Week Nine Day One

            As another work day dawns, the team goes back to patrol. Not surprisingly they discover some gling tracks, which lead up to a wall and vanish. Hopping up to the roof, no glings are discovered. Moving on they come across a sickly individual half stumbling though the streets, he seems to be suffering from the poison. Questioning him, he states that he is returning from tending his plants, of which he says little just what and where. They let him go, as he seemed to be on his way to the hall anyway, and continue their patrol. A quick spot check roll later discovers something flying in the air high above. It looks much like a flying dot at this point, but its there none the less, circling overhead. Using some spy-panes (large lenses) they have a look, showing it to be a humanoid thing, grey in colour, winged and without a head. They take cover and call in to O’ Laura with their sighting. She just advises them to stay out of its way as who knows what it is, and tells them she will get someone on it. Not long later, the thing descends into the area where their small quarters are. Deciding to have a look themselves the team moves after it. Leaving their bikes near the edge of the housing area, they move in as quiet as they can muster. Moving about they hear the sounds of something thrashing about, things breaking and the source seems to move about. Figuring that with all the noise that sneaking about won’t be of much use, they get onto the roofs and try to find the exact location of the thing. Finding an area that seems to have been damaged, they note that sound coming from one building in particular, then move to the next, as the creature apparently just broke though the walls of both adjacent buildings. Jumping down and getting ready with his stun-gun, Jeff moves to be ready should the creature try to break between its current building and the next. Some of the team follows suit, preparing as best they can. As the thing busts out of the wall as expected, they can see it has no head indeed, just a hump where one would normally be, set into which is a single, large eye. Below that is a large, circular mouth lined with teeth. The creature as a whole is over twice their size and heavily muscled, certainly a match for any of them. Jeff opens the first round with a shot from his stun gun which manages to succeed in stunning the creature and so this one goes easy. A few moments later a group of four more of the creatures are seen heading toward them and so the team reacts with a volley of shots. One is actually dropped before it can land on its own by a few hits with cold rounds. The other three land and a mix of melee and gun play ensues. While some hits are scored on both sides the liberal use of cold rounds where needed helps turn this fight in favour of the team, finally resulting in their win. Interested in what they were attacked by a few members examine the creatures in a little detail in an attempt to understand their build a little better. It seems the eye, which is capable of some sort of gaze attack, may have some other function which is not obvious. Going back to patrol the team does not run afoul of much else and retire soon after. As some of the buildings they were using were wreaked a few changes in quarters are made, but everything works out.

 

Week Nine Day Two

            Alex is the first to wake, but only because of the sounds of scratching outside his door. Getting up to investigate Alex readies himself and opens the door slightly to see who lies beyond. It seems to be a rather large insectoid creature which does not perceivably react to him. Closing the door quickly, he tries to contact the rest of the group for aid. Looking out their own windows they all see the creature outside, moving about slowly but generally staying in the same area. As the team ponders what to do, perhaps trying to lure it away or launch an attack, a buck is seen peddling up on a bike toward them. They take action to try and warn him, but he continues to peddle toward the strange creature. He walks up to it and waves something in front of its head, causing it to follow him. The team comes out of their quarters and questions the individual. He tells them that this creature is domestic and had simply gotten out of its stable. Looking a bit ill, he seems interested on getting the creature back to its stable so he can get a little rest and so the team leaves him to his way. Making the trip back to the community hall Jasper inquires about getting a few crystals that she needs for her spells. She is told that although the mines may have what she is looking for they are not in high enough demand to warrant being gathered and so may be found in the mine tailings. Hoping this is the case she arranges a ride for those group members interested in accompanying her to the mines and sets out. The ride turns out to be upon creatures like the one found outside Luke's rooms that morning and so they are a bit hesitant to hop upon one. With some assurance of how safe it is they do manage to take a seat and begin their trip. The creatures do run briskly and the group finds themselves passing between large piles of mine tailings as the approach the mine itself. Although Jasper wants to get off and examine the piles her mount does not seem interested in stopping until it reaches a paddock. Noticing the tendency to head straight for this destination it is guessed the creatures are trained to run from one site to another almost automatically. Upon examining some of the mine tailings Jasper notes there is a problem, they have the consistency of dust. As there is nothing larger than this in the piles its not likely she can find what she needs here. Hoping to do better in the mine itself, Jasper and he party move to investigate the mine itself. Not far from the opening they come across Nah, the tunnelling device left at this site by the people of Old Lyshy a few hundred years ago. They examine it for a time but not believing they should fiddle with it they continue on to the mine entrance. The tunnel is circular and the walls are uniform, almost smooth. Here and their amidst the common materials are found deposits of crystal, some of which may prove useful but they would need to be examined and identified first. Further down the tunnels the group comes across the small group of workers that keep the mine open, only six in number. Half of them use miner's acid to recover ore while the other half stand guard. Jasper employs a detection incantation to discover if there are any gem stones worth her time in the area, finding the only ones are a bit to dangerous to attempt to recover. After notifying the miners of its location so as to avoid it, the team returns to the mine entrance. Returning to town the team begins patrol again but things stay quiet until they call it a day and turn in. Luke takes some time to question the medics about the poison one more time, learning a few things. The poison was first found in the river which originates near the mine, then passing though Old Lyshy before making its way to New Lyshy. Once it was detected it was never found in the water again, but subsequently appeared on the towns crops. Once it was discovered on the crops it was not found in further tests there either, vanishing much like it had in the river. So, although the herbal treatment given should be preventing the poison from getting worse no one was getting better which may be due to continuous exposure. It may be that this problem can be solved should the source or sources of some sort of continued poisoning could be found and dealt with.

