The Alien Wars 6: Reality Strikers

Session 71

Session Start: Sat Dec 10 00:00:00 2022
Session Ident: #fumoffu
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-645.1.12 - shortly before the events of 604
<DeathStar> Location: Asteroid C
<DeathStar> *Ren leans back as Taiga stands there, tinkering with some stuff. Adeline at the consoles as well. It is clear they have information on the Mirror Universe behind them*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *looks over the info display*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I been going over the information of when the Aquarius went there last.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> But I figure it's best to hear it from the horse's mouth
<DeathStar> *Taiga brings up Yuki on the view screen, since she has it where they are connected to the Aquarius here. Yuki crosses her arms, Erica with her*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *turns to look at Taiga*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Can you give us a brief summary of what you encountered there last time?
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Well. We traveled through the Net to get there using the Aquarius and Sylph. After arriving... *Her ear twitches* There were like strange creatures that wanted to attack the spirits... Consume them? And there was like a version of Geyze there that was dead.
<Sara> <Erica> Also the mirror versions of some of us were kind of... uh... *she scratches the back of her head*
<Sara> <Erica> Oh wait.
<Sara> <Erica> I'm getting mixed up, ahahah.
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah, yeah. The mirror universe. It was just full of weird stuff.
<Sara> <Erica> It's like it was being... fed on. In general.
<Sara> <Erica> I guess with it bein' empty 'n all, there'd be some kind of creatures that swooped in like buzzards, y'know?
<Sara> <Erica> Poor, poor Geyze.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Right. It's a creepy place now
<Sara> <Erica> Yep. That's it in a word. Creepy.
<Sara> * Erica looks like she's had a long day
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well something is going on there now. I know the Aquarius is doing something in the Unknown Region, so I plan to check it out
<DeathStar> <Yuki> You want me to join you?
<DeathStar> *Taiga glances at Noire*
<Sara> <Erica> Ah, great. Probably more opportunists.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> They could provide some insight
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Tell what has changed.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "MMmmm... a cooperative mission makes sense."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Alright, give us a moment to use the teleporter.
<Sara> <Erica> I will say, no one liked that place. It's like the Net when you stay in too long, kind of.
<Sara> * Erica nods to Yuki
<DeathStar> *Yuki nods to Erica* Exactly
<DeathStar> *As the two log off, Ren muses* <Ren> Tora and Asarar fixed the Net right?
<DeathStar> <Ren> Or claimed to.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Feels important, that."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Right. And sis said that the Aquarius used the Net the first time to get back to the Mirror Univere
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah, supposedly.
<Sara> <Erica> I figure you're thinking it's all related, right?
<DeathStar> <Ren> Yeah maybe
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I don't know how, but yes."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... I believe the reports stated they created a usable Net. I wonder if piece of the old, corrupted version are buried somewhere under the new Net."
<DeathStar> *Taiga begins to boot up the Striker in the hanger, having put into the ancient ship the same engine the Aquarius has as well as some other properties*
<DeathStar> *Adeline stands up* I hate guessing when variables are so unknown.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright everyone, make sure you have your watches. *Ren nods as she steps onto the ship. Adeline follows and Taiga heads for the bridge. Yuki joining with Erica*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *checks ehr equipment and then joins the others on the Striker ship*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> We should make sure there are no stowaways. <Taiga> ... what?
<Sara> <Erica> ...Yeah
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Last time the kids snuck onto the Aquarius when we went to the Mirror Universe.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... it is a thing that does occur with some regularity."
<DeathStar> *Ren glances at Charlotte*
<DeathStar> *Taiga reaches up and scans the Striker*
<DeathStar> *a bunch of kids are hiding, somehow, in cargo*
<DeathStar> <Ren> .. How?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Do you expect stowa..." *sighs*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...who are these children?!"
