Perennial Ascent

[Rain]

[member="Vulpesen"] [member="The Primeval Storyteller"]

He had accidentally probed one of the others by mistake?

No matter. Hearing the command, he opted not to recognize the Sith Lord's authority, instead simply backing off to reorient his efforts toward the illusions as he'd initially intended.

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

The tension in the room caused the illusion to fade, revealing the remains of some corpses and the far entrance on the other side of the very open room.

[member="Rain"] [member="Vulpesen"] [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

The hologram suddenly faded, leaving just an open room dotted with the somewhat sad remains of.. what? It's previous inhabitants? Other spacers who'd been pulled in? The Twi'lek took a quick look around, in case it was just a system flicker and the images were about to return. No obvious hazards, well that was a plus. Three other beings in the room. The one she'd noted before who'd moved to the door and spoken, a canine who was likely a flunky or pet of some sort from his body language towards the speaker, and another who was likely the cause of her impression of being watched. While she didn't study him too long, that one struck her as a threat though she could not have said why. Perhaps because of the three, one could be dismissed as merely an extension of another's will, another bore himself with composure, which meant she could play her games and use words to keep herself safe, the third however.. Though most would not believe it, the Twi'lek had survived alone in the wilderness for a time, and some of the lessons learned, the instincts gained remained. This one was a predator, who may or may not be able to be reasoned with, best to ensure she was not seen as prey then. Never show fear. Unless it was profitable to do so of course.

In the seconds it took her to assess the situation, her body language changed. No more shuffling, no more wariness, externally at least. She was all poise and self-confidence. The bone hung loosely from one hand, just a femur used as a makeshift club, no big deal. She flashed an amused smile.

"Not certain that this is an improvement, I don't suppose either of you Gentlemen know where the off switch is for the tractor beams?"

Diplomat speak for; are any of you bastards responsible for me being stuck here because I am not impressed, and if you are and do not immediately let me go, your nose is being broken with a dead mans leg. It was amazing what you could say without saying it.

[member="Rain"] [member="The Primeval Storyteller"] [member="Vulpesen"]

Edit: Just realized Ace was a wolf.. u.u

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes narrowed a bit as the illusion faded, hearing the voice of yet another person. Turning around he brought his golden eyes to bear on [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"] from beneath his mask. "Can't say I do. But I assume that its quite a bit away from this place." He examined the twilek before him before dismissing her as a thread. It would take more than a bone club to harm him, even if he could sense the force within her. With the situation assessed, he made his was through the door, continuing to examine his datapad.


[member="The Primeval Storyteller"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

A carefully concealed flash of annoyance as the Twi'lek absently studied the nails of her unoccupied hand. She did not like being so abruptly dismissed. Nor did she like the fact that to proceed she would need to appear to follow him. Still, it could be useful being underestimated. People had done it before, though rarely for very long.

Always be in control. Of self and situation, and those about when possible.

When the Twi'lek raised her gaze once more she was calm, composed, regal. This was not the time to claw out eyes or light fires. She was alone, with three obvious potential enemies and who knew however many more that remained unseen.

Wait.

Wait for better odds. Let him blunder along in the lead. If there were traps they could spring on him. If as he said he had nothing to do with the tractor beam then good, if he progressed enough to disengage it, all the better. She could be gone and back to the place she had carved for herself, where people understood respect.

He might still be necessary in the long run. Just because she'd formed an intense and immediate dislike didn't mean she could not still play friendly if necessary. She was a proud and vain beast, this was true, but above all else, she survived. She'd no intention of joining those who lay upon the floor, never to rise again. Which all meant the other, the wildcard, was more interesting and crucial. Could he be an ally? Perhaps she would need one. He couldn't have been here long, he looked a true grounder, tanned and weathered. He'd certainly not been living on a space station for any great length of time.

 

[Rain]

The illusion faded, apparently having run its course and dropping the veil securing the exit on the other side of the room. The hologram was a message for them, Rain had decided. A scripted production set to go off at periodic intervals, like a pair of drunken pirates at Disney World. It did not sit well with him, this door, this funnel. Three distinct paths now combined into a single one amidst a lake of corpses. Considering the fate of these people, the ones downstairs, Rain could not shake the notion that he was being herded.

The other two traded in their illness, trying to dice up their confusion into smaller pieces, defined by hard rules set by the Word Virus of Man. They sought answers to the past in hopes of defining their future. A vain effort, Rain knew. Only right Now could do such a thing.

There is a mountain. There is no mountain. There is a mountain.

Rain may have had a word to trade, but he would not offer it up just yet.

Perhaps, in the meantime, the others could invent their own synonym for comfort.

“I am invulnerable,” she said, wishing she were stronger.

“I am not lost,” he said, wishing he were not so.

The hagspawn pocketed the charm he had gathered with his foot and kneeled down to search the bodies a bit more thoroughly, his fingertips scanning for residual psychic energy. He scooped a fairly pristine skull from the disaster, considering it with a scrutinous eye. Smashing it against the ground, he cracked the forehead noticeably, then drew his knife and began carving away excess material.

With barely a glance in Vulpersan’s direction, he’d gathered the man had a dependency on the device held in his hand and it was creating a reluctance to move.

“You've...found something.”

__________________________________________________________________
[member="The Primeval Storyteller"]| [member="Vulpesen"]| [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]​

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

[member="Vulpesen"] [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"] @Rain

The resulting firefight from the descent had ruptured a pipeline, resulting in a series of loud explosions heading up the station. For the party, it might be best because coming from their previous path was a large pipeline that was meant to refuel to the starships, although the direction would not harm their vessels, it would send an immense explosive force their way if they didn't head to the next floor.

 

[Rain]

[member="The Primeval Storyteller"]

There was a rumbling beneath them, a ping in the Force, etc. etc etc.

Skull and dagger in hand, he beelined for the door, presumably with the others, and advanced to the next floor, whatever it may be.

There in the hallway, assuming the stairwell wasn't lighting up with additional fireworks, he returned to his carving and awaited further direction.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen stumbled a bit as he felt the ground shake, but easily cough himself. "Damn. I suggest we move a bit faster." Leaning forward, he started his dash towards he next floor, saving the datapad to read for later. In his experience,w hen things exploded, it was best to to be near them, This time was certainly no exception.

[member="Rain"]
[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]
[member="The Primeval Storyteller"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Ha!

Was whatever was happening probably dangerous? Oh yes certainly. But wild boy just moved, and arrogant-pants assumed 'we'. Good. So long as everyone stayed more inclined towards working together and social pursuits than fighting, the Twi'lek was confident in her ability to come out on top.

"Someone's here somewhere anyway, not quite as abandoned as it looks.."

She commented in agreement as she moved forward with speed and care, trying to judge where the danger was and either stay out of the way or ahead of it. She'd not miss the creepy dead people floor anyway. Hopefully mystery floor 3 was a little less macabre. Probably not though, things usually just got worse. She could feel her adrenaline ramping up again, danger behind, unknown ahead. Be ready for anything. She was definitely asking for a raise when she got back to Antecedent. Actually, did she have a set income? Money got put into her accounts of course, but she also had nigh unlimited access to the credit cards. Well. She was going to buy something really expensive then. Probably shoes.

[member="The Primeval Storyteller"] [member="Rain"] [member="Vulpesen"]