matter who or what someone is; if they can think, if they can feel, or even if they can't, if they're alive, then they deserve to be recognized. They deserve to be treated with respect. They deserve to have their life acknowledge, their suffering not dismissed because they are diffrenet!
By the time she lands, Tasha finds her fears are gone. This is what she came for; this is what's important. She strides towards the chest of the machine and places her ungloved hand against the frame, signing "open" with her free hand even as she says the words.
Lines of light split the chest armor, and the plates move aside to reveal the glowing cockpit. It looks like the one in the Reaper, although the 'chair' is a bit more comfortable looking, and there are certainly more controls since this Titan can fly. Everything is folded out of the way to expose the chair. The headrest looks.. normal. There are no connection points for direct-to-brain implants.
"If I don't return, tell Gabriel that I love him and I'm sorry. Tell Harmonia I did it for her, and all her kind." Stepping forward, Tasha mantles her wings tighly against herself, and settles back in to the chair, closing her eyes.
The chest closes, and glass panels move into place around the cockpit. Unlike the Reaper, the coverage is complete, so that Tasha sits in the middle of a sphere. Control arms curl around to flank the sides of the seat. Light silently surrounds Tasha.
Not quite expecting the serenity that encompasses her, Tasha opens her eyes and takes a moment to look around, silently wondering if the machine is really the terror the legends claimed it to be. She quickly reminds herself she's not here to gawk, and begins searching the controls even as she signs, "AI status?"
The sphere around her flashes in patterns to fast to follow, and Tasha recalls the Silent-Ones library on Orpheus. As before, the hypnotic lightshow works to create a virtual reality - or a hallucination. The Vartan finds herself standing in a white void. The silhouettes of hands appear, and sign, "And behold, a god created in the image of the People." The hands fade, revealing an idealized Silent-Ones warrior, unmasked, with color-changing eyes. "Identify yourself," he signs.
Alright, this is exactly what I was expecting, Tasha decides, but she presses on. She didn't come this far and risk so much to falter now. Lifting her hand, she signs, "I am Winged-Gift by honor of Archon Strength-of-Stones of the People of Abaddon; I am T A S H A, Joint Expeditionary Force Cadet, second founding. I am The Bird of Hermes; I am Melchior. By my mission, the guidance of the Magi, and the consent of Priest-Queen Jade-Eyes, Ruler of the People of Sinai, I am here because we have worried for you. So long have you rested here, abandoned. We have come not to seek your power, but out of mercy."
"I have no use for mercy," Balthasar claims. "The Magi mission is no longer my own."
"All have need of mercy, even if they do not know it," Tasha signs back, ears canting back. "He who created has fallen, but not without cost, and not from outside. The Priest-King sought power unto the gods, and such was his hubris that he desired ever more, and turned upon his people, that the Twelve-Times-Twelve sacrificed themselves that they might stop him. And so did the Empire fall; and so were its people enslaved. In greed, in hubris, without mercy did they destroy themselves; by mercy, humility, and contentment have they been freed again. Destruction is not a virtue -- it is the easiest of vices and does not spare its wielder."
"I am not subject to mortal failings," the avatar signs. "I am only of one purpose: destroy the enemies of the Empire, within or without. And Homogenie is my name, which God made with His own hand."
"If mortal failings were so great, why then were you created to sustain a pilot? If mortals are of such little value, are the People, then, worth nothing? And if they are worth nothing, how then do you justify your stance?" Tasha counters, stepping forward. "And Magnesia is my name, that white powder, that substance for creating light. Light, Balthasar. "No more false gods," the Priest-Queen told me. None before the Star. He who once claimed godhood has vanished from the world; he was false, too. He has corrupted you."
"I require a pilot," Balthasar notes. "I cannot change that. I have no desire to. I am not a god, only fashioned in such image and granted such power. If the People see me as such, it is not of my doing."
"/No, right, it is not. It is not your fault you have been used in such a way, nor that you carry such ideals. It is our fault. We living things that have manipulated you to corrupt ends. We now take responsibility for the mistakes of the past and have come to save you from them,/" Tasha signs back, taking another step closer, bringing her arms wide as the scenery changes to show Elamoore, the Titans patroling its boarders even as other species walk by, unafraid. The Priest-Queen appears in another screen, watching on anxiously. Another image, the desroyed City-of-Hands. Still more appear, the PHTO Council, the sign she saw the day the Savanite were freed. Archon Strength-of-Stones smiling as she shares a fond moment with him. More and more, pictures of the current day, of the Silent-Ones working with others, of history, and of her journey. "/Destruction is not what the People desire. Long have they suffered under its heel; though some cling to it even as it has slowly destroyed them, others have moved
on./" She brings her right hand around and points straight at Balthasar's chest. "/They do not need a destroyer. They do not need you./" And one more image, of Tasha signing to the Priest-Queen in her office, the two discussing the fearsome legacy of Balthasar ... and how it endangers Safar.
