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'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

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Previous Story:
'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

Next Story:
'Flash Remembers'



Previous Story:
'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

Next Story:
'Flash Remembers'



Previous Story:
'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

Next Story:
'Flash Remembers'



Previous Story:
'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

Next Story:
'Flash Remembers'



Previous Story:
'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

Next Story:
'Flash Remembers'



Previous Story:
'Awakening'

Awakening Part 2

Next Story:
'Flash Remembers'



P> [Flash_Guardian whispers to Aiza] This room, dark and lifeless as it may be, appears to be some sort of command center. The rear of the room is a rectangular upper deck, with left, right, and rear metal doors embedded in a back wall that consists of an assortment of glassy panels framed in metal. Along the railing which divides the upper and lower deck are four one-man stations, each containing a different setup: a shrine, it's stand devoid of a religious idol; a crystal ball resting upon a velvet stand, with protective and empowering wards on the floor and ceiling; a virtual reality chair much like the one in the previous room; a comfortable grey chair with copper hand-rests. To either side are a pair of metallic doors, and in the center. The front of the room drops down a couple feet to an oval-shaped lower deck, accessible by a pair of short steps on either side, its far wall dominated by a wall-spanning pane of glass that runs from almost floor to ceiling, curving inward slightly towards the ceiling.

[Flash_Guardian whispers to Aiza] At its near side, three grey chairs sit with their backs to the wall, facing the large, darkened glass window. In the center, to the left and right are another pair of stations, grey chairs tucked beneath arching displays, one of which is a dormant and flat glass panel, the other consisting of various knobs, levers, and analog gauges. All the sentient energy of this place seems to be focussed entirely toward this room, as if this is the beginning and end of a great mental loop.

[Flash_Guardian] In the workshop, the four 'Gremlin' drones, as Lydia has been referring to them, have been non-stop busy. Hovering about the room, this way and that, carrying tools and materials to and from different workbenches and so forth. On occasion, one of them will take a trek to one of the other rooms to read a book, gather supplies, or check readings on some sort of device. Besides them, there are a dozen or so other drones all on patrol, keeping a watchful eye on the place.

Devaine_Hawk makes his way through the rooms of the ship , Lucy powered up and ready , . He goes through the room like a trained solider , darting in and sweeping each with the gun before moving on . Finally he gets to the engine room where he can hear the others voices . “rise and shine sleepy head s “ he laughs .

Glyniss_McMasters had had a rather bad night dreaming of her childhood of all things....and people she hasnt seen for just as long...after waking Glyniss had spent a lot of her time just watching the droids work away before that or limping about the craft getting used to where things are mostly....running her hands over them ..at the apperiated time she had once more made her way down to where the array of crystals was

Bida is sitting on the edge of the mattress, her eyes seeming blank and distant. She stands and looks around, almost as though looking for something.

Flash_Guardian hears Devaine's footsteps approaching the engine room, looking back over to him and grinning. "Oh, hi," he says, grinning at Devaine. Flash has a small silver flute in his hands, but curiously Devaine heard no sound issuing from it as he approached.

Aiza lands on the ground outside of the Triad structure. Stretching her arms and wings, she folds her wings, and enters as she had seen done before. She walked through each of the rooms she had seen before, keeping her eyes straight ahead, not focusing on anything until she reaches the room with the scale. Finding her token, she passed through that room, then through the next. She looked around for a moment, then walked to where she heard Devaine. Peeking her head in, she flashed a smile at everyone, and said, "Hi."

[Flash_Guardian whispers to Aiza] The room Devaine, Flash, and Bida are in is modestly large, taking the shape of a hollow pyramid with a high-peaked ceiling. At the room's center, laying in a depression in the floor, is a massive triangular gridwork of hollow glass tubes connected by metallic spheres, divided from the rest of the room by an elaborate metal fence with varnished wooden railing, bypassable only by three hinged gates that are currently latched shut, creating a raised walkway that surrounds the room. The triangular network is arranged as a series of four spheres and tubes connected in a pyramid shape, each of which is isolated from the next. Each triangular conglomerate of glass and metal rests on the floor just inside the next one, the largest of these on the very outside, with each progressively growing smaller and smaller, though the size of the metal spheres and thickness of the glass pipes does not change. At the heart of the arrangement is the smallest pyramid, only one or two feet on a side.

[Flash_Guardian whispers to Aiza] All the magical resonance of this place seems to be focussed entirely toward this room, as if this is the beginning and end of a great magical loop.

Devaine_Hawk looks over to the mattress he’d slept on the night before , “you all do what you will but from now on I sleep back in the office “

Aiza says laughing slightly, "it's probably more comfortable than sleeping in here."

Flash_Guardian looks around at everyone in the engine room inquisitively, or 'the core' as Lydia had called it earlier, silver flute still cradled in his hands.

Glyniss_McMasters looks up her attention taken from kinda feeling the crystals....inspecting those that had moved yesterday more closely...chuckling as she catches Dev's words..." Wha' ter matte' cit' boyo....no' use' ter sleepin' aroun' folk'?"

Bida 's eyes drift to Aiza, then to Devaine. They don't seem to really focus as they trail around the room. Her lips are slightly parted and she looks dazed.

Devaine_Hawk looks at her , “no I’m not , and that’s not it , “ he says curtly . He seems to be on edge .

Aiza looks at Devaine, her eyes glowing blue, and narrowed, "are you ok?"

Flash_Guardian looks over to Bida, standing and searching as she was. "Are you alright?" he asks her, reaching up from his own mattress which was close to Bida's and tugging on the hand at her side. "Bida?"

Bida jumps and looks around, her eyes wide as saucers. Seeing Flash, her eyes cloud over more, then clear. Smiling, she says, "I'm fine. Did you sleep well?"

Glyniss_McMasters tilts her head eyes narrowing a little as they watch him for a few minutes....this was not like the Dev she knew...a brow rising slowly..." Don' worr' I no' le' yer ge' hur' ifna I ca' hel' it"

Devaine_Hawk moves around the room running his hands over everything he can ,eyes sparking as he does , nad looking the mechanisms in the room over , “so what next ?”

Flash_Guardian nods, grinning at Bida. "Yeah, I slept great!" he exclaims, stretching his arms behind his back casually, then leaning back and propping himself up with them. "Had these really cool dreams, though," he says, his words easily carrying throughout the room due to the acoustics brought about by the smooth walls..

