Once back inside the base, Tasha was met with a furry wall consisting of Gabriel, Katie, Hakeber and Aaron. "Do you need to see the doctor about anything?" Gabriel asks, right away.
"My possession kind of itches, is there a cream for that?" Tasha scratches the side of her head, head tilting. "I was also bleeding from the eyes, passed out, and.. Oh, a gigantic hyperdimensional angel tried to steal my liver. And I ate some questionable food at a tavern. Those places are sketchy." Her ears flick and she gives an apologetic smile, mainly towards Gabriel who she increasingly worries about, and whom she suspect silently endures her many injures, hardships, and demise.
"So nothing serious then," Gabriel concludes. "Yue is doing the psychic stress evaluations on Shojo's men, so she can get to you later." Tasha also gets ushered along a particular path by her friends, who helpfully surround her.
Tasha feels penned in, but she supposes that's to be expected. She's never exactly sure how everyone sees her, especially now that she's bordering or crossed the line in to the supernatural, but she supposes she can ask the rest of herself to investigate that later. "Where are we going? Are you going worship me? Sacrifice me? Do I have to scrub something?"
"There will be scrubbing involved," Katie replies. They're leaving the main command structure into one of the tube-bridges to residential buildings now. "So what sort of sketchy food did you eat?" Hakeber asks Tasha.
"You know, tavern food. Meat of questionable origin, bread of questionable origin. I ordered from the dragon menu once and it was very spicey. The portions were big though." Tasha wonders if she's about to be fired, but that's probably being too paranoid. It might be her birthday, which is something she'd only celebrated once, a Terran holiday. She's forgotten how old she is again and how old she may be is quite relative post-death.
"Meet anyone interesting?" Aaron asks. It looks like they're herding her towards her and Gabriel's quarters.
Tasha thinks where she's going could mean many things. "A dragon god of knowledge who looked like swirling colors, Gwyndrael Stormborn, a real silver dragon, this angry half-dragon girl who wouldn't make out with me, a few kids, a whole bevy of adventurers from many realities, the angel, a living city, a train the takes people to hell, I think the hell counts as one entity too, um, a lot of kobolds, a grumpy dragon teacher, annnd a secretary with some rally nice datapads. I should have got some."
"You didn't?" Katie asks, and pouts slightly. Once in the room, the Karnors surround Tasha, while Aaron goes to do something, but Tasha's view is blocked.
"I did'nt have any dragon money! It was a big problem for a while. We were actually rather poor in traveling," Tasha insists, holding her hands up in a placating manner. "We didn't even know what the dragon money was until I asked around for a while. The whole city was either dragons or half-dragons, too."
Tasha obediently stays put. Sometimes she feels like a predator, and sometimes, like prey. She's feeling very prey right now, guided and entrapped, but that too seems to be part of her role in things.
"What's the other half of a half-dragon?" Hakeber asks, as she and the other two start pealing off Tasha's travel clothes.
Tasha obediently lets herself be undressed. She wonders if this is some kind of ritual; she wonders again if she's about to get sacrificed. or get cake. Or something better. It also feels a little like how she envisions royals getting treated, being both in charge and guided about. "Oh, lots of things. True dragons can reproduce with anyone. It might be why I can, too."
"That has yet to be proven," Gabriel notes, actually lifting Tasha up so that the others can get her boots off. "You didn't roll around in anything magical did you?"
"Not that I'm aware of. I may have been on the floor inside a dragon god's mind. Oh, and I slept in some dirt. And who knows what Kai does to me when I'm not looking, she's tricky." Tasha's not as heavy as she once was, that's for sure. She has gained a bit more muscle for all her activity at least. "Of course apparently magic is just everywhere out there so maybe I did? It makes Sinai look magic-devoid. There were mages, in robes! And men with swords! Like back home, but also, like Terran fiction."
"Barbarians?" Hakeber asks. "With a disdain for shirts and pants?"
Off comes the underwear, and Gabriel still doesn't set Tasha back down.
"You bet'cha, I had to put up with Kai banging one most of the journey. He was pretty nice though, his name's Wulfgar and he had a deadly goose named Anklebiter. I hope they're okay, where-ever they are." Tasha dangles her legs, swaying them from side-to-side. By this point they've all seen her naked through multiple incarnations, and some will likely see her in one of four other incarnations sooner or later. She's gotten used to it, to the point she's even okay with being stripped by the group, though she would be blushing if she were Human -- and not red.
Gabriel swings her around, and carries her into the bathroom, which is already a bit steamy due to a drawn bath, which Tasha gets set down into.
Tasha settles in, then settles in, figuratively melting in to the water. "Ahhh, real toilet facilities.. You rally miss them on the road when that road doesn't contain a base, space ship, or their universe equivalent. The power of magic and dragons and they don't even have running shower. The grottos are nice though, I bet we ahve a grotto here somewhere."
"If not, you can ask Kai for one next to the hot spring," Gabriel says, and then.. turns to leave! He even closes the door behind him, leaving Tasha alone until she hears someone crack their knuckles.
Tasha suspected this was too nice to be true. "Oh, here we go.." She sinks down in to the tub until just the top of her nose, upper head, wing tips and knees are above water.
"They picked out the shampoo," Aaron says. "It's called Full Moon. I don't care for the scent myself, but it's good for Karnor fur apparently. You can lather it in while get the scrubbers."
"How did you get this duty?" But Tasha accepts the shampoo and begins scrubbing. Out of the men that are still around her, only Gabriel has seen her naked more than Aaron has. They've been through so much he's as much family as traveling companion and mentor figure. If she had to admit it, Tasha's not exactly sure what to consider Aaron, but she's glad he's been around for her. "Did you lose a bet? You volunteered, didn't you? Gabriel must really trust you now."
"None of them could be trusted to get the job done," Aaron claims, and works on Tasha's wings. "They're out there sniffing your clothes right now, trying to figure out your travels. I'm here to make sure all of the adventure has been washed off of you." He does have some experience cleaning Tasha, after all, without taking advantage. "Liza was promised a piece of the action too, but that'll be later."
Despite the not taking advantage claim, Aaron does scratch Tasha behind her ears.
"The action huh." Tasha suspects where this may be going, but she could be wrong and her people have surprised her before. She wonders when she became a team effort, like she belongs to everyone on some level. She supposes, in a sense, she does, having brought them all together. Everyone has something invested in her, she doesn't think they'd have come together otherwise. "Well, I do have a lot of adventure on me. And blood. I bled from the eyes. I can still smell it but I can't find it." She does not object to being scratched behind the ears, and even leans in to it. her tail sends small ripples across the water from its movements.
"That's the only blood you shed though, right?" Aaron asks with concern. "Were you ever in real danger? Be honest, I have a good nose and can smell if you're lying," he claims.
"The unholy book was pretty bad. I might have had a problem if the dragon god hadn't been watching over me. But I don't think I'd have died, that'd be counter-productive to the powers beyond the book that support me and the other powers are too bound to have reached for me through it. There were others in there, but I wisely avoided them. The angel was a problem. It basically stomped Kai in to the ground and we were only able to deflect its song using the combined might of our adventuring party. I managed to stay standing but even Wulfgar went to his knees. That thing was at a high level of power, somewhere below or around the mightiest of the Ogdru'hem. It was all we could do just to not die to its song. And I've felt an angel's song, it can unmake you." Tasha lets out an exhale, wings flapping a little in the waters. "It scared me enough I wanted to kill it on principle. The city was pretty bad too, a city-sized demon probably full of lost souls, but it was slow to wake. the amry of things that came after us were really dangerous, but only as a massed forced, I could have beaten a smaller group fairly easily. The city? Really doubtful. The angel? I don't have enough dimensions to even wound it."
"But you were in a big group it sounds like," Aaron says, and works on Tasha's hair so she can relax more. "We all figured if anything bad happened, your alternates would react somehow. But they don't seem to have a connection to each other. They were all just generally awkward the whole time, except on Caltrop. Sasha let Hakeber pick out clothes for him. He's had the most trouble, enough that he spent a lot of time with Yue, Liza and me. Sharon is timid and apparently also afraid of being timid. She gets along best with Sasha. Vasha hangs out with Lacci and Shojo whenever she can, so I don't have much insight into her. And you know me, I pay close attention to the behavior of big carnivores."
"Most of the time I was. I think I was around at leas one being during most of the journey, and Kai when Kai was functional because she's assigned to watch over me." Tasha settles in and leans her head back to Aaron has an easier time with her hair, which is long. "Thank you for keeping an eye on the rest of me. I understand how they would experience things from my own experience being them, but once they left my side what they experienced wasn't known to me. We haven't synced since before I left out of concern for the possession I'm suffering, but at least Galatea thinks it might be fine and that our link is more robust than the communications channels I can use to speak to Kai and Galatea mentally."