<Alicia> * Charlotte checks
<DeathStar> *it looks like Bella, Cloé, Akatsuki, Nell, Seniga, etc*
<DeathStar> *Cloé looks up when caught, giving her best kitty paw*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...I don't even know most of them. Why are they here? Where did they come from? How did they even get here?!"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I am just as baffled
<DeathStar> <Ren> I have to assume my toddler is a ringleader now
<Alicia> * Akatsuki looks innocent, definitely giving the opposite impression
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Heard you were going back to Mirror - means get to see Crystal friends. <Taiga> Crystal friends? *eyes her paperwork on the Crystal Kumen reality* That's most likely no longer connected to the Mirror Universe and has become it's own thing
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "As mischief goes, it's not that bad."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Really? The kids are safe though? <Taiga> Yeah, their world is stable now
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'll show it to you after this. *to the kids* And you. But for now, it's too dangerous to be on my ship
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Awww..."
<DeathStar> *Cloé sulkily walks off the ship* <Adeline> Kumiko will keep an eye on them
<Jackieness> <Noire> "And get them home if you can."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> I do wonder how they manage to get to places. We need to see what their powers are
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Later. *She starts up the ship* Captain Erica?
<DeathStar> *As the ship backs up out of the hanger, Ren takes a seat by one of the weapon consoles*
<DeathStar> *Yuki finds a simple seat*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *takes a seat as well*
<Sara> <Erica> All right. Hopefully they really are gone...
<DeathStar> *Adeline picks a seat to monitor science stuff*
<Sara> * Erica sits
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Since you're a more experienced Captain, I'm going to rely on you. Feel free to take over and issue orders
<DeathStar> <Taiga> When you feel the need
<DeathStar> *Taiga leans forward* Alright, I'm going to send the Striker to the Mirror Universe now
<DeathStar> *she begins to work the controls and inputs the MU coordinats; the ship forms a giant gate and flies through. IT jerks about like it was using the Tiger Gate and soon appears elsewhere. It looks like it's the same area of stars and asteroids, but it lacks ASteroid C*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Okay, I'm going to jump us to Geyze and Kumen.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "It seems fairly normal here..."
<DeathStar> *She begins to prepare the drives; so far things seem normal enough and the ship jumps*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Yeah. No spooky anti spirit creatures.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Nothing appears missing."
<DeathStar> *After a bit of time, they exit and find an unusual sight. The place where Yggdrasil, there is usually an empty space or something indicating the universe acknowledges the tree should be there, but here in the Mirror Universe, the counter part of the Prime, there seems to be something there, but it's hard to tell what. It's almost like a shadowy after image of something huge, but hard to make out*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Of coruse, we a re fairly far out from Kumen and Geyze."
<DeathStar> *As for Kumen and Geyze, there seems to be only one planet right now floating around this large object*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Taiga, get a scan of that... and use the computers to make it visiible."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Alright, that should *not* be there."
<DeathStar> *Taiga begins to try to scan it*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Last time we were here, this place was dead outside those spirit things. And there definitely was two worlds.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "I have a suspicion about something..."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Likewise."
<DeathStar> <Ren> What what?
<DeathStar> *Ren looks clueless*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "What did Centerpoint even look like?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'm having trouble locking on, getting closer
<DeathStar> *Taiga moves in*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Be careful, Taiga. If I'm right, we are looking at an impression of the Serpent."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...ah, good call."
<DeathStar> *Taiga begins to bring up what looks like a massive crystal like structure, oddly broken in places and cracked and in the formation of a tree*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ... No way
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...or that after all."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Charlotte, you might be right. Taiga, is it Centerpoint?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Not in the design it used to be. And I believe there might be signs of a life sign within it.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Only reason I Can tell is that I'm not getting much of anything in this reality
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Wait no
<DeathStar> <Taiga> There is stuff on that planet.
<DeathStar> *Yuki leans forward* There IS?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Take us into orbit and prepare to scan for lifeforms."
<Sara> <Erica> But what?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "That's what I'm wondering."
<DeathStar> *Yuki glances at Erica, wary, as Taiga flies toward the planet orbitting the crystal tree. As they near it, there seems to be some sort of protective field around it; the computer identfiying it as a sort of anti-field* <Taiga> Passing that would mess with my spirit engines. *She keeps the ship out of range of it and scans the surface*
<Sara> <Erica> Concerning.
<DeathStar> *bringing up the continents and it begins to show them landmasses of Kumen and Geyze and the Spirit Realm, all combined into one planet, fitting together perfectly*
<Sara> <Erica> ...? Is that...
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... this feels like a big revelation."
<DeathStar> <Ren> What?