[Devaine_Hawk] “lets just say I had a bad dream , and I think this place or something or some one in it is responsible , we can’t get out of here fast enough for me “ he looks to Glyniss , “your protecting me now, that’s good , lady .” he just is not him self something has realy spooked him and it shows .

Flash_Guardian looks over at Devaine as he speaks of his dreamings. "I'm sorry," he offers.

Devaine_Hawk looks to Flash “sorry for what Boy scout ,?”

Bida mutters, "dreams, nightmares, who can distinguish anymore"

Glyniss_McMasters frowns.....seems like she isnt the only one to have had disturbing dreams last night...lips pressed tight as she looks away guessing it would be better to let the banting drop for now....as she crouches awakwardly down the creaking of metal accompaning her action....intent or at least looking as if she is at the small crystal rods

Aiza says, "I take it, other than Flash, no one had a good night's sleep?"

Bida looks away, "That seems about right. What about you, Aiza?"

Devaine_Hawk stares at the drone Lydia with eyes flashing , studying her for a long time “the voice in my dream said it missed her singing , and it was like a child , ..‘ he thinks . He approaches the drone , still keeping his gaze locked on her trying to work it out .

Aiza says, "Didn't sleep. No sleep, no dreams."

Bida nods. "Flash, what did you dream?"

Flash_Guardian doesn't seem so happy about his dreams after hearing from the others. Still, he relates it to them. "In my dream, I was chasing a little boy through a sky full of stars ... it was a game, I guess. We were both laughing," he says, smiling as he remembers it. "As fast as I am, he was faster. I could never seem to catch him."

[Flash_Guardian] The only drone in the room, Lydia, seems to have had her attentions elsewhere, and is startled when Devaine approaches it, quickly turning to face him. Lydia's voice crackles over the speaker, a soft alto somewhat distorted by the electronic medium used to deliver it. "Yes, Devaine?"

Devaine_Hawk stops in mid step , the other dream flowing up in his mind “blood ..faces all the faces they still see me because I was the last thing they saw ….“ he stumbles and almost drops Lucy before recovering . “nothing , never mind “ he mumbles as he stands .

Bida asks, "What did he look like? The boy, I mean."

Devaine_Hawk walks back toward the bridge , “I need a smoke , can we do what ever it is we need to do and get the hell out of here ?” he asks

Flash_Guardian proceeds to describe the boy to everyone as he remembers him ... very plain features, light brown hair, blue eyes ... in short, Flash describes a boy very, very similar to what the rest of you have seen in your dreams, but not quite the same.

Glyniss_McMasters sideglances around her finding a place to sit....and does so..leg stretched out the click loud as metal locks....looking around at the others studying them a little before closing her eyes trying to clear her mind and relax her body.

[Flash_Guardian] The drone, Lydia, suddenly perks up, her scanner dish rotating up through the ceiling at an angle. After a few seconds, she reports, "Alright, the power device is ready. Gregoran and the other drones are bringing it down now."

Bida looks as though she was looking for something, as her eyes clouded over a little again, "hmmm. . . how, odd." She blinked and shook her head to clear it. She asked, "Is there anything I can do?"

Devaine_Hawk settles in the captains chair , staring at the large screen in front of it , “captains log , I hate this damn place , it gives me the creeps and bad dreams , “ he whispers under his breath.

Aiza walks beside Devaine, and whispers, "bad dreams are usually only a beginning." Her eyes are glowing deep purple as she walks past him to Bida's side.

Devaine_Hawk starts at the sound of her voice , she caught him off guard , that’s a sign something’s not right . “ can you please just leave me the hell alone , “ he snarls .

Aiza puts her hands up, palms out, "alright, alright, just keep that trigger finger put away." She puts her hands down, and turns her back on Devaine.

[Flash_Guardian] Two drones move quickly down into the bridge through the hatch in the ceiling, whisking their way into the engine room where the rest of you now stand. One of them is carrying a small device of some sort ... a yellowish crystal much like the one from the garage, with a small band of electronic parts wrapped in a ring about its center, finally framed by an archaic gridwork of well decorated metal, holes of various sizes and orientations punctured through the bands of metal, much like the ones found on a flute or other wind instrument. It is both beautiful and alien at the same time. The two drones hover quickly over to rendezvous with Lydia in midair, towards the center of all the arrays of glass tubes and metal.

Bida glares at Aiza, then turns away from her, noticing her eyes. She looks around to see if there is anything she can do to help.

Devaine_Hawk sees and follows the drones back into the engine room walking right past the others without a word , . He stands and watches the drones , eye sparking with blue white flashes , “good hurry up “

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia quickly begins to explain. "Okay," she says, facing Glyniss. "This will work just like before, except you'll need to hold the crystal at the exact center of the middle array. Start singing, until eventually the crystal seems to 'catch' in place. From that point on, you won't need to hold it, the feedback from the well of power created by the array should hold it up and in place. After that, step back out of the arrays, but keep singing. With any luck, your voice should provide us with enough power to get the ship jump-started."

Glyniss_McMasters smiles slightly before parting those lips of hers..." I wish you peace when the cold winds blow....Warmed by the fire's glow....An I wish you comfort in the oooh the lonely times.....And arms to hold you when you ache inside.....I wish you hope when things are going bad....An' kind words when times are sad.." the words of the song drifting upwards hanging before dipping gliding her voice soft and almost tender" I wish you shelter from the oooh raging wind...cooling waters at fevers end.." head tilting slightly as she hears the droids.....the song's words hanging before despersing

Bida tilts her head, and smiles slightly as she listens to Glyniss.

Devaine_Hawk flicks the but of his finished smoke away , only to light another , chain smoking . Any one perceptive enough , or able to read body language would be able to see he’s on edge about something, his muscles are tense , and he seems ready to explode any minute . “you need me for anything , or can I go back to the bridge ?” he ask

Flash_Guardian stares back at Glyniss as she sings, caught up in her words as before ... his hand unconsciously finds its way into Bida's clasping it firmly. Their pendants glow once more.

Aiza stands off to the side, slowly taking one step at a time away from everyone. Her eyes are their normal brown and narrowed at the couple.