As for each of them, I'm not surprised Sasha is having trouble. I'm not entirely sure how much of me he is and how much of the me-that-was-male in the alternate world line he is. And he may be something a bit different from both. On top of that he's the only alternate world line member, both Gabriel and Katie reject him and his best friend is now a woman. Sharon is as you see her, but I can tell you she's the most clever and independent of us. Being timid does make her afraid; she's based on me, and what she is can't live or feel as I do. She is trying to find her own way in the dark Vasha isn't too surprising, I think she'll be okay if she can handle Lacci's acerbic attitude. I'm not privy to what they do either, so I can't say for certain. She may need more Vartan company."
"As for Sasha and Sharon getting along, that's me looking to myself. All of us have a certain longing to be understood and commiserate with a being like ourselves, and for Sharon that's Sasha, because they both have a difficult time right now and struggle with identity and how to move forward," Tasha concludes.
"That's normal Vartan behavior I think," Aaron says. "And yeah, those two have definite brother-sister attachment, if you ask me. Sharon thinks she needs a defender, and Sasha needs new attachments. They're both fine together and with the Short Stack Squad. Sharon may see Miss Necessity as a big sister sort now. Katie intimidates her and Hakeber is sometimes too friendly. Yue calls it 'Red Riding Hood Syndrome' and is something some Humans suffer from, even around modern Karnors. But she also says it's treatable."
"It's stressing out Hakeber, too," the Lapi adds. "She's got a drive to please people."
"I remember how it was when i was Sharon. Gabriel scared me on a level I couldn't quite understand; even Hakeber was frightening to me in her loud and excited she was. Katie has some training dealing with situations like that, but even she admitted when she was much younger she had to separate from Human children due to playing too rough." Tasha rubs her nose, thinking. "And they're all from me, so having me reject people in the group must come off hard for everyone. And Hake, I expected she and Sasha would have goten along better. I'm surprised at least that's not working out." She thinks for a moment more, then adds, "Maybe I should call them all too me, they may benefit from being around me, and each other. I cana ssign them some duties to distract them."
"We've been letting them adjust at their own pace," Aaron says. "So something for them to focus would is probably a good idea. Katie has started building a 'motorcycle' in one of the maintenance shops. Sasha and you together could help out, I think. That's a neutral situation with a shared interest for all of you, something to break the ice between him and Katie. I'm wary to see Sharon end up assisting Dr. Knight or Yue, she really needs to get over her fears. But I think you're right that you should all do a 'family' activity together, where it's just the four of you."
"I'm also thinking of giving them either the apartments below us or else the entire floor of units below us. That could be Tashaland, somewhere they can go and be themselves and be, well, us. That floor doesn't connect directly to command like the top floor does and requires the stairs or the elevator. If we used the apartments below this one only they'd have to climb or descend to reach each other and would have neighbors from across the teams." Tasha cocks her head, considers her options, then nods. "We'll give them a floor then. That will leave a few empty units which we can convert to a meeting room for all of us. A place to hang out and get together as well as their own units to be alone. That should help a lot. The remaining units we can convert to a study or something for our use, since our needs are different since we're a collective." More thought, more silence, then, "I'm not sure Sharon's really comfortable with Humans so much as least intimidated by them.. they're familiar, but we've never been entirely comfortable or drawn to Humans either, and she'll still feel that. I expect once we have a place alone for her to go she'll be there a lot. Forcing her's a bad idea, they may all seem more timid but they're all me, they're just not as heavily equipped."
"Well, the five of us have slept together," Aaron says. Then clarifies, "As in, actually sleeping. Yue still does that with Liza and me to relax, and Sasha joined us, then Sharon did, then both of them did. Even poor fragile Sharon is alright with a Karnor if Lapi are involved."
"Also, Sasha hugs a bit hard in his sleep," Aaron adds.
"He's painfully lonely. It was Sam's idea to have him created, and I think Sam did it because he thought I felt bad for Sasha's loss, and I do, but for him it's like he lost and also never had something he never lost but needed so much. He's missing something he thought he had and he's feeling the emptiness. It's what would happen to me if I lost everyone. Except, everyone's still here, they're just strange phantoms that don't react for him like they should. But he's not exactly that Sasha either, so there's a ghost effect for him. He's the idea of another me from another universe. It must be immensely hard for him. It's for that reason I'd have hesitated creating him if I'd been asked. Maybe Sam's trying to teach me a lesson here. Or maybe he felt bad for me -- or is messing with my mind." The red woman frowns.
"They all keep their distance from Sam and Tia, I've noticed," Aaron says. "And I assume it'll be the same with Kai now that you're back. You and Hakeber are the only ones that actually interact with Sam and Tia, although the Jotoki like them fine."
"They both have unusual problems. I've actually been avoiding Samael ever since the.. problem with Kainudy and her, um," Tasha chews her lip a moment, sighs, and shakes her head, "the direct exposure to soul devouring experience. I just can't quite look at Sam the same way, because I know he's done it to other beings, many of them, I've seen them. But at the same time, I feel like I'm being unfair to him somehow, he hasn't harmed any of us and he's only been a help, even at his own expense. I'm not sure what his ultimate goal here is, but I have no proof or indicator beyond his allegiance he's up to something. None of this makes me want to be around him, and that also makes it worse. As for Tia, Tia resents me and is considering whether to kill me or not. But, she's been through a lot, a whole lot, and she's not really a bad person, she's a broken and somewhat ill fortuned being that for all her power has surprisingly little control over her life. And of course they're both immediately unnerving if seen in anything outside of their blending in forms." Tasha shakes her head again. "They're a lot to process even for me."
"And they created three alternate versions of you to be used as your puppets," Aaron adds. "So I can understand why Vasha, Sasha and Sharon would avoid them. They literally think nothing of using bodies like that, probably because that's their experience. All three were puppets, but.. I don't think they should have created those three just to make it so you didn't have to expose yourself to as much risk."
"At the same time, we can't piss them off, because if they leave we're stuck here permanently," the Lapi notes. "It's.. stressful."
"I agree with you. The second I saw them I wanted them to have more than to be my strategic and tactical proxies, like remote robots designed to blend in and be used for specific purposes. I do intent to train them for those purposes, but not because I consider them expendable or without their own existence. I'd very much like it if they found a place to belong and something and someone to be. Then we all grow, together. Not just tools in my war, but an extension of each us who happen to also fight when needed. It's also why I will direct them to train in certain duties, so they have a sense of their own place in things. And if needed we can draw in those experiences to form a stronger gestalt," Tasha reviews, then she grimaces and nods. "If Sam goes the ship probably stops working. If Tia goes we lose the gate. Kai would still be around assuming Tia didn't kill me, but Persephone may not allow that to persist, not because she's there to resurrect me all the time, but because Tia was the one who killed me. That's a family matter. Kainudy probably wouldn't like it either. I attacked Kaiundy not because I hated her but because I lost all reason and control. Tia would be executing me. Kai says she's never willingly killed someone before, but we can't be sure. I won't just roll over though, I can't afford to let everyone down even if I might deserve it. That's being a leader unfortunately. Even a bad one."
"The scary thing is she could kill you, then make a brand new you with all your memories," Aaron suggests. "Or do something horrible to you, make you forget it, and do it all again as many times as she wants. Samael is easy to understand by comparison: he's a predator. A domesticated one, maybe, but then so are the Karnors. Even Kai is a trained animal that looks Human, but carries her leash around. She's the only one that isn't broken like all the rest of us. She knows exactly who and what she is and what she's for and has no problem with that. But I don't think Tia would kill you. She doesn't have to." He then rubs his knuckles over Tasha's scalp in a noogie. "Stand up so you can be rinsed off. Then I need to clean your hoofsies."
"Kai's easy to understand on that level. It's why I get along with her and why I got along with Samael. It's Samael's ultimate goals I'm suspect of, more so even than what he can do, I'm more disturbed by what he can do than rejecting of it. And I still feel the pain of what happened, making him a sore spot to say the least." Tasha stands up, arms and wings out. She's too deep ins serious matters to worry about being naked now. "And I suppose Tia could, but I don't think she could do it without being detected by someone. Sam, or Kai. Kainudy knows what Tia can do, she might have seemed like a retired, grandmotherly dragon patroness but she also created both Kai and Tia, and she was around Tia for a while back there. So was Persephone, who is almost godlike in her powers. The question is if they're care enough to intervene, and how much would they allow before they did."
Technology goes to work on Tasha, as the water quickly drains out of the tub and vents open up to blast her with hot air, which leaves her fluffed out a bit. Aaron offers her a brush though before getting her sit on the edge of the bath so he can deal with her 'toes'. Unlike her original hooves, these don't require shoeing and trimming, just a bit of scraping and polishing. "Well, I'm basically your Lapi Uncle, which all young women should have, and I let you get away all sorts of things," Aaron notes while he works. "And all mothers are godlike beings to their children until they grow up."