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Interesting
<Sara> <Erica> It looks like a chimera world.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Or how the world was meant to be
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "The two planets combined into one... I wouldn't expect it to be so harmonious."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> That is true, we would have to see how it worked
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm... map this data back to the maps of our own Kumen and Geyze."
<DeathStar> *Adeline begins to compare* Each world does have a decent amount of water where the land masses could go. And it was already shown the spirit realm was the bridge that connected the two
<DeathStar> <Adeline> But it would give the world little ocean, as seen
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So... how much of Kumen and Geyze's history happened here? If any."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "I don't recall any reports about this combined world being seen before."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> IF the world was split somehow, I cannot imagine the technology needed to do it
<DeathStar> <Adeline> It would beyond anything I could picture
<DeathStar> <Yuki> We are just assuming the two were one - this is a mirror of our own, right?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It feels more like a cosmic event than anything intentionally done."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... perhaps the crystal tree is the major clue."
<DeathStar> *Taiga shrugs* There are lifesigns down there, but I fear taking the ship down.
<DeathStar> <Ren> So what should we investigate? The planet or the tree?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "What can orbital scans tell us?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "The tree is more important to check than the planet itself, but the lifesigns are a big deal. Can we ID them?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> *Tries to push the scan further*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "If we cna't get anything, then take us to the tree. We'll see if we cna get answers there."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I am getting nothing... *suddenly alarms go off*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Something has been agitated it seems
<DeathStar> *an anti-spirit like creature rises from the planet and begins to go after them*
<DeathStar> *Ren tries to fire their shots at it, the creature being knocked about*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "How come they can tell when we're just looking?!"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "MMmm...that at least answers our question about the anti-spirit entities continued existence."
<DeathStar> *Taiga begins to back the ship up and flees to the tree*
<Sara> <Erica> I mean, they have nothing to do BUT eat and exist so...
<DeathStar> *The creature not following them from the planet*
<DeathStar> <Ren> They're not giving chase
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Odd.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Was that the lifeform, or...?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We need answers. Are there people down there, or just these anti-spirit entities?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I can prepare teleporters down to the surface
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Or we can check the tree out
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "If that's the only way to find out..."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> If there are people down there...
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Right."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I can manage the ship and continue to scan the Centerpoint Tree.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "That sounds good."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Alright, we'll prepare an away team."
<DeathStar> *Ren adjusts her Striker uniform and Yuki zips Erica's Aquarius outfit instead of her own for some reason*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright, I'm sending you down
<Jackieness> <Noire> *steos on the teleporter*
<DeathStar> *Ren, Yuki, and Taiga do as well and as they warp, the teleporter freaks out a moment as it passes the field and the group comedically sprawls out on the ground as they arrive near what looks to be the Academy area*
<DeathStar> *Taiga and Ren's ears twitch*
<Alicia> * Charlotte teleports down with the others, steadying herself with tendrils, seeming to predict the teleporter freakout.
<DeathStar> <Ren> Et tu, Char?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "By the time I'd seen it, it was too late to warn anyone."
<Jackieness> <Noire> *rights herself, activating her comm* "MMmmm... Taiga, can you hear me?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... I hope we can get back without too much trouble."
<DeathStar> *Taiga sits up nearby*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Yes
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We made it down. There was some sort of disturbance in the teleport as we passed through the field, but we maintain our limbs in their proper palce."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Yeah, I think I miscaculated something. Hopefully when it comes time to go back up, Adeline will figure out if the teleporting field might be too close to the spirit energy
<DeathStar> *Taiga and Ren shake their tails*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Or it might be our own powers
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Ah?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well, we all have spirit/will in our own way. Even Erica
<Sara> <Erica> I... guess that makes sense, yeah.
<Jackieness> <Noire> Mmmm... come on and let's start exploring."
<DeathStar> *Yuki takes Erica's hand as Ren bounds into the Academy where they see what looks to be normal people and kids doing stuff*
<DeathStar> *infact, it looks like something out of what they'd see on Geyze today*
<Alicia> * Charlotte follows. "Well, we found the life signs..."
<DeathStar> *there's road traveling signs showing how far away Hapian is, but it also includes how far away Kumen cities are as well, oddly*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... when did these planets combine?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Long enough ago for them to change the road signs."