Bida gently squeezed Flash's hand as she feels the warmth from her pendant.

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia turns back to regard Devaine. "What? You don't wanna see the show?" The light behind one of its eyes blinks, a sort of electronic wink.

Devaine_Hawk just leans against a bulkhead waiting for an answer , and smoking , one chrome tipped boot taps against the floor “tap..tap..tap..” and he closes his eyes again.

[Flash_Guardian] One of the drones at the room's center extends a mechanical hand, offering Glyniss the crystal apparatus.

Devaine_Hawk opens his eyes at the voice , “as long as it gets us out of here quicker , “ before shutting again.

Flash_Guardian slowly ... uncertainly ... moves a little closer to Bida, until he is able to rest his head on her shoulder. To those who can see his face, he seems unsure about something, but happy.

Glyniss_McMasters arms lift as she holds her hands out for the crystal her eyes still closed a smile was on her lips as the words had finished....though she lifts her head up a little...humming the tune that she had so recently sung...leading her into the lilting notes.." I wish you peace when times are hard.....A light to guide you through the dark....An' when storms are high and your....oooh your dreams are low.....I wish you the strength to let love grow.....Ohhh I wish you the strength to let love flow.." her words dipping into the gentleness of the hum..

Devaine_Hawk opens his eyes again to stare at the drone , “can I ask you something ?” he ask .

Bida leans her head against Flash's, but not moving otherwise.

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia replies, "Sure. Ask me anything."

Aiza circles around, to where she can see everybody. Her movements are tense and quick, but smooth as silk at the same time.

Devaine_Hawk ask an odd question , probably making the others wonder if he is losing his mind , as he steps closer to the drone to whisper, they might still catch ti being angles and all ,though

[Flash_Guardian] After Glyniss takes the crystal device, the other two drones move to opposite corners of the array. If anyone is standing inside the protective fence that surrounds the array, besides Glyniss, the drones will go to them and bleep at them in warning.

[Devaine_Hawk whispers to Flash_Guardian] "lydia , before you where a drone , on the ship, did you have a little boy ? a kid ?"

[Glyniss_McMasters] " I wish you peace when times are hard....A light to guide you through the dark......An' when storms are high and your dreams are....ooooh are low....I wish you strength to let love grow.....I wish you strength to let love flow.....OOOh yes....I wish you strength to let love glow....I wish you strength to let love grow..." by now Glyniss seemed lost in what she was doing...captured in her own words as they swirl upwards....echoing....dancing in the air...filling the complex

[Flash_Guardian] The drone emits a startled bleep, hovering back from Devaine slightly, but moves close to reply at a low volume, heard only by Devaine.

[Flash_Guardian whispers to Devaine_Hawk] Lydia replies to Devaine, "Me? A kid? You've gotta be kidding! I was only 16 when I ..." She stops short there, unable to continue.

Devaine_Hawk stares at the drone for a second before turning his back “oh , well I think I need some fresh air , but in my dream last night he said he misses your singing , and sorry for bringing it up “

Devaine_Hawk sees Aiza circling as he turns , and watches her close , “what are you doing , I knew we couldn’t trust you “ he snaps .

Bida looks at Devaine, "He said he missed flying to me. . . I think. He was running and having so much fun, but the place was so dangerous. I was scared he'd get hurt."

[Flash_Guardian] As Glyniss continues to sing, she feels the crystal device twitch in her hands suddenly ... and then it lifts up out of her hands entirely, suspended by some sort of gathering force at the array's center. The array begins to light up as before, sparkling lights of energy dancing and flowing slowly amidst the glass tubes along the sides, then becoming faster and faster. As the reaction picks up, something seems to shine deeply within the crystal ...

Aiza snarls at Devaine, "I'm not doing anything! Did it ever occur to you that maybe I just want to see what is going on?" Her wings rustle and her hand wanders dangerously near her sword.

Bida snaps at Aiza and Devaine, "Stop it! We musn't fight amongst ourselves. We'd only make ourselves weaker for an attack from the Jester."

Devaine_Hawk tightens his grip on Lucy , “don’t push my buttons , lady “he snaps back, “I still don’t think you changed just like that “ he snaps his fingers .

Flash_Guardian continues to be caught up in Glyniss's singing, now looking at the array in awe, the lights reflected in his wide eyes. Lydia seems rather distracted after speaking with Devaine ... the other two drones bleep loudly at her, and she quickly snaps out of it, zipping to a far corner of the array. Now there is a drone at each point of the triangle, monitoring the reactions closely.

Devaine_Hawk moves back toward the bridge “fine I’ll go stand guard , and you just keep your hand off that damn sword “

Aiza growls, "Think what you will, you trigger happy. . . Male. Maybe I have changed, but maybe, just maybe, I'll change back." She turns away from him and mutters "a$$hole" under her breath

Aiza rests her hand on the hilt of her sword, just to irk Devaine

[Flash_Guardian] The central, smallest triangular array now begins to lift off the ground, floating an inch, then two ... then half a foot, then more, the crystal apparatus still suspended at the exact center of the array and now beginning to rotate slowly about its vertical axis. Glyniss definitely feels her voice having an effect.

Devaine_Hawk stops outside the door and turns back to watch the crystal . He wouldn’t miss this for the world , but he didn’t trust him self to be around others . That part about changing was as much for himself as the woman , he knew Project Gemini was still there some where in his head just waiting for it’s chance to take over ,like it had in the market .

Glyniss_McMasters lets the crystal go her fingers sliding lightly down its side as it floats away from her.....as with only a very slight pause she continues singing the song obvoiusly different as her tune changes slightly ..words emitting from her...her eyes still closed cutting herself off from everything going on around her" I didnt think it could happen again....I'm just too old and set in my ways....I was convinced I would always be lonely....All the rest off my days....Maybe I gave up on romance...In my longing to give up on pain.....Andd just didnt believe I would ever looove again

Bida sighs. She hopes nothing goes wrong if, and when, the Jester shows up. Her worry is reflected in her bright eyes

Flash_Guardian turns his gaze from Glyniss and the crystal back to Bida. There is a look in his eyes suddenly ... a familiar look of adoration, as if the world meant nothing to him as long he was looking into those eyes. Lydia chimes up, shouting over the song to Glyniss. "It's working, Glyniss! Now get out of there before it gets dangerous!"