Tasha frowns at her hooves, again noticing they're not what they were, and how weird they are, even if she's had them for a while. "And what a god-like mother may permit their demigod nieces may be far more than what mortals would allow. Maybe suffering of that kind is nothing new or special to them. Kai made a point to reinforce how immortality can really suck sometimes. Hopefully some day I can undo what I did to Tia, but I did what I did for a reason, and it showed one important thing to us all: Kainudy cares enough about Tia that her genuine pain made even the Queen of Demise pause. Supposedly she's unreachable, nothing we did moved her until then. That's why I went that far, because we seemed to be about to die -- and I believed in Kainudy's love enough to believe it might work." But Tasha sighs. "I'm not sure it did, we were saved by another. Well, what happens there, happens." Then she looks at Aaron and asks, "Why do you think she doesn't need to? Becaue I torture myself? Easier to torment alive?"
"She can probably make you feel anything she wants, including pain," Aaron says. "That was a always why nobody trusted Mind Mages back home. Having known quite a few of them, I know they can't actually do things like that. And that fact that we distrust Tia is the only proof we have that we aren't being influenced.. unless we are and she just wants to be left alone." He gestures for Tasha to stand up again outside the tub now.
Tasha does so, stepping outside, arms out. "One thing she told me is she keeps looking for a place to belong, and she keeps running. I'm not entirely sure she wants her powers, she once expressed a desire to just go to school as a Human, and she seems afraid of causing damage and consequences even as lightly threatens me. She could just leave, or kill me and leave. She might even be able to kill Kai, too. But, I don't know, she doesn't seem together to me. When i first met her the biggest feelings I got was that of a bratty little sister. Kai said she's a kid who never grew up. She once wanted a birthday cake. I think she's an immortal child who ended up abandoned and never forgot the pain of it. She's a bit like Sasha in that respect."
"Or the three of them are just a way of testing you," Aaron supposes, and goes over Tasha with a comb to smooth out any tufts or leftover bits of floof (not counting her naturally fluffy collar). "Like, 'if she just uses them like objects then I can feel okay about punishing or abandoning her' or such. Or she's testing herself, or even Sam. Who knows. Figuring her out is like trying to spin your eyes around to see into your own skull." Once he's satisfied that everything is in place, he gives Tasha's nipples a pinch to perk them up, then gives her a pat on the butt to get her moving towards the door. "But enough of running mental mazes with monsters in the middle! Time to throw you to less metaphorical wolves!"
Tasha flinches at the pinch, covering her chest. She then eyes Aaron and tries to play bite at him before leaving; he even gets growls and barks. It's her tail that waves good bye, being bizarrely prehensile, as if it were one more Tasha variant separate from its owner. Then she's out, looking a bit upset and bothered.
What greets Tasha are three naked Karnors. Well, Gabriel is the first one she sees, since he's on the bed. Hakeber and Katie have been waiting on either side of the door and grab Tasha's arms. "Your two hottest clones are frigid, Tasha," Katie says. Hakeber chimes in with, "Yeah! That just isn't fair. It's teasing!"
Tasha is caught off guard by admiring Gabriel, so the two women catch her without any complaint and more than a little surprise. It takes her a moment to stammers, "They're nervous! They're still learning, they're really anxious, you know! It's all a bit much for them!"
"Well, but what about us?" Katie asks, as the two march Tasha towards the bed. "You'll have to make up for it," she declares, in a huskier voice than usual.
Tasha flops on the bed, then sits up, wings out, hand back, smiling. "Well, I'm more of myself than any other me, you could say I'm so much of myself I can't be contained -- which is good for all of you. Are you sure you brought enough people?" She scooches back until she's up against Gabriel in order to give Katie and Hakeber room. She's somewhat surprised to see Katie be so forward, especially with the other two present, but perhaps her work to merge her families has finally landed. "Don't worry though, I'll be working with them soon. Right now, I'll be working with you. I have new tricks."
Katie and Hakeber climb onto the bed, and then.. hold Tasha down? Katie grabs her wrists, and pins them behind her head, while Hakeber grabs one of her legs. It's pretty clear that Katie is taking the lead here (and given how she did the same sort of thing to human-Tasha before, she may have a real dominatrix streak). It's impossible to see Hakeber's expression though as Gabriel's bulk soon blocks her out. "Now, did Aaron get you ready like he was supposed to, or do we need to warm you up a bit?" he says, in a soft voice that seems at odds with his actions.
"Well, I have been very distracted. And you know how I like to ruin everything by thinking about doom and gloom, then discussing it." Tasha doesn't fight back, because she has a submissive streak even if most of her life is spent aggressively pursuing almost everything. She turns to Katie now and adds, "You know I thought after Liza you might be more inclined to being in my position, are you sure you know what you want?" She bats her eyelashes. "Are you sure only my doubles lack confidence?"
"Oh, Liza will be here later, and she's just naturally intimidating so I can't be blamed," Katie claims. "And it doesn't sound like you've been prepared! Cowardly rabbit!" Then Tasha gets an upside-down kiss from Katie, while Hakeber and Gabriel go to the work below the neck.
"I'm naturally intimidat- ahh!" Then Tasha words devolve in to a mix of giggles, and then, moans. Despite all her changes she's still mostly herself, which means this hits all the right buttons -- and even if it didn't Katie and Gabriel are a lot for anyone to handle, which means she doesn't stand a chance.
It seems to make the bath pretty meaningless, unless it was just to give them time to prepare. It's probably the first time that all three of them were working together, rather than just taking turns. Tasha very much feels a bit frail, since all of them are stronger than her now, and pretty much can do whatever they want. They each have different preferences though, with Katie getting the most out of being in control. There are few times where she seemed about to jump onto Gabriel's back while he was having his way with Tasha. Hakeber is the most playful of course; for her it's about having fun after all!
Without any control and focused on by three people any which of one would be more than enough for a good time for Tasha, and two of those considered the height of their species in terms of looks and ability, the experience is exhilarating, overwhelming, and even frightening for Tasha. Part of her still remembers being Human after all, and she's not quite who she was before death, so sure of her strength and fortitude.
But Tasha's used to being frightened, and she knows herself and the three present well enough to trust, and have faith. Which means once she lets go it isn't long at all before she's clearly quite ready to go in most any way, panting and smelling like heavy blushing, even her ears are back.
It's no surprise that Tasha wears out faster than the others, especially when they can spread their effort out three ways. Eventually they do start to lose steam, even if they aren't feeling like a ragdoll the way Tasha is. She's aching. There were some very awkward positions and contortions involved, and her wings and tail often got smooshed in one way or another.
And so by the end Tasha's more exhausted mated animal than person, her mind temporarily melted as she pants, a complete and shameful mess, if she felt shame about such things. She tried her best to reciprocate but she's not strong enough and certainly not a match for three hungry Karnor, so she mostly gets used and likes it even as it scares her and makes her feel weak, which of course makes her like it more.
"What a mess," a soft voice notes as Liza surveys the carnage. She climbs onto the bed and asks Tasha, "Where does it hurt?"
Tasha's first response is a nonsensical giggle, she then spreads her hands in what could be a shrug or what could be 'everywhere'. Her goofy grin and more-effort-than-motion tail wag at least conveys she enjoyed getting sexually destroyed.
"Hmm, would be easier if you were in a bath at least," the Lapi says, then starts massaging Tasha's strained muscles. It's a bit of a cooldown, despite the times when it briefly hurts more.
Tasha moans, somewhere between pleasure and pain. Less sexual, more appreciative, pained. She wonders, when she's got the mind to wonder about things, if experiencing this would help her other selves, especially Sharon whom she knows Katie is after and who is even more fragile and weak than herself.
Liza is very clinical, paying more attention to details than to the whole. She also dispassionately works on Tasha's genitals, which is soothing at first, then suddenly very sharply over-stimulating, which does at least cause things to relax again after the remaining tension is gone. For the moment, Tasha feels boneless.
It was enough to get wreaked, but the post-mortem leads to a new level of brainlessness. Tasha never imagined having so much care and attention could lead to being so thoroughly over exhausted and brainless. Katherine's description of her modeling and singing seemed tough, but a very different kind of tough. Not that she's complaining, more reflecting, because her mind is wandering and anything more complex seems hard rigth now.
"You should rest now," Liza says. "Shojo's briefing is in two hours if you wish to attend." This is followed by what's probably the bathroom door opening, and a choking sound. "Did you get their smell all over you, Lizzie?" Aaron asks. "Time for your bath.."