<DeathStar> *Taiga glances up and sees someone other than Sasha as headmistress*
<DeathStar> *it looks to be a powerful looking man*
<DeathStar> <Ren> I would ask if there are any mirror counterparts here, but all of you came here.
<DeathStar> *Referring to Prime
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...well...this is a thing."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I have no idea what's going on."
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah, this... raises a whole lot of questions...
<Jackieness> <Noire> "At least the Academy is ehre, so this is the best place to get some answers."
<DeathStar> *As Ren says that, a bearded looking familiar man walks along the Academy that Yuki tilts her head, raising on her foot* That looks a bit like Ben. ... or should I say, Samson since he's gruffier.
<Sara> <Erica> Wait, what? *she turns to look*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "He looks familiar.."
<DeathStar> *A bearded man with a slight look stands among the teachers. A few of them even look a bit familiar - one of them looks a bit like Ellie person, if she looked munch younger, like a pre-hook up Ellie. And here and there you can spot someone that stands out . Qui. Etc*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Is that really him or ... what? We know that's not Ellie
<Sara> <Erica> I ... wouldn't be surprised if it's him, anymore. Just kinda happens, doesn't it. That guy... But still, there's something very, very odd about all this. Did this universe... reboot itself somehow?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... we need answers. Come on." *looks for a librayr or the like*
<DeathStar> *There seems to be an Academy library for the students*
<Alicia> * Charlotte goes to study the history books.
<DeathStar> <Yuki and Ren look shifty as they head that way and Samson watches them enter*
<Sara> * Erica leans back and lets the more bookish types go to work
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...mmmm...Yuki...Ren...you both look like you're up to no good."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Come on, it's not like we're going to take the books."
<DeathStar> *the books history oddly seems to only date back a few years, which matches up with the team finding the Mirror Universe being dead back in 641, however no one seems to notice that. It seems to just roll with it, acting like much of the Geyze/Kumen history happened a few years ago and holes that should be glaring just... is ignored.*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... does this feel familiar to anyone else?"
<Sara> <Erica> Eh?
<DeathStar> <Ren> How so?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... whata re you thinking, Charlotte?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It feels like someone changed the past with reality powers... or it happened on its own. Either way, the holes remind me so much of that."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "That might explain the state of the Centerpoint Tree."
<DeathStar> *The door can be heard closing and locking*
<Sara> <Erica> Why though?
<DeathStar> <Ren> *Ear twitches*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "And why did they lock us in here?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ...*Turns and Samson is standing there*
<Sara> <Erica> Oh. Samson.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Of course
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "What is this about?"
<Sara> * Erica looks at Samson
<DeathStar> <Samson> .... *Steps closer, like he is about to do something to them, but then simply glances out the window* You are going to be discovered. Students use this place often and you are not students.
<Sara> <Erica> Oh, you're... worried about us, huh? Can you at least give us any clues what's going on?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm.... so its not publically open? Pity. Let's go and you cna fill us in."
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "My apologies. I didn't intend to break any rules."
<DeathStar> <Samson> This way. <Yuki> And we should trust him.. why?
<DeathStar> *Samson begins to lead them out of the building*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm...he has a valid point."
<Jackieness> <Noire> *follows Samson out*
<DeathStar> *Taiga and Ren casually go along while Yuki does what Erica does*
<Sara> * Erica follows along of course
<Sara> * Not like Samson's ever DIRECTLY led her astray before no matter how much of a wildcard his allegiances can be
<Alicia> * Charlotte follows, noting to come back in secret if answers don't come.
<DeathStar> *he takes them a little outside of the Academy where there's less people* There. We may speak now
<DeathStar> *though he keeps his eyes out*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "First, are you the same Samson that some of us already know?"
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Now, what is going on?"
<Sara> * Erica leans back, eyeing Samson
<DeathStar> <Samson> Am I the same? Hm. That's a hard question.
<Sara> <Erica> Not sure yourself?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm?"
<DeathStar> <Samson> I was tied to Ben and we certainly came to an end there, but with how the Mirror Universe is restarting, I found myself back here, probably not in the way the creatures expectd
<DeathStar> <Samson> I recall everything, so am "I" Samson? Probably. Am I not Samson? Maybe
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I understand."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Creatures?