Glyniss_McMasters voice rises upwards.." I was the one who shut myself in.....Closed the windows ooh locked all the doors....Afraid of the dark and the beat of my heart...Yet knowing there had to be more....Though it souunds like a great contradition...It's the easiet thing to explain...You see, I was afraid I might neverrr love again"

Devaine_Hawk stands outside the door ,hidden in the shadows , watching ,the only thing they should be able to see would be the blue white flashes of his eyes in the dark. “ is this how I’ll always be, standing on the outside looking in at the rest of the world ? I don’t think there’s much chance of me ever fitting in as long as have the memories of what I’ve done , I can’t risk losing it and hurting some one , especially friends . I’ll just watch their backs , keep them safe , I can do that much for them . he tells him self in thought .

Aiza 's eyes narrow even more, as she sees the couple together. She hated it, but longed for it at the same time. At the sound of Lydia's voice, she said, "Dangerous?"

[Flash_Guardian] The central array continues to rise, its glassy tubes now filled with a bright opaque sparkling flow of energy that rushes throughout it. As the central array aligns with the exact center of its encapsulating array, it locks into place, and soon the next array begins to rise as well, its clear cylindrical edges beginning to fill with similar sparkles of motion as it lifts slowly from the floor. The crystal device still floats at the center of the reaction, now rotating more quickly.

Devaine_Hawk moves faster than they would think at the word danger , coming through the door and to where Glyniss stood reaching to yank her back , he’d been lost in thought , but that word sprang him into action. “what’s wrong ?” he yells as he pulls her back.

Bida swallows hard, watching the whole scene. She looked to where Devaine stood, and the simple thought, "Gods, how he needs a friend" flashed through her mind. Looking at Aiza, she blinked, and turned her gaze towards Glyniss. Bida's body was tense, as though she were waiting for something big to happen.

[Flash_Guardian] The first and second arrays continue to lift as the light inside them increases in motion and intensity, eventually locking into place at the center of the third array as it too begins to lift, triangular lines aligned perfectly, power flowing into the center around the crystal and then back outside in a continuous revolving loop as the entire arrangment slowly approaches a sort of geometric pyramidal perfection. The crystal device at the apex of the triangular array is now spinning quite quickly, developing a steady glow of its own.

Glyniss_McMasters voice rises and dips lost competely to the song...wraped in its words and music as ever anyone else could be....she had shut everyone out leaving just the barest of contact avaiable her voice rising " What does it take for a blind man to seeee.....That theres more there than just meets the eyee....What are the ways that magic comes in ...Thatt can turn a song into a sighhh.....Sometimes I think I am dreaming...Or mayyybe I'm going insane......" suddenly stopping as she feels something pull her back....eyes flashing open unforcused for seconds before her minds pulled back to where she is

Aiza hugs herself for comfort. She wanted to be held, and it showed. She steped back several feet, knowing that she was, in general, unwanted by everyone here.

[Flash_Guardian] As the music stops, so too does the reaction. The three levitating arrays at the center of the room stop and hover precariously, then begin to droop slightly, the light fading somewhat.

Devaine_Hawk takes his hands away from her , sorry I thought there was something wrong , “ he mumbles “walking back out to the bridge , and taking back up his guard position, the flashes in his eyes the only thing visible from where he stands in the shadows again .

[Flash_Guardian] The other two drones let out some high pitched sirens, and Lydia whirls to face Glyniss. "Don't stop, Glyniss! Just a little longer, if you can!"

Bida says, "Come on, Glyniss," although she is not entirely certain why, she just knows that it must be finished.

Glyniss_McMasters would have slumped a little against Dev had he been there somewhat spent and unsure in what had transpired.....instead she stumbled just a little keeping her balanceglsncing to the crystals and lights.....blinking at the droids before once more eyes closed she begins singing....the voice shaky at first slowly gaining the strength it had before

Aiza shudders and shakes her head. Several sleepness nights are finally catching up with her, adn she is beinning to drift off to dream-land.

[Glyniss_McMasters] " OOOR maybe its just that I'm fallinggg in loove again.....Here I am standing beside you...Ooooh life's such a wonderful game....Loook at me now...I'm falling in loveee again....Look at me now ooooh I'm falling in loveee ....Ohhh look at me now I'm ooooh falling in love againnnn"

[Flash_Guardian] As Glyniss's voice resumes its song, the sinking triangular arrays at the center of the pyramid-shaped room slow in their descent, then begin to rise as before, quickly reaching the center of the next array. Now three are fully lit up and filled with energy, aligned in perfect triangular patterns with the whirling crystal device at the eye of the storm of vocal energy, Glyniss's voice resounding and echoing around the room ... it is all too easy to become enraptured by her voice as it seems to come not just from Glyniss, but from all around you.

Devaine_Hawk stands there in the shadows watching , as the drones and Glyniss try to power the ships engines back up. He focuses his mind trying to scan the area for auras or presences , and keeps his physical senses on full alert as well . With every one so focused on the job , it would be a perfect time for Jester to sucker punch an attack on them . He uses all 12 sense to search for signs that anything is out of place or wrong , and you read that right , 12 senses

Aiza backs into the nearest wall, and sinks down onto her knees, her armor clinking and her arms still tightly wrapped around herself. She begins to rock on her knees, looking like a lost child.

[Flash_Guardian] Another triangular array fills with streaks of light and energy, lifted into its proper place ... then another ... and another ... gradually slowing until all but the last two, the largest pair at the far outer reaches of the formation, are the only ones still dormant and laying on the floor. The reaction seems to stop at that point, unable to progress any farther for some strange reason. The drones quickly react, scanning the arrays with their sensor dishes and trying to figure out what is going wrong ...

Devaine_Hawk hears the song , and feels himself relax , his mind going to a certain female “Reikia , wonder where she is , what’s she doing right now …does she ever stop and think about me like this ?“ he ponders .

Glyniss_McMasters with a quickness as before as one song seems to come to a tumbling end rises her voice again...once more the notes shifting altering becoming more of an light opera..." Perhaps looove is like a resting place....A shelter from the storm...It exists to give you comfort....It is there to keep you warm..Annnd in those times of trouble..When you are most aloneee..The memory of love willl bring you homeee...Perhapss love is like a window...Perhaps an open door It invites you to come closer...It wants to shooow you more"

Flash_Guardian tugs on Bida's hand, pointing to Aiza in the corner worriedly, and looking to Bida longingly, clearly wanting to do something to help her. He would speak, but his voice would probably just get lost in the maelstrom of sound.