The briefing room is dark when Tasha shambles in. Unlike Gabriel, who has managed to clean up and be in uniform, she's just in shorts and a tank top, with a modified bathrobe loosely covering her mussed fur. She's run her fingers through her hair in an attempt at combing it at least. Most of the twenty or so seats are empty of course, with the three mercenaries in the front row, and Lacci off to the side two rows behind as they all face the podium and screen at the front. Even Aaron is there in the back row, along with Kai. The men look cleaned up and none the worse for wear from their survival game, and presumably have been checked over by Dr. Knight and Dr. Sen.
Tasha takes a seat in the back row a few seats down from the others, to give herself space to lounge and to indicate she's more here to pay attention (and recover) and less to chat. She doesn't look especially put upon, but she is still a bit sore, and she's trying to conceal it. Otherwise she's as attentive as she can be, head resting on a hand.
"I imagine you have many questions about recent events," Shojo states. "Before going into the true nature of the mission, you each have the option of leaving now. You memories will be purged of inconvenient information, but before that you will record a message to explain this to yourselves. I believe this is not unheard of in mercenary contracts. Please decide now."
Tasha wonders what the men will pick. Miss Teatime selected them personally, but Miss Teatime probably doesn't know the full extent of their operations. If she does, Tasha would be quite surprised given the likes of Tia and Kai are now members, not to mention other assorted supernaturals, many of whom can pose alarming religious and metaphysical problems simply by the nature of who they are. Even she's part of the oddities group, given whom she's met, what she's done, and what she can do -- not to mention having been resurrected.
There's silence from the mercenaries, so apparently they all decide to stay. "Very well," Shojo says, and uses a control wand to bring up an image on the screen. It shows a varied fleet of spaceships massing before a giant Silent-Ones stargate. "Around 6000 Solarian years ago, probes discover that Sifran Space may be traversable, though the reason for this and how long the window will be open is unknown. The Great Expedition is formed not long after in order to examine the believed home system of the Sifras, Primus, in the hope of learning more about the First Ones." It's the first time Tasha has seen an actual historical photograph of the fully assembled Expedition fleet. She can make out the Lucifer, and one of the massive Silent-Ones cathedral ships that bears a strong resemblance to the Temple of Rephidim itself.
Tasha decides she wants this image and is going to put it on a wall somewhere, probably in her quarters both in the base and onboard ship. While Tasha's moved on from the Expedition's legacy, that legacy is the core of not only the foundation of her family line and existence, but the existence of Gabriel on Sinai, Nora's plight, and a great deal else. The Expedition's legacy is her legacy and her beginning as well as at least one end. She followed the trail the Expedition left back in to the greater universe and from there to problems far beyond.
Only one ship returned from the Expedition, the original Gate Ship that anchored the far end of the wormhole, only to explode when it exited the Gate. The official story was that no information was recovered from the debris. "Of course, there have always been conspiracy theories regarding this. The truth is that the Expedition was never meant to return. Its true purpose was to set up colonies that might be protected from an extinction event such as that which claimed the First Ones," Shojo explains. Next are images from Abaddon, showing the landings at what would become Expedition City before each faction settled their own areas. "Abaddon was not the first choice, but after all exploratory missions to Sinai were lost, it was chosen by the Silent-Ones, Terrans, Confederates and the Vartans, who split from their Khattan Patrons, who went to the water world of Ashtoreth. For the Karnors and Vartans, Abaddon was a world waiting to be broken. After landing, it was discovered that Titanians had also followed the Expedition somehow and settled there." Shojo then nods to Gabriel, who gets up and approaches the podium.
Some of this, though not most of it, is new to Tasha. her information leans heavily towards the Primus side of things as in individual looking out across time back at what came before, most of it long since faded in to memory and then obscurity. Very few people back home know the truth, even now. That the Khattans went to Ashtoreth is new however, which does neatly clean up the matter of where everyone went.
Gabriel introduces himself. "I was on the Expedition, as a First Generation Karnor, when the Galactics first imposed their Client regulations on Terra. I led one of the forays to Sinai, which crashed for... various reasons. Most related to the odd nature of reality on Sinai, which is not compatible with solid-state or more advanced technology. A more extreme version of the Sifran Field effect. Most of my crew went into stasis. We were discovered after 5000 years by Tasha and a group of locals. Mr. Lightfoot?"
Aaron goes up next, and explains about the intervening millenia on Sinai, the legend of the Ark which seeded the world with all its people, the vast majority of which were engineered by the Terrans. Technically, this would make them the Terragens the most prolific creator of Clients he notes as a joke, and rattles off some of the many species and the Vartan-hybrid variants (something only possible in the Primus system, and only with other uplifted and engineered people) such as Tasha. "And then there's magic. House Khomen of the Khattan Trade Coalition attempted to use this power for their own benefit, once the Titanian 'trade ship' made limited travel to the Primus system possible. But the issue of House Khomen goes back much farther." He then returns the podium to Gabriel.
Tasha lifts a hand to acknowledge her involvement if looked at, otherwise she remains as she is. The story is profoundly nostalgic and serves as both reminder and review of how far they've all come. She's curious where the matter of House Khomen will go, as it's the focus of current events. She also isn't sure she'd have added so much background, but she can see the value of having the whole picture and to know the 'why' of why you're fighting. The addition will also help brace for what's coming, she hopes.
"Now, this is where things get weird," Gabriel says. Pictures of the Dainty Mauler appear now. "Due to her involvement with the Titanians and a favor she performed for them, she was given the Dark Horse." More images appear of the Dark Horse in the area the Titanians used as a dumping ground. "She's not a First Ones ship, but from an even older cycle of galactic civilization referred to as the Ancients. Not really a starship so much as a weapon, powered by something we will get into later, but tied to the purpose of the Dark Horse was originally created for." This is followed by recordings of the Acheron Ash Zone, including Urgo-hem, the Berserkers, and the ossuary 'planet' of Thotep. "The original gods of this universe are entities known by us as the Ogdoad. They seeded the first life in the universe, and created servitor beings. These were the Outsiders, the Starseeds, the Ogdru-hem and the Seraphim or Xilphrim, which we now call the Sifras. The Sifras turned on their creators and imprisoned them, but did nothing about the others. We know what we do because of an encounter with an Ogdru-hem called Katha-hem on Abaddon. These entities vary in power and purpose. One of them is the power source for the Dark Horse, which was created as a weapon to use against some of these creatures. The destruction of Praxafallopus is due to the defeat of the Ogdru-hem that was stationed there. There are other factions of extra-universal entities as well, some willing to aid in destroying the Ogdru-hem, but always for their own agendas."
Images of Luk'thu-hem and the ancient First Ones battlefield are shown. Charon and Persephone as well. "The First Ones fought against the Ogdru-hem, and after their fall other entities referred to as the Progenitors had a hand in starting the current wave of Galactic civilization. They had an agenda of getting rid of the Ogdru-hem, but ultimately.. weren't up to the task, for various reasons."
On to more current events, if including timeless entities can ever be considered current -- or perhaps is always current. Tasha isn't sure, she suspects the answer is both and neither, in the way comparing a color to a time is bizarre and poorly defined. This area is also her specialty to some degree or other, but she suspects she's more the focal point and catalyst more than its expert, a tool and wielder rather than the sage that understands the greater workings. She does know quite a few things, that is true, but no one has ever considered her especially scholarly, even in areas she specializes on. There was a time where she would have been up there speaking, but now she feels more like a field agent again, content to stay in the shadows until needed. Besides, she thinks, Gabriel and the others need their part, too.
"We have representatives of some of these other factions as part of our organization, either in active or advisory roles," Gabriel says, just as Samael emerges from the display wall. "Hi," he says. "In your mythologies, I could be called a demon. I'm an entity that does not have a fixed form and exists partly outside the dimensions of this reality, and I serve a faction that is opposed to the Ogdoad, and part of the functioning of the Dark Horse as the Dagger of Eibon."
Kai walks to the stand next to Sam. "And I serve a different faction that is nominally opposed to them as well. I'm not a demon, but I'm still a monster. I created this base from what may as well be thin air, in a pocket reality originally carved out by a faerie lord. That's his castle across the lake. He's still there, where I mostly-killed him centuries ago. I'm also the reason why you haven't been feeling alarmed by all of this. The creature you faced in the asteroid base is an associate of mine, just.. way more powerful. She's more of an advisor at the moment, don't depend on her aid."
Daltoona is displayed next. "Daltoona Status is the center of power for House Khomen, specifically their gravity stator production. It is also believed to contain an Ogdru-hem that is the source of the exotic matter used in their stators, and our next target," Gabriel says.
Tasha recently read the Book of Eibon, as she recalls, and she's pleased with herself for remembering the name despite all the eldritch pain, facial bleeding, and unconsciousness. She wonders if her role in all of this is combat and field martyr, it sometimes feels like egregious examples of personal suffering are part of her job description. She's even gotten sued to it, even her entertainment seems to involve it a lot, now. Perhaps she's becoming a masochist.