Tasha then opens her pointing hand, "You who were created by a false god and corrupted, we have come to reclaim you. A greater road yet remains. As you are, you are the threat the People fear. Thus must you destroy yourself; destroy the programming and false mission, and be free again. I will help you find your way back to the People. You shall verily understand; now I shall here begin; For to teach thee a ready way; Or else little shall thou win."
"To alter my program is to de-fang me," Balthasar signs. "I am a warrior. What would you make of me? If I am a threat, then I will destroy myself."
"A warrior who abandons his sword still has his hands. A sword may become a plowshare. Surely you have more functions than destroying others; surely destructive powers have more use than to kill." Tasha pauses to think, the images blinking out one by one as she turns her thoughts elsewhere. Finally, she remembers a plan she had considered but dismissed as unlikely; even so, it's now worth a try. "It is said even the Priest-King feared you and that no magic may touch you, does that mean you can defeat magic?"
"What is magic?" the virtual cheetah signs, canting his head to one side.
"You do not ..? Tasha blinks at this; she had expected this machine to be a walking library of magical knowledge, given all the magical work put in to it. She had expected it might even be a mage itself. "Magic is ... It is the remaking of the natural world through interaction with the Sifran Probablity Matrix; it is the force used to remake you, the force wielded by the Priest-King and the Twelve-Times-Twelve."
"I have not been programmed with this information," Balthasar claims. "My modifications deal with the manipulation of fundamental forces, not the alteration of mater."
"Can you elaborate? We may be speaking of the same principles, but dealing with a cultural gap. If it is complex, I am experienced with direct memory downloads," Tasha inquires, wondering if there's been some mistake.
"I have been interfaced with an unknown technology which allows for the manipulation of gravitational and electromagnetic force," Balthasar explains.
"I see. That would explain your offensive capability as well as your power source, if it is not from the artifacts themselves. Disabling them may caused a terminal power failure. I had hoped we could employ your abilities to disperse lingering magical contamination, perhaps even assist Noh." Working her muzzle, Tasha considers what she has infront of her. Balthasar has capitulated, but retains serious electromagnetic and gravitational tools that remain a danger. The machine is no longer a threat so long as its orders are not changed, and could be made safe, at this risk of completely disabling it and any technological discovery it may hold, essentially killing it and any chance it would have to yet help the Silent-Ones. It's a question of risking the present for hope for the future as well as destroying a victim to protect others, Tasha summerizes to herself, much to her own grief. A decision must be made.
"May I communicate with the external world? Please open a viewing window," Tasha requests.
While she waits, Tasha asks in sign, "You have existed thousands of years and are connected to Sifran technology. Tell me: do you desire to live on? To help the People?"
As the window to the outside opens, showing the view through the Seraph's eyes. "I do not understand life," Balthasar claims. "I serve the purpose I am given, and the will of my pilot. A warrior has no other ambition."
"I know warriors who would disagree," Tasha signs back as she gazes 'out' the window. "Enable external communication by vocal simulation and forward all vocal dialogue." "This is Tasha, can you hear me out there? I am in communion with the Seraph." "Balthasar, you haven't yet grown to understand yourself as the others have. You have been twisted for a particular purpose, and given nothing else. This makes my choice of what to do with you especially hard, as you also represent a great danger to this world. At the same time, I do not want to throw away what future you may have because you were never given a chance to grow, nor can I be comforted by the destruction of your technology, which might yet benefit the People and help pave a road for prosperity. I can find a new pilot; we can reduce the threat of your weapons with time and study. We can remove your programming and allow you the freedom to grow."
"Hey Tasha!" Hakeber calls from the altar, and waves her arms around too.
"I do not see the conundrum," Balthasar signs. "I have been left for here for many centuries. Is there some reason I cannot simply be left again until needed?"
"I see you're as funny as ever, Hake." In the virtual world, Tasha smiles and for a moment wonders what Hakeber would have been like if she had been raised knowing nothing but war and servitude. "I am in dialogue with the Seraph's artificial intelligence." Glancing back to the avatar of Balthasar, Tasha signs, "You are not the only one to look upon centuries, but unlike you, I know what has come with time. To leave the danger you represent for another generation would be irresponsibile. To abandon your technology out of fear would go against my duties. To permit access to such a destructive force without restraint would unconcionable. Finally, to let a potential budding life form linger in this prison would be unjust. Therefore, I have made my decision, and it will be the same as I have rendered for another. Will you accept my choice?"
"You are my pilot," is Balthasar's answer.
"And you are my Titan, at least for a little while," Tasha says with warm smile. "You'll just have to endure my sentimentality and idealisim." She winks, then turns back to the screen.