Bida looks at Devaine, or rather, where he is standing, then at Glyniss. Her eyes drift to Flash, then to Aiza, and rest there. She wanted to go to her sister, but held herself back, knowing that she couldn't. She squeezed Flash's hand slightly.

[Flash_Guardian] Eventually, Lydia tries to speak out amongst the cascade of sound, her volume seemingly at its limit. "Glyniss's voice isn't balanced! We need two others to stand on the other sides of the room and sing, forming a triangle!"

Aiza speaks up, "Bida can sing." she continues to rock, her eyes glued on the ground.

Devaine_Hawk stays where he is , but he hear the drone , “I am not the one for that job,“ he thinks

Flash_Guardian looks back to Bida questioningly, eyes full of hope.

Bida blinks as her eyes widen, "I. . . I guess I could sing. Where do I need to stand?"

Bida suggests that Aiza, too, can sing.

Flash_Guardian looks around the room ... Glyniss is standing at the center of one of the three sides to this room, the middle of the walkway as she sings ... there are two other sides to this room, one of which Flash points to, looking rather uncertain.

Aiza looks at Bida, her eyes half closed. "Not as well as you, but I can."

Glyniss_McMasters obvoiusly si comptely lost....gone to the music the words she could be singing in an open field naked as far as she would be aware now.....eruptured....captured....the words of the song tumbling between her lips rising and dipping as the song requires

[Flash_Guardian] Note: It has become VERY hard to hear anything other that Glyniss's singing at the moment. Flash can hear Bida only because he is right next to her.

Devaine_Hawk calls from the shadows , “Bida , can’t Flash sing , or play his flute I saw him with earlier ?”

Flash_Guardian holds up his flute hopefully, looking between Devaine and Bida and nodding once ... but he looks rather nervous. "I can try ..."

Devaine_Hawk raises his voice to full volume , “Flash, the flute , if you can’t sing , play your flute !!” he yells

Bida calls back to Devaine, "Possibly, but he says he cannot play"

Bida moves to where Flash points and takes a deep breath, and begins singing, some say looove, it is a riverrrr, that drownnns, the tender reed. Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves, the soul to bleed."

Devaine_Hawk shakes his head , “he has to, or Aiza , don’t look at me “

Aiza looks at Flash, hoping to catch his eye. If he looks at her, she would mouth, "Try. you must try. For Bida."

Aiza calls, "I can, if Flash cannot, or will not."

[Flash_Guardian] The crystal device is now a blur of amber light. Bida's song seems to help, her voice blending with Glyniss's somehow to form a duet that is almost angelic. Another of the arrays slowly lifts off the ground and lights up. Flash grimaces, quickly moving over to the last spot and putting the flute to his lips.

[Bida] "Some say love it is a hunger an endless aching need, I say love it is a flower, and you it's only seed."

Flash_Guardian looks around nervously once more, then closes his eyes, puts his fingers to the holes, and blows. A soft, musical sound emits forth, and actually seems to blend with the other two, creating a wondrous sort of harmony. The tune he plays is simple, just trying to match the other pair and blend in ... good thing he'd been doing nothing but practicing his flute for the whole day.

[Bida] "It's the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance, It's the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance, It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dyin', that never learns to live."

Aiza hugs herself tighter, and squeezes her eyes shut. Her black horn begins to glow slightly as Bida sings and Flash plays.

Devaine_Hawk steps farther back in to the shadows , “what the hell, they can’t hear me ‘ he thinks . He starts to sing , almost subconsciously the words come to him ““ walking alone in the night /whistle past the grave yard , don’t know if the dead can hear but they might / cross the ricer Styx , feels like home / walking in the dark / strutting all alone / travel over the mountains of madness / sure seems familiar /been here before/ got a long way to go/ still no light at the end of the tunnel/walking in the dark“ he sings

[Flash_Guardian] The reverberating harmonics resound around the room, now starting to be accompanied by shards of light that swirl about the room, reflections of the immense energy now contained within the entire arrangement of array, rapidly recharging and restoring itself. Slowly but surely, the final array lifts up into place. The crystal device reaches the exact center of the room and flares once, a resounding clang! All at once, the entire structure aligns itself and the reverberating harmonics seem to die away, now replaced by a slow and steady thrummming. Flash stops his playing quickly, now staring at the perfectly aligned triangular matrix of light, glass, and metal, suspended at the heart of the chamber ... and beams.

[Bida] "When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been to long, and you think that love is only, for the lucky and the strong, just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the rose."

Aiza begins to sing as well, feeling the energy in the room increase 10fold, "You fell to the ground like rain, On deaf ears your cries met hands And knees were blistered, Shouting from the tallest tree, You declared wrong, But they never listen"

Aiza 's voice fades before finishing, and hugs herself tighter.

Bida stops singing and gasps.

[Glyniss_McMasters] " Andd even if you lose yourself...Annnd dont know what to do......The memory of lovvve will see you through.....Love to some is like a cloud....To sooome as strong as steeeel...For some a way of livving....For some a way to feel....And some say love is holding on...and some sy letting go....And some say loove is everything...And some say they doont know

Devaine_Hawk stays in the shadows watching as the crystals move into place . “good job folks ,now what ?”

[Flash_Guardian] The three drones all squeal happily, spinning up and about. Suddenly you can all feel the ground beneath you shake just once, and the rest of the ship around you slowly comes to life ... from the bridge just outside, you hear a growing humm as monitors power up. Electrical components spring to life. Magical devices surge with renewed energy. Lights flicker on slowly, illuminating everything broad as day. Control panels light up, all manner of information dancing across the now active displays.

Bida smiles, and walks to Flash and hugs him, only to stop after a moment, and take a step back, blushing

Devaine_Hawk walks to the monitors and studies the information on them, moving from one to the other , his photo graphic memory committing it all to his subconscious.

Flash_Guardian just hugs Bida back tightly, not letting her go in his overjoyed state. Somewhere in the middle of all that, he gets the courage to kiss her once on the cheek ... now Bida isn't the only one blushing.