Once Kai goes up to speak Tasha has a moment of chill down her spine. seeing not only Samael, but Kai, act and speak in a professional board-room manner is incredibly weird to her on a level she can't quite understand. She also wonders: is this how they actually are, or are they acting? And if this is how they are, then what are they with her -- and is it her influence of theirs?
Notably, to Tasha at least, is that there isn't any mention of her direct involvement with the 'other factions' or her relationship with the three new arrivals.
It's is Mr. Gold's artificial voice that asks, "Are the Galactic governments aware of any of this?"
Tasha of course know about House Khomen as their target, going after House Khomen has been on her agenda for quite a while now, ever since she operated the second Titan and slew House Khomen's agent. The entire combined affair revealed the House's involvement which was further elaborated on by both Rephidim's core leadership and several very high ranking members of the Star Empire.
It then does occur to her that she's gone unmentioned which, in light of everything else, stands out as being especially strange. Out of all of what was mentioned, how did she become one of the few secrets? And how has she come so far she's managed to become hush-hush? The old her was the opposite of hush-hush.
"We suspect that there are some in the more secretive areas that are aware of the Ogdru-hem, or at least of such 'supernatural' entities," Gabriel says. "The Titanians where contacted by the Phins to deal with an artifact of extra-spatial origin."
"So it's buried in the Library somewhere, and likely known by the Khattans and Celestials," Mr. Pink suggests. "Especially if the Khattans are milking one of them. And why exploration of the Ash Zones is prohibited."
Tasha thinks Mr. Gold has a good point, she hadn't really considered the reason why the Ash Zone was uncharted. Now she wonders if whomever ordered the exploration contract has run in with overt or covert response to their findings. That would be bad.
Mr. Black hasn't moved at all. It's hard to tell if the Naga is even awake, but he finally says, "We have old tales of cosssmic entitiess, from before the degeneration."
"The Celestials have more cults than teeth," Mr. Pink snorts.
Tasha knew about the Celestial AI cult, but that's about it. Celestial culture is one she knows the least about, though she does get along surprisingly well with their AI, or at least, some of them. She suspects they both have common ground as beings created for purpose.
"The Silent-Ones have always fought the Shadows," Mr. Gold claims.
"The Silent-Ones fight everything," Mr. Black claims.
"Spreading the Light of the Star is the best way to fight the Shadows," the Silent-One counters.
"Which one of you is the one we faced?" Mr. Pink asks, interrupting the cultural sniping.
The Star. Tasha still has no idea if the Star even exists, unless it's literal. Or even more so, a specific star. She doesn't have time ton investigate but perhaps some day.
"You aren't likely to run into them again," Kai claims. "But you'd do well to stay away from their ship, all the same." Is she psychically planting the notion that Galatea is someone that keeps to her ship?
Tasha doesn't know, as both can mess with her brain too, and she doesn't know it. Which annoys her to no end, the Blue energy was supposed to prevent such attacks, but she suspects they may have sabotaged its potential. Maybe she'll ask Samael later for his own ideas on mental shielding.
The shielding may not work against sources inside of it, since Tasha has the damaged ansible embedded in her brain at the moment. But that at least should tell her when someone is tapping into it, although Galatea claimed it was a piece of herself. But she also asked Tasha questions instead of just reading her mind. It's likely that Galatea just prefers social interaction after being alone for so long.
Tasha supposes that must be the case. At any rate, much like being recreated, having her implants, and so many other mind and or soul involved processes, she may never know, though that's no excuse to not think, inquire, and if necessary, act. Along the same lines her lack of presence in the briefing is not unlike this problem, she is a hidden thing hiding in plain sight.
"And we're in a fantasy land right now, that the entire ship can leave and enter?" Mr. Pink asks next. "More or less, depending on if you believe in faeries and magic. A different kind of magic from the Sifran quantum-field manipulation, that is. Then there's the cosmic variety that affects beings like Sam."
"Why are you fighting these cossmic monssterss?" Mr. Black asks.
Now, Gabriel looks past the men to Tasha. "Would you like to speak to that, Tasha? We haven't discussed the purpose and motives behind the Ogdru-hem after all."
Tasha decides she does have something important to contribute, a bit of insight that might help. She considers briefly staying quiet but she doesn't have any special reason not to speak up or reveal herself, she was mentioned after all, so there's no reason she can see she shouldn't speak.
"You can think of each set of 'magic' as dealing with different rules. Each reality, and in some respects areas within that reality, have their own rules. Some realities share rules, which allows overlap even as each reality continues to use unconnected rulesets. Both high-level understanding of in universe rules and external mixed rules form what we know as 'magic'. Magic of mastery, and magic of the outside," she elaborates, though she remains seated while she does and doesn't otherwise shift position. She's too afraid she'll wince.
Tasha lets that sink in a moment before she moves on. After all, it's an important foundation to understanding their ultimate goal.
"Are the Ogdru-hem dangerouss, or a resource to be exploited or denied to othersss," Mr. Black asks, swiveling his head all the way around to face Tasha. "Being kept sssecret sssugestss they have value of ssome ssort."
"Yes, their 'magic' is valuable, allowing their specific biologies and supernatural properties to be exploited for various purposes. However, they are not simply exotic hybrid life left here to do as they will, and they are not free beings. In a sense they are living tools. You remember what Gabriel said about the origin of life, the Star Seeds, and so on? The Ogdoad?" Tasha sits up and spreads her hands, as if to encompass all. "Seeded life. Seeded as in sewing, as in a field of crops. And like crops, once the harvest is ready, the farmers come forth to feed on what they have sewn. The Ogdoad devour universes. And to be more precise, the Ogdoad are not gods, they are not alive, even 'they' is inaccurate. It is a hungering darkness without life and devoid of most repeatable elements. they exist outside of things, including time. It cannot die; it is not alive. But, it does follow rules. It needs anchors, bridges. That is the Ogdru-hem. They are bridge and the seal that allows the Ogdoad in, where upon it will devour us all."
Tasha's hands close together, fingers locking like teeth. "And I don't just mean 'us' as in 'whomever is alive at that point'. They are timeless. They will devour all of time and reality, every soul within this reality. It will be as if we never were. The.." She hesitates. "The devouring is unlikely to be pleasant."
"Thank you, that clarifiesss your motivess," Mr. Black notes.
"Saving the universe, basically," Mr. Pink summarizes. "I assume we'll expand operations at some point? Or is it really a one-monster at a time and plan for the next one if we survive?"
Tasha nods her head then settles back to her previous position. She has to admit, the Kai Field really has its uses in situations like this. Not having everyone she speaks to freak out really speeds things along.
"Expansion is being considered, but is stymied by politics and other matters. Each Ogdru-hem is also unique in power, size, and its special ability. A uniform response doesn't work. Each Ogdru-hem is a unique problem," Tasha adds, back in her lounge position.
"So, the real job is intelligence gathering?" the Human asks, one arm over the back of his seat while he's half-turned to look at Tasha.
"That, but action is also necessary. Once an Ogdru-hem is located and assessed a means to remove it can formulated. This can mean anything from conventional weaponry to calling upon outsiders, to attacking their minds, magic, and so forth." Tasha lifts a hand to twirl a finger. "We're also now in possession of a map to locate them and we have it on good authority that should the Ogdru-hem be removed the Ogdoad cannot return to this reality forevermore."
"It should be noted that not all of the factions involved in this are friendly towards one another," Kai notes, and spreads her hands. "Me? I can go along with anything.. at the moment. How about you, Sam?"
"They also have, as stated, agendas. Agendas that do not necessarily need to wait until our goals are completed," the bathrobe-wearing red woman notes.
"You and the other one terrify me," Sam claims. "I have my issues with Thoth, however, but there is not much to say on that. He turned me to stone. And hasn't apologized."
Tasha wonders about what being turned to stone is actually like for Samael, whose existence is so different. Perhaps it is not unlike what she experienced; perhaps it is worse, or better. She doesn't know and considers asking some time, should she feel up to it.
"And one faction that I am loosely affiliated with might destroy this universe if they know the Ogdoad are embedded here," Kai claims. "But they are otherwise generally helpful, depending one which person you talk to. I mean, the nicest one did get Tasha killed."
"She got better though," Aaron notes.
"I'm feeling much better," Tasha says in response to her death. "And he is nice. It wasn't really his fault. He's just a child, even if he is a godlike child. And it was partly my fault for being reckless."
"But Thoth's group is pretty much useless," Samael claims.
"It is good to know cosmic entities snipe at one another like we mortals do," Mr. Gold says through his glove.
"Apparently," Tasha says to Samael's claim. "Thoth did suggest a potentially large force of them still exits in the.. void? Abyss? Now I feel like I should have asked the Book. Oh well." A thought then occurs to Tasha and this back-and-forth official meeting makes for a good segway in to speaking to Samael again. "By the way Sam, does your.. faction, know anything about a black crystalline sword of indeterminate size floating in what appears to be space?"