<Sara> <Erica> Well, whatever. For now we'll assume you're Samson. Besides, you're here talking to us. You're as valid as any. Anyhow, what do you know about those creatures? This place?
<DeathStar> <Samson> After that girl took everything over, this universe began to die and die it did. But it seems over the past few years something began to change and the universe began to come back to life. The creatures began to change with it being the only things left here.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "That girl?"
<Sara> <Erica> Kaori?
<Sara> <Kaori> But anyway, what are they?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Yes... what girl?"
<Sara> *Erica
<Sara> *Trains of thought collided
<DeathStar> <Samson> Yeah her. Kaori. So with those things being it as ... the only species? Whatever they were, they began to change. <Taiga> And I'm guessing the tree did it
<DeathStar> <Ren> The Centerpoint Tree or Yggdrasil?
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Yes."
<DeathStar> <Samson> Hm. Don't ask me. Either way, one day they planet changed apparently and they begin to set up house and tried to take human form of the people who were there. Complete with their memories.
<DeathStar> <Samson> But don't be fooled, they're still those things underneath if riled.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "...hmm."
<Sara> <Erica> Huuuuh... Any idea why they're doing this in the first place?
<DeathStar> <Samson> Hm. *Crosses arms* Maybe filling a void?
<DeathStar> <Samson> Maybe trying to attain something. I have no idea.
<DeathStar> <Samson> I just know they guard this planet and that crystal place. Go near one or the other and they attack.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "A vaccuum trying to be filled."
<Sara> <Erica> This information is still useful, at least. So I appreciate you sharing what you know and all.
<Sara> <Erica> And they're spending their time here living out human lives for whatever reason... sure is something.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I wonder if they'll try to fill the Mirror Universe over time
<DeathStar> <Ren> The fact they're looking all cute and innocent but then could turn into those monsters...
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... more questions than answers."
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah, but like, it's not like they have any reason to put on the facade. They're the only things here.
<Sara> <Erica> So they must be doing it for them... for some reason.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I feel like they don't like being reminded of... whatever it is."
<DeathStar> <Samson> If I thought they could be useful down the road, I'd tell you to talk to them while they're playing house but I'm not sure how they'd react to outsiders.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Our ship was almost attacked when we got too close to take some scans."
<DeathStar> <Ren> That's an interesting thought
<DeathStar> <Ren> Hating the thought of being monsters
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah, I wonder if they feel like our existence makes their less valid.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "... it's possible..."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Lets hope they never come after us then. *Referring to the Prime Reality*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> But... If the Crystal Tree is important, we need to check it out. <Taiga> Yeah, it's the only reality that has a manifested object.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We don't know if there is any life in this reality besides what is on this world."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Where Yggdrasil stands
<DeathStar> <Ren> I had a thought
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Yes?"
<DeathStar> <Ren> Kaori's Crystal Pathways. Where we can sometimes go to. I wonder if it is possible to get to this tree from it
<DeathStar> <Ren> IT's like the only remnant of Centerpoint on our side
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I expect it is."
<Sara> <Erica> Seems like it'd make sense, yeah.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> If we can't reach the tree, then that might be the only way to investigate it, yeah
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright, anything else we want to do here? <Yuki> Did we want to try to talk to someone?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... Samson, how did you survive here for so long without the creatures discovering you?"
<Sara> <Erica> I'm guessing it's 'cause they think he's one of them and the nature of his existence is a little unusual.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It's alright if you don't want to say."
<DeathStar> <Samson> As many of them take forms of people, there seems to be rituals or summonings of people or the like. You probably seen a few of them around
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Ah... you were summoned?"
<DeathStar> <Samson> IF you talk to them they even act like the person fairly close until you push certain topics
<Jackieness> <Noire> "What topics?"
<DeathStar> <Samson> Essentially my form was brought forth, but I seem to have been brought forth
<DeathStar> <Samson> Instead
<DeathStar> <Samson> Hm. *He tries to think of something since he doesn't know the Academy people as well*
<DeathStar> <Samson> The Ellie girl. Bring up spirits
<DeathStar> <Samson> Being a creature, she will go hostile
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Might explain her appearance as well
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "That... would be an awkward topic."