[Flash_Guardian] Mostly the information on the panels seems to be commenting on the ship's status. All systems are slowly, one by one, powering up and reactivating. Not everything seems to go smoothly, however, as the full extent of the damage becomes apparent. Life support, scanners, gravitational stabilizers, interior morphing ... those are about the only systems still functional.

Aiza looks upjust in time to see Flash give Bida a kiss, and rolls her eyes, groaning. She looked back at the gruond, and continued her steady rocking motions.

Bida smiles at the kiss, and looks around at everything now starting up. She knew nothing of it, but was fascinated.

Devaine_Hawk takes all that in , damn and I was so looking forward to taking this thing on a joy ride , wait what is interior morphing ?’ he ask . It seemed the singing had helped him blow off some steam , and relax a little .

[Flash_Guardian] Also displayed is a clear layout of the ship, its schematics, power levels and readings ... it quickly begins to run a self-diagnostic. The drones continue to dance happily in the air. "It worked!" cries Lydia. "I can't believe it worked! Good work, everyone!" She breaks from the other two to fly down to Glyniss, hovering her way right up to her side in an almost affectionate manner.

Glyniss_McMasters mouth opens .....she was quite simple lost ...her body swayed a little as it kinda rolls with the movements of thr craft....yet her eyes were still closed as she continues...nothing around her as yet passing through to her...." Perhaps love is like the ocean....Full of conflict yyees full of pain...Likkke a firee when itts cold outside...Orr thunder when it rains...If I should livee forever....And all my dreams come true....My memories of lovve will be of you..."

Devaine_Hawk swings Lucy off his back , “Hey guys I think someone just popped in or woke up , it could be Jester “

Aiza asks, "Where is the Jester?" her eyes are still on the ground, her arms still around her, and she is still rocking.

Bida looks from Devaine to Aiza, slightly surprised that they'd have the same thought at the same time.

Devaine_Hawk rushes back into the engine room , “come on Jester I got something waiting for ya , her name is Lucy , she wants to dance “

Flash_Guardian shakes his head, smiling up at Bida. "I don't know what it is," he tries to explain. "I still have no memory of you, but ... I do remember ... why I feel so close to you." He smiles at her, running his hand across Bida's cheek. "I love you."

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia just presses herself into Glyniss as she continues to sing ... eventually she probably pushes hard enough to cause her to stumble backward a step or two ...

Bida lets out a burst of happy laughter, then just smiles. Now wiping her eyes as they began to well up, "I love you too."

Devaine_Hawk rolls his eyes as well ,”can we focus here , I said I think Jester is coming!” he shouts at Flash

Aiza says, "ug."

Flash_Guardian breaks out of it, looking quickly over at Devaine. "Jester?!" he says, eyes wide and full of panic.

Bida looks at Devaine, her eyes wide as her hand moves to her sword, although she knew full well that it was useless against Jester.

Glyniss_McMasters eyes dart open as she feels herself stumble back...not even having felt the droid against her and thus unprepared what it did...eyes glazed....blinking madly at Lydia.....she had stoped verbally singing....though the sounds still rung madly in her mind the words repeating themselves

Devaine_Hawk flips a switch on Lucy’s power source , a low hum starts to build as she powers up , he turns in a tight cycle , “we woke someone up just now , someone powerful, who else would it be ?” he ask. “wait a minute Triad , the ship. It could be the ship “

[Flash_Guardian] The other two drones suddenly stop in midair, their scanner dishes moving to try and pick something up. Lydia stops pushing against Glyniss and does likewise. The drones just stay as they are for a moment, listening.

Aiza asks, "the ship is alive?"

[Devaine_Hawk whispers to Flash_Guardian] "hello, old man what's going on , is that Jester I sense or Triad ?

[Flash_Guardian whispers to Devaine_Hawk] Dev's the closest to the bridge at this point. If he takes a moment to look out among the bridge, he will see a small arm draped over the side of the lieutenant-commander's chair ... someone is sitting out there.

Aiza 's head snaps up, "Holy shit, The ship is alive!" She stands, letting her arms fall to her sides

Devaine_Hawk seems to focus as his eyes flash with the blue white sparks , “yes it’s name is Triad , I think , hang on while I …”he stops and swings Lucy toward the bridge , “don’t blanking move “ he tells someone .

Bida looks around, "But, how is that possible? It's metal and wiring. . . not living," She looks at Lydia, "No offence, of course."

Glyniss_McMasters looks from side to side.....eyes coming to rest on the others in turn....concerntrating as she limps away a few feet....her leg stiff as it clicks

Aiza asks Devaine, "Who are you talking to?"

[Flash_Guardian] At last, the two other drones whisk themselves out of the room, abrubtly moving out of sight. Lydia turns back to the others ... then looks out at where Devaine is curiously. "Devaine? What is it?"

Devaine_Hawk does not answer, already stepping back onto the bridge . He keeps Lucy trained on the chair with the arm visible, “Who the hell are you ?” he asks .

Bida takes a step in Devaine's direction, "Devaine? Who's there?" she draws her sword.

[Flash_Guardian] The arm that is draped over the light-grey cushioned chair ... is that of a child, wearing a dark grey sort of long-sleeved shirt, very neat looking.

Glyniss_McMasters licks her lips her attention shifting and resting on Dev though she did linger on Flash....the words in her mind just burning embers as they slowly die out

Aiza steps backwards, bumping into the wall, muttering and shaking her head, "wake up Aiza, wake up!"

Bida gasps and drops her sword as her hands fly to her mouth.

Devaine_Hawk circles the chair ,moving around to the front as Lucy’s analyzer takes a reading on any energy signatures around the person in it . “stay out there damn it , there’s someone on the bridge ,” he calls finally facing the figure , “it’s a kid “

[Flash_Guardian] A bit closer, and you catch sight of tufts of pure white, tussled hair atop a head that is leaning to one side ... it's a boy, clad in a simple grey shirt and pants, with black shoes, sprawled out on the chair and fast asleep. Just then, something about the boy flickers, and he becomes almost see-through for a moment ... then resumes his former solid appearance.