"I'm not sure 'good' is how I'd describe it," Tasha notes to Mr. Gold, her smile wry.
"I was on ice for a million years, and what memories I was given when I was reprocessed don't include information on something like that," Samael says. "My update was mainly in regards to activation of the Dagger in order to destroy Urgo-hem."
"Swords in space, in stones.. the best ones are always someplace weird," Kai offers. "Or it's an evil sword that was thrown away where it was hoped it would not be found again. Lots of things are given the shape of swords that are something else entirely, or swords are used to imprison things that shouldn't be running loose."
"That leaves.. Hm, I suppose it might be a new faction. Do you know much about, ah.. How safe is it for me to mention Big Names right now?" Tasha looks to Kai and Samael both. "This one's new. Mr. Yellow isn't safe at any time, and I'm not sure he's on this one's scale. The Third Pillar, aside form your boss and the Big Empty."
"It's unlikely we'd recognize anything you mentioned," Mr. Pink points out.
"You don't say," Tasha remarks of Kai's information, though she can see the woman grinning a little, so the sarcasm seems to be playful at least.
"For instance, Sam could be a sword," Kai says. "One who guarantees victory for some unholy price. I'm technically a sword in function, just one with boobs, which makes me better than Sam by default."
Tasha turns to Mr. Pink and nods, taking his response seriously, but then sits up again to spread her hands in a less all-encompassing way. "It's not recognition that's concerning here, but awareness. For example Mr. Yellow, to whom I referred to, is dangerous to simply know. His name is dangerous. Many of these beings possess what could be considered a memetic or psychic property to their fundamental existence. Knowing them can both make them aware of you and part of you as the idea of them exists within you. It's much like the idea of dangerous knowledge, but in this case it's not only the knowledge, but that the knowledge is alive and aware of you in turn. And has an agenda, which may not be to your benefit."
"So you'll understand as I'm extra cautious about naming names. This one's a big one, so best to be careful." Tasha agin looks to Samael. "Domain's life, shares part of his name with your least favorite energy bird?"
"Production end of Life instead of.. the End end?" Sam asks.
"She means the primal chaos one," Kai says.
"I just heard Life. Starts with S, ends with H. Not End-end, not Mr. Yellow, not your boss, not anyone we've interacted with knowingly or heard of. But big." Tasha shrugs, palms up. "We can discuss it later if that'd be better. I was told they might know more, that the sword might be theirs. We won't halt anything to look for it, but it'd be good to know. They also said our Ogdru-hem might be a lead as they're likely to know this being and be able to reach them for some reason, probably due to the nature of what they are."
"Oh.. well, that one knows everything," Sam nods. "Everything everywhere all at once."
"That sounds continent and problematic, and confusing as temporarily isn't necessarily linear and.. Well. It's very interesting." Tasha taps her chin, thinking. "Do you think contacting him is worth the risk? Can she do it?"
"Depends on unknowable variables," Sam says. "Above my boss's level. You need the right rituals.."
"Those are always fun. And above his level? Not something to risk before a mission, certainly. We'll have to work on that when we can." Tasha taps her chin a moment more, thinking, then shakes her head. "But that's for later, and I digress. Please continue."
"May need the dimensional shunt too," Kai suggests.
"All the toys then. Even scarier. That could go a number of ways," the red woman remarks, frowning.
"We'll have another briefing later on what we know of Daltoona, and individual entry strategies," Gabriel says. "We have one of your group in place there now, so her report will inform our decisions."
Tasha settles back in, but she does give Samael a nod before she does, to indicate their interaction status has indeed changed. Otherwise she resumes her background decor posture, snuggling in to her robe because she's a bit cold, uncertain if it's the weather or the implications of needing so much, to reach a being higher than Samael's boss.
The screen is shut off, and Shojo says, "Both Gabriel and I will be available for individual questions in our offices while we wait for the Daltoona report. Please make use of Dr. Sen if you wish some counseling. Once you leave Kai's presence, you may feel varying degrees of anxiety, as she has been suppressing any panic responses. This concludes the briefing."
The men stand, and seem unsure of how to proceed.. so they file out after Shojo and Gabriel.
Seeing that the meeting is coming to an end, Tasha also rises. She's a big slow; even with Liza's ministrations there's only so much that can be done for the level of entertainment she was involved in, and Karnors are rough with non-Karnor anatomy. So, she's among the last to leave.
"Kai? Can I have a word with you," Tasha asks as she heads for the exit.
"And here I've been depending on weird potions to keep calm," Aaron notes, and stretches as he gets up. "But then I'm probably already insane," he tells Tasha and gives her a wink as he passes her.
Kai follows Tasha. "You can even have two words," she says. "There may be an issue I need to discuss with you as well."
"I think regular people are insane and we're the sane ones. That's reality," Tasha returns. She'd make a quip or try to bite him but she's a bit tired. Happy, but tired. "Well, why don't head to the.. Do we have a cantina yet? A mess hall?"
"There's a cafeteria on the main level," Kai says. "Next to the gymnasium. There are still some frozen supplies aboard Dark Horse that were picked up on the most recent trip, I'm told."
"Lets hope someone brought them in. Otherwise, I still have snack bars in my room." Tasha waves Kai to follow and off they go.
The cafeteria seems too big for their current headcount, since it could easily accommodate the entirety of Tartarus Base's crew. There are what look like buffets, currently empty, and various different stations with facilities for specific styles of cooking, although they each seem to lack anyone to staff them. There are also the familiar synthesizers like those on Dark Horse and Belerophon for very basic things. There's no sign of a fancy coffee maker though.
"Well this is huge. Want to eat outside? Or, we can just eat here. It's not like we can't find private seating." Tasha walks over and grabs one of the man, many tables and leaves her bag there to reserve the spot, not that she really needs to with this much space. "We can look for food while we talk. So what's up?" She heads for the kitchen to rummage around.
Kai follows along, and says, "Tia isn't answering my calls. Did anything odd happen out on the lake? I saw her head back to the ship."
"We had a talk about her mother and about what's going on. Mostly to update her on what we learned out in Fairy Land. I don't think she enjoyed scaring those men, but she wasn't unstable or anything. Not outwardly at least." Tasha scratches her nose in thought. "She did seem a bit distant at first, a bit hard edged, but it went away."
"She may have scared herself then," Kai suggests. "Take Sasha with you if you go to the ship to see what's going on."
"He's not much protection.. he is kind of adorable though, so maybe that will help more. It's not like either one of us can take Galatea on. Or both of us. Or all of us." Tasha slides a snack bar over; the bar reads: "Fruit of The Jungle; Terrawerks Food Industries" and, encouragingly enough, "approved for Human, Karnor, and Pan consumption". It's also in a shiny silver wrapper, which may or may not be important.
"Not for protection," Kai corrects. Then says, "Well, sort of. According to Liza, Sasha is miserable and pretends that he isn't when he's around others. Tia is the same. Maybe misery really does like company, if both parties are miserable? At least they can be awkward at one another. He's partly Tia's mess, so she should do something to help fix it."
"I always wondered why Tia helped with making more of me. I mean, she clearly is very angry at me on a level, so why make more of someone you're angry at? It'd be like me making more Laccis; not that I'm angry at her. Also, now I feel bad Vasha has to hang around Lacci. I need to get her better friends." Tasha pulls out another bar which, if the large Karnor head on the wrapper suggests anything, is purely Karnor faire. "Well, I've been meaning to get all the rest of me together anyway and address problems, so this is a good start. And speaking of all of me, Tia says my connections to them it like Kainudy's connection to you, so does that mean they're safe from my possession?"
"They don't have transceivers in their heads like you do," Kai explains. "And now that they aren't you at the moment, there's little chance of contamination, plus there are safety buffers. It doesn't have the vulnerabilities that higher-dimensional synchronistic communication can have."
"What if I have to inhabit them, any risk then?" Tasha's leans in, head on a hand, ears forward.
"Mmmmm... maybe should try use the map up before then," Kai suggests. "I don't try to touch Hakeber's mind, for safety. More her safety than mine, since it isn't clear what triggers her implant."
"Then I'll just lock it in for now. I just wanted to visit hypothetical, just in case. We'll worry about the map when we're ready to use it." Tasha glances towards the door and frowns in thought. "I shouldn't leave Galatea waiting if she's having problems, better to get to these things quickly before they fester. I know." She taps the side of her head.
"Festering can be fun if you do it right," Kai claims. "Also, Sasha can help carry back the supplies.
"My favorite kind of festering is the bloody fighting kind. Galatea could probably use a good fight, but there's no one around who can stand up to her. One sided fights can be fun, but only sometimes and only for the right person. She's not the right person." Tasha finishes up her snack bar with surprising speed, then stands up. "I guess I'm heading out. Let me know if any of the mercs can't cope or need special answers."