 

Week Nine Day Three

            Having thought about the problem a bit Luke and Jasper decided to attempt to formulate a way to detect the poison and try to trace it that way. While they ponder this they find out that Lexa has three filters that will change colour should liquid passed though it be contaminated with the poison. Asking if there are samples of the poison on hand to be used in further testing they are directed to a set of tubes in the back room of the community hall. Not finding what they are looking for they ask Lexa to give them a hand. She searches for the tubes herself but only finds an empty test tube rack; curiously the samples are gone. This fact seems to point to the idea that something a bit more complicated than some errant contamination was in effect. Noting that Krystal's medical kit is of Tricokran design they ask her if it is able to deal with this poison or not, as the poison may be linked to the age old war. While the kit does not seem to have any cures, it does indeed have a method of detection. This method is used to monitor the poison in the patients over the course of one day. The results show that as the day wears on the levels slowly drop, only to spike simultaneously in all patients and upon the very beds they lie in. This curious result points even further to something odd occurring. A plan is made to test just how this works by taking a poison victim from the community hall and placing him under watch and monitor at another location to see if there are any differences. With the patient moved another day goes by.

 

Week Nine Day Four

            Much as before the poison levels of the patient began to lower but then spiked again late in the day, however, this occurred almost one hour later than those in the hall. Even though there were guards on watch, nothing was seen to indicate why this is, so the theory is that some form of poison wave, a slow moving one, had passed over New Lyshy and does so at regular intervals. This theory does not, however, explain why the team has not been poisoned. A second attempt is planned, but this time to take the patient farther away from the community hall, away from New Lyshy itself. The victim is moved again, this time as far out as the mantid paddocks near the mine.

 