Devaine_Hawk keeps the weapon trained on the boy’s chest ,“ this might be one of Jesters tricks “he tells him self “there is a boy setting in here , he just blinked out and came back , “

Bida ignores Devaine and walks onto the bridge, her eyes glues onto the child she just saw in her mind, almost like the child from her dream, but different. He felt different, not just appearance.

Flash_Guardian and Lydia move to just behind the others, peering curiously out into the bridge and watching Devaine, looking to where his attentions are.

Devaine_Hawk calls back to them ,never taking his eyes off the kid , “do any of you al know what Flash looked like when he was a kid , ?” he asks

Aiza closes her eyes tightly, and clenches her fists. After a moment, she walks until she is about 4 feet behind the others

Bida says, "I did, once, but I've forgotten." She is right behind Devaine, looking at the boy, so ordinary seeming, like he belonged here. Not like the boy in her dream.

Glyniss_McMasters sighs softly as she limps over towards where the gates where...lifting the latch and walking through to the steel runways....she had as yet not even entered the room where the others where just head tilted to listen

Devaine_Hawk tightens his grip on Lucy , “stay back you all there’s something wrong here …” he tells them ,

Aiza says, "nope," then to Glyniss, "are you ok?"

[Flash_Guardian] A muffled noise seems to come from the small child as he stirs in his seat. He slowly blinks and rubs his eyes lazily, looking over at Devaine in curiousity, being the first that he lays eyes on. "Who are you?" he asks curiously.

Bida stands still behind Devaine, and gasps at the child's voice. She was not expecting to hear him speak.

Devaine_Hawk looks to the boy , “Devaine Hawk , who the hell are you “

Aiza picks up Bida's sword, and leans towards her sister, offering the sword, hilt first, to her sister, "Bida. . . here."

Bida walks quickly to Aiza, and takes the sword. Sheathing it, she walked back to stand behind Devaine, and watched the boy.

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia quickly floats up and over the railing, dropping down slowly next to the boy. "Good afternoon, Triad," Lydia says in greeting. The boy quickly looks over at the drone, smiling at it. "Hello, Lydia," he greets her.

Bida asks the boy, "Your name is Triad? Is this your ship?"

Devaine_Hawk lowers Lucy , “he’s Triad, I thought the ship was Triad ?”

[Flash_Guardian] The boy looks over at Bida, tilting his head and stating plainly. "I am the ship."

Glyniss_McMasters nods to Aiza somewhat belatedly ...." I fin' thankee kindly.....wha' agoin' on in ter?"

Bida starts, "oh." her brow is furrowed. She is perplexed.

Flash_Guardian is completely amazed, standing there and staring at the boy, his mind not quite taking it all in. "You're ..."

Aiza says to Glyniss, "Devaine found a boy, called Triad, only he's not just a boy. He's the ship."

Devaine_Hawk turns and smirks at the rest of the party, he never says it , but it’s plain as day on his face what he thinks “told you so”

Bida looks at Flash, her eyes questioning. She walks towards the boy, and looks at him, not quite sure what she wants to say.

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia quickly speaks up on the boy's behalf. "What you're actually seeing is a more complicated form of holographic projection," she explains. "He is a physical manifestation and representation of the Triad, a living, sentient airship."

Devaine_Hawk turns back to Triad , “sorry , didn’t mean to you know , point a gun in your face first thing , Jester just has me on edge “

Aiza tells Glyniss, "Now he's a super-hologram. 'A physical manifestation and representation of the Triad'." she quotes Lydia, sounding almost exactly like the drone.

Bida asks Lydia, "Why a child for a form? is the ship young?"

Glyniss_McMasters nods once more leaning against the wall a hand rising to flick back the brim of the stetson...." Ain' nothin' straigh' o' thi' her' shi'....lik' ter plai' ho' ti' yer"

[Flash_Guardian] The boy just shrugs cheerily at Devaine. "It's okay," he says, not seeming to care in the slightest. He looks back up to Lydia. "Who are all these people?" Lydia wastes no time in making introductions. "Triad, I'd like you to meet Devaine, Glyniss, Flash, Bida, and Aiza. They helped you to wake up just now." Hearing this, the boy turns rather formally, almost unfitting for a child of his apparent age, to look at each one in turn, smiling appreciatively. "Thank you all."

Aiza moves back, hoping to get out of the boy's eye-sight.

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia turns back to Bida to respond. "In a manner of speaking, yes, he is. He's only been alive and awake for the equivalent of two years."

Bida stands, and curtsies slightly, "you are quite welcome."

Devaine_Hawk nods , “don’t mention it . So who is the other boy in our dream , “

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia turns to Devaine. "I really couldn't tell you." The boy reaches up and tugs on one of the drone's tool-arms, apparently having some substance after all. "Were you singing to me, Lydia?" he asks hopefully. Lydia just laughs. "No, Triad. That was Glyniss, the woman over there." The drone turns to face Glyniss, as does the boy, peering over and trying to get a glimpse of her.

Glyniss_McMasters isnt actually in the room ....shes on the landing outside....

Aiza calls for Glyniss to come to the door, and onto the bridge, "Triad wants to see you."

[Flash_Guardian] The image of the boy seems to stretch and flicker, disappearing from view, then reappearing in a similar manner right before Glyniss, wherever she may be. "Thank you, Glyniss," the boy says properly, hands folded and looking up at her appreciatively. "You sing very well."

Flash_Guardian notes that the boy and Glyniss are still in the engine room, by the railing surrounding the core.

Devaine_Hawk walks to the far side of the bridge , fading into the shadows again as the others crowd around the boy , he looks around the room, and thinks . “ not a group hug type of guy myself “

Glyniss_McMasters peers down at the boy up til now she had been kinda lazily listening....hand going to her stetson rising and falling..." Thankee kindly....jus' a please' ter hel' yer..." as she smiles broadly

[Flash_Guardian] Lydia turns and looks around at the others nearby. "I'm sorry," she apologizes. "The others need me. Apparently they're having some problems with the computer relays in one of the primary data conduits ... if you'll excuse me." With that, Lydia floats up and away.

[Flash_Guardian] THe boy tilts his head to one side, looking up at Glyniss. "Your accent is most peculiar," he says.

Flash_Guardian looks over at Bida. "Umm ... is that normal for airships to be talking boys?" He looks to be having a very hard time with this.