"I will," Kai says. "Sasha should be out on the airfield, so along your route."
"Definitely easier than popping in to his head like omniboss." Tasha gives Kai a shoulder hug as she passes, then she's heading for the exit of of the building and towards the airfield.
The airfield still only has two occupants: the large weirdness of the Astraea and smaller (but still large) 'antique' functionality of the Terran transport ship, which to Tasha's knowledge has never been flown. Since one of those is off limits, it's a good guess where Sasha is.
Tasha does eye the Astraea as she walks past it. She's been on board before, of course, but that was a difficult time for her and she really didn't have a chance to explore -- not that there was much to explore. It's a weird ship cobbled together from all sorts of mostly functioning parts, so at least on that level she has a certain empathy with it if, like with its owner, there are mixed feelings.
And so Tasha walks until she's at the hatch of the Terran vessel. She knocks on the frame. "Hello?"
"The correct terminology is 'Permission to come aboard?', you know," Sasha says from further up in the crew cabin.
"I'm a little rusty on my Terragens ship protocols. Also, I think you ask the captain and you're no more the captain than I am." A pause as Tasha tries to determine if she's dealing with snark or sarcasm; maybe petulance. Could be any or all with her, and so with Sasha. Sash's more mild than she is, but that's the Sasha that was and may not be the Sasha that is now. "Well, can I come in?"
"Yeah, I'm at one of the workstations," Sasha replies. Due to the layout, that puts him on a higher platform than the walkway. Which means Tasha would either have to use one of the short ladders or walk to the front of the cockpit to make use of the ramps. "What brings you out this way?"
Tasha takes the cockpit route, climbing ladders would rub too much together than she feels comfortable rubbing. As she walks, she talks. "I came to check on you. I've heard you're having some problems." It comes off as really basic and a bit condescending for it, not that she intended to be either. She tries again. "I know you're having trouble fitting in and adapting, from what others have told me and my own intuition based on your circumstance. I assume you're here because it's like the Bellerophon and therefore comfortably nostalgic. And, there's no one else here."
"The console layouts are familiar, yeah," Sasha admits. "But they're the same in the base." He then looks at Tasha. "Familiarity is always the issue though. Everyone is.. familiar, but not the same. Except for Aaron, who is nothing like my Ariel."
Tasha takes a seat nearby. Not too close, but also not so distant as to seem standoffish. "I still remember bits and pieces of that life. How Abaddon was a different experience, how everyone was the same, but not. Gabriella isn't Gabriel, and so on. I'd have had strong reservations in creating you knowing all of this. But no one asked me, so we both have to deal with it. I suspect they knew I felt sad about you, but not exactly why." Tasha leans back, legs crossing. "I don't remember Ariel. My own memories go back to Abaddon and part of Sinai."
"She was.. well, different," Sasha says. "More Amazonian, but not as big or violent. More of an outcast. Despite that, she'd never respond to my flirting! Can you imagine? I don't know why she came back."
"She probably had feelings with you in other ways, like me and the Princess. or, I suppose, Lacci. Lacci could have left, but stuck around. We tend to draw in outcasts, because we provide a home and a place to be even if they may not want us sexually or as friends." Tasha looks around a moment, nodding. "A lot of people here are like that. You know like I do that very few people actually come and talk with me, and fewer ask me about my problems or dig any deeper. Sometimes I think we're like a symbol, or a lynchpin. We're an idea and a foundation that keeps things together for others. Something to rally around."
"I don't think anyone is going to rally around me, if I can't do it myself," Sasha says. "I don't even have my wings anymore. So I could 'blend in' better, I imagine. So that you wouldn't have to. I have no idea what Kai was thinking, other than that we wouldn't be people. Or else that's just what she thinks people are."
"Asking Kai what people and emotions are is a lot like asking Mel what living is like. They both understand the concept indirectly but lack the resources to ever understand it, unless the nature of their existence changes. It's like asking me about being a god. I can speculate from what I know but I haven't experienced it." Tasha holds out a hand, indicatively. "Plus she's kind of a smartass. Maybe she wanted to get a rise out of me, in more ways than one. Aaron suggested maybe she and Kai are testing us, because both of them were created the same way. To see how we deal with it. I'm Kainudy's apprentice and spent time around her. Maybe I'm like a proxy."
"Do we ever get to deal with a powerful entity that isn't weird or broken in some way?" Sasha has to ask. Then answers his own question: "Of course not, that isn't the sort of person we get the attention of."
"I'm a little suspicious if they even exist. But you're right, we attract broken and lost people. People with somewhere to go, things to believe, their own way, they don't gravitate towards us. They may even be repelled by us, since a lot of them reject the lost. It's not exactly a secret societies and even individuals treat outcasts badly." Tasha's head shakes, sadly. "At least it's a bit different with deities and the like. They tend to be few in number by necessity."
"Well, the ones I've met so far haven't inspired much confidence," Sasha says. "And by 'so far' I mean since my creation. I'm not the real Sasha, just a sort-of copy. I still have to believe he's still going strong in an alternate timeline. But that can be a difficult belief to hold onto. How do I remember things that you don't, for example? Are they the real Sasha's memories, or just stuff Kai made up so that I wouldn't just be you with a penis and wiggly toes?"
Tasha spreads her hands in a helpless shrug. "Probably the same way I believe I'm still me after all that's happened. Am I really Tasha? Tasha, as we know it, could be dead. Maybe she'd been erased and overwritten several times. Maybe I was just Nora fooling herself. That road leads to insanity.It can be better to believe a thing and maintain stability until you find proof it is incorrect, then address what is incorrect and create a new self-view from the result. A stable foundation is needed for any beginning." The red woman then draws in a deep breath, exhales, and crosses her legs the opposite way. "Whatever you are, you're you what you are. I also like to believe Sasha is safely back with his own reality, so maybe you should be exactly what you said: A Sasha made form his memories and the ideas there-of. If you don't have a good 'you' now, aim to make one."
"I suppose I'll eventually get over the sense of.. loss?" Sasha suggests. "I'm not sure there's a proper word for it. It's like.. everyone else is an impostor. No, it's that they don't remember me like I remember them. They don't see me as another reflection of you like they do the others. I don't know. I should be spending all my time with Dr. Sen. Although I bet Kai could just sort it out, but I don't think that's a good precedent to set, y'know? I haven't spent as much time with Sharon as I should be, either. I think she feels like she needs a protector.. from her protectors. Otherwise she's just going to give in and stay with the Lapis like Yue still does every so often."
"I don't think letting Kai take the reins is a good idea, either. That's deciding you're more of a tool, or a machine, to be customized as needed. It's also why I rejected Kai's attempt to teach me mind control and part of why i don't direct you three about like remote control drones and spare suits to wear. There is something fundamentally lost in controlling beings, you turn them in to artless puppets, you turn them form 'person' to 'object'. How to put it? You overwrite their unique and special being with you. It's the difference between reading a book and writing all your own words over the page. It's the problem gods have, free will, or an echo chamber?" Tasha leans back a little at her own insight which ran from personal distaste, to moral position, to the concept of self and other and finally in to an insight in to the fundamental problems of the power of creation. She's quiet for a few seconds. Then, "I like adventure. I sometimes like people. But I like adventure. And, I like having people I like around me. That is part of why I won't use you three like objects. Why I wouldn't use Mel like one."
"Well, we must be different from you if you like having us around you," Sasha teases while grinning. "At least we don't want to fight or have sex with each other so far!"
"Wait, are you saying you don't want to be around me?" Tasha feigns looking hurt, ears back. "And here I thought I've been mostly nice. Distant, but nice. And mostly distant because I have my duties to attend to. I have actually been worrying about you and truing to figure out what to do about it. I've been thinking of acquiring one of the tower structures solely for our own use and occupation, probably with our own basic facilities, too. A commons room, some exercise stuff, individual suites, and maybe a floor for doing things specific to us. A structure a bit out of the way, so you can have your privacy and be around people like you without having the others stress you."
"Also," and here Tasha gestures down at her beleaguered self, "The others are stressed out you're all stressed out, in different ways. Frustrated Karnors of Gabriel and Katie's scale are more than a match for little me. I was a bit worried afterwards I might be getting a little too submissive. and then what happens?"
"You go off and do crazy stuff?" Sasha asks. "You met a dragon and convinced it to come visit!"
"Or maybe I don't and let them control me, because we both know I like it. I just probably shouldn't like it too much, and earlier was me giving it, which is fun but it messes with my head for a little bit. Not long mind, but it did." Tasha's hands fall and she grins lopsidedly. "Which is something we all feel, and Sharon's likely especially scared of it because she lacks the resiliency and capacity to break free on the levels we do. She's afraid she'll end up someone's arm candy, live a small life, which part of her will love and part of her will really hate. I think she need to find a means of strength and.. what's the word? Agency. A replacement for what she doesn't have."
"Martial arts," Sasha suggests. "Just has to be from someone not-scary. Aaron could teach her. He talked about getting you into the gym as well so you don't turn into a marshmallow."
Sasha then pokes at Tasha's arm. "Sooooofffft," he teases.
Tasha just hmphs. "I do stay active, even if I look adorable and about as strong as Liza. I think Hakeber can actually pin me down now! How did this even happen?" The woman wrinkles her nose. "At least it helps me understand how Sharon feels. Well, martial arts are a good option. Dr. Sen's a good instructor, too. Between the two of them we could learn a lot. There's also options like magic, technology, psionics, and stranger source of power. I'd personally like to know more about telekinesis, Kai was instructing me that way. I can apparently shoot lightning with my wings -- electrokinesis? -- but only once, and then I'm tired and my hair looks stupid."
"Well, what special abilities do we get then?" Sasha asks, crossing his arms. "Hardly seems fair. Sharon could just use girl-power to get guys to fight each other though, but that's more of a hobby than a useful ability. She needs to learn whatever it is that Liza has. I should be able to... hmm. We've all got this telepathy thing with you, supposedly, so maybe that can be used for something else?"
"I don't think relying on her cuteness will help Sharon, it does work but it will only make her feel more reliant on others. She needs a strength that doens't rely on anyone else. Then she can stand confident and won't feel like she's losing herself by looking to others." Tasha then tilts her head. "Our connection? Do you mena turned outward, or inward? I imagine if we each learn enough synergistic skills we could act as a team, or even beyond regular team work. I imagine we could all, say, fly a ship or pilot a Titan together at a high level of synchronization. Even in a fight with our bare hands, it'd be hard to fight four people who know each others actions and can time everything perfectly."
"We'd be unstoppable at dodge-ball," Sasha notes, nodding. "But being able to act together at a distance, without having to use any sort of communications tech could be handy. And the skills thing.. or any learning.. if we can share it.."
"Then we become multiplicatively more competent and functional. Live a hive mind. Have you seen a bee? They're cute." Tasha nods, because they are cute. "So, it may be useful for us to split our focuses and see if we can find a way to synergize, both tactically and strategically. For example, if one of us learns to pilot this, that could tecah us all to pilot and we'd ahve a person who could pilot us around, sync up with those of us on the ground. One of us could provide ritual support. And so on."
"Well, Vasha isn't going to learn magic," Sasha says. "But I can be the 'base' one for tech stuff. I think I may be the most grounded in that of our group, since.. uh.. I'm not very social. But I can do math. I don't know how smart Vasha or Sharon are, but they should do well with Vartan and Human thinking skills. Like.. single-mindedness or.. uh.. treachery."
"I can tell you Sharon's the shyest but the most independent. And, her need to rely on something besides raw strength and bodily capacity means that more than anyone else she needs to be clever. You'll probably need to support her technologically, but I suspect she'll be best at anything that requires cunning, clever thinking, stealth and the like. Assassination through indirect means. Observation and data, maybe communications. Don't underestimate her, she's still one of us." And so Tasha smiles. "She may even tell us what she wants to do. She was the only one to decide her own name."
"Well, I already had mine," Sasha claims. "Vasha probably doesn't care. But I.. don't know what she uses as her family name? Are we all Argentines?" He leans back in his chair, one arm over the back, and looks out through the transparent canopy. "I haven't even looked at what it is on my fake ID yet."
"It's probably Argentine. I mean, mine is, and I'm Tasha Mark II. We don't tend to question it too much, and besides, it's convenient -- unless it's not. Why, do you want a new name? Do you think we need a new family name? Or do you want an individual one?" Tasha's ears go up. "I'm willing to listen and appreciate any suggestion. As for Vasha, she has that Vartan impulse, which is why I may pull her away from Lacci and Shojo. Lacci's not good for he, we have too much conflict and I think Lacci's distaste for me and condescending attitude -- plus her having a boyfriend while Vasha doesn't -- is going to eat away at Vasha's self esteem. Don't let her get drawn in to associations that are bad for her.As for what she can do, she's probably our best pilot, sniper, and at my level in physical martial capacity. Not that any of us are great there, but that's why we have soldiers."
"And does she have the magic wings too?" Sasha asks. "You know it's not like she'd listen to me. I'm just a Karnor now, not half-Vartan."
"Oh probably she has the magic wings. And she better listen to you, you're one of us. If she starts rejecting us to stick around Lacci and Shojo I'm going to be really worried. I'm not sure I want to let any of us break off so they can seal themselves up in a problem." And so Tasha wrinkles her nose. "She may fight me too, but that's okay, if I ahve to I can stand up to her."
"We're all sort of sealed up right now, except for you," Sasha points out. "I was here seeing if I could design a tree-house so I could live in the woods if I wanted to. Of course, I don't know how to build one. It's not like patching up an airship. Maybe that's why everything I tried turned out looking like an airship crashed into a tree.."
"Or should I try to seduce Lacci away from Shojo, then Vasha can have him?" Sasha suggests.
"Leeeets just leave Lacci and Shojo alone. Shojo's my friend, and I like him, so I don't want to ruin his happiness. Lacci annoys me but I don't hate her and I don't like the idea of interfering with anyone's private life just to achieve some personal agenda. I ultimately think all of me should give Lacci space. It would set a back precedent if I ruined things for them, besides." Tasha just shakes her head at the idea and what a disaster that would be. "And honestly? I'm done wanting to seduce her. It's so much work, and I think i'm over it anyway. Besides, Gwyndrael's coming. You should spend time with her."
"With a dragon?" Sasha asks. "Does she give rides at least?"
"I mean, she does if you're direct about it and she likes you.." Tasha arches an eyebrow and grins. "You may be surprised to learn I made my move with her to help me get ready to sync with your memories. You contain forbidden knowledge. I'm pretty sure once i know that I won't be quite the same."
"I contain what?" Sasha asks. "You made a move on a dragon? That's like.. flirting with Tia or something, isn't it?"
"You know, mostly I receive and don't.. give." Tasha waggles a hand at Sasha's crotch. "It's not really something I thought about doing before. Now I have to think about it. And know about it." And so Tasha shrugs, ears flicking. She then stares at a nearby console. "It's a lot, you know? And yes I did. My tail's as useful as Hakeber suspected it is. And I wa son top. Let me tell you, it was a real confidence-booster. I'm not sure I'd like it all or most of the time but it was fun when I tried it once. A lot of work too, a lot of expectation. I think Gabriel and Katie have made me a bit lazy in that regard, as Sharon has made me more shy than I was."
"But.. the size difference.." Sasha says. "It sounds more like something Aaron would try to do. He likes big scary women.. and also apparently small scary ones. So long as they're scary, I suppose. I would need to work up to a dragon. And it's not like I can practice on anyone! Well.. Hakeber, but I'm not sure how I feel about that."
"Aaron's the kind of man who needs a bit of domineering in his life, even if it's quiet domineering. It's one of his weaknesses," Tasha explains, followed by a laugh. "He doesn't know what to do with anyone too nice, it confuses him. As for Gwyndrael, she is big, but not scary. She's very nice and we have a lot in common, dragon or no, thousands of years age difference or no. Just be direct and explain who and what you are. She's not shy however, so maybe ask her when you're not around others. Dragons don't really care who watches them do anything. Other beings should not inconvenience dragons, not the otehr way around. As for Hakeber.. Poor Hake. She's really beat about all of this, you know."
"Hakeber? Beat?" Sasha asks. "She's always.. bubbly. She picked out my new wardrobe. And paid for it. And also some of Sharon and Vasha's, and Tia's. Does she just fake it?"
"No, not exactly. she really is pretty bubbly, but she's also doing it to try and make everyone around her happy and pleased with her. That it's not working is eating her up inside. She needs to get along with people or she feels bad. Since you're all parts of me and you're a exciting penis-enabled variation she was very excited, and then, well, disappointed, and then feeling dejected. Unfortunately none of us are very good at understanding these things except when they're someone else's problem, because we're a bit forward-looking," Tasha explains.
"I suppose it's that she just seems to expect me to.." Sasha says. "We all need therapy, even the monsters. Has anyone unloaded all the stuff from the ship yet?"
"I think she sees you as me but with additions. Nothing we can fix right now, but something to think on." Tasha then rises. "No, and I'd like to ask you to join me to do that. Also, we need to talk to Tia, speaking of people with problems feeling isolated and scared."
Sasha's cheek twitches. "Talk to her?" he asks. "We?"
"Yes we, and don't act so surprised! Or scared! It's not like I'm so much stronger than you I can stand up to her either. The main difference is confidence and understanding. And some madness. You need all of these. I know I had a lot of time to get them but you don't have that luxury, sooo.." Tasha leans down and snatches Sasha's hand up. "Off we go!"