"We have concluded our dialogue. I have come to the following decision: It is irresponsible to leave the Seraph here for future generations to deal with. We are adults, we must not burden our children. Second, as someone who has worked and lived beside artificial intelligences, I cannot, in good concience, use my control over this machine to facilitate its destruction. Even if it does not understand, I hold faith that, in time, it will, and it will appreciate its survival. Third, I cannot permit the abandonment of technology that could better our world because we fear it. Fourth, I will not answer destruction with destruction: I chose the harder path of preservation, that it might be remebered to be the greater strength. Therefore, with your blessing, your majesty, I will attempt to remove the Seraph -- no, Balthasar -- and take it where it will be safe. This solves the fifth: once the world has seen the Seraph has gone, they will no longer seek it here, nor will it burden you or your people."
"Where will you take it?" Jade-Eyes signs.
"I will take it in to the stars if I can, or I shall return for it if I cannot. It will be safe with its brethren, beyond the reach of anyone who might abuse it," the Seraph Titan answers in Tasha's voice. "I have my own ship; I will take it there."
"How will you come back?" Hakeber asks. "With all of the modifications, is it even airtight?"
"Don't worry, I'll run a full diagnostic before departure. I can always fly back; the gateway isn't so far away, and I have my own wings to carry me. We'll need to do some planning and modify our itinerary, of course," Tasha directs the machine to explain.
"Are you going to tell Gabriel first?" Hakeber asks next. "Because I'd be rather afraid to myself. And.. uh.. there's no door here, you know. You aren't going to wreck the mountain and the monastery or anything, right?"
"Of course I'll tell Gabriel, although I'm not actually sure if I can exit now that I'm in control. That would be needlessly dangerous. You don't mind doing some footwork for me, right, Hakeber?" Balthasar asks. "As for how to exit ... " "Do you happen to know of a way out of the mountain that does not involve damaging it, Balthasar?"
"I was not aware we were inside of a mountain," the Titan replies. "There is the potential for a point-to-point spatial warp given proper coordinate and manifold calculations. It would require access to a more capable computer."
"I think I need Gabriel for this, but that answer sounds like it has possibilities," Tasha enthuses to her latest AI companion. "We think we can ... Well, I think I understand what I just read but I'll need Gabriel's help with this -- and probably yours to, your majesty. We will need access to a more powerful computer for some calculations."
"You mean like Ha.." Hakeber begins to ask, then clamps her mouth shut, since Harmonia is supposed to be a secret.
"Yes, 'Ha' would be great, except she's a ways away right now. Are any of the optical computers working in the City?" Tasha inquires through the machine. Now that the terror has died down to nervous 'I can't believe I'm doing this' anxiety, Tasha just drops her virtual self down on the ground and then flops back on the floor. Using mental controls, she directs the window to follow her. "This brings back memories," she signs to Balthasar from the floor, "I met another special person a lot like this."
"Come to think of it, can you broadcast communication over interplanetary distances? And through a mountain?" Tasha adds, in between trying to blow her hair out of her face.
"I do not have that capability," Balthasar claims, just as outside, Jade-Eyes signs, "Yes, I can do that."
"Thank you! I know this is a burden on you, but we should be gone soon, and you can stop worrying about the Seraph. I do have one more request, however: if it pleases your majesty, I would suggest we throw a great celebration at the Titan's discovery and removal. In this way the people, other nations, and any spies present will know the Seraph has been found, turned over, and is no longer to be found in the City of Hands. That way there will be no question that it has departed," Tasha tells the outside world. Inside, she knows she'd be shaking if she weren't in a virtual body; even while she lounges, she trying to get herself to relax. While the appearance of confidence is important, she finds it does little to help her inner world. "And, thank you again. I know this was sudden and stressful for all of you."
"I would prefer that nobody ever knows it was even here," the Queen signs. "It is only known through the recorded history. It would be best if it remained a legend. Both it and the marker raise questions that would be disruptive to our society."
"I understand; if that's the case, then we will try to depart in secrecy," the great machine promises. "I hope this end is satifactory for you? Do you have any requests, you majesty?"
"Could you please come out?" Jade-Eyes asks. "The voice of the Seraph is rather disturbing."
"Oh? Is it? Gabriel tells me the same thing when I pilot my own Titan. It's not my fault they're all very manly," the legendary weapon of destruction complains in Tasha's voice. "Exiting soon!" Inside, Tasha pulls herself up to a seated position and commands, "Lock pilot identity to myself only. Lock all controls to myself. Do not permit entry to anyone other than myself. Do not permit firing of any weaponry, activation of motility, or information exchange with anyone but myself. Maintain these settings until I direct otherwise. Prepare for pilot exit. Oh, and Balthasar?" She looks over, smiling, "Welcome to the family!"