Glyniss_McMasters chuckles softly " S' I bee' atol'....som' fol' hav' a tim' understan' bu' shoo' be might' dul' ifna we al' atal' ter sam' no' wan' i'?"

[Flash_Guardian] The projected image of the boy flickers translucently for a moment, then resolidifies. "I' i' easie' fo' ya ter understan' me lik' thi'?" he says, mimicking Glyniss's accent, eyes twinkling.

Bida looks helplessly at Flash and shrugs, "you know. . . knew, more about this than me."

Flash_Guardian just slumps at Bida, sighing. "I don't know anything now ... none of this seems familiar." He shrugs. "I just wish I knew if this was supposed to be 'normal' or not."

Aiza 's wings rustle as she watches the boy. She is rather unsettled, not just by his presence, but by something else altogether. She wraps her arms around herself again.

Glyniss_McMasters grins and winks.....a hand reaching down to slap the boy gently on the back...." Wel' shoo'...tha' afin'..yer improvin' alread'....no' ter ho' lon' ca' yer kee' it up"

Bida sighs and walks to Flash, "you were wonderful on the flute" she smiled, hoping to cheer him up a little.

[Flash_Guardian] The boy grins at Glyniss. "A' lon' a' I'm talkin' ter ya," he mimics again with surprising precision. He then turns to look at the rather shy form of Aiza nearby, walking slowly up to her. "Are you alright?" he asks, back to his original manner of speaking.

Flash_Guardian looks really bashful and humble. "I didn't think I was that great ... I'd only learned those few notes earlier on in the day while I was practicing." He smiles, though, seeming rather pleased at the compliment.

Aiza looks at the boy, her eyes taking on a black glow. "I am fine, Triad." She blinked, and just watched the boy.

[Flash_Guardian] The boy tilts his head to the side, looking Aiza over. "Are you an angel, or a demon? And why do you have more than one spirit inside of you?" he asks inquisitively, trying to make sense of her.

Flash_Guardian looks over at Bida admiringly. "I didn't know you sang," he says. "Your voice was wonderful ... especially how you blended with and accompanied Glyniss."

Bida blushed furiously, "I haven't sang in a long time. I'm out of practice."

Flash_Guardian smiles appreciatively at Bida. "You should do it more often, then," he tells her. "Maybe I can play my flute along with you and accompany you ... if you'd like, that is."

Aiza kneels and looks into Triad's eyes, "There are 5 evil spirits in this body, I am one of them. Then there is Aiza. She is a half breed angel/demon. Because she is an angel at the moment, we cannot do very much, and we cannot kill, unless she is fighting something. When she turns back into a demon, we will have her, and her sould will go to hell, with her father."

Bida smiles and nods, "that would be lovely." She looks at Aiza, and sees her eyes, now glowing black. Stepping towards her, she said, "Hey! Don't touch him. I'm watching you."

[Flash_Guardian] The boy gives Aiza a bewildered look, not appearing frightened in the least, rather more intrigued. The boy looks away in a different direction, and his form distorts and flickers translucently again, disappearing and reappearing by Flash and Bida, looking up at the pair. "Hello," he says calmly to them both, blinking his eyes in a superficial manner.

Aiza looks at Bida,"did you not hear a word I just said? We won't hurt him. We can't."

Flash_Guardian looks down at the boy, blinking in surprise. "Uhhh ... hi there, ummm ... little Triad," he says awkwardly.

Bida jumps slightly at the sudden appearance of the boy so close, "h. . . hello."

[Flash_Guardian] The boy turns his gaze up at Bida. "You're an angel ... but you only have one spirit in you. That's good," he says, turning now to look at Flash. Flash stares back at the boy, slightly nervous.

Bida smiles at the boy, and says, "mostly angel." She looks at flash, her face now masked with worry. She takes his hand (permission granting) and squeezes it slightly.

Flash_Guardian squeezes back, but doesn't look away from the boy. At last, the boy says, "You were in my dreams a few minutes ago." The boy thinks for a moment, then looks back at Bida. "And so were you." Then looks over at Devaine. "And you." Then back between the pair. "And Glyniss, too."

Aiza 's eyes are back to brows, almost as if the others just want to see what is going on. She asks, "What exactly did you dream?" she walks a few feet closer.

Flash_Guardian seems rather startled to hear the boy say that, looking back at him with wide eyes. The boy turns to address Aiza. "I had a dream that someone was chasing me ... he looked like Flash," the boy says, pointing to Flash with a small finger. "And there were other dreams, too ... but I can't remember them all." He lowers his arm to his side once more.

Bida kneels beside Triad, her hand still holding onto Flash's, "do you recall what you dreamt about me?"

Bida looks at Triad, "but. . . that wasn't you. . .was it?"

[Flash_Guardian] The boy wrinkles his forehead at Bida. "I remember you being in my dreams, that's all," he states calmly, then looks back to Flash, who is flat out amazed. He asks the boy, "How did you ... why did I see you in my dream?" The boy just shrugs. "Maybe we shared a dream together," the boy replies.

Bida says, "I saw a child, a boy about your age, or at least, how old you look, in a dream of mine. He said he missed flying. He was running around though, like a happy boy, but the area we were was so dangerous. I was forbidden from going there as a child. As was Aiza. I had followed her there that day."

Aiza says, "Sleeping on the top of the ship seems to have the same effect, or at least a similar one. I dreamt of that place, and you Bida, but there was no other child visible, but I heard a little boy speak."

Flash_Guardian blinks, listening to the others speak. The boy continues to look at Flash in interest. "I feel like I know you somehow. Have we met before, in the future?" Flash gives the boy a very unusual look. "The future? Wha ... why would I be in ... err, from the future?"

Bida says, "you are a time lord, love. Who knows anymore where we are from, other than, perhaps, lord chen."

Flash_Guardian blinks. "Oh, yeah," he says, remembering. "I'd forgotten that." The boy just shakes his head, staring at Flash a bit longer. "No ... it's something else ..." The boy leans his head forward to think, then his image flickers once or twice more. "I can't explain to you what it is, but something isn't right. Perhaps after my self-diagnostic completes I will have more information to give you." The boy straightens, addressing all in the room one last time. "I'll be here if you need me." With that, the image of the boy speckles and dissipates, soon gone from view.

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