We Are Our Avatars IX: Act V: The Sabotage of the Scandolous Saurian Scoundrels (Open)

[Kirke]

You say that you have new orders, and that you are to return to base ASAP. Not only that, but you are to bring some of the group with you. With a sigh you say that you can't really refuse since they are the only ones capable of tracking your ship via satellites, and they've got the firepower to bring you down.

 

[Slenn]

<color=green>"Go ahead." Winona smiled and nodded.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

"This organisation is threatening you?" Samus seemed disturbed.

 

[Chungus]

"It is believed they were formed by Fal'Cie, which are entities that appear mechanical in nature, but are no mere machines. The Fal'Cie on Gran Pulse primarily busy themselves with their own affairs, although some have had dealings with humans in the past." Yeul began to explain. "The affairs of one, is to roll around seemingly aimlessly, digging tunnels as it goes."
[hr]
Once in a position where it could record what was being said, Elm began its audio recording, halfway through Shara's statement. It remained, floating where it was behind a boulder, and continued recording.

Unlike the jet-bike it used for travel, the system Elm used to hover didn't make noise.

 

[Zepherus14]

[color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"Oh? Why yes deary, what might I help you with?"[/color] The woman asked, her wrinkles having wrinkles. [color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"Is there something that ails you or one of your little friends?"[/color] She asked, her lazy eye staring at the girls while the seemingly strong eye focused on Caius.

 

[Kirke]

You say that it is not a threat, but an order. You don't want to say more in the open, since you are pretty sure you are being watched, but when the others get back you need to convince them to come with you.

 

[Slenn]

<color=green>"Ah, so it was an indigenous intelligence that constructed these canyons. They must've been around on your world for quite some time if they were to construct something that huge. It sounds like they're mining for something from the details of your description."

 

[Chungus]

"No, nothing of that sort. I only wish to ask for some directions." Caius answered, moving a little to the side of the desk, and stopping there. "I have been told there is a store serving a s a hub for bounty hunters from other worlds in this area. Would you know where this place is, exactly?"

As he talked to the woman, Caius tried not to give an odd look to her lazy eye, and managed for the most part, although every so often, his gaze drifted to it.

"Yes. No one is quite certain on wherther they predate humanity, or if we came into existance simultaneously, but there is no denying they are ancient." Yeul responded, giving a small nod. Pausing for a moment, Yeul turned around and walked to a wall, turning around again and leaning against it. "As far as is understood, however, it is only this one Fal'Cie that digs these tunnels. As for what their ultimate goal is; no one knows. Although some texts say that they search for the door to the Unseen Realm."

Sam moved across the street, jumping over an oncoming car, then moved to the right-hand side of the woman's desk, stopping there. He listened idly to both Caius' questioning, and Yeul's conversation with Winona.

 

[Zepherus14]

[color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"Are you sure nothing is ailing you..?"[/color] The old woman squinted at Caius, tilting her head up slightly. [color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"The building you're looking for is this one you realize?"[/color] The woman said as she patted the wall of the building opposite of the adjacent to the Walmart. [color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"Couldn't be more closer to ya if it reached up and bit you in the rump."[/color]

[color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"Would any of you need anything dears?"[/color] She asked in a tone of a mix of an old Grandma and a witch. [color=Totally not a dimensional traveling witch that sells potions on the fly]"Don't be shy."[/color]

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Samus clearly did not approve of this, but elected to say no more.

 

[Slenn]

<color=green>"If it's just one body digging all that, it probably does predate the human species on your world. Although, how the human species originated could differ from how it originated here on Earth."

 

[Chungus]

Oh." Caius responded flatly as the building he was looking for was indicated. Pausig, Caius exhaled through his nose, then said, "No, there is truly nothing that would ail me. I am not familiar with this area, that is all." He explained, then paused once more, shorter this time. "That would be all. Good day."

With that said, Caius walked back to Yeul and the sisters. "The bounty store is there, I was told." He stated, pointing over to the building the woman had indicated, then began walking towards it.

Seem looked from Caius, to the bounty store and cocked his head, wondering how he missed that. Shrugging to himself, he waited for the others to move into the store.

Yeul looked away from Winona, to Caius when he anounced what he was told. Pushing off the wall, she began following him, looking back to Winona as she walked. "It is said in texts that the Godess Etro tore herself assunder, and that humanity rose from her blood. Now dead, she resides in the afformentioned Unseen Realm, and from there, bestows spirits onto human kind." She explained. "Would you know if this matches how humanity came to be on this world?"
[hr]
When Shara said she suspected being watched, and Samus not saying anything in response, Elm discontinued the recording and saved it. It figured someone would do a sweep of the area soon to confirm if Shara's suspicion was correct, and so, began hovering back to the jet-bike.

 

[Kirke]

You step inside your ship and motion for Samus to follow. Once inside, you close the hatch and tell her that XCOM picked up a bunch of bounties set out on group members. They now want to put those accused of crimes on trial, including Sophia. You doubt that XCOM would hand you over to the knights, but it is possible. Still, you say, it is either going after the knights yourself with both bounty hunters and XCOM after you or turning yourself over to them. No good options, but you do not fancy your chances in fighting XCOM in the air.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Samus was quiet for a moment, closing her eyes. "...I am unsure." She eventually said, turning her back on Shara. "I would rather face down those hunting me than be weighed down by red tape and bureaucracy, but..."

 

[Slenn]

The sisters followed along.
<color=green>"It is not the same way. By a huge margin. The first modern humans appeared just over a million years ago. The first beings to walk upright on two legs appeared 4.4 million years ago. It is estimated from the fossil record that this first being and the apes shared a common ancestor, somewhat like parents. "

"The origin of life on Earth is still a mystery. Some say it was a pool of chemicals roughly 3.7 billion years ago, that at the cost of entropy, they organized themselves by chance to create crude copies of themselves. Over time, through random mutations in this special chemical and influences from outside dangers, came about natural selection and the evolution of the species. The random mutations that weren't fit died off and the ones that were the most capable of reproducing and surviving, did so. Over time, more complex creatures arose through natural selection. And that's the origin of the diverse multitude of species that you see on Earth."

 

[Kirke]

You finish Samus' sentence, by saying that you don't know where the knights even are. You add that you might be able to skirmish the XCOM fighters enough to whittle their numbers down, but that would probably make them cooperate with the knights. XCOM can track your ship, and with the knights joining the fray it is doubtful how a ground battle would go. In the end, you'd be able to bring plenty of foes down in last stand, but it would be just that: a last stand.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Samus held up her head, turning back to face Shara. "Fine." She agreed to Shara's proposal. "I'll come with you."

 

[Chungus]

Reaching the bounty store, Caius approached the door, and entered.

"What an inconcivably vast amount of time..." Yeul said as she heard the sisters' responses, almost speaking under her breath. "It makes all else seem woefully insignifficant in comparison."

 

[Zepherus14]

With the penguin finishing his drink, he disappeared to the nether regions from wence he came, only to return for another drink when the time was right.

"Well.... that was... odd..." Sophia commented to Gwen and Victoria. "We didn't even get its name, did we?"

 

[Kirke]

You nod, placing a hand on Samus' shoulder and craning your head to look at her face. You tell her that you do not like this either and that if it all goes to hell, you'll make sure to be the last one out. Letting go of her shoulder, you inform Samus about the tracking beacon you found attached to the hull of your ship. You ask her to check the outside of Dave's ship for one, since you can't return to XCOM when tracked.