<Sara> <Erica> So it does sound like the big issue is stuff that would remind them they aren't the ones they're imitating.
<DeathStar> <Ren> I wonder if they purposely pick slightly different looks too
<DeathStar> <Ren> Or ages
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Or it could have been imperfect memories of their characters."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Do you have any of the creature's powers?
<DeathStar> *to Samson* <Samson> Being as *I* was brought forth, I would assume not
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...and how did Geyze, Kumen, and the Spirit World get fused together?"
<DeathStar> <Samson> That is oddity. I believe due to the worlds being dead
<Sara> <Erica> Maybe their memories are just muddled. Or maybe they have a memory of something else.
<DeathStar> <Samson> The universe or whatever it was that did it took the three worlds together to fix it, or revert it back to it's original state. I've heard rumors that the continets were mirror images of each other before
<DeathStar> <Samson> *continents
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So yes, Geyze and Kumen were indeed complementary..."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... I suspect that the locals here might not be of much help if we do talk to them."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> A shame.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Definitely."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I wonder if they'll be up for being allies down the road after they sort their messes
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Assuming they get used to their bodies, it is possible they might procreate
<DeathStar> <Ren> Or be more dangerous..
<Jackieness> <Noire> "We should observe, but I am hesitant to interfere."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Lets keep it on the back burner for now; lets check the Crystal Tree for now. There's something there. A final piece to the puzzle and why they go berserk on guarding it
<DeathStar> <Samson> ... I'll keep watch over this planet in the meantime for you. ... see if maybe they become worthy of you all.
<DeathStar> *he speaks of perhaps himself, too*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "I'm looking forward to it."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Until next time. Taiga, take us back to the ship."
<DeathStar> *Taiga comms Adeline with morse and a moment or two later they begin to glow and appear on the ship; Yuki taking a seat and muses* <Yuki> Well, I guess Samson can handle himself*
<DeathStar> *Adeline turns to look at them* <Adeline> Where to now? <Taiga> The tree.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So, I was reminded of how mom said the old Dark Ones operated. Copying people."
<DeathStar> *The Striker heads toward the massive crysal tree, it's branches reaching outward as they scan, something coming up as they get closer*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Be careful. Samson indicated more of the creatures were guarding the crystal place, which I assume means the tree."
<DeathStar> <Ren> Yeah, what Hunters are left now worship the Serpent
<DeathStar> *To Charlotte*
<DeathStar> *as they get closer, the scans of the living creature begins to come up; it looks like part of a coiling creature; only part of it, like the rest doesn't exist on this planet of reality*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "So, yes, I feel like there's a link between them and... this."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> ... what the hell?
<DeathStar> *it seems to coil around the inside of the tree, meaning they'd have to go inside the tree hallways*
<DeathStar> *to hunt it*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...and there's the Serpent."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> At least half of it
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "The link seems obvious now... and we know where the other half is."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm... could this reality have died because the Serpent woke up on this side?"
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I always assumed it was because Kaori yanked away everything
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "It could be both."
<Jackieness> <Noire> "As I recall, this reality was in trouble long before that. Its the reason that the humans moved to Kumen and Geyze from Earth."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright lets---- *suddenly the spirit engines explode and the ship jerks, alarms going*
<Sara> <Erica> Shit.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> What the?!
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Seriously?"
<Sara> <Erica> Think we lost the main engines.
<DeathStar> *The creatures float around the ship, knocking it back from Centerpoint*
<DeathStar> *Swarming in and out throug hthe shields like nothing*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> They're weakening the hull*
<Sara> <Erica> Well, fuck-a-doodle-doo. I think we might be a little unmatched here.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "And the shields are doing nothing..."
<Sara> outmatched*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I could attack but...
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'd damage a lot of them and us to get to the treee
<Sara> <Erica> Well if we do NOTHING we're just gonna get destroyed. Ideas?
<DeathStar> <Ren> Run
<DeathStar> <Ren> Open and a gate and run
<Sara> <Erica> Yeah that's kind of what I'm thinking too. We don't have good odds here unless someone has a really brilliant plan.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Pull us away from the tree!"
<DeathStar> *Taiga makes a growl and begins to do so, preparing the gate*
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "We can plan on the other side, lets go."