Week Nine Day Five

            In a tent the patient, Luke, Jasper and Jeff await to see what comes of this. As the day wears on Luke and Jasper turn in as Jeff takes watch. During his watch Jeff succeeds at a Hear Noise check and detects the sound of uneven footsteps. He concludes that there is either someone sneaking up upon them who is trying to be stealthy, or several. Jeff decides that it would be best to wake both Luke and Jasper so that they will be able to defend themselves should things turn bad. The three emerge from the tent and scan look about hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever is out there. Not seeing anyone, Jasper decides to use Summon Monster I to bring forth a gling which could fly above them and look from its high vantage. Jeff, seeing Jasper casting in the open like that, dives for the ground. His intuition paying off, a moment later Jasper is struck by a decent electrical bolt which hits her hard enough to incapacitate her. In the flash of the discharge the three see a doe some distance away with her arm outstretched from which the bolt originated. Instead of flying into a fight, the team jumps into discussion with the stranger. They learn that her name is Kikah and that she is here to deal with the "Lyshyan" in the tent. The reason for this is that she believes him to be a citizen of Lyshy, or Old Lyshy as it is now known. From the way she talks about Lyshy and her uniform, and then from asking directly, they learn she is from a city called Kelisshan, a city they know to be dust as of about three-hundred years ago. Further questioning reveals that she believes Esspis to be neutral in her "war" and has been avoiding poisoning them as they wear the uniforms of people of Esspis.. During the discussion every time Jasper tries to say something Kikah becomes irritated and demands she shut up, calling her a witch. In the meanwhile Luke administers two red nectars to Jasper in an attempt to aid her. Feeling better Jasper continues to attempt to enter the conversation despite Kikah's demand, eventually ending in Kikah taking a shot at Jasper and missing. The round fired seems unique as it explodes upon impact with the ground behind Jasper, but with sonics rather than force as is usual. The blast reaches far enough to hit Jasper. As combat begins Kikah takes out what appears to be a baton that with a flick expands to a two-bladed sword that is so twisted it makes them all wince to look at it. As shots are fired Kikah, using her monk ability of deflect arrows, knocks aside Luke's shot, but being unable to do that twice a round is forced to take Jeff's. She closes in on Jasper and strikes her hard, literally disembowelling her, and using her second attack strikes Luke. As Jasper twitches in death the battle turns between the only two fighters, Kikah and Jeff. Even though they have similar training and methods, Kikah's superior skill is about evenly matched when Jeff's blood is taken into account. The fight passes between them until Kikah, having taken a few good hits makes a run for it. Yelling out for her to stop or be shot upon, Luke levels his hand cannon at Kikah, who actually does stop and turn. Knowing that if she should get away they will all be thought of as her enemy and open to poisoning, Jeff takes this chance an pursues her. Kikah manages to reload and fire before he can close the distance, missing but once again the blast does it work and hits Jeff with its sonic detonation. Kikah's blood luminescences momentarily as some of her wounds seal, and soon the battle begins anew. In a rather long exchange of misses on both their parts, Kikah risks reloading her cannon. It is at this time Jeff manages to deal her one last hit which incapacitates her. Using manacles from Jasper's body he restrains Kikah and loots her. What he gains for his efforts are six of the sonic rounds, her hand-cannon, a Siangham, and the two-bladed, double brutal double cruel mechanism-collapsing blade made of mithral (check the Exceptional file to see just now nasty that all is: d8+5/d8+5 X3 crit). Seemingly done here and unable to do anything for Jasper they ride back to New Lyshy with Kikah and turn her in to O' Laura to be "questioned".

 

Week Nine Day Five

            The poison levels of the patients drop again but without the usual spike, and so there is good reason to believe that Kikah was the cause and that she was working alone. While they have Kikah in custody some of the team take this chance to interact with her. Jeff commends her on her skill and impressive use of electricity and that he would love to fight her again. Asking her if she can teach this skill to others or if there is just something she has that no one else does she responds "The ability to do that has always been within me." Luke takes a moment to question her about her abilities and plans to get a blood sample for testing. Lilly, on the other hand, has more sour words. As Lilly and Jasper were friends she is justifiably angry with Kikah and makes this known.

Lilly: "Jasper was a good friend of mine, and you took her from us."

Kikah: "She was a witch and I zapped her, so what?"

Lilly: "So am I, you should not provoke those such as us."

Kikah: "I'm not afraid of you, witch, I killed her and I can manage you too."

Lilly: "Your from a different age, the "witches" of the present can be most powerful."

Kikah: "Its just a weak art, I am far stronger and I proved it, easy."

            Seeming to have had enough of this backtalk, Lilly moves away as the rest of the group continues to speak with Kikah. Lilly incants both silent image and unseen servant. The image is of the late Jasper and the servant is commanded to simply poke Kikah. A subsequent cause fear is used, all in an attempt to frighten Kikah as much as possible. The effect is as desired, and while not causing Kikah a heart attack she does pull the covers on the bed over her head and hides. Pulling the sheets back a moment later its seen Kikah is staying quite still, a classic sign that a hare is terrified. Having a bit of a chuckle, most of the team leaves and goes back on patrol. All that is sighted is a flock of glings that simply pass far overhead, and the team settles down for the day. Jeff re-visits Kikah to see how she is doing, bringing a sandwich for her to nibble on. "Oh good, I was wondering who you had to betray around here to get a meal" she exclaims as she tries to eat the sandwich while wearing manacles. Jeff, feeling a bit of pity for her as she got into this mess following orders that were a few hundred years out of date, undoes a shackle on one wrist so she can eat with more ease. While he has managed to keep her quiet with food, Jeff attempts to gain a bit of trust from Kikah and trying to help her understand where and when she is currently. Knowing that keeping her physically restrained longer than is necessary will sour future efforts to get on her good side he tries to coax cooperation from her as well. Kikah fairly quickly agrees to "be nice" if she is unshackled, a bit too soon and easily for Jeff to take on faith. Explaining that he would "like to take you away from here and back home to Esspis" so that she is not around enemies and can take up life anew he asks if she would come willingly. Saying outright that this is a great idea, Kikah states she may be able to gather a group together to attack New Lyshy at a later date and finally complete her orders. Jeff learns that her orders were "do not return home until you have killed every last Lyshen", and tries to convince her that as she is the last of her kind she is in essence her own commander and can just cancel her orders. Kikah turns this around by pointing out that if she is indeed the last, that must make her quite exotic. Not really getting anywhere solid with her here and knowing it to be unsafe to just leave her here open to vengeance, he takes her up in his arms and carries her back to his quarters. Once there he tries to garner a bit more trust by offering her a deal: "If you promise not to make an escape, I will let you loose of those manacles." Kikah, in her usual way, let's Jeff know "that as a prisoner its my job to do whatever I can to escape, just as its your job to make sure I don't." Not giving up, Jeff tries a different approach: "I have both witnessed and felt what your capable of and it impresses me. When you took Jasper's life you took away someone important from me. I can forgive this much, as even I feel she was asking for it provoking you so strongly. In spite of all that, I would like to help you adjust to your situation, to be your friend, and if you are willing, a lover." Glancing this off with practiced style she says she is thirsty and could really go for a soda. Getting exasperated, Jeff produces two bottles of soda he picked up from the stores earlier and hands her one after unshackling one wrist. She watches him intently as he twists and pulls the cork and subsequently getting hit by some spray from the carbonation. Having a bit of a laugh at this she calms down and more carefully removes her cork. As Jeff takes a sip of his drink Kikah puts the bottle to her muzzle and tilts her head full back. Realizing an opportunity when its presented, Jeff grabs hold of the upturned bottle and shakes it as Kikah tries to drink. This causes pressure to build up and force the soda out much faster, but Kikah just seems to take it and continues to drink even at the accelerated speed. Putting the bottle down she looks to him and happily says "Thanks, I really needed that." Deciding to take a big step here, Jeff undoes Kikah's restraints and allows her to stand. She rises slowly and begins to take a few steps towards him. Playing cautious Jeff takes a few steps of his own backward. Coming to a stop not far from Jeff, she looks him in the eyes, saying "You made a proposal to me earlier, I accept." Jeff had made two proposals recently, one was to fight her, the other to bed her. Keeping a smirk on her face, Kikah does nothing to indicate just which she was accepting and most likely on purpose. Taking a moment to try to second guess her, Jeff closes the few remaining steps between them and begins to help Kikah out of her uniform before removing his own. "You're quite forward aren't ya? I guess if your right and I am alone now, I could use a friend and you seem to like me." Kikah says that much but does not put up much resistance, seemingly happy for a little friendly attention. "I was thinking we could both use a shower, I don't know how long its been since you last had one." Looking back at him and narrowing her eyes "Are you saying I smell, cuz I don't. I just used the river to bath as its not like I had facilities or anything." Giving that a thought, Jeff responds "In the river? wasn't that cold?" Kikah nods, "It was, until I warmed it up a bit, then it was fine." Warming up a river?". Curious, Jeff poses the question "What did you warm a river with, do you have some equipment stashed somewhere?" Looking at him like he just lost a few dozen I.Q. points, "I just stepped in and warmed it up till it was hot...why would I need equipment for that. All the stuff I have is still in the installation I was camping in." Heat a river on her own, installation? Seems there is still a lot more to coax out of her yet. Escorting her into the shower and opening the taps, Jeff takes some fur shampoo and begins working it into Kikah's fur. Commenting that the shampoo smells bad, not like her usual berry-scent formula, she allows Jeff to wash her as he seems to be enjoying it. As Jeff finishes up, "Guess its my turn, hope this stuff is easy on the fur." and she returns the favour by shampooing Jeff's fur. Getting out of the shower, Jeff picks up a towel and beings to dry off as Kikah looks on with a puzzled look. "What are you doing? your messing up your fur." Looking back just a puzzled, "I am drying myself off, something wrong?." Tilting her head, "Why don't you just dry it off instead of trying to rub it?" Stopping for a moment, "Like how?" Looking a bit ticked, "Is everyone stupid these days? Like this, DUH!" A few seconds pass and her fur begins to steam as the water evaporates from her, leaving her fur dry. "But, I don't know how to do that." Sighing and rolling her eyes, Kikah opens her arms to him, getting the hint Jeff walks into her embrace. The heat from her body dries his front, at which time she walks behind him and gives him a hug, drying his back. "There, all finished. This is really sad you know." Getting more than a bit envious, "Can you teach me any of that?" Already walking out, she looks back over her shoulder, smiling, "If I find you worthy I just might, I just might." Encouraged, he follows her out and finds her already sitting on the bed. Kikah opens her arms invitingly, which Jeff accepts. The two take some moments to become a bit intimate, Jeff hoping that maybe this will be something that impresses her as nothing really has so far besides how "stupid" everyone is. Commenting on his performance, "Nice trick, I got one for you now." Turning him over onto his back and pressing herself against him, Kikah looks into his eyes and concentrates. Jeff feels some sort of envelope surround her, something he can sense but not see. "Ya feel that? just follow it within yourself and try to form one of your own." Jeff tries, but not quite getting it he fails. Kikah presses herself even more firmly against him, "Try again, you should feel it there inside you, just spark it." Making one more attempt, Jeff finds it within himself and manages to form an envelope of his own. "There ya go, not so hard huh? This is what I used to seal those wounds on me before, I think you can find some use for that ya?" Like two bubbles coming in contact their envelopes merge and mingle. The pair eventually fall asleep, moving onto another day.

 

Week Nine Day Six

            Waking, the first thing Jeff does is check to make sure Kikah as not made her escape. Finding her still asleep he just watches her nose bob with each breath until she finally wakes. Becoming more alert as she realizes that Jeff is basically staring at her, "What?". "Well, I was wondering if you could take me to this installation you say you were using. Maybe me and a few people I trust?" Kikah sighs and shrugs, "I guess I can do that, its in Lyshy, so not to far off." Inwardly pleased at the prospect of uncovering a few examples of Lyshen weapons or the like, Jeff already has a few individuals in mind. Kikah, on the other hand, inwardly pleased by the prospect of breakfast, hurries along in suiting up and coaxing Jeff to lead the way. After gathering a few supplies, most of which consist of sandwiches, Jeff, Kikah, Luke and Mucara set out. The team, such as it is, carefully follow the path Kikah takes as they enter the boarder of Old Lyshy, well aware now of what can happen with but a false step. As they pass though the area, voices can be heard but their source cannot be seen, repeating the phrase "Remain calm". As Kikah ignores them the team continues to follow, trusting she knows what she is doing. In their direct path is a blast-crater, which seems to be their destination. Drawing closer it can be noted that the blast seems to have come from below ground rather than from a detonation from above. Peering down into the crater Jeff spots an entrance to a tunnel or underground cavern but the darkness prevents him from seeing much more. Jeff jumps down, followed by the rest of the team with Kikah walking down behind them. Using flashlights the team takes a look about. The room is a good thirty-feet in dimension and looks to have been the site of multiple detonations. Wreckage and debris are strewn about the ground, which they begin to pick though for clues as to what caused such damage. Jeff discovers a hemispherical object, next to which is found its twin. Kikah informs them that the two form a whole which the Lyshens used as weapons, rolling objects which could jump and explode. A door is found in the far wall which although damaged has been forced open at some point. Kikah admits it was her doing, she forced the door open to make an escape from the facility. Moving into the hall beyond the door a second door is spotted directly in front while the hall continues left and right. To the right is seen some light and yet another door, while the left is dark. The door in front is closed and upon it read "Food Stores". Forcing it open with Kikah's help but a crack, a mist flows out of the room into the hall. Not knowing if the mist is dangerous they ask Kikah: "I don't know what it is, but its probably okay". Peering in they see that the room is filled with glass cases, most of which are damaged. The damaged cases are the source of the mist, which pours over the broken glass from within. Taking some precautions against inhalation of the mist the area is searched for any salvageable goods. Exactly 16 green gels are found to still be good due to the preservation system that is still functional within a few of the cases. Seeing little else but spoiled gels they move on towards the lit doorway down the right of the hallway. This door does not seem to have a lock or any other sort of mechanism the team can use effectivly to gain entrance and appears to be a security door. Foiled by it utterly they move down the dark end of the hallway. At the end of the hall is yet another door that has been forced open, and once again by Kikah. The room it leads too is about ninety feet by fifty feet in size with a door in each of its four walls. The room itself seems to be built to house a large structure that lies in its center:

"Adamantine frame and mithral armour, this device is a shining example of functionality. Spherical wheels hold it aloft, while a main cannon and several supports festoon the central core."

It seems to be some sort of battle-wagon housed here in an old Lyshen base. Luke takes immediate interest in it and spends most of his time here examining it. There seems to be an entrance to the rear, but he can find no means of opening it. The door on the right is painted with the word "Ammunition" which Mucara obscures with the use of cantrip, so that Luke does not go nutty about gaining entrance to something that sounds dangerous. The door on the left is much larger then any other found so far, and seems to be an exit for the battle-wagon to use as an exit and entrance. The door on the far wall is open as were the others and leads into a somewhat diagonal hall. Moving down two more doors are found to either side while the hall continues on further still. The left door proves to be a weapons locker, containing thirteen lockers of which only one is open. Inside is found four cases of the rounds Kikah was using, those which were sonic based. Trying but having no success in opening the other lockers with any means at their disposal they move to the room just opposite. This one is forced open to gain access, but only just a crack. Luke, throwing in a small object to see what happens notices it bounce of some figure in the dark, which then turns to regard the door. Figuring this to be bad, the door is shut and they move on. The hall ends at another forced door that they just walk though into the room beyond. Set up with desks and boards this room appears to be a mission/debriefing area. It has a security door just ahead and one more to the right. Finding the security door impassable, they opt to use the side door, which has been forced. The hall ends at a forced door and opens into a seventy by fifty room which looks to be a mess hall of sorts. Tables and chairs are broken and bent, weapons fire is evident and so the place looks to have been the site of a battle. No bodies are found, but Kikah informs the team that this where she was hiding out and that she buried the bodies that were here before taking up her residence. In the far right corner is a makeshift bed of blankets and cushions along with a small catch of supplies, little more than some grain bars, seeds and herbs. A small bed amidst wreckage in a dark room, working alone from an enemy base, this was Kikah's existence till now. Trying to cheer Kikah's suddenly depressed look, Jeff takes her onto her bed and snuggles a bit with her while the rest of the team look about. Two doors other then the one used as entrance are found. The first checked leads to a locked door, which Mucara manages to open due to its low security. Beyond is a colleciton of bunks, the doe's barracks from the looks of it. Searching the area a small amount of light is coming from a corner near a bunk. Closer inspection reveals the soft light is coming from corpsefire that rests upon a bottom bunk. Using her necrology skill, Mucara attempts to contact whatever spirit is there in hopes of gaining some insight about the facility. The corpsefire pops in response as the image of a doe appears in the bed. She mumbles a bit before saying "I'm up, I'm up already." The figure sits up, looking a bit groggy, and rubs her eyes a bit. A bit surprised but not wanting to lose any edge, Mucara tries to talk to the figure: "Excuse me but could..." she is cut off as the figure swings its feet over the bunk saying "I can hear you already, shesh". As Mucara and Luke watch on the figure walks to the foot of the bed and begins to pick up something that is not there. While moving about somewhat the figure continues, putting on a uniform as clothing appears as it slides on. Deciding that it does not seem to acknowledge either of them, Mucara and Luke simply watch and follow it as it continues:

"I'm coming already, just wait up I'm almost done here. Don't start without me again."

Moves out of the barracks into the mess hall, sitting at a wreaked table upon a seat that a few feet away on the floor. Seems to start some breakfast, partially though she looks up.

"Right now? But I'm not done yet, just a few minutes more? Fine, you don't have to yell." Gets up from the table, looking a bit sad, and moves to the mission room. Walks towards the security door which opens for her, though which Mucara and Luke follow before it closes. The figure moves into a room at the end of a short hallway and sits in a chair before kicking out and spinning in it. The chair comes to a stop some seconds after she does, passing though her a few times as it rotates. The two give the room a quick once-over to get some bearings. The room looks shot up and three charred bodies are spotted. One lies back in a chair, one is sprawled out on the floor and the last is half draped over a control panel on the far side of the room. The fact hares are resistant to flames causes both to wonder just what happened here. Noting two antique hand cannons, Mucara hurriedly collects them but alas they are damaged beyond use. Kicking the chair back the figure lies there a few moments before Mucara asks the figure if she can hear her. The figure looks in her general direction and asks "Can you get me a soda? thanks." Moments later the figure is sipping from something only she can hold or see. Some time later Mucara and Luke have a simultaneous heart attack as the blaring of a klaxon starts up and red lights on the roof come to life and begins to spin. The figure jumps up and moves to a set of long broken screens looking at them in horror. "They're everywhere, how did they get by?!" Looks over to another set of screens, "They're in, how? Whatta we do?" Moves over to a set of controls that seem damaged and begins to manipulate some. "Level five emergency, recall system guardian". Just as the figure speaks this she spins around and screams as her chest bursts, slumping over in silence to overlap the corpse that is draped over the panel. The air crackles as a yellow figure materialized in the room, turning to regaurd them. Its the Guardian from the gling fight in New Lyshy. It seems to turn to face them for some moments before it crackles again and vanishes. From beyond the door they hear the sounds of metal on metal, something moves out there.

Kikah and Jeff are alerted by the klaxon and grudgingly get to their feet. The sound of metal on metal gets Kikah worried. "They're coming, why? Why are they up?" Kikah runs to the entrance of the mess hall. The figures from the re-sealed room are coming down the corador into the mess hall. Kikah backs up looking more than a little worried, "Well, hope you're up for a little action". Charging up and zapping one she manages to stop it from moving. The ones behind it just push it forward and enter the room. Jeff, noticing that a jolt seems effective, readies his stun gun and fires. The electrical arcs seem to shut off another few before one launches a small canister. The canister begins to spew a green vapour soon after hitting the ground, and knowing a problem when its this obvious, Jeff kicks it away. This hurts his foot seriously, as the vapour proves to be a very effective acid. As there seems to be many more where those came from, Kikah turns to Jeff, "Looks like we are gonna have to make a run for it. I want my blade back". Agreeing and handing it to her, Jeff replies "Looks like. Uhh, what I am about to do is not witchery." as he casts expeditious retreat for a speed boost. Looking rather ticked and scowling "Well talk about this later Jeff". The two make their run, Kikah making what slashes upon the security she can as she passes by. Attempting to run with an injured foot, Jeff is forced to make a few checks, which he fails. Trying to recover using tumbling, he manages to follow Kikah out of the hall and into the mission room, which is likewise over-run with security.

Back in the control room, Mucara and Luke are trying to deactivate the alarm and security, but are not having much luck. Trying to reverse what the figure did upon the controls there is no response. Out of options, Mucara tries to contact a spirit that lies in the corpse in the chair, a negatively charged one. A few moments of enticing it earns tendrils of shadow which rise out of the corpse and twist into a sphere or disk, hard to tell with a shadow. The entity settles to the floor where it begins to twist itself into the image of a shadowy buck. Moments later it gains actual colour, revealing a grey and white furred buck in a uniform that seems to denote high rank. Not taking time for introductions, Mucara asks the figure if it can in any way cancel the alert. Agreeing that it not only could but would, it moves over to the panel and passes its hand though it, instantly halting the klaxon and the lights. From beyond the door the sound of metal on metal is still heard, so there is still reason for concern. Questioning the figure about the security measures that could very well be attacking Jeff and Kikah, the figure informs her that all is returning to ready state and that they are only on their way to their designated area. "The door in has closed and we can't get out, can you help us?" Mucara politely asks the figure. "I could, I suppose, but I do not feel motivated to do so" the figure replies calmly. Seeing there is little else she can use as a bargaining tool with a zelengorsk, Mucara accepts to allow the figure to take a "taste" of her essence in return for passage though the security door. Taking her up in his ethereal arms, the figure tells Mucara to "relax" and steals a kiss, along with five essence. Smiling, the figure licks its lips stating "Hmmm, I do believe I like you." Thinking back to the other security door the team came across soon after entering the facility, "Can you allow us access past the other security door?". Smoothly, the figure replies "But of course, for another taste. You will have to find your own way out once it closes behind you, but don't worry, there are other exits beyond." Knowing that if they come back repeatedly she will have to surrender each time, "May you grant us security clearance for that door? so we may come and go as needed." Pausing but a moment before answering, "While that is in my power, it would perhaps cost you a little more than a taste." Not knowing what is beyond the door anyway and deciding that later maybe a better time she asks the figure is name, as it looks as if she and it may have a more lengthy relationship than she first thought. "You may call me, Commander" the figure states with some pride. Hoping that Commander can help, Mucara asks if he is able to open the weapon lockers just down the hall. His expression changing to one of interest, "I could do that, yes, come along." The Commander seems to slide along the ground, moving although appearing to be simply standing. Meeting Mucara and Luke in the weapon locker he stands silently, facing them expectantly. "Before you is thirteen lockers, one open while the others contain either four cases of rounds or less, as few as none. For but two tastes, but a mouthful really, I will give you the means to open a locker of your choice from which you may select a case to keep." Hoping to score a case of shells not seen for ages, Mucara agrees to pay the price asked to open locker nine. Commander produces a circular case from which he takes what looks to be a colour wheel which has Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Green upon it. Mucara tries to reach out to take it but her hand passes through it, seemingly as ghostly as Commander himself. Taking a pair of mithral tweezers she plucks the colour wheel from Commander's fingers and takes it to locker nine. To the right of the door is a key pad with Red, Orange, Pink, Green, Yellow, Blue, Indigo, Violet, Brown, Grey, White and Black; certainly a daunting challenge without the answer already known. Not knowing where to start on the wheel, Mucara simply selects Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Green, to which the locker opens. Inside as hoped are four cases of which Mucara selects one. Opening the case reveals strange shells, while shaped like standard rounds these are crafted of a luminescent crystal. For yet another taste Commander explains that the rounds do not miss their targets, and to perhaps save them for cases that seem to much for more conventional means. Once again looking somewhat devious, Commander proposes a bit more of an interesting game, "While you may still choose to open a locker as before for but a mouthful of your life, I will also allow the following. You may opt to pay that much again for each additional case you wish to take from a locker before you open it. You may get a few more cases of rare ammunition for less then I would agree normally, you may let lesser or maybe none at all. In this we both risk, and both stand to gain over the others loss." Taking note of that, Mucara opts to open locker eleven. Being kissed once more by Commander, Mucara is handed yet another wheel, this one with Violet, Indigo, Orange, White. Just pressing the colours as she saw them opens this locker as well, revealing another four cases. Taking one Mucara fines them to be very similar to acid rounds, but yet somewhat different. It is not known what Avenger used as the model for their rounds, but this would seem to be a good guess. Still in the mood to pay a bit for a few relics, Mucara questions Commander about a medical kit, and how she can get one. Commander simply replies "A gift." and does his slide out of the room. The team follows Commander down the hall and up to the security door which opens for him, which they do not enter themselves. It closes a few moments later, and although they wait a bit Commander does not return. Mucara returns to the doe's barracks to see what changes, if any, have occurred around the area where she woke the first zelengorsk. The corpsefire is right back where it was before while Mucara believed it should have been extinguished longer than this. Tempted, but not wanting to really bother it again, she moves back out into the mess hall and ties to enter the buck's barracks. This is found to have collapsed completely, and so is a dead end. Having little else to do the team makes back for New Lyshy. On the way back Kikah turns to Jeff, "I don't like what I saw." Trying to plead his case, he explains its not witchery but a technique used by people not so talented as herself to survive in today's world. Distain tainting her words, "Its just a crutch for weak and stupid people. We all have the ability to do as I do, but it looks like everyone is to stupid to manage how on their own." Letting the issue drop, they return to their quarters upon returning and retire for the day. This time Kikah finds a place to stay on her own, leaving Jeff to himself. Stopping off at the stores for a bite O' Laura approaches the team, "It seems we have been recalled back to Esspis. We will be leaving in twenty hours, do what you have to do to prepare and meet at the community hall. The smith of New Lyshy, Erasmus, also has something to say. "This place is unhealthy to live in, could you take my son, Randolph, back to Esspis with you. In return for this and seeing us all though our sickness, I will see to crafting something for each of you custom." The team agrees to take Randolph back with them, and choose what they wish made for them.