<DeathStar> *one of the creatures lifts Taiga up and drags her out of the bridge, leaving the gate controls untouched, the button blinking*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Mom! Dammit. <Yuki> Gah.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Taiga was taken!"
<DeathStar> *Ren runs after her down the hall8
<Alicia> * Charlotte rushes after
<Sara> <Erica> Well, shit. That's... we're between a rock and a hard place now. Can't very well leave without her.
<DeathStar> *Ren bounce down the hallway where the creature is draining Taiga and trying to pull her through the hull. Ren grabs her hand*
<DeathStar> *Yuki holds her hand over the button*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Come on Ren
<Alicia> * Charlotte does similar, lashing out at the creature with tendrils as she does
<DeathStar> *it drops Taiga into Ren and Charlotte's hands, making a noise at the tendril and retreats*
<DeathStar> <Ren> *Comm* Got her
<Alicia> <Charlotte> *Comm* "Lets go!"
<DeathStar> *Yuki hits it and a gate forms, Yuki trying to aim for it when a creature grabs her and floats up with Yuki and one appears behind Noire*
<Sara> <Erica> Oy, what the fuck do you think you're doing to my wife? *she grabs at Yuki as she's being floated up*
<DeathStar> *Taiga looks like someone sucked her soul out and shown her something horrific*
<Jackieness> <Noire> *forms tendrils and lashes at the creatures on the bridge*
<DeathStar> *Yuki is pulled down before she has her soul sucked out by the creature, the creature annoyed at not getting it's prize and Noire lashes them away as they get through the gate, the damaged Striker smashing into the hanger with a mini crash, the gate closing*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> ... now that is.... what I remember.
<Sara> <Erica> Well... that could have gone better.
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "How is Taiga?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Well... Samson wans't exagerrating... indeed, he was putting it lightly."
<DeathStar> *Ren checks her pulse*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Not great.
<DeathStar> <Ren> *pulls her along* Come on mom
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "Call medics!"
<DeathStar> *Adeline does so*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Get her to medical. We'll move hwr to the PAX if we need to."
<DeathStar> -TIME HOP-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-645.1.18
<DeathStar> Location: PAX
<DeathStar> *Taiga sits in the Fumoffu club room while Asteroid C undergoes repairs, Yuki sipping a drink. Taiga looks tired, glasses on and a tiny bit of white in her hair after the incident and looking a bit ... shifty. Surely this won't be a thing 2 years from now*
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright, I got some news after all that, not all good.
<DeathStar> <Ren> Uh oh.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> The Mirror Universe has sort of vanished from my tracking system.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I'll keep looking for it, I mean it's our counter part, it's right there
<DeathStar> <Taiga> So I know we'll find it again
<Alicia> <Charlotte> "We go through Yggdrasil."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> That doesn't sound great. Someone must be hiding it
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Well that's the second thing. I think we'll probably have to use Yggdrasil or better yet, Kaori's Crystal Pathways. Problem with that.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Outside the one thing, it's a maze basially
<DeathStar> <Taiga> So we'll have to map it out
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...might not be a bad idea to map it out anyway."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Both options will take time. We'll have to send teams in to do that, so I'll get some people together
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Worse thing - the ship is busted and repairs to it and Asteroid C will take months
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Its a risk we always have to carry."
<DeathStar> <Taiga> So I'll be busy with that for some time along with the Tareh project, so I'm shutting down all Strikers missions
<DeathStar> <Ren> *props her heads up*
<DeathStar> <Ren> Well, I guess I can look for stuff for us to do on the side.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... Ren, I think its time to reinstate the Fumoffu Club."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Well. *turns to Erica* I guess we'll head back to our ship.
<DeathStar> <Ren> Okay! Lets have fun
<Jackieness> <Noire> "MMmmm... thank you for the help."
<DeathStar> *Yuki takes Erica's hand and stands up, nodding* Thank you for allowing us to come along. If you need any help with this case, don't hesitate to bring us in
<DeathStar> *Ren muses* I wonder what will happen next...
<DeathStar> -END-
* DeathStar changes topic to 'Season 3 | Tuesdays | Phase 3 | Session 72: The Heart of Darkness Foreward - January